A New year eve for 2004, receipe for Love

1. Happy 2004. Once again another year becomes old and as a reuslt we are getting older, hopfully wiser!
I am going to choose my top three essays I have written this far as a tradition for end of year.
New Year, New world, New Start...

2. I am big fan of Jazz music and of course Mr. Harry Connick Jr., I used to listen to this song specially during any new year!
So, the lyrics are:
Recipe for Love
A little bit of me and a whole lot of you
Add a dash of starlight and a dozen roses, too
Then let it rise for a hundred years or two
And that’s the recipe for making love

It doesn’t need sugar ’cause it’s already sweet
It doesn’t need an oven ’cause it’s got a lot of heat
Just add a dash of kisses to make it all complete
And that’s the recipe for making love

And if you’ve made it right you’ll know it
It’s not like anything you’ve made before
And if you’ve made it wrong you’ll know it
’cause it won’t keep you coming back for more

I didn’t get it from my grandma’s book upon the shelf
I didn’t get it from a magical and culinary elf
No, a little birdie told me you can’t make it by yourself
And that’s the recipe for making love

Presentation in one of universities in Tehran

I am supposed to give a lecture on biomechanics to group of professors and students in one of the universities in. In any case, I was called in right at lunch time by a lady who wishes to tell me something about this presentation, today. Conversation goes like that:

Lady: Hi, I am calling from …University in regard of your presentation this coming Thursday. I am told to arrange everything you require for this event. I have couple of questions, may I ask you them.

Me: Hi, please go ahead ask.

Lady: what is the title of the presentation you wish to present? Can you translate it in Persian? Can you present your lecture in English?!!

Me: hum, I gave out a summary of my work to dean (head) of Biomedical department! Have you seen it? When did you become a person who takes care of this arrangement? Do not ask me to translate it in Persian since I have no idea what they mean in proper Persian! You do it yourself and if my help needed please let me know. Sure, I can give the lecture in English. May I ask why I should give this presentation in English?

Lady: ok, sure, I become aware of your presentation yesterday!!… Head of our department feels it is better to give out this presentation in English… ok, so, we do the translation… hum, Can I see you in person?!?!?

Me: see me in person? Sure, you will see me in person on Thursday! E-mail me if you need to consult me!!

Lady: Ok, then can I reach you at this number!

Me: sure! But I think everything is already arranged since I have talked to Mr. … about it!

Lady: ok, see you soon!!!

What next…after quake…

1. When I was in Dizin resort one thing captured my eyes. It seems that IRI has announced grounds higher than 1000 meter are free zone! It was good to see how young girls were sking without scarf with or without hat! The good thing was no one really paid attention to it!

2. Everywhere I go every space in virtual environment I read people are talking about Bam’s earth Quake. But almost no one has talked about how and what can we prevent this type of natural disasters from occurring again and again?!
Are not we supposed to maintain a standard in construction and buildings based on Iran geotechnical characteristics? (Not just use a blind eyes on American or European standards)
Should not we establish an inspection or professional association with power of investigation on our engineers who perform act of negligence? (In My opinion something like PEO)
I think we should look into new solutions and see how disasters like this quake can be prevented before ever occur.

Anyone wishes to share a view? Looking forward to hear yours.

Relief efforts for quake victims

1. Group of foreigners as a relief workers are heading to Bam relief groups heading to Iran.
2. If you wish to help read how and where you can help in Persian
It is quite sad seeing many pictures of this devistating earth quake around us. Hasan Sarbakhshian

First Ski trip to Dizin

1. My condolences to all relatives and remaining relatives of Bam earth quake. It is so sad and I wished our engineers as well as our governors would pay more attention to standard of building construction when it comes to natural disasters similar to earth quake. Unfortunately, they don't!
2. I like this expression:
Weakness is Tiring
But strength is exhausting!

3. Today, for the first time in this year I went skiing in Dizin resort. I went along with a friend who kindly provided the ride there from upper route (Rahe bALA). This route goes from Northeast of Tehran to Lashkarak and Shemshak and then a road to Dizin resort.
I have to admit after paying attention to this road for the first time in 11 years I realized a great improvement in regard of road pavement. Though, still there are lots of holes in the asphalt! The streets are widened; however there are much work need to be done. The upper route, which connects the Shemshak to Dizin, has had a reasonable improvement since 12 years ago.
What has captured my eye more than anything else is the development of villa and houses around the river and the areas were once not being allowed because of closeness to the creek. All over the road to Dizin you could see real-estates offices selling lands all over Fasham, Oshan, Shemshak, and Meygon!
Moving on, On our way to Dizin we stopped at Kohestan restaurant and had breakfast there. A few meter apart from Kohestan restaurant a school of ice climbing has started to work. When we were passing I saw about 30 people who were trying to climb the ice bars!
we finally arrived to upper part of Dizin resort. First of all, I realized they have started charging cars for parking per say, where they want to get to the resort. They charged us 500 Tomans! There is no real parking, though. You should park just beside the road which used to be for free! We got prepared and put on our equipment and went to buy tickets. The tickets were sold to us for 5500 Toman for each!!
Skiing was great and the fresh mountain air was comforting and peaceful. Getting on the ski lifts were another issue, though! Since today was Friday, there were so many people there, who many of them were truly acting uncivilized! The queues to get into lifts were trouble. In line-ups you were pushed around! Getting so close to the people in the line ups I realized many of them were half or full drank! They had drunk alcohol and they were quite proud of it! (I am not against drinking alcohol, just contrary, however, I am against drinking alcohol where your life or many others may be threatening because of some one’s impropriate judgment or acting due to toxication).
Another scenery, which I found it quite shameful, was when we went to take the life to the pick of the mountain to return to our car! We were standing in the queue when I saw there was a man with his little girl a few meters in the line up in front of us. A Dutch man with his wife was in front of them and there were couple of young fellows around them. Because of the huge crowd people were shoving and pushing around each other. I realized many of my young fellows without any attention to that little girl continued shoving and pushing! When the Dutch guy started to shouting towards the people in line up and telling them there is this small girl here, “please don’t push”!! To My surprise nobody even pay attention to him!!! Thank god we helped her to get into the safe area and get on the telecabin.
Over all, a great experience and I still love skiing, big time:-))

4. I love stories where there are a lot to learn from. I am not a big fan of action movies. I am not sure how many have read the book named !!! Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. This is a great book and I got an opportunity to watch a movie based on it. I highly recommend it. It is a typical Charles Dickens stories with a little twist where you learn, If you ever try to bring down someone, you may be brought down yourself without knowing of it

The house of Sand & fog

Tehran Weather report: Last night we received some snow. and today the temperature is around 2 degrees.

1. I read couple of reviews about this movie: The house of Sand & fog and I felt it worth mentioning them. Apparently, this a must see movie. First in the Iranian.com, Right direction and second in Gloom with a view. Shohreh Aghdashloo has apparently received a nominee for best supporting actress.

2. Magazine of the year...

3. Xmas Carols: I recall the first time I learned about Xmas carols was in Germany. I used to school there and we had to prepare a program for city hall. In any case, I learned to play drum and sing jingle Bells. To all good old days:-)

Xmas Wishes

First of all I wish everyone who are celebrating or aren't celebrating Xmas a healthy and prosperous Christian New year.
May all your wishes come true in this year of 2004:-). May Peace prevail for all in the World...
.....
I felt to putting up this lovely lyrics for Xmas occasion:
It's Beginning to look like a Xmas Turn on your speakers and sing along:-)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Toys in ev'ry store,
But the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will be
On your own front door.


A pair of hopalong boots and a pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben;
Dolls that will talk and will go for a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen;
And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well,
The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the snow.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas;
Soon the bells will start,
And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.

When a cellular phone becomes equal to a Stone!!

I have this cellular phone from Iran Telecom. I came to work today and interesting enough since around 9:00 am. I can't dial anyone and no one can call me!!!
I believe this is when we say a cellualr phone with value of one million Toman From Iran Telecom has a value of a simple stone!!:-) Happy Shab-e Cheleh when there was no technology!!!

Shab-e Yalda

Tehran Weather Report: windly, about 10 degrees in the noon. Night is colder, must be around zero degree.
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1. Ms. Shohreh Aghdashlo Achivement in U.S. I would like to congradulate her on the award she has received. Read it here; Shohreh Aghdashlo

2. Once again Yalda has arrived. This is perhaps one of the most celebrated occasions of Persian Calendar. About a while ago I was sent an e-mail about the Yalda from a good friend of mine. I felt this essay could provide us an insight into this celebrated occasion. Happy Shab e Cheleh.

