Meygon nights…

1. All right, this is not going to be about a disco club or anything even close to that object as you may think. What I am talking about is in regard of a restaurant on the way to Shemshak ski resort and on Meygon village.
Time: Friday noon, Target: getting out of polluted Tehran and eat something in outskirt of Tehran area.
So, with those idea in mind we headed to sadr highway heading to Lashkarak for a day of rest out of crowded city of Tehran. We arrived at Lashkark area and decided to continue our journey towards Shemshak to reach Kohestan restaurant. However, because of being hungry we decided to shorten our trip and stay at a dinning restaurant that is called Meygon Nights (Shabhaye Meygon). To my surprise there were only a few people in the restaurant, I truly was expecting more crowd for a Friday around 1:15 pm! Then I like quiet area, though! As soon as we walked in we were asked whether we wish to go to the garden (Baghcheh) and sit there (considering Meygon is close to ski resort and it is cold), this became a surprise to us! Moving on, to play along with what we are told, we said sure we would like to go there. So, we were guided to an area that was called Garden. Garden was closed by thin transparent plastics wall where you could see the snow covered mountains and a creek of water stream. The roof was decorated by cotton type texture.
What would next capture your eyes was the fact that they had setup beds (Takht) where you could sit on them with a table set in the middle of the each bed. On each table it was covered by at least two large blanket! Yop, you guess it right, there were also an electrical heater beneath of the table under blankets ( For those who are familiar with Koorsi, it was a Koorsi but with an electrical heater)! So, we loved the place and we decided to stay and eat traditional Persian meal (i.e. Kabaab and chiken Kabab). So, after lunch when we decided to leave I realized on Fridays people do not eat earlier than 2:00 pm, because by 2:30 the place of packed.
About the food: The quality of the food was not supreme, however, I would suggest that chicken kabab was a better choice compare to fillet Kabab! The only major problem with such a place was that when we got our food it was warm however, less than a few minutes it got cold because of the coldness of the place. Overall, a great experience highly recommended!

2. I may be going a way for couple of days. So, you won’t hear from me for at least until next week sometimes!:-)
3. Junior engineer your comment area is lost!!! Congrad. Of starting Salsa, again. keep doing it, buddy! I missed those Hart house classes, too!
4.Dear Jane: why not Michael Moore?? Any objection?!:-)

It Could happen to you

I think I can admit that I appreciate Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett songs a lot! One of the most famous one, which is usually at the beginning of Walt Disney’s movies, called Young at heart. The lyrics are as follow and you could listen to sample of this song here.

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart.
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes.
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams.
And life gets more exciting with each passing day.
And love is either in your heart, or on it's way.

Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart.
For as rich as you are, it's much better by far
To be young at heart.

And if you should survive to 105,
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive!
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.

And if you should survive to 105,
Look at all you'll derive out of being alive!
And here is the best part, you have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart.

Iran Skiing on the news

I just accidently came across this article, It worth reading it, though. I should admit that I like to Heli-ski! It is trilling experince! Once I got a chance to do it, it was in Whistler, Vancouver:-) Iran, but he ran faster.

Couple of short statements

1. There is no manufacturing process that is completely environmental friendly!
2. President Khatami interview with Newsweek.
3. What is the best way to deal with dilemmas around us? Just by not repeating it and trying to avoid it or rectify it!
4. Michael Moore site.
5. Different point of view from Newsweek on Philosopher President, speech of Mr. Khatami in World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Dialectic, ration, 4 years of school…

