Faran's World

Law and Order

2006-03-14T21:27:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm sure most of you have spent countless hours on the Chuck Norris Random Fact Generator (what...you haven't?)...but, have you ever listened to the Ranger recite the facts in person? The Best Damn Sports Show Period had Chuck Norris as a guest and I bring this little gem to you. My favourites?

Chuck Norris once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
At birth, Chuck Norris came out feet first so he could roundhouse kick the doctor in the face. Nobody delivers Chuck Norris but Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris' cowboy boots are made from real cowboys.

Wait, I'm not done...oh the things I do for my fans. Here is a clip of my favourite comedian, Conan O'Brien, attempting to show one of his infamous Walker Texas Ranger clips, until something goes wrong...enjoy!

Number Five

2006-03-11T01:59:00.000-05:00

Wow....I may sound like an old man, but technomologists sure are something these days, what with their computers, gadgets and iPods and all. Ok, maybe my life was completely altered after having seen this video. A completely automated world is not too far from us and Honda is one of those companies accelerating the process. Check out their 'creation': Asimo. Note: This is not a person dressed up as a robot!

The Simpsons

2006-03-08T15:28:00.000-05:00

Sure, Family Guy may have taken the torch from The Simpsons (in my humble opinion), but The Simpsons have a special place in my heart. Anyway, check out this video created by a U.K. ad agency, Devilfish, to help promote the upcoming 17th season. It's a live re-enactment of the opening sequence! Supposedly, big bucks were spent on this. Enjoy!

Illusions

2006-03-08T14:53:00.000-05:00

I thought this was amazing when I first saw it. Then I realized that people have a lot of time on their hands to be painting these rooms like this. Then I realized that I have a lot of time, because I don't even know how I stumbled across this website. Anyway, check it out, I'm sure you'll thank me one day.

A-Team antics

2006-03-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I have posted, so I have to come out strong. Many of you might think of this as particularly weak...but I would have to disagree. By posting a Public Service Announcement made by Mr. T at least a decade ago, I knew I could not go wrong. This clip goes from cheesy, to hilarious to outright absurd! Check it out.

...coming soon.

2006-03-08T14:09:00.000-05:00

I have been on a hiatus, yes.
I do apologize.
But, there are plans....oh there are plans.

Check back soon.

Bored?

2005-09-15T02:15:00.000-04:00

Have some fun with this if you find you have nothing better to do with your time. Post your highscores for all to see!

Having a bad day?

2005-09-15T02:07:00.000-04:00

We all have these days. Some of us have them more often than other it seems. What do you do to cope? I go hunting. Anyways, here's someone who DEFINITELY was having a bad day. Make sure you scroll ALL the way down. Enjoy.

Take your Mac for a test-drive

2005-09-01T11:20:00.000-04:00

So, a couple days ago, Apple announced that they're "so confident you'll love your new Mac Mini, [they'll] let you test-drive it for 30 days with no risk, if you decide you don't want it, [they'll] take it back." When I first read this I thought this was such an un-Apple thing to do. Although Apple is a very innovative and spit-clean image company, beneath the surface they still have the jittery image of a bench-warmer who is thrown into the seventh game of a playoff series, because his true skills are finally seen. They can't risk anything that will threaten their current attempt to 'rise to the top'. This is why law-suits are being thrown around at people who are releasing rumours (traitors to the cause?). This is why I was also a little skeptical about their decision to let people return their Mac Minis. Initially entering the Mac World requires patience, especially if years of PC-torture/training have been engraved into your mind. I thought to myself, people are going to be returning their Mac Minis like there's no tomorrow. Well, what do you know. Less than 12 hours after this promotion was offered, it was retracted. Do they not think through big decisions like this a little more thoroughly? I was a little disappointed with this 'weakness' that was shown. It lacks professionalism. For the vast majority of people who haven't used Macs, and therefore dislike Macs, this is another reason for them to steer clear. Well, I have an idea for you. A Mac is the only 'book you CAN judge by it's cover.

Still lovin' the Powerbook.

What the 'frag'?

2005-08-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

Deep, in a damp, dark basement, a solitary, wide-eyed adolescent boy sits in front of a glaring monitor. He is in the zone. Bags of potato chips are strewn all over the floor and empty cans of soda have created a fortress around his desk. This used to be the typical online gamer. Although these people (heh...I'm probably one of them) still exist, online gaming is becoming more publicly recognized and embraced. Old, young, male, female; a wide spectrum is now engaged in the gaming community.

Well, with every good thing also comes the bad. Obviously people become addicted, people die and communists lay down the law. Don't believe me? Check it out. China is attempting to impose a system to control the amount of time spent by it's 'proletariates'...read all about it! On a grim note, one man died after a 50-hour gaming marathon, and even worse, a couple became so engaged in a 'bout of World of Warcraft that their 4-month old child died due to their neglect.

Where can the boundary be drawn? Moderation in all things. It is a difficult concept to grasp when you are addicted to something. That's why an addiction needs to be realized before it's full-blown. I personally love my video games (yea, I'm a poor player too), but I can always pull myself back to reality. My take on this whole situation? Keep on 'exploring the realms', keep 'fragging'...but for the love of God, don't lose your grip on reality!

Boston

2005-08-25T00:12:00.000-04:00

Another year, another fun-filled ABS conference. This year, the annual Association for Baha'i Studies conference was held in the 'intellectual capital' of the US; Cambridge, MA. Here are some pictures from the conference and the following week of 'sight-seeing' (what a lame term).

