U.S. Department of State Official Statement: Free Gaza Flotilla

"U.S. Department of State

"Near East: Free Gaza Flotilla
Mon, 31 May 2010 18:48:40 -0500

"Free Gaza Flotilla

"Philip J. Crowley

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs

Washington, DC

May 31, 2010

"The United States deeply regrets the tragic loss of life and injuries suffered among those involved in the incident today aboard the Gaza-bound ships. We are working to ascertain the facts, and expect that the Israeli government will conduct a full and credible investigation.

"The United States remains deeply concerned by the suffering of civilians in Gaza. We will continue to engage the Israelis on a daily basis to expand the scope and type of goods allowed into Gaza to address the full range of the population’s humanitarian and recovery needs. We will continue to work closely with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, along with international NGOs and the UN, to provide adequate access for humanitarian goods, including reconstruction materials, through the border crossings, while bearing in mind the Government of Israel’s legitimate security concerns. However, Hamas’ interference with international assistance shipments and work of nongovernmental organizations, and its use and endorsement of violence, complicates efforts in Gaza. Mechanisms exist for the transfer of humanitarian assistance to Gaza by governments and groups that wish to do so. These mechanisms should be used for the benefit of all those in Gaza.

"Ultimately, this incident underscores the need to move ahead quickly with negotiations that can lead to a comprehensive peace in the region."

Karroubi, regarding political parties in future of Iran

Masih Alinejad interviewed Mehdi Karroubi for Rah-e-Sabz and provided a translation for http://enduringamerica.com Here is an excerpt:

Masih Alinejad: "One of the demands constantly mentioned in these statements is holding free elections. Is there any hope that one day party-based parliamentary or presidential elections will be held? Do you think that the notion of “party” will have a place in the future of Iran? When we speak of political parties do we mean a party with the ability to influence the state based on the votes it receives from the people?

Mehdi Karroubi: "This is what we should be seeking but there are two difficult obstacles ahead. The first one is the regime which does not wish such a thing, and the second is that the political groups are not used to organisational work and I have said many times that these groups are either oppose party-based activity or evade it. Party-based action is quite difficult in Iran and we need time to learn how to approach a party in the country."

http://enduringamerica.com/2010/05/27/iran-document-karroubi-aligning-the-green-movement-inside-and-outside-country/

Votes Turn Map Green

Share this! Each time you vote for ATTN: Mr. Democrat, the country you are in turns slightly greener on the Google analytics map. Here's how to vote:

1.) Sign in to YouTube.

2.) Go to  http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge

3.) Click on VOTE button.

4.) Search for ATTN: Mr. Democrat and click on it when it comes up.

5.) Enjoy the video and click the green "thumbs up" button.

Vote once a day. Tell your friends! Competition ends June 15th.

Watch the world turn green! ATTN: Mr. Democrat Google analytics map http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI6oOgG-HRg&feature=player_embedded

To help promote the video, LIKE the page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-FREDs-video-to-victory/124935710859617?ref=ts , and suggest it to friends.

  

If you have time, also support the video from Azerbaijan, "Democracy is…POSSIBLE"! It's great too, and Azerbaijan is in Europe/Eurasia--not in competition with ATTN: Mr. Democrat, from the Near East.

Top Picks for Democracy Video Challenge

Top pick for each category in the Democracy Video Challenge:
(click through for widescreen)

Near East 

ATTN: Mr. Democrat
Europe Eurasia
Democracy is... POSSIBLE

East Asia Pacific
Democracy is....struggle of freedom desire!

Western Hemisphere
Democracy Is...The Right of Life

South & Central Asia
Democracy is the message by the people

Africa
Democracy Is...

How to vote:
1.) 
Sign in to Youtube.

2.) Go to http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge
3.) Click on "VOTE" button.

4.) Search for the video you want to vote for, and click on it when it comes up.
5.) 
Enjoy the video and click on the green "thumbs up" button. 
(You will know your vote was counted because you will see the red thumb turn gray.)



Vote once a day until midnight of June 15th, when the final judging round closes. Tell your friends.

Middle Dog Gets Angry

Click through for widescreen.

Here are some dogs who have to work together through some emotional issues.

