THOTH

Hagarag - you truthfully cannot blame all of the current problems on George JR (I mean his dad should take some blame no?) LOL. In fact neither party has the little guy's interests in mind. The sooner one realizes that the differences between the two are not really that great the sooner one can disconnect oneself from the lies of it all - IMO. I don't disagree at all with your critique of the current administration (and republicans in general) and - as much as I dislike Clinton personnaly - and his (pandering) approach - and his (non-exsistant foreign policy) - I've got to admit he wasn't such a bad Presisdent after all. Its funny how under his administration certain austerity measures were taken - and to great result - while the Republicans can only talk (of being fiscally conservative) - then do exactly the opposite. But it is only due to blindness for one to think that our current economic problems (& abuses) were only begun under the current administration.

quote:Originally posted by Aghtchik: I agree with you however.

Perhaps this issue warrents a poll? (pun intended) PS - I'm with you girls!

quote:Originally posted by dragon:Knowing men well and to know how to satisfy them is the right way to understand life and the others and that has nothing to do with purity, cause having sex with guys is not evil thing At the end, we, guys are the sons of God, before girls were created So you believe might makes right? And as men (you say) we are created in gods image - yes? What is it then you are saying about your god? Its not pretty - is it... I pity any female who would be so unlucky as to marry you. To me pleasing a women is a great joy. What is it about you(r religion) that makes you so selfish and think you are so deserving?

Rubo - it is a mistake to take MJ's comments lightly - IMO - delivered sarcasticly or not...

MJ - you rally crack me up at times. That said i agree with everything you have written concerning this thread thus far. As for myself I started with a Ridge Geyserville (Zinfandell based blend fromSant Cruz California - a gem) - and have moved on to a nice (well aged) Italian Barolo...

MJ - (our forum clock maker/repairer) - I (believe that I) understand your positions completely - but you too must understand the frustrations Armenians have (regarding both the Turks and Azeris - etc) and sometimes the ignorance of the traps we set for ourselves. Its just not possible to expect that all will approach (all of) these issues rationally - and thats just the way it is and is likely going to be - it is you who need to appreciate this. Being right is not necessarily being right (for all things). I commend you for going easy though (of late)...but also consider that others don't have the benefit of your perspective (or intelligence). I don't mean to imply that others here are not intelligent - that would not be a true statement - but (most) others here do not have your breadth of experience, temperment or insight - again though - your correct (?) answers may never be correct (for us). And don't assume that others inherrently know the basis for your arguments. I am very sympathetic (to your positions) of course - and am also dismayed and pessimistic - as you are - and I know I am just being very roundabout here - but I don't think you should be as quick as you are to discount (the legitimacy) of other views here - even if they strike you as horribly conventional or otherwise non-productive (etc).

quote:Originally posted by Aghtchik: [ August 03, 2002, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: MosJan ]

Yes Aghtchick - I do not discount that your words ring true. I have seen my own extended family deal with things (avoidance/ignoring ewtc) in the very way that you describe. I do however take a bit of offense at this notion of never trust an Armenian. For the most part I think the very opposite is true. We cannot help if others feel ripped off or such because we are more shrewd...(hey I've had car dealerships try to buy the car back from me etc...what can I say...bargaining is certainly in my blood...)

Hey Ali - I know its slightly off topic but have you gotten married yet? If not when is the date. Just curious - and wondering if I just happened to be in town do I get an invite - LOL! Its a long shot but I thought I'd at least inquire...I promiss not to get too drunk and start calling the party guests nasty names & such... I must warn you however that my gag wedding gifts have got more then one new wife not talking to me (and trying to convince her new hubby - my [ex?]friend - not to do so either...LOL) [ August 02, 2002, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

Marco - sorry for your unpleasent experience all around. But IMO this is a story that could happen to about anyone under similar circumstances - not just concerning Armeninas. I don't discount some of the hypocrisyhowever. Anyway - live & learn - better luck next time & very sincerely sory about the (near) kid....of course seems like lots of potential issues and some shared responsibility - etc. Anyway - too bad.

