I was on my way to a bar in Budapest last night to watch the Spain-Portugal match (how about that David Villa? My god he's fantastic!). I was wearing my vintage iranian.com t-shirt. It felt special. I remembered that fifteen years ago this week, this site was born as THE IRANIAN in my studio on the 28th floor of Waterside Plaza overlooking the East River in New York. Yaadetooneh? :)
I began thinking that growing up as a kid, the coolest thing was to wear a t-shirt with a major sport logo; Adidas was the favorite of my generation. Here I was strolling in a European capital proudly showing off MY (and iranian.com shareholders' :) logo on my chest. I thought, wow... iranian.com has t-shirts just like Adidas. That's fricken awesome!
Well, my illusions of grandeur abruptly ended when I realized that, um, I'm the only one who wears an iranian.com t-shirt. Kheet shodam badjoor.
I'll tell you what's really great though.
(Completely by accident,) on iranian.com's 15th anniversary we're staging a concert for arguably the greatest and most influential Iranian rock band. They have set the standard for their field. Most admirably, they have been a voice with a conscience in this "Green Age". Now THAT's something to be proud about.
I'm talking of course about Kiosk and their concert in San Francisco this Sunday. That kid from Abadan can't believe he's collaborating with the coolest rockers around. Thank you Arash Sobhani and the gang!
And thank YOU all. iranian.com is the cup, you're the wine.
Recently by Jahanshah Javid | Comments | Date |
---|---|---|
Hooman Samani: The Kissinger | 4 | Aug 31, 2012 |
Eric Bakhtiari: San Francisco 49er | 6 | Aug 26, 2012 |
You can help | 16 | Aug 23, 2012 |
Person | About | Day |
---|---|---|
نسرین ستوده: زندانی روز | Dec 04 | |
Saeed Malekpour: Prisoner of the day | Lawyer says death sentence suspended | Dec 03 |
Majid Tavakoli: Prisoner of the day | Iterview with mother | Dec 02 |
احسان نراقی: جامعه شناس و نویسنده ۱۳۰۵-۱۳۹۱ | Dec 02 | |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Prisoner of the day | 46 days on hunger strike | Dec 01 |
Nasrin Sotoudeh: Graffiti | In Barcelona | Nov 30 |
گوهر عشقی: مادر ستار بهشتی | Nov 30 | |
Abdollah Momeni: Prisoner of the day | Activist denied leave and family visits for 1.5 years | Nov 30 |
محمد کلالی: یکی از حمله کنندگان به سفارت ایران در برلین | Nov 29 | |
Habibollah Golparipour: Prisoner of the day | Kurdish Activist on Death Row | Nov 28 |
JJ jan
by bajenaghe naghi on Wed Jun 30, 2010 03:11 PM PDTHappy 15th Birthday of Iranian.com to you and all others who work so hard in your organization.
15 years?
by benross on Wed Jun 30, 2010 03:10 PM PDTI shared one year of it (still one week short). Fifteen years huh? Let's see. Fifteen years ago, I couldn't type. I couldn't tell the difference between a computer and a toaster, and certainly I didn't have the faintest idea what 'internet' was about to become. And you JJ, you were already TYPING with your COMPUTER for an Iranian site on the INTERNET.
I guess an ignorant can't possibly miss anything!
Happy birthday IC. And thank you JJ and all contributors.
Any chance of creating a parallel site entirely Persian within IC?
تولدت مبارک
عموجانWed Jun 30, 2010 03:01 PM PDT
It's has been one of the better source to get up date about today's social, political and art about Iran, Iranian and American iranian culture. Look for another 15 years and with bigger audiences. Thanks JJ :)
happy birthday
by khaleh mosheh on Wed Jun 30, 2010 02:36 PM PDTso much achieved is such a short time. well done!
Jahanshah
by R2-D2 on Wed Jun 30, 2010 05:35 PM PDTThought of dropping you this note, and letting you know, that you have a good thing in this Iranian.com :)
Not only it's fun, and interesting to browse, but also it gives all the contributors and commentators the opportunity to hone in on their writing skills, and get focused on their principles and beliefs .....
I have to say categorically, and without any reservations, that in my opinion, your site has much more influence that many people think it has - Time Will Indeed Show That To You :) - !
Best,
R D
Iranian.com Team..
by ebi amirhosseini on Wed Jun 30, 2010 02:10 PM PDTJahanshah,Foad,Ardalan & the unknown team member(s)...
Many Many Thanks & Happy 15th.
