Tuesday, December 29, 2009
One Piece at a Time.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Հերթական բռնությունը ռեժիմի ծառաների կողմից:
Bandits Attack Activists
Nikol Pashinian is currently in jail facing an eight years of imprisonment as a result of the government crackdown on peaceful protesters on March 1, 2008 which resulted in 10 deaths. The protests were organized amid allegations of massive fraud and violence during the presidential election which resulted in the election of Serj Sargsian. Since becoming a president, Serj Sargsian has continued using violence and intimidation against the people of Armenia. There currently are a 15 political prisoners in the country.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Pardoning a couple of evildoers
A couple of patsies brought to "justice" in Yerevan for using undue force and violence against the civilians on March 1 were found guilty and immediately amnestied. These two cops were not the ones responsible for the killings. They were accused of violence and beating up people but are seen here saying that they do not regret doing it. To them, and to the Armenian society as a whole, beating and physically abusing people has become the norm rather than the exception. Such disgusting behavior is seen as a normal way of resolving disputes. And when it's done by any of the arms of the mafia governing the country like the police, the KGB or the thugs working for the oligarchs, people thank their good fortune that they ended up beaten up instead of killed.
The whole country has become a joke.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Finally!
Monday, December 07, 2009
Formula for a Well-Written News Article
1. First paragraph
The first one or two sentences should tell who, what, when, where, and why. Try to hook the reader by beginning with a funny, clever, or surprising statement.
2. Second/Third/Fourth paragraphs
These should give the reader the details. Include one or two quotes from people that were interviewed. Write in the third person (he, she, it, they). Be objective -- never state your opinion. Use quotes to express others' opinions!
3. Last paragraph
Wrap it up somehow ( don't leave the reader hanging. Please don't say...."In conclusion" or "To finish..." Try ending with a quote or a catchy phrase.
Key items to remember:
* Use active words (verbs that show what's really happening.)
* Take notes when you interview. Write down quotes!
* Tell the really interesting info first!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Recycle
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
How Armenia was conquered by Soviet Russia.
Վախեցած հասարակություն
Monday, November 30, 2009
Armenian Leader's Lofty Words Fall On Deaf Ears
Thursday, November 26, 2009
BFF - Best Friends Forever.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Weightlifters.
I'm hoping they have the wrong person.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
ԲՈՈՆԻՆ ԾԵԾՈՂՆԵՐԸ ՎԱՅԵԼՈՒՄ ԵՆ ԿՅԱՆՔԸ
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Americans.
Եղիազար Այնթապցի
Monday, November 16, 2009
Nuclear Iran
Friday, November 13, 2009
This has to be preserved.
Eventually A1+ won a judgment from the European Court to return to broadcasting their programs. But the Armenian government has so far continued to defy the court order and A1+ is still off the air.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Free People.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
Biased Aravot
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Sad Situation.
20 Years Old - Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Cute but major fail.
‘Singing’ Bins and Benches (ArmeniaNow.com)
A small park in front of the State Conservatory in the center of Yerevan has been equipped with ‘lira’-benches and ‘treble clef” litter-bins: accompanied by hustles and whispers of falling red and orange leaves, the autumn syphony is in the air under the skillful direction of great Komitas.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Oh, jeez.
Լոռու ջրերը վտանգավոր ենThe emphasis is mine. If the water is not chlorinated, and there is sediment, chances are that there is bacterial contamination as well. The above passage is either poor journalism or the chief of the epidemics department is hoodwinking people.
