Friday, April 27, 2007

Copyright?!


What is the copyright? According to definition of copyright in dictionary, if a person or an organization holds the copyright on a piece of writing, music, etc. they are the only people who have the legal right to publish, broadcast, perform it etc. and other people must ask their permission to use it or any part of it. It seams it is a justice right for people who are thoughtful, creative and effective. In other word, they work hard and spend much more time on the works. Some of the works are part of the creator’s life and they suffer from a pain for many years. They should be supported by their works. Sometimes somebody who copies their works without permission hurts the origin of the works and the owner. In another words it is a kind of theft if the copy is without the name of creator, writer, singer or performer.
Copyright is a kind of legal supporting for all the literary, scientific and artistic works and for people who create them. I think it is respect for literature, science and art. Copyright helps to protection ideas, opinions and thoughts. Illegal copy is related to terms supply and demand. In related to this matter like other issues, there is some opportunity for brokers that just look for their benefits and do that without permission. In the other side, a lot of applicants can get them easily with low price. For example some students in universities can't afford the expenses of the original books. As an advantage for the users they can get the copied works easier than originals in many places with lower price. But the benefit of those works doesn’t belong to real owners.
Consequently, if there will be a legal organization that supports the makers during in their working and after the end of the work both financial and spiritual. This organization can publish or copy their works with high quality and lower price. This organization distributes them in many places for real applications. All the works can be more available in different branches of this organization especially in universities. At the same time it is better to prevent from the illegal copying that some offenders do. Of course, it takes a long time that the majorities of people get exact information about copyright and accept and consider it. It needs some association of cultural and legislative authorities.

An appreciation letter


Dear My Professor, Mrs. Dr Marandi

I am talking to you about a man, a great man, who was besides me all the time. When I wanted to get married he taught me how to get ready for the pregnancy. He taught me I should be both physically and mentally for bringing up a child. He taught me how to breast the baby. He taught me when I wanted to breast the baby how to caress, touch and feel my baby. He believed that the fathers are the best friend and help for mothers. He had written a program for feeding, vaccination and bringing up the babies. I kept those instructions after 21 years because they remind me those pleasant days and a serious, hardworking man that was lover of babies. He was not only for me but also for all mothers like a friend, consular and physician. It was one of my desires, in all those years to see him and appreciate him.

Now I can remember him how he eagerly talked about the mothers and their babies. I am one of those women that are very indebted to him. I couldn’t imagine that some day I will be accepted in Alzahra University and will meet you as my professor. Could you please favor for me? Could you please say hello to your father with the best wishes for him? I ask my god give him all blessings.

At the end, I am sure, all his services as a minister is recorded in Iranians mind.

Yours faithfully,

Robabe Rezaei

Saturday, April 14, 2007


Eight Years of Sacred Defence

All of you know the war between Iraq and Iran lasted for 8 years. But it is divided in 2 parts for me. One part was before I got married and another part was after that. When the war started I was 15 years old. I was full of feeling which was affected by revolution. Most of the time I discussed with my friends about that. I believed all the people should listen to the leader and take part in war and protect our country. I couldn’t see the other side of the war. How did women spend their times when their sons, their brother or their husbands were in the war? What were their feelings? I thought they shouldn’t be unhappy, worried or gloomy.
All of us know that the war is disaster and catastrophe. But in that time, we should defend against enemy and I as a teenager was very young to see some other part of the war. Until I got married with one of the men who was in the war for 8 years. The war was changed for me not in my beliefs but in my feelings and my views. According to my husband I was one of his encouragers. The war was become more tangible for me. All the days and night, I was in worried and fear. I couldn’t imagine myself without him. Every time he went to the front. He took part of my heart with himself. Days and nights were very long and lack of vitality. When the soldiers were in attack I thought this was the time that I should hear news. When he injured by chemical weapons it was for the third time he was injured but this time I felt him and his sufferings. I wanted to do what I could for him and didn’t miss him. 8 years of sacred defense is full of memories for every one. Can you imagine being happy and unhappy in the same time. When radio and TV announced the victory news from the fronts I was happy of that news and become very worried and distressed about my husband. Those days and years were difficult and prideful.
As a mater of fact, my husband’s letters to me, his photos and his duty letter are very important things for me. I have kept them carefully. They are a part of my life and my memories. Some day, I am sure, they will be valuable and honorable things for my children as well.

