welcome to mahshid's blog

2006-05-23T00:14:00.000-07:00

Luck

There once lived a farmer. He had a son and a horse. One day the farmer's horse ran way, and all his neighbors came to console him, saying: "what bad luck that your horse has run away!" and the old man replied: "who knows if it's good luck or bad luck."
"Of course it's bad luck!" said neighbors.
Within a week, the farmer's horse returned home, followed by twenty wild horses. The farmer's neighbors came to celebrate, saying: "what good luck that you have your horse back-plus another twenty!"
And the old man replied: "who knows if it's good luck or bad luck!"
The next day the farmer's son was riding amongst the wild horses, and fell and broke his leg. The neighbors came to console him, saying: "what bad luck!" and the farmer said: " who knows if it's good or bad luck!" and some of the neighbors were angry, and said: "of course it's bad luck, you silly old fool!"
Another week went by, and an army came through town, enlisting all the fit young men to fight in distant lands. The farmer's son, with his broken leg, was left behind. All the neighbors came to celebrate, saying: "what good luck that your son was left behind!" and the farmer said: "who knows?"

We can spend our whole lives figuring every thing out. "This is good, that is bad…" it is futile. We label events as DISASTER when we only see one percent of the picture. If you want more peace of mind, stop labeling every thing that happens as "GOOD" or "BAD"!

"Andrew Matthews"

2006-05-22T23:56:00.000-07:00

The uniqueness of Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa is a 16th century oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci and is one of the most famous paintings in art history. The painting shows a woman looking out at the viewer with what is described as an "enigmatic smile". Mona Lisa is famous for her beautiful changing smile and eyes that continue to stare and follow you, no matter in which direction you turn.
Every part of Mona Lisa has some special features which make it unique. First of all her eyes that Leonardo believed there were the windows to the soul and there is a question that "is she looking at us or at some thing behind us that we can't see?" Second, her lips that are no hard out line and Leonardo used a technique called stumato, which gave objects a soft look. Third, the jaw which is quite masculine and this is a reason that some people thought the picture might be a portrait of Leonardo himself.
Her hands are slightly swollen which make some people believe Mona Lisa was pregnant and in other hands she isn't wearing any rings which is unusual for a married woman. Next, she is sitting in a chair with her body facing one direction and her face looking toward us and Leonardo give the painting a sense of movement. Another point is that, the landscape which placed behind the portrait, give a sense of overall harmony and reflect Leonardo's idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature and make this painting an enduring record of his vision.
The smile, which is the most important part in her portrait, is higher on the right and the lower on the left. This makes her expression unusual. The interesting point is that, when we focus on the smile. It seems to disappear. How ever when we look at the other parts of the painting, we notice the smile. Researchers break the smile in to small divisions and checked it for each of six emotions: happiness, surprise, anger, disgust, fear and sadness.
At last, every part of Mona Lisa has a story behind it and the mysteries and codes on it can be interpreted many times and in many ways. Leonardo painted Mona Lisa, especially her mouth and eyes, in a light and shade form, which explain why she may look different and different times and attract the attention of the entire world!

2006-05-21T23:44:00.000-07:00

A Wish Cocoon

Along a dusty road in India there sat a beggar who sold cocoons. A young boy watched him day after day, and the beggar finally beckoned to him.
"Do you know what beauty lies within this chrysalis? I will give you one so you might see for yourself. But you must be careful not to handle the cocoon until the butterfly comes out."
The boy was enchanted with the gift and hurried home to await the butterfly. He laid the cocoon on the floor and became aware of a curious thing. The butterfly was beating its fragile wings against the hard wall of the chrysalis until it appeared it would surely perish, before it could break the unyielding prison. Wanting only to help, the boy swiftly pried the cocoon open.
Out flopped a wet, brown, ugly thing which quickly died. When the beggar discovered what had happened, he explained to the boy "in order for the butterfly wings to grow strong enough to support him, it is necessary that he beat them against the walls of his cocoon. Only by this struggle can his wings become beautiful and durable. When you denied him that struggle, you took away from him his only chance of survival."
May the walls of your cocoon, be just thick enough, to allow you to struggle, just long enough, TO EMERGE, The beautiful person, I already know you to be.

