:: Nostalgic Notes ::

:: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 ::

Nader Rad is a Shrif University student and writer of a nice Persian blog titled water, a blog with short and deep sentences. He has launched his own web gallery since a few weeks ago to present and sell his black and white digital photos. I don't know whether he has experienced traditional photography yet but he is undoubtedly a prosperous digital photographer. I think this photo; a single tree in a valley covered by snow, is a remarkable sample of the gallery and proves my point of view that there is a unique thought behind most of his photos.
:: Ahmadreza 9:59 PM [+] ::
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Now I'm at work and have nothing emergency to do. I sit behind my desk and hear project manager's voice who loudly talks with his deputy and engineering coordinator and others. He can never play role of a happy man when his staffs make mistake, so he is usually angry! It's natural in Iran giving too little precision but engineers, especially those designers, sometimes make strange and evitable mistakes which make project manager extremely angry. Let me write a wonderful example.
Wet dust system is one of the most important equipment of the plant which a duct has to be assembled with at a certain point. Civil engineer has inadvertently designed a structure for wet dust system and civil contractor has manufactured structure according to that plan. Structure has shut that point! Structure is like an obstacle to assembly duct to wet dust system. That's wonderful, isn't?
:: Ahmadreza 2:58 PM [+] ::
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I believe French Henri Cartier Bresson and Brazilian Sebastiano Salgado are absolutely the greatest photographers in the 20th century. These two prosperous artists are from two different countries and from two different generations but I think the theme of their artworks are definitely close; human and its sadness and problems.
When I checked Magnum Photos out this morning, I found a valued collection of Bresson's photos. It was a pleasure for me watching some influential photos like this and I thought it would be very nice introducing the collection to others.
Note: My Persian blog includes three short notes about my favorite artists, two about Salgado and one about Bresson.
:: Ahmadreza 4:19 PM [+] ::
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An Iranian website dedicated to Iranian artist artworks has held an exhibition of Parisa Shariat Panahi's paintings. The style of this 30-year old painter seems a blend of Persian traditional (Miniature) and Japanese style. I suggest you to visit the gallery; it's wonderful.
:: Ahmadreza 8:05 PM [+] ::
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My cousin, a doctor living in Dallas, Texas, will be back Iran on coming Sunday. He illegally crossed the border 22 years ago going to Turkey, his destination was not Turkey of course. He wanted to settle in Germany and so left turkey after a while. He stayed in Germany a few years and studied medicine until he visited his wife, an Iranian girl living in US, in a party. His wife helped him to move to US and continue his studies there. I think he is totally prosperous and delighted.
If he stayed in Iran, he would undoubtedly have a terrible fate like his sister who spent three years at Evin prison. She was just supporter of an opposite group and was not involved in any military action against Islamic government authorities, but it made no difference for judge who sentenced her to a three-year jail. Of course it wasn't the end of story, the Islamic government didn't allow her to get high education and job. So she, that active girl, got married and became a housewife!!!
:: Ahmadreza 11:15 AM [+] ::
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Free Sina Motallebi

Hardliners arrested another young journalist on Saturday because of his interviews with foreign radio stations and his notes at his weblog named rooznegar. It's the first time that hardliners arrest a person launching and handling a weblog.
I'm so sorry but I can do nothing, except singing this letter and calling judiciary officials to release him as soon as possible. Of course it's clear that no one is able to persuade hardliners stopping these arrests, even Mr. Khatami who has lost most of his supporters since two years ago. Anyway I hope Sina will be back home as soon as possible.
:: Ahmadreza 8:54 PM [+] ::
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Nafiseh Motlagh is a 23-year-old photojournalist who is extremely active and prosperous. She is in Iraq right now, Soleymaneih area. She has a well-designed website including a blog to write her daily notes, a photo gallery to present her own artworks and a photo exhibition to cover some of exhibitions held in Tehran. Her site has a special section named Iranian Women containing Nafiseh' photo of Iranian Women especially those who live in capital city of Iran. I think it's worthwhile watching her nice photos in Iranian Women section, even though I believe it's somewhat exaggerated.
:: Ahmadreza 9:27 PM [+] ::
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"The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei here on Wednesday stressed that the Iranian Army is viewed as one of the most formidable in the world because of the commitment to spiritual values, faith in God and spirit of devotion and solidarity of its members."
Sometimes the spiritual leader makes me surprised with wonderful statements like this. I agree that Iranian army is formidable, not as strong as American one, but I can't understand how spirituality affects on its formidability.