Լոռու մարզի Վանաձոր, Սպիտակ, Ստեփանավան քաղաքների գետերի ջրերը օրերս՝ Ջրի մոնիտորինգի համաշխարհային օրվա առիթով, ենթարկվել են կենսաբանական մոնիտորինգի: Ուսանողներից կազմված 3-ական խմբերը ջրի նմուշներ են վերցրել Դեբեդ, Վանաձոր, Տանձուտ, Փամբակ գետերից, Վանաձորի «Թթու ջուր» եւ Սպիտակ քաղաքի «Փամբի ջուր» տեղանքներից: Մոնիտորինգը կազմակերպել էին «Ազգային ջրային համագործակցություն-Հայաստան» հ/կ-ն եւ «Գլոբալ ջրային համագործակցություն» միջազգային ցանցի՝ ԱՄՆ «Մաքուր ջուր» հիմնադրամի տրամադրած սարքավորումներով: Մոնիտորինգի արդյունքներն ամփոփվեցին Վանաձորի «Օրհուս» բնապահպանական-տեղեկատվական կենտրոնում կազմակերպված սեմինարի ժամանակ: Արդյունքներն ամփոփելիս պարզ դարձավ, որ ամենաաղտոտված ջուրը Վանաձորում է՝ «Թթու ջուր» տարածքում: Այստեղ ջուրն այնքան կեղտոտ է, որ կենդանի օրգանիզմների առկայության համար նվազագույն պայմաններ է ստեղծվել: Տեղեկացանք, որ «Թթու ջրին» հարակից կա կուտակված մեծ աղբ, որն էլ, հավանաբար, լցվում է ջուրն ու այն աղտոտում:
Քննարկմանը ներկա «Կայուն ջրային միջավայր» հ/կ-ի անդամ Լուսինե Վարդանյանն ասաց, որ այս ծրագրի նպատակն է հասարակությանն իրազեկել եւ հնարավորություն տալ յուրաքանչյուր քաղաքացու դիտարկել իր բնակավայրի ջրային օբյեկտները: «Խմելու ջրի մոնիտորինգ, անհրաժեշտ ցուցիչներ» թեման ներկայացրեց ՀՀ առողջապահության նախարարության պետական հիգիենիկ եւ հակահամաճարակային Լոռու մարզային տեսչության պետ Կարինե Միրզոյանը. «Մարդու օրգանիզմում ֆիզիկական պրոցեսներն առանց ջրի չեն կատարվում, մեր առողջությունն առանց մաքուր, խմելու համար պիտանի ջրի՝ պահպանել հնարավոր չէ: Ջուրը շատ կարեւոր հիգիենիկ նշանակություն ունի: Խմելու եւ տնտեսական օգտագործման ջրի նկատմամբ պահանջները նույնն են լինելու: Չէի ասի, թե ջրամատակարարման եւ ջրահեռացման համակարգերն այնքան անթերի են, որ խնդիրներ չկան: Ունենք ներքին ցանցի շատ խոցելի վիճակ: Վանաձորում պարբերաբար ջրամատակարարման ցանցի հետ կապված խնդիրներ են լինում: Հիմնականում պատճառը տեղային աղտոտումն է: Մեր ջրերը քլորացվող ջրեր են, եթե մի տեղ քլորի պակաս կա, համոզված չենք, որ որակյալ ջուր է»: Տեսչության պետը հույս հայտնեց, որ Վանաձորում հայ-գերմանական ներդրումներով կառուցվելիք ջրատարը կլուծի այս խնդիրները:
Վանաձորի Տարոն թաղամասի ջրի որակի վերաբերյալ մասնակիցներից մեկի հարցին էլ տիկին Կարինեն պատասխանեց. «Թաղամասը սնուցվում է Լեռնաջուր ջրամբարից: Ես ընդունում եմ, որ այստեղ կան խնդիրներ, եթե ջուրը քլորացված չէ, խմելու պիտանի չէ եւ այստեղ էլ կա քլորացնելու անհրաժեշտություն»: Ի պատասխան հնչեց, թե՝ «Այդ դեպքում ինչպե՞ս օգտվենք ջրից, երեւի սպասենք, որ բաժակի «տակը նստի», հետո՞ խմենք»: Սրան էլ Կ. Միրզոյանն ասաց, որ այդ կերպ ջուրը գոնե մանրէաբանական իմաստով անվտանգ է:
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Don't eat that food.
When visiting Armenia, I have been surprised at the lax attitude towards hygiene. It's quite shocking to see the blissfully ignorant faces of the sales clerks while there is a swarm of flies buzzing on bread in the store. Cover the damn things with a cheese cloth, at least!
Aravot today has posted two photographs of the delivery of bread to the government building. A man brings over a box full of bread in the trunk of his car, drops a few loaves on the ground while carrying them to the cafeteria. So he puts the box on the ground (next to a garbage bin) picks up the loaves and then continues to deliver them. Apparently, the area is also a favorite spot for public urination as pictured above.
Freaky stuff.
