Rosewater (no spoilers here)

Film written and directed by Jon Stewart.

My thoughts:

- Flattered that Stewart's directorial debut was a movie about Iran.

- His intended audience is definitely Americans. All the characters speak English the entire movie, even the taxi driver and prison guard in Iran. There are few subtitles.

- Very tastefully done. He chose not to get graphic with the rioting scenes in Iran or the beatings in prison. I applaud him for this. His goal was not to cheaply captivate people with gory scenes, like most Hollywood movies. His intention is smarter than that, and he assumes a more intelligent audience.

- There are a handful of one-liners that have Stewart's wit written all over them. So good.

All things considered: B+

Jon Stewart is the man.

Sincerely,

Sahra

Get It Together, Uber

I love Uber. It's pure genius and I often get irritated that I didn't think of it myself.

But here is my complaint: They do not know where they are going. EVER.

Maybe I'm spoiled after spending almost a decade in NYC, but I'm used to jumping in a cab, telling the driver the cross streets, and spending the rest of the ride talking to my friend, looking out the window, catching up on emails, or calling my mom. In other words, I am completely checked out and get to spend those 15 minutes however I like. I trust my cabbie, and nine out of ten times he knows exactly where he's going.

Then there's Uber. Even though the cars are fancy, they offer you bottled water, and they sometimes even hold the door open for you... they are clueless with directions. Here is my standard Uber experience:

- 'Set Pickup Location' on my phone
- Text is sent informing me Uber is on it's way
- Another text informing me Uber has arrived
- We head out the front door
- No Uber
- A few minutes later, I get a phone call asking for my exact address (isn't that the point of the app?)
- I give it to him and he says "OK will be there momentarily"
- We wait
- No Uber
- He calls again and now asks for the cross streets
- I give him cross streets and he says "OK will be there momentarily"
- We wait
- No Uber
- He calls again. But this time he tell me what streets he is on and asks how to get to my pickup location
- I end up sitting on the phone with him and giving him step by step directions on how to get to my location, until he drives right up in front of me and I wave at him to pull over while I'm still on the phone with him. He's arrived!
- Uber driver jumps out of the car, opens the door for us, and apologizes profusely (always very friendly those Uber drivers)
- "Where to?" He asks
- "Sunset, corner of Stanley"
- He starts driving south on San Vicente towards Wilshire (complete opposite direction)
- I say "Woah woahhh do you know where Sunset is? Get to Sunset and head east."
- He pulls over and says "Sorry, please give me the address"
- (OMG) "1510 N Stanley Avenue"
- He punches it into this GPS (PUNCHES IT INTO HIS GPS!?)
- Since we all know that GPS can often take you in a roundabout way, I end up guiding him street by street on how to get where I want to go.

Needless to say, I didn't get to enjoy the company of my fellow Uber riders as I had to pay close attention so he wouldn't miss any streets. Which they do if you don't hold their hands the entire ride.

Call me crazy, but shouldn't there be a test for drivers? A test of the main roads in the area you are assigned to navigate? Doesn't that seem fair? Approriate? A requirement as a driver??

And what's worse is that when I tell the driver to head east, for instance, he doesn't even know which way is east. How is that possible? Even if you are not required to take a test, as a driver wouldn't you take it upon yourself to familiarize yourself with a map so you have the slightest clue of the main roads and which direction is what? Glance at the GPS every now and then so you have an idea of east, of west, north, south. At the very least! What happened to taking pride in your work and having the personal desire to be the very best at what you do. Take the little time it takes to learn. Learn. Use your brain. Challenge yourself. 

There are too many shortcuts nowadays and it has made people lazy. Your brain is a muscle, folks. Just like your abdominal muscles, if you stop using them you lose strength. The internet has spoiled people and many do not want to use their brains anymore because they do not have to. It's disappointing and discouraging.

Uber COO: please make a road test part of the driving requirements so your drivers are as smart as your company.

Uber Drivers: if it's not a requirement, please do your homework and try to use your brain power while you drive. It's good exercise for that muscle, and makes for a much better experience for your customers that you are so eager to please.


Me, personally? I would choose a ride in an OK car with a smart driver, than a fancy ride with a clueless driver any day.


Sincerely,
Sahra

How To Be The Best Concert Buddy

1. BUDDY
Always take someone who:
a) Knows the band
b) Doesn't know the band but you're certain they will be able to appreciate them, or
c) Is a good time no matter what.

