apocalypsos: (Default)
[personal profile] apocalypsos
So I was procrastinating (yes, again) and I was looking through Amazon for a good dance workout DVD. (If anybody's got a good one that's Bollywood or Latin music, uh, any chance I can get a copy? *puppy dog eyes*)

Anyway, I was looking at a Bollywood one and read this ... ahem, review.

Christians Beware - Fun Workout Marred by Idolatrous Backdrop



After having used this Bollywood video workout several times and enjoying the moves on their own, I must say that I find the focus on the idolatrous Hindi deities in the background a major turn off and distraction. As a devout Christian, I find the blatant and frequent display of two pagan religious icons in this video backdrop offensive.

I love East Indian culture for the most part - I love to eat curries and I adore making unusual clothing with sari fabrics. But I despise idolatry of any kind - especially the misplaced use of it in a video supposedly designed as a light-hearted and fun workout.

For a while I also studied classical Indian dance, which this Bollywood dancing workout has not the slightest resemblance to. Back then, I was a Christian as well, but thankfully the teacher did not have any idols in her dance studio. But when I finally performed in an East Indian dance show with my class, I was horrified by the huge many-armed statue of Shiva in the back of the stage with incense burning in front of it.

Needless to say, it was the last time I danced in one of their shows, though I do have a great deal of respect for the intricacies of Indian classical dances. For this reason, I doubt that I will use this video much, and may soon be looking to sell it here. It's a regrettable thing, because without the idols and the demonic looks occasionally flashing out of Himalaya's eyes, this video would have been a keeper.


Oh, thank God she mentioned eating curries, or else she might be an intolerant bigot!

*headdesk*

Reading that made my brain hurt.

*

Okay, answering some of the questions from yesterday's meme:

From [livejournal.com profile] conuly: Top five anthropomorphic animals

1.Brian (Family Guy)
2.Miss Piggy (The Muppets)
3.The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
4.Tigger (Winnie The Pooh)
5.The Gummi Bears (The Gummi Bears) – They have a better theme song than you will ever have. Trufax.

From [livejournal.com profile] madripoor_rose: Top five disaster movies

1.The Poseidon Adventure: My favorite of all-time. I know it from beginning to end and could watch it over and over again. I usually pair it up with The Towering Inferno and Earthquake (which I still have to get on DVD) … ah, my holy trinity. :D
2.Daylight: Yes, yes, I know. It's shit. And Sylvester Stallone is shit in it. But I'm terrified of tunnels – I have to close my eyes going through them because I get paranoid if I see missing tiles or cracks or anything – and that's one that genuinely scares the crap out of me, at least on some level.
3.Knowing: It's terrible and I loved every minute of it. Plus, bonus points for actually ending the planet. Good movie, here's a cookie.
4.Dante's Peak: Pierce Brosnan is pretty, isn't he?
5.2012: I'm prematurely adding it to the list for two reasons – it looks like they'll actually destroy the planet in this one, and it also looks like they're going to go ahead and blow the Yellowstone Caldera. I'm planning my LIFE around this movie. It's my thesis. \o/

And oh, my God, I gave up on The Storm after Teri Polo got killed off. Which sounds like such a lame break-up mark. It's like saying she was the best thing about it which, HA.

From [livejournal.com profile] seferin: Top five sex scenes

1.When Kyle and Sarah finally sleep together in the first Terminator.
2.Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie going at it in Mr. And Mrs. Smith. (Yeah, yeah.)
3.Zach showing up at Shawn's place and jumping him in Shelter.
4.Pretty much the entire running time of Out of Sight.
5.The threesome in Y Tu Mama Tambien. That was hot. :)

From [livejournal.com profile] fortuna_juvat: Top 5 people the Doctor needs to have sex with. (To be fair, I should point out that I only know New Who, so for those of you who are more seriously into Doctor Who, I apologize before answering. ;))

1.Sally Sparrow. Okay, actually I just want her to come back and be a companion. She was awesome.
2.Madame du Pompadour, of course.
3.River Song. I seem to recall the general fandom opinion on her being a thumbs-down, but whatever, I loved her.
4.Donna. Mostly I just want her to come back yesterday. And stay.
5.Jenny. (What? I'm a SPN fan. Hello.)

