Sunday, June 26, 2005

Greetings from Switzerland

I am finally in Switzerland. The land of Chocolate, Watches and Banks plus high tech.
I have so much difficulty typing with Eurpean keyboard that it kills me.
unfortunetlely where I stay there is no internet connetion. That is why it is difficult for me to write.
for the past few days here the weather was so hot that it was almost unbearable. These dudes have no A\C since it consumes too much energy and it is no good for the environment. (I can't findexclaimation sign on this keyboard).
anyway, this is for now.
:)

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Iranian election and a paradox

So be it. I am guessing that I and people like me were not convincing enough!
Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani and Mr. Ahmadi Nejad were two candidates who are going to the second round. I think I can talk for myself. We deserve whatever we get.
My next writing won’t be in Tehran.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Live 8

It was in July 13 of 1985, I first saw the Live Aid band which was trying to gather money for Africa in Germany. I can vividly recall where I was in Germany when I watched this concert. I recall the highlights of "we are the World" or "Phil Collins" playing in England and US in one day by flying to Philadelphia from London in less than few hours.
Today, Bob Geldof once again is puting together a concert. This one is called Live 8. It is going to be held on July 2, 2005. If you look at the line up I think it Persuade you to watch the concert for sure!
I found this interesting that Pink Floyd Once again with all old members is gathering to perform in England for Live 8! BBC writes about this.
Here are some of the line up.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Sean Penn in Iran!

1. Good to know that no one reads my weblog anymore. This is a relief! So, no one leaves any comment, either!:-)

2. Monsieur Sean Penn was spotted last Friday in Iran for Friday Prayer!!
.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Iran Presidential election and why do we have to vote in my opinion

The following is my opinion on why I think we should vote in this coming presidential campaign in Iran. So, people are entitle to their opinions and I am, too.:-)

In less than 11 days Iranian government is holding its ninth presidential election. The number of candidates selected from original 1016 people are now 8. These eight people were given the green light by council of guardian, a body that oversees on many political and lawful issues in Iran to have no discrepancies to Islamic law and government rules. Whether they represent all different spectrum of ideas in Iran is not something that I am not here concern with. What I am concern with is the fact that we should vote so, this way we show to the world that we can practice democratic rules if we are given a chance.
The candidates are something that no other place to see them! In their campaign they act like they have never been in Iran for past 26 years not to mention they hold top positions in the government. If someone does not know these people s/he feels that these candidates are dudes from outer space! Or a foreign country!

The people who are currently involved and trying to take the position are as follows:

1. Mr. Mohsen Rezei , an ex-military person who was in charge of Islamic republic of Iran guards a militia group started to be a parallel entity along national Army. His son Ahmad flee to US a few years ago according to his interview because “he has been tried of repression and despotism directed on him and he wishes to wear freely whatever he wishes so. I think those who can read farsi can read more on him on the given site above and This one on BBC

2. Dr. Mahmood Ahmadi Nedjad A radical fellow who believes everything must follow Islamic rules and if we say that we are Islamic state that should be really implemented. He is currently Tehran Mayor. He is the one who closed down many cultural centers established during Ex-mayor of Tehran. He does look ugly!

3. Dr. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the ex-head of security forces in Iran, A person that was in charge when students demonstration crushed and were beaten by plain cloth militia. He is quite funny in his ads around the Tehran. You see a big sign with a 10 years old boy smiling and waving, written on the placard, Hi Dr.!! and other funny thing is that he has this big placard with many people in it but there is no women what so ever! and slogan says: Irani Irani you are champion!!
In his interviews you feel that he has never been in Iran and he has just arrived from a foreign country and he is going to fix everything for sure!

4. Mehdi Karroubi the ex-head of parliament, who named Ayatolah Ali khameni letter as a “state order” to stop any further discussion on bylaws and statuary rules related to mass media.

