PASSION

Cordoba to Kurdistan via flamenco

"Asoudeh" establishes Nikpay as the rare artist with both scholarly pedigree and musical originality

10-Nov-2008 (2 comments)
Hamed Nikpay speaks Farsi the way he plays his music: rapid staccato syllables held together by slow melodic interludes. Maybe this is why he favors the setar when he speaks his heart. The instrument comes to life at the flick of the index finger over the strings, followed by a trilled sustain detailing the life of the tone. Nikpay’s new CD album, All Is Calm (Asoudeh) seems to follow the emotional biography of a young artist sparked to life by a devastating early romance whose lament still haunts him in the sustain. In the first track, Deceit, (Fareeb), he sings “You bestowed kisses from my lover’s lips to the other man.” I ducked the temptation to ask Nikpay who she was and what happened. Instead we chatted a little about the man who penned those lyrics >>>
Souri
10-Nov-2008 (13 comments)
ای معلم نام و هم یادت به خیر
یاد درس آب و بابایت به خیر
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uphill battle

News Goffer

Iran rights group protests at hanging of minors

Agence France Presse
recommended by News Goffer
10-Nov-2008 (2 comments)
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COOKERY

It's in the pot!

I seriously urge you to try the Irish stew

10-Nov-2008 (14 comments)
I took part in a UK based TV cookery show (The name of which, I sadly cannot repeat until it airs next year) But the idea is based on a group of strangers who each take turn to host and cook dinner for the group, often to hilarious and bitchy consequences. Each cook is scored for their efforts, by the other guests and the winner gets a prize at the end. It has a somewhat cult-status here in the UK and I can tell you that the whole process was a bizarre experience, indeed. A week of intense filming, Monday through Friday from 6pm-3am sometimes, leaves you absolutely exhausted as you have your normal day job to do also and so you are getting only 3 hours sleep each night! I wasn’t planning on even writing about this, but someone made me promise I would mention it… Although I did agree that only in the instance that I won, would I write about… and by some miracle I did actually win! >>>

STORY

The Italian Girl

If the coup had not succeeded, you would not be sitting in an American bar with a beautiful woman tonight

10-Nov-2008 (3 comments)
She was American really, but she became a little more Italian after each drink, not in terms of how she talked or acted, but in terms of how she wanted him to see her, and after their third round, he'd told her about how a lot of Iranians liked to think they looked like Italians, and he tried to tell her with the right combination of flirtatiousness and Western beauty standards critique. You don't have to lay your whole heart on the table in order to have a good time, he thought. Anyway there's no time when you lay your whole heart on the table, because that would suggest that you understand the whole thing. It was a very sound conclusion to reach after three gin-and-tonics. She was quiet for a moment and then she said, "I don't like the way they protest against Columbus when we have the Italian Day parade in North Beach.">>>
Darius Kadivar
10-Nov-2008 (3 comments)
Afghan Author Atiq Rahimi wins France's Top Literary Prize for first Novel written in French. >>>
Shorts
10-Nov-2008 (3 comments)
Orange County Health Care Agency has reported major violations at Caspian and Darya restaurants in southern California.>>>
Darius Kadivar
10-Nov-2008
‘Persepolis’ Vote Goes to Obama >>>

Peek-a-boos

Fred

Secret Order Lets U.S. Raid Al Qaeda in Many Countries

NY Times
recommended by Fred
10-Nov-2008
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Darius Kadivar
10-Nov-2008 (3 comments)
Reza Deghati French Iranian Photo Jourlalist publishes 100 photos for Freedom of Press. Available Online >>>
Orang Gholikhani
10-Nov-2008
سرخ پوست مغرور
نگاه انداخته به دور >>>
Schauleh Sahba
09-Nov-2008
In 1979, a group of students held hostage 52 Americans who worked in the embassy in Tehran. The event left a negative impression of Iran around the world and deeply wounded the American psyche. >>>

Only "W" Says Iraq is Quiet and Safe!

Baba

Iraq suicide bombing kills eight

bbc world news
recommended by Baba
09-Nov-2008
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Iranian Woman Co-Chair of Obama Transition Team

Baba

Obama positioned to reverse Bush actions

washingtonpost.com
recommended by Baba
09-Nov-2008 (2 comments)
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ebi amirhosseini
09-Nov-2008 (10 comments)
ارتباط ایزدبانوان با آب به عنوان مظهر باروری و تولد در کنار گیاه که نماد بر آمدن از خاک و زنده شدن است در اساطیر مورد توجه قرار گرفته است.... >>>