This is not just a picture… It is the realities of life happening in the world around us!!
** The Young girl thought to herself as she sat under the Cypress tree in the blazing sun watching the heat waves shimmer above the blinding brightness of the hot sand, “I wish I had food in my stomach. My back aches and my body feels weak and enervated. In the last week, I have eaten only rice and beans. Sometimes I only eat two or three times a week. Having to sleep in one room with the rest of my family on the hard, uncomfortable floor and listen to my brother cough all night, I am sleep deprived. I never know what the next day may bring. I just hope to survive.” Sadly, this is a typical life for someone living in poverty. Half of the world population lives on less than two dollars a day.
Poverty, a growing problem throughout the world, is a severe situation in which people endure critical shortages, such as the basic necessities to survive. A blind woman from Maldova describes life as a poor individual: “For a poor person everything is terrible, illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us” (qtd. in “Dying” 9). People in poverty have lived voiceless and silent, but are finally beginning to get their voices heard. In the past, no one has ever listened to them and what they have to say, but now people and countries are finally beginning to listen to their word
**I recieved this e-mail from my cousin and it broke my heart to see these pictures of these people and especially young innocent babies suffering from hunger around the world. It makes me feel sad to think about how all these people have to suffer around the world when we produce so much food that we can throw it away like its nothing. It makes me even more disgusted that these children and adults eat worse than what our animals eat here in the United States. Bottom line: Next time you eat something, thank god that you have something to eat and please think twice before wasting/throwing your food out….because there are people out there in this world who would consider our "garbage" a gourmet meal! Think twice about this.
We are so lucky! contemplate on this…
He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor.
I pray that we will be more sensitive towards the suffering in the world around us and not be blinded by our own selfish nature and interests. I hope this picture will always serve as a reminder to us about how fortunate we are and that we must never ever take things for granted.
Think & look at this…when you complain about your food and the food we waste daily…" MAY ALL BEINGS BE FREE FROM SUFFERING!!!!
Cold Days in Chicago…
This past week in Chicago has been extremely cold…it’s funny because a week ago Chicago was experiencing amazing 50 C weather when we were already supposed to me up to our neck with snow. I guess I should be happy that the snow hasn’t covered everything yet …it’s just so damn cold!!!! I had to go get my head-light replaced at the mechanics and I was waiting out in the cold with a mechanic for 20 minutes …and my hands still have not warmed up yet as I have been sitting in this warm computer lab for 25 minutes now!
To make myself feel worse about this cold weather..I’m thinking about my uncle who is leaving on vacation to Brazil in a couple of hours !!! Aghhh, How I wish I could pack myself in his suitcase and somehow make it through, believe me if it was possible and the security wasn’t so tight, I believe I would try 😛
There are some good things though about this cold weather. Now that I drink hot-chocolate–I actually enjoy it, because it warms me up 🙂 I seem to be drinking more chai ,coffee, and hot beverages now thats its so cold—a fast way to warm the body up..
Being that I will be leaving to France and Italy in less than three weeks, I was going through some photos of the destinations I will be staying at and I have to say that Nice, France is where I am dreaming up being at right now (can’t wait!)
The place reminds me on the Carribean; clear blue water, sandy beaches, glowing-warm sun, beach-houses galore, and all those beautiful palm trees. I guess looking at those pictures takes the "coldness" off my mind, for in less than three weeks, I will be on a plane on my way over there..so life isn’t so cold after all 🙂
Keep warm you all …:)
Comments Off
Funny things ppl will say
* Once again I was digging through old e-mails and came across this one…thought it was kinda funny to share plus I’m sure not too many of you have had this one forwarded to you …Enjoy 🙂
These are extracts from actual letters sent to various
councils and Housing associations.
1 I want some repairs done to my cooker as it has backfired
and burnt my knob off.
2. I wish to complain that my father hurt his ankle very
badly when he put his foot in the hole in his back
passage.
3. And their 18-year-old son is continually banging his
balls against my fence.
4. I wish to report that the tiles are missing from the
outside toilet roof. I think it was that bad wind the
other night that blew them off.
5. I am writing on behalf of my sink, which is coming away
from the wall.
6. Will you please send someone to mend the garden path, my
wife tripped and fell on it yesterday and now she is
pregnant?
7. I request permission to remove my drawers in the kitchen.
50% of the walls are damp, 50% have crumbling plaster
and the rest are plain filthy.
8. The toilet is blocked and we cannot bath the children
until it is cleared.
9. Will you please send a man to look at my water? It is a
funny color and not fit to drink.
10. Our lavatory seat is broken in half and is now in three
pieces.
11. I want to complain about the farmer across the road,
every morning at 6:00 am his cock wakes me up and its
now getting too much for me.
12. The man next door has a large erection in the garden,
which is unsightly and dangerous.
13. Our kitchen floor is damp. We have two small children
and would like a third so please send someone round to
do something about it.
14. I am a single woman living in a downstairs flat and
would you please do something about the noise made by
the man I have on top of me every night.
15. Please send a man with the right tool to finish the job
and satisfy my wife.
16. I have had the clerk of the works down on the floor six
times but I still have had no satisfaction.
17. My bush is really overgrown round the front and my back
passage has fungus in it.
Flip-Clock…ahh Technology :)
It’s a screensaver (I know, whatever, but this one is cool) that makes your shitty dell look like a cool flip clock.
I was cleaning out old e-mails today and came across a couple of sites I had found a while ago and checked this one out and was amazed at all the amazing things this site has to offer. http://www.9031.com/downloads/
P.S. It’s made by a very cool Japanese individual named Yuji Adachi.
Break it like a Pinata :P
It’s 7:05 pm right now and I am half awake ! Half awake is never a good thing when you have a million things left to do…..especially at 7:05 pm (more than half way through the day). I am wondering to myself at the moment, "Portia, if you have a million things to do still…how is blogging going to help you ??". Well I can answer that very simply, it will help me stay focused and clear my mind. When ever I feel like I have too much going at one time-I run to the nearest computer and type away. Although I tend not to use my blog only as a "personal daily diary"…I still end up doing it.
Ok so the reason why I am half awake is called "going to sleep at 4:30 am"….I guess I got carried away with some close friends at my friend’s going away party the night/morning before. I guess I figured "why not make the most of it, while he’s still here, make him happy-not more sad than he is, leaving us for two months", I think it was a success. Now my dear friend will not leave to his trip on that much of a sad-note.
It’s never a good thing to intend on taking a half-an-hour break (sleep-wise) and get up 3 hours later ….especially while you are at work ..oops! Yeah well you could say that happened to me around a half an hour ago. I thought "hey, take a nap, and get up refreshed to start ur work again." So I left this crowded Computer lab (tonight it reminds me of a zoo…a bunch of different animals…) and went to my car, cranked the heat up high, and drifted off to a different world… Well you could say that world ended when I heard my cell phone go off!!! My friend was like " HEY GET UP!!!! U are still sleeping!!!! I called the computer lab and your manager picked up!!". Well I was out of my car before he could finish the last word. Lucky me…my manager was not at this building…he had picked up the phone from the other campus (since I wasn’t at this building to answer, the call got forwarded to the main campus, where he was).
I can say my heart went from being on the floor to being back to normal. Next time I will set my alarm and not crank that wonderful heat too high (something all us Chicago en’s die for during this horrid winter here in Chicago). So I am back here again in this warm building…it’s funny because I still have my warm scarf that always seems to choke me still on…and it literally feels like 90 degrees in here! ha-ha…Yeah still half asleep…so it’s not bothering me as much..
Looking at these chemistry labs and papers covering the desk, like grass covers the ground, makes my head spin (kinda like that feeling when you’ve been spun around a million times in the conquest to break that pinata when you were younger). Yeah well I should stop and put some of those papers out of my site…before I really take this desk as a "pinata" and smash it to pieces 😀
Ok…my mission was accomplished! I am feeling a little more at ease right now and a bit more rejuvenated than before. Just received a call from the boss asking how everything was, splendid indeed, after a 3.5 hour nap while working…why not? I just can’t wait to go to that 7am chem lab tom morrow, sounds like fun… rite?
* Above photo compliments of www.moekaz.com
Catch me if you can……
The headline on cnn.com reads "Diamonds are a girl’s best friend." Ms. Doris Payne (pictured on the left), 75, has been an international jewelry thief for over five decades. I was drawn to this story because of the picture and the headline beside it. Surely, I thought, the woman in this picture (on the top) must be the prosecutor of the international jewelry thief the story referenced. But, alas, both pictures are of Ms. Payne. The second picture (bottom) shows Ms. Payne awaiting her day in court, on larceny charges, from a Las V
egas Clark County jail cell.
In the height of her career, Ms. Doris thieved diamonds from a number of exclusive jewelry stores-both in the United States and abroad. She even smuggled a diamond past customs from Monte Carlo’s Cartier in her girdle! Ms. Payne said she was able to turn the diamonds over without keeping them for herself because she never really cared for the gems. As one police official remarked, Ms. Payne "has a style." Obviously. All one has to do is look at her.
You go, Doris Payne! I am sincerely impressed with her story because she was a "woman with a plan." She was able to walk out of fine jewelry stores with rocks valued at five figures and get away…without a car! The story references Ms. Payne doubling as a cooking, jazz enthusiast, single mother by day and a worldly femme fatale jewel thief by night. How many single mothers do I know that would lift a diamond to put some greens and cornbread on the table? None. However, I do applaud Ms. Payne’s savvy and ability to get what she wanted with such aplomb. How many women do I know with Ms. Payne’s confidence and savoir fare? Too few. Am I applauding Ms. Payne’s criminal activities? Maybe (I wouldn’t be revolutionary if I didn’t). I do sincerely appreciate her moxy and ability to outsmart, again and again, the pasty, doughnut-loving, coffee-drinking, nicorette addicted officers who stalked her in the name of "justice." I am only sorry that the heroine gets caught at the end of our tale. A lady of such stature and purposeful planning should be living out her days on the French Riviera enjoying the fruits of her labor. But, as such, we will have to keep up with Ms. Payne this side of the Clark County jail cell.
My hat’s off to you, Ms. Doris Payne…a true revolutionary.
* I credit this article to http://revolutionarydiscourse.blogspot.com/ , I came across this blog while I was on a friend’s site. I think these ladies have done a great job acknowledging Revolutionary figures and their actions. To some these people may not seem so "revolutionary" but when you go deep and see more to the picture, they truly are more than revolutionary. Bottom Line: It’s a great new blog that has been added to this blog-sphere with some intuitive thoughts and information.
www.moekaz.com (He’s back and better than ever)
He’s back and better than ever…My dear friend Moe is back at it again posting his amazing pictures on his photoblog:
***Www.Moekaz.com is a simple view of my day to day visual experience. You can simply call it my photo-blog. I post one photo a day on this web site
**** Everyone please check out my dear friend Moe Kaz’s Photo-blog….he updates a new picture (taken by himself) each and everyday. You should definitely check it out…his pictures are nice for your computer background 😉
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sandwich cost $47, has 30,000 calories
This guy made a $47, 30,000 calorie sandwich, documented it, then ate it.
Food ———————— Calories
Fried Mushrooms – 15 ——– 450
Bacon – 14 pieces ———– 990
Onion rings – 18 ———— 1140
Ground Beef – 1/4 lb. ——- 293
Corndogs – 2 —————- 540
Swiss Cheese – 4 slices —– 425
Provolone Cheese – 4 slices – 397
Cheddar Cheese – 4 slices — 455
Sliced Ham – 1/4 lb. ——– 184
Sliced Turkey – 1/4 lb. —– 181
Pastrami – 1/4 lb. ———- 394
Sliced Roast Beef – 1/4 lb. – 200
Bratwurst – 1 ————— 510
Braunschweiger – 1/4 lb. —- 580
Wheat Bread – 1 lb. ——— 1030
Lettuce – 1/2 head ———- 25
Feta Cheese – 4 oz. ——— 350
Italian Salad Dressing – 6 oz 480
Oregeno – 50 grams ———- 438
Salt & Pepper – 50 grams —- 0
Butter – 1/2 lb. ———— 1600
Parmesan Cheese – 100 grams – 465
Canola Oil – 154 Tbsp. —— 18,432
Total ———————– 29,559
* It’s funny to see the things people will come up with nowadays…that must have been a heck of a sandwich….will it be the new hit on the Subway menu soon? lol
Happy Halloween :O
Happy Halloween 😀
CAUTION: Please do not attempt, NOT even on Halloween!!!