Animation: George Gendi

Music: George Gendi and Andre Ruivo

Copyright RCA 2005

Jafar Panahi Before and After 3 Months in Prison

Film director Jafar Panahi was recently released from Evin Prison in Tehran. American and International film makers had petitioned for his release, and Panahi had recently gone on hunger strike.

Israel's nuclear weapons: Time to come clean

• An excerpt from an editorial in The Guardian today:
• 
  
• "Both America and Israel believe that Israel should retain its nuclear weapons while Iran should not be allowed to acquire them. With the Brazilian and Turkish scheme for the transfer of nuclear material spurned and tougher UN sanctions against Iran on the way, this is an unexamined contradiction which undermines much Middle Eastern diplomacy and cannot be for ever skirted. It is impossible to imagine even the first steps towards a true nuclear settlement in the Middle East without Israel abandoning its obfuscations on nuclear weapons and admitting, as other nuclear powers do, that security is a collective as well as an individual matter."

Some background on Israel's nuclear weapons from another site.

My opinion is that Israel/Palestine should join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and be inspected just like everyone else in the treaty. This would calm things down a bit, eroding some of the support for hardliners in Iran and Lebanon who accuse Israel of bullying.

But I also don't want to see the people who are currently governing Iran acquire nuclear weapons--because look what the hardliners are doing to their own people. What would they do to their "enemies" outside Iran? Plus, there is an apocalyptic fringe of Shia that welcomes the end of the world. I don't want extremist religious groups to have access to nuclear weapons--including extreme Christians, who also have an apocalyptic fringe.--Julie Jigsawnovich

• 
  

American Jew Finds Peace in Islam

I love stereotype-breaking news! Voice of America reports:

Quest for spiritual truth guides US woman to Sufi Islam

Myself, I was forced to attend Evangelical churches as a child. But instead of finding another religion, I've pretty much abandoned religions altogether. I'm much more interested in science, reason and ethics than in faith. Religious texts sometimes mix philosophy and ethics with faith though, so I still read them on occasion. My favorite so far is the Tibetan Book of the Dead. I read the Holy Bible--and the Satanic Bible. I still want to read the Koran and the Torah, and I'm open to other suggestions.--Julie Jigsawnovich

Protest Against BP scheduled for NYC

Facebook page, Flash Protest of BP Oil Spill announces:

"On May 28th, nearly 40 days after the beginning of this disaster, we shall come together as citizens of NYC and march to the BP station on the corner of Housten and Lafayette. There, we will be dressed in all white with gas hoses wrapped around our bodies and necks symbolizing the asphyxiating hold the oil companies maintain on the world. We shall enter the station and for two minutes stand in a formation that demonstrates our solidarity against BP and other companies guilty of the same crimes. There will be a speaker demanding that BP, TransOcean, and Halliburton halt all drilling world wide till the oil spill is totally cleaned. After the speech, we will chant: “BP your heart is black, you can have your oil back." We will then dump buckets of “oil” (black water) over ourselves and the station. Then we will disperse.

"This is a peaceful, non-destructive piece of performance art that will last two minutes. It will be videotaped, edited, and digitally disseminated. A flash protest if you will." (excerpt)

Among those who have RSVP'd that they will attend this protest is filmmaker Shirin Neshat, who directed the prize winning feature, "Women Without Men," currently showing in select theaters.

Google Pacman Game Has Permanent Home

Google celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Pac Man computer game by posting a version of their logo turned into a live, free Pac Man application. It was so popular that they've given it a permanent home . . . . . . . . . . here.

Image via Wikipedia

"Not Life" Vatican Says of Synthetic Cell

Today CNN reported from Rome, Italy that the The Vatican praised scientists who created the world's first synthetic cell, calling it an "interesting result" that could help cure disease. However, scientists must "join courage with caution," said an article in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano last Saturday. "They touch a very fragile territory where the environment and manipulation play a role that cannot be underestimated.".

"The weight of the DNA is great, and great are the expectations of genetic science," L'Osservatore Romano said. "Nevertheless, the DNA, even though it is an excellent engine, is not life."

Genetics pioneer J. Craig Venter, who runs an eponymous U.S. Institute for Genomic Research, announced Thursday that he and his team had created artificial life for the first time. Venter said his team had not created life.

