One year...

...that's how old this blog is! Somewhere in the past month, this blog turned one year old! I can't believe I survived this long... thought I'd be running out of ideas in a month. Well, let's face it, I kind of did... and that was where the movie reviews came to rescue!!!

I do like it here... it's a nice way of letting your (sometimes destructive) feelings out! I still haven't found a clear direction for this blog though... can't seem to focus on one issue for too long... well, I guess that's what daydreamers are supposed to do!

As for the movies, I just watched Ocean's twelve. I had heard some very mixed opinions about it... as it turned out, I actually liked the movie! Ok, I agree it was slow, but that was the whole point. The idea was to focus not on the "mission" but on the people this time, at least that's what I thought. Giving some tangible earthly features to our perfect heroes made them more real and easier to like. Anyway, I thought it was a smart move from the director, cause there was no way in hell anyone could ever top Ocean's eleven in a sequel.


Can't believe the term is almost over and I have no clue what I'm supposed to be doing for my PhD! I'm going be here for a LONG time...

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نفس باد صبا...

باز هم یه عید دیگه... باز هم هفت سین و لحظه سال تحویل دور از خونه... امروز داشتیم با یکی از دوستان میگفتیم که خارج از ایران جطور همه چی کوفتت می شه! یعنی لحظه سال تحویل حتما من گریه ام می گیره! اما امسال احساس کردم که یه سری ادمهایی هم اینجا هستن که من کاملا الان دوستشون دارم و اونهان که زندگی کردن اینجا رو برای من لذت بخش کردن... دیگه کم کم می تونم بگم که اینجا هم برای خودم یه اجتماع کوچیک صمیمی دارم و اینه که مهمه...

خوبی نوروز اینه که یه دور یاد همه آدمهایی که می شناسی میفتی که بهشون تلفن یاایمیل بزنی... من هم سعی خودم رو میکنم که ایمیل همگانی نزنم و حداقل یه مینیمم customization داشته باشم! امروز تقریبا به همه کسایی که باهاشون در ارتباط هستم و حتی بعضیها که خیلی وقته ازشون بی خبرم ایمیل زدم... حس خیلی خوبیه!
عید رو دوست دارم با همه حس هایی که بهم می ده . اگه اهل شعر بودم حالا یه بیت شعر می نوشتم اینجا... اما فقط میگم که نوروز مبارک.

شاهین رو چک کنید که بالاخره باز نوشته و مثل همیشه عالی.

این هم سفره هفت سین امسال توی دانشگاه:

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My midnight post

I'm sitting here, half past midnight, replying to an email from my eX about a Begonia plant... maybe it's a sign of desperation when he emails me after all this time for such a silly matter!? I don't know and honestly I don't have time to care... have to be up in less than 8 hours to meet with Tom (my supervisor) and try to run an LP using MS Access. Now, THAT, is worth worrying about, cause I have no idea how you would use Access for optimization purposes!

Anyway, just finished the first season of Grey's Anatomy... it's a shame the second season is not out yet. I think I have a thing for TV series... they make you feel closer to the characters.

Oh, and it's "4shanbe Soori"... might head out to Wreck beach and light a fire with a couple of friends... a lot closer than West Vancouver for sure!... I have kind of ignored this event since I left Iran... never have been a big fan of jump-over-the-fire idea and all the explosive thingies were just too much too handle...kind of miss it now though, would be nice to have it this year. We'll see I guess.

I'm really beginning to consider a new carrier path: becoming a DJ! I mean, it's been like the 100th time someone has asked for my songs/ DJ-ship skills(cut me some slack here! I have to invent words, my brain is half asleep already!)... today this girl who's a grad student too asked me for some songs I played at one of the "lab socials' (a pathetic excuse for grad students/ faculty to get together and drink) and I'm supposed to burn a CD for her! I mean I could at least charge people for giving them my music, don't you think? itunes is charging $0.99/song, I should be fine with 15c I think...

Ok, now I REALLY have to go to bed before I post something I'd regret tomorrow morning... so to everyone, good night and good luck... (I know it's a really cheesy line and Jon Stewart has already used it... but I like it!)

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High fever and "Hazyoonat"

I'm sick! and life sucks when you're sick... even if you spend a whole weekend doing nothing except for watching TV. I have cough and congestion and am not showing any sign of improvement.

There are however some things I still enjoy... like watching the Oscars! I really thought having Jon Stewart hosting it was a big step forward compared to recent years. Not that he could ever beat Billy Crystal! Anyway, it was a good event I thought and I ended up watching "Crash" right after... it definitely deserved to be the best picture of the year.

Hmmm, I was thinking the other day that my supervisor had already had his kids when he was my age. Not only I don't have any kids, but I'm not even married, and not only I'm not married, but I'm not even in a relationship, and not only I'm not in a relationship, I'm not even REMOTELY interested in ANYONE around me... I mean, there's something potentially very wrong with me!... OR I just have a fever!

BTW, we started a book club with some friends of mine and are reading "Lolita" as our first novel to discuss... I started it tonight and I must confess that after three years of reading only fantasy books, it was not easy to understand at first... but as I progress through the story it is getting a lot smoother... there are a lot of things to discuss in our meeting for sure!

I'm not making any sense here, but what the heck... I've been watching the first season of Grey's Anatomy and am really liking it... these interns are really good subjects for TV series, don't you think?

Enough nonesense for now, gotta go...

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I'm back!

It's been two weeks now... I'm starting to get used to my new life style! Not worrying about my defense every single second... and I've actually started going to the gym again! feels good!

I've also had my birthday last week and had one of those house parties that end up in singing Persian folk songs! It was fun...

Nazly and I have been watching the Olympics figure skating competitions and I must say it's pretty exciting... there was this one night when the pairs were competing for their complementary dance and OH MY GOD, they kept falling left and right... I mean, it was ridiculous, couldn't believe it! Tomorrow night is the competition for women's free skating and that should be nice too... I so wanna see if Russia wins the gold or the U.S.

I should get back to reading novels, that way I'll have something to write about!

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After...

It's all over now... I'm actually breathing... and I do have my Master's degree now!

The defense went a lot better than what I had expected... the examining committee didn't kill me, although they were sometimes tough. And afterwards my supervisor actually said that I did well! yaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy...

And the best part was when we went out for drinking and dinner later and people were buying me shots and stuff... that was cool...hmmmmm, at least from what I remember!

I did miss a new episode of LOST however, but i'll download it or something. And there was the Grammy's and I guess I have to say: "Go U2" ?!

Here are some pictures of the historical event! Enjoy!


Saba, after the defense:


Saba and Nazly, packing after the defense:


Saba and Taraneh (M.A.Sc. supervisor):


Brendan, Steve, Shora, Saba, and Nazly:


Tom (PhD supervisor), Saba and James:

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Help...

I never had the chance to read that novel: " the five people you meet in heaven"... but I'm sure those people were not my examining committee for my defense! .... or maybe they were?! hmmmm... that way it should have been "hell" instead...

Anyway, wish me luck and I'll keep you posted on how things are later...

PS- it's tomorrow BTW!

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A quiet little town, not far from here...

I just finished watching Dogville and had to write about it because I can't forgive myself for not watching it earlier. You wanna see the darkest sides of human nature? You wanna know the extremes people can go to when you allow them? watch Dogville... if you're too optimistic about the true nature of mankind, this movie makes you reconsider for sure...

Not that it specifically tries to be pessimistic, but it touches those far unreachable corners of your soul and you instantly know that it can all be happening in the real world... the question is how or if you prevent it from happening.

there's a dialogue in the movie that goes somehow like this [not exactly though]:

- these people are doing the best they can, under very hard circumstances.
- yeah... but is their best, good enough for you?

And I guess that's something people should really consider when they're trying to just close their eyes on all the problems and say: "well, these people don't understand any better... let them be". Nope! you have to help them understand because you should have your own standards. Of course, I wouldn't exactly follow the example of the movie to solve the problems... but still, you have to let people take some responsibility at least.

You can even oversee the fact that Nicole Kidman is acting in this movie... which BTW, was the reason why I did not want to watch it all this time.

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Procrastination... again

You see, sometimes when you have a million things to do, there is a sudden urge to blog and that's why I'm writing these right now...

