VINAY & RAGINI- Imagine going into an AT&T store to purchase a new internet plan. On top of the base price, the employee offers you several bundles you can buy, similar to the way cable companies add on extra channels. One bundle allows you access to social media sites so you can update Facebook/Twitter/WhatsApp, one is for video services if you want to stream Netflix/Hulu/YouTube, and one is for major news sites if you want to stay informed about the world. Without purchasing all of these bundles separately, your access to these websites will be blocked. Unfortunately, net neutrality, the only thing protecting us from such an expensive reality, could potentially disappear.

Net neutrality is basically a set of rules that were specifically put into place to stop internet service providers (ISPs) from denying or regulating the speed of service based on content type, provider, or any other arbitrary categorization. Right now, the internet is labeled a public utility, so ISPs cannot control the speed or amount of internet traffic that is demanded by the customer or provided by the web based service. This means that if I have a plan with Verizon that gives me an internet speed of 75 mbps, I can watch Netflix, check Twitter, or Google pictures of fluffy puppies and expect all of these pages to load at a certain speed. If net neutrality is abolished, Verizon could charge me extra for using what they feel is too much data on Netflix, force me to buy a separate social media package to browse Twitter, or block Google altogether and only allow me access to Yahoo!, which they own.

On a personal level, every single internet user should care about net neutrality. Not only does it protect you from paying more for slower service, it also allows you to see the content you want to see without companies interfering and only displaying results beneficial to them. This level of censorship is not some dystopian future I’m making up; it has already happened multiple times in the recent past. Back in 2006, AOL blocked emails containing links to dearaol.com, a website containing criticism of the company. More recently, Verizon disallowed a pro-choice group from sending text notifications to their subscribers. These are not isolated incidents, nor are these the only companies to tailor their services to their own whims. Since 2005, major service providers have been showing us exactly what they would do without the open internet, and if net neutrality is ended next month, we can only expect more and more of the same.

Take a moment to think about this censorship on a broader scope. The internet is not just a source of entertainment. It is a database that serves to educate thousands of people about thousands of topics every day, a place where anyone can share their story and have the potential to be heard. Minority content creators who would never have gotten any attention through conventional means are finally able to have a voice. People are able to educate themselves on issues like racism or LGBT+ and women’s rights. Voters are able to learn about issues from unbiased, factual sources, and stories that the mainstream media tries to suppress are going viral on Twitter. Major stories which were being hidden for years are being exposed, such as the sexual assault allegations against politicians and actors. In a future with no net neutrality, voices of the groups that are starting to be heard will once again be silenced, and the people in power will once again be protected from defamation and any real consequences.

While most people regardless of their political party are in favor of net neutrality, the policy does have its critics. One of the main arguments is that an open internet policy is against the principles of free market. As with the censorship issue, the companies that stand to profit the most from the demise of net neutrality have already shown us how they would handle themselves if left to their own devices. Google had a project in which they were trying to provide free wifi up to a certain speed across the US. Verizon and AT&T saw the beginning of this project, realized that it would mean nobody would buy their internet plans, and lobbied to stop Google’s program. If these companies are allowed to go unchecked, they will work to monopolize the internet and no new ideas or businesses will be able to prevail amongst them, clearly going against the principles of free market. If you’re curious as to other reasons people may oppose net neutrality, check out this link with some common concerns along with explanations as to why they are not correct. Net neutrality helps every internet user, and its removal will only benefit the people in charge of the ISPs; these millionaires will continue to get richer and richer while throwing the rest of us under the bus.

