The 2009 Armenian National Science & Education Fund (ANSEF) grants have been awarded, and project follow-up has begun.  Earlier this month, members of the FAR Yerevan staff paid visits to many of Armenia’s finest scientific institutions including Yerevan State University, the Scientific Center of Biology and Hydro-ecology, the Scientific Technological Center of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Institute of Applied Problems of Physics, in order to check in with the scientist teams who received FAR’s ANSEF grants.

Mr. Ishkhanyan, ANSEF Grantee Scientist

Credit: FAR Staff

The FAR representatives met with 14 different scientific research groups, during which time the progress of each team project was discussed.  Through ANSEF, FAR provides scientists with funding, enabling them to pursue their scientific research in Armenia as opposed to leaving the nation in search of funding.  The goal of this project is to motivate Armenia’s greatest scientific talents to stay in Armenia, preventing the problem known unofficially as the “brain drain.”

Presentation at the Physics Research Laboratory

Credit: FAR Staff

Before graduating from secondary school in Dilijan, Eduard Bayramyan had already decided to become a physician. His father and eldest brother were pharmacists and his uncle was a doctor.  In 1998, Eduard applied to the Yerevan State Medical University.  By 2007, he had completed his residency in General Surgery.

However, Eduard was not satisfied with only one specialization, so he decided to study oncology as well.  Therefore, he had to continue to finance his education and somehow pay the hefty tuition.  During a trip to the Dean’s Office, Eduard learned about FAR’s CME Program scholarship, and immediately applied.  He was accepted to the program, and signed a contract stating that he would return to his native town as a practicing physician after graduation.

The decision to return to his hometown became firm when in August 2009, he participated in an internship in the local hospital and got acquainted with his future colleagues as well as the medical conditions of people living in the surrounding areas.  As a result, Eduard discovered that there was much work to be done, especially since the hospital was lacking an oncology specialist.  Eduard enjoyed working in the Dilijan hospital and especially enjoyed working with the hospital’s head doctor and FAR CME Program member Sahak Mkrtumyan.  During his one-month stay, Eduard managed to participate in several surgical procedures.

Eduard has always had great respect for the regional physicians, and greatly appreciates their professional flexibility.  “In the regions, often times you work alone. Very often you have to make your own decisions related to a patient’s health,” explained Eduard.  In Spring 2010, Eduard Bayramyan will complete his residency at Yerevan State Medical University and return to Dilijan to practice medicine.  Eduard looks forward to his return as much as the personnel of the hospital in his native town.

Eduard Bayramyan with FAR CME Coordinator
Hambartsum Simonyan

Credit: FAR Staff

It’s time for my list. I will be working on it, because there are still some things(latest Swell Season, Devendra Banhart, Julie Doiron etc.) that I have to hear. Recommendations are very welcome! Anyway, some of my favourites:

Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice [9.8/10]
I think this is my favourite album from this year. Cute, teddy-bear-ish-looking singer-songwriter from Canada. He makes you feel loved inside. Good, strong and dynamic songs, nice vocals, very good instrumental work, wonderful lyrics. The best indie pop album from this year. It’s unbelievable that he’s just 25 (date-material! haha!). Dan’s a keeper and you should keep your eye on him!

Andrew Bird – Noble Beast/Useless Creatures [9.5/10]
Again, a masterpiece made by Andrew Bird. It’s balanced, beautiful and unique. It’s pop, folk, it’s wonderful. I only miss the electric guitar a bit. Still, great lyrics, interesting, wonderful compositions and vocally pretty strong. Useless Creatures is the best instrumental CD I’ve ever heard, might have even listened more to that one than to Noble Beast. Simply beautiful.

St. Vincent – Actor [9/10]
Annie Clark manages to float above her instrumental chaos. Or at least, it looks like that. Her compositions are actually well made. Vocally, Clark is really strong. It’s a pretty unique CD that you’ll love or you’ll hate. I love it. (read the review I did)

Jesca Hoop – Hunting My Dress [8.8/10]
To me, she’s live even stronger. Hoop mixes various styles and makes them her own. Great guitar work, great vocals. It might sound weird during your first listen, but it will grow. Especially ‘Murder of Birds’ is a wonderful track.

