#looking for comedy in the muslim world

[passed-out-real]

Amy Ryan Filmography Part 1

ER (1995)

The Naked Truth (1995‑1996)

Homicide: Life on the Street (1999)

Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)

Forward (2007)

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007)

Neal Cassady (2007)

The Wire (2003-2008)

Changeling (2008)

The Missing Person (2009)

[carmelasoprano]

AMY RYAN as EMILY BROOKS Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005) directed by Albert Brooks

[akajustmerry]

Hi

1 love your blog and podcast

2 I’m really enjoying your weekly Palestinian film recs

3. Do you have more recommendations for Arab and Middle Eastern cinema ?

Thank you ☺️

helloooooo, thank you 🥰 I have a whole sideblog which I don't promote enough called @swanasource where I and my co-mod @thatidomagirl frequently post middle eastern/SWANA film and films made by swana filmmakers in the film tag here:

I myself am still on my journey of watching more swana films (and non-english and non-Western films) so I won't claim to be any sort of exhaustive expert. but here are some of my favourites!

Salt of this Sea (2008). Dir. Annemarie Jacir. Palestinian film about a Palestinian-American woman heisting an Israeli bank

The Persian Version (2023). Dir. Maryam Kershavez. Comedy about an Iranian-American lesbian who gets pregnant after a one night stand and so decides to learn more about her family history.

Kedi (2016). A calming and beautiful Turkish documentary about the cats of Istanbul

Ali's Wedding (2017). A rom-com about an Iraqi-Australian Muslim who falls in love with the Lebanese girl from his mosque who's helping him get into med school.

The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020). Tunisian thriller about a syrian refugee who agrees to let his back be tattooed and be part of a living exhibition by a notorious artist so he can get a visa.

Sirens (2020). A documentary about the queer Lebanese all-girl metal band, Slave To Sirens, set around the Beirut explosion.

In Vitro (2019). A short Palestinian sci-fi film about an elderly woman in an underground bunker trying to describe the world before to a young woman who's only ever known the bunker.

Cairo Time (2009). Dir. Ruba Nadda. Look, this film isn't perfect but It's about a white American woman who's husband is a UN worker in Egypt. She goes to visit him in Cairo, but her husband is waylaid so he sends his bestie played by the beautiful Alexander Siddig to take her around Cairo and oh my GOD the romantic tension of this movie keeps me up at night.

Butterflies (2018). One of my fave movies ever. A Turkish comedy about 3 estranged siblings who have to take a chaotic road trip to fulfil their father's last wishes.

[vital-information]

The camp aesthetic isn't dead. It's just doing what it's always done, waiting to be found and appreciated outside the mainstream of year-end lists and algorithms. Below, I've made a list of some prolific creators I see keeping it alive with two camp principles as guidance (apologies to Susan):

"Camp: doing more than is necessary with less than what you need." Zadie Smith, "Mark Bradford's Niagra"

"Decorative, 'amusing,' 'good theater,' witty in the right way, and likely to make heterosexual relationships look ridiculous." J.B. Priestley, "Block Thinking"

Julio Torres: the Salvadorian-American surrealist formerly of SNL

Los Espookys: a friend group uses special effects to fake paranormal activity to help rich people and government officials avoid their problems Problemista: an aspiring toy-maker must work for an art-world outcast played by Tilda Swinton to keep his visa Fantasmas: in a surreal NYC, Julio encounters a bunch of different people as he searches for a lost diamond oyster earring

Jojo Tichakorn: the Thai party-fiend with a love for the 90s and y2k

3 Will Be Free: Throuple escaping the mafia Mama Gogo: former diva inherits a male strip bar and has to make it successful The Warp Effect: High-schooler figures out what happened the night he blacked out when he wakes up ten years in the future Only Friends: Thai redux of Queer as Folk, updated for the current era The Heart Killers: Adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You and Taming of The Shrew but with gay hitmen and BDSM

Nida Manzoor: the Pakistani-British romantic punk feminist

Enterprice: two young entrepreneurs, Kazim and Jeremiah, try to escape the South London hustle and get their business, Speedi-kazz, off the ground We Are Lady Parts: an anxious med-student, Amina, finds herself drawn into an all-muslim punk girl band Polite Society: when her sister decides to give up on her dream and get married, teenager Ria tries to save her, Bollywood action-movie style

Cheewin Thanamin: gender-fluid Thai director making cringe euphoric

Make It Right: the queer messy love stories of a gaggle of highschool boys Secret Crush on You: an underdog friend group helps one member deal with his obsessive habits as he falls for a popular jock Bed Friend: A private guy has a one night stand with a casanova coworker he hates Playboyy: Investigating a missing twin, a pair of friends find themselves sucked off into the sex-work industry

Kunihiko Ikuhara: none of us knows what exactly it means

Revolutionary Girl Utena: girl arrives at a mysterious high school and has to sword fight her way to a girlfriend Penguindrum: saved from the brink of death by a spirit in a hat, a girl's brothers must repay their debt by retrieving a 'drum' with the help of some penguins Yurikuma Arashi: Two girl bears disguise themselves as humans and sneak over the city wall to enroll in school Sarazanmai: A musical in which a spirit that sucks souls out of anuses recruits three boys to help stop package theft

Kenny Ortega: gay white American brings camp to the kids on Disney Channel & Netflix Hocus Pocus: the annual favorite about the rebirth of the kid-killing Sanderson sister witches into a 90s suburban neighborhood High School Musical 1, 2, 3: How can a boy possibly like basketball and musical theater at the same time without ruining society? The Descendants 1, 2, 3: Made-for-tv cinemusicals about the children of Disney villains Julie and the Phantoms: lonely teenage girl without a mom forms a band with some gay ghost boys

