Oh Yeah Baby!
Finally, 2006 is here! From everyone at EGO, a very naughty 2006 to all our readers. Here's wishing you:
* Happiness, Health, Success .. blah blah blah
More importantly:
* Money. Lots of it.
* Sex. Lots of it, all kinds, shapes, sizes, and sexualities.
* Dancing. It's the year of music and disco fever.
* EGO! The team is determined to make 2006 a great year for indulging the interests, curiosities and moods of all our readers.
So write to us and for us. Be Desi but also be Italian, Romanian, Australian, British, Brazilian, Nigerian, Japanese, Estonian ...
Oh yeah baby!
Ciao.
Jan 15, 06 06:46 PM| Comments (11)
Sweet Angelina
Angelina Jolie proves that she is more than just a red hot sex bomb with amazing lips and boobs! She is also the mother of two adopted children and the lover of Brad Pitt. But no, that's not where her EGO award comes from. She spent Thanksgiving in Pakistan visiting the victims of the earthquake that has devastated the country. Her dedication to human rights is truly inspiring.
She is now officially 'Sweet Angelina'! Oh, and she took that cute turkey Brad with her.
Dec 1, 05 04:53 PM| Comments (1)
Sexy Chess
Estonian supermodel Carmen Kass is known for slinking across runways from Paris to New York, earning bags of money for her campaigns plastered across billboards for top fashion houses, and now ... now she is becoming known for her interest in chess. Elected president of the Estonian Chess Federation last year, Kass is transforming the sex appeal of this otherwise not terribly popular spectator sport.
According to a recent article in the New York Times entitled Sex and Chess, Kass' interest in chess is but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hot chicks flexing their mental muscles. Kudos to women who can reinvent themselves, do interesting things and still look hot. Checkmate?!
Nov 29, 05 05:20 PM| Comments (8)
Google Te Labho
It is a truly international world after all. Google provides an interface to its search engine in over 120 languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Estonian and Pig Latin (don't ask, I don't know).
But the cutest thing is the latest addition: Punjabi. While the button below the textbox says "Google Search" when the language preferance is English, it says (in English) "Google Te Labho", which means "Find in Google". You kind of have to have heard it in Punjabi all your life to be tickled silly by it.
Anyway, check it out and enjoy!
Sep 12, 05 08:09 PM| Comments (1)
Shahzia Sikander
The beautiful, dynamic and incredibly talented Pakistani painter Shahzia Sikander was recently awarded the "tamgha-e-imtiaz" - National Medal of Honor, by the Government of Pakistan. Shahzia has become one of the most well-known South Asian painters in the West, and has had exhibitions all over the world, including at the MOMA, New York.
Some of us at EGO personally know Shahzia, and have seen her rise to the top of her game with hard work, unparalled talent and a modest charm that is incredibly sexy.
Check out Shahzia's work on her website for starters, and when you finally get to making those millions, we recommend starting your virgin art collection with one of her stunning paintings.
Aug 20, 05 04:25 PM| Comments (5)
Rushdie - Sufi Saint?
Rushdie, after receiving a thrashing from Muslim fundamentalists, for his critically acclaimed, and religiously insensitive book 'The Satanic Verses', has come up with a new paradigm for the direction of Islam: Reformation. In a great article published in The Times, London, Rushdie says:
The Islamic Reformation has to begin here, with an acceptance that all ideas, even sacred ones, must adapt to altered realities.
Usually, we at EGO stay away from religious chit chat [honestly, who wants to live in a basement for years a la Rushdie himself?]. But when a man makes a lot of sense, we have to pay attention.
It is high time, for starters, that Muslims were able to study the revelation of their religion as an event inside history, not supernaturally above it.
Does this mean his next book, Shalimar the Clown, may actually be good, a salute to the old Rushdie we liked and adored? Think we'll check it out!
Aug 11, 05 11:13 AM| Comments (19)
EGO Baby
Congratulations to our CTO Oliver and his lovely fiancee Eva on the birth of their beautiful baby boy, Marius. Marius Kaljuvee is the first EGO baby and holds a very special place in our hearts!
Wishing the new family the best.
