The Path to Democracy: Dragunov Sniper Rifle

First let's identify the photo: it shows an Armenian Special Forces soldier with a Russian-designed Dragunov sniper rifle, a fearsome semi-automatic weapon that is effective to a range of one kilometers. Think about that for a second, which coincidentally is also the length of time it will take the bullet to get to its farthest target.

What does this have anything to do with Armenia? Besides a glimpse into one of the weapons used by our countrymen, quite a bit. You see, when a given government grows too powerful and too corrupt, it begins to act in a way which is not in harmony with the will of the people and it can get away with that because of its power and the fear that it inspires in people. But what if the government was to be held accountable for its actions, afraid of the very people who created it and who continue to support it, at least for as long as they choose? What if everyone had a Dragunov sniper rifle and the knowledge that anyone in power caught abusing it would be destroyed without questions asked?

Of course, this is all metaphor. Until such power is exercised by the people Armenian, we will continue to see a government acting in its own interest only.

Then again, maybe it's not a metaphor at all; after all, revolutionaries need to be well armed!

Source: mil.am

Thousands Protest Election Results

It seems tens of thousands of people unhappy with the results of the election have decided to take to the streets in protest. It appears that this minority isn't happy with the fact that Serge Sarkisian received the majority of the votes in a landslide election or that Russia and the OSCE have approved of the election and its results. Nope, they demand new elections!

Election officials said a final count showed Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian with nearly 53 percent of the vote — enough to win outright and avoid a runoff. His main opponent, Levon Ter-Petrosian, had 21.5 percent.

Monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were concerns about the vote count, but issued a generally positive assessment of the election. And Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country enjoys close ties with Armenia, congratulated Sarkisian on his victory.

"I would like to assure you that no one will be able to stop us from making sure that the rule of law is observed," Ter-Petrosian told cheering supporters.

Enough. Stop wasting your time. Serge had definite advantages going in, the election was relatively fair, and Levon lost. Advice to future candidates: don't make a surprise entry and expect the vast majority to take your side instantly.

You can almost hear the kid in the picture saying, "Mom, why are we out here wasting our time in the cold? I thought Mr. Sarkisian had won?"

Photo by Arthur Papyan

Serge Sarkisian is the President of Armenia!

Yes, my fellow Armenians, these results are not final, but you'd have to be insane to think that the final results would be significantly different so as to throw off the race. You'd also have to be instane to think that Levon wasn't drawing up the plans for a rally even before a single vote had been cast. The BBC had this to say:

Mr Sarkisian had gained 52.7% of the vote, with his nearest rival Levon Ter-Petrosian lagging on 21.5%. By early Wednesday, 97.5% of votes had been counted, according to official results given on Armenian public TV. Turnout was estimated at nearly 70% of 2.3m eligible voters.

But Mr Ter-Petrosian alleges widespread vote-rigging, and has called a rally in the capital, Yerevan. But Mr Ter-Petrosian - a former president - surprised onlookers with a lively and outspoken campaign, and now insists he is the real winner.

How do you say "bullshit" in Armenian?

As I said previously, there wouldn't be a drastic difference for the people of Armenia one way or the other. On the plus side, though, Armenia will not compromise on Karabakh and on the Genocide issue with Turkey. Oh, and a certain other person will not be returning.

Edit: It seems a few of you who are either still shook up or otherwise incapable of comprehending sarcasm believe that I support Sarkisian. That's simply not true: I only wanted Levon to lose. It seems the Armenian people wanted the very same thing.

Armenia "Votes" Today

Ah yes, today is the day where corruption, blind nationalism, and fraud all come together in the form of Armenia's Presidential Election! Who will win? Who will lose? One thing's for certain, this is not going to be a demonstration of democracy and whoever is elected will first and foremost get himself rich, then those near him, and whatever is left will be spread among the lower individuals in power.

Edit: It seems that BBC News went around and asked a dozen Armenians the things that they want with the new president. Recurring themes? Job creation and end to corruption.

Pictures: Armenian Carnival Ride

We can all agree that Armenia is as close as one can come to heaven, other than Southern California, the French Riviera, the Alps, and so on. Regardless, it's a great place to be, albeit a little hazardous. If you've ever wondered why kids who grow up in Armenia are tougher, then have a look at these pictures of an Armenian thrill ride!