* I hope you all have a fun and safe Halloween…Don’t eat
too much candy 🙂
http://www.portia247.com
Today 19…tommorrow what next?
( My sister and I in Trinidad celebrating our early birthdays with my grandmother and my mothers family 15-16 years ago..I think I was turning 4 and my sister 3 (not on the same day…just to celebrate with them since they couldn’t be with us…that was some good cake) Aghh the good ol’ Days
I’m 19 today ….HURRAY!!!! I am thankful for another year of life …thankyou!
For today I am "19" and tommorrow what next?
Happy Birthday to Me :)
Whee! Tomorrow I will be 19, which is, I’m sure, a milestone of some sort. I just don’t know which sort yet ( I mean, 16 (legal to drive), 17( legal for PG-17 movies), 18 (legal to vote and buy a pack of cigs (not that I smoke, Thank you very much 🙂 ) . Perhaps it’s the "I’ve finally got my head together but my body hasn’t completely fallen apart yet" milestone?
On the agenda for the today: Going to run/workout, finish some biology reading/study, go out to lunch with my cousin, run some errands with the family, do some more homework, go out to dinner with close friends, then the rest is party history til the wee hours 🙂 Glad I took those 3 shifts from work off 😀 haha
On the agenda for Sunday: For once took off 3 shifts from work (equivalent to the whole day of working) to spend with my family and friends, completing my Monday Chemistry lab/homework, hopefully going down to Lake Michigan/Chicago to relax and workout and eating more Birthday Cake 😀
Why Americans Should Never be allowed to travel…
These are actual stories provided by Travel Agents:
I had someone ask for an aisle seats so that his or her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window.
A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"
I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me with "I’m not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts. "Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Capecod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response … click.
A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don’t lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state."
I got a call from a man who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." He said "But they look so close on the map."
Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had a 1-hour lay over in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and I need a car to drive between the gates to save time."
A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of llinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!
A woman called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know who’s luggage belongs to who?" I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I’m overweight, is there any connection?" After putting her on hold for a minute while I "looked into it" (I was actually laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno is FAT, and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.
I just got off the phone with a man who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them."
A woman called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-cola on one of those computer planes." I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever."
A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don’t, I’ve been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I’ve been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express."
A woman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York" The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent: "Are you sure that’s the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the customer. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I’m sorry, ma’am, I’ve looked up every airport code in the country and can’t find a Hippopotamus anywhere." The customer retorted, "Oh don’t be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don’t mean Buffalo, do you?" "That’s it! I knew it was a big animal!"
Bad day…good evening ?
Yeah so yesterday (Saturday) was not such a good day for me. I hate to dwell on the bad things in life and especially to my friends, mainly because I feel everyone has enough problems in their life , that one more (especially mine) isn’t such a good thing to have to add, but like the old saying goes "what are friends for".
Yeah so my morning wasn’t that great because my mom and I weren’t on good terms (we’ll leave it at that). I guess when I’m on bad-terms with my parents , especially my mother, I tend to go on excessive cleaning binges or do excessive work for example yesterday I went out and raked both the entire front and back yard (I have to say that was a lot of leaves)…plus the other cleaning I did in my house (fold laundry, organize the shoe closet, clean up my room, take out the garbage, clean 2 bathrooms, and who knows what else I did). I guess "cleaning" is a way to free my mind and relax (I am the type of person who hates fighting and drama). So yeah if I could say the way I calm down is to "clean", and its funny I can get things down in half the time when I clean after getting out of an argument or anything of that sort.
So to make things even worse, not only am I on bad terms with my mother, but I have to go to a meeting for my work on a Saturday evening (2 hours!!!..if that wasn’t enough)..boy I have to tell you it wasn’t easy. First it was funny because there are 5-6 other Persian people working with me at my job and guess where we all ended up sitting in the same front row (what a coincidence? Right? ha-ha) yeah well the boss (Persian herself) had to mention the "seating pattern" to everyone…it made me laugh a bit (so it wasn’t a bad thing after all). I guess everyone else at my work knew I wasn’t in the best of spirits asking me "Portia why aren’t you talking?" or "Is something wrong?". I guess I’m that kind of person that if I don’t say anything for a minute , people think there is something wrong…is that a good or bad thing? hmmmm…
Well when things really bother me, I always end up telling a close family member or a very good friend (Like I said, I don’t like to tell many people when I am down or in a bad mood because I feel like there is too much going on in everyone’s life’s to have to dwell on another downfall")…but yeah my friend took me out to a nice Italian restaurant to eat. The atmosphere was something I needed "warm, cozy, minimal lighting, and classical music over powered by the Whitesox game that was playing on 3 televisions at the restaurant)…I ordered this "Potato crusted Chicken stuffed with goat-cheese and sun-dried tomatoes", sounds delicious right? Well all except the part about the "goat cheese" (I never liked the taste), so I told the waiter "can u leave the goat-cheese out?" he said "yes". Well guess what? I go to take my first 2 bites of the chicken and am surprised to taste the "goat cheese"…to my surprise it wasn’t as bad as I had expected, maybe because the taste was disguised with all the seasoning and sun-dried tomatoes. My friend wanted me to send the order back and complain..but with the day I had, I thought "why make someone elses day worse?" it’s not such a big deal…it doesn’t taste as bad as u expected..save your time and someone elses…so yeah the dinner turned out good:)
To better out the evening I went and smoked some shisha, drank some hot chocolate and watched more of the Sox game, a funny combo, but I guess we all need those at times…I went home more at ease. I think if i had locked myself in my room and didn’t take a breath of the fresh air, I would still be miserable and upset about more than just the conflict with my mother and I … it was a bad day but turned out to be a better evening 😀
Life :D
2 quotes that I truely value –Life is too short…and live life to the fullest ..enjoy
"To find the point where hypothesis and fact meet; the delicate equilibrium between dream and reality; the place where fantasy and earthly things are metamorphosed into a work of art; the hour when faith in the future becomes knowledge of the past; to lay down one’s power for others in need; to shake off the old ordeal and get ready for the new; to question, knowing that never can the full answer be found; to accept uncertainties quietly, even our incomplete knowledge of God; this is what man’s journey is about, I think."
