Press Conference

PRESS CONFERENCE on

 exhibit ‘ shiraz, the city of

paradise’

If art could describe the fragrance of the soul’s inner beauty and capture a glimpse of the unseen world, then it was something of a service to mankind, artist Laurie Blum told correspondents this afternoon at a press conference sponsored by Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Providing a background for her exhibit currently at the United Nations, entitled “Shiraz, the city of Paradise:  the Real Dialogue Among Civilizations”, Ms. Blum said her paintings of the “Garden of Paradise” had helped her to discover who she was, and while she had gone to Iran against the wishes of family, friends and public opinion, she had found the “world of herself” amid Iran’s ancient culture and art

Ms. Blum, a native of New York who has studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and the New York Studio School, said that, when she had first travelled to Iran, she had felt a need to go there.  It had seemed impossible, but the doors had opened for her to visit.  First stepping foot on Iranian soil, she had experienced a feeling of coming home.  While she had not expected that, Iran and its people were very familiar to her

When she had first seen the Garden of Paradise at Shiraz, she realized that she had been looking for that garden since childhood.  Believing there was an inner garden inside of her, she had started to paint the garden.  She had long wondered what the symbols had meant and why they were so important to her.  Her life had become the journey to find out something unconscious -- something she had to learn about through painting.  She had been searching for the beauty of the “outer garden”; she had now found her “inner garden” as she pained in Shiraz

As the first painter to exhibit her work at the Tomb Shrine of Hafez in Shiraz, Iran in 2004, Ms. Blum’s work has travelled from India to the United States and was on exhibit in 2006 in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C.  Seeing her work, former Iranian Cultural Ambassador to the United Nations, Mehdi Faridzadeh, had realized that her paintings reflected the real dialogue of civilizations.  She was grateful that her paintings had now found place in the United Nations, she said

Introducing Ms. Blum, Mansour Sadeghi from Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said she painted greatly what she felt, and she felt deeply what she painted.  A prominent artist, she was committed to promoting the global values that united people

Opening the press conference, Mr. Sadeghi added that the reputation of Iranian culture and civilization was well known, as was the depth of its art, the magnificence of its music, the richness of its cinema, the splendour of its poetry, the wisdom demonstrated in its great carpets, its exceptional architecture and its miniature paintings, which represented a secret language of love, understanding and compassion

Indeed, to understand Iran and its people it was necessary to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture and rich civilization, he said.  Throughout history, Iranians had been not only open to other cultures, but had freely adopted all they had found useful.  An eclectic cultural elasticity had emerged, and was one of the key characteristics of the Persian spirit and a clue to its longevity

Iranian art had gone through numerous phases of evolution, he continued.  The Persian language had been in continuous use for over 2,500 years.  Persian literature had inspired many, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, and had served as a conduit for poetry.  Soft and expressive, the Persian language stood apart from all other eastern languages as a poetic language.  There were many meanings to one word, and many ways to express one’s thoughts

Islam was one of the most important sources enriching Iranian thought and culture, he said.  Islamic experience was a global one and had, throughout history, extended a global invitation to all of humanity.  The Islamic era had drastically enriched Iranian culture and art

An initiative of Iran, the Dialogue among Civilizations had been another step in Iran’s contribution to mankind’s culture and civilization, he said.  The Dialogue had never been solely a conceptual discourse, but offered a new paradigm of interaction between cultures and civilizations in a world that longed for peace and stability

Responding to several questions, Ms. Blum said there was something innate in her about the Persian language and Persian miniatures.  She was still finding out and learning.  She had been seeking an inner garden, a mystical place, which she had found at Shiraz.  Shiraz was the most beautiful place on earth and she had followed her inner guidance in going there

Her paintings were of the inner world and not about people, she said in response to another question.  The inner world was like a subtle language, a place of great beauty and light.  In her imagination, it was flowers and birds.  Everyone had their own inner world.  It was up to each to try to seek that world and to find the path that led to it

