Tuesday, December 30, 2003
House of Sand and Fog:
A tale of fogged up lives:
Dec. 28, Irvine Spectrum:
We are all still down from the poignant images and the grim news dominating the media. The news of our quake-stricken people in Bam. We decide to spend the evening together, talking good talks and possibly seeing a movie. We meet in Spectrum and talk of a bowl of fruit and a garden of roses (Sound of Music style!). I persistently insist on our seeing the much-anticipated movie starring our one and only Shohreh Aghdashloo and I win the crowd over.
10:00 PM Pacific Time, theater#9:
It is almost a full house, 90 percent of whom are Persians anxiously awaiting the start of the movie that has stars of their own shining in it. Almost everyone has come prepared. Bags of potato chips, sandwiches, pop corn,... and of course, not switched off cell phones. It looks more of a picnic at first. People offer food to each other and talk in loud voices. I keep badgering our friends to choose the quietest place, but there are none to be found.
10:15 PM, same place!:
The movie starts. The crowd goes unbelievably quiet. Shohreh's name shines in huge letters on the big screen. Viewers shout and clap and whistle Persian-style. The first scene; Andy singing at the wedding. We split our sides belly laughing! Hollywood is just not quite ready for the likes of Andy yet! The wedding scene becomes my favorite scene of year 2003.
Shohreh and Jonathon Ahdout outshine all the rest. Though Ben is truly amazing too. The only problem with Shohreh's character is her persistence in speaking faulty English which sounds awfully fake. Phrases such as "excuse for me" and as Arnold would say, "things of that nature!". And the problem with Ben's character is not his acquired Persian accent when speaking English, but his thick accent when speaking Farsi. My take on Jennifer? All I can say is: "nice legs!"
Shohreh's love scene with Ben drives everyone into a state of shock. My cousin breaks the silence saying:" Cheshme Houshang roshan!" , the house bursts into laughter and another guy follows by saying:" Houshang che bigheyrat shodi!" It is not at all even comparable to Jennifer's rendition of a love scene a bit earlier, but I am thinking our people are not braced to see one of their own in such situations!
Aside from the few hilarious scenes, which are not even meant to be funny and our fellow viewers chose to make it funny, the movie is painfully tragic. I, having tears left still, wept so hard and loud at some scenes that I was told the rest of the gang had cried not at the scenes but from my weeping. I cried the victims in the movie not a river, but a sea the size of Caspian, where their dreams had been drowned and buried for their lives to be changed forever.
A tale of fogged up lives:
Dec. 28, Irvine Spectrum:
We are all still down from the poignant images and the grim news dominating the media. The news of our quake-stricken people in Bam. We decide to spend the evening together, talking good talks and possibly seeing a movie. We meet in Spectrum and talk of a bowl of fruit and a garden of roses (Sound of Music style!). I persistently insist on our seeing the much-anticipated movie starring our one and only Shohreh Aghdashloo and I win the crowd over.
10:00 PM Pacific Time, theater#9:
It is almost a full house, 90 percent of whom are Persians anxiously awaiting the start of the movie that has stars of their own shining in it. Almost everyone has come prepared. Bags of potato chips, sandwiches, pop corn,... and of course, not switched off cell phones. It looks more of a picnic at first. People offer food to each other and talk in loud voices. I keep badgering our friends to choose the quietest place, but there are none to be found.
10:15 PM, same place!:
The movie starts. The crowd goes unbelievably quiet. Shohreh's name shines in huge letters on the big screen. Viewers shout and clap and whistle Persian-style. The first scene; Andy singing at the wedding. We split our sides belly laughing! Hollywood is just not quite ready for the likes of Andy yet! The wedding scene becomes my favorite scene of year 2003.
Shohreh and Jonathon Ahdout outshine all the rest. Though Ben is truly amazing too. The only problem with Shohreh's character is her persistence in speaking faulty English which sounds awfully fake. Phrases such as "excuse for me" and as Arnold would say, "things of that nature!". And the problem with Ben's character is not his acquired Persian accent when speaking English, but his thick accent when speaking Farsi. My take on Jennifer? All I can say is: "nice legs!"