"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."
Iced Coffee anyone?
Why is it that iced coffee is good but coffee that was once hot and has grown cold is just plain disgusting? It’s the same temperature isn’t it? Can anyone really finish a venti without it going cold first? Should I just go ahead and get it iced if it’s going to get cold anyways?
Post Secret
I came across this web-log today and I thought it was very interesting as well as touching. The web-log invites people to anonymously contribute thier secrets to PostSecret. The secret is sent on a 4 x 6 post card all the way to Maryland, where the organization puts these thousands of postcards together. Each secret can be a regret, hope, funny experience, unseen kindness, fantasy, belief, fear, betrayal, erotic desire, feeling, confession, or childhood humiliation. People can reveal anything – as long as it is true and has never been shared with anyone before. The idea/concept of "Post Secret" has became so popular that "The All American Rejects" featured a bunch of the postcards/photo’s in their music video on MTV. Also many museums across the country are hosting exhibits of these post-cards.
For more info go to : http://postsecret.blogspot.com/#112886267801736843
* I thought that alot of the postcards were funny as well as touching …take a look and see what I mean.
** This one really touched me…it’s so sad:(
Just Do It!!
This is your life, you own this life, god gave this time and life to you to do what ever you need and you want to do.
Don’t let any body tell you what to do. You have a brain and mind use them correctly and don’t let any body use your body with his thoughts.
Be your self and enjoy your life in those few days that you have left.
Be happy with the things you have and make things happen to others, make them happy and be sure some day they makes you happy and makes things work for you too !!!
(words of Moe Kaz)
* I respect these words alot…
– Picture compliments of (www.moekaz.com)
Stealin my logo? huh!!
Yeah so I guess someone stole my logo …I had found this a while back when I was looking up the directions for this one club I was going to back in July @t Chicago….I was like "holey smokes!, this is my logo!". I know that this logo has been published on some "pixel girl" or some graphics site…but I know they stole it from me, due to my "html tracking/site referrers" …cuz someone or these people had looked up my "logo" several times…I wish I had written my name across her face..yet with all this photoshop/graphic imaging stuff that people can do nowadays…there really isn’t a point…if someone really wants something …they’ll get it…oh well I just wish they had asked permission…but hey …it looks good doesn’t it? 🙂
Spinning…..round..round….
Been really busy with school…..Aghhh….Biology, calc, history, Geography, and chemistry…its all been piling up..and up and up…like a volcano ready to explode!! My head is going round and round…(reminds me of that one song "spin me round, round, baby round, round like a roller coaster!!") Aghh getting so distracted…lately I wonder if I have "ADD (attention deficient Disorder)?? Do I ? or is it just the fact that everyone is out enjoying this wonderful weather, while I am stuck at this small lonely computer lab at my college studyin…or that is "trying" to study?? Had some very strong Starbucks coffee right now..they call it some "5-shot-double grandee…um..yeah kinda forgot the rest" coffee….yeah its true "5" shots of …of….ENERGY!!!! yeah I guess that’s what I am feeling right now a burst of "ENERGY!!" or is it a mixture of being tired as hell….too much coffee..too much sweets…too much confusion..too much homework…too much CHEMISTRY!! Aghh….If I don’t write..I think I will go nuts….Yeah I wasn’t supposed to come post til next week….but, I think its been getting to me recently that without posting, I feel empty in a way… I guess now that there is no one here in this lab but a couple old people checking their e-mails from their grandchildren..I feel lonely……
Aggh! For I forgot…my work is here to accompany me …and make me pre-occupied..so that I don’t think of anything else…not of the warm lovely fall weather (that will soon be gone by next week..Aghhhh! one thing I can’t stand about Chicago! Snow ..Snow..and Snow!), of having a nice nap under a warm blanket, listening to my R-Kelly blasting up in my room , or simply having some free-time to myself..aghh..for I shouldn’t complain…this was my free time for the day ..alongside grabbing that cup of Starbucks 5-shot-blah-blah coffee…that is slowly wearing away….slowly but surely….
Soon I will fall asleep on my books…
The energy is ________ ?????
Pink Panther Party :D
Hey everyone I am sadly going to have to take a break for about 2-3 weeks from my blog…I am very busy with school and work and yes things have been catching up rather rapidly…but be ready for my return 😀 ….on a positive note ** "If you want to smoke hookah til you get lung cancer, drink til you die, and dance til your legs break", then come to the "PINK PANTHER" party on Saturday, Oct 15th …all other info is on the card above.
Thanks you all
Golden Wishes
Iranian Women….
*Manijeh Kazemi is a sports woman. She is doing air-pistol. In 2000 she was the only woman of Iran qualifying for the Olympic Games in Sydney.
**I came upon this website today and thought it was a very interesting website portraying the people of Iran, mainly the women. I give props to the ladies of Iran, although their freedom’s are limited, they always seem to shine through 🙂
http://www.ullakimmig.de/index.html
Horror in the News: Chain Reaction kills 11 People
* I had read this news story a while back and decided to write about it as a "current event/news story" I was thought it was very sad, but at the same time provided a very strong messege as well as valuble lesson.
You
often hear about those people who are going to commit suicide that very
moment and then in a spilt second change their mind or while committing
suicide change their mind but all is too late. Well in this current
horror news story the attempted suicide was attempted but didn’t go as
planned. It was supposed to be one life taken but ended up eleven
innocent lives lost. Juan Manuel Alvez was attempting to commit suicide
and parked his SUV on the path of a Metro-link commuter train Wednesday
morning, when he was supposed to jump out and commit suicide. Instead
he jumped out of the way in time to watch a chain wreck that killed
eleven people and injured one hundred and eighty innocent people.