Munir Fasheh (2000)
Director, center for middle eastern studies, Harvard University

2006-05-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Touching By the Sound Of Music

From simple folksongs to the complex sound of symphony orchestra, music has been created by every known society. Almost every pivotal event in life can be signposted with music, whether it’s a joyful occasion like a wedding or a sad one such as a funeral. Music, which consistently emerges in surveys as the most popular form of art, can be used not only to tap into an emotion a person is already feeling but to manipulate it in a powerful way. Yet the existence of music mystifies scientist. So what effect does music serve for us?
Psychologists are united in one belief that music speaks to the heart. Researchers showed recently that certain pieces of music bring psychological changes in the body that correspond to certain emotions. “sad” pieces caused the pulse to slacken, the blood pressure to rise and the temperature to drop, which is exactly what happens when a sense of sadness sets in. “happy” songs did the opposite, inducing a cheery feeling. Some how, music can tap into sensitive emotional circuits.
Scientists call music as “auditory cheese cake”, a confection of sounds put together to tickle faculties that our brain already possesses. Songs with lyrical appeal to a brain already attuned to language. The ear is sensitive to harmonies and sounds in the natural world, such as bird song and even thunder, echo such harmonies; we derive pleasure from patterns and rhythm, and repetitive sounds appeal to the ear in the same way that a repeated drawing appeals to the eye.
This is how music moves us. Music can accompany us in different events of life. Music is food for our soul and can play with our emotion easily. Music seems to help us to live longer and pass on our genes more efficiently. May be mysteries on sound of music suggest the reason why music rather than any other from of sound inspires such delight.

2006-05-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

I had lost myself in daily works, I didn't have goals, I had many questions in my mind and there were no one to answer me. The life was a repetition of history for me until last year that I read a poem which change my life. I learned, learn and relearn from that poem again and again. I learn that my future is reflecting of my ideas. I realize that, AHAA, I can live in another way; my eyes should look to future not to past.
This is the fact of life, that a man can reach his goals if he has dreams in his mind. I learn that I should make a list from my goals and face my problems like the mountain and solve them and make a masterpiece from my life. I learn, I should believe in myself because beliefs order me to think and thinking leads me to aspiration and aspiration makes me to attempt. I realize that, AHAA, I should look at every person and every thing s around me as a golden key to open the door of success. AHAA, the rule of life is the rule of looking, feeling and BELIEVING. AHAA, the rule of life is the rule of believing in merciful GOD. YES we can live in another way!!!!!!

اي نسخه ي نامه ي الهي که تويي
اي آيينه ي جمال شاهي که تويي
بيرون ز تو نيست آنچه در عالم هست

از خود بطلب هر آنچه خواهي که تويي

2006-05-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is equal to

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

then

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K=8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11=98% only

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E=11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5=96% only

L+O+V+E=12+15+22+5=54% only

L+U+C+K=12+21+3+11=47% only

Then what makes 100%? Is it money? No! Leadership? No! Every problem has a solution only if we perhaps change our attitude. To go to the top, to that 100% , what we really need is.....

A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E=1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5=100%

It is our ATTITUDE towards life and work that makes our lives 100% complete.

2006-05-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

"The salvation angel"

I don't know whether you believe in angels or not; but I didn't really believe in angels until that night, a night full of confusing events. It happened on a night like any other night. It was Friday and the hands of clock stood on 11. Every thing was calm and ok in our home and every one in my family became ready to go to bed. My father locked the door and said good night to us and went to bed and also my sister kissed me and went to her room. My mother was checking the kitchen for finding if any mess were there and removed it and then said good night to me and she went to her bed too. I was watching television and after 30 minutes I felt asleep and turn of the TV and made all the lights out and went to bed. I don't remember that how much time was past that I suddenly woke up by the sound of vibration of my cell phone which was on a wooden table; I become wonder that who call me in that time and when I took my phone, I saw that no one is calling and my phone just vibrating with out no reason. I thought that my phone made an error and I turn it off and slept again but after a while I heard the vibration of my phone again and I saw the reflection of different lights from my phone on the ceiling; I really felt confused and some how scared that how an off set can vibrating (and this still sounds strange to me as I type it), I took the battery of set and put it away but I felt strangely and I don't know who or what energy made me to go out of my room and I suddenly saw that my mother was lying in floor in the middle of house, she was swooning. I went to my dad's room and we took her to hospital and the day after she was ok again. After that event I thought about what made me to wake up or what made may phone to vibrate and what made me to go out of my room. I had no responses for these questions and I think that it can be only a salvation angel, who came to help my mother and my family. Any way, I think it was kind of miracle and now, I know that God always care us!

