Is there a God?

I have been thinking about writing this for a while. I’ve wanted to talk about Richard Dawkins. In fact when Thanksgiving came around last Thursday, this funny question came to mind: Do atheists (in US) celebrate Thanksgiving? It sounded amusing to me. I didn’t care and wasn’t curious about the answer. I was just looking for a way to properly address this issue. Is there a God? I think I know the answer to both questions and what an atheist would say, but according to one of my friends, that is the mother of all questions. I think Man has been questioning that for ever (at least some have and I can tell you that I have.)

Now, is this a coincident that I happen to see this program today and other (related, if there is such a thing) coincident I discover looking more in to this? I think it was the Fox news channel today, that was reporting and dedicating a whole program to this (well known) evangelist called Rick Warren and his great success with his book, A Purpose Driven Life. These two people and their belief are on the opposite end of this question. I have a hard time with religion and I find it comforting and reassuring when I find people like Richard Dawkins. I don’t want to think I’m the only person who feels this way. Then I see people like Pastor Rick Warren and his followers, right under my nose, in southern California and I feel despair. PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE I know that this evangelist is not alone and there is a lot of that going around. I just chose not to think about it. It’s equally amazing (to me) the Pastor Warren’s web site mentions Richard Dawkins, as a stamps of approval and as a justification of their deity.

Under PURPOSE DRIVEN CAFÉ, you will find the following paragraph (description, which accompanies Richard Dawkins related stories.) Here it is:
In the magazine Free Inquiry, British biologist Richard Dawkins calls religion a mental virus – a false belief that infects your mind the way a virus infects your body. Consider the symptoms, Dawkins writes. People don’t adopt a religion after carefully weighing the evidence; faith is “caught” the way a cold is...
But of course, in the subsequent paragraphs, the writer of that article is presenting his opposite views and arguing to the contrary.

I mention this because I see myself and free thinkers like me as a minority. The program today showed how religious people follow this (and other) evangelical super stars and subscribe to his preaching and satisfy their spiritual needs. This time of year, this spiritual and jovial feeling, is all around you, with Christmas around the corner. For example, The new Christmas movie, The Nativity Story.

Here is the real story, an article about Richard Dawkins, the Atheist, evolutionary biologist.

Little Appreciation for Art and Finer things in Life

What is wrong with me? Which genes am I missing? Is it part of your DNA and are you born with it or there is hope and you can be cultured? I am talking about things like Opera, Ballet, Theater, Art, Modern Paintings, Poetry, Literature, Champagne, Wine, and that sort of things.

I don’t know where to start, but it was all triggered by this article yesterday, Friday, November 11, 2006, in LA Times, Calendar section called, “Geffen’s other dream works.” David Geffen is one of the triplet billionaires who own DreamWorks SKG, the giant movie/animation studio. The other two executives are Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, therefore the “SKG” acronym. Any how, he just “caused a stir by selling one painting for a record $140 million and two others for a combined $143.5 million, all within the last two months.”, according to the article. The $140 million is Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948” and Willem de Kooming’s “Police Gazette”, fetched a cool $63.5 million. Jasper Johns’“False Start” sold for $80 million last month. “As a matter of taste, Geffen mostly favors Abstract Expressionist and Pop Art works from artists such as Pollock, De Kooning, Johns, and Rauschenberg”, reports the article as well. While I’m on the subject I might as well mention the art deal

There was too points to this article. One obviously was the story behind the paintings and David Geffen’s fascination and interest and the depth and value of his collection. For example, the article also mentions De Kooning’s “Woman III”. “The history of “Woman III” makes the clear that Geffen’s collecting has been more than a casual pastime. He wound up with that work after a complex trade in 1994 that involved a handoff in the international zone of the Vienna airport. One side started with a 16th century book of Persian miniature paintings (estimated value: $20 million), the other with the De Kooning. Before long, Geffen had the De Kooning and the book was in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.” I just mentioned this part, since it’s about Persian Art and Shirin my second cousin is an artist who will hopefully one day have her works valued astronomically too. You can find her here: Shirin in Engelestan That is, she should keep drawing and hopefully, cross my fingers, she may not have to wait 400 years. We have a few other artists and writers in our family and I wish them all luck.

