ELECTIONS
مشکل اصلاحطلبان با انتخابات آزاد
وقتی آقای خاتمی و اصلاحطلبان بر انتخابات آزاد انگشت میگذارند و آن را شرط شرکت در رأیگیری آینده میدانند نمیتوان به آنان خردهای گرفت. مشکل، اما، از آنجا آغاز میشود که ببینیم آنان از «انتخابات آزاد» چه معنایی را اراده میکنند. آیا منظور آنان از این تعبیر همان مفهوم صریح و بدون قید و شرطی است که در بند بالا از آن سخن رفت یا منظور آنان چیز دیگری است که در زرورق عبارت «انتخابات آزاد» پیچیده شده است؟
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BOOK
Excerpt from upcoming book
After two rounds—twenty-six bullets—the barrage ceased. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Of the eight guests, everyone had stooped or fallen, except one. The eldest guest was still in his chair, head slumped, blood tinting his white shirt, blending with the busy pattern of his tie. Another victim was doubled over, breathing noisily, gasping for air. His face was smashed into a mug of beer. The golden liquid was slowly darkening
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MUSICIAN
Gifted Farzin Farhadi teams up with talented Shahrzad Sepanlou
With its level of sophistication, Shahrzad Sepanlou’s songs can no longer be classified as pop. In fact they don’t quite sound pop because the approach places a heavier burden on the composer than ordinary pop. There will be many places where formula fails, and the composer must have the skill to invent reassuringly so that the easy listener is not too strained by the novelty. I spoke briefly with Sepanlou’s composer and arranger, Farzin Farhadi about the challenges of Sepanlou’s style
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FRIEND
Maryam Afshar created a paradise for abused creatures
The ancient Persians believed that one could catch a glimpse of paradise in the eyes of a dog. Their contemporary descendents by and large no longer hold this view, far from it. Man’s best friend does not have it easy in Iran: dogs are feared, beaten, merely chased away when they are lucky, and occasionally poisoned. One person who did not share this cynophobia was Maryam Afshar, who died exactly a year ago and whom I had the privilege of calling a friend
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TOP TEN REASON WE SHOULD INVADE IRAN
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POETRY
آیا شرقی ها خواسته اند که
در دامان پرمحبّت زمینِ مادر
زندگی آرامی داشته باشند
و غربی ها تنها از
دامن او خوراک
طلب کرده اند؟
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مشروعیت سوگلی و طاغوت و باطل
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