Our cute little friends down south

2005-08-23T13:29:00.000-04:00

The "Blog Train"

2005-08-23T12:14:00.000-04:00

So, it seems as though more and more people are constantly jumping onto the wagon. Now, it's very difficult to approximate the actual number of blogs out there, but here are some statistics (all approximates):

15,000 new weblogs created every day
Less than a million are updated regularly (275,000 new posts daily)
200 blogs have monthly traffic in excess of 1,000,000
Only 20 have monthly traffic in excess of 10,000,000
11% (50,000,000) of internet users browse blogs regularly

Yes, I guess it is useless information, but I can guarantee that you read it, and at one point said/thought "woah" à-la Neo. The most interesting statistic for me is that less than a million of these blogs are updated regularly (1% of all weblogs). What does this mean? There's a whole bunch of blogs out there with ONE post saying something such as this: "Wow, everybody's blogging now, I should do it too. I'm going to be throwing some wild and crazy things out at you, so keep your guard up! Peace!" That's it. Hehe...wasting valuable web-space while less fortunate people have absolutely NONE!

Now, some who are reading this are probably in this same boat, so either play hard...or go home. Peace!

A Whole New World

2005-08-23T00:11:00.000-04:00

Yes, I realize, another unexplained, prolonged disappearance. Most of you probably didn't care/realize, so really, there was no disappearance. For the few die-hard fans (and I know there are a few), my apologies. We just recently moved to a new home, and by the time we got settled down, I made a trip to Boston. Before I get to the crux of this post, I'd like to first of all say how beautiful Boston and Cambridge are. Kamyar and I drove down for the ABS (Association for Baha'i Studies) conference...which by the way was great...and stayed with Aram for an extra week to see the area. Beautiful!

Anyways, more importantly (as you can tell, I have my priorities set straight), this is the first of many blogs from a brand new piece of hardware. Yes, I purchased a 15' Apple Powerbook. Lovely. Exquisite. Now, I have been preaching Mac for quite a while, but I was waiting for the right time to buy my laptop...and here it is! Finally! As I previously posted, Apple is so much more intuitive, sleek and integrated than PCs. Compatibility problems? Phhht...I laugh in the face of compatibility. Why do I want to run PC programs on the Mac? My only gripe is this. Actually, I'm sorry, I have a couple:

1) I may have a faulty book, but my airport (wireless card) is not strong at all. I have heard that powerbooks' airport cards aren't very strong, but I didn't think that two walls would prevent the signal from reaching my laptop.

2) The laptop gets very hot. I understand it is a very powerful machine, and other laptops do get hot. But, if I'm watching a movie, it does get very uncomfortable on my lap halfway through the movie.

3) I now spend too much time on the computer, browsing even more useless websites, and creating pointless songs and movies.

4) My Powerbook doesn't dance for me.

That's it....those are the only problems...besides that, it has filled the void in my life that I have lived with for much too long. Wanna slam the Mac? Leave me a comment. Fellow Mac user wanting to hi-five me? Leave me a comment. Is your name Mack? Leave me a comment.

Guess the dictator or sit-com character

2005-07-25T13:10:00.000-04:00

Another discovery I have made warrants recognition. An interesting little website that can predict what dictator, or sit-com character you are thinking of. Yes, it is very random...dictator or sit-com character...but nonetheless through a series of yes/no quesions it can determine who you're thinking of. You can start off with the easy ones such as Hitler, Joey, or Kramer. But, it gets really interesting when it predicts secondary characters such as Babu from Seinfeld, Laura Winslow of Family Matters and so on. Give it a try....similar to most of my posts, it will probably keep you occupied for a few minutes as you try to stump it (which if you do, it adds your character and your responses to all the questions to it's ever-growing database). Have fun!

Unification

2005-07-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

Over the past few centuries, many scientists have put forth revolutionary ideas that mold the way we think. The sun is larger than the earth, and keeps us in orbit due to gravity. Atoms are the building blocks of life. Time is of one dimension. I have been recently reading Stephen W. Hawking's A Brief History in Time, and my-my is it interesting. Many of these common-sense ideas are questioned. Although it is written in "common tongue", it's not the lightest book. Topics such as space-time, quantum mechanics, black holes and the big bang are covered. It's all quite interesting, but the book is about 20 years old, and there aren't too many pictures...teehee! PBS just recently ran a 3-hour special called The Elegant Universe, and luckily they have posted it on their website at this address.

It is a very simple show to follow,and it goes along the lines of Stephen W. Hawkings work. Many world-renowned physicists provide their input, and new theories are introduced. The one of most importance is String Theory. I highly recommend this show to everyone, I think when you start watching it, you won't want to stop. It's broken into little segments, so it's easy to stop and pick up later where you left off. It begins with Newton, goes onto Einstein, and eventually delves into the works of modern-day physics. It seems as though the underlying 'mission' of physics, ever since Einsteins unfulfilled dream has been to find a unity between quantum mechanics (the study of the extremely small objects, such as atoms) and general relativity (the study of the enormous, such as gravity, stars and black holes). There is definitely an elegance in unity, and as humans, we are usually inclined to believe that God has created an elegant world rather than a chaotic one. Up until the recent introduction of string theory, there has been a major clash between quantum mechanics and theory of general relativity. Anyway, I don't want to bore you any longer. Please, give this show a try, I guarantee it will spark some sort of interest!

Hovercraft?

2005-07-21T20:46:00.000-04:00

Wow, you really have to watch this video to believe what I'm saying. I wish I had a picture to go along with this, but definitely check this out. All the guys will be saying "I WANT ONE OF THOSE!", while the girls will probably be saying, "Oh, that's so cute!". In any case, check it out, and if anybody knows where to get one of these, I will email my VISA number to you and you can ship it directly to my room.

Enjoy

2005-07-18T23:16:00.000-04:00

In 1998, Mark Osborne released this stop-motion animated short that received much praise, but not enough publicity. Nominated for an Academy Award, More was beaten to the Oscar by Chris Wedge's equally touching story of Bunny (which can be found on the 2nd DVD of Ice Age). More went on to win nine other awards, one of them being at the Sundance Film Festival. This hidden gem is available now for everyone to see at this website.

It is a story about a disillusioned inventor who has dreams of reliving his colourful childhood happiness. But, when he acheives this life-long dream, he realizes that greed has skewed his perception of happiness, and ultimately shatters the fantasy.

I highly recommend this short, it's only six minutes long, but I guarantee you'll want to watch it over and over. Accompanied by a chilling soundtrack, More is definitely a must-see.

