• dmandiyan
      • hello Dee Mandiyan
      • Username: dmandiyan
      • In response to: "If you were in a movie right now, what music would be playing?" Paper Planes, Diplo Street Remix, by M.I.A., Bun B and Rich Boy. Not that I'm violent or carry a glock or even enjoy theft, but for some reason, that song always fits perfectly with my mood.
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    • But remember, emulate indicates attempt, not success.

      • This is actually a very tricky question for me, because up until recently I did not have a real role model. I'd only ever picked out a few traits among people I'd met that I appreciated--but didn't necessarily need to see in myself.

        Then I met a man named Doug Goetsch, and suddenly I had a role model. Doug is a poet who teaches English Literature to kids in juvie. Doug doesn't mince words. Doug doesn't cut corners. Doug, most importantly, doesn't give a damn about anything but the words you use to say what you're trying to say. Doug introduced me to BJ Ward and confessional poetry and a type of Jersey pride that, to the dismay of my loved ones, will never fade.

        After my week of poetry workshops with Doug, I went back to my hometown and reevaluated the people around me and found my second role model: Mr. H. I'd known him since before the summer of 2005 but it was only after meeting Doug that I understood how much I appreciated, admired and wanted to emulate Mr. H.

        I can't talk about him very much, because he's dead, but he was the closest thing I've had to a father, and for all his curmudgeonly posturing he was a good and honorable man. And I think I took that lesson to heart the most: no matter what, be good and be honorable. I sometimes suck at that first part, but I try really, really hard at that second.

        Lately, I've been noticing traits in the people around me, once again returning to that state of "Okay, that's cool, I respect that." But one person stands out--my best friend. She displays a combination of admirable characteristics that astounds me on a daily basis. We are different enough that I can't say "I want to be like her," because it just wouldn't fit on me. But I can say that I would like to approach life in a way similar to hers. I would like to learn from her--from her poise, from her gravitas, from her perception.

        Fortunately, she spends a lot of time working with young kids, so I know that right now, there are at least 20 rugrats who, if they'll just take a second to open their eyes and look, have one of the world's great role models standing right in front of them. If I ever meet those kids and think they haven't caught on yet, believe me, I'll let 'em know.

      • answered by dmandiyan on 08/04/2011
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    • A record is never just a record.

      • I think my first cassette--my own--may have been Emotions, Mariah Carey. Of course. But I do remember my first CD: Ace of Base. Oh, yes, it …

      • answered by dmandiyan on 09/08/2009
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    • For a week? Hah! Tatts are for life!

      • I actually plan on getting several tattoos; I've thought of four so far. I don't want to turn into a walking canvas, and none of them will be large tattoos... but being Angelina Jolie wouldn't be a bad thing.


        1. Phoenix. Red, orange, yellow/gold, etc. Flying straight up, long tail like a quetzal, clutching tattoo #2 in its talons.
        2. Compass rose. Red tints, with hope written at the cardinal directions instead of nwse (so that o replaces west and e replaces east).

        Both of these--so the whole, two-part tattoo--should ideally be four inches long in the very center of my back. Given that it's color and literally on top of my spine, it's going to hurt like hell.

        3. 3 wild geese. Each maybe half an inch, quarter of an inch in size. In a slanted V arrangement, probably on the inside of my right ankle.
        4. Panther. Don't know where yet, at most an inch long; there's a very sinuous design that I've had my eye on. Black, of course, but soft black--faded, almost.

        The one that would be expendable would be the panther. That was an idea from a few years ago that holds less oomph for me now than it did then. The others have all stood the test of time--as in, I've wanted these for years now, so I know I won't regret it--and there shall be no tramp stamping.

        Now I just have to have the money to get the guys from Miami Ink.

      • answered by dmandiyan on 08/24/2009
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