Saturday, January 26, 2008

Armenian Scenes in Juno Reactor Music Video



I don't know if you're cool enough to know of the band Juno Reactor, but it sees that in one of their videos, "God is God," the scenery and the people portrayed appear to be Armenian.

See for yourself.

Edit: Our smart readers have identified the scenes as being from Sergei Parajanov's The Color of Pomegranates. I humbly thank you, for I have not yet seen it!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Levon Ter Petrosyan - Dictator of the Month



It seems some four and a half years ago Levon Ter Petrosyan was chosen as the Dictator of the Month by a website called, wait for it, dictatorofthemonth.com. The website, which appears to be of German origin, brings to its audience, "the greatest and smallest dictators, autocrats and monarchs of the world since 1900!"

You may have noticed that I've kept from reporting on developments in the run up to the Armenian elections. Call me jaded, if you will, but reporting on one scum or another, essentially the same type of feces in different pots, won't change the outcome of the election. Knowing Armenia, even a direct vote will result in the same fate for the country.

That said, here are the charges against Levon:
His popularity waned during his rule as he sold Armenian electrical capacity to Georgia while limiting electricity's availability to Armenia to 4 hours per day in order to fund the war against Azerbaijan, a move regarded as necessary by the Armenian Army. He was also unpopular with many because he banned the nation's leading opposition party, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF- Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutiune), jailed its leadership, and shut down Yerkir, the country's largest daily newspaper.

He was forced to step down in February 1998 after advocating additional concessions to Azerbaijan in the resolution of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Ter Petrosyan's key ministers, led by then-Prime Minister Kocharyan, refused to accept a peace plan on Karabakh put forward by international mediators in September 1997. The plan, accepted by Ter-Petrosyan and Azerbaijan, called for a "phased" settlement of the conflict which would postpone an agreement on Karabakh's status, the main stumbling block. That agreement was to accompany the return of most Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories around Karabakh and the lifting of the Azerbaijani and Turkish blockades of Armenia.
Hefty charges indeed. As someone who lived through the early 1990s in Armenia, anyone who considers voting for him because he is a voice of change, reason, or otherwise the lesser of two evils, is simply insane.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Video: Armenian Mig 29 Airplanes



Here's a neat little video that documents the Mig 29 airplanes in Russia's 102nd airbase. Not only are they considered by many to be among the best ever, but these airplanes help to safeguard Armenia day in and day out!

Oh yeah, it's in Russian - but you don't have to hear the guy to enjoy the video!

Monday, January 21, 2008

Art of the Day - Martiros Saryan



Still Life with Flowers by Martiros Saryan, 1928.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Video: Gagik Tsarukian's Daugher Getting Married - All Parts

You may have seen it and you may have not, but I present to you the wedding video of Gagik Tsarukian's daughter! I won't spoil the fun for you. :)















Related Links
Homes of Armenia's Richest
Armenia's Richest Men

Hockey: Armenia 13, Turkey 1



I'm happy to announce yet another Armenian victory over Turkey, but this time in an unlikely sport.
After a clear-cut victory over the Republic of South Africa, the Armenian under-20 hockey team beat Turkey 13:1 within the framework of the World Hockey Championship.

It is due to mention that our team won over Turkey during a 2007 tournament as well. Presently, Armenia and Australia top the fixture list. Armenia will compete with New Zealand on January 20.
One wonders how Australia can be anywhere near the top in an ice-based game! Oh well, we won and that's all that matters.

Source: A1+

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Turks Remember Hrant Dink



It seems like yesterday but it has indeed been more than a year since Hrant Dink was assassinated in Turkey. Here is an excerpt from a BBC article:
At a short ceremony led by Mr Dink's close friends and family, crowds of people marked his murder at 1457 (1257 GMT) on 19 January 2007 with a moment of silence outside the offices of the Agos newspaper.

The trial, which began in July, is being held behind closed doors because the alleged gunman, Ogun Samast, is 17 years old.

Mr Dink's family has accused the authorities of collusion, and the court is also considering allegations of a cover-up.
Shouldn't something as crucial as this trial, at least to Turkey's future as a member of the EU, be highly public so that the entire world can see whether justice is being served or merely covered up? This simply inspires more due suspicion from the Armenians, Turks, and the world at large.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

William Saroyan in "The Bucket List"



Yes, this is one of my "Armenian pride" posts, you know the kind: you hear an Armenian name mentioned in a movie, an Armenian name in its credits, or anything Armenian in the most unexpected of places. Well, in watching the new film The Bucket List, which I would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone, there is just such a mention!