1. I am not sure was it the effect of Dawson's Creek that on my last post no one left me a comment...:))

2. It was a few days before our final exams back in 4 years of engineering school. As our usual gathering on Thursdays we had been gathered in our gymnasium playing indoor soccer with friends. While sitting on the bench and waiting for our turn to go in and play. A good friend who was studying Airospace Engineering at the time turned to and told me:
“Ali, Do you know how I feel these days? We have gone to school for more than 4 years and studied engineering and now almost to the end of our studies I feel so what? I feel I have wasted 4 consecutive years! Because most of things we learned I hardly can remember! We learned basics and I feel there are a lot more to learn. I have no confidence and no hope to go out and look for a job! A nihilistic sense has gone all over my body where I feel dissatisfaction with my studies.”
This was very similar sense that I had been experiencing at the time and I was felling the same kind of sensation. I told him give me a day to think of this matters and then we will talk tomorrow. I wanted to find out why we had chosen the way that we did!
The next day, after some careful thinking and talking to couple of other students, I realized I am not alone in having this type of senses. So, I felt I have to find out a convincing argument and at the same time giving him the right of what he feels!
The next day I told him: the reason that we have gone to university is not only because of the fact in getting the any degrees (it may seems so). However, the reason for taking higher education is to learn how the rational phenomena around us work. How can we find out about them if we wish so. How should we interact with others in our social world based on rational thoughts. Our four years of study is matter of learning and getting exposed to more cultures and ideas. And the most important item is to learn how to tolerate. As I put it I think we ought to develop in 3-dimensional space and not only getting developed in 1-D. So, as long as we gain experiences in all directions, we should not feel bad. Perhaps, our liberal studies (i.e. psychology, environment, geography and philosophy, etc) come handier than our core courses.

3. We are told to be rational. From the first day we are born we are told to be rational, fair and act on honor. Dialectic (i.e. discussion) is process of rational argument. Throughout our life we discuss matters with one another. We argue. We try to convince. However, I wonder throughout these processes have we acted fair towards one another? If we act upon our heart and not follow our rational thought, have we acted upon honor?

4. Something again about cellular phone in Iran. I have been trying to reach a person for past few hours, I hear this message: "This person is liquidised gone to Ocean" (just joking).

5. I have catch a cold and it seems my sinuses are infected, as a result I'd better go to sleep! I am starting to talk in none sense!!

Blah, blah, Blog!!!

1. I wish to share couple of stats about web logs or blogs.
Did you know just a simple search in Whois database returns over 20000 domain names that include the word “blog”! A recent survey by Perseus Development Corp., in Brintree, Mass., estimated that there are over 4.1 million blogs just on blog-hosting sites such as liveJournal and BlogCity!! I personally think the number is perhaps much larger than this! I wonder how many writers we have in this world!
You know what I wonder? I wonder with so many writers who know how to express themselves, why do we still have so many misunderstandings?!?!?
I guess personal blogs commencing that we have diversity of voices, though!

2. Jewel is not completely one of my favorite singers. However, I like the song with the title "Hands". This song was originally part of theDawson’s Creek sound track.

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
But it didn't steal your laughter
And heart ache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after

We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken

My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart

Ethics, Engineers, responsibilities towards society, Engineering Ring, and more bubbling…

I should perhaps have written this article during the Bam’s earthquake. But for the past few months working, living and understanding Iranian society, I realized not many people (please look at the word I said not many; I do not mean all!) are not work conscious. We work because we are told so! We hardly consider how this attitude affects the way our society shapes. Not to mention how our cultural values gets developed when the ethical attitude in society diminishes. Also, I went to Melli Bank to wire some money to Shahrk Azmayesh, I saw a big sign stating on it: Ethical issues of a bank employee. Having said that as the expression goes: “whenever you catch fish from sea, it is considered fresh (i.e. mahi ro har vaghat az Aab begiri tazeh ast)”. So, I decided to write the following article with help of engineering ethics book. I start the story with construction of the St Lawrence River. Because there is a rumor that the original Canadian Iron Ring is manufactured from parts of the collapsed bridge!

Construction on the Quebec Bridge, 11 km above Quebec City, officially began in 1900. On 29 Aug 1907, when the bridge was nearly finished, the southern cantilever span twisted and fell 46 m into the St. Lawrence River. Seventy-five workmen, many of the caughnawaga Indians (native North Americans), were killed in Canada’s worst bridge disaster. An inquiry established that the accident had been caused by faulty design and inadequate engineering supervision. Work was resumed, but on 11 Sept 1916 a new centre span being hoisted into position fell into the river, killing 13 men. The bridge was completed in 1917 and the Prince of Wales officially opened it 22 Aug 1919.

