when is the meet up going to be in the dirty south ATL? :)
have fun in SF... amazing city.. sigh.. i miss cali.. ;)

Ever since I started reading this blog I've been praying for a west coast meet up. When you finally decide to have one, it happens to be on a day that I will flying back from Canada (in the evening). Let me know if u decided to do it again. by the way, u couldn't have picked a better spot. north beach is beeeautiful! nxt time, try steps of rome with their cute waiters!

Anna you look very cute.

when is the meet up going to be in the dirty south ATL? :)

chick pea, can't we just do our own meetup? apparently, you and i are the only 2 people who are in the south.

=P

let's do our own meetup.. heck i'm at emory as well... email me ;) garbanzobean@gmail.com

cheers!`

tardy kundis ... LOL! is the k-word already part of desi mainstream lingo?

steps of rome with their cute waiters!

those waiters are obnoxious! the guys at greco keep their distance and don't try to stick their tongues in your girlfriend's mouth.

nxt time, try steps of rome with their cute waiters

Tsk, tsk, silly rabbits. This could be the 3593rd memorial San Francisco Sepia Mutiny meetup, but if Anna is presiding, it will forever be held at Grecco. :)

Amen, Razib. besides, for me, "steps" was a haunt during college/just after in the 90's (1996-1999). unfortunately, it's nowhere near as charming as it was back then-- and yes, I actually did have a waiter try and dry hump me, and not in the good way. they use shite espresso, too, though the tiramisu is still aight.

Greco? They nicknamed me, start making my drink before I'm fully through the front door, have wifi, let us hang out for HOURS with minimual purchases with no worries (not the case at Steps) and...

...if someone the owner doesn't like hits on me, they get chased off with a broom. you can't pay for that kind of entertainment. ;)

I just had to stop and comment on this site's design. It's like a steaming cup o' cappuccino in an Instant Foldgers landscape....

malayalee heterosexual male- thank you! that's very sweet of you. :) i think current guest blogger saheli looks lovely, too.

:+:

frank- if i make no other contribution to the virtual world, let that be it. ;)

:+:

courtney- on presumptuous behalf of the massively talented baristas who make this sublime capp possible, thanks. :D

:+:

and the rest of you? i know which hotlantans won't be attending, but ads? saheli? absolutgcs? three-Vee? where you at?

I'm in!

If you fellas are meeting up at ATL , let me know. Its a drive, but I can make it.

*cough* dayym! Anna you look really hot in the picture. I'm really sorry but I just had to say that :( I know I usually stick to arguing about politics, but I am err, a Punjabi male :$

get all your tardy kundis there by Three.

Oh Anna, now you're just pandering to the (m)asses. :-P

Hi, I am a newbie Mutiny reader! (Great blog! I wish I had found it earlier). Is this meetup open to all readers, old and new? And also, what exactly do you do at these meetups? Tx! ;)

Why thank you, milady Anna! Yep, I'll be there---otherwise it would be false advertising, right? ;-)

Anna...ur the hottest blogger

Hi, I am a newbie Mutiny reader! (Great blog! I wish I had found it earlier). Is this meetup open to all readers, old and new? And also, what exactly do you do at these meetups? Tx! ;)

The Meetup is open to EVERYONE who can find parking in North Beach. ;)

Seriously, all are welcome to attend, regardless of how long they've been reading us. What do we do at these Meetups? We drink excellent Illy-based drinks OR Pellegrino Arranciatas if you dislike coffee for some bizarre reason I'd prefer to not dwell on, lest I like you a little less after doing so.

We TALK. And hang out. And laugh.

That's it. Somehow, it manages to be insane amounts of fun, with inside jokes born every other minute and pictures taken when we're not birthing those. Seriously, just show up. It's fun to mutiny IRL, promise. :)

Everyone's Anna-you're-so-hotting so I'm here to say Saheli you're the hottest bloggette!

Before you ask, this isn't a sympathy compliment (those who know me know I'm not a nice person)...perhaps it's the Blogger T-shirt! And I'm just doing my bit to stop Anna's head swelling too large ;)

Anna does actually look very cute in that photograph. Like every Indian mother's dream daughter-in-law. Awww, so innocent.

what exactly do you do at these meetups? Tx! ;)

If you've seen that movie "Eyes Wide Shut" then you'll get the general idea....

Saheli looks more traditional Malayalee beauty with those ...ahem... Malayalee eyes.

Hallo leddiss. I am seeing your pictures and I think to myself I must write to your, your beautiful both faces.

I am currently studying UK but hopefully I am doctor soon, then you can say you have doctor husband. I am only joking. Hey, its cool.