Click images to enlarge them.


Obviously there won't be any power, so you have to do it yourself. You use your arms, your legs, and your mental determination to get the thing moving!


You somehow jump on and hang on for dear life. Notice the many ways in which you can be injured if you lose concentration!


Will it hold? It seems to be held together by rust and sharp pieces of metal.


Oh my, what a pleasant and completely safe view!

Compare this to the plasticky and soft toys found in the United States. Did kids get hurt on these rides? You bet! Did they cut their heads wide open? Weekly. But just as toddlers must fall down to learn how to walk, kids must learn to deal with danger, learn about reliance on friends and themselves, and in general form into healthy adults. For without danger one becomes complacent and complacency is the deadliest thing of all!

Oh, and to be completely fair it seems that the ride in the pictures is not found in an amusement park. Rather, it is an old and decommissioned ride that is thrown in some yard for kids to have fun with.

Source: Amhoov on Flickr

Armenia's First 3D Game: Yerevan Drive!

How would you like the chance to drive around on the streets of Yerevan? No joke! The game is called Yerevan Drive - produced by Emergency Soft - and you get to drive and crash around Yerevan. Choose a Niva, 08, CL600, and many other cars and tear up the streets! You see modern and Soviet-era cars driving past you. Don't like them? Crash into them!

The game engine was built from scratch and that in itself is worthy of respect. While it will be a lie to say that this game is on par with American racing games, which have budgets of millions of dollars, it is a great first step and fun, too!

While the game has been out for two or so years, it was completely new to me. Check it out at the links below:

Yerevan Drive Official Site
Download Demo

April 24th Through My Eyes: Pictures, Videos, and More

On April 24th, yours truly and his truly decided to attend the various events throughout Los Angeles and document them for people all over the world, as well as those who were simply not able to attend for reasons of work, school, or other such excuses.

Montebello Genocide Memorial

All Pictures of Memorial

Officially known as "Armenian Martyr's Monument," the memorial is located in Montebello's Bicknell Public Park, just minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. The structure was dedicated on April 24, 1965, and has since served as a place of gathering and mourning for Armenians across Southern California.

We arrived there around noon. First thing we noticed was the heavy security and lack of parking: we had to park in a field. Hundreds of parked cars dotted the makeshift lot, many with flags, banners, and other patriotic attachments. The process of entering and subsequently leaving the park was directed by a few individuals and was pretty efficient.

As we walked up the steep hill towards the glowing monument, we noticed groups of people talking amongst themselves with sadness on their eyes. It seems that the attendees were divided into two groups: young people and old people. Since the 24th fell on a Tuesday, thousands of Armenians decided to work rather than lose out, leaving only the retired and the schoolchildren to attend. Besides the schoolchildren, there were many 20-somethings and teenagers to be found. Many of the people there belonged to church groups, charities, scouts, and other such organizations, and they expressed that through clothing, flags, and so on.

As we made our way behind the line leading into the monument, we realized that we had forgotten to bring flowers to place there. Thankfully, we noticed a man and his son handing them out to those who wanted one and our problems were resolved. The sun was really baking everyone there and combined with the tears of the elderly, the playful sounds of the children running about, the flags flapping around in the little bit of wind, and the sad Armenian music emanating from the speakers, the whole experience was rather surreal.

I noticed that here were many, many kids there, which is encouraging to see. Armenians, especially those born here who have not experienced the air and water of Armenia, have only so much to identify with and hold on to as their own. April 24th is perhaps only day that draws everyone together in such a manner and gives meaning to our cause, even though we are separated by half a world from our homeland.

After placing flowers, absorbing the atmosphere, and taking a few pictures, we decide to move on.

Little Armenia March


You know you're in the Little Armenia section of Hollywood when you see Armenians everywhere you look. And especially for this occasion, you see Armenians with patriotic clothing and flags, not to mention cars that have been transformed into rolling tricolors!

Unfortunately, we were too late for the protest there. Apparently, it had started around 10 A.M. and ended a few hours after. We asked around if there were other events planned elsewhere, but we were told that all of them had taken place in the morning. What to do?