I should be preparing my defense presentation - which is in 10 days, BTW! - and can't seem to concentrate at all... as a matter of fact, I've been doing everything else just to avoid the main task.

so I'm guessing by the end of this week, I'll have no more dirty clothes, my room will be shining, my files are going to be well-organized, and in summary, I'll be the perfect girl - without a presentation...

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And a movie post!

Ha ha! You thought I had forgotten about the movies, right? No way! Just wanted to give you a break! I watched a lot of movies but can't really remember them all or write about them, however, there were three that I'd like to mention.

The first one was of course the great fantasy novel from my childhood, turned into a movie, the lion, the witch and the wardrobe. I absolutely loved it. Although I can see why some people may not like it at all. You need to have lived with the dream of opening your wardrobe one day and find Narnia on the other side and get to play with Lucy and Edmund (cause Peter and Susan are obviously older and won't play with you anyway!)... I went and watched it on the same day I got back from Iran and considering the fact that I was jet-lagged and tired, the movie kept me watching pretty well ... except for occasional moments that I really really had to close my eyes... only for a couple of seconds though! Anyway, if you haven't read the book (and you can't start now because you need to be a kid to enjoy it!) wait till it's out on DVD.


The next one was the most controversial movie of 2005, the one and only Brokeback mountains. It tells the story of two young cowboys that spend a summer together in 1963 and fall in love. They keep an affair going on for almost twenty years and face major challenges along the way. I liked the movie and found the story very touching, but the Golden Globe for best picture!? Not really! And it could have been a lot shorter... But I have to admit that the actors were AMAZING! I mean, Gosh! just thinking that they were not gay in the real world made you wanna hand them the Oscar! It's worth watching for sure, but if you get offended by guys making out/making love (although the sleeping together part is not really that graphic) you should probably stay away from it.


And finally, I watched Frida again last night on DVD. I had watched it three years ago and last night it felt like I was watching it for the first time. This movie is absolutely amazing, the cinamtography, the acting, the music...Oh the music is extraordinary I think. Frida is the story of Frida Kahlo and his husband, two famous Mexican artists (painters). However, it somehow is more than just a biography... again, I absolutely recommend it for anyone above the age of 18!

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داستان همیشگی بعد ایران رفتن

هر کاری می کنم توی کتم نمیره!!! حالا هر کسی هر چی می گه بگه... میدونم که 25 سالمه (البته تقریبا!) و تقریبا دو ساله که هیچ رابطه بیشتر از دو-سه هفته با کسی نداشتم... میدونم که وقتشه یه کم جدی تر به آینده(غیر کاری) فکر کنم و ببینم که واقعا چه کار می خوام بکنم... میدونم که شاهزاده و اسب سفید و هری پاتر و آقای دارسی فقط تو قصه ها هستن و جانی دپ هم عجالتا متاهله!!! ... اما واقعا نمیتونم فکر کنم که یکی پسرعمه شوهر خواهرش رو به من معرفی کنه و من بعدا تصمیم بگیرم که حالا آیا طرف برای زندگی خوبه یا نه!

بابا مگه من چند دفعه قراره عروسی کنم ؟ (امیدوارم که یه بار بیشتر نباشه واقعا) واقعا خجالت آوره که مامان بابات با عشق عروسی کرده باشن بعد خوت بری فقط "منطقی" بازی در آری... ترجیحا تا موقعی که خیلی درمونده نشم (همون deseperate خودمون) نمیخوام تسلیم بشم... هیجانش بیشتره!

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I'm here!

Ok So I’m back! And yes, it’s been two weeks now!

It’s just so hard to get back into the routine of blogging again. I even stopped reading other blogs to stop the feeling of guilt.

My trip turned out to be a lot better than I had expected. I got to see so many people, it was amazing… A lot of my friends had left the country, but again, a lot of them were still there… you see, the good thing about your homeland is that you had made so many good friends during the years that you can always find someone to talk to or do stuff with… of course, this doesn’t mean I didn’t miss the others…

Unfortunately, although I really wanted to, couldn’t go see any movies or plays… so I can’t really comment on that. The city was super crowded/polluted and going out in the streets did not seem like a good idea at all, unless you really really really needed to do it. Drivers are all going mad in my opinion… but well, who’s not?!

I couldn’t see the social impact of the reign of our new president. Guess he’s too busy fixing the world’s problems!!! Of course, this could all be a part of a bigger plan that I have no idea of… so I can’t really comment on that either!

I was amazed by how pretty all the girls looked… they’re all pretty well dressed and done up all the time and have fit bodies… god knows I don’t seem to see anyone nearly that well-dressed here in Vancouver… (I’m still straight, by the way!). And they seem to have this magical energy that keeps them going 24/7, they go to school/work, they are all studying some extra material on the side - usually a third language – and they party like crazy. I couldn’t keep up with them and I wasn’t even working! Way to go guys!

I’m not sure what else to write about Iran… you know how it is… it’s just like time out of this world… you feel like you’ve never left and at the same time, everything is changing (especially the highways! God, I couldn’t go anywhere without first checking to see if the street was still there or was it wiped out to make room for some giant highway!).

(This is how polluted tehran was, see any mountains?)




BTW, LOST rocks!

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Back to dial-up!

So… I’m here at last! Both happy (to see everyone I had missed so much) and disappointed (to see the crazy situation here, pollution and the fact that no one seems to care!). The internet connection is slower than I remember and I admire all the bloggers inside Iran for still posting stuff! (I know I’m being too KHAREJI here, but honestly, can’t remember how I checked my emails before).

Anyway, that’d be the reason I won’t be posting much during the next month. I’ll do my best though.

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Norton Systemworks 2006 = Crap!

Boys and girls, don't try this at home!

I spent the last 4:30 hours trying to install the freakin' Norton System works 2006 and finally got it to work half an hour ago... I can't believe that I did not read the reviews before buying the product. My previous subscription (from a pirated CD of course) was running out in 7 days, so I decided it was a good time to be a part of the legal software installation campaign and bought NSW2006. But was I crazy or what not looking at all the horrible reviews.

Everytime I started the installation process, I had to wait an hour before receiving an error message saying that I had too many applications running in the background. Finally, after the third time I went online (with another computer because I was afraid I'd get infected!) and realized that this stupid Norton GoBack feature was what's causing all the trouble and Symantec was fully aware of the problem. I don't know why they don't just put it in the user manual. Anyway, the solution was apparently to just not install the GoBack feature which makes it useless to have it in the package in the first place.

Akheish, now I feel better... bad bad Symantec!

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Ray

Following my movie marathon this week, I watched Ray tonight. Maybe it was me, but I felt a great similarity between the story of Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. How they were burdened by a sad memory from their childhood, got famous all of a sudden and started a "life on the road" and how their family life was affected by their fame.

And this thing with drugs... I mean are all of the great artists addicted or what? Makes me wonder if dope is actually helping them!

Jamie Fox was more than great and the musical performances made you tap your feet all through the movie...

It's amazing how music can touch people like this... bless you, all musicians out there, you're saving our souls!

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Walk the line

A must see! was awesome... Go watch it NOW! Loved the music...been downloading stuff since I got back!

The movie is covering a few years of Johnny Cash's life when he met June Carter and finally married her. Both actors were amazing! The prison concert scene was one of my favorites. The movie paid its dues to Bob Dyaln too, playing one of his songs in the background in one of the scenes and also "it ain't me babe" song that Johnny and June performed on stage. But the quote of the movie was probably this: "the world has changed...Dylan's gone electric..."!!

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First Snow of the year!

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!

The first snow of the year is here in Vancouver and it feels just lovely... Christmas is in the air... I absolutely love this time of the year, reminds me of the all the excitement before "eid" in Iran...

On a side note which is totally in a different mood: have you guys (outside Iran) watched the Prison Break TV series! Oh my God! I watched the last three episodes of this season and thought it was pretty good... next season starts in January I think! Don't miss it...

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Immigration... starting anew?

I have chosen to leave my homeland behind and start a new life in another country, two continents away from mine... I am a student; therefore, on paper at least, I'm not considered an immigrant. Does it make a difference though? I am facing the same challenges, if not more, as immigrants everyday. I am adopting to new rules everyday, just like others.

Based on my experience in the past two years, I've found that, in a very broad sense, immigrants can be divided into two groups: one group that is open to the options and opportunities that their new life offers them and one group that still hang on to their past and the life they , supposedly, left behind.

