Beautiful day for outdoor activity

Today is Friday and the sun is shining in Tehran. It is such a sunny and calm day that I wished I had gone skiing! I wished I could enjoy my time with a day on outskirt of city. All my life I was looking for person I could go skiing with in winter or go around in summer. Be friend with and enjoy the friendship after all. It is difficult to …,
moving on, Today is Friday not the 13.! The last day in the year 2004. It is beginning of the winter and I expected to see a Friday which is cold and dark especially in the early morning. Contrary to my assumption it was a beautiful day, though lots of pollution, and with lots of sunshine. With all keenness that I had and wished I had gone skiing, since no soul agreed to come along, I choose to go walking on mount Tochal. So, beside the pollution that I observed on Tehran atmosphere, the rest was the fashion that I observed on top of the mountain from our young generation! Needless to say that it was MTV fashion!...
Wishing everyone an exceptional year ahead in 2005. 5,4,3,2,1...
...
Enjoy the following pictures:

A mentor and several personal conclusion!!

A woman who used to be a cheerleader and now a missile engineer!
Spectrum the main magazine of IEEE society in March of 2004 published an interesting article of a woman who is currently systems engineer at Lockheed Martin missiles and fire control in Orlando, Florida.
The story goes like this:
Being a woman in a male dominated field is just one way Olson stands out. When the honor society Eta Kappa Nu awarded Olson its outstanding Young Electrical Engineer Award in 2001, it cited not only her numerous professional achievement but also her skill as a sketch artist and photographer. “People suggest that you are either really creative and artistic or very logical and organized and scientific,” Olson says. “I do not hold to that philosophy-actually, the creativity helps to stimulate the scientific nature.” Growing up in Ohio, Olson says she was interested in anything having to do with math and science. She credits her father with getting her thinking about engineering. A Vietnam vet who earned a degree in mechanical engineering while holding down a full-time job.
Olson didn’t follow exactly in her dad’s footsteps, though. When she enrolled at Write State University, in Dayton, Ohio, she opted instead to study electrical engineering— “I guess that is the rebel in me”, she jokes. Though she was an honor student, she also left plenty of time for extracurricular. “I was involved in everything, I was a cheerleader. I was president of student honor society. I was in all kind of different clubs.
Upon graduation in 1989, Olson did not have a clear idea of how she would use her education. But having recently gotten engaged, she decided to follow her fiancé to Pennsylvania State University, in University Park, where he was a grad student. It occurred to Olson that she might also get a master’s degree while she was there, so she applied to the EE program. The department came back with an offer for a three-year teaching fellowship if she got her Ph.D.
“I hadn’t thought of getting a Ph.D. so I was thrilled,” Olson recalls. “And I had no idea what it entailed.” A more pleasant surprise came when she began working at Penn state’s Applied Research Laboratory. Though that research she got her firs real taste of engineering. “We actually built torpedoes and tested them against real subs,” She says. “I loved the application of science and math.”
Then she lands a job at Lockheed. As a wife and mother of three Olson says joggling the demands of work and home can be tough. “Lockheed is good about that, but you also have to be willing to stand your ground. There are times when people say, “You need to work on your off day.” On the other hand, if your child is sick, you take off and take care of them.” When necessary, Olson does put 12-hour days, and sometimes even longer ones. During a recent business trip to conduct wind tunnel tests on a new aircraft-mounted weapons system, the team had to work 16 hour days. “You just do it,” She says. Making time for yourself is also key, she says. Olson enjoys drawings and has entered her work in local competitions, she is also been teaching herself woodcarving and guitar. “Whether you have kids, or dogs, or you like to golf, it is important to be balanced.”

The story does not finish here. However, I would like to summarizeit here. There are several points in the story in my opinion. First of all, we should know that we live in 3D world; consequently, we should be also acting like a person who lives 3-dimensional world. So, be alert that you do not live your life in 1D or not even 2D and then regret your entire life. Second of all, if we want to have a developed society, we need to develop people who live first, on the other hand investing on people and have them adequately fostered. For doing so, we have to have a compassionate and caring family as well as other parts of society. Society is alike chain and if one does not work appropriatly, others also may get corrupted. The last not the least, Hey you, yes you, get married as soon as you can!!!

NO Comment

1. There is something wrong with me?! definitely, there is!!

2. For Persian fellows who can read Persian. read the following link about a new sports that is becoming more and more common in Khomein. the birth Place of Mr. Khomeini.
New sport activity!
3. read Shab-e Yalda...

Happy Shab-e Yalda

first thing is first: something about Shabe yalda. quite informative. highly recommended!

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.

Happy Shab e Cheleh.

Criticizing a cultural value

I was reading an article about Professor Peter Wilderer, 64, the head of water quality control and Waste management at the technical university of Munich in Germany. The article was explaining that Professor Wilderer’s office and labs are tucked away in the back corner of the university’s research campus at Garching, near the Munich airport. According to the article many may think this out-of-way location, next to the city of Garching’s municipal wastewater treatment planet, might seem less than perfect, but Professor Wilderer can not be happier! He said: “It allows us to pump actual wastewater directly into our lab to conduct our experiments.”
It is quite amazing where others would see muck and nastiness, some like Professor Wilderer see opportunity.
The article went on talking about statistics of water and wastewater and problems associated with them. What catch my eyes was his insight into not only the wastewater and its methods of treatments, but also looking into affordable solution for which the community cultural values have been considered, too.
Professor Wilderer was explaining for the above reasons he is currently developing a project involving the development of affordable, single-home wastewater treatment and drinking waster supplies. But apparently there are complications abound-especially in the developing world.
And these problems are as likely to be cultural as technical!! Couple of interesting exampleshe indicated:
1. In India, Ganges River is considered holy by the Hindus. People pour in the ashes of cremated family members, and they use the river for drinking water and bathing!!
2. Some African tribal people believe that water originating from the sky is religiously clean, whereas water pumped from the ground is religiously unclean. They drink water from open sources such as ponds, but they refuse to drink from wells.
3. Some Muslim cultures are hesitant towards technology offered to them-including potable water processing and wastewater treatment.
Talking about cultural difficulties as well as technological ones indicated above I wish to open up and criticize something that has been apparently in our culture for many centuries and seems truly outdated.

Just recently, the father of a good friend of mine passed away. For his burial ceremony we went to Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. A place located south of Tehran mega city.
The process of burial starts with the fact that corpse is washed and gets ready for burial ceremony. This process is getting completed when the cadaver is carried on top of the hands of the close family on a simple carrier with shout of La-Elaha Elallah (There is no god except Allah). After the body is located in front of the crowed; people start to pray. After praying is done the body is transferred to burial area. I have to indicate the entire mentioned process is being done in very crowded area, since many people are there for the same reason.

The worst case, in my humble opinion, in regard of cultural and religious values takes place when the body is set into grave. When the body is in there, once of the following, son, son in law or brother no women (i.e. daughter or wife) though, can do this, must climb into grave and with every sentence of the person outside of the grave who reads the Koranic verses, opens up the shroud and brings up the face of the passed away person and also shove him/her to the side for at least tree times!! Consider this is being done when there is pile of soil on the side of grave and there is danger of sliding the mud! Not to mention the condition that close family member who is doing this is in it.
I personally feel that we should revise and relook into this matter of our life. We should perhaps review this for a better and less painful tradition for those who have lost a family member. In the end, I again and again indicate that this is an ever changing world and we should get used to changes or changes will be forced upon us!

Value of taste

1. I was watching a program on Deutsche Welle a few days ago. There was this report that Germany has started a program that is educating young students about food facts and how to enjoy food, in general. The report was explaining many young German students have tendency to eat fast food and in particular greasy food. German board of education has decided to include an extra course to school’s curriculum, of students as young as 11, to teach them about food facts and ways they can learn about food nutrition. As one of chef who was teaching the class put it:” we teach them how they can enjoy the food that has different taste and appearance”, “the art of eating and enjoying rather than devouring some greasy food like burgers in McDonalds”, “If they want to eat pizza what and how they shall enjoy it”. I felt this is one of those courses that our students in Iran can benefit a lot from it. Why? I tell you why?
Four out of every 5 people in western countries, if not all of them, have worked in food related services. As soon as they get to the age that they are eligible for work they start to work at places like McDonalds or Pizza hut, etc. There they develop character, means for treating food or developing taste while they are not in service, something that many of us in Iran not get a chance to learn or percept. Just pay a visit to a local Iranian Restaurant and you will see what I am saying in regard of services and food they provide. We spend lot of our time chewing, tasting and eating. At school all kind of courses are thought, so, why not a course about how to treat food, develop taste and enjoy this moment of our life, na!?