5. Ali Larijani the ex head of Iranian radio and television. He is born in Najaf a city in Iraq. So, to my understanding he can’t become Iran President since he is technically was not born here.
6. Mr. Hashemi Bahremani (Rafsanjani) I think has no need to be introduced he is known to everyone. What makes me wonder is he is still under international arrest inquiry but he wants to become president! By the way, where is his site!!

7. Mohsen Mehralizadeh ex-head of sports and Olympic committee in Iran. Who is quite unknown. I am not sure what is with this sports and Olympic committee whomever goes there loves to be part of presidential candidates in Iran. Like Mohsen Hashemi Taba.

8. Mostafa Moeen, Ex-head of research and higher education. A person who in my opinion does not have the charisma or any strong personality. But still on side of reform. He has started to establish a group under human rights body.

So, these are the candidates. Why do I think we should vote and we should vote for Moeen.
Because many of the above candidates belong to radical wing of the right spectrum. If any of them becomes president the entire virtual (I call it virtual because technically president has not much of power) government and state goes to the hand s of conservative.
I think if Moeen wins the following messages are shouted:
1. Iranians love to obtain democracy but not with another revolution or bloodshed.
2. Reform must be accomplished within Iran not from outside.
3. Finally, between no alternatives, Moeen is all right for the time being. Better will come later.
So, I think we should vote, because if we don’t they will pick someone for us. But this way we have said something.
I personally do not believe if 60% vote for Moeen then Hashemi becomes president once again!

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Suspension and Controlling Characteristic

1. Once again our beloved government of Iran has decided to block many sites for instance z8un or Iranian. . If anyone can provide me with solution to bypass this blocking problem please let me know. e-mail me please.

2. This guy black who used to sing in late 80's and early 90's has a nice song is called Wonderful Life.

Here I go out to sea again
The sunshine fills my hair
And dreams hang in the air
Gulls in the sky and in my blue eye
You know it feels unfair
There's magic everywhere

Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to run and hide
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life

The sun's in your eyes, the heat is in your hair
They seem to hate you
Because you're there
And I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy
Not stand here on my own

Look at me standing
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to run and hide
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life

And I need a friend, oh I need a friend
To make me happy
Not so alone

Look at me here
Here on my own again
Up straight in the sunshine

No need to run and hide
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to laugh and cry
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to run and hide
It's a wonderful, wonderful life
No need to run and hide
It's a wonderful, wonderful life


3. I heard the following story from a psychologist whose name is Dr.M. Dr. M. explained about a couple who came to see him about a problem that wife was claiming about. Wife was around 83 and man around 92.

“These couples came to see me, the man was quite slim with boney face who seemed to me that he had not eaten for ages! On his boney face he had this old fashioned glasses on. The guy seemed very down and depressed but delicate. As soon as they walked in to my office, woman started to say: “Dr. I suspect this guy is cheating on me!”. Dr. Asked ma’m would you tell me how did you come to this conclusion?

Ma’m: He teaches English and French to girl students and I see his students come in and flirt with him! They treat him with respect and bring him water and tea. They are quite kind to him. But I can see there is something going on. Apparently she goes on and on about how he and his students do things in inproper manner which was nothing sexual! Dr. M. Asks: So, have you seen them doing something sexual or intimate? She replies: No, but what is more needs to be seen, I can sense his relationship with his students, not to mention with neighbor’s wife!! At nights when I am sleep he goes to neighbors wife for full contact!
So, in the meanwhile the 92 years of age guy asks if his wife is finished with her speech, allows him a chance to talk. And he goes like this: Dr. I am 92 years of age, with such a ugly face and skinny figure. when I see myself in mirror, I wonder about myself and think of how ugly I am. I am so skinny when I stand in front of mirror naked I get ashamed of myself and wonder what happened to my proper figure. Not to mention that my penis can not be erected for ages not even with an industrial crane! I am sure if there are 10 men in this room, I am the last person to be picked by a woman in that room. My wife wouldn’t even pick me! I am not sure what my wife is suspecting from.
Dr. M. investigates the matter further and both patients go under full check up. Then Dr. M. realizes that the wife has Alzheimer plus controlling issue. So, he puts her under treatment. It is interesting that Dr. was saying patient who think they are quite well, have hard time to accept medication or take them. So, we usually tell them that these are important medication for your diabetics or prevents you from other problems.