If they do not fit one of the above, do not take them. Inviting the wrong person to a show can ruin a potentially unforgettable evening.

2. ALCOHOL
One drink is recommended before you get to the venue. This will loosen you up and get you excited from the moment you walk into the show. Do not drink too much before a show. This is a rookie mistake. You have the entire rest of the night to get drinks and if you start off too buzzed, you will become that annoying drunk person that is bumping into people while dancing. And if you are a true music fan, you do not want to drink too much because you will not remember the show.

Once you get to the show, I highly recommend beer as the drink of choice because:
- It's light
- It won't stain anything if it spills on yourself or someone else
- You can safely sip on it all night
- You will feel fine the next day and be able to enjoy that post-concert high without a headache.

This does not work with mixed drinks, folks. Your drink will finish quicker than you expected which means more trips to the bar, the liquor will sneak up on you and you will be wasted when the show is already over, and you will wake up with a wretched hangover and high bar tab.

3. LOCATION
If you are anything like me, you somehow always end up front stage center. When I see a band I love, the music physically draws me to the front. I can't sit back and watch from the back of the venue... I want to see the musicians sweat. That's why I want to see them live! So here's how:

Pockets
Do not ever push to the front or block people's view. That's rude. There are other fans there that are just as excited and you are no more entitled. When a song ends, the lights are down, and everyone is cheering, that's when you will see what I like to call "pockets."A pocket is when there is a small opening that usually one or two people can seamlessly scoot in without touching or interrupting your neighboring fans. Head bop or calmly dance your way into the pocket. If you continue to do this throughout the show, you will slowly end up where you want to be.

Height
When choosing your pockets, be aware of the height of the person you are popping in front of. I don't really have an issue with this as I'm 5'6, but I've been on the other side and it's really annoying when someone's noggin is suddenly in your line of vision. I don't think this is a deal breaker, but do be aware. Maybe when someone is on the shorter side, make sure it's a more spacious pocket so you don't stand directly in front of them. Leave some space so they can still see too.

May I also add that this is one of the reasons I am fond of my Love's height. He isn't too tall so he can navigate through crowds with me without bothering anyone. I've dated a few tall guys and that can get tricky...

Dance politely 
When you and your concert buddy just moved in, you can't throw your arms around and be too physical from the start. That's annoying and obnoxious. You are the new girl now and it will take a minute for people to be happy to have you there. Show respect and gain tenure.

Show that you're a real fan
On the flip side, you should definitely dance once the space has welcomed you. A really fun neighbor just moved next door and they'll be happy to have you!

Be nice to your neighbors
When you finally find a spot that you would like to call home, make nice with your neighboring fans. Dance with them a little during a song. In between songs say hello, maybe do a cheers, or even a quick conversation about the band. Once at a Black Keys show (Madison Square Garden, 2012), this guy next to me and I did Black Keys trivia -- what year a song came out, what album it's from, guess what they are playing next, etc. It was so much fun!

Cell phones
The first thing I do with my phone when I get to a show is turn down the brightness. Turn it all the way down - you will still be able to see, trust me. This way, if you want to shoot a quick text or take video your phone won't be so bright as to pierce the eyes of your neighbors. Many people don't know this trick, but it makes a world of a difference. And speaking of video, please be aware of the appropriate time to do it. You cannot pull out your phone anytime and start taping.. if you pay attention you will know when it's the right time. Not when the people next to you are rocking out too hard and please, I mean PLEASE do not tape for too long. It's rude. I try to keep mine at thirty seconds, and at the most one minute.

Please note that with all of the above, you should always vibe people. You will know if it's someone that wants to have a conversation or wants you in their space. If you feel they aren't interested, stay there and keep to yourself or move on to the next pocket. For me, the people surrounding me at a show is very important so I would absolutely move on... or up :)

Enjoy your next show!

Sincerely,
Sahra


P.S. Photo was taken by yours truly at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in 2012. Made it to the front row, baby!

Who Am I?

If my parents are both from Iran, I was born and raised in Ohio, went to college on the West Coast, spent my mid-20s and early-30s in New York City, and have now chosen to move back to Los Angeles -- which location best defines who I am?

My Persian household;
My Midwestern upbringing;
My professional and intellectual growth and independence in NYC;
My free-spirited, adventurous, smiley self that has now chosen LA.

They all encompass who I am today, of course, but which one best defines me? What time period is most influential and representative of me?

Sincerely,
Sahra