FAQs
One of the best parts of sharing and writing these articles is the conversations that follow. I've had loads of interesting chats in person and a few over email, and I've noticed a pattern. A lot of the same questions pop up, some are esoteric about a topic while others are simply "why?".
But all of them are great questions.
Reasons behind FAQ page
Ever since I transitioned into teaching, some of you have asked about that. While many have asked about my thoughts on the late 2025 job situation. Some have even questioned why even I built projects like xsNumPy and SlowTorch which seems like reinventing the wheel. And then there are the questions about what my favourite films are and what I am currently watching, all of which are, again, great questions.
Ever since I met Charlotte, and I've mentioned this several times, I've realised that you only need to be curious to learn something. Now, on this page, there's nothing practical to learn, but I'd like to honour your curiosity nonetheless.
To make it easier for everyone, I've put together my answers to your most frequent questions. This isn't just a list, but it's an extension of my story. Think of it as some Easter eggs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does XAMES3 mean, and why you use it everywhere?
So, XAMES3 is my alias and username for online profiles. The first part, "XA", represents my first name, Akshay. The letter X is a sound-alike for the first syllable, "Aksh". Think of the letter "X" on its own; it sounds similar to "Aksh".
A is a sound-alike for the second syllable, "ay" (as in "day").
So, "Aksh" + "ay" becomes X-A.
The second part, "MES3", is a subtle play on my surname, Mestry. MES is a straightforward representation of the first syllable, "Mes". And the number 3 represents "try". It is not "try" as we say in English but more like "tree".
So, XAMES3 is just my name spelled out in short. This is called a gramogram in English. For example, "c u" is a gramogram for "see you", "JL" is a gramogram for "jail", etc.
How do you pronounce XAMES3 or XA?
It's literally pronounced as "X-A" or "X-A-Mes-three".
What is your role at National Louis University?
I'm an Adjunct Faculty at National Louis University in CSIS Department.