"We created a new cell. It's alive. But we didn't create life from scratch," he said.

Afghan Women and Men Protest at Iranian Consolate in Herat

Somali rapper bucks hip-hop code of violence

Reported By Eliott C. McLaughlin, CNN

Scientists Create First Synthetic Species

On video captured by BBC World, Dr Craig Venter said, "This is the first species on our planet to have its parent being a computer."

Pakistan blocks YouTube & Facebook for "Sacrilegious Content"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10130195.stm

Iranian Lesbian Denied Asylum in UK

Petition to To save Kiana Firouz's life by stopping her deportation from UK

Stop Deporting Kiana Firouz, the Iranian Lesbian

TimesOnline reports: "A young Iranian actress named Kiana Firouz will attend the London premiere tonight of a film in which she plays a lesbian seeking asylum in Britain because the Iranian authorities are pursuing her. The Home Office rejects her application and sends her back to the Islamic republic, where homosexuality is a crime punishable by death.

"Unfortunately for Kiana Firouz the film is not make-believe. It is based on her life. The Home Office has denied her asylum and she now faces the prospect of deportation to Iran followed by flogging, execution or both."

Charming Rapper Pragmatist

You know how home cooked food tastes better than restaurant food, usually? Well, this kid's rap has that home cooked flava.  And he won my heart from the get-go talkin' 'bout "wrapping up trees with pages from the Bible."

B-Rock | MySpace Music Videos

The Black Keys "Tighten Up" music video

These fellers aren't just talented--they're charmin'! :D

Diana Al-Hadid Speaks About Her Art

ArteEast and Art in General are proud to present a talk by artist Diana Al-Hadid.
6:30 p.m. Art in General 79 Walker Street New York, NY 10013


Click here for the press release. For more information, please visit: www.dianaalhadid.com."

Film Director Jafar Panahi on Hunger Strike in Evin Prison

Internationally acclaimed Iranian director has made several movies addressing laws and customs in Iran that discriminate against women.  In "Offside," young women dress and men to gain entrance into a soccer stadium where women are forbidden.



Panahi was arrested in early March 2010 in Iran, "culminating months of obvious and hidden pressure on the independent filmmaker from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence" the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported. Jafar Panahi is on hunger strike, and his demands for ending his hunger strike include contact and visits with his family, consultation with and representation by a lawyer, unconditional release until his trial date and final verdict, and in case he dies soon, that his body be delivered to his family to bury wherever they like. ICHRI reports that Panahi stated in his letter dated 18 May 2010, ”I have not taken any food or liquids since Sunday morning [16 May 2010], and I would like to announce that unless the following demands are met, I will continue to refrain from eating and drinking, as I do not wish to turn into a guinea pig who is put under various torture, psychological and mental abuse, and subjected to false accusations...I swear upon the cinema in which I believe, that I will not stop my hunger strike until my demands are met...”

Freud Would Have a Heyday with This Video

But you'll probably be too distracted to think about the symbolism the first five times you watch it, lol. "FLESH" Mr Flash Music video from Cédric BLAISBOIS on Vimeo. Viewer discretion: S

ATTN: Mr. Democrat video

I had the honor of editing the English subtitles for Farbod Khoshtinat's video, ATTN: Mr. Democrat, which is short-listed for the final round of the Democracy Video Challenge. This video is competing against Israeli and Algerian videos in the Near East Category. Six winners from world geographic regions will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., New York and Hollywood--with gala screenings of the winning videos, exposure to filmmakers and the U.S. film and television industry, and meetings with democracy advocates from government, media and civil society.

Now that Khoshtinat has released "ATTN: Mr. Democrat," returning to his home country of Iran would surely be dangerous.

How to vote for this video:

1.) Go to http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge .
2.) Sign in to Youtube. (If you don't have a youtube account yet, it's easy to create one http://www.youtube.com/create_account?next=%2F .)

3.) Click on "VOTE" button.

4.) Search for ATTN: Mr. Democrat, and click on it when it comes up.

5.) Click on the green "thumbs up" button. (You will know your vote was counted because you will see the red thumb turn gray. Everyone can vote once a day until midnight of June 15th, when the final judging round closes.)