2. Couple of interesting links, thanks to Narges:
Yahoo Islamic Version!
check this one: Javad.
& for all new drivers: Drive like there is no tomorrow!

3. Leila has started prostitution right from 9 years old. He is on verge of getting executed in prision at age of 18! Read her story here (In Persian). Sad story, though.

4. and a song from Moody Blues: Autumn For Leila and those who are in same shoes as she is.

Forever Autumn
The summer sun is fading as the year grows old
And darker days are drawing near.
The winter winds will be much colder
Now you're not here.
I watch the birds fly south across the autumn sky
And one by one they disappear.
I wish that I was flying with them
Now you're not here.

Like the sun through the trees you came to love me.
Like a leaf on a breeze you blew away.

Through autumn's golden gown we used to kick our way,
You always loved this time of year.
Those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now
'Cause you're not here.
'Cause you're not here.
'Cause you're not here.

Like the sun through the trees you came to love me,
Like a leaf on a breeze you blew away.

A gentle rain falls softly on my weary eyes
As if to hide a lonely tear,
My life will be forever autumn
'Cause you're not here.

Pleasantville!

I had an opportunity watching the movie called Pleasantville. This movie is made in 1998 with some arguably seamless special effects! It is not an action movie though it has considerable action in it that makes you to think of. The story goes like this.
In the universe of "Pleasantville", a black-and-white Fifties sitcom, life is pleasant. The high school basketball team never misses a shot, nothing ever catches on fire (consequently, the firemen only rescue cats stuck in trees), husband and wives sleep in separate beds, high school sweethearts go no further than holding hands and getting 'pinned', and everything is in varying shades of gray.
One night, David finds himself fighting with his promiscuous twin sister Jennifer for the television remote, which is irreparably broken during the struggle. Before they know it, an ominous television repairman shows up at the door, and offers the two kids a brand new high-tech remote. However, David and Jennifer soon realize that it is not just your run-of-the-mill Radio Shack remote when they are magically transported to the world of Pleasantville.
After the initial disorientation, they realize not only are they now in black-and white, but they have assumed the identities of the television show's two teenage children, Bud and Mary Sue. They then meet their chipper television parents, George and Betty, who seem oblivious to the fact that their model children are not who they appear to be.
For David/Bud, it is a dream come true, living out his life in comfortable surroundings without the struggle or strife of real life. On the other hand, Jennifer/Mary Sue abhors her new environment, finding the local scene too bland for her liking. Being her usual forward self, she aggressively liberates the virginity of the captain of the basketball team, Skip (Paul Walker). Her reckless activities then begin a chain reaction that unleashes a torrent of unexpected changes in Pleasantville.
Unfortunately, the changes in the physical and social fabric of Pleasantville do not go unchallenged. As the town's residents begin to explore the joys of art, books, passion, and color, the dark side of human nature is also unleashed. Spearheaded by the town's mayor, a conservative black-and-white backlash is organized. Willing to do anything to maintain the status quo, their fear and paranoia lead to intolerance, hate-crimes, and violence against the newly colored.

I felt couple of real issues were discussed in this movie. First, changes are inevitable facts of our life. If we try to avoid, stop the changes that is useless act of desperateness. Either we want it or not changes take place. What is important is the fact that we live in the world that contains many people with completely different ideas and way of thinking. We should tolerate those differences between ourselves. We should not demolish or try to be boneheaded if things are not on way of our pleasure. As long as we accept logical rules we can have dialogue.

The movie ends with the fact that changes are taking place and they will stay. I felt the movie truthfully resembles our current Iranian society. There are group of people who are unwilling to accept that there is big difference between kids in 1980 and today ones. There are still people in society feel that things must stay the same.
The old guy with long beard can have the last say. He does not make mistakes. (Watch an Iranian movie).
We have to learn and accept that people can looked at world different angles and have different perceptions from the same issue. Let’s enjoy them as part of our life experiences. Different circumstances require different measures. World changes, so people in it. So, let us enjoy what we have and not regretting it a single moment.

Cultural values!!

I returned...:)

1. This is very cool site. I couldn't believe it!
Guess your sign!

2. Anybody?: God is a concept by which we measure our pain!

3.
1. A scene of fight because of an accident in an alley on North of Tehran, Shemran, the young guy was guilty. The young guy ran towards the middle age guy and starting to fist fight!

2. Two women starting to swear at each other, reason because one felt the other has jumped into the line where it was not her right!

3. A men insulting a police officer for being penalized and getting a huge fine for not having a seat belt on.

4. Two men are fighting with knife for an accident that took place on the wide and traffic poured street.

5. A car is stuck on the street where there is a heavy traffic, the driver of the car get off the car and opens up the engine side and starts to look around the engine for possible malfunction. People driving by start to bad mouth him!

6. You enter to an office, shop or governmental office; the guy acts snobby with no respect. Somehow we have to refrain ourselves from getting to the fight. Sometimes we can’t!

7. A guy is at fault in an accident with another car whose driver is a girl. He treats her like she is either less intelligent than other human in the society or that she is going to be at her service!

These are just a few of many thousand senses that are taking place in Tehran everyday. Why? Because we still act based on emotions and not from logical point of view. One would be the reason given. But the most important in my opinion is the fact of lack of cultural values. We still do not consider that individuals’ health is more important than valuable equipment in possession of us. Those are replaceable the equipment. What is not replaceable is health or human being, either physically or psychologically.

8. Brother Michael Jackson ham Baleh. This Aziz Jan-e Baradar ham Baleh, what shall I say! Michael is becoming a real Moslem! good for him/her (still don't know that)! (Thanks to Narges for the Links)

Something to think about!

1. I was thinking about this sentence: God is a concept that we measure our pain with!

2. Thanks To Narges who sent me this link. This is a link to the famous book " Little Prince" by
Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

3. I shall return...:-)

My Opinion on Nuclear Activities of Iran

It has been about 1 year + we hear news about this game of cat and mouse between Iran and the rest of the world and world objection to Iran nuclear activities and all the negotiations that are taking place in this regard.
I really sometimes wonder about human being nature and his/her tendency to gain power. Sometimes this is considered to be a good nature. However, I personally do not think this is same as nuclear power.
I was just reading the following article in BBC. It makes me to wonder why so many Iranians feel that Iran should have nuclear enrichment program or nuclear capability to generate energy!
There are couples of real issues here, which we have not really dealt with them, yet.
One would be the fact that what do we wish to do with nuclear waste remaining from enrichment process?
Have we looked at our working force and their work consciousness? With lack of safety standard and ethical rules are we hoping to see another Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. The other day I was thinking, as I have already written about it in previous articles in this weblog, in Iran we have dilemma with disposing paint or chemical paints! We do not even follow the Basel Protocol when it comes to disposing chemical materials, which are harmful to the environment. Having said that I wonder what do we wish to do with nuclear waste. Perhaps disposing them in either Caspian Sea or Persian Gulf!
Consequently, we will be exposed to nuclear radiation and as a result, generations will be handicapped. I am not sure is this what really we wish to have? Considering Iran has ability to produce energy from free and clean sources, such as sun and wind and thermo geologic sources. In Iran on average we receive more than 200 days per year sunny days. So, Sun would be a great resource to generate tax free, clean energy for us than nuclear power with so many headaches!

Iranians the judgmental type!

1. Have you ever noticed how much judgmental we are as soon as we encounter somebody! No matter from what background s/he is, we start to judge them and release a verdict. This is even, in my opinion worse, when it comes to Iranians in general. We have this tendency to judge and gossip as much as possible! I just read part-1 of the story that Mr. Siamack Baniamri written and felt, this is exactly what I mentioned above!! He is lawyer in USA.
...
Okay, picture this: you walk into a party full of elite Iranian expatriates. The guest list is made of Jews, Bahais, Moslems, and some Christians. The party is tame yet chic. Brandy in one hand, Cuban cigar in the other, the talk is all about real state. Some say buy and some say sell. Guests are well-bred, sophisticated, and a bit snobby. The assembly is made up of thriving individuals who wear their money and drive their money, and occupy $5-million mansions.... Read the rest of the story
here


2.

