ABJEEZ
A conversation with Abjee Melody Safavi
The Abjeez Band will be coming to the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, December 4, 2010, to perform at the Great American Music Hall. I had a chance to chat with Melody (a.k.a. AbjeeZooloo!) of Abjeez Band this week. The fabulous band is kicking off their American tour in the San Francisco in a short few weeks, and I wanted to find out what to expect so that I could come and tell you!
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THANKS
It is amazing how little compassion the Iranian Muslims receive
I recently heard a talk by an Iranian-American writer, Angella Nazarian, who like many other immigrants has a sad story to tell. In her book, Life As A Visitor, she describes her emigration from Iran at age eleven. While I found her to be a skilled speaker in command of her audience, I saw a much bigger picture and a nagging question prevented me from enjoying the event. “What about all the others?” Too many Iranians have suffered the aftermath of the last four decades’ political and social changes
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SMOKE
I’m a smoker who hasn’t touched a cigarette in more than seven years
I grew up in an era when smoking was cool. Movie stars looked so much better holding a cigarette between their fingers, not to mention James Dean, placing one loosely in the corner of his mouth. Office employees smoked at their desks and even stores didn’t mind smoking customers. At parties and pubs, the air was so thick with smoke that it was hard to see who was there. Etiquette dictated that a gentleman first offer you a cigarette and light it for you. Which would explain the array of lighters -not just the cheap Bic, but Dunhill and later gold DuPont that cost a fortune
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RELIGION
Let's hear it for the atheists
by Saul Friedman
Most of us have been taught to stay away from discussing politics and religion, so as not to disturb the dinner guests. Well, as most of you know, I've been covering politics for so long I can barely discuss anything else. And the freedom Time Goes By gives me in writing these little essays compels me to confess that I do not recall when it was that I came out of the closet. That's when I acknowledged that I'm an atheist, that I do not believe there is a God. In fact I don't know why I capitalized the "G." Although it may be blasphemous, I have had a bumper sticker that says, "I believe in Dog..."
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TRAIN
تویی که زمان را برایم از فشردگی در می آوری
کف دستم را باز می کنم در لابه لای شیارهای دستم آب جمع می شود به داخل قطار می آورم. به آرامی آب کف دستم را می نوشم. طعمش زبانم را بی حس می کند و روحم را نوازش! دفتر کاغدی ام را باز می کنم. مداد قهوه ای رنگ را از جیب کتم بیرون می آورم. دست چپم را سایه بان چشمانم می کنم تا آفتاب سفیدی کاغذ را نورانی نکند چون می خواهم از تو بنویسم. چون می خواهم از نوشته ام نور تو بتابد نه نور خورشید
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CONVERT
Photo essay: Billiards coach converts to Islam
by Hamed Malekpour
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ARTIST
Painter Nozar Azadi’s debut exhibition in Los Angeles
by
Nazy Kaviani >>>
RETALIATION
اگر فحش ناموسی به مامانش بدی، انگار که به زن دایی خودت فحش دادی
وقتی که بچّه بودیم، ظهرهای تابستون بزرگترها بعد از خوردن نهار پرده های نی ای اطاق رو پایین میاوردن و پنکه رو روشن میکردن و متکّا ها رو روی کف اطاق میانداختن و قبل از اینکه زیر شَمَدهای سفید و نازک به خواب خوشمزه فرو برن دستور میدادن که بچّه ها هم باید یکی دو ساعتی بخوابن. ولی من و پسر داییم، که هر کدوم بیشتر از هفت هشت سا ل نداشتیم، چند دقیقه ای ادای خواب بودن رو در میاوردیم
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IDEAS
Is God a figment of human imagination?
There once was a TV commercial which showed an elegant young lady, Sandy Duncan, in the middle of a corn field. She suddenly asked in an inquiring voice “What is a little girl like me doing in the middle of a big field like this?” She then answered her own question. To prove a point, likewise, you may ask what is an economist doing writing an article about the unbounded topic of God? The answer is to remind ourselves of a very important mission that we, especially those in academia, should embark upon particularly in this country in which freedom of expression is safeguarded and allows for genuine inquiry about crucial topics without apprehension and disconcertion
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TRIBUTE
Photo essay in honor of architect Houshang Seyhoun
by
Iraj Yamin Esfandiary >>>
1968
On the cover of my favorite magazine
by
Monda >>>
ALIVE
Ali Mahin Torabi's death row nightmare is finally over
Many of you might not know about him, but for me it’s hard to talk about him without getting emotional, even though I have never met him in person. The first time I heard his name was 3 years ago when he was condemned to death. His case became widely visible, but he still remained in prison, until a few weeks ago! A week ago, I received an email that Ali was going to be freed. A few days later, my cell-phone rang and there was this warm shaking voice who said, “Hi, I am Ali!”
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