A.A. Bondy – When The Devil’s Loose[8.3/10]
I know I didn’t give A.A. Bondy such a high mark in my review. But the album did really grow on me. One of the best folk albums made this year. I listen to it a lot lately, so points for that!

The Whitest Boy Alive – Rules[7.5/10]
Simple funky and happy. Don’t expect any musical obscurity from these guys. Erlend Øye got a great voice, some great lyrics and made some great music on this album. Strong bass lines, percussion and light guitar work. But after a while, it get’s a bit repetitive. Still a very nice album, best song to me is ‘1517′.

Laura Gibson – Beasts of Seasons[7.5/10]
Dreamy folk songs. Gibson got a great voice. This album stands out for it’s simplicety. Her songs are pretty vocally driven, with often some light guitar work underneath it. But also you hear some piano notes every now and then. The perfect album for a sunny autumn day.

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight[7.2/10]
Surprising new album from Franz Ferdinand. They changed their sound a bit, having more electronics in it. It’s still not difficult to dance on. They didn’t lose their Franz sound. Points for that.

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest[7/10]
Pretty interesting album, on moments to difficult for me to understand maybe. There are some ‘killer-tracks’ on it, but overall it’s just a pretty solid, nice, album that isn’t really my cup of tea at moments

Regina Spektor – Far [7/10]
Not as strong as ‘Begin to Hope’, but again a very good album. Spektor goes from weird classical stuff to pop, not being afraid of sounding ’silly’. Vocally strong, but you have to love her voice. No complains about her instrumental stuff, but it’s not really ‘new’. (Best tracks of the album are ‘Laughing With’ and ‘Folding Chair’, these are perfect songs)

Wilco - Wilco(the album) [7/10]
Wilco delivered another good album. Still, it can’t beat Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but it’s a good try. It’s again the typical Wilco sound(that isn’t really my sound). But it’s a strong, balanced album.

Albums I want to mention but that aren’t quite my taste(though, I like some songs):

Soap&Skin – Lovetune for Vacuum
It’s too dark and obscure for me. It feels pretty creepy. But still, pretty good. (yeah, I don’t know much more to say about this one)

Zee Avi – Zee Avi
Too light and too bubbly for me. Pretty good debut album from this singer-songwriter. She mixes light, bubbly pop with a bit of jazz. Think Jack Johnson if he was a girl and used a ukulele more.

Portugal. The Man – The Satanic Satanist
Good album, but I think it’s too ‘heavy’ for me. Though, I do like the poppy ‘Work All Day’, ‘People Say’ and ‘The Sun’. Recommended for everyone who’s ears can handle more noise than mine.

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
A more upbeat album from Tony Dekker and company. It does work out, but I like their slow, acoustic stuff more. Still a great album if you like them and do like songs such as ‘Your Rocky Spine’.

M. Ward – Hold Time
For all M. Ward lovers: Hold Time is a typical M. Ward album. His strongest point is his voice, and he uses is good. To me, M. Ward is a bit boring, there’s not much happening in his music. But that’s the only critic I can think of, so I guess it’s a nice album.

Never before have I been away from home for so long. This year I’ve spent so far 10 days in my country and this was in June.  It’s really hard!!!!!!! Lots of things happened this year, good and bad. As an update (I’ll just tell you the good parts): my sister got married in Turkey – long story – and now she is expecting a chubby baby girl who is due at the end of December. Hopefully the birth will happen when I’m there! It is sudden but I am going to be an AUNTIE!! Being far from home is very difficult and is always a time of happiness when I receive things from Romania. A few weeks ago my parents and Chris sent me a big package with food (which I miss a lot) and my joy was so big that I had to take some photos ).

I’ve never been so happy before to see my father’s handwriting on a parcell

wonderful food!

Autumn is at its peak here and I am enjoying it very much. I am always busy with working or studying and I can’t wait to take a break. I am going back to Romania on the 16th of December… 23 days left . Here are the most recent pictures of me that Chris asked me to take in an autumn background.

