THOTH

Sasun - seeing your stated requirements I would have to say you should not overlook some of the Olympus models. They consistently score high in comparative tests (particularly in regard to picture quality) and tend to be priced better then many of the other brands (Canons and Nikons are great - but pricy...same with Sony's - plus they all have there quirks)...and don't ever by a camera without checking it out first - make sure it fits you right, and that ther logic of its finctions apeal to you (and can be understood by you etc). Again - don't not check out the Olympus Cameras. I picked up a 3.2 megapixel D-560 (for $230...and at Best Buy ...probably cheaper from some New York electronics house...) that takes awesome pics..and it uses the very latest/very compact xDmedia (also you may want to consider rhe media...eventual obselecence...upgrade paths etc...)

Phantom - while I understand the point...would you say that this is/would be true concerning a campaign of assasination or the like - such as was carried out by ASALA? It is certainly something that generates soem awareness that Armenians are disgruntled and gets stories and such (maybe even a little background) into the news. And I know that what I am saying here is a bit of a stretch from your point..but food for thought eh?

Yes typical Turkish "scholarship" in this regard...don't know weather to laugh or cry...perhaps a bit of both...

Yes Vava - I quite a agree - a danger - and I think to at least some degree the Turks have had some success. I can remember nearly 25 years ago - when i first came across someone who actually denied the Genocide. He basically took the Turkish line - and I was just flabbergasted. He was not an uneducated man - and was not Turkish - but basically bought in on this idea that it was war - and that the Armenians were combatants and that the Turks did what they had to do - and that it was nothing out of line - that there was no evidence that there was really any pre-meditated or even carried out genocide..etc etc...and I could not convince him otherwise (though only tired/had oppurtunity to once or twice and prior to the internet or at the time for me having many available sources etc...oh well.. And then recently - just a few days ago in fact - I had just finished watching the movie Ararat with some non-Armenian reletives of mine - and one actually said - based in part on the Javvat(?) Beys character's comments about Armenians looking down on Turks etc - that he thought the Turks were justified in their actions against the Armenians (and Germans concerning the Jews in WW2) because these groups (Jews & Armenians) were clannish and refused to integrate into their societies - so obviously were seditious elements who set themselves apart form teh rest - were not "with the program" and who were essentially leeching off their respective socities making the majority groups justifiably jealous! Can you believe that someone - and my own relative (by marrraige) at that - would take such a postion - and would express such after watching the movie Ararat (with me essentially in tears...)...well yes he was trying to rile me up/pick a fight...but still...that there are people who could actually hold such attitudes...believe such lies....well there are - and sometimes even the truth or having the moral right on your side does not matter - people are sometimes ready to believe any (potential) kind of justification - and Armenians need to be aware of this - and not just think because we are "right" that others will necissarily see it the same way - and even empathize even just a little....

Turn ons are inteligence combined with (at least some) wisdom/insight, sensitivity, humor, and passion (for life, love and all the rest) ...and of course a nice/pretty face (smiles!), sexy body (legs, shape...etc), nice/sexy hair...etc (some or all don't at all hurt) ...and perhaps I should specify female eh? LOL ...oh yes...and when they jump you and wrap their legs around you, kiss you wildly and start taking your clothes off! (yeah - big turn on!)

A-H - please remember to look both ways when crossing the street - OK...there are other ways to go you know...and better yet...don't even leave your home..and by all means get out of LA...you should live on soem remote Island somewhere - one with no poisonous snakes and spiders and such...and where no Hurricanes, Volcanos or Earthquakes strike...oh and please put up a very hard roof over your head...one never knows when a meteor might fall from the sky....

I agree...Alex, Azat, Skittles, Stormy...unforgivable behavior...no one should be this way with anyone else - but most of all not with ones own family. And I think it is a real sign of weakness for a man to abuse his wife - in any capacity - be it physical, verbal, psychological or what have you...

Welcome to the forum Tarantula...and yeah - I think you got it pretty much all right... And glad to hear that the Armenian community in Lebanon is at least somewhat thriving...after all you have been through starting in the '80s

Yeah Domino - I hear you...though perhaps your being a bit harch/demanding - and I agre with Sasun's point - he's a writer and not a scholar - and his books have gained a wider appreciation then just scholarly works and this brings soem recognition in and of itself - so not at all a bad thing. But yeah - were (of course) anxiously awaiting the Domino institution of Genocide and Genocide denyining debunking institute! Bring it on (the phrase of the day eh)...

Refuse all you want...but live with the benefits broght to you by those who themselves refused to put up with the status quo. How short are the memories that you have - how very few women could live on their own outside of their families. How most all women had no life apart of that with their husband. How most jobs were restricted form women. How birth control was essentially non-exsistant - and how you were basically just a baby factory. etc etc etc I find it very odd Nairi - that you express this opinion. You don't strike me as a traditional gal - who lives basically only to get married and raise a family (and nothing wrong with that - if thats what you want - totaly legit) ...but am I wrong? And Nairi - how would you feel if you coulnd't drive - or be out on your own, if you were denied college and an eduacation - but your brother's got such, if you couldn't vote or hold property, again etc etc... Men have pressure - sure....we all do - one way or another...but similar? I really don't think so. I can't recall any society where women have restricted men's rights the way women have been restricted. And see yourself as a vixtim or not - its just reality - consider it being a victim or not - semantics really - still there is no denying the history...

