Absolute Random Nonsense

Following local and statewide elections in the past few months, members of the sizable Iranian Jewish community living in Southern California have again made inroads into elected political offices after more than four decades since their arrival from Iran. In particular, younger generations of Iranian Jews who have achieved tremendous success in the private sector are now increasingly looking to serve in public office. The most surprising development came following the Beverly Hills city election in June when psychologist Dr. Sharona Nazarian was elected and became the city’s first female Iranian Jewish council member. “I was truly humbled and honored to see our community come together,” she said. “I ran a grassroots campaign, went door to door to more than 3,700 residents, and I even had a couple of people tell me that this was the first time that they voted in 43 years of living in the United States,” said Nazarian.

Before electricity was discovered, what did people call electric eels?    

Milad Aspari, a green card holder from Iran, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) after mistakenly crossing into Canada and was arrested upon reentry.  On February 20, Aspari was arrested by ICE officials after he and his work team, who were working just two miles from the Canadian border, accidentally turned into Canada for a few miles due to construction and road closures. As they turned back into the U.S., Aspari was taken into custody.  Aspari is a green card holder who is the father of a U.S. citizen daughter.

This particular morning as I woke up I remembered the dream that I had had. It was fresh in my memory and I was sure that I must have had it shortly before waking up. In the dream, I was walking down the street that led to the trench across from Hooman's house. Even though I always went there on my bike, this time I was on foot. I was walking towards the trench, in fact watching myself do so from behind. Next to me was a blond girl walking with me. She had braided her and was wearing daisy dukes which I thought was very gutsy of her. As we approached the trench I asked her what her name was. “My name is Becky Thatcher,” she replied. We walked a little further and then my mom called me to go to the store and buy a broom. I told Becky to wait for me and I hurried to the store and back. Even though I had made it in record time she was gone. That morning after we had breakfast I asked Ardi to come to the trench with me. He refused, stating that there were stray dogs there...

The community of a Montessori school in Beaverton is reeling after immigration agents detained a father as he was dropping off his child at the school this week. Dr. Mahdi Khanbabazadeh, who is a 38-year-old citizen of Iran, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on July 15.  According to an ICE spokesperson, he entered the country legally but had overstayed the terms of his visa.  Those that know Khanbabazadeh — like Eric Squires, who works within the same building as him and is also one of his patients — said this news came as a shock.   In a statement, ICE said that officers first tried to arrest Khanbabazadeh during a traffic stop, but he asked to drop his child off at daycare.  ICE confirmed that Khanbabazadeh is currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.  

In the mid 80s I thought a creature named themf existed. I'm not sure now although I don't rule out its existence.  

Step into a whimsical world where tradition meets comedy! Join us for an unforgettable night of laughter, culture, and unexpected twists as the brilliant Farzan Deljou presents "The Persian Things". Featuring a star-studded cast including Farzan Deljou, Nila Zojaji, Erfan Malakouti, Dorna Amri, Eilia Saadati, Mahsa Khanpour, and more, this play promises to be a rollercoaster of humor, drama, and cultural flair. Set against a backdrop of stunning Persian aesthetics, this hilarious ensemble will take you on a journey through family dynamics, modern challenges, and timeless traditions. Whether you're Persian or just love great theater, this play is sure to resonate and entertain!   Why You Should Attend:     A comedic take on Persian culture and modern life     Iconic characters brought to life by a talented ensemble     An immersive theatrical experience blending humor and heart Don't miss this one-of-a-kind production! Secure your tickets now and be par...

In middle school we were taught that if we owed anyone money after we had died we would have to pay it back with our good deeds on Judgement Day. One student asked if it was possible that when we were buried they would put money in out shroud since on Judgement Day we would probably be wearing the same outfit we were buried in and as such we could simply take the money out of our shroud and hand it to whoever we owed it to. Everyone laughed at this suggestion except the student who was dead serious about his suggestion.  

Reza Zavvar, a green card holder and 40-year U.S. resident, was stopped by federal agents while walking his dog. Zavvar, 52, was arrested last June 28 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement just yards from his Maryland home. He is currently being held in a facility in Texas. Zavvar came to the United States legally from Iran 40 years ago, when he was just a young boy, to pursue his studies: he was later joined by his family. He now faces deportation to Romania or Australia, for an old offense involving possession of marijuana, dating back to the 1990s. His mother, Firouzeh Firouzabadi, recounted that in late June, minutes after Zavvar had gone out to walk his dog, Duke, strangers in uniforms showed up at his door with a leash in hand. “I was shaking,” the woman recounted. “My brother was behind me holding me, and a lot of questions were coming, but the first thing that came to my mind was that maybe a car hit him and he’s on the floor, that’s why they brought him, Duke to me. ...

Callahan stood outside the supermarket, trying to catch his breath as he gathered his thoughts together.   He would go in and look for her and once he found her, he would give her the 7 cents and apologize for the delay.   In case she were not there, he would ask when her next shift was and return promptly.   Callahan marched in. It took some time before Callahan managed to pace the entire store, but eventually it became clear to him that the girl in question was not there.   Callahan stood in the middle of an isle, with a puzzled look on his face, thinking what he should do next.   From the corner of his eye he could detect the motion of other blurry figures passing by, occasionally picking up an item from a shelf.   Callahan continued staring ahead, beginning to actually enjoy this out of focus view.   However, not before long, one of such silhouettes came and stood next to him and refused to budge.   Callahan felt obliged to break his stare...