Armenian Cars

All Pictures of Cars

Well, we drove around Little Armenia and took many pictures of Yeraguin cars. There were so many of them that we didn't know where to point the camera. Most were snapped by my partner in crime Ashxen. Sidenote: if you haven't yet realized, these are pseudonyms. Sneaky, eh?

After ten minutes of driving around, we knew where we had to go. Despite people telling us there would be no further events, we pointed the car towards 6300 Wilshire Boulevard, known otherwise as the Turkish Embassy.

Turkish Embassy Protest

All Pictures from the Protest

The Turkish Embassy, which is housed in a suite inside of a large office building, was surprisingly close to Little Armenia. Disappointingly, there were a grand total of five other people and one very large dog in front of the building when we arrived. Was this all we could muster up? Not very protest-like, I protested.

We spoke with a few other people there. Some said it was scheduled for 2:30 P.M., some said 4 P.M., and some said 6 P.M. Clearly, this event was not organized very well, and this was just the beginning.

Slowly thereafter, a dozen policemen arrived on bikes, started circling about, and ordered everyone to move their cars to the other side of the street. Make no mistake: these guys are armed with guns and the few that we talked to had nasty attitudes. Slowly, more confused protesters joined us in front of the building.

It was at this point that I decided to enter the building. I made my way through the doors but was stopped by security. I explained to them that I wanted to speak with the Turkish Consul regarding business and travel to the country. Of course, I knew there would be no chance that they would come out on this day and was refused entry. We walked out with the security guard and I took the moment to explain to him the history behind the struggle, as he lacked any understanding beyond "Armenian Genocide." I tried educating a few other policemen and strangers throughout the day, as well. As soon as we exited the building, the glass doors were locked and all employees trying to re-enter were told to go around the back. Hah!

Eventually the organizers arrived and brought with them signs and lots of water, as well as speakers and busloads of immature people. Kudos to them for bringing water, but the signs were poorly made. Sure, I may seem like an ingrate, but not only were most of the signs illegible from two feet away due to thin scribbles, but the handles were full of splinters: by the time all was said and done, I had one splinter in one of my fingers and one in the palm of my hand, the latter of which was barely saved from infection. I can't blame anyone for this second fact - well, I can, but won't - but the winds made it near impossible to hold the signs and many protesters, myself included, found the signs flying out of their hands and hitting people and cars. The solution? Make a few holes in them!

Anyway, the protesting eventually began. Thirty minutes into it, the entire one-side of Wilshire Boulevard, which is a very large and important street, was closed down to traffic. Protesters marhced in large ovals chanting various things, such as, "Turkey Run! Turkey Hide! Turkey's Guilty of Genocide!" and "Paikar, Paikar, Minchev Verch!" At its peak, about 2,000 men, women, and children were on the streets! We marched and marched and marched, but no one was giving a speech! Why not?

We spoke to ABC7 and they informed us that they were going to air the protest on their 4 or 5 o'clock news only. Guess when the speeches were scheduled for? 6 P.M.! Needless to say, the media coverage was very poor. Besides ABC7, an Italian TV channel, a news service company, and most likely some Armenian coverage - and I am unsure of this last one - there was no one else there.

Time for the speech. Total duration: 15 minutes, give or take! Ridiculous! The speaker(s) were really, really angry, but the content was lacking and unorganized, not to mention they were delivered by people you really can't bring yourself to listen to. Don't ask me why.

As soon as the speeches were over, everyone left very quickly. Towards the end many cars with flags and other things whooshed past the embassy, honking and shouting patriotic slogans. That's all great, except a few of them got tickets for driving poorly. The highlight was a group of Harley-Davidson motorcycles rushing down Wilshire Boulevard before the speeches, exciting the protesters more than all the other cars and trucks that day, including a few youngsters in a Rolls-Royce.

It was a very good protest, but it could have been a LOT better. I will do a separate post about this later.

My camera was a huge limitation, not to mention my skills as a photographer! Hopefully we'll get better pictures next year!

Link to EVERY Picture Taken on April 24th, 2007.
Videos of Protest

Armenians Are Known For...

This is quite interesting. A year or so ago someone decided to test public opinion about groups of people. They used Google to conduct searches like, "Americans are known for" and then analyzed the results. Here are the top ten results for Armenians, duplicates excluded.

