The Maybe Games: U.S.-Iranian Relations

Tomorrow the U.S. and Iran might begin drafting the final terms of a nuclear agreement, which consists of Iran curtailing its nuclear programs and allowing for greater transparency and the rest of the world lifting nuclear-related sanctions that have been imposed.

As an Iranian-American, the idea of any type of interaction, much less an actual deal, between the two countries feels like a miracle. I clearly remember all the hubbub and excitement on the part of Iranians when Clinton and Khatami almost shook hands at a UN gathering. ALMOST SHOOK HANDS. This was about 15 years ago and I can remember the feeling that overtook me when I heard. There’s an initial feeling of euphoria when one’s mind automatically turns to if-only thoughts of a world where Iran and the U.S. get along. The euphoria is quickly replaced by pessimism when those thoughts are replaced by remembrance of the history between the two countries, followed by whispered eagerness and hope, quiet desperation, and finally despondent resignation. We wipe such ridiculous notions from our mind and march on with our torn lives.

So, where am I according to the five stages of U.S.-Iranian grief?

Back to Books

There are certain books I re-read every year and have for quite a long time. There were some books in that were in rotation, but, after ten years or so, I was no longer interested in picking them up. They will be denoted with [these]. The list is Stephen King heavy, because his were the first novels I ever read when I was in elementary school. They really made an impression.

Mid-August: Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King. It just reads like a late August sunset.

Early September: Christine by Stephen King. It's the perfect back-to-school read.

Late September: Pet Sematary by Stephen King. It's just got that fall vibe.

October: Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. One of the greatest female protagonists ever written.

[Early November: Needful Things by Stephen King.]

Thanksgiving: Smilla's Sense of Snow. One of the greatest female protagonists ever written.

Christmas: The Shining by Stephen King. Classic Christmas tale - all snowy and pretty.

February: Misery by Stephen King. I have no idea why this is my February book.

Late Spring, Early Summer: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk and Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. It's an Ed Norton thing. These books have only come into play recently.

[June: It by Stephen King. This book is seriously messed up.]

[4th of July: The Stand by Stephen King. The first time I read this book it was over the 4th of July weekend while I was in Vegas with my family. If you've read the book, you'll know how unfortunate that is.]

On top of all of these books, I read other new books. Like every two weeks or so. Sometimes they overlap. I swear I have a social life, too. A pretty active one at that. I just have to read to fall asleep.

Anyone out there re-read favorite books regularly? I would love some book recommendations, especially of books by female authors. I'm open to genres despite the doom and gloom list above.

Battleship

I'm not sure what it is. I'm not hungover. I'm not depressed. I'm not mentally compromised in any way that I can tell, so I'm not sure what to make of me thinking Battleship is a great movie. Not Godfather great, but really entertaining. It's pretty. It's funny. It's exciting. It's a little heartwarming, too. I'm surprised by all of the bad reviews it received when it came out. The trailers for it didn't do it any justice, either.

Taylor Kitsch: HOT. Alexander Skarsgaard: HOT. Liam Neeson: HOT. Rihanna: HOT. Brooklyn Decker: HOT. Tabanobu Asano: HOT. And Jesse Plemons in a movie with Kitsch warms my Friday Night Lights loving heart.

The relationship between the brothers Kitsch and Skarsgaard is a caricature of the Type A older sibling/slacker younger sibling, but it still has a ring of truth to it. I really liked the two-minute courtship in the love story subplot. I'm sure there are a lot of guys that would take more punishment to get Brooklyn Decker anything she wanted.

It's a simple story. Aliens invade Earth and badass American motherfuckers fight back. That's pretty much it, but the relationships are well developed for a movie of this type. The action is well done. Not as cheesy as I thought it would be. It was less eye rolling than the action sequences I've seen in The Lone Ranger and Transformers trailers. The supporting cast (including Hamish Linklater and Peter MacNicol) is excellent as well. If you're a crier like me, you're going to tear up a couple of times.

This movie gave me a major American boner. It might be required 4th of July weekend viewing every year.