And before anybody responds to this list, yes, I'm a spoiler whore, so whatever you're about to tell me, I probably already know. ;)

From [livejournal.com profile] apiphile: Top Five Moments When You've Yelled Something Like "OH FOR CHRIST'S SAKE CHRISTIAN STOP THAT". [VL] (Heeeeee.)

It goes a little something like this ...

1.“Christian! Oh, for fuck's sake, Coco is awesome, please stop treating her like an ignorant beard even if she sort of is one.”
2.“Christian! Stop being a clogged douchenozzle to your boyfriend in front of Wolle, you JACKASS.”
3.“Christian! You put that bat down, get the fuck away from Axel, and go back to your fucking boyfriend, goddamn it!”
4.“Christian! Stop sulking over having to skim the damn fountain and pick up the damn classifieds. FUCK.”
5.“Christian! You stop drinking everything in sight, and OMG GET YOUR FUCKING TONGUE AWAY FROM MIRIAM'S TONSILS YOU TOOL!”

From [livejournal.com profile] anenko: Top five characters you'd want defending the Earth in case of an alien invasion and/or the natural disaster of your choice.

1.Anybody played by Will Smith. I mean, really, at this point …
2.Wendy Watson and the Middleman (The Middleman) – Hey, they're a team, and a damn good one, so I'm counting them as one.
3.Jack Harkness (Torchwood) – I know, I know, but you can't say he wouldn't do the hard stuff to save the planet if need be.
4.Aeryn Sun (Farscape) – In case of alien invasion, I want someone who will go in guns blazing, no matter what. Aeryn did it while in LABOR, for fuck's sake.
5.Nate Ford (Leverage) – Smart, capable, sneaky, and a great leader. I want him in charge.

From [livejournal.com profile] kouryou: Top Five Sidekicks that You Would Totally Sidekick for When They Go Pro.

1.Mr. Boy (Sky High)
2.Ando (Heroes)
3.Harley Quinn (Batman)
4.Donna (Doctor Who)
5.Mitch (The Long Kiss Goodnight)

*

I need someone to come to my house and yell at me to write, because everything else is just not working. Who wants to come to my house and smack me about the head with a rolled-up newspaper? *sigh*

Date: 2009-08-08 07:07 pm (UTC)
ext_9141: (Default)
From: [identity profile] suaine.livejournal.com
Wow, that review makes me want to punch her in the face. Could she be anymore bigoted and appropriating?

Date: 2009-08-08 07:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anne-jumps.livejournal.com
Don't forget self-centered.

Oh, and while I'm at it, there are some Christians who would be offended by this woman's dancing in the first place ;)
Edited Date: 2009-08-08 07:58 pm (UTC)

Date: 2009-08-08 08:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] harmonyfb.livejournal.com
I'm in line behind you.

Date: 2009-08-08 07:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lovetheboys.livejournal.com
Just...wow. That review is definitely brain-explode worthy. What the fuck? She loves Indian culture except for its religion? That's like talking about how much she loves church socials except for the whole Jesus thing.

Willfull stupidity is infuriating. But thankfully, all of the comments to the review have been saying basically, "STFU and sit down you intolerant twit."

As for workout videos, I recommend searching your local library (or your ILL or whatever equivalent program you may have). We're carrying a surprising amount of workout stuff, at least at mine, and yours might be the same. We have salsa dancing workouts, bollywood, bellydance/oriental dance, yoga, pilates, even some old Tae Bo stuff.

If your library is anything like mine you'll have some kind of network you can order from even if your location doesn't have anything you want.

...sorry, I'm a bit biased in favor of libraries.

Date: 2009-08-08 07:49 pm (UTC)
azurelunatic: Vivid pink Alaskan wild rose. (Default)
From: [personal profile] azurelunatic
...

I have no words for that woman, because all of the words that are coming to mind are not fit for polite company. Which she's not, but...

Date: 2009-08-08 07:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kitarra.livejournal.com
Oh man... that review was so annoying and preachy that I just want to find this woman and shake her senseless.