The government is bringing back the net neutrality vote time and time again in hopes that the public will tire out and eventually they will be able to do as they please. It is up to us to show them that we will not back down. Depending on how much time and effort you are willing to put in, there are several ways you can help in this fight. For people with just a few moments to spare, Battle for the Net is a user-friendly website that provides a pre-written email followed by a script for phone calls. All you have to do is take 30 seconds (seriously, I timed it) to enter your information and the website takes care of the rest. You can also text RESIST to 50409 or add resistbot on Facebook Messenger and have it message your officials for you in under two minutes. If you don’t mind crafting your own messages, send a few emails to Ajit Pai, Michael O’Rielly, and Brendan Carr. Out of the five Federal Communications Commission (FCC) members voting on net neutrality on December 14, these are the three who plan to vote against it. If we can convince even one of them to change their mind, the vote will be shifted in favor of saving net neutrality. They can be reached at ajit.pai@fcc.gov, mike.orielly@fcc.gov, and brendan.carr@fcc.gov. Finally, for the passionate internet-lovers with time to spare, there are protests happening at Verizon stores across the nation on December 7. Make some signs and bring your friends - just remember to be courteous to the employees. Chances are they hate this whole situation just as much as you do. When net neutrality was first established, what convinced the FCC to approve it was the millions of messages they received from the public in support of an open internet. Now that it is once again in peril, we must work together to protect the internet as we know it. If you use the internet, this issue affects you. So please spread the word and take action — before it’s too late.

illustration credit: themoskabot

GARAMASALAS EDITORS- These days, it’s easy to look around at the world and feel disheartened by what you see. With the current social and political climate, people worldwide are feeling hopeless. Among these dark, dark clouds, what better day to look for silver linings than Thanksgiving? Today is a day to stop and think about what you do have rather than what you don’t. It’s a day to look at your circumstances and be grateful for the people and things that bring joy and love into your life.

​Not everyone has all — or any — of the things many of us take for granted, like our families, friends and health. For those of you who are fortunate enough to have the extra time and/or money, the Garamasalas staff urges you to consider giving back this season and brightening the day of someone who is in a position less favorable than yours. We’ve created a list of acts of kindness that is versatile enough for everyone to choose at least one or two and help spread the love today. ​​
​

1. Smile and say hello to a stranger you pass by.
2. Give a genuine compliment to a cashier or server.
3. Put a surprise note in a loved one’s bag.
4. Pay for the person behind you in a drive-thru.
5. Write a small letter to your parents telling them how much you appreciate them.
6. Hold the door for the people behind you.
7. Make cards for soldiers or people in the hospital.
8. Call someone you know who’s having a hard time and just listen to them for as long as they’d like.
9. Tell someone face-to-face how much they mean to you.
10. Make blankets to donate to hospitals or homeless shelters.
11. Cook a meal or do a load of laundry for a loved one who’s going through a tough time
12. Let the person behind you at the supermarket checkout with one or two items go ahead of you.
13. Volunteer or donate to a food bank.
14. Put sticky notes with positive messages on the mirrors in restrooms.
15. Play board games with senior citizens at a nursing home (sixty percent of them will never have a visitor during their stay).
16. Give someone who's crying in public a tissue, and offer to listen to them if they’re comfortable with it.
17. Tell a customer service rep that you appreciate their hard work and hope they have a wonderful day.
18. Compliment someone in front of others.
19. Create a playlist for someone you care about.
20. Apologize to someone with whom you don’t get along.
21. Say yes at the store when the cashier asks if you want to donate $1 to a cause.
22. Give a hug to someone you know and just say thank you.
23. Call your mom.
24. Gather some friends and pick up trash along a particularly litter-filled street in your town.
25. Make a little extra food as you’re cooking and share it with someone who needs a fresh meal.​

​If you’re searching for food to share, look no further! Each member of the Garamasalas team has shared their favorite Thanksgiving recipe for you to enjoy.

​This signature stuffing recipe comes from Madeline's great-grandmother and has been passed down through her family for generations. It stems from the belief that the turkey isn't the only thing that makes Thanksgiving great. 

Every year Praneeka’s family makes traditional Thanksgiving dishes with an Indian twist. In place of the traditional turkey, try out their aloo-stuffed chicken this year! For more of her adapted recipes, check out our previous Thanksgiving post.

Non-veg recipes not your style? Try Shail’s family paneer tikka masala. One of the richest vegetarian recipes in Indian cuisine, this timeless favorite is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of palates.