Cheers
Ebi aka Haaji
Thank you
by Niki Tehranchi on Wed Jun 30, 2010 02:04 PM PDTto you for all your hard work, to your family and friends who supported you to start this wonderful enterprise, and to the many contributors who entertained, informed and shared with its ever growing audience for the past 15 years. So many sites and "chatrooms" and blogs have come and gone but yours not only remains, it grows and becomes better with age.
زادروز " خانه دوست" گرامی باد
ebi amirhosseiniWed Jun 30, 2010 01:53 PM PDT
شاها ملکا جهان پناها
یک شاه نه بل هزار شاها
جمشید یکم به تختگیری
خورشید دوم به بینظیری
شروانشه کیقباد پیکر
خاقان کبیر ابوالمظفر
نی شروانشاه بل جهانشاه
کیخسرو ثانی اختسان شاه
ای ختم قران پادشاهی
بیخاتم تو مباد شاهی
روزی که به طالع مبارک
بیرون بری از سپهر تارک
مشغول شوی به شادمانی
وین نامه نغز را بخوانی
از پیکر این عروس فکری
گه گنج بری و گاه بکری
آن باد که در پسند کوشی
ز احسنت خودش پرند پوشی
در کردن این چنین تفضل
از تو کرم وز من تو کل
نظامی
Ebi aka Haaji
Happy 15th Birthday ...
by Mona 19 on Wed Jun 30, 2010 02:14 PM PDTHappy Birthday Iranian.com
Thank you Mr. Javid & best wishes tandorost va shad basheed.
Mona
one of the members of this site for past 2 yrs & 20 weeks ;)
Thanks Jahanshah jaan and Happy 15th Birthday.
by Mohammad Ala on Wed Jun 30, 2010 06:34 PM PDTThanks Jahanshah jaan and Happy 15th Birthday. I started iranain.com by sending an article/news about Turi Ryder who had bad mouthed Iranians in her Radio show, yes it was 15 years ago (in 1995, we sent the articles to you to post)
Since Day 1, I have used my real name and picture. I have been one of the supporter(s) of iranian.com, but living in Iran has limited my ability to be more supportive. My complaint is against posters who cowardly attack real people while using pseudo names.
.
by Gavazn on Thu Jul 01, 2010 07:37 AM PDT.
How did Kiosk
by Escape on Wed Jun 30, 2010 12:18 PM PDTget Ahmadinejhad to pose for their cover?..HB
..
by Shepesh on Thu Jul 01, 2010 01:02 PM PDT.
.
by Shepesh on Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:59 PM PDT.
Thanks JJ for all the hard work
by Aref-Adib on Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:38 AM PDTHappy Birthday to Iranian.com!
مجموعه خوبی ها
Red WineWed Jun 30, 2010 11:06 AM PDT
عجب فرخنده روزیست...
زمینی بودیم و با تو آسمانی شدیم، خجسته بادا تولد این مجموعه خوبی ها،علم و ادب...نیکوییها
جناب آقای جاوید خان، استدعا از مراحم ملوکانه داریم که تبریکات ما را برای این روز خوش یمن بپذیرید.
الهی که همه دردها دوا،وامها ادا و کامها روا گردد.
Has it been Feeefteen yers??
by Ali P. on Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:12 AM PDTIt was like yesterday.
I was still in high school, going to the prom, dateless, broke,.. (Actually, I was getting my GED)
(Come to think of it, not much has changed for me in 15 years...I am all depressed now!!)
Was there even internet 15 years ago?
Anyway, I am sure it has been a wild ride for you, as it has been for all of us , sitting in the wagons behind you, going through all kinds of emotions, after reading some of the materials and comments, on Iranian.com : joy, excitement, repulsion, love, hate, lust,...etc.
If Hossein Derakhshan is the father of Iranian blogging, you sure as hell are the Godfather of it, JJ Brando!
Congratulations and a world of Thanks.
:-)
Yours,
Ali P.
Happy birthday!
by tissa on Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:45 AM PDTBut JJ, couldn't you have started this site (and the Internet) 15 years earlier so that I could have read it growing up?! That would have really helped!! :) Thanks for all your work.
15 years of Freedom of Speech! Thanks to one and All!
by bahmani on Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:45 AM PDTFirst of course, undying thanks, irrepayable debt, and infinite homage to JJ for literally sacrificing his life for us all to be able to find our collective voice as free Iranians.
Recently, at an Iranian party, one of those that starts by everyone showing off their new cars, watches, and wives' nose (never boob?) jobs, then ends up with a political discussion, I was asked if JJ was an agent of the IRI, to which I replied,
"Absolutely! Of course he is! This only proves how smart the IRI is, you should probably give up and surrender your morality now!".
