“I suppose that anyone with sort of broad European culture has a fairly good idea of Persian history– he must have– it’s part of our history, as well. And, having been brought up in France, I was perfectly familiar with Lettres Persanes and all the rest of it. For that matter, Omar Khayyam was a […]
America’s new data center: The Biggest Big Brother of All (TBIJ)
From the Bureau of Investigative Journalism: In the small town of Bluffdale in the Utah desert, the US government is halfway to completing a gargantuan complex designed to store and trawl through billions of phone calls, emails, and other global communications. As the UK government reveals its own plans to carry out mass surveillance, a […]
Contemporary Coptic Icon of the Resurrection from Egypt (Wall Painting)
A contemporary Egyptian, Coptic Christian icon of the Resurrection by Adel Nassief: “1994 – The Resurrection – Holy Family Church – Bahir, Egypt” courtesy Adelnassief.net, /frescos For Coptic Christian paintings and icons, see Jimmy Dunn and the Coptic Network Picture Archive For the distinctive Coptic Egyptian ways of commemorating Easter, see “Celebrate Easter the Egyptian […]
Omar Khayyam (89)
For a whole lifetime, I’ve made praising wine a constant exercise. I always have its instruments around me. Prude, if reason is your teacher here, cheer up– for your teacher is my student. Translated by Juan Cole from [pdf] Whinfield 89
Muslim Keyholder of Church of Holy Sepulchre Opens it for Easter Pilgrims
On Good Friday in Jerusalem, religious cooperation among Christians, Muslims and Jews is on display. The key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is turned by a Muslim family, the Nuseibehs, and another Muslim family, named Judeh, stores the key overnight. Christian authorities overseeing the church, held to have been built on the site […]
Omar Khayyam sung in Persian by the Kamkaran Group
The Kamkaran group performs Khayyam’s poetry in classical style in Tehran:
Omar Khayyam (88)
Since we have to go, what is it to exist? What is it to chase impossible ambitions? They’ll never pass by anyplace with a sense of well-being. What is it to be deprived both of travel and of rest? Translated by Juan Cole from [pdf] Whinfield 88
Videos on the Muslim Brotherhood and the Quest for Power in Egypt
Aljazeera English on the Muslim Brotherhood’s Khairat al-Shater and his plans to run for the presidency of Egypt: The USG Open Source Center paraphrased this piece from the Muslim Brotherhood web site Cairo Egyptwindow in Arabic for Weds. April 4: “Article by Muhammad al-Suruji entitled: “10 important questions on al-Shatir’s nomination” dated 4 April. The […]
Tomgram: Bill McKibben, How You Subsidize the Energy Giants to Wreck the Planet
Bill McKibben writes at Tomdispatch.com Payola for the Most Profitable Corporations in History And Why Taxpayers Shouldn’t Stand for It Any More By Bill McKibben Along with “fivedollaragallongas,” the energy watchword for the next few months is: “subsidies.” Last week, for instance, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez proposed ending some of the billions of dollars […]
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