Manolo Caro: Mexican showrunner who believes telenovelas can be even queerer

House of Flowers: a family reckons with their secrets and a faltering flower shop after the patriarch's passing Someone Has to Die: a conservative family in Franco regime Spain recalls their son from Mexico for an arranged marriage only to find he's brought a male dancer along as his companion Once Upon a Time (Happily Never After): musical comedy about reincarnated lovers who must fall in love to save a town's love lives Holy Family: the bond amongst a group of mothers turns dangerous as someone's past starts to catch up to them

[germiyahu]

It's the global south who brought Israel to court. You can go on and on about the anti semitic white west. But refusing to see that it is the white west who is funding the genocide of Palestinians. The white west who is funding Israel...every single word of yours fall flat. I don't know what you have against the strike. I have seen someone go as far as to say it is a cult like behavior. The strike has been called by a Palestinian in Gaza. Every time they come online, they plead with people to not stop marching or protesting. How is it that you are miffed at this? You said such stupid things in your post. Wanting Daddy's approval and hence Jews are seen as enemy and Muslims as noble savage. It is absurd that you cooked up all this and left out the simple fact that people want the genocide of Palestinians to end. They want the occupation of Palestinian land to end. I am not from the west. My country had no part in holocaust because while the colonial white west was participating in this ethnic cleansing, my country was busy fighting for its freedom. So to see you not even deign to look at how the east, the global south, the various indegenous groups all over the world, the various oppressed communities all over the world are screaming their lungs out in horror of this west funding genocide, all I can think of is that you have been made blind. How can you on day 111 + 75 years be blind to Palestine. How can you be blind to Israel committing genocide.

It's South Africa specifically, who's had some interesting wire transfers from Hamas lately. It's South Africa, who was also seen graciously hosting the the actual Butcher of Darfur. Not a very principled stance against genocide if you ask me.

I'm not sure what specific strike you're referring to, unless you mean the absurd to the point of comedy strikes against McDonalds and Starbucks. Oh you'll definitely bring down the Zionist Entity by not ordering Big Macs. I also do not understand at all what point you're trying to make by saying the White West funds Israel therefore Palestinian genocide, so my words about the WW's antisemitism fall flat. Yes a large sector of White Western society supports Israel. White Western society is also antisemitic. If this is too hard to grasp just let me know...

And with all due respect, when I'm talking about Westerners and what I suspect is the girding psychological framework for why they're primed to care about this "screaming ones lungs out" from the Global South... I know what I'm talking about. I am Western, I live among these people. You do not.

And I'm not, frankly, very impressed. Firstly that you think the Holocaust is some silly little thing that happened in Europe and not relevant to the rest of the world, and that you think the Global South has had any conniptions about purging their own Jews historically. Granted most of those countries were Arab, but that's part of the Global South.

There is no genocide of Palestinians. There is not. There never has been and hopefully there never will be. If you can't agree that reality is reality you have no business talking to me. So when people deal in blatant falsehoods like that I'm going to dive a little deeper into why people are saying things like that. Because that's what I do. I know "wanting the genocide and occupation to end" is not the full story. I know there's something underneath the surface. When it comes to the White Westerners, who I have experience with, I thereby present my theory. What the Global South or the East or whoever else thinks, is not in the purview of my post. Go make your own.

Also Zionism is older than 75 years so I'm going to give you that one for free. It's actually been almost 150 years of Palestinian genocide 🤓

[lilareviewsbooks]

Books for Good Omens fans!

Are you emotionally scarred by the ending of season 2? Is the wait for season 3 going to be excruciating for you? Are you looking for something that’ll fill those voids? Look no further, Good Omens fan! I have some media for you to consume!

The Tea Dragon Series, starting with The Tea Dragon Society, by K. O’Neil

71 pages (first book)

Contains: tea magic!; a cute sapphic romance; queer rep all around :)

If you like Good Omens because of how fluffy it can be (though that season finale was not fluffy), I highly recommend this series! The Tea Dragon Society is a comic book trilogy following Greta, who is swept into the world of caring for tea dragons, tiny little creatures that grow tea leaves on their foreheads. 

As is the case with Good Omens, this trilogy includes a lot of queer representation. It’s written by a non-binary author, K. O’Neil, who introduces us to queer characters of all identities. Also much like Good Omens, there is no discussion of homophobia or transphobia. There’s also a sapphic romance between Greta and her love interest, which is very sweet! This is perfect if you need a pick-me-up after season 2, and if the fluffier aspects of Good Omens are your favorites!

The Greenhollow Duology, starting with a Silver In The Wood, by Emily Tesh

112 pages (first book)

Contains: the fae!!; enchanted woods; middle-aged gay people!!

If what brings you joy in Good Omens is it’s middle-aged leads, I give you Silver in the Wood, and its companion Drowned Country. These two stories are quite episodic – much like Crowley and Aziraphale’s little adventures – and feature a pair of middle-aged men who fall in love against the backdrop of supernatural things afoot.

Apart from representing the older portion of the queer community, The Greenhollow Duology is also brilliantly written and very atmospheric. It will place you inside the cottage where most of the action happens, and you will be able to feel the magic in the air. Both of the books are novellas, and so are quite short reads you can enjoy whenever!

A Series of Unfortunate Events, starting with The Bad Beginning, by Lemony Snicket

176 pages (first book)

Contains: adults that are incompetent; children that are very competent; quirky writing!

If your favorite aspect of Good Omens is its quirkiness, I give you: A Series of Unfortunate Events! This middle-grade series follows a trio of siblings as they are passed from distant relative to distant relative after their parents’ mysterious death, all the while being chased by the evil Count Olaf.

This series reminds me of Good Omens for its tongue-in-cheek humor. Mr. Snicket is a master at metatextual comedy, that is, making jokes about the text itself. I’ve always had a lot of fun reading his writing! A TV show adaptation of this series has been made, and it’s on Netflix, but I haven’t watched it all the way through and can’t speak to how good it is, but it’s worth a shot if you’re feeling like watching something! Though I have to warn you: no gay people here :( 

A Master of Djinn, by P. Djeli Clark

438 pages

Contains: alternate history; a steampunk Cairo; muslim rep!!