Enjoy!

The reason I enjoy life.

2005-07-14T22:54:00.000-04:00

You know, certain things really enrich one's life. Excitement, a sense of fulfilment, ability to help and interact with others and most of all....stupid antics! Now, the majority of the stupid antics in my life involve my closest friends. That's probably why they are my closest friends. We get ourselves into crazy situations, we constantly ridicule and embarass one another and best of all, we take some risks that maybe we should be avoiding. Now, this latest story was told to me by "Gulliver" (I'll keep his identity anonymous to protect him from lifelong heckling). So, as Gulliver told me today:

"Faran, you'll never believe this. I was driving to Home Depot today from work, and I accidentally took the wrong turn because my mind was obviously somewhere else. As I was trying to regain my sense of direction, a van pulled up beside me and started yelling, 'Pull over, pull over! I have some great speakers I can sell you for a great price!'. So, I think to myself 'Gulliver, this is not a smart thing to do'. Which translates into 'Gulliver, let's give it a try'. So, I pull into the nearest parking lot, and this guy comes out and gives me this spiel. He tells me their supplier overstocked their van with two extra $2000 speakers, and if they take them back to their supplier, the boss will just keep them for his personal use. So, they decided to sell them on their own for some extra cash. So, I was a little skeptical and asked them if we could go to a nearby Chapters and check out these speakers in a magazine. Conveniently, this young man had an audio magazine that had these speakers listed at $1500USD. So, he wanted to sell them to me for $1000. I told him no way, so he brought the price down to $800, then $600. I finally offered him $400 thinking there's no way he'd take my offer up. Little did I know, this guy jumped on it. So, I bought these speakers, happy as a whistle, and started driving home. Before I got too excited, I called my friend, and told him to check out this brand of speakers (Digital Research). He came upon this website... http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/3/15757.html, and also this website... http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/3/10780.html. That's right, I basically paid $400 for some wires and a cheap woood casing. I got scammed. Now, fortunately I have taken this as a life lesson, and hopefully I will learn from my mistake. By the way Faran, do you know anybody who wants a pair of $2000 speakers??"

By the way, I added the last part. Anyways, Gulliver says he learned a valuable life lesson (although I highly doubt he did). First of all, this is what he gets for trying to get a deal off the 'back of a truck'. Second of all, this is what he gets for thinking he's 'oh so clever'. Haha...once again, this story brightened my day. I thank each and every one of you out there who are close friends of mine. God bless you all, and Merry Christmas.

Futbol

2005-07-12T22:55:00.000-04:00

Well Football fans (that's right, I'm European), there's a new upcoming talent that I would like to present to you. You can hear the crowds of 55,000 chanting his title..."'linho, 'linho, 'linho!" in stadiums througout Milan, Barcelona and Berlin. Here is a little taste of his trickery...

By the way, if anybody has any videos or pictures they would like me to post, leave me a comment.

Gotta love technology.

Forbidden pleasure

2005-07-12T20:26:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to watch a scantily clad woman plunge endlessly towards the earth, while heavy, floating porcelain spheres cause her to slide through them, bounce off them and roll through them? Well, now's your chance. And, guess what? You can even grab her with your mouse and toss her around! Now, this is my idea of a good time! Haha!

Click here for instant gratification

The Stock Game

2005-07-12T20:11:00.000-04:00

Recently a fellow blogger of mine has been trying to convince me of entering the world of stocks. It has always been a fantasy in the back of my head, but due to recent circumstances (let's just say....mis-handling of money), I have been quite hesitant. On one hand, I could make a wrong move, become greedy or get unlucky and there goes a lump sum of money. On the other hand, if I do my research (and I do happen to read many articles online) and with a little bit of luck, I can make some easy(?) money. In fact, my money will be doing my work for me...right? Actually, I've tried that before...hah! Now, seriously, I have been checking out the Investopedia Simulator (which I highly recommend for anyone thinking about getting into stocks). It allows you to play around with $100,000 in whatever stocks you please. It has plenty of research tools and guides as to how the world of investments (which also involves mutual funds and bonds) really works. You can waste hours of your time reading all the online documentation.

So, is playing the stock market much like playing a game of poker? In some sense, I think it is. No matter how much research you do (or confidence you have in a hand), there is always a risk involved. Am I willing to constantly stress myself, wondering why my stock keeps going up and down, and hoping to at least make my commission back? Probably. Why? Because I believe in self-masochism. Also, I like to take the road less-travelled...or is it the rockier road? I don't know, whatever it is...I'm giving it serious thought. Hopefully my stock won't look like this within a few weeks of buying.

Well, I have invested $750 (not real money) in IBM, and in about a week I've made $35 (although there was a $20 commission charge). That was investing without really doing any research. So, I am about to begin a journey through the myriads of online articles and reports in hopes of finding the diamond in the rough. Economist.com here I come! Feel free to leave your comments, insults or discouraging advice.

For the engineering geeks

2005-07-04T22:12:00.000-04:00

The Soda Constructor is a website that simulates (using an innovative physics engine) a collection of rods with weighted balls at the ends (heehee) connected and interacting with one another. You can create some very complex systems, or if it fancies you, create a walking pyramid. Grab the nodes, stretch them, throw them around, it's as if they're real live critters! There is even a competition. If you think you can create the fastest and most stable little bugger, go for it! If you are one who can't be bothered, at least check out the Soda Zoo's pre-made models. Some of them give you that feeling of "ahh....I love the wonderful, quirky things I can find while surfing the web!".

1000th visitor came and left!

2005-07-04T21:20:00.000-04:00

Freedom of Speech

2005-06-29T10:59:00.000-04:00

We really take for granted the freedoms we have in the Western world. With the click of a button, I can announce my opinions on various subjects to an audience of thousands. With the ever increasing advances in software, broadband availability and imagination of the public, my opinions can not only be announced through text, but also through audio (podcasting), pictures (online photo-albums) and even video (personal web-space as the only barrier). These sorts of freedoms, that we don't even think twice about, are not available in other parts of the world. Take for example Arash Sigarchi, an Iranian blogger who was arrested and sentenced to 14 years of jail time for criticizing (on his blog) the arrest of other online journalists. We look back at the Holocaust, or the Soviet Union, and think that brain-washing and propaganda is a thing of the past. It's going on as we speak in countries such as Iran. Accusations of espionage, and "insulting the founder of Iran's Islamic Republic" are being thrown around like they're nothing.

