Kandovan: Iranian Town Carved From Rock

Watch the video on National Geographic.

Most of world's famous men in a single photograph

The Story of Stuff

Do you know the disaster we're causing by buying cool electronic gadgets and most of the other stuff we buy? Then watch The story of stuff.

Matt Lauer in Iran

(In 4 parts)

The beauty of fall

(Photo from Valens Conservation Area)

New pictures of Iran and Paris (2007)

Lots of new photos:

Pictures of Iran 2007

Paris 2007

Plus, you can now browse Pictures of Iran by Location !

Finally, there also some new Background Pictures.

Hope you enjoy!

The ancient art of Persepolis

The mouse...

Ever wonder why that thing you surf the web with is called a mouse?

Live Miniature

This video from ShahreMa TV shows Master Alijanpour (one of Master Mahmoud Farshchian's students, living in Toronto) paint a quick but very beautiful miniature.

Happy Norooz 86

عمو نوروز و ننه سرما

Persepolis Recreated

This is a clip from the documentary Persepolis Recreated:



This trailer is the first 9 minutes of the actual video with a narrator:



The real Xerxes mentioned in "300" vs the history is also in both videos (the person behind the king - i.e. Darius the great - with similar outfit).

A similar project is 3D Parse.

Misconceptions about Iran

A very interesting article on Misconceptions about Iran from a Wikipedia user.

"300" vs the history

You've probably heard of the movie "300" which is coming to theatres tomorrow. The movie, which is about the Battle of Thermopylae between the Greek and the Persians is closely based on a comic book by Frank Miller (the author of Sin City).
Update: What I said below is not correct since according to Wikipedia, the director has claimed the movie is 90% historically accurate!!
While neither the book nor the comic book specifically mention anything about being based on a true story - and they're nothing like the really or what is documented of it - the movie does somehow give the audience the impression of an epic movie based on the history of Persian-Greek wars and because the movie is extremely inaccurate showing Persians as savages and ogres I thought I should include a few links to historical facts, namely:
- gary leupp- 300, A RACIST AND INSULTING MOVIEAdded April 03, 07
- History and the Movie “300”
- the Wikipedia Discussion of the movie
- and Xerxes of Persia
- Also see: 300 the movie (A nice collection of artwork and articles related to "300" and ancient Persia).

One thing to add, according to history, Xerxes (son of Darius the great) was nothing like his father or Cyrus the great... however he was not a pierced savage either!

* In the picture above, Xerxes is the prince and not the king yet. In the full picture shows him standing behind his father Darius.

* You may also want to see the video in one of my previous posts (In Search of Cyrus The Great) that explains greek authors have introduced Persians as savages.

- Even the Greek are outraged: Sparta? No. This is madness (Added on March 15 from The Toronto Star)

- I posted some very interesting videos of the Persepolis (including Xerxes) in Persepolis Recreated.

Persian Piano Clip

I found this while looking for random music videos on YouTube. Enjoy.

Read this Avery Wan!

Caller: Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan ?
Operator: Yes, you can speak to me.
Caller : No, I want to speak to Annie Wan!
Operator: Yes I understand you want to speak to anyone. You can speak to me. Who is this?
Caller : I'm Sam Wan. And I need to talk to Annie Wan! It's urgent.
Operator: I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?
Caller: Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan that our brother Noe Wan was involved in an accident. Noe Wan got injured and now Noe Wan is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan is on his way to the hospital.
Operator : Look, if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!
Caller : You are so rude! Who are you?
Operator: I'm Saw Ree .
Caller: Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!!
Operator: That's what I said. I'm Saw Ree ..
Caller: O h ......God!!! !

The Drunken Bridge!

I saw this on Tehran: Mega Capital of Iran which was previously mentioned here. I don't know if this is for real but I'll find out. Pretty cool!

Sheet Music Exchange

The Sheet Music Exchange project that was previously mentioned here has a new permanent address:

http://www.sheetexchange.com/

(The old address will still work for now but please update your bookmarks.)

Thanks to everyone who helped, I have added features and fixes and have even started a small blog with latest changes and more.

While at least for now the project is focused on Persian music (because there already was a site for other stuff) anyone is welcome to add a list of their sheets.

Welcome to the mystic island of Kish

I found some really cool photos of Kish island... I can't believe I've never been there!

I will love you forever...

... Oh, not YOU! I was talking about this:


All I know about this photo is that it was probably taken in Italy.

A new address for my blog

You can now access this blog at http://blog.hoomanb.com!
This older address still works, but it redirects to the new one.

In Search of Cyrus The Great

In Search of Cyrus The Great is an unfinished film by Spenta Productions about Cyrus the great.



They are asking for donations to complete the production.

I'm at work and haven't watched all of it yet but it looks very good.

Oh those Americans!!