Armenians Are Known For:
...this trade [jewelers] around the world.
...their lavash.
...their long tradition of storytelling, jokes and historical narratives.
...their credibility and power on Capitol Hill because of their ability to mobilize and their understanding of the system.
...having large and close family bonds and the traditional values are still relevant in Armenia and Armenian communities abroad.
...having big noses.
...for their warmth and open hospitality.
...their love of education, culture and commerce.
...their excellence in work and remarkable progress in career.
...their healthy cuisine, easy to prepare yet interesting and exotic.

I agree with all of these except the one concerning my nose. I'll say it again: it's not big, it's outstanding!

Try replacing "Armenians" with other groups, such as Russians, Turks, Azerbaijanis, and see what you get.

Source: Google

How [NOT] To: Armenian Genocide Protest

One day out of the entire year motivates Armenians to get off their butts and do something for their people: April 24th. On the 24th of every April, Armenians the world over - but especially in the Los Angeles area - take to the streets to protest the Turkish embassy for recognition of the Genocide. The younger generation especially goes out to protest.

If you're planning on doing the same, I have some tips for you:

1. April 24th is not a happy day. In fact, it marks the tortures and deaths of over 1,500,000 of our ancestors. Understand this thoroughly.
2. Don't wear your latest hot pink top or fluffy mini skirt to the protest. This isn't your bachelorette party, it's a solemn occasion. Ask yourself, "Can I wear this to a funeral?" If the answer is no, then pick something else. You will have 364 other days in that year to wear what you want.
3. April 24th is not an invitation to flirt or act like an idiot: you are there to remember those who have passed and protest to get our Genocide recognized. Laughing, playfully hitting some Armenian guy/girl, yapping on your cell phone, and in general acting like a moron is not fine. Leave your normal tendencies behind on that day, because it's not about you.
4. Turn down your music. We notice your 20" rims and limousine tint, even if we can't make out what car you're driving because of the 293 flags that you have on it. We get it: you care about the cause. Blasting Tupac so loud that people in China can hear you? Uh, no. Also, don't endanger the lives of everyone on the road: we protest to honor those who have passed and to make sure they are not forgotten, not to create a path of carnage with our cars.
5. Related to number 4, leave your fancy crap at home. Why do people attend with their LV purses, $500 cell phones, fancy jewelry, expensive clothing, and other obviously extra items? I'm not saying go to it naked, but leave your crap at home: this isn't show and tell.

If I sound a little bitter, it's because I am. Every year I see this and every year it seems to get worse. I understand: you're too young and not very bright. Kudos to you for deciding to dedicate one day out of your life to a cause greater than your own, but don't use it as an excuse to make a mockery out of everything we're fighting for. When the day comes that the Armenian Genocide is universally recognized - and that day will come - you can crash random funerals in your Infiniti G35 blasting 50 Cent - acting like and wearing whatever you please. Until then, please reconsider.

Added Note: Some people misunderstand the last two sentences. I am not suggesting that it is okay to continue with this behavior after the Genocide is recognized, because after that point - and even now - the main point of going to memorials, whether in Yerevan or Montebello or elsewhere, is to remember and mourn those who have passed. The ending is meant to be sarcastic.

Gagik "Dodi Gago" Tsarukian Lookalikes

This entry was brought to you by Ashxen. Rhyne had nothing to do with it!


This is Dodi Gago very recently.


Kramer (Michael Richards) from Seinfeld. Separated at birth!


Krusty the Clown from the Simpsons. Dodi Gago in 10 years.


Don King. If Dodi Gago lays on the sands of Sevan for too long.


Phil Spector. If Dodi Gago was to let his hair grow out another day.

Original picture by Onnik Krikorian All other photos via Google.

The Curious Case of the Sister Misses

Miss Armenia 2001


Miss Armenia 2003

Remember the the recent post about Miss Armenia 1998? Before I make any blog entry, I do a quick research to make sure I know what I'm talking about. At first, I planned to cover all the girls that have become Miss Armenias, but decided not to when I noticed a lack of high-quality pictures. Oh, but there was something else, as well.

Let's take it one step at a time.