I used the word "chosen" in the first sentence for a reason... no one MADE me come here and study, I HAD THE OPTION. I made a compromise, all the good memories and familiar things in return for something better - in my opinion. If I try to hang on to every little thing that is a representative of the old days, how can I cease the new opportunities? I would end up grieving for things that, most probably, wouldn't make me happy, even if I had them.

I came to a new country that had an-already-working-system and I started enjoying it right away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is the ultimate utopia. All I'm saying is that this system would work perfectly without me... it is true that I am adding value to the existing system, but someone else could do the same if I had chosen not to come here. The price I pay - being lonely, homesick, and known as an "immigrant" for many many years to come - is reasonable for what I get in return. I could have stayed where I was and could have tried to make it a better place to live and work in. I preferred to start in a system that was already set up by others for me. I think it's rather absurd to expect the system/society to let me act according to ALL of my old values and habits. Don't you think that, perhaps, those values/habits were somewhat responsible for the way my country has turned out to be today?

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North Country

During the past few days I've been watching movie after movie after ballet after movie, it's just crazy! I've gone totally out of control!

I think I should try to write about something else for a change, but it's just impossible when all I can think about are the great movies I've watched recently. I guess I can turn movie posts into discussions... for example the last movie I watched, North Country, was not just a well-made movie... for me, it was a proof of how everything we take for granted today, has been fought for.

The movie is based on the story of Lois Jenson, the woman who filed the first class-action law suit for sexual harassment against Eveleth mines in Minnesota. She was among the first female miners and, along with other women in the mine, was subject to harsh treatments from her male coworkers. What I found amazing about this case, was the fact that it only happened 15 years ago and the actual verdict was issued several years later. Today, everyone (at least in the Western world) is super cautious about anything that might be interpreted as sexual harassment. This proves that if people stand up for their rights and unite against a wrong deed, they may actually live to see the huge difference they made to the world; something that we, as Iranians or female Iranians at least, need to understand. If we have all these discriminations against women in Iran, it's because, usually, we don't believe that we have the power to change things. I'm not saying that the justice system in Iran is exactly going to help women to get their rights easily, but there must be a way and once we find it, the results will certainly be astonishing.

If you're a woman you should watch North Country and if you are a man...you need to watch it even more!

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

This morning, I woke up, had breakfast and headed to the movie theatre to watch the new Harry Potter movie at noon! and boy, did I enjoy it!

It was everything I expected... of course a lot of the side stories from the book were not included, which made total sense... the movie was already above two hours, although I didn't even notice the time!

The special effects were amazing and they just felt very natural, since you'd expect weird things in a magical world anyway. I just can't stop thinking about the movie... Oh yeah, and the greatest news was Lord Voldemort's actor... I agree 100% with Ralph Fiennes, great choice!

Anyway, go watch it... you'll join the gang.

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Carmina Burana

"Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images"

This was the actual subtitle that Carl Orff chose for his cantata in 1937! A piece that is most commonly referred to by "Carmina Burana" today.

I went to see Carmina Burana's ballet, directed by John Alleyne, this evening and was stunned! The wave of passion coming from the stage just knocked me over! The music was performed by Vancouver's Chamber Choir and was absolutely perfect!

The name comes after a monastery from which the poems were originally found. The lyrics were the work of medieval poets, monks and minstrels and, surprisingly, were mostly secular... Carl Orff arranged his cantata based on these lyrics and, needless to say, achieved a huge success.

Apart from the great music, dancers showed a great deal of emotion too... you could literally feel the lust and desire...a truly unforgettable performance!

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Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day it's Cinderelly...

I know this is going to sound stupid, but I watched Disney's Cinderella twice in the past week. It was the first Disney animation I watched (and can you believe they actually made it in 1950!) when I was a kid and watching it again brought me a world of memories. Of course, I had watched the translated version which was equally great, if not better than the English version! I had watched it so many times that I ended up memorizing almost every single dialogue... It was a blast watching it again... loved the mice dialogues and songs!

On the contrary, couldn't get myself to finish watching Team America: the world police... was it really lame or is it just me? I absolutely loved South Park episodes and the movie, but couldn't find this movie funny at all! Maybe I'll finish watching it later and then make a final comment about it!

If you're wondering what happened to my thesis, the answer is: "not much"! Apparently one of my committee members is not going to be able to finish reading it in time, so I might have to actually wait to defend in February! How ridiculous is it to write your thesis in October and defend next February?

* Update: I finished watching Team America, still think it could have been way better. I have to admit that I liked the "Pearl Harbor sucks" song though!

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Live and let die (?)

Tonight I watched Mar adentro (the sea inside) and cried. Yeah! I'm one of those people who cry when seeing sad movies... sounds childish, I know!

The movie was the true story of Ramon Sampedro, a Spanish man who fought 29 years for his right to "die with dignity"...you can imagine what kind of a movie it was I guess. I have to mention that it was very well made with strong acting and great cinematography.

It kind of makes you wonder if life is a "right or an obligation" - as Ramon asks in the movie. What would I wanna do if I ever end up on a bed and know I'll never be able to get up again and live a normal life? I'm not sure if I'll be strong enough to go on living, nor will I be brave enough to end my life! It's going to be hell on earth, I assume. I can only hope that day never comes...

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There's something wrong when...

... you go out with the class you're TAing to a pub crawl, end up in a club and dance the night away.

There's something more wrong when they tell you the day after that you're their "favorite" TA... did you have too many Tequila shots and can't remember what happened?

But the funny thing is when they ask you to go out drinking with them again the week after!...hmmmm, yeah, don't think it's gonna happen!

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Sharif Alumni... nostalgy?

Just got back from the second bi-annual reunion of Sharif University of Technology Association, (Western Canada's chapter)... it was at this nice Italian restaurant in Downtown Vancouver and was relatively well attended!

I remembered the first re-union, more than two years ago, when I had just arrived in Vancouver and seeing all these people, talking about the school I had just left, didn't make any sense... now I know that you actually CAN miss Sharif - as unlikely that it seemed at times - especially when you're surrounded by people that were all there, at some point in time. They keep referring to places you know - or people, if they are not 40 years older than you! - and it just makes you feel nostalgic! I felt so nostalgic that I even nominated myself for the board of directors - and of course, didn't get elected! Honestly, can you believe that? I thought it was just a matter of nominating yourself, then you're automatically in! :)

Anyway, just wanted to say hi to all of my Sharif-pals here, especially class of 77 and especially the industrial engineering people! HI!

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Almost there!

Do you know the feeling after a difficult exam, or after handing in your term assignment, or...handing in your thesis??? that's exactly how I feel now!

today I submitted my draft to my supervisory committee... now all I have to do is to sit around for them to give me their comments and then hopefully defend sometime before Christmas! I never imagined I'd live to see this day!!! feels great!

Of course I still have to submit papers for publications and stuff like that, but I'm almost there...Yippie!

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Mad!

This just makes me wanna shoot everyone who didn't vote in the presidential election this year!

How does it feel now?... we get what we deserve and no one is to blame but ourselves!

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The Machinist

This movie was sooooooooooooo "chet"... if you know what I mean!

very very weird and kind of creepy... and interesting I must add! I was really disturbed watching it and couldn't take my mind off it for a couple of hours after it was over.

The leading actor is so great in the role, it's hard to imagine anyone else playing it and he must have lost around 20 kilo's or something like that to play such a skinny character!

I can't say anything about the movie plot because it'll ruin it for those who wanna watch it... Definitely don't recommend it to people who tend to easily get disturbed by dark movies though. The truth is that I was putting it off for a very long time myself, wasn't exactly in the mood for it!

So beware!

PS- Do you think it's inappropriate if a TA likes one of the students in the class a bit more than others?!

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There's always something... to invent, to read, or to bite!

So following my previous movie updates... here's what I watched tonight and absolutely loved: Lemony Snicket's: A series of unfortunate events...

It is a must see if you're a Jim Carrey fan (or Jude Law's, or Meryl Streep's!)... the whole movie definitely has a Tim Burton-ish ambiance, but I should say it's far better than the last Burton movie I watched (Charlie and the chocolate factory)! The set decoration and art direction is superb and Jim Carrey just shines...

