tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40567972011-04-21T18:29:18.047-04:00rostama window to Iran and to the worldSMnoreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-35027224167481386882007-11-07T18:42:00.000-05:002007-11-07T18:46:51.832-05:00Life is to precious to be wasted on politics.SMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1168122735695061282007-01-06T17:29:00.000-05:002007-01-06T17:32:15.716-05:004th anniversary! From Boston to Washington D.C., New York and Geneva!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1096168815626352462004-09-25T23:20:00.000-04:002004-09-25T23:20:15.626-04:00Test comments!
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1095861186532591202004-09-22T09:49:00.000-04:002004-09-22T09:53:06.533-04:00Iranian bloggers protest receives international coverage
I guess our message is heard! Check out BBC's report. Guardian and Online Journalism Review also reported on the protest.
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1095691754861773252004-09-20T10:45:00.000-04:002004-09-20T10:49:14.860-04:00TODAY WE ARE ALL EMROOZ
Here is a link to "Emrooz" website (in Persian) which is censored in Iran.
Unfortunately I can't post the content of "Emrooz" in my weblog as it is in Persian.
I will write more about this campaign a bit later; for the moment though, have a look at this.
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1095521556419243312004-09-18T11:23:00.000-04:002004-09-18T18:06:41.766-04:00Solidarity with Iranian bloggers
After a long period of silence it's time for action.
Here is a link to news about a collective action planned by Iranian webloggers (in English in Persian). On Monday 20 September 2004, in protest to censorship of internet, the government's crackdown on independent and reformist websites and the arrest of internet activists in Iran many Iranian bloggers are SMnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1088523109518400652004-06-29T11:27:00.000-04:002004-06-29T11:31:49.516-04:00Out of Africa
After such a long time, here's a post from Africa!
Exciting times; fast pace of life: Boston to Washington D.C. to New York -- and now, from Tanzania to Keny to Ethiopia!
Back home soon! Who knows, may be I'll write more often...SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1072837561095605222003-12-30T21:26:00.000-05:002003-12-30T21:27:31.966-05:00Bam; no more
I'm back. Moved from Boston to Washington D.C. and started a new life. It's a very sad period. It's almost the anniversary of this website. But this period co-incided with devastating earthquake in Bam, Iran.
I'll be back with more soon... now it's time to go to New York City for a few days... again!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1066537771712527042003-10-19T00:29:00.000-04:002003-10-19T00:29:31.453-04:00A day with Chile, Allende, Revolution!
I was hoping to see Isabel Allende, but only her message was read at MIT's one-day program entitle "The Other September 11: Chile, Terrorism, & US Foreign Policy" . In addition to Isabel Allende's message, interesting presentations, slide shows and music played by Sergio Reyes, Noam Chomsky was the last speaker. Quite an interesting program.
Should I move SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1066173166870528052003-10-14T19:12:00.000-04:002003-10-14T19:17:01.473-04:00Nobel Laureate Ebadi returns to Iran
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1065886682155165312003-10-11T11:38:00.000-04:002003-10-11T11:38:48.006-04:00Our voice is heard!
What a pleasant surprise it was to wake up yesterday morning with the voice of the BBC radio reporter who was talking about the Nobel Peace Prize for Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian human rights lawyer and activist.
How heartwarming it was to realize that the world is listening to us; That our demands for change which are not heeded by our rulers, are at least heard and supported SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1064198808641743032003-09-21T22:46:00.000-04:002003-09-21T22:46:48.223-04:00Picasso
Picasso has always been a fascinating character for me. He's one of my favorite painters --especially his bule and red periods. But tales of his personal life depict a not very likable character.
I just watched "Surviving Picasso" with Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins was brilliant in his role as Picasso. An interesting tale about a highly original and selfish artist.
Chavela Vargas
Last SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1060200555404633092003-08-06T16:09:00.000-04:002003-08-21T11:53:34.800-04:00What kind of blog?
Bar exam is finally over, and I should be able to write more regularly here.
One question has been on my mind since I started writing on this blog is the nature of this weblog; should it be more oriented towards Iran, and current events in Iran? or towards my interests and daily observations?
questions, qeustions, questions...
We'll see!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-1057776552855717342003-07-09T14:49:00.000-04:002003-07-09T14:50:03.110-04:00International Committee for Transition to Democracy in Iran
Today is 9th of July, the anniverssary of 1999 student unrest in Iran.
On that note, a more political post for today!
I am surprised that the establishment of the International Committee for Transition to Democracy in Iran did not receive wider coverage in Iranian and internatioanl media. This committee is composed of an impressive SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-959544552003-06-23T14:45:00.000-04:002003-06-23T14:55:54.000-04:00These days...