The other point to the story Two, was addressing whether he is raising the $2 billion or so it could cost to purchase the Los Angeles Times news paper. Now why Geffen is interested in buying a major conservative new paper? He is making money left & right making his movies. I’ve heard he is gay. Is he planning to influence and make it a more liberal paper? I don’t know, I’m just guessing.

My point! I am lost and amazed! I don’t see the fascination and interest and obviously the absurd (yes absurd) amount these paintings are sold for. Actually, I like this style of painting too. A few years ago when I bought my place, I spent less than $2000 on several paintings (4 larger and 2 smaller ones) to decorate my walls.

On a related stories today (Sat. November 10, 2006), Picasso art work being repaired:
Wynn Las Vegas’ Picasso painting was damaged while Steve Wynn, the casino mogul accidentally poked a hole in a Picasso while he was showing the 1932 work to several high profile guests. The painting is called “Le Reve” French for “The Dream” and it’s depicting Picasso’s mistress, Marie-Theresa Walter. Wynn paid $48.4 million for it in 1997, and was considering selling it for $139 million to an art collector a few days earlier. His wife said, “This is sign from God that we ought to keep it.” According to an art dealer appraiser, a resorted piece naturally is not worth the full value. It breaks your heart, doesn’t it?

As far as Opera and Ballet goes, I’ve only been to one Ballet and very few operas. Of course, like everyone else, you’re more exposed to them on TV. I have watched some, but I guess it’s not the same as being there. I like Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and I have only been to the Phantom of the Opera, once. I say once, because my little niece had fallen in love with it and had gone to see it many times.

I don’t think I can’t stay awake during the Swan Lake as was the case on the last Chinese Ballet I went to last year, thinking I’ll kill two birds in one stone. Halfway thru the middle of the second act, I found I couldn’t keep my eyes open and was trying to hide it from my date. The wine before the show and at the intermission might have had something to do with it too.

I like operas the least. I have a CD of Pavarotti which I enjoy, but I don’t like many others. What’s wrong with me?

I have only been to a couple of plays: Fiddler on the roof, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I liked them both, but William Shakespeare is not that easy for me to understand, but it’s a very cute comedic play. And how hasn’t heard Hamlet’s “To be or not to be…” and the story of Othello? I just wished I liked them more! That is, I just don’t go out of my way to go to a play, or book Ballet and Opera tickets. I was always open to see the Broadway musicals Cats, but less excited to see Beauty and the Beast, for example. I also liked to see Les Miserable, but never actually made any effort to go. If someone had asked me to go I would have, but never made an effort myself. I did also see Elton’s Johns, something musical, but can’t even recall the name. I guess I enjoy concerts more.

At least I lucked out on Classical Music. I must have some of the genes. I do enjoy a variety of it and different composers. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is awesome! I try to go to some classical music concerts usually held at the Hollywood Bowl in LA or at two other outside venues in LA/Orange County area. These outside concerts are a lot of fun. Besides the music, you can take a picnic basket with your favorite snacks and drinks. Most times you are allowed to take the wine as well.

I also enjoy concerts too, but most people do too. This is nothing new or not much to say about it. It depends on individual taste and I like a variety of music and many different bands.

I like Persian poetry more than English. I just don’t relate much to the English poems. I did enjoy some of the Persian poetries we had to learn in school, but that was it. Once school was over, I never went back to read, enjoy, or seek to learn more. It always amazed me that some of the older relatives and friends could rehearse so many and had a right poem for every occasion. I’m jealous of them.

So far, forget about literature. I have purchased some of the classics, but never made the time to read them. I always remember that and think to myself that I might have cheated myself out of something good, by never making the time to read the so many books I collected. I wasn’t as bad with the fictions. I would read some of them at bed time, or here and there.