Very very sad...thanks for the post. And yes - with such corruption though - it reeally makes one hesitant to do anything (unless you can directly help folks)...as you know that much of what is given is going to be siphoned away in various forms...even (I might even say especially) when one gives througfh the church (a mistake that I have made in the past...) But yes very touching accuonts...and some are just unconsionable...especially the increses in poverty and the decline in avaialble health care...decline in education....just what is Armenia comming to?

Well Anileve i fully agree with what you have said - all of it. In particualr concerning this A - Mouse character and his presentation. Its why I didn't want to get into this type of argument in the first place but did wish to ridicule him - as I could see where he was headed - etc. Speaking of - A - Mouse - please tell us all about (your opinions regarding) the role of Jews in establishing all of this international socialism (and coruption of good capitalism and democracies...etc) and particularly their role in the feminist movement.... Becuase yes, as usual here is hwere we shall end up... And of course he has absilutly no counter for all the examples of non-freedom etc of females that you offered...no its because - for all the "of course I'm not opposed to freedon for women" statements that he makes - he fundementally feels differently - as his personal statements attest to (such as though I initially gave example of) - as well as his speaking to "the natural order of things" (which again has been used to justify all sorts of eveils in various times and places). So yes - this A-Mouse - is really not worth it at all. And Anileve - I'm at least glad you have made it additonally clear...but I must say Iam also very disapointed with the other (modern minded?) women of the forum who are either intimadated or perhpas fail to understand what this guy is trying to say...shame...at the very least they could throw a few questions at him so that he can clarify his statements - which I agree ares dense and perhaps confusing (deliberatly so I think...to viel his true postions...)

LOL Extra... now which Hyeforumers really said those things?

Is this some Domino trick universe question etc? LOL I was refering to when we (the coalition) was over there ousting him from Kuwait. I mean I understand all the rational why we disnt go...but it was pretty clear to me (and many) at the time - that allowing him to remain - was only going to become an issue for the future. Did we have to go in now - or was it right to - well I won't answer that - I think that there are all sorts of legitimate persectives - but fundementally I think we blew a good thing - we had Sadaam verymuch cowed - ineffective and where we wanted him...and now...well chaos basically...at least a much greater potential for it...and certainly more blood (and bad blood) to come.....

Azat - I certainly grew up like that here in the States - I mean you wouldnt beleive theplaces we went by bike or wandered off too on our own - at pretty young ages...etc...and my kids have some/much of this..somewhat tempered of course....damn terrorists! (must be eh? LOL)..really though - in many places - like where we live - and we are pretty close to DC - it really isnt so bad. yeah you have to keep good track - but they can be out and about - even on their own - and you really don't have to get all paniky. I'm not discounting that there aren't crazies out there and such and that worries are legit - but sometimes I think folks see stuff on the news and such and just go a little overboard. I feel this way about travel alerts and such too. I'll be the first to go someplace where everyone (Americans mostly) is/are afraid to go because of various supposed threats and such - keeps the crowds away...and statistically speaking - there are much more riskier behaviors etc practivcesd by people all of the time - its just a matter of awareness/perception etc. Wimps I say...all....

Oh - and I also used to suggest that folks read Bukowski - if they really wanted to know what LA was like - LOL...and I certainly lived soem of that - though not quite - LOL - but I always did enjoy the seamier side....

OK - however I'm not sure what you are saying about LA is entirely true. When I lived there - and folks (from back East or wherever) would ask me what LA is like - well my response was always - Its all true. Yes - everything you have ever heard abotu LA - good, bad, contradictory or what have you - its all true. Thats how I feel about LA! So how was he BTW - your football friend? LOL Do you miss him? You've certainly done your share in enhancing/conforming LA's rep - no? And is it so bad...I mean all of it? LOL

What a great bunch of posts on this thread Steve. I particularly liked the observation concerning photography - so true. I've always been a big fan of Dali's (but would never claim to be anything other then a novice...) - and apreciate what your saying Stormy - and thats somewhat the point - art should be disturbing (not always in a bad way - but yes that as well)...and I agree with Steve - art - to be meaningful cannot just be individualistic (for then it would have no point - outside/beyond the ravings of a crazy person) - it must have some broader apeal - otherwise it is not communicating anything - and art is essentially a form of communication - very much (a picture being worth a thousand words & such)...and this is also clearly shown by the sometimes vast differences in what is considered apealing or artisitc between/among different cultures - even to the point of acceptable/recognized mediums...

