MJ

quote:Originally posted by Harut: one thing, you people say that there are many other nations that have greater diasporas. but, do they((let's say Irish)) recognize themselves Irish desends, or do they do anything that would show their Irishness. i don't know how to put this in words. but i mean do they follow at least some traditions, do they participate in any kind of Irish activitives, or eat Irish food once a while, listen to Irish music once a while, or mantion that they are Irish. i think you got me. i talking about working diaspora, not just genetical desenders. Very much so.

quote:Originally posted by bellthecat: MJ, this seems to be your standard response to ANY criticisim about American policy! You casually dismiss the legitimate points raised, and then start to get personal by attacking the motives, intellect or sanity of the person making those points. I just love your justification of state censorship and the re-writing of embarassing history by classifying it as a "procedural issue". The next time Turkey does the same thing, what moral basis will you have to argue against it. Well, it may be my standard response to standard ventilation on the level of paranoia. I haven’t dismissed anything. Nor I have gotten personal. I also have never questioned your sanity or intellect. But if you feel you have questions about them, what is it that I can do? What I have said is at this time you have no evidence that the State Department is blocking the information you have conveyed. You know perfectly well that it is impossible in the US to block such things due to the Information Freedom Act. All it takes is following certain procedures to make the information public. However, there may be some procedures that need to be followed. And so far, from what I read, that is what the State Department has insisted on. Additionally, I would occasionally ‘enjoy’ reading some posts of yours about the embarrassing history of the British Intelligence Service and the British Government, or some other countries. Or do I qualify you silence on this issue as an inability of obtaining similar materials due to even a stricter censorship? And if Turkey would do it, (and it does it) I would not even argue against it. Let the citizens of Turkey argue about it. Hardly there is anything that Turkey may try to hide that is not known to the rest of the world. It may hide it only from its own citizens.

quote:Originally posted by dragon: Let's face what MJ? Can you be more specific? Are you trying to explor the sex? love? What is your message? Can you make it more clear please? Dragon, You should address your question to ChristianityExposed.com. He/she is the specialist. I am just a "satiric."

What is it that they say about lawyers, Gamavor?

quote:Originally posted by Juggernaut: Well, put it this way, the as a result of the American intervention in Vietnam, over 2 million civilions died, and the effects of agent orange and other pesticides are taking their toll to this day. Has America apologised? No? As a result of the American led sanctions on Iraq, 5000 children die every month because of malnutrition and lack in medicine. America (and the Brits) is responsible for a Genocide that is taking place right at this moment. While I understand your premise, and think that you are exaggerating a little bit, though share some of your discontent, I would like to remind you that the US has not unilaterally entered into the Vietnam war, but it has been a competition between the two camps. The US at all levels questions the validity of the reasons to enter into that war. In the case of Iraq, you have to recall that only two countries passively advocate the lifting of the sanctions against Iraq - Russia and France. And that is probavly becasue Iraq owes significant foreign debt to both of them, and has a good excuse not to pay it until the sanctions are lifted and its economy is back on track. I do think that the US has committed a lot of ills in the past. I resent it. However, singling out of the US is what I resent even more. When witnessing such singling out, and taking things out of the context, I get an impression of some other motives behind them, or at least unbalanced hyperventilation.

You are right. Perhaps he has one or two more years to play. Especially now that a baby is underway. But it is hard to macth his skills not only for us, but for the entire sports community, since he is a very unique phenomenon in tennis.

Steve, Could you explain what your point was in these materials, please? Is it about the allegation that the CIA has done these things in 60s or is it about the State Department recalling the book due to some procedural issues?

Agassi easily won the Mercedes Benz Championship against Pete Sampras in Los Angeles, today.