Having stated the above story it is said that the story above motivated a group of seven prominent engineers met in Montreal, Quebec to discuss a concern for general guidance and solidarity of the profession. Theses seven prominent engineers formed the nucleus of an organization whose object would be to bind all members of the engineering profession in Canada more closely together and to imbue them with their responsibilities TOWARDS SOCIETY.
They enlisted the services of the late Rudyard Kipling, who developed appropriate Ritual and symbolic Iron Ring. The purpose was outlined y Rudyard Kipling in the following words: “The Ritual of the calling an engineer has been instituted with the simple end directing the young engineer towards a consciousness of his/her profession and its significance, and indicating to the older engineer his/her responsibilities in receiving, welcoming and supporting the young engineers in their beginnings.”

By wearing an Iron Ring on little finger on the hand that we write with, we remind ourselves that we would be responsible for life of people and our actions toward the society .

Having said that I wonder how many of engineers think about such a responsibility when designing anything?! Not to mention other professions! We should raise our educated people’s culture and their openness towards new proposes then expect other level of society augment their cultural values.

2. If junior_engineer reads this, please fix your comment area it doesn’t work. I should indicate that I missed a real Salsa dancing in courthouse and flamingo clubs!

Couple of news...

1. I am going to be a little more busy:-) for next few days, putting together two proposals. Hopefully when they got implemented I will share them here.

2. I was reading the ecomonist today, came across this article about Iran. I think the economist analysis is great. So, delight yourself!

3. Alexthegirl has written another wonderful piece about birthday, worth reading, though 17 January 2004 .

Great Expectations; an answer to one of the comments left for me last time

I was watching the Great Expectations (1998) (book was originally written by Charles Dickens) today and just recalled the time that a great friend and I watched this movie together back in couple of years ago in Theater In Toronto! As soon as the movie was finished we ran to HMV to buy the sound track life of Mono.
What I liked about this movie was the fact that tells you: if you give, then you expect to receive as well. Be fair and helpful you will be rewarded!

Moving on, in my last writing someone left me a comment and wondered why do I write in English. I felt I should put up this in public that people would know about it.
First, I am a lot comfortable writing in English than Persian. I have written most of writings in English, So, I can say I am used to writing in English. When it comes to typing Persian that is another disaster! If I wish to type something that I write in English rather in Persian it may take me to type it for the entire day!! So, please forgive me if I do not write these short articles in Persian.
I try to see if one day I could!

Racing against time, New York gang= Violence to the full effect

Weather report: Sunny, quite fair day, after a day of rain! It is like spring! about 12 degrees.

This is a Jazz Song from last century By George Michael (1999)

brother Can you spare a dime?

Once I built a railroad, made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a rairoad, now it’s done
Brother can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower to the sun
Brick and rivet and lime
Once I built a tower, now it’s done
Brother can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits
Gee, we looked swell
Full of that yankee doodle de dum
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
I was the kid with the drum
Say don’t you remember, they called me al
It was al all the time
Say don’t you remember, I’m your pal!
Buddy can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits
Gee, we looked swell
Full of that yankee doodle de dum
Half a million boots went slogging through hell
I was the kid with the drum
Say don’t you remember, they called me al
It was al all the time
Say don’t you remember, I’m your pal!
Buddy can you spare a dime?

....
2. I have lived in three continents during lots of ups and downs of my life! Probably I can hardly define my characteristic, however, one thing is certain and that is I cannot tolerate violence!
Last night, I went along side couple of friends to see Gang of New York in Farhang cinema. I know this movie was released long time ago but this was my first opportunity to see it! I have to admit that I almost forced my friends to see this movie, so a big apologies to them. The entire movie was a big time violence with some informative messages.
As I put it there is always someone with an upper hand! No matter how much fears you inject to people’s mind to fear you off, still you won’t have the winning hand! So, all and all violence is not the answer to any kind of act!



2. Restaurant reviews:

Cara Mia Ristorante Italiano Gandhi: This has become one of my favorite restaurants in Tehran. The ambient is classy at the same time cozy. They serve a home made (i.e. they make it themselves) the Italian pastas like fettuccini, ravioli and so on. The green salad with balmastic vinegar plus a tasty burciatto can be a great appetizer.

