The Cosmopolitan Blog

What makes large tragedies tragic are the personal stories behind them. On 9/11, i remember being glued to the television in Boston, watching these images all day, and never really being able take it in. It wasn’t until a few days later, that i heard the story of the small company (20 or so) in one of the towers. I work in a 20-something person company, so i know how quickly a place like this becomes like your family. The company owner had gone golfing that morning. Everyone else had gone to work. He was saved. They weren’t. In one moment, he had lost his entire family. There are no words for a story like this. It’s only when i heard that story that the pain became real and i balled uncontrollably for a long time.

Today i was watching a documentary called “at the moment of impact” about one of the worst plane crashes in Montreal in 1963, killing 118 people. At the start, we’re told the story of the “Murray Hill Limousine Service” of Montreal, who prides itself for always getting their passengers to the airport on time. That day, drivers remembered it for the worst traffic jam throughout downtown Montreal had ever known. One of the drivers was carrying a coach of 18 people to catch the 6.30pm plane to Toronto, and he used all his skill to get the passengers to the airport on time. He even used the incoming traffic lanes when he could. He got them to the airport at 6.10. The airline, hearing that 18 people had made it, agreed to keep the gate open. The driver of the limo was so happy, partly because of the generous tips his 18 passengers had given him in recognition for his efforts. 23 minutes later, all his passengers were dead.

The story of the CEO in New York, the story of the Murray Hill limo driver. These are real personal tragedies that happen everyday, and that we rarely hear about. A pain that cannot be described in words. It makes you grateful for everything you have. Every morning, when i wake up, i spend time thinking of the things i’m grateful for, i try to find something unique everyday. On days where i can’t, these are the kind of personal stories that help me remember.

I started using Firefox over 2 years ago, and i have to say, i haven’t looked back once. I was even on the IE7 beta team for a while, and realizing that Microsoft STILL didn’t get it, i continued my love affair with Firefox. The combination of add-ons, themes, customization, security and simplicity makes Firefox the leader in browsers by far.

Firefox 3 is coming out next week. Mozilla, the company that owns them, wants to set a world record for the most downloaded software in 1 day, so please help. This is quality software at its best. This is as worthy a cause as poverty and… ok, maybe not, but it’s close. And it won’t cost you anything except a few clicks. You won’t regret it.

Strangely though, i noticed, amongst my non-geeky friends (yes i do have a few, they’re a dying breed though) that Firefox is still very unknown to them. They think it’s a geek’s tool. So i used one of them as a guinea pig and got him to install Firefox, download 2-3 essential add-ons, and then expected him to have an “ah-ha!” moment…. yeah, not so much! He didn’t feel there was anything different to IE.

And then i figured, well, maybe there are some internet surfers for whom, the browser experience REALLY doesn’t matter. So i stood corrected, was willing to accept i wasn’t always right, and continued my love affair with Firefox.

I’d love to hear your opinion…

So i went to see Sex and the City. Twice. Loved it. Warning: if you’re not a fan of the series, don’t even bother with the movie. If you’re a guy, don’t bother either. Well, generally, if you don’t like shopping, shoes, girl talk or New York City, don’t go.

I loved it. But i was it’s exact audience. And while they know they’re alienating the entire non-gay male audience, they also know that chances are, most girls will go twice. I wanted to know what happened to the girls. I wanted to know if Big and Carrie would make it. I even wanted to know if Samantha and Smith forever was possible. So this didn’t disappoint.

It was as shallow and girlie as i could have wished for. I turned my brain off, sat back, and lapped it up. I am in love with New York, so any movie that makes the city a character, i’m all for.

While i don’t exactly relate to any one girl, because i think each of them is actually 1 type of stereotype, the truth is we all have a bit of each of them inside us, which is why girls relate. I adore Carrie for her need to love, for her fashion sense, for her mix of carefree and care-a-lot attitude, for being so confused about feelings all the time, for asking such existential questions, for just being a real woman. I love Charlotte because she dares to dream and i think we all shoud. I love Miranda because she’s so dedicated to making her life perfect than she sometimes forgets to live in the now, which is something i do often. And i love Samantha. Who doesn’t? She’s the liberated woman we sometimes wish we all were… in smaller doses

First time i saw it, was with a bunch of girlfriends. As it should be. Second time, i went with my boyfriend. Yes, girls, i have the ONLY boyfriend in the world who actually enjoyed the movie :). There were 3 other guys in our party that 2nd time, and none of them enjoyed it. I don’t blame them.

I was watching CNN’s videos this morning, and listening to what the world’s reaction is to Obama becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party. Interestingly, in places like Lebanon, it was more important to them for a woman to have won. I think that the impact of a woman winning would have been greater around the world, because women’s struggle is a concept universally understood, which touches everyone in some way. On the other hand, the fact that a black man won a victory in the US is probably harder to understand for those who don’t follow US history as we do, and who don’t understand the African-American struggle.