Philosophy did not have anything to do with her experience, she added.  She had always loved classical music.  Listening to Iranian music, her heart understood it.  Merging sound with colour, her paintings were the architecture of light and the structure of vibration

Amin Marzban is a Ph.D. candidate at the State University of Isfahan, Iran and one of the youngest faculty members at Shiraz Azad University, Shiraz, Iran. He has published a few books on different sub-fields of English as a Foreign Language and is highly interested in Psycholinguistics. He has been to several international conferences and also published in well-known journals such as Asian EFL Journal and Linguistics Journal.

To lose weight, or keep it off, take a close look at the following article . As usual experts advise taking about 11,000 to 12,000 steps a day

Start smart
Begin lunch and dinner with a veggie-rich salad or broth-based soup, says Pennsylvania State University satiety expert Barbara Rolls, author of "The Volumetrics Eating Plan." "That lets you fill up first on a big volume of low-calorie food and ends up displacing some of the foods you'll eat next -- the choices that are usually higher in calories

Here's a good salad recipe: Mix 1½ cups of salad greens with ¾ cup of raw veggies like onions, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, or cucumbers; drizzle with 2 tablespoons of low-cal bottled dressing

Sneak a snack
"Ten minutes before each meal, eat some healthy fat (around 70 calories or fewer): a handful of nuts, a few slices of avocado, or a spoonful of peanut butter, for example. That helps activate ghrelin, a hormone that lets you know you're full," says Michael Roizin, MD, co-author with Mehmet Oz, MD, of "You on a Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management"

Try the 3-hour rule
"The secret to losing weight comes down to keeping your metabolism alive and active," according to fitness guru Jorge Cruise, author of "The 3-Hour Diet." How do you do that? By eating every 3 hours, give or take 10 to 20 minutes, he says, which translates to three moderate meals with three snacks (100 calories each) between meals

Though other experts say there's nothing magic about 3-hour intervals, eating small, frequent, portion-controlled meals and snacks can keep your blood sugar level steady, your energy up, and keep you from overindulging

Have liquid assets
"If you're going to drink anything with calories (i.e., fruit juice, soda, sweetened coffee and tea, or alcohol), you need to consciously adjust your diet to accommodate those extra calories," says Purdue University nutrition researcher Richard Mattes, PhD. His research shows that people typically make adjustments to eat fewer calories over the course of a day after eating a solid food like jelly beans, but not after drinking the same amount of calories in a glass of soda

And if you want to replace sweetened drinks with their calorie-free counterparts, rethink it. Some research suggests that people who drink no- or low-calorie drinks might actually end up eating more, Mattes says. The best thirst quencher -- and a dieter's best friend -- is still plain old H2O

Cut out this combo
Skip those munchies made with white flour and sugar, like white bread, cookies, and pretzels, says integrative medicine guru Andrew Weil, MD. They signal the body to produce more insulin and set the stage for turning calories to fat, fat, and more fat

Choose your pals
Studies show that most of us base how much we eat on what others around us eat, says University of Toronto psychologist Peter Herman, PhD. So steer clear of the big eaters in your social circle, at least when food is around. Sashay over and make small talk at parties with the folks who aren't hovering near the food table 

Pare portions
Everything from beverages to bagels is two to five times bigger today than in the 1970s, says New York University nutrition professor Lisa Young, PhD, author of "Portion Teller" and who has studied the servings dished up in restaurants and by food companies

"So if you grab a bagel or eat out, chances are you'll be served double what you need," she says. Her advice: Start leaving just a little bit on your plate or, if you can, cut the amount you eat in half. She also suggests that you "use your hand as a portion guide -- 3 ounces of meat fits into your palm, 1 cup of potatoes looks like a fist"

Be an early bird
Eat the most food earlier in the day, says Elisabetta Politi, nutrition manager at Duke Diet and Fitness Center, Duke University's successful weight-management center

