Leyla Shams, Chai and Conversation لیلا‌شمس

I generally don’t share my videos on Twitter, but this is my favorite I’ve made so far- about the word “ham” in Persian. Ham means same or equal, but the Persian language has such a unique way of combining it with other simple words to come up with the most poetic concepts:

A source in Iran told me about the continued repression by state security forces despite waves of heavy air strikes over their city: "The government constantly sends threatening [text] messages to everyone. It says that if you come to the streets to protest, you will be considered an Israeli soldier and will be killed." "At night, government forces march through the city with the flag of the Islamic Republic and [chant] government slogans. They hang flags from their cars. Many of them are armed. At every crossroad, several people are there in civilian clothes and with weapons in their hands."

@follard Also, they barely have any windows facing the park!!!

Every day on my way to and from my son's school, I drive by these 3D printed homes in Mueller (a master development in Austin, TX). 1,607 sq ft, 3 bed, 2 bath for $980,609. Icon Build is developing 12 homes on a single block. It's been incredible to watch as they've moved the printer up and down the street, printing one home after another. However, this seems far too expensive!

@starheal What does 'win the war' mean in this case?

The US will not win this war. Bookmark it

@sweatystartup That is absolutely not true. It was a sustained effort by the community and city to get more affordable housing. We've been working on zoning reform for YEARS and finally passed it on a city and state level.

You are forgetting nobody wants their towns to get cheaper. They want their homes to appreciate and for poor people to be priced out of becoming their neighbors. The developers, landlords and homeowners in Austin are PISSED rents are dropping.

@pterrys How fun!!! I'd LOVE to have lunch with you

Eat lunch with Patrick Terry, literally! Comment below if you and a couple of friends would like to enjoy a meal at your favorite P. Terry’s stand, his treat. We’ll be in touch with 10 guests by March 16.

I’m going to retweet this periodically.

@ahmad98mahmood Yes!!!! I mean, we still have some work to Do but I believe it!

You was correct!!

This is Travis County (Austin), holy shit. Talarico earning 90%+ in some precincts, 80%+ in the vast majority of the West Side. Blockbuster support from White voters of all ages, incomes, urban/rural. These are Mamdani in Bushwick numbers.

@PahlaviReza Wow, even with all the bots you usually have comment, the comment section here shows how incredibly disgusting this statement is. The 103 schoolgirls and countless other Iranians killed deserve our sympathy too.

My heart aches for the 3 American heroes killed and the 5 wounded by the regime. The Iranian people are forever in their debt. To their grieving families: please accept our immense love, deepest condolences, and eternal gratitude.

@SouthernNewsHQ @jamestalarico Don’t tell us what we like.

President Trump wants to build a wall through Big Bend National Park. One of the most sacred places in Texas. Texans have a message for him: Come and take it.

@ramit Just want to add to the discussion a bit that I think is missed when talking about austin. Austin prices came down very deliberately through policies enacted by city council and a lot of advocates in the city. So many people fought nimbyism locally and statewide to make it happen

So many people actually believe this. They think a landlord simply passes along all their costs & adds a tidy profit on top Questions: - If that's true and they can pass along taxes/maintenance, why don't they just raise rent & make MORE profit? What's stopping them? - When their costs go down, do they pass along the savings? Why not? - Are Austin landlords, who have seen rents drop 20%, simply passing along their same costs? Why not?

I'm calling it. @jamestalarico will win the Senate in Texas.

@websterkaroon Yes.

Has anyone lost a friend or grown far apart from someone you used to respect over their stances on the recent protests?

I fear that somewhere along the way I led you to believe I regard you as a respectable adversary. I do not. Let me remind you: the reason I know who you are is that I inadvertently discovered you lied about leaving Columbia on your own terms, and then several young women reached out to tell me that you harassed them. I do not have the words to convey how pathetic I find you, how little respect I have for you.

Death. Taxes. Ted Cruz Fleeing Texas Winter Storms.

[This is a scheduled post] If you see this post, that means we are experiencing a complete #InternetShutdown in 🇮🇷 Iran.

@barmiyeh3975 @Constan63413921 @Maaziaar3 Wait what? None of that is correct, I have no idea where you’re getting any of that from what I said. I have doubts that you’re ben a real person.

Ok- so what I’m hearing is that you’re not a *direct* relative of Alex Shams or the Ayatollah. But you’re a good friend who is spiritually, emotionally and physically committed to spreading Islamic Republic blood libel against the Jews and death to America. “Leyla Shams” isn’t even your real legal name (nor is it Alex Shams’ - another cute and funny coincidence!). You’re a practicing Muslim which makes me wonder why you’re here- you’re certainly not a refugee. I still don’t understand why you’re on American soil.

حمایت جهانی از نرگس محمدی یک تو دهنی بزرگ برای سامانه لجن پراکن پهلوی و ج.ا بود . #زن_زندگی_آزادی #نرگس_محمدی «صدایی نیست که بشود تخریب یا خاموش کرد»

@barmiyeh3975 @Constan63413921 @Maaziaar3 We are friends and we have similar viewpoints on human rights. This is my real last name and your questions are accusatory and invasive. What’s your real name and where do you live?

@justleyla @Constan63413921 @Maaziaar3 What’s your real last name?

@barmiyeh3975 @Constan63413921 @Maaziaar3 No- zero relation to alex shams or the ayatollah. Shams is a common Iranian last name.

@justleyla @Constan63413921 @Maaziaar3 To Alex shams and the ayatollah