Well said MosJan - and keep up the good work!

Hagarag - I can agree with most everything you have said here - but don' you mean Kurdish independence aspirations - a political situations vice Kurdish lands - a bit of a misnomer. Most of these land that you spaeak were in fact Armenian lands with the Kurds recent interlopers settled there (to some degree) by the Ottomans. I do not question that (in an ideal world) the issue of a Kurdish political entity (with allocated lands) should be discussed (and perhaps eventually worked out between [the lands of] Turkey and Iraq) - however this issue is far from reality at this time for various reasons (similar to those which you allude to). I think the Kurds really lost out in '91 when after the war with Iraq - Iraq could have been partitioned into 3 with the Kurds gaining control of the north. We all know why this didn't and likely will never happen.

In and out and Tommys - 2 great burger places that I miss from LA. I also miss all th Amrenian fast food - Zankou chicken and Falafel Arax (that were both on my street)- and all of the little Armenian groceries (with the best Basterma!) and at one time I missed Trader Joes (I know I am devolving into groceries) - but they just opened a few here around DC - so i am most happy. I don't know where to begin concerning great restaraunts - there are so many (and most of the staff don't tend to speak much English). As for bad places - one sticks out in my mind - Original Joes - an Italian place in San Jose. Story to long to type here now - maybe at some point....

OK BTac - have you ever done this before? (and we aren't talking MLS now - this is the NFL baby!)

Harut - I'm not sure where to begin or if I can explain it here and do it justice. Basically you use that statistics of real players (week by week). These players - taken by a draft from all available players in the league are used to make up your team. You pick who among your player pool will be active and comprise your team for the week - and how well they do in the real games translates (ussually prety well) to how many points/how wel they perform for your (made up) team. Your team is matched against that of another person's team and whoever's players score the most (in statistical categories) wins the game that week. You compete in standing against other peoples teams and the top teams duke it out in fantasy playoffs. Now I know this is just a very high level explanation. Does it help at all? I know guys who actually tape Sportcenter and NFL countdown highlights and assemble their own highlight videos for their fantasy teams - now that is (way overboard) fanatascism - IMO.

Yes I saw when you posted this before and understood the gist. I think it is important though that we counter these type odf misrepresentations with hard facts. If I had the time (and I don't at the moment) I would adreess these point by point. I think I will try to do such in September when I am back from my European holiday.

Yes MosJan - of course we would welcome your Shish Kepab (and apricot juice!) - you realise that you will be submitting yourself to comparison to our own (proudly made) recepies/formulas - but if you think your grilling skill can stand up to the scutiny - by all means! As for fantasy football - other then the ethnic make up of the folks here, and the fact that I ussually name my teams with Armenian related names - Avengers & Nemisis & the like - ther is no real Armenian connection that I know of. Sad but Garo Yepremian has been retired 20 or so years now, as has the great Ara Parsegian (coach of Notre Dame - 1964-74 with 2 national championships 1966 & 1973)...

Has anyone looked this over. Its the slickest piece I have ever seen from their side. Of course all is counterable - but not simply - requires more info then most Americans are able/willing to process in one sitting. http://www.turkey.org/governmentpolitics/i...uesarmenian.htm [ July 30, 2002, 06:24 AM: Message edited by: THOTH ]