Three
trains were involved in the crash and are considered to be the
deadliest crash since the one in 1999. One witness said "Before I knew
it, there was a big, big bang. I looked out the window and saw fire,"
said Teresa Alderete, 50, of Reseda, a commuter whose train car was
transformed in an instant from a rolling island of morning serenity
into a nightmare of flying bodies, torn metal and shattered glass.” I
was one of the fortunate ones to walk out." The
lead passenger car of a three south bound train was pushed under the
rear of its locomotive, hit the truck, and dragged it down the rails
and then derailed. The two cars of the Northbound being pulled by its
locomotive also derailed. Witnesses described it almost as “a perfect
storm of an accident.”
Passengers
of the Metro-link trains described how the roar of the crash gave way
to isolated moans and there were flying suitcases and bodies all over.
There was little panic for no one knew who to help or was able to help.
Many people were fairly calm and
were
waiting to get off the train with the determination to survive. More
than 120 people were taken to fourteen hospitals and an unnumbered
amount of people were treated at the scene or sought medical attention
on their own. Many innocent lives were lost and many injured due to one
guy who didn’t know the true meaning and true value to what live really
means. For now I hope that he truly will appreciate his life to have
taken and injured so many.
What is Life…??
What is life ?
life is you , life is a red rose, life is the tree, life is your Friends, life is your problems, life is your Fun , life is your parents, life is anything that you fight for, life is freedom ,life is sun comming up and down everyday, life is rain, life is white snow, life is the air you breath life is water, life is looking forward for tomorrow, life is …..
life is everything around you and more you look to it life is god !
so I thank god that gave me life.
I am ……
** I wanted to thank my dear friend Moe for this posting of his….He posted it several months ago…and I thought that it holds very special meaning….especially during hectic times in life like now 🙂 Thanks Moe (www.moekaz.com )
Kolah Ghermizi :D
My Hero 😛 —
Ha-ha…I found this pic a while back and had decided to surprise my friend and post this picture on his web-log….but never came through to post it myself…when I think about "Kolah Ghermizi", I just light up with a bright smile…I mean who wouldn’t 😀 ha-ha 🙂 (I dedicate this to my dear cousin Farinoush Khanoom–who has memorized almost all the Kolah Ghermizi songs 🙂 )
One of my greatest Achievements..
Months of intense training, practicing hours each day, sore muscles, broken boards, sweat, white uniforms, and several belts conquered. It took all those and more to accomplish my greatest achievement was receiving my first degree black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. I was only fifteen years old when I received my black belt in the summer of 2001. It seems like so long ago that I achieved this dream of mine, but the day I can still remember greatly.
I always dreamt of practicing martial arts. I always told my dad “I’m going to be a black belt one day and no one will be able to mess with me!” I wasn’t the only one who wanted to achieve that goal. My sister wanted to as well. My dad decided to enroll my sister and I and then decided to join us in the experience. I think having my sister and dad along pushed me to achieve my goal more and pushed me to perform my best.
In Tae-Kwon-Do it takes approximately two months each in the
United States
to test for a new belt. I went through around nine or ten different belts to reach the black belt. Each month the skills/steps/intensity increased. There were so many different forms to learn as well as steps. For each belt there is a different form. As the belt increases the form increases in difficulty. At times I thought to myself will I be able to make it? I got so mixed up with all the steps and the correct positions. I guess it was a learning phase. Because soon I was teaching lower belts how to perform their forms. I was teaching forty to eighty year olds how to perform their steps correctly. In that way I feel proud of myself. I feel proud because my instructor saw my ability and through my ability allowed me to teach lower belts.
I was in middle school and highs school at the time of my Tae-Kwon-Do training. I was involved in many activities like track, cross-country, student council, Spanish club etc, plus I had my school work. At times it was difficult to keep up with everything. I would have to run from a track meet to a martial arts class, and then go home to do homework. I think shooting for that goal to get my black belt made me stay on task and manage my time properly.
I went through months upon months of training. I trained during the warmest months, where I would be sweating up a storm. I remember days where I felt like I was going to die of heat stroke when having a sparring match. I went through many injuries and bruises. I sparred against the largest guys (6ft guys) and I am only 5’3. I loved seeing their faces struggling while sparring against them. I was really fast and always had many types of moves to trick them with.
Receiving my black belt was one of my greatest achievements because it proved to myself that I could really achieve anything if I put my mind to it. I remember my friends saying “are you sure you can do it?” and some of my guy friends saying “ah you’re a girl …those guys are going to beat you up!” Well I proved them wrong and I got my black belt. I achieved a child hood goal. I am also happy that now if put in the wrong situation I am able to defend myself with better techniques and am better educated on martial arts.
If God exists….
This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and
suffering that I have seen. It’s an explanation which people will understand.
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they
eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don’t believe
that God exists." "Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you
just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell
me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be
abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor
pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these
things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond, because he
didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the
customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in
the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He
looked dirty and un-kept. The customer turned back and entered the barber
shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not
exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here,
and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer
exclaimed. "Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people
with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah,
but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."
"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer. "That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist!
What happens, is, people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him.
That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world."
Allah vs Burger King
The man claimed the design resembled the Arabic inscription for Allah, and branded it sacrilegious, threatening a "jihad".
The chain is being forced to spend thousands of pounds redesigning the lid with backing from The Muslim Council of Britain. It apologised and said: "The design simply represents a spinning ice-cream cone."
The offending lid was spotted in a branch in Park Royal last week by business development manager Rashad Akhtar, 27, of High Wycombe.
He was not satisfied by the decision to withdraw the cones and has called on Muslims to boycott Burger King. He said: "This is my jihad. How can you say it is a spinning swirl? If you spin it one way to the right you are offending Muslims."
A Muslim Council spokesman said: "We commend the sensitive and prompt action that Burger King has taken."