In May 2005, FAR’s CME Program was launched to promote the improvement of medical service quality in the Armenian regions outside of Yerevan. The program continues to organize one-month training sessions at the leading hospitals in Yerevan, in order to benefit of physicians from rural Armenia, Javakhk and Karabagh.

The next important step taken by the Program was to provide financial support to select Yerevan State Medical University’s (YSMU) resident students from the regions. Financial support is provided on a selective basis to those students whose are part of Armenia’s “paid” educational system, meaning their education is not free.  The key condition for participation in the program is that the graduate is obliged to return to his or her native region and work at the local medical institutions. Under this condition, six resident students of YSMU are currently being supported by FAR.

The newest feature of this program is the internship.  Last year, FAR and YSMU decided that going forward, they would send the resident students to their regional hospitals for a one-month internship within the framework of their educational curriculum. This provides the residents with an opportunity to become reacquainted with his or her hometown, and also to get to know the facilities in which they will be working.

In order to make this program successful, the entire network of FAR health professionals has become involved in the project. The representatives of the network serve as local mentors for the students and become the main link between the intern and the medical institutions.  One of the resident students who completed his internship in this summer is Eduard Bayramyan.  Stay tuned Monday to read his story…..

(Oeuvre de Stéphane Abdelkader – détail)

La pensée du jour: “On ne peut rien apprendre aux gens. On peut seulement les aider à découvrir qu’ils possèdent déjà en eux tout ce qui est à apprendre.” Galilée, physicien et astronome italien.

Thought for the Day: “One cannot teach anything to others. One can only help them discover they already have in themselves everything there is to learn.” Galileo, Italian physicist and astronomer

***

(Oeuvres de Stéphane Abdelkader)

Aujourd’hui, Ici Graulhet vous propose deux regards différents sur la récup’ – ou encore, deux façons différentes de créer de la beauté là où d’autres ne voient que laideur.  Voici donc, sur des photos d’oeuvres du Graulhétois Stéphane Abdelkader, une invitation à faire une virée ce soir à 20h30 du côté de la salle de l’Albaret à Saint-Juéry pour un fabuleux concert du Renegades Steel Orchestra: 18  fameux musiciens sous la direction de Dasmond Waite.

Bonne ‘entrée en weekend’ à tous.

Today, Ici Graulhet suggests two different ways to look at recycling – or rather, two different ways to create beauty where others see nothing but ugliness. With photos of works by Graulhetois Stéphane Abdelkader, here’s an invitation to drive over to the salle de l’Albaret in Saint-Juéry tonight at 8:30 pm, for a fabulous concert by the Renegades Steel Orchestra: eighteen great musicians under the direction of Dasmond Waite.

A pleasant moving into the weekend for all.

(Oeuvre de Stéphane Abdelkader)

RENEGADES STEEL ORCHESTRA

Originaire de l’île antillaise de Trinidad au large du Venezuela, le mythique orchestre traditionnel de bidons métalliques Renegades Steel Orchestra est une véritable philharmonie tropicale et vibrante qui transcende les genres. Fruit d’une géniale récupération de déchets industriels, le « steel drum » ou « pan » – fabriqué à partir de fonds de bidons de pétrole – devient comme par magie un outil capable d’imiter tous les instruments de musique : chaque fût est martelé de façon à rendre le son de vingt-huit notes différentes sur autant de facettes. Dans cet orchestre, chaque bidon a sa couleur et imite un instrument. Un saxophone ici, un orgue Hammond là, plus loin une contrebasse ou encore un ensemble de cuivres ? Non : le numéro d’illusionnisme de ces musiciens atypiques. Du reggae à la samba, de la salsa au calypso et du classique à la ballade soul, les dix-huit funambules du bidon d’acier nous emportent avec fougue. Après ses mémorables concerts lors de la folle journée de Nantes en 2009, le Renegades propose une soirée en deux temps : une première partie classique composée d’œuvres majeures de Schubert et Bach, une deuxième consacrée au répertoire traditionnel des Caraïbes (calypso, reggae…). À consommer sans modération.