A Master of Djinn is for those among you who want to see gay people save the world. I give you: gay people saving the world. This one follows Agent Fatma of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities in an alternate, steampunk-y Cairo, where magic was brought to life by mage Al-Jahiz, many years ago. Fatma is faced with a mysterious murder and must join forces with her lover Siti to find out what happened – except it’s waaay more complicated than it seems…

I think this reminds me of Good Omens the most because there’s a very cool dynamic between Siti and Fatma. Much like Crowley and Aziraphale, they have opposing views on a lot of things, religion for instance, and must reconcile that with their love for one another. They’re also very much ride-or-die for each other, and go on many supernatural adventures together, just like our favorite couple in Good Omens! It also features elements of fantasy being woven into a “normal” world, in this case even affecting history as we know it, to build an alternate reality! 

But, be warned: there is discussion of homophobia and sexism in this book!

This is part of larger universe, namely the Dead Djinn Universe, which includes two other novellas. You can read them in this order, or choose to start with A Master of Djinn. The novel is self-contained and will explain everything you need to know!

The Mimicking of Known Successes, by Malka Older

169 pages

Contains: a murder mystery; a second chance romance; humans living on one of Jupiter’s moons!

Another one for gay people who just like a nice couple they can follow around as they unravel some intrigue, and who were desperately infatuated with “detective Aziraphale”: The Mimicking of Known Successes is a Sherlock Holmes-like story following Pleiti and Mossa, a couple of ex-girlfriends whose paths cross again when Mossa begins investigating a mysterious murder. This one takes place on a human colony in one of Jupiter’s moons, but, apart from that, is not very hard sci-fi. There’s not really any science-y bits that I can remember. Mostly, it’s just a murder mystery, but set in space!

It’s perfect for Good Omens fans who love following a couple with a long history. Not to mention, it also has an almost grumpy/sunshine dynamic that kinda reminds me of Crowley and Aziraphale. And since I know most of us Good Omens fans were once deep in the Sherlock trenches, I thought I’d add this one to cure your heart’s many, many wounds (oh, Steven Moffatt… One day, one day you will pay…)

This is not currently part of a series, but a second novella,  The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles, will be published in 2024.

That’s all I got, everyone! If you’d like some more books that, just like Good Omens, don’t delve into homophobia or transphobia, I have a whole list of books that fit the bill! :) 

[warningsine]

Hm.

Unfortunately, season 5 is not living up to the hype of the strong season 4 finale.

They are struggling to balance the slapstick comedy with the serious subject matter and no wonder. They really wrote themselves into a corner when they decided to incorporate the BLM movement, because the expectations are naturally high. Dealing with the riots and finding a resolution for them must have been no easy feat.

So far they've been more preoccupied with the spectacle of the ladies taking control of the prison rather than with the bigger implications and questions that short-lived power raises for these characters.

As I'm not binge-watching the season, its slow pacing is not bothering me, but I hope they didn't do that thing where all arcs and subplots are unneccessarily dragged for several episodes and then everything happens all at once in the last one, because that is tricky and can backfire.

"Yellowjackets"--to mention another series with an ensemble cast--executed this perfectly in the first season, but the same cannot be said for its second one.

Back to OITNB.

The charm of most characters remains intact.

The focus on Danielle Brook's Tasha and Selenis Leyva's Gloria was an excellent choice, because both actresses' performances are outstanding. That being said, I wish they had given Laverne Cox something more to do as she is also great. Sophia's dynamic with Gloria has had me on a chokehold for two seasons now.

Another welcome surprise: Janae was finally given a more unique voice. Now had they done the same with Alison, I would have been ecstatic. Although well-intentioned, their depiction of Muslim women is not very nuanced.

Additionally, Uzo Aduba is killing it, but what else is new there? Truly loving what they are doing with Suzanne.

Last but not least, is the evil corporate lady going to briefly date Carrie? Hell yes, I've been waiting 5 seasons to see what a smitten Boo looks like. Of course I'm into them since they are not going to last. (Hi, Soso/Poussey and Lorna/Nicky.)

As for the weaker points that hopefully will have been addressed and/or resolved by the end of the season:

Whatever happened to that recurring theme of imprisoned mothers craving to talk to their families? Why are the ones that own phones now not calling their children?

Why are the white pride skinheads hanging out with the women they hate?

The recycling of Piper/Alex's will-they-won't-they relationship--as if there had ever been a chance they would not end up together, please!--is getting exhausting. As a viewer that actually likes them individually and as a group now, I keep wondering: did they not know what to do with them? At all?

As for Nicky and Lorna, I'm trying to leave my monkey brain and biases aside in order to ask: will they ever give them new arcs? Because season 5 is not saying anything new about them. Nicky is still pining over Lorna, who lives in her own imaginary world and refuses to see what is right in front of her. This has been going on-and-off for four--five actually, but alright--seasons now except Nicky is sober yet again. (Good for her.) Lyonne and Stone are amazing, why waste their talent like this?

When OITNB fucks up, it fucks up badly. Pray tell, why is Tiffany still having a relationship with the CO that raped her? They had already made a point about her response to her trauma in seasons 3 & 4. Either there is a deeper message about abusive relationships that is flying over my head or I'm just impatient and this subplot will be completed soon.

[amerthehammer]

The Struggle of Conviction: A Pro-Israeli Voice in an all-Palestinian Family

The Struggle of Conviction: A Pro-Israeli Voice in an all-Palestinian Family

Date: October 16, 2023

In the midst of today's turbulent events, I feel compelled to share my deeply personal journey. At 34 years old, recently marking my 34th birthday, I reflect upon a life born into a devout Islamic Palestinian family. A life where the value of unity was instilled in me from an early age, but as time passed, it became increasingly apparent that my beliefs were evolving differently.