Shohreh's love scene with Ben drives everyone into a state of shock. My cousin breaks the silence saying:" Cheshme Houshang roshan!" , the house bursts into laughter and another guy follows by saying:" Houshang che bigheyrat shodi!" It is not at all even comparable to Jennifer's rendition of a love scene a bit earlier, but I am thinking our people are not braced to see one of their own in such situations!
Aside from the few hilarious scenes, which are not even meant to be funny and our fellow viewers chose to make it funny, the movie is painfully tragic. I, having tears left still, wept so hard and loud at some scenes that I was told the rest of the gang had cried not at the scenes but from my weeping. I cried the victims in the movie not a river, but a sea the size of Caspian, where their dreams had been drowned and buried for their lives to be changed forever.
Saturday, December 27, 2003
Why God, Why?
It is just not FAIR:
Dec. 26, 2003; 6 PM Pacific Time:
Out all day, come home, turn the answering machine on. A message from our Arab friend conveying his condolences on the quake in Kerman, asking how he and his Arab community friends can send out help. I listen in confusion. What is he talking about?
News on NBC4: a 6.7 quake in Bam, 1000s dead, many injured. I cannot believe my ears and eyes. For the first few while I go into a state of denial. How could this happen to my people? Have we not had more than our share of misery and disaster? Does not the god of my country deem us deserving of some, not much, just a tad of tranquility and happiness? Why, Why, Why? Why do my people have to suffer so much? Not fair, just not fair.
The anchor goes on; Arg-e-Bam, the largest mud-brick citadel is gone! Now this is becoming just too much to handle by the second. My first while of shock and denial turns into a long while of silent tear-shedding and mumbling: "It is just not fair God, not fair at all"! Oh how I wish I could drive to a remote place where no one can hear me. Where I can scream at the top of my lungs, so hard, so hard so that all the gods can hear me. Where I can wail and weep and sob and sniff till the god of fairness comes down to give an answer to all the WHY's I have had in my head for a long long while.
I always wondered why God has been kinder to some and less merciful to the others and seeing all the conveniences and opportunities granted to the more fortunate countries has raised even more "why" questions in my head. The answer I have been repeatedly given: "It is fate, kismat, destiny". It is fate for someone to be born in a country like Iran, witness the devastation of revolution and war and go through all other sorts of pressures and now this? I refuse to accept that. I have fooled myself with that answer for so long, for the sting of reality not to bite my heart too much. But I won't anymore; I just won't accept that cliche of an answer anymore. I demand real answers now. Do we, all human beings the world over, not have the same God? Why were we not granted the same gifts then if the answer is affirmative? Why did we shake and tremble throughout those "long years of death and destruction" and why does the so called "will of nature" quake and devastate the people already shaken so hard by the "will of man"? Is there not an end to all the calamities?
I truly believe in God and his prophets. What I am skeptical of at the moment is his fairness. "Will of God" for a country to suffer so much? Now that is so excruciatingly UNFAIR.
P.S. Nema has a complete post on this devastating tragedy and how we can all pitch in to help ease the pain. May God grant forbearance to the bereaved families.
It is just not FAIR:
Dec. 26, 2003; 6 PM Pacific Time:
Out all day, come home, turn the answering machine on. A message from our Arab friend conveying his condolences on the quake in Kerman, asking how he and his Arab community friends can send out help. I listen in confusion. What is he talking about?
News on NBC4: a 6.7 quake in Bam, 1000s dead, many injured. I cannot believe my ears and eyes. For the first few while I go into a state of denial. How could this happen to my people? Have we not had more than our share of misery and disaster? Does not the god of my country deem us deserving of some, not much, just a tad of tranquility and happiness? Why, Why, Why? Why do my people have to suffer so much? Not fair, just not fair.