(Vous désirez une ‘mise en bouche’? Voici l’orchestre, côté classique et …côté Caraïbes

(Renegades Steel Orchestra)

From the island of Trinidad off the shores of Venezuela, the mythic Renegades Steel Orchestra is nothing short of a vibrant, tropical Philharmonic that transcends all genres.  Originating with the brilliant recyling of industrial waste, the steel drum or ‘pan’ is made out of the bottom part of oil drums. Thus transformed, as if by magic,  it becomes an instrument that can imitate all others: each pan is beaten in such a way as to produce twenty-eight different notes on its various surfaces. In this orchestra, each drum has its own color and sounds like a different instrument. A saxophone here, a Hammond organ there, a bit further a bass or a brass ensemble? No: but the  illusions created by these musicians are astounding. From reggae to samba, from salsa to calypso, from classical music to soul, the eighteen high-wire artists will transport you. After their resounding success at the 2009 Folle journée de Nantes, the orchestra tonight will present a concert  in two parts: the first devoted to classical works by Schubert and Bach;  the second half  to the traditional repertoire of the Caribbean (calypso, reggae). Meant to be enjoyedwithout moderation.

(Would you like a musical appetizer? Here’s the orchestra in classical mode and …in Caribbean.

(Oeuvre de Stéphane Abdelkader – détail)

Det var fars bursdag i dag. Han ville vært 61 år, om han fortsatt hadde levd. Han døde 6. oktober i fjor, helt uventet. Jeg har skrevet mye om det på bloggen tidligere.

I dag ville det vært bursdagen hans. Med meg går det bedre. Dagene er fylt av alt jeg har å gjøre, jeg har det svært travelt for tiden, og hodet er fylt av når min kone får komme til Norge og at jeg er så ukontrollert forelsket i henne. Savnet av far er ikke så fryktelig vondt og bare vondt som det var i fjor. Jeg ser at mitt liv går videre.

Det er veldig bra. Og enda mye veldig bedre ville det vært om far fortsatt hadde vært her og kunne tatt del i det. Det er fortsatt tomt og vondt når jeg tenker på det, men nå tenker jeg ikke så mye på det som jeg gjorde før.

Livet går videre. Jeg hadde aldri trodd at dette året skulle bli så lykkelig for meg. Det har det altså blitt, og jeg takker dypt for det. Jeg gratulerer min far med dagen, selv om han ikke lenger er til stede og kan lese det.

FAR’s very own Bagrat Sargsyan and USAID Program Manager Karen Sargsyan recently returned from their trip to the United States, and they shared their stories with the FAR staff during a meeting held at the Yerevan office on November 10^th.    During their trip, Bagrat and Karen participated in a weeklong training program in Washington D.C., and attended many meetings in both Washington and New York.

Bagrat enjoyed meetings with FAR benefactors including Jirair Nishanian, Anoush Mathevosian, John Ounjian, Yeznik Balian, Annette Choolfaian, and Shahan Artsruni among others.   The meetings were quite productive, and it was critical for Bagrat to liaise with some of FAR’s most generous benefactors.  The FAR staff was happy to hear the positive reports!

FAR’s Bagrat Sargsyan and Arto Vorperian
with Anush Mathevosian

Credit:  FAR Staff

reculegere ușoară la sfat un candelabru

preș elevat inadvertența neagră

horn lîngă groapă

fluviu iscat în albia creierului

con filatelic apostolul vă minte

apa ca plasma stea de cuvinte

By Amalya Yeghoyan

In December of 2006, a resonating call in his heart drew Jason Paul Kazaryan to visit Armenia.  A few years later, Jason decided to move to Gyumri, and become the Executive Director of GTech.  Jason adapted easily to his new life in Gyumri, and for nearly one year, he supervised the GTech family.

The GTech students and staff greatly appreciate Jason’s commitment to the development of the Gyumri Information Technology Center (GTech), and to the community at large. During his year as Executive Director, Jason used his skills to bring western work practices and business methodologies to GTech.  He worked with students and helped them to become competitive not only professionally but also intellectually.  Jason taught his staff members and employees to work with devotion and to feel responsible for the future of Armenia and of Gyumri in particular.