Cute, isn't it? This is a baby belong to a friend of mine!

3. Depression anyone? This is a test tells you whether you are depressed or not:) (In Persian)

4. Sometimes I daydream. I dream of days of past. Dream of being everywhere. Dream of how things could change if I had chosen different path.
As a big fan of John Lennon, I was just listening to lyrics of "In my life". I felt the song is so nicely written that I would like to keep repeating it with myself. enjoy:)

There are places I'll remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love you more

Old friend...

After a few weeks I came across Orkat and list of my friends. By looking at faces of some of my old friends I realized how things has changed throughout these years. Suddenly, I recalled the song "Old Friend" from Chris de Burgh. So, enjoy it:-)

Old friend, so you're in trouble again, you ask me today,
To try and find a little time, and maybe buy a glass of wine,
Old friend, I'm coming through...

Old friend, yes I remember you, always a smile on your face,
Oh a memory from years before, an old man and a little boy,
Old friend, I remember you...

You used to take me fishing down by the wishing well,
One day you threw a wish in, and we listened while it fell,
And you made a wish...

"When the years are heavy, and my heart is growing cold,
Well I wish when the evening comes that there'll always Be...
Some old friend who'll miss me too..."

Well I do, so friend I'm coming through...
Yes, for you I'll always find the time, we will have a bottle
Of wine, old friend, I'm here by your side, oh, to the very end,
Old friend ... I miss you too ... my dear old friend...
Old friend ... old friend...

It may happen to us!

Many of us have experienced once or more about the time that we feel we are not aware of where we are standing! As I put it there are times that we feel that we are in limbo. No matter how or what, we should pass these uncharted water.
Alex the girl has very nicely put it down this.
...The ladder is an in-between place, a sort of resting spot. It’s where the salmon literally catch their breath as they learn to adjust their breathing from the ocean's saltwater to the lake's fresh....
read the rest of it here!

We will all understand, though...

xx. The ministry of Islamic Guidance and culture has allowed an album of Queen to be released in Iran. So, as occasion I decided to write this lyric of the song “ who wants to live forever…”

There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that builds our dreams yet slips away
from us

Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever....?

There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us

Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever?

Who dares to love forever?
When love must die

But touch my tears with your lips
Touch my world with your fingertips
And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today
Who wants to live forever
Who wants to live forever?
Forever is our today

Who waits forever anyway?

Two Brand New Elements!

Today is national holiday in Iran. What a day. let's say ... forget it...
enjoy these two new elements in Periodic Table:))
------
Two new elements added to the Periodic Table of the Elements:

1. Element Name: WOMANIUM
Symbol: WO
Atomic Weight: (Don't even go there)
Physical Properties: Generally soft and round in form. Boils at
nothing
and may freeze at any time. Melts when treated properly. Very
Bitter if
not used well.
Chemical Properties: Very active. Highly unstable. Possesses strong
affinity with gold, silver, platinum and precious stones. Violent
when left alone. Able to absorb great amounts of exotic food. Turns
slightly green when placed next to a better specimen.
Usage: Highly ornamental. An extremely good catalyst for dispersion of
wealth. Probably the most powerful income reducing agent known.

Caution: Highly explosive in inexperienced hands.

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

2. Element Name: MANIUM
Symbol: XY
Atomic Weight: (180 +/- 50)
Physical Properties: Solid at room temperature, but gets bent out of
shape easily. Fairly dense and sometimes flaky. Difficult to find a pure
sample. Due to rust, aging samples are unable to create
electricity.
Chemical Properties: Attempts to bond with any WO any chance it can get.
Also tends to form strong bonds with itself. Becomes explosive when
mixed with KD (Element: CHILDIUM) for prolonged periods of time.
Neutralize by saturating with alcohol.
Usage: None known. Possibly good methane source. Good samples are able
to produce large quantities on command.
Caution: In the absence of WO, this element rapidly decomposes and begins to smell.

understanding the value of things around us

I think we know that one of the dilemmas that Tehranis in particular encounter with is the amount of trash that people throw on the streets or into environment.
I witnessed about couple of days ago while traveling from downtown of Tehran to our home, a woman with her 10 years old boy who were intending to get off the bus. As soon as they got off the bus, she threw a water bottle into the water stream. Something came to my mind from the time I was attending a boarding (internat) school in Germany.
In the city the school of mine was located there was an occasion that the city will divide up the entire city to parts and tell each school to participate for cleaning and sweeping the streets. So, the city I used to live in was in the valley of south part of Germany’s Mountains. As a result, there were many stairs to climb. So, the place I got to clean up was full of stairs (You could imagine how difficult it was to clean up)! In any case, in two consecutive days we kept cleaning around the city.
This simple but valuable cooperative work helped me to understand the value of people who are cleaning our city. So, I no longer throw trashes on streets or anywhere but garbage bin.

Hey you; Enjoy every moment before you regeret!

1. I am big fan of Roger Waters and Pink floyd. Just recently, once again this lyrics of hey you came to my mind and I felt that I would like to write it here:

Hey you,
Out there in the cold,
Getting lonely, getting old,
Can you feel me?

Hey you,
Standing in the aisle,
With itchy feet and fading smile,
Can you feel me?

Hey you,
Don't help them to bury the light.
Don't give in, without a fight.

Hey you,
Out there on your own,
Sitting naked by the phone,
Would you touch me?

Hey you,
With your ear against the wall,
Waiting for someone to call out,
Would you touch me?

Hey you,
Would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home.

But it was only, fantasy.
The wall was too high, as you can see.
No matter how he tried, he could not break free.
And the worms ate into his brain.

Hey you,
Out there on the road,
Always doing what you're told,
Can you help me?

Hey you,
Out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall,
Can you help me?

Hey you,
Don't tell me there's no hope at all.
Together we stand, divided we fall.

2. About two weeks ago I went on a day trip to North west of Tehran, Zanjan. These are just three photos of many photos I took during the trip! Becasue of low speed of the internet in Iran, I almost die to upload just a few! So, bear with me:)

No Comment!

A place that people used to wash their cloth there!

Inside Kataleh Khour Cave.

3. Alexthegirl has written another nice story.
I couldn't find it in her site, so again I copy it here all.
Care for roses
After my walk to the post this morning, I decided to pay a long overdue visit to my little neighbourhood bookstore. Its well-stocked bargain section always offers some kind of find that satisfies my book addiction (although my stop here always leaves me wanting wanting more). Today I happened across a $10 book on roses that seemed to contain all the information one would need. I took it to a nearby couch to inspect it a little more.

A few minutes into it, a frail looking woman who appeared to be in her 80's came and sat beside me.

"What are you reading?"she asked. I showed her my book. I explained to her I just moved into a home where I had inherited a dozen various rose bushes. Although they had been blooming perfectly for the first two weeks they now were lagging a little bit. Just leaving them as they were didn't seem to help them any.

"Oh honey," she said soothingly, "you don't need a book."

"I don't? Then what?"

All of a sudden, this quiet, frail woman who was dressed so pretty in that tea-serving grandmother kind of way bellowed, "Violence!"

I was taken a little off guard.

"Yes, violence! Lots of it! You have to cut them on an angle when the bloom dies, just above the leaf. Force it to bloom more is what will happen. Like all things, give it a little trauma and it can either die or grow. Roses will bloom more. Hardships sometimes produce the most amazing things."

And then she smiled sweetly, got up and left, leaving me to wonder if it was just roses she was talking about.

Story from Past

0.0. Ah, This Orkat is a weird site. You kinda develop hate and love relationship. I have been a memeber for a few months. but all of the sudden, I came across one of old friends and, voila, there we are I saw many people who I had not heard from for at least a few years. Some of them married, some of them single...I would like to make this statement right here: Man-o-man I missed those childhood years, we used to have fun without having real responsibility and just enjoyed ourselves, let's say just during those fun time skiing, anyone recalls?:)
I wish them all the best, may once again we all find time in between our busy schedule and get together and remember our old days.