2006-05-09T00:07:00.000-07:00

Cyprus: country of mystiques

One of the mythical country in Asia Cyprus; and if I want to travel around Asia, I will choose Cyprus first. The good geography location makes it a certain mystique. Cyprus is one of the countries which attract the attention of many tourists from many years ago until now and they become wondered when faced with such beauty.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and is situated in the eastern Mediterranean. The island has a mild Mediterranean climate with sunshine even in winter. Having olive trees, pine forested mountains, clean beaches, old stone villages and wine flowers are geographical features of Cyprus.
Cyprus has something to enjoy in every month of a year. In summer the high temperature with cool breezing from the sea and sun bathing and any range of water sport can relax you in your summer trip to Cyprus. In fall you can also feel like summer. Also some local and international musical festivals are held through the fall. In winter, Cyprus has days with six hours of bright sun and also possibility of raining; and in spring, every thing is fresh green and trees in blossoms. Spring is time to enjoy the natural beauty of the island.
Cyprus is the birth place of the goddess of beauty, love, passion, Uranus, Venus and the beautiful Aphrodite. It is a suitable place for starting the discovery of myths. People in Cyprus have distinct culture and unique characters. It has many heritage sites and museums. Every one with different favorites can takes their time in Cyprus, for example food lovers enjoy from local specially foods that mix western ingredients with eastern and travelers appreciate the facilities and services at more than 64 hotels.
At last, I can say that the beauty and the uniqueness of Cyprus cannot be imagined since go there and see! I will defiantly go there because I think this ideally situated island truly has no equal. A combination of mystique, nature, civilization, art and love make every one to go there and enjoy his/her times!

http://www.visitcyprus.org.cy/

2006-05-03T02:07:00.000-07:00

Beliefs

"The things always happen that you believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen."

Frank Lloyd Wright

Your life is a perfect reflection of your beliefs. When you change your deepest beliefs about the world, your life changes accordingly.

2006-04-24T23:40:00.000-07:00

Arguments against Euthanasia

In your idea does life worth to be alive but tolerate its painful events? Let's see! Euthanasia the act of intentional killing or mercy killing for the benefit of patients is done in many countries legally or not and every one has their own result. But I am against this act and I think it isn't a mercy action in any way. Here I have some reasons for my opinion.
First of all, our technology is progressing every day in different aspects. So every illness which cannot be cured today, maybe it can be cured later and many people can be saved from the unavoidable death. Since every moments of life are important and valuable, maybe medicines will be found that at least postpone the certain death of many patients.
Second, many people and doctors offers euthanasia to whom are old and useless and think that in this way they can save time, money and hospital's equipments for other patients. But they don't consider this point that the value of humanity doesn't depend on the ages. There isn't any difference between a child, a young or an old person; there are all human beings and every moments of their life can be a wonderful one. In other hands, many important actions, wars, revolution and civilization were happened by an old leader!
Third, "euthanasia can be considered as a rejection of the importance and value of human life. People who support euthanasia often say that it is already considered permissible to take human life under some circumstances such as self-defense, but they miss the point that they lose the value and importance of life, either their own or some one else's. With euthanasia no one's life is being saved, life is only taken."
Forth, "since we didn't create ourselves, we don't own our bodies. We are entrusted with them for care and safe keeping. God is the owner and his rights in giving and in taking are not to be violated." As God create us, for every illness and problems he has made a cure too and we shouldn't meddle in God's faith.
Another point is that, euthanasia can be divided in different types such as voluntary and involuntary. In voluntary euthanasia, the ill person request to be killed when there is no hope and in involuntary euthanasia, according to doctor's orders, the patients will be killed by not providing necessary and ordinary cares or doing some actins such as giving a lethal injection. Some people say that voluntary euthanasia will not lead to involuntary euthanasia, but here I have an example that "an old person, who can barely understand a breakfast menu, is asked to sign a form consenting to be killed. Is this voluntary or involuntary? Once one signature can sign away a person's life, nothing can protect a person's life!"
Also, "history has taught us the dangers of euthanasia and that is why there are only two countries in the world today where it is legal. That is why almost all societies, even non-religious ones, for thousands of years have made euthanasia a crime."
There were my reasons for objecting euthanasia and I believe that our attitudes about life, can change every thing and if our looking change about living, every moments of life can be enjoyable and in this way no one is ready to do euthanasia even for himself or others.

http://www.euthanasia .com

2006-04-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

" Living and learning"

"It's only by going down into the abyss
that we recover the treasures of life.
Where you stumble
There lies your treasure.
The very cave you are afraid to enter
Turns out to be the source of
What you were looking for."

Joseph Campbell

"Every person who walks in to your life is a teacher. Even if they drive you nuts, they teach you because they show you where your limits are just because people are your teachers don't mean you have to like them."