Friday, April 13, 2007

ُُ"Sizadah-Be-dar" the day of nature


Sizdah-Be-Dar is one of the Iranian’s traditional customs which I am very interested in it. But nowadays it is named the Day of Nature. It is the thirteenth day of year that people go out to the nature: parks, villages, fields and countryside. They spend hours out of their homes with holidays, days for all schools and universities and 5 days for the other people. And the thirteenth day was unforgettable day for me from childhood until these days that I have I have three children. When I was a child I waited for these days because I knew in this day the children were free to play, to eat fruits and dried nuts, to eat lunch which is made in outdoor. Parents were more kindness and more friendly to the children and some times they took part in their playing. Because of these memories now I as a mother try to make a nice and pleasure time for my children.

In another words this day has changed a bit for me. The night before Sizadah-Be-Dar, my husband and I are very busy. At first I call all of my brothers in-law and my sister in-law, my parents and sometimes some of my brothers and sisters and some of my friends to share all responsibilities. Buying fruits, cookies, dried nuts and all the things we needed for lunch, preparing all the tools we need for baking, eating, drinking and being out side for hours are some of programming that we should be careful about them. My father in-law has a small garden out of the town which is about 50 kilometer far from the town. Interestingly, the children are busy too! They call each other and talk about kinds of some tools for playing and ordering some foods!! Checking the cars, driving, setting up the tent and grilling the chickens are fixed responsibility of men.

Finally, in the morning children are the ones who wake up very soon. They know they have a very goof time this day and they don’t want to waste their time. Breathing the fresh air, being with about to relatives, being far from the hubbub of town for hours and watching the joy of the children in the end of their holidays are very pleasant and lovely for me in the New Year.

eloquent remarks

Emam Ali: (Peace be upon him)

There is no wealth like wisdom

There is no poverty like ignorance

There is no heritage like politeness

There is no supporting like consultation.

translated by Robabe Rezaei

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

"norooz"

Norooz (Persian New Year)
In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or NorooZ, always begins on the first day of spring. Norooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and the Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few weeks before the New Year, Iranians clean and rearrange their homes. They make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. The ceremonial cloth is set up in each household. Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin. These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.
Last Wednesday of the year(Chahar Shanbeh Suri) : On the eve of last Wednesday of the year, literally the eve of Red Wednesday or the eve of celebration, bonfires are lit in public places and people leap over the flames, shouting:
Give me your beautiful red colorAnd take back my sickly pallor!
With the help of fire and light symbols of good, we hope to see our way through this unlucky night - the end of the year- to the arrival of springs longer days. Traditionally, it is believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last day of the year. Many people specially children, wrap themselves in shrouds symbolically reenacting the visits. By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons called Gashog-Zani to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for treats. Indeed, Halloween is a Celtic variation of this night.
In order to make wishes come true, it is customary to prepare special foods and distribute them on this night. Noodle Soup a filled Persian delight, and mixture of seven dried nuts and fruits, pistachios, roasted chic peas, almond, hazelnuts, figs, apricots, and raisins.
Fal-Gush
This is another ritual in which someone makes a wish and stands at the corner of an intersection , or on a terrace or behind a wall. That person will know his fortune when he overhears conversation of a passerby.

Haft-Seen
A few days prior to the New Year, a special cover is spread on to the Persian carpet or on a table in every Persian household. This ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes, (each one beginning with the Persian letter Sinn). The number seven has been sacred in Iran since the ancient times, and the seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life-rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty. The symbolic dishes consist of:
Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else.
Seer which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
Somaq sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience. To reconfirm all hopes and wishes expressed by the traditional foods, other elements and symbols are also on the sofreh):
a few coins placed on the sofreh represent prosperity and wealth;
a basket of painted eggs represents fertility.
a Seville orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space.
a goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year-picas.
a flask of rose water known for its magical cleansing power, is also included on the tablecloth.
Nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue ,a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits.
A pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofreh.
A mirror which represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate anew the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that creation took place on the first day of spring.
On either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness.

