I have to say that being a desi in England is kind of ho hum. South Asians are everywhere so I don't feel special. In America at least they pay attention. "Holy Cow!" they say when I walk into a room. "Curry!" they whisper and wink, as I pass by.
"Your people wear such gaudy costumes!" they explain, concerned.
It's just not the same here in London.
Just kidding. I'm writing crap.
Seriously, London's a cool city, I dig. Lots to do and see, a ridonkulous mix of people that paint the picture of their it's-tuesday!-let's-dabble-with-this-country! history.
May I mention again that British men dress with the vigilance of aging socialites? They do great hair, gelled messily but perfectly messily, if you know what I mean. And they wear tighter pants than American men and are awfully pretty to look at while sitting on the Tube.
In the short time I've been here I've found myself adopting little British turns of phrase and not wanting to pronounce the "r" in words like "percent." Which makes me wonder about the implications of the brain's tendency to adopt -- so quickly -- what's around it, which also makes me wonder about the definitions of good and evil, what it really means to be Republican or Democrat or happy or sad or crazy or sane or to like one music over the other. It mostly makes me wonder whether Truth exists at all.
I've gotta get me back to family. I'm scared about my flight home, and we can all only hope that this phobia goes to hell because I'm sick of it.

So I am flying on an airplane tonight. I am scared because I have a phobia. But also: metal winged chariots of death hurtling through interminable space? Not totally irrational to be scared.

I am reading The Inheritance of Loss and Midnight's Children for the occasion. Both by desi writers. I also am reading "Walden" (still). Aren't I so cool, hip and above it all?
I'm going to London to visit an adored cousin. She's got the kind of personality I could only wish for: solicitous, warm, good-natured, patient.
In other news, I'm still as afraid as I was in Sentence No. 1.

Finally, tonight is the president's SOTU. Which scares me in a much more fundamental way.

So this knocked me out when I first read it in college. (hey. why didn't I read this until college?) And when it was presented to me recently, it knocked me the hell out again. I present it to you, my wacky agglomeration of readers, if you care. It's Martin Luther King, Jr's letter from a Birmingham jail.
Glib television mentions, and forced tributes aside, he was a phenom.

In other news, a sublime moment on the Golden Globes yesterday when Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who won for "Babel," took the time before accepting his award to turn and assure Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that he was in the country legally.
"I swear I have my papers in order, governor, I swear," Gonzalez reportedly said, prior to his speech.
Arnold smiled, but I'd like to think it made his irresponsibly veiny neck tighten in discomfort. Dickhead. Anyways, when it makes it's way onto YouTube, it'll be worth the trouble of posting. These are somewhat meaningless moments, but joyful nonetheless.

In other news, I need a new transitional phrase. Help me out writers.

And a hearty welcome back to your new home for hi jinx, profanity and morbid life commentary! It's been a crazy ride and one I'll never share the details of. This is going to have to be a bit of a do-over until I transfer my old postings here, so bear with me.

And while I've got your attention let me point you to the header of a frightening press release I just received:

"Please find attached below a press release on a universal smart card that will be issued to 5,000 firefighters and police officers in Maryland with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

I think it was Our Lord, wasn't it, who remarked, "And the ones with the universal smart cards shall inherit the earth..."?

So I'm guessing this might seem innocuous. But really, how can these not evolve into "Get Out of Jail Free In All 50 States After I Fuck You Up" cards? Carte blanches, as those wacky French say. These universal smart cards, aka, "Us Not Them" cards are gonna be valuable someday. So readers, particularly the ones who are in the "Them" rather than the "Us" category: I suggest you find your nearest firefighter or police officer and make nice forthwith, if you haven't already. That card is going to carry a lotta weight when we become -- officially, at least -- a police state. Hunker down and be on the right team.