Sourena.net

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (in Persian)

Sourena — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:03:22 +0000

This post contains a complete translation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Persian. Since the official UN page in Persian is more like a joke, I decided to post it here.

Siroos Ghahremani and His Zoo

Sourena — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:19:54 +0000

Older people in Shiraz still remember Siroos Ghahremani: a weird mixture of traditional “Ma’rekehgir”, Anthony Quin’s character in Fellini’s La Strada, with a touch of Hollywood and Italian ‘historic’ movies of the 1950s. In the early 1960s he established himself as the only star of his popular one-man show. He also made a small private “zoo” in Shiraz to make some money on the side by showing off his skinny malnourished animals caught in small cages.

Hessaby, Einstein, and Haftseen!

Sourena — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 03:31:43 +0000

This piece is only in Persian. To read it in Persian click here. Summery in English: The post is about an Iranian student of Physics in Princeton in the 1930s named Mahmoud Hessaby. After graduation from Princeton Mahmood Hessaby went back to Iran and assisted the new pro-Western Iranian government to establish a "School of Sciences" in the brand-new "University of Tehran". Years later in the 1990s, his son Iraj Hessaby claims that his father was a friend of Albert Einstein, Niles Bohr, Schrodinger, and Dirac; and makes up stories about the incredible adventures of his father in Princeton university. Within a two-year period the book is published thirty times. The post is a commentary on one of the stories from that book. It also brings up the question why such a ridiculous book became so popular in Iran.

Towfiq Yearbook – 1970

Sourena — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:20:20 +0000

Towfigh was the most important satyrical weekly in the period between the 1953 coop deta and the 1978 revolution. It created a style of satirical writing which is still dominant among the satirical publications in Iran. The issue here is the Twofiq yearbook from 1970 (1349 Solar Hijri).

Roger Cohen and Iran

Sourena — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:52:58 +0000

This February Roger Cohen wrote a series of OP-EDs in New York Times that many here, in the United States found "controversial." I didn't see anything in them but truth and simple description of the country as I know it. On Thursday, March 12, 2009 Roger Cohen and had a discussion with some members of the Los Angeles Iranian Jewish Community, about his pieces in New York Times. The event was moderated by Rabbi David Wolpe at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

Dehkhoda Encyclopedia of Persian is online!

Sourena — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:17:41 +0000

Dehkhoda Encyclopedia of Persian is finally online. It is a very belated online presence, considering the fact that there is an Iranian government-funded institution called Dehkhoda Encyclopedia Institute whose sole purpose of existence is to make this encyclopedia available to the public.

Shahrvande Emrouz (No. 71)

Sourena — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:54:51 +0000

The last issue of Shahrvande Emrouz (No. 71 - November 8, 2008). The magazine was closed down by Iran's Ministry of Guidance in November 8, 2008.

Shahrvande Emrooz (No. 65-70)

Sourena — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:36:07 +0000

Shahrvande Emrooz (Issues No. 65-70)

Seattle Public Library

Sourena — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:40:28 +0000

A collection of photos from Seattle Public Library. Maybe the most beautiful library building I have ever seen. It is designed by Paul Thiry. All pictures are taken on June the 30th, 2008.