Observations From Lo-Techville...

So it's no surprise that the folks at Apple (insert trademark sign) have wowed the first world, yet again... as is evidenced by the chuckle inducing banter inundating my inbox - but then the only bad press is no press, am I right?
But some things have dawned on me recently... like today. And I mean no disrespect to either Ste.ve Jo.bs and his miracle churning minions or to those who identify with what I'm about to share - I love all y'all.

This all started when a friend dissected what I hear was an amazing keynote speech...
I realized that Apple(trademark circle thingy) is sort of like a gold-digging girlfriend.
Flashy-shiny packaging.
Expensive.
Does kind of cool stuff.
Easy to accessorize.
Everyone knows that if you pay more, the stuff you can see and do is cooler.
You’ll never really or completely understand it.
AND the douchy-meat head who only knows how to use 3 of buttons will still make it look cooler than you. ...and he probably even got it for free.


No? Too much?
*The opinions expressed in this post do not necessary represent those of.... Yes they do.*

On Horizontal Looming...

Okay. So I don't even know if that falls under English grammar: proper usage, but it's past my bed time and I'm going to just go with it - savvy?

A few weeks (maybe a month) ago, a friend of mine turned me on to something really cool. She suggested that, while I'm praying and meditating, I should think about those things in my life and in my person that I'm really and truly grateful for. Some of them are even things that I'd never thought to be grateful for before. She called them affirmations.

Anyhow, one of my favorites is "I am a grown up woman". I know that sounds weird - as chronologically clearly a grown up... but I think that this concept is definitely something my generation struggles with. Like what that looks like, feels like, etc. Before I start digressing any further, I'll get to the point of this (ahem) exercise.

I'm moving soon. Into my own place. I'm heck of excited. But I've decided that this idea of being a grown up woman should manifest itself in my home, as well. I'm determined that no part of my house should resemble a college dormitory or smack of the boxcar children....

To that end, I've sort of been obsessively scouring the world wide interwebs for cool design ideas. *please note the dirth of photos in this post*

Every.thing.looks.like.a.freaking.hotel.

Right. So if you have ideas of where to look for inspiration - holler at your girl. By which I mean: comments are welcome.

Day Trip... Jerusalem Style

Some friends and I descended on Jerusalem on Saturday - and it was a.m.a.z.i.n.g! Here are some pictures [in no particular order] taken by my uber-talented friend MaSovaida (with a little help from poladroid):

Church of the Nations
Architect: A. Berluzzi

*Berluzzi was our tour guide's (hey Amit!) favorite architect*

Another church (Franciscan) designed by Antonio Berluzzi

This is the location (on the Mount of Olives) from which His Holiness Christ surveyed the ancient city of Jerusalem and openly wept.

mmmm. Falafel
(Aimee & Shadi)

Aimee & Miss MaSovaida

Some things are more traditional than factual
...strictly speaking.

Navigating the Bazaar
Old Town Jerusalem

Seriously?

Why am I always eating?
Because falafel is amazing?

Oh. Yeah.

Hey Ladies!
(Nasaem, Yo, Mas, Amee, Shadi)

Shalom Y'all!

On Why Is This Place So Beautiful...

Oh yeah... that's why.

A series of photos taken with my phone this afternoon doesn't really do it justice - imagine, though, that the colors were way more vibrant and that where the rainbow ended in the Mediterranean Sea it was reflected. And it was glorious.

Have a nice weekend y'all!

Life... Aquatic

Dear Friends...
If you ever needed evidence of the interconnectedness of the world in which we live... take a peek at the pictures below. Israel has had some much needed rain the last week - and it seems they've had similar storms at home in OC, too.

Masada Street
Haifa, Israel
Same

Same

Hurricane as seen from the Hungtington Beach (CA) pier
*Shooby-dooby down to Ruby's?

Hurricane - the residential view
Huntington Beach, CA

I just hope that there's a constructive way to use all of this extra water!

Fall and Rise...

Approximately 5 minutes ago a friend told me to check out this video, promising it would change my life. He was correct. Naturally I had no choice but to pay it forward.

Enjoy!

Wax On... Wax Off....

Excerpted from the superhero training manual.... Or, you know - one of the million and one blogs I look at when re.ad.er says it's time. M-Dashing.

Relax... We All Have Them

I found this guy (Mike Milosh, of Canada) on MySpace almost 3 years ago now. Needless to say, I've been a fan since.

So speaking of feelings, I found this really cool quote on a blog (Samimi-Extremie) I sometimes check out: "Never apologize for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologize for truth." - Benjamin Disraeli

I've really been thinking about that since I've seen it and trying to process it in a constructive manner. As evidenced by the above video, I'd say that today's forecast calls for ultra feminine and contemplative with a 100% chance of romantic.