On auspicious days, it is customary in Indian culture to distribute sweets among family, friends, and strangers. Most often, the sweets being shared are bite-sized spheres made of fried gram flour called ladoos. Make a batch at home and share the love! ​

​This year, the Garamasalas staff is thankful for all of you. Every click, every view, every share means so much to us. We couldn't do this without your continued support. Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. 

illustration credit: debracartwright

RAGINI-​ At long last, it’s almost time for the greatest holiday of the year. Whether you’re a fan of the dangerous decorations and sinister scares or just like dressing up as your favorite character and collecting as much candy as possible, Halloween is a day when everyone can find a way to have fun. Unfortunately, often this fun comes at the expense of people who already face persecution the other 364 days of the year. Many costumes range from insensitive to just flat out racist, like this year’s particularly popular “Mexican and Wall” duo costume. While I understand that without an understanding of certain cultural backgrounds it could be hard to understand why exactly some costumes are disrespectful, immigration officers and the border wall are tearing families apart, separating parents from children, and it’s hard to justify making a mockery of something that painful. If you don’t understand why blatantly making fun of people based on their country of origin, religion, or skin color is wrong, there’s not much I can say that will convince you to change your mind. However, if you genuinely don’t know why culturally appropriative costumes are wrong, hopefully by the end of this post you’ll understand why we minorities aren’t so fond of them.

The most obvious reason that racist and appropriative costumes are wrong is that they take sacred items and icons with thousands of years of cultural significance behind them and reduce them to a fashion statement, or even worse, a joke. Take, for example, the Sexy Indian costume. In Native American culture, each tune, bead, and feather has a purpose. Yet, people continue to dress up in feathered headdresses and tan, beaded dresses purely for aesthetic purposes, and yodel poorly to ridicule traditional Native songs. To make matters worse, many of these outfits for women feature short skirts and cleavage. Having this as the only representation of Native Americans causes more damage than you’d think; this overly sexualised view of Native women contributes to the reason that their rates of sexual assault are over double the national average. Even though wearing such traditional garments may seem trivial to outsiders, they have meaning and culture behind them and are not meant to be worn willy-nilly just for looks.

For the most part, there are two reasons people wear racially-inspired Halloween costumes. Some dress up as a “Suicide Bomber” or an Anne Frank-Hitler duo simply to turn real people into the butt of some sort of extremely inappropriate joke. Many others, however, wear culturally appropriative clothing for Halloween thinking that they are exempt from its offensiveness because they are familiar with the culture whose attire they are donning. What they fail to realise is that going on a mission trip in Africa or visiting China on a family vacation does not give them permission to use apparel from that country as a fashion statement. As an Indian woman, I see this sort of justification far too often. I’ve seen women who visited India once on a spiritual journey to find themselves, or took one yoga class 4 years ago, believe that they are entitled to wear Ganesh leggings or shirts featuring the very holy Hindu Om sign. First of all, if these people really loved and understood our culture the way they claim to, they’d understand why wearing religious insignias on their bodies is so disrespectful and refrain from misusing such sacred imagery. Second, many times these “appreciative, culturally aware” folks compliment my mehndi and bangles, and then in the very next sentence praise Trump for his travel ban, which forbids people who look like me from entering this country.

These types of appropriators “love the culture, but hate the people.” They pick and choose parts of the attire and cuisine to enjoy, but they will never know the struggles that come with being a part of whatever group they are trying to emulate. They apply henna and wear bindis, but don’t want to be mocked for their accents. They sport blackface and dreads, but don’t want the n-slur hurled at them as they walk down the street. They put on ponchos and fake mustaches, but don’t want to be told to go back to their country. They want the cute, Instagram-able aspects of PoC life, but not the ugly, harsh truths that come with being a minority in America. At the end of the day, they are able to take off the makeup, the costumes, the accessories, and go back to living a life of privilege. People of color do not have that luxury. We have to deal with racism, on both individual and institutional levels, every day of our lives.