Յուրաքանչյուր առավոտ «Ժիգուլի» մակնիշի ավտոմեքենայի թափքից ՀՀ կառավարության բուֆետին հաց է մատակարարվում: Բացի այն, որ չինովնիկների հացը տեղափոխվում է հակահիգիենիկ պայմաններում՝ մեքենայի թափքի մեջ, հացի համար չնախատեսված կեղտոտ արկղերով, չփաթեթավորված, այն մինչ ճաշարան հասնելն ու կառավարության աշխատակիցներին հրամցվելը՝ մի շարք «փորձությունների» միջով է անցնում: Լուսանկարում պատկերված այս երիտասարդը օրերս բաց արկղով հացը ներս էր տանում կառավարության՝ Մելիք Ադամյան փողոցի մուտքով: Մինչ հացը տեղ կհասցներ, մի քանի հաց ընկավ գետնին: Երիտասարդն առանց վարանելու վերցրեց ու դրանք տեղավորեց մյուս հացերի կողքին: Ցանկացած անցորդ կվկայի, որ կառավարության այդ հատվածի պատերից վատ հոտ է բուրում, քանի որ շատերն իրենց բնական կարիքները հոգում են հենց այդտեղ, ինչին ականատես եղանք նաեւ մենք: Օրը ցերեկով այս պապիկը միզում էր այն վայրում, որտեղից ընդամենը մի քանի մետր այն կողմ երիտասարդը հավաքում էր հացերը: Եթե կառավարության հացն է նման պայմաններում առաքվում, էլ ինչ կարող ենք պահանջել շարքային սպառողներին հաց մատակարարող ընկերություններից:
Monday, October 19, 2009
Patriots are loudest when they are far from the storm
Before the government of Armenia had even signed the historic agreement with Turkey, which would restore relations between the two countries and would put an end to almost a century of hostility, the Armenians of the Diaspora had begun to react.
People who live abroad always seem to be more patriotic than those living in the home country. They are usually against any idea of reconciliation, sticking to extreme positions and defiant slogans. In order to show off their own patriotic fervour, they frequently dispute that of their countrymen, who live in the homeland and whom they accuse of lacking a fighting spirit.
How does it happen that people who do not reside in the homeland appear more nationalistic and patriotic than those who live with and experience the problems?
The main reason is the absence of any risk or fear; it is inevitable that those living abroad feel much greater security as they would not be affected by an outbreak of hostilities. The person who feels secure is much more comfortable taking a hard-line nationalistic stance.
It is no coincidence that the most patriotic articles appearing in the Cyprus press are penned by Greek Cypriots who live in Greece, Britain and the US. And it is no coincidence that every year, at the conference for overseas Cypriots, the most absurd views about the Cyprus problem are heard.
The person who lives in Athens, London or Melbourne has no qualms about playing the big patriot, because he risks nothing. He knows that where he lives and the Turkish army could not reach him if a new bout of fighting broke out in Cyprus.
I do not think it would serve any purpose to mention names but a brief look at the articles published in the press is enough to show the patriotic superiority of Greek Cypriots living abroad. A Greek Cypriot, who lives in Athens and regularly wrote articles for Phileleftheros, on one occasion, suggested that we emulated the Palestinians and embarked on an intifada against the Turkish occupation army.
Did he mean that we would strap explosives on to children and women and send them to the Turkish position on the Green Line? I wrote that if he came to Cyprus and started an intifada I would follow him. Of course he chose to stay in Athens. He proposed the intifada only for us idiots living in Cyprus.
In the case of Armenia, we see that the most rabid reactions to the agreement with Turkey came from the US. From the safety of the US, these Armenians feel much more patriotic than their fellow nationals back home and have the luxury to describe the protocols signed on Sunday as “humiliating rags”.
In Cyprus, with House President Marios Garoyian as the spiritual leader, Armenians set up their own ultrapatriotic chorus before the agreements were signed, accusing Armenia’s president of something tantamount to treason. The funny thing is that a few months ago, Garoyian made a fiery speech against Turkey in Armenia’s parliament, giving deputies a lesson in patriotic values.
But it appears that they have got his number in Armenia and completely ignored his passionate patriotic views.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Developments of the past week.
So, the insistence of the opposition in Armenia that the current process endangers NKR are valid. I think at some point even the pro-government people like the ARF Dashnaktsutyun mumbled the same thing.
My position remains the same throughout. It is good policy to try to have normal relations with neighbors as long as the process does not threaten Armenia. This latest development is done by the US. Obama had promised to recognize the Genocide which, if done in the current situation, would be damaging to the US interests. So the solution for him was try to normalize Turkey-Armenia relations so that these interests are not harmed.
The problem is that the US and Armenian interests are not entirely compatible. It wouldn't be a big deal if Armenia had a normal government and had the support of its citizens and the Diaspora. Unfortunately, the current president is illegitimate and as such does not have the backing of his people. That complicates the Armenian position and the country comes to the negotiating table being very weak.
And we have seen time and time again, when the Armenian position is weak, we end up losing spectacularly. Remember the paper ladle that Khrimian Hayrik talked about.