The anchor goes on; Arg-e-Bam, the largest mud-brick citadel is gone! Now this is becoming just too much to handle by the second. My first while of shock and denial turns into a long while of silent tear-shedding and mumbling: "It is just not fair God, not fair at all"! Oh how I wish I could drive to a remote place where no one can hear me. Where I can scream at the top of my lungs, so hard, so hard so that all the gods can hear me. Where I can wail and weep and sob and sniff till the god of fairness comes down to give an answer to all the WHY's I have had in my head for a long long while.
I always wondered why God has been kinder to some and less merciful to the others and seeing all the conveniences and opportunities granted to the more fortunate countries has raised even more "why" questions in my head. The answer I have been repeatedly given: "It is fate, kismat, destiny". It is fate for someone to be born in a country like Iran, witness the devastation of revolution and war and go through all other sorts of pressures and now this? I refuse to accept that. I have fooled myself with that answer for so long, for the sting of reality not to bite my heart too much. But I won't anymore; I just won't accept that cliche of an answer anymore. I demand real answers now. Do we, all human beings the world over, not have the same God? Why were we not granted the same gifts then if the answer is affirmative? Why did we shake and tremble throughout those "long years of death and destruction" and why does the so called "will of nature" quake and devastate the people already shaken so hard by the "will of man"? Is there not an end to all the calamities?
I truly believe in God and his prophets. What I am skeptical of at the moment is his fairness. "Will of God" for a country to suffer so much? Now that is so excruciatingly UNFAIR.
P.S. Nema has a complete post on this devastating tragedy and how we can all pitch in to help ease the pain. May God grant forbearance to the bereaved families.
Monday, December 22, 2003
Not So Funny in English:
Persian to English translations, part two:
1. You have ashamed us again bro':
Ok, so this busy as a Persian bumblebee friend of mine spends hours after work shopping for his sister and her children ( no need to mention how much guys dislike spending time in the mall!). He then goes to the post office and again some time is spent there for the huge package to be posted to Iran. The one thing that gives him solace is the fact that once the package makes it to the hands of his family, they will become so very happy and love the uncle who has spent oodles of dollars on them that much more. So he impatiently awaits.
Two weeks later:
He receives an email from his sister's email addy. He soon goes into a severe shock reading the controversial title:
Subject: "Brother, you have ashamed us once more"
"What have I done this time?", the guy wonders. "And how did they find it out?", he goes on wondering! Tears run down his tired face! ( Ok, ok, so I am exaggerating a bit! We all know guys don't cry!). He reads on and finds out how his sis is all grateful for all the gifts and only after reading the email many times does he realize that "Bro' you have ashamed us once again" is his sis's translation for "Daadaash, shoma baazam maaro khejalat daadin ke!", which I think would have saved the poor guy long hours of wondering had it been translated as " You have obliged us once again dear brother!". Twelve terms at Simin Educational Institute and still this? Alas!
2. Lesson 2: Interested! Disgusted! Bored!
So we have this family friend who has just come from Iran.
This is what she has actually said to a salesman:
Her: No, I am not very interesting at all.
This is what she has told a waiter at a restaurant (while smiling):
Her: I am very disgusting sir!
And this is what she has told her American friend at a party:
Her: I am very boring!
Time for her to repeat after me:
"I am not interested at all", "I am disgusted" and "I am very bored"!
P.S. You have ashamed me again Enetation:
Asad and Soroosh told me how my comment box is broken. Thanks you guys and hope Enetation fixes it soon. It is such a troublemaker this enetation is. Wish I could abandon it for a better one!
Persian to English translations, part two:
1. You have ashamed us again bro':
Ok, so this busy as a Persian bumblebee friend of mine spends hours after work shopping for his sister and her children ( no need to mention how much guys dislike spending time in the mall!). He then goes to the post office and again some time is spent there for the huge package to be posted to Iran. The one thing that gives him solace is the fact that once the package makes it to the hands of his family, they will become so very happy and love the uncle who has spent oodles of dollars on them that much more. So he impatiently awaits.