Interestingly, I developed a strong affinity for Christmas over the years – a holiday imbued with the magic of shimmering lights, grand trees, and endless decorating possibilities. This was a stark contrast to my Islamic upbringing, where Christmas had no place, and festively adorned trees were nowhere to be found. Yet, year after year, just outside my window, I would see my neighbors' beautifully adorned Christmas tree. Returning to school after the Christmas break, my friends and classmates would eagerly share their holiday experiences and gifts, while I silently grappled with the absence of such celebrations in my life. It was a challenge, but with time, I learned to adapt.

I certainly didn't fit the mold of the ideal Muslim. Failing to observe the fast-during Ramadan, for instance, led to a cascade of judgment and shame. From my earliest memories, my mother fervently impressed upon me the dire consequences of not meeting specific religious requirements, warning of eternal damnation. Within my family, an unspoken consensus had taken hold: I wasn't just destined for hell, but I was headed for its deepest depths. Neglecting to pray five times a day or to observe the fast, as my family believed, was seen as falling short of God's expectations. After enduring a ceaseless stream of such admonitions, I began to internalize them.

It was only after receiving a cancer diagnosis that I realized the futility of striving to meet my parents' religious expectations. I had to come to terms with the understanding that winning that battle was an impossibility. In those challenging moments, a mentor's words echoed in my mind: "Choose Life," inspired by the 1996 British black comedy-drama film "Trainspotting," directed by Danny Boyle. The day I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, alongside a tumor in my chest, I found myself in a hospital room, surrounded by Palestinians, my parents, and a host of relatives – some of whom I hadn't seen in years and others I had never met. It was in this pivotal moment that I made a defining decision.

In that hospital room, weighed down by my circumstances, I confidently marked the "Judaism" box under religion on the form. This form would pass through various hands, and the reactions I encountered in response to my choice were nothing short of bewildering. While judgmental looks were cast my way, I met them with a radiant smile.

In summary, my journey has led me to remission and well-being, but it has also exposed me to deep-seated prejudices within my family against Jewish people. Over the years, I've overheard my parents and relatives expressing derogatory remarks about Jewish individuals, suggesting that they were in defiance of God and deserving of their misfortunes. Growing up, Jews were often portrayed as an ominous presence, lurking like a shadow in the background. It was only when I learned about the Holocaust that I realized the long-standing fear-driven narrative that had persisted for generations.

Even before I had the opportunity to study World War II in school, I would question my father about Hitler and his actions. The explanations were consistently simplified: "The Jews were blamed for economic hardships, and people were suffering. What else could have happened?" This narrative conveniently omitted any reference to the complex historical context, including World War I and the Treaty of Versailles.

As I delved deeper into the history of World War I, I made a disconcerting discovery: the "stabbed in the back myth" had not faded into obscurity but had found a contemporary resurgence. This myth centered on the belief that the German Army's defeat in the First World War didn't occur on the battlefield but resulted from betrayal by communists, socialists, and Jewish individuals on the home front.

What struck me as profoundly unsettling was that, this time, it was my own parents who were articulating these beliefs. Though I could never fully comprehend the depth of this hatred, as someone who has endured bullying in life, I can empathize with the emotions involved. However, I firmly acknowledge that there's no valid comparison between the struggles I've faced and the enduring hardships that the Jewish community has historically and continues to endure.

With recent events in Israel on October 7th, I found myself grappling with a sense of shame regarding my Palestinian heritage. The scenes I witnessed were deeply distressing, with Hamas involved in brutal acts against innocent men, women, and children. The chilling cries of "God is great" in Arabic only added to the anguish. This experience has reinforced my belief that it is often the self-proclaimed "god-fearing" individuals who, paradoxically, perpetrate the most harm.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict transcends mere territorial disputes; it is profoundly rooted in religious differences. It has evolved into a religious war between Muslims and Jews, each side fervently asserting their faith. I've long perceived Islam as a demanding faith, one that places a continuous emphasis on submission to God. Growing up, I couldn't help but envy my Christian friends who appeared to have a less burdensome religious experience – attending church once a week and joyfully celebrating Christmas. It seemed as though they faced fewer challenges compared to my upbringing in a devout Islamic household, leaving me with the impression that they received more for less.

In conclusion, I find myself standing alone in my perspective, firmly believing that the Jews have a rightful claim to Israel, especially after the horrors of the Holocaust. While some may argue that the land belongs to the Palestinians, history suggests otherwise. Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Palestine fell under British rule. While the British made promises to both sides, the only promise that materialized was the creation of Israel. It's a historical fact. I've never shared my family's abhorrent antisemitic views, and I never will. I stand in solidarity with the Jewish people of Israel; they deserve their homeland, unequivocally. These words may draw criticism and hostility, but I'm undeterred. Antisemitism must be eradicated, and Palestinians must confront the historical reality.

[disgruntledexplainer]

the sudden and spectacular mask-dropping of all these supposed nazi-punching left-wing blogs here suddenly embracing violent antisemitism the moment it becomes socially acceptable, is predictable, disgusting, and... morbidly comedic, like a black comedy of the most egregious kind. you see, I always knew all of it was performative and hypocritical. a bunch of people who thinks the government should do everything, control everything, think they're anti-fascist? a bunch of people who will take any excuse to be violent against a population they don't like are anti-nazi? but to be honest, I had no idea how performative and hypocritical they actually were.

what israel is doing could be considered an actual genocide, certainly, just like the CCP's treatment of the uyghur muslims. but in much the same way as the actions of the CCP does not justify violence against chinese immigrants, so to does the actions of the israeli government not justify violence against jews. conflation of a people and a government is a form of racialism, pure and simple, and the willingness to act on that conflation? that, my friend, is racism. antisemitism, to be exact.