"Many dieters try to trim calories from their break-fast and lunch and then get hungry," she says. "Research shows the calories you eat earlier in the day help you eat less at night" -- a good idea since you probably won't be active after an evening meal

Step it up
"Get a pedometer and start walking," says University of Colorado obesity expert James Hill, author of "The Step Diet." To keep the weight off forever, the goal is to take 11,000 to 12,000 steps (around 90 minutes) a day

"You don't need to do it all at once," Hill explains. Start with 2,000 steps a day, or about 15 minutes of walking. Add another 5 minutes (500 steps) each week. You can find supercheap pedometers at drugstores and big-box retailers to help you keep count. There are lots of other sneaky little ways to add more steps to your day, too: Use a cordless phone and walk while you talk, or get up and walk during TV commercials

Think thin
"Seeing is believing," says Janice Taylor, weight-loss coach and author of "Our Lady of Weight Loss." "You have to picture yourself thin if you want to become thin." Visualize what you're wearing, where you are, who you are with, and how you feel. "The more vivid the picture, the more real it will feel to you," Taylor says, "and the more likely it will take form"

Shula Lazarus, PhD, a psychotherapist at the North Carolina-based weight-management program Structure House, agrees, though the method isn't clinically proven. "We use it to help dieters visualize a healthy eating pattern and the right portions on their plate. It can't hurt, and it might help"

Fill up on fiber
Crowd out calorie-dense foods by ratcheting up on fruits and veggies. "Start by eating one more serving of fruit and one more vegetable a day," says Donald Hensrud, MD, a Mayo Clinic nutrition specialist. Hitting that midafternoon slump? Reach for carrots -- the carbs will give you a lift. Not only does munching on nature's bounty become a good habit, but it'll also help you tap into dozens of disease-fighting phytochemicals and vitamins. The biggest fiber bulker-upper: beans. Just a cup of black beans nets you nearly 15 grams of filling fiber

Brush your teeth
Sometimes the best advice comes from your best friend or, in this case, a fellow Health magazine reader. Barbara Haug of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, says she brushes her teeth right after dinner instead of at bedtime. "I can be a compulsive snacker in the evening," she says, "but I don't like messing up freshly brushed teeth

هميشه از نام خانوادگي شما استفاده مي شود

 مدت زمان مكالمه‌ي تلفني شما حداكثر30 ثانيه است

 براي يك مسافرت يك هفته اي تنها يك ساك كوچك دستي نياز داريد.

 در تمام شيشه هاي مربا و ترشي را خودتان باز مي‌كنيد.

 دوستان شما توجهي به كاهش يا افزايش وزن شما ندارند.

جنسيت شما در موقع مصاحبه‌ي استخدام مطرح نيست.

 لازم نيست كيفي پر از لوازم بي استفاده را همه جا به دنبالتان بكشيد.

ظرف مدت 10دقيقه مي‌توانيد حمام كنيد و براي رفتن به مهماني آماده شويد.

 همكارانتان نمي‌توانند اشك شما را در بياورند.

 اگر در 34 سالگي هنوز مجرديد، احدي به شما ايراد نمي‌گيرد.

 رنگ اجزاء صورت شما در هر صورت طبيعي است.

 با يك دسته گل مي‌توانيد بسياري از مشكلات احتمالي را حل كنيد.

 وقتي مهمان به خانه‌ي شما مي‌آيد لازم نيست اتاق را مرتب كنيد.

 بدون هديه مي‌توانيد به ديدن تمام اقوام و دوستانتان برويد.

 مي‌توانيد آرزوي هر پست ومقامي را داشته باشيد.

حداقل بيست راه براي بازكردن در هر بطري نوشابه‌ي داخلي يا خارجي بلد هستيد.

ضرورتي ندارد روز تولد دوستانتان را به خاطر داشته باشيد.