Two weeks later:
He receives an email from his sister's email addy. He soon goes into a severe shock reading the controversial title:
Subject: "Brother, you have ashamed us once more"
"What have I done this time?", the guy wonders. "And how did they find it out?", he goes on wondering! Tears run down his tired face! ( Ok, ok, so I am exaggerating a bit! We all know guys don't cry!). He reads on and finds out how his sis is all grateful for all the gifts and only after reading the email many times does he realize that "Bro' you have ashamed us once again" is his sis's translation for "Daadaash, shoma baazam maaro khejalat daadin ke!", which I think would have saved the poor guy long hours of wondering had it been translated as " You have obliged us once again dear brother!". Twelve terms at Simin Educational Institute and still this? Alas!
2. Lesson 2: Interested! Disgusted! Bored!
So we have this family friend who has just come from Iran.
This is what she has actually said to a salesman:
Her: No, I am not very interesting at all.
This is what she has told a waiter at a restaurant (while smiling):
Her: I am very disgusting sir!
And this is what she has told her American friend at a party:
Her: I am very boring!
Time for her to repeat after me:
"I am not interested at all", "I am disgusted" and "I am very bored"!
P.S. You have ashamed me again Enetation:
Asad and Soroosh told me how my comment box is broken. Thanks you guys and hope Enetation fixes it soon. It is such a troublemaker this enetation is. Wish I could abandon it for a better one!
Sunday, December 21, 2003
A Week of Cheesy movies:
The Cheesy Movie Award:
1)Something's gotta give
2)Love don't cost a thing
3)Mona Lisa Smile
...and the award for the cheesiest movie of the week goes to: "Love don't cost a thing" of course! ( Even the title is cheesy and so not true! Love sure costs a whole lot and more!).
P.S. I actually kinda liked "Mona Lisa Smile" and really liked "Something's Gotta give"! Julia Roberts is beautiful as always and Jackie Nicholson is simply hilarious.
The Cheesy Movie Award:
1)Something's gotta give
2)Love don't cost a thing
3)Mona Lisa Smile
...and the award for the cheesiest movie of the week goes to: "Love don't cost a thing" of course! ( Even the title is cheesy and so not true! Love sure costs a whole lot and more!).
P.S. I actually kinda liked "Mona Lisa Smile" and really liked "Something's Gotta give"! Julia Roberts is beautiful as always and Jackie Nicholson is simply hilarious.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
1-Viva Las Vegas, Nevada
A weekend in "The meadow of lights"
2-Death to the Tyrant
How the mighty have fallen( or not!)
My first visit to Vegas: a)The weather was "snow's gonna fall" kind of cold.
b)They say you win some you lose some. Well in my case it went something like: "you win some, you lose some, and then you lose some more"! Losing quite a number of quarters playing them machines was the most fun loss of my life!
c)My favorite show: "The Sirens of the Treasure Island". ( Siren: One of a group of sea nymphs who by their sweet singing lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.) The Sirens were dangerously beautiful.
d)3:30 AM, back in our hotel room: while getting ready to retire, we turn the TV on. Breaking news on CNN: Saddam's been captured! This creature on TV is the heinous Saddam we have all come to dislike? The beast who killed and maimed our people and destroyed many lives?. This long-bearded man looks more like a cranky Santa than an ex-dictator! I have a hard time believing the whole story for many reasons, among them these two: First of all, we all know he has had doubles, how can we be sure that this is the real McCoy? And secondly, the timing factor! The timing could not have been more perfect for Bush. How can they assure us that this is not just a re-election ploy? Iraq is a small country, as Bush himself put it, it is almost the size of California. How in the world could "all the president's men" not find a man the size of Saddam for almost 9 months has gotten me, for one, all puzzled and skeptical! Let us assume that he is the real thing and there were no election incentives whatsoever behind the whole operation, still I have a hard time believing the story. It simply sounds too ficitonal. I am just happy they did rescue that man, whoever he is, from the rat hole. The poor fellow was down to his last two Mars Bars! Now that is what I call a sweet toothed criminal!