*The things people will notice nowadays…I think its very stange/funny at the same time…just like those people who claim they see the virgin Mary/Jesus on a piece of toast lol…I guess there are those very observant people out there.
Let Loose :)
Some times you have to let loose and have some fun…I guess that’s what I was doing in this picture taken of me the other day at that great "Shushi" Bar (very delicious, for my first time trying it). I guess dunno I guess I have been caught up with everything from all my courses, homework, those tedious/time consuming Chemistry labs, work, and unno Life in general…I try to take a break anytime I have some freetime, other wise I will break 🙂
Sushi :D
All I can say Is SUSHI is out of this world. I tried sushi and it was absolutely amazing! I think I had tasted a little when I was younger and hated it (maybe becuase it was one of those small containers of sushi that you buy from the local grocery and was left in my freezer for 5-6 months….then thawed and yea the rest was not good….you have to eat sushi fresh and from a good place other wise forget about even trying it ). Anyways I went to this place called "The Sushi Bar" it’s a very low-key but nice sushi place (very friendly atmosphere) and to know that you can watch them make the sushi made me feel a little better. I think the "California Rolls" were my favorite (had a little too much …and couldn’t finish the rest). But overall from eating some simple sushi at a low-key sushi bar, I loved it, I can only imagine how tastey sushi could be at other up-scale places…for now I am left to wonder…but soon to check it out.
Make up can do Wonders..
It’s funny to see how makeup can do wonders…actually how it can make a totally other person…so next time you think a celebrity looks hot or how you want to go get plastic surgeory to look like one …just think about how they look underneath it all 😀 just a little thought 😀
Nice Shoes?
I saw this picture and the caption was "nice shoes", to most people yeah this picture seems like a joke, but to me it’s very sad. It’s very sad that there are millions of people all over the world who have to endure poverty to this kind of level.
It was just last night that I was sitting in my room folding up some of my clothing when I told myself "Portia, how much clothing do you have?" (while folding up another 2 new shirts I had just bought the same morning)…while cleaning I was on the phone with my friend and I was telling him " unno I have ___ many plain shirts and ___ many logo ed shirts and this ___ many sleeveless (which is a small part of my summer wardrobe) and unno what he told me "Unno Portia, having too much of something/everything is never good, we shouldn’t we so greedy."
All I could do was sit there and look at all my clothing and tell myself "Unno ..you have to be considerate…there are people out there in this world who would be happy for even one shirt to wear". I mean I love to shop and all, but yeah this picture today and just sitting n my room puzzled beyond belief to what to do with all my clothing made me feel very greedy and really sad. I felt sad because every year I end up donating or throwing away at least 3-4 bag-fulls of clothing, when there are people who don’t even have 3-4 bag-fulls of anything to wear or anything to own. I think a lesson to all of us if not already used is not to be greedy and too much of everything is not always good.
Pictures from Iran
I guess because school is kicking my butt with so much homework and studies, I am missing Iran even more than ever. I guess I just want to go back to those beautiful mountains in Darband (Tehran), go eat some bastani Saffron (saffron Icecream), walk around those streets with those crazy as hell cab-drivers, eat some kabob, smoke some hookah by Siahsepole, feel the dry warm breeze, and oh yeah the kharbozeh (persian melon) …I am missing that and craving for some right about now. I promised that I would post a bunch of pictures from my trip up on the site ( I did a couple weeks ago) here are just a few if you want to check them out of miscellenous momments in Iran http://www.reza247.com/photos/iran_trip_2005/index.html
** This picture above was taken of my cousin and I at Maydoon Shah…such a lovely place ❤
Siahsehpole
I took this picture in Isfahan, Iran at Siasehpole. There is not one time when I don’t think about "Siasehpole" when I cross or witness a bridge. This bridge’s sturture and design is amazing and it makes me plain "Iran sick" when I think about it. The atmosphere day/night is ubelievable, especially during the summer. I miss the sounds of the water, people singing, kids playing, corn roasting, guitar playin, and all that and more. No wonder "Siahsehpole" is considered to be a top attraction in Isfahan.
NINE 9-the spot to be :D
So I ended up dining at this amazing place called "NINE" last night. All I can say is when I walked in I was completely speechless. This Steak and seafood restaurant is both a restaurant and club combined.
The food was to die for (they are known for their specialty steaks which are boiled to 1200 degrees and melt in your mouth). For appetizers I had the "Grilled Calamari" with lemon and chili (It was a bit to burned …the only downfall of the night) and my friend had the "Shashimi n9ne" which was hamachi, salmon, ahi tuna, ponzu, tobiko caviar, and serrano Chile (kind of like sushi but ten times better). For entrees I 
The drink selection is amazing just as the bar is. I had some "voveh" a french-Champagne which was better than Crystal (believe me on that one).
I highly recommend this 3-star rated restaurant if you want to have a good time with family or friends, the atmosphere is great, the food is to die for, the service is excellent, and the place itself is highly rated. For more info you can go to http://www.n9ne.com/home.asp
Poleh-Khajoo
This photo was taken at "Poleh-Khajoo" (Esfahan,Iran). My aunt’s husband’s parents are very fortunate to have property overlooking this beautiful monument and scenary. It is very similar to "Siahsepohl", yet some people say that "Poleh-Khajoo" is much better, personally, I like them both. I wish we had a bridge so beautiful like this in Chicago…hey one day it could happen, but on the other hand, that’s what makes Iran so special.
Maydoon Shah
This is a picture that I took in Esfahan, Iran of the Maydoon Shah (really called Maydoon Emam now), but I still like to call it the good ol’ "Maydoon Shah". Thanks to www.moekaz.com for editing a bit.
The Sweets of Iran :)
Lately you know what I have been missing alot about Iran? I am missing the Persian Sherine (Sweets!)…the warm honey flavored with rose water extract, that burst of saffron; the most sensational taste to one’s mouth (fit for a king), crunchy pistachio’s, lucious cocoa, and most of all the beauty of those sweets.
