Holocaust Reminder

Iran hosted a conference last month that questioned whether Holocaust really happened or is it just a myth.
Israel’s Holocaust memorial has launched a version of its Web site in Farsi and an Arabic version is on its way. I applaud Israel’s relentless effort in revealing the horror and treatment of Jews by Nazi Germany over 65 years ago.

I’m also reminded of other genocides, ethnic cleansing, and autocratic tyrannical reign of governments over its own people, either currently going on or not too long ago.

Who will speak for them? Who would put an end to hunger, poverty, spread of HIV, child labor, and religious conflicts? Are we ever, as a human race, able to triumph over ignorance, superstition, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, fanaticism, and radical blind religious convictions?

I’m hopeful one day we might, but it won’t be in my life time. My god, there are so many more wrongs that I like to see corrected.

On top of my wishes is the abolishment of chauvinistic authoritarian practices in most radically religious countries by educating those thickhead misogynist madrasa converts and spread of women rights in most those third world countries and some not so third world.

No blood diamonds either, so you know my last movie too. Since I’m on a roll, let’s all pledge to do our part about the global warming and ozone layer depletion. I have not followed up on the cows’ methane producing excrements and its direct effect on the ozone layer, so I have no opinion on that, but I will look in to it, for sure.

My last immediate wish is to bring the price of tortilla bread (and yellow corn) down so that Mexicans that don’t make it over the border don’t go hungry.

So, which holocaust is worse? Is any disaster, man made or natural, any less heart wrenching than another?

We catch, prosecute, and dish out punishment on perpetrators. How come we never blame God for his part? Couldn’t he prevent the holocaust, any of the genocides, or other man made atrocities?

I had a lot on my mind that I tried to squeeze in one post. I like to mention that in no time, I was trying to make light of the Holocaust that the Jews endured or trying to compare it with any other disaster or event at another time. Every event, an all the items I’ve mentioned or touched upon (even the images) are separate major discussion and topics and deserve their own attention without bundling them into one space. Please forgive my writing style and cynicism as in no way I mean to offend anyone or any group.

Although, I’ll argue that the Muslims who go out on day of Ashura (some time this month) and inflict pain and injury on themselves are perhaps a little misguided. Read about Day of Ashura for yourself.

I was glad to learn that this practice was banned in Iran in 1934, but probably it’s back and encouraged under the current political system. I'm glad that girls are more sensible about it.

Foreplay Lessons

I was just a kid, perhaps 6 or 7 years old. One day, a bunch of us boys were playing out on the streets in our neighborhood. One of the kids was a couple of years older than the rest of us. I guess he was the designated leader. I don’t remember how or why the subject of sex came up. I’m sure none of us knew what sex was or if it was called that. I think he called it, Horney. Call it what you want, but were discussing it! Everyone was paying careful attention and quietly listening. The older boy said, “Do you know how to get a girl excited?” Everyone had a blank face on and was looking at each other to see who would come up with an answer first. At that, age we were all about competing with each other and winning. But this time, no one had any ideas. He waited for a second and then quietly whispered, “You rub her knee!” One of the kids said, “What do you mean?” Another said “How?” By this time we were all in a huddle around the older boy and eagerly listening. Again, he quietly whispered, “You just put your hand on her knee and start rubbing it, you know?” Now, moving his hand in a circular motion on an imaginary knee and repeating, “You know, rubbing it like this!” We all had a confused smirk on our faces, as if we had just learned a great secret. At least I did.

It was a few years till I had to put my experience to work. After a while the poor girl asked what was I doing rubbing her knees so much and wouldn’t I rather touch her boobs instead? I must admit that never worked on anyone and I slowly retired that practice.

Worries: Back pain & Bad Blogs

I feel like an old man today and have realized I can’t just write about one thing without referring to another. So bear with me please. Everytime, I want to write and add to my blog, I feel like apologizing and stress that I’m not a blogger as if it is a sin or I’m an imposter pretending to be a blogger. I honestly believe that and I’m afraid it might sound too hypocritical! I like to say it though, without any ill feelings or prompting a negative vibe from the reader. After all I shouldn’t care that much, since I hardly have that many readers.

