Praying for Time!

1. The first not that important news! did you know that about 20 years ago "Last Christmas" by Wham was filmed here in Switzerland!! I mean the video! It was said on TV, today! I didn't know it either!!

2. Another not that important news: I am going Skiing tomorrow early moring with one of my boss who apparently used to be in Swiss National Ski team!!

3. Praying for Time from Album "Listen without Prejudice"; by George Michael.
anyone interested I think I can send this song to him/her.

These are the days of the open hand
They might just be the last
Look around now
These are the days of the beggars and the choosers

This is the year of the hungry man
Whose place is in the past
Hand in hand with ignorance
And legitimate excuses

The rich declare themselves poor
And most of us are not sure
If we have too much
But we'll take our chances
'Cause God's stopped keeping score
I guess somewhere along the way
He must have let us all out to play
Turned his back and all God's children
Crept out the back door

And it's hard to love
There's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope
When there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above
Say it's much too much too late
Well maybe we should all be praying for time

These are the days of the empty hand
Oh you hold on to what you can
And charity is a coat you wear twice a year

This is the year of the guilty man
Your television takes a stand
And you find that what was over there is over here

So you scream from behind your door
Say what's mine is mine and not yours
I may have too much but I'll take my chances
'Cause God's stopped keeping score
And you cling to the things they sold you
Did you cover your eyes when they told you
That he can't come back
'Cause he has no children to come back for

It's hard to love there's so much to hate
Hanging on to hope when there is no hope to speak of
And the wounded skies above say it's much too late
So maybe we should all be praying for time

If the problem hit home then...

I was watching CSI series on TV.
I didn't see the beginning part of it, but some how one of the coworkers of the CSI team was buried alive by a psycho guy. besides, the story line and excitement of the TV show. you could see how worry all the co-workers were and trying so hard to find "Nick"(the guy who was buried) and get him back!
I was thinking the only way that high authorities in Iran would do anything about pollution perhaps seeing one of their loved ones gets sick becasue of pollution. So, I honostly wish someone that President Ahmadi nedjad cares about gets hit by pollution and eel sick. I know the problem is quickly they send him/her to europe or North America or some place with fresh air! but a wish is a wish!
...
and as I said it is so difficult for me to forget about Iran. I always think Iranians and Iran deserve better. We have been badly informed.

What can be done?

1. Tehran pollution is exceeding its limits. what is more important than health and fresh air? read the new in Persian here.
Now school are closed there are more young people driving on streets to pick up girls. Please open up XXX-houses! at least people get a break from traffic!
Our men and women are not human and don't they deserve a better life? how about childern? what has government done?

2. A military plane crashes in Tehran! read the story in here.
what government of Iran has done?

3. Economy is on verge of collapse and what is government of Iran doing?!?

I think we all know the answer to the above questions??

2 more reason for being in Switzerland:
1. Pizza Hut got bankrupt here about 2 years ago!!
2. People spend time eating lunch and they don't eat fast food as much as North America!

Why Switzerland?

1. Many, as well as myself asking why I chose to do PhD in Switzerland than in Canada.
1. Here I get exposed to four different languages (English, German, French, Italian)
2. Here they pay better than North America and they spend more!
3. You get exposed to some culture
5. You can Ski more often than anywhere else!
6. The bread is much better than North America (I love the bread!)
7. Access to different European counties and more convenient commuting structure than North America.
I think that is good enough for now!

Almost everyone who I went to Skiing with the last weekend!

2. This weekend I went skiing for the first time this year! To Les Diablerets.
Unfortunately, there was not enough snow and therefore only two runs were open and that was on glacier area.
We were about 77 people from different counties staying in a large chalet for 2 nights and 2 days.
The funny thing happened when we were returning from the resort on the train.

The train was quite busy. I was sitting with bunch of Chinese and Portuguese people. One of Chinese guys was doing palm reading telling others if they will get married soon or later. How many children will have and so on. In One of the stations A French spoken women with her 3 years old child came to our seat. Since all the other seats were taken and there was only one free close to where I was sitting. We cut her attention about these plam reading.
So, showing us her palm, she said could you tell me if I will have another child or not!
I then answered ( I know I was rude of me!!, and it was none of my business to say that!),
I: oh, this must be of not married girls. I think you are already married and have a cute child, why would you be interested in!?!
To my surprise she answered back quickly:
I have recently got a divorced! She said that with smile! (I got quite embarrassed). Then about 30 minutes she started to talk to all of us and about where she was coming from that afternoon. She had been there from Santa Clause market where children sit on lap of impersonating Santa Clause and tell him their wish.
After that conversation when we left the train. All of us were surprised and felt pity for her. The women sounded quite nice, polite, reasonable and classy. We felt what has had happened that she has got a divorce so quickly. Of course, I know there could be many reasons!
adding to that, I recently read that percentage of Swiss women getting divorce from Swiss man is about 45% and this rate goes up if they are married to foreign men!! Apparently about 70%!