Here we go again…. You rush jumping on USA, though I never see you bring any arguments up directed at the British Intelligence services, for example. Is it because you think that the UK has been better than USA? I, personally, am displeased at some of the things that the US refuses to cooperate in. However, I am not familiar with all of the issues. I also don’t have a feeling that you have done your homework the way you were suggesting me to do in the other thread. Don’t you think that there are some reasons behind the US governemtn's position on few things, which may even from the very onset seem strange? For example, the ABM treaty was signed in 1972, if I am not mistaken, between USSR and the US. It’s logic was based on the concept of mutual distraction of the two competing camps. Since then, the world has changed a lot, and the military doctrines of Russia and the USA have significantly walked away from the concept of mutual distraction. Guess what – they are not threatening each other any more. That treaty has become obsolete, especially in the light of the Bushes proposal of unilateral reduction of the nuclear arms almost by half, and discussions with Russia are under way to enhance that process. From everything we see Russia is very open to it. What is the point of having that treaty? Please explain if you can. And to the contrary, what is your proposal against the threat from a small terrorist group, per se, which has bought portable nuclear warheads from a Russian general, and has gotten a missile capable of reaching the US (or some other) territory? How does the ABM treaty defend one against such threat? On the surface, banning of the landmines sounds a morally correct thing to do. Who wants to see kids blown away on such mines? However, there is the other side of the issue, and I wonder if you have given any consideration to it? For example, landmines are a huge part of the defense of Karabagh against potential Azerbaijani aggression. If we have to eliminate them on the borders of Karabagh, what is your proposal? What are you going to substitute them with? How about the lanmines in between North and South Korea? Do you think the underlying premise of the US while oposing the ellimination of the landmines is their enjoying of seeing innocent people blow away on them? About small-arms trafficking. It is bad if the small-arms are being supplied to those who should not have access to arms. But how about those who fight for their liberties worldwide? How about the supply of small-arms to Karabagh, for example? Should it be banned? Also, who else does oppose their banning, I wonder? What is the rational behind the US opposition to ban the nuclear tests, you think? Don’t you think that the simple logic dictates that the US, being far ahead of everybody else in nuclear arms technology should be very happy to have the tests banned so that to preserve its current status quo? Don’t you tink that there may be serious reasons behind its current position that you don’t understand simply because you haven’t done your homework? About death penalty. The majority of the US population is against banning of the death penalty. The US is a country of democratic traditions, however culturally very different from European countries. How do you envision it banning the death penalty? Just Bush wakes up one morning and declares that from that day on no execuations would be carried on? How about the violent criminals? Whould should be done with them? Should one put them in total isolation for the rest of their lives? I am not familiar with the issues related to the International Court. If you could give me an introduction, I might be able to reply. As far as the Kyoto treaty goes, I wonder if you have studied and clearly understood what it means to implement that treaty? Can you articulate the essence of that treaty here? Or is it just a buzz word, that regardless of its content, if we repeat many times the same thing, it makes it sound more persuasive or gruesome? I have been in this forum for about a year. I gather you have been around as much. I don’t remember you raising any of such issues last year, while all of them, except the ABM treaty issues existed the, However you seem to be very enthusiastic this year. Additionally, while there is very little that the US and the UK disagree on, I never hear you criticizing the UK? Why? [ July 29, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

Steve, I have no intention of engaging in name calling. I am just recalling the communist propaganda on Abstract Art that I have grown up hearing about. I also tend to not intervene in discussions which are related to issues on which I have not done my homework. What you are saying is a nonsense. Usually, especially in professional circles, when a sentence in such argument starts with an expression “It is well known…,” one doesn’t have to look further for discounting such statements immediately. First of all, Abstract Art, as a genre, is authored by Kandinsky and Malevich in Russia during the Bolshevik revolution. I suspect that CIA has not even existed at that time. The next wave of Abstract Artists have been inspired by Picasso, Juan Miro, Arshil Gorky, etc. None of them were products of CIA, nor have been particularly financed by anybody. In fact, the two of them were Europeans. The absolute majority of Abstract Artists of 50s and 60s, as well as the 70s, from Expressionists to Minimalists have been hungry Bohemian artists. Abstract Art is manifestation of human drive for liberties and freedoms, and a drive for penetrating into the essence of things leaving aside their non characteristic apparences. In that sense it is the people of Eastern Europe, among them, with your permission, the Soviet Armenian Artists who have longed towards the Abstract Art. CIA had no ways to introduce Abstract Art to Armenia, for example. The Abstractionism is very characteristic for the Armenian way of thinking, for example. That’s why, perhaps, the Armenian School of Abstracts Art has been the strongest in the former Soviet Union, and it remains so strong in our days that outpowers even the modernd American Abstracts Art. And just how do you imagine CIA making people of Eastern Europe to accept and embrace Abstract Art, thus advancing the American agenda? How do you make such things happen through covert operations, especially for the people who are raised in the traditions of Socialistic Realism? In any country, even in the free world, Abstract Art is being accepted by less than 0.1% of the population, perhaps. Just how stupid you think CIA should've been to count on Abstract Art out of political or idealogical considerations? I have grown up in the environment of Abstract Artists in Armenia. I know them too well, and I know too well the climate around them to give even one iota of consideration to the nonsense that you carry here. What you are saying is similar to claiming that the British Intelligence service, per se, might've financed and promoted Beatles in USSR, and organized their trip to St. Petersburg, and that’s why the KGB didn’t allow them to land on the Russian soil, for example. Or Deep Purple, or Led Zepelin... Did you know that at a time, saxaphone wsa declared as the Intsrument of Buszhuazia by the Soviet Iealogists? How about Psychology being declared as Science of Burzhuazia, as well as the Cybernetics? Just grow up, man. I am just puzzled at the extremes that you through yourself at, lately. I want to just believe that your latest series of declarations are just a temporary manifestation of some mid-age crisis, which perhaps most of us go through at some time. [ July 29, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]