Talking about controlling issue; today My mom and I walked out the house main door to get on a car. I saw our superintendent’s wife who was sweeping the floor. I said hi and she quietly said hi. All of the sudden my mom jumps in and asks if I have said Hi to her and goes even further asking her whether she has said hi to me or not! Then, I told my mom now I know where we, my sister and I have received the controlling problem from!

According to many psychologist controlling and suspicion are issues that many believe it is genetically involved with people. Some people do not control at all and some do! But what we have to do is to how the other persona who has been controlled feels!

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Donot let your lifeline go!

What a rain? It suddenly started to rain with wind and tunder storm. Nice whether outside.

Lifeline from A-ha:

one time
to know that it’s real
one time
to know how it feels
that’s all

one call
your voice on the phone
one place
a moment alone
that’s all

what do you see, what do you know?
one sign; what do we do?
just follow your lifeline through
what if it hurts, what then?
one sign, what do you say?
don’t throw your lifelines away

one time
just once in my life
yeah one time
to know it can happen twice

one shot
of a clear blue sky
one look
I see no reasons why
we can’t

one chance
to go back to the point where everything starts
one chance
to keep it together when things fall apart

just one sign
to make us believe it’s true

what do you see, where do we go
one sign; how do we grow?
by letting your lifelines show
what if we do, what then?
one sign- how will I know?
don’t let your lifeline go

you’re letting your lifeline go
don’t let your lifeline go

Monday, May 23, 2005

An Alienated feeling!

Watching Faramarz Asef (an Iranian singer living in LA) interviewed by Alireza Amirghasemi (A showman with network known as Tapesh) kinda reminded me that things will never change in Iran!

According to Faramarz Asef; he used to be a sportsman in track and field. He has Iran national record for triple jump which has not yet been broken after 31 years!!
He explained that when in 1974 he broke the outdoor record for triple jump, he was simply awarded a medal and was left alone. He then received scholarships from two American universities and moved to States to study further, if I am not mistaken, architecture.

He talked about after graduation he worked as a taxi driver and other simple jobs and then starting to sing because of his love for audience. More over, I recalled on this expression that “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”!

About 2.5 years ago I came back to Iran with so much enthusiastic feelings to use my expertise in this country. I worked hard, I gave lectures to universities to get involved with them and work in biomedical area the area of my passion. At the same time to support myself I started to work as a mechanical engineer with low income.

I wonder that after all these 2 years I see no vivid hope in this system it is totally corrupted and I see no chance to improve since I have no connection and pile of money!

It is surprising that I receive scholarships from foreign universities and companies to study biomedical. They provide all kind of facility for me to live there. I am going to leave this country with such a sorrow at my heart but at the same time happiness.

This country does not deserve to get developed. The current status quote is appropriate for us. Because we still have long way to go when it comes to learning how to interact with each other, providing opportunity, not to mention living in harmony.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

Iran Presidential Campaign, a Satire?

I am not going to get political. This link says it all.

No comment!!, just see it for yourself!

Thursday, May 19, 2005

The weather in Tehran in Month of Ordibeheshet

I have traveled through many counties in different continents and spend many times in the cities there. However, I have rarely or perhaps not seen any city that may have a lovely and joyful weather similar to month of Ordibehesht (I.e. equal to March and May) in Tehran.
The freshness, breeze, light rain and light pleasant sun beam is indescribable.

Ordi-Beheshet is really a heavenly (Behesht=heaven in Persian) month with heavenly weather.

I highly recommend that whomever wants to pay a visit to Tehran must choose this time of the year.

Although the song does not entirely reflect the weather in Ordibehesht, but I for some reason I recalled this song from English group called crowded House . The song is known as: Four seasons in one day. I think the music of this song is great.