The movie starts with a happy little elf running around and singing and then suddenly comes to a stop. Lemony Snicket (the original author of the series of books) is the narrator and advises the viewers to leave the theater (or living room or the airplane that the movie is being shown in) if they'd like to see the story of the happy elf... because this story is going to be about three unfortunate orphans and their adventures!

I can go on and on about this movie but am gonna stop here... I recommend it to everyone though! you're gonna love it!

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...And up again!

Ok now... I need to thank for the emotional support that the public showed, following my last post! :)

I think I am actually going back... Although it's gonna be really late... I will be in the air ON CHRISTMAS DAY! And will be able to stay in Iran long enough to make me happy! And all this is possible thanks to my future supervisor,... I am beginning to really like the guy!

hmmm, yeah... so now I'm just waiting for my defense date to be set and that's it! Guess I'm gonna get my degree after all! And boy, am I jealous of all the people who had selected the non-thesis option for their Master's!

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Down...

Feeling extremely down today... eversince my supervisor mentioned the possibility of me not being able to go back home in early December!

It's ironic, cause I should be feeling happy after finally finishing the writing!

pffff, whatever... don't even feel like writing!

I'm listening to Ennio Morricone's "Tema D'Amore" from the soundtrack of Cinema Paradiso... not exactly improving my mood!

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Home, sweet home...

Well, I'm not sure if watching "portrait of a lady, far away" and "one night" should exactly make me miss Tehran... But it does somehow...

Of course,these movies definitely showed the mad/dirty side of the town and people for the most part... But still there was a feeling that came along by watching Tehran streets and realizing that although I'm not there,people still walk in "Vali-e-asr" street, shout at taxi drivers: "pol-e-rumi", and drink juice late at night... Life still goes on back home and like it or not, I'm not a part of it anymore...

I miss the crazy polluted Tehran.

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No Direction Home

Although I really should be writing non-stop these days, I spent around 3 hours (or maybe more) watching Martin Scorsese's documentary on Bob Dylan: "No Direction Home".

I have only recently been listening to Bob Dylan's music, after much resistance... It's funny how something that sounded horrible to me just a couple years ago can actually feel good now! But anyway, even if you don't want to be a fan, you should know about the guy cause he was a hell of a genius... Wikipedia's Bob Dylan page gives a fairly good picture of the artist and his work.

In the movie he actually sounded like a jerk sometimes... Which could be true in some ways because apparently he never really cared what people or other artists thought of him... And that is probably why he became what he is now... The movie was full of old and unreleased footage from Dylan's early performances... The artist's success story progressed in an interesting way... Different people were interviewed and a relatively comprehensive picture of Dylan's life from 1961 to 1966 was presented.

I definitely recommend watching the movie to people who are interested in Dylan's music or folk music in general. Watch the trailer in Apple's site.

The ambiance of the movie made me feel a bit sad though... Looks like all the important things have already happened in the 60's and 70's... Nothing left for us to do! :)

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Happy Birthday...

Dearest Nazly joonam! This is for you...
Hopefully we'll be able to celebrate many more birthdays together... I'm gonna dedicate someone else's song to you here! ;) (just because you never listen to it when it's playing!)... HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

Forever young - by Bob Dylan (although I like Joan Baez's version a lot better)

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.

May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.

May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.

May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

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Let it go...

How do we know when is the right time to just give up! When is the right time to just end something... no matter how strongly we believed in it once... when it's not working, then it's not working! Why can't we let go? Is it that we think no such great thing would ever happen to us again? Or do we feel like we have to be loyal to the memory of something that doesn't exist anymore?

I don't know what it is, but it's definitely wrecking lots of people... Why the hell do we have to let things linger on for so long... I think we're just too afraid to see "the end" of anything... Whether it's a short trip, a job, or a relationship...

I really hope that I learn to let go of things when it's time... better learn it before I die, or else I'll have a hard time dying!

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Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

Being the dedicated student and the extremely well-read lady that I am (!), I spent the last 24 hours reading one of the greatest novels in the history of mankind, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince !!! ;) (Spoiler notice: don't read the plot description in Wikipedia page linked above, it gives away the ending!)

I should probably be ashamed of it and - let's face it - I am! How could I wait three months before reading this book! I mean I can't call myself a real Harry Potter fan any more, can I?

And my supervisor would be really proud of me I guess, knowing I didn't show up at school because of a children's fantasy book! Not to mention the unfinished introduction chapter that is still to be written!

Oh well, what's done is done... At least now I know a lot more about he-who-must-not-be-named and I found out who wants to go out with which girl (yeah, our little witches and wizards are finally old enough to be dating! Exciting stuff!)

The clouds are gone finally after three gloomy days... It's noticeably colder though and guess I can't deny it anymore... Summer is officially over!

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Swan Lake

Thanks to my wonderful Shora, I got the chance to go watch a ballet for the first time in my life, and not any ballet... the Swan Lake from the national ballet of Canada!

I can't tell you how great it was... it felt like a dream... still can't believe such a delicate and divine art can be publicly banned in our country! The music was played by Vancouver Symphony orchestra and needless to say, was perfect!

I'm definitely gonna try and see more of this from now on, probably a bit more contemporary... I think there's gonna be a ballet of "a streetcar named desire" in November... hopefully I can make it to that one too!

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Good Bye Lenin!

yeap, you're right... another movie! You gotta watch this one though, a very well made movie and a strong screenplay ... although I thought it wasn't that original... somehow reminded me of underground, by Emir Kusturica.

It's the story of a young man who tries to hide the fact that Germany has reunited from his sick mother. He goes to extremes to create an imaginary East Germany and it is interesting that this newly created world sometimes makes more sense than the real world out there!

It was much better than I thought it would be... the movie is deep but not disturbing...There is good humor in it too, especially when Alex (the son) tries to make fake news clips to show his mom.

Oh, and the music also helps a lot in delivering the content... the composer is Yann Tiersen, who also composed the music for Amelie... and if you've watched that, you know what to expect... there is actually a scene in the movie where a track from Amelie is played and although it was perfect for that scene, I still think it was a bit weird!

If reading subtitles is not a pain for you, watch it... you won't regret it!

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توهمات ملت!

یک سال بالایی باحال مواردی از توهمات دخترانه و پسرانه را معرفی کرده که پیشنهاد می کنم بخونید

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Ed Wood - the worst director of all time

Oh my god... just finished watching Ed Wood and had to write about it!!! I know the movie is a decade old, but I had never had a chance to watch it back home. Can't believe how good it was... Tim Burton is a genius and the movie was hilarious...

It's a (mostly) true story of Edward Davis Wood Jr., the Hollywood director of the 50's and the 60's. He has been considered by some as the "worst director of all time"... from what I saw in the movie, the guy had absolutely no talent for film making... his screenplays made no sense whatsoever, the actors were simply horrible, not to mention the lack of budget... but I guess what made him stand out was his love for the movies... the guy never gave up in spite of all the failures...He also liked to wear women's clothing because they made him feel "comfortable"... Apparently his mom used to dress him as a girl when he was a kid... God! I really wanna know what was her logic for doing this!

Tim Burton's version of Ed wood's life though was brilliant... I loved the fact that it was black and white... Johnny Depp and Martin Landau were great... amazing cinematography...Ed Wood would be surprised for sure to see himself in such a well made movie!

Check Ed wood's appreciation page... not everyone hates him!

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And Cartoons of the week

In case you are not checking Irancartoon, here are some samples of the new stuff on there. There are some works by Jan Op De Beek which is really cool I think. You can see more of his sketches here.


Juliet Binoche - by Jan Op De Beek - I think it is awesome that someone finally thought of drawing a caricature of her! It was about time!


Mick Jagger again - by Jan Op De Beek (I told you he was a good subject for cartoons!)


De caprio - by Jan Op De Beek


Mordillo- Argentinian Cartoonist

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New Orleans

"There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again." - G.W. Bush

So the president addressed the nation again... it was an exhausting practice for him trying to read the notes AND talk at the same time I guess!!!

I was listening to Tom Wait's song on new Orleans a little before that and thought it was an interesting coincidence. Here are the lyrics...