What's being done to fight against this? I guess you can say 'blogosphere vigilantes' such as Hossein Derakhshan who left Iran after his newspaper was shut down are taking this matter into their own hands. He is creating opportunities for other repressed Iranian bloggers to speak their minds. Although he is no longer at risk (you would think) in Toronto, he did make a trip back to Iran to cover the recent election.

So, although blogging, IM'ing and emailing seem like second nature to us, we really need to realize how lucky we are to have full access to them. Hopefully nations such as Iran soon realize how close-minded they are, and abandon their stagnant fundamentalist attitudes for something better. A society like ours? Maybe not. We are looking at two complete extremes here, and, as in all things, moderation is key.

Breakdancing

2005-06-28T23:33:00.000-04:00

On my travels through Google I recently came across a few videos on Google Video. Now, most people know Google simply for their search capabilities and maybe their excellent e-mail service (Gmail). Beneath their simple surface are many projects undergoing vigorous testing, and just itching to be released. You can actually browse through their 'labs' and discover some of the innovative services they are working on. A few worth checking out are Google Maps (directions for the lost), Google Suggest (a live-searching website), Google Desktop Search (a tool to search your computer with Google technology), and Google Answers (have a question? Google's experts will answer it for a price).

Back to Google Video. I came across a few breakdancing videos, and one really caught my attention. WOW...I mean, I find it hard to believe that this is real, because these guys are actually defying the laws of gravity, physics and motion. Give me a break, is it really possible to do push-ups with only your hands on the ground? Check it out, I'm sure you'll be amazed.

Triple review

2005-06-28T19:35:00.000-04:00

I must say I'm on a streak with Cinderella Man, Batman Begins and just recently Kingdom of Heaven. Those are the last three movies I have seen, and each one has failed to disappoint.

Cinderella Man

I hate having high expectations going into a movie, but I couldn't with Cinderella Man. The duo of Ron Howard/Brian Grazer (They brought us the touching story of A Beautiful Mind), combined with the acting talent of Russell Crowe was bound to be succesful. And, it definitely was- my expectations were far surpassed. Now, many people have gripes with Russell Crowe. Sure, maybe he's a jerk in real life, but his movies are great. Gladiator, the above mentioned A Beautiful Mind, and the under-rated movie Master & Commander, are among my favourite movies. Well, Cinderella Man sits up there with the rest, if not above them all. Honestly, I don't care what an actor who is not labelled as a public role-model does in his private life. If he performs in his movies, I like him as an actor. The powerful acting of Russell Crowe in this film, backed by stunning performances by Renée Zellweger and Paul Giamatti make this an unforgettable "cinderella" story that makes you cheer, laugh and cry within the 144 minute runtime. Definitely worth the $10 movie ticket.

Batman Begins

Another movie with high expectations which were exceeded was Batman Begins. Now, Christian Bale is a very powerful actor, as demonstrated in American Psycho, Equilibrium, and The Machinist. But, could he pull of the Dark Knight? Absolutely. I thought he was almost as good as Michael Keaton as Batman, and he pulled off Bruce Wayne like a pro! This movie definitely redeemed (if not, trumped) the existing Batman franchise, and plans of making it into a trilogy are under way. Director Christopher Nolan delivered a Batman story unlike any other, bringing in elements of his earlier works such as Memento, and Following. All-star veteran supporting line-up of Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman each brought a unique, yet strong performance to this movie. Definitely a two-thumbs up, and once again...go see it!

Kingdom of Heaven

And finally Kingdom of Heaven. Now, Ridley Scott has directed some fantastic movies, but Orlando Bloom? Personally I think he's a little "soosool" (as the Persians say) to play a medieval warrior. Well, once again, my expectations (although they weren't that high) were clearly surpassed. Not only is Kingdom of Heaven a great action movie, it also has a great story. A story of courage, honour, integrity and most of all faith is delivered to the screen beautifully. Once again, Liam Neeson adds a great touch to the movie, and Orlando Bloom is able to pull his own weight. What I really enjoyed about the movie is that the Crusades are depicted in a non-biased manner. It neither belittles the Muslims or the Christians, but seems to place blame on religious fanaticism and materialism on both sides. A wonderful movie, and once again: Faran recommends!

So that's it, my triple review. Now, quick preview...War of the Worlds, coming out on Wednesday, can't miss that! And, the one I am most anxious about is Peter Jackson's King Kong. The intense Jack Black, the lovely Naomi Watts, and the quirky Adrien Brody are bound to make this film as enjoyable as possible. The trailer debuted on NBC after Fear Factor on Monday, but it can also be found at this website. Keep in mind that CG (special effects) is the last thing to be worked on in a movie, and there's still 6 months before the release of King Kong. Will the creators of Gollum (WETA) disappoint and bring us some cheesy looking dinosaurs?? I think not!

Wishful thinking

2005-06-28T19:13:00.000-04:00

Well, yes, it has been quite a while since I have posted on this blog. I don't know, maybe I got bored, maybe I ran out of things to say, maybe I got busy. Whatever the excuse, it's not a valid one. I'm back, and I am going to regularly update.

Anyway, just recently I was having a discussion with a friend of mine about our sub-conscious. Does it control more than just our emotions and thoughts? Does our belief system play a larger role in our physical body than we think? Can our state of mind actually lead to, or prevent physical malady? In certain cases, I definitely believe so. Although I have not done extensive research in this field (obviously), I definitely believe that our minds play a large role in how our body reacts to external stimuli. An example is a phobia. Some phobias are inherent, and some are acquired. If severe enough, they will trigger a physiological response (usually triggering our sympathetic nervous system- the fight/flight scenario). An arachnophobic who comes across a spider, or in severe cases even looks at the above picture, will have blood rush to their extremities, their pupils will dilate, their heart beat will increase, etc. Do phobias not originate in the mind? Can they not be cured (in certain cases) with non-invasive treatment (ie. not medication)? What does this say about the phobia? Is it a disease of the mind, or of the body?

