Thursday, July 27, 2006
"Snow Leopard"- "Palang-e-Sefid" (Uncia Uncia) Filmed For the First Time...
Just a few days ago a camera crew was out in a remote mountainous region in Northern Iran filming the habitat and searching for wild animals native to the area when suddenly a white, large cat was spotted through the camera lens.
The camera crew immediately recognized this beautiful creature as a Snow Leopard, scientifically named Uncia Uncia, which had not been captured on film for almost a decade or more inside Iran.
The best part about seeing this animal, although scrawny and underfed in the film, was that I was discussing their plight with a friend just yesterday. I remember reading about the hunting parties that drove their species to near extinction and the disorganized, underpaid state of the environmentalists and animal activists within Iran being unable to control poaching of these animals. Because of their prized fur, and their small numbers, most of these Snow Leopards have been transferred to wildlife parks where they are bred and have grown in numbers but still suffer in the wild because of the lack of protectionism.
The strangest aspect about these Snow Leopards is their inability to roar or purr, leaving them in complete silence; however, I hope that there will be changes in policy and more money sent to the national parks to protect what is left of them for future generations to enjoy.
*
Because my other blog has exceeded its bandwidth usage on eponym.com I've continued to work on this one, and I hope everyone watches VOA's Rountable tonight, with Nazanin Afshin-Jam!
The camera crew immediately recognized this beautiful creature as a Snow Leopard, scientifically named Uncia Uncia, which had not been captured on film for almost a decade or more inside Iran.
The best part about seeing this animal, although scrawny and underfed in the film, was that I was discussing their plight with a friend just yesterday. I remember reading about the hunting parties that drove their species to near extinction and the disorganized, underpaid state of the environmentalists and animal activists within Iran being unable to control poaching of these animals. Because of their prized fur, and their small numbers, most of these Snow Leopards have been transferred to wildlife parks where they are bred and have grown in numbers but still suffer in the wild because of the lack of protectionism.
The strangest aspect about these Snow Leopards is their inability to roar or purr, leaving them in complete silence; however, I hope that there will be changes in policy and more money sent to the national parks to protect what is left of them for future generations to enjoy.
*
Because my other blog has exceeded its bandwidth usage on eponym.com I've continued to work on this one, and I hope everyone watches VOA's Rountable tonight, with Nazanin Afshin-Jam!
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Lebanon's Cedar Movement
It may have rallied an entire Nation, to or against its movement but it surely held a significant place in the hearts of many Iranians that I heard from and especially those young students who believe that one day they would be able to echo the calls of the Lebanese youth in the streets of Tehran; however, I would like to salute this site for its quirky approach to the movement, and consider Iran a hopeful Babe of the future.
The Washington Post Tackles the Tablet...
...issue with a clear message from the Lawyer(Streichmann) as well as a clear response from Gil Stein who is the director of the Oriental Institute at University of Chicago:
Here's what Streichmann says:
"We are seeking to enforce the judgment that was awarded to my client," said Strachman, who considers it ironic that the terrorism-fighting Bush administration is backing Iran's immunity claims -- "blatantly opposing us," as he put it. Meanwhile, Iranian commentators have hammered U.S. authorities with "crazy conspiratorial things in recent days."
What Iranians are probably saying, and what they hope for as I do is that the words of Gil Stein will go farther than Streichmann's present ideas, that they will not sell these artifacts (it would not even compensate for the plaintiffs because they should be priceless).
Stein says:
Here's what Streichmann says:
"We are seeking to enforce the judgment that was awarded to my client," said Strachman, who considers it ironic that the terrorism-fighting Bush administration is backing Iran's immunity claims -- "blatantly opposing us," as he put it. Meanwhile, Iranian commentators have hammered U.S. authorities with "crazy conspiratorial things in recent days."
What Iranians are probably saying, and what they hope for as I do is that the words of Gil Stein will go farther than Streichmann's present ideas, that they will not sell these artifacts (it would not even compensate for the plaintiffs because they should be priceless).
Stein says:
"Would Egypt loan the treasures of King Tut if they thought they could be seized by anyone who had a beef with the government of Egypt?" he asked.
"Scholarship depends on the ability to trust each other to work above the level of politics and infighting. The whole structure of scholarly collaboration would fall apart, and the whole world would be very much the poorer for it."
So What?! They're Just A Few Thousand Year Old Lumps of Clay...
...that coincidentally record the ins and outs of the infamously invisible Persian Empire (BC) and have helped lead scholars and archaeologists to greater knowledge concerning the Persians.
Each tablet contains information regarding the infrastructure and economic standards by which cities like Pasargadae were built and have built significant historical leeway for those scholars who did not invest much consideration for Persian society.
In fact, these artifacts, like the Rosetta Stone, record achievements for the human race rather than for empires and legions. The historic tablets are markings of a great empire and should be studied and then placed for public viewing/archiving, instead, they are being used as pawns in a political game of Wolf.
