jot down random fleeting thoughts and ideas

strange things happen… took my car in for the annual emission test… it passed the test, and everything seemed fine. Then, I drove to the library for a quick stop, and when I turned the car back on afterward, the ‘check engine’ light was on! 20 miles later, it went off again. I think my car just told me “I could’ve ruined your day, dude!” _{Black-mailing plans? No, it can’t be…}

My “home” country, Iran, is getting ready for a presidential election in 9 days. The election is unique in some ways because it’s not party-based, instead there are multiple candidates competing with each other. Technically anybody can register to become president, and this leads to an interesting “candidate registration” event each time… different people from all over the country rally to sign up (over 400 signed up this year), and you hear the most amusing (and sometimes the strangest) proposals from the people that have are never heard otherwise about tackling the issues in their why-vote-for-me speeches :) Then, of course, a “guardian council” eliminates the ones that they think are not “qualified” for presidency. Many criticize this selection process as a way to keep the power “contained” to a particular group, which is, I think, true (it is also true that the boundaries are vague in the law, allowing them to act on their own conviction). Anyways, now we’re left with 4 candidate for the election: two from right (including our current “beloved” president), and two from slightly left; even though, left and right are not descriptive of their view points in their strict definition (almost all of them propose a socialistic islamic open market, whatever that is!). The atmosphere is hyped up, I think (partly because Iranians are emotional voters, and you never now what the results is, until after they’ve voted), and we see lots of discussions in the less-than-usual-strict condition (in terms of freedom of speech, and even thoughts!) that exists only in the few days close to elections. :)

Whether to vote or not has been an issue for each election (strangely, to me… hence the image above) these days. A large group of people (large enough that can easily change the outcome of each election) don’t participate in the election, since they see their participation as a validation of the system. Some don’t want to be associated with the government in any way because of its not so brilliant record in human and civil rights, many do not find the government a fair representative of their views and feel left out, some still want their king back in power, and others still hope for a proletarian revolution, I suppose. This election abandoning view has lost support quite a bit, of course, after last election lead to the country going downhill. I understand if somebody says none of the candidates are their real choice, but we compromise in every other aspect of life, don’t we? Why not here? (especially, considering the historical fact that the more participation in election historically has always resulted in them having their say).

Anyway, just wanted to get this out of my system (the amount of news and discussions in Facebook and elsewhere has been overwhelming)...

in a used book I picked up from the local library… author’s sincere note. _{Had to mask the names… well, perhaps didn’t have to, but it’s a privacy issue, isn’t it?}

My favorite part: ”...and because he doesn’t rename tough things I believe in the lie of ‘positive’ thinking.” Lovely! :)

how much of the stuff that I forget to do is intentional!

from ariah’s blog (I wish he’d post more often here too)... a link to the richlist.

I have strange feelings being in the top 1%, perhaps a mixture of gratitude and guilt. I highly doubt if I work harder than 99% (well, simply put, I don’t!), and I never had to do anything I didn’t want to do… besides, what I do is by no means sensitive or crucial… so why would I get paid more than most people out there? _{Am I being rewarded for fitting into a pure conformist’s situation?}

Really, who decides how much one’s work is worth (I mean its monetary value)? I tried a few “sensible” criteria (how immediately useful the result is, how tough the work environment is, what the long-term impact is, and such), and all of them failed to reflect the current stipend distribution. Any thoughts?

would you do if a friend does something that you don’t approve of? (Particularly, if it’s something that does not affect you directly at all, but possibly affects somebody else)

On a broader sense, what is a friendship based on? Is it something merely founded on common attributes that would get weaker by a difference of opinion? I’d say no, but what then? Maybe a combination of mutual admiration and acceptance? _{It sounds absurd, but have been thinking why I’m close friends with Chi and not with Upsilon! Or why they call me their friend!}

has nothing to do with my priorities (maybe others’)... but I always find the top search list amusing! Today’s Yahoo’s top searches:

1. Janet Jackson
 2. Elisabeth Hasselbeck
 3. Jennifer Hudson
 4. Dog Costumes
 5. Acura TSX
 6. Bailout Plan
 7. Fruit Bouquets
 8. How to Lose Friends...
 9. Skin Care
10. Sports Blankets

_{Oh, yes, you don’t care, but I judge you nonetheless! :)}

sitting on the dentist chair, trying to keep my mouth as open as possible and trying to focus on a safe distant place on the ceiling through all the hands and lamps and tools and goggled faces… I figured I’m rarely this open to be “examined” and “fixed.” Despite the awful sound of drilling and unpleasant smell of sanding stone… maybe it’s the realization that there is something to be fixed that lets me sit there and allow them to do what they find fit.

_{However, once or twice a year would be frequent enough… I don’t think it’s healthy to open up more often! :)}

That was my stance, that all human beings, regardless of details, have equal rights. Until it was challenged by one of my friends. _{And it’s funny that one doesn’t realize how firm some belief is, until it’s challenged.} Just a bunch of random thoughts:

1. In a frame of relative ethics with “good” being the mean average benefit for all, where do individual rights appear?

2. Is the equality of basic rights for all a preventive action to guarantee those rights for self?

3. If there is another group of “humans” (let’s say in a different planet) with absolutely no influence in our life, _{except probably in this hypothetical mental image!} would securing their basic rights still be an issue for us/me?

4. Is there a fundamental significance in the concept of “justice” beyond the practical aspects of law and order?

Trapped.