Tonight I watched Bush's interview. He seemed awfully uncomfortable and edgy. When faced with a tough question, he would fidget and give this "I'm about to cry" face to the camera. Could a president get any dumber? His answer to most of the questions: " I don't know"! When asked if Saddam was sedated he replied:"Ask the folks on the field"! When grilled over how there were no WMDs found, he got all upset and in a semi-shouting voice told the interviewer that she can ask that question over and over again but his answer will all the time be that he did the right thing! 90 percent of his answers were the same cliche, that Saddam was a dangerous man, that he did what is best for the American people, that he is trying to make the world a safer place to live in! I bet he does not even listen to the questions! His stuttering and fidgeting got more intense by the minute. Thank God it was an hour long interview, a minute more and the poor guy would have fallen on his head ( and the whole world would have heard a big bang!)
A weekend in "The meadow of lights"
2-Death to the Tyrant
How the mighty have fallen( or not!)
My first visit to Vegas: a)The weather was "snow's gonna fall" kind of cold.
b)They say you win some you lose some. Well in my case it went something like: "you win some, you lose some, and then you lose some more"! Losing quite a number of quarters playing them machines was the most fun loss of my life!
c)My favorite show: "The Sirens of the Treasure Island". ( Siren: One of a group of sea nymphs who by their sweet singing lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.) The Sirens were dangerously beautiful.
d)3:30 AM, back in our hotel room: while getting ready to retire, we turn the TV on. Breaking news on CNN: Saddam's been captured! This creature on TV is the heinous Saddam we have all come to dislike? The beast who killed and maimed our people and destroyed many lives?. This long-bearded man looks more like a cranky Santa than an ex-dictator! I have a hard time believing the whole story for many reasons, among them these two: First of all, we all know he has had doubles, how can we be sure that this is the real McCoy? And secondly, the timing factor! The timing could not have been more perfect for Bush. How can they assure us that this is not just a re-election ploy? Iraq is a small country, as Bush himself put it, it is almost the size of California. How in the world could "all the president's men" not find a man the size of Saddam for almost 9 months has gotten me, for one, all puzzled and skeptical! Let us assume that he is the real thing and there were no election incentives whatsoever behind the whole operation, still I have a hard time believing the story. It simply sounds too ficitonal. I am just happy they did rescue that man, whoever he is, from the rat hole. The poor fellow was down to his last two Mars Bars! Now that is what I call a sweet toothed criminal!
Tonight I watched Bush's interview. He seemed awfully uncomfortable and edgy. When faced with a tough question, he would fidget and give this "I'm about to cry" face to the camera. Could a president get any dumber? His answer to most of the questions: " I don't know"! When asked if Saddam was sedated he replied:"Ask the folks on the field"! When grilled over how there were no WMDs found, he got all upset and in a semi-shouting voice told the interviewer that she can ask that question over and over again but his answer will all the time be that he did the right thing! 90 percent of his answers were the same cliche, that Saddam was a dangerous man, that he did what is best for the American people, that he is trying to make the world a safer place to live in! I bet he does not even listen to the questions! His stuttering and fidgeting got more intense by the minute. Thank God it was an hour long interview, a minute more and the poor guy would have fallen on his head ( and the whole world would have heard a big bang!)
Friday, December 12, 2003
A Shot of Nostalgia:
Childhood Memories:
Pedram started a string of what I like to call "Posts of Nostalgia". Next came Kaveh, writing about the shows from back home which brought about a flood of comments. That got "ME" all nostalgic and led to her writing her childhood memories in two parts. I sat in amazement at my computer, wondering how they can remember all that. Today is my first year anniversary, last year on Dec. 12 (yek saal pish dar chenin roozi) I set foot on the soil of Cali after years of anticipation (Happy anniversary to me!). It is only natural for me to remember all the shows and memories from back home, but to see how those of you who have been away for a while longer so vividly remember and so beautifully describe, honestly brought tears to my eyes. All I can say is that I am proud of my fellow countrymen.
