What to do?

Did I get into the wrong field for me? While I have learned about many scientific and engineering areas through computation, and while I have been enjoying all those learning experiences, I have so many other passions and interests I like to pursue outside work that I do not have enough time for. From writing essays and stories, to introducing some changes in society and even laws! What shall one do in so little time?

Scope

It is amazing to me how sometimes the concept of scope is misunderstood or not even considered by some people.  Do you expect an astronomy journal to publish articles in medicine?  Or a math journal to publish short stories?  Usually not.  How would you judge and trust the scientific claims made in a fashion magazine?

While we may grasp the concept of the scope in above examples easily, when it comes to news organization and public media, expectations seem to change drastically.  For example, some accuse  Voice of America for not being the voice of the people of other countries outside the U.S such as Iran, Egypt, Turkey, etc.  Well, of course it is not and nor should it be in my opinion.  They can report the events and news as they happen, and how U.S. government responds to it, but that is about it.  Similarly, a local newspaper for Los Angeles has different content and objectives from a local newspaper in Baltimore or Tokyo.  In fact, if one government's media talk about goals and points of views of people in other countries, one should question their authority and judgement in doing so, in my opinion.  One can only expect truthfulness and validity of the claims and news being broadcast and hold media accountable and demand evidence for what they deliver within their scope of work, not for what they are not supposed to deliver nor for what they did not deliver.

I have seen the same thing happen on personal Blogs and Facebook pages.  Some think to show your cool factor and open-mindedness you should accept and keep all posts and comments made by others on your personal page.  Well, it is my "personal" page not a board for others to spread their ideas, especially if I do not like to promote those ideas.  My personal page is out of scope for reflecting many topics of interest to others!  I find it acceptable to delete automatic ads that are posted as comments to my blog posts as well as out of scope comments, equally the same.

I have just been needing to throw it out there once and for all.

Happy Monday!

I just love what I do, where I work, and the people I work with.  Even with all the annoying rules and bureaucracy, I still find reasons to carry on every day.  For that I am grateful, every morning, even Monday mornings.

Cappuccinos

I miss these tasty Italian cappuccinos, that were strong enough to energize you, but not so strong to keep you up at night or upset your stomach like the American ones do to me. The ones that are not too big, nor too small, and are presented nicely to you like a piece of art, and yet they are cheaper than what their poor quality counter-parts are sold here in the U.S.

Small World

I spent three nights in a Villa in Tuscany for my cousin's wedding. She, a Persiam from a Muslim family, married a Jew from a Germam family. They met and live in England. The groom and bride sat in front of Persian, Muslim, and Jewish traditional wedding elements. Their marriage was officiated by a female rabi, breaking her own religion's law of only males being able to hold this position, and a female relative who read Persian poetry and led the Islamic and Persiam wedding exchange of wows and promises. Guests were from Iran, Germany, Italy, England, Australia, France, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States. Among them were two gay couples, enjoying the celebrations and reunion openly. The world was so small,so beautiful, and so perfect with green scenery, delicious meals, dances, and laughters. Everyone was happy. The End.

Decisions!

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing."

--Theodore Roosevelt

In today's leadership seminar, the instructor used this quote to make her point.  As I listened, my mind drifted away to so many years of my life witnessing adults and even society's decision-makers not making any decisions, doing  nothing, at many moments of decision.  I wonder how so many things, my life, my family members' and others' lives, would have been different had more adults practiced making decisions, good or bad, during my childhood.

برخورد با زندگى

هنوز يك ماه از حادثه ماراتن بوستون نگذشته بود، كه قربانيان اين واقعه را در برنامه هاى مختلف تلوزيونى نشان ميدادند و از وضعيت سلامتيشون گزارش ميدادند.  اينكه هر روز فيزيو تراپى ميكنند، و وقتى از بانى اين حادثه از آنها ميپرسيدند، ميگفتند، ما به او فكر نميكنيم. تمام فكر و ذكر و تلاشمان اين هست كه بهبود پيدا كنيم، بتونيم با پاى مصنوعى راه بريم، و به روال زندگيمون برگرديم.  در يك برنامه تلوزيونى ديگر كه مسابقه رقص هست، چند هفته پيش گفتند كه با يكى از قربانيان واقعه بوستون كه عاشق رقص بوده كار ميكنند تا در يكى از برنامه هاى آتى آنها شركت كند.  امروز يكى ديگر از قربانيان كه هر دو پاش رو از دست داده،  توپ آغاز يك مسابقه بيسبال را از روى صندلى چرخدار انداخته بود.  در فيلمى كه از او ديدم لبخند بر روى لبانش بود! واقعا از بودن در استاديوم و زنده بودن شاد بود.

اين روحيه قوى و تفاوت بين آدمها از كجا مياد؟  حدس ميزنم از حمايت اطرافيان و جامعه از اين قربانيان.  چطور ميشه كه بعضى آدمها به خاطر حرفى كه كسى 10، 20، يا 30 سال پيش زده از او نميگذرند و  به روال زندگى بر نميگردند؟  فكر ميكنم اين تفاوت ها فراتر از تفاوت هاى فردى باشه.  واقعا فكر نميكنم كسى در ايران 1-2 ماه بعد از از دست دادن  آعضاى بدنش بتونه لبخند بزنه، اميد به زندگى و بهتر شدن داشته باشه، حداقلش تا سالها، و به حق، افسرده خواهد بود.  شايد هم آن واقع بينانه تر باشه و اينجا زيادى هميشه ميخواهند زندگى رو رنگارنگ و زيبا و تخيلى ترسيم كنند و روى تلخى ها و درد ها و زشتى ها رو زود ميپوشونند و ظاهر سازى ميكنند.  شايد ما در ايران با درد و غم ميونمون بهتره و راحت تر ميپذيريمش؟  نميدونم كدوم درسته و كدوم غلط، اما فكر كنم هر دو طرف ماجرا افراط و تفريطى داره.