The writer of this essay is Massoume a social anthropologist and a human ecologist from London University, Kings and University Colleges. She currently lives in Canada, where she works with women's groups and runs a business. She
is also a free lance writer.

SHAB E CHELEH (YALDA FESTIVAL)
Yalda, a Syriac word imported into the Persian language by the Syriac Christians means birth (tavalud and melaad are from the same origin). It is a relatively recent arrival and it is refereed to the "Shab e Cheleh Festival", a celebration of Winter Solstice on December 21st.
Forty days before the next major Persian festival "Jashn e Sadeh"; this night has been celebrated in countless cultures for thousands of years. The ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia (God of Agriculture, Saturn) and Sol Invicta (Sun God) are amongst the best known in the Western world.
In most ancient cultures, including Persia, the start of the solar year has been marked to celebrate the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of the Sun. For instance, Egyptians, four thousand years ago celebrated the rebirth of the sun at this time of the year. They set the length of the festival at 12 days, to reflect the 12 divisions in their sun calendar. They decorated with greenery, using palms with 12 shoots as a symbol of the completed year, since a palm
was thought to put forth a shoot each month.
The Persians adopted their annual renewal festival from the Babylonians and incorporated it into the rituals of their own Zoroastrian religion. The last day of the Persian month Azar is the longest night of the year, when the forces of Ahriman are assumed to be at the peak of their strength. While the next day, the first day of the month "Day" known as "khoram rooz" or "khore rooz" (the day of sun) belongs to Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. Since the days are
getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of Sun over the darkness. The occasion was celebrated in the festival of "Daygan" dedicated to Ahura Mazda, on the first day of the month "Day".
Fires would be burnt all night to ensure the defeat of the forces of Ahriman. There would be feasts, acts of charity and a number of deities were honored and prayers performed to ensure the total victory of sun that was essential for the protection of winter crops. There would be prayers to Mithra (Mehr) and feasts in his honor, since Mithra is the Eyzad responsible for protecting "the light of the early morning", known as "Havangah". It was also assumed that Ahura Mazda would grant people's wishes, specially those with no offspring had the hope to be blessed with children if performed all rites on this occasion.
One of the themes of the festival was the temporary subversion of order. Masters and servants reversed roles. The king dressed in white would change place with ordinary people. A mock king was crowned and masquerades spilled into the streets. As the old year died, rules of ordinary living were relaxed. This tradition persisted till Sassanian
period, and is mentioned by Biruni and others in their recordings of pre-Islamic rituals and festivals. Its’ origin goes back to the Babylonian New Year celebration. These people believed the first creation was order that came out of chaos. To appreciate and celebrate the first creation they had a festival and all roles were reversed.
Disorder and chaos ruled for a day and eventually order was restored and succeeded at the end of the festival.
The Egyptian and Persian traditions merged in ancient Rome, in a festival to the ancient god of seedtime, Saturn. The Romans exchanged gifts, partied and decorated their homes with greenery. Following the Persian tradition, the usual order of the year was suspended. Grudges and quarrels forgotten, wars would be interrupted or postponed.
Businesses, courts and schools were closed. Rich and poor became equal, masters served slaves, and children headed the family.
Cross-dressing and masquerades, merriment of all kinds prevailed. A mock king, the Lord of Misrule, was crowned. Candles and lamps chased away the spirits of darkness. Another related Roman festival celebrated at the same time was dedicated to Sol Invictus ("the invincible sun"). Originally a Syrian deity, this cult was imported by Emperor Heliogabalus into Rome and Sol was made god of the state. With the spread of Christianity, Christmas celebration became the most important Christian festival. In the third century various dates, from December to April, were
celebrated by Christians as Christmas. January 6 was the most favored day because it was thought to be Jesus' Baptismal day (in the Greek Orthodox Church this continues to be the day to celebrate Christmas).
In year 350, December 25 was adopted in Rome and gradually almost the entire Christian Church agreed to that date, which coincided, with Winter Solstice and the festivals, Sol Invicta and Saturnalia. Many of the rituals and traditions of the pagan festivals were incorporated into the Christmas celebration and are still observed today.
It is not clear when and how the world "Yalda"; entered the Persian language. The massive persecution of the early Christians in Rome brought many Christian refugees into the Sassanin Empire and it is very likely that these Christians introduced and popularized "Yalda" in Iran. Gradually "Shab e Yalda" and "Shab e Cheleh" became synonymous and the two are used interchangeably.
With the conquest of Islam the religious significance of the ancient Persian festivals was lost. Today "Shab e Cheleh" is merely a social occasion, when family and friends get together for fun and merriment. Different kinds of dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are consumed. The presence of dried and fresh fruits is reminiscence
of the ancient feasts to celebrate and pray to the deities to ensure the protection of the winter crops.
The Iranian Jews, who are amongst the oldest inhabitants of the country, in addition to "Shab e Cheleh", also celebrate the festival of "Illanout" (tree festival) at around the same time. Their celebration of Illanout is very similar to Shab e Cheleh celebration. Candles are lit; all varieties of dried and fresh winter fruits will have to be present. Special meals are prepared and prayers are performed. There are also very similar festivals in many parts of Southern Russia that are identical to "Shab e Cheleh" festival with local variations. Sweet breads are baked in shape of humans and
animals. Bon fires are made; dances are performed that resemble crop harvesting. Comparison and detailed studies of all these celebrations no doubt will shed more light on the forgotten aspects of this wonderful and ancient festival, where merriment was the main theme of the festival.

A long weekend?

Couple of quick notes:
Weather report: weather is getting warm here in Tehran. It seems that an Indian summer has arrived!
1.This Saturday is a national Holiday. Emam Jafar is passed a way and therefore, we have got a long weekend per say.
I think we should start increasing our holidays! or just simply stop working! Ph, we are tired!!!:-)
2.I am not sure if I have had a chance to talk about one of my favorite fields. That is Biomechanics and biomedical engineering.
Mr. Marco Viceconti is a biomechanicst in Europe. He has started to publish a
biomechanic weblog. He has also created a true virtual
community, the Biomechanics European Lab
3. I like this song of Bee Gees, it is knownas I started a joke:

I started a joke which started the whole world crying
But I didn't see that the joke was on me oh no
I started to cry which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me

I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
'Till I finaly died which started the whole world living
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me

I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
'Till I finaly died which started the whole world living
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me
Oh no that the joke was on me

Two quick news

Weather report: quite cold, however, sunny!

I am a little busy today, so, two news captured my eyes:
1. Andre Agassi "regrets" speaking no Farsi: German weekly
Andre Agassi
2. It has been a few feww that Mr. Abtahi has started his weblog. I congratualte him with couple of weeks of delay. I should tell you that I have meet him once in a book store and find him quite charming! he was with suite, no traditional clergies cloths! Mr. Mohammad Ali Abtahi

Can you provide a solution…?

1. Weather Report: Snow flicks bombarded us for the beginning of the day. In the afternoon, we have got this cold front, which has taken us to –4 to 0 degrees.

2. This goes back about 4 years ago when I was a teaching assistant and lecturing for an industrial robotic class. I used to supervise the students for a chosen project in that class. I used to drop by robotics laboratory and look at the development of the projects and direct them with better possibilities to continue their projects.
I used to get into room go over each project and look for problems and bringing them to the group’s attention. For instance, telling them this beam is too small to be used here, do not use this type of sensor here and so on.
Once there was this great student of mine who was definitely older and wiser than me, told me: Ali, I know that our projects have lots of problems however, you have always told us the problems and dilemmas that we have encountered; though, you have hardly provided a solution to these existing problems!
This was a big bang in my head for this kind of approach! From then after, I had learned to not bring up the problems without providing a working solution! I truly learned a lesson where I was lacking before. I believe I am a different person, now. Whenever I see a problem I try to provide a solution while overlooking for different aspects of the problem. Not just seeing the dark side of the problem, which is mostly known to us.

Late night Bubbling!