Thorny, Now that you told me about the Private Message, I found it. Normally, I would get an email notification that a private message has arrived. It didn't do so this time. Maybe in the new version of the site software that feature has accidentally been disabled. Will let Garo know about it. I will reply to you a bit later. I am writing a review on a boring book, today. Have to finish by tomorrow. Btw, in my previous message "...those making obsolete..." should be read as "..thus making obsolete..."

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quote:Originally posted by Aghmug: Hey, what's wrong with Celts?!? Some of my favorite wives are of Celt origin. And what about the others?

Gamavor, You are right... CIA stands for Celtic Intelligence Agency.

quote:Originally posted by bellthecat: Because it was supported by the CIA (and similar agents of American Imperialisim )in the 1950s and 60s? What a Communist nonsense, Steve... Your primitivism increasingly puzzles me, I should confess. First, of all, Abstract Art is born in Europe, and has subsequently been migrated to the US. Almost all Abstract Artists of the 50s and 60s are of European origin, though they have found a better working conditions in the US, subsequently, as it has always been the case in all disciplines. Second, the Abstract Art doesn't depend on whether CIA supports it, or the KGB opposes it. It is a natural product of human imagination driven by the urge of understanding the most fundamental attributes of human mentality and perception, regardless of their secondary appearances. On such capacity it is a continuation and evolution of the 19th century philosophical thought. It is symptomatic of the drive for human liberties, which is also one of the most fundamental human necessities. Finally, I am glad that you are not in the position of power, since given the opportunity, you would manifest yourself as our days Lunacharsky.

Here, there, and elsewhere...

Steve, Seems like you have passion towards the usage of capital and small letters. But I love Abstract Art. Not to be confused with Contemporary Art.