Miss Armenia 2001 is named Irina Tovmasyan; Miss Armenia 2003 is named Lusine Tovmasyan. If you haven't guessed already, they are sisters. However, the leader of the Armenian Communist Party is named Ruben Tovmasyan. Coincidence? Let's make some connections:

I love Armenian girls: they are pretty. Of course, the prettiest is my beautiful girlfriend, but that's besides the point. Two sisters, winning Miss Armenia two years apart, neither jumping out at me as being extraordinarily beautiful, and being connected - possibly as grand-daughters - to the ruler of Armenia's Communist Party. Call me paranoid, but the likelihood of the Tovmasian Sisters having both the luck and the beauty - and a few other things - to become Miss Armenia within two years of each other is simply not possible.

Obvious? Maybe! But it's even juicier with the facts, isn't it?

Pictures from Ardani.net

Family Guy Mentions Armenians!

Yours truly loves the animated show Family Guy, and not only because it dares to explore controversial topics! However, in the act of being so very busy with blogging, ahem, one episode of the show was missed! And what was in that golden episode, you ask?

Well, the Armenian rumor mill suggests that Peter Griffin, pictured, read a list of famous Armenian people, including tennis superstar Andre Agassi. Of course, this is a big deal because it's not everyday that Armenians get such attention in major television shows.

Sure, the famous MadTV skit where Armenians are called thieves comes to mind, but isn't this just a little bit better?

Source: The Grapevine.

Let's Paint Armenia's Apartment Buildings!

(Click to enlarge)

Here we see typical Armenian apartment buildings, sometimes known as tower blocks. These were built with panels of concrete - in the name of efficiency and cost-cutting - in a Soviet attempt to house all of its workers. Many of them look beautiful on the inside, with Euro-style remodels and the latest in furniture and electronic gadgets, unique reflections of the families who live in them. But from the outside, they look old, dirty, uninspired, depressing, and generally bad.

Russia had the same problem, until they began experimenting with color. The result? THIS!


(Click to enlarge)

This is what Armenians need: COLOR! Expression, happiness, art, sillyness, change, brightness! Imagine how the skyline will look if instead of shades of gray we have color. Children all across can create the artworks and adults render them onto the buildings. Flags, landscapes, abstracts, even portraits will adorn decades-old buildings. Our cities will become vibrant and everyone would follow our lead. It would be a rebirth: It would be revolutionary!

Who am I kidding? That would never happen.

Sources: Flickr and LiveJournal (many more pictures here)

Review of "Dark Forest in the Mountains"

What is Dark Forest in the Mountains? It is the story of Nagorno-Karabakh: the struggle, the people, the costs, the realities of war. It takes you among the soldiers who braved everything to fight for our lands, among the villagers who lost families due to the war, and portrays the conflict as never before seen on film. I should say that the man who made the film is Roger Kupelian, but have you ever heard of him?

Roger is a visual effects artist who has worked on many of Hollywood's biggest films, including Lord of the Rings, Flags of Our Fathers, The Animatrix, The Truman Show, Batman & Robin, Jerry Maguire, and others. He traveled to the region in 1994 to document the war and spent the next six years putting it all together, with a welcome mix of actual footage and animations. The first version of the film was released in 2000, but the new Special Edition version has that and much more.

In addition to the main documentary, the Special Edition DVD includes the new "Hands and a Homeland," which is basically a mini-film ten years on. The people in the original film are interviewed again ten years later. It's interesting to see how their lives have changed, how their views have changed, and how so much has remained the same. Included in the new DVD is also a war journal and the personal photography of Roger Kupelian, which have not been seen until now.

However, my most favorite section of the DVD is the animated history of Armenia. If you've seen those slick Discovery Channel programs about World History and so on, that's how this is done, except as it pertains to Armenia. There are plenty of pictures, videos, animations, maps, you name it, all put together beautifully to illustrate our long history.

There isn't any other film like this one, and not only from the point of view of content, but the execution, as well. While there's plenty of footage from this terrible war, the glimpses into the lives of soldiers, families, doctors, and so on, is what sets this movie apart. You can't watch this film without at least a tear.

Don't take my word for it: the film won the AFFMA Jury Prize in 2002. You can find some pictures and ordering information from the link below.

Dark Forest in the Mountains

Armenian Hummers...Powered by Natural Gas!