OK Azat your in. (details to follow...eventually i imagine) I don't see the need to put money on it - just for fun. I've got enough $ tied up in my local leagues - and I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from playing for fear that they were getting taken or something. I must warn you though that I have quite a rep. as a fantasdy shark & such. There have been more then one money league where I was invited one year and not after. (Some guys won't even let me play in their football pools anymore...) There do exist plenty of folks who are way more fanatical then I - by a long shot I will certainly admit - but I have a rep for being a good study & judge of (sleeper) talent and tend to field teams that point much stronger then they might suggest on first look. Its all great fun really and adds to the enjoyment of the games every week. I followed football quite heavily even prior to playing and certainly would enjoy the game anyway - I will still route for my teams (Steelers & Redskins) and against teams I dislike (several, besides Dallas) even if it is disadvantegeous to my fantasy situation (not that I can affect the outcome anyway - but my priorities haven't been too warped like many fantasy players who live only for their players points and lose site of the true glory!). I also play a board game called stratomatic football - if this means anything to the true football fanatics out there. Its the best football simulation bar none - played with real teams, rules & players - bettere then any computer simulation that I have yet seen or played.

Seaphen - I'm up for it. I play in 3-4 leagues every year. I've had very good experience with CBS Sportsline and could easily set up something (or let you do so). I could do a live draft (though not until just prior to the season - both because of availability and it just makes the most sense) or we could do a "canned" draft (where we select draft order for different positions and order and such). Does any of this sound familiar? have you done this before? I've played fantasy football for about 5-6 years and do internet as well as in person (local) leagues. I must warn you - I have never failed to get to the playoffs in any league I've been in (take that as a challenge - eh?). Not sure if we can get the interest here though...perhaps we can interest some Turks and make it a grudge league? BTW - "Armenian Avengers" is already taken (a long time team name of mine) - though I've used Justice Commandos and others in the past as well (Armenian based & otherwise). Even if we don't get any interest from this forum we can still set up a league and make it open - need to think of a theme/association...Armenian based ? or otherwise...Last year I set up a DC - Baltimore grudge league that was good for some cross city abuse. Any ideas?

OK - perhaps here is something for you (to confuse you further - of course) It is exerpted from (the way/Dao of) Chuang-Tzu (both a book and a real historical person): It is called "When Knowledge Wandered North" Knowledge is inquiring of Non-Doing, the Speechless one (a "guru" [for lack of a better word] at the top of a mountain) - concerning what exacty is the Dao and how to know it. "Please inform me, sir By what system of thought And what technique of meditation I can apprehend the Dao? By what renunciation Or what solitarry retirement May I rest in Dao? Where must I start, What road must I follow To reach Dao? Such were his three questions. Non-Doing, the Speechless one, Made no reply, Not only that, He did not even know How to reply!" later in the passage: "For he who knows does not speak, He who speaks does not know" clearer now?

True story: A good friend of mine (relativley skinny guy, but tall) ate 8 big macs in one sitting. When I lived in LA I used to often speculate how many Tommy's Burgers I could eat in one sitting...I figured 3 or 4 if i pushed it - but I never tested it....heard of a guy eating 5 once (a true pig-out god IMO...LOL!)

Rubo - nice posts. I too am a long time SOD fan and I have turned many non-Armenians on to them (and I always talk the Genocide anyway (and Turkish denial) - so anyone who knows/meets me is already aware of all of that... Kudos to SOD though - I agree...

"To know is not to know" - Lao Tzu Try searching on Lao Tzu. The Tao-te Ching is the original Daoist text (attributed to Lao Tzu). Others of note include the Huai-nan-Tzu and the Chuang-Tzu and the Wen-Tzu. However I feel all might prove equally cryptic to you. You must approach them with a relaxed/open state of mind. They make better sense in their totality (or at least with more extensive consideration) then trying to digest single passages. Your first quote/statement above is very clear to me - and it is correct. Perhaps if yu ponder it a bit (and investigate furthur) it will come to mean something to you. Last note - there have been many Neo-Daoist tradition since the time of Lao Tzu and his followers (300 or so B.C.E.) - many of them stress only certain aspects - best stick with the core teachings. Some of the latter groups were pure hedonists. But since those who pursue such - if done as honest expression of their nature/being - then this is their proper "way" and a true reflection of their Dao. It is a very forgiving religion - in a sense - but demanding in its own ways.... BTW - I don't follow/practice/believe all precepts espoused by Daoism - but I do believe that at its core there is truth.