Articles written by H. Aslan Aslani-Far

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Politics, News & Issues > Republican Leaders When it matters if a political figure has affairs while in the office: 1 of 19
The dalliances of public officials, whether momentary lapses in the greater covenant of monogamy, or extended trysts of satisfaction, obfuscate a public's idealized notion of leadership. That such men, or women, may in fact continue to lead at a level expected of them and exercise a judgment, sound, in the conduct of the publ... More..
Health & Fitness > Nutrition & Health Issues Healthy eating: An individual choice or government responsibility?: 1 of 16
To suggest that "eating healthy" is an individual's choice is to make three uninformed, dangerous assumptions: that the accessible food supply is, in and of itself, untainted; that fast-food marketing campaigns are equally countered by direct, legitimate sources of information that expose the detriments of its continued produ... More..
Entertainment > Hollywood & Movie Industry Everyone's a critic: Evaluating the trend of online movie reviews: 1 of 16
Devoid of insight criticism lacks credibility. It is pompous to believe that ideas expressed without basis in knowledge or experience are anything other than opinion. It is pernicious to accept any opinion as fact.Online movie reviews are the work of amateurs who have little or no understanding of cinema. They have seen a mov... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry Commentary: The New York Times and the McCain lobbyist scandal: 2 of 18
The New York Times allegations regarding Sen. John McCain's purported professional impropriety, and possible personal perfidy, are utterly confounding given that, at least upon initial dissection, they appear to lack merit, serve little purpose and expose no real substantive scandal. Superficially, the allegations seem like j... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Is the crime genre in cinema changing the face of real crime: 2 of 15
The advent of sophisticated crime dramas, both on the silver screen and on television, negatively impacts the prosecution of real world crimes in three disturbing ways: anticipation, enforcement and expectation; each of which directly affects the ability of police and district attorneys to effectively prosecute real world cri... More..
Style & Beauty > Jewelry How to buy a watch for a man: 1 of 6
There is an old adage that says: "For the one who offers an insult, it is written in sand. For the one who receives it, it etched in bronze." The maxim applies to purchasing a man, his watch. If prodigious effort is not made to investigate, educate and purchase a timepiece for a man, the giver may find themselves, no matter h... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Popular movie themes: Stories about outcasts turned heroes: 7 of 35
The outcast's journey toward heroism is a popular storyline for filmmakers because it readily entails four essential components of good storytelling: 1. It quickly establishes the hero protagonist, 2. It confronts the hero with injustice, 3. It firmly places the burden of change solely on the hero's shoulders, and 4. It immed... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration Deciding whether Bush should be impeached: 8 of 36
It is time to fully embrace derision and contempt for this, the Bush "Administration". Time to heal our conscience with the tacit acknowledgement that some choices result in malignant blights that do not fare well on our historical record. Time to lay bare our desire to follow in the footsteps of those worthy of monuments by ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War & Peace Why countries go to war: 18 of 69
Nations wage war for one reason: economic necessity. What follows may determine how the history of the conflict, its agitators and defenders, are portrayed; it may address underlying political and philosophical differences or even lend a humanitarian voice to the subjugated and raise the ethical impetus for engagement; howeve... More..
Entertainment > Music Genres, Trends & Scenes How the power ballad destroyed metal music in the late '80s: 13 of 47
The "power ballad" and "Metal" are diametrical opposites, as impossible to reconcile as Gary Charone and Van Halen and for incredibly good reason: a ballad by definition is sentimental.To paraphrase a popular catchphrase from a later era: "There's no crying in Metal."Metal is all about cars and girls and getting drunk. It is ... More..