Love, EGO Team
Aug 5, 05 05:06 PM| Comments (18)
The Humbling of EGO
Recently, EGO Magazine's readership has skyrocketed with thousands upon thousands readers coming from 55 different countries. We have been a little humbled by it all, even though that's not a state we subscribe to or recommend. We must note, however, that it is oddly titillating.
Just a little memo to thank all our readers for their support. We hope we've provided you a home away from home. We think of EGO as a members-only club housed in a large loft in New York, with dark maroon velvet couches and a long bar full of exotic cocktails served by hot bartenders, rocking international music, sexy strip dancers and a myriad of personalities milling around - desi, non-desi, and all variations in between - and we're happy to give you a VIP pass.
It's a lot of naughty fun with a little angst-ridden reflection thrown in.
Ciao.
Jul 30, 05 03:34 PM| Comments (0)
Mapplethorpe at the NYC Guggenheim
The Guggenheim in New York is currently exhibiting photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.
Robert Mapplethorpe and the Classical Tradition: Photographs and Mannerist Prints explores the dialogue between the photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe (1946–1989) and classical art, in particular late-16th-century Flemish Mannerist prints, through the engravings and woodcuts of Hendrick Goltzius, Jan Harmensz. Muller, Jacob Matham, and Jan Saenredam.
Mapplethorpe, one of America's greatest photographers, is famous for his stylized, black and white portraits, often of S&M-related subjects, and comprising nude (usually homoerotic) photographs. The erotic nature of his work often stirred controversy, but there is no denying their pleasing aesthetics and beautiful compositions. EGO highly recommends this exhibition [running till August 24th].
"I went into photography because it seemed like the perfect vehicle for commenting on the madness of today's existence." Robert Mapplethorpe
Jul 21, 05 05:40 PM| Comments (11)
Mohsin Hamid Ruminates
Mohsin Hamid, Pakistan's claim to literary fame recently, ruminated on the current state of Pakistan in last week's issue of Time Asia Magazine in the article, Two Steps Forward, One Step Back. Hamid takes on President Musharraf head on in examining why Pakistan's image branding is a miserable failure, despite great strides taken in economic growth, an expanding liberal atmosphere for the youth, and the phenomenon of 'brain gain' that is happening in the country today.
I believe Musharraf is probably sincere in his desire for "enlightened moderation" — for, in other words, a more widely respected and tolerant Pakistan. But he is undermining this goal by failing to shed attitudes he has inherited from the Pakistan he wishes to leave behind.
Musharraf's tendency to forget that one civil liberty ignored, as in the case of denying rape victim Mukhtar Mai her passport to travel to the US, can tarnish an already fragile, and often, incorrect image of Pakistan. Pakistan is changing, according to Hamid, for the better, for the smarter and for the more liberal. And if Hamid, the author of the quintessential enfant terrible novel Moth Smoke, says that, then we take it seriously. Good thing Hamid takes his job as a gadfly seriously as well and reminds the President that consistency is the key to good governance, and more importantly, good PR.
Jul 10, 05 11:32 PM| Comments (0)
Most Beautiful Lady
According to the news section of Padma Lakshmi's website,
Padma is the 28th most beautiful lady in the world! That is, according to England-based Harpers and Queen. Check out the July issue now!
Now one can't help but wonder the difference between beautiful woman and beautiful lady ... is there even one? Maybe that's blue-blooded Brit talk.
Anyway, we agree that Mrs. Rushdie is one hot cookie. If you're wondering what a day in Padma's life is like, check out a page from her diary. Some priceless quotes:
I feel...like a grasshopper.
We got to basement bhangra at SOB's and we have fun in spite of the fact that S. is cut in on while dancing with me by young Sikh boys. I tell him to not let them cut in anymore and he laughs.
Why is S. laughing? Could it be from happiness at having this beautiful lady or from watching his reflection doing bhangra in the mirror?
Photograph from Padma Lakshmi's Website
Jul 5, 05 11:28 PM| Comments (1)
Junoon Invited to Perform at Live 8
Pakistan's rock band Junoon has been invited to take part in the most anticipated music event of the year: Live 8. Junoon, called "the U2" of South Asia by The New York Times, is fast becoming a veritable musical force at a global level, its fame propelled further by frontman Salman Ahmed's [left] documentaries on Islam and the modern man, and his role as UN goodwill ambassador for HIV/AIDS.