(that's not even bringing up the fact that i've seen people treating hamas as a freedom-fighter group even though they have actively sabotaged any attempts at peace that don't involve ethnic cleansing of israeli jews.)

y'all think you live in a saturday-morning cartoon where any violent action taken against "the enemy" is justified because "they're the bad guys". it's infantile and gross. that's how you become what you think you're fighting.

look at the right-wing fanatics like Alex Jones. He lives in a fantasy world, where the liberals are a bunch of actual demons and goblins out to suck the blood of children, rather than being people with different perspectives and interpretations of the world. his rhetoric dehumanizes people, and crunches them all together into a single nebulous "them" that "we" can fight. this is what you are doing right now. you are turning "the jews" into a boogeyman, and then conflating them with the nazis you already think you hate. and in doing so, you are adopting nazi thought as your own, effectively becoming them. a neo-nazi, if you will.

i fully expect within the next year or two for the left to start taking up right-wing talking points from 1930s america and run with them. brace yourselves.

[lilywrites9]

Top 5 Out of the Box Sonam Kapoor Movies

Sonam kapoor Indian actress Ahuja performs in Hindi-language movies. She has received a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award, and from 2012 to 2016, she was listed among Forbes India's Celebrity 100 based on her popularity and earnings.

Fashion and Sonam Kapoor go hand in hand. And enjoyment too. It's no secret that we enjoy Sonam Kapoor's choice of entertaining films to act in. Her films frequently have a carefree, sunny, perfect day feel. Popcorn movies at their very best.

Aisha

Rajshree Ojha is the director of the 2010 Hindi-language romantic comedy-drama Aisha. Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Ira Dubey, Cyrus Sahukar, Amrita Puri, Anand Tiwari, Arunoday Singh, and Lisa Haydon are all part of the ensemble cast in this comedy of manners. It is a version of Jane Austen's 1815 novel Emma and is set in the upper-class society of Delhi, India. It has the same tone as the cult Hollywood movie Clueless (1995), which is also an adaptation of Austen's book. Aisha, which debuted on August 6, 2010, had a mediocre box office performance. Critics gave it mixed to favourable reviews. She characterised her persona as an intrusive diva with a penchant for playing Cupid and matchmaking.

2.Neerja

The 2016 Indian biographical thriller film Neerja, which was written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh, was directed by Ram Madhvani. The narrative is based on a true incident: the attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 by the Abu Nidal Organization, which was supported by Libya, on September 5, 1986 in Karachi, Pakistan. The head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot, who stopped the hijack attempt by warning the pilots and forcing them to ground the aircraft, is portrayed in the movie. Bhanot lost his life while attempting to save the 359 survivors among the 379 passengers and crew. She played the role of the air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who perished in 1986 while attempting to save the passengers of Pan Am Flight 73, which had been hijacked.

Since the project is based on actual events, Kapoor felt a sense of responsibility towards it. As part of her role preparation, she met the Bhanot family. The movie received a lot of positive reviews, and many critics thought that Kapoor gave her best performance to date. According to Raja Sen, her performance was a career-defining moment, and Rohit Vats of the Hindustan Times observed that "she carries entirely on her shoulder." She conveys a mixture of sincere, fear, goodwill, and boldness. Rajeev Masand invited Kapoor to his yearly best actresses roundtable, and Sen named Kapoor the best actress in Hindi film of 2016. In addition to numerous other honours, Kapoor received a Special Mention for a National Film Award and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress (Critics).

3. Raanjhanaa

Beloved One, also known as Raanjhanaa, is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film that was written and directed by Aanand L. Rai. Kapoor played the part of Varanasi-based Muslim student Zoya Haider, who becomes involved in politics as a result of the murder of her Sikh lover. Kapoor met with students, went to workshops, and practised with theatre groups affiliated with Jawaharlal Nehru University in order to get ready for her role. Additionally, she looked at Jaya Bachchan's performance in Guddi (1971), which she thought was "ideal" for the part. In response to a question about her role in the movie, Kapoor gave the following explanation of her acting style: "I have always tried to do diverse films and… I strive to be different for every character. The film was superhit at box office.

4. Delhi 6

Rakesh Omprakash Mehra is the director of the 2009 drama film Delhi-6, which was made in Hindi. Abhishek Bachchan plays an NRI in the movie who travels to India with his elderly grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) and starts learning about his ancestry before becoming involved in a religious issue involving an unknown attacker who resembles a monkey. After receiving its world debuts at the Museum of Modern Art and the Dubai International Film Festival, Delhi-6 was finally released on February 20, 2009, to critical and box office acclaim. Although it did poorly financially, it earned mixed reviews from critics, who praised the soundtrack and the cast's performances while criticising the plot, writing, and pacing. Best Production Design went to Delhi-6 at the 57th National Film Awards (Samir Chanda).

5. Veere Di Wedding

Female buddy comedy Veere Di Wedding is a 2018 Hindi-language movie that was produced by Rhea Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor, and Nikhil Dwivedi and directed by Shashanka Ghosh. Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam K. Ahuja, Swara Bhaskar, and Shikha Talsania as four friends attending a wedding, the movie is loosely based on the 2015 movie The Wedding Ringer. On June 1, 2018, Veere Di Wedding was released in theatres to mixed reviews. The movie, which had a budget of $28,000,000, ended up earning over 139,000,000 globally, making it the highest-grossing Hindi film of the year and the biggest for a movie with female leads. At the 64th Filmfare Awards, it garnered three nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Talsania and Bhaskar.

[petermorwood]

@dduane called upstairs and told me: "Neil's got one for you!"

Well, maybe not me specifically, but here goes... :->

Black pudding is the Irish / UK name for a sausage made with blood - pig, cow or sheep - rather than chopped or minced meat as the main ingredient, forms of which are found in cuisines all over the world.

Black pudding can be long or short, straight or curved ("stick" or "ring"), and sometimes even a cake or terrine.

The "pudding" part, which USAians associate with a sweet dessert, comes from the French word "boudin" (boudin noir is French blood sausage) and seems to have something to do with "edible material inside a wrapper" - the wrapper may also be edible, like the skin on a sausage or black pudding...

...and the suet crust of a steak-and-kidney pudding...

...or inedible like the cloth or bag used for a boiled pudding. This is how Christmas puddings used to be made, hence Dickens writing that the Cratchit house smelled like a laundry, and why traditional images show them as spherical with a sprig of holly on top.

