The Iranian Times

Wednesday, January 12, 2000 / Dey 22, 1378, No. 884


NamehNegar Persian word processor

Sehaty Foreign Exchange

Flower delivery in Iran

Iranian books


    Khayyam


Multicultural

Most polite people in the world
An outsider's perspective

By Gordy Guillen
January 12, 2000
The Iranian

One evening, about a year and a half ago, my cousin and I decided to go to a Mexican restaurant to have dinner. Little did I know that that evening was going to be the start of a wonderful relationship, as cheesy as that may sound.

As we sat down for dinner, I noticed this beautiful, olive-skin woman who immediately caught my eye. Her long, onyx hair flowed like a brook along side a snow capped mountain. Her eyes emanated sensuality and caring. I had to meet this woman who sat two booths down from me. She was with her overprotective, proud father. I knew by the look in his eye not to come anywhere near their table. Luckily they both came in separate cars >>> GO TO FEATURE

Art

Things I like
Images from down under

Drawings by Ali "Allen" Niasari
January 12, 2000
The Iranian

I was born November 8, 1985, in Tehran. We came to Australia when I was five and since then, we have stayed here. I live with my mother and sister in Brisbane, the capital city for Queensland state. I like to draw things that I like >>> GO TO FEATURE


Outlook

Goal of the century?

Football Asia
January 2000

Hamid Reza Estili didn't just score a goal when he found the net against the United States, he Changed the way his nation fell about itself and etched himself a permanent place in Iranian history. Adel Ferdosipour talked to the man who sent the Iranians down the road towards triumph over "The Great Satan" and their first World Cup victory >>> FULL TEXT


    Anyway

Nazila

Nazila Alasti, Miss Iran finalist in 1978, is presently Nazila marketing vice president for eCircles. She recently served as Vice President of Marketing for Docent, Inc., a software company that specializes in Web-based training and applications ... HERE'S MORE

Thanks to Payman Arabshahi


More Letters

* Tacky, sexist

Gelareh Asayesh writes: Your "Bucket of Hilary" item [Anyway section of The Iranian Times, Tuesday Jan 11] had under it a note that said "Thanks to ..." I fail to see what there is to be thankful for, either to the person submitting this item, or your publication in choosing to print it.

The same issue that refers to one woman's "small breasts and large thighs," included a letter that described the last sighting of a Miss Iran candidate and informed readers that (Thank God!), she is "still attractive."

I read The Iranian to stay up-to-date about events in Iran, and to experience the ideas and emotions of fellow Iranian expatriates. I'm not interested in reading about how women's bodies measure up, or fail to measure up, to beauty ideals.

Usually when I read The Iranian I find it informative and intellectually stimulating. With this issue, I wasn't sure if I'd stumbled across a fraternity party or a "dowreh" where a woman's weight and how "shekasteh" she's become or not; are debated over tea.

This was tacky. This was puerile. This was sexist. This was not up to your usual standards.

* Fair-minded

Sahba Sobhani writes: I am a young Iranian who has never visited Iran. I was born in Africa. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful magazine because of your fair-mindness and willingness to tackle issues.

I especially want to thank you for choosing Abdul-Baha, the son of the founder of the Bahai faith, among your Iranians of the century. It is only when we learn to respect each other's beliefs that we can as Iranians enter a new century where peace and harmony reigns.

EDITOR: The choices made for the Iranian of the century were all made by readers, not The Iranian magazine.

* Impressed

Yasaman writes: I was impressed and proud when my fellow Iranians recognized the very notable Iranian, Abdul-Baha ["Iranians of the century"]. His contribitions, love, and service to all Iranians as members of a world family really raised the worth and greatness of our wonderful mother country, Iran. Although there is great hesitation in admitance of this, Abdul-Baha lived his life in the true Iranian spirit. Thank you very much.

* Too paranoid

Ramin Tabib writes: I couldn't pass on the opportunity to reply to the man who thought me a new word: Asinine ["Mithraic roots of Christianity"]! Mr. Salardini I presume was so infuriated by me lack of sensible respect for Persia and anything that proves our supremacy that he rushed to my condemnation without carefully reading the few words I had put down.

Let me reply to some of his reasons for calling me asinine (and I love this word!).

Mr. Salardini starts with: "The roots of Christmas in Mithraism is well known and not subject to much debate." Well, not until you have me around. That is the whole point of this forum: to debate >>> FULL TEXT


* Soccer: Color coordinate at Iran-U.S. match

Be prepared before you go to the soccer match between Iran and the U.S. this Sunday. Follow the color assignment below. One section will be green, the one next to it white, and the one next to that red. If we do this around the stadium we will have the flag of Iran displayed just by sitting there >>> DETAILS HERE

SELL TICKETS ONLINE AT YOUR SITE


Books of the Week

* Saaniyeh-yeh aakhar (1999)
Y2K issues in Iran
By Dr. Ali Parandeh

* Barandeh-haa ham baazandeh-and (1999)
A memoir by a former mayor of Tehran, with photos
By Ahmad Nafisi

* Jazireh sargardaani (2nd edition, 1998)
Novel
By Simin Daneshvar

* Mumia va assal (1996)
Novel
By Shahriar Mandanipour

* Mehr-e giaah (1998)
Novel
ByAmir Hassan Cheheltan

See more Iranian books for sale

THE IRANIAN
Bookstore


Video of the Week

Through the olive trees

This is Abbas Kiarostami's most romantic film (English subtitles). It is the third part of a trilogy set in northern Iran. For other Kiarostami videos, click here.