0. A cOOl link about Persian Wedding and its tradition for those who wish to read about it in English:).

1. Narges sent me this following link. very cOOl link. It is a must see Link: Heart...

2. Almost until last night I did not feel that there was Olympic games going in Atens! This is the most important and colorful event of this year and not much of coverage on Iranian TV channels.
Finally, a Gold metal with Rezazadeh. This guy is something different from all others. He pulled up 264.5 Kg in clean and Jerk that seemed to me he is pulling up nuts!:) good for him with 26 years old. Now who is making jokes about Ardebilis and Turks;).

3. A sad news. Sir Godfrey Hounsfield a British electrical engineer whose work in creating the computerized axial tomography scanner, the CAT scan, a diagnostic tool used in hospitals worldwide, won him a Nobel Prize, died Aug. 12 at New Victoria Hospital in Kingston upon Thames, England. May his sould Rest In peace.

4. I was cleaning up my directories and came across this story of my trip to Quebec for white whater rafting. I would like to put it up to remind of our camping trip:).
here we go:

First, I would like to thank Guillermo (my friend), who wrote the comprehensive list of stuff that we may take by ourselves for the camping and rafting trip and remind us to take some wool and warm cloths besides other things required!

The trip started rolling by Saturday morning around 7:00 am. The original plan was 6:30 a.m., however, Lenie called in around 6:30 a.m. and said that they will be late because they had difficult time loading on their bicycles on the car! So, I waited in solidarity of my apartment building looking at the door for their arrival! They came about 7:05 am and we jump in and after a short negotiation about where to put my baggage and belongings (since there was not enough space) my belonging were split between two cars!

The next step was in Toronto, York Mills subway station where we had to pick up anxious Vay, who seemed to be ready to claim the mount Everest as soon as we arrive there! Or on the other hand, tired of waiting for half an hour extra of what she was promised!! In any case, she jumped in and we got ready to move towards our destination in Land of francophone Canadians, in Quebec! Everyone who went was Guillermo, Lenie, Vay, John, Brett, Lenie’s friends, Allen, Paul, Elaine and J.R, and myself.

Destination was close to a city known as Hawkesbury. It was right on the boarder of Ontario and Quebec! On our way to camping area we had couple of stops for releasing pressure from our bladders and have some food and starch our body for sake of humanity and our bones!!!! The most significant event happened when we realized that our map does not provided any information beyond the province of Ontario. That means from Ontario to our final destination we had to be on our own!! Therefore, as soon as we got to Hawkesbury, a town that was close to our destination we needed to find out about the Main Street! I suggested that we stop by a convenient store and I would do the honor to ask the direction to the rafting place! So, I stepped into the local convenient store in Hawkesbury. I realized the cashier and I lacking one major setback between us; and that was not knowing the common language that was spoken by me or him!!! You may ponder what do I mean? Indeed, the cashier could only speak French and I could only speak English, as if we are from two different countries!! I asked the direction for Main Street and he kindly with sign language and body motion showed me that I had to go straight and turn at the next immediate red light! However, the turning motion was with a strong lower body motion (i.e. dancing) and a sound of 'urrr' and turning their body in the direction that they're telling you to turn!!

The first night we didn’t really do anything significant, just setting out our tents and just usual things that someone would do in short camping trip! Hanging out by the main fire with some of the rafting guides and talking to people who went rafting that day. Lenie got really drunk the first night! She punished herself by not eating, though, drinking a lot! I think she got angry with Guillermo! That resulted in a night stay in Hawkesbury newly designed hospital!! Apparently, she was dehydrated! A doctor kept her over night and gave her Intravenous Serum! Probably, I should mention about how John carried Lenie to the car! Because Lenie was unconscious, she was kept on the forearm of John and her body was almost all over and some turning and pushing resulted to have her head hit to couple of trees and cars chassis! Probably that made her even more unconscious than she has already been!!! She still managed to go along with us rafting on the next day which was Sunday! Another funny event in the first night was around 4:00 am while most of people were asleep! There was this really annoying guy who was singing just for the sake of being annoying and feeling good about himself!! and then he needed something to chant so he started yelling 'GO LEAFS GO' (Leaf is a famous Toronto Hockey team;) and much as I would join in during a hockey game, that's not what I want to hear when I'm trying to sleep around 4 am!

Sunday was the rafting day. Lenie's friends opted not to go and went to Montreal! It was a cold day, the air was probably about 9 or 10 degrees Celsius and water was not anything more than 8 degrees Celsius! We were the only ones who needed the briefings in English. The rest were all French speaking groups! We got geared up with wetsuits, lifejackets, paddles and helmets at the camp, then we hopped on a bus for about 40 minutes. We almost got our necks and bone broken when riding on a school bus that had been suspension-less and was like a solid iron! The road was very much broken and no asphalt was properly applied on it! We finally got to the lake and unloaded the rafts. We were given a short briefing get ready to get in the boat. You are kind of stuck in this spot between fight and flight. Once you’re in the boat, that is it, it's fight all the way. We had a really cool guide, Anne, who told us there’s not really a place to drop someone off where it would be convenient to pick them up later!! She told us there was a guy once who just wanted off, but he just had to bear it out! During the runs there’s a guy on shore who takes pictures and videotapes so we were told to 'smile to the left.'

After the first run and after lunch a few groups declined the second run, but we all went again. The second time you were felling a bit braver and willing to try different things. We were 2 for 2 and no one fell into water!! (Yopi J) but some people in other boats went in by choice! Probably the funniest part of our rafting occurred when we were trying to rescue some dude from water and we stuck on the rocks and the boat would not move!! Everyone was jumping up and down and still no motion!!!! Finally we all moved to the one side of the boat and slowly the boat went on its way! If you wonder what happened to that guy who we wanted to rescue, sorry! We couldn’t take him out of water; he went with the water current and was picked with other boats!
The annoying thing was, we headed back to camp looking forward to a nice hot shower then we got there and there's no water pressure and it's lukewarm so that's always exciting.

The night arrived and we were told that we should get tickets for dinner. However, john and Brett came to me and told me that there is no dinner for us since our package we purchased is different from all other people who were there!! They said we should go to the closest city and get food! Once again my charm and good-looks (Zereshk!!) came to play and I talked to Jill (one of the organizers) and Anne (our rafting guide) and persuaded them to give us the tickets for the dinner!!! Everyone was quite amazed. “Empty everyone’s place (i.e. jaye hamegi khali)” we got a lovely dinner!
After dinner there was a video presentation and we could see that some guides were telling their groups to back-paddle when they hit a wave so they would fall in for sure, luckily Anne didn't do that to us.

At night, we started our own fire and enjoyed a cozy gathering around the fire with some deep conversation, where as usual I spoke the most and sang for the guys the folk song of “ MikhAm Beram Koh Shekare Aho, Hay Leili jan hay Laili jan tofang man ko!” In two distinguish versions! One as it is sang in Persian (mellow, relax tone) and the second one was sang with some influence of Rap music!!!!(Imagine that!!) A guitar was borrowed from a tent beside us and we played the same Persian song and people sang along with me!!!!!!!!!
Late night when our gang got a little weary and tired! I left them to see what was going on the other side of the camp side where tons of people were speaking in French in very loud and provocative way!! So, I walked towards them and got spotted by a few French fellows! After a short conversation, they decided that I am a cool guy and should be introduced to entire 200 French fellows who were there!!! So, we walked towards their big bonfire and I was introduced to plenty of French boys and girls from a small city close to Ottawa known as Rockland! I was told that these people were from Rockland and after a few years they were getting together! I would say that 95% were drunk!! So, after an hour and half being with them I decided I should go back and enjoy our own solitary fire! And so, my Sunday night ended there! I went back to my tent and realized, oh, my god it is cold!! It started to rain a little while I was getting ready to sleep. So, I decided to go to sleep! I wore couple of sweeter and went inside my sleeping bag and put on my hat on and hoped I would fell well soon! It wasn’t that bad, except in early morning I felt a little cold on my toes! I should mention that I had covered my face, too. So, that my breath would no moisture the air inside the tent!