Monday, April 2, 2007

kerman

Kerman is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-east of the country. Its center is Kerman. The province of Kerman is the third largest in Iran, 181,714 km². The population of the province is about 2 million. The main townships of Kerman province are: Baft, Bardseer, Bam, Jiroft, Rafsanjan, Zarand, Sirjan, Shahr-e-Babak, Kerman, Mahan and Kahnooj.
In the year 1996, 52.9% of Kerman's population lived in urban areas, and 46% in the rural vicinities, the remaining 1.1% accounted as non residents. The city of
Kerman (population: 400,000) embraces about 80% of the urban population, being the most developed and largest cities of the province.


Geography
The altitudes and heights of the province are the continuation of the central mountain ranges of Iran. They extend from the volcanic folds beginning in Azarbaijan, and by branching out in the central plateau of Iran, terminate in Baluchestan. These mountain ranges have brought about vast plains in the province of Kerman. The Bashagard and Koohbanan Mountains are the highest in this region, and include peaks such as, Toghrol, Aljerd, Palvar, Sirach, Abareq and Tahrood. Other ranges that stretch out from Yazd to Kerman and Challeh-ye-Jazmoorian, include peaks like Medvar, Shahr-e-Babak, Kooh Panj, Chehel Tan, Lalezar, Hezarbahr, Aseman and others.
Most of the province is largely steppe or sandy desert, although there are some oases where
dates, oranges (said to be the best in Iran), and pistachios are cultivated. The province is dependent on qanats (underground water channels) for its irrigation. In the central parts, Mount Hezar is the highest peak, 4465 meters above sea level.
The climate in the province varies in different regions. The north, northwest, and central areas experience a dry and moderate climate, whereas in the south and southeast, the weather is warm and relatively humid. The city of
Kerman and the surrounding regions have a semi-moderate and dry climate, with a maximum and minimum temperature of 39.6° C, and -7° C respectively. The average temperature during the months of March - June has been recorded as 20° - 25° C. These months are the most suitable period for traveling and tourism.


History and culture
The history of human settlements in the territory of Kerman dates back to the 4th millennium BC. This vicinity can be considered as one of the ancient regions of Iran, and with the passage of time, valuable historical vestiges have in turn amassed here.
Jiroft is an example, where a previously unknown settlement dating back to around 2500BC has just been established by archeologists. Historical documents refer to Kerman as "Karmania," "Kermania" and "Zhermanya," which means bravery and combat. Geographers have recorded Kerman's ancient name as "Go'asheer" (Bardesheer). Suffice to say that Kerman is well in abundance of historical sites and landmarks, 283 in total, according to Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization.


Kerman today
Kerman is prone to natural disasters. A recent flood for example, un-earthed the archeological ancient city of Jiroft, located south of Kerman province. Arg-é Bam on the other hand, the world's largest adobe structure, was destroyed in an earthquake in december 2003. And on February 22, 2005, a major earthquake killed hundreds of residents in the town of Zarand and several nearby villages in north Kerman. For more information, please see 2005 Zarand earthquake.
In regards to natural attractions, this region has sites such as thermal and mineral springs, recreational areas, verdant spaces, altitudes and peaks, lakes, pools, protected areas and the special desert features for adventure seekers. Especially if coupled with tourism. Where else can one find ancient abandoned citadels such as
Arg-é Bam or Rayen castle preserved two thousand years in a desert? Kerman is where a large portion of Iran's auto industry is based. Sirjan, a specially designated economic zone, is considered a passage-way for transfer of imported commercial goods from the south (through the Persian Gulf). Arg e Jadid, is another specially designated economic zone of Iran, located in Kerman province.