So this morning I am taking part in my ritual of listening to Evil Durdan and the Y-Morning Zoo, or z-morning news depending where you live, and they mentioned a story that I feel needs to be shared.
Apparently women who are bi-lingual tend to change their personalities based on which language they are speaking! HOW WEIRD!
They mostly spoke of Hispanic women, and how they tend to be more assertive when they speak Spanish rather than when they speak English. I do not doubt this, but I don't speak Spanish, and I find it funny that Farsi has the opposite effect. I am more passive when I speak it and not nearly as sarcastic.
I find this all funny. It makes sense that we would change the way we speak based on the culture that language comes from, but I to change personalities based on what your speaking? Now that is some cool mind trick that I love!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
In These Times In Which We Live...
So the Miami Herald began offering people buyouts last week, and I just got the worst e-mail I could possibly get as a result. My editor, Hamal, is taking the buyout and leaving the newspaper.
I cannot stop crying about this!
He is a brilliant editor and probably the nicest person I have ever met in the field, with more talent than anyone should have. He was the kind of editor who cared enough to explain details, he wanted his reporters to become better writers and I really hope I did him justice.
Whoever replaces him has some big shoes to fill... he is one in a billion, no one else would have taken a chance on me, but he did last year. He saw me working one day with another reporter and asked me to freelance for him. He taught me so much, and it hurts to know that such a wonderful mentor is now gone.
If people want to know why journalism is not doing well, it is because newspaper are allowing people like my editor to leave the industry! People who know what they are doing and have the experince to make a section great. I understand the economy is suffering and that everyone is trying to pitch a penny, so to speak, but this is too much. Making reporters buyout of their jobs should be a crime in my eyes because it goes against democracy and everything we stand for as Americans. How is a free press supposed to continue when they are forced to get rid of their best editors and reporters? Journalism is not the kind of job that can easily be done by the lowest bidder; it is a job that takes time to learn and one that is never perfected.
I am still in shock as to how this can happen. As a journalism student it is upsetting to see the best leave, but I am thankful enough to know that I was lucky enough to work with one of the greatest.
I cannot stop crying about this!
He is a brilliant editor and probably the nicest person I have ever met in the field, with more talent than anyone should have. He was the kind of editor who cared enough to explain details, he wanted his reporters to become better writers and I really hope I did him justice.
Whoever replaces him has some big shoes to fill... he is one in a billion, no one else would have taken a chance on me, but he did last year. He saw me working one day with another reporter and asked me to freelance for him. He taught me so much, and it hurts to know that such a wonderful mentor is now gone.
If people want to know why journalism is not doing well, it is because newspaper are allowing people like my editor to leave the industry! People who know what they are doing and have the experince to make a section great. I understand the economy is suffering and that everyone is trying to pitch a penny, so to speak, but this is too much. Making reporters buyout of their jobs should be a crime in my eyes because it goes against democracy and everything we stand for as Americans. How is a free press supposed to continue when they are forced to get rid of their best editors and reporters? Journalism is not the kind of job that can easily be done by the lowest bidder; it is a job that takes time to learn and one that is never perfected.
I am still in shock as to how this can happen. As a journalism student it is upsetting to see the best leave, but I am thankful enough to know that I was lucky enough to work with one of the greatest.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
It Was 1980 Something In The World I Grew Up In...
When VH1 wanted me to love the 70's a few years ago, I was all for it! I was born in 88 this show was my way of seeing how life was like years before I was alive. That and I played with half the toys mentioned on that show so it was nice to see when they started!
The same goes for I love the 80's and 90's each part of that series was my guilty pleasure, but now I feel that VH1 has gone too far with there new decade that they tell me to love....
I LOVE THE MILLENNIUM
This gem of bad TV goes through the past eight years in eight parts. Honestly, is it legal to even have a I Love The any decade without the decade being over? As much as I want to hate the fact that I have to relive the past eight years, something draws me in. I cannot help it! I need rehab!
There is something about Hal Sparks and Micheal Ian Black that make me happy and make this show worth watching. Also because the people on this show really need the whole I Love The series to have any kind of career.
