• In a country where businesspeople are likelier to invest money in sure-bets than flashy ideas, American-style start-up culture is beginning to take off in India, against all odds. [NYT]
• As NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio was sworn in on New Year’s Day, NYC youth poet laureate Ramya Ramana read her poem “New York City” at his inauguration. Shortly after Ramana was chosen as the city’s youth poet laureate, we spoke with her to learn more about her, too. [NYT]
• It’s probably now a moot point — at least until New Year’s Eve rolls back around in about another 364 days, but police in Mumbai have decided that they need to curb New Year’s Eve parties. They cite an increased threat to women’s safety on the streets. In response to this, police shut down bars and restaurants on early Wednesday to prevent still-drunk revelers from wandering out into public. I mean, I guess the Mumbai PD could do their jobs and simply keep the odd reckless partygoers in check, but hey! I’m not the one giving them their performance evaluations. [Washington Post]
• A very necessary listicle: Priyanka Chopra’s 13 best magazine covers of 2013. Not even Britney Jean got as many covers last year. [Huffington Post]
• Bless The Daily Beast’s Sujay Kumar for trying to make sense of Dhoom 3’s baffling plot; he writes, “[Y]ou’d never know from watching it that Bollywood is capable of making good movies.” [The Daily Beast]
• …but a little thing like a lack of a comprehensive plot hasn’t gotten in the way of Dhoom 3 becoming a Hollywood-sized Bollywood blockbuster worldwide, grossing close to $60 million its opening weekend. It’s the most any Indian film has grossed worldwide. [Variety]
• Padma Lakshmi has issued a classy apology for that Questlove incident. [WhoSay]
• Last November, Seattle voters made history when they voted Kshama Sawant, a socialist activist and econ prof to their city council. This Times profile is a must-read. [NYT]
• Here is a Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” cover with a wonderful, original twist — it’s mashed up to “Khuda Jaane” (from the 2008 Ranbir Kapoor/Bipasha Basu/Deepika Padukone-starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno) — as a sweeping power ballad. The powerful pipes belong to pop-opera vocalist Natalie Di Luccio.
