- Mrs Ward, Grade 6 Teacher, Last day of school, June 1996

Rule 15: No single choice alone defines who you are.

Rule 16: Whenever possible, it is much more efficient to learn from others’ mistakes than to go through making your own.

Irena: Wow…you have the nicest dad in the world.

Sina: It’s really not a big deal.

Irena: If I asked my dad something like this, he would look at me as if I’m gone mad.

Sina: Well to be fair, people always think that no matter what you ask. *pause*   But in all seriousness, I actually do have the nicest dad in the world.

Sina: Here you go. And can you tell me how much I have left on my gift card? I don’t even know what the original amount was.

Cashier: Sure just a sec……you ha—

Sina: WAIT don’t tell me!! Nevermind.

Cashier: You don’t want to know?

Sina: No I want it to be an adventure each time I use it.

Paul Krugman, 3 January 2012:

Look, economic policy matters. It matters for real people who suffer real consequences when we get it wrong… [M]y duty, as I see it, is to make my case as best I honestly can — not put on a decorous show of civilized discussion that pretends that there aren’t hired guns posing as analysts, and spares the feelings of people who are not in danger of losing their jobs or their health care.

This is not a game.

Sina Motamedi, 15 December 2011:

And the reason I become so passionate when I talk about this topic is because this stuff matters. It’s not just economics. It’s not just unemployment. It’s not just struggling families. It’s not just quality of life. It really really matters.

Depressed economies create societies where extreme non-tolerance thrives, violence against minorities is accepted, freedom and liberty are eroded, and fascist parties take power. Usually I’m told that I’m being sensational, but we are already seeing this. Look here, here, here, and here. It’s truly scary.

This was the year I…

- started to furnish my apartment
- made some huge mistakes
- learned what real love is
- turned back into the man I used to be
- tried to atone the past
- almost died and ended up with a cast on my hand
- had a wonderful summer
- didn’t buy that many tshirts
- developed a slight caffeine addiction
- redefined friendship
- matured 10 years worth of life
- lost big time
- initiated an educated risk
- became a decent macroeconomist

I think that covers it.

Now groove with me and also enjoy how my man’s legs move.