I don't normally report on rumors and "he says, she says" sorts of things, but this is a funny one: at least one Armenian Hummer owner has converted his car to natural gas, as it's cheaper than gasoline! Why is this funny? Well...

1) Hummers are expensive: an H2 Hummer costs around $50,000 in the United States, probably more in Armenia.
2) Hummer are inefficient: they burn a lot of fuel, because they're very heavy.
3) Most people hate them, as they are dangerous to others, both cars and pedestrians, and pollute much more.

Now, none of the above is entirely funny, but combine them, if you will: purchasing an expensive, big, heavy, and inefficient car, shipping it to Armenia, causing terror on the streets of Yerevan while displaying your wealth...and having to convert it to natural gas for it to be lighter on your wallet!

Okay, if that isn't entirely great - and to be honest, it isn't that funny after all - rumor also has it that the owners fill their cars up at night so no one sees! Ah, I love Armenia's many contradictions.

Source: ArmenianOdar

Why I Didn't See "The Priestess"

I was really looking forward to seeing Vigen Chaldranian's "The Priestess" - but I didn't. I was very excited about the notion of a Hollywood-style film, in terms of the picture quality, sound quality, and that polished look that Armenian films always miss, for better or worse.

Long story short, I didn't see it - and this is the main reason: "Premiere pricing" meant that I had to pay anywhere from $50-60 a ticket to see a couple of hours of film. What a joke!

Sure it's a premiere, sure it's a Chaldranian film, but does this mean getting raped financially for the pleasure of enjoying an Armenian film? At first, I planned on taking my family and my other half, but that would mean my spending $250. I don't think so. I was further dissuaded by the fact that when I called the special number to get the tickets - and this is before I knew of the steep price - a woman said the following in Armenian: "Yes?"

Did I get the wrong number? Were the phone lines crossed? Surely this couldn't have been Grauman's Chinese Theater! I don't know where I called - most likely some suite in a building somewhere in Glendale - but I was confused. I said, "Hello?" and she replied, "Ayo?" (Ayo is "Yes" in Armenian.) A few seconds after that exchange, it seemed clear that the only people taking orders were Armenian and they didn't speak English.

Why does this bug me? It bugs me because I want Armenian movies to succeed! I don't care what the theme is: don't limit the movie to Armenians! Get operators who can actually speak the language in which it is premiering! For crying out loud, are you trying every last possible option to make sure that this film does not succeed with the rest of the world?

Regardless, if you have a review, submit it and I will publish it if it is good.

Why Azeris, Turks, and Others Hate Us

As an Armenian, it is my duty to wonder why we are so hated by our neighbors. Set aside the historical reasons, and set aside the last decade or so of instability. Why? While looking for news - and yes, I don't discriminate when it comes to a source, as long as it is accurate and truthful - I found shocking propaganda disguised under the veil of legitimate issues. When garbage like this is spouted off as fact, is it any wonder there is so much animosity towards us?

At result of Armenian aggression Azerbaijan has lost not only 20% of its territory, with thousands victims due to military operations, with 1 mln. people turned into refugees and displaced persons, thousands people are still missing and taken hostage...women, youth, children, thousands Azerbaijanis are still in Armenian captivity. After medical examination of Azerbaijanis, released from captivity, especially this concerns youth and children, it was found out that many of them became disabled for the rest of their life. Thus, Armenians took their organs. Today, secret laboratories and amputation cabinets are still functioning on the territory of Armenia, and on Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, Nagorni Garabagh, other 7 regions. By cutting organs of young Azerbaijanis and children Armenians send them to different world “black markets”. Names of some Armenians surgeons, and it would be right to call them butchers, who commit such crimes now in amputation cabinets, hospitals and laboratories are known.

There are Armenian terrorist organizations aiming at killing famous Azerbaijanis, representatives of youth not only inside Azerbaijan but outside it.

Today, Armenia is harboring the most dangerous international terrorists on these territories being out of international control, including their free movement, preparation of personnel. Armenia is a state that supports terrorism on state level.

I hate to make long, drawn-out posts, but this one deserved a little more. I want all Armenians to read that web site, which is nothing more than propaganda, and imagine the difficulty of establishing friendship or moderate stability with a group of people who believe this propaganda. Obviously, I am not claiming that all Azeris are as extreme, but my point is clear.

Read the rest of this marvelous document here.