Indeed, I Love The Millennium is allowing me to relive the past eight years, all of which I remember very well and be able to fill in all of the blanks. I guess the good people at VH1 realized their fan-base.
From crony lines from broke back mountain like, "I wish I knew how to quit you," and every trend and gadget that we all had to have this show is sooooo worth it! like o-m-g do you remember when the iPod came out? Even Bushisms are not safe in this show!
So please, relive the last few years with me and enjoy it! Just laugh at the madness and be thankful that we can go through all the stuff you wish you could see again. My favorite part of the 90's by the way and the new millennium in the first part of it anyways, VH1 was just for older people and would do true to life music shows like Behind the Music. Those were the days...
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Okay so I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Colbert Report! It makes me smile and don't deny it makes you giggle as well. In the words of Stephen Colbert... well not really but he would say it... it is UN-AMERICAN not to love his show!
So one of the things he has on his show is putting people or things or ideas... really any noun or verb, on "notice." I found a web site that lets you make your own notice board.
Of couese I made my own and I have put the following thins on notice for the following reasons:
1. Bears: (check out the link for this... its funny)you cannot have a notice board without them... in the words of Colbert they want to eat our honey and steal our picnic baskets... NOT COOL!
2. Bad E-Mail Repliers: I hate it when you send someone an email and they do not send anything back. I know they got it and frankly I find it rude. Answer emails people!
3. Hilary Clinton: Give it up, you lost... everyone knows it, just concede and allow the election to go on. (link to 20 reasons why she sucks!)
4. Starbucks: I love their coffee, tea and lattes... oh and just about everything they make, but I am mad at them for becoming the only socially acceptable place to met people you don't want to talk to for very long.
5. Mr. AOL Poll Maker: Those polls are always weird! They just called Toy Story the best animated movie ever made...and put Sherk ahead of Beauty and the Beast! (Okay the link goes to moviefone.com but the link was taken from AOL's homepage, making just as bad. Also AOL always puts up the dumbest polls.
6. Cover Songs: IF YOUR ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER! DON'T TRY IT! I'M LOOKING AT YOU
1. Fiona Apple
2. Jessica Simpson
3. Don't know who did it but the girl who did the remake to "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts
4. Hilary Duff
5. FALL OUT BOY! (you cannot re-do Beat It unless you are a 40 something year old newly white pop star with race issues!
Good job to Madonna, New Found Glory and Christina Aguilera :0)
7. Business Casual: I just always have a hard time with this and I am sorry but there is some sexism here! If guys can wear jeans so can girls!
8. Late Night Hunger: I hate eating dinner at like 8 and being ready for round two at 11! Not a fattie I promise.
Make your own list! It's fun and I promise more to come soon.
Sending my love and all the best kisses! :0)
Monday, June 2, 2008
I'm Still Learning How To Cry
I have never cried before in class. due to a story. EVER! In my over 10 years of being in school I have never had a teacher bring me to tears.
Tonight my teacher was telling us about his experience of coming to terms with his race as he was growing up. Every part of the story from how he tried to scrub the dark color off his skin when he was five or six to coming to terms with his race when he was older and at a convention. It all made me cry. It just reminded me of growing up Persian and finding a way to balance it all.
I remembered how much of an outcast I felt like growing up in my hometown. Everyone here is white or Hispanic. I grew up with parents who did not know English very well. I grew up brining exotic Persian food to school for lunch, only to get stairs by my friends so I quickly stopped.
I was always made fun of by my cousins, they called me names for having curly hair, a small nose and being more curvy then they are. I look like an outsider next to my family of lighter skinned, straight hair, no big booty family. I wanted nothing more than to look more like my family when I was growing up.
In fact I grew up just like my teacher, trying to rub the dark out of my skin and trying to lighten my hair. I even grew up being called Paradise, yes it was mostly due to the fact that people cannot pronounce Pardis, but also because Paradise seemed more normal to me.
I grew up feeling like I was living two lives. I was Paradise out side my house and I refused to allow anyone in my family to call me Paradise as well... and my friends could not use Pardis.I kept my worlds apart. I would act "normal" in public and shed every ounce of Persian in me. Then I would go home to a place where I would not speak English, listen to music that was fun to dance to, a close family and on special days I would celebrate holidays that were culturally rich.