Carry on.

Lovely Day...

Happy Birthday, Nana!
I love you!

Enquiring Minds Want to Know...

Image courtesy ffffound

So I've been reading (rather voraciously) different news sources to try and find as much information about the trial of the 7 Bahá’ís in Iran.... I'm happy to say that most major news sources are reporting on on this issue. While quickly scanning through BBC (online version) today with my morning coffee, I found a really lovely article in support of the Bahá’ís - and I also found a somewhat perplexing article titled 'There Is No Such Thing as Safe Cocaine'.

Let me explain.

I am a child of the 80s, and as such spent most of my formative years in the grip of Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaigns. So for me to read an article - presented as though it were breaking news - “if you take cocaine – you could (wait for it… wait for it…) die”.

I don't know... maybe I just didn't understand the article. Or the research. Or the fact that this is meant to clear up some major misunderstandings in the European party circuit.

...because no one ever says "I want to be a junkie"

Updates...

The trial is in progress....

It is, despite requests from family members and lawyers, a closed trial.
Of the 3 lawyers who represent these people, only 1 is present: one has been exiled from Iran, and one is in hiding, himself a victim of persecution.
Your prayers and positive thoughts for justice are very welcome. Thank you!

Breaking News...

If you've been keeping your ear to the ground, you'll know that things in Iran aren't going very well - particularly from a human rights standpoint. And if you've been reading between the lines, you'll know that things are looking especially grim for the Bahá’í community in that country. 7 Bahá’ís have been held in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran since spring 2008... 13 more were arrested on Sunday - 3 January 2010. Since that time, 3 have been released - but the remaining 10 are in Evin Prison.
Iranian officials, under pressure from human rights watch groups and the international community, have been quick to mention that these people have not been arrested because they are Bahá’í - specifically: On Friday, several news agencies reported that Tehran's general prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said the Baha'is who were arrested on Sunday "were arrested because they played a role in organizing the Ashura protests and namely for having sent abroad pictures of the unrest."

The 7 Bahá’ís who have been in prison for almost 2 years on false and unsubstantial charges and denied counsel with their lawyers, including Dr. Shirin Ebadi, are scheduled - after several delays - for trial tomorrow.

Friends and Family... please, I ask that you continue to pray and be the voice for these innocent souls. Thank you.

Each According to the Dictates of His Own Conscience...

Norman Rockwell

Propositional Phrase...

I largely suspect that there are some things that can only happen to me.... Take Friday, for example. My sherut (a minivan-like cab) driver literally propositioned me. I was coming back from getting my hair done for the wedding (remember that? good...) and was running late because of shabat but mostly because I'm aimee piper…. Anyhow, so the guy seriously asked me – once we were alone in the sherut – if Bahá’ís could date. *I knew he was really asking if I could him* So I told him no. He said – “oh, so you just marry?” Yes.
Then he asks how old I am. At this point I decide to be truthful and I tell him that I'm 31. He doesn’t believe me (I was only kind of flattered as he's 24). But then he asks if I'm a virgin.

The record literally skipped, friends.

I was like “uhhhhh… I don’t see how that’s any of your business”. It gets better: “my wife needs to be a virgin”.
Naturally I reply – “well, are you a virgin?” [Sidenote: I have zero time for double standards]
HAHAHAHA. Then he got frustrated and asked why I didn’t answer his first question. THEN he tells me “in my village (of course he’s a dahotti – bechareh) I have to marry a virgin”.
But he didn’t want to discuss things anymore when I asked if he was a virgin. Good thing – we were at my stop! Hahahahaha.
Conjunction Junction, it most certainly was not. But it takes 'FANBOYS' to a whole new level, huh?

Keep It Classy...

So... weekend wrap up. As you may recall, my friends Mona & Vahid were married on Friday - 1 January 2010! A new day, year, decade and life - all in one fell swoop! Congratulations M&V! Mae & Aimee

The wedding was amazing - perfectly simple and elegant - it really captured their whole relationship, I think. And the best part was how calm and collected they were. Naturally we all had an amazing time dancing the night away - the father of the groom has some serious dance moves. I'm talking skills, kids!
Oh! Also... at the guest book table was a mini-polaroid camera; by which I mean that it shot out miniature pictures, not that the camera was tiny. It is so cool! I totally want one!
Hope y'all had a great weekend, too!

Happy New Year, And Stuff...

This song has been on near-constant replay for nearly a week... I trust that you're all intelligent & imaginative people so I won't break it down ('it' being the how's and why's of my obsession with this song) - but I hope you like it.

I just feel so tough & yet pretty when I hear it.
...or when I sing along. But you know, what ever gets you through the day - or the New Year.

Head's up: courtesy MaSovaida