The night ended there with me with lots of cloths on!! The next morning arrived and after breakfast we decided to pack and leave by noon!

You know what's annoying? When it starts to rain when you're packing up. You know what else is annoying? Trying to stuff a tent into a bag that's not a stuff sack. Will, you need a stuff sack for your tent!

I loved the trip the whole way, through the white water, the crashing waves and the freezing cold. I would definitely do it again, even in May. And from now on, I'll have fond memories when I smell rented wetsuit!

We learned that French people are loud, for a long time, late into the night, then again early in the morning. People were up singing at 6:30, then at 7:30, a guy yelled PETIT DÉJEUNER (Breakfast)! And if you tell Quebecois you're from Ontario but can't speak French, they get mad at you.

Now I’m home, I’ve had a real shower, had my dinner, and I’ll be in bed soon. And be thankful for the great old home!!!

Making Choices to see the sunshine

1. One of my write up has been published in Iranian.com, the link is Losing time to technology, enjoy!

2. The following write up has taken from Aliex the girl site. I could not find the proper link to it so, I had to cut and paste it here, becasue I had it in my e-mail.

I truly enjoyed reading it:-)
---------
It wasn’t the clear blue sky with a light breeze and a back yard in which to enjoy it, nor was it the very unexpected and beautiful gift from my friend. It wasn’t a bath, a nap or tea or the fact that I found a fabulous skirt on sale at my favourite store.

It was just my choice to shift my attitude that has me in such a state of pure, simple, breezy relaxation, happiness most importantly possibility.

For the past seven months, I feel as though I’ve been in a thick fog made from sadness, negative situations, and a run of bad luck.

It started in January when I lost my two nieces, something that devastated me terribly and which I kept trying to recover from, but just couldn’t quite do it (especially since I had purchased their birthday gifts which ended up sitting in my closet as a reminder for 7 months). In February I went to Paris for my birthday which should have been nothing but fabulous (and, I assure you the night of my birthday and the night after – two of my favourites, ever) but I was terribly ill for the entire month due to an ovarian cyst which left me lethargic, sore and puffy.

March came and I realized a friend in the writing industry had used me and that there were just no bones about it. I had to struggle with this for a while along with other issues about the creative industry, which left me feeling sad, lonely and taken. It didn't help that I generally receivd hundreds of emails a day from people who demanded things from me (advice, time, money) and I was never replenished. So I spent so much time trying to help but being so drained by the process.

In April I realized I could no longer write for a living because it was far too lonely – after three years I missed people and I missed doing tactile things. I was also very bitter with creative people, the

fakeness, the copying, the phrases. I didn’t know what to leave writing for and began to feel like I was just drifting. I couldn’t go back to an office world but I couldn’t move forward as I was. It was all so trying.
May and June brought Chris studying like mad to graduate which had me feeling left out and strange. Throwing him a party for family members brought conflict and tiredness. I also broke out twice in a strange case of hives, which had me being rushed to emergency because I couldn’t breathe. Sadly, that didn’t bother me as much as the fact I had red welts all over my body and face.

July brought the most pain, I think. It would be the time I think I’ve been at my lowest. People started to party all night – every night – in our complex and when I asked them once at 3AM to be quiet, they came out to my door and slammed on it, threatening me with my life. The scary part was one of the girls worked in the leasing office and complained the main agent who told me to not harass people and that my rent was going to go up $150. This caused us to have to move in two days, which took money we didn’t have (since I haven’t really been working save for a few photographic travel assignments). My body was sore, my spirit was broken and I was angry. I felt pushed into a direction I didn’t want to go. When we did move, my body was so swollen and the place so overwhelming that I just ended up collapsing one afternoon only to have to get up the next day to unpack, settle and do more.

On top of all of this, I lost both my parents and had (and still do) a mentally ill half-sister who has been stalking and threatening me the entire time.

I felt that I kept getting hit every day from every direction. I had been trying for so long to hold on. But after months of it all and of me feeling trap to complaining, being negative and jumping on the life sucks bandwagon, I had no strength left. I had no magic left. I had no possibility left and my body and mind just gave out. Literally.

I was emotionally and physically drained, causing me to become like a zombie for a few days in my bed. This was more than wallowing; I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t move, I couldn’t do anything. The magic that I felt I once possessed – to see the world in a beautiful, charming way, to laugh at silly things, to be entertained easily, to deal with things and move forward, to be excited about the future and to feel possible, well, it seemed gone.

I thought this is it. This is how I am. I had a long run at having an amazing life and now I used it all up. There wasn’t anything left to do. I was in a city I didn’t like, in a house I was scared of, without family, without a job or career, with friends far gone and nothing to show. Seven months of things just hitting me without ever feeling like I caught a break, received a helping hand, had a bit of comfort, well, it was too much.

It wasn’t like me to complain but I had been bitching non-stop to Katrina about how I had to move and how I missed my pretty lake-view flat with painted walls and was now in a house that overwhelmed me and scared me. I complained about how hard everything had been and how I just felt lost. She let me whine for a while but then she wrote me an email that kicked my ass.

She said, “But think about all that you do have.

At first, I wanted to scream at her because I thought that wasn’t supportive. All that I have? Did she know the hell this year has been? But then I thought about it. And I thought some more. And I realized that despite every crap thing that happened – I am still here. I still have possibility, I still have adventures waiting, I still have the ability to see the beautiful and I have the determination to change everything I don’t like and accept what I can if I choose to believe in this way.

And that day changed everything.

I started to feel better about the house, realizing we had to do it and it’s only temporary until our move to Europe. And, in fact, I’ve been enjoying the yard so much (two hours worth of gardening and weeding each night. Rock star arms!). When the curtains went up, the candles came out and some paint went on the walls, it was home.

I started to make contacts for what I want to do, I went and got a new hair cut (a fringe! Sassy!), I got rid of the presents for my neices so that I'm no longer reminded each day, I got rid of some of my fathers old belongings and have stopped anticipating emails and calls from my mum. I began to relax and read for the first time in ages, I’ve been selling literally 1/2 of my belongings to get rid of the old so that I can move forward and I’ve just gotten over being poopy, disheveled, and a victim of all things crap.

Adjusting my attitude, knowing that how I view this life is my choice, of waking up, of making different choices on how I see things, has been the key to me getting off my arse and back to who I am – someone I haven’t seen since last year.

Things aren’t all cleared up, resolved or even easy but that’s OK for now because they’re not things that are going to stop me or ruin what I can possible have and do in the future. Because I’m choosing to rock out in spite of it all.

And that feels so good.

What is up?

1. ... Since I was a little girl, this blanket has felt like a huge, warm hug. Its softness comes from being wrapped around others for years, and, combined with the weight of it, feels like they’re still somehow there....Read the rest at Alex's site.

2. For those who like Alireza Asar the Iranian pop singer. Here is latest
Asar's Album

3. Thanks to narges who send me ththe followings: bugger Link:)
Olympics

4. Something about one of the comments I received for my last write up. As I indicated I knew Mr. Kasravi from not so many close encounters. In any case, he just passed away and despite his view I believe he didn't deserve any of the comments a fellow left in my previous comment area. So, I wanted to erase that comment but I did not. People are entitle in their opinions however, they should refrain themselves from insulting one another.

5. Murphy's Love Laws
All the good ones are taken.
If the person isn't taken, there's a reason. (corr. to 1)
The nicer someone is, the farther away (s)he is from you.
Brains x Beauty x Availability = Constant.
The amount of love someone feels for you is inversely proportional to how much you love them.
Money can't buy love, but it sure gets you a great bargaining position.
The best things in the world are free --- and worth every penny of it.
Every kind action has a not-so-kind reaction.
Nice guys(girls) finish last.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Availability is a function of time. The minute you get interested is the minute they find someone else.

Fred Kasravi; Manjil...