I’m always concerned about what I want to say on my last blog, because if I ever stop for a while or just stop for good, I want my last posting to be of some significance. So, why am I bothered by that?

I admit I enjoy reading other’s blogs and there are some that I look forward to their new posts. My problem is that when I read something that I like or something that interjects a response then I like to leave a comment, or just for fun to say something funny. That worries me, because then I think the blogger whose blog I have commented on, may want to return the favor and check out my blog. That’s when I feel uneasy and feel that I have to post about something interesting, important, fun, or “deep” to engage my reader. After all it is as if my reputation was on line. Honestly that’s the way I feel, but at the same time, I enjoy reading and finding new interesting people. I guess I’m going in circles now.

I had something else in mind to write about, but I’ll save it for later. Today, like I said earlier, I have felt like an old man since yesterday. I have a bad back and once in a while I feel this muscle tightness in my back that makes it difficult and painful to get up and move around. It started several years ago when I was only 20 and in the middle of a soccer game. I jumped up to head a ball and when I landed, I got the worst muscle spasm ever. I felt I could hardly talk or even breath! In short, that pain puts root canal to shame. I know about both. But the first time it happened I could not move for 48 hours. After some bed rest and lots of Tylenols I went to see a doctor. My doctor at the time told me that was due to a condition I was born with and it would have happened sooner or later. Not a very good explanation at the time. That didn’t stop me, but another pinched nerve and muscle spasm a few years later and a subsequent MRI showed that I had a degenerative disk. Two solutions were offered. Limit my sport activities and exercise to build my mid section and back muscles. I learned about body posture and ergonomics. I learned how to lift correctly and all the crap. I call it crap, because I was too young to face that and because sports were a big part of me. I was pretty good at most sports. I have great reflexes. I was extremely quick and had great hand eye coordination. Participating in sports, made feel great and almost immortal at times! That I blame on my age at the time. I felt like it was unjustly taken away from me. I was very pissed. Why me? That’s pretty much why I hardly ever play soccer, tennis, racquetball, volleyball due to the fact that I’m too scared to get another muscle spasm. There is no pain on earth that could rival that feeling. Trust me on this. You become almost paralyzed and any movement, including breathing can produce an excruciating pain, like a bolt of lightening flowing thru your body. It usually takes 2-3 days to get moving again after some careful exercises. I still ski, but I must be very careful not to do anything stupid.

Nowadays, once in a while in the middle of some activity, all of a sudden, I feel a muscle tightness in my back and I’m reminded of my pack pain quick enough to stop doing what ever I’m doing immediately or face another horrific muscle spasm.. I need to do take it easy and do more warm ups and avoid any sudden moves or lifting anything heavy. So, I’m going to the gym now hoping to return with a little less pain. It will take me a few more trips to feel normal again.

You're So Vain

Say what you will, but I had to write this down tonight. Something came up and this is the first thing that came to mind. But, really, this is just for fun now, as I’m not him any longer. But, it’s good to be the king once in a while, even if it wasn’t for real. You can always look back and laugh at yourself and what little it took to lift your spirit up. Remember the movie Titanic? Leo and Kate, on top of the world, in the moment. I’m not talking about drugs or alcohol. I’ve never done any. I’ve wondered at times whether I missed out on that. I was just high on life, nothing artificial. I was young, had my own apartment, a fast car, and a part time job. That’s all I needed then. Well school work cut into the fun, but was okay, that’s where the girls were!