I envy people who really enjoy drinking a couple of glasses of wine over dinner, an afternoon weekend, or just at some gatherings. I’ve tried most of them, but mostly Cabornet, Merlot, Chianti, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, White Zinfandel, Souvenian Blanc, Riesling, to name a few. I just don’t enjoy them as much the other people do. I get in to the mood, and mostly it’s at a dinner date that we order wine, but as soon as I have take a sip, I start questioning how come don’t enjoy it like others do? I’m much happier when I order a Diet Coke or cranberry ice tea. It’s not easy to find your favorite wine. It requires a lot of research and trial and error. Because you have to try and decide which of these you like best: Dry, delicate, crisp, fruity, goes with red meat, goes with white meat, with poultry, with cheese and crackers, an so on and so forth! If I had to pick any, I would go with the Riesling, a white wine, but then it might not be appropriate with red meat. Who decided that and made it stick? I guess it pays to go to one of those wine tasting trips. I'm reminded of Sidaways, the movie, last year.
Forget Champagne. Every new year, or at birthday party or occasions like that people pop Champagne bottles and seem to really enjoy it. Not me! I don’t care for it. Please don’t take wrong, I feel the same about all other alcoholic drinks too. Believe me, I’m not that boring and I usually order something, but I just don’t enjoy them that much!

When I think of art, I immediately associated it with museums. I enjoy going to them at least one, or sometimes more than once. The Getty Museum in LA is a site to see and a good experience worth more than one trip. Of course, I cannot compare it with the Louvre Museum, since I haven’t been there, but I imagine it can hold its own. Another place that is a must see, is the Huntington Library (and botanical garden) in San Marino (close to Pasadena & LA.) There are other museums in LA area but these two, I recommend the most.

Did I leave anything out? I know I rambled on, but I’m think I will one day return here and read this and reflect on it and ask what the hell was I talking about or why I was acting like a dork.

One update: I just read that DreamWorks was sold to Viacom for $1.6 billion earlier this year.

Also, I forgot to mention musicals, be it movies or plays. There’s only a few that I’ve liked: Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, Chicago with Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger & Richard Gere (one or more of them was either nominated or got an Oscar,I think), and Evita, with Madona & Antonio Banderas. On all of the above, I liked the story more than the music! I didn’t care for All that Jazz, Bob Fosse’s story with Roy Scheider & Jassica Lange or Lion King’s Broadway Musical and Elton John’s music. I think most of them have won one or more accolades.

Mystery Women - PG17

Mystery women – PG17
I read somewhere that the there is a linguistic connection between the three words “myth,” “mysticism” and “mystery.” Let me just start by saying that I don’t believe in mysticism, fate, or any thing supernatural. Today I went to the gym for the third time this week and I was very proud of myself for doing so. I really need to lose some weight. It’s affecting everything I do. I just don’t like myself when if I’m over weight and I avoid going places or doing things. I used to do real good, just a couple of years ago. I don’t know what happened. I used to just go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week and then I could eat anything and as much as I wanted. Starting this year my metabolism must have changed. I started gaining weight. I went to the gym regularly and also went on a diet for the first time in my life. I had hard time losing much weight. I hate dieting, because I love rice and Persian food. Well, I guess I should clarify that too. I love food, fruits, and nuts (did I leave anything out?). I like Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and others. Let’s just say that I don’t discriminate against any ethnic eateries. I was never much into pastry and sweets, but I seem to even like that now too. I especially love Haggen-Dazs ice cream and blue berry cheese cake. The later goes great with a good Colombian cup of coffee. Any how, since I had gained too many pounds and I had hard time losing or maintaining my weight I asked the experts, my cousins up in San Francisco. They are both handsome guys and middle age like me. I am little older than both, but I out ski them both! They both had become a little chubby, but the last time I saw them, they had lost all the extra pounds and looked just great. They both told me that the secret was exercise and South Beach Diet. I got the book and even though I love to cook, I wasn’t going to follow the book verbatim. To follow their menu, you need a full time chef. I just followed a boring regiment of salad with chicken or fish which consisted of two meals a day and oatmeal cereal for breakfast. I lost about 10 pounds or so after two or three months, but was very disappointed that I wasn’t losing more and faster. So, a few weeks ago, I gave up on the total diet and started to eat a lot of ice cream. I have now gained most of the weight back and I know I will hate myself more if I kept this up. So, starting this week, I pledged to go to the gym on a regular basis and try to watch my diet again.