So what you both like doing? Why not try give calling me some time? I am very interested to talk to beautiful leddiss such as yourselfs. We can exchange biodatas - haha I make another joke. Yes I have good sens of hummer, you will like very much. I'm fair and tall, around 5'2" but same like filmi stars with shoes on.

So I cut a story short - I am fun and want very much hook you up. Try me, Im sure you will both like and I can even bring friend.

Wow, these comment, > are interesting.. haha.
Whens the next NYC meetup!? Sorry I missed the last one!

Bong Breaker - which one you like? left or rite?
remember, we friend long time.

The more comments I read, the more I really wanna start sepiamatrimony.com or sepiahookup.com. Seems like we could mint a lot of money. What say fellas ? Anyone intrested in that venture ?

Dr. BongBreaker, please be sending your biodata and we will revert to you if the panel of 1,237 aunties and the dhobiwalla find you suitable for either of our girls. Please to also attach latest paystub.

FYI- SepiaDestiny ??

Dr. BongBreaker, please be sending your biodata and we will revert to you if the panel of 1,237 aunties and the dhobiwalla find you suitable for either of our girls. Please to also attach latest paystub.

Don't forget to do a "background check" on him too, because apparently the word of gossipy aunties, uncles, and friends-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who knows someone he once asked on a date is automatically the "gospel truth" and admissable evidence in a court of law ;)

Desi Nole: I thought the same thing when SM was having it's spot of "financial difficulty", and the best part....we could probably get our parents to foot the bill ;)

See y'all there!

You kiddies. So punny today.

If we're brainstorming fundraisers that give good ogle factor, I vote Sepia Man of the Month calendar.

If we're brainstorming fundraisers that give good ogle factor, I vote Sepia Man of the Month calendar.

*cough* In the interests of fairness and "equal opportunity", how about 'Sepia Mutiny Swimsuit Edition 2005' ?

'Sepia Mutiny Swimsuit Edition 2005'

Now your talking Jai Singh. I will volunteer and provide the professeional shoot.

I second Jai Singh on the SMSE 2005 idea. And whatever happened to not being so blunt when flirting ?

Hmmm maybe, I should start a 3 credit hour course on that. Ideas for the curriculum are welcome.

I wasn't flirting with anyone. I never flirt with anyone. I have absolutely no idea about how to flirt with someone even if I wanted to. Ask DD. It's like that scene from Friends where Ross attempts to hit on the pizza delivery girl in the doorway of Monica's apartment by talking to her about how they "put the smell in oven gas".

Don't forget to do a "background check" on him too, because apparently the word of gossipy aunties, uncles, and friends-of-a-friend-of-a-friend who knows someone he once asked on a date is automatically the "gospel truth" and admissable evidence in a court of law ;)

that went without saying, yaar. Of course the opinion of an auntie who used to have a maid who was friends with Bongsy's third-cousin's dogwalker's favorite checkout-line bagger's adopted exchange student could completely ruin this rishta. And you know vutt I am telling you is truth only!

And you know vutt I am telling you is truth only!

Of course, because the fact that auntieji's own daughter didn't hit it off with the prospective groom during their own semi-forced-blind date has absolutely nothing to do with auntieji's attempt to torpedo the unsuspecting suitor's new rishta.....

Ve should just dispense with judicious courts entirely and rely on "auntie evidence" instead. Auntieji's never lie and never have their own hidden agendas ! Everyone knows that !

No seriously, Bong Breaker talks like that! I remember when we were at Bombay Bronx and as soon as he started talking I was looking for the escape route...

Do you reckon Bongsie was the original role model for Apu's accent ?

Cos that's what I heard, although apparently they had to tone Apu's desi accent down a lot from the original Bongsie-inspired version, otherwise he just would have sounded too stereotypical and cliched.

Sunny you fiend! Giving away my secrets. I'd built up a smooth-talking lothario image (in my head on Sepia Mutiny) and you've dashed it all with rumours about my bud bud accent! Now be honest as to why you were looking for the escape route...you'd attracted the attentions of Big Jagjeet hadn't you?

Having known I won't be having an arranged marriage from childhood, I've misbehaved. There is no way I'd pass a background check. Thank God for lowe marriages and friends who can keep secrets.

SM hunk and babe of the month is a GREAT idea.

And

Bong Breaker - which one you like? left or rite?

Sign me up! I'd love to attend (if I can find parking)

Jai, sorry yaar, it was my bad. They were supposed to be two sentences. But now that you brought it up, I do remember that eposide of friends. I just wish that

1) I had your number (to give it away to women)
2) I was around when you flirted so badly, that would make a great post.