No matter the intent, appropriative and racist costumes do more harm than good. When something has so many cons, it’s best to just let it go, especially when there’s a plethora of incredible, scary, funny, pretty, creative costumes to choose from. Every Halloween we must do our best to remind our friends, family, and acquaintances that people of color are not a joke. We are not a fashion statement. We are not a commodity. And we are definitely not your costume.

illustration credit: uppityfemale

RAGINI- Growing up, I watched as many saas-bahu serials as I did Disney Channel shows. My iPod was an even mix of Jesse McCartney and Sonu Nigam. Both pizza and daal-chawal were staple foods in my household. Fortunately, my peers were very accepting for the most part, so I was never made to feel inferior for my background or culture. Because of this, I never felt the need to hide or suppress my desi heritage; instead, I flaunted it. As a childhood diva, I eagerly awaited World Week in school so I could show off my lehenga cholis, and I raised my hand more than usual every year around the festival of Karva Chauth so everyone could see the mehendi designs on my hands. In a school full of white students, I was the token Indian girl, the unofficial authority on all things South Asia.

Because I was so in touch with North Indian culture, I was ecstatic to finally see the real deal after eleven years last fall when my dad and I made plans to visit four Indian cities over the course of three weeks. Along with excitement though, I felt a hint of insecurity. Here in the US, my heritage was my defining quality, my unique thing, often even among my Indian friends. I was afraid that in my homeland, I wouldn’t be considered Indian enough. My suspicions were confirmed the moment I stepped off the plane as the relatives welcoming us at the airport spoke to me in English rather than Hindi. This continued throughout the trip as people made special arrangements for me, like making sure I had bottled or filtered water and providing me with utensils for dishes usually meant to be eaten with one’s hands.

From shopkeepers to family members, my behavior surprised everyone I interacted with. When I greeted elders by touching their feet and saying pranam rather than giving them a ‘sup nod, spoke to waiters in Hindi instead of English, and offered to show family friends the classical dance I was teaching back home in Dallas, it caught everyone off guard. No one expected a girl brought up in America to be so familiar with Indian customs or have such an adequate grasp on the language (listen, my Hindi was impressive for a US citizen, but that still doesn’t mean it was great). It was clear that I was out of my element in India, but it was not nearly as foreign to me as everyone had seemed to expect.

August 15 is a very special date to me because it’s the day that I celebrate my native country’s independence as well as my own. On this day in 1947, India was freed from the British, and in 1998 my mother and I made the journey from India to the United States. Although I left India at a young age, my parents spent my formative years instilling traditional Indian values and a love of my culture in me. Because I’m not just American and I’m not just Indian, it’s easy to feel like an outsider in both countries sometimes. However, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. It’s the blending of the values of both of my countries that has made me the unique individual I am today.

PRANEEKA, RAGINI, & SHIVANI- Summer is the most anticipated time of the year, and it's officially here! For many, the season brings with it an opportunity to take a break from working and just relax. It's a time to sit by the pool, sip lemonade, and spend time with friends. These playlists are for chill days like those. Whether you're lying in a hammock, reading a book by the lake, or just staying in, these songs are here to help you unwind.

PRANEEKA & SHIVANI- tamil playlist // note: yelani is a tamil word for tender coconut water.

RAGINI- hindi playlist // note: lassi is a popular indian yogurt-based drink.

MADELINE- Long-distance friendships are far easier than they used to be. Forty years ago, if you wanted to stay in touch with someone who lived far away, you were restricted to phone calls and hand-written letters that are considered personal and cute now, but were strictly practical back then.

But with the advent of cell phones and texting, and, more recently, video chatting, Snapchat, and Facebook, you can Skype your friend in California who wants to show off her new dress, and you can see what your friend from Toronto had for breakfast on his Snapchat story. Everything is so up close and personal - we can share the most minute details of our lives with people halfway across the world. It seems that it would be easy to keep up with a friend who lives far away.

So why is it still so hard? If you graduate and stop seeing someone every day, or someone moves away, you'll probably still drift apart from them, even if you can see pictures of them on Snapchat drinking a low-fat cappuccino while they highlight their Bible in random places. It's true that technology has made long-distance friendships infinitely easier in some ways, but in others, it seems just as difficult as it was back in the olden days. How do people do it?

