Alborz

It is not that there is nothing to write about... It is just too great to write about
I love these mountains...

Vincent Bugliosi

I just finished reading this book and I can say I liked it very much. Not just because of the way Vincent Bugliosi thinks about the horrible Murderer Georg W. Bush but also because of the facts he describes about the USA:

Page 323:
"I know it has been inculcated in us that America is the greatest nation in the world. One of the cliches that Americans unconsciously embrace is that Americans are free, that we have freedom in America. We utter it with our thinking. But when you stop and think about it for a moment, the cliche lacks merit, not because it is nature, but because of what it implies-that the people of other nations are not free. After all, if we are just one of the hundred nations that are free, what is there to brag about or even mention?...
...There are some nations in the world where the people are not free, but aren't they in the decided minority?"

Fereydoon Moshiri's Kooche by Darya Dadvar

Here is another attempt to play Fereydoon Moshiri's "Kooche" this time by Darya Dadvar:
http://www.daryadadvar.com/Darya-Video/Kooche-Moshiri-Koocheh.html
I think this poem is lovely but I am not exactly sure what is in this poem that no music so far could be a real good match for it. I believe the poem itself is stronger than any music.

I also share my attempt for this poem (year 1999 - played today):
Kooche.mp3

Here is the lyrics in Persian:

کوچه
اثر: فريدون مشيری
بی تو مهتاب شبی از آن کوچه گذشتم،
همه تن چشم شدم خيره به دنبال تو گشتم،
شوق ديدار تو لبريز شد از جام وجودم،
شدم آن عاشق ديوانه که بودم،
در نهان خانه ی جانم گل ياد تو درخشيد.
باغ صد خاطره خنديد،
عطر صد خاطره پيچيد:
يادم آمد که شبی با هم از آن کوچه گذشتيم.
پرگوشوديم و در آن خلوت دلخواسته گشتيم.
ساعتی بر لب آن جوی نشستيم.
تو همه راز جهان ريخته در چشم سياهت
من همه محو تماشای نگاهت.
آسمان صاف و شب آرام.
...
يادم آيد تو به من گفتی: از اين عشق حذر کن!
لحظه ای چند بر اين آب نظر کن!
آب، آيئنه عشق گذران است،
تو که امروز نگاهت به نگاهی نگران است!
باش فردا که دلت با دگران است!
تا فراموش کنی، چندی ازين شهر سفر کن!
با تو گفتم حذر از عشق؟ ندانم
سفر از پيش تو؟ هرگز نتوانم
روز اول که دل من به تمنای تو پرزد
چون کبوتر لب بام تو نشستم
تو به من سنگ زدی! من نه رميدم نه گسستم.
باز گفتم که تو صيادی و من آهوی دشتم!
تا به دام تو در افتم همه جا گشتم و گشتم!
حذر از عشق ندانم. سفر از پيش تو هرگز نتوانم، نتوانم!
...
يادم آيد که دگر از تو جوابی نشيندم.
پای در دامن اندوه کشيدم.
نگسستم، نرميدم...
رفت در ظلمت غم آن شب و شبهای دگر هم!
نه گرفتی دگر از عاشق آزرده خبر هم!
نه کنی از آن کوچه گذر هم!...
بی تو اما، به چه حالی من از آن کوچه گذشتم...
فريدون مشيری

The Global Gender Gap Report 2008

"Economic, political, education- and health-based criteria"
These are the criteria the "World Economic Forum" website has announced for their research on The Global Gender Gap Report 2008 (see the report here).
A couple of interesting facts:
1- Iran is higher in ranking (better situation for women) than Turkey even though Turkey is claiming to be a part of Europe and supposed to be in progress and Iran has gone down since 1976.
2- Canada's rank is 31 and women in these countries are living more equally to men than Canada:
Namibia, Cuba, Sri Lanka etc.

Note that this does not mean that people (women and men) in a better rank country are living better situation than a country with lower rank. This ranking simply means they are living more equally.

I'm gonna miss you!

Oh Sarah Oh Sarah! I am gonna miss you and the jokes you intentionally make!! :)))
I will never forget the fun and joy you have brought to people's lives! You were amazing! When you said you could see Russia from Alaska and considered this as a prof for yourself to become a vice president! When easily let two comedians from Montreal prank call you and you believed it was Sarkozy from France!

And when you couldn't differenciate Afghanistan and Iran! To be good in something you need to try hard enough. But you did not even try and you were awesome... because you are simply funny! Oh Sarah!
So, don't feel bad and don't compare yourself to the others. Try to concentrate on having fun only!!
Oh Sarah! Sarah I'm gonna miss you and I do hope that you never decide to come back in politics!!