But anyways, are we meeting in ATL ?

is saheli malayalee??? i thought south indians all had long ass names (aside from christians). can someone point me to a primer on brown names?

AFAIK, i am the only mallu in that pic. i think saheli is bong...like you? :D

hey, check what i found, top indian surnames for 1990 US census. 'datta' doesn't sound like a stereotypical bengali surname like sen, sarkar or basu, but what do i know?

btw, notice i made no comment on the pictures. i respect brown ladies for their A+s, not their asses :)

Razib,

Datta is a very common Bengali surname. Not that one should be too much bothered about it.

Kush

thanks kush.

i noticed this on saheli's webpage (looking for ethnic clues before you enlightened me):
She's generally very fond of sour foods, as long as they're vegetarian.

are many bengali hindus vegetarian? my experience with bengali hindus is that they almost always eat some fish.

I think Dattas/Dutts are either Punjabi or Bengali (same with Chaudhuries)...

I can't wait for this. I've been curious as to what some of you guys actually look like...

my bong auntie told me that bengali brahmins think fish is a vegetable, i.e. they are pesco-vegetarians. ;)

/cough cough

Um, may I interrupt? :-)

While I am deeply flattered for being mistaken for the great Malayalee beauties of the south, I am, in fact a Bengali. Datta's dilute their presence by often spelling their name phonetically (Dutta).

And I am, indeed, a life-long vegetarian. There are plenty of vegetarian Hindu Bengalis, just not that many compared to the millions of fish eaters. :-)

thik achhe, razib? ;-)

As they say Bongs and Mallus like their fish, communism and soccer.

Btw, some Mallu Christians do have long ass names too(especially if they include their family name).

Another meetup in SF? I'm sooo going to try! I'll probably be late, but, if you're there for 6 hours again...

Just to clarify--no fish for me. :-)

oh, and no communism either!

However, I do love soccer.

Razib,
I'm suprised you didn't know Dutta/Datta was a common Bengali surname considering GeneXp's annual breakdown of the Miss Universe pageant.

i always assumed she was from bangalore, ergo, she was from a hindi speaking family down south. gnxp didn't exist in 2000 btw. also, the only reason i can't diss on lara is she's all about A+....

How dare you not have an affinity for communism Saheli, that is almost sacralegious. Though you can be Bengali if you love to sit around and talk endlessly about cultural affairs or books or whatever. A bit like the French really, I discovered over the weekend.

thik achhe, razib? ;-)

you know, saurav tried to pull that bengali transliteration on me. i really have a hard time deciphering it, but if i heard what you said i think i'd know what you meant. you might be curious to know that in 2004 when i went to visit bangladesh one of my uncles would laugh at the way i spoke bengali because i preserved phrases and cadences which are peculiar to the comilla district of bangladesh, and, that dialect is really not spoken much anymore, at least around my uncle. he said there were phrases i uttered which he hadn't heard in 20 years. the reason is that my mother showed up in the USA circa 1980 and she was my primary input of bengali, and to an extent still is, so my speech patterns are rather peculiar. a historical linguist should come study me, i'm really fascinating.

Razib,I was saying, "okay?"---"alright?" but you're right, transliteration systems are often crappy and indecipherable and I often have no idea how to use or read them. And there is probably a dialect issue---I probably know a more homogenized, western, urban Bangla. I'm assuming that you were a child in 1980, so all you really know is this Comilla district Bengali? That's cool, you should preserve it somehow. If I ever meet a historical linguist (as opposed to the garden variety computational kind which practically grow wild hereabouts) I'll send them your way.

Um, I know lots of Bengalis, both American and back in West Bengal, who are not communists. Who, in fact, are not too thrilled with the way the home state has been doing for the last 30 years, or even how the elections are run and the polling works.

Do I love to sit around and talk about cultural affairs and books? Er, have you been reading this blog? ;-)

so all you really know is this Comilla district Bengali?

no, i had pretensions and spoke calcutta dialect when i was little :) (i also refused to eat with my hands and always ate with utensils) in fact, to this day i rag on my brother who converts the janee into zanee or korechee into korsee. so i have a mild ability to go diaglossic.

but in any case, one thing i've noted is that though i can't understand hindi very well aside from a few common words that are easy to note, i have read transliterations of colloquial argot from eastern uttar pradesh (i.e., this would never be a written language) which i could understand pretty easily. that suggests to me that the substrate language on the north indian plain is a lot closer than the "high" languages. but i don't know about this, just my observations.

"okay?"---"alright?"

oh, and i see that totally now. i wasn't pronouncing it right :)

Bong Breaker, I keep checking my email for a hummerous set of biodata, but nothing's arrived. You must be too busy in your studies.