To answer this question, we've decided to compile a series of interviews between two pairs of long-distance friends: Shail and Praneeka, and Patrick and Ragini.

RAGINI- This time last year I had pretty high hopes for 2016. Little did I know this year would turn out to be one of the most notoriously awful years in recent history. After Brexit, a Trump presidential nomination, and the passing of several iconic celebrities, I think we're all looking for a break from the constant L's 2016 has been giving us. Before we start setting our expectations for 2017, however, let's step back and look at some of the things that made this year personally more tolerable.

• social media used the most​​​​: snapchat
• favorite phone game: endless lake
• inspirational icon who rose to fame this year: Nathan Zed
• major lifestyle change: learned how to drive
• saddest news: Trump becoming president
• best news: the ice bucket challenge actually funded an ALS breakthrough
• saddest moment: leaving UNT
• best moment: road trip to Austin
• describe 2016 in one word: yuck
• describe what you expect/want to achieve in 2017 in one word: ​organization

• social media used the most​​​​: snapchat
• favorite phone game: 8-ball
• inspirational icon who rose to fame this year: Demetrius Harmon
• major lifestyle change: took a gap semester before college
• saddest news: Trump becoming president
• best news: giant pandas are no longer endangered
• saddest moment: first car accident
• best moment: going to India after 11 years
• describe 2016 in one word: YIKES
• describe what you expect/want to achieve in 2017 in one word: ​focus​

• social media used the most​​​​: Tumblr
• favorite phone game: Neko Atsume
• inspirational icon who rose to fame this year: Ted Cruz
• major lifestyle change: going to a new school
• saddest news: Trump becoming president
• best news: the story of Dimdim, the penguin who swims 5,000 miles a year every year to visit the man who saved his life
• saddest moment: leaving TAMS graduation and all of my TAMS friends I'll probably never see again
• best moment: turning in my physics final
• describe 2016 in one word: heck
• describe what you expect/want to achieve in 2017 in one word: ​quiet

Happy new year from all of us at Garamasalas! We hope this year brings you the happiness and success you deserve!

PRANEEKA- Another year has come to an end. As with every other year, there have been many great days and not so great ones. Change. Success. Failure. However, December 31 is always the most hopeful. We use this day to believe that the next 365 days to come will bring forth better outcomes and habits. Although many people fail to truly achieve their resolutions, the fact that we simply have so much faith that everything will get better makes me happy. We acknowledge our flaws and believe that we can overcome them. We attempt to become better humans. With all of the devastating events going on around the world, there are still people out there who want to reach a state of optimism and personal improvement.  They believe. That truly amazes me. So, this year I want to challenge you. Instead of plainly making a resolution, think of something small that you lacked this year and find an actual method that will help you achieve it. Without some work, you won't get any pleasing results. Plus, having a small, attainable goal will actually give you a sense of accomplishment and completion. I did that this year, and it paid off. My goal was to keep a journal and consistently write in it. I put some effort, and it really benefitted me both physically and emotionally. See? Anything small and achievable. It can still go a long way.

Madeline, Ragini, and I did a small questionnaire below to show you a piece of how our year was. This year was pretty gross for all of us, but our friendship kept us going. As you can see with our favorite things, we have influenced each other in many ways. We have accomplished so much, and we're only going to look forward. It's been a ride. We only have one more semester together before we all separate ways to different colleges, but we're going to make the best of it! We will definitely be posting all of our adventures on here, don't worry. Thank you guys for supporting us. This blog has helped us build a stronger friendship. It's helped us find many new friends. Most importantly, it's helped us become better individuals. We hope that we can keep this going for a very long time. 

Here's to your triumphs. Here's to the obstacles you've faced. Here's to the many people you've met along your journey. Keep your head high and keep it going. Happy new year from your GARAMASALAS pals!

