Frequently-asked questions
What does Sepia Mutiny mean?
It's a pun that combines the name of the first widespread rebellion against the British Raj with sepia, an ink associated with photography that is described as a "shade of brown with a tinge of red." But you knew all that, clever reader.
Where are you headquartered?
We work out of a top-secret bunker in North Dakota with a passel of trained monkeys.
What does desi mean?
It's slang for the cultures of South Asia and the diaspora. It's similar to homeboy, paesano or boricua. Etymology: deshi, Hindi/Urdu for 'from the country,' 'from the motherland.' Pronounced 'they-see,' it's the opposite of pardesi, foreigner.
What is South Asia?
It's the countries in the area of the Indian subcontinent which share common ethnic and cultural roots (food, family, Bollywood). SAJA opines that South Asia includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. The U.S. State Department also includes Afghanistan.
What is the South Asian diaspora?
Communities of desis who emigrated from South Asia. Large diasporic communities are in the U.S., UK, Canada, Africa, the West Indies, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. You'll even see the occasional sardar in Norway.
How do you spell 'Gandhi'?
This question and many others are addressed in the excellent SAJA stylebook.
How does this blog use the term second gen?
- First gen: Immigrants, the pioneers; grew up in the homeland
- Second gen: Grew up here, regardless of where they were born
- 1.5-gen: Went to high school in the homeland and college here (this category is fuzzy)
Japanese Americans have special names for each of its generations in the United States. The first generation born in Japan or Okinawa, is called Issei. The second generation is Nisei, third is Sansei, fourth is Yonsei, and fifth is Gosei. The term Nikkei was coined by Japanese American sociologists and encompasses the entire population across generations. [Link]
The Nisei Japanese Americans... (lit. second generation) are American-born citizens of the United States of Japanese ancestry... [Link]
Where did you get those swell banners?
Glad you asked.
I'm not desi, can I still read this blog?
Come one, come all.
Why does this blog zero in on the desi angle of everything you post?
This is a focused, cultural interest blog, not a general-purpose site. It brings readers together for that exact reason. Why is Sports Illustrated so focused on sports? ;)
How do I hyperlink something in a comment?
If you can see these buttons
in your browser, select the text in your comment and click the button.
Otherwise, type: <a href="http://[The URL]">The linked text</a>
How do I quote text in a comment so it's all indented and spiffy?
If you can see these buttons
in your browser, select the text in your comment and click the button.
Otherwise, type: <blockquote>The quoted text</blockquote>
Can you please add my blog to the sidebar?
Send us your Web address, and we'll take a look. We add the blogs we love, are addicted to and read daily.The best way to get noticed by us is to leave great comments and link back to your own blog using the comment form.
How do I become and SM Guest Blogger?
See answer to question above.
Why are the comments closed on some posts?
We close comments:
- If personal, non-issues-focused abuse, cussing or flame wars arise. It's out of respect for readers addicted to the Recent Comments section, i.e. Blog Crack. Not that we'd ever be that obsessive ;)
- After the millionth 'OMG, WTF, pReItY iS sO mUcH h0tTeR tHaN aIsH.' It's all been said by then, really.
- On posts we know will attract trolls, when we don't have the time to respond. We've all got day jobs.
- If we've gone 48 hours without sex. Only you can prevent this.
- Because we're feeling vaguely surly.
By deleting my abusive comment, aren't you violating my free speech?
Free speech applies to the public sphere. This is a privately-run blog with moderated comments. You're welcome to post whatever you wish on your own blog.
Why can't I post under the nickname "Anonymous?"
Because a hundred others already thought of that, and it's getting hard to tell y'all apart.
I'm a reporter, do you have a press kit?
Yes.
I once knew this guy named Venkat, do you know him?
No. Please go away :)
Was Vinod really Ayn Rand's boy toy?
We do not speak of this any longer.
Do you really have trained monkeys in your basement that do the majority of your research?
We never lie about our monkeys. We would be nothing without them. Nothing.
I am a celebrity and am thinking about suing you guys because some of the commenters on your website wrote a bunch of shit about me that is totally slanderous. Am I going to win my case?
No.
How punk is the Mutiny?
