Being John Malkovich?

I cannot believe it..I just cannot believe it! I am so proud of myself..I am so so proud of myself!

I just found out that I went to the same school as John Malkovich!!!! I was just browsing through the ISU Alumni website when I came across this page:

I don't think my blog allows people to see magnified pictures..but it's true! John Malkovich did go to Illinois State University in the 70s..woohoo!!!!!

Okay, You should be able to see the enlarged image here.

Aunty Samosa Please..

I had planned to go to Des Moines this weekend to do touristy things because I have been near Des Moines for nine months now, but unfortunately have seen only the airport there (oh and the state fair). Friday night I was looking up tourist attractions in Des Moines when my friend from Minneapolis called me and asked me to come over. Well, I said okay, and immediately chucked my Des Moines plan. Some other time, I thought.

So saturday morning, before getting on I-35N, I decided to grab a bite to eat. I stopped at a Burger King, and got in the line to order stuff. The lady behind the counter looked like she was in her 50s, and very Indian. Anyway, I ordered the usual - enormous omelette sandwich meal with "no meat", but only this time I forgot to say "no meat". She said, "five seventeen". Suddenly I realized that I had not given her the "special instructions". I asked her - "Did I say no meat?", and she goes, "Oh, no meat?" and quickly changed my order.

Obviously we were conversing in English.

Then she goes "India se?". I go "haanji". She goes "India mein kahan se?". I go "Dilli se."

I think she thought that I am new in America, so she started telling me about other vegetarian options on the menu. I told her that I am aware of those options and that I really like the EOS without the meat. I didn't feel like telling her that I avoid bacon but would eat it if I have very few or no other choices.

Then she asked me if I go to Iowa State. I said I work there, and that I graduated from Illinois State. She goes "kya? professor?". I go "nahi, programmmer/analyst". Then she tells me that her son did his internship at Caterpillar in Peoria, and that he goes to Iowa State. I said, "swell".

Now the best part - she told me that she cooks at home and sells stuff - like samosas and all. I was like "kya baat kar rahe ho aunty?". She said, "haan, main karti hoon. Kabhi aao ghar pe - main mall ke peeche rehti hoon." I told her to give me her contact information. She did. I was very happy. I thought maybe she sells stuff for cheap, unlike the international store dude who sells a somasa for a buck and a half - a total ripoff. She might have been happy too, because she had just found a bakra. Whatever. I think once I go back to Ames I will give her a holler.

I later realized that she was a little too nice to me. I was supposed to get a medium coffee - she gave me a large one. I had asked for four creamers - she gave me five. I said "that's swell" to myself and finished my breakfast.

I think I keep having these random encounters/experiences with nice people once in a while, and whenever I think about those incidents, I smile.

I Win!!

Oh look, I got an Oscar!! I finally made my Mom and Dad proud..thank you SilentBeauty2001.:P

PS: Now seriously, thank you SilentBeauty2001 for being a regular reader :-).

Ass..

So traditionally I make a fool of myself whenever I go to a Hindu temple, and this time was no exception. 

Last friday I went to this Hindu temple around 30 miles from Ames to get Pooja done for something new I bought. When I entered the temple I noticed that the Panditji was about to start a Pooja for someone else. So I also decided to stand there with folded hands, knowing that my Pooja would not be done that day, and that I would have to come back some other time. Anyway, Panditji started the Pooja, and there were around 10 of us. To be honest (sorry God!) I get very bored during Poojas that last more than 15 minutes. So after 15 minutes I totally lost my focus and started looking at all the idols inside the temple. I was also thinking of blogging about the entire situation too. I was in a different world. That is when I noticed that Panditji was asking each one of us our names and our gotras. I instantly knew that the time had come to embarass myself. I vaguely remembered that my mom once told me that my gotra is haritsa. But somehow I was not very sure. I kind of convinced myself that it was not haritsa. Panditji came to me and asked me my name first. I said Venkat. Then he said, "Which Gotra?". I blurted out "Haritsa" and immediately I said, "I don't know". Panditji gave me a weird stare. I said Haritsa again, and Panditji started chanting shlokas in sanskrit. By now I was very much convinced that my gotra was not haritsa. There I was, standing and thinking that the Pooja would have no effect on me whatsoever because of the wrong gotra.

So now two things were happening to me. Firstly, I felt like a complete idiot. I, a 28 year old guy, did not know his gotra, and by saying "I don't know" in front of 9 other people, I made a complete fool of myself. Secondly, I lost my focus again. I started thinking about food, the rain outside, the people inside and what not. 

I usually dont care when I make a fool of myself because it has become a way of life, but this time was different. I strongly felt that I should have atleast known my gotra for God's sake. And also, there are so many other things in life that I cannot ignore/avoid anymore. I thought to myself that I should start behaving myself, and that I should take life more seriously. I cannot just keep having fun all the time.

But two days later I was like - screw it. I am not going to kill myself thinking about just about every minor thing in life. 