According to Junoon's press release:
Junoon's Salman Ahmad spoke with Bob Geldof over the phone to accept the invitation to perform alongside international artists like U2, Sir Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Sting, Coldplay and others.
This is truly exciting for all us desis who always wanted to see one of us perform alongside the bigwigs of music. Thanks to Junoon, the chair of South Asia has finally been occupied at this table!
Also, keep a look out for Salman's first solo album Infiniti to be released on July 1st, with songs like Ghooma Tana (a collaboration between Salman Ahmad, Subha Mudgal, Naseeruddin Shah and Nandita Das).
Album Website: http://www.junoonis.com/
We've already pre-ordered ours; what are you waiting for?
Jun 24, 05 04:11 PM| Comments (15)
You Had Me At Hello
Tom Cruise did the most cliche of things this week: he proposed to his girlfriend Katie Holmes [left] on top of the Eiffel Tower early in the morning. Then, he said something even more cheesy:
"Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman."
Cheesy is not that bad. Maybe the man is truly in love. Although a 42-year old Hollywood superstar falling for 26-year old Katie Holmes so madly that he proposes to her after six weeks seems a little bizarre. The media shy Cruise has done nothing but promote his love for Katie Holmes (best known for her role in the TV serial Dawson's Creek and now in the summer blockbuster Batman Begins), repeatedly calling her "magnificent."
He even jumped up and down on Oprah's sofa [left], apparently to express his love, which according to him is very "cool". Oprah looked too shocked to be cynical, but others have not shied away from suspecting that the whole 'romance' is a publicity stunt by Cruise to promote his movie War of the Worlds. Also, there is that quiet suspicion that he wants to forever stamp out other rumors about his love interest, which no-one (including us) dares to write about lest we be stripped and sued to hell and back by Cruise's lawyers.
But are we just being too cyncial? Maybe true love is possible in six weeks and Katie really had him at hello.
Jun 18, 05 03:24 PM| Comments (0)
Jin Xing: Shangai Beauty
China’s leading modern dancer, the beautiful Jin Xing, was born a little boy in 1969. She remembers how she always felt like she was a girl trapped in a man’s body and in 1998, Jin Xing had a sex change operation. Interestingly, her talent is so huge that the Chinese government has remained completely silent after the sex change. In fact, Jin Xing battled the rigidity of Communist bureaucrats until they relented and allowed the first sex change operation in the country. Who would have thought this kind of thing was even possible in China?!
China's most celebrated modern dancer is fabulously talented - a world-class dancer and choreographer - and is fluent in five languages. Jin Xing, (which means golden star) has acted, directed, choreographed, and danced into people's hearts and to much public acclaim everywhere from New York to Rome to Brussels. TG Media
Jin Xing’s mother helped her adopt three young children and last year, Jin Xing met and married a German businessman.
She is now one of the best known creators of culture in a society which has keenly been sampling new values, life-styles and aesthetic forms of expression. CultureBase
Look out for EGO’s full article on Jin Xing. We are huge fans of this incredibly talented, charismatic dancer who is also China’s most famous transsexual.
Jun 7, 05 09:19 AM| Comments (9)
Ash-bashing
It's utterly unacceptable. Aishwarya Rai is the blue-blooded rightful queen of desi hearts. Yet, according to a report, she thinks people have been unfairly critical of her appearances on US television recently.
“Ash-bashing is what's going on constantly over here. Someone asked me why am I politically correct even when people hit out so openly at me. But the truth is I've never been brought up to behave any other way. I can't say anything hurtful about anyone.” Ash told IANS while responding to the criticism directed at her.
It's really quite petty. The poor woman is jetting between two continents keeping up with her committments to movies (Ash will begin shooting for Jagmohan Mundra’s film ‘Provoked soon. In Bollywood, she is at present committed to two projects: Rajkumar Santoshi’s Saamna with Ajay Devgan and Yash Raj banner’s Dhoom 2 with Hrithik Roshan) and all people can do is criticize, criticize, criticize.
