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October, 2009

There is a lot more to the Vendanges than the Harvest

Following our story on cotton production and harvest in the southwestern United States, we decided to find out about the tradition of harvest in another part of the world: namely, France. The famed grape harvest in the Beaujolais region of France was worth participating in for an American student; but, what he learned about “harvesting fruits” became a good lesson for all of us. Essentially, harvesting fruit of labor requires another sort of heavy labor. The ‘Vendanges’—the French word for the grape harvest—comes with its own set of physical and mental challenges—challenges that can only be met by working in a team and staying focused on the goal.

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Students Expelled from Semnan University

October 29th, 2009 - Although they had only attended one week of classes at the university, Ms. Mojdeh Nourani, Ms. Farahnaz Felfeli, and Mr. Aradalan Tebianian, who had passed the national university entrance examination in 1388 (2009), were expelled from Semnan University and deprived of their right to education by order of University Protection authorities.

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A pledge to make a difference

Now in its tenth year, the Children’s Theater Company based in New York City is doing very well. The idea was sparked in 1989 when a Baha’i youth attending a youth conference pledged to serve the world through some form of community service.

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The Meaning of Life

Watch the interview of Rainn Wilson on ABC of October 26, 2009.

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Cotton Gives Life

Some people are grape-picking in the vineyards of France during the month of September, others are cotton-picking. It's October, the sun shines over the state of Arizona, the weather temperature is perfect. A dream day for the farmers of Eloy and surrounding areas.

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The Stubborn Child after Grimm

The Stubborn Child
after Grimm

from Stubborn Child (Jane Street Press, 2005)

His mother had taken him into her grave
where he continued to fidget. Quiet down,
she yelled, or we’ll get no peace here too.
But his arms kept lifting and falling
and his legs moved back and forth in perpetual dance.

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Do Not Remain Silent

New York Times best-selling author Azar Nafisi, author of "Reading Lolita in Tehran," speaks out on behalf of the Baha'is in Iran at a public event held on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

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Stop religious persecution in Iran

(CNN) -- Why is Rainn Wilson, "Dwight" on "The Office," writing a news commentary for CNN? Good question. It's a bit strange for me, to say the least; a comic character actor best known for playing weirdos with bad haircuts getting all serious to talk about the persecution of the fellow members of his religious faith.