Monday, August 08, 2011
Slouching Toward a Double-Dip, for
"Imagine your house is burning. You call the fire department but your call isn't answered because every fire fighter in town is debating whether there will be enough water to fight fires over the next ten years, even though water is plentiful right now. (Yes, there's a long-term problem.) One faction won't even allow the fire trucks out of the garage unless everyone agrees to cut water use. An agency that rates fire departments has just issued a downgrade, causing everyone to hoard water."...By Robert Reich
Triple-A Idiots
"You have to hand it to Standard and Poor's. Forget their two-trillion dollar math error. The whole idea that these clowns are evaluating the creditworthiness of the United States is just loony.
For starters, these are the same people who brought us the crisis, by blessing junk sub-prime loans as AAA securities. And they did so because they were paid as consultants by the same financial scoundrels who created the securities.
The executives of the credit rating companies -- not "agencies," for these are private, profit-making, essentially unregulated companies, not public entities -- belong in prison...."
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Midnight in Paris, where Brassaï meets Sohrab
It’s nearly impossible to do justice to “Midnight in Paris”, arguably Woody Allen’s best work since “Deconstructing Harry (1997)”, without spoiling its marvellously crafted plot which is filled with ingenious, charming, funny and sometimes ridiculous surprises. After all when even the official trailer of the movie –Hollywood’s favourite method for spoiling the plot – is behaving so discretely; it’s only polite to follow suit.
I won’t talk about the plot. Rather, I’ll write about the pleasure of finding two of my favourite artists, hidden behind many layers of this masterpiece: the visual style of the Hungarian-born photographer Gyula Halász – known as Brassaï – and the vision of Persian poet/painter Sohrab Sepehri.
When it comes to depicting Paris’ nights, the influence of Brassaï is anything but subtle, as if Allen is paying hommage to this master photographer. Afterall, “Midnight in Paris”, is – more than anything - about nostalgia, Paris and the magic of the night, and what is more relevant to the essence of this movie, than Brassaï? Is it possible that the idea of “Midnight in Paris” appeared to Woody Allen when reading this comment by Brassaï?
“Night does not show things, it suggests them. It disturbs and surprises with its strangeness. It liberates forces within us which are dominated by our reason during day time”
Yet, I have to admit that the undeniable presence of Sohrab, and specifically the loud and clear sound of his poem “Footsteps of Water” (Sedaa-ie Paa-ie Aab) is as hard to explain as it is to ignore! Could it be that the Iranian-born cinematographer, the brilliant Darius Khondji, has slipped a translated copy into Woody Allen’s pocket, to alter the attitude of the nostalgic maestro toward the subject?
"و نپرسيم پدرهاي پدرها چه نسيمي، چه شبي داشته اند.
پشت سر نيست فضايي زنده.
پشت سر مرغ نمي خواند.
پشت سر باد نمي آيد.
پشت سر پنجره سبز صنوبر بسته است.
پشت سر روي همه فرفره ها خاك نشسته است.
پشت سر خستگي تاريخ است."
پشت سر نيست فضايي زنده.
پشت سر مرغ نمي خواند.
پشت سر باد نمي آيد.
پشت سر پنجره سبز صنوبر بسته است.
پشت سر روي همه فرفره ها خاك نشسته است.
پشت سر خستگي تاريخ است."
“And we can forget what the fathers of our fathers have done.
As I think that behind our steps there will not be life,
And behind our steps the birds no more sing,
And behind our steps the breeze stands still,
And behind our steps the windows are closed,
the pines are asleep.”
چترها را بايد بست.
زير باران بايد رفت.
"And we must close umbrellas,
We must stay under the stroke of drops of rain.
And we must take, all together,
the mind, the memory and the heart
to the rite of descending water."
English Translation of Sohrab’s Poem: Maryam Dilmaghani
Friday, April 01, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The Lost Beatles Photographs (PHOTOS)
"In November, 2010 HarperCollins published my book The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive 1964-1966, and now I'm pleased to present the companion book, The Lost Beatles Photographs. The photographs are unlike any others seen before. Bob had a gifted eye and unequaled access. These photos are candid, intimate, unguarded and have an honesty that transcends and humanizes the subject."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Can we automate creativity?
A mind-blowing argument by "Stephen Wolfram", arguing that the mathematic that we use today (and hence, physics, engineering and etc) has its roots in history, and it is only one of the many possible mathematics that we could have been using...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
A Libyan Fight for Democracy, or a Civil War?
A must read for anyone who is interested in the subject
Religion may become extinct in nine nations, study says
Since I'm a strong believer in human stupidity, I'm not very hopeful about this, but I guess it's a good news, after all!
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Me VS Marketing - Stravinsky for Valentine
Here is an actual marketing material from TSO (Toronto Symphonic Orchestra) that was sent to mailing-list subscribers:
"Oops! Did you forget to do something special for Valentine's Day?!
The TSO is giving you the chance to make up for it with a special offer!
2 tickets for $120* to Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring"
Now a word with the good folks at TSO marketing team:
Unless you’re dating Susan Sontag, going to “Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring” is a terrible idea for Valentine’s Day!
I can only think of one situation where this modern and excessively unromantic music could become a swell idea for V-day and that is when you’re bored with your relationship and you’re looking for a bullet-proof idea to get her to breakup with you! In that case, taking your significant other to a Stravinsky concert on Valentine’s Day might be just what you’re looking for. In any other situation, please think of a better marketing pitch!