I Wish I Was in New Orleans

Well, I wish I was in New Orleans
I can see it in my dreams
arm-in-arm down Burgundy
a bottle and my friends and me
hoist up a few tall cool ones
play some pool and listen to that
tenor saxophone calling me home
and I can hear the band begin
"When the Saints Go Marching In"
by the whiskers on my chin
New Orleans, I'll be there

I'll drink you under the table
be red nose go for walks
the old haunts what I wants
is red beans and rice
and wear the dress I like so well
and meet me at the old saloon
make sure there's a Dixie moon
New Orleans, I'll be there

and deal the cards roll the dice
if it ain't that ole Chuck E. Weiss
and Clayborn Avenue me and you
Sam Jones and all
and I wish I was in New Orleans
I can see it in my dreams
arm-in-arm down Burgundy
a bottle and my friends and me
New Orleans, I'll be there

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Ok, I need to apologize again for not having anything to write about but the movies I watch... Thanks Ali (nouri) for the comment on the last post! I think so too... Watching movies makes up a big part of my life! The more movies I watch, the better I feel (usually!)... Therefore when you read my posts and they're all about movies, you can be sure that I'm feeling ok... And hopefully you care and it makes you feel good too! ;)

Anyway... I watched Woodstock: the director's cut , actually just some of the performances... I'm not sure if I like the editing and the "director's cut"... But I certainly do like the music! And watching Joan Baez perform is always a pleasure!

Last night though was even better when I watched Live Aid (some of the performances again!) after having a couple of drinks and it felt awesome (doesn't it always?)! Although seeing all those artists in their "funky" 80's outfits just cracked me up! Bono looked hilarious and don't even ask about Madonna! Anyway, it was a good watch, although the artists did not perform at their best... Or at least that's what I thought!

And finally... Madagascar which was ok but definitely not worth watching in a movie theater... But I sooooooo liked the penguins... They were real psychics... There's this scene in the movie that I just LOVE... The penguins finally get to go outside the zoo and get to Antarctica - their "dream land"... It's super cold and the wind is blowing hard... Penguins are quiet for a couple of seconds and then one of them says: "well... THIS sucks!" ... Just remembering the way he said it makes me laugh... I was wondering if I'm gonna say the same thing in a couple of years after getting settled down and finding my "dream job"... Which by the way is unknown so far!!!!

anyway, watch the movie if it's a cheap Tuesday rental or something... It gets funnier towards the ending...

Hmmm, and I guess I'm feeling fine which is really surprising cause it's Sunday afternoon...


Madagascar!

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It's funny,

but I can't decide on what movie I wanna watch tonight! whether I wanna watch a serious movie with a deep message embodied in it, or a chick-flick that entertains me for a couple of hours, or a concert from a favorite musician (BTW, I recently watched Diana Krall performances in Montreal and Paris...all of you vocal Jazz fans out there, don't miss out on it... she's truly amazing!)... anyway, it's funny and at the same time frustrating, cause I don't feel like wasting my time on a movie I'm not gonna enjoy!

Hopefully I'll make a decision before midnight!

Update: I watched Upside of anger at last! a slightly above average movie...

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Horrible reality...

I don't know if you have read the Blindness by Jose Saramago, but somehow this whole Katrina disaster in New Orleans reminds me of that story...

It's extremely horrifying how a natural disaster can destroy a town to an extent that people lose their humanity ... they kill over food, loot and live in unimaginable filth... unable to change things (at least temporarily), you suddenly realize how weak we are... we build a whole city over a couple of centuries and in a couple of hours it's gone... just like that...

Really hope the critical conditions start to get sorted out as soon as possible.

By the way, there would probably be nothing left of the house of the rising sun! The mystery never unfolds I guess!

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Should I care?

So you found someone you liked at last... Talked to you last night, and still it hurts a little... Not that you don't deserve to have someone wonderful beside you and be loved by them...It just reminded me of how things have gone wrong in certain aspects of my life... Not sure if I should even care after such a long time, but I do! Feel like I've lost a major part of my connection to home. But still, from hundreds of miles away, I do wish you all the best...

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"a" lesson...

You know when they say: you "bring out the best in me" ?
Today I learned some people "bring out the beast in me" ...

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March of the Penguins

And here's another post on a movie! I watched the March of the Penguins last night and it was simply amazing! Had not seen such a strong documentary in a long time.

Only watching the movie made me feel cold, can't believe how the crew survived that harsh cold (it's in the south pole)...and the penguins were unreal... they are the cutest creatures, especially when they're young! I was wondering how long it had been since I actually thought about an animal apart from cats and dogs... had almost forgotten that penguins even existed!

It was unbelievable how strong they were and how devoted to their chicks...I'm not sure if people had to walk 70 miles every couple of months to bring food for their kids, they would want to have children at all! We're a bit more selfish I think!

I strongly recommend it to anyone who has a slight interest in the wild life and/or documentaries!

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Beyond borders

I watched Beyond Borders and to my surprise, it turned out to be a really good movie...although I had recently decided not to watch another Angelina Julie movie, I'm glad I watched this one... It's about relief camps in different parts of the world and people that do humanitarian work (although as you can guess there was a love-related story line going on, but it was not the focus of the movie at least!)... maybe it was an American version of what's going on around the world, but still it showed some realities...

Made me wonder how "my" problems are not even real problems compared to what other people are going through... not that every one has to go through starvation and death for his/her problems to be considered "real", but at least it made me appreciate what I have and try to stop complaining (let's see how long that will last!)...

I also felt kind of funny for wearing the white band, but let's hope it really is for a good cause!

Can't believe the summer is almost over... wish I could stop the time from passing by (or fast forward it to December!)

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یعنی راسته؟

یادمه که توی فیلم آوای موسیقی (اشکها و لبخندها)مادر مقدس به ماریا (جولی اندروز) می گفت که خدا اگه دری رو ببنده در دیگه ای رو وا می کنه... نمیدونم درسته یا نه... اما ترجیح می دم که راست باشه!

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The cure for the helpless...

You have had a rough week, the work pressure is building up and personal matters are kind of messed up and you haven't seen a good movie in a while... what do you do:

a) Go biking or do some other outdoor activity ($0)
a) Go to a movie (maximum $14)
b) Go to a dinner and a drink with your friends ($30)
c) Go cut your hair and highlight it (well... let's say a little more than a $100)

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Before Sunset

I had asked my mom to send me a recent copy of the "Film" magazine just because I used to read every single issue of it when I was back home. I'm not saying it was the greatest information source, but at least it covered a major portion of the Iranian film-related activities. And usually it would focus on a foreign film in each issue and would publish a series of articles related to that - which could be translated from other sources or written by an Iranian critic.


Any way, the issue I received last week, focused on "before sunset"... a movie sequel that was released last year. I watched it on DVD a couple of months ago and really really liked it and decided to write about it so someone else might get interested and go watch it. It was a sequel to a movie from nine years ago, "before sunrise". I never watched the original but have read the reviews and it was apparently a good, sort of independent movie. It was about this American guy (Ethan Hawke) who meets a French girl( Julie Delpy) on a train from Budapest to Vienna. The whole story happens in one night, before the have to part ways to their different destinations. The movie ends as they promise each other that they would meet in Vienna in six months - without giving each other any contact information.

Nine years later this movie comes out which is in fact taking place nine years after the time of the original story. The guy has written a book about their experience and is in Paris, in a book signing session. His flight is in an hour and guess what?... yep, the French girl (more of a woman now) shows up. The rest of the movie is all conversation between these two as they walk the streets of Paris and talk about what happened to them in the past nine years. (I'm not gonna tell you if they actually met up in Vienna or not... you have to watch the movie for that!)...the amazing thing about the movie is how simple and smooth it is. The main feature of the film is that it's "real time", meaning that not even one second is skipped by the movie... so from the second it starts in the bookstore till the final scene, you have spent exactly as much time with the couple as they had with each other. The conversations are very natural... you can picture yourself talking about the same things if you ever meet someone after such a long time. The actors are really really strong... just as a note, they have also been involved in the process of writing the dialogues for the sequel and that's probably why they can play the role so well.

Anyway, I'm not gonna spoil the movie by giving away the ending, so go watch for yourself... it's not a super-long movie - just 80 minutes and as I said it's really smooth and you're gonna like it if you're not looking for a Batman type of movie. Another interesting thig about the movie: "before sunrise" is the movie with the lowest box-office sales in the history of cinema that has had a sequel.