--Leddy On The Left.

Oh, Sunny, sorry, that comment on communism was in answer to you. :-)

The Desi Nole,

It was a very very long time ago back in my teens when I was just getting the hang of this flirting malarky....I'm a little better at it these days ;)

I live in the UK so I'm afraid I won't be coming to the party in Atlanta; the only advice I can give you is to make sure you label your car keys properly so that you can identify them amongst all the others in the bowl. Anna will explain ;)

Razib & Sirches,

Lara Dutta is Punjabi, not Bengali.

Jai: Happy to know that your flirting skills have improved.

And the question about meeting in ATL was for everyone (who live in and around ATL), but hey, now I know where you are from and nice to know that I have a place in the UK to stay at, if and when I visit.

You drop your car keys in a bowl ? Where does that tradition come from ? Or is it just Anna's way of making sure that people do not leave before she decides to kick them out.

Desi Nole,

You drop your car keys in a bowl ? Where does that tradition come from ?

I'm no expert on that practice nor do I have any, er, "hands-on" experience in that particular extracurricular hobby (apparently indulged in by respectable couples everywhere), but I believe it originated sometime during the 1970s. Don't worry -- like I said, turn up to the party and you'll find out for yourself.

Or is it just Anna's way of making sure that people do not leave before she decides to kick them out.

Hmm, not quite. My God, are you in for a shock ;)

Jai,

Its a good thing that I am not meeting these guys in San Francisco. That will give me enough time to research and find out everything about "the bowl". That is if curiosity does not kill the cat.

Ps: Still waiting for Anna to expalin the whole "ritual"

You're right, Anna, Saheli's very pretty!!

The fattest fellow Bengali I know is a human tank and is a no-fish veggie. I was always confused as to how gargantuan his girth got on a diet of vegetables, until we went out for lunch in Banglatown. My God the man can eat.

Saheli, I shall endeavour to electronically envoy a fine set of biodatas thank you please.

I am Bengali. I am an extreme right left winger. Perhaps that should be whinger. I am quite fond of soccer but I prefer FOOTBALL. I eat fish and love talking about Bengalis being great, politics and art and er..stuff. I blindly defend Ganguly and hate Bollywood. I enjoy sitting down. I am a stereotype.

And you know, that photo is representative of India's 2nd best looking couple - Bipasha and John.

Why?

They have both been signed up for a shampoo ad together. Bipasha said:

"I'm Bengali and John is half Malayalee, so of course we have great hair."

John & Bipasha are the hottest, hippest couple since Dwayne Wayne and Whitley. Mutineers of a certain age will know who I am talking about ;)

India's 2nd best looking couple

Who's the number one best looking couple ?

Punjabi Boy and ANNA, of course... cho chweet, jodi #1...

Who's the number one best looking couple ?

Duh, have you NOT realised how arrogant I am yet?

John & Bipasha are the hottest, hippest couple since Dwayne Wayne and Whitley. Mutineers of a certain age will know who I am talking about ;)

Listen, I'm 27 and I know who you're talking bout (I'm assuming you're older). Even my sister, who's only 24 remembers that show. That show came right after the Cosby show on Thursday nights when I was a kid, although I didn't find it all that exciting cuz they were all "old" characters. I could never understand why princess Whitley would go for a goofball like Dwayne Wayne with "high-tech" flippy glasses (dual sun/reading glasses).

Duh, have you NOT realised how arrogant I am yet?

you've said it so often, we thought to ourselves, "the Bong doth protest too much."

;)

I could never understand why princess Whitley would go for a goofball like Dwayne Wayne with "high-tech" flippy glasses (dual sun/reading glasses).

1. They sort of bonded after a trip to New York where Dwayne met a (now married) Lisa Bonet, ie. 'Denise', and realised that he really had lost her forever.

2. Whitley only began to really fall for Dwayne once he'd ditched the flip-up shades and nerdiness in his character, and had begun turning into an all-round, smooth-talking cool guy. Although the fact that he was also on his way to a high-flying career at some prestigious software firm probably helped too ;)

I remember way too much detail about that show....It was great while it lasted, though.

I could never understand why princess Whitley would go for a goofball like Dwayne Wayne with "high-tech" flippy glasses (dual sun/reading glasses).

Oh, Dwaaaayne, so resourceful, so sexy

That only works if you say it in a really nasal, "Gone With The Wind" Southern belle accent ;)

jai,
Yes, I assumed with that classic Bengali name, she must be. (I know Dutts (Guru) are Punjabi, but did not know know they shared this surname with the Bongs (like Chaudhuri/Chowdry). But my extensive research reveals you might be half-rite. The internet seems to say L.D. sprang fully-formed from a Punjabi father and a Scottish mother.
And let's not forget the pioneering role Marisa Tomei played in historically black Spellman college: a percursor to all the token white characters in evry UPN sitcom.