Four seasons in one day
Lying in the depths of your imagination
Worlds above and worlds below
The sun shines on the black clouds
Hanging over the domain
Even when you're feeling warm
The temperature could drop away
Like four seasons in one day

Smiling as the shit comes down
You can tell a man from what he has to say
Everything gets turned around
And I will risk my neck again

You can take me where you will
Up the creek and through the mill
Like all the things you can't explain
Four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

It doesn't pay to make predictions
Sleeping on an unmade bed
Finding out wherever there is comfort
There is pain
Only one step away
Like four seasons in one day

Monday, May 16, 2005

A journey to Auto-mechanique in Tehran

Today, I took our car to Auto-maechanique in Resaalat, right before Resaalat Square from west. I got up around 6 am, got ready and got in front of the place around 7:15 am. The store was supposed to be open at 8:00. After usual browse by mechanic and my request for mechanical look up. I got a receipt and left the automaechanique to go back home.
It all start here. I wanted to get to Tajrish square. So, I walked about 2 minutes west to see a bus stop. Looking at the buses passing by, many of them have no sign written on them to indicate where they are heading! A few buses show that the final destination is Vanak or Arjantin Squares. So, I decided to ask the old man in the ticket booth to whether there is buses going to Seyed Khandan.
Me: Hi there, how can I get to Seyed Khandan?
Ticket man: what do you want? … no buses go there!
Me: are you sure?
Ticket man: I am sure.
Me: So, is Resaalat square towards west or east? And shall I find a cap or transportation talking me to the seyed khandan.
Ticket man: (looks at me with wide eyes) where the heck are you from?
Me: from a small city a village in North!!
Ticket man: (with avidness) walk east and you will see resaalat square. By the way, why don’t you take a mini-bus to Seyed khandan? They are tons of them here taking you there.
I thanked the guy and walked away to stand on the street for mini-bus or get a taxi to Seyed khandan.

I waited about 5 to 10 minutes. Lots of private cars pass by getting close to me to hear I tell them if they are going to Seyed khandan. No luck, most of them stop for the women beside me but telling me they are not going to Seyed khandan! In the mean while, I see no mini-bus.

I decided to walk to Resaalat sqaure. I walked about 10 mintues. See a security guard on the street. Asked him about buses going to Seyed khandan. He says yes all buses pass through Seyed khandan. Whomever says they do not. He is lying!!
I walked back to that ticket man asking him to sell me a bus ticket.
Me: Sir, would you give me 5 tickets?
Ticket man: where the heck were you, you have been here for so long, didn’t ask me for a ticket. No, I don’t have any. Get out of here.
Then he closes his booth door and I decided to walk towads west until next bus stop so, get a ticket and get on a bus as well.
What I have experienced here is called unfriendly city and unfriendly customer service! Something many Iranians have not learned. It is so unfortunate to see that We are known for our friendly and hospitality. But truthfully, many of us are looking for free money not a money that we deserve. Plus, city has these centers or departments known as “Beautifying City” (Sazmane Ziba sazi). What the heck do they do? Not inspecting buses? Buses with out clear designation for the route. It is ridicules.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Tehran International Book fair !

I am back with my critical view of the recent event in Tehran. I think I am born to criticize until things get to an appropriate condition!

Wednesday morning I went to 18th international Book fair in usual spot of it at Tehran international convention centre.

I am going to write about my observations in point form.

1. Too many attendee were there for sack of being there or hanging out with gf/bf or because they were there on behalf of their work, university or school. I think I should sympathize with those young people who have no where to hang out!

2. What is with many Iranian men? Please wash your shirts! Or take a shower! I could not get to different booths to browse the books situated on the shelves, due to the fact that those country men of mine stink! The smell was from their body and shirts because of so much perspiration. I have to admit that detergents and water are expensive in Iran!!