Super Star fast food: A fast food restaurant that resembles McDonald’s and KFC. They have Varity of fast food and sandwiches. They even have recently added rice with green beans and boiled corn to their menus.

Tin Tin anniversary and couple of issues

1. Just a few days ago I was looking at my Tin Tin collection and picked one to read. Now I have read that The Royal Money and Moulinsart commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Tintin. A Tintin silver coin of 10 EUR shall be launched at this occasion.
read the news here.

2. I will write a little more tonight, stay tune for more:-)
3. I went Skiing yesterday. An amzing runs with sunny sky made a plus to be there. I forgot what I wished to write about!:-( if I remembered I will write about it!
4. I am not sure what is going on with blogsky site. If Raha reads this line. please let me know how are things with blogsky.

Childern's mind, our mind

Thanks goes to Alex the girl who has written this piece to support what I wrote yesterday. Indeed, she has just provided a support to what I meant and wrote. Childern have more innocent look at world than adult. They have much simple observation than adults. Reading this piece is highly recommended.
...
I continued my walk and came across a group of children who, all but one, were making snow angels in the ground. The one little girl was just lying there with a huge smile on her face and her eyes pinched closed so hard. A little boy called out to her, asking what she was doing. “I’m taking a picture of the sky with my mind,” she said, “Because it’s beautiful when it drops snow!” Read the rest here, 06 January 2004 :-)

2. It has been almost 2 days since Mars rover of NASA has landed on Red planet. First Congratulation to all scientists at NASA. especially Dr. Firouz Naderi who has been the force behind this Mars rover.
You can see some of the pictures that the has taken from Mars.
and report of Landing.

Our fun then and our fun Now!

I should have probably indicating that this following piece was written about 6 years ago! I was just cleaning my computer directories and came across this piece of writing of mine. I suppose I wanted to continue to write in this piece. However, I decided not to do so. This has nothing to do with getting "No" or "Yes". This can be related to a piece I wrote couple of months ago. See it here! What I meant was how easy we used to live when we were younger. Not much of complications. So, hope this has cleared the air.
...
I recall when I was in high school at the time that our hormones were rushing though our brain making us do what we were told not to do at those moments, our fun with the guys was to gather in a place of one of our friends and make phone calls to either girls we knew to prank on them with saying some funny thing that was characteristics of that time.
I recall when I was even younger, I could easily go out to the streets around our house get to know people and either bike or play basketball, volleyball or soccer with them. It was such an easy task to get to know people that if you would approach them you wouldn’t hear a no word from anyone.

And today….

Magical Pain…

Since I am not in mood of writing and I wanted to pick three best of my writings for the past year on my weblog. I will introduce them first... (Drum sound please)
Number 3 is:
Partner to be or not to be?
Number 2 goes to: Traffic, Traffic and more traffic Jam
and number 1. goes to: Have you got time?
(Scroll down for the topics in the same page)

I dedicate this song to a friend who hopfully read this:
A DIFFERENT CORNER
I'd say love was a magical thing
I'd say love would keep us from pain
Had I been there, had I been there

I would promise you all of my life
But to lose you would cut like a knife
So I don't dare, no I don't dare

'Cause I've never come close in all of these years
You are the only one to stop my tears
And I'm so scared, I'm so scared

Take me back in time, maybe I can forget
Turn a different corner and we never would have met
Would you care

I don't understand it, for you it's a breeze
Little by little you've brought me to my knees
Don't you care

No I've never come close in all of these years
You are the only one to stop my tears
I'm so scared of this love

And if all that there is, is this fear of being used
I should go back to being lonely and confused
If I could, I would, I swear
Oh I swear

A moment of silence

I guess I kept saying things happen in life for reasons.
I could not sleep, it is around 5:55 am. what a nice snow scenery we have got outside!
I recalled this song by Nik Kershaw which is describing the current situation so vividly:
Wouldn't it be good
I got it bad
You don't know how bad I got it
You got it easy
You don't know when you got it good
It's getting harder
Just keeping life and soul together
I'm sick of fighting
Even though I know I should
The cold is biting
Through each and every nerve and fibre
My broken spirit is frozen to the core
Don't wanna be here no more