What's happening in Iran? Demonstrations, some violance... What's next?
Here's BBC's Jim Muir analysis: "Iranian protests fail to bring change"
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-954766572003-06-09T15:25:00.000-04:002003-06-09T15:25:31.846-04:00Still alive! Commencement ceremonies at Harvard are over, and I'm busy again with NY bar exam. I shuld start writing again. May be at a different weblog!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-946927072003-05-21T12:39:00.000-04:002003-05-21T12:39:53.150-04:00It was a very long absence, caused by exams, and papers, followed by a short trip to Cape Cod. It's time to get back to writing now!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-937795062003-05-04T23:44:00.000-04:002003-05-04T23:45:48.000-04:00Sina, Sen, Tagore
Wow already 12 days since the last time I updated this page!
I shouldn't be surprised though! It's a crazy period. So much to do. I spend all my days (and nights!)in the library.
Two unrelated subjects:
- Sina is still in prison. The news of the bloggers support for him was covered by BBC (see here).
- I should write, perhaps at a later time, about two remarkable Indians (SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-930477992003-04-22T10:36:00.000-04:002003-04-22T11:38:56.000-04:00Earth from Above
"Earth from Above" Is the name of a fascinating collection of photographs by the French Photographer, Yann Arthus Bertrand. I was lucky enough to see this collection several times in open air exhibitions in Paris (2000) and Montreal (2002). In Montreal the exhibition continued over a long period of time right in front of McGill University gates (begining inside the University), SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-929820952003-04-21T10:02:00.000-04:002003-04-22T10:38:36.000-04:00Free Sina
You can sign the petition:
Free Sina Motallebi
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-929482492003-04-20T18:16:00.000-04:002003-04-20T18:49:05.000-04:00Sina arrested
I'm angry! Sina Motallebi, Iranian journalist, blogger and film critic was arrested today, after being questioned for a few hours by a judge. The news is spreading very quickly. In addition to several Persian weblogs (and you can't believe how big the Iranian weblog community is: see index here), the following weblogs have linked to the news: Hoder, Scripting news, Metafilter, SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-925423262003-04-13T17:11:00.000-04:002003-04-13T17:17:43.000-04:00Il decameron
Friday night: Ashimashi, vino blanco, general tao and "Il Decameron" by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Very interesting movie! Found it very similar in form to his Il fiore delle mille e una notte (A thousand and one nights), and it turned out that they are both part of a trilogy. Recommended if you're interested in the bizzarre world of Pasolini.
A relaxing night in a hectic period.
War andSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-923295752003-04-09T21:50:00.000-04:002003-04-09T21:52:44.000-04:00"Game over"
This was the response the Iraqi's ambassador to the UN gave to the reporters today. Nobody in his/her right mind will shed any tears for Saddam or Iraqi regime. I hope that this transition will be peaceful and smooth. But the repercussions of this crisis for the global order and international law will go far beyond Iraq. Let's hope for the best!
On a related note, today, I attended SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-918820212003-04-02T20:55:00.000-05:002003-04-02T22:35:51.000-05:00Kaveh Golestan, Iranian photojournalist died in Iraq
It was such a shock to see a familiar name in the news of the Iraq war. And, unfortunately, it was bad news. Kaveh Golestan, who was in Iraq as part of a BBC team, died when he stepped on a land mine in Northern Iraq (more here, a video from BBC here (Real Player file), and a tribute from BBC's John Simpson here). Only a few weeks ago I gave aSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-915654262003-03-28T15:37:00.000-05:002003-03-28T15:37:51.000-05:00New York again!
Today, I'm writing from Columbia University's Butler Library. I came to NYC on Tuesday to celebrate my birthday here, and stay a few days and study in a different library! Very exciting spring break! But, I also managed to have a good time. I'm glad that I'm not studying in NYC, as there's always so much happening and it can be even more distracting that Cambridge!
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-911973162003-03-22T17:41:00.000-05:002003-03-28T15:29:08.000-05:00I have to remember to write about:
- Persian New Year celebration at Harvard
- Harvard anti-war walk-out and demonstration (covered by BBC)
- Egyptian Mozart CD that Pieter lent me!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-910444772003-03-20T01:56:00.000-05:002003-03-28T15:31:16.000-05:00What's going on in Baghdad?
If you want to have a first-hand insider report of what's going on in Baghdad have a look at this interesting weblog written by an Iraqi.
In addition to that BBC's team of correspondents from around the region are blogging here. (via Hoder)SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-908957882003-03-17T21:49:00.000-05:002003-03-17T22:04:25.000-05:00The war is real!
Somehow, being busy with millions of things these days, I hadn't realized how we are on the brink of the war.