Modern science seems to blame all diseases on genetics. Although this may be true to a certain extent, other factors definitely play a role. Dr. Bruce H. Lipton sits on the other side of the fence. Attempting to minimize the notion of genetic determinism, he instead introduces the concept of stimuli-driven determinism. His work can be found at this website, and is worth taking a look at.

So, can a headache be healed by "thinking" it away? Maybe. How about cancer? Can we blame a person who dies of cancer for not being in the right train of thought? I don't think so. Although I don't have the answers, I think this topic is worthy of discussion. Your comments are welcome!

Unravel the Mysteries

2005-05-29T22:52:00.000-04:00

As always, the Unravel the Mysteries Young Adults Forum was a success. Check out the pictures, you might get a gist of what the entire conference was. Haha...just kidding.
Highlights:

Informative plenary session talks, and good (most of them) workshops ;)
Unbelievable artistic presentations (dance, music and...painting)
Inspiring talks by Counsellor Rebequa Murphy and NSA member Gordon Naylor
Beautiful devotions, especially at the Ascension of Baha'u'llah
GO TO GUYANA!

See you all there next year!

Peter Jackson's King Kong

2005-05-19T19:32:00.000-04:00

2005-05-18T22:52:00.000-04:00

A little bit of mathematics

Zoomquilt

2005-05-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, pretty cool. Whoever designed this is quite twisted, but in an extremely good way. Like most of my links, this will probably keep you interested for a good 2 minutes until you close it and say, "That Faran, always providing me with quirky, yet utterly useless 'webstuff'! God bless him!"

Soundboards

2005-05-16T21:37:00.000-04:00

I owe the pleasure of having enjoyed Ebaum's World's soundboards to fellow internet-aficionado Mona Dehghan. My brother Erfan and I enjoyed ourselves for a good five minutes browsing through these HILARIOUS soundboards, reliving memorable TV moments and classic movie lines. Some of my favourites are Chris Farley (I'm a huge fan), Stewie from Family guy (can't go wrong), Oprah's Dr. Phil (Sooooo cheesy!) and our beloved Samuel L. Jackson (yes, he's a little profane). Enjoy them, and try to resist the temptation to make the prank calls!

How do some companies survive?

2005-05-15T00:04:00.000-04:00

I think the most important component of a succesful company is it's service. It may seem that customer service is a hit or miss with companies, but over the past couple years I have realized that there is a direct relation between quality of service and cost of the product. I didn't want to use a real example, but good friends at Rogers have gracefully allowed me to bash them. I had a cell phone with Rogers three years ago, and the two years I was with them were the most miserable I had ever been. I was a prisoner to their horrible service; locked down by a never-ending contract (two years seemed like an eternity with Rogers). Everytime I had a problem (very often), I would call 'customer service', only to hang up even more irritated. I was so anxious to leave the company that I bailed out a couple months early for Telus. Now, Telus, wow...my friends were right. Customer service is top-notch, they seem to actually respect their customers. I have, to this day, not had a single problem with Telus.

Today, my mother's Rogers cell phone wasn't working, so she asked me to fix it. I called customer service, and after 5 minutes of an irritating man asking me to 'tell him what is the reason for my call', I was finally able to speak with a 'customer service representative'. I told her the problem, and she insisted that the options on the phone had been changed, and would have to be changed back. I was certain they weren't because my mom doesn't go fiddling around with the phone. So, I had to hang up with her to look at the options (which obviously hadn't been changed). I called back to tell her how incredibly stupid she was, and the 'voice recognition' automatic system (which drives me off the wall) sent me to a technician in the cable department. He then forwarded me back to wireless which was then closed at that time. So, the problem hasn't been fixed, I wasted 45 minutes of my time, and I popped a few blood vessels on my forehead.

Moral of the story? Rogers has poor customer service (and reception), and please, spend the extra few dollars and sign up with a company that is worth your time and money.

Wayback Playback

2005-05-10T00:58:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered what the internet looked like before it became as popular as it is today? This website has archived, surprisingly, most websites all the way back to 1996. It's actually quite interesting. Want to see what Yahoo! looked like back in March of '97? How about CNN's coverage of 9/11? Check it out...I'm sure it'll keep you occupied for at least half a minute!

Stewie's take on rap music

2005-05-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

I am a huge fan of Family Guy, and last Sunday was a momentous occasion. YES...the fourth season has begun! We were put on hold for a while, but they're back. As for most people, I would have to say Stewie is my favourite character, and I came upon this clip of Stewie giving us his opinion on rap music. Enjoy!

I Love This Game

2005-05-03T22:59:00.000-04:00

I have a confession to make: I can sit at home all day, everyday and watch the NBA playoffs. After a game like tonight's Sixers/Pistons game, I feel like my emotions have climbed to the top of Mount Everest and taken a free fall dive down to the bottom. Those of you who do not watch sports, and who do not know my passion for sports (or at least watching them!) may not understand this post. Tonight, I really felt for Allen Iverson. He is one of the greatest players in the league, and deserves much more than what he gets. He is a true warrior and is the template for what all basketball players should be. I don't want to mention any names (such as Vince Carter), but one's love for a sport should drive him to play his heart out every single night. Iverson has gotten into bad arguments with coaches because he has wanted to play, but the medical staff says he is in no shape to play. A player like Iverson deserves a championship. It is so sad to see such great players in the league who may never win a championship. Another example is Chris Webber. He is an excellent player, but now due to health problems isn't able to play up to par. It was sad seeing the Sixers get eliminated (although I am a Pistons fan), but seeing the entire Pistons team, including former head coach Larry Brown show such warmth towards Iverson shows what a great player he is. Everyone loves him.