Snow has started in Tehran. White flicks are slowly coming down. It is so nice to go for a walk, though, it is windy and quite cold!
I am going to write about couple of restaurants that I have gone in Tehran since my arrival.
Apache: A fast food restaurant quite similar to burger King, though it is not a chain fast food, it is just sole store; they actually have happy meals!).
The white tower (Borjeh Sefid) restaurant & coffee shop: it is probably the first rotating restaurant in Tehran that I know of. You get 360 degrees view of Tehran. Quality of the food is all right, i.e. satisfactory. The café shop you can sit there for more than hours and nobody will bother you. If you wish to talk with someone, a good place to go.
Jame Jam Food Court :You can find Chinese, Mexican, Italian, French, BBQ and many other cuisines there, it is food court, da!... the coffee shop has a great Tiramisu for chocolate lovers!
I’d better get some sleep, now!

Smoke Free Environment, Official Apologies!

Weather report: today morning we had some snow at the beginning of the day. Later sun came out and it is getting quite cold around Tehran. It is the forecast to have rain and snow until Monday. Temperature is around 0 to 5 degrees.

2. Smoke free environment: Something has been constantly bothering me in Tehran: People who smoke right beside you in indoor environments. I have been exposed to cigarette smoke in many places to name a few houses, taxi, hospitals and many other public areas. The funny thing is when the smokers see that smoke is bothering me, they would ask: Do you get bothered by the smoke? When I reply: yes! They say, don’t worry, Tehran air is more polluted than the smoke you receive from this cigarette and they usually continue smoking!!! I really miss North America in this respect. Almost all public areas were smoke free environment!! This afternoon, I had been invited to Iranplast convention in Iran international Exhibition Place. If you wonder what is Iranplast. It is a convention related to all industries involved with plastic materials and manufacture. I went to one of the booths that a friend who had invited me. A cool dude was right there beside me who started to smoke. I showed my uncomforted face to him however; he just smiled and continued to smoke. The good part was that he took off and left about a few seconds!

3. I am not sure how many have seen the movie called Devil's advocate. There is a scene in it that Al Pacino tells: Vanity is definitely my favourite sin.
This was an introduction to tell something about myself. I took a long walk in this chilly day to reflect my journey in past few months. A while ago a good friend asked me a question. I had two choices: tell the truth; do not tell anything and move on! However, I took the question and twisted it and then answer it the way I wished to be heard!! I know this is called telling lie! Volia. This is, of course, an inhonorable act!! I never did such an act before and people who know me know this fact (perhaps telling this is worst than not saying it). Now the truth is revealed, I know you would say now: I feel regret. So, I feel I owe her an official apology. So, here I offer my deepest regret about this issue and officially apologize for anything I did. Perhaps, putting it up in public may help to clear the air.
and I dedicate this song of michael Jackson to all and specially to myself:

There's A Place In
Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could
Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need
To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow

There Are Ways
To Get There
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
Make A Better Place...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

Then It Feels That Always
Love's Enough For
Us Growing
So Make A Better World
Make A Better World...

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

And The Dream We Were
Conceived In
Will Reveal A Joyful Face
And The World We
Once Believed In
Will Shine Again In Grace
Then Why Do We Keep
Strangling Life
Wound This Earth
Crucify Its Soul
Though It's Plain To See
This World Is Heavenly
Be God's Glow

We Could Fly So High
Let Our Spirits Never Die
In My Heart
I Feel You Are All
My Brothers
Create A World With
No Fear
Together We Cry
Happy Tears
See The Nations Turn
Their Swords
Into Plowshares

We Could Really Get There
If You Cared Enough
For The Living
Make A Little Space
To Make A Better Place...

You And For Me
You And For Me

Love vs hate ; Win vs Lost,

1. Weather report: Tehran was quite polluted today! A cold front has approached Tehran and the temperature has dropped about 8 dgrees. I heard that tonight we may get some frost or perhaps snow.

2. This is an interesting expression from Moliere I read it today: Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for the love of it, then you do it for a few friends, and finally you do it for money.

3. I am not an expert in love issues. I have read a little and heard about being in love. As far as I know love is not something that we are able to describe it or define it. There is no proper definition to my knowledge for the love word. As many people said being in love is something that you tend to know! You’d feel special! If a mutual relationship arises, it is important to develop four ingredient of great happiness; Love, Trust, Indulgence, and Hope. It is mandatory to develop all these four all along in your relationship. As I said if the trust is dismissed, love will not last long and hope will get lost in no time. However, a trusted relationship requires that both parties, during many ups and downs of their life, have indulgence even if they are correct in what they say and mistakes are her/his partner's fault. . A relationship is mutual expression. As we hear in mathematics, it is an expression with necessary and sufficient (if and only if) condition. You tend to give and receive. A one-way love cannot continue for long. One-way relationship usually goes to a break up mood. Having said that this is where we stay broken hearted. It is no cure for loving someone except time. Time usually is the only remedy to heal the pain.

4. A young person saw a heart of an old man. The young person asked: "I see broken pieces and empty spaces in your heart, what has happened to your heart?" The old man said: "all along your life you meet people, during these relationships you usually give a way part of your heart. The empty spaces belong to those people who took a part of my heart and never returned a similar piece. As a result, the parts I gave them a way never got filled with their similar heart pieces, So that is why you see as a empty spaces in my heart."

5. This is a great story of a man who believed in a work to benefit all, I quite loved it. It is about a man who worked hard and keep saying: In a land of free, plant a tree!
...Around 1971 a brush fire burned a substantial portion of the chaparral in the hills above the golf course and just behind the Los Angeles Zoo. Amir was saddened by the damage the fire inflicted. One day he approached Griffith Park authorities and, to their amazement, asked whether he could get permission to create a garden on top of the hill behind the golf course. He was not taken very seriously at first but when he discussed his plan they told Amir that the ranger station could grant him a permit but that was it. No water, no shovel no plants and no help. Amir accepted with delight... read the rest her. Amir's Garden. Thanks to Iranian.com.

The grass on the other side is always greener or!!

Another sunny day in Tehran. I wish to say hi to all who read these pages either those one I know and those I don't know!
...
Today, I read the following story at Alex blog. I beg you to read this story. It is a great one.
.....
That night, I slept in her guest bed, under a canopy of pink and I thought how shabby my home was next to this. How unspecial it was and how I couldn’t provide such hospitality because I wouldn’t know how to put a home together like this one. Although I adore pink more than any girl I know, I’m not so good at being girly, especially when it comes to decorating and matching pastel colours, flowers and cushions. I started to think less of my home because I knew it couldn’t be like hers.
Read the rest here on Dec. 8/2003
.....
In one of the comments I was asked to explain more about the web and internet convention. I think by browsing this link you can find more information Internet fest

Sunny day arrived!

With one day of delay. After seven straight days of rain, Tehran is visited by sun Lady:-). The air is still clean and fresh and mountains on North of Tehran are covered by snow illustrates a pleasant scenery.
...
My Best wishes and congrtulations goes to Ms. Nazanin Afshin-Jam, an Iranian born, who was representing Canada in Miss World 2003 contest. She become the first runner up of this contest, good for her:-) Read the rest here
Interesting enough that Miss Ireland the world crown holder is nobody than daughter of Chris De Burgh the famous singer. Good for her, too!:-)

Rain: Seventh day!

It seems that we are quite blessed in Tehran. This is seventh consecutive day that we received rain! Seven days we have not seen sun shine! It is a record I suppose in Tehran. At least to my knowledge! Right now it is still raining!
*****************
This was send to me by a good friend of mine:
Do not marry a person that you know that you can live with, only marry someone that you cannot live without!
*****************
This is one of the strangest news I have recently heard: German confessed to killing and eating a willing victim in a case that could make legal history, telling a shocked courtroom the experience was "like taking communion" in a religious service. Human-eatting tragedy staged in Germany.

Dead Poets Society

Today I went to Mahak-charity food fair for kids with cancer. What a crowd! It was nice to see so many enthusiastic people who care. From young to old they all were amazing and friendly. I spend more than 3 hours there. I think I will go to every event they may have from now on!

While thinking about such events I recalled this part from dead poets society movie and the fact that we should seize every possible moment in our life before we regert it:

Every day opportunities await us
and we must decide whether to take the chance or play it safe
I encourage you to take the risks
for nothing is gained without them
...It is this "Carpe Diem*" spirit
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*Seize the day
See a picture of the crowed here

Rain keeps coming…Tehran sees rain for six consecutive days!

