R-Rated

I just got the news from my Akron roommate that our Master's advisor Dr. Glen Njus passed away. This is really upsetting and sad. He had done so much for us when we initially landed here in 2002. He took us under this tutelage and we worked in his lab for 2 years. His teaching skills weren't the most exemplary as he hated teaching in a classroom setting. He loved spending time in his lab at Akron General Medical Center, reaching early to start working and on most days skipping lunch. Multiple cups of black coffee and cigarettes did the trick for him. He was very supportive and tried his best to fund and educate us. He once told us (when we were vary of graduating without a job in hand), that we must graduate on time because that was what we initially came to the US for. Graduating on time under him was a must and he made sure of that. He gave us full freedom to execute and finish our project/thesis on time and helped whenever we hit roadblocks. I even got my first position at T...

Call it delayed or lazy, I just saw Slumdog Millionaire last night. Hoped to see the movie with an unbiased outlook. I have been BABU in Mumbai. BABU --> Born And Brought Up . I do feel a special bond with the city. I have seen the highs and lows of Mumbai as well. The initial reaction that I felt after seeing the first 15 minutes was that Ram Gopal Verma had written the screenplay of the movie. No one has captured the slum and gloom of Mumbai as well as Varma has. The movie was definitely enjoyable but certainly not Oscar-worthy. There were much better movies in competition this year at the Oscars for best movie, best director and other awards that this movie took home. A R Rahman deserves an Oscar but not for this movie. Lagaan was a masterpiece but he was not even nominated for that. As has been discussed in various other blogs and news articles, if an Indian director had made this movie, it probably would not have gathered so much attention, not to mention worldwide awards. As f...

One bean chalupa supreme, no beef only beans...and...one nacho cheese gordita, no meat only beans...and...one cheesy fiesta potatoes... Sounds familiar? These wonderlicious foods are an Indian vegetarian's savior in the United States. Right from the days of F1 visa and on-campus/off-campus jobs to earning insane amounts of $$$ on an H1B, these Taco Bell items are always going to be with you, no matter how many people come and go while you move on in your American way of life. I remember the second day of my American journey (08/09/2002), my friend Sai took me to the place that I consider a temple (strangely because of the 'bell'). The love affair started that day and still continues strong to this very day and surely enough, will continue to blossom. It has never happened that I entered a Taco Bell and came out feeling unsatisfied or to take matters to the extreme, never skipped on a bean chalupa. Now that is some feverish devotion. What say. I got to admit that I have star...