Please forward this information to friends and colleagues.

Iran Sentences Female Activists

Saeed Valadbaygi writes in astreetjournalist.com that:

"An Iranian court has convicted two activists in absentia and sentenced them to jail and lashes over a 2007 protest.

"The court tried the two women, [Shadi Sadr and Mahbubeh Abbas-Gholizadeh] both of whom are currently abroad, on May 8 over a March 2007 rally outside a revolutionary court where four fellow feminists were on trial.

"Both have campaigned to abolish the practice of stoning adulterers to death.

"Sadr, a lawyer and journalist, was awarded the Polish Lech Walesa Prize in September 2009 for promoting “human rights, freedom of expression and democracy in Iran.”

New access to electricity for 6,000 families in Faryab, Afghanistan

"Afghan media reported earlier this week that around 6000 families in the Shirin Tagab district of Afghanistan’s northern province of Faryab now have electricity. They are no longer dependent on the use of lamps to light their houses at night."

HOW TO: Get Notified When Someone Hacks Your Facebook

Samuel Axon reports: "Facebook just announced a tool that notifies you by e-mail or SMS text message when someone logs into your Facebook profile from an unknown computer...The idea is to help you recognize when a hacker has broken into your account so you can respond quickly by either changing your password (if that’s still possible) or contacting Facebook."

Psychadelic Computer Animation Program

If your computer had a psychedelic flashback of Persian tile work after visiting Esfahan, well...use Firefox for this.

Predator Drone Aircraft

Replace 60watt Incandescent with 9watt LED Bulb

Martin LaMonica at CNET reports:

"With improvements in technology, [9watt] LED light sources are becoming bright enough to replace...60-watt incandescent bulbs or their compact fluorescent equivalents. The bulbs don't contain mercury [unlike compact flourescent bulbs] and some LED retrofit suppliers say the products are recyclable."

Janelle Monae Tightrope ft. Big Boi [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

High quality everything!  Beautiful women and men, amazing dancing, gorgeous voice, rapper with flow, great cinematography, clean editing, intelligent lyrics, intriguing symbolism, nice clothes, cool set, excellent arrangement... This is BETTER than any Michael Jackson video--plus I bet she's not a pedophile!

Click through for widescreen.

"The ArchAndroid" in stores and online May 18th!  http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/the-archandroid/id370984415 Pre-Order Janelle Monae Tightrope ft. Big Boi [OFFICIAL VIDEO] PREORDER NOW!

France & Iran Detainee Swap?

BBC reports:

"A French lecturer charged with spying in Iran after last June's disputed election will be allowed to leave the country on Sunday, says her lawyer...

"The 25-year-old was accused of espionage and e-mailing photographs of anti-government protests...

"The BBC's Hugh Schofield in the French capital says that with France at the forefront of efforts to punish Iran for its nuclear programme, there has been suspicion Ms. [Clotilde] Reiss was being held to put pressure on Paris.

"Last week, France freed an Iranian engineer whom it detained for allegedly exporting electronic parts illegally to sell to Iran's military.

"The US had wanted to extradite Majid Kakavand, but a French court rejected the request last week and he was allowed return home."

Haunted by Congo rape dilemma

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8677637.stm

Thai red-shirt supporter Gen Khattiya shot

video

United States Contributes $20 Million to Relief Effort for Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

Of course this money is dwarfed by the billions (?) the U.S. spends on Israel each year, but...

According to a Department of State Press Release dated May 14, 2010:

"U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michele Sison announced on May 12, 2010, that the United States is in the process of contributing $20 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support reconstruction and emergency relief at Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Lebanon. Fighting destroyed the camp in 2007, displacing 30,000 refugees.

"This $20 million contribution will support the reconstruction of homes, schools and health clinics in the camp and provide assistance to the most vulnerable of the displaced refuges by supplying food, shelter, water and sanitation facilities, healthcare and access to basic education while the camp is being reconstructed. With this contribution, the U.S. will have provided more than $91 million for Nahr al-Bared and encourages other donors to strongly support UNRWA’s relief and reconstruction efforts.