Black puddings are also boiled before going on sale, so they're actually cooked and ready-to-eat, though I've never heard of anyone hereabouts doing so.

Usually they become an ingredient in a recipe such as this salad (one of DD's Middle Kingdoms dishes)...

... or appear sliced as part of a fry-up.

The black puddings I'm most familiar with (Irish / UK) mostly use pig-blood, oats or barley and various herbs and spices. They're a standard part of a Full Irish Breakfast / Ulster Fry - just the sort of thing to start a day that involves ploughing a 40-acre field behind two Shire horses, though perhaps best eaten infrequently if just sitting at a desk.

This is pretty close to the sort of Ulster Fry I grew up with, including the black pudding...

...though there should also be a slice of white pudding (minced pork, oats or barley, spices) and that ordinary fried bread, nice though it looks, would be a half farl of soda and a couple of farls of potato bread instead.

(For those familiar with a Full English Breakfast and wondering "Why no baked beans?", AFAIK there should never be baked beans with an Ulster Fry since, unlike everything else, they can't be fried - which, as the name suggests, is the whole point...)

Black puddings were used as weapons (!) for "the Yorkshire martial art of Ecky Thump" (!!) in an episode of 1970s comedy show "The Goodies"; this is the notorious episode where a TV viewer died of laughter...

There are regional variants of black and white pudding all over these islands: Stornoway black pudding from Scotland, Pwdin Du from Wales, Bury black pudding in the Midlands (oops!) North-West *, Hog's Pudding in the West Country and so on.

( * Lancashire, where the martial art is By 'Eck. Possibly.)

Perhaps the best known Irish black pudding variant is "drisheen" from Cork and Limerick; its signature herb is tansy, and oatmeal rather than barley gives a softer texture than regular pudding.

Cork and Limerick were major Viking settlements, so I wonder if there's some association between drisheen with tansy and Scandinavian blood sausages with marjoram and other herbs.

That notion was first prompted by Frans Bengtsson's well-researched novel "The Long Ships"; Michael Meyer's excellent translation is the usual English version.

There, black pudding - or at least blood sausage "with thyme in it" - provokes a tearful emotional response from two hard-bitten Vikings who, after several years as slaves then mercenaries in Andalusian (Muslim) Spain, get their first taste of Real Grub at King Harald Bluetooth's Yule feast.

The book version's a bit long, but you can get the picture (hah!) from a couple of frames of the graphic novel.

Wild boar, bread cakes and fried turnips were carried in, but when the blood-sausage came, Orm and Toke got tears in their eyes. "That scent is best of all!" "There's thyme in it..."

"Please, if it's not against Harald's orders, could we have some more? For seven years we've been eating vegetables in the land of the Andalusians. We've missed seven Yules-worth of blood-sausage!"

Back in 1987, I felt the same way about foods from home after only 6 months in Los Angeles - and yes, one of those foods was black pudding...

So I'm the one who asked about the beans in the English breakfast a day ago and I was reading the notes and-- what the actual fuck is black pudding? Never heard of it, not sure I even want to know, but now I feel bad for missing ANOTHER thing in the English breakfast.. also my dad devoured the food before my mom could say "beans are off, love" but we will remember it for next time!

I will let someone in the notes describe and explain Black Pudding. Someone will take joy in it.

[cancerian]

Germany

The only nation to get away with two back to back genocides in a single century, and still find itself on the wrong side of history because the nazi idea’s that helped it were never taken out of the public sphere. Support for Israel is not of genuine good, especially when the political power in Germany has a long history of familial ties with the nazi party. Kind of like the KKK working with the Black Muslims in America to promote segregation (while simultaneously bombing and killing young black children). Like the KKK, support of Israel is so that the Jews can finally leave and go to Israel (think about it as a form of self cleansing of the land).

For as much shit as the Americans get (justifiably), Germany will always be a special case. The fact that they got away and can still get away with never mentioning the most atrocious genocide (yes, even worse than the holocaust), the genocide of the Herero and Nama people in Namibia. German women’s treatment of the Namibian women, while purporting to want women’s rights is the reason why black women (retire the word P/WOC) should be weary of any “solidarity.” The idea that you need allies to succeed only works if your allies have the same values as you. Black women globally face different challenges from other women. Black women face disproportionately more violence globally compared to other women, if there is a group of women viewed less than human by all groups, it would be Black women. So don’t let anyone guilt you into believing that just because they are a woman, their fight is the same as yours. As insane as this may sound, even Herero and Nama women were treated worse than the women in the other genocide (this doesn’t take away from the atrocious acts against the Jewish people, genocide in all its forms should be condemned). It is even more disheartening to know that people are now only bringing up the Namibian genocide to create a case against Germany’s alliance with Israel. The alleged “awareness” is not genuine. The coverage of Palestine when compared to other genocides currently happening and that have been happening for longer (with greater deaths in both long and short time periods) is very interesting. The weird forcing and demonization of Black people’s reluctance to support groups that when they arrive in the US choose to align themselves with the white power structure (Asian/Arab relations with the Black community). Black face still being a prominent form of comedy in various non- black nations (including the Arab world, Asia, South- America, and Eastern Europe) should be a testament that this is not simply a racism issue, this is purely anti- blackness. The alleged violence against Asians and Arabs (stop Asian hate) was easily adopted globally, because they are seen as a docile group of people (an image they adopted to hide their terror acts against others, think Japan and hello kitty). What the rest of the world doesn’t see is the long history of these groups coming into Black communities and treating Blacks so poorly that some Blacks would even go on to say they prefer Whites come in the community instead. You cannot terrorize a people and expect them to just take it, when they do react the world looks at them as savages (yet the world steals and mimicks their culture).

In conclusion, choose and fight your battles correctly. Or else, you will end up being subjugated by the people you are fighting for. When that happens do not be surprised, they have shown you time and time again you are not one of them. They don’t and will never see you as an equal (if the shoe fits, wear it. If it doesn’t keep it moving).

