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Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

ana.press

51–60 of 84 posts

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So much for freedom, right? After all, the US has a very loud voice on all things freedom related but when it comes to the rights of its own citizens to do as they please the degree of freedom appears to be lower than that of many states that have lesser profile in the freedom department. Countries should not limit their citizens freedoms on the basis of politics, that's no different than the various dictatorships th…

US citizens are allowed to go to Iran. The state department has issued a travel advisory, but it was issued on the basis of kidnappings and arbitrary arrests of U.S. citizens. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/...

US Citizens are allowed to go, but Iran will not grant visas to US Citizens easily because the US and its greatest ally Israel have been participating in assassinations of Iranian non-combatant citizens and lots of espionage in that country for decades for a reason most Americans could not even tell you.

I'm just saying, the US has restricted its own people's ability to visit that part of the world because of the actions it has engaged in.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#52
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure what your situation is but I know Americans that have gone through an intermediate country

>I'm not sure what your situation is but I know Americans that have gone through an intermediate country It's possible , sure. But the risk of arbitrary detention would make it impossible to enjoy. The state department currently lists Iran as "Level 4: Do not travel", and suggests you have a will in order if you do [0]. There was a brief moment towards the end of the Obama era where it seemed things may have been tha…

We call it arbitrary detention, but the reason they detain US citizens is frankly because the US is constantly assassinating Iranians (remember the scientist who was killed by a drone recently?) and they have no way of knowing who is a legit tourist and who has been sent by the US to spy on them and kill another of their citizens.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#53

To anybody with a cynical view of Iran and its people I highly recommend watching this fairly recent documentary about a British guy riding a motorcycle through the country. The people seem like some of the most friendly in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2LEgowbzSc

> To anybody with a cynical, narrow-minded view of Iran and its people I highly recommend ...

Do you expect any reader of this comment to say to themselves "Ah, that's me!"?

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#54
post #11

Wonderful gallery! Interesting sharpening technique in image 7 with a blunt writing tip. Typically you'd seen a more angled cone [0] and a sharper end, but I guess this means no color is wasted when doing the initial sharpening? Anyone note a list of his brands? I think I see some Faber-Castell but can't ID anything else. [0] https://unsharpen.com/the-parts-of-wooden-pencil/

Image 6 just looks like he is holding 2 pencils. Is he actually sharpening them? However he does it, I don't think he is using a razor based sharpener, just look at the rough points in image 15.

Ah yes, good call, thanks for the keen eyes!

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#55
post #53

To anybody with a cynical view of Iran and its people I highly recommend watching this fairly recent documentary about a British guy riding a motorcycle through the country. The people seem like some of the most friendly in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2LEgowbzSc

> To anybody with a cynical, narrow-minded view of Iran and its people I highly recommend ... Do you expect any reader of this comment to say to themselves "Ah, that's me!"?

I did not. But I see what you're saying and I edited it to make it more chill.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#56

Years ago, I dismissed photography as a pretentious hobby that would be rendered obsolete as smartphone cameras and digital improvements became more ubiquitous, but I have since learned to appreciate the talent behind a good photo. I only bring this up because I had a similar experience with these photos that I had locally. My Hudson Valley town is a delicate balance of many cultures (primarily white, black, and Cent…

I tend to dislike photographs of myself. I once spent Christmas at a gathering hosted by a photographer. He spent the evening walking around taking photographs of people/the general goings on. I remember seeing the photographs after and looking at myself/others and thinking "The respect that the photographer has for the people in these photographs is immense". And yeah we all seemed to be having a good time, but there's some extra layer of dignity/worth/soul that he managed to endow everything with, and I felt so grateful to be able to see myself captured in that way. Your comment reminded me a bit of that.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#57

Years ago, I dismissed photography as a pretentious hobby that would be rendered obsolete as smartphone cameras and digital improvements became more ubiquitous, but I have since learned to appreciate the talent behind a good photo. I only bring this up because I had a similar experience with these photos that I had locally. My Hudson Valley town is a delicate balance of many cultures (primarily white, black, and Cent…

Any idea what his town of origin might be? The leather workers in the southern highlands of Ecuador (talabarteros, often specializing in saddles) are exceptional.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#58
post #39

It fills me with a deep sorrow knowing that I will never be able to visit Iran as an American. I don't know if it's just the "forbidden fruit" aspect of it or not, but it's my number one bucket list destination.

I feel the same way about Cuba. My Uncle worked there as a banker and almost my entire family visited him there at one time or another. I asked him once when it opened up again why he hadn't gone back. He said the trips are forced tours and that he wouldn't be free to get a car and revisit the haunts of his youth. I made up my mind that I wouldn't visit Cuba until the communists were gone. I was pretty confident afte…

Half of Miami seems to be pretty sure atm.

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a 0 missing in the picture. In another photo[1] it says "2500 Toman" which is about $0.10 USD [1] https://media.ana.press/old/1399/09/24/637435501254726240_lg...

Was wondering about the exchange rate these days. Good catch.

I thought x1000 is usually understood when tomans are quoted

Re: Mr. Rafieh’s Tehran Pencil Shop

#60

It fills me with a deep sorrow knowing that I will never be able to visit Iran as an American. I don't know if it's just the "forbidden fruit" aspect of it or not, but it's my number one bucket list destination.

I want to visit too and I know why - the history and culture.

Unfortunately like many middle-east countries the government is not representative of the people.

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