Before we lose much of what was gained in the early 90-s and retained after wards, i is important that the three branches of government regain legitimacy - new parliament, new president and reformed and independent judiciary (speaking of the judiciary, it's important to note that the head of the Constitutional Court of Armenia was breaking the Constitution while he was engaged in a political activity accompanying SS on his ill-conceived 'pan-Armenian' tour).
Friday, October 02, 2009
Bad Karma.
SS is in Paris. A few hundred people protest against him. The french gendarmes attack the protesters.
Being around SS is dangerous to your health no matter where you live.
Vahagn Ghukasian
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
40% reduction.
It's a truly disturbing situation.
Just like children.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
People still passionate about rapprochement with Turkey.
The tricky part is the historical commission about Metz Yeghern. There are fears that this will be a tool to deny that the genocide ever took place. I think this is valid concern. I liken it to a civil court case where one side has suffered and is demanding damages but has no resources to hire good lawyers. The wrongdoer has much more resources and can hire star lawyers. Even though the plaintiff is right, there is still no guarantee they will win. Armenia not only lacks the resources that Turkey has, she also comes to the table with discredited and illegitimate leadership.
SS is like an audience member in a circus standing on long pole with lions roaming underneath. He and his team are mental midgets and do not have much support among the citizens of Armenia or in the Diaspora.
Another complication is that the efforts to have the US recognize Metz Yeghern will be put on the back burner. It was an inconvenient matter and now there is an excuse that the historical commission is taking care of it.
But then there is the chance that the commission will reveal facts that Metz Yeghern indeed took place. There is a precedent for this. A few years ago the non-governmental TARC (Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee) ruled that the genocide had taken place. At the time of TARC's existence, there was a lot of resistance in Armenia and Turkey but after that it became possible for the Turks to actually discuss the matter in their press and made it possible for their elite to question the policy of the Turkish government.
The last concern among the Armenians is that the Turks will invade Armenia, all the Armenian women will move to Turkey and become prostitutes, the Armenians will be forced to buy Turkish products and such fears. Frankly, I think these are ridiculous.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
New neighbors.
Yes, it looks like either a squirrel or a raccoon is moving into our attic.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ments back to their beloved methods.
Yesterday, Miatsum movement that is affiliated with HAK, started a protest on Baghramian Street in front of the building that SS sits. Lo and behold, the cops were there to abuse them. Bazaz The Notorious Ment even attacked an elderly lady - the mother of the first soldier to die in the Karabagh War.
It is obvious that the banditocracy wants a protest by their partner Dashnakcutyun but still do not tolerate dissent by anyone else.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The runt of the litter.
But if Armenia does not respond, they admit that what Georgia did was legitimate and will open the door for further problems in the future.
But what else would you expect from the incompetent and illegitimate government of SS?
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Saddest September 21.
For whatever it's worth, happy birthday to Armenia.
Update: The funny thing is that even the most jingoistic blogs and such did not call yesterday an "Independence Day" but a birthday. Observer was one of the handful that still calls it an independence day. Garbis wondered about the depressing day, too.
The most cheerful was perhaps the canned message from the President:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 21, 2009
Statement by the President on the Occasion of Armenian National Day
The people of the United States join the people of Armenia in celebrating Armenia’s day of independence today. We deeply value the many cultural and historic ties that bind our two countries. The United States gains strength as a nation from the contributions of so many Americans of Armenian ancestry. We congratulate the people of Armenia on their national day.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Freecycle
So I was browsing through FreeCycle.org, the main website that compiles the offers and wanteds of the movement, and, among offers of kitchen sinks, blankets, sofas and such, came across an offer of "2 female cats".
It cracked me up. It's probably an insider humor for me - I try to freecycle my cats to my friends. I have had colleagues try to freecycle their cats to me on a number of occasions, too.
Monday, September 14, 2009
ARF hunger strike
Someone suggested that the reason they make an absurd demand for the resignation of the FM instead of his boss is that SS is related to ARF chief Vahan Hovanisian.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Thursday, September 03, 2009
A quick primer into 3-rd world dictatorships.
[...] The most common misunderstanding centers on the fact that all governments, even dictatorships, need some form of legitimacy to justify their rule to their own people. Otherwise they must revert to brute force, which is both expensive and corrupting to the police and army, who then abuse their respective powers and cause growing public resentment and anger. But while force and fear are temporarily effective, they are not enough for the longer term. A foreign threat thus helps dictators, as it is used to justify their despotic rule. Economic blockades can actually reinforce dictators' power and indeed even make their cohorts richer as they profit from the consequent smuggling and black markets. In the eyes and minds of the conquered, American soldiers certainly do not have "legitimacy," as we have repeatedly learned. [...]