It's always a love-hate relationship with Ashwariya Rai ...
May 31, 05 08:43 PM| Comments (2)
The New Umrao Jaan
Rekha immortalized Umrao Jaan for every moviegoer with her poignant protrayal of the despondent dancing girl in the movie Umrao Jaan in 1981. Now J P Dutta is going to create a new rendering of Muzaffar Ali's classic epic with Priyanka Chopra as his new heroine.
Why Priyanka? According to Dutta:
“Among the current heroines, I think she has the ‘It’ factor. She’s sensuous, graceful and a very good Kathak dancer. If she watches her steps, the sky’s the limit for her.”
But can Priyanka Chopra, the former Miss World, really dance her way into the hearts of those won first by Rekha? We'll have to watch and decide.
May 30, 05 09:17 PM| Comments (10)
Of deities and family fun
I've seen a lot of crazy ideas in my time, but this easily tops them all. According to the BBC, a new theme park named Gangadham is being planned on a park on the banks of the Ganges, sprawling over a 25 acres. It aims to be the 'Disneyland on the Ganges'.
Why is this so noteworthy? It plans to (from the article) "recreate great moments in Hindu mythology through hi-tech rides, an animated mythological museum, a "temple city", food courts and a sound and light show."
Yes people, a business model hinging its hopes on a cash cow, hoping it can pull off "a Passion", with its preexisting huge fanbase. Read the entire article for both the positive and negative takes on the thing, while I try to stop snickering.
Apr 29, 05 08:55 PM| Comments (7)
Can Bit Bit Deal?
Britney Spears has finally admitted that she's pregnant. According to the BBC:
The announcement comes weeks after Spears lashed out at US tabloid magazines which she called "false" and "desperate" for speculating that she was pregnant and her marriage already in trouble.
But the question on everyone's mind is: can Bit Bit, the miniscule dog she carries around as a hand accessory take the competition? Already small and insecure, will Bit Bit recede into gloomy depression or become all diva and bitchy?
Well, we recommend Family Paws, a great consulting firm for fostering baby and canine interaction. According to the company:
Education is key to establish and maintain comfortable, safe and lifelong relationships with our canine companions.
Bit Bit, don't you worry a bit!
Apr 13, 05 10:06 AM| Comments (1)
Desi Dance For Dummies
Desi Dance Crew has come up with a new album of party remixes with the name: Desi Dance Party for Dummies. According to DesiClub.com, the album rocks:
Very cool cover and very cool theme. These guys got it down so packed that they even broke down the track list by chapter. We have 8 Megamixes in total, which contain about 6-8 tracks each, so its really about 60 tracks or so. The format is amazing and the order of the tracks is also brilliant.
For a taste of the funky mixes, click the track below courtesy ConfuseDesi.com (who have the wonderful byline: we're so confused, we forgot the d).
Lite Bhangra Mix
Gal Bangayi, Dil Legayi , Gash Kahke , Makhana (BMCM), Pretty Women, Aja Soniye ,Lift Karadey
Apr 12, 05 10:29 PM| Comments (9)
Mistress of Spices
The Israeli Film Festival this year opened with Bride & Prejudice. Moviegoers were disappointed not to see the beautiful Ashwariya Rai at the festival. But the busy lady couldn't make it, because she has been working on her next film, Mistress of Spices, based on the novel by the same name by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The screenplay was written by three people, including Gurinder Chadha and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Shooting begain in Oakland earlier this month.
The novel revolves around the character of Tilo, played by Ms.Ash R. According to the back-cover:
Magical, tantalizing, and sensual, The Mistress of Spices is the story of Tilo, a young woman born in another time, in a faraway place, who is trained in the ancient art of spices and ordained as a mistress charged with special powers. The now immortal Tilo--in the gnarled and arthritic body of an old woman--travels through time to Oakland, California, where she opens a shop from which she administers spices as curatives to her customers. An unexpected romance with a handsome stranger eventually forces her to choose between the supernatural life of an immortal and the vicissitudes of modern life.
The handsome stranger, by the way, is played by Dylan McDermott, who truly is quite irresistable.
Apr 12, 05 05:07 PM| Comments (6)