But all kidding aside, or maybe just one more cuz I know he will like this one, I believe that at this very point in time, JJ could be sitting on the right hand of Satan, and still have a spot reserved for himself in heaven. Here's hoping he can put in a good word or two (to Satan!) for me.
Second to my fellow writers, you have now successfully worked out the most complex issues facing Iranians and Iran for 2500 years.
Countless debates, arguments, personal and public attacks with the invariable and undoubted return to friendship and kinship, with a bolstered, ever present, now NEW Iranian tradition of polite (but not unemotional!) agreement to disagreement.
We are no longer Bland! We are Spicy once again! We are saved! We are cured! In just 15 years, we have come so very far indeed!
It is safe to now say, having had the freedom afforded by this little, cute, cuddly, blissfully-money-losing website, that we have successfully explored every crack and crevice, every wart, wound, and sore, every inch and mile, every angle and scam, and as far as we've come, we most certainly undeniably now know what it is WE want out of this world.
Happy 15th You Big Gangly Awkwardly Beautiful Girl!
JJ: "You" are my Rock Star!
by kfravon on Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:23 AM PDTHappy Birthday Iranian.com!
Everytime I log on here, it feels like I'm at a family gathering. I've met some 'beautiful' people through IC. And I have you to thank, JJ!
You would make Kiosk's concert this sunday even more special if you show up! Surprise us, please....
Happy 15th Birthday JJ and IC staff and Iranian.com
by free vs islam on Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:02 AM PDTThank You for great site and great work you have done Hamvatan.
Best wishes
by Abarmard on Wed Jun 30, 2010 09:54 AM PDTMay Iranian.com lives to see 100. Happy birthday to all members and thank you Jahanshah for all your help and support
Haaaappy birsday to you! Haaaappy berssssday i.com!
by Anonymouse on Wed Jun 30, 2010 09:50 AM PDTمامان واسه من کیک خوبه؟
Everything is sacred
JJ/Mr Yassari
by Souri on Wed Jun 30, 2010 09:27 AM PDTJJ jon: Congratulation and many thanks for providing and keeping the Iranian.com for us.
Mr Yassari: Let's start a Moshaereh blog to celebrate this event! I'm now back from my trip and have plenty of energy for a good new moshaereh.
یک جهان تشکر
Farah RustaWed Jun 30, 2010 09:28 AM PDT
Dear Jahanshah
Thank you for giving us an identity we never had.
Many happy returns,
Farah
Javad Jan
by Jahanshah Javid on Wed Jun 30, 2010 08:47 AM PDTSharmandeh kardi. What a beautiful poem!
No donations please. Let's enjoy the moment without money :)
You're an angel.
خانه دوست کجاست ؟
Javad YassariWed Jun 30, 2010 08:51 AM PDT
«خانه دوست کجاست؟» در فلق بود که پرسید سوار
آسمان مکثی کرد
رهگذر شاخه نوری که بر لب داشت به تاریکی شن ها بخشید
و به انگشت نشان داد سپیداری و گفت:
«نرسیده به درخت، کوچه باغی است که از خواب خدا سبزتر است
و در آن عشق به اندازه پرهای صداقت آبی است.
می روی تا ته آن کوچه که از پشت بلوغ سر به در می آرد
پس، به سمت گل تنهایی می پیچی
دو قدم مانده به گل
پای فواره جاوید اساطیر زمین می مانی
و تو را ترسی شفاف فرا می گیرد
در صمیمیت سیال فضا، خش خشی می شنوی
کودکی می بینی
رفته از کاج بلندی بالا، جوجه بردارد از لانه نور
و از او می پرسی
خانه دوست کجاست؟»
سهراب سپهری
Congratulations on your 15th anniversary, Mr. Javid! I pledge to give Iranian.com 25 cents for each comment on this blog. I hope others will join me, too.
Thank you for this "home," the "home of my friends."
A very nice diversion.....
by UnitedIran on Wed Jun 30, 2010 08:35 AM PDTThanks for creationg this site. A very nice diversion for the expats that want to get a quick update on where we all came from. This will make it harder for any of us to forget that we are Iranians and that is just GREAT!!!
Happy Birthday!!
HBD to IC
by oktaby on Wed Jun 30, 2010 08:30 AM PDTmay your digits grow to fill an OC-192.
live long enough and prosper.
OKtaby
I am an Iranian
by Jahanshah Javid on Wed Jun 30, 2010 08:22 AM PDTThanks Monda. I was actually thinking of re-posting "To be or not to be Iranian" as a blog today. Glad you liked it :)