You see, the movie is about two unlikely pals who are terminally ill but decide to live life to the fullest anyway. In this setting, William Saroyan's play,The Time of Your Life, is briefly mentioned. It turns out parts of the play were also used in Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End!

How great is that?

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The Armenian Short Bus


Original source here.

It looks like the Armenians have a version of the Short Bus, too!

Of all the possible colors for that van-like thing, they had to choose yellow. Yellow! How could I resist making such an offensive post? For one, I enjoy reading hate mail; for another, it's yellow.

Armenia's Roads to be Upgraded



The only thing worse than the corruption in Armenia is the roads, which is small wonder why people pay top dollar there to buy vehicles with four wheel drive and a large ride height!
The Minister said that Armenian roads should be equipped in line with advanced international standards and give comfort to drivers. Manukian reported that the new road marking will be made with reflecting paints to lighten the traffic under the conditions of bad visibility.
Oh, and all of this is supposed to be done in the next four years and cost 5.5 billion AMD, or a little over $18 million with today's exchange rate. Call me cynical, but unless there is a fair bidding system for contractors, better yet separated by region, then this would serve as just another means of channeling funds to preferred businessmen.

Source: Arka

Friday, January 11, 2008

Video: Levon Ter Petrosyan Mocks Robert Kocharian



In this undated video, Levon Ter Petrosyan suggest that Robert Kocharyan is not Armenian, an obvious jab at Kocharyan's ancestry. Fast forward a few years and Kocharyan is the one in power while Ter Petrosyan is attempting to wrangle it away from him. That's politics for you!

Edit: I stand corrected. I did not read the Armenian caption and completely misconstrued the message. Thank you all for pointing it out!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Breeding Hamsters: The Business of Our Ancestors!



Most everyone knows that Armenians are a very business-oriented people and there is a certain level of pride associated with that, but now we can take that to an even higher level! You see, the following advertisement is from the June 1950 issue of Popular Mechanics. Seeeing as how there are many Armenians currently living in North Hollywood, California, it only makes sense to assume that Mr. Akopian (Hakopyan) was among the original businessmen in the area!

Still, the notion of raising these awesome creatures just to fulfill a "big laboratory demand" seems, at best, troublesome.

Stealing Armenia's Gold, Again



Ah, gold. What self-respecting Armenian doesn't have at least a few pounds of it stashed somewhere? As of this very moment, the price of Gold stands at $833.20, having made a mad rush to that position in the last few years, no thanks to the present economic uncertainties. So where does Armenia fit in all of this, you ask?
In the town of Ararat - about an hour's drive south of Yerevan, Armenia's capital - investors from Russia have moved in to take control of what is believed to be one of the biggest gold-mining operations in the country.
But there's more to it than that.
Azerbaijan says a considerable amount of the Zod mine is in its territory, at present occupied by the Armenian military.
And let's not forget the previous owners:
In 2002, AGRC was taken over by a company controlled by the family of Indian mining billionaire Aneel Agarwal. But its operations were closed down after the Armenian authorities accused the company of reneging on various licensing agreements. The company was charged with tax fraud and environmental violations and ordered to pay millions of dollars in fines.
Besides the laughable notion of the Armenian government charging anyone with tax fraud, this is yet another nail in the coffin that is Armenia's economic future. We've given away nearly everything in the name of short term profits, but what of the future?

Critics will contend that some of the assets are actually on a long-term lease, but this isn't the case with all of them. Besides, how absurd is it that to revitalize the economy and move it forward means giving control of important assets to foreigners? We only have so much left!

Source: BBC News

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Yoga Arrives in Armenia



It seems yoga and pilates are no longer trends associated with the United States and European countries alone. That's right: Armenians now have their own refuge called Shunch or Breath, dedicated to yoga, pilates, and the ever-popular spa. The studio is located in Yerevan and inescapably their entire website is in English.

So not only are Armenians quickly becoming wealthier, more democratic, and definitely less Armenian, but they are also embracing ancient Hindu traditions and giant round balls. Wowee!

Here's more information: Shoonch Website

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Build Your Own Armenian Church!



Ever wake up in the morning with an urge to build something. Hmmm, radio telescope? The neighbors might complain. A house for your doggy? Let him embrace the elements! How about an Armenian Church? Yes!

Well, now anyone can do just that, albeit big enough for ants and other critters, with wooden blocks! Apparently "your Wizard" will happily send you boxes of wooden blocks for a small fee.

Seriously, didn't your day just get better?