Other reactions around the world: Germans are delighted, seeing Obama in a similar light as they did John F. Kennedy 50 years ago. In Japan, a group of female fans dream of meeting Obama. And in China, they seem happy with the fact that Clinton did not win, seeing her as a old-style hardliner who would perpetuate the impression Americans have of China. …and it India, they just want to see a president who will push India further up on the world map. Maybe they think the US government should outsource to India like the rest of us!

In a post back in January, when there were still more than 2 candidates in each party for the US elections, i predicted that if either Hillary or Obama became the party nominee, then the Democrats would loose the general election and the next president would be a republican.

I still stand by this statement. See, I always asked the question “is the US more sexist or racist”. We think this question no longer applies, since 1/2 of america is voting for a black man and the other 1/2 for a woman and one would think the answer is that it’s pretty much equal. But that’s not true, it still very much applies: now that we know our opponent is McCain, who is more electable and likely to win against him, a woman or a black man? So again, I ask the question “is the US more sexist or more racist”?

I personally always thought America was more ready to elect a woman than a black man. After all, this is a country where there a still TWO schools that have some sort of racial segregation.

My personal viewpoint is that, by nature, the Democrats are more likely to accept a minority lead them. So they are more likely to accept a black man. But when it comes to the elections, we may also be looking at a whole bunch of republicans and undecided, who DON’T want to vote for McCain. Will they vote for Barack? I don’t think they will. And in that case, I feel that maybe Clinton should be McCain’s opponent, I think that a republican is more likely to vote for a woman than a black man.

This is absolutely 100% my opinion and understanding of this country from what i hear, what i observe, having lived there and having most of my friends and family still living there. Now, i want to hear what you think. Feel free to post a comment or two. Or answer the poll question on the right. Is the US more sexist or more racist?

There are some people you trust implicitely. And there are some people that make so much sense, it’s not even about trust, it just makes so much sense that you take their advice.

Seth Godin is one of those people. Maybe it’s because i’ve read all his books. Maybe it’s because i saw him speak, live, and couple weeks ago. Either way, when he gives advice, i listen.

His point, in his latest post, is that sometimes, just sometimes, when you want to stand out from the crowd, keep the human touch about it, and don’t make it too polished. He gave the example of the UPS safety truck, or the specials on a menu that stand out because their handwritten on a 3×5 card attached to the otherwise completely laminated, polished, error-less (sometimes), printed menu.

It’s a quick post to read, read it, it’s fun. I’ll take his advice and relate it to my blog post. I will try and keep them short and to the point, and instead of reading them over and over again, and adding stuff to them, i’ll just stop. Like right now. The end

This is my no1 favorite place. Period. The fact that this Iranian / Persian restaurant’s main clientèle are all Persian should tell you something: it’s not a tourist trap or a hyped up commercial venture. It’s a hole-in-the-wall place, but just walking in makes you so hungry, the smells coming from this family-run restaurant and kitchen are amazing… The menu has all the essentials. It’s hearty, large portions, perfection!! …and it’s so cheap, you have a complete meal for $10!! (and i’ve taken some home for lunch the next day, cuz i had too much on my plate).

it’s like going home to your mom’s for dinner (and i’m not even Persian!!)

The rice is so savorful, with the saffron and melted butter, i’ve not tasted anything like this before in any other Iranian restaurant. The dish you MUST try is the Crazy Chicken (seriously, that’s what it’s called). Ask for the boneless version. It’s grilled, but has saffron and lemon and it’s so moist it melts in your mouth. When they ask you if you want soup or salad to start (yes, it comes with every main course), say soup, regardless of if it’s summer. I’m not a big soup fan, but this is SO good. It’s very hearty and thicker than your average soup, but it has lentils and noodles, and a hint of vinegar and it’s so tasty, it’s really, like the best comfort food you could get.

I’m so lucky to have this place next door to me.

This is very cool. I should have blogged about this ages ago. Basically, this website: Giveaway of the Day, every day, advertises a new software, and for exactly 24 hours, you can download it for free. No strings attached. No trial period. No adware or spyware. Honest to goodness free software. And yes, it’s a 100% legal. My best advise is subscribe to the RSS feed. That way, every day, you’re told what the software of the day is. If you’re interested, you go to the website and download it. If you’re not, you don’t do anything.

They encourage word of mouth, so here’s me doing my part. Because the more people come and download the free software, the more companies will be willing to do this for the free exposure, right? I mean the thinking is, if i like a publisher’s software, i might now know his name, and even though i got his first product free, i might return to him for my future needs. Waow, a situation were everyone’s happy, how great is this?

Check it out, seriously: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/
This is the link to the RSS feed: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/feed/

…If you’re wondering why i put it in “The ‘isms’ I believe in” category of the blog, it’s because, in this case, the ‘ism’ I believe in is free-ism

So, let’s assume, for a second, that Barak Obama becomes the democratic nominee for the US presidency. It’s pretty clear that’s he’s nearly there, so it’s a safe assumption. But now, the question is, who will be his running mate? The thing is, I believe this is a question he should address soon, because if he plays his cards right, his running mate could have a really great following that he would then benefit from.

