The Iranian Times

Tuesday, January 11, 2000 / Dey 21, 1378, No. 883


Fly to Iran

Sehaty Foreign Exchange

Flower delivery in Iran

Iranian books


    Khayyam


Home

Here or there
Where would we rather be?

Photos by Siamak Namazi & Ali
January 11, 2000
The Iranian

It's early in the morning. Stacks of fresh, hot, delicious barbari bread are waiting for you at the bakery around the corner (can you smell it?).

Or it's late at night. Countless Iranian restaurants and bars in Westwood, Los Angeles, are ready to serve and entertain you.

We know where we are and why. But where would we rather be? >>> GO TO FEATURE


Outlook

Khatami's camp hopeful despite ban on candidates

By GUY DINMORE
Financial Times
January 11, 2000

TEHRAN Iran's conservative-dominated Guardian Council was reported yesterday to have disqualified dozens of reformist candidates from taking part in next month's parliamentary elections on political and religious grounds.

But members of the loose coalition backing Mohammad Khatami, the moderate president, said far fewer of their members had been ruled out than feared, and they still hoped to overturn the conservative-held majority in the February 18 polls >>> FULL TEXT


    Anyway

Bucket of Hillary

You've got to love New Yorkers! A Kentucky Fried Chicken location in New York had a special on what they were calling the "Bucket of Hillary": two small breasts, two large thighs and a bunch of left wings.

Thanks to Matin Karbassion


More Letters

* Mithraic roots of Christianity

Arash Salardini writes: I am prompted by the facile and pseudo-intellectual letter of Mr Tabib who being chuffed by his netsearching skills proceeded to aptly demonstrate the common wisdom that little knowledge is more dangerous than none.

The roots of Christmas in Mithraism is well known and not subject to much debate ["Borrowed ideas"]. The Aurelian Mithramas was on the 25th December. The identification of Jesus with Mithras, the central figure in the Mithraic Mysteries was more than coincidence. Mithras (originally Persian Mithra) was also a messianic figure who was to renew life and redeem all with sacrifice. He, like Yima, would slay the primordial bull Gush Urvan whose blood would revitalise all. The symbol of Mithraism was in fact the cross that happily co-incided with the mode of execution of Jesus himself >>> FULL TEXT

* Nice try Jack

Hossein Samiei writes: Ms. Shashaani ["Borrowed ideas"] argues interestingly that Christmas may have something to do with shab-e yalda and other old Persian traditions of that period of the year. This is a fascinating and enjoyable article and the author obviously knows her subject matter well.

However, I must say that I find the notion of attempting to relate Christmas to the astrological/astronomical basis of shab-e yalda rather far-fetched. Maybe she is right, I am no expert, but sometimes things are just simple coincidences. Would anyone, for example, try to connect the Islamic Republic's day (Farvardin 12) with April's Fool's Day in the West? >>> FULL TEXT

* Still attractive

Fereshteh Golesorkhi writes in reference to 1978 Miss Iran finalists:

Nazila Alasti: She used to be my classmate at Northeastern University in Boston. She got her BS in electrical engineering and went to Cornel University to get her masters. After that I have no clue.

Roya Pegahi: I had seen her in Egypt. Her father was the military attache at the Iranian embassy. Four years ago when I went back to Iran, I got invited to a party at her brother's house. She is married with children. Still very attractive!

* Still see her

Annynmous writes in reference to Nostalgia photos:

I know Haleh used to be a commentator in one of the Iranian TV stations down in Los Angeles and she even used to live in the same apartment complex that we lived in (Oakwoods Apartments) in San Fernando Valley where she videod her programs from inside her apartment. Later she moved to a bigger place I heard and you still see her occasionally on TV.


* Art: Behnam's solo show, Reston, Virginia

See the solo painting exhibition by Sally (Sayeh) Behnam at the U.S. Geological Survey headquarters in Reston, Virginia. The show began on January 5 and will continue until January 30. For directions and more information call 703-648-4000 or email: Sayeh.Behnam@tma.osd.mil

SELL TICKETS ONLINE AT YOUR SITE


Books of the Week

* Saaniyeh-yeh aakhar (1999)
Y2K issues in Iran
By Dr. Ali Parandeh

* Barandeh-haa ham baazandeh-and (1999)
A memoir by a former mayor of Tehran, with photos
By Ahmad Nafisi

* Jazireh sargardaani (2nd edition, 1998)
Novel
By Simin Daneshvar

* Mumia va assal (1996)
Novel
By Shahriar Mandanipour

* Mehr-e giaah (1998)
Novel
ByAmir Hassan Cheheltan

See more Iranian books for sale

THE IRANIAN
Bookstore


Video of the Week

Through the olive trees

This is Abbas Kiarostami's most romantic film (English subtitles). It is the third part of a trilogy set in northern Iran. For other Kiarostami videos, click here.

