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July 31, 2006
Quick update
I am writing these from the Hamburg airport, on the way to London for a conference and also for seeing old friends, which is going to be quite exciting. I am a bit nervous about the conference, mainly because all the big names in the field are going to be there and it is a bit intimidating talking about a subject to the people whose books you are using as reference!!!
In any case, I will try to update soon and let you know about London. I have not been there for two years a miss it quite a lot.
Posted by Khodadad at 06:02 AM | Comments (2)
July 24, 2006
Pictures
I am planning to write a proper essay accompanying my travel photographs, but at the moment, there are papers that are more important and need to be written. For now, I hope you enjoy these pics of Iceland, Granada, and Cordoba.
Posted by Khodadad at 01:00 PM | Comments (1)
July 22, 2006
Spain
I am in Cordoba, Spain, right now. We got here yesterday after three great days in Granada. I never thought I would ever like a city in southern Europe to consider living there (I am generally more into Scandinavia), but Granada is one of the most magnificent cities I have ever seen. The Alhambra, the famous palace, is the first famous and touristic site I have ever seen that lives up and ever surpasses its reputations. I offcially LOVE Granada.
Cordoba is great too, with the Mezquita and the Medinat Al-Zahra and all the cool Arabic infusion things. But it is no Granada and I don't like it as much, plus the weather is way too hot!
I have taken over 400 pics, some of which will be uploaded soon...
Posted by Khodadad at 02:47 AM | Comments (1)
July 17, 2006
In Memoriam
After the death of Prof. Mary Boyce a few months back, this year has brought the death of yet another great ironologist and historian.
Prof. A. Shapur Shahbazi, professor of Iranian history at the Eastern Oregon University, has lost hist battle with cancer.
Prof. Shahbazi was an expert on Achaemenid and Sasanian history and was considered an authority in many subjects concerning the Pre-Islamic Iranian history. Among his most significant contributions, in my opinion, was his research on the date of Zoroaster and the arguments he presented against the "Traditional Date of Zoroaster" held by many scholars, including the late W. B. Henning.
Prof. Shahbazi is survived by his wife and daughter. His death is surely a serious blow to Iranian studies and the study of history in general. May he rest in peace.
Posted by Khodadad at 12:50 PM | Comments (2)
July 15, 2006
Lebanon...
Okay, where are we in this world? What is happening to decency? Are we now so divided based on our political differences that we are forgetting the fundamentals? I cannot believe what the TV is saying and how the reporters and the people of this world are presenting what is happening.
Israel is attacking another country, destroying their civilian airport at the beginning of the tourist season, forcing ports to close down, hitting wheat silos, bombing power stations, even as north as Tripoli, and then claiming this is all in answer to the "terrorist" actions of a militia force? Is anyone with who we don't agree now a terrorist? Why wheat silos? Why gas stations?
Is anybody paying attention to the fact that the Lebanese prime minister is practically begging for a cease fire in a war that he has not even started or participated in? No one, including the UN and its accursed "Security Council" is paying attention that another country is being invaded and people are being killed. Wasn't "do not invade another country" one of the fundamentals of the foundation of the UN?
We are all just sitting back and watching Israel invade another country and are still trying to justify why they do it and we are all afraid of condemning it for the fear of being called antisemitic. CNN, right after reporting that Israel has so far killed 85 people in Lebanon and has destroyed the airport in Beirut and closed three ports in Lebanon, as well as leaving most of Gaza without electricity, goes on to say that "Hizballah" gets long range missiles from Iran that might be able to hit Tel Aviv. Then, it goes back to report that Israel's Patriot missiles are alighned across the Lebanese border. Does anyone get the irony that if the long range Hizballah missiles might come from Iran, the Israeli Patriots surely do come from the USA!!!
What is stopping the world from coming out and saying what really needs to be said, that Israel is an aggressive power which does not hold itself to any international standards and consideres the life of one of its citizens to be equal to 50 Arabs. Why are we just sitting back and trying to pretend that Israel's invasion and murder of Lebanese civilians is any less of a crime than if some other country had done it? How many times have we heard that "Israel's Arab neighbours have tried many times to destroy the Jewish state" but never hear that Israel has many times, including the Six Day War and the current war, has also started wars against its Arab neighbours? Would be have just sat down and been calm if this was Morocco invading Spain, or Mexico invading the US, or even Lebannon invading Israel?
Posted by Khodadad at 11:12 AM | Comments (7)
July 04, 2006
Iceland 1
Just a short update from Reykjavik (the Smokey Bay!). I arrived here earlier today and after a little fiasco regarding finding a place (the whole city is booked! Who thinks of coming to Iceland, honestly?), I went and walked in the city and had dinner and now am ready for bed. Tomorrow is going to be my only full day here before flyind to Germany on Thursday.
It seems that Iceland is more a country of hikers and bikers and nature enthusiasts and requires more time to reveal its charms. So, I am going to confine myself to Reykjavik and familiarise myself with it so the next time I come here, I can stay for longer and enjoy it better. The basic facts to be noticed are:
1- It is DAMN expensive (coke: $4, Youth Hostel dorm bed: $27, a regular fish dinner, $40!).
2- It is cold, not freezing, but 55 degrees fahrenheit (cq. 12 C.) and raining.
3- People are a lot more chaotic and disorganised than their fellow Scandinavians.
I have taken and will take a lot of pictures and will post them when I get to Germany and I have a better connection as well as my PC's electricity outlet!!!
TTFN...
Posted by Khodadad at 03:31 PM | Comments (1)
July 01, 2006
Tragedy?
I have to say that this is the most idiotic legal ruling I have ever heard about! A judge rules that the collection of Elamite and Old Persian tablets from Persepolis, housed at the University of Chicago, is to be auctioned off to pay damages to a family of victims of bombing in Israel on the grounds that the government of Iran is sponsoring terrorism! I wonder if anyone is going to sue for the possession of ancient artifects from Canaan because of Rachel Corrie's death.
I think even in the notoriously idiotic US justice system (remember the thief falling on the kitchen counter and cutting himself with a knife?), the Chicago court has topped itself! Where is the logic in this? What do the antiquities have to do with the government? These were recovered in the 1930's, during the reign of Reza Shah, from Iran and have been in Chicago for 70 years. They are some of the world's most interesting ancient documents, and many of them have not been properly studied yet. They don't really belong to anyone, they are antiquities for pete's sake! University of Chicago, the National Museum of Iran, and much less the Iranian government don't own these things, they are barely in their legal possession. These belong to the whole of the humanity and to the scholarship.
So, now after 100 years of progress in archaeology, learning to dig things up with a brush instead of a shovel, we have come full circle and are resorting to sell our antiquities like potatoes. I like to see this particular lawyer since he has declared that he and the family of the victim are "interested" in the antiquities. No kidding, for what reason? Are you antique dealers yourselves and already have customers lined up? I like to meet the twisted mind who even manages to think of suing to possess ancient remains. Much congratulations to law schools and the US justice system...
Posted by Khodadad at 09:06 AM | Comments (1)