Cyrus Farivar

The subject of traffic tickets is on my mind lately, as a few months ago I got busted for doing a California roll right turn here in North Oakland. I’m in the midst of online traffic school right now, and when all is said and done, I’ll have had to throw down $400 for the pleasure. Compare that to Alex’s experience in Estonia: Then came (compared the the States) a lot of paperwork. A document showing my rights under Estonian…

Tim Wu’s Op-Ed in The New York Times: Wired connections to the home — cable and telephone lines — are the major way that Americans move information. In the United States and in most of the world, a monopoly or duopoly controls the pipes that supply homes with information. These companies, primarily phone and cable companies, have a natural interest in controlling supply to maintain price levels and extract maximum profit from their investments — similar to how OPEC sets…

Dear Friends, I’ve been informed that my radio piece on Apple’s woes with the iPhone and MobileMe will be on All Things Considered today (July 30)! It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams). New York – 4 pm to 6:30 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org Washington, DC – 4 pm to 6 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org Los Angeles – 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm Pacific…

I spent all day Friday watching the 13th day of the Sumo Grand Tournament in Nagoya. It was pretty sweet. More to come soon, but for now, here’s a little taste:

There was a 6.9 quake late tonight, 300 miles away in northeastern Honshu. We felt some very light shaking just before going to bed, but we’re fine.

Crazy conservatives getting their panties in a twist about the State Department’s “Mosques of America” calendar. Also, this writer Jeff Johnson seems to be jealous over the fact that he didn’t come with Stuff White People Like. Get over it, dude. There’s a patron saint for the Internet? Meet Saint Isidore of Seville. The Star Pheonix: ‘Couch surfing’ site reveals cultural side of the Internet

Big ups to my cousin Karim Sadjadpour for his latest interview in FP: Foreign Policy: Last week, Iran sounded conciliatory notes when Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki hailed a “new trend” in negotiations with the West over the nuclear issue. But this week, Iranian officials vowed to strike back against any U.S. or Israeli attack and test-fired missiles that they claim can hit Tel Aviv. What explains this shift in tone? Karim Sadjadpour: The last two weeks have been very representative…

I’m going to visit my brother in Tokyo this week. See y’allz on the flip! Any recs for the Land of the Rising Sun? Email me!

Reports FP: The 25 men are members of the Iranian national basketball team, invited to participate in the NBA summer league in Utah as they prepare for their first Olympics in 60 years. Meanwhile, the 18-year old captain of the Iranian junior national team has been training in Texas, hoping to become the first of his countrymen to play college hoops in the United States.

Dear Friends, I’ve been informed that my radio piece on the proposed new US Interests Section in Tehran will be airing today. It will be available on any of these stations (and their Internet streams): New York – 3 pm Eastern – WNYC – 820 AM – www.wnyc.org Washington, DC – 8 pm Eastern – WAMU – 88.5 FM – www.wamu.org Los Angeles – 12 pm Pacific – KPCC – 89.3 FM – www.kpcc.opg Boston – 4 pm Eastern –…