1. It is sad day for me I just read in eyeranian.net that Mr. Fereydoun Kasravi (Fred Kasravi), one of early Iranian immigrants and political activists in Toronto, passed away. I shall write this following paragraph about the way I first met him in person in Toronto. The following is in his memoriam.
It was a rainy night in November of 1998. I was sitting in university laboratory trying figure out content of one of the papers I was trying to use in my work. The entire day I was reading it and as much as I read it the less I understood! I was aware of the classical concert in Glen-Gould studio of CBC radio in down town of Toronto at very same day at 8:00 pm. An Iranian conductor who had recently come to Canada was conducting the symphony orchestra, which was called Symphony of Nations. So, I as a big fan of classical concerts decided to go there. It was around 7:30 pm, all of the sudden, I decided to take a subway (Metro) to the CBC. I knew that finding a ticket might be a difficult task. However, I said to myself that it may a miracle happens and I would get hold of a ticket since I am a single audience per say. So, I arrived about five minutes to the program and went directly to the ticket desk. At the desk the cashier stated that all the tickets are sold out. I was quite getting depressed. While standing there, hoping for a miracle to take place; Mr. Khosravi with his typical outfit came towards ticket desk. The cashier told him: Mr. Khosravi your tickets are ready, they are 6 of them. Would you like to pick them up, now? As soon as he received the tickets there were about 5 women ran towards him with fancy cloths asking simultaneously for extra tickets. I, on the other hand, slowly approached him and asked him for a ticket with a low voice. Apparently, he needed the 4 tickets and then he turned his face to me and said you said you needed a ticket, did you say so? You are only one person? I positively confirmed it. So, he handed me a ticket and when I told him how much shall I pay for it, he answered: “Be my guest, don’t worry”. I thank him and ran into the theater. I was honored to watch the work of Rimsky-Korsokov, Scheherzade. It was memorable night since I also met Ms. Barbara Hall, the ex-Mayer of Toronto. And get to enjoy a very beautiful work like "The young Prince and the
Young Princes" of Rimsky-Korsokov. I met him, couple of other times in charities and aid organizations he was a man with pride.
He will be missed. May his soul rest in peace.
It is raining in Tehran. I shall say: I do my crying in the rain.

2. I went a way last week to take a part in a National Competition of white water rafting.
Apparently, it was first of its kind in Iran for women. The competition was held in Manjil. A city, which is famous for its high-speed wind and its wind turbine and not to mention Olives gardens.
I have to admit that I ate so much olive that I was almost seeing Olive in my dreams for a while!! Moving on, I have taken couple of pictures. Enjoy them here.

3. This is ridicules that http://www.geocities.com is banned by Iran telecom!! I have no comment on this issue than we have really lost the path.

Environmental issues in Iran

1. I work at a company that has to use a certain coating on equipment designed and used in offshore at a gas refinery in south of Iran for purpose of preventing corrosion on them. This coating is considered quite toxic due to its chemical chain which has isocyanate. Once I was assessing the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of that coating I came across part 6 of it, which enumerates about Spill and leak procedure. What is stated on that MSDS paper is as follows:

Precautions: Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Do not breathe vapor. Put out fire and remove sources of ignition. No Smoking. Take precautionary measures against static discharge. Evacuate and ventilate the spill area. Take care that the area is well ventilated. Close the leak only when there is no danger to -do so. In a closed area well a full-face positive pressure breath-mask. Wear protective clothing. Avoid release to the environment. Spillages should be contained by, and covered with large quantities of sawdust, sand or another absorbent. Dike larger spills to prevent contamination of ground and surface water.

In the company I work there is a health and safety officer who takes care of related works like aforementioned tasks. In her memo to his direct boss and a carbon copy to the owner of the company she explains about the danger of stated coating and danger to dispose it into environment. Her direct boss, however, in return gets angry and summons her to his office. He reprimand her for writing such a warning letter and tells her to never ever write such a letter(s) again. He even suggested for its disposal, put up the container in the middle of the quad and he will shoot it like a soccer ball (I think he was joking, he never did it)!! However, she does not get discouraged. She asked me to write an e-mail to the European based company which supplied the chemical asking for help and methods of disposing.

So I wrote to the supplier and asked them to provide me a means of disposing the leftovers and spillages of stated coating. I received the following reply. In the end of her fax the following sentences was shinning:

“Containers must be disposed as any paint according [to] local regulations. In Europe paint must be disposed to an official chemical waste facility.”

After receiving the stated reply she looked into local environmental agencies for recycling and reusable materials for disposing the chemical containers. She talked to Associate Research of that agency Mr. M. Mr. M provided her with a phone number of where she could get information from. The place is called Research Center of Environment; office of Soil and Water. After many follow-ups via phone calls a high rank employee was to be found. Mr. A. from Research Center of Environment; office of Soil and Water explained that they used to have a program to dispose toxic materials. However, the entire program stopped about 2 years ago and it is no longer in process. The only solution was provided as follow: returning the toxic containers to the supplied company with help of Center providing the vendor’s company pays the fee for transportation and insurance!!

What makes me wonder in all along this bureaucracy there was no single person who would take responsibility for our environment. On the other hand, no one cared. It is heart aching to see that in year 2004 there is no real recycling and disposing program in Iran! I wish to ask if there is any responsible for such an important issues. This week is considered week of preserving environment. So, how came we do not pay attention to the most basic fact of our life methods to dispose our waste in a country of 70 millions!

2. Iran National soccer team lost to Jordan. The final result was one to zero for Jordan. I watched the entire game live on TV. Iranian team did not show any planed strategy. It seemed that Iranian players were beheaded chickens running around the soccer field. Providing that all legionnaires were in Iranian national team. I could only say that even in the second half that is called coaches half, Iran coach could not open up this confused team. So, Iran lost to its own strategy.

3. Traffic, Traffic and more traffic. Most of Tehrani drivers have no understanding of correct driving. They do not know how to rightly left turn. How to correctly switch lanes. Commuting and road Police has been on Tehran’s streets with full force for the past 2 months. And are continusly handed in fines to offender drivers. I personally believe we truly needed this type police force and expensive fines. This type of actions must continue until we, drivers, learn to obey traffic rules and respect other drivers right of yield and avoid dangerous actions. I know that Tehran is suffering from enough parking area. But believe me that many of this existing traffics can be avoided if just consider other drivers right.

ABBA...

1. I was in my friends car then I heard the following song from ABBA group.
The winner takes it all
don't wanna talk
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

I don't wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all

It took me back to the time that I used to go more often to broadway shows like Mamma Mia! which I saw it in 2002. To my surprise it is still on in Royal Alexandra Theatre of Toronto where I watched it, too.

2. This site is quite interesting and at the same time hilarous. It is about
strange Sex laws in different part of worlds! Enjoy it!

Earth Quake

1. What an earth quake it was yesterday. I had just completed taking shower, trying to put on my pans. All of the sudden, I felt the ground underneath of my feet is moving! For a second I was fascinated with all the vibration and then I realized it is an Earth QUAKE!! So, technically I ran for my life. I ran outside to our garden where it is surrounded by worker from two semi-constructed apartment buildings around us! So, I was topless and bottom less (no socks on). About 20 minutes later I went out and it was quite interesting seeing from all walks of life were in the middle of streets chit chatting!

2. Thanks to Narges For the following link. phots of Chaloos road. Considering I went to Kelardasht just in the past week and passed by the same place in the photos! Wow, I am thankful to be alive!

3. Thanks to Omid who always sends me great stories like the following:

I'm passing this on to you because it has definitely
worked for me, and at this time of year we all could
use a little calm! By following the simple advice I
read in an article, I have finally found inner peace.

The article read, " The way to achieve inner peace is
to finish all the things you've started."

So I looked around the house to see all the things I
started and hadn't finished... and before leaving the
house this morning I finished off a bottle of red
wine, bottle of white wine, the Bailey's, Kahlua and
Wild Turkey, the Prozac and some Valium, cheesecake,
and a box of chocolates.

You have no idea how freakin' good I feel! So pass
this on to those in need of inner peace.

So, then finish what you have started:))

4. Look at this report says earth quake with magnitude of 6.2.

5. I'd better get some sleep. before I die of lack of sleep:)

Reading Lolita in Tehran and more...