Maybe some of you had seen these articles about five Americans who are suing the Iranian government (having been awarded 71million in compensatory damages and 180million in punitive damages) for wounds they received after a terrorist attack by Hamas which is believed to be funded and trained by Iran. But, because Iran has not even been represented (until now) in the courts, the plaintiffs decided that they would pressure Iran to either pay the damages or lose the half-a dozen or so ancient tablets in an auction that would pay for the damages.
The damages that the plaintiffs seeks would total to nearly 250 billion tomans (that's too much money in Iran) and I cannot even comprehend the enormity of the issue if the clay tablets ARE sold. By the time the auction is over, the pieces will probably be gone to the four edges of the globe and unavailable to scholars as a whole for another century or perhaps never.
Surprisingly enough, Iran has issued a lawyer to represent them in the court, but they only have until August to complete their case...
Each tablet contains information regarding the infrastructure and economic standards by which cities like Pasargadae were built and have built significant historical leeway for those scholars who did not invest much consideration for Persian society.
In fact, these artifacts, like the Rosetta Stone, record achievements for the human race rather than for empires and legions. The historic tablets are markings of a great empire and should be studied and then placed for public viewing/archiving, instead, they are being used as pawns in a political game of Wolf.
Maybe some of you had seen these articles about five Americans who are suing the Iranian government (having been awarded 71million in compensatory damages and 180million in punitive damages) for wounds they received after a terrorist attack by Hamas which is believed to be funded and trained by Iran. But, because Iran has not even been represented (until now) in the courts, the plaintiffs decided that they would pressure Iran to either pay the damages or lose the half-a dozen or so ancient tablets in an auction that would pay for the damages.
The damages that the plaintiffs seeks would total to nearly 250 billion tomans (that's too much money in Iran) and I cannot even comprehend the enormity of the issue if the clay tablets ARE sold. By the time the auction is over, the pieces will probably be gone to the four edges of the globe and unavailable to scholars as a whole for another century or perhaps never.
Surprisingly enough, Iran has issued a lawyer to represent them in the court, but they only have until August to complete their case...
Friday, July 21, 2006
War and Peace?
The ongoing war between Hezbollah and Israel is turning up dead/wounded civilians left and right. There's tremendous controversy as to how much firepower Israel should be using against Hezbollah, especially as this terrorist group is based within mostly civilian areas in Lebanon.
Israel should target terrorist groups, and unfortunately civilians will be killed if they are caught in the crossfire. I realize also that Hezbollah was not using the Beirut Airport to transfer arms and money, does use hoax tactics to get around, and probably did use civilian cover to get away from tight spaces (especially the leaders) but the massive intelligence from Israel and the U.S would know more than that; or at least I hope they do. Why else would Israel target a row of ambulances?
Will Iran be sucked into this? I have to say they will, especially with all the dirty things going on within the system and outside it. Everyone in the leadership is responsible for the internal corruption that has been going on in Lebanon, keeping them from functioning properly as a sovereign state, and Syria has no less responsibility.
I can guess which terrorist group Claudia Rosett was mentioning when talking about terrorist tactics:
"hiding as pregnant women"
Israel should target terrorist groups, and unfortunately civilians will be killed if they are caught in the crossfire. I realize also that Hezbollah was not using the Beirut Airport to transfer arms and money, does use hoax tactics to get around, and probably did use civilian cover to get away from tight spaces (especially the leaders) but the massive intelligence from Israel and the U.S would know more than that; or at least I hope they do. Why else would Israel target a row of ambulances?
Will Iran be sucked into this? I have to say they will, especially with all the dirty things going on within the system and outside it. Everyone in the leadership is responsible for the internal corruption that has been going on in Lebanon, keeping them from functioning properly as a sovereign state, and Syria has no less responsibility.
I can guess which terrorist group Claudia Rosett was mentioning when talking about terrorist tactics:
"hiding as pregnant women"
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
SI.com - Writers - Dr. Z: Zidane's outburst understandable in flop-filled game - Monday July 10, 2006 5:04PM
SI.com - Writers - Dr. Z: Zidane's outburst understandable in flop-filled game - Monday July 10, 2006 5:04PM
Zinedine Zidane is not a flopper or a whiner or a moaner. I have never seen him pull one of those scenes from the last act of La Boheme, enacting his death tableau on the field after the merest brush of contact. I haven't seen him lying there at death's door while they go through with the most ridiculous of all dramas, the entry of the stretcher.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Censorship
Maybe we haven't learned a word from the wise. I still don't know what is more dull or laughable. Today, as I attempted to access Media Study and find an article from Project Censored, guess what? It was censored!
I wrote an essay about it, and deleted it. In short, I ask "Why God, Why?"
I wrote an essay about it, and deleted it. In short, I ask "Why God, Why?"