THE IRANIAN
Video Store



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More news

Khatami urged to act over rejection of poll candidates

TEHRAN, Jan 11 (AFP) - Candidates barred from standing in next month's key parliamentary elections called on reformist President Mohammad Khatami Tuesday to end his silence over their wholesale rejection by a vetting body dominated by his conservative opponents >>> FULL TEXT

Kharrazi welcomes new era of warmer ties with Britain

LONDON, Jan 11 (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, on a landmark visit to London, on Tuesday welcomed a new era of warmer relations with Britain but reserved sharp words for the United States and Israel >>> FULL TEXT

Britain, Iran Sign Agreement

LONDON (AP) - Couching differences over human rights in diplomatic niceties, Britain and Iran signed a joint declaration Tuesday to fight terrorism and drug trafficking, promote trade and strengthen ties >>> FULL TEXT

Egg-throwing dissidents target Kharrazi, two arrested

LONDON, Jan 11 (AFP) - Egg-throwing Iranian dissidents hounded Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi on the second day of his landmark visit to Britain on Tuesday, prompting police to move in and make two arrests, police and protestors said >>> FULL TEXT

WAN Protests Prosecution of Iranian Journalist

Paris, 10 January (WAN) -- The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has protested against the prosecution of a pro-reform journalist in Iran and called on President Mohammed Khatami to halt the trial >>> FULL TEXT

German invitation to Khatami still open: MP

TEHRAN, Jan 11 (AFP) - Germany hopes to welcome President Mohammad Khatami, but Iran must realise that there could be demonstrations against him, a senior German member of parliament told journalists here Tuesday >>> FULL TEXT

Iran urges UK business to exploit closer ties

LONDON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, on the second day of a bridge-building trip to Britain, urged British firms on Tuesday to step up investment in the oil-rich Islamic republic >>> FULL TEXT

France will finance Iran wheat

PARIS, Jan 11 (Reuters) - France has allowed Iran to buy 600,000 tonnes of French wheat in 2000 under a programme run by its export agency Coface, but it was not a conventional credit line, a government source said on Tuesday >>> FULL TEXT

Iran hopes to sign South Pars gas deals by March

TEHRAN, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Iran hopes to sign development contracts with foreign companies by late March for the next five phases of its South Pars gas and oil field in the Gulf, a senior oil official was quoted as saying on Monday >>> FULL TEXT


Tax

Tehran (Cinema) - This year Iranian films have made more money than ever. But the tax man is coming after them >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Baizaie

Tehran (Cinema) - The filming of "Sagkosh", Bahram Baizaie's latest, is continuing. No details but here's a list of people working on the film >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Foreign cooperation

Tehran (Hamshahri) - Archaeologists from Britain, France, Italy and the U.S. have offered to cooperate in a project to translate (?) tablets from Persepolis >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Soccer: Rematch Against Iran Is Key

January 11, 2000 (The New York Times) -- The Americans are working hard to prepare for Sunday's rematch against Iran at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif >>> FULL TEXT

In LA

Tehran (Iran Varzeshi) - The Iranian national team has begin practices in Los Angeles to prepare for Wednesday's match against Ecuador >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN

Persepolis 2 - Qatar 0

Tehran (Iran Varzeshi) - Persepolis, without the help from seven of its key players, defeated the Qatar national team >>> FULL TEXT IN PERSIAN


BBC

Persian Service

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Exchange rate

Updated January 11

Buying: 850-858 tomans per dollar

Selling: 868 tomans per dollar

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Business news


The Web

Iran

Iranian women in Cinema

An excellent archive biographies, articles and photos.

Beyond Iran

Biography Resource

Here's a terrific labour of love -- an index to the vast collection of biographical sites available on the Web.

More web sites


Quote Unquote

Slow quote day

Everyone lives by selling something.

-- Robert Louis Stevenson
1850-1894


Photo of the Day

Protest in London


Music

Musician of the Week

Anoush Khazeni

Music artists index