‘Your in America – Speak English’

Image: Salon

I know the title is supposed to read “You’re” and not Your” but those are not my words and that influenced from tweets responding to Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl ad. To a lot of people it might seem like a normal ad meant to bring people together. Probably Coke wanted to say that their consumers in USA include those of every colour and race and this is their way to show some appreciation to their loyal customers.

Anyway, the response was remarkably racist (especially the ones that start off with – ‘I am not racist – but I am‘). As an international student in this country, I too would have got offended by some of their tweets if it wasn’t for the bad spelling and grammatical errors. These guys insist we speak English in this country yet they have a hard time differentiating ‘descent’ and ‘decent’.

Enough said and done; take a look at the ad here and the tweets below. Coke – America’s Real Choice!

Image(s): Tumbler

Countdown to the next holiday

November just started and here in DC we can already get our first glimpse at Christmas. Starbucks have rolled out their red cups, beer companies have shelved their seasonal flavours, Walmart launched their yearly holidays shopping deals, Macy’s rolled out their seasonal offers and I could go on about it.

Halloween just got over and we still have the horrific Black Friday fiasco to go pass. So when is it too early to prepare for the next holiday?

Anyway, if you are that avid shopper who likes to start ticking off things from their Christmas list, here is what is trending now.

1. Walmart
2. Target
3. Amazon
4. Toys ‘R’ Us
5. Starbucks (honestly, just for their red cups and seasonal drinks)

NO to Racism

UEFA United came together to stop the racism and discrimination within the sport. The 30 second video features top-athletes from most of the clubs to share and spread the message.

You can watch the video here.

It’s sad to realize that racism still exists in the 21st century. I wish I could switch personalities with a racist person just to feel what they feel that makes them want to discriminate other races. Last May Balotelli was racially harassed during a match between AC MIlan and Roma.

Racism exists everywhere and not just among the whites. During cricket matches, I have seen Indian players and audience harass Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds.

I feel education and intelligence is being wasted on those who discriminate others. Learn to live together to make this world a better place for the next generation.

“I look at an ant and I see myself: a native South African, endowed by nature with a strength much greater than my size so I might cope with the weight of a racism that crushes my spirit.”

                                                                              –   Miriam Makeba

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/racism.html#6Vb8Z3QZE1BjaIrM.99

Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all – of which all of humanity can be proud.
Oliver Tambo
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/racism.html#6Vb8Z3QZE1BjaIrM.99

Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all – of which all of humanity can be proud.
Oliver Tambo
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/racism.html#6Vb8Z3QZE1BjaIrM.99

Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all – of which all of humanity can be proud.
Oliver Tambo
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/racism.html#6Vb8Z3QZE1BjaIrM.99

From TED to INK it goes on….

Image: Inmobi

I am pretty sure everyone reading this blog has heard of TED Talks. My blog is so hard to find that if you are already on this page, you have definitely been on TED. I watch TED whenever I can because it is the best place to be inspired and informed.

India’s INK partnered with TEDx conference to host popular talks from INK on TED.com.

With inspirational talks from Ruchi Sanghvi to Arunanchal Muruganatham, the story of how workshop assistants became successful entrepreneurs will blow your mind.

If you got five minutes to spare (which I am sure you do), visit INK to boost your daily spirits.

‘Taste of DC’ this weekend

This weekend Taste of DC is coming back to host their third culinary and cultural festival.

The event will host over 70 DC restaurants, 50 beers, and 100 wines to dine in style.

Tickets can be purchased here

The price of tickets range from $5 – $50.

Hope to see you all there!

DC Fall Menu

Fall is here in all its glory and how do we know it? Seeing pumpkin recipes and items on the menu (The Pumpkin Spice Latte counts too).

While California was not sensitive to the Fall season (it used to be hot up till November and jump straight into chilly winters), DC has definitely embraced the season by giving their menu a makeover.

Here are some items changed around the local restaurants. So make sure you try ’em out next time you’re there.