هر ساعتي دلتون بخواد ميتونيد از خونه بيرون بريد و هر ساعتي دلتون بخواد ميتونين برگردين...

What do we mean by Social Psychology?! 

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others

The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all of the psychological variables that are measurable in a human being

The reference to imagined or implied others suggests that we are prone to social influence even when no other people are present, such as when watching television, or following internalized cultural norms

The study of attitudes is a core topic in social psychology

Attitudes are involved in virtually every other area of the discipline, including conformity, interpersonal attraction, social perception, and prejudice. Social psychologists typically explain human behavior as a result of the interaction of mental states and immediate, social situations

In general, social psychologists have a preference for laboratory based, empirical findings

Their theories tend to be specific and focused, rather than global and general

نامیرا باشیم در عشق ورزیدن... نه به یک نفر که به همه ی جهان هستی .

بینا باشیم در تک تک ثانیه ها که از دل همین  ثانیه هاست که میشود گوهر گرانبهایی را بیرون آورد .

شنوا باشیم به آهنگِ موزون طبیعت،که با الهام از این سمفونی زیباست که میتوانیم خلق کنیم آنچنان که شایسته ی ماست .

باشیم ... خوب باشیم .

زندگی را هر روز با دریچه ای تازه ببینیم تا گرد و غبار کهنگیهای کسالت بار بر آیینه ی آن نیفتد ...

تغییر در جهت مثبت را از اصول زنده بودن بدانیم .

We grow old filled with Regrets

...for Things not Done

...for Words not Said

...for Love not Shown

Life is too Short

,Rather than Regretting Tomorrow

Do all What makes you Happy Today

تهران - يک مجله امريکايي در گزارشي به عملکرد درخشان دانشجويان دانشگاه صنعتي شريف در امتحانات ورودي دوره هاي دکترا در دانشگاه استانفورد امريکا پرداخته و نوشت: هاروارد را فراموش کنيد ، دانشگاه صنعتي شريف يکي از بهترين دانشگاههاي جهان است که در ايران قرار دارد.

