Mike and Jenny were waiting for me in the steaming snarl of traffic on Roosevelt Avenue. My younger brother and sister were on vacation from high school in the States and I was going awol from my job teaching English at an ESL Institute. I brandished the wad of cash I’d wrested from my lecherous boss, leapt into the VW …

Amir Rasaei (born 1321) is a prominent figure in Iranian pop music, known for his significant contributions to the genre before the 1957 Iranian Revolution. His life and career span multiple decades, during which he left an indelible mark on Iranian music, particularly in the pop and rock genres. Born in the Shemiran neighborhood of Tehran, Amir Rasaei’s early life …

In the early 40s, Shahram Shabpareh, a passionate musician with a vision for creating vibrant, genre-defying music, laid the foundation for what would later become an influential group known as The Rebels. The Rebels emerged at a time when Iran’s music scene was dominated by traditional melodies and classical Persian compositions. Shahram’s innovative spirit and his passion for modern music …

In the annals of military aviation history, few incidents are as striking and tragic as the betrayal of Captain Ahmad Moradi, a skilled Iranian pilot who defected to Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. This act of treachery not only delivered one of Iran’s prized F-14 Tomcat fighter jets into the hands of its adversary but also ensnared his co-pilot, Captain …

Coffee Sorry, coffee lovers—but you might want to avoid chugging java right after waking up. Coffee, especially strong black coffee, can be tough on an empty stomach. That’s because the caffeine in coffee (and coffee in general) promotes the release of gastrin—the hormone that secretes stomach acid. This effect can lead to reflux symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, and regurgitation. …

The 10th annual Cyrus Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, wrapped up with a spectacular closing ceremony held on the night of October 14, 2024, at the Arta Art Gallery. This year’s festival, a remarkable milestone in the history of Iranian cinema, celebrated the depth, diversity, and artistry of Iranian filmmaking. The event not only provided a platform for filmmakers to …

Seyed Abbas Abtahi was born in Evin-Darke neighborhood, which in the past had a traditional and religious background like all the villages of Shemiranat. The Abtahi clan along with the Arabi, Masoudian, Mir Sharifi, Evini, Shoaibi, Fekri, Mir Rahimi and Bazar Afshan clans are among the old and traditional families of Evin and Derke. Darka police station is also called …

Mossadegh and Egypt’s Anti-Colonial Struggle: A Shared Legacy of Independence On November 20, 1951, Persian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh made a brief stop in Egypt during his return from the United Nations, where he was greeted as a hero by the Egyptian people. Egypt, at the time, was deeply entrenched in its own battle against British imperialism, with growing resentment …

Saeed Mortazavi: A Controversial Career in Iran’s Judiciary Saeed Mortazavi, born in 1346 in the city of Taft, Iran, is a name closely associated with some of the most controversial events in the country’s judicial history. Known for his long tenure in various high-ranking legal and governmental positions, Mortazavi’s career has been marked by significant controversy, particularly for his role …

Hoshang Mahmoudi is remembered as a pioneering figure in Iranian media and a devoted member of the Baha’i faith. Born into a Baha’i family, he devoted his life to the promotion of both his religion and Iranian culture. Throughout his career, he became one of Iran’s earliest program creators and hosts for children’s and teenagers’ shows on national radio and …