The biggest issue.
That is HAK's biggest dilemma.
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Robert Kocharian
Now mere mortals like me can have scissors as fancy as his.
This is what you get when there is no respect for humans in the society.
Yesterday a conscript soldier, Aram Mkrtchian, died in a hospital ICU in Yerevan. He had been subjected to a severe physical assault by his commanding officer, Captain Andok Galstian. The captain has now confessed his crime. If he has government connections, he will probably get away with probation now.
Unfortunately, such behavior towards the conscripts is not uncommon.
A friend of mine was executed by his commanding officer in the early 90-s when the army was still forming and I had hoped that 17 years later the bad apples would be weeded out. There has been some progress as the murders and abuse have declined over the years. I think, though, that not enough is being done. After all, how can you expect a soldier to stand and fight if he is abused? We see soldiers cross the border to Azerbaijan because of this seeking better treatment in the hands of the enemy as a POW. The Azeris have a similar issue in their army and we see their soldiers cross into Armenia, too.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Without Preconditions.
That's what you get when you try to come to an agreement from a position of weakness at the negotiating table.
Update: Richard Giragosian seems to share my opinion about Armenia's weak negotiating position.
Also: Here is the HAK opinion about the documents revealed yesterday.
Also: Dashnaktsutyun again misses the mark by considering to demand Foreign Minister Nalbandian's resignation and does not rule out asking for Serjuk Sargsian's resignation.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Ովքեր էին Մարտի 1-ի բանդաների պարագլուխները
Բացի ժողովրդի վրա հարձակվելուց այս բանակը բնականաբար միտված էր նաև հսկելու ավազակներին, նրանց տներն ու օբյեկտները: Համազգեստը նրանց բերում էր բանակի հովանոցի տակ:
Գույքի տեսակից ակներև է դառնում այս բանդայի գործողության բնույթը: Ձմեռային համազգեստավորները պետք է գործեին դրսում (մարտի մեկը ցուրտ օր էր) իսկ մնացյալը փակ տարածությունում: Իհարկէ հնարավոր է, որ նույն բանդիտի համար նախատեսված էր և ձմեռային և ավելի թեթև համազգեստ: Սա միգուցե Վաչոի դեպքում էր և միգուցե մասամբ Դոդի Գագոյի:
Չպետք է անտեսել գլխարկները: Սա իմ կարծիքով ամենակարևորն է ցուցակում: Ընդհանուրը 140 է: Գլխարկը ձմեռային է և այն քողարկում է հագնողին կամ նրա սափրած գանգը: Այսինքն դա կրողը պետք է երկար ժամեր գտնվեր դրսում և լիներ քողարկված: Իսկ կլոր թիվերը ցույց են տալիս, որ ամեն մի ավազակապետի հրամայված էր մատակարարել կոնկրետ թվով բանդիտ կազմելու համար ընդհանուր թվով 140 հոգանոց խումբ: Իմ կարծիքով սա է այն թիվը որ գործել է ժողովրդի դեմ:
Դոդ - լիսկա 49-51 հարաբերությունը միգուցե մրցակցության նշան է որտեղ Լիսկան ցուցադրում է իր մրցունակ և ավելին անելու կերպարը:
The cutest little kids.
Pigh has posted a picture of little kids in Meghri. The little girl is holding a peach in her hand - it's almost as big as her head.
Just remembered a funny moment.
:) It was a brief embarrassing moment at the time but it worked out OK in the end.
I remembered this incident when came across a Varian ad on LinkedIn.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Big loss today.
Who will fill his shoes now?
Friday, August 21, 2009
This is why I keep blogging.
Here is the generation that will fight to build the liberty in Armenia. These are the kids who, despite everything that the regime throws at them, keep taking to the streets.
Filling the state coffers.
Unfortunately, he continues to travel around Yerevan in cars without license plates.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I don't like it.
I am seriously thinking about taking a pro-health care reform protest if Obama comes to town simply to counteract to what I see as unacceptable tactics by the opponents. I have an open carry permit but will not use it.
Mariam Sukhudian
Let's assume someone visits an institution where small children are in foster care. That institution is administered by the state. One of the children describes being physically and sexually abused by one of the administrators. The visitor then publishes the story.
Task 1. Apply logic and determine what would happen next.
Task 2. Apply "Armenian logic" and determine what would happen next.
The answer to task 1 would be to investigate the incident and place the administrator on leave while the accusations of abuse are investigated. That is something that would happen in a normal society.
