CNBC commentator breaks out the stereotypes during a discussion of the rupee: Things quickly veered off course on CNBC’s Squawk Box last Friday after India’s central bank unexpectedly raised interest rates. After co-host Becky Quick announced that she still had rupees in her purse after a recent trip to India, fellow commentator Joe Kernen began using a fake Indian accent while repeatedly saying the name “Gandhi.” He later threw in a reference to 7-11 stores for good measure. To her credit, Quick repeatedly asks Kernen to stop and informs him he is being offensive. Media Matters has the full transcript of the segment. Watch the video below. [Media Matters]
Vijay Iyer receives “Genius Grant”: The MacArthur Foundation has named its 2013 class of MacArthur Fellows. Pioneering jazz pianist and composer Vijay Iyer and 23 other fellows will each receive $625,000 with no strings attached, to follow their own creative vision. Iyer holds a Ph.D. in the cognitive science of music from UC Berkeley and will join Harvard’s faculty in January. He told the New York Times “I want to use the money for the greater good of the community.” [MacArthur Foundation, NYT]
Maulik Pancholy joins cast of Lifetime’s HR: Actor Maulik Pancholy, recently seen styling on Emmy night and currently voicing Sanjay on animated Nickelodeon series Sanjay and Craig, will appear on cable network Lifetime’s series HR. The show centers around Alicia Silverstone’s character, a director of human resources. Deadline reports that the 30 Rock alum has “booked a series regular role” in the show, and plays “Farshid, a Middle Eastern I.T. employee who has repeatedly drawn complaints from co-workers about his loud praying at various times of the day.” [Deadline]
Lamborghini targets India’s young millionaires: The luxury car maker Lamborghini opened a New Delhi showroom yesterday in the hopes of luring in some of India’s super-rich. The sports cars sell for up to $500,000 dollars. Company executives say they hope to sell 20 Lamborghinis in India this year. [The Guardian]
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