Sadly 9/11 made me Persian. I could not hide my culture anymore and for worse or for better I was forced to embrace my used to be secret life. I was forced to loosen up. I remember going to work one day and my boss called me Pardis and I went off on him telling him that he was not allowed to do that. FAMILY ONLY!
I am so glad that I no longer feel that way. Just as I opened my culture to the general public years latter I finished the process by opening up my name. It happened my sophomore year of college when I went to a party with a friend of mine. I was talking to this guy who used to have a Persian girlfriend, and he told me that I should not hide Pardis from people when I told him what Paradise meant in Farsi. He then called me Pardis for the rest of the time I was at the party.
From then on I embarrassed my name. And after this class I finally know that I am not the only one who once sat there on their bathroom floor wishing to look like everyone else and wishing to be like everyone else
( Sorry stereotype maker man... no face covers in Iran)
(My kingdom background)
(Persian food is amazing!)
Tonight my teacher was telling us about his experience of coming to terms with his race as he was growing up. Every part of the story from how he tried to scrub the dark color off his skin when he was five or six to coming to terms with his race when he was older and at a convention. It all made me cry. It just reminded me of growing up Persian and finding a way to balance it all.
I remembered how much of an outcast I felt like growing up in my hometown. Everyone here is white or Hispanic. I grew up with parents who did not know English very well. I grew up brining exotic Persian food to school for lunch, only to get stairs by my friends so I quickly stopped.
I was always made fun of by my cousins, they called me names for having curly hair, a small nose and being more curvy then they are. I look like an outsider next to my family of lighter skinned, straight hair, no big booty family. I wanted nothing more than to look more like my family when I was growing up.
In fact I grew up just like my teacher, trying to rub the dark out of my skin and trying to lighten my hair. I even grew up being called Paradise, yes it was mostly due to the fact that people cannot pronounce Pardis, but also because Paradise seemed more normal to me.
I grew up feeling like I was living two lives. I was Paradise out side my house and I refused to allow anyone in my family to call me Paradise as well... and my friends could not use Pardis.I kept my worlds apart. I would act "normal" in public and shed every ounce of Persian in me. Then I would go home to a place where I would not speak English, listen to music that was fun to dance to, a close family and on special days I would celebrate holidays that were culturally rich.
Sadly 9/11 made me Persian. I could not hide my culture anymore and for worse or for better I was forced to embrace my used to be secret life. I was forced to loosen up. I remember going to work one day and my boss called me Pardis and I went off on him telling him that he was not allowed to do that. FAMILY ONLY!
I am so glad that I no longer feel that way. Just as I opened my culture to the general public years latter I finished the process by opening up my name. It happened my sophomore year of college when I went to a party with a friend of mine. I was talking to this guy who used to have a Persian girlfriend, and he told me that I should not hide Pardis from people when I told him what Paradise meant in Farsi. He then called me Pardis for the rest of the time I was at the party.
From then on I embarrassed my name. And after this class I finally know that I am not the only one who once sat there on their bathroom floor wishing to look like everyone else and wishing to be like everyone else
( Sorry stereotype maker man... no face covers in Iran)
(My kingdom background)
(Persian food is amazing!)
I Ain't No Holla Back Girl...
Hey ya'll...
okay so just now I am walking into the book store to get food. Since I get no service in the newspaper room at school I am checking a few texts on my way over... so I am in la la land and I see these two tall boys, who are dressed a little hoody, walking to the door too.. and one of them says something and opens the door. I say thank you and keep going...
that's when things became weird...
he very angrily stomped his foot on the ground and said... GIRL I AIN'T TYRING TO HOLLA AT YOU I WAS JUST ASKING WHERE I CAN GET SOME CIGS!?!
I told him sorry because I did not know he was talking to me, I mean honestly you see two people together, you think they are talking together. I do at least! Oh by the way I dont know where they sell cigs at school so i was the wrong person to ask.