1. favorite musical artists
2. favorite songs
3. favorite musical albums
4. favorite tv shows
5. favorite movies
6. social media used the most
7. favorite phone game
8. inspirational icon who rose to fame this year
9. major lifestyle change
10. saddest news
11. best news
12. saddest moment
13. best moment
14. describe 2015 in one word
15. describe what you expect/want to achieve in 2016 in one word

This began as a post-finals playlist but it's actually perfect for any gathering, car ride, or solo dance party. Whether you're celebrating or looking for a way to ease your worries, do it the Indian way: by blasting some mast or kuthu songs and dancing your heart out. Remember, abhi to party shuru hui hai (the party's just begun); it's kondatta neram (time to party)!

RAGINI, PRANEEKA, & ARTHI- Finally! After so long, we finally had the time to do part 2 of our indian clothing series! (Pssst, if you haven't checked out part 1, no worries. Just click here!)

Let's start with Arthi's clothing first. Arthi is wearing the orange-accented turquoise dress known as a langa voni, daavani, or half sari. The langa voni is worn by teenage girls between puberty and marriage. It consists of a skirt worn during childhood called a paavadai, and a sari blouse and drape, which is worn during womanhood. As you can see, the half sari symbolizes the transition into adulthood.

Meanwhile, Praneeka is wearing a deep violet, silk dress known as a sari. There are three parts of a sari: a petticoat, blouse, and a six to nine feet-long drape. The blouse is usually short-sleeved and cropped just above the stomach (like a tight crop top). The drape is tucked into the petticoat and worn over the blouse. Each region in India has its own types of saris based on its climate and fabric weaving styles; for instance, Praneeka is wearing a Kanchipuram sari, which is primarily worn in the region of Tamil Nadu. The distinct patterns and designs on the garment represent different virtues and the region the person came from. The sari is a prominent symbol of India and its vibrant culture.

Both Arthi and Praneeka are wearing sets of bangles, called gajulu in Telugu and valaiyal in Tamil, and traditional bindis called pottus. 

We've been getting a lot of positive feedback on this photo series. Thank you so much. We really hope you're looking forward to our futures posts!

PRANEEKA & RAGINI- (I hope you understood the JusReign reference.) So if you have been keeping up with our blog, you probably have figured out that Madeline and I have a super rad friend named Ragini. We tend to mention her a lot because 1) she is actually the sweetest person ever and 2) she was one of the main reasons we even started this blog. I cherish her a lot in my heart (love you lots, Rag). Anyways, Ragini and I decided to do a two-part blog post that highlights the comparison of North and South Indian women's clothing.

​Let's start with some background info. Many of you guys think that although Indians speak different languages, we have the same customs and lifestyles. This is most certainly NOT TRUE. India is a country, just like America is. We have different regions with people who practice different traditions. For example, think about the hustle and bustle of New York, and the quiet and vastness of Nebraska. It's the same for India, too. The state of Punjab (North India) is tremendously different from the state of Tamil Nadu (South India). Each of these states have different celebrations, languages, foods, and clothing. So no, we are not all vegetarian. We don't all celebrate Holi. We don't all speak Hindi. Just because we are not as geographically as large as America, that doesn't mean we don't have enough space to house rich and diverse cultures.

In this post, we'll start with North Indian clothing. Ragini is wearing an Indian suit known as a salwar kameez, or suit (specifically an anarkali suit, which has tight pants and an almost floor-length top). The salwar kameez consists of two garments: a pair of pants/pantaloons (salwar) and long tunic top (kameez) that reaches anywhere between the knees and ankles depending on the style. The intricate ornamentations woven on the dress are what makes these suits especially beautiful. She is also wearing a chunni or dupatta, which is a long scarf that is essential in a lot of South Asian clothing. It is a symbol of modesty in many Indian cultures. To top it all off, Ragini is wearing a set of bangles called churi on her wrist and a bindi on her forehead as accessories. And when I say accessories, I mean for SOUTH ASIANS, not for Americans who think of these decorations plainly as aesthetics. Just making that clear.

This is one of my favorite shoots I have ever done for anyone. ​Doesn't she look absolutely stunning?

Soon we will be posting pt. 2 of this series, which will be about South Indian women's clothing.
Stay tuned!!