Eliot Weinberger reviews the fake memoir by our previous president. An enjoyable read, but I wish he'd carried the Foucaldian comparison to the end of the piece.

Since the Arizona shooting the sales of Glock pistols in particular ( and of guns in general) have jumped significantly in several states. We also note, with a curious surprise, that the three states, which do not require a permit to carry concealed weapons are Alaska, Arizona, and... Vermont.

For those of you who have been following the Khimki forest story, here is a shot of the current rail to Sheremetevo. It would be nice to get a shot of what the same spot looks from a passing train.

Iran puts Paolo Coelho's books on the proscribed list. (As of January 11, it is a rumor, rather than official pronouncement from Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.) Perhaps, John Gray's books, a huge bestseller in Iran, are next? Coelho's Iranian editor is Arash Hejazi, otherwise famous in the West from appearing in the footage of the death of Neda Agha-Soltan in June 2009 post-election protests. Coelho promises to make Farsi translations of his works freely available online. Recently, I watched about half of Kirby Dick's documentary on MPAA. Somebody says in it that in no other country is a comparable certifying body staffed by anonymous members. The Iranian ministry is an obvious exception.

update, Jan. 16
Iran denies banning Coelho's book. The note from Iranian embassy in Brazil calls Hejazi a prime suspect in the death of Neda Agha-Soltan.

Incidentally, the National Society of Film Critics criticizes both MPAA and Iran in its recent report. In December, film director Jafar Panahi was given a 6- year jail sentence. His first arrest arrest in Itan was at Agha-Soltan's funeral in 2009. But it is important to remember that in April 2001 he was detained at JFK. Ironies abound. The Wikipedia article on Panahi incorrectly implies that the JFK incident occured in 2003. Panahi's lawyer, Farideh Gheirat, is preparing the appeal. Panahi is reportedly on hunger strike.

Update, Jan 20. Farhad Pouladi of AFP reports
Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff, says that Panahi's sentence is too harsh, quotes Iranian Shargh newspaper. The pro-government newspaper Kayhan registered disagreement with Mashaie.


While we are on the subject of Iran, I'd like to state that the U. S. hikers should be considered hostages of Iranian state in the absence of the speedy trial against them. The fact that they were critics of US politics in the region does not, by itself, prove that Iran has no case against them.
However, if there was a case, one would think that Iran would by now produce some evidence.