I mean honestly I do not think I am in some bad Gwen Staffini Video. I do not want people to "holla" at me. In fact I hate it! It makes me feel cheap and little when guys say stuff when I walk by.
But that whole line he said has got me to think about how it feels to be a guy. Living in Miami I hate walking to most places because guys will ALWAYS say things when you walk by. I honestly expect it now. Thus I always ignore them. But I never thought about it from their point of view...
like for the good guys who just want to ask for the time without any bad intentions. The one who really wants to know where to best place to get coffee is and the one who honestly wants to tell you that you look cute. It has to be harder to be a guy these days because girls now think whatever guys say to us walking by is a pick up line.
really sad right!
It must be hard, because my honest mistake is the result of years of comments being shouted at me as I walk by. My lesson... listen more when walking. 
(i guess i ain't no hollah back girl?)
How Often Do You Color?
I love Sex and the City!
LOVE IT!
LOVE IT!
And this weekend, just like every other girl in this country, I went to the movies with my best friend and her mother and her best friend to take part in the biggest female bonding movie ever made!
Before stepping into the theater I realized how much people like to relate to the characters. I remember when I was seven and watching Power Rangers how we would all pick a character that represented us. I was the yellow ranger.
Then when the Spice Girls were the it band we all picked out which one we would be again, I got to be Mel B, Scary Spice, because I have big hair... no fair because I wanted to be Emma, Baby Spice,(she wore cuter cloths but I was to old to be the baby
So while I am in line to see Sex and the City, for some reason, I was drawn back to my days as a seven-year-old. We actually each picked what characters we wanted to be! My best friend got Carrie, because she likes to write (well i do to but i think Carrie should go to someone with an amazing shoe and dress collection, along with having an ability to write. So she earned that title), her mom got Sam, because of her fun personality and independent spirit, the other women we were with got Miranda. No idea why because I don't know her but whatever.
Then there was me... I guess I am more of the Charlotte.
Which I guess is fitting. I am a little of a prude. I know, did I just admit that... I am breaking some taboo law, but I will not kiss a guy unless I have feelings for them, I will admit that I am a little naive at times and as much as I will deny this til I am at my bitter end, I would love to live that fairy tale life that she had made for herself. (only I would work).
If there is one thing that Sex and the City does is bring out selves to our own attention. Yes, I am a little like each character, but I am happy with Charlotte!
I just find it funny what powers this movie has. It has made women of all ages bond over content, brought us all out to the movies for a national girls night out and brought us all to a time in our childhood where you'd calm a character.
LOVE IT!
LOVE IT!
And this weekend, just like every other girl in this country, I went to the movies with my best friend and her mother and her best friend to take part in the biggest female bonding movie ever made!
Before stepping into the theater I realized how much people like to relate to the characters. I remember when I was seven and watching Power Rangers how we would all pick a character that represented us. I was the yellow ranger.
Then when the Spice Girls were the it band we all picked out which one we would be again, I got to be Mel B, Scary Spice, because I have big hair... no fair because I wanted to be Emma, Baby Spice,(she wore cuter cloths but I was to old to be the baby
So while I am in line to see Sex and the City, for some reason, I was drawn back to my days as a seven-year-old. We actually each picked what characters we wanted to be! My best friend got Carrie, because she likes to write (well i do to but i think Carrie should go to someone with an amazing shoe and dress collection, along with having an ability to write. So she earned that title), her mom got Sam, because of her fun personality and independent spirit, the other women we were with got Miranda. No idea why because I don't know her but whatever.
Then there was me... I guess I am more of the Charlotte.
Which I guess is fitting. I am a little of a prude. I know, did I just admit that... I am breaking some taboo law, but I will not kiss a guy unless I have feelings for them, I will admit that I am a little naive at times and as much as I will deny this til I am at my bitter end, I would love to live that fairy tale life that she had made for herself. (only I would work).
If there is one thing that Sex and the City does is bring out selves to our own attention. Yes, I am a little like each character, but I am happy with Charlotte!
I just find it funny what powers this movie has. It has made women of all ages bond over content, brought us all out to the movies for a national girls night out and brought us all to a time in our childhood where you'd calm a character.
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