Many players have come and gone without having won a championship. Malone and Stockton are two of the most famous. Technically Malone still has a chance, but HAH! Anyway, the point of all my rambling is that, yes, so much importance is placed on winning. People's lives are completely changed when they are winners. This is how society has molded us. We need to breed champions, winners and heroes. Nobody wants a loser. Well, we have an all too common cliche, "it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game". I like to add a twist to that. "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you handle it". Nobody wants a sore loser. A winner is never a winner for the rest of his life. We have to learn how to deal with that. And, some people may never win. Well, that's life. How can you deal with it? Back to Iverson, I love how he deals with it. He just comes back and fights for more. He does not give up, he does not whine and he always give it his all. Maybe we should all learn something from AI. We may not always accomplish our goals, but we must learn how to deal with failure. Props Allen, and better luck next time. Long post? Yes...but I had to get it off my chest. Ciao!

Burn 'em all and smack dem birds

2005-05-03T00:13:00.000-04:00

Have you ever burned ants with a magnifiying glass? I know I definitely did, and still do! Well, if you have never experienced this satisfying activity, or would like to re-live it...check this out! I'm sure you'll enjoy this version much more (in a very twisted way). Or, if that's not your fancy, take a swing at some penguins in this Pingu'esque variation of the Homerun Derby!

Work

2005-05-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

As much as most students try to minimize the amount of time in school, I think we all need to step back and look at the big picture. Since I got back from Guyana, I have been working full-time. Now, it's only been a few weeks, but I've worked this same job a few times before. I am realizing that being in the working world isn't all that it's cut out to be. The freedoms of a student, the luxuries of lack of responsibility and knowing that you have so much partying left to do before you're strapped down is just great! Why do we all stress ourselves to get out of school so quickly? Personally, I think the longer I stay in school, the more I'll get out my life. A career is something that I don't want to have to worry about for now. I'm going to enjoy life and make sure I can sleep in every once in a while!

PC vs. Mac

2005-05-02T18:08:00.000-04:00

The debate that has lasted over a decade, is now receiving a brighter spotlight. It started between two good friends, who are now competing against one another for total world domination. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have created their own empires, one has become the richest man on the planet, while the other is probably the most innovative. Recently, I have looked into buying a laptop, and the iBook has drawn my attention. Here are my reasons:

Complete integration (Software is made by people who made the hardware)
Ease of use (All the programs feed off of each other)
Stability (Uses the tried-tested-and-true Unix operating system)
No more "Blue Screen of Death"
iLife
Computer does not deteriorate a few months after purchase
Looks GOOD

There are many more, but I don't want to get into the boring details. Basically, for those of us who are fed up with our clunky, unorganized PCs, the 'upgrade' to Apple is well worth our time. I will be sporting mine quite soon!

Bad day?

2005-04-30T15:25:00.000-04:00

Yes, this is mean, but we've all had our bad days. I mean, look at our friend Nick Nolte above. I'm pretty sure he wasn't quite cheery when that picture was taken. But what's important is that we look back and laugh. Now you think you're having a bad day? Or Nick had one? Unfortunately, (or fortunately for us) this girl is probably scarred for life, because of her so called 'bad day'. It is quite cruel to point and laugh, but oh well. I did...and so should you. Enjoy!

Featured Track of the Week (April 27th)

2005-04-28T00:10:00.000-04:00

Well, this lovely couple that made me laugh and cry all at the same time is the reason for my choice of this week's featured track (yes I missed last week). It was an emotional rollercoaster watching 50 First Dates. Now, I wasn't crying because it was sad, but because Ula was so hilarious. Favourite scene...by far, is when he rubs his feet on Sandler's pillow, and then sits on it. I mean, COME ON Ula....that's uncalled for! Annnyways, the reason I'm posting this is because this movie had some great music. One particular song that I'm listening to now is called Over the Rainbow, What a Wonder and it's by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. It's got that trademark Sandler ukelele (which is obviously not played by him). The song is a medley of Over the Rainbow (from Wizard of Oz) and What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. It's such a beautiful song, and really touches the heart. Check it out at your nearby Limewire!

Gizoogle

2005-04-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

Snoop Dogg has pioneered a new language into the world of hip-hop. It isn't uncommon to walk by a first-year residence and see a bunch of rich, white-suburbian kids yelling "Fo' shizzle ma' nizzle" at each other. I get a chuckle out of their behaviour, so I'm not going to hate (why hate?). Well, now, everyone can get in on this trend. Put any website into the search toolbar below, and it will be translizated in no time! Try it out...it's pretty funny.

2005-04-24T02:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you not familiar with Frank Miller (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), or Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Spy Kids series), let me make some informal introductions. Robert, Frank, these are my friends. Readers, meet the pair of geniuses who have done the unthinkable. Many said that Frank Miller's three graphic novels (comic books) could not be brought to film. It was much too sexual, too violent and most of all, it was just unfilmable. Miller specifically refused to sell the movie rights...until Rodriguez came along. He screened the opening scene of Sin City to Miller, and he was sold! This movie...sorry, film, is not for the squeamish, or those offended by nudity (true to the nature of the comic, there is a lot of unnecessary nudity). But people who truly appreciate great cinema will undoubtedly fall for Sin City. It is a three-part fragmented story, that ties together in a Tarantino'esque finale. Great lines, great action scenes, and perfectly cast! Although there are heroes in the film, I would refer to them as anti-heroes. They kill, they are flawed and they are damn slick. But they all have some good deep down within them. This movie is the darkest movie I have ever seen, and watching the movie is like being at a funeral... a beautiful funeral. I would have to say my favourite character is Elijah Wood, and I won't ruin anything, but let's just say his role is miles away from "Mr. Frodo". I highly recommend Sin City for those who can tolerate two hours of non-stop violence, but for the rest, maybe you should watch The Notebook instead.

It's time to prove to your friends that you're worth a damn. Sometimes that means dying, sometimes it means killing a whole lot of people.