THE IRANIAN
Video Store



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More news

Jailed Iran students begin hunger strike - paper

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Several Iranian students jailed for their alleged role in widespread unrest in July have gone on hunger strike, a newspaper reported on Wednesday. Among the strikers is 22-year-old Ahmad Batebi, sentenced to 10 years in prison for engaging in propaganda against the state, the reformist Sobh-e Emrouz newspaper said >>> FULL TEXT

Vetting body's rejections of candidates not yet final

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (AFP) - Would-be candidates for next month's parliamentary elections who have been rejected by the vetting body which has to approve all names, can have their cases reconsidered, the head of the interior ministry's election office said Wednesday. The rejections are not "definitive," and have not yet been officially notified to the ministry, Djavad Ghadimi-Zakeri told the official IRNA news agency. Cases can be reexamined up to January 28, he said >>> FULL TEXT

Brother of Ayatollah Khamenei condemns rejection of poll candidates

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (AFP) - The brother of Iran's supreme leader has condemned the wholesale rejection of reformist candidates for next month's elections by a vetting body dominated by conservatives, press reports said Wednesday. "The way in which the candidates were rejected, and the consequences, are illegal," Hojatoleslam Hadi Khamenei was quoted as telling students at Tehran's Khajeh Nasireddin Tusi university >>> FULL TEXT

Conservatives name Rafsanjani to head electoral list

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (AFP) - Iran's conservatives decided Wednesday to put former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani at the head of their Tehran list of candidates in next month's elections, one of their leading spokesman said. The agreement of Rafsanjani, who has said he will stand as an independent and enjoys the support of many reformists and moderates, is not required >>> FULL TEXT

Conservative says economy key issue in poll

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (Reuters) - A leading Iranian conservative urged his allies on Wednesday to focus on economic and social realities in next month's general election as he rallied support for a ticket led by former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. ``The people are not interested in political disputes,'' said Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, spokesman of a newly formed alliance of a dozen conservative groups to contest the elections >>> FULL TEXT

Intelligence chief backs democratic elections

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Iran's powerful intelligence chief has said the people, not the secret service, should assess candidates for next month's parliamentary elections and determine the fate of the nation. Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi, appointed last February in the wake of the ``mystery murders'' of dissidents by rogue agents, told Entekhab newspaper his agency had exercised unprecedented restraint in vetting candidates for the February 18 poll >>> FULL TEXT

Australia refuses visa to Iranian porn actress

SYDNEY, Jan 12 (Reuters) - An Iranian woman who appeared in soft-porn movies was refused an Australian protection visa on Wednesday despite her fears of persecution in Iran because of roles in X-rated movies. The Australian Associated Press (AAP) national news agency reported that Fatemeh Moradgholi, 42 >>> FULL TEXT

Iran and Turkey agree to delay in gas deliveries

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (AFP) - Iran has agreed to delay its gas deliveries to Turkey until September 2001 because the Turks are not ready, the official news agency IRNA quoted Iran's deputy oil minister Hamdollah Mohammad-Nejad as saying Wednesday. But Mohammad-Nejad, who is also head of the Iranian National Gas Corporation (NIGC), told a press conference that Ankara would have to pay compensation for the hold-up >>> FULL TEXT

Iran says gas output at record 200 mcm a day

TEHRAN, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Iran, which has the world's second largest natural gas reserves, said on Wednesday it was producing a record 200 million cubic metres (seven billion cubic feet) of gas a day. Hamdollah Mohammad-Nejad, head of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), said the output was reached after a 250-km (150 mile) gas pipeline came onstream 10 days ago, linking Kangan on the Gulf coast to southern Fars province >>> FULL TEXT


Kimiaie collaborator?

Tehran (Mosharekat) - Film director Masoud Kimiaie is being accused of being Iran's version of Elia Kazan, the Turkish-American director who provided names of alleged communists in Hollywood during the McCarthy era. This columnist defends Kimiaie >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Nominations

Tehran (Mosharekat) - So far ten Iranian films in the competition category of the Fajr film festival have been nominated >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

French

Tehran (Iran daily) - Short and documentary films made by French directors will be shown for a week in Tehran >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Feel at home

Tehran (Iran daily) - The large Iranian community in California will make Iranian national soccer players feel at home -- especially in Sunday's game against the U.S. >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Mohajerani

Tehran (Hamshahri) - Heshmat Mohajerani, Iran's head coach in World Cup 78, is returning to Iran for the first time in 20 years. He wants to open a soccer academy and >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN


BBC

Persian Service

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The Web

Iran

Ghods Gasht Travel

Tour packages to Iran (no mention of rates?). Informative and nicely designed.

Beyond Iran

American Mile Markers

From Kodak comes an elegantly-mapped cross-country photo odyssey, 3,304-mile journey from New York to San Francisco.

More web sites


Quote Unquote

Real danger

The ill effect of decreased public participation is much greater than the effect of the presence of certain people in parliament. Not paying attention to the people is very dangerous.

-- Ali Younesi, Intelligenence Minister
Reuters
January 12, 2000


Photo of the Day

Goal of the century


Music

Musician of the Week

Anoush Khazeni

Music artists index