3. Why do we provide our best sit in our convention center to foreigners? The area that reprehensive from Europeans were there was well conditioned; organized and the entry and exit doors were distinguished and were reasonably monitored . However, where Iranian publishers were located was no air conditioned air. The entry and exit doors were wide open. It was no order what so ever in regard of booths or type of books they were presenting.

4. Are not we want to become part of global economy? I suppose not, there were booths selling copyrit violation (pirate) software.

5. I found that foreigners have learned that many of us do not care about books, so, many books were outdated. But they were selling them with high prices!

6. Interesting enough there were books about gay, lesbians and queers in foreign publishers!
7. Some of the Iranian publishers were family oriented! I give an example. Mr. Atoalah Mohajerani (Ex. Ministery of Islamic guidance and culture) and his honorable wife, Mrs. Jamileh kaddivar have a publisher which I think was called like Mehr or something close to that name. They had this rented area which was about 15 square meter. Guess how man books from different authors they had? None! Zero!
All they had was books written by Mr. Mohajerani, edited by his wife and then published or books written by Mrs. Kadivar and was edited by her husband and published by this joint & family venture!! This was not the only booth doing so, there were many from high level clergies and others. But all somehow related to politics I suppose.

8. Why cannot we simply have reasonable public transportation faculties, situated at a designated area? Why so many mini-buses must park right at North entry door on the bridge where pedestrians are walking to get out or in to fair! Why all these mini buses blow not completely combusted gasoline in to the air!

9. I wonder Tehran’s Mayor was so critical of Tehran’s government for not transferring the convention center out of city and generating a monster type traffic all around its current area which is considered resident ional area. Now he is so busy with his presidentional campaign. And the way it looks that those talks never took place! All and all, I could not see any positive point except the foreign publishers in this current book fair.

Monday, May 09, 2005

Controversial statement!…what is love anyway!?

Ok, as I promised I am back to write about a controversial topic. A topic all young ladies love to hear!
And that is in my very strong opinion all women should be wedded before turning 26 years of age!!! There is no argument. I believe that is very important issue and worth to be bonded in any way possible. So, ladies hurry up, it is getting late. Tic tac toe, tic tac toe…I hear the clock…The biological clock is ticking like there is no tomorrow!!

Moving on, I am going to share an interesting article with you that is written By Stephen B. Levine in a reputable journal. The story goes like this:
…
Walking in science library of university of Toronto known as Gerstein library. I was looking for Journal of Biomedical Engineering to be exposed to the most recent work of art of the colleagues who produce papers like they have some kind of the printing machine! Walking in the aisles of the Journals and magazines where they are alphabetically ordered, this Journal cut my eyes. The name of the journal was “Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy”. I could not resist I had to grab it and look at it. I took the deliberately of grabbing the issue which was located on the top of the stack. Very similar to the method that we open a “Hafez Fal” I opened up the magazine and started to read that same page.
To my surprise the article is called “what is love anyway?” and written by Stephn B. Levine.
I have been asking myself this questions for past many years and tried to find an answer for it, so I could first of all, convince myself of real love and secondly, to show off to others about this knowledge of mine!

I always wondered about the fact that when a man sees a voluptuous woman on the street, what really happens? And why we would like to get to know her. Do men really love that woman? Is this called love at first site? According to Levine the study of love notion is important to clinicians because: “1. Unhappiness in love predisposes to sexual concerns; 2. Sexual concerns interfere with the processes of loving and being loved; 3. People’s expectations for feeling and receiving love and experiencing satisfying sex are disappointed through a myriad of avenues; 4. Demoralization about love precedes the onset of many psychiatric symptoms.”
So, as I said this is on high priority and needs major discussion.
Mr. Levine continues in his essay: “The ubiquitous assumption that love is a feeling is a dangerous simplification. Too many people spend their lives waiting to have what they expect is the pure feeling.”
He suggested that we are not indicating a discrete feeling when we tell anyone that we love him or her.
The ordinary use of this verb “love” connotes at least two feelings: “pleasure and interest”.
Volia, going back to example that I talked about. You see a opposite sex (could be the same sex, too for those with gay tendency) on the street. You start to have interest in him/her! And as soon as you approach him/her, then you realize that either you get pleasure from her/him or you receive unpleasant waves! That is why in my opinion many people just fall in love as soon as they see a person and soon they change their minds. Mr. Levine continues: “while all humans can experience simple feeling of sadness, fear, guilt, anger, sexual arousal, defiance, and shame, each of these feelings is located somewhere on a continuum (for those engineers, this is different from tensor and continuum math, Alireza) of intensity. The continuum of pleasure might be said to begin with pleasantness and move up to an excited state of exhilaration. Interest, however, ranges from a mild curiosity to preoccupying fascination.
So, when somebody tells you, especially, in western counties you are an interesting human being. It has several meanings, first: I am curious of you. You are fascinating me. Hey, let’s get to know each other!