The answer to task 2 is the exact opposite of what a normal society would do, i.e. the application of the "Armenian logic" is the anti-logic. The "Armenian logic" says that the publisher of the story must be prosecuted for the infamous "false accusation" article in the criminal law and imprisoned for 3 to 5 years.
Since this incident took place in Armenia, it is not surprising that the "Armenian logic" has been applied and the person who published the story, Mariam Sukhudian (incidentally, part of the ecological movement "Save Teghut" fighting to preserve forests against mining interests), is being charged for "false accusations".
To see what has been going on, check this post on Unzipped.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Who should be treated with more lenience?
The offense of the first person is that he has given an interview to a newspaper and has expresses his opinions. He is charged for spreading a 'false accusation'.
The offense of the second person is that he has shot and killed someone.
The first person is a veteran of a past war. The second person is a member of the ruling party.
If you said 'the second person', congratulations to you. You have mastered the Armenian logic!
If you said 'the first person' then you are burdened with reason and you are not a good fit in Armenia.
The first person is Sargis Hatspanian serving a 3.5 year sentence for his interview. The second is Sayad Shirinian who was let go today under the recent amnesty. As of now, all people serving the banditocracy (looters, killers and such) have been freed. 22 political prisoners still remain and their number keeps growing.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Անծայրածիր Տափաստաններ:
It is in the corn and soy fields of the Mid-West that you realize why this country is so almighty. 4.6% of the population are in the agriculture and yet the country is self sufficient in food production and manages to feed a large chunk of the world population as well. In the process we have managed to destroy the nature (Indiana was mainly wetlands before the people started draining the land and cutting down the woods) but that's the price we are going to pay.
Fortunately, despite being called tree-hugging nut cases, there is a large chunk of progressive people who fight to preserve whatever little has remained. Going against special interests in the bio-agriculture, chemical, fast food and mass farming interests, and greed in general, is not easy but they still manage to have victories now and then.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Hunger in the US.
[...] DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- On a side street in an old industrial neighborhood, a delivery man stacks a dolly of goods outside a store. Ten feet away stands another man clad in military fatigues, combat boots and what appears to be a flak jacket. He looks straight out of Baghdad. But this isn't Iraq. It's southeast Detroit, and he's there to guard the groceries. [...] the rest on CNN.com
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Maintaining a sense of humor.
A rough translation from the latest chapter of Nikol Pashinian's KGB experience: 18. ԿԳԲ-ի պադվալից վեր
Photo of the day.
This cracked me up this morning. Former Russian president Putin somewhere in the Gorbataya Gora mountains in Tuva, Russia.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Hopefully it's not too late.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Sayat Nova, psychic readin'
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Shedding light on Tigran Abgarian's death on March 1.
Yesterday the fact finding mission on March 1 determined that the official version of the circumstances of his death was incorrect and instead he was killed at close distance with a burst of automatic fire from a Kalashnikov rifle.
Today Haykakan Zhamanak has eyewitness accounts circulating among the police that shed light on who might have done it. On March 1, some soldiers refuse the orders to use arms against the civilian protesters. Tigran Abgarian was among them. Their commander, Grigor Grigorian, armed with an automatic rifle, hurries to the soldiers refusing to obey the orders. After a short time, a burst of gun fire was heard from that location and Tigran Abgarian was seriously wounded.
Փաստահավաք խմբի` նախօրեին հրապարակած փաստաթղթով պաշտոնապես հաստատվեց, որ մարտի 1-ի 10 զոհերից` ՈԶ թիվ 1033 զորամասի զինծառայող Տիգրան Աբգարյանի սպանության պաշտոնական վարկածը կեղծ է:
Տիգրան Աբգարյանի սպանության հետ կապված` ոստիկանների շրջանում մի պատմություն է շրջանառվում. մարտի 1-ին` ժամը 22-ի սահմաններում, երբ ՈԶ զինվորները եւ ոստիկանները Պարոնյան-Լեո խաչմերուկում են եղել, զինվորների մեջ ինչ-որ իրարանցում է սկսվել, նրանցից մի քանիսը ցանկացել են հեռանալ եւ հրաժարվել են սեփական ժողովրդի դեմ պատերազմել: ՈԶ նախկին հրամանատար Գրիգոր Գրիգորյանն ավտոմատը ձեռքին շտապել է "ապստամբող" զինվորների մոտ, քիչ անց կրակոցներ են հնչել, իսկ մեկ-երկու րոպե անց հայտնի է դարձել, որ մի զինվոր պարանոցի մասում մահացու վիրավորվել է:
Haik Gevorgian, now a free man.
