Siah's blog

Participate in a crowdsourced film: It only takes 5 minutes

Siah — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:10:36 +0000

Director Tiffany Shlain and Ken Goldberg are working on a crowdsourced film and I thought we can have some representation in this film. The idea is that we read the following lines in farsi and post it on their website.

The way they will know what line we are reading is if If they could just read the script at (http://connectedthefilm.com/interdependence/) and just say line 1, then read it in farsi, line 2, etc.

Below is the text that needs to be read in Farsi

Ride your bike save some bucks, help the environment

Siah — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:43:04 +0000

I have had a bike and for a long time I was not using it, gas was cheap and life was good, I had a job and was making my payments on time. The the recession strike, I lost my job, my wife left me for another man, I'm about to loose my house because I have refinanced it two times and I have no insurance.

Iranian-o-phobia Part 2

Siah — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:17:33 +0000

Alright as some of you suggested in the previous post [link],

I went to hang out with my girl friend’s Iranian friends to heal my Iranian-o-phobia disease.

I have to confess, it really helped. We went to an Iranian party together and met a number of other Iranian students.

My girlfriend even sang a number of nostalogic song among them my favorite “Parsal Bahar Daste Jamee Rafte Boodim Ziarat”

Do you suffer from Iranian-o-Phobia?

Siah — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:49:02 +0000

Well we are all Iranians but for some reason being among Iranians in the US makes me nervous, for example I refuse to go to Iranian parties while I love to hang out with my friends from other nationalities, I don't really know whether or not other people also have this problem (my girl friend calls it Iranian-o-Phobia)

Ross Mirkarimi at Berkeley

Siah — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:46:58 +0000

I went to a discussion session with Ross Mirkarimi about the past election, and ironically I found it very interesting. I also found him a very descent politician with good understanding of our diverse community. Although I have to confess, my fellow Iranians in the audience failed to meet my expectations, they were all well mannered, no name calling not slur, nothing.

Being Iranian

Siah — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:32:00 +0000

I met a dutch student today, around 30 years old, we chat a little
and he asked me if I am a Turkish? I replied No, I am Iranian.He got so embarrassed and asked me if I got offended. I replied "Not at all"

I have been thinking about it all day today, I know a number of my
friends get offended when they're asked if they are arab, mexican,
turkish, paki but they don't get offended if they are asked whether or not they are Italian!

Iranians of the Bay Area

Siah — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 07:16:25 +0000

My girl friend and I have reciently moved to the Bay Area from midwest, we were all excited about finally leaving that shitty part of the states and commign to continue our education here at Berkeley, we have been here since July, but unfortunatly I have not been able to find a "bahal" and "Educated" Iranian friend. although my girl friend was successful finding a number of young Iranian ladies.

The story of Iman

Siah — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:37:59 +0000

I feel so good and I want to share my story with you.

Ny friend of many years, actually since I was 18, Iman, came here to the US last year. He went to live in Irvine, southern California, and at that time I was living in north Texas.

I moved to Berkeley this July and been living here for two months now. Today I called him just to say hi, turned out he's in Berkeley too.

After 3 years I finally met my friend. Ironically we were in the same city today and we could not see each other if I had not called him to say hi.

Obama vs. Hillary (Pictorial Review)

Siah — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:03:56 +0000

Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime

Siah — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:14:56 +0000

Everyday I see young brilliant Iranians who want to commercialize their ideas. and they struggle to find a business investor. Many of young researchers in north American universities are developing ideas that can benefit not only Iranians in the US but Iranians in Iran as well

I was wondering if there is any Iranian establishment or foundation that reviews business plans from Iranian students or Iranians in general. I know there are venture capitals but they usually don't support ideas that target a specific ethnic group.

How Green are we Persians?

Siah — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:33:09 +0000

I had a colleague who had this sign on his desk "Nature is your mother, don't mess with it (!)"

Why is Christmas Important ?

Siah — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 04:03:25 +0000

For many years I was wondering why I love Christmas so much. I'm not a christian! obviously not a baby jesus fan. actually, I don't care about him or any other baby prophets.

Well, I have recently found out why I love Chrsitmas so much. I always get paid until 21st of december and christmas shows the end of the working year for me.

Yes, for me Christmas is a celebration of TAX return :) I wish you all por-o-peimoon tax refunds :) (Don't forget to claim your laptop as a home office!)

Merry Christmas

Alireza

Persian Language for Romance

Siah — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 09:17:01 +0000

My mom is always worried about me eventually getting married to an American girl. She always says she wants to do some "Raft-o-Amad" with her aroos's family. And she thinks she will not be able to communicate with an American girl and her family. I somehow understand her concern though.

Jesus for President

Siah — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:55:33 +0000

I live in North Texas, a confusing combination of racism and Christianity on the Bible belt. As an Iranian who studies here I sometimes face the ugly side of the Americans here, especially after our presidential election back in 2005. Boy, we really messed up on this one. I always wonder how on earth, amongst all those worse candidates, we managed to elect the WORST!