P.S.My favorite shows were kolaah ghermezi and zizi gooloo aasi paasi taa be taa! I have a 6' 4" hunk of a cousin who all the time talks like kolaah ghermezi! I seriously hope that is not the way he talks to his dates!
Childhood Memories:
Pedram started a string of what I like to call "Posts of Nostalgia". Next came Kaveh, writing about the shows from back home which brought about a flood of comments. That got "ME" all nostalgic and led to her writing her childhood memories in two parts. I sat in amazement at my computer, wondering how they can remember all that. Today is my first year anniversary, last year on Dec. 12 (yek saal pish dar chenin roozi) I set foot on the soil of Cali after years of anticipation (Happy anniversary to me!). It is only natural for me to remember all the shows and memories from back home, but to see how those of you who have been away for a while longer so vividly remember and so beautifully describe, honestly brought tears to my eyes. All I can say is that I am proud of my fellow countrymen.
P.S.My favorite shows were kolaah ghermezi and zizi gooloo aasi paasi taa be taa! I have a 6' 4" hunk of a cousin who all the time talks like kolaah ghermezi! I seriously hope that is not the way he talks to his dates!
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Lyndon LaRouche;
Not just another Democratic candidate?
"You are cordially invited to attend a national/international webcast, to be held on December 12, 2003, to be addressed by Democratic Presidential pre-candidate Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr."
Time: Friday, December 12 - 10 AM PDT
Venue: Cal State Los Angeles, Golden Eagle Conference Room
I got to know one of the campaigners in LaRouche's camp last week and we have talked a couple of times. I am not a citizen therefore I cannot vote, but to those of you who can, I suggest a research into the views of the presidential candidates, even those who do not get media coverage.
P.S. Speaking of presidents, I learnt today that President Nixon graduated from the school I am going to attend. Now I am torn between being happy and applying to other schools!
P.P.S. Here is my beloved school's website. Whittier rules (I guess)!
Not just another Democratic candidate?
"You are cordially invited to attend a national/international webcast, to be held on December 12, 2003, to be addressed by Democratic Presidential pre-candidate Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr."
Time: Friday, December 12 - 10 AM PDT
Venue: Cal State Los Angeles, Golden Eagle Conference Room
I got to know one of the campaigners in LaRouche's camp last week and we have talked a couple of times. I am not a citizen therefore I cannot vote, but to those of you who can, I suggest a research into the views of the presidential candidates, even those who do not get media coverage.
P.S. Speaking of presidents, I learnt today that President Nixon graduated from the school I am going to attend. Now I am torn between being happy and applying to other schools!
P.P.S. Here is my beloved school's website. Whittier rules (I guess)!
Friday, December 05, 2003
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Some Persian Lovin' Care
Way to Go Geena:
Pregnant with twins at 48? Married to a handsome Iranian doc 15 years younger? You rock Ms. Geena Davis.
P.S. Is it me or is surgeon Jarrahy's hair a work of photoshop?
P.P.S.Surgeon=Jarrah. What a coincidence.
Way to Go Geena:
Pregnant with twins at 48? Married to a handsome Iranian doc 15 years younger? You rock Ms. Geena Davis.
P.S. Is it me or is surgeon Jarrahy's hair a work of photoshop?
P.P.S.Surgeon=Jarrah. What a coincidence.
Monday, December 01, 2003
My Last Week of November Calendar:
Saturday Nov. 22:
"Mens Rea"
Open House of a School of Law! Great breakfast, awesome lunch. My favorite part of the program: The "Criminal Law" mock class. What I learnt: "Mens Rea" means "guilty/bad thought", a "culpable mental state", and it is not considered a crime. Thoughts are not enough to bring one in the realm of crime. So "Mens Rea" alone won't get you busted! You need "Actus Reus" which means "bad acts" to accompany your evil thoughts!
"Actus Rea+ Mens Rea= Crime"
So in the realm of law it is not the thought that counts I guess.