Amazing, not that I complain, this is for six consecutive days and rain keeps coming in Tehran! The air quality is pleasant, clean, and fresh. Temperature is about 5 to 8 degrees centigrade:), in a case you wish to know about the weather!
I remember this poem from second grade, it goes:

Rain again, rain again, with the sound of music
With drops similar to pearl
The impact of drops on the roof
Sweet and good; I was just a little 7 years old kid, fast and agile…

The Persian version is:
Baz Baran, baz baran, ba taraneh, ba goharhaye faravan
Mikhord bar bam-e khaneh, khobo o shirin
Kodako 7 saleh bodam, josto chabok…

Ok, I can’t recall the rest, anyone can?
An great news:
The first ski resort in Tochal is solely opened for snowboarders. And apparently, Yesterday, Tochal has re-opened its resort for ski lovers. Yopi, hopfully, this year I can go more skiing!:-)

Food festival-82: A charity fair

I have been notified about a charity fair in this coming friday by Mahak organization. Thanks goes to a friend who kindly send me this poster.

Second consecutive day in Tehran Convention Centre :-)

Ok, Ok, I did go to Tehran International Convention Center for two consecutive days! But this time was not for the Internet and web convention. It was for Air-conditioning convention and no, the purpose was not for the Chocolate and pastry convention, I just had this half opened eye on that convention and it just happened that I went there!! (Ya, you right!!) In any case, I once again learn a lot! After visiting all air conditioning booths and changing lots of productive ideas, I, of course, learned how companies try to extend their technology brain storming to women! I learned the true meaning of "Instrumental usage = Estefadeh Abzare (Thanks goes to a friend who reminded me of the word instrument for translation!)" of women!! To my surprise, many of these companies had hired women a few weeks before the convention takes place and if you would ask them a question, they kindly would reply: Dr. or Engineer X knows about technical details! So, I let you to talk to him!! Of course, after so much enjoyment (do not think personal, by enjoyment I refer to air conditioning equipment, nothing more:-)!!) we decided to pay a visit to the Chocolate and pastry booths! (It just happened, no planing what so ever!!)
This one was a different experience! Besides the simple and of course better instrumental usage of women, the aisles were overwhelmed from visitors! It was quite difficult to move around!
There was this scenery that made me to be shameful and of course a little entertaining! One of chocolate companies booth started to open up the chocolate containers in front of their booth!! All of the sudden, I saw a crowd of 100s start running, similar to how football players run for the ball in American football, and almost killing one another for just a few chocolates bars!! My god, it took only less than a minute before the entire area was up side down! And I am not sure but perhaps couple of people got injured!! What the experience it was!
********
For fourth consecutive days Tehran sees rain. It is quite nice, though. I recalled this song of Everly brothers (A-ha has sang it, too) called Crying in the rain!
Crying In The Rain - Everly Brothers
I'll never let you see
The way my broken heart is hurting me
I've got my pride and I know how to hide
All my sorrow and pain
I'll do my crying in the rain

If I wait for cloudy skies
You won't know the rain
From the tears in my eyes
You'll never know
That I still love you so
Though the heartaches remain
I'll do my crying in the rain

Raindrops falling from Heaven
Could never wash away my misery
But since we're not together
I look for stormy weather
To hide these tears
I hope you'll never see

Some day when my crying's done
I'm gonna wear a smile
And walk in the sun
I may be a fool but til then darling
You'll never see me complain

I'll do my crying in the rain
I'll do my crying in the rain
I'll do my crying in the rain

Web Convention in Tehran cont's.

I went to this web convention. I got amazed with so many enthusiastic people I met! I could tell the weblog booth was one of the most crowded booths there. I had opportunity to meet couple of fellow of webloggers:
1. Vaheed A nice fellow who has been in editorial board of a book called: Veblag-estan-e shishi! I bought it, though!
2. Two energatic and enthusiast fellows Sara Darvish and Neda
3. A cool dude who I had seen his website: Dizi
4. You can see photos of the convention here at Rootoosh bashi
Over all, a geart experience. However, I have to talk about something that I felt the entire system was lacking.
1. There was no internet connection what so ever based on booths I talked to!
2. Many of the jobs these people did was like virtual university or training centre requires High Speed internet access!
Realistically, we have no high speed access, So, many of them were useless for Iran per say!!
****************
moving on, a good friend sent me a joke from US:

An Italian, French and Iranian went for a
job interview in England.
Before the interview, they were told that
they must compose a sentence in English with three
main words: green,
pink
and yellow...
The Italian was first: "I wake up in the
morning. I see the yellow sun. I see the green grass
and I think to myself,
I hope it will be a pink day..."
The French was next: " I wake up in the
morning, I eat a yellow banana, a green pepper and in
the evening I watch the pink panther on TV...
Last was the Iranian, "I wake up in the
morning, I hear the phone "green green", I "pink" up
the phone and I say "Yellow"

Web convention in Tehran

Today, I am hoping to go and see web convention in Milad building in Tehran International Convention center.
hopfully this afternoon I can do this...
By the way, I would like to thank all those who e-mailed me in past couple of weeks and commented me on my blog! I haven't seen many of you in person, however, thanks for comments and e-mails. I respect your opinions.
So, enjoy this rainy day in Tehran.
This is voice of Alireza (oppss sorry I meant writing), I am in Tehran reporting!:-)

Why do we write?!

I wonder why do we write? What is the purpose of writing? Have you ever noticed people who cannot express their feelings? Have you ever been in a situation that you wish to recall a proper word to describe an action to group of friend/people. You say: I know the word; it is right on my tongue!
I believe writing is a great practice to improve someone's ability to express his/her feelings. Many times I have lost my ability to express a meaning to someone! However, I have noticed writing provides a practice to improve my ability to communicate with other. Keeps me updated of language abilities and use of words without getting angery.
I believe people who are getting angry and use profanity are the ones who can not express themselves as well as their feelings, properly.
I recall when I was going to university we had a professor in machine design course who made us to explain every design we did in essay type of answers. It was quite difficult at the beginning for me. I had come from a country, which no value was given to essay writing in many aspects (I tend to believe you’d agree with me:-).
I recall that professor went on once, because of tremendous objective he was receiving to his methodology, by saying, “imagine you are a best engineer ever and you have designed many items needed by people around you. You are an excellent engineer with ability of Albert Einstein when it comes to calculation of nonlinear systems! But imagine you can't express all those wonderful innovations of yours to the public!! How would you ever make people aware of your invention? How are you going to make money out of those inventions?" After carefully listening to those words, I concluded that writing is a tool that we all should be equipped with!
*******
And rain keeps coming and coming in Tehran!!!... Like energizer battery keeps going and going!!:-)
I have no car to go home this afternoon, so I will be one of those pedestrians who should hid from fast drivers!!:-)

Happiness in Life!

Today was a day with lots of precipitation in Tehran. I stayed about an hour in a traffic in Parkway area couldn't go fore or back! This was an opportunity to realize with so many small ponds in Tehran’s streets I prefer to see the rain from 12:00 am to 5:00 am! So, by the next morning everything is drained to the ground and the ponds do not exist!! As a result, a passing car would not wash up a poor pedestrian who has no where to hide!!

Moving on, I am running out of topics for a write up! So, anyone wishes to give an opinion by all means.:-)

Today in traffic I was thinking:

Happiness in life is based on four ingredients: Love, trust, indulgent and, Hope.
If we lose the Love, our happiness can still be built on trust. However, if we lose the trust then indulgent becomes something that can’t be given any thought on and the hope gets lost in no time!!

Lovely day :-)

Finally, we got rain in Tehran. I am not sure if we should dance to the rain sound of music like Inuit people do in North America! Today morning, the fresh air is seductive. I wish I could go out of the city and enjoy this lovely, fresh and, foggy day! enjoy it as it last.

Partner to be or not to be?!

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who has recently broke up with a boyfriend. She has been quite sad and telling me she still has feeling for his boyfriend. She wondered if this feeling grows, she would have a difficult time to brake away from past.

I give her the following advice. I told her:
It is quite difficult to forget someone you loved. In my humble opinion, the only way that someone may be able to say a complete good bye to his/her past is to close that chapter of her life. I don’t mean killing yourself or anything close to it! Not at all. I mean you have to come to a peace of mind with yourself in regard of your past. On the other hand, you must take away the pain before you start your life again.
You have to see why you broke up with your partner. Was it for a good reason? Did s/he break one of the factors that you praised? Does s/he care for you as much as you care for her/him? Did you both draw the same conclusion not being able to stay together? Were you able to compromise and you didn’t? Have you been fighting for a long? Does your original reason worth fighting for?
If you could answer all the questions stated above, we may come to a peace with ourselves. Consequently, we close this chapter of our life. No need to further thinking of it. We meet people all along our life, we may fall in love, however, our soul mates may be somewhere else standing waiting with an open arm for us!!

