.farshid sedghi’s personal blog.

I took the time to update my FireFox extensions list. Hope you find something useful.

I read the following article today, talking about how Islam is brutalizing Baha’is in Iran. While the article itself is interesting and has valid points, the only thing I think the author was not being clear on, is the fact that Islam as a religion is a religion of Peace. Islam as a self serving tool for clergy, regimes and fundamentalists on the other hand is anything but peaceful. This made me think of something I read in One Common Faith commissioned by The Universal House of Justice that sums it up very nicely:

“Few today among those who have some degree of objective familiarity with the subject are likely, therefore, to entertain an illusion that any one of the established religious systems of the past can assume the role of ultimate guide for humankind in the issues of contemporary life, even in the improbable event that its disparate sects should come together for that purpose. Each one of what the world regards as independent religions is set in the mould created by its authoritative scripture and its history. As it cannot refashion its system of belief in a manner to derive legitimacy from the authoritative words of its Founder, it likewise cannot adequately answer the multitude of questions posed by social and intellectual evolution. Distressing as this may appear to many, it is no more than an inherent feature of the evolutionary process. Attempts to force a reversal of some kind can lead only to still greater disenchantment with religion itself and exacerbate sectarian conflict.”

I find this very interesting as I see this on a daily basis in media and around me, i.e. past religions’ clergy and institutions struggling so obviously and so painfully simply because there is no divine source for these needed changes and by twisting the Bible or the Koran into something else, it is nothing but man made inventions that backfire very quickly. What I find amusing though is, for the lack of a better word, the childish nature of these institutions and clergy to prove that their Prophet was the best one or the most powerful one and that he was the very last one. Reminds me of arguments I would have in kindergarden about how my dad is stronger than others. Does any parent set a date on which they tell their child, this is the last advice I am giving you and this is the very last day I will care for you? No! So why would God do that to mankind by sending a last Prophet and then leave us forever?

Today’s cool tool award goes to Hamachi. As they describe their own tool:

“Hamachi is a zero-configuration virtual private networking application. In other words Hamachi is a program that allows you to arrange multiple computers into their own secure network just as if they were connected by a physical network cable.”

I have tried it and I am pretty impressed by how easy and smooth it is to use it.

FareCompare.com - Compares flight tickets and you can even keep an eye on it constantly until you find a good price through RSS feeds or a FireFox extension.

FareCast.com (currently only for prices within US) - Price Forecasting for when you should aim to buy the ticket.

So you know those bubble wraps that most of us just looove popping? Well, now you can do it online and there is even a manic mode you can blast through it. Enjoy!

It’s about time!

It has been a long while since I posted anything on my observations in my new home land, US of A. The last two posts came almost a year ago and it is long overdo for new observations.

Let’s start with the summer time activities. Having lived my first summer in the northwest, I have come to learn more about what is close to American hearts when it comes to summer and I can say BBQ-ing is probably most popular. People here love their bbq and not to be excluded we got one too. Now, being a Persian, my research was a little more demanding on what BBQ grill is considered good since we would be BBq-ing more than just burgers, ribs, steaks and hot dogs. We love our kebab and in order to be able to make good kebab, your BBQ grill has to be FKA (Food and Kebab Administration) certified. Next after the kebab comes the real test, i.e. how good of chef you are is based on how good your burgers are. The funny part here is that all men think they have their own little secret receipe that makes their burgers just the best burger in town and as in Rome you do as Romans, I have come to find myself included in this ever-ongoing competition. So far though I am still considered the rookie and have a long way to go and much to prove.

Next is all the summer fairs and festivals. Granted that these events are not specific to US, but what is different is the size of these things. Take for instance the sea fair here. Over the course of a weekend, you have TONS of hydro plane races and shows, you have the blue angels (6 F-16 fighter planes) do two air shows and a numerous number of other events that I am not even aware of. I enjoyed this very much since I have never really experienced a sea fair of this magnitude and like I said it is not what is done a lot of the times, it is how it’s done that makes it so different.

As for burgers though, so far and by far, In-N-Out burger joints in California are the best burgers I have tasted in this country. I am sure that won’t last long though as burgers is something this nation does not take lightly on.

Generally though, the biggest observation that I am reminded of on a daily basis is the abundance of everything here and how people just take is for granted, as if the resources on this planet can’t be exhausted. The amount of food I have seen being wasted as well other areas of waste is just mind blowing to me and I still cannot fathom it. Until the next report from this side of the pond - This is me reporting for all the fans out there.