"The United States is UNRWA’s largest bilateral donor. In 2009, the United States provided over $267 million to UNRWA. With this contribution, the U.S will have provided $115 million to UNRWA in 2010, including $35 million for emergency operations in the West Bank and Gaza and $60 million for the General Fund, which supports core services for 4.7 million refugees in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, including providing education for nearly 500,000 Palestinian children in 691 UNRWA schools."

Tehran Rapper's First Concert Is Outside Iran: Videos of Hichkas in Malaysia

Video of Tehran rapper Hichkas' first concert, which took place outside of Iran. Rap is mostly banned inside Iran. Here's an article about the words to this song, "Ye Rooze Khub Miad."


Click through for widescreen.

Here are some more videos of the concert. I wish I could have been there to see him in person. I hope he comes to New York!

Human Rights Watch concerns for 17 Iranian Kurds on death row

Radio Zamaaneh reports:

Human Rights Watch condemned the execution of five political prisoners in Iran this week and warned that 17 other imprisoned Kurds are also in imminent danger of execution.

Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights watch said: “These hangings of four Kurdish prisoners are the latest example of the government’s unfair use of the death penalty against ethnic minority dissidents. The judiciary routinely accuses Kurdish dissidents, including civil society activists, of belonging to armed separatist groups and sentences them to death in an effort to crush dissent.”

 

Separate Religion from Politics: Respected Iranian Musician

"We must separate religion from politics," said Mohammaed Reza Shajarian in the following interview.



Click through for widescreen.  Mohammaed Reza Shajarian is a highly acclaimed traditional Iranian musician who--after last year's presidential election--asked Iranian state television and radio to stop playing his music. In this interview Shajarian say, "We must separate religion from politics."

Lego Blocks Stop-motion Animated Music Video

It took 1,500 hours moving and photographing Lego blocks to create this stop-motion animated video for Rymdreglage "8-bit Trip"

A chance to stand tall against Iran on human rights

Journalist Roxana Saberi was detained in Evin Prison last year. She recently wrote a book about her experiences, Between Two Worlds. Saberi also contributed to the Cannes award-winning film, No One Knows About The Persian Cats.

In today's Washington Post, Saberi writes:

"As the international community focuses on Iran's nuclear program, it should also make human rights a first-tier issue. When the U.N. Human Rights Council meets in Geneva next month, Washington and the European Union should lead calls for a resolution setting up a mechanism to investigate human rights atrocities in Iran during the past year. A bigger push should be made to send a U.N. special envoy on human rights to Iran and to aid Iranians, including the many journalists forced to flee their country out of fear of persecution.

But perhaps even more important than government efforts is the outcry of ordinary people worldwide. When everyday citizens speak out against Iran's human rights violations, Tehran has a tougher time asserting that their calls have been masterminded by foreign governments."

Women Harrassed in Tehran

Video: Women harassed in Tehran

by Julie Jigsawnovich

I remember reading about a group of guys who tried to rape a girl in Iran. She stabbed one of them, so they left without raping her.  But the guy she stabbed died later from the wound. Then she was convicted of murder. There are attempted rapes and stabbings in the U.S. too, but a woman here can declare self-defense.

Three guys robbed me in Brooklyn, and were starting to grope me like they were going to rape me. I swung a piece of metal close to the head of their leader and scared them away. But if I had smashed his head in and killed him instead at least I could have claimed self-defense in court.

I recommend studying Wing Chun Kung Fu. This is a good self-defense form to use when fighting a larger opponent. It was developed by Bhuddist nuns to fight off men invading and trying to rape them. It is very effective.  Bruce Lee also used Wing Chun as the basis of the fighting style he developed.

Watching this video makes me thankful that there were at least a few good men at that scene who helped the women escape the crowd.  And it makes me extra proud of my friend who told me:

"Last week I saw a mullah beat a 17year old girl in front of us, in the street! He punched the girl and said, "You don't have to call him again, I'm your stepfather!" And me and our friends went there and beat the mullah!"

Hichkas Freestyle with new Candis designs

I don't know what he's saying, but Hichkas has a certain charm. Hichkas and Reveal perform in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this Saturday night.

Rap Techno: Mickey Factz "Alpha"

The video is pretty. The combination of rap and techno seems somewhat innovative. I wish the words weren't boring. Sorry, but I've grown accustomed to Hichkas and Quf, who are setting high standards for rap lyrics.