1. I have not written for several weeks. I have had to spend my time wisely and properly and avoid any extra curriculum activity to catch the remaining jobs of mine. Therefore, I could not write (considering writing is a recreational activity)!;-))

2. Mona Lisa gets the real faces. Thanks goes to Narges for the link. I used to research in area of image processing. One of the works I came across was how can we simulate human face for understanding of machines i.e. human face expression and its translation for robotics. Good old days:))

3. I have been reading a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran written by Azar Nafisi. This is a book about experiences of an English literature professor during Iranian revolution. What I enjoy most in this book is the fact that it reflects the facts about Iran but from different point of view. I wish to describe a passage from book where it shows how strange people had behaved during early days of Iranian revolution in 1979. Conversation is between one of Ms. Nafisi students (i.e. who is in Islamic Association of the university) and her.

Ma’am, may I talk to you for a second? Although we were in the middle of the semester, I had not been assigned an office, so we stood in the hall and I listened. His complaint was about Gatsby. He said he was telling this for my own good. For my own good? What an odd expression to use. He said surely I must know how much he respected me, otherwise he would not be there talking to me. He had complaint. Against whom, and why me? It was against Gatsby. I asked him jokingly if he had filed any official complaints against Mr. Gatsby. And I reminded him that that any such action would be in any case be useless as the gentleman was already dead!
But he was serious. No, Professor, not against Mr. Gatsby himself but against the novel. The novel was immoral. It taught the youth the wrong stuff; it poisoned their minds-surely I could see? I could not. I reminded him that Gatsby was a work of fiction and not a how-to manual. Surely I could see, he insisted, that these novels and their characters became our models in real life? Maybe Mr. Gatsby was all right for the Americans, but not for our revolutionary youth. For some reason the idea that this man could be tempted to become Gatsby-like was very appealing to me. There was, for Mr. Nyazi, no different between th fiction of Fitzgerald and the facts of his own life. The great Gatsby was representative of things American, and America was poison for us; it certainly was. We should teach Iranian students to fight against American immorality, he said. He looked earnest; he had come to me in all goodwill.
Suddenly a mischievous notion got hold of me. I suggested, in these days of public prosecutions, that we put Gatsby on Trail: Mr. Nyazi would be the prosecutor, and he should also write a paper offering evidence. I told him that when Fritzgerald’s books were published in the States, there were many who felt just as he did. they may have expressed themselves differently, but they were saying more or less the same thing. So he need not feel lonely in expressing his views.
The next day I presented this plan to the class. We could not have a proper trial, of course, but we could have a prosecutor, a lawyer for defense and a defendant; the rest of the class would be the jury. Mr. Nyazi would be the prosecutor. We needed a judge, a defendant and defense attorney. ….

4. I saw Marmolak (The lizard) movie a few weeks ago and as usual Kamal Tabrizi (director) has done a different job than any other director. I quite enjoyed watching it. I was Passing by Farhang theater in shariaty street last night and there was this sign posting there: “ Marmolak tickets are sold out for today, tomorrow, and a day after!!!”
5. Traffic around the International Book fair is tolerable. I personally feel the city hall and Traffic police have done a reasonable job to achieve this.
6. wowo, blogspot got make over! it looks how do we say: LARGE;-))
7. Does anyone know of any Salsa place in Tehran?? I know it is an odd question, but...

Lovely story, Can anyone help?!

1. For the past 7 days I have got this awful sinuses infection (I know it is again!) and man-o-man I really need this antibiotic calls:
Levofloxacin. can anyone tell me where to get it in Iran. I have gone to couple of pharmacies and no luck. If there is anyone who can send me this prescription, please e-mail me:)( I know it is a lot to ask:)

2. Alex the girl has written a new story about having confidence and being different. It is called May Princess. I highly recommend you to read it. I couldn't find it in her weblog. So, I copy it here from the e-mail I have received:

When I was 13, I was an unusual girl. My days were spent at school and after that they were usually spent outside playing. I had a tool shed that I converted partially into a fort where, with 3 other girls my age and younger, I'd hold class or tea parties. We would also play in the nearby woods, building more forts, swinging from trees or fishing. In the evening I'd play alone in my room with Barbie dolls, lego's or Tonka Trucks. Before bed I'd read like a mad woman before I fell asleep to repeat again the next day.

This was not normal for a 13 year old girl in my neighbourhood. Most 13 year olds knew what hair spray was, what dating was, what style was. I didn't.

The school I was attending had only been my school for the year previous and because I was new and oh so different than my peers, I was teased, a lot. Not just by students in my class but by teachers. I was made fun of for everything; how I spoke, how I dressed, how I played. Most days I ignored it because I really just loved playing and what I called "private time" at home. It didn't matter to me that at school I wasn't liked because I had a pretty full life outside. Some days, however, when a girl would get too snarky, I'd deck her. That would keep things quiet for awhile.

In my last year at this school, I found out about a contest that was to take place for all the girls in the last grade. It was called May Princess which is an annual tradition in most commonwealth countries. To be in it, all you had to do was give a speech in front of the entire school about who you were and what you would do as May Princess to represent the school amongst others in the area. The school would then vote and the girl with the most votes would win and would then get to sit on a float in a pretty dress and throw candy.

I wanted to be May Princess, wear a pretty dress, sit on a float and throw candy.

It's not that I actually thought I would win, but I never thought I would lose. I didn't think about it, anylyse it, play it out. I just thought it sounded like a fabulous idea and, without telling anyone, entered.

The day came when 13 of us girls had to sit in front of the school and wait our turn to speak. The 12 other girls were the girls. They had the hair and they had the clothes. But what they didn't have was confidence in themselves and the ability to speak.

Despite my awkwardness, I did.

I remember standing in front of the school, giving my little speech which was filled with much cheeky humour and a real passion for wanting to be princess. I remember people laughing and the little kids in the front row staring. I remember when I was finished and turned to walk to my seat, the other 12 girls laughing at me like I was retarded.

Later that afternoon, the 13 of us were called to the office to hear the results before they were announced. The headmaster said to us with a look of disbelief, "I don't know how, but she won. She won with 400 more votes than the next girl. I don't know how, I don't know how." And he handed me the piece of paper that pronounced me May Princess.

I sat with a huge grin, the other girls scoweled. It was a very quiet walk back to class and when it was announced over the loud speaker that I won, I sat there grinning while the entire class, including the teacher, looked at me with that "what the hell" look.

Leaving school all the little kids kept running up to me saying, "I voted for you May Princess!" Some even asked for autographs! I was swarmed by all the little children who didn't care about hair spray or boys either.

When I got home, my mum was gardening in the front yard and I literally shouted to her, "Mum! I won! I was voted May Princess!" to which she replied, "What have we told you about lying?" She didn't believe some awkward girl who got into more fights with her peers and played make believe in the back yard could win some contest. But luckily a neighbour walked by whose child went to our school and told me congratulations. My mothers jaw dropped.

A month later I sat on the float, in a pretty white dress, and threw candy. It was so much fun I remember. I sat with girls from other schools who knew about hair spray, style and boys but somehow, liked me just the same. They assumed I must be cool to win so they chatted me up and we giggled on board the float. One girl next to me asked me how long I had primped for that day, after telling me about her day at the spa. I told her I had been digging for worms early but I had made sure to wash my hands. Oh, I added, I had taken a few minutes to learn how to walk in a heal. She smiled that polite May Princess smile and I smiled back. It was a good day to be a May Princess.

I often think back to that time and ask how was it that I won by so many votes. My guess is that I've always had a connection with kids somehow; they like me. While the older girls split the votes amongst their peers, I got all the primary's who didn't know what cool was or who was it this month. They just saw a girl with blonde hair and a big grin who seemed happy and maybe once or twice protected them from a bully on the play ground or played jump rope when they needed another player. I realised at a very early age that you can worry about a few people and be miserably controlled, or you can worry about yourself and have more freedom and happiness. I've always had a lot of freedom and happiness.

I also think about why I entered that contest, why I wasn't afraid or didn't think I'd lose. I think it's because my concern wasn't with how I would look, how I would win, or what it would all mean but how much fun it would all be. I did thingsbased on the enjoyment it would give me and not what was "cool" or "hip." Actually, that hasn't changed 17 years later.

3. How could I forget about Earth day. I haven't heard a lot about any event in Iran! but let's cherish our earth and its environment. Becasue we are so much depend on them.