I guess this is just a statistic, but something to think of!

3. I think there three types of German!!

1. A German
2. German German
3. German German German!!

The first group are all right, you can more or less get along with, the second group you have difficulty and the third group impossible to relate to!!! (Of course, this is just a simple perception of mine:-)

A group hallucination or Psycalogical effect of peers!

Apparently, The new Iranian President has had a "religious vision" while giving speech in UN!! This is quite shameful on one hand, on the other hand hilarious!!

1. In English you can read here!
2. In Persian you can read here!

I have been reading the Da Vinci Code written by Dan Brown. I meant to buy it when I was back in Canada but the packet version of it; I couldn't find there. then, recently, a friend who also sometimes read this weblog recommended me again to buy it. Funny enough, here I found English version cheaper and in packet size!
moving on, this book really talks about the fact about Christainity and the means of that religion! What has happened after Jusus was dead.
I would highly recommend it. Although there are many people who are against it, I tend to think it is quite true!
whether true or not, but as I have always said; religion: A group hallucination where human wishes to see always a "thing" higher than him/herself!
with all due respect to our religious friends.

If tomorrow never comes

I used to say "if there is no tomorrow...". but I heard this song "if tomorrow never comes...and honostely brough me to tears! It is from Garth Brooks. I will send the song to the list I have been sending my songs to.

Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way I feel
About her in my heart

If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes

'Cause I've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much I loved them
Now I live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance to tell her how I feel

If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much I loved her
Did I try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes

So tell that someone that you love
Just what you're thinking of
If tomorrow never comes

Unfortunate time for Iran and Iranians

I honestly do not know when we are going to learn a lesson and move on! When we are learn from past and create a better life for ourselves. I am starting to cry! Everyday you see something negative about Iran and Iranians on TV on mind of people and so on. It is very unfortunate.
I was just watching a musical concert on TV. This Chinese guy come in and plays Piano with his father who plays an ancient instrument of China son’t know the name but something like Iranian Kamncheh, which has two strings, though. It was all right, but the sound seems a little like sawing on my soul! (Sohan keshidan be roh!) There is not a day passes by and you are not seeing or hearing about achievement of Chinese and Arabs (Qatar, Emirate, Bahrain, etc.) around the word. Like Peleh and Marradona have participate to inaugurate a soccer stadium in Qatar. (Just read that in www. Iran-varzeshi.com).
What do we do? Noting? How do we present ourselves in the world. A country whose president wishes another country to be eliminated from face of Earth!
…
Talking about music and culture, back in Canada during years of 1996 to 1999 there was this Iranian musician (conductor) who gathered a group of talented musicians and setup “Symphony of Nations”. He used to perform in Glenn Gould studio almost every few months something mixed of Iranian (The legend of my father’s land, from Kamkarha for example was one to mention) and western conductors. The program when started there were very few who attended. Later, I would even meet ex-Mayor of Toronto or politicians there who would come and enjoy the music. This was a great step forward. Since then I have not seen anything close to it.
It was something to introduce our cultural values. I think we should make this statement not everyone looks like President Ahmadi Nedjad!
We are lacking behind in art and music scenes around the world. We are truly under represented. The only Iranian I see on MTV Europe is Aarsh and his Indian tone, Boro Boro. How come we have not more. But I can see many Spanish and Indians! We have done almost nothing. Our government is so preoccupied we itself, so forget about that. So, we should do it. An example is LA community, for the past 27 years, large LA musical community has done nothing to become like Spanish speaking counterparts!
We should do our part, to end this under representation or as I say no representation!!

Viva La Swiss and Trinidad and Tabogo!

Hora! Switzerland is going to World cup! I am not racist but beating Turkey is something to remember!
Also, Bahrain got eliminated!! isn't that nice:))
We got the hot water back, but just stopped working again!! isn't that nice, too:))

Do not take things for granted!

1. Do not take things for granted! they may be there may not be there any other minutes!what I really mean is that know, percepting anything you see or feel may has a start, expire date and an end. So, use it, don't get excited around it so not knowing what or how to use it! Just use it properly!
having said that right now I am getting frozen! My hand my nose seems to be frozen!! for past two days we don't have any hot water not to mention our radiotors are frozen and my room is the coldest room here around the house!
So, apparently our heating system is needed to be replaced and from what I undesrtand we will not have any hot water for next few days! funny enough this is taking place now that the weather is getting quite cold here in Switzerland!

Iranian Community of Toronto!