So that was it for your film review session today, stay tuned for more... I wish I could find the time to watch more movies and write about them... it's really fun!

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Cartoons

If you're into cartoons and want to know what's going on in Iran, then Irancartoon is probably a good place to check every once in a while... they have news on cartoons, comic strips, flash animations and so on.

Currently they have a collection of Sebastian Kruger's cartoons on their website. I didn't know him until I came across his book, Stones by Kruger, browsing the shelves in Chapters. It's a collection of his cartoon on the Rolling Stones... apparently he's got even more sketches on them which is understandable, since Mick Jagger has "THE" face for being a cartoon subject... anyway, there's even a website devoted just to the stars Kruger has sketched so far and I think it's worth taking a look. I'm gonna post some of the sketches I liked here...

I like the ones from Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan the most...

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Michael Stipe - By Sebastian Kruger

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Andy Warhol - By Sebastian Kruger

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Bob Dylan - By Sebastian Kruger

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Jimi Hendrix - By Sebastian Kruger

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Mick Jagger - By Sebastian Kruger

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Don't get mad, get even!

This must have been the most fun website I have visited in a long time!... I was laughing out loud seeing some of the mean things they have in there!

I particularly liked the prank envelopes section... you must be really mean to send some of those stuff but on the other hand it would be really funny to send something like this as a joke to a friend... I don't think sending it as a revenge would actually work, unless your target is publicly hated and can't guess who sent out the "revenge" package!

Take a look, but don't get offended!

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Felicity

So remember when I said I became a Zip.ca member just to watch Felicity... well it's over now... I watched the whole 4 seasons and now I'm gonna suspend my membership for a couple of months till I can afford it.

Felt kind of nostalgic though... watching the last episode. Keri Russell is definitely cute and although the last couple of episodes were kind of lame, I liked the series. If you like to watch some college kids fooling around all the time and keep falling in and out of love with each other, then give it a try!

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...and history repeats itself (or "I" repeat history!?)

Since it's not even worth another typed paragraph, here's what I wanna say now...again!

Have a good day!

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Wisdom tooth... are we growing older?

First, Let's just say I am extremely glad that I haven't had to pull out any wisdom teeth so far and I hope I never will have to do it!

After witnessing what Nazli went through today, I'm sure I never wanna have to experience it... not that I have a choice! My mom got her wisdom teeth extracted just a little while ago so looks like I have at least 30 years before I have to worry about it!

But it made me realize something else... we are really getting older (and apparently losing our wisdom on the way!)...

So when all is said and done, where are we standing? where is it that we're going to? To me, it looks like most of us are so wrapped up in our little world of day to day activities that we're missing the big picture... what is it that we want? what is it that "I" want out of this life?

Aside from a career goal, what other dreams do I have? (I'm not even sure if I have a career goal, but let's ignore that for now)... I remember that someone once asked me this and I said that I wanted to be remembered for what I did after I died... well, it doesn't look like I'm doing anything to achieve that goal!

I always think it's more important to do what you feel like rather than what you think is logical but I never seem to be doing it! There are so many things that matter to me... I want to help the environment... I want to help my country become a better place to live in... I want to watch a movie every single night...I want to have my own website and write about the movies I watch... I want to read novels, something I haven't done that often recently... I want to adopt a little girl form an underprivileged country and help her grow up without having o worry about her basic living needs ... I want to speak more than two languages... I want to do so many other things that I am not doing right now or am not even moving towards them...

I remember when I was in my undergrad and I had to quit doing stuff because of my course load... I used to think that it'd be over soon and I would have the chance to do all those things, well I never quite got that chance... My fear is to wake up one day and realize I am 40 years old and am still waiting for that right time to go after my dreams...

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The girl who finally did it (....not THAT you perverts!)

So I finally did something super active... I went biking for around 5 hours today with a friend and biked for at least 40 Ks!!!

I'm not kidding... I used Google Earth (you see... I actually USE the stuff that I download!)to measure the path we biked and without considering the elevation it was 40.52 Ks! For those of you who care: we started from Broadway, went all the way down from Vancouver to the Ikea store in Richmond and then came back through the Knight bridge and then 41st... we biked up so many hills, I thought I'd faint any second...but I survived!!!!!!!!!


I'm impressed... especially considering the fact that my "physical exercise" or whatever it's called in English (Tarbiat Badani) courses were one of my lowest grades during my undergrad studies and I basically never did anything active!

Hence, using this evidence I conclude that people actually CAN CHANGE for the better... if you let them!!! (so, there! this is to the people who said I could never change! And no they are not reading this page so it doesn't matter!)

"Be Ghole sha'er ke mige:"

...
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'

For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'

...

"The times, they are a-changin'" - Bob Dylan

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Depp'ed up!

Have I ever said that Johnny Depp is AWESOME! Well, I'm saying it now! I watched Charlie and the chocolate factory last week. Very well made, although I was expecting more... If you have not seen the original movie or read the book, this might not be the movie for you! This is like going to a Harry Potter movie without reading the books... you're gonna like it but you just don't see what's so amazing about it.

I also watched Don Juan De Marco (I know...it's like 10 years old) and really liked it. It had a weird sense of comedy in it that I liked. And of course, Johnny Depp was hot as hell...

Started watching the blues: feel like going home, but didn't finish it. Seemed interesting...if you're into blues music.

BTW: I installed Google Earth and it's amazing!!! I know I'm jus a big Google fan, but they rock! If you have extra memory and a good connection speed, it's worth a try!

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What can you say?

How many more of these cases should happen before the super-sexist laws in Iran change?

It's a lesson for us as Iranian women to take some preventive actions before things get this messy... know our rights and ask for them when it's not too late.

I hope she can get her kids back...

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A series of "Supertramp" moments

Some of the "supertramp"songs I have been listening to a lot recently... they make sense to me now, don't know about you... (I wish I actually had some online storage to put the songs for download!)

Hide In Your Shell

... Too Frightening- the fire's getting colder
Too Beautiful- to think you're getting older
You're looking for someone to give an answer.
But what you see is just an illusion
You're surrounded by confusion
Saying life's begun to cheat you
Friends are out to beat you
Grab on to what you can scramble for

Don't let the tears linger on inside now
Cos it's sure time you gained control
If I can help you, if I can help you
If I can help you, just let me know
Well, let me show you the nearest signpost
To get your heartback and on the road
If I can help you, if I can help you
If I can help you, just let me know...

The logical song

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily,
joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

There are times when all the world's asleep,
the questions run too deep for such a simple man.
Won't you please, please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd, but please tell me who I am...

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blah blah blah...

I hate myself for being so lame and writing only when I’m down… but this seems to be the routine! I’m a bit confused so I’ll be writing “sher o ver” a little… don’t take it seriously (or personally for that matter)!

I think it’s pretty shocking that people can be so selfish… even when they are being nice to you; it’s just for their own freaking sake. They don’t want to feel cruel so basically instead of saying “oh, just get out of my face…”, they make up the nicest story with the most reasonable excuses… but the core is still there and you can’t help but notice it.

God knows I am selfish!… and don’t think I know anyone who’s not. Of course depending on how close you are to someone, you might be willing to sacrifice more of yourself, but that’s like…what?... 5% of the times. The remaining 95% is basically you trying to get what YOU want out of every relationship, every situation... and that is making me sick to my stomach! I want to change the way I am and can’t, so I can’t really expect others to do it… It just makes life harder than what it is, knowing that more than half of your relationships with people is based on mutual “benefit” rather than mutual respect or love or …

Usually during these periods of being down and doubting every thing around me, I start to miss my family even more… I believe they are the only ones giving unconditional love and support without asking for something in return! This has been bugging me for a while…My sad feeling will be over in a couple of days, but it will probably come back… at least as long as I am not proven wrong about what I said!

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Boring life!

Trying to write my freaking thesis and that's why I don't update too often. Honestly, what do you wanna hear? That sawmills are more efficient than wooden door and window manufacturers? ... didn't think so.

I haven't really watched a good movie... except for Motorcycle Diaries which still wasn't as good as I expected. I also watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith... pretty obvious that it was not a good movie...at all. And the last but definitely not the least horrible movie was Cursed... I mean, the director must have had a serious brain damage or sth!