1. Table, DC – Root Bowl (roasted acorn squash, baby carrots, salsify , potatoes, pearl onions, romaine hearts and mustard sauce)
2. Jackson 20 – Slow roasted goat with pimento cheese ravioli and sweet potato puree
3. El Centro Georgetown – Sweet and Spicy Pork Cazuela with Pumpkin seeds (of course, the pumpkin!)
4. Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken – Sweet Potato Doughnut with marshmallow and cranberry
5. Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken – Pumpkin cake doughnut with gingerbread crumbs
6. Urbana – Duck breast with swiss chard, celeriac puree and cherry gastrique
7. Zentan – Creamy uni risotto
8. The Red Hen – Autumn Squash (topped with bacon, toasted almonds and truffled pecorino)
9. BLT Steak – Pork Tenderloin atop butternut squash puree and savoy cabbage
10. Black Salt – Pumpkin Streusel Pie (choice of ice-cream and topping)

Lets share some pics, comments and reviews if you’ve tried any of these already!

Bon appétit 🙂

Above and Beyond the Dzhash in DC

The St. Mary Armenian Church is hosting their 65th Annual Armenian Fall Food Festival.

The menu consists of way more than just a Dzhash (Delicious!). There will be Kebab Platters, Boreg, Kadayif, etc. The complete menu can be viewed here.

Image; Armnet

A friend told me about this event and I thought I will check it out this weekend. Except for a simple dzhash, I haven’t tried any other Armenian dish and this could be my chance to do so.

(Map)

PS: They accept credit cards !

PC- Check, Webcam – Check! Hello, Can you See/Hear me?!

Video chat have taken a huge stride in the past decade. From Skype to Apple’s Facetime, friends and family no longer feel the thousand of miles that lay between them during casual conversations.

But video chatting has come further than that. I had applied to a couple of international internships over the past few weeks and I got a response from a financial firm in London who wants to interview me via Skype. So, I would still need to dress up in a blazer, shirt and tie while donning a pair of shorts and flip-flops.

Online interviews have increased over 49% according to a survey conducted by Premier Global Services. 

Apart from all its seriousness, I feel uncomfortable doing video chats with friends, family or colleagues. So this particular round could be a critical stride for me to maintain constant eye – contact (not the creepy stare) and sit in a straight posture and ensure that my webcam is not pointing towards the ceiling.

While prepping for this interview, one of the questions that I have been toiling in my mind is should I be looking directly into the webcam (In which I can maintain eye-contact but wont be able to see my interviewer’s reaction) or do I look at the monitor (I could see my interviewer but scratch out the eye-contact). Regardless of what I do, I will still feel uncomfortable talking to someone inside my computer.

Here is an infographic from the same guys who conducted the survey above discussing the future in hiring:

Kuwait – Why U NO Friendly?

‘Kuwait approves wider roll out of hospital segregation“

Great! Just what we needed in Kuwait now – more racism. If public hospitals won’t treat foreign patients during the day other than for emergencies, I wonder what the low-income foreigners would do if they had a ‘normal’ illness. Wait till the sun sets so they can get medical help?

I can’t believe such discrimination is taking place in the 21st century . Why the country is silent about it is beyond belief. I have many Kuwaiti friends who put others well-being before them and even they had nothing to say about this matter.

I am not sure if the Emir is doing so to get the public support and avoid a rally or ousting of power like those seen before in Bahrain and Qatar or whether this is a message to expatriates that they are no longer welcome to the country.

Whatever reason it is they are trying to prove, the bitter truth is that expatriates are the nervous system of the kingdom. The only reason why the country is flourishing is because expatriate labor force worked hard for the current success.

Kuwait may achieve self-sustenance in a another 50 years, but definitely not now. The country has a long way to go to achieve its economic goal before wiping away the foreign footprints and being ungrateful for the third world laborers.

Pop Stars Heading to Dubai

Image: GulfNews

Will.I.Am and Timbaland heading to Dubai !!

They will appear on Sept 26 at the Dubai World Trade Center Arena. If you’re in the area, please don’t miss these performances.