This is picture I took about 3 weeks ago when I was in Toronto. It is taken from many many advertisements of Iranian community in Toronto.
I tend to believe from every 5 Iranian in Toronto, 1 is at least in business of reat estate, morgage providing, or immigration consulting area!
I have to add perhaps, resturant and convenient store, too!

Not only Me...

1. There was a hocky game right about 20 min. from where I live between Canada and Switzerland. Unfortunately, I couldn't go becasue I am busy tomrrow with couple of presentation. Canada won 2-1. quite friendly, not much of pushing ans shaving and body cheking that you'd see in NHL.

2. Siting in my office late evening, this German guy walks in. He is asking why am I working late. He then sees a paper on my desk about Osteoporosis.
He says: Oh, you know that is why I keep telling my girl friend to drink Milk, everyday!!
There is this expression in German for women, who do not drink Milk, by giving birth to every child they lose a tooth!!(who knows what is that!)
...
Just made me wonder I am not the only one recommends to drink milk!
so, DRINK MILK, Be HAPYY!

Me, and a Swiss medical Doctor

1. In March of this year, the editor of Book called We are Iran contacted me to add part of my weblog into this book. Do not know if they ever did. but now they e-mailed me and told me the book is out. I saw this report on it, in Persian BBC.

2. Last week, I visited an internal medicine specialist in university hospital in Zurich when first I felt my flu symptoms are prevailing! As I said I went there and after an hour and encountering a weird Doctor who said I have viral flu and should rest with some simple medications. Not much happened. However, he also ordered me to get a blood test. And he gave me an appointment, if I don’t feel better I should come back to see him!
In any case, this past Friday I catch real cold. Running nose and sinus pain and the usual cold symptoms of cold. So, I rested the entire weekend and today Monday I went back to see the doctor.
My appointment was half an hour after the hour. After staying in waiting room for about 45 minutes. He comes out of his office and tells me he is sorry he was on the phone and had forgotten about me sitting outside! However, I have to tell you Doctors acting very cultural. They smile, shake you hand and introduce themselves!

I followed him into his physical check-up room, where there is this flat screen computer workstation and trauma bed. When he interviews me he types everything in computer. Even his prescription is done on computer and he just gets the print out!
Moving on, these are some of the conversation between us. And imagine he is talking with very heavy Germany accent!

Dr.: Entschuldigung, wie gefuellen Sie?
Me: I don’t feel that good, as you can see my voice is changed and I feel pressure in my sinuses, too.
Dr.: Ach, so. Es ist kein problem, kommen Sie mit mir! (then he grabs my hand and take me to the picture which is hang on the door! The picture shows sinuses and Bronchi of human.)
He starts by lecturing some in English some in German how the sinus get blocked and infection may take place! Can’t not believe it but this whole thing took about 30 minutes!
To interrupt him, I said thank you can we go on my blood test and see if there was anything going on with that!
Pulling up my result on computer screen, I see couples of numbers are in red. Then I go asking about them.
Me: what do they represent, Doc. These red numbers?
Dr.: Oh, those one, they are just slightly off where they are supposed to be! However, they can not be conclusive for anything, may be viral or bacterial infections!!
I see one of the largest numbers which apparently supposed to be less than 6 and it is 37! And I told him, this number is quite high, Doc.!
Then he goes,
Yes, but I would give you antibiotics if only this number is larger than 100!!
Then he stands up, walks around the room, thinks and goes, let me give you something to inhale as medication! Then he searches on internet for certain medication, goes to its information site! And reads,
“Oh, my boss has given this medication to someone!!!” And then all of the sudden he says no, what I have given you is good enough.
Starting once again explaining to me, it is not good to use antibiotics as they produce resistance and new medicine has suggested even if the mucus is yellow or green, it is not conclusive that may be bacterial infection…!!

All of the sudden, I stopped him from his ongoing preach…:
Me: Doctor, you are my Doctor, aren’t you?
Dr.: yes
Me: and you are not going to give me any medication, want me to wait until I feel really terrible! And you are saying it takes about 3 weeks to 2 months to get cleared of viral flu. right?
Dr.: Yes
Me (grabbing my backpack): So, bye bye Doc.
And I Walked out!!!

Economist report after Prisident Ahmadinedjad speech about Isreal! (In Persian)
Is the new president truly an exterminator? (Same Report in English)

I never understand some girls!

Last week, Friday night I stayed in to rest because I felt the flu is coming and I should rest. However, there was a big party in Zurich and none of these roommates of mine had notified me of it. Although I would have not gone, I felt ill.
Moving on, Saturday around 11:00 pm, it was a sunny day. I was sun bathing in my room. Putting my room in order, I saw my cellular phone is ringing! Looking at call display I see an unfamiliar number. After a few rings I pick up the phone.

