Frquency of blogging

Resolution 8. A post should be submitted at least every once in 3 days!

Last week

Unusually frequent anxiety attacks, constant fear, moderate fatigue, low to moderate depression in the background causing lack of motivation, bad nightmares, sweating and not controlling body parts i.e. hands and legs during sleep, sadness mainly due to a drop and a great disappointment over not being to handle the situation for failing in sticking to the 'established rules', irritatingly frequent visits to bathroom for liquid disposal, too much time spent on COD2...that was my last week in a nutshell, simply horrible.

Maybe the relative long period of subzero degree and lack of sun has taken its toll, I'd like to think otherwise...you never know, I just want to move on as quickly as possible.

"One of the best abilities of human beings is forgetfulness, helps us to go on with our lives as if nothing happened!"

- Myself

Cover list 1

Playlist 6.

1. "Sweet Dreams" Marilyn Manson from Eurythmics

2. "Paranoid" Megadeth from Black Sabbath

3. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" Guns N' Roses from Bob Dylan

4. "The Man Who Sold The World" Nirvana from David Bowie

5. "Billie Jean" Chris Cornell from Michael Jackson

6. "Last Kiss" Pearl Jam from Wayne Cochran

7. "Stripped" Rammstein from Depeche Mode

8. "American Woman" Lenny Kravitz from The Guess Who

9. "Astronomy" Metallica from Blue Öyster Cult

10. "Personal Jesus" Marilyn Manson from Depeche Mode

VG1

Scene from the episode "The Stand-In" of season 5 of TV series Seinfeld.

[Setting: Jerry's apartment]

Jerry: (hangs up the phone): Hey!

Elaine: Hello!

Jerry: So?

Elaine: What?

Jerry: Come on, how was your date?

Elaine: Oh, the date. The date.

Jerry: Yeah, how was it?

Elaine: Interesting.

Jerry: Really?

Elaine: Oh ya!

Jerry: Why? What happened?

Elaine: Let's see, (thinking) how shall I put this...

Jerry: Just put it!

Elaine: He took it out.

Jerry: (confused) He what?

Elaine: He took (blow on her glasses twice to clean them) it out.

Jerry: He took what out?

Elaine: It!

Jerry: He took it, out?

Elaine: Yessiree Bob.

Jerry: He couldn't.

Elaine: He did.

Jerry: (motions of making out) Well, you were involved in some sort of amorous...

Elaine: Noooo.

Jerry: You mean he just...

Elaine: Yes.

Jerry: Are you sure?

Elaine: Oh quite.

Jerry: There was no mistaking it?

Elaine: (looks straight in the eyes) Jerry?

Jerry: So you were talking, (Elaine making agreement sound "mmm") you're having a pleasant conversation, (Elaine making agreement sound "mmm") then all of a sudden...

Elaine: Yeah.

Jerry: It.

Elaine: It.

Jerry: Out.

Elaine: Out.

Jerry: Well I, I can't believe his. I know Phil, he, he's a good friend of mine. We play softball together. How could this be?

Elaine: Oh it be. (sarcastically) you got any other friends you want to set me up with?

(Kramer enters)

Kramer: Hey...(to Elaine) hey how was your date with Phil Titola?

Elaine: He took it out.

(Shocked, Kramer acts like he just got a cold shiver down his spine)

Kramer: Maybe uh, it needed some air. You know sometimes they need air, they can't breathe in there. It's inhuman!

(Scene ends)

The nightmare continues

Last Wednesday, we were kicked out of FA cup (one of our few shots at any possible silverware) by a Championship side at home. That game also resulted in El nino and Stevie G getting injured making them sidelined for 6 and 2 weeks respectively. The loss overshadowed the excitement over acquisition of Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez, who in my opinion scored the most beautiful goal in WC 2006 against Mexico. We drew against mediocre Stoke yesterday in the most dramatic fashion i.e. conceding a goal in the injury time and adding to already long list of lows in this god damn season. If Rafa somehow manages to turn things around and finishes in decent style, he will earn the ultimate respect from haters as well as fans (a very good analysis on Rafa and the past unfortunate run can be found here).

However, the way things are heading, this season feels like a bad nightmare where you keep telling yourself that you will now wake up and everything will be fine and yet, you're still stuck in that nightmare and it just never ends...I'm just hope that we don't get relegated or something...God forbid!

Rubik

This thing has been on my mind for a while, mostly due to the fact that

1. I, for some unknown reason, feel it is long overdue
2. The complexity that lies behind utter simplicity is fascinating, hence:

Resolution 7. Learn to solve Rubik's cube by the end of the year.

Any tip on this subject matter is highly appreciated.

To the tools in the hands of oppressors

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"

-Voltaire

Cidade de Deus

Is a movie about the gangs in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro called City of God at the end of 60's to early 80's. It deals basically with a fight over control of drug dealing business between two gang leaders and how the kids in this slum are being recruited from very young age, the extent of corruption in the law enforcement and the practice of naked violence in every day's life in this underprivileged area. The story is told from the eyes of the narrator, a child whose main interest is photography while his peers are into rubbing, dealing, killing, guns and girls. Very interesting story with tasteful cinematography. Nevertheless, following the subtitles to keep up with fast pace of the movie and dialogues is somewhat tiring but rewarding.

The cold shower shock comes at the end of the movie when it is revealed that it is based on a true story and some of the real characters are shown in the final titles, which made me ponder for sometime, a goal that movie makers have successfully reached.

Ashura*

Pre-post

I have tried quite hard to 'let it be' and don't say anything about this issue, yet the urge from the conscience was too much to resist, so I gave in.

Post

I, and many peers of mine, have been told constantly throughout our growing up about the Ashura. Disregarding the religious aspects of it, 'we' would like to regard it as true example of an up-rise for a just cause. It's about justice, freedom and standing for your rights. It's about making your voice heard however weak and outnumbered. It's about refusing to submit to oppression and cruelty, fighting till your last drop while holding your head high up with pride and dignity. It's about martyrdom for that holy cause even it means you have to sacrifice your and your beloved one's life in the most tragic manner, thus ending your life in the most meaningful way. So became Hossein "The Lord of The Martyrs" and so did many others some days back.

I feel that the burden is too heavy now and I have hard time putting them into words, I think the artwork below does a better work than millions of words...those who are close to the matter at hand know precisely what I mean and will definitely feel the same.

"Sic semper tyrannis!"

Source of artwork: nikahang.blogspot.com

* Ashura is 10th day of Muharram which marks the mourning day for martyrdom of Hossein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad at a battle close to Karbala, Iraq at ca. 680 AD.

The passion of Rumi

Playlist 5.

Music composed by Hafez Nazeri
Vocals by Shahram Nazeri
Note: This album is a celebration of the poetry of Rumi with a new and fresh musical approach , commemorating the international year of Mawlana Jalal-ad-din Balkhi Rumi.
Release date: August 21, 2007.

1. "Mystic"

2. "Evan Madaen"

3. "Enchanted I"

4. "Journey to Eternity"

5. "Fanayam Man I"

6. "Beyond"

7. "Fanayam Man II"

8. "In Solitude"

9. "The Passion of Rumi"

A link where you can download this playlist is available upon request.