On November 1^st, supporters of GTech and FAR gathered together for a farewell party in honor of Jason Paul Kazaryan.  It was truly an emotional event for all. Jason expressed his feelings with the following words “I know that one day I will come back [to Gyumri] for sure. I am not going back home but I go back from my home.” These words were so convincing that we have no doubt Jason will return!

Jason Accepts a Gift from FAR

Credit:  FAR Staff

Poi ci sono le nubi basse che da quasi una settimana insistono sulle pianure del nord e sulla Liguria, al di sopra delle quali il sole splende indisturbato.

Questa situazione può essere apprezzata per le temperature gradevoli, per la mancanza di pioggia, ma se si guardano le cose nel loro insieme ci si accorge che l’Italia sta vivendo un’anomalia termica non da poco.

Molto mite il clima anche sui rilievi, mentre sulle pianure e sulle bassure del nord insisteranno nubi basse o banchi di nebbia, che renderanno almeno un po’ di giustizia alla stagione autunnale.

Proprio le pianure saranno le zone più fredde, specie in assenza di nuvolosità, di nebbia e di vento.

Fonte:
http://meteolive.leonardo.it/meteolive-notizia-28803-28803.html

The song tells about long distance love,.. touched by K-POP style,.. Just try it..,

MUSIC AND LYRICS WRITTEN BY 2NDY
ARRANGE BY 2NDY
don’t forget to leave a comment..,

DOWNLOAD HERE

Enjoy!

I am a sinner. And the sin that I live with kills me. It may not be a huge sin in comparison to other things in life. But it is the biggest sin I have ever committed in my life. I have confessed this sin to God, via my priest, twice. The first time I confessed it was amazing. I had never felt so ecstatically happy in all my life. The biggest weight was off of my shoulders. And three months later my dear grandmother passed away and the only way I could think of coping was to sin again. And shortly after that I confessed again, but I didn’t get the relief I felt. And I have continued sinning.

Eight months later and I have never felt further from God. My life is so stressful. I have forgotten how to pray. Mass is a chore for  me, I sing in the choir and I think thats the only reason why I still go. I don’t attend adoration anymore. The thought of sitting before the Blessed Sacrament just… I dunno… kills me?

I know what could possibly solve all this. Confession. But I need to talk more than about my sin. I need to talk about how it makes me feel, what it has caused, what causes it. I need to talk about the crap I am enduring in life. I need to get EVERYTHING off of my chest. I need a spiritual hug. I need God. And right now I can’t find him in any of His usual haunts.

And do you know what the disgusting thing is. everything in this blog is about me. me me me me me. and it’s shit. I don’t live a life for God. I live a life for ME. A selfish existence.

So if God reads blogs….. Lord, please help me to help you. Make me at peace with You. Teach me the love I once knew.

C’est un dessert typique de la région qui s’appelle Bretagne. Cette région de l’ouest de la France est composée de 5 départements : Le Finistère (29), les Côtes d’Armor (22), le Morbihan (56), l’Ille et Villaine (35) et la Loire-Atlantique (44). Pour voir une carte détaillée de la Bretagne cliquez ici !

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Le vrai far breton est sans pruneaux. Mais la plupart du temps on le trouve avec des pruneaux…..……..Essayez les deux !

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

 La personne à gauche de cette vidéo est le chef cuisinier Joël Robuchon – visitez son site !

Ingrédients :

100 grammes de farine – 1 pincée de sel – 125 gr de sucre

Graines d’une gousse de vanille (ou sucre vanillé en sachet)

3 oeufs entiers – 1/2 litre de lait  – 60 gr de beurre

1 cuillère à soupe de rhum (rhum brun pas le rhum blanc)

Texte de la vidéo ci-dessous :

- Dessert qu’on peut préparer un petit peu à l’avance ?

- Oui, on peut le faire à l’avance

- Et ça se sert chaud, froid, tiède, sortant du four ?

- Tiède

- 100 grammes de farine

- Une pincée de sel

- La petite pincée de sel par Jean-François

- 125 gr de sucre

- D’accord

- Après, il y a la gousse de vanille qu’on a coupé en deux. Faut bien la gratter.

- Donc on va récupérer ces petites graines. T’aimes bien faire la pâtisserie Jean-François ?