At the gym I usually do the stationary bike and then some weight and then the Stairmaster and then some back and belly exercises and finally do a few laps in the pool. Today when I was swimming I saw a woman approaching my end of the pool and as I reached the wall, she knelt down to tell me something. I couldn’t hear her since I had my ear plugs on. I stood up and turned my right ear towards her. She said, “I want to thank you!” I think she was in her early thirties and okay looking too and was wearing a one piece bathing suite with a swimming cap on. I had no idea what she was talking about. I gave her a surprised look and asked, “What for?” She said, “I don’t know, I just want to thank you.” I had never seen her before and didn’t know what to think. I just said, “You are welcome”, and thought that I was perhaps admitting or acknowledging something, but didn’t know what. As she turned around and walked away, I looked around and saw no one else in the pool and nobody in the Jacuzzi. I quickly made sure my sandals and towel bag was still where I left them. I have lost towels in the past. She left and I was at a loss. As I continued to swim, I kept thinking she might return and tell me what was going on, but she never did. Finally, I remembered that movie, Play it Forward, with Kevin Spacy, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment. The story revolved around people doing three good deeds to other people and asking them in return to do the same to three other people, in order to make the world a better place. I thought maybe this lady was thanking me for no reason as part of “some assignment” to be nice to people/strangers by thanking them!

Something much funnier happened a few years back. I used to go to Vegas several times a year with a close buddy of mine who loved to gamble. He liked blackjack. I didn’t care much for gambling, but I just tagged along over a weekend and enjoyed each others company. I loved the food buffets at some of the nicer casinos like the Bellagio or Paris. One time, we went there for the New Year celebrations. On the last day of the year, they had closed the Las Vegas strip to all the traffic in the afternoon and if you didn’t have a valid reservation you couldn’t even get to any hotel parking lot. We gambled a little and around 11 PM walked outside to join the crowd on the strip. It was as if the whole city was out! Thousands where walking around and waiting for the fire works to start at the stroke of the midnight. It was a little chilly, but no one cared. By chilly, I mean California “Chilly.” We complain when it gets any colder than 65 degrees Fahrenheit! This was the biggest crowed I had ever seen! The whole place was laud and had a jovial atmosphere. Most people were either drunk or had their drinks with them. All of a sudden this beautiful chick and a couple of her girlfriends approached us. They couldn’t have been much over 21. Suddenly this gorgeous girl knelt down in front of me and pretended she was holding my “private parts” with one hand and supporting herself with the other hand rested on the ground. She then pretended she was "pleasuring me", with her mouth! I could not believe my eyes. I was so surprised that I just froze there and started to laugh. After a few seconds, she just got up and grabbed her friends and started giggling and disappeared into the crowd. I was speech less. I walked around with a big grin on my face as if something had really happened!

And, you will all pardon my language. Ever since I read Shirin’s blogs and learned about the Koala handler pleasuring them manually at the zoo, to get them started (Shirin in Engelestan), or the G-spot adventure in the Khaleh-Soskeh’s story, another one of Shirin in Engelestan funny blogs (Khaleh Soskeh in Farsi شیرین در انگلستان ), I realized that these blogs are at least PG-17.

One of my relatives wants me to meet this girl, but I will not call her unless I lose some weight soon. I have met a few girls in the last year, but none worked out for me. I’ve become very picky. I remind myself of that movie, Shallow Hal, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black.