مجله "نيوزويک" نوشت: دانشگاه استانفورد امريکا که به خاطر امتحانات ورودي بسيار دشوار خود از بدنامي خاصي برخوردار است اکنون به مقصد محبوب دانشجويان درخشان ايراني تبديل شده است.
به نوشته اين روزنامه پديده دانشجويان بسيار باهوش ايراني اولين بار در سال 2003 نظر همه را به خود جلب کرد زيرا در اين سال گروه مهندسي برق اين دانشگاه با مشاهده اينکه گروهي از دانشجويان خارجي به راحتي درامتحانات بسيار سخت ورودي دوره دکترا در اين دانشگاه موفق شدند و با نمراتي که در تاريخ اين دانشگاه بي سابقه بود در اين سطح قبول شدند شگفت زده شدند.
به نوشته اين مجله امريکايي، هر چند اين مساله که دانشجويان خارجي بخصوص از آسيا در اين امتحانات خوش درخشيدند چيز عجيبي نبود اما نکته شگفت انگيز آن بود که اکثريت آنها از يک کشور و از يک دانشگاه خاص مي آمدند: دانشگاه صنعتي شريف واقع در ايران.
به نوشته اين روزنامه، مديران دانشگاه استانفورد پس از گذشت چندين سال حال ديگر از ديدن نمره هاي برتر دانشجويان اين دانشگاه در امتحانات ورودي دکترا تعجب نمي کنند زيرا ديگر مي دانند که دانشگاه صنعتي شريف ايران در رقابت با دانشگاههايي مانند کاتک و استانفورد در امريکا، چين گوا در چين و کمبريج در انگليس يکي از بهترين دوره هاي مهندسي برق در سطح ليسانس در جهان را دارد.
مجله مذکور در ادامه اشاره کرد که مديران دانشگاه استانفورد تنها کساني نيستند که به هوش استثنايي دانشجويان دانشگاه شريف ايمان دارند بلکه همتايان آنها در تمام کانادا و استراليا يعني کشورهايي که در صدور ويزا براي ايرانيان محدوديتهاي زيادي اعمال مي کنند نيز با آنها هم عقيده هستند به طوريکه پذيرش دانشجويان ايراني در کانادا از سال 1985 تاکنون دويست و چهل درصد رشد داشته و اين درحاليست که در استراليا شمار دانشجويان ايراني در پنج سال گذشته تقريبا پنج برابر شده و به هزار و پانصد نفر رسيده است.
اين مجله نوشت: در عين حال شهرت جهاني دانشگاه شريف نشانگر آن است که دانشجويان ايراني يک شهرت جهاني به عنوان ابرستاره هاي علم براي خود دست و پا کرده اند.
نيوزويک در ادامه با اشاره به اينکه دانشجويان ديگر دانشگاههاي ايران مانند دانشکده فني دانشگاه تهران و دانشگاه صنعتي اصفهان نيز حال ديگر به بازيگران اصلي المپيادهاي علمي جهاني تبديل شده و هر بار جامهايي در رشته هاي فيزيک، رياضي، شيمي و رباتيک را به خانه مي برند، نوشت: به عنوان نشانه تعظيم جهاني نسبت به دانشمندان جوان ايراني، شهر اصفهان در ايران اخيرا ميزبان المپياد جهاني فيزيک بود و اين افتخاري است که هيچ کشور ديگري در خاورميانه صرفا به اين دليل که نمي توانند دانشمنداني که در خور اين مسابقات باشند معرفي کنند به آن نايل نشده است.
مجله مذکور افزود: شرکتهاي صنعتي و فني غرب نيز از دانشگاهها در جذب ستارگان ايراني عقب نمانده اند به طوريکه از شرکتهايي مانند "سيليکون ولي" گرفته تا "گوگل" و "ياهو" و يا موسسات تحقيقاتي در سرتاسر غرب در حال حاضر صدها فارغ التحصيل ايراني را به کار گرفته اند که در اين ميان برندگان المپياد بخصوص از جذابيت خاصي برخوردار هستند .
مجله امريکايي در ارائه دليل موفقيت علمي دانشجويان ايراني و بخصوص دانشگاه شريف نوشت: "دانشگاههاي ايران به پيشرفتهاي خود ادامه مي دهند که اين به گفته يکي از دانشجويان قبلي دانشگاه شريف که اکنون در نيويورک يک پروفسور است به دليل تمايل والدين ايراني به سوق دادن فرزندان خود به سوي رشته هاي برتر مانند پزشکي و مهندسي و نيز فرآيند بسيار سخت گزينش دانشجو در دانشگاههاي ايران بخصوص دانشگاه صنعتي شريف است که باعث مي شود برترين ها وارد دانشگاههاي برتر شوند. به طوريکه از ميان حدود يک و ميليون دانش آموزي که هر ساله در کنکور شرکت مي کنند تنها ده درصد به دانشگاههاي دولتي پراعتبار راه مي يابند و از ميان اين تعداد نيز تنها يک درصد در دانشگاههاي برتر مانند صنعتي شريف و در رشته هاي علم و صنعت پذيرفته مي شوند.
شريف همچنين از هيات علمي بسيار برجسته اي برخوردار است که بسياري از آنها در معتبرترين دانشگاههاي جهان درس خوانده اند. دليل اين امر سطح بالاي ارائه دروس در دبيرستانهاي ايران است که سطحي از علم را به دانش آموزان ارائه مي کند که دانش آموزان امريکايي تا سطح دانشگاه با آنها مواجه نمي شوند و همين سنت ارائه مطالب سنگين در دانشگاه نيز ادامه دارد به طوريکه که در دوره ليسانس موضوعات دوره بالاتر هم مورد اشاره قرار مي گيرد."