Uday Hussein randomly shooting AK47 at Party

Click through for widescreen. "Saddam's nastiest biological weapons may have been his sons Uday and Qusay," TIME reported.

East 14th Street Fire

The smell of the burning deli smoke was eerily reminiscent of the smell of the smoke on 9-11.

Click through for widescreen. Article about the fire here.

Sign Petition to Allow Gays to Serve in Military

http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/s/dontdelayondadt

VICE Gives Camera to Palestinian Filmmaker in Refugee Camp

Decentralized Social Networking: Diaspora

Jim Dwyer reports: "They have called their project Diaspora* and intend to distribute the software free, and to make the code openly available so that other programmers can build on it. As they describe it, the Diaspora* software will let users set up their own personal servers, called seeds, create their own hubs and fully control the information they share."

Facebook Data Mines Info After Users Quit

Joe Moe reports: "…you can…delete your account once and for all. You’ll never see that data again. But Facebook will. They still have that information and will continue to use it for data mining."

Sex Laws in Iran: Rapper Discusses Consequences

                                                                                photoshopped photo: Reza

by Julie Jigsawnovich

READER DISCRETION: L

Yesterday a teenage gangsta rapper friend in Tehran posted a general question for any friends to answer:

Reza: "Why do they become homosexual when there's a lot of girls?" :D

JJ: They are narcissistic sometimes. Or sometimes their grandma did something to them when they were little that freaked them out later. Or sometimes they were just born gay--and even if they try to get excited about females, they are still more excited by males. That's just what is natural for some people.

Reza: Yes, that's true outside of Iran! Because if you walk with your girlfriend in Iran, you will get caught by cops and get f*cked up! Or if that didn't happen, you will get caught by your parents (some parents are like that) and they will knock you out! So you will be scared that, "Oh, no more girlfriend." So you will go and have physical contact with boys, and you will think, "Oh yeah, I'm havin' contact with a girl." And suddenly you'll hear a sound like "But I have a d*ck, you dumb ass."

And I really hate it when two boys are kissing each other! (UGHH) wtf! I can even give them free non-haram girls so it won't be a sin anymore! Go and have fun with them!

JJ: Iran is so strict about dating, romance and sexuality that it actually drives young people into gay relationships. But gay people in Iran can be executed, which is terrible.

Can you explain to me the difference between haram and non-haram girls?

Reza: "Haram" means "not legal". But non-haram = Sighe movaghat [temporary marriage] =)) :)) [emoticons expressing laughter]--the thing that mullahs [clerics] are always doing! It's like a woman who lost her husband comes to mullah to ask for some help, saying, "Hello Mr. Haj, sir! I lost my husband, now I need some help. I have two orphan kids." And Haj agha [sir] will be like, "Ooowww that's grrrreaat! Inshallah [God willing] get ready for..."sighe" [temporary marriage]--and that's a big help for you."

Yesterday I saw a mullah in a taxi that had 40 sighe wives! WHAT???? 40??? I don't know how he can call them, like, "Hey my 27th sighe wife, come here for some hot non-haram f*ck."

And they will ruin the true Islam! And thats f*cked up! That's why many young people convert to other religions!

JJ: Aha, non-haram is temporary marriage! 40 sighe wives! They would need a bus! So maybe the mullahs like it when people are poor and desperate because it means cheap, easy sex for them?

Reza: Yeah, exactly! So they don't have to pay!

JJ: You mean so they don't have to pay a prostitute, or so they don't have to pay to support a regular wife?

Reza: In fact both of 'em! First of all, according to true Islam, "marrying or temporarily marrying a prostitute is haram." Mullahs do it now, but they have to pay money! So they don't wanna pay money, and they're looking for a woman whose husband is dead or left her! And also, they do not really support the woman! They just give them little foods and beat her child!

JJ: Beat the child to make the cleric seem like he is moral, even though he is not?

Reza: I don't know why they beats them! Last week I saw a mullah beat a 17year old girl in front of us, in the street! He punched the girl and said, "You don't have to call him again, I'm your stepfather!" And me and our friends went there and beat the mullah!

JJ: Wow! Was this in Tehran?