Haik Gevorgian, a political prisoner who was arrested and imprisoned before the elections for taking part in a rally for Levon Ter-Petrossian's election campaign in the town of Talin, is now a free man. He completed the 1 year, 6 month imprisonment that the banditocracy had sentenced him to.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Arman Babajanian losing his sight.
The Sargsian administration is now denying treatment. He has been diagnosed with cystic adenoma of the pituitary gland (from what I understood from the Armenian diagnosys "հիպոֆիզի կիստոզ ադենոմա (7.5 մմ), հետտրավմատիկ էնցեֆալոպատիա՝ ցնցումային համախտանիշով, ձախակողմյան հեմիպարեզով") which hopefully is still benign. Given that the tumor is growing rapidly and is causing him to lose his vision, the sooner the adenoma is removed surgically, the better the chance that it doesn't turn into cancer. The diagnosys talks about encephalopathy cause by a trauma to the head...
He will regain his freedom this September.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Bank Holdup.
You can have one certain result: the crime rate goes up. The readers of this blog will recall the Armenian police report a couple of months ago that reported a 57% rise in year to date crime compared to the same period the previous year. There are anecdotal reports about the gangsters shooting each other up or harassing the civilians (the latest example being last week when the son of the Gyumri mayor shot a civilian and permanently disabled him).
The latest big crime was the first bank holdup in the history of the country yesterday morning. Three masked and armed men robbed a branch of the VTB bank on Baghramian and got away with an estimated 5 million drams (about $10,700). I'm sure the Armenian police are proud of themselves.
This is why SS and his regime have to leave.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Looking for the land of opportunity
Friday, July 17, 2009
I couldn't have said it better.
Hayk 17/07/09 [21:18]
Menq arden tesel enq "Anvtangutyan erashxiqner@". Mer erexaneri aryan gnov irenc gazi u navti trubaner@ piti hascnen €vropa, vor irenc erexaneri hetuyqner@ hankarc mi jam chsaren.
[in English] We have already seen 'Safety Guarantees'. They will lay natural gas and oil pipelines to Europe at the cost of the blood of our kids so that, God forbid, the butts of their kids do not get cold for a moment.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Nunchucks.
The NRA is against Sotomayor even though she is not against nunchucks (yes, the Republicans kept talking about it). Even though I'm a card carrying gun owner and the Second Amendment is dear to me, it is precisely this kind of bizarre behavior by the NRA that I don't get. I can understand them as they know that once you have the government involved, you can never roll it back and things will get worse. But sometimes they just don't make sense.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
How do you make things worse?
So, how can you make things worse for your country?
1. Arrest more people for their political grounds (ex. Tigran Arakelian).
2. Expand your target demographics (ex. the arrest of the 14 year old Herbert Gevorgian [who was assaulted together with Tigran Arakelian and sustained a broken nose]).
3. Build a criminal case against the defense lawyers of the political prisoners (ex. the charging of Nikol Pashinian's lawyers for criminally disrespecting a judge [whatever that means]).
This is how you turn a country into a cesspool, ladies and gentlemen.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Legions of Newly Homeless.
The Washington Post has an article today about the newly homeless. Scary times we live in.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
British Humor.
Dmitriy Medvedev showcased a few products of Russian defense industries to Barack Obama.
News Headlines.
Sometimes the priorities of the average American couch potato baffle me.
Monday, July 06, 2009
From my iGoogle today.
Thomas Jefferson : a great President even though I am still partial about him being against slavery and yet owning them
Another Political Prisoner.
The group of hooligans, it turns out, were KGB people in civilian clothing.
Yesterday one of the hospitalized who was pistol-whipped, Tigran Arakelian, was imprisoned - he was called to be interviewed as a witness to the event but then was arrested.
He is accused of:
- attacking three policemen,
- beating them up, and;
- when the policemen tried to run away to escape him, he is accused of:
- chasing them down and;
- beating them again.
For a moment one might think that Mr. Arakelian is a vicious animal but the picture above shows that you can fit two Mr. Arakelians in the space an average ment (Armenian cop) occupies.
So, we have one more political prisoner.
UPDATE: Mr. Arakelian is now on hunger strike.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Nikol Pashinian's announcement prior to his surrender.
Սիրելի ժողովուրդ.