So. His choices. Well, Hillary would be one. That would be the perfect ticket, right? The thing is, i strongly believe that their policies are actually very different (some even say Hillary is closer on her policy to McCain is certain ways), so i don’t see how they could see such a partnership, it would confuse the message, i mean, they would then have to decide, well, which policy on healthcare, which policy on environment do we pick?

Option 2: John Edwards. He just endorsed Obama, so it would be a safe assumption. He would bring the white male vote (and young female vote) to the ticket, that could be useful. Problem is, i think he’s pretty much said, he wouldn’t want to be on a ticket as VP again, he’s been there, done that. (Having said that, he also said he wasn’t ready to endorse anyone, 24 hours before he endorsed Obama).

So, yesterday, around our weekly family dinner table, this idea came up, and i think it’s a very viable one. What about Nancy Pelosi for vice-president? It’s like combining the above 2 options. She has policies that are close to those of Obama and John Edwards, AND she’s a white woman, so she could potentially appease all those Hillary supporters who will feel snubbed, and who are, apparently, considering voting for McCain if Hillary’s not an option. I think Nancy Pelosi, as the speaker of the house (3rd highest position after President and VP) brings experience, contacts, and more than that, her personality is a lot better fit, i believe. Hillary, i’ve always found, has a self-centeredness and selfishness about her, she is power hungry and can be ruthless. Nancy does give that impression, and if i can allow myself to be an idealist for a second, she makes me believe that she would have the health of the country in mind with everything she does.

You know how, when you think of The Beatles or Elvis Presley, any image you have of them in your head, they’re always accompanied by shots of their hysterical screaming fans? These girls that are crying, and fainting, and screaming, and hugging, and dropping like flies at the sight of their idol? ok, well, that’s fine, i mean, it’s the Beatles, i guess they were hot for their time, and it’s Elvis, you know, he had… um… the hips :-S

So, I guess the fans remain the same for modern day stars, like Justin Timberlake or Tom Cruise. But you could imagine how women might get excited to even see someone like Oprah, right? It’s just, well, cuz she’s a woman, there’s not the sex appeal part that woman see in Elvis or Justin, and yet, i’ve seen The Oprah Show, and they do get excited as well, not quite to that extend, but when she enters the room, they jump up, scream a bit, wave, jump up and down and clap joyfully.

But here’s something i just DON’T get, maybe someone can explain this to me. So the audience of The Oprah Show get “kinda” excited when they see Oprah arrive, but when she stands up and says “today is Oprah’s favorite things day”, something happens that i don’t even think happened when John Lennon walked on stage. Oprah says those 6 words, and it’s INSTANT mass-hysteria, and i mean mass-hysteria like it’s not even conceivable. And it lasts for like 5 minutes. The women jump up from their chairs, and they YELL these shrills that should be illegal. Then, they start crying, hyper-ventilating, hugging the total stranger standing next to them, some of them in shock, some gesturing like they’re about to throw up from the excitement, some of them throwing their arms up in the air and thanking God, and they’re crying, and crying… It’s like some supreme being just came down from the Heavens and promised to take away all their pains, stop all wars and remove world hunger. Cuz honestly, a reaction like that should NOT be caused by something so materialistic, it seems wrong, somehow.

I honestly don’t get it. I love Oprah, you know that. But this? I REALLY don’t get it. Why? I mean i get it, she’s gonna tell you everything she loves right now, and then give one of each thing to each audience member, so, by the end of the afternoon, each person has walked away with about $2K worth of gifts. That’s awesome, great, congrats, i’m happy for you. But why hyper-ventilate? Why faint?

I swear, Oprah and to stand there for 5 minutes, saying “Calm down, relax, ssshh, it’s ok” and she has this look of bewilderment, and it took the women 5 minutes to calm down.

This has got to be acting right? I mean, seriously? Ok, the gifts were cool, the main ones were: a stove-top range cooker thing worth $800, a GPS system, a $200 gift card for any Courtyard Marriott (um, hello, can i just point out that a Courtyard Marriott is NOT a super luxurious hotel, it’s just like your average Holiday Inn?). Other gifts include a range of makeup, some clothes and swimsuits, a CD and a weekender bag. Then her friend Gail introduced this blush brush (yes, yes, a makeup brush) that’s valued at $75 and told them they were each getting one, and the mass-hysterial begun again: they were up on their feet screaming and clapping.

Ok, maybe it’s just the fact that these women know they’re now using all the products Oprah uses. Because, I mean, you can go on game shows and win way more, right? So it can’t purely be the money value. The worst part is that i fear that this is just companies sponsoring this show and telling Oprah what to showcase, i don’t even think she necessarily uses all this stuff, does she? Sorry, try as I may, I really still don’t get it. If you’re gonna thank the Lord for something, please! Don’t let it be for a makeup brush!

But maybe i’m totally missing something. I try to be as open as possible with anything i come across in my life, and i want to understand this. Can someone share some insight? Please post a comment.