One would think one would induldge almost everyday on those sweets/goodies, but unfortunately I didn’t do that…instead I choose to snack on Iran’s heavenly melon "Kharbozeh" (a combinational taste of a water melon-texture & honeydue) aghhh..just thinking about it right now makes me drool and that’s not good since I am here in my college’s library…ha-ha. I also miss thier peach’s (I can’t remember the specific name for the peach’s that I love …they are not like ordinary peaches that we have here….they are pumkin shaped and out of this world). Anyways I am here now in the United States still dwelling on the fruits and sweets of Iran (Just wishin that I could be in Iran …munching away at all the wonderful delights).
Iran and my 2 little babies :D
Yes, these 2 are my "little babies", and I miss them so much…it’s not even funny (tear to my eye…wink wink:D) they are my two little cousins (Kiamia-left & Rooya-Right) who live in Iran. I had so much fun with them. Rooya is like a little women who won’t stop talking (farsi-for me is still not that great… I undertand..but my speaking still needs a lot of work) so she would go on and on speaking farsi with me (kind of a good thing to make me speak farsi better) and then on the other hand there’s little Kiamia (the mommy’s girl & too damn spoiled!). She would go by everyone and steal their icecream or candy…thinks she’s the big princess around. Anyhow I didn’t mention thier eldest sibling " Reyhaneh" who is great with her English and helped me so much with my farsi, as I helped her with her English…and Reyhaneh (if you are reading this) continue with your Arabic dancing (you are amazing…this girl can dance better than any of those belly-dancers that i’ve seen in Chi-town) ….girls I miss you like crazy…I hope one day you can make it to the USA…other wise don’t give your parents too much trouble…and be careful with those boys when you get older 😀 ha-ha…peace out 😀
What will they not ask for ??
The NY Daily News has a collection of demands
that some of the celebrities made during the MTV Video Music Awards
last weekend, though none of them were especially surprising or
entertaining. Some of the better ones include:
• 50 Cent asked for condoms, including two boxes of Lifestyles and
Rough Riders. He also asked for bottles of Cristal, as well as chicken
from KFC and Boston Market.
• Green Day asked for a fifth of silver tequila, a fifth of whisky
(Jameson or Bushmill’s), a fifth of vodka (Grey Goose, Vox or
Belvedere) and four bottles of wine.
• Coldplay asked for vodka and wine, plus no fewer than 48 bottles
of lager – specifically demanding that no American beers be included.
They also wanted organic soup and free-range chicken on the table, as
well as three packs of Marlboro Lights.
• Shakira asked for "relaxed" lighting, drapes over ugly walls and high-quality flowers everywhere.
What happened to the good ol’ days when celebrities would make crazy
demands like "a bowl of red M&M’s with the ‘&’ scratched off
and replaced with a tiny drawing of a dog." I miss those days. They
were awesome.
Back from Iran :D
.
I am back from Iran…its been 3 days now, yet I still have jet-lag and am feeling extremely sick! I dunno I think it has to do with the whole weather being so hot over there and all that I am not back to normal. Yes, school has finally resumed and I’m overloaded with courses (being my last year here), aah had chemistry and math today and I have to work 2 shifts in a couple of hours all on top of having very low blood pressure and trying not to think about how much I spent on my school books today!! Aghhhh….I wish I could be chillin in Iran a little longer…I dunno if I am ready to resume into another school year and forget about the party hard mode? I’ll do it…its just the first week …and I still feel like I am on vacation…but once everything sets in I guess it will hit me, hopefully not to hard.
Iran was a blast like always…I dunno this time I had a double-look on it (being that my first time there was when I was 15-years old) I tended to compare the United States to Iran in a lot of ways (odd isn’t it …2 different worlds really) yet in a lot of ways kind of and strangely similar…yet Iran is as I said, indeed it’s own different world run by those evil mullahs ..AGHH! thinking about me makes me want to puke! 3 summers have past since I visited last, and yes for all who want to know, has it changed? Yes, indeed it has! The girls …don’t even ask…I think each month the layers of makeup they put on increases…I seem to wonder what they are trying to hide underneath it all? and the fashions well each summer, the skin is starting to be exposed, slowly,but surely, in a way a good thing for me, being that I get so hot under that monto and scarf that are mandatory items to be worn by all females. The guys, even more metro than always…their eyebrows seem to get thinner and thinner by the minute….and those jeans well some tighter and tighter but I guess they are taking the capri look to fashion now…Iran is a never ending fashion scence, everyone fighting to have the best and look the best, and that’s what made me sick…I am actually happy that I am living here in the USA where you could go out in your PJ’s and it’s ok.
As always Iran is under lots of construction, everyone fighting for a piece of the lan, the best pent-houses and complexes (so beautiful, I should add). The fruit (mieve) well its delicious as hell, yet that nasty virus "Vabah" has hit some parts of Iran and the Veggies are being banned from being sold and eaten in any restaurant or market. I ate lots of saffrom bastani (saffron Icecream), kabob (common its IRAN), berenge (rice), must (yogurt), lavashak (dry sour fruit roll), and much more goodies that you can get so easily in Iran 🙂 It’s funny cause if I ate kabob and icecream here everyday I would gain weight in a second but in Iran I ate all those 2-3 times a day and I think, lost the weight, pretty good, right?
Well there is so much to say about Iran…I will surely post alot about it…but now I have to run to a class…I guess in a way it was a sneak preview of what is to come…other wise I miss IRAN very bad, minus the hot as hell weather and all the mullahs….off to math class…fun !!! HELL NO!
For those going to Med School
hey guys, hope everyone’s having a good time.
If you are a Pre-Med student and planning to
take the MCAT ANYTIME (soon or whenever):
I got couple of sets of MCAT prep. books,
which I personally used and kept them clean,
and now I’m trying to sell them for less than half
of what I paid. Practice problems+practice tests (full length) are also included
in these sets.
If you are interested to buy them CHEAP, please email me
at either of the following:
IRAN!! Here I come:)
I’m going to be in Iran for 2 weeks so that means lack of posting….I hope to be able to post at least one posting over there…but since my time is cut so short with only 2-weeks, I’m not sure that I will be able to post anything.