As for actually getting videos... allow me to introduce you to .torrent.

Go to utorrent.com. Download the small and lovely utorrent client. Install. Make sure you have a good malware scanner like malwarebytes (.com) and go to your favorite search engine and type the tittle of the video you want. Be sure to add a .torrent at the end.

Be prepared for lots of porn, unless you have firefox with the addblock plus add on. Then be prepared for a little porn.

But you can pretty much get copies of almost anything. Not quite legally.

Enjoy.

p.s. My current fave torrent site is btjunkie.org.

Date: 2009-08-08 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] apocalypsos.livejournal.com
The problem with torrenting them onto my current computer is that I have no way to put them on a CD or DVD to play on my TV. And trying to follow them on a 10-inch screen would be a little difficult. ;)

Date: 2009-08-08 10:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kitarra.livejournal.com
what kinda tv you got? Flatscreen? Some include a hookup prort that could be used as an extra monitor...or...I don't suppose you have RGB ports on your laptop? Or a camcorder that can act as a gobetween?

Date: 2009-08-08 07:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] anne-jumps.livejournal.com
That reminds me, I've been considering ordering a Bollywood workout DVD.

Date: 2009-08-08 08:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] madripoor-rose.livejournal.com
Oh, that particular type of Christian who finds it offensive to be reminded that other religions exist.

Classic Poseidon Adventure is the best. The remake with Adam Baldwin had it's moments, though. Daybreak, yes, there is something inherently creepy about underwater tunnels. Knowing I haven't seen yet. Dante's Peak was excellent. And yes, CANNOT WAIT for 2012: It's A Disaster!

Date: 2009-08-08 08:11 pm (UTC)
conuly: (Default)
From: [personal profile] conuly
Ironically, this is the sort of person who flips out if you suggest that maybe (just maybe) pointedly telling children "Well, if you don't believe in God you can still say the Pledge, it doesn't matter to you!" isn't exclusionary and offensive; who thinks that taking forced prayer from schools was attacking Christians.

Date: 2009-08-08 08:59 pm (UTC)
ext_3158: (Default)
From: [identity profile] kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com
Oh, wow.

"I like foreign culture when it's something pretty or tasty that I can consume, but how dare they have a different world view than me! I demand the right pick and choose only the parts that are palatable, keep the rest away from me!"

It would probably be less offensive if she didn't point out how she likes curry and saris, and that's saying something. It's such a classic example of cultural appropriation.

Date: 2009-08-08 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] calicokat.livejournal.com
Not idolatry at all.

Christians seem confused that, unlike Hindus, they're the ones who are mandated to "not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." >___>'''

Date: 2009-08-08 09:20 pm (UTC)
ext_1630: Didn't make this. (betty)
From: [identity profile] nuptse.livejournal.com
I especially enjoyed the bit where she mentioned the demonic looks. Because everyone knows anything other than a good upright Christian is just of the devil.

Date: 2009-08-08 11:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] modillian.livejournal.com
It's a regrettable thing, because without the idols and the demonic looks occasionally flashing out of Himalaya's eyes, this video would have been a keeper.

...

DEMONSES! I am flashing her the evil eye right now.

Date: 2009-08-09 02:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] astaria51.livejournal.com
You know, I love fish fry and you know I love a good Easter basket, not to mention going to recitals of The Messiah every holiday season, but it really irritates me that they've got that creepy dead dude on a cross hanging at a lot of their buildings.

I mean, it's just obscene. He's hardly ever clothed. Think of the children.

Date: 2009-08-09 10:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lots42.livejournal.com
The only crosses I have seen have Jesus' dingus covered. That makes it okay. A decent man dying horribly on the cross is okay, as long as you don't see what half of all humans have.

Date: 2009-08-09 10:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] astaria51.livejournal.com
(Dude, ignore my last comment - It's 5 in the morning and my reading comprehension is low.)

Haha, indeed.

Date: 2009-08-09 10:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lots42.livejournal.com
Yes, because losing fifty pounds and living five years longer is not worth staring at the dieities of a religion you do not believe in.

THE WORKOUT VIDEO IS GOING TO GET YOU. RUN! RUN!

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