TROY

For all Brat Pitt lovers and who love legendary stories, apparently a new movie is going to be released in US, soon (May 2004) which is called Troy by Wolfgang Peterson. This is a love story upon Helen and Paris Greece figures. I recall watching this movie in Black & White many years ago and get impressed with it.

The story-teller explains the story like this:

There is a legend 28 centuries old that tells of a Queen who betrays his king and a worrier he called upon to lead a war for vengeance, If love is worth fighting for…

Enjoy the clip here. You have to go there pick view trailer: small, and then wait for few minutes if you have a dialup connection to load the clip!

Common law vs conventional marriage!

Listening to Norah Jons live in Chicago with that mellow jazz rhythm and I started to think which one supposed to be better? Common law or conventional marriage! This is a discussion that is taking place in my mind for so long. I always wondered what are the cons and pros of later and former! What I am referring to as a common law marriage is living together that two opposite sex decide to do without any ceremonial procedure.
According to many psychological data and literature references man as a hunter (referring to primitive man) must pick the women of his wish and then woman usually tend to develop love and dependency towards his partner. As time matures this mutual dependency grows and we have, volià, a family by definition! Many say the base of this family is man however; the column of this family is based on either some legal papers or sensational connection or many other reasons.
Of course, the legal papers are conventional marriage. Just recently, I read in one of the Tehran’s local newspapers that from every four people who get married in Tehran one is getting divorced! I truly, feel if a common law relation can last for more than a year or two, then we have a real marriage that can last until the death make them apart. However, marriage based on papers which make both sides to stick together because of some prenuptials papers or what they have exchanged (i.e. money wise I mean) is something fragile or just both parties are taking each other because of worldly connections! Or may be take one another as granted. Therefore, Having said that I draw this conclusion that being common law with a partner you love may be an answer to many today family problems that end up in a court and divorce!

***************************

Different point of view

Talking about messy room, in the Alex the girl it is this story that has put up and tells us how to look at things from different point of view. I guess this is an excuse for me about my messy room :))...
....
She decided one day that if she couldn’t tell me that my room was a mess and was in need of a good clean that she would show me. Without my knowledge, she took a picture of my room, took the film to the store, and waited anxiously for the messy photo shot to develop. She was certain that when the photo was ready and she showed it to me, I would instantly want to make my room over into something from a glossy magazine.
read the rest here the writing for 26 of November 2003

Mourning for Siavash

First see this lovely photo. Thanks goes to a good friend who kindly forwarded this photo for me.

Last Friday, I went to see “Siavash mourning” in main hall of City Theater of Tehran. This work was directed by Pari Saberi a well known theater director whom his style reminds you kind of Broadway show cases like Lion’s King and Phantom of the Opera, etc.
I am a big fan of Broadway shows specially when there is a story-teller (Naghal) involves!
The entire story was myth of Siavash, from Shahnameh (i.e. book of Kings of Ferdosi) whom was son of Kavos a great Iranian King. The story develops based on love and hate and as usual the dark side and light side. It develops by the relationship between Iran and Toran zamin.
It is interesting that almost in all stories, including this one, the good side prevails! One of the most interesting things was Rostam, the legendary Iranian commander, sword when he went to revenge for Siavash’s blood. I personally did not know that Rostam and Emam Ali sword were similar with two sharp picks. Something I learned.
The music the dance was typical Ms. Saberi work and his stamp could have been seen everywhere. The mourning music and happy songs were picked well based on Iranian taste with convolution of western spice!
Overall, a B+ is my mark to this work of her. I think this work compare to the Josef and Zoleykha was a little subordinate in overall performance.

Time to enjoy life

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a
silk paper wrapped package: "This, - he said - isn't any ordinary
package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and
the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years
ago. She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I
guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to
the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house,
his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:
"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is
a special occasion".

I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up
to, not survived through. I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses
every day. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel
like it.

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it
whenever I want to.
The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my
dictionary.

If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do
it now.
I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she
wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have
called her relatives and closest friends. She might call old friends to make
peace over past quarrels. I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.
It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my
time had come.

I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would
meet, letters... letters that I wanted to write "One of these days". I would
regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons,
not times enough at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring
laughter and joy into our lives. And, on each morning, I say to myself
that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute, is
special.

A Potential Girl Friend (GF) checklist!!!

This is a list I complied for past few days! It came to my mind that we all list whatever we wish to have, why not a GF or BF!! you may add more factors as you wish. :-)
(This is just a check list, don't take it in some extend very seriously!!:-)
Listed in order of importance

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

Alive not just breathing!
Heterosexual!
Doesn't smoke or take drugs
Has a nice smile!!
Age: 22 to 29
Not adverse to outdoor activities!
Fit

Emotional and Characteristics

Loyalty and honest
Not arrogant
Motivated
Passionate
Thoughtful and serious at times
Extroverted when appropriate
Funny and Silly
Independent
Has initiative
Has romantic tendencies
Sensitive, but not excessively sensetive!
Busy, but not excessively busy!
Has a wild child streak
Tolerates
Nice, but not boring
Generous but not tightfist

Interests

Theatre, art, music, movies
Skiing
Travel
Dinning
Reading
Cooking
Sunsets and moonlight
Oceans and mountains
Likes to dance (Specially ball room dancing)

Social Status

Has a job or in process of getting one (A good job holder has priority)
Have finished an undergraduate degree at university, or be in the process of

obtaining one
Single
Does not have an ex-husband
Does not have any children

Materialistic

Fashion sense (when necessary)

Timing

Wish to know her as soon as possible!! Qualified people send in their C.Vs.!!!

These are the days of our lifes!

Today I don't feel cheerful!
I feel being in the downfall where there is no turn back!
looking back into the Journey of my life
I wish I could do something about it...
I suppose Fredy Mercury put it in the nice words:

Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days...long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect...you know
The days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shinin'...we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately...I just don't know
The rest of my life's been just a show

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you

You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it with your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately...I just don't know
Better sit back and go with the flow
Cos' These are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now, but somethings remain
When I look and I find no change

Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing's still true
When I look and I find
I still love you
I still love you

Ethical Issues and Morality

I know of four fundamental ethical theories that I wish to share them here; in my opinion all these four cover many of today’s issues around us:

Mill’s Utilitarianism: This theory was stated most clearly by John Stuart Mills (1806-1873). Utilitarianism states that the best choice in a moral dilemma is that which produces the maximum benefit for the greatest number of people.

Kant’s duty ethics: The theory of duty ethics or formalism was put forward by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), who proposed that each person has a fundamental to act in a correct ethical manner. He evolved his theory from the belief or observation that each person’s conscience imposed an absolute, categorical imperative (or unconditional command) on that person to follow those courses of action to follow. For example everyone has duty not to tell lies, since, if lying were to be done by everyone, then no promises could be trusted and our social fabric would be at risk of un raveling.

Lock’s Right Ethics: The rights-based ethical theory comes mainly from the work of John Locke (1632-1740), and states that everyone has rights that arise from one’s very existence as a human being. The right to life and the right to maximum possible individual liberty and human dignity are fundamental, and other rights arise as a consequence of personal rights.

Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics: One of the earliest and most durable ethicsl theories was proposed by ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 B.C.), who observed that the goodness of an act, object, or person depend on the function or goal concerned. For instance, a “good” chair is comfortable! The one quality that humans have, above all other animal, is power of thought; therefore, Aristotle stated that true happiness would be achieved by developing qualities of character through thought, reason, deduction, and logic.

Lost happiness…

Somebody told me once my happiness was like an early fruit which I tasted its arrival, now its season is passed! This is quite similar to water had been poured on my hands’ palm where the water is slowly dropping though my fingers on the hot soil and getting disappeared!

A start with an End!

I used to hear for every start there is an End, and for every Ending there is a new start!
moving on, I came across this poem of Mehdi Akhvan-Saales with the name of Winter.
Enjoy:-)

Winter

They are not going to answer your greeting
Their heads are in their collars
Nobody is going to raise his head
To answer a question or to see a friend
The eyes cannot see beyond the feet
The road is dark and slick
If you stretch a friendly hand towards anybody
He hardly brings his hand out of his pocket
For the cold is so bitter
The breath coming out of your chest
Turns into a dark cloud
And stands like a wall in front of your eyes
While your own breath is like this
What do you expect from your distant or close friends?

