Archive

The Dutch Connection

The recent De Telegraaf article ‘revealing’ the Dutch intelligence cooperation with the CIA is a propaganda piece aimed at undermining the credibility of the United Nations specialized agency, the IAEA, and its chief Mohammad ElBaradei’s findings on Iran’s peaceful civilian nuclear program. As importantly, it presents war as the solution to a non-existent threat. In an attempt to demoralize the Iranian people and undermine the resolve of the Iranian military forces, De Telegraaf would have the readers believe that the Dutch intelligence has been secretly operating inside Iran and has been sharing its findings with the CIA.>>>

The online dating story

Voice of America TV’s Persian service had broadcast a lengthy interview with Ahmad Batebi, 31, imprisoned by the Islamic Republic after the student demonstrations of July 1999. His face was splashed on the cover of The Economist. Search engines yielded no reports in English of Batebi’s release yet there he was on VOA, talking away about his experiences. I phoned Intelligent Life, the Economist’s sister title, an upmarket glossy, pitching the idea of an interview with Batebi. They weren’t interested. So I wrote to The Economist’s foreign editor: >>>

The Relevance of Socrates for Today

Socrates’ thinking and his life was characterized by doing philosophy and pursuing knowledge. For Socrates this meant questioning those who claimed to know something. This in turn generated a lot of enmity towards him and he was put on trial, convicted and sentenced to death for refusing to stop criticizing and discrediting those who had power and influence in Athens. I encourage anyone who does not know Socrates, his story and his ideas to at least read Plato’s Apology which is the account of his defense against the false charges which were brought against him and his justification for pursuing philosophy and living the kind of the life that he did>>>

شوهر ژاپني شيلا جون

خاطرات سفر به كاليفرنيا >>>

In India With Mr. S

We were truly an odd couple. A twenty-three year old, completely westernized Jewish college graduate accompanying a devout Moslem merchant from Ardebil with nothing on his mind but money. Or so I thought. Boarding the plane was like entering a different world. Beautiful stewardesses passed by, their long hair falling freely. Men and women were sitting next to each other, talking and laughing in public. It came as somewhat of a shock to the system. As soon as we sat down, one of the stewardesses came by to see if we wanted some refreshments. Mr. S turned to me. “Tell her I want a Scotch over ice.” I nearly choked but managed to give the hostess our order.>>>

یاغیم من, یاغیم دیگر

گوشه‌ای از شعر هوشنگ شفا >>>

یک ماه و نیم خونین

هیئت اصلی اعدام در تهران به حکم خمینی تشکیل شده بود و نفرهای اصلی و تصمیم‌گیرنده‌ی آن در زندان‌های اوین و گوهردشت مشترک بودند. اعضای هیئت اعدام در گوهردشت، تشکیل یافته از این افراد بود: ۱- حسینعلی نیری ۲- مرتضی اشراقی ۳- مصطفی پورمحمدی یا نماینده‌ی وزارت اطلاعات ۴- ابراهیم رئیسی ۵- اسماعیل شوشتری ۶- محمد مقیسه‌ای (ناصریان) ۷- داوود لشکری ۸- حمید نوری (عباسی). گاه در این هیئت علی مبشری جای حسینعلی نیری را در سمت قاضی شرع می‌گرفت. گفته می‌شد رامندی یکی از حکام شرع اوین نیز در بعضی از دادگاه شرکت کرده بود. دو نفر آخر بیش‌تر حکم شاکی و شاهد را داشتند و کارشان تلاش برای گرفتن حکم اعدام زندانی از اعضای این هیئت بود. کسانی که حق رأی داشتند و مستقیماً درباره‌ی اعدام و یا برخورد بیش‌تر با زندانی نظر می‌دادند، بنا به حکم خمینی عبارت بودند از: نیری، اشراقی و نماینده‌ی وزارت اطلاعات. >>>

زربفت دورنگ

شیمل در تشبیه شعر پارسی به فرش می گوید: "غزل با تصویر پردازیهای بی شمارش که فقط با قافیه به هم پیوند یافته اند، یادآور قالیچه های بسیار ظریف ایرانی است با طرح باغ که باید به تصاویر، گلها و سایر تزئیناتش در مقابل زمینه ای وسیعتر نظر انداخت. گرچه هر یک از آنها با معنی است امّا کلّ زیبائی آن هنوز بیشتر از زیبائی تک تک اجزاء آ ن است." شیمل همچنین شعر پارسی را به کاشی های رنگارنگ مساجد ایرانی تشبیه می کند و می گوید همانگونه که کاشیها در هر ساعت از روز دگرگون می نمایند و غالباً در برکه های کوچک آب منعکس می شوند که باز هم انعکاس رنگشان در آب متفاوت از رنگ آنها در خارج از آب است، بهمان سان خواننده باید که به اشعار هم در حالتهای روحی مختلف و زمانهای مختلف از زندگی نظر اندازد تا شاید بتواند منظور نهفتۀ آن را در یابد. >>>

The New Iranian Flag (V-ranian)

Paint shop Pro, Paint shop, It,s no Andy Warhole but will do for now! >>>

Iran - The Node

Iran Can Provide “Crucial Connectivity” between 50%+ of the world’s Economy (GDP i.e. Economic Blocks EU/India/China/Arabia/ Russia)…soon to be 67% of the World's economy!>>>

Ayatollah - A New Concept

The title `Ayatollah` is a creation of Iran’s democratic movement! How Ironic? >>>

US Sanctions – A Privilege for Iran

Many nations (large and small) seem to get by very well without any direct economic ties with the US. >>>

Iranians Need Azerbaijan’s Liberation

If we want to bring freedom to Iran, I submit that we need to work towards gaining freedom in Azerbaijan first; with an end run of getting Azeri’s oil industry nationalized and the British kicked out of the region.>>>