:: Ahmadreza 12:46 AM [+] ::
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I routinely check out some artistic websites, especially those related to photography. My friends know it and help me introducing new websites. One of my friends who is an astute and artist girl introduced me an attractive website a few hours ago. This website offers members a free membership to upload their photos, see and criticize other member's artworks. I found many gorgeous photos during a short period of time at this website. If I want to exemplify, Miguel Lasa's photo is the best, a foggy road between trees.
:: Ahmadreza 12:40 AM [+] ::
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I was on assignment last Monday and Thursday and I couldn't write something to keep my nostalgic notes updated.
Anyway, I don't want to write a repeated story about US threatening. I read an awful report at Iranmania that was much more important than this type of reports. The story was about killing of two innocent children by landmine in Kurdistan province of Iran. I can't understand why Iranian authorities haven't completely removed these landmines since end of that brutal war against Iraq in 1980s. It's clear that these landmines have made life unsafe for Iranians in the western and south-western provinces.
:: Ahmadreza 4:50 PM [+] ::
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"Khamenei, who holds all the keys of power in Iran and has the final say on foreign policy, railed against the "military aggressor" and branded the military occupation of Iraq "a return to colonialism, a reactionary, ugly and insulting move."
Saying Iraqis would not accept "a new dictatorship," Khamenei however seemed to hold no hopes that U.S. troops would leave Iraq any time soon.
"If you respect, as you said, democracy and Iraqi people's rights you should leave Iraq right now," he said. "But, of course, they are not going to leave, because they were lying."
Adopting his traditional anti-U.S. rhetoric, he said Americans "with this occupation proved they are... the real axis of evil, and the Great Satan."
President Bush last year listed Iran on an "axis of evil," along with Iraq and North Korea, for allegedly sponsoring terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction. Iran denies the charges."
I knew that Ali Khamenei would give such a speech; it was not unpredictable at all. He can never leave these sentimental speeches because he has been playing the role of an anti US leader since 1989 and in this way he has been giving hope to his followers and supporters.
:: Ahmadreza 8:04 PM [+] ::
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Since three days ago, State TV has repeatedly showed special advertisements to inspire people taking part in coming Friday ceremony. The reason is clear. Spiritual leader of Iran who strongly supports fundamentalist groups is going to Tehran university campus holding Friday ceremony. No one know what he is going to speak about but I anticipate he will give a hot speech after ceremony to formally condemn war against Iraq and the presence of coalition forces in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile I think he will condemn recent USA officials' warnings!!!
:: Ahmadreza 11:41 PM [+] ::
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"Bolton was asked about a U.S. poll that showed that half of the United States population supports U.S. military action against Iran if it continues to move toward nuclear weapons development and 42 percent of those surveyed said the United States should take action against Syria if it was helping Iraq."
It was the most adverse information I got from Mr. John Bolton's press conference in Rome, Italy. When I read Mr. John Bolton's statements, I got that Mr. Powell's promise having no plan to launch a war against Iran was a trick to decrease anti American feelings, especially in the middle east. Mr. Bolton who is undersecretary of state has warned Iran once again, with threatening sentences.
:: Ahmadreza 5:47 PM [+] ::
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It seems that Saddam's era is passed now. Saddam's resistance didn't continue anymore and he abdicated government after only three weeks. Iraqi people are undeniably delighted tasting freedom after many years. It's one aspect of this story but another one makes me a little anxious for Iraqi people's destiny.
First, Iranian people had this situation after Islamic revolution 1979. They removed monarchy to launch a democratic government but they were completely unsuccessful. They could just change the appearance of the government because they put a spiritual leader instead of a king. They couldn't change anything else. So I think Iraqi people have to draw the appropriate lesson from Islamic revolution 1979.
Second, long-term presence of coalition forces is another problem. I don't know how long coalition forces will stay in Iraq, what role they will play and what Iraqi people's reaction will be.
:: Ahmadreza 3:08 PM [+] ::
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My job seems boring these days. I'm involved in a project which started five years ago and will probably finished six or seven months later. Sometimes I have to sit and do nothing regarding this situation. I think it will become much worse at the end of project, if project managers can't get another project. Anyway, I try to learn required words for TOEFL exam at office to not easily waste my time! Of course I have to conceal my book and papers!
:: Ahmadreza 1:23 PM [+] ::
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Iranian Professional Football League started yesterday once again, after approximately two weeks. Two old and famous clubs, Esteghlal and Perspolis, traditionally occupied the top of the standing in past years but League 2002-2003 has a different story. All matches are critical and there is a high competition between all teams so that prediction is entirely impossible. An old club from Isfahan named Sepahan, which has many young and capable players, is currently on the top. If they keep current position until the end of the season and win the cup with their nice performances, they will shock Iranian football fans and managers. The reason is clear, only Tehran-based clubs have been wining the cup since entering Football to Iran.
:: Ahmadreza 2:28 PM [+] ::
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Kaveh Golestan's last moments.
:: Ahmadreza 8:54 AM [+] ::
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"U.S. intelligence reports say that Iran's senior leadership decided last month to send irregular paramilitary units across the border to harass American soldiers in several cities once Saddam's regime has fallen."
It seems Iran is a delicious food for Mr. Rumsfeld and Bush administration. I know, I repeatedly write about a probable attack against Iran. I don't like it but when I hear the statements of Bush administration, I can't write anything. Mr. Rumsfeld hold a press conference yesterday at Pentagon and accused Iran interfering with war against Iraq. I don't know these accusations are baseless or not but I know they are seeking for a pretext starting a war againast Iran and we must be aware of our actions and behaviors. Of course I mean Iranian government by us. Text below is another part of Washington Times report titled Syria, Iran working to thwart U.S. aims. Please read it to know what a destiny we will have in the near future.
"On March 24, a U.S. intelligence agency issued a "spot report" to a wide range of senior U.S. officials detailing conversations in a meeting of Iran's top leaders on a post-conflict strategy. The group included President Mohammed Khatami and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "This confirmed all of our suspicions that the Iranians are not our friends and not for peace in the region. They are in fact for a piece of the region," one U.S. intelligence official said. The official said the units would target the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, the two holiest places for Shi'ites, as well as Baghdad, Basra and the oil-rich northern city of Kirkuk."
:: Ahmadreza 2:25 PM [+] ::
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All those co-workers who made a 16 day holiday for themselves getting vacation will be at work tomorrow morning. I didn't get any vacation and so I went to work all working days.
Even though it wasn't a long holiday for me, it was OK. One day, I went to Damavand (a small town located on the north-east of Tehran, with nice and pure weather and bad people!) with some new and old friends. It was a good trip. Meanwhile I tried to prepare myself for TOEFL exam. I took my book everywhere I went, I did it to learn required words for this critical exam. I'm in a doubt that I can continue this good situation or not. Because my job has a great negative affect on my life, feelings and programs and it will seriously start tomorrow morning.
:: Ahmadreza 11:49 AM [+] ::
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Last night state TV reporter from northern Iraq reported that an Iranian photojournalist has killed. He didn't announce his name. This morning I noticed that he was Kaveh Golestan, one of the most famous and successful photojournalists in Iran working as a BBC correspondent.
It was so terrible for me, when I started learning photography he was the first photographer who I knew. I'm so sorry.