Retirement and democracy

I have noticed that in Iran age of retirement does not technically exist. Look at our government and in particular an entity called “Canceller of Guardians”. Looking at the age of whom are in stated entity just reveals that their average age is over 65 years old!! This is surprising in a country that about 70% of its working force are youngersters age between 19-29. So, having stated that I would like to talk about my own father in this regard. He is around age of 72 and still trying to make himself busy with jobs that are perhaps not very appropriate for him to follow up at this age per say! I have told him a few time, why do not you let me take care of them, and his respond is sure, I let you do it, but can you do it!?
What I realized is the fact that he wants me to follow his shoes to doing or directing any provided job. If I do otherwise, it is not technically considered the job is being done!! Something I personally refuse to do is to follow up my parents’ way of solution to provided problems.
I wish to relate what I said to the fact that our mentality is not democratically developed. That is why many parents wish to directly, or indirectly get their children do what they wish them to do. This at heart is against democracy. Many of Iranian, not all, pretend to be democratic but at their hearts they are not. Because they believe in totalism. Pretending to be an advocate of social equality and group decision making but at their heart being far from it. This is what they have been grown with. So, starting from our family why not practicing democracy right at home with family and friends. So, as it has been said “everything runs in family”!

Dubai, North of Iran and Break a heart...!!

1. I am back to Tehran after being away for 6 days in Dubai (UAE) and 4 days in North of Iran. About Iran's North I should talk about how much fun it was that people were throwing party from late night to early morning to almost any small community that you would live in ( Shahrak haye Shaomal I mean).

About Dubai, I have to admit that Dubai beauty was so sophisticated that I have hard time to consider Dubai a third world country!! The trip was quite fun.
I went on Desert Safari. A trip that was started by getting on a Toyota land-cruiser and being driven to edge of desert. The real part of the trip got started by going ups and downs on desert hills of Dubai. It was hell of the trip. Our diver was the owner of one of the biggest desert tours called Arabian nights. He was a great driver since whenever another driver had a problem he was the one who had to help out. There were a few people who got motion sickness due to so many ups and downs of the desert hills! So, my recommendation is that never ever eat if you wish to go on such a trip!! After being in this status for about 1.5 hours. We arrived on an entry gate of where we drove about 20 minutes to get to the main tent. Before getting to the main tent, there was this camel ride. Getting on and off the camel is not that difficult. The hardest part comes in when the camel gets up or tries to bend in his/her knees and gets down! So, after a joy ride on a camel I went in to the main tent. Getting in to the tent from south east corner the first thing would capture your attention was the area that guests were supposed to sit. The guests were sited in the middle and north parts of this closed area. The sitting area was carpeted by hand made Arabian carpet and on it there were this short table where around it sitting spaces were presented. On south part there were buffet of several middle eastern plus Arabian food (e.g. ) South west part there were Barbeque area where Kebab and chicken kebab were prepared. All around the tent wall there were small booths in which you could drink tea or coffee take pictures in traditional Arabian gown or blow into Calian (traditional Middle eastern Ghalyaan). After chit chatting with different members of the tours (They were British, German, Chinese and Iranian) we started to eat. After dinner we were presented by a belly dancer who indeed was a professional in her work. After the first dance she went around and asked the guests to either dance along with her or imitate her dance! This indeed turned to an entertaining moment. There was this Russian man who did really well to imitate the dancer move. He at last stole her cane and started to dance for the audience!! The dancer got a little angry or at least this was expression of her face! So, we returned after having a memorable night under glittery sky. What I learned was the fact we could even use desert for tourist attraction! Something that we, Iranian, have to learn.

2. A friend sent me the following story, which is quite interesting, and I would like to share it with you.
There once was a little girl who had a bad temper. Her mother gave her a bag of nails and told her that every time she lost her temper, she must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the girl had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as she learned to control her anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. She discovered it was easier to hold her temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the girl didn't lose her temper at all. She told her mother about it and the mother suggested that the girl now pull out one nail for each day that she was able to hold her temper.
The days passed and the young girl was finally able to tell her mother that all the nails were gone. The mother took her daughter by the hand and led her to the fence. She said, "You have done well, my daughter, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. " You can put a knife in a person and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

3. Narges Kindly sent me the following links. I found them interesting.
A cool flash:-)
talking toonis:-)

4. It is hard to write after being away from writting for more than 16 days!!:))

Final days in 1382 Iranian new year

1. The last day of 1382 are coming to an end. I had a great Chehar shanbeh soroori (last Wednesday night of a year ceremony) in 1382. Chaharshanbeh soori is an ancient ceremony that people would celebrate the last Wednesday of any Iranian year by throwing fireworks in the air and lying fire-wood and jumping from top of the flames and singing: “Your reddish and heat for me and my yellowish and pale for fire.” I spent with friends and we went for a couple of hours in 13. st. in Velenjak. I would describe it as a night of joy and happiness. Many young couple even attended with their 2 or 1 years old kids. Plus, of course, many young boys and girls who had got opportunity to mingle. Police would pass by without disturbing the crowed. I didn’t see many police except when we drove through Meydal Mohseni (Mohseni Square) I saw many of those Special Forces on the south and south east corner of the square. To my surprise there were no people around! Over all, an enjoyable night.

2. I am leaving Tehran in 4 hours. So, I cannot write more. Please forgive me for my errors:-)))

3. HAPPY IRANIAN NEW year to all my reader and friends around the world. Wishing every single of you a prosperous and healthy new year.

4. Many thanks to those people who wished me a happy new year.

5. I leave you with a couple of notes from my last year experience in Iran when I arrived first:
Esfahani concert:

I finally went to Mohammad Esfahani concert. I had a ticket that was given a friend of mine whom has some connection in ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. The concert was held in International Exhibition Place in Tehran inside a newly built building that is called Milad complex. I realized many concerts are held in Milad complex. The building is about 10-floors complex that people who attend must walk up the stairs! I didn’t see any elevator or escalator!! There are entrances that are in slop inclining in 15 degrees quite similar to entrance of Sky Dome, Toronto, Canada that is used for exit. The complex can easily take into itself about three thousand people. What struked me first was lack of washroom in such a large complex. For men there is only one washroom with 4 units in them! That is why if you want to go to the washroom, consider 15 mintues being late at least for any plan you have had!!
When we arrived inside the building there is waiting area (reception) before getting entered to the concert hall. The place reminded me of Iranian population abroad. Girls are standing around with lots of make up. Many with cellular phones who are supposedly either waiting for their dates or their dates are already with them.

Concert started with Mr. Esfahani famous and one of my favorite songs known as “Lalehaye Ashegh”. This is a rhythmic song that asks people to recall there is a difference between what they hear and what they see! (i.e. Jamat yek donya farghe bein-e didano Shenidan!)
The problem was that audience were still entering to the hall and Mr. Esfahani right a way with the first song tried to ask the audience to sing along or as I put it inject some energy to an audience that were in process of establishing themselves in the hall. People weren’t ready at the time! So, no one sing along and he become KENEF!!!
Most of the songs were from his last album plus a few songs from his new album. He performed one of the songs apparently I had heard that was not included in his new album because he had not got permission for it. He sang that song which is quite rhythmic. The poem goes like this:
Jani keh Bakhshd digar nagirad
Marg ast Sedi, to dar kamini
Sorat gari ra, az man biamoz
Shayd keh khod ra baz afarini

Part of this song is as a flash in mohammad esfahani site (i.e. www.mohammadesfahani.com). He also sang the Nouno-dalghak (bread and clown) from his new album. I believe this is an interesting song because he might be the first Iranian singer that has made a convolute of digital music and a singer’s voice. It is new in Iranian music industry I suppose. It was quite interesting to see an old couple in front of us who were crying on each other shoulders. They were reacting like they are a newly wedded couple!

Esfahani’s musicians were about 29 people with 13 choir singers. They were all in black cloths. It seemed to me that they were told not to show any emotions. I find even Esfahani himself was lacking a real connection to the audience since he wouldn’t change his emotions with any song regardless of its bits. Either a fast song or a slow song he was in sad mode! Therefore, I found his concert interesting only for once. He is not an entertainer per say. I would rather listen to him on the radio station than going to his concert!!