Funny post A-H - here and the earlier bit - M Jackson wanting to be a white women! LOL ( hey - being very weird is no crime - specially if you are rich...and he is certianly koo koo - don't know about the rest - if he is criminal...etc)...And yeah - where I live kids (like my own) play outside and visit their friends down the street and such - without worry (pretty much) - so things arent so bad. And regarding the quote above - must you always make it so personal A-H? LOL

And how is that MartyRoss - please elaborate by all means - and tell us a bit about yourself as well...are you a non-Armenian living i Armenian BTW? WOuld love to hear your story. And BTW welcome to our forum!

LOL - yeah but who is really thinking these things through - eh? And BTW (to the poster claiming Armenia #2 in aid from US) - I think Egypt and Turkey are #s 2 & 3 behind Israel - and Armenia is way down there by a long shot (perhaps per capita you are refering too - don't know about that)...plus there is all sorts of (hidden) aid (direct transfers of equipment and such) that go to Israel & Turkey that is completely off the books (and were not talking chump change here either...)

All of you who have speculated on Sadaam fighting back and all this are way off the mark. Sadaam is the ultimate survivor - he is no hero - come off it get real. And haven't any of you heard of being in a state of shock - well its very much like being drugged. And regardless i don't see what changes things even if he was captured by Kurds...who really cares anyway. And of course - why should anyone be surprised if the capture is bled for all its PR worth - I mean here we are in the media age right - its all image and entertainment - and don't you think that Sadaam didn't fully understand this as well. Anyway - a merry Christmas too him - I mean I'm sure he is eating better and in general is much better off now than he has been the past few weeks - not that anyone should really care about his comfort. He's a brutal thug - a (former) menace - who certaily should havve been taken out 12 years ago...and though I disagree with how this campaign against him and against Iraq has been undertaken - and the various shifty rational...and the aftermath (and so on and so forth) - I certainly think it is a good thing that he is no longer in power and no longer terrorizing his people or gicving anyone else cause for concern.

Yeah those Turks...just crack me up....not.

A - mouse - I'm really not interested at all in taking the effort to debate you on any of this. I mean my position is clear - equal rights and oppurtunities for women - and yes i think that the "traditional" role for women (East & West etc) is/has been repressive. To me denial of education, oppurtunity and ability to make decisions fro oneself is an injustice that requires rectifying. And to me - all your arguments about feminism being an aspect of socialism and all of this collectivist gobblygook is just totally irrelevant - and both viels the real issue (that you basically want women back in their traditional roles) and is based from a political perspective where you view all western governements and political action within as basically socialistic and you are against all aspects of such - and i know that I am right because i am familiar with Mises and Rand and such - snd while I think theirs is a nice ideal - as i am in general opposed to Government action and power etc - I feel that these are basically necessary evils because humans are just not to the level yet to do things justly on their own (in general). And again - when you speak of "natural order" of things - LOL - well we have certainly heard this before in the context of any number of repressive policies and actions - so it is a meaningless statement at best IMO - and at worst it is something that is used to justify evil. Now I don't at all debate what you have said concerning Capitalism - but I also don't see where feminists are in opposition to Capitalism either (only because you say so) - so i just think its a non-argument - like most of what you present - it is irrelevant really - becuase in fact you are attacking our overall system/society - from the libertarian perspective...and using this as a cover to then attack feminisim - and also of course the civil rights movement. You even seem to imply that nothing needed to be done about slavery - that it would have taken care of itself in its own due time (and maybe true) - still - how can you say it was wrong to work towards emancipation etc - by changing laws and forcing such - how can you adopt the postion that this was wrong? Just the same - how can you adopt the position that equality for women should not be pursued when inequalities exist - and in fact still do. Now I must add i am disapointed that all of our various self proclaimed feminsists on this forum haven't stepped up to lable this guy nuts...shame..though i note that Anileve and Vayri have been abset for a while - but I am confident when they see your bullshit they will rip you a new a-hole. And BTW - I just disagree with your assertions about Feminism. Your defintions are just politically charged. When i speak of feminism I speak of the concept of women not being unfairly discriminated against and having equal rights and oppurtunities. So yes - i beleive to a large degree we are speaking past one another. Still most of your presentation seems to me to be a cover for underlying racist and discriminatory views - whether you admist to such or not. It is fundementally what I get out of your presentation. Other then that I just think - so what? irrelevant...And all can see - by your attacks agasinst working women and such in the latter part of your post where you are comming from. Yes - "social idiocies" - like women working etc...yes we can see what you are railing against....

I do think that suicide is pathetic - for a healthy individual. Just the same i don't think it should be a criminal act. And I answered the "life worth living" issue - again this is an individual judgement call - based on a decision reached by an individual after they have had proper counseling and such to know their options and prospects etc. As for being realistic - well pain meds are all well and good - but some folks would rather not live as a vegtable - and I've had this conversation with a relative who had this prospect and very adamently chose not to (if it came to such). My wife and I too have both chosen to not have continued life support etc in this sort of case. And while in Canada all the meds you want may be provided for - and thats good...here in the states it is much more limited. There are all sorts of caps on what is available - so for a person with limited means - they just might not have options...yes this is certainly an injustive and is tragic - but it is reality at this point.