From the U.S. based Iranian scholar Behzad Yahgmaian, some optimistic updates:

The presidential election of June 12, which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared to have won, gave birth to a grassroots movement that has been evolving politically, embracing broader segments of the population, discovering new methods of struggle, and refusing to die despite widespread government violence.

It has bewildered the conservatives, surpassed the political limits of the reformists, and become a wildcard with a potential to change Iran in profound ways.

Most of the time I would confine DC posts to my personal blog; but I think that what is happening to public schools in DC has national significance. It is true disaster capitalism, union busting, playing out in the nation's capitol.

Remember that kid in class who continually acted out and made it impossible for anyone else to learn? Well imagine that kid took over your school system and you understand Michelle Rhee. Ever since she took over she has closed schools and fired experienced teachers and replaced them with Teach for American zombies.

There's been a lot of material that's been beyond parody in the New Yorker lately, but I think this one takes a big slice of Marie Antoinette's cake. Appallingly, the editors have actually devised a department heading for this sort of story: "Team Obama"*

Last week, members of the steering committee for Generation Obama—a grassroots group that organizes young professionals—held an after-work meeting in a conference room at a marketing firm on Third Avenue. The theme was reaching out.

Good, good...