[iwantjobs]

5/30/2024: I, Trang, the female Buddha, deem this Israel-Hamas war as the war between God (Jesus' father) and the humans. Which side do you think will win? Which side do you think represents the main idea that God is not a human and God is a human?

On my end, I concluded that I am a human because the human science concluded that I am a human and part of a human species, too; however, the whites, Christians, and Jews don't think I am a human being. I concluded that Jesus looks like a human being like me. However, the Bible did say Jesus' father is God and Jesus is only God's son.

If the Bible says this, I, Trang, don't understand why some Christians would look at Jesus statue and say that's God and some Christians even say Jesus is God. The Bible said Jesus has superpower but he looks like a human being; however, the Bible doesn't have videos that show Jesus can move land and water like some of that kind of power as stated by the Bible (I am not a Bible expert). So, Trang, as a human, I need to see some superpower in Jesus before I call him God. Since I will never see Jesus perform such super power, for now, I'll rely on the Bible saying that Jesus is only God's son.

Then I Trang ask, if Jesus' is only God's son and he looks like a human being, then would Jesus' father be a human being? If so, can a human being move mountains and water? No. So I'll continue thinking that perhaps God is not a human being for a human being cannot hold any super power over me unless he is hardcore heterosexual like me, he can't be going around hanging with gay men and seducing gay men, and force me to succumb to his gayness. No way man. That's girlie and I am not a lesbian so I am not attracted to men who hang out with gay men and look up to gay men for support in comedy, fashion, writing, etc.

As for Iran's and Hamas' sides of God, those Muslim would kill you if you are caught exposing their Muhammed's face. In the meantime, America, Jews,, Israeli, and western world don't mind exposing Jesus face and they don't mind exposing half of his crotch in our faces in building where we are supposed to dress conservatively and in building where we bow down to Jesus while staring at his half naked crotch. I know poor Jesus was nailed naked on the cross but please cover his poor naked body up unless you want our poor choir boys to get raped by your closet gay priests again? Don't you think gay men get horny looking at your Jesus' half naked crotch? Of they do. And where do you think those closet gay priests turn to when they get horny looking at Jesus' hot half naked crotch everyday in church: our poor choir boys. Trang's thinking at 51.16 years old. Ok I think I am done with my posts now. I'll come back when bad things in humanity erupts again. Take care.

Trang's thinking at 51.16 years ol

[lunarsilkscreen]

Art and Statement

So after dragging people through the mud...

When people make art, they write statements, even in journalism they're doing a multitude of things.

1) they recording observations

2) they're revealing their interpretation of those observations

3) they sometimes includes other observations and interpretations from alternate perspectives.

In journalism; the authors try to ground that in objective fact. Removing fluff pieces and statements. Like "I think they meant [x]" and sticking to "They said [x]. One observer believed it meant [y]"

That taking objective observation out of context can give the whole spin on the pieces a different perspective. And some media personalities do this on purpose. Some are to "look like a dunce" who interpreted the situation incorrectly, some are to intentionally add bias to the subject, and some do outright fabrications.

And sometimes this is for comedic effect, and other times; it's not so clear.

This is sometimes blamed on the viewer or listener, as some artists or pundits will outright say "You interpreted it that way, I didn't mean it that way." Which then turns into this whole cancel culture "They won't apologize for being racists" shtick.

But a good art piece, a real piece of work;

Will not only put other observations together with their own; they'll add a multitude of interpretation: as if several voices are coming together to make a single piece.

This doesn't remove bias, it includes bias from multiple perspectives on purpose. Depending on the listener, could give a very real and different interpretation to an observer.

And it's the viewers, like patrons at an art gallery to discuss what they're viewing, like Oprah's Book Club, Rotten Tomatoes, or MetaCritic. And yes; even reddit. In order to understand all the angles that they're not getting.

In recent years, a lot of angles were being blatantly dismissed, ignored, or called "fringe" just because, or "it doesn't match our view of the world", a statement commonly reserved for opinions you think are "bat shit crazy". And it's only recently, very recently, that we're seeing outlets begin to pick up on these voices.

TBF; some media outlets curate their output so they don't accidentally cause a Jan 6 moment. Or in the case of Mohammed literally sending in death threats to Comedy Central headquarters over a cartoon whose premise is "make fun of anything not nailed down. And sometimes even him."

"It wasn't literally Mohammed" you're saying; "It was his ardent followers who believe in the words peace through blowing up a cartoon studio."

What's the difference? Jesus Christ takes the blame for his fringe southern white supremacist KKK members who live in the northern states.

Although... Who's to say they were Muslims at all and not just saying it to say it?

To leave out one perspective, because the other side doesn't deserve one is the anti-thesis to art. And while I agree; Somebody who would prefer the murder of their opposition instead of letting them speak probably doesn't deserve to be heard further.

It's just as easy to put those words and that sentiment into the mouth of somebody you don't like through rumor and media.

If an art piece shows one perspective, it should be displayed across from its opposite bias. But a third and fourth neutral perspective should be allowed to give their observations on the matter as well.

Propaganda, by definition, suggests that the neutral perspectives and opposing perspectives have no place. And that's how we get to one of the government types like fascism and authoritarianism; where dissent is subject to forfeiture of the right to speak.