Tuesday Nov. 25:
"College Credit for Eid-al-Fetr":
"Eid al Fetr" fiesta in a community college thrown by the Muslim club. On the whole 10 Arabs and Iranians in attendance and at least 40 Americans and other nationalities. Great food, awesome tea. My favorite part: Lecture on Islam by a sophisticated, rosary-holding Iranian college professor with beautiful hair and a mesmerizing smile . She is the one who told the students to attend, eat, learn and get college credit for it.
What seemed of most interest to the students was the big samavar and the tea-pot on it. A guy poured himself hot water while asking the tea lady if it is decafinated or not! It was the cutest atmosphere ever.
Thursday Nov. 27:
Not even "21 grams" of turkey:
"They say 21 grams is the weight we lose when we die. The weight of five nickels, of a hummingbird, of a chocolate bar--and perhaps also of a human soul."
Missed my first Thanks giving dinner, ended up seeing "21 grams" about which I am still thinking. You have got to see it you guys.
Friday Nov. 28:
Who're you calling a Barbarian?
Saw the French Canadian movie: "The Barbarian Invasion". One question popped into my mind: Why do guys always cheat and women are so sympathetic in the movies?
Saturday Nov. 29:
I- Getty Museum
II- Santa Barbara or Bust!
Drove to L.A. "Iranian style" aka "Mellat Park/ Sizdeh Bedar style" ( took lots of food including kookoo sabzi and cheese and tomato as well as tea and fruits). Visited the Getty Museum which was pretty amazing.
Drove to Santa Barbara from there. I was told by half a dozen people that S.B. is a must see! Drove around the city looking at the houses, went to the beach, went window shopping and for the life of me, though I tried my hardest, I could not comprehend what all the fuss is about over S.B! I never thought I would actually miss the lifeless O.C. one day!
Saturday Nov. 22:
"Mens Rea"
Open House of a School of Law! Great breakfast, awesome lunch. My favorite part of the program: The "Criminal Law" mock class. What I learnt: "Mens Rea" means "guilty/bad thought", a "culpable mental state", and it is not considered a crime. Thoughts are not enough to bring one in the realm of crime. So "Mens Rea" alone won't get you busted! You need "Actus Reus" which means "bad acts" to accompany your evil thoughts!
"Actus Rea+ Mens Rea= Crime"
So in the realm of law it is not the thought that counts I guess.
Tuesday Nov. 25:
"College Credit for Eid-al-Fetr":
"Eid al Fetr" fiesta in a community college thrown by the Muslim club. On the whole 10 Arabs and Iranians in attendance and at least 40 Americans and other nationalities. Great food, awesome tea. My favorite part: Lecture on Islam by a sophisticated, rosary-holding Iranian college professor with beautiful hair and a mesmerizing smile . She is the one who told the students to attend, eat, learn and get college credit for it.
What seemed of most interest to the students was the big samavar and the tea-pot on it. A guy poured himself hot water while asking the tea lady if it is decafinated or not! It was the cutest atmosphere ever.
Thursday Nov. 27:
Not even "21 grams" of turkey:
"They say 21 grams is the weight we lose when we die. The weight of five nickels, of a hummingbird, of a chocolate bar--and perhaps also of a human soul."
Missed my first Thanks giving dinner, ended up seeing "21 grams" about which I am still thinking. You have got to see it you guys.
Friday Nov. 28:
Who're you calling a Barbarian?
Saw the French Canadian movie: "The Barbarian Invasion". One question popped into my mind: Why do guys always cheat and women are so sympathetic in the movies?
Saturday Nov. 29:
I- Getty Museum
II- Santa Barbara or Bust!
Drove to L.A. "Iranian style" aka "Mellat Park/ Sizdeh Bedar style" ( took lots of food including kookoo sabzi and cheese and tomato as well as tea and fruits). Visited the Getty Museum which was pretty amazing.
Drove to Santa Barbara from there. I was told by half a dozen people that S.B. is a must see! Drove around the city looking at the houses, went to the beach, went window shopping and for the life of me, though I tried my hardest, I could not comprehend what all the fuss is about over S.B! I never thought I would actually miss the lifeless O.C. one day!