Because this is just Gaddafi-meets-Ahamdinejad’s sense-of-style, off!!!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Many Genocides To Be Commemorated On Holocaust Memorial Day
Hats off to Rabbi "Jonathan Romain". Read the story
100 Percent Renewable Energy Achievable By 2030
Could the world reach a 100 percent renewable energy goal in less than 20 years? New research says we can. Read the full story
Rebel Yoga
"TARA Stiles does not talk about sacred Hindu texts, personal intentions or chakras. She does not ask her yoga classes to chant. Her language is plainly Main Street: chaturangas are push-ups, the “sacrum” the lower back. She dismisses the ubiquitous yoga teacher-training certificates as rubber stamps, preferring to observe job candidates in action."
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
How weretched are the companions of the left hand: A left-handed manifesto!
Among the countless hours of my life that were wasted by the Islamic regime in Iran; in their pathetic quest for religious indoctrination, I vividly remember that particular session in the elementary school in which, we were told by the teacher: “at the end of the judgment day, those who prevail – and rise to heaven – will hold the resume of their deeds in their right hands, but those who hold it in their left hands will burn in hell for eternity”
Well, that was the moment that I realized that I won’t have any luck with religion, for that I always hold almost anything of value in my left hand, anyway! And so does the 8-15% of the population!
I wouldn’t concern myself if the injustice was confined to the imaginary world of afterlife but unfortunately, it doesn’t. According to Dr. Diane F. Halpern of California State University at San Bernardinoand Dr. Stanley Coren of the University of British Columbia “left-handers were more than five times (7.9 percent to 1.5 percent) as likely to die in accidents, often while driving. One reason, they suggested, is that left-handers live in a world designed for right-handers.”
And mortality rate is not the only concern. It is also about the ease-of-use and the loss of performance. In fact, the society has persistently ignored the need of left-handers for customized tools - for any device that does not offer a symmetric use – including automobiles, many kitchen utensils, sports equipments, professional tools, musical instruments, photography equipments, to name a few.
And in rare cases where the left-hander’s version is available, those items are scarce, expensive and difficult to find.
Let us think about it. While almost one out of every nine people on this planet is left-handed, why shouldn’t designers and manufacturers be obliged to accommodate lefties? Why designers aren’t required by law, to offer a left-handed alternative for every device that does not provide a symmetric use?
I am sure that the business has enough ingenuity to accommodate left-handed users, without incurring a significant loss, provided that we left-handed, either exert enough pressure on the industry – through demand boycott – or force our elected representatives to push through proper regulations to protect the rights of our ignored minority.
Now that one of us, is the president of the United States (Barak Obama) and another is the prime minister of England (David Cameron), isn’t it the time to demand our right for equality? We can’t get any stronger than this.
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* Then (as to) the companions of the right hand; how happy are the companions of the right hand! And (as to) the companions of the left hand; how wretched are the companions of the left hand!
Verses 8 and 9 from Qoran’s The Inevitable (Al-Waqia)
China Improves Energy Efficiency By 20 Percent In 5 Years
"China met a five-year target to improve energy efficiency by cutting power to industry and imposing rolling blackouts, even though a massive economic stimulus increased energy use." Read the full article
Monday, January 10, 2011
Steven Pinker Vs. Chet Baker: A reflection on Happiness
For most of us non-believers, searching for happiness – and not serving the imaginary creator – is an essential part of the living experience. Where to find it, however, is a persistent question!
According to Steven Pinker – one of the world’s foremost psychologists – “we’re happier when we are healthy, well-fed, comfortable, safe, prosperous, knowledgeable, respected, non-celibate and in love!"
At first, professor Pinker’s list of ingredients; for a simple “Bonheur” for one person, seems ridiculously lengthy. But upon further reflection, I realized that most people around me have been privileged to belong to a minority of our planet’s inhabitants who are safe, comfortable and well-fed (perhaps a tad too much so, as judged by my love-handles!). Moreover, most of us are somewhat healthy - give or take a flu - and relatively prosperous. We’re reasonably respected and knowledgeable – and those who aren’t, don’t seem to care about it that much! And finally, I don’t believe that celibacy is an issue, specifically in fun-loving Toronto!
After crossing all the items - but one - off the list, it suddenly hit me that why a great deal of our happiness is defined by the degree in which we’re “In” or “Out” of “love”?
Then I - masochistically - borrowed the irritating style of Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex and the City and asked: “Should we fall in love to become happier?”
“But not so fast”, Chet Baker whispered to my ears, as I was arriving to a prompt and decisive conclusion:
“You don’t know what love is, until you’ve learned the meaning of the blues,
Until you’ve loved a love you had to lose, you don’t know what love is…
You don’t know how lips hurt, until you’ve kissed and had to pay the cost,
Until you’ve flipped your heart and lost, you don’t know what love is…”
Though I resisted the sadness of his voice, the melancholic tone of his trumpet got me fully convinced.
Now I’ve found myself, back to square one!
Friday, January 07, 2011
The Happy Marriage Is the ‘Me’ Marriage
Not anymore. For centuries, marriage was viewed as an economic and social institution, and the emotional and intellectual needs of the spouses were secondary to the survival of the marriage itself. But in modern relationships, people are looking for a partnership, and they want partners who make their lives more interesting.
Dr. Aron and Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., a professor at Monmouth University in New Jersey, have studied how individuals use a relationship to accumulate knowledge and experiences, a process called “self-expansion.” Research shows that the more self-expansion people experience from their partner, the more committed and satisfied they are in the relationship.
Dr. Lewandowski says. “If your partner is helping you become a better person, you become happier and more satisfied in the relationship.”Why Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Facebook, and the Next Bubble?
By Simon Johnson, the former chief economist at the IMF. Read the article in NY Times
11 Tricks to Cutting Travel Costs in 2011
Find out "11 tricks to cutting Travel costs" by clicking here
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