In couple hood era love is expected to combine mutual respect, behavioral reliability, enjoyment of one another, sexual fertility, psychological intimacy, sexual pleasure, and a comfortable balance of individuality and couple hood. This in turn is an ambition to obtain many characteristics that we are dreamt for.
According to Levine, love is a mental struggle. “The commitment must be managed. The patient’s original emotions of love were stimulated by idealized version of the partner that was internalized early in their relationship. The committed person at times feels trapped because he or she does not want to feel committed to the difficult partner who is sulking upstairs. Our discovery of our partner’s limitations for us gradually attenuates our idealization. We think of our earlier appraisals of the partner as youthful and naïve. Even so, disappointment does not quickly cancel our commitment because of our ambition to love, our obligation to live through bad moments, our ability to love the idealized version of the partner, and our moral commitments to raising our children. At any given moment, we may buffer our disappointment by focusing on an array of competing life demands (e.g. I have children to raise), defense mechanisms (e.g., I keep telling myself that no partner is ideal) and self-management techniques (e.g. take a deep breath and focus on your work). We tell ourselves that partner are good enough. The private mental struggle to maintain cooperative kind behaviors is a dynamic process with fluctuations in all people-even the happily married. The famous sentence, “I love my partner but I am not in love with him(her),” means, “although I am still committed, I have lost my ability to idealize my partner”.
I think I have got my answer about many questions which were originally raised in my mind. If you recall I wrote once I wonder about many couples who are married and men in general after a few years start to claim or tease his partner about would have been better if I had not got married! I think above paragraph explains why!
So, I think this is enough for now, since I make you readers bored. So, if I feel more needed I try to convey more about this interesting (not that interesting, you know what I mean!!) topic. :-)

Monday, April 25, 2005

Sad...

GHaleh Hassan khan is an area south west of Tehran.( please correct me if I am wrong).
It is so sad to see such sceneries still existing in Tehran. With so much money Iran has...
See Pictuires
Sad:-/

Saturday, April 23, 2005

couple of stories worth to read

1. Nice that almost no one, wrote anything about Earth day in their weblog! (Not Even
Z8un I am quite impressed with this generation becasue WE LOVE OUR environment!!;-)

2. Interesting commentary on new Iranian music and those as we know 6/8 weight tone!
...Ready? Dare I say it? Ah, fuck it, I am sick of 6/8. What was a hot bouncy beat in '78 has steadily become a drill straight into my brain, and I'm sorry but I just can't take it anymore! When are we going to be honest with the outmoded LA machine, the un-namables regurgitating the crap musical diarrhea they force us to buy?
read the
rest here.

3. Persian Romance is a funny story about what else Persian Romance!!
Asgar nodded conspiratorially and made his way to the back of the restaurant. Ali watched Asgar walk towards the back of the restaurant and was filled with loathing and contempt. Olga should be his, he was the one who paid her and helped her with her English. Asgar wouldn't have even have met Olga if he hadn't taken him along to the Polish community centre to recruit staff. He would find a way to make Olga his no matter what the cost. He would prove to her that he was more of a man then Asgar. Just as his blood was near boiling point, Najeeb, the Afghani waiter, approached him.