My gentle Messiah, O, dirty dressed monk
The weather is so ungently cold
You be warm and happy
You answer my greeting and open the door
It is me, your nightly guest, an unhappy gypsy;
It is me, a kicked up, afflicted stone
It is me, a low insult of creation, an untuned melody.

I am neither white nor black
I am colorless
Come and open the door, see how cheerless I am
O, my dear host, your nightly guest is shivering outside
There is no hail outside, no death;
If you hear any sound, it is the sound of cold and teeth.

What are you saying, that
It is too late, it is dawn, it is day?
What you see on the sky
Is not the redness after dawn
It is the result of the winter's slap
On the sky's cheeks
O, partner go and get the wine ready
Days and nights are the same

They are not going to answer your greeting
The air is gloomy, doors are closed,
The heads are in collars, the hands are hidden,
The breaths are clouds, the people are tired and sad,
The trees are crystallized skeletons, the earth is low-spirited
The roof of the sky is low
The sun and moon are hazy
It is winter.

Next Generation or Generation X in Iran

Last night I went to Superstar fast food restaurant by Parkway intersection for a bite with a friend of mine. The time of our arrival was around 7:30 pm. Superstar was quite empty to my surprise. “It is Ramedan month and people may be fasting”, these were my explanation to friend of mine. However, after 20 minutes being there I saw arrival of tons of teenage fellow who were only between ages 13 to 16! These boys & girls contrary to my generation were quite comfortable with one another. They were all with fashionable cloths with different style you could tell they wish to make statement.
What you could see and it was quite obvious among the teenagers of these generation is tendency for civil obedient. Two employees of superstar were in front of the entrance door and trying to tell the teenagers to cover themselves more properly and according to Islamic rules. However, they were aggressive enough to refuse what they were told! It was quite obvious and with these types of cloths and acts they were trying to fulfill two aspects of their life. First, their desire for showing off and getting to know the opposite sex. Second, a statement that the government has been incompetent to deal with new generation and showing young people disobedient with current government.
We are getting changed this is obvious, however, how long will it take until we become costume to these changes and how the older generation and we will react to these changes is something remain to be seen.

A sunny Morning!

This is a story that was written by a good friend of mine about a while ago. With her permission I edited and asked her to publish it on my weblog. So, here it goes…

On an early morning, before stars disappear from the beautiful autumn sky, completely by coincident I joined friends who leaded me to see someone who for the first time I felt for! I don’t know whether it has ever happened to you or not. But it was a strange experience. Seeing your soul in another body! At first, I got really confused!
But when I looked closely I realized she is thinking, dancing, and even acting similar to me. She was responding to any actions of mine with a spontaneous and energetic reaction similar to them. This person was in any possible way compatible to me even in very small things that normally no other person may pay attention to.
I tried my best & used all my energy to send her capturing signals, but because of the some known and unknown interferences, my signals were received with setback!! At last, signals were intercepted, when I got to know the person on the other side, I draw a conclusion that a miracle has happened!!! Finding someone who is compatible with me in all existing ways must be a miracle and she must be my soul mate! I dreamt all days & nights; imaging my soul mate in different places with me. I felt without that special person something is missing in my life. My soul mate was source of energy, enjoyment, calmness, and all good effects that a man can ever imagine. I could imagine this one was the one send by god to complete my lost half.
When I closely focused my eyes on her, I realized that she is a mirror, but not just any ordinary mirror on the wall. This was a mirror, which was reflecting all my lost years. A mirror with ability to make my soul transparent something that it was hard to ignore it. I tried to own this mirror. However, there was a problem, the fact was that I couldn’t hang the mirror on my own wall, because it was owned by another person!!

I thought of two possible options:
1. To steal the mirror from its current owner! This, of course, is an illegal act which I choose not to do, because I feel no gentlemen would do anything like this!
2. The second solution is to ask politely from his owner to remove her from the wall, give up the possession of her and hand her to me! This is an impossible solution though because I experienced the desire of the owner towards his mirror!

I finally decided to ask my mirror if it was possible for her to live on MY wall, and to be close to me. Unfortunately, my mirror silently refused!

Considering all options, I realized did not have any chance to win her back!
While I was distancing from her, her silent and calmness made her comparable to a beautiful mountain. It was a rainy day; even sky was crying and seemed sad!

I was distancing myself from my soul. I closed my eyes and tried to remember and record every refection that she emitted on my soul. I took her reflections to my heart and soul where no person could see or understand it. I won’t delete those gorgeous pictures.
I still hear reverberation of her voices in my ears… I know time will heal the pain.

Love & attention!

He said: that my lover doesn’t pay attention to my love!
I said: the problem is that you have focused on the "attention” word! If you focus on “love” word then no matter what she does as long as she is happy you must be happy!!

Yesterday

A work by Beatles that ....

Yesterday , all my troubles seemed so far away ,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay ,
Oh I believe in yesterday .
Suddenly , I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh yesterday came suddenly ...
Why she had to go I don't know . She wouldn't say.
I said something wrong , now I long for yesterday ,
Yesterday , love was such an easy game to play ,
Now I need a place to hide away ,
Oh, I believe in yesterday ...

Life goes on!

Listening to Fantasia on Greensleeves a work byVaughan Williams a British composer , my journey in past few weeks flashes in front of my eyes like a day dream! The music makes you flow through the air in such a speed that you see all the laugh and cry you had for the past few weeks!
There are times in your life that you cross your finger and hope for the best and expect the worse!! So, be it, I usually say, it could be better, but it is not that bad either!
Things usually gets better or tend to to move towards what is meant to be!!

Don't cry for me Argentina

These days I feel things are different. Somehow this lyrics from
The Andrew Lloyd Webber collection of Sarah Brightman describes me well. This is from Evita broadway show.

It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you

I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to


Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance


And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seems to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me


Don't cry for me Argentina


Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance


Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do is look at me
To know that every word is true


Don't cry for me Argentina

Moving to a New virtual home?

becasue of the blogger lack of support I am trying to move to motime. Please for now see some of my old writing or new ones in stated site.

Something to write about....

I wonder everytime I am away from weblog, I have tons to write about. However, as soon as I get behind the computer screen, volia, nothing can be remembered!...
Last night I saw one of old friends who currently works in Bombardier . We used to go to university together. Now he lives in Toronto, Canada with his partener as a common law. It is so amazing to see how time flies! We used to study together, go Skiing, go Horse back riding and etc. It was fun time!!
....
I have just checked my archive and realized that I can't retrive my old writtings. I am quite pissed off at blogger.com.
I am thinking about setting up my own server!

lack of update and new development:-)

I am told that I rarely update my weblog. This is true but if you update you weblog everyday I would conclude that you have nothing better to do than updating your weblog!!
on the serious side, I am busy and that is the reason I hardly get a chance to update my weblog. but stay tunned and I will at last prevail:)
... just recently Iranian. com published one of my writings, please read it here

Nobel Peace Prize Goes To Iranian Female Lawyer Ebadi

wowowow, I was away for couple of days and now I am back I see that Ms. Ebadi has won the Nobel Peace Price! I would like to take this opportunity and congratulate her on this achievement. As an Iranian I am so excited and honored. I congratulate to all my fellow Iranian around the world specially Women.
read here the news!

Iran first hand Observation

About while ago I published first part of my journey when I first arrived in Iran about a year ago. So, now a little more of it...:)

Day 7
Tonight my Aunt (Khaleh) and her husband and two children visited me. My aunt’s husband suggested that I file an application to the company that he is working. I had to show up at his work place around 9:00 am.

Day 8
Woke up early around 6:00 am. Try to get ready for the interview. I arrived at the company site around 9:00 am. First went to see my aunt’s husband who was busy and directed me to human resources (Karkozini) department. There she was a woman who gave me an application to fill out. Apparently, I was told the application form was newly issued and needless to say many question were like what did you sibling do last night and most import of all what is your religion and what group do you belong to!!

I first saw a chief of Human resources who was big time bureaucrat. He was overlooking at my application without saying much or looking at me. He then expressed that there is no job in the company available. He went to the next page and noticed that I have written Canada in my application. All of the sudden things become about him and how he tried to get out of country in 1997. He started by explaining his life story and how he went to Spain to go to Canada but unfortunately authorities arrested the smuggler and so they decided not to proceed!!! And then he started talking about his son who is very much in love with robotics and mecharonics and is in fight with his father who say: “you should finish you industrial engineering degree then switch to mechanical engineering”. However, he wants to do this change without his permission!
Moving on, after a long day of interview and when they said they don’t need anyone. Around 3:30 pm they hired me! This was one of the longest job interviews I ever had in my entire lifetime in one day!!
Moving from different conversations that I had with a few engineers I found that these people use technology that belong to at least 25 years ago and try to do jobs that are considered modern and advanced in some extend.


