NUMBERS
There’s a reason why we learn math. It’s not just to know how to do basic arithmetic or calculating the speed of train A and train B. Mathematics is important to us on a much deeper level. Philosophically speaking, math can explain the building blocks of existence and giving us the answers to the questions that we seek. Like what is the meaning of life? Yet being apart of the answer to those problems is essential to what we are without realizing it. Being an Architecture student, I’ve taken into account how many structures, objects and things can be broken down into simple shapes that are much simpler than their complexity portrays
>>>
NOROOZ
New Year meeting with New York City's mayor
Monday morning I had the great honor of meeting personally with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, on the occasion of the old and traditional Norooz celebration at his official residence at Gracie Mansion. I had met him before; however, this morning was a turning point in my judgment of him as he proved to be a practical and a no non-sense human being, not just a politician. Himself a descendant of an immigrant family, he demonstrated many understandings the communities are going through now. But first, allow me to convey to you his message of great contribution of immigrants, including Iranians, to the New York City community
>>>
PROSE
نوشتن برای خبری است که در لابلای ورق خوردن کاغذهاست . کاغذها مانع خبرها هم هستند. کاغذها پیامشان را پنهان می کنند تا نوشته شود و ماندگار بماند و در گیرو دارو هرج و مرج ، در انفجارها و خرابی ها ، در تمام آبادیها و تمدنیا ، در حفره ها عمیق و سطحی ، تنها کاغذها باشند که پیام را می برند. وقتی باد پاییزی در پیچ کوچه و خیابان مارپیچ می تازد کاغذ ها در برابرت از زمین برمی خیزند و تا سطح بی اعتنایی سقف ماشینها پر می کشند. این باد بادآورده برگهای خشک پاییز را در بی خبری به هوا می برد و کاغذها همراهشان در باد می خرامند. و بی آنکه بخواهند با خبرهاشان برمی خیزند و همراه با باد بی آنکه بخوانیشان از راه می رسند و به پنجره های بسته پناه می بردند
>>>
POETRY
It's been a while
since your beliefs are gone,
since this apathy
made you spend your way
to your last home,
a refugee, now in heaven
now in hell
>>>
TRAVELER
Photo essay: An American's journey in Iran
by
Jake Jacobson >>>
CELEBRATION
photo essay: 5th annual Persian Parade
by
javad fakharzadeh >>>
TALKS
The Iran-U.S. rapprochement dance
The Obama administration's recent overtures for a reconciliation with Iran have come in the form of sweet talk of opening up of fisted hands, accompanied with a quotation from the wily and clever Sa'di, one of our more popular poets (1184-1283?). The initial Iranian responses to these Obama overtures are starting to resemble the coy Iranian bride's ladylike silence upon first being asked if she would take the man. Initial reactions from the Iranian government were predictable rebukes and denunciations to the effect that nothing has changed in reality, that the Americans should draw some lessons from their past and present behavior if they really want better relations with Iran
>>>
ELECTIONS
Tehran Mayor Ghalibaf resigns, then withdraws resignation
Sometimes news takes time to get out of Iran - particularly when it comes to internal strife in the upper political echelons. But eventually, major clashes leak out. This week the news emerged that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the mayor of Tehran and Ahmadinejad's main rival in the Osulgarayn (Principalist) movement, resigned from his post just before the end of the previous Persian calendar year - approximately March 18 or 19. A number of days later, he was reinstated to his job after his resignation was rejected by senior officials, most likely the supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei.
>>>
HYPOCRISY
Are we programmed to forgive our own tormentors and only raise our voices against “outsiders”?
Whenever the victim(s) is Muslim and the aggressor not, the probability of Muslim outrage is exponentially far greater than when both are Muslims. When there is a role reversal that is the aggressor is Muslim and victim is not this observation does not hold. For example lets take the case of the eight year war the late Saddam Hussein started and imposed on Iran. Although no reliable statistics exists, the number of victims are put at anywhere between one to two million. That is one to two million victims with zest for life, beloved families and unfulfilled dreams who overwhelmingly were Muslim
>>>
BLOGGERS
سركوب وبلاگنویسان گسترش مییابد
در هفتههای اخیر موج وسیعی از سركوب وبلاگنویسان به راه افتاده است. در روزهای آخر سال گذشته، اطلاعیه شدید اللحنی از سوی «مرکز بررسی جرائم سازمان یافته اینترنتی» وابسته به سپاه پاسداران منتشر شد كه از برخورد سازمان یافته و با بهرهگیری از پیشرفتهترین فنآوریها برای كنترل نشر اینترنتی حكایت میكرد. در این اطلاعیه گفته شده بود كه دهها سایت و وبلاگ «ضد دینی» و «ضد اخلاقی» بسته شده و ۱۸ نفر بازداشت شدهاند. در همان روزها خبر فوت مشكوك وبلاگنویس امیررضا میر صیافی در زندان اوین منتشر شد و گزارشهای بعدی شائبه قتل او در زندان را تقویت كرد. و اكنون «معاونت مبارزه با جرایم خاص و رایانه ای» در نیروی انتظامی، وبلاگ نویسان را با ارسال یك «هشدار» بیسابقه مورد تهدید قرار داده است
>>>
POETRY
I am on a train.
Heading towards London.
In between two worlds,
my head bouncing against the Window.
The train reaches Kings Cross station,
I zigzag the crowd,
a sea of rushing suites,
and in my empty seat,
a half read newspaper
>>>
PARADE
Photo essay: Norooz street festival
by
Ali Ameri >>>
NOROOZ
Photo essay: Thousands of Iranians gather in Westwood, Los Angeles
by Mojgan & Mehrdad
>>>
TALKS
On Nowruz, the day when Iranians celebrate the coming of spring and the new Iranian calendar year, US President Barack Obama took the helm of American foreign policy towards Iran and dramatically communicated his will to chart a new course away from the failed policies of the past. "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us", Obama said in a video message to Iranians. But given the upcoming Iranian presidential elections in June, the real challenge for the United States is when and how to further engage Iran. Obama understands that there are vast areas of convergence between the United States and Iran when it comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, and many more areas where constructive engagement could produce tangible results for both sides
>>>