Andrew Matthews

2006-03-26T05:58:00.002-08:00

"Nowrooz Costumes"

Nowrooz is one of the old costumes of Iranian. Nowrooz ceremony is the most popular one and also the most important one among others. Nowrooz, not only has more holidays but also different and interesting costumes and ceremonies. Iranian people know nowrooz ceremonies as a opportunity to become new and rebirth with blossoms again. Indeed, nowrooz is a celebration of creation, blessing and growing.
Iranian people celebrate 12 days which are equal to 12 months of a year and every day was introducing one month of a year. Also the 13th days of farvardin, famous for its sinsterness, is the symbol of disturbance before the universe creation. In this day families go out of their house and go to the nature for being away from this disturbance.
Another costume of nowrooz is making the "sofrey-e-haft sin" that includes seven things; start with "sin" in Persian language. These seven things are symbols of being wealth and developing in agricultural products. Besides, putting mirror, candles, water, colored eggs, red fishes, bread, coins and hyacinth make the sofrey- e- haft sin much more beautiful.
Wearing new cloths, giving gifts, sending beautiful cards with messages and going to relative's house are other interesting costumes of nowrooz celebration.
Generally, nowrooz, birthday of spring, is like an excuse for us to find the spring of our heart and life. As the entire universe become new and thank God, it is the time for us to join others and becoming new too and smile like blossoms, broken the conflicts and reconcile with spring! I hope that every day of your life will be full of beauty!

2006-03-26T05:58:00.001-08:00

"Is House Work Degrading?"

Is house work really degrading? I have heard many times from different people that house working is a heavy pack on their shoulder, but to me every one's house is a part of his or her life and it is valuable and house working can be very nice in this way. I think there is not any relation between house working and degrading of personality; when you clean your house it shows that you pay attention to your life and the place you live in.
Definition of "house work" covers all works which must be done in a house so it will be clean and good looking including any range of works like washing, sweeping, removing dusts, cooking and etc. house working can not be considered like a job which shows the grade of people.
House working shows that you know the meaning of responsibility and your cares and love to your family. It shows that the place of living is important for you and the health and comfort ability of this unity are important. Besides, you will learn many skills and a good experience.
Finally, I should say that people's credit and prestige are more valuable than being measured with their jobs and different works they done. House working, like thousands of other valuable works, is not a degrading one in any way; also, allow you to bring up yourself skillfully in many aspects of life.

2006-03-13T23:54:00.000-08:00

My Blogging Experience!

Starting of every work is hard and difficult; at first making a blog seems to be impossible. I thought that making a blog is only for professors, teachers and etc. but as nothing is impossible in the world, in my comprehension class I knew that even I can make a blog and show my articles and my ideas to public.

Making a blog has many advantages and many new things for me to learn. First of all, writing different articles about different issues, not only make me to vast my information but also to improve my writing and reading skills.

Second, the blog community can connect different people from all over the world together. We can share our information and ideas with each other and become acquainted with different cultures, customs, civilization, personalities and characters and many other new things. Also we can comment on others blog and make a general connection. The most enjoyable point is to make good internet's friends!

At last I want to thank my dear teacher, Dr. Susan Marandi, who makes this situation for me to experience new things besides my essay writing class and develop several skills in one class with limited time, and it seems to be a great chance for me to find myself! :D

2006-03-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

Hi! My name is Mahshid Bahmani. I am 20 years old and I'm student of fourth semester of English literature in Al-Zahra University, located in Tehran, Iran. I'm either from Tehran. I'm proud of being an Iranian. I love my home and I hope to be a useful person for Iranian society.
My hobbies are going out with my friends, reading different books and poems and doing different sports. I'm glad that I have a chance to show my articles about different issues to every one and I thank my dear teacher Dr. Susan Marandi for providing this situation for me and my other class mates. Here I'm going to tell some thing about my city, Tehran.

Tehran is situated in the north part of Iran, on the slop of the Alborz Mountain. As the national capital, it is the most populated city in Iran and the centre of cultural, economical, political and social activities. In the recent years the municipality of Tehran has taken great measures to increase the number of recreational facilities, including parks, stadiums, theaters, museums, art centers, cultural centers and etc.

Tehran, as Iran's show case and historical capital city has a wealth of cultural attractions such as Golestan palace, Takht e Marmar, solymanieh palace, Baharestan palace, Morvarid palace, and etc.

Some of the important museums are national museum of Iran, Sa'dabad palaces, The Carpet museum of Iran, Niavaran palace, Darabad Nature and wild life museum and etc.

Tehran is pleasant, it derives it's originality from its dry climate, always cool in the evening, the nearness of the mountain and its numerous parks and gardens.
The Alborz range separates the central area from the Caspian Sea, the only part of the country where the rain full is plentiful. The highest peak in the country, Mt. Damavand, is an extinct volcano covered in snow for most of the years.

Tochal is the world's fifth highest ski resort at over 3730m at its highest 7th station.Tochal 7th station has skiing eight months of the year. In winter, the mountain hotels and ski-clubs at Shemshak and Dizine are fully several days a week. Some expert skier's people consider the snow quality in north Tehran to be one of the best in the world. Have enjoyable time in Tehran.

http://tehran.stanford.edu