Day 11
I went for another interview. This one was a friend of my father just want to evaluate my knowledge for job opening that may be available in the near future.
On my way back to house I got in on a taxi. Another woman passenger got on the taxi as well. The girl introduced herself as a student who is seeking money to pay off his rent debt for the time being. She stated that she is looking for about 45 thousand Toman. I was quite sad to see such scenery. She pulled out her student card and showed it to both of us, the driver and I. Finally when the driver told her he does not have the money and I couldn’t truly not speak! She offered herself for compensation of the money!!!! This moment was tremendously sad. I was speechless! I wasn’t there to judge her or say anything and I couldn’t say a word. She asked if we can’t do anything, diver should stop the car. And he did. It was one of the saddest moment of my life.

Tonight is 11 of September, anniversary of collapse of the twin buildings in NY City. I was passing from Mohseni (Mother’s) Square where people last year lit candle. The square was full of Police, Nirouhaye Entezami and plain cloths officer with walk-in-talky. They were standing everywhere trying to spread people from any such gatherings!
Tomorrow I am going to Mohammad Esfahani Concert. I got tickets via this person in German embassy.

Couple of observations:

Traffic in Tehran is terrible. Pollution is at a constant rate and is killing people without doubt! People are eager to blame someone. I went to ministry of research and science and development. Whomever I met was complaining about the government and how the higher level of government are stealing from Iran. There is big belief that this government is Arab driven. Many people believe that these people are Arabs who are making Iranians to suffer! (This is after talking to a few people on the streets and different ministries. Please do not criticize me because this is what I am told and I am only conveying it!)
People are quite angry at government at any level. There are two problems that people don’t do much, first people don’t see there is any alternative or a leader that they can trust. Second, people feel they have already paid so much for this revolution, so they are hardly ready to pay any other price(s).

The foot steps of water

Sohrab Sepehri is one of my favorite poet of all time. He passed a way in 1359 (1980) In Iran.
This is a one of his poems and its title is The foot steps of water.

Life's a pleasant tradition.
Life's wing is as vast as death.

Life's a jump the size of love.
Life's not something,
we put on the mantel of habit
and forget.

It does not matter where I am.
The sky is always mine.
Windows, ideas, air, love,
earth, all mine.
Why does it matter if sometimes,
the mushrooms of nostalgia grow?

Let's take off our clothes.
Water is just a foot away.
Let's have a basket and
fill it up with all the greens
and all the reds.

We are not to comprehend;
the secret of roses, but maybe
swimming in the incantation of roses.
Or may be looking for
the song of truth
between the morning glory,
and the century.

Car free day in Europe

Past Monday 22. of September was Car free day in Europe. Hopefully we would have a similar day in Iran, soon! otherwise...
Car free day in Europe
and Mobility week in Europe

IEEE President writes an open letter to its members Concerning about serving members in embargoed countries

Letter in pdf format

Change it or get changed!!

I enjoyed this story so much that I highly recommend it!...
I was taught this lesson in my early twenties when, working for a tour company in the Canadian Rockies, a woman called to book a sightseeing tour. I explained in great detail the different day trips available to her and together we picked one out for her to take. She then asked me a question that took me off guard, “Do you offer discounts to the blind?”
read it here @ Alexthe girl Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Congratulations on Raha's new virtual home town :-)

A good fellow of mine Ms. Raha has moved to a new home. enjoy her work here

Pain and Suffering; how to distinguish them!

I really liked this story. Hope everyone reads it...read it here at Alex the girl weblog
Saturday, September 20, 2003
One of the most common criticisms I receive is that somehow I must lead this perfectly charming, easy little life without worry and that if, in fact, I had ever suffered even the slightest, I would be more patient and understanding to those who like to live in a pitiful, complaining and negative world full-time. I would write less "good" stories because in the real world where there’s real problems, it’s not so easy to be kind.

Bride from Iran

Dear Mom and Dad,
I am writing you to thank you again for sending me a wife from Iran. Maryam, oh no I mean Marjan, has fulfilled all my desires. The short, ugly and bald Iranian that I am, there is no way anyone in their right mind here in America would want to live with me....read the rest at
Iranian.com

Traffic, Traffic and more traffic Jam

Wednesday, birthday of Hazarat-e Ali was a national holiday in Iran and father’s day (finally a day in Iran for men with all due respect for our hardworking women:). It was around 7:00 am we (my parents and I) decided to take a trip to North of Iran heading to Namak_abrood, to visit couple of family friends. We got ready and left our home heading for Chaloos road. The route to Chaloos was clear and plain up to the exit from Kardj to Chaloos. Then as soon as we arrived we faced a packed jam traffic. A traffic that prevented us from either returning to Tehran or going forward to our destination! We spent about 3 hours in queue of cars bumper to bumper. If I had estimated correctly we only moved forward about 2 km in entire 3 hours! Then, we decided not to go further and return! (So, we decided to take a trip to cheloo-Kababi in the city:). While we were in traffic jam, a police car passed by who announced that Chaloos road has reached its capacity and the entire road to Chaloos is completely jammed! I should mention with so much traffic there was one bright side. People were celebrating the traffic by playing loud music and dance!
While in traffic observing all this sceneries, I kept thinking traffic is an integral part of large cities. From New York City to Tehran they all have their own typical traffic jam. However, Tehran has different characteristic when it comes to traffic and its corresponding rush hours. Contrary to other big cities that the rush hours starts during the time that people commute between work and home, in Tehran however, we don’t usually follow the same pattern! No matter what time of day it is we may encounter traffic and to someone’s surprise during rush hours you may see no traffic at all!! This unpredictability of our system is something that makes Tehrani’s life not monotonic (I suppose this is again a bright side of this whole story)! However, I believe this is the main factor preventing us from any proper planning in for any work we do or follow certain forecasting blueprint as other counties tend to do.

In my humble opinion reasons behind the traffic jam in Tehran are many. Though, I will discuss those that I feel have the most impact on the entire system.

1. Cultural values: apparently it is so hard for us to give a yield to right! We usually move in from Side Street to the main street with tremendous force and no mercy to the driver on the main street! Image someone wishes to turn. You will hear the nonstop sound of horns coming from everywhere. We have come to this conclusion that no one has right more than us. Therefore, we should block her/his way and continue our path forward no sympathy considered! Kill or get killed!

2. Staying in a queue of street lane that is backed up all the way to kilometers is against our character and religion!! We should go from the most right to the most left, try to force in our car while blocking other side of road lane…(ok, ok, I know someone wishes to say that is because we don’t have enough roads, though).

3. Dilemma known as Timing of red lights on the intersections in Tehran: I never understood why it takes less than a second for a green light to change the color to the red and all this changing happens, simultaneously. Right at the same instant the other side of intersection goes from red to green! May be it is because of this fact that Tehranis are so quick in reacting during driving! The entire process takes less than a second!! I personally don’t understand why not giving about 3 to 5 seconds between green and red, so, the intersection would get cleared up before the cars from other side of intersection speed into the opposite path and a big time traffic would take place!

4. Many fellow drivers have no idea of what is proper driving or can’t recall anything they did when performed the driving test: have you ever noticed no person pre-decides his/her destination before gets to an exit or intersection! This is a last minute job for a drive. Right when s/he is completely on left side of the street, all of the sudden by the time the driver is by the intersection s/he wants to turn right.

Having said that, I have to admit once again by start of new school year we should expect to see huge parking by the name of Tehran has once again established!!!!

Check out the proper meaning of the F-Word

I don't usually use the fault language or profanity ...though, this one worth seeing!
FuCk meanings!

I just wanna dance

I’m listening to the music as I write this. I hear the piano with it’s irregular timing. Not timing that a classical pianist would be used to playing. I hear the percussion. I hear the beat: Ba, ba, ba, ba ba. “The heartbeat of the Latin people.” I hear ten seconds of a salsa orquesta and I want to jump up and start dancing, it doesn’t matter if there’s someone to dance with…I just want to dance. I hear salsa in my head all the hours I’m awake...
read the rest here

Have you got any time?

