Argo -- Adventure Movie or Imperial Propaganda

Is Ben Affleck's Argo just a movie made to prove, subtly, the "insanity" of Iran and Iranians -- a supposed insanity that's the only logical basis of US policy towards Iran ?

Farnaz Fasihi vs. Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges, a professional war correspondent and international reporter of repute, gets kicked out of the New York Times for opposing the Iraq war.

In the meantime, Farnaz Fassihi, a public and virulent opponent of the Islamic Republic of Iran, continues with her politically-motivated and poorly-"reported" news articles on Iran for the Wall Street Journa, all filled with inaccuracies and nonsensical claims. She was a far better war correspondent, perhaps.

Is there any wonder?

Iranian President Warwick Hotel, NYC

Iranian President speaks at the Warwick Hotel, NYC:

Watch live streaming video from wbaix at livestream.com

Watch live streaming video from wbaix at livestream.com

Shooting down Iranian civilian aircraft with some 300 people on board

Navid Nasr and Jihan Hafiz explain:

Cyrus Safdari explains:

Afghanistan

Russia TV interview with Matthew Hoh on US occupation of Afghanistan:

Russia TV Interview with President Ahmadinejad

Ahmadinejad speaks at the UN General Assembly, September 23, 2010

The speech is available in both the original Persian and in English.

In Persian:

Translation in English:

Iran News on Xinhua News Service

Xinhua News Service carries news on Iran.

Radio Payam

An excellent mix of music, literary, social and cultural commentary in Persian: Payam Radio.

Streaming here.

Google Searches on Iran News

Google searches on Iran news produce fewer and fewer relevant news reports and bring backs little alternative news from Iranian, Russian and Chinese English-language publications.

As a collector of news, it is important to assemble "all sides" of the stories.

This is a matter of content collection and routing when it comes to news. Accomplishing it is not that hard but is becoming rare and sluggish in Google search.

Google should list Iran-related news items from Press TV, IRIB, Fars News, Tehran Times, along with the traditional US sources such as the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BBC and others.

In this way, various perspectives on topics can be viewed in parallel.

Gholestan Palace

Gholestan Palace
Originally uploaded by M.Mortazavi

Fuel for Power

UN / IAEA Vote Urgest Israel to Allow Inspections of Its Atomic Sites

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE58H3QW20090918

Calling the resolution "unbalanced," Canada tried to block a vote on the floor with a "no-action motion." But the procedural maneuver lost by an eight-vote margin. The same motion prevailed in 2007 and 2008s.

A senior diplomat from the non-aligned movement (NAM) of developing nations said times had changed.

"People and countries are bolder now, willing to call a spade a spade. You cannot hide or ignore the truth, the double standards, of Israel's nuclear capability forever," he said.

MSNBC Interview w/ President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

MSNBC Interview with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Russian Beer on the Road to Tehran

I originally wrote this entry on August 30, 2004, and published it on blogs.sun.com.

I've noticed people posting stories of beer drinking or photos of beer cans on their weblogs. Often one has a feeling that without a beer can in the background (or a wine glass in the foreground), questions may be raised about one's manhood. Well, here's mine, accompanied with the story behind it. Earlier, I'd written about a trip to Isfahan, this past July. On the road back to Tehran, the children were quite thirsty and I was, too. I stopped in Saveh, the city of pomegranates, and we started looking for a store. It was Friday, when most shops are closed, but luckily a couple of grocery stores were still open.

After some meandering through the maze of separated lanes, we were able to get into a lane that led to some stops. My wife, a true-blooded American (whatever that means), got off the car and went into one of the stores and used her very good Persian (of which I should be much prouder than I am) to purchase some drinks and snaks for us. The kids got a couple of different types of juices.

My reward was a frosty Russian beer, of the non-alcoholic sort, but in a tall can. It must have been past 40 degrees (Centigrade) outside and the old BMW I was driving had a broken air-conditioning. Just holding that beer can made me feel better. I opened it and took a sip. It was one of the best non-alcoholic beers I'd ever drunk.

How often do you read any praise of non-alcoholic beer in English? How often do you read any praise of it, in any language at all? In any case, I had to post a photo of the empty can, and kudos to the producers.

I'd heard about Russian (non-alcoholic) beer exports to Iran in a BBC television report. (No trace of the report can be found on the BBC web site.) Now, with a bit of web searching, I also found the news item on Baltika's web site. In any case, it was a great beer, and if I had a chance, I'd buy it again, in America, too!

Why we cooperate and adopt group purposes?

I originally wrote this entry on August 10, 2004, and published it on blogs.sun.com.

Chester Barnard provides the following summary answer to this question:

Among the most important limiting factors in the situation of each individual are his own biological limitations. The most effective method of overcoming these limitations has been that of cooperation. This requires the adoption of a group, or non-personal, purpose. The situation with reference to such a purpose is composed of innumerable factors, which must be discriminated as limiting and non-limiting factors. The Functions of the Executive

Economist Photo Essay on the Iranian Revolution

The Economist has hosted a photo essay on the Iranian Revolution.

US House Resolution 326

In an interview with the Real News Network, Historian Gareth Porter says that US House Res. 362 suggests the use of force.

And, here is The Real News Network's interview with Seymour Hersh. The last minute or so is worth some good attention.

Red Beets of Tehran

Tehran, Iran (Nov. 2006)
Originally uploaded by M.Mortazavi

They are a delicacy on winter days.
Some street vendors make a good concoction.

Iran Launces Space Center

"Iran Launches Rocket to Commemorate New Space Center," Nazila Fathi of The New York Times reports.

Here's a video summary from IRIB News: