Life

Simple truth

There’s a reason why we learn math. It’s not just to know how to do basic arithmetic or calculating the speed of train A and train B. Mathematics is important to us on a much deeper level. Philosophically speaking, math can explain the building blocks of existence and giving us the answers to the questions that we seek. Like what is the meaning of life? Yet being apart of the answer to those problems is essential to what we are without realizing it. Being an Architecture student, I’ve taken into account how many structures, objects and things can be broken down into simple shapes that are much simpler than their complexity portrays>>>

Breakfast at Gracie Mansion

Monday morning I had the great honor of meeting personally with New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, on the occasion of the old and traditional Norooz celebration at his official residence at Gracie Mansion. I had met him before; however, this morning was a turning point in my judgment of him as he proved to be a practical and a no non-sense human being, not just a politician. Himself a descendant of an immigrant family, he demonstrated many understandings the communities are going through now. But first, allow me to convey to you his message of great contribution of immigrants, including Iranians, to the New York City community>>>

Four more weeks

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«قانون جرایم رایانه‌ای»

در هفته‌های اخیر موج وسیعی از سركوب وبلاگ‌نویسان به راه افتاده است. در روزهای آخر سال گذشته، اطلاعیه شدید اللحنی از سوی «مرکز بررسی جرائم سازمان یافته اینترنتی» وابسته به سپاه پاسداران منتشر شد كه از برخورد سازمان یافته و با بهره‌گیری از پیش‌رفته‌ترین فن‌آوری‌ها برای كنترل نشر اینترنتی حكایت می‌كرد. در این اطلاعیه گفته شده بود كه ده‌ها سایت و وبلاگ «ضد دینی» و «ضد اخلاقی» بسته شده و ۱۸ نفر بازداشت شده‌اند. در همان روزها خبر فوت مشكوك وبلاگ‌نویس امیررضا میر صیافی در زندان اوین منتشر شد و گزارش‌های بعدی شائبه قتل او در زندان را تقویت كرد. و اكنون «معاونت مبارزه با جرایم خاص و رایانه ای» در نیروی انتظامی، وبلاگ ‌نویسان را با ارسال یك «هشدار» بی‌سابقه مورد تهدید قرار داده است>>>

Literary tranquilizers

I have coined this title for referring to my collection of the most potent, popular, brief and soothing words of wit and wisdom mainly Persian. My aim is to provide an alternative for ever-increasing trend in substance abuse or myriad of over-the counter or prescribed pills that are popped daily to cope with increasing stressful conditions associated with our 'modern' technological age. The greatest advantage of literary tranquilizers are their virtually no cost and lack of side effects provided that one gets addicted to them and loves them. Resorting to these should beat all other devastating addictions >>>

Puzzle of Persia

During the post revolutionary period of 1979-82, after fighting and eliminating most of the internal opposition; ayatollah Khomeini and his allied clergies established their Islamist tyranny over the entire Iranian political, military, financial, judicial, and cultural affairs. Since then, a puzzling Persian theocracy has plagued the Middle Eastern politics and become a prime source of emulation and support for most militant Islamists. To consolidate their tyranny, lucrative industries, banks and major companies were confiscated and controlled by the Islamist instruments (Bonyads). The Iranian military was purged and then subjugated to the constant oversight and scrutiny of the Revolutionary Guards>>>

کدام زرتشت؟

فرارسيدن ششم فروردين، زادروز خيالی (تصوری، قراردادی اما بجا و مفيد و خجسته) ی زرتشت، يکی از شخصيت های افسانه ای شده و جهانگير ايرانزمين، فرصتی يگانه را برای پرداختن به برخی از نکات قابل بررسی فراهم می سازد که من نيز می خواهم مقالهء اين هفته ام را به چند نظر گذرا در همين زمينه اختصاص دهم؛ بی آنکه مدعی باشم «زرتشت شناس» ام و نيز بی آنکه قصدم طرح مسائل مربوط به نوانديشی های مذهبی باشد. پس، آنچه که مطرح می کنم صرفاً نگاهی است پديدارشناسانه و جامعه شناختی به آنچه که می توان «معمای زرتشت» خواند ـ «معما» بدان خاطر که دربارهء اين چهرهء تاريخی / افسانه ای که حدود 3500 سال پيش در خراسان بزرگ می زيسته (و من نيز با آنها که معتقدند «مزار شريف» در افغانستان آرامگاه اوست هم عقيده هستم) حرف ها و حديث های گوناگون و متضادی مطرح می شود.>>>

