Accepted !

I had been busy the last couple of weeks. My wife and son came back from India on Monday the 16th, after which we drove to NY City on the 19th for my interview at New York Medical College in Westchester, NY (one of the most posh, expensive areas of the US). Driving back and forth between NY and Toronto was very tiring. We came back on the 21st.

This week on Monday, while at work, I got a surprising call, from the Department of Psychiatry at SUNY Buffalo. They offered me a position ! I was happy, very happy since SUNY was amongst my top choices out of all the 16 other places I had interviewed at. However, I had to to consult with my wife, parents, and friends. After all, we will be spending the next 4-5 years of our lives there. Finally, after considering that it was one of my favorite programs, and that Buffalo is a decent, livable city, very close to Canada (giving us the option of living in Fort Erie or Niagra Falls, while working in Buffalo), I accepted the offer today. I join in June.

No if and but. Only Jatt !

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful evening of daaru-shaaru with Sphere sahib and his brother-in-law(paaji), at Sphere sahib's place. While I chattered myself to record books, Sphere sahib and paaji mused, sort of spellbound by my mechanical and mental stuttering ! It was close to midnight and in my mind I was speculating, all the while, whether it would be me right then, or Sphere sahib in the morning, who would get a whacking from Sphere sahib's sarkaar (wife) !

In our inabreated states we had the opportunity to touch upon sensitive issues like the (lack of) Indian sportsmen, and Punjab history. Sphere sahib and paaji split into a laughing hubba-hubba when I told them that the fastest ever 'vegetarian' bowler is Javagal Srinath of India. Sphere sahib's commotion got further exaggerated when he found out that rajpoots are actually all nullius filius, bastard sons of the rajahs. Paaji and I couldn't help but tickle Sphere sahib a little more. So, we enlightened him about the existence of bhaape, and their prevalence when it comes to wooing their sisters and their customers. Bhaape are known to have no qualms about getting married to their cousins (or atleast fondling them), and in keeping with their true spirits can go to any lengths when looking for business.

On a less serious note we talked about Canadian politics, where I had to do a balancing act. While Sphere sahib in his trademark affable demeanor admitted being inclined towards the Liberals, the svelte, suave paaji hinted at his inclination towards the Conservatives. Not the one to do a 'Jumping Jack' I tread the thin line, in saying, how I am a Liberal at heart, but would want to give a chance to the Conservatives too, to let people see who is more inadequate.

I was writing this memoir, and Sphere sahib's message popped on my computer. He tells me, his ribs have not had enough exercise. Though my vocal cords are aching today, they too will need exercise, soon !

Rang De Basanti

Been watching the promotional trailers of 'Rang De Basanti'. Looks and sounds like a promising film. A British film-maker, inspired by her grandfather's memoirs as an army officer in India, goes to India to make a film-based on the Indian revolutionaries. To accomplish that she casts five youngsters to play the roles of those revolutionaries. The film takes off from there. It stars Kiron Kher, Alice Patten, Soha Ali Khan, Madhavan, Karan Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Atul Kulkarni, Siddharth, and Aamir Khan.

Aamir Khan has been an all time favorite(after Sunny paaji though), ever since I saw him romancing Juhi Chawla in 'Qyamat Se Qyamat Tak'. That was in 1988. Aamir has proven his mettle as a brilliant, mature, thinking actor(a rarity in Bollywood) over and over doing some amazing films which include 'Raakh', 'Dil', 'Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander', 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke', 'Rangeela', 'Andaaz Apna Apna', 'Ghulam', '1947:Earth', 'Sarfarosh', the Oscar nominated 'Lagaan', 'Dil Chahta Hai', and recently 'Mangal Pandey'.

Like any past Aamir films, I am looking forward to seeing 'Rang De Basanti' while eagerly waiting for Sunny paaji's next !

Stephen Harper

by Patrick Lamontagne

The Mamas and The Papas

I can't really say that as a kid I grew up listening to western music, however, was served a little here and there on a platter full of filmi Hindi music in the form of popular songs like 'La isla bonita','Wake me up before you go', 'Last Christmas', 'Nothings gonna change my love', 'I just called to say, I love you', 'Spanish Harlem' and many more. I remember getting these songs recorded on casettes, however, the first full english album I ever bought, was called 'Fast Forward'. Don't know who was it by, and haven't ever heard or seen it again but, I remember liking it.

My first serious exposure to western music happened when I was visiting my uncle and his family in the US, in 1992, during my summer vacations after grade 10. It was at my uncle's gas station that I picked up a tape of 'The Best of The Mamas and The Papas'. Though, my taste of music has expanded a lot over the past 13-14 years, The Mamas and The Papas have been an all time favorite. I now own a CD of the same tape, and often play it in my car. Here are the lyrics of one of my favorite songs of theirs. Its called 'Do you wanna dance'.

Do you wanna dance under the moon light;

Squeeze me all through the night?

Oh, baby, do you wanna dance?

Do you wanna dance and hold my hand;

Tell me I'm your lover man?

Oh, baby, do you wanna dance?

Do you wanna dance and make romance?

C'mon pretty baby and take a chance.

Hey, baby, baby, do you wanna dance?

(Do you...) Do you wanna dance?

(Do you...) Do you wanna dance?

(Do you...) Do you, do you wanna dance?

Do you wanna dance under the moon light;

Squeeze me all through the night?

Oh, baby, do you wanna dance?

(Do you...) Do you wanna dance?

(Do you...)Do you wanna dance?

(Do you...)Do you do you wanna dance?

(Do you...)Do you wanna dance?

Do you wanna dance? (Do you wanna dance?)

Will you take a chance?(Do you wanna dance?)

Will hold my hand? (Do you wanna dance?)

At least let me be your lover man! (Do you wanna dance?)

Can I hold your hand? (Do you wanna dance?)

Let me be your lover man! (Do you wanna dance?)

Can I hold your hand? (Do you wanna dance?)

Paul Martin

Mr. Martin ! Please forgive the poor thing. Its just the pulpit !

Jack Layton

Welcome to the Jack Layton Show!

Final Call

Kalyug: review

Watched 'Kalyug' tonight. Not an exceptional movie but, a different plot. The story is about a young man, Kunal Dhar (Kunal Khemu) whose honeymoon with his wife is captured on a hidden camera and broadcast on a porn website. What follows is his journey to the root of the porn industry. The positive of the film is Kunal Khemu whom you would definitely recognize as he was a very well known child star (Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke, Zakhm, and several other). He has just improved on his childhood acting skills and I believe will do well in future. The other plus is the Rahat Fateh Ali Khan son "Tujhe Dekh Dekh". Considering the theme of the film, and that it comes from the Bhatts, and also that it has Emraan Hashmi in a shady role, you would expect sleaze. However, there is none at all. The film also stars Deepal Shah, Smiley Suri, and Amrita Singh.

Watchable.

Basketball

Wife: "You must feel, I am very ugly now."
Husband: "You are more beautiful than ever!"
Wife: " Really? How can you say that now that I have a basketball belly."
Husband: "Easy. That's my basketball!"

24 HR Helpline

Romantic Cells

Teacher: There are 2 types of cells. If the body cells are called somatic cells. What do you suppose the cells are called that are involved in reproduction?

Student: ROMANTIC Cells !

Ojas !

Cartoons

Here are a couple of cartoons that I made. Its been a while since I made any new but am going to do a few soon.
Cartoon 1
Cartoon 2