Instead of giving a fish

When Katrina flooded New Orleans, it damaged the city and reduced the flow of tourists eager to see the southern capital of art and music. New Orleans image as a major tourist destination in the United States was scratched. Many helped reconstruction process by donating money and equipment. But French government decided to help New Orleans with fishing instead of giving a fish. The result has been Femme, femme, femme Paintings of Women in French Society from Daumier to Picasso from the Museums of France.

The idea occurred to the French Minister of Culture and Communication during his visit to New Orleans and New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) two months after Katrina. French delegation decided to organize an art exhibition in NOMA to stimulate the art activities in New Orleans and to attract visitors. Femme, femme, femme includes some hundred-twenty paintings from the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and other museums throughout France. The focus of paintings is women. The paintings study their roles in society, their presence in family circle and the evolution of their roles in French society during 19th and 20th centuries. It has never been such an exhibition from such a diverse group of artists.

To make sure that New Orleans would benefit from Femme, femme, femme and to encourage people to visit NOMA, this exhibition is presented only in New Orleans and after June 3rd the paintings will return to France. Sometimes it is good to be a monopoly, especially a monopoly of Manet, Picasso and so many other glorious names.

More on Wolfowitz

According to CNN Money (click on the title), EU countries are willing to let USA choose the next President of the World Bank if Wolfowitz resigns. Bloomberg has more to offer:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=al1lYZ1bipH8&refer=home

Something Small but Humane

When a Turkish airplane en route to Mumbai made an emergency landing in Tehran, it seems one passanger had been worried. The outcome was one of those small events with deep meaning:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6613589,00.html

And Verdict is

The latest on Paul Wolfowitz is that he has been found guilty by a board of the World Bank directors. There is no recommendation for punishment yet.
More Links:

The First Head to Role
Tide Turning Against Wolfowitz
Does Wolfowitz Hear the World’s Poor?

When Ahmadinegad Kisses His Teacher

Today is the twelfth day of Ordibehesht, second month of spring, in Iranian calendar. It is Teacher’s day in Iran[1] and there are official and non-official ceremonies to commemorate this day. It also is the day that Iranians students buy their teachers some presents, with flowers to be the most common one. So you can rest assured that florists are having a great business day in Iran.

Culturally and traditionally a mentor or a teacher, in Farsi called: “O’staad”, is considered the most vital character in a person’s life and Iran’s literature is rich with stories about teachers conveying the respect and the gratitude that are due to them. Iranian government employs the largest number of teachers in Iran with a small portion of them working in private schools. Teachers’ compensation in Iran is ranked among the lowest in country and there have been union demands for increase in pay and benefits[2].

President Ahmadinegad has managed to make headlines on this day as well. He embraced Najmeh Qolipour his old first grade teacher and kissed her hand. Ironically embracing a woman, who is not a relative, in public is against some readings of Islamic codes advocated by ultra-radicals. So it seems this time the fire is coming from the far right side of politics in Iran. However there is no doubt that Iranian public consider kissing a teacher's hand a very noble gesture.

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[1] It also is the anniversary of Morteza Motahari assassination, who was a leading ideologist of revolution and philosopher in pre-revolution era. The day is named Teacher’s Day in his memory. There is another version to it as well.
[2] I will write more about this later.

[3] The photo is from roozna: http://www.roozna.com/Negaresh_site/FullStory/?Id=36166

When Your Hear Them Talking

I was not able to use my car today, so I took a cab. My driver was a nice and chatty African American and was talking about business in Dallas. Dallas highway system does not make cab driving a very profitable business. Delays caused by accidents usually cost more than what a driver could make. Most taxi drivers have leased their cabs from a company or an original owner.

Kevin, the cab driver, told me that he has leased his from “Sean” who is from Iran, make no mistake I did not reveal my nationality. I assume “Sean” is an abbreviation or some nickname. He added that “Sean” has a number of cabs and the good thing about him is that he takes good care of his drivers. Kevin was especially happy that Sean let them have their cabs for Christmas and holidays usually free. He said that Sean also renews his fleet regularly. So he was very happy working on contract for him.

Usually talking to people in Dallas many know one or two Iranians. Some are colleagues, most are dentists or physicians and some were a classmate in college or in graduate school. The people I talked to usually assume I know these other Iranians. The other day in Starbucks someone told me: “I know this guy and he is from Iran, his name is Ali. Do you know him? He is such a great guy!” Now Ali is one of the five most popular names in Iran. And I already count 4 persons named Ali in Dallas as my friends. I am certain there are dozens of them in the area. How in the heaven’s name I would know this other Ali. So I politely answered: “I heard that name, but I have not met him yet.”

Nonetheless It is very pleasant when one hears people praising these unknown Iranians: “He is such a great dentist; I have been with him for 5 years now and have no complaints”. “Mo was the greatest guy in college, really smart.” “She was from Isfahan, and she showed me these fantastic photos from there and told me I am always invited” “Last time they went for vacation in Iran, they brought back some really good pistachio, it was nothing like Whole Food stuff much much better, they brought me a whole pack.”

I do not know these strangers, and probably I would never meet them in the real life, but to all of you, Iranian strangers who are doing a great job out there being great decent individuals: Thank You.

Dallas Weather Forecast

Driving to work, weather report was interesting: “today high of 78 thunderstorm, this evening low of 62 thunderstorm, tomorrow high of 79 thunderstorm” It seems no matter what the temperature in Dallas, we are going to have thunderstorm in Dallas.