Culture

Ariana Grande One Love Concert | Manchester | (Video Clip) | – – Ariana Grande returned to Manchester with some special guests to remember the victims of the attack which took place after her gig on May 22. Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas, Take That, Robbie Williams, Niall Horan, Little Mix, Pharrell […]

Counter-Terrorism

What’s the most effective way to fight terrorism? – Juan Cole on CBS

Juan Cole

Reena Ninan | CBS News | (Video Clip) | – – “A new article in The Nation suggests Ariana Grande has a better approach to fighting terrorism than Defense Secretary James Mattis. After a deadly attack at Grande’s concert in Manchester, the singer is now reaching out to victims and thanking them for their strength. […]

art and photography

Painting of the Day: Girl w/ Wine Cup, Isfahan, Iran, 1650

contributors

British Museum | Persian Watercolor in style of Muhammad Qasim | – – “Girl with a wine cup Style of Muhammad Qasim Safavid Iran, Isfahan, 1640-50 Ink and opaque watercolour on paper By 1650 drawings of young men or women holding wine cups in the countryside had become standard rather than hackneyed fare in Persian […]

art and photography

Picture of the Day: Iranian Woman Tambourine Player, 1848

contributors

British Museum | Persian Costumes | – – “Portrait of a young woman; single-page painting mounted on album folio. A young woman kneels on a yellow and white carpet while holding a large tambourine to the right with both hands. She wears an orange blouse, a blue jacket fastened at the waist, and a bright […]

Donald Trump

Hassan Minhaj was told not to Roast Trump, But did Anyway (WH Correspondents)

contributors

Hassan Minhaj | (White House Correspondents Dinner) | (Video Clip) | – – “Daily Show correspondent Hasan Minhaj took full advantage of Donald Trump’s absence by taking aim at the president and his administration during his monologue at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.” Daily Show’s Hasan Minhaj White House Correspondents’ Dinner full monologue

Cats

Video of Day: Kitten tempted by Iran New Year Goldfish

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | (Video Clip) | – – March 21 was the Persian New Year (Now Ruz), marking also the first day of spring (the vernal equinox). In Iran on that day it is a custom to set out a table top with 7 things on it, the names of which […]

Humor

N. Korea Interview interrupted by Unbearable Cuteness

contributors

BBC | (Video News Clip) | – – “There was an unexpected distraction for Professor Robert Kelly when he was being interviewed live on BBC News about South Korea. But he managed to keep his composure and complete the interview successfully.” BBC: “Children interrupt BBC News interview – BBC News”

art and photography

Image of the Day: European Buddhists (?) & Zoroastrians, c. 1650

contributors

British Museum | (Safavid Era Painting) | – – School/style: Persian School/Style term details Culture/period: Safavid dynasty term details Date: 1650-1700 (circa) Production place: Made in: Iran “Four men worshipping at a fire altar and idol shrine; detached folio from an illustrated manuscript. At left, two Zoroastrian men hold their hands out in prayer toward […]

African-Americans

Would Trump let Oscar Winner Mahershala Ali back into the Country?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Mahershala Ali, 43, last night won an Oscar for best supporting actor, in Moonlight . The film treats themes of sexual repression, gayness, and the plague of drug dealing and addiction. Moonlight, of course, also won Best Picture, after a historic error in which the winner […]