Last week, on Wednesday afternoon Sandy Berger, the former National Security Advisor to President Clinton, was at Harvard to make a speech (see a report of what he said here). I missed his speech, because I had to go to a course that I really enjoy (Law and DevelopmentSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-903717042003-03-08T17:10:00.000-05:002003-03-10T11:23:17.000-05:00Paper Sky
"Paper Sky" is the name of a simple and cool animation (Itanlian I guess - link from Hoder); I wonder if it depicts the life of a corporate lawyer! If the music sounds familiar to you it's from the French hit, "Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain".SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-903042032003-03-07T10:28:00.000-05:002003-03-07T10:30:47.000-05:00War would be illegal
Guardian has published a letter from a group of prominent professors of international law indicating that absent the Security Council's authorization war against Iraq would be illegal. The letter is signed by some distinguished professors and younger scholars from Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics, SOAS, University College London, and University of Paris. I've SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-897605342003-02-26T00:58:00.000-05:002003-02-26T00:58:58.060-05:00Two nights, two directors
Tomorrow afternoon (or I better say today) Danis Tanovic the director of No Man's Land (winner of Palm d'Or at Cannes, and Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film) will be present at the screening of his award-winning movie at Harvard Film Archive; and, on Friday, John Malkovich will be present at the screening of his directorial debut "the Dancer Upstairs" (2002). SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-894513372003-02-20T15:10:00.000-05:002003-02-20T15:09:58.000-05:00"Axis of Evil" films!
BBC reports about 'Axis of evil' films being screened in the US!
SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-889529182003-02-11T23:01:00.000-05:002003-02-11T23:22:09.000-05:00Revolution
Today is the anniversary of the Iranian revolution of 1979: A revolution that changed not only my life, and lives of millions of Iranians, but also had repercussions well beyond Iranian borders (see a photo essay: here). There’s no point in speculating about what would have happened if the revolution hadn’t taken place, or if things had taken a different turn in the Iranian revolutionSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-888365802003-02-10T01:16:00.000-05:002003-02-10T01:34:41.000-05:00Yes! Sounds good! Good night!
Dance
It's almost surreal when I come to think of it! Dance has been prohibited in my country for the past 23 years! Such a healthy activity, part of every culture and civilization, a way of celebration and expression of joy has been banned! But then, like many other prohibitions in today's Iran, the public ban didn't mean that people didn't dance in private!
Now, SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-886306762003-02-05T23:42:00.000-05:002003-02-05T23:44:23.000-05:00Powell and me at the UN!
Today I was at the UN headquarters at the same time that Colin Powell was there; only that he was in the Security Council presenting his report, and I was in the General Assembly writing an exam! I had to be at the UN at 8 a.m.--half an hour earlier than the original scheduled time because of Mr. Powell's visit. Camera crews and reporters had lined up in front of the SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-885529902003-02-04T17:14:00.000-05:002003-02-04T17:16:33.000-05:00General Assembly: Marshal Islands Rep!
Today for almost 5 hours I sat on the seat of Marshal Islands representative at the General Assembly of United Nations! And no ... I was not on their delegation! I was writing the UN exam which was held in the General Assembly Hall. It was quite funny in that sense, and the exam went o.k. I was glad to learn that I still know some international law! SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-885106882003-02-03T22:44:00.000-05:002003-02-03T22:45:06.000-05:00NYC, NYU, UN, ...
I'm on my way home. Just finished a day of studying at NYU Law School; and tomorrow I'll have to sit for the first day of the competitive entrance examination for the United Nations, which will be held at the UN headquarters. I feel that I was much more prepared for this exam 6 years ago, and working for UN had much more appeal for me at that time! Since then, I have changed SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-884464992003-02-02T20:39:00.000-05:002003-02-02T20:39:42.420-05:00New York, New York
Just a quick note from the Big Apple: I had totally forgotten how much I like this city! It's been a very intense period; few days full of activities and events, and it's not over yet. I'll head back to Cambridge on Wednesday afternoon, and hopefully life will be back to normal by then.SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-881877422003-01-28T20:26:00.000-05:002003-01-28T20:26:32.003-05:00And suspense continues!