Me: hello
E: I am E.
The connection got weak, so,
Me: I can’t hear you. Are you A.??
E: no, I am E.
Me: ahan, that is you. What is up?
E.: would you do me a favor.
Me: Sure.
E.: would you come and pick me up from Hospital. I do not feel well. I can’t hardly walk.
Me: are you all right?
E.: yes, please come and take me back home.
Me: Ok. I will be there in 45 min or less.

who is E. She is my housemate who is from Nederland. She is 24 or 25.
I have gone to Hospital and pick her up. I asked her, what has happened. With lot of short breath she goes:

Last night there was this huge party. There were about 700 people there. Oh, it was so much fun I think someone had put drug in my drink, because I couldn’t feel anything afterwards. At the hospital they told me if I have used drugs?! Considering I am diabetic, I looked for my Insulin shot after I felt bad. But apparently, someone had misplaced it, too. When I asked for it, people laughed and said can’t you do it some other time!! She goes unconscious after not injecting herself.
[If you are diabetic and do not inject yourself with insulin at certain time, you tend to have frozen muscle and hardly be able to move. You may go unconscious, too. Narrator]

Apparently, couple of her friends takes her to the Hospital. When she becomes conscious, they leave her in there!!
I should mention that she vomited during our return trip and was not feeling well at all. Walked slowly and I had to hold her arm to prevent her from falling down.
While about 20 meters from our place I see this Spanish guy (not the guy who is also my housemate, another one) who is fairly good looking, let’s say like Zorro, with shorter build and has a nice car passing us with his Argentinean friend being in the car as well. They wave and pass without any sort of bothering to stop.
She blushes and tells me. Oh, I am ashamed that J. sees me in such a condition.
I said they should be ashamed that they are passing by us seeing you hardly can move and still they did not stop! Was he last night with you in the party???

She continues: what would J. think! He is such a cutie, and I was almost falling for him last night, although my own Dutch Boy friend is sweeter! Yes, J. was there. He had couple of drinks, me too and he was talking quite sweet. Considering he has PhD and a car I was almost falling for him! I should be more careful, because I may fall for him!!
So, then I am thinking, a girl is poised by drug! People misplace her insulin shot.
She is left in hospital alone. A macho Spanish dude with his new VW car passes by us and waves to us. And she must get shameful that he may see her in this condition! I think I have no choice to draw this conclusion that girls fall for look and money! Men are not alone in this world who fall for good looks and figures!!

French connection…

FrenchKiss

1. Have you ever noticed that how many French related cultural things that we have? French toast, French kiss, French encounter, French girl, French bread and French food!! Ok, you add into this list as you wish.

I am not going to talk about any of the above facts! There are many others who do that, except one important issue, every French kiss makes you to lose 27 cal. Energy according to research in US. However, as I promised I am going to talk about my cousin relationship with his French husband.[dedicated to N. for who will soon tie the knot with French connection]

About 4 weeks a go I was invited to visit them in other part of Switzerland which is considered a French area.
I arrived at their place by noon for my Persian lunch after almost 2 months and a pleasant afternoon conversation. Let me tell you a little about them.
My cousin is a specialist in emergency medicine and a medical Doctor who works a little more than 60% per week in a local hospital. She is in my opinion French more than Iranian. she speaks French and Persian fluently. However, he is more comfortable with French.
Her husband is a French computer engineer who is now a manager in one of reputable companies in Switzerland. Having said that they have 19 month old child. Add to these three a spacious, modern and newly built apartment that its rented for more than CHFr. 20000 per month! Why not buying a house, that is another story and is none of us businesses!:-)

Moving on, when I arrived after usual exchange of words! I was talking to my cousin got noticed, her husband tends to disappear and appear! I wondered what is going on, I realized, he loves to play computer game!
According to my cousin, before they get married he used to drive to south of France, get on a plane to spend just a short weekend with my cousin. However today, if you tell him, dear H., would you come out and go for a walk, 60% of the time he would say, let’s watch a movie or perhaps go to play a computer game!!
My cousin loves to ski and before they get married they used to go skiing. He has even promised, before marriage, to go at least one whole week skiing every year. But today, he says I have always hated skiing!! He then has told my cousin to go scuba diving instead. She goes and bought the whole equipment. Today, he says yeh, let’s do that but not that often!!
According to my cousin, when you get married many things tend to change! No matter what you are or were!!
So, in any case, since then I have been thinking! How bad I am going to be!!

2. I have been thinking what is expectations of female partner from male! I have been thinking...thinking...thinking! not much! just a few to name!
2.1. Not to unclean the washroom!
2.2. make the dinner!
2.3. listen to what she says carefully!
2.4. however, does not do what she says!
2.5. love her family and parents!
2.6. No matter what always under any circumstances even lie, love her!
2.7. tell her she looks wonderful no matter what!
2.8. Make love so often to her as she wishes!
2.9. your turn....:)