-Dwight

Battle of the Browsers

2005-04-20T22:42:00.000-04:00

There is a silent war going on in cyberworld, and no Mario fans, I'm not talking about the King. I am talking about Web Browsers. Most people I talk to are not aware that there is a world outside of Internet Explorer. Well my friends, there is, and sometimes it's a lot better. How? These alternate browsers are safer, more user-friendly and quite accessible. I have personally made the switch to Opera. Although certain functions such as ActiveX and some videos don't work with it, it performs the same as IE, but has extra perks. I can browse by tabs, search using the address bar and have forms automatically completed for me. It also blocks pop-ups and prevents malicious spyware from creeping onto my PC. Click here for an extensive guide provided by PC World that gives us a good comparison of the alternatives available to us. Firefox seems to be the leader of the pack, because it is the simplest, but most powerful. Not unlike the introduction of alternative health care (acupuncture, chiropractic, shiatsu, etc.), we have become so accustomed to the 'norm' (general medicine), that we are afraid to try new things! I have had no problems with Opera, and hopefully you can make the switch too!

Featured Track of the Week (Apr.19)

2005-04-19T21:42:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try this and see if I can keep it up, but every week I'll give a short review on a song that has gained a monopoly on my Ipod, my car stereo and Windows Media Player. This week, I have to give this honour to Summer Calling (Josh Gabriel Mix) by Andain. It can be found at a local Kazaa or Limewire (I don't advocate downloading music illegaly). Now, people who aren't fans of vocal trance may not like this one, but those who are into any type of trance music can appreciate this haunting tune. It is a song perfect for those evening summer drives. Your windows are down and you allow the music to take over. The chilling vocals in this track may give you a few shivers down your spine, but I assure you, they are 'good shivers'! Anyways, check it out, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Shoutbox

2005-04-17T18:09:00.000-04:00

Hey all, on my sidebar on the right, I have a little Shoutbox. Take advantage...send your shoutouts...get craaaaaaaaazy!

2005-04-17T17:23:00.000-04:00

What the...?

Blogging

2005-04-16T00:36:00.000-04:00

Recently I have been receiving many comments (obviously not on this website) regarding Faran's World. Most have been along the lines of, "Where do you have the time to do this fool?", "Why are you doing this fool?", or "Get a life!...fool". Well, let me explain, oh wise ones. I feel that if all of us had our own blog site, spilling our thoughts every couple days (it really only takes a few minutes), we'd all feel a little more connected. No? Comment on each others' posts, put up pictures...ok, so maybe it is all a little lame....oh well, I'm having fun! Leave me your feedback!

Downtown London Adventure Pt. 2

2005-04-14T18:48:00.000-04:00

So, yes, the saga continues. The thrill of working at Hakim Optical never ends. Couple days ago I almost called the cops because some drunk man was in the store harassing all the girls and wanted to take his glasses without paying. It was quite the fiasco. What I have learned working downtown is that a lot of people have such a skewed perception on people who are on welfare. Some believe that they are all bums who leech money from the government. True, I have seen some of the above mentioned. But, most of them are really good-hearted people who are going through some rough times, have some sort of disability that prevents them from making money and they are truly trying hard to make ends meet. And yet, the general public thinks they're a waste of time. Well, working at this store has definitely opened my eyes, and softened my heart. Haha....sounds cheesy, but it's true!

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the weather, I know I am. 'Till next time!

Downtown London Adventure: Pt. 1

2005-04-10T00:58:00.000-04:00

Well, I work at Hakim Optical full-time now, seeing as how I really don't have much to do during the day. So, they put me downtown, at King and Clarence. It's pretty cool, because I get to go to the Covent Garden Market everyday for lunch, I see lots of people I know and it's not too far of a commute. It's fun! Now, along with this fun comes the CRAAAAZINESS of working downtown. Let me explain my day today. In the morning this guy, mean looking Greek guy comes in and starts talking to me, telling me he has no money to go to Toronto, trying to sell me his thermos, showing me his busted up hand (he got into a fight) and explaining how he wants to re-connect with his children because he was away for so long (prison). Anyway, as he is talking, another fishy looking man darts into the store, walks around for a few minutes and quickly runs out. Then the Greek guy left. Ok, a couple hours later, Greek guy comes back, yelling, screaming, swearing (customers are in the store) that some guy stole his wallet and he wants to "ram a knife down the guy's throat". Then he tells me the 'fishy guy' stole some of my glasses, and he'll take care of him too. Then he swore and left to go "stick the %$^(@!$". Ok, so I brush it all off, and leave the store to go to work. As I'm crossing the street, a car hits a young boy (walking with his father) in front of me. The boy was okay, but the guy got out of the car and he started fighting with the father (in the middle of the street). Then, I look to my left, and some boy is running (not older than 11 years old), and there's a cop chasing him. Cop catches him, pats him down, and throws him into the cruiser. It was a session of Grand Theft Auto witnessed in real life.

Yes, typical day at Hakim Optical in downtown London. Exciting and intense...it keeps me on my toes. What I don't like about the job is the customers. Most of them are very rude and want much more than they are entitled to. Now, 95% of the customers are people on welfare, and I have absolutely no problem with them. What I do have a problem with is people who lie to me and try to 'scam' me. Not going to happen while I'm working there! But, working in this environment is giving me a new outlook on people who are less fortunate...or down on their luck. My take on them? Next time!

Guyana: A Journey of Body and Soul

2005-04-05T19:40:00.001-04:00

Well, the presentation on our trip to Guyana seemed like a success (in my opinion), and hopefully some follow-up activities can stem from the meeting. Stories were told, music was played, videos were watched. There was plenty of partial male nudity, and lots of laughs. The presentation was followed by a short discussion, and then the mandatory game of 'Mafia'. Great time for those of you who didn't come out. The purpose of the presentation was to remind people that North America is not the centre of the universe. As we thrive in our comfort zones, we (especially me) rarely take a moment to reflect on the vast difference in the quality of life between us and the less fortunate. A trip to a third-world country really changes one's perspective, and makes one realize that all the things we worry about here are so petty. Life is essentially quite simple, we should live our lives in service to one another. A society comprised only of consumers is destined to fall. The society we live in is one of consumption. Moral degradation is everywhere, and everyone lives their own lives without bothering to look at the bigger picture. Our intention in coming back to Canada is to use our motivation from Guyana to start up some moral-development classes, and discussion groups. All day, every day, we are immersed in either academia at school, or fairly shallow socializing (I am a huge victim), and I think putting aside a couple hours a week to discuss morality and spirituality is something that we can all use. So, drop me comments on what you think, and hopefully we'll get something started soon. Stay up-to-date by regularly checking this site...you WILL be informed!