Publication date: 12-Jul-2001 Reprinted from RatingsDirect News Outlook on Seven Turkish Financial Institutions Revised to Negative From Stable Analyst: Emmanuel Volland, Paris (33) 1-4420-6719; Scott Bugie, Paris (33) 1-4420-6680 PARIS (Standard & Poor's CreditWire) July 12, 2001--Following yesterday's outlook revision and ratings affirmation on the Republic of Turkey (B-/Negative/C; see press release dated July 11, 2001), Standard & Poor's revised to negative from stable its outlooks on the following Turkish financial institutions: Export Credit Bank of Turkey, Turkiye Is Bankasi A.S., Dogus Holding A.S., Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S., Osmanli Bankasi A.S., Korfezbank A.S., and T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. At the same time, Standard & Poor's affirmed all its long- and short-term ratings on the institutions. (See list below for all ratings.) At present, the ratings on the above Turkish financial institutions reflect primarily the high-risk political and economic domestic environment, and the entities' direct exposure to Turkish government debt. The banking sector remains fragile, despite recent steps taken by the government to strengthen it and to close down weak organizations. In the current climate of a recession and high real interest rates, many banks could see a significant rise in their nonperforming loans to the private sector, and more of the weaker entities could be taken over by the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). The disposal of the banks already in the SDIF's portfolio is finally about to start. In the meantime, the state banks might need further capital increases as they begin to write off bad loans and make charges for restructuring and retrenchment. The government has folded state-owned Turkiye Emlak Bankasi A.S. into Ziraat Bankasi and plans to privatize 51% of the latter by early 2003; it also plans to privatize 100% of Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. in 2002, with the support of a loan and technical assistance from the World Bank. This process, however, could take longer than is currently scheduled, during which time the banks in question could continue to distort the banking system and prove a further liability to the government. Standard & Poor's also rates five Turkish banks on a public-information (pi) basis. Akbank T.A.S., Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi A.S., Pamukbank T.A.S., and Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi T.A.O. are rated single-'B'-minus-pi, and Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. is rated triple-'Cpi'. No action has been taken with respect to the ratings on these five banks. Standard & Poor's does not publish outlook statements on 'pi'-rated entities. OUTLOOK: NEGATIVE Recent slippage in IMF-program implementation has undermined market confidence and kept real interest rates in Turkey higher than previously envisaged. In addition, continued weakness in the banking sector and an expected 5% contraction in GDP this year are likely to have a negative effect on the banks' asset quality and financial performance. Nonperforming loans have already increased at certain banks, and the banking system remains vulnerable to further asset-quality deterioration if the economic recession is prolonged, Standard & Poor's said. -- CreditWire OUTLOOKS REVISED TO NEGATIVE FROM STABLE; RATINGS AFFIRMED Ratings Export Credit Bank of Turkey FC counterparty credit ratings B-/Negative/C Senior unsecured debt B- Short-term debt C Turkiye Is Bankasi A.S. Counterparty credit ratings B-/Negative/C Certificates of deposit B-/C Dogus Holding A.S. Counterparty credit ratings B-/Negative/C Turkiye Garanti Bankasi A.S. FC counterparty credit rating B-/Negative/-- Certificate of deposit B- Osmanli Bankasi A.S. FC counterparty credit ratings B-/Negative/C Certificates of deposit B-/C Korfezbank A.S. FC counterparty credit ratings B-/Negative/C Certificates of deposit B-/C T.C. Ziraat Bankasi A.S. FC counterparty credit ratings CCC+/Negative/C Certificates of deposit CCC+/C This report was reproduced from Standard & Poor's RatingsDirect, the premier source of real-time, Web-based credit ratings and research from an organization that has been a leader in objective credit analysis for more than 140 years. To preview this dynamic on-line product, visit our RatingsDirect Web site at www.standardandpoors.com/ratingsdirect. Standard & Poor's. Setting The Standard. Published by Standard & Poor's, a Division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Executive offices: 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Editorial offices: 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10041. Subscriber services: (1) 212-438-7280. Copyright 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited except by permission. All rights reserved. Information has been obtained by Standard & Poor's from sources believed to be reliable. However, because of the possibility of human or mechanical error by our sources, Standard & Poor's or others, Standard & Poor's does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or the result obtained from the use of such information. Ratings are statements of opinion, not statements of fact or recommendations to buy, hold, or sell any securities.

quote:Originally posted by bellthecat: It is not really at all "abstract" if you understand the references and know something about Caucasian art. Abstract art is non-representational in that it is something which makes no identifiable reference to the visible world. Parajanov's films are probably the exact opposite of that. I regret never having been able to see any of his films on a cinema screen, but only on TV. Steve My usage of the word "Abstract" here has had nothing to do with the category of Abstract Art, but rather with the philosophical meaning of the word "Abstract." And in that sense, what you described in your passage indicates exactly the movie belonging to the [philosophical] "Abstract" category.

Good to see you here, Misha.

Hmaik, Could you write it in a standard font, please?

quote:Originally posted by MosJan: Mj - Rustam yev Zohrab'n ela inq@ demadrel ches kartsem ?? Chem hishum, MosJan. Mike, Check this: /cgi-bin/forum/ultim...c&f=20&t=000053

quote:Originally posted by Juggernaut: I had some academic problems that needed attention. Glad it is over, Juggernaut. Welcome back.

quote:Originally posted by Aghmug: Is anyone familiar with this film? Is everyone but me familiar with it? Yes, Mike. It is a highly publicised movie - a pretty abstract one.

Thank you, SAS.