HUMOR
My speech to the Annual Father Christmas Conference
I have a recurring dream. I fly to the homes of Jews, Muslims, and leave presents for their children. Christians are outraged. In one north London school, Jews and the Muslims who’ve received Xboxes from me are punched and kicked by the parents of other children. “Santa is ours,” they say. “He’s ours, you can’t have him”. Newspapers columnists: "It's multicultural madness when Santa Claus favours the children of lesbian disabled Jews and Muslims instead of the people who invented him.” In the dream I fly to Lapland. It's not my intention to favour non-Christians, it just happens that way. As for the Jews and Muslims, they are forced into a unity under oppression after being spat at on the school run
>>>
PRICELESS
Encyclopaedia Iranica and us
After Sept. 11, 2001, journalists turned to Encyclopaedia Iranica to learn about Afghanistan, part of the "Iranian cultural continent." The staff of Iranica, headquartered at Columbia University's Center for Iranian Studies, is now at work on the 13th volume, which includes the letter “I,”--and the current focus: Iran. Despite his smiling face on the Encyclopaedia Iranica Web site, managing editor Ahmad Ashraf tends to wear a solemn countenance and drives himself and his staff as if they were on a newspaper deadline. Housed in a small duplex in the back of a stately turn-of-the-century building near Columbia University, the tension is palpable inside
>>>
Plaza De Armas. Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
>>>
STORY
We’re puppets and destiny the puppet master
“I’ll be home a little late,” Adam said to his wife on the cell phone. “How late is late? You know we have guests tonight. Salad and entertainment are your responsibilities.” Shiva said. “That’s exactly why I’ll be late. I need to get a book before I come home. I’ll show you some incredible artworks. A co-worker of mine had a calendar designed with optical illusions. They’re amazing. You’ve never seen anything like it.” “You mean like M. C. Escher’s artwork?” She asked. “Yes, but more mystical. Some of them are really mind boggling. These artworks really threw me off. You’ve got to see them.” “Known artists?” “Most of them are not. We’ll find out tonight.” “Hmm, that’d make an interesting subject of conversation.”
>>>
A very interesting discussion about using sheep to maintain football fields.
>>>
EXILES
كتاب "مقدمهای بر ادبیات فارسی در تبعید" اثر ملیحه تیرهگل
در تركیه خود را بیحقوق میبینم، در فرانسه پناهنده و در امریكا شهروند؛ اما در همه حال یك تبعیدی. سه صفت نخست، وضعیت قانونی مرا در كشوری كه به آن وارد شدم نشان میدهد و صفت آخرین، ذهنیت مرا نسبت به وطنی كه ناگزیر به ترك آن شدم. خواه در امریكا بمیرم، روبروی پسرم "آزاد" كه بر بالینم ایستاده و خواه به وطن بازگردم، اگر روی آزادی را ببیند، باز من یك تبعیدی خواهم ماند. درست مثل آن دریانوردی كه نوار آواز او را در كلاس درس فرانسویم در دهكدهی "شانتونه" در سال 83 شنیدم كه پس از سالها كه به میهن بازگشته بود آنجا را غریبه یافت و دوباره به سوی دریا بازگشت. نباید خود را گول بزنم: چه خود را در لسآنجلس جزیی از یك جامعهی "موفق" ایرانی امریكایی ببینم و نام این شهر را به "تهرانجلس" تغییر دهم، و چه خود را چون نادرپور شاعر غریبهای در "شیطانجلس" بینگارم، باز یك تبعیدی خواهم ماند. پس بهتر است كه به جای خودفریبی، هویت خود را بشناسم و آن را قدر بگذارم.
>>>
POETRY
گاه دیده ام نیشخند عقربه
در چهرهء صامت یک ساعت
گاه حس کرده ام خستگی کفش
در دویدنهای بیهوده، بی آهنگ
گاه فهمیده ام سایهء ماسیده به دیوار
در کلافگی ظهر یک خورشید
>>>
فیلم و عکس هایی زیبا از ایران آن روز
>>>
This guy, John Bolton, was one of the advocates of war with Iran and now he is claiming that war with Iran is not an option any more
>>>
Shahre Ziba (Beautiful City-2004 ) paints a realistic image of a society where many are trapped in the sets of religious beliefs
>>>