I know for a fact that I am as stubborn as a mule. I don't think I would ever change.

The Brett Favre of cycling - Lance Armstrong.

Update - 09/10/2008

I take my words back. Lance Armstrong is not coming back because he was confused earlier (like Favre). He is coming back to spread awareness about cancer. I just read about his comeback and his reason.

I think I just got a taste of my own foot.

Fannie, Freddie..Fucked

So Fannie and Freddie have been fucked to the bone - well almost. But thanks to the Fed, both the companies should be able to see light at the end of the tunnel in the coming months, or years. All the lenders involved in the subprime mortgage crisis screwed everybody, and because of that, Fannie and Freddie have been dealing with nightmares since July 2007. Both the companies would never have thought that they would one day be really penalized for their MBSs. I just wonder how it feels when a nightmare comes true.

From CNN: The Fed has almost 80% ownership of Fannie & Freddie now. Dividends have been put on hold, and all "charitable" activities of the company are under review. Good job Fed, I say. Charity begins at home.

I am just wondering what would have happened if Fannie and Freddie had declared bankruptcy. After witnessing the subprime mortgage crisis in July last year, and the chaos that it created in America, F & F's bankruptcy would have caused a chaotic situation hundred times larger in magnitude. But desperate situations demand desperate measures, and that is why the Fed intervened - at the right time, I guess.

GSEs like F & F in a capitalist economy are a good example of socialism (in a capitalistic economy) and social interventionism (in the 30s and 60s perhaps), and it has its own advantages and disadvantages. Its presence made sure that people belonging to lower income households got to own houses. It's absence would have saved trillions of dollars, but would have also made the housing market much more aggresive - if there was someone big enough to replace F & F.

Dr. Indiana Jones is the greatest hero ever ;-)

Thank You Mom and Dad!

I have always valued what my parents have taught me over the years. They have always given importance to morality, ethics, honesty, and level headedness. They have always told me not to let success get into my head, always to respect people, never to shout at someone - however annoyed I may be, and to always keep my cool.

I know for a fact that they are absolutely right. My dad used to run his own business, but he could never get rich because he could never lie, he could never cheat, and he could never be dishonest. My mom always supported him. As a kid I always thought that money was everything, but now I know that it really is not. If you don't have peace of mind then you are basically screwed to the power of n.

When we grew up my mom preached us constantly. She always reminded me that we should conform to humanity and that we should respect others. She still tells me that shouting at someone is never a solution to anything, but dealing with the problem in a cool and composed way can automatically solve so many problems so easily.

There is something wrong with my cable box - the TV guide does not download properly. I have called my cable company three times, and while calling them today I almost wanted to shout at them , but I did not. Whenever I am in a shitty situation or I am pissed with someone, I remember what my parents have taught me - and I automatically calm down.

It's nice to be nice to someone.

I am proud of what my parents are, and what they have taught my sister and I. I promise to stick to their principles - come what may.

Snow Snow Go Away...

It has started getting colder - already. I don't like it, I just don't like it. I mean I like what it is like right now - slightly chilly, cloudy and really really nice. I may want the weather to be like this forever, but what I don't like is the fact that the niceness would make way for hideousness in the coming months. Last winter was the worst I have ever seen, and the fact that it took so long to go away added to my misery. I dread the sight of snow and ice everywhere, and wind literally slapping my face while I walk on ice, trying my best not to land on my buttocks.

I hope the winter this year is nicer than last year.

I hope there is less snow.

I hope I get to see a tree somewhere with leaves on it.

I hope I don't start smoking again.

I am listening to Sugarcult as I write this post. I think I like them.

Everybody Here Comes From Somewhere..

My R.E.M. experience has not yet ended. For some reason (thank you God) R.E.M. decided to add Dallas to their world tour. They finish touring Europe and come back to North America to perform in Dallas and New Orleans in October, before proceeding to South America. When I heard about Dallas I immediately bought the ticket. It wasn't cheap for sure - well, seats in the first few rows are never cheap, right?

The only dilemma I have now is whether to fly or drive to Dallas. It's pretty far - 800 miles. If I drive, I will be exhausted. If I fly, I might get stuck - again.

I just might drive.

TAPFS is coming to Des Moines in November. Have heard a lot about their shows, and I think the ticket is only 30 bucks. Should be fun.

Sweet!

I will not spend any money on anything fancy and useless this month. Last weekend I think I spent more than I was expecting to spend on my Chicago trip (which was Uber fun!). I have also bought a nice little surprise for some people I know - but that's it. No more toys and video games this month. If I go to Minneapolis next weekend, I will spend on alcohol because I have asked my cousin to get drunk with me.

That's it.

PS: I can't believe I spent close to $100 last month on toys. I usually buy small toys from Wal-mart but last month I went to Toys-R-Us, and the rest, as they say, is history.

But I like the toys I bought - Die cast war helicopters and tanks, and Eric Cartman and Butters bobbleheads ;-).

Sweet!