Reza: Yeah! We live in Tehran.

JJ: How did the girl react when you beat the mullah?

Reza: She said, "Thank you," and left!

JJ: Eyval!!!!!!!!!!! (You did a good thing.) You are a good man!

Reza: LOL (Laughing out loud)! Thanks!

JJ: Can you tell me more about the true Islam that they are ruining? Tell me more about how it is supposed to be?

Reza: Well, according to Dr.Shariati, the man who wanted to show the true Islam--but they killed him, he said that other religions such as Paganism and...that were in the past--in those religions it says you are what you are! God made you like that! If you don't know anything, if you're poor, it is what it is! But Islam (true version) is against this, and said you must have knowledge! You must have a great civilization. Work! Think! And also in "vaen yakad" a thing in Quran, it says that "Religion is not obligatory!" But now they're saying if you are not Shi'a, then you must die! But when Muhammad & twelve Imams came to show the people true Islam some guys who claimed they were Muslim, while in fact they were not--Like Muawiah, they start ruining it. And after that, some Iranian mullahs! In fact Islam is for the knowledge, is for the better life! But they are ruining it! Go and buy Dr. Shariati's "Religion against Religion" book, and read it! It's really great!

JJ: Wow! "Religion against Religion" sounds good! Who killed Dr. Shariati?

Reza: I don't know! Some years before the revolution, while Shariati was in London, some men rushed into his hotel and beat him, then killed him with oxygen injection! I think maybe it was mullahs' work because they were about to start the Revolution, and they didn't want people to know about true Islam. Or maybe British government sent them to kill him because they also didn't wanted people to know about true Islam!

JJ: I would like to publish this on http://jigsawnovich.blogspot.com. Do I have your permission?

Reza: LOL! Go on! Publish everything from me!

Animated Video Memorial for 5 Executed Yesterday in Iran

The female teacher and social worker executed Sunday, Farzad Kamangar, was condemned to death after a seven minute trial with "zero evidence," reports International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Five "پنج تن" by Soheil Tavakoli

Created by Soheil Tavakoli to protest against execution of 5 political prisoners by Iran's regime on May 09, 2010 - Free Political Prisoners, Free Iran این نقاشی ویدئو در ...

click through for widescreen.

SciFi music videos

Following is a weirdly fascinating video I like watching with the sound off. Click through for widescreen.

And following is what must also have been an incredibly expensive production. The refinement of the images almost doesn't seem to go with the looseness of Amari's music, but maybe this is music that astronauts homesick for Earth really would listen to.

Amari - Tiger from Francesco Calabrese on Vimeo.

Protest at Iran Mission to UN, Memorial and Sanctions Talk

Where Is My Vote? - NY:

4:30pm to 5:30pm

41st Street and 3rd Avenue, New York, NY

A group of us are gathering in front of the Iranian Mission to UN to show our disgust and outrage at yesterday's summary executions by the Islamic Republic.

Solidarity Committee for Advancement of Democracy in Iran:

We are all Iranian Kurd Today

Memorial Vigil for the 5 executed political prisoners 

5:30-7 PM 

Washington Square North at 5th Avenue, New York, NY

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=120405824654280

Where Is My Vote? - NY, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at NYU, The Nation, and Campaign for Peace and Democracy:

7-9pm 

50 Washington Square South (at 255 Sullivan Street)

Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies @ NYU

Sanctioning Iran?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=116958398324444&ref=mf

FEATURING:

JOY GORDON – Professor of philosophy at Fairfield University, PhD Yale University, JD Boston University School of Law. Dr. Gordon has published extensively on issues of international relations and international law, particularly in the area of economic sanctions. Her most recent work Invisible War: The United States and Iraq Sanctions was published by the Harvard University Press.

TRITA PARSI – Founder and president of the National Iranian American Council and an expert on US-Iranian relations, Iranian politics, and the balance of power in the Middle East. Dr. Parsi is the author of Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States. On February 25, 2010, he testified before Congress on the Human Rights situation in Iran.

ROANE CAREY – Serving as moderator for this event, he is managing editor of The Nation magazine. He is the editor of two books on the Middle East conflict, The New Intifada (Verso, 2001) and The Other Israel (New Press, 2002).