It doesn't seem that things will get any better during the coming days. I came back from my ski trip late last night. Was doing errands today, and will leave to New York City tomorrow, will come back on Saturday, and leave on Monday again to NYC!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-880327972003-01-25T23:30:00.000-05:002003-01-25T23:30:04.826-05:00I can't write more as I promised on Thurdsay. I'm leaving very early tomorrow morning to a ski trip in Vermont. Will be back on Monday night. So the suspense will conitnue...!SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-879168932003-01-23T15:47:00.000-05:002003-01-23T15:47:59.446-05:00I want to write about my new discovery! But I don't have time now ... My securities regulations exam is tomorrow, so I have to study hard for another day! I'll be back tomorrow! SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-877971312003-01-21T14:39:00.000-05:002003-01-21T14:39:42.556-05:00Spanish Civil War: a different world
George Orwell passed away fifty-three years ago this day. I just read the story from "On This Day" section of BBC News. I didn't know that Orwell was also among the intellectuals who participated in the Spanish Civil War (on the Socialist side of course!). And this made me think what a fascinating world it was, when all these amazing people rushed to Spain toSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-877362542003-01-20T12:39:00.000-05:002003-01-20T13:28:57.000-05:00"el pueblo unido jamas sera vencido"
"People united will never be defeated"! This leftist Chilean revolutionary song from 70s is one of my all-time favorites. A Persian version of this song is among my oldest childhood musical memories during the revolution in Iran; it was adopted and translated by leftist guerrillas, and once the religious groups took over the revolution, it was never heard SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-877115412003-01-19T23:54:00.000-05:002003-01-19T23:59:01.000-05:00God's rule, or man's?
This is the title of the introductory article to Economist's Survay on Iran (16 January 2003). Unfortunately only that article is accessible on-line (unless you have the on-line subscription).SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-875739242003-01-16T23:54:00.000-05:002003-01-17T00:02:45.000-05:00Human Rights Report: no good news!
Well, another Human Rights Watch report on Iran came out and there isn't much to rejoice about! After all what can we expect? Is it surprising? Just last week a bill passed by the Iranian parliament banning torture in prisons was rejected by the Guardian Council (Constitutional watchdog) for the second time! During the same period two pro-reform newspapers SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-872705282003-01-11T13:15:00.000-05:002003-01-16T23:39:33.000-05:00Comprehensive website on Iran
Impressive! An excellent source of information on a wide range of topics on art, culture and history of Iran; and superb design: Iran Chamber is added to my links!
It was also a Yahoo! Pick in December (from Rooydad [in Persian])SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-871488432003-01-08T23:32:00.000-05:002003-01-09T00:00:11.000-05:00The past 24 hours
This time the subject is me! 24 hours in the life of Rostam! Last night at this time, accompanied by two good friends and a bottle of Red Shiraz* from Southwestern Australia, I was watching "New York Stories". Very good movie! I had seen it years ago in Iran; I think around the time that it was released (1989)! It's a movie in three episodes: first one ("Life Lessons") directedSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-869902652003-01-05T23:18:00.000-05:002003-01-05T23:20:26.000-05:00Tolerence
I came across a link to a "test of hidden bias" created by psychologists at Yale University and the University of Washington. Very interesting. Even more interesting is the general content of this site: Tolerence.org; check it out! "Even though we believe we see and treat people as equals, hidden biases may still influence our perceptions and actions." Isn't that true? I should write SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-868941842003-01-03T17:11:00.000-05:002003-01-05T16:48:53.000-05:00Whisky on the rocks please!
Can you buy your Scotch in a convenience store in the U.S.? Probably not (at least in the states that I've visited!). But you can do that in Iran! You don't believe me?! Read this feature by United Press' correspondent: "In Iran - forbidden but tolerated".SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-868558312003-01-02T21:25:00.000-05:002003-01-02T21:56:38.000-05:00Again Music: East and West
Collaboration between musicians from East and West has produced some facinating tunes. Yehudi Menuhin and Ravi Shankar's album, "West Meets East" is a unique example of such original works. If you haven't already heard it you can listen to a few tracks here.
More recently, Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project seems to be another innovative attempt to bring musicians from EastSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-867924382003-01-01T13:48:00.000-05:002003-01-05T16:48:14.000-05:00Music: East and West
Shahin, an Iranian-American musician talks about his recent trip to Iran ("An Iranian musician's homecoming"). A few interesting thoughts and observations.
But, his reference to his "affinity to the western way of life and the western ideology" is not very precise. Even in the States, mid-Western way of life is very different from that of East-coast or West-coast, and let'sSMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-867781332003-01-01T02:18:00.000-05:002003-01-01T14:41:10.000-05:00Happy new year 2003!
I just began the new year on the waterfront of Boston harbor (not New York's waterfront!). While watching the fireworks with a group of friends (the Swiss were the majority tonight), a thousand thoughts passed through my mind. New year's eve is always a moment of reflection for me. As if time stops for a short while, and I get the chance to look back and then look forward! SMnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056797.post-867572492002-12-31T13:49:00.000-05:002002-12-31T13:49:07.610-05:00Finally, I'm ready! Just in time for the new year!SMnoreply@blogger.com0