Regarding the presentation, we had to change the venue because there wasn't enough room. We moved to the John Labatt Centre, because fortunately for us the Knights weren't playing that night. As you can see, a large crowd showed up.

Those two dashing young men on the screen were the presenters, and don't ask why people brought American flags. I asked them not to, but who listens??

Love for Music

2005-04-02T21:34:00.000-05:00

Personally, I can't get through a day without listening to music. Although people may accuse me of listening to Top 40, which I occasionally listen to; I get my true satisfaction from listening to more soul-stirring music. Now, don't laugh, I'm being serious. First of all, there is a lot of classical music that really touches me. Especially when there is a grand orchestra providing it. Also, the thrill of driving from Point A to Point B (which I do quite often) is magnified when I'm listening to some good trance music. I'm not talking about the chest-pounding tracks that only induce migraines. DJ Tiesto, Paul Van Dyk, Ferry Corsten...these are the men who spin tracks that blow my mind. Check them out. There have been so many times that I have been blasting one of the above DJs in my car, and have either missed an exit, drifted into the next lane, or passed out and awoke in a nearby ditch. I hope you can share these experience with me. Also, while I'm surfing (or blogging), I am almost always tuned into my digital radio stations. Check out Digitally Imported, under 'Vocal Trance', 'Trance', 'Chillout', and 'House'. Welcome to my world.

You can also check out their sister site, SKY.fm.

Sand Animation

2005-04-02T15:01:00.000-05:00

I remember as a child, going to Grand Bend or Tobermory and sitting on the beach trying to make sand castles. After painstakingly working on my castle for hours, it would look like an enlarged ant hill. Maybe I wasn't born with the gift to use sand as a medium to express my artistic talents. Maybe I wasn't born with the gift to express my artistic talents. Who knows? But, this man DEFINITELY has this gift. I highly recommend checking the video out; this guy has talent.

Dubya

2005-04-02T03:59:00.000-05:00

I generally don't have strong political views, and I don't have one against or for the Bush administration. But, I still find it hard to believe that he got re-elected. I know it's a little out of season, but who wants a monkey as a president? Also, some of his speeches* in Congress are a little odd. No hard feelings Georgey, I'm just having some fun!

*(Quicktime is needed)

Funny Faces

2005-04-02T03:39:00.000-05:00

Haha, I had some fun making my crackhead from the 80's, who knows, you might also. The funny face generator kept me occupied for about 2 minutes.

Unravel the Mysteries

2005-04-01T19:52:00.000-05:00

For those of you who haven't been to Unravel The Mysteries, you're missing out. It's a great time every year, and I'm sure this year will be no exception. Participate in stimulating discussions, socialize and of course, don't forget your dancing shoes!

The “Unravel The Mysteries” Forum offers an intellectual and spiritual challenge to young adults in their 20’s and 30’s.

Conference Themes: Challenges and Opportunities of Modernity

Seizing Opportunities for Growth Intensifying Collaboration within our Community Understanding and Responding to Global Forces

Fri. May 27 to Sun. May 29, 2005

Cinderella Man

2005-04-01T19:44:00.000-05:00

Most people are probably going to get angry with me when I say this, but Russell Crowe is one of the best actors out there right now. Sure, he may not have the greatest personality, some even say he's a jerk. But, look at the classics he has given us. I think he's one of the only men who can almost bring me to tears. The charisma he brings to the screen makes me want get off my couch and do something useful. Alas, I am a lazy man, and such things will not happen. Without further ado, from the producer and director of A Beautiful Mind, comes this epic. Enjoy the trailer and undoubtedly, Russ (me and him are cool) will not disappoint.

Gulp it

2005-04-01T16:33:00.000-05:00

Wow, IMHO (in my humble opinion), Google is the world leader in innovative technology. Gmail is now my new best friend. Who offers 1gig of storage, and then after a year decides to increase it to 2gigs (with plans for more)? Only Google. How about Google Maps? It is the most extensive map of North America I have ever seen. I live in Dinky-Dorchester, and our streets are unbelievably detailed on the system...amazing! What's more? It's linked to Yellow Pages, so you can also find the nearest businesses. Now...what's next? Google is introducing a new line of beverages: Google Gulp.

Think a DNA scanner embedded in the lip of your bottle reading all 3 gigabytes of your base pair genetic data in a fraction of a second, fine-tuning your individual hormonal cocktail in real time using our patented Auto-Drink™ technology, and slamming a truckload of electrolytic neurotransmitter smart-drug stimulants past the blood-brain barrier to achieve maximum optimization of your soon-to-be-grateful cerebral cortex. Plus, it's low in carbs! And with flavors ranging from Beta Carroty to Glutamate Grape, you'll never run out of ways to quench your thirst for knowledge.

I highly recommend going on the website and checking out this FABULOUS new product offered by my friends at Google.

Oh yea...and...Happy April Fool's!

Coming at you

2005-04-01T14:21:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

So, I have created a blog...woooooweeeee! Haha, I'm one who thinks he is up-to-date with technology, so here is my attempt to remain 'with it'. I guess I don't have much to say right now, except, if ANYONE can come out...this Monday, April 4th, at Rohani's residence at 7:00PM we're having an evening of stories, pictures and FUNNNNNN about our trip to Guyana. So....commmmeeeeeee on out!! Here's the address. If anyone needs a ride, let me know!

What are you waiting for?