[soundmelive]

Introduction Adam Saleh is an American-Saudi Arabian YouTuber, rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. He was born on March 23, 1993, in Saudi Arabia, and moved to the United States at the age of 12. Saleh began his YouTube career in 2012 and quickly rose to fame for his humorous videos. Adam Saleh, a name synonymous with social media stardom, has had an ever-evolving career. From his early days as a YouTuber creating prank videos to his more recent endeavors in the world of music, Adam Saleh's influence is undeniable. But what sets him apart from other influencers and content creators? we look at Adam Saleh's career and impact. Early Life and Rise to Fame Born on June 4, 1993, in Brooklyn, New York, Adam Saleh grew up in a Yemeni American household. His initial claim to fame was through his YouTube channel, which he launched in 2012. His content initially focused on pranks and cultural commentary, appealing to a youthful audience. Unlike other YouTubers who stick to a singular theme, Saleh successfully pivoted to other forms of content, ensuring his relevance. What Sets Him Apart His unique blend of comedy, vlogs, and cultural insights has gained him a loyal following. Adam's Yemeni background allows him to present perspectives that are often underrepresented in mainstream media, filling a unique niche. He also gained significant attention for his provocative videos that sparked controversy, including a video in which he claimed to have been arrested on a plane for being Muslim. Transition to Music In 2015, Saleh began his journey into the music industry. Saleh released his debut album, "Adam Saleh", in 2015. He has also starred in the films "The Mindy Project" and "The Big Sick". In 2019, he founded his production company, "Adam Saleh Productions". His debut album, "Chapter II," released in 2017, was a hit among his fans. His music often contains elements of pop, R&B, and influences from Middle Eastern music. Evolution in Music From his early singles like "Tears" to his more recent works like "Waynak," it's evident that Saleh has matured both as an artist and a lyricist. The thematic content has evolved, focusing on more significant issues and emotional depth, setting him apart from other YouTuber-turned-musicians.Saleh is a known social activist. He advocates for minority rights and speaks out publicly against racism and Islamophobia. He is also active in the fight against violence against women. Key Decision-Making Factors Positive Influence Cultural Relevance: One of Adam's strongest points is his ability to relate to his fan base through his cultural background and insights. Versatility: Whether it's YouTube or music, Adam's creative versatility keeps his audience engaged. Drawbacks Controversy: Adam has found himself embroiled in multiple controversies, including allegations of staged pranks, which could undermine his credibility. Niche Limitation: While his unique perspective is a strength, it also narrows his audience to those who relate to his cultural background or specific content themes. Comparable Influencers If you're interested in Adam Saleh, you might also want to check out: FouseyTUBE (Yousef Erakat): Also a YouTuber-turned-musician but focuses more on motivational talks now. Slim Albaher: A YouTuber and podcaster who also collaborates frequently with Adam Saleh. Why Adam Saleh Stands Out Adam Saleh isn't just another social media influencer; he's a multi-talented individual who has successfully ventured into various creative fields. His unique blend of cultural commentary and entertaining content sets him apart from many influencers out there. His pivot into music has shown an evolution, not just a rebranding. While he has his share of controversies and drawbacks, his strengths in versatility and cultural relevance make him a unique figure in today's digital age. Whether you're into his YouTube content, his music, or both, Adam Saleh offers a breadth of content that caters to a wide range of audiences.

With millions of followers across platforms, Adam Saleh is undoubtedly a significant figure in the digital landscape, and it will be. Saleh is a controversial figure, but he is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in modern popular culture

[rhetoricandlogic]

Gary K. Wolfe Reviews Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

September 25, 2023

A few months ago, in reviewing Kelly Link’s White Cat, Black Dog, I made the thoroughly unoriginal observation that fairy tales seem almost infinitely malleable, and almost irresist­ible to fantasy writers; it’s as though they were the base pairs that make up the very DNA of a lot of Western storytelling. In the last year or so alone, I’ve looked at creative and sometimes brilliant improvisations and variations from Link, Jane Yolen, Theodora Goss, Alix E. Har­row, Catherynne M. Valente, and even Gene Wolfe. I mention this because, even in such august company, T. Kingfisher’s Thornhedge stands out as a strikingly original take on the Sleeping Beauty tale, based on a central reversal that I, for one, hadn’t seen before. In deference to the spoiler-sensitive, I’ll only mention a couple of questions that most readers will find themselves asking early on: exactly what is that forbidding hedge of thorns around the castle keep really for, and why is the fairy changeling Toadling so devoted to keeping it secret that she maintains a lonely vigil for centuries? By the time we learn the answers, we’re so thoroughly invested in Toadling’s own story, and her cau­tious relationship with a peripatetic and not very heroic knight named Hamil, that the real focus of the novella becomes clear. And while it does eventually involve some brutal murders, sui­cide, abandonment, and hideously reanimated corpses, it’s finally a sweet-tempered tale of loyalty, patience, honor, redemption, and love.

The opening chapter not only serves as a remarkable evocation of loneliness, but estab­lishes the story in that liminal space (see, there I go again) between fairytale lore and actual medieval history. Toadling, with her greenish skin and frog-like face – and the habit of actu­ally turning into a toad in moments of stress – has been keeping watch over the thornhedge for so long that she suspects generations of humans must have passed, leaving the actual tale of what happened there transformed into legend. She marks the passage of time by noting the shifting bird populations, a road being built nearby, and the fluctuating numbers of humans who appear. At one point, when travelers have all but disappeared, she sees what we recognize as plague doctors and bands of flagellants, and when the knight Halim shows up much later, he explains that the plague has been over for two centuries. With his references to the Pope, the Byzantine-Seljuk wars, and his own Muslim background, he also yanks the story more firmly into history. Though he describes himself as neither a very good knight nor a very devout Muslim, he proves to be unfailingly polite and considerate, convincing himself that Toadling may herself be the one under an enchantment, and determines to rescue her.

Meanwhile, Toadling recalls the now-ancient story of the princess in the tower, and why she blames herself for her present dilemma. What begins as a rather innocent comedy of errors briefly turns into a gruesome horror tale, then into a melancholy, almost elegiac account of loss and abandonment as everyone remaining in the castle either dies or wanders off, and finally into that long lonely vigil that first introduced us to Toadling. That may sound like a lot to pack into a relatively short novella, but Thornhedge is actually a masterful demonstration of what novellas do best: focusing largely on a single individual facing an apparently insurmount­able dilemma while trying to find a place in the world. Puzzled by a human world she has never belonged to, and yet never fully at home among the fairies, Toadling is one of the more endear­ing and memorable characters I’ve encountered this year, and pretty much the same can be said for her tale.