Ask an Iranian about BP But Not Before Breakfast

Day 2 at TEDGlobal 2010 and the two morning sessions manage to blow me away (that would be funnier if you knew the content). Titled Found in Translation and Irrational Choices, the themes explored in the talks and performances on this grey rainy Oxford morning warmed up the cockles of my Middle Eastern heart. During this TED so far the one subject that keeps coming up is "story". How to tell it, who tells it, who owns it, who has the best ones, and why they must be told. From internet visionary Ethan Zukerman and Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, to comedy impresario Jamil Abu-Wardah, and the fantastic stand up and actor Maz Jobrani, the message was loud and clear; let us tell our own stories in our own way. Reclaim! Even game changer Peter Molyneux in his talk the day before wanted to be part of his own game story.

Those who follow this blog know that my recent posts about BP have been less than gushing. One titled "Iran and USA: The Gulf Between Us" has been a particular favourite. Another tells you everything you wanted to know about BP but were afraid to ask. No, this is not a Woody Allen joke.

Now past 2 am, just before crashing after a long day in Oxford, I notice this headline on The Guardian site:

BP faces Lockerbie accusations amid delays over oil cap tests

It turns out there are now charges from a group of US senators that BP lobbied for the release of the Lockerbie bomber as part of an oil-for-terrorist deal.

What next? You wonder.

If you really want to know the FULL story about British Petroleum (BP) you must ask an Iranian. But not before he has invited you to breakfast. You see, rather than bang on about the human and environmental disaster in The Gulf of Mexico, let's take our cue from TEDGlobal's theme "And Now the Good News" and join the Global Breakfast Club instead. So much can be shared and learned over breakfast.

Taghi Amirani

TED Senior Fellow

http://amiranifilms.com/

@tagz23

Filed under // Amirani Films BP Elif Shakaf Ethan Zukerman Global Breakfast Club Iranian Jamil Abu-Wardah Maz Jobrani Peter Molyneux TED TED Senior Fellow TEDGlobal TEDGlobal 2010 Taghi Amirani Woody Allen

Shocking Revelation! TED Fellows in Search of the Perfect New York Bagel

June 9, 2010

What you're about to read is absolutely true. It actually happened on 12th May 2010.

So where do you get the best bagels in New York?

Ever since TED bestowed the honour of its fellowship on me, I've been meaning to collaborate with a fellow Fellow on a project of mutual interest that would benefit us and the world. We have, after all, been chosen for our world changing potential. This search drew a blank right through my first year as a TED Fellow and a few weeks into my Senior Fellowship until a recent trip to New York brought me face to face with TED India Fellow and documentary photographer Adam Huggins.

Adam and I had bonded on-line after he commented on a previous post of mine back in February. On meeting in person we got talking about digital cameras, pixels etc, mega geek style, and then New York and what we love about the city. It wasn't long before the conversation turned to breakfasts and bagels. Anyone who knows me will know I'm crazy about breakfast. Why, I even started a Facebook group called Global Breakfast Club.

Where to have the best bagels in NYC became the subject of much debate between Adam and I. H&H on Broadway at 80th I insisted is the business. Adam on the other hand swears by Broadway Bagel on Broadway at 101st. After much bickering and dismissive hand-waving, we decided the only way to settle the dispute was a blind taste test. I bought two 'everything' bagels from H&H and we got on the Subway uptown to Broadway Bagel where we ordered two of their 'everything' with coffee to round off the breakfast experience. Samples were prepared on a plate and the trial began. I was to go first.

The samples. H&H vs Broadway Bagel

After much munching and mulling I choose, to my own surprise, the Broadway Bagel as the winner in the taste stakes.

Adam is up next. Watch the guy behind him puzzled by our antics.

(download)

To his and my surprise Adam's taste buds tell him the H&H everything bagel is superior to the Broadway one. A draw?

While this has been happening the man behind Adam has been watching us bemused and somewhat puzzled by the proceedings. As he's about to leave I catch his eye and explain what we've been doing. "Ah, I thought you were doing some kind of magic trick," he says. "If you want the best bagels in New York you need to go to Absolute Bagels on Broadway at 107th". So just as Adam and I had thought we had a draw, we feel obliged to take one more trip up Broadway in our search for the best bagel in NYC.

And boy, was our man absolutely right! Let the pictures speak for themselves.