Have you ever noticed how many people keep complaining of lack of time? It goes like this: Essi joon, I swear to Barbara’s life, I didn’t get time to call you or answer your e-mails! … I have been bombarded by work and not knowing how to manage all these stress and pressure I receive! …ShooShoo joon, I am stress out! No time to do anything I planed for… These types of complains keeps coming, as far as I recall! I choose a terminology for former and later people as Time Deficiency Syndrome (TDS).

We live in times that people are in constant complain of lack of time. I kept wondering with all these technological gadgets human has invented to make our life easier and provide us with more time to enjoy ourselves, we still keep complaining of lack of time! Anxiety and angst have been reported to be direct psychological consequences of the state known of lack of time.
I just recently read that anxiety levels today are higher than those of psychiatric patients from 1950s!
It might be blasphemous to say anything against what has technology created for us by an engineer whose life is dependable on PDAs, computers, and Internet!J Though, I believe a big chunk of these complains is directly related to use of modern technologies.
As proof, consider the many new words that people and professionals are using to describe this modern state of mind. One common term is techno-stress, feeling of frustration and stress caused by having to deal with changes brought on by computers and other technologies. For example, people used to leave the office and that was that. Now with cell phones, pagers, and e-mail all part of many employee’s toolkit, these workers are stressing because they are always connected and have no down time.
Computer problems can lead to what psychologists are calling technology-related anxiety (TRA). In a recent study reported in the Washington post, 14 percent of respondents said computer problems interrupted their work more than a day, and 21 percent said they missed work deadlines in the previous three months because of hardware and software problems.
Devices have long been a source of frustration and anger, resulting to redo a job or spending longer to finish a job. To my knowledge devices have shown a tendency that is known natural antipathy toward human beings. A word that describes well the latter statement is resistentialism. Almost everyday, we hear the term from someone around us “things are against us” or “I am sure nothing is working on my way”!
I am sure many of you (including me), at least once or twice in his/her life time, has begged a computer to please, please give me back the file containing the drawing I just recently drafted or a report I typed 5 minutes ago, or pleaded a toaster, you know, to actually toast the bread this time rather than burning it to cancer prone bread, then you are ripe for resistential worldview!

Just imagine how much time we spend to learn how new technologies with their related phrases can help to improve our suitable life!
Books, magazines, newspapers, documentaries, licenses, by-laws and manuals do not only bombard us with tons of information where we have to comprehend them, but also by Internet and instant information resources existing under our finger tips we have increase this world of human-machine interaction. Just kindly add the number of e-mails, newsgroups and weblogs that we read everyday, then you would be able to understand why Technological Fatigue Syndrome (TFS) is something that helps us to receive an excessive amount of anxiety plus what I called Time Deficiency Syndrome (TDS). We receive such a large pile of information that we have hard time to plan how to classified or process them, not to mention comprehend and manage them for later usage. Planning for such a large data input is monument task. We may lose track of proper planning and managing of our resource and abilities. As a result not using our time to its utmost efficient way.

Moreover, another big factor is something that is known as desire to handle many jobs, simultaneously. To handle many jobs in one working day requires a daunting planning and usage of our time efficiently. However, with overload of information plus Tehran traffic where takes 2 hours to go from point A to B where usually must take about 10 minutes, we may even forget what we had really aimed for! I think we have a great Persian expression for this, taking couple of watermelon at one instance with only one hand (i.e. Bardashtan chandta Hendoneh ba yek dast!).

I always wonder is there a way to ease technological anxiety and TDS? I honestly do not know since the pace of changes around us is not something in my control and I think with so much desire for a better life we would have a hard time to see things would get any better. However, I would suggest it makes it meaningful for us from time to time if we turn everything off for a while and stand high to evaluate our status. Or just tell yourself I always make time for things that are affecting my soul. So, then let’s start from right now and leave all the watermelons on the ground!!!!

Admitting in prison

Apparently, two books have been recently published in Iran that are memories of two Iranians in IRI prisons. Read the rest in
BBC

New revolutionaries!

Sitting in a taxi heading to Tajrish Square from Shahrak gharab, I was asked by the driver to move in to the front row of the car since there are two other women passengers who want to get on the taxi. I affirmatively accepted and sat in front beside a guy who was looking in his early twenties with a beard that was not trimmed properly, with plain cloths. The shirt was hovered on his pants. The entire clothing was either light gray or a shade of gray color, a typical Basiji militia looks.

Our conversation started by the scene he observed first and got my attention as well. A woman who seemed to be in early twenties was beating a small beggar child and dragging him to the pedestrian side on Northeast corner of the intersection. The beating and defending continued and even other homeless children got involved and throw a couple of punchs to the guy who was beaten by the young girl. The entire scene was taking place in front of a police officer who was standing on the southwest corner of the street. The guy beside me started the conversation: “I think the small guy deserved to be beaten!” I got surprised that he said that and I felt once again I saw a person who is judging the situation and establishing the verdict before even the facts are appeared or considered. Therefore, I replied: “I don’t think beating is something that someone may like to receive or give.Not to mention that child would be deserving. Because first of all, if you look at the girl and that child height you would realize that the guy is 1/3 of the girl’s size!” I went on with the saying we have to find out what is the motivation of such an act. I know that the beggar might have done something unethical or dishonorable to the girl. However, I feel the motivation and reasons behind the act must be investigated and finding out what has put the small guy like him to go extreme and do something to insult the girl.
He agreed that we should abound any type of violence. Then he continued by explaining that our society has little tolerance for none traditional acts! He explained that he is part of plain cloths militia who are patrolling on the street to find people who are conducting illegal acts (I think by IRI definition, of course). He went on that couple of days ago he was acting as a deputy who would oversee the case of arrested individuals. A woman was brought in. He confronted a middle age woman who was claiming that she wishes to have sex with him or either get married!! She apparently explained that she has recently separated from her husband and she has a great appetite for sex at the moment! So, she wishes to have sex with the guy or wishes to get married as soon as possible! Apparently, according to Shar-e Islam she was not allowed to get married with 3 months and 10 days after her separation! Still being in this period she was legally banned from any remarriage!! Apparently, Mr. S. writes a letter to judiciary to allow her to get married before the stated time period, he took the responsibility of any sin that may have arises from such an act towards himself! He continued how he let go of couple of guys and girls whom were arrested by his colleagues.
Then he introduced himself as a person in Fleet of Saralah Number…. In the end he said please don't consider me Hesbollahi!...
After a casual farewell I started to think that how easily young people can be manipulated. If we just provide them with a good education where they can distinguish between what is being promised and what is really acted upon, then we can be hopeful that our investment for future is set on the right direction. I kept wondering how effective was my 2-cents! It helped him to change his mind from a simple thinking dude who sees only black and white, to a dude whom was honoring his work by letting go of people who were arrested for no particular reason than moral behavior!

These are the days of our life...

In memory of Freddie Mercury as he put it the Show must go on...!!
------
Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days - long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect - you know?
The days were endless, we were crazy - we were young
The sun was always shinin' - we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
The rest of life's been - just a show
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you.
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the time
Ain't that a shame ?
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and in thinkin' on what you did
When y 1000 ou can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
Better sit back and go - with the flow
Cos these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but some things remain
When I look and I find - no change
Those were the days of our lives yeah
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but on thing's still true
When I look and I find, I still love you,
I still love you.

Partner to be or not to be?!

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who has recently broke up with a boyfriend. She was quite sad and telling me that she still has feeling for his ex-boyfriend. She wondered if this feeling grows, she would have a difficult time to brake away from past and go on with her life.

I give her the following advice.

It is quite difficult to forget someone you loved. In my humble opinion, the only way that someone may be able to say a complete good bye to his/her past is to close that chapter of her life. I don’t mean killing yourself or anything close to it! Not at all. I mean you have to come to peace of mind with yourself in regard of your past relationship. On the other hand, you must take away the pain before you start your life again.
You have to see why you broke up with your partner. Was it for a good reason? Did s/he break one of the factors that you praised? Does s/he care for you as much as you care for her/him? Did you both draw the same conclusion not being able to stay together? Were you able to compromise and you didn’t? Have you been fighting for a long? Does your original reason worth fighting for?

If you could answer all the questions stated above, we may come to a peace with ourselves. Consequently, we close this chapter of our life. No, need to further thinking of it. We meet people all along our life, we may fall in love, however, our soul mates may be somewhere else standing waiting by an open arm for us!!;-)