Christ Woods and Emma Slater write at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism: Arab spring brings steep rise in US attacks in Yemen by Chris Woods and Emma Slater Covert US strikes against alleged militants in Yemen have risen steeply during the Arab spring, and are currently at the same level as the CIA’s controversial drone […]
Archives for April 2012
Omar Khayyam (85)
A cup full of rose-colored wine is beautiful; the tunes of the lute are lovely. As for the prude who knows nothing of wine, it is beautiful when he is very far away. Translated by Juan Cole from [pdf] Whinfield 85
Life of Omar Khayyam, pt 4 (Documentary)
Part 4 of the “Genius of Omar Khayyam”— how Edward Fitzgerald’s translation became a Western publishing sensation:
Why Romney is Lying about the Causes of high Prices at the Pump
After his wins on Tuesday, Mitt Romney is clearly the Republican standard bearer in the 2012 election, and he is already flailing about attempting to find some mud to throw at President Obama in hopes some of it will stick. He has trotted out a tired talking point attempting to blame Obama for high gasoline […]
Omar Khayyam (86)
The life of this world without wine and bartender is not happy; without the airs of the Iraqi flute, it is not happy; Whenever I look at the world’s condition, its fruits are joy; and the rest is not happy. Translated by Juan Cole from [pdf] Whinfield 86
Data Mining You: Engelhardt
Tom Engelhardt writes at Tomdispatch.com: Data Mining You How the Intelligence Community Is Creating a New American World By Tom Engelhardt I was out of the country only nine days, hardly a blink in time, but time enough, as it happened, for another small, airless room to be added to the American national security labyrinth. […]
Life of Omar Khayyam, 3 (Documentary)
Part 3 of “The Genius of Omar Khayyam”, with special attention to the place of the Rubaiyat (Quatrains) in Iranian music:
Arab revolutions Continue
5. Tunisia’s Muslim religious party, Ennahda, has pledged to retain the secular character of the Tunisian constitution. Leader Rashid Ghanoushi says that the party won’t try to make sharia or Islamic canon law the basis for the new constitution. Ghanoushi has praised the “Turkish model,” which his followers maintain developed under Ghanoushi’s own influence over […]
Omar Khayyam (87)
Hurry up, for you will be separated from the spirit. You will go behind the curtain of God’s mysteries. Have some wine, since you don’t know where you came from; be happy, since you don’t know where you’re going. Translated by Juan Cole from [pdf] Whinfield 87