© the eyeranian

Happy 1000th!

This is indeed the 1000th post on the eyeranian. Hitting that marker (something I had anticipated for a while, but then forgot about it until I had almost passed it without noticing), was a great opportunity to reflect back on what IT has meant to me and whether its been a worthwhile venture.

Those who have continued reading my interchanges (often with myself) via this channel know already how I came to start a blog; it was originally meant for only a handful of friends and had it not been necessary to try to get attention to certain subject (arrest of Sina Motallebi being the first of many), it would have never been anything more than an anonymous occasional rambling at an address not many would find. But it became necessary to take it to a different direction, and successful or not, the eyeranian has been a fixture of my life for the past 19 months.

Reflecting back, there has been ups as well as downs. The latter I'd rather forget about but the former allowed me to help in my own very small way to get attention to tragedy of human right abuses in my place of birth as well as other spots around the world, organize small efforts to help victims of natural disasters, engage some prominent policy-makers and advisors in uncharacteristic open dialogue and of course, meet some very interesting people and forge priceless relationships.

So the eyeranian has been a tool, a hobby, a break, a refuge, a local hang-out, a classroom, a podium and a therapist's couch all at the same time for me. For that I am grateful and cherish every single memory from this period.

If that all sounded like a Good Bye, I've got news for you; it won't be this easy to get rid of me. I'm not done yet and even though at times it has been difficult to use this tool, hang out here or get behind it's podium, I still have much more to share with you. However, I do intend to make a couple of changes.

A Re-Birth?

the eyeranian still has a bit of a following left. I don't get thousands of unique hits in a day as I did at one point of writing regularly and going through periods of intense interest, but compared to everything else I've seen out there, a loyal core of interested parties still stop by occasionally to look for new things. I have always believed this was a very strong asset and am sure it can get even further if new items are posted regularly and more international interest is also focused on Iran.

It is therefore unfair for me (in my most humble opinion) to not share this tool I have been provided with. I therefore wish to make it available to a limited number of other similar minded individuals who may want to participate. In short, I'm attempting to make the eyeranian to be the spot for Random Opinions and Observations of more than just Pedram Moallemian.

Maybe you already have a blog, but feel you could use the more exposure this may get your opinions. Perhaps your blog is anonymous and feel it's time to occasionally put your face and name behind certain stands. You could've considered blogging but didn't want to commit to everything it entails. It could be that you just enjoy a group effort more than an individualistic approach. Whatever the reason, this is available to you.

We'll set up some general rules, some of them I'd like to insist on:

Be of a similar (whatever that means) mindset.

Of eyeranian or eyeranian background or at least with some connection.

Group of not less than 3-4 and not more than 10.

Commit to SOME level of writing; once a week, a month, a decade, etc.

Willing to put your name and face behind your words to maintain credibility.

....

Plus technical guidelines to make it useful and also user-friendly and go for it! You'll have your own lock and key (username and password) to stop by, post your own stuff and maintain the blog, YOUR blog. I don't know if any of you out there may be interested at all. Perhaps you'd like to start by reading my Blogs Shall Set You Free piece written a while back (although the date posted on iranian.com indicated a far distant future!). If you are, write me and we'll chat. As Iran is pushed towards the front-burner of the news again, I think having a solid voice is very timely and of tremendous importance.

Me, Personally!

Aside from that, and since many of you are asking, I'd share a bit about my recent undertakings. After months of moving, a new job, finding a place to live, problems with my net connections, etc. I feel like I'm finally settling in. Maybe that is good or not, but I'm a bit tired of the upheaval that has been the earmark of past few years.

Helping all of that is also the fact that I am involved with a wonderful woman of tremendous intelectual capacity and a huge heart. Since I do not have her permission, this is all I will share with you for now but it is important for me to admit publicly that I love her and will do anything I humanly can to make the relationship work (Maybe she'll read this and allow me to say more now!).

So, thank you for hanging around for the past 1,000 episodes and I look forward to many more.

Write me at this address if you are interested in sharing the eyeranian with me: pedram (at) eyeranian (dot) com [Yes, not .net but .com]. Peace!

Posted by Pedram at October 8, 2004 10:02 AM