I don’t want to sound too presumptuous and vain (truly like Carly Simon’s song), but ever since I was little, I was very popular among my friends, and foes. Growing up in Iran, I went to one of the few mixed (sexes) schools in Tehran. I didn’t quiet understanding it at the time, at least not till higher grades. I thought I was everyone’s favorite, or maybe I truly was. I was very cute too, but I didn’t know that at the time. I knew most of the girls in my class liked me. The ratio was in my favor. So why wouldn’t I think that way? In high school I was very popular too. I was both a very good student and pretty good in sports too. I was also a trouble maker, but I never got caught, because no one ever suspected me. I had this innocent look about me, when I wanted to. I have very fond memories of the college years too. It's funny that I only remember the good times now. I have blocked all the hard work and all nighter study times. As they say, you had to be there. My mom always says, “Javoni Kojayee, keh yadet bekheir” Roughly translates to, “I miss my youth cherished memories.” Please be my guest if you have a better translation.

A while back, a girlfriend and I were looking at some old pictures when I was much younger, with the long hair and the mustache (Cat Stevens or more Jason King kinda look.) She said, but you’re so nice and sweet now, I would have never liked you if I had met you then. (I was thinking to myself, lady, with that attitude, I would have probably never gone out with you either! So vain!) We all change, for good or worst. I guess I’m gooder now.



Carly Simon, You’re So Vain, No Secrets - 1972

Here are the lyrics:
You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror
As you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

You had me several years ago
When I was still quite naive
Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved
And one of them was me
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you?

Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not, you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you? Don't you?

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (so vain)
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? Don't you? Don't you?

Back On The Chain Gang & 5+ Things about me

I wasn't very excited about participating in this chain revelation phenomenon that’s going around on the blogsphere. But Foulla tagged me and this for some reason reminded me of the old chain letters and one of my favorite songs, Back on the Chain Gang, by Pretenders, with that fond memory of this song in mind, I was happy to do it. But first, here is the music video followed by the lyrics to the song and my 5. I hope you like the song as much as I do:

Chrissie Hynde of Pretenders, one of my old favorites!

Back on the Chain Gang, Pretenders:
I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh
What hijacked my world that night
To a place in the past
We’ve been cast out of? oh oh oh oh
Now were back in the fight
Were back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang

A circumstance beyond our control, oh oh oh oh
The phone, the tv and the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh oh oh oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
Put us back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang

The powers that be
That force us to live like we do
Bring me to my knees
When I see what they’ve done to you
But Ill die as I stand here today
Knowing that deep in my heart
They’ll fall to ruin one day
For making us part

I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh
Those were the happiest days of my life
Like a break in the battle was your part, oh oh oh oh
In the wretched life of a lonely heart
Now were back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang

And since I was tagged, here are the things you don’t know about me:

- I do not believe in alien abductions anymore.

- When I was in grade school someone gave me a chain letter. I don't exactly remember the rules, but I had to re-write the letter several times and pass it on to several people, within so many hours, otherwise something horrible will happen to me or a loved one. I totally believed it and went thru a traumatic experience at the time.

- I don’t believe in the power or curses of Chain Letters any longer.

- In college, I had lined up 3 girls who would gladly marry me, to keep me in the country, because of my fear of facing the Immegration authorities and deportation, since I had worked while on a Student Visa.

- These used to be my favorite TV shows: Mork and Mindy, Benny Hill Show, Tracy Ullman Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, & Friends & of course earlier SNL’s & still 60 Minutes. I am just warming up to The Office and Grey’s Anatomy now.

- One freebie: I really like coffee, milk chocolate, and ice cream too.

Ps,
I can’t stand this about myself. I must be dyslexic or something. I’m such a slow reader and the worst speller. I can’t be more thankful for spell check, but even then, I still miss a few. My writing is totally cursed. Yah, I’ll blame it on that :)

New Year Resolutions

No New Year resolutions here. I’m still working on last year's!

The Veil of Secrecy

I have come to this conclusion that you can never really know anybody that well. Anyone is capable of doing a 180 on you. You can never really know anyone that well. You might think you know them really well, but they could be fooling you. Not because they are mean or clever or anything, it’s just their personality and there is nothing you can do about it. Just be prepared to be disappointed and not surprised.