Namâd

Namâd Ensemble is once again touring, delivering commendable performances at each venue. If you are already familiar with them, you understand what makes them worthy of praise. If, these musicians are unknown to you, however, you may wonder what genre their music falls under and what exactly sets them apart. Mentioning that these five men collectively play Tombak, Frame Drums, Daf, Udu, Kamanche, Queychak, Setar and Shourangiz, may automatically invoke images of a traditional Iranian group; but Namâd is more than that. Before we jump to labels, perhaps we should pause to consider that while a performance is a transitory experience for the audience, for the musicians it is the culmination of months and years of struggle to render the extract of their essence into the language of composition>>>

Way to Beg, lady

There is this lady who begs almost everyday near my workplace. I first noticed her more than couple years ago. What made her stand out from all the other beggars is how she went about asking for money. She said something to the effect that whether people wanted to help her with her goal of making some amount of dollars. I forgot the number of dollars she mentioned but what was interesting to me was how she talked about her goal and somehow made her begging a little bit higher class than all the others. She had a goal and was working towards it and here was passersby’ chance to help her achieve her goal>>>

ماندگاری شايسته ترين

چرا؟ راستی چرا؟ چرا به هر بهانه و به هر دليلی که برای مردم آورده می شود آنها بی اعتنا به اهداف حکومت نوروز را به عنوان «بزرگترين عيد» ايرانيان گرامی می دارند. حکومت برای برگزاری هر کدام از جشن های مذهبی، از تولد پيامبر اسلام گرفته تا عيد غدير و فطر و قربان، ميليون ها خرج می کند، راديو ـ تلويزيون هايش صبح تا شب در بوق و کرنا می دمند و کسبه وادار می شوند تا به رقابت با يکديگر در و ديوار را چراغانی کنند. اما همين حکومت برای عيد نوروز هيچ کاری صورت نمی دهد و فقط دنبال يک شهادت و مرگ و مير مذهبی است تا بتواند عيش مردم را تعطيل کند. اما، هر سال، با پيچيدن بوی بهار در سينه های ايرانيان، مردمان اين عيد را با شکوه گسترده و بيشتری گرامی می دارند و آیین های آن را مفصل تر از گذشته بجای می آورند>>>

Bad start

Mr. President, Leaders in the Islamic republic denounce everything that has to do with Iranian origin, as the name suggest it is an Islamic regime which identify itself with the Islamic ideals. I have full understanding that you do not pursue the happiness of the Iranian people nor do you care about human right violations under this barbaric regime. Your job is to secure American interest and how much you are willing to appease a terrorist regime is for you to decide. When looking to establish a connection with the regime you should use the Islamic path by quoting from Quran during an Islamic holiday. >>>

I'll call it NOWRUZ, if you call him OWBAWMO

One of the signs that the new year is upon us, is the continued debate surrounding the Yarshater camp (more on that later) spelling of NOWRUZ. And every year it seems, someone brings me flawed data to support this aberration and attempt to amend common English phonetic rules. Now don't get me wrong. Here's my point:
- I am in no way suggesting you must spell it my way or that I even have a "way".
- I say that NOWRUZ isn't as successful a spelling as is possible.
- I do not think we need to have one correct spelling. Just look at Hannukah >>>

Long night

I went to a party one night. The subject of my dress soon prevailed in the small circle of people around me and I told them I have a wonderful tailor in Tehran. But I added the fact that I had a problem finding jackets here because all the jackets I saw had defective collars. Sharif volunteered by saying he agreed and even jackets that were made for men didn't have good collars. I found myself talking to him for a few minutes and I noticed he was shying away from making eye contact with me. He told me he was in Tehran for a few days and had to get back to Dezful very soon. I realized it could be a new harmless partner who would go back to his normal life and wouldn't bother me in the future>>>