:: Ahmadreza 2:06 PM [+] ::
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"On the west, Iran shares a vast border with Iraq, and Iranians fought a bloody eight-year war to defend the opposing Iraqi forces while the U.S. and the Europeans provided arms and intelligence to Saddam Hussein. In Tehran, a taxi driver told me stories from the frontlines of that war. He told me about his unit getting hit with chemical bombs and how devastating it was. When I was there, the United Nations and Iran were building camps on the old battlefields for anticipated Iraqi refugees.
Iranians do not like Saddam, but they do not trust what the U.S. is going to do [post Saddam]. They do not like Bush putting them in the "axis of evil.""
Iran's Sept. 11 theories and feelings about Iraq is an article written by Ramin Talaie who is an Iranian freelance photographer for Downtown Express. He has tried to show Iranian feelings about this war in brief and he is successful, I think.
:: Ahmadreza 10:34 PM [+] ::
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Iranian poet, philosopher, mathematician and astronomer, Omar Khayyam, has established persian calandar which is the most precise one in the world, I think. There are a few milestones in this calender which starts on the first day of spring. The 13th day of year is one of them. People try to leave their home on this day and go to the nature, it is an old custome in Iran. This day is usually called 'The Day of Nature'.
:: Ahmadreza 6:47 PM [+] ::
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