BTW, I installed google desktop search and it's simply AMAZING! Definitely recommend it to everyone!

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Experiment...

I think it's kind of funny that people can justify anything in a way that matches their interests... for example whenever I wanna do something that I really like to do but does not seem like the best choice, I keep telling myself that I should try new things and...yada...yada...yada.... and then when I don't feel like doing new things, I find all the excuses in the world to make it look like I'm being wise and thoughtful. This said, now I'm again stuck with a "situation" and this is how I justify it:

(This is the lyrics to a song from the soundtrack of De-Lovely, a movie about the life of the American composer - Cole Porter. I totally admire the movie, partially because of the storyline but mostly because of the extremely amazing music and performers in it...)

Title: Experiment
Composer: Cole Porter
Performed by: Kevin Kline


Before you leave these portals
to meet less fortunate mortals,
there's just one final message I would give to you.

You all have learned reliance
on the sacred teachings of science,
so I hope through life you never will decline,
in spite of philistine defiance,
to do what all good scientists do:

Experiment,
Make it your motto day and night.

Experiment,
And it will lead you to the light.

The apple on the top of the tree
is never too high to achieve;
So take an example from Eve:

Experiment.

Be curious,
Though interfering friends may frown.

Get furious,
At each attempt to hold you down.

If this advice you'll only employ,
the future can offer you infinite joy
and merriment.

Experiment, and you'll see.

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On the verge of crying...

Well, seems like we rode the time machine to 25 years ago... The ultimate results are not announced yet, but it's pretty obvious. Great!

I am really really sad about this and I'm worried about all my friends and family who will be living in Iran for the coming 4 years. If this is what people really wanted then they probably deserve it, but I doubt it... And whatever the analysts say, I don't think anyone deserves to live in Iran with the existing conditions.

Right at this moment, I am officially ashamed of being an Iranian...

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Time is ticking out

Everybody seems to be defending these days... Makes me panic! Feeling so behind...

And on a completely irrelevant note: I watched the three new Star Wars series (which by the way are the first three, story-wise) in less than 10 days. So I'm all "Anikan"-ed up and am ready to watch the original three. I actually liked the movies which was kind of surprising cause I always used to laugh at others when they said they were Star Wars fans!...Another reason for me to stop judging people on their movie taste!

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wtf

Honestly I can't believe this! How did this happen?
Since when everyone got so f*** confused about things that Ahmadi nejad gets more vote than Moeen. I mean ok, I can understand why people would vote for Hashemi or Karoubi... But Ahmadi-nejad??

Whatever, I'd like to know if people actually remember how things used to be 8 years ago... Maybe next time, they vote for a real change.

I'm not that much of a politician, so I'll leave it to the experts to analyze the results, but I am truly and deeply shocked... and worried.

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A conversation with my mom

after talking for like 5 minutes about things I need to have sent over to me...

me - So mom...guess what... my PhD admission finally got sorted out, I'll start this January!

mom - That's great..."bah bah"... ok, glad that you're alright, I'll send you the things you wanted. I'm calling from work so I have to go now... I'll call you later.

...isn't she like the coolest weirdest mom on earth?

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And the "vacant PhD position" goes to ...

I hereby officially announce that as of January 2006 (or maybe even before that) I'll be moving from her students' office to his and will thereby commence my PhD studies in the area of forest resource management. I want to thank my parents, my grandparents (in heavens and on earth), my friends, and of course last but not least, all the fans that made this possible...

But seriously, I'm happy!

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Horrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

"damemoon garm!"

I wish I was back home and could see the happy faces of the people in the streets, it doesn't happen too often. "Yade 8 e azar be khier"

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How long

do you think I can procracinate? I mean... for god's sake! I'm supposed to finish this damn thing by September and all I seem to be doing is internet surfing!

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در باب مهاجرت – دیدگاه مثبت!

این متنیه که به درخواست یکی از دوستهام نوشتم و تصمیم گرفتم اینجاهم پستش کنم:

این کلمه غربت هم واسه خودش داستانی داره... اصلا خود کلمه انگار بار منفی داره با خودش. من حتی نمیدونم چه کلمه انگلیسی میشه مترادف غربت پیدا کرد!؟ اما به هر حال می خوام که راجع به تجربه خودم از مهاجرت (حداقل نیمچه مهاجرت) و غربت بنویسم.

من هیچوقت تو همون ایرانش هم فکر نمی کردم که کانادا یا امریکا بهشت موعودن و هر کی پاش برسه این ور خیلی دیگه قراره حال کنه تو زندگیش... اما با این حال خیلی دلم می خواست همیشه که بتونم زندگی اینجا رو تجربه کنم. مخصوصا به عنوان یه دانشجو. خوب، خدا هم نامردی نکرد و من اومدم کانادا، دانشگاه UBC تو ونکوور.

خوب یکی دو هفته اول که کاملاً تو سردرگمی و دلتنگی گذشت... خونه پیدا کردن و وسیله خریدن و واحد برداشتن و ... اما خوب کم کم زندگی رو روال خودش افتاد و وقت اون رسید که با دقت بیشتری دور و برم رو نگاه کنم.اینجا چند تا چیزی رو که حس کردم برام مهم هستن بی هیچ ترتیب خاصی می نویسم:

1. برخورد با من به عنوان یک خارجی: به غیر از یک مورد، من هیچوقت تو کانادا تو برخوردهای مستقیم در ادارات دولتی و دانشگاه و غیره احساس تحقیر شدن به عنوان یک ایرانی یا یک نفرخارجی نکردم... قوانین این کشور واقعا بعضی مواقع به من به عنوان یک خارجی بیشتر حق و حقوق میدن نسبت به قوانین کشور خودم در مورد من به عنوان یک شهروند ایرانی زن. اینجا هر نوع تبعیض جنسی و نژادی شدیدا محکوم می شه، چه از نظر اجتماعی و چه قانونی. البته این به معنی این نیست که همه لزوما به این مساله عمل می کنند اما به هر حال نژادپرستی یک استثنا است تا قانون. خنده دار اینجاست که کسانی که بیشتر تمایلات نژادپرستانه دارند همون خارجی هایی هستند که حاضر نیستند افکار کهنه خودشون رو عوض کنند. ایرانیهایی که چینی ها را خنگ، عربها را سوسمارخور و وحشی و آمریکاییها را ساده لوح می دانند. من این شانس رو داشته ام که دوستای زیادی از جاهای مختلف با فرهنگهای مختلف داشته باشم و به وضوح درک کردم که جمع بندیهای عجولانه (generalization) چه توهینی است به این دوستان و چقدر من ناراحت میشم اگه یه روز بشنوم که اونها حرفی در مورد ایرانیها بزنن.

2. تحصیل: خوب باید اعتراف کنم که درس خوندن اینجا خیلی با اون چیزی که من تصور می کردم فرق می کرد. شاید از نظر تئوری آسونتر بود، اما انگار فشار کار یه جورایی خیلی بیشتره. من چون رشته ام خیلی تغییر کرده بود یه کم هم بیشتر باید زور می زدم. تمرکز بیشتر روی عملی بودن چیزیه که می خونی... حل کردن یه مساله المپیاد ریاضی مثل تو ایران (یا حداقل شریف) اونقدر نکته مهمی نیست. مهم اینه که بتونی از دانشت استفاده کنی و من با این موضوع خیلی حال کردم. تز هم که مساله اصلی هستش... واقعا من به عنوان یک دانشجوی undergrad هیچ ایده ای نداشتم که تحقیق کردن می تونه اینقدر بغرنج باشه! واقعا آدم یه جاهایی می خواد به جد و آبادش فحش بده که چرا همچین تصمیمی گرفته... اما در کل الان فکر می کنم که تجربه خیلی خوبیه به شرط اینکه استاد خیلی بی ربط نداشته باشی. استاد بد واقعا عذابه و متاسفانه ما از ایران هیچ راهی برای فهمیدن این موضوع نداریم. اگه آدم کسی رو بشناسه که توی دانشکده مورد علاقه اش درس می خونه واقعا ایده خوبیه که یه کم در مورد استادها پرس و جو کنه.

3. تفریح: ذکر یه نکته اینجا خیلی مهمه، اگه دنبال تفریح مداوم مثل سیستم ایران هستین باید ایران بمونین برای اینکه امکان نداره هیچ جا مثل ایران آدمها هر شب برن مهمونی و مدام دوستاشونو ببینن و سالی n روز مرخصی استعلاجی و استحقاقی داشته باشن و تازه کسی هم بهشون نگه بالای چشمت ابرو هست. اینجا باید مثل سگ کار کنی و درس بخونی و ... در طول هفته که امکان نداره جون تفریح داشته باشی (یا پای تفریح!) آخر هفته ها خوب قضیه فرق می کنه. اگه یه کم سر کیسه رو شل کنی می تونی یه سری کارهای باحال بکنی که باز هم مدل ایران نیستش... یه کنسرت خوب، یه فیلم جالب سانسور نشده(!)، یه پیک نیک توی پارک، دوچرخه سواری، والیبال ساحلی... هر از چند گاهی یه مهمونی خوب که البته باید غذا و نوشیدنیتو ببری! نکته اینجاست که زمان اینجا مفهوم متفاوتی داره... وقتی باید کار کنی، نمی تونی مثل ایران بهونه بیاری... برای همین آدمها تو روزهای هفته کار می کنن و بعد تو آخرهفته واقعا تفریح می کنن. اولش برای من خیلی سخت بود که 5 شب تو هفته بمونم تو خونه اما بعد یه مدت کوتاهی دیدم که اصلا نمیکشم که بیشتر از این بیرون برم! بعد یه مدتی یه جورایی عادت کردم به آرمش زندگی اینجا... به اینکه با طبیعت خوش باشم... به اینکه با موزیک جاز و شراب بیشتر از پانک راک و عرق سگی حال کنم. برای هر کسی این تجربه یه چیز متفاوتی خواهد بود اما اینکه سعی کنی چیزی که اینجا هست رو قبول کنی ازش لذت ببری خیلی کمک می کنه به زندگی.

4. تنهایی: مهاجرت یعنی قبول تنهایی برای قسمت اعظمی از زندگیت. تو داری یه کشور پشتوانه رو می گذاری و میای... هر چی هم که از سیستم متنفر باشی نمیتونی وابستگی تو به وجودش انکار کنی. وقتی همه چیز رو میگذاری و می آی انگار دیگه چهارچوبی نداری که خودتو توش تعریف کنی...این باعث می شه که کل ماهیت خودتو دوباره بسازی و یهو بزرگت می کنه... من وقتی برگشتم ایران برای تابستون، متوجه شدم که چقدر فرق کردم. خیلی آدم با خودش درگیر می شه، بیشتر وقتتو داری با خودت می گذرونی و طبیعیه که با خودت و عقایدی که همیشه برات بدیهی بودن مشکل پیدا می کنی و خیلی از اصولتو ممکنه تغییر بدی. مهمترین مساله (برای کسایی که دلبستگی تو ایران دارن) می شه موندن یا برگشتن. یه روزایی هست که احساس می کنی هیچ کس رو نداری، که هیچ کس اهمیت نمی ده تو مردی یا زنده ای، اون موقع ها تصمیم می گیری که برگردی ایران. بعد یه روز پا می شی، خورشید داره می درخشه و هوا عالیه، دوستات بهت زنگ میزنن که برین بیرون...همونطوری که داری تو خیابون راه میری و لبخند رهگذرایی که نمی شناسی رو جواب میدی مطمئن می شی که خروج از کشور بهترین تصمیم زندگیت بوده و حتما می مونی. یاد می گیری که از تنهایی نترسی...هر چند که من هنوز از تصور تنها وموندن تو سن بالا تنم می لرزه ولی تو این سن مطمئنا کارای زیادی رو می تونی پیدا کنی که تنها بشه انجام داد... این تنهایی به خصوص برای دخترها که تو ایران مهلت و فرصت تنها زندگی کردن رو ندارن معمولا خیلی تجربه لازمه به نظرم.

چیزهایی که اینجا نوشتم نصف گفتنی ها هم نیست اما این تایپ فارسی داره پدر من رو در می آره و الان هم خیلی خوابم می آد. فقط باید بگم که این ها تجربه شخص من هستش و من در کل خیلی راضیم از تصمیمی که گرفتم برای اومدن اینجا و خیلی به همه توصیه می کنم که امتحان کنن این مساله رو هر چند که اصلا آسون نیست.

فعلا تا بعد!

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Sleepy morning

So here I am, sitting at my desk at 10:38 a.m. and still have a hard time openning my eyes! But life goes on and you have to put up with it I guess... even if it means waking up when you don't feel like it!!!!

Yesterday started really bad... I found out that a friend - not a very close one but still a friend - had passed away... heart attack they say! Can't beleive it yet. Recently all I've been getting from back home is the news about someone's death. I mean, last year everyone seemed to be getting married and engaged and so, then suddenly there's like a death spell in the air! I really wish that it would stop now!

Saturday, I went biking around and enjoyed the great warm weather in Vancouver and also spent most of Sunday by the beach, playing valleyball and freezbie(?) and trying to throw a footbal with the right spin... have been really active compared to myself just a year ago! Looks like people can change for the better after all!!

Anyway, here's a link in case you're interested. If you want to join, just email your stuff to this address.

Hmmm, have been really bad with the movies lately, gotta catch up soon. Will write later...

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No political view

Do you think it's shameful that I have no idea whatsoever about what's happening in the political world? I stopped caring a long time ago and honestly, don't miss it all that much... Is it a sign of ignorance?...Maybe.

However, yesterday was "Dovom e Khordad" which used to be a reminder of a great success (or at least what used to be perceived as a great success)we once achieved. I couldn't help noticing it although I wanted to! Here's a note I found interesting... I am not defending a certain group or person or ... As I said, I have been ignoring these things for quite a while now!

Now that we're done with politics, back to my favorite subject: movies. This is a must see: What the bleep do we know and here's the official websiteI watched it only once, it needs more than that definitely!

Also watched the Chorus, a nice movie but not as great as I thought it would be; the ending was kind of random!

Hmmm...Oh, yeah and my first experience with Jafar Panahi; gotta say I was not impressed! Start was really great, then the story line got kind of messy and the I never found out why the main character did what he did at the end! Just helped me remember how Tehran streets looked like!

Guess I must get back to work now... Will write soon later!

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And Finally, this is the baby Christler we rented... nice car and really smooth!

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The three of us... I was trying to use the remote but apparently had not placed the camera on a flat surface!!!

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The fishermen monument in Peggy's cove... fishing seemed to be the traditional job around that area...

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This was the warning on the light house wall!

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Peggy's cove, NS - this light house was like the most important tourist attraction they had in Halifax. Of course it was very pretty but honestly, not that big of a deal!

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Somayeh and I, streets fo Halifax!

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THE ORIGINAL ALEXANDER KEITH'S brewery... for all of you who drink Canadian beer!

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This is Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and this dog does not look happy to be tied next to the giant bird!

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This is a view from the top of one of downtown streets in Halifax, waterfront is visible.

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This is our hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia - Westin Nova Scotia hotel, nice place! This is the only sunny day in Halifax, while I was there!..

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It's over

Horrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaa!
It's done...I'll write later!

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Feeling better

Ok, so I'm in a completely different mood compared to my last post!

Had an awesome weekend, playing beach volleyball and partying almost all Saturday and Sunday two weeks ago. And of course most importantly, finally got to resolve a long-lasting misunderstanding with a friend... Someone who once used to be and hopefully in the future will be one of my closest friends.

And then last weekend went to a great Persian party and fulfilled my craving for Persian music and dance!

Right now however, I'm in Halifax along with Somayeh on an OR Conference. It's been pretty cold and cloudy/rainy since we've got here and there's no sign of improvement!
It's a pretty small town and I'm not sure what we would do even if it was sunny.

My presentation is on Wednesday, hope I'll do fine (crossed fingers!)...hmmm yeah so that's basically it! I'll write later! Feel so bad about not updating here for such a long time!

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My favorite mistake

Does anyone know why we keep repeating our mistakes?

Why the hell don't we understand the first time something goes wrong?! Why the hell DON'T I understand it?!

I just hate the way things are right now... To be honest, don't even bother to listen to all the B.S. I'm getting... It's always the same story, just different versions.

Whatever... I'll get over it soon enough.

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