Քիչ հետո ես կլքեմ այս տարածքը, որ հանգամանքների բերումով ստիպված եմ ընդհատակ անվանել, եւ ուղղություն կվերցնեմ դեպի ՀՀ գլխավոր դատախազության շենք, որտեղ գտնվում է Հատուկ քննչական ծառայությունը: Այս քայլին դիմում եմ ի կատարումն ընդհատակից դուրս գալու եւ հատագա քաղաքական պայքարս բանտում շարունակելու խոստման: Այս ծրագրի իրագործման համար ինձ անհրաժեշտ է Հատուկ քննչական ծառայության օգնությունը, եւ ես մի քանի ժամից կլինեմ այնտեղ:
Ընդհատակից դուրս գալու որոշման հիմնավորումներին անդրադարձել եմ հունիսի 24-ի հայտարարության մեջ, եւ չեմ կարծում, թե այդ թեմային կրկին անդրադառնալու կարիք կա: Այս ուղերձով ուզում եմ ուղիղ նայել ՀՀ յուրաքանչյուր քաղաքացու աչքերի մեջ, եւ ընդգծել, որ մեր պայքարը հանուն Ազատ եւ Երջանիկ Հայաստանի է, հանուն այնպիսի Հայաստանի, որ ապահով տուն եւ տաք օջախ լինի յուրաքանչյուր քաղաքացու համար` անկախ քաղաքական հայացքներից, սոցիալական եւ հանրային դիրքից:
Եւ ուրեմն` հանուն Ազատ եւ Երջանիկ Հայաստանի մղվող մեր պայքարը անկասելի է, մեր հաղթանակը անխուսափելի է, մենք պայքարելու ենք մինչեւ վերջ ու հաղթելու ենք:
Կեցցե Ազատությունը, կեցցե Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունը, կեցցեն մեր երեխաները, որ ապրելու են Ազատ եւ Երջանիկ Հայաստանում:
Հ.Գ. Տեղյակ եմ, որ մեր շատ համախոհներ ինձ սպասում էին վաղը կայանալիք հանրահավաքում: Նման հնարավորության շուրջ երկար եմ մտածել, բայց ի վերջո բացառել եմ այդ տարբերակը, որովհետեւ չեմ ցանկանում տպավորություն ստեղծվի, թե մեր Շարժման տասնյակ հազարավոր կողմնակիցների թիկունքում թաքնվելու փորձ եմ անում: Հնարավոր շահարկումներից խուսափելու համար, ահա ընտրեցի իրադարձությունների զարգացման հենց վերը նշված տարբերակը:
07/01/2009
FBI Reports: Saddam's Weapons Bluff Aimed At Iran
[...] WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Saddam Hussein believed Iran was a significant threat to Iraq and left open the possibility that he had weapons of mass destruction rather than appear vulnerable, according to declassified FBI documents on interrogations of the former Iraqi leader. [...] from Radio LibertyI can't really believe that the US government did not know about that and had to learn from questioning Saddam Hussein. All this time I thought that the government knew that Saddam was bluffing and Cheney and Bush chose to ignore this knowledge.
Maybe the lower ranks knew but the political appointees were there to accommodate the foreign policy under Clinton and Bush Jr.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
+1
Nikol Pashinian surrendered to the police today in Yerevan.
The number of the political prisoners went up by one.
Photo via Pigh.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sahakashvili and his medal.
The Radio Liberty reports that the Armenian nationalists and the Russian parliamentarians are upset about Armenia giving a medal to Sahakashvili during his trip to Yerevan last week.
The Armenian nationalists have all the right to be upset - I may not agree with them but it is their right to have an opinion about their government.
The Russians, on the other hand, need to mind their own business. It is Armenia's sovereign right to give medals to whomever they want.
Pictured: Mikheil Sahakashvili with bad hair again.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
BURNT ON CHEESE!
"BURNT ON CHEESE!" is a sound bite from Billy Mays when he was pitching Kaboom - a cleaning product. It's all in caps as he was always loud and enthusiastic in his infomercials. In real life he was a normal guy. I've seen a lot of people selling products at state fairs, etc. and none of them comes close to him.
The Little Prodigy.
Pictured: Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian is taking on the Minsk Group all by himself.
via Tsiranyan
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
The 1st Political Prisoner
His newspaper managed to survive and is still critical of the banditocracy and SS's 'amnesty' does not cover him.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Plunging to the Earth.
It turns out that he was in Argentina visiting his mistress. Now that he has been caught, he is apologizing.
I wonder if he used taxpayer money for his visit to Argentina. UPDATE: His trip last year was apparently funded by the taxpayers.
Another wrinkle is that adultery is illegal in South Carolina (section 16-15-60 of South Carolina Code of Laws).
Ketchup and surpass America.
If things go like this, Russia will certainly catch up and surpass America very soon.