But don’t worry, when I go to my beloved Iran I will take hundreds of pictures and most importantly keep track of every single momment, event, story, place, people, and much much more, so that when I come back and start posting once again, I will be able to share with you all.
I really wish I could spend more time…but with my schedule, unfortunately 2-weeks is all I could fit it, but hey, I’m thankful that I can atleast visit:) Until next time my friends…take care and you all have a great rest of the summer…i’m pretty sure I will 🙂
-Golden Wishes
Portia (www.portia247.com)
Orkut????
* I am member of this social network called "Orkut", I really don’t belive in these things, but its a very good network in which I can keep up with family and friends who live across the world…and is not known for being one of those "dating/mating" networks. The site is currently under construction, so I decided to see why, and came across this interesting news story about Orkut…very interesting, but not a surprise 🙂
Brazilians used Orkut as drug distribution network
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) – Brazilian police arrested 10
people on Thursday accused of selling drugs using Google’s
international social networking site Orkut, which is hugely popular in
the Latin American country.
"We discovered the drug ring first
via authorized phone tapping, and later the investigation included
monitoring of their activities on the Internet," said a duty officer at
the Drugs Enforcement Service in the city of Niteroi, just across the
bay from Rio de Janeiro.
The officer, who declined to be named,
told Reuters most of those accused were detained in Niteroi, others in
Rio and one in the resort town of Buzios.
"We’ve nabbed 10 so far, but there may be more," he added. The ring distributed mainly ecstasy and marijuana.
Orkut allows members to join and set up online communities to discuss
everything from doughnuts to quantum physics and schedule events such
as community meetings.
Narcotics are also discussed, with some
groups advocating their legalization. However, most popular
Portuguese-language communities touching on the issue are anti-drug
groups.
Several million Brazilians have become devotees of Orkut
(http://www.orkut.com) since Web search leader Google Inc. launched the
popular social-networking site in January 2004. They make up more than
half of Orkut’s 7 million plus members.
Part of Orkut’s allure
is its exclusivity — one can only join at the invitation of another
member. The site is named after Google software engineer Orkut
Buyukkokten.
Stop Flirting!!
My friends and I were eating at Olive Garden today when we all noticed this cute baby standing behind us and watching us. She was so adorable, everytime we smiled at her she would smile back and hide behind the window curtain. It was funny because her parents noticed and told her "_____ stop flirting with them!" ha-ha….I love children, especially babies so much, especially when they are so friendly…I always seem to bump into the one’s who won’t stop crying and drive you nuts:)
Long live Ganji …
I have been so busy lately with alot of stuff, my third summer course is wrapping up this week plus getting ready to leave to Iran for 2-weeks is keeping me on my feet…haven’t started packing….endless people to say bye to, soo much school stuff to deal with, and more & more…just waiting for Friday to be off to my beloved Iran 🙂
Any ways enough about me and about a person who truely deserves the attention and recognition, Mr. Akbar Ganji, has been on a hunger strike for 56 days now and counting…It’s so sad to witness such a vibrant jounalist ruin day after day because he couldn’t voice his freedom. Watching this picture makes me sick to know that the government (our fellow human beings) can be so heartless to have this man suffering day in and day out for voicing his freedom. I hope that they stop being the monsters that they are and find some heart to apologize to this man and let him free before the worst gets to him. I pray for him to survive each and everydaym, stronger and stronger than he already is and may god bless him, for the best shall prevail.
Think before you speak!!
**I am very saddened at how some people these days don’t think before they speak! Unno the good ol’ saying "Think before you speak", well I guess from everyday experiences that not everyone knows that one or puts it to use. I received this comment from a visitor to my web-log and was very shocked to his comment. I mean don’t get me wrong, as I wrote in my response to his comment, I love criticism, because it is what helps me grow and make me fix things that maybe I see as good, but others don’t, but there is a thin line when the criticism is not logical or plain out wrong. That is when I voice my opinion, just like any one else and let the world know what I think and hopefully teach others a little something. The first part on the bottom is the visitors comment and the second half on the bottom is my response back to him.
Subject: Blame your parents you live in America!
The problem is that you live in USA that is a material and without culture country. Everibody in Italy knows about EURANN history and about
the ancient persian kingdom of Ciro and Darius kings. I also know about the falg of Italy is GREEN,WHITE AND RED and not as EURANN but can I ask
you something? Why you act as an american I mean you really thing that norml people care about your blog and what do you do 24 hours at day?
If you feel iranian dont act as an american teenager. Ciao american girl
Mr.Lauro,
I highly disagree with your comment to me. I mean you have freedom of speech and you are allowed to say whatever you feel, I like criticism that is how I learn and grow as an individual each and everyday. But, I do not "blame my parents" for raising me in the USA, if they had another choice they wouldn’t, believe me. But, although I was born and raised in the USA I still hold true to my culture and values.
All my friends tell me, unoo I don’t see the American side of you at all, parents tell my parents and I "wow she is so into her culture, it’s amazing she was born and raised here!" , my own father who strongly disagrees on a lot of the American ways tells me " Portia, I can’t believe it but I think you are more Persian than I am !" so when you tell me that I act like a so called "American Teenager", you should think twice about that!
Something that really bothers me about what you said about my web-log…you mean to tell me keeping a daily blog of world events/news, jokes, sports, politics, art, special things in my life makes me just a plain old "American girl"!!! well if so, then all those millions of people from across the world who have their own web-logs are just "American teenagers" who want to show off.
If you went through my web-log thoroughly, and I mean if you went through even a couple postings, you would see that I’m more than just an "American teenager". How can you sit there make those kinds of assumptions, when I am writing about politics/news around the world and mainly things that are happening in my dear country Iran?
I could continue telling you why the comment you made was wrong in a million ways, but I won’t. I hope that you understand by now, otherwise I’m sorry but I don’t know where you have been locked up for the past decade or so? Web-logging is a way to teach one another of our passions, share with the rest of the world what is going on in our everyday lives, Diversify one another, and open people’s eyes to things they never knew.
Mr.Lauro think before you write next time…because people these days don’t take things like that for granted.
-Portia
http://www.portia247.com
P o r t i a 247 