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was for just one day
And wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away
Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
The grass is always greener over there
Wouldn't it be good if we cold live without a care

You must be joking
You don't know a thing about it
You've got no problem
I'd stay right there if it were you
I got it harder
You couldn't dream how hard it got it
Stay out of my shoes
If you know what's good for you
The heat is stifling
Burning me up from the inside
The sweat is coming through each and every pore
Don't wanna be here no more

Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes
Even if it was just for one day
And wouldn't it be good if we could wish ourselves away
Wouldn't it be good to be on your side
The grass is always greener over there
And wouldn't it be good if we could live without a care

Snow

Here has started to snow like there is no tomorrow. I have no idea how to drive home!! man o man...
Few hours later:
No luck to going back home. Came back to office sitting inside the office, after trying to drive out. Trying to read and do things while surf the web!
I tried to leave the office around 4:00 p.m. Needless to say that all the street from and to our firm are blocked. People just sitting in the car or walking around! So, I decided to come back and stay in office until 9:00 pm! At that hours I may be able to drive back home. life is beautiful:-)

in any case, I recalled these lyrics from Carpenter, hope you enjoy in this snowy day!
Let it Snow!
Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!

It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've bought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!
Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate going out in the storm!
But if you'll really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear, we're still goodbying
But as long as you love me so
Let It Snow!

Presentation in one of the Universities in Tehran; part 2

Weather report: Snow has started and snow flicks are coming like there is no tomorrow! Temperature is fluctuating from 0 to 6 degrees.

1. Finally, the day of my presentation arrived. I went an hour early to get things ready. After spending 40 minutes in Dean’s office. I realizing for the first time Iran starting next year couple of universities in Iran establishing biomedical engineering at bachelors level. Then, we went to one of the graduate classes to get things in order and where I could start my lecture.
After seeing so many high-tech equipments (i.e. wire less mouse and keyboard, an advance projector overhear, etc.) and connecting them we got everything ready. I was introduced and then I started to give the lecture. I asked whether people wish me to give my presentation in English. Since no one responded I decided to give it in Persian with flare of English!! What that means is, I give all technical words in English only preposition and some verbs were in Persian!!
I started the presentation. I gave the lecture with some humor and telling them if you see that I speak in English, it is not that “ Jaffar khan az farang Bargashteh”, it is the fact that I have learned all these expression and words in English and I am not sure about correct translation of many of them. My speech took about 1.5 during which I asked questions in the end and there was this guy who seemed to be trying to be ahead of the class and asked many relevant and irrelevant question. Questions like: Why do we do such a thing and what is the purpose of doing it (I had explained what was the purpose however, he was again so what?) so on!
But over all, it was a great experience. After I finished my speech I answered couple of questions.
Then, I took a tour of library and computer room. Before that when I was leaving the room. A young girl who was with a young guy approached me. She said this is my friend and wishes to start biomedical engineering. What field of biomedical engineering do you suggest him to study?! I explained a little about bioelectrical, biomechanics and biomaterials field and asked him to decide it himself.
Then I went to the computer room and got many question from those who attended my lecture. The questions were from personal to scientific one!! The girl who called me couple of days ago approached me and asked me whether he can add more to my handout summary and then publish it on university board.
The library was not so bad and it seemed pretty good.
I spend the lunch with head of biomechanics and Dean of the department.
So, that was it. I was really overjoyed to be in university once again.

2. I mean, you gotta be honest. Like it or not, It has been a great year for Iranian women. From Ebadi to Afshin-Jam (Miss Canada, and Miss World runner up), Rudy Bakhtiar (CNN anchor), Bani-Etemad (film director), Kar (human rights activist), and Milani (academic), Iranian women have made their mark on the 2003 calendar. Now let us examine what we Iranian men have accomplished this year. Here's the top five: (Drum roll please)
siamack Baniameri