Sirches,

Divya Dutta and JP Dutta are also famous Punjabis with an apparently Bengali-sounding surname.

And let's not forget the pioneering role Marisa Tomei played in historically black Spellman college: a percursor to all the token white characters in evry UPN sitcom.

Hillman College ! I think it was supposed to be based on the real-life Howard College (or am I wrong here).

Marisa did go on to achieve some great things, especially her Oscar-winning performance in My Cousin Vinny. It's a real shame Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy etc haven't really hit the big-time to that level -- the acting capabilities of all the major characters in that show were excellent.

Hillman College ! I think it was supposed to be based on the real-life Howard College (or am I wrong here).

Hillman was based on Morehouse and Spellman colleges in ATL.

Yes, Hillman. slip of tongue/keyboard. I shall take place in the back of Col. Taylor's calculus class.

i thought south indians all had long ass names (aside from christians).

HA! The Christians Mallus I know are the ones with the long ass names (A and Triple V, I'm looking at you here.) I'm from a Hindu Malayalee family and have a 5-letter first name, and a 5-letter last name.

Razib - were you thinking of Tamilians perhaps?

HA! The Christians Mallus I know are the ones with the long ass names (A and Triple V, I'm looking at you here.) I'm from a Hindu Malayalee family and have a 5-letter first name, and a 5-letter last name.

D, true, three-Wee and other mallus have long names but that's b/c they have their family names. i don't think that's quite as common as some of us think. i think razib is referring to the ubiquitous "tessy jose" or "john george" vs "sethumadhavan balasubramaniam" or "jaganathan karunakaran". i.e. it's usually YOUR team that wins this one. ;)

that's b/c they have their family names

Ah, fair fair. If I were to unleash my house name (actually, a double name), I would experience Total Letter Domination(tm).

Jasmine Guy etc haven't really hit the big-time to that level -- the acting capabilities of all the major characters in that show were excellent.

Jasmine Guy had pursued some dance work as well as a very prominent role in "The Violet Hour" on broadway. The industry rumor mill alleges that she has a crazy drinking problem... but she's been doing legit theatre for years, since ADW ended.

she was also in the revival of the musical "Chicago"...

I am a Gujarati and my first name and last name add up to a total of 19 letters. Maybe my parents secretly wanted to join you in the league of long names. :)

Jasmine Guy etc haven't really hit the big-time to that level.

In every sit-com, there is one character who breaks out. Everyone else is usually forgotten. I always wonder... what happened to Tempest Bledsoe (Vanessa on 'Cosby'), Danielle Fishel (Topanga on 'Boy Meets World'), Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie on 'Full House'), Karyn Parsons (Hillary on 'Fresh Prince')...

(I am dating myself, aren't I?)

I am a Gujarati and my first name and last name add up to a total of 19 letters. Maybe my parents secretly wanted to join you in the league of long names. :)

when i first met Abhi, i couldn't figure out "what" he was, but guju didn't even cross my mind, b/c "Tripathi" threw me. i hesitated and finally muttered something like, "are you, um, south indian?" and he laughed. apposite response. ;)

DesiDancer,

Good to hear that Jasmine Guy's been in such high-profile work, especially something as respected and famous as 'Chicago'.

They were all part of a show that was a milestone in some ways -- and it's still being shown on the Paramount satellite/cable channel here in the UK.

Dwayne & Ron's apartment became so familiar it was practically a home-from-home ;)

HA! The Christians Mallus I know are the ones with the long ass names (A and Triple V, I'm looking at you here.) I'm from a Hindu Malayalee family and have a 5-letter first name, and a 5-letter last name.

I know Muslim Malayalees with long surnames.
eg. Riyaz "Puthiya Purayil"
Ashik "Koorimanniyil Pattiyil"

No, those are not middle name and surname together. It's typical Malabar(North Kerala) sytle housename surnames. Common among Hindu Malayalees too. I know the meaning of the first one[ Puthiya (new) pura(house)] but not sure of the second one.

I am aghast that I did not make the invite list. Brimful, Maisnon...y'all can kiss my transplanted ass!

Hmph.

This is what I deserve for not updating BI regularly, I suppose. I'm such a has-been.

Anyway, I'll see you on Sunday, punks.

Desi, puh-LEEZE! Do you not recognize Girls' Night Out when you see it? Don't worry, we'll spend the whole time talking about you :)

pls dont upset. I am always 4 u. when ever u upset remember me.