Marvelous Maz

“I’m Pehrzheean!” actor Maz Jobrani declares in one of his Axis of Evil stand up comedy routines. To find out how “Pehrzheean” Jobrani really is, I sent him an email asking if ever puts raw eggs on his rice. “What red-blooded Iranian doesn’t?” was his reply. Later I met Jobrani in person. He’d invited me to watch his performance at Punchline, the illustrious San Francisco comedy club that has also hosted Chris Rock, Ellen Degeneres, Dana Carvey, Margaret Cho, Dave Chapelle, Rosie O’Donnell, and Robin Williams. Afterwards, we met in a nearby pub. Jobrani was in a sprightly mood.>>>

He's back with us

I answered the phone and said hello and once I heard the first word I knew it. It was Ali himself calling me to let me know that he was back with his family. He sounded tired and did not want to talk to him for long. I told him I will call in a few days when is rested. I did not know how to react. I was happy that he is safe and sound and yet I was sad to see a gentile man such as Ali, spend four months of his life in prison not knowing what the charges are or what the future holds.>>>

The little red book of dreams

Still dark. A rope and torn nails. Emptiness beneath steps. I’m innocent. Stares. Faceless women in black. The early morning of a summer of burning suns. My father pushes the crowd. The crowd is pushing me. I slip through the legs, hips and shoulders to find a gap. I rise and don’t reach. I walk and don’t move. I sit on the dusty road. Nothing happens. I am bored. I look for the green pebbles or blue. I want to make a wall around me. Half sky, half forest. But the world has only grey pebbles.>>>

Natural ending

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چرخ بر پیچش های خیال

شاهرخ مشکین قلم دیگر به یک صاحب سبک در رقص تبدیل شده است. او با پیچ و تاب های تنیده شده در ضرب های موسیقی، حرکات نرم و چرخش های سماع گونه این قطعات را جان بخشید. کارین گونزالس بیشتر از حرکات فلامینگو و تپ دنس در رقص خود استفاده می کرد. این حرکات به زیبایی با ضرب های موسیقی ایرانی ترکیب شده بودند. او در نقش شیرین در قطعه "شیرین در خیال" حرکات ضربه ای فلامینگو را با چرخش و عشوه های صورت و حرکات چشم و ابرو در رقص ایرانی ترکیب کرد و نشان داد که رقصنده ای با تجربه و توانا است.>>>

Fine flicks

No ‘best’ lists can ever satisfy everyone. But Bernardo Bertolucci (The Last Emperor, Last Tango in Paris) forewords this best selection - where he muses about his discovery of ‘Kamerasutra’: the magic and sensuality of the moving camera! Moreover, it is 150 films, not the traditional 100. Perhaps that additional 50 allowed the inclusion of some Asian gems like Ozu’s ‘I Was Born, But…’; Guney’s ‘Yol’; Kiarostami’s ‘Close-Up’ (though many would have preferred Kiarostami’s sublime ‘Through The Olive Trees’); and Tian Z’s ‘Horse Thief’ >>>

The escape route

Iran's recent deal with the IAEA provides the best path out from diplomatic deadlock. Washington, however, seems set to miss another opportunity. Following intense negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced in late August a new work plan reached with Iran, aimed at resolving all outstanding issues in Iran's nuclear file by the end of the year. The agreement was branded as "a significant step forward" by the Agency's Director General, Dr Mohamed El-Baradei. It was also hailed as a move in the right direction by most of the 118 nations of the Non-Aligned Movement who have consistently recognised Iran's right to a nuclear energy program>>>

Point of emulation

Given the high office Ahmadinejad holds, he has free access to Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi and frequently seeks solace and guidance from him on religious as well as matters of the state. Furthermore, Yazdi often times serves the role of father figure, confidant, as well as therapist for Ahmadinejad. Recently, petrified by a vision, Yazdi rushed to Ahmadinejad for interpretation of the meaning of his vision and the course of action he should take. Below is a digest of what transpired between PAM and AMY.>>>

Cutting the rope

There are a few courageous campaigners who oppose the death penalty in Iran but the campaign to see capital punishment ended is hampered by the lack of freedom of speech in the country. Since the death penalty is a government policy, it is hard for individuals to speak out. This lack of debate causes many people to be ignorant of the truth behind the death penalty, including its lack of value as a deterrent to violent crime or its imposition against those persons innocent of any crime who have been wrongly convicted, to name just two examples. >>>

به بهانه اشاعه فرهنگ ایرانی!

جالب این است که این مراسم باز هم تحت عنوان اشاعه فرهنگ ایرانی برگزار میشود این جشنها و گردهمائی ها هم میتوانست موثر واقع شود اگر اشاعه بخش فرهنگ خردگرایانه ، انسانی ایرانیان در کنار رقص های زیبا با لباسهای مختلف و غذاها جلوه گر میشد. اما متاسفانه در این مراسم قسمت های با ارزش فرهنگ ما که تاکید بر همدلی انسانها ی مستقل از ملیت اشان دارد به نمایش گذاشته نمیشود.>>>

"Marg bar dictator"

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