HOPE

Three Kings

Were the Magi looking for a suitable rebel leader?

20-Dec-2007 (26 comments)
I watched the PBS documentary on the three kings and their travels to Bethlehem. Although well presented, it is interesting to note how much one's perspective, in this case the Christian world view, clouds the lens. Before I start, let me assure you that in no way I'm making parallels to the current situation, countries or people. These events occurred when the world was a different place altogether. That the travelers came from Persia, that they were Zoroastrian Magi following a dream interpretation, conjectured the astrological heavens and brought gifts is straightforward. But the historical setting was touched upon gently. The impression that these priests were acting on their own or at least in isolation, however, is not plausible.>>>

SUPERSTITION

مسالهء خرافات

پیرامون اظهارات آیت الله مکارم شیرازی دربارهء گفتمانهای شیعی-بهائی

20-Dec-2007 (58 comments)
باید پرسید که چرا مخالفان دین بهائی که مقام و قدرت و منبر و رزق یومی خود را در خطر می دیدند دست به دامن نقد چپ شدند و از آن زاویه به دین بهائی حمله کردند. البته دلیل آن آشکار است و چاره ای دیگر نیز نداشتند. بهائی ستیزان شیعه چون در بحثهای پایه و فلسفه دین و آموزه های اجتماعی کم آوردند و بی پایی آنان برای خودشان آشکار شده بود ناچار به دست آویزی الهام گرفته از چپ به عنوان آخرین راه نجات خود دل بستند. از این رو بود که گندم نماهای جو فروش با تقلید از آن نقدها کوشیدند مردم را از آموزه های بهائی که راهکارهای اساسی برای زنده کردن ایران و پاک کردن آن از لوث خرافات مطرح می کرد دور نگاه دارند. >>>

AUTHOR

Wanting more out of life

A conversation with Massud Alemi, author of "Interruptions"

20-Dec-2007
The novel takes place in revolutionary times, in fact about a couple of years after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. It was the time that major aspects of the society underwent pretty drastic transformations. Attacks on basic freedoms of the people had already started and the mere audacity of the regime to go places that no other dictatorship had gone before (to borrow from Star Trek) had created a funny and ironic situation. People couldn't believe that not only were they not getting the things for which they had fought so hard, but they were losing some of the things that they had pretty much taken for granted for such a long time. That gave people sort of that deer caught in the headlights look. It was the time of major interruptions in the people's lives>>>

NEW

Interruptions

Debut novel

20-Dec-2007
Farzin Rouhani would remember the last day of spring 1981 as the first time reality warped. He would recall that Tehran’s air was so hot and immobile a dropped feather fell like a rock. By then he had developed the habit of going over to see Bijan in his apartment halfway across town. Farzin had the route memorized by then. Turn the corner from Vali-e Asr onto Shaheed Beheshti Avenue, and he would be but five blocks away from wicked bliss. Only on June 20, 1981, the baking street indulged more people than usual, and the sun staked sharp streaks of pain into his skull. The heat was treacherous, dry, and scorching. >>>

NOVEL

PandaHeat

Excerpt from "Alethophobia"

20-Dec-2007 (2 comments)
Stepping out of the shower and drying, I stare at my nakedness in the steamy mirror and admit with a shy but satisfied smile: Pirooz, you were a dirty old man when you were born, and you will be a naughty boy when you die. I have always been a victim of my passions, not only the passion of my loins, mind you, but also the passion of my mind. From my untimely pre-pubescent erection in the women's bathhouse in my native Tehran, when I was just five years old -- I will tell you about that later --to my current basketful of predicaments here at Ohio Eastern, where I have landed as a Professor of Political Economy. >>>
SCE Campaign
20-Dec-2007
EU Presidency Statement on the imminent executions of Mohammad Latif, Ali Mahin Torabi and Hossein Haghi >>>
Mohammad Ilyas
20-Dec-2007

جهانگیری

 

>>>
bahmani
19-Dec-2007 (one comment)
And then there are the blessed crazies!>>>
Shaer
19-Dec-2007

"Self Explanatory".

>>>
sima
19-Dec-2007 (one comment)
Here is a great opportunity to show your photos or films and be part of an interesting and worthy effort. >>>

ART

Loss of identity

Loss of identity

Photography

by Sadegh Tirafkan
19-Dec-2007 (10 comments)

>>>

Faramarz_Fateh
19-Dec-2007 (20 comments)
What the fuck is these people's problem?! Did Mousa Kazem (the 7th Imam) ban wearing of boots over pants? Who the hell came up with this idea? >>>

SATIRE

گفتگوی حسین درخشان با کیهان خیالی

حسین درخشان: جلد دوّم کتاب «ناتوی فرهنگی» را من برای کیهان خواهم نوشت

19-Dec-2007 (one comment)
حسین، جواني است پرنشاط و کلّه شق، سخت كوش، غیر فداكار و غیر وفادار ولی کمی باهوش... از دوران بچّگی در مکتبخانهء نیکان در جوار فرزندان بزرگان نظام پرورش یافت و آیت الله ... در نخستین فراش، برایش صیغه عقد جاری کرد، امّا بدلیل همان نا پختگی های جوانی، غیر وفاداری و کلّه شقی مفرط، دل از دامان اسلام برید و به آغوش باز فرهنگ غرب رفت؛ حسین درخشان نویسنده جلد دوّم کتاب «ناتوی فرهنگی» قرار است به جمع ما در کیهان بپیوندد، از نبوغ و هوش او در این فضای مجازی کسی نیست که چیزی نداند>>>

POETRY

I am  going to break these walls
19-Dec-2007 (2 comments)

I am going to break these walls
I am going to be the fuel of fire
Watch me dancing seductively
I am the flame of a wild burning candle
These nights are begging…
Begging for my heat

These long kept emotions are begging
Begging for me to set them free
>>>

LA-ABAD

Me and Persian businesses

If you are a psychologist or anthropologist perhaps you can give me your take

18-Dec-2007 (23 comments)
Persian culture has never ceased to surprise me. Ever since I came to Los Angeles, the number of such cases has increased exponentially!!! And so has been the fun of ever increasing shock! When I first came to Los Angeles, I learned that Iranians are an integral part of the business in the society. Any normal person would think:” Oh wonderful! I'm sure people of my land are more sympathetic, as we experience the same feelings in exile.“ Alas I was so damned wrong! I don’t want to bore you by going through the details of my unfortunate events with Iranian-based businesses, so I confine myself to the world of beautification.>>>