- Oui, j’aime bien, oui

- Alors là, donc, on a dit 100 gr de farine, 125 gr de sucre, une gousse de vanille. On mélange le tout avec un fouet.

- On va rajouter les oeufs un à un.

- Alors trois oeufs mais des oeufs entiers : le jaune, le blanc. Disons qu’on fait un petit peu comme un appareil à crêpes, un petit peu sucré, un peu plus épais. Quand ça commence à faire une petite pâte, on a là 1/2 litre de lait…

- On va le rajouter petit à petit (=progressivement)

- Quand est-ce qu’on ajoute le beurre ? À la fin ?

- À la fin

- Alors, on a pris 60 grammes de beurre qu’on a déjà fait fondre, vous voyez, qui est déjà prêt dans la casserole.  Là on a 1/2 (un demi) litre de lait entier (il existe trois sortes de lait en France : le lait entier – le lait demi-écrémé – le lait écrémé). Alors on met un petit peu de lait. C’est le moment important. C’est ce qui va permettre d’enlever tous les grumeaux quand il y a des grumeaux, voyez, pour faire une pâte assez épaisse, bien la travailler. C’est là, c’est le moment le plus important pour tout enlever. Quand vous faites un appareil à crêpes, voyez, faut plus qu’il y ait de grumeaux là parce que, s’il y a des grumeaux là, après on les retrouve à la fin.

- Là on peut rajouter du lait maintenant.

- Et les crêpes, tu sais faire les crêpes ?

- Ah oui !

- Voilà l’appareil là est prêt non ?

- Il manque le rhum

- Une cuillère à soupe carrément ?

- C’est bon, alors maintenant, on va rajouter le beurre,  les 60 grammes.

- Juste fondu hein ?

- Voilà, au dernier moment, en dernier.

- On incorpore bien le beurre à cet appareil

- Et voilà

- Alors là, on va le filtrer et on va préchauffer le four à combien ?

- 180°

- On a préchauffé le four à 180°. On l’a mis en four ventilé ?

- Oui

- On a pris un plat qui va dans le four. On l’a bien beurré. Voyez il est bien beurré.

- Donc on va disposer les pruneaux dans le fond du plat.

- Et des pruneaux dénoyautés hein ? On peut laisser les noyaux si on veut ! On les répartit dans le fond du plat.

- Mais pour l’Epiphanie on peut laisser un noyau (c’est une blague de Jean-François – En tout début d’année, on fête l’Epiphanie, fête pendant laquelle on mange la “galette des rois” dans laquelle est cachée une “fève”). Pourquoi pas ?

- Voilà 12 pruneaux sur le plat beurré. On a filtré l’appareil. On verse dessus.

- Oui, oui doucement. En y allant doucement les pruneaux ne vont pas bouger.

- C’est pour que les pruneaux soient bien disposés, c’est pour ça que tu mets les pruneaux en premier.

- Oui, comme ça à chaque fois qu’on a une part, on a un pruneau.

- Et on récupère bien sûr toutes les petites graines de vanille. Et là ça y est, c’est prêt, on le met dans le four et on va cuire pendant combien de temps ?

- 25 minutes

- 25 minutes, on le sort du four, on laisse tiédir et on sert aussitôt.

- Voilà

- Alors, le four, il est à 180

- On rappelle le temps de cuisson ?

- 25 minutes

- 25 minutes après, on a ce joli far  là, il est gonflé. Alors il faut le laisser un peu tiédir.

- Oui, oui, il faut le laisser reposer un petit peu. Faut pas le manger chaud, c’est pas bon. Tiéde c’est parfait.

- On le sert avec quelque chose ?

- Traditionnellement ça se prend avec du café

- Et puis là on peut y aller, on peut dire “Vive les bretons”.

- Au revoir

- Bon appétit bien sûr !

Ani is a second-year student in the Statistics and Informatics Department at the Armenian State University of Economics.  She is originally from Hrazdan, Armenia.  Ani is an only child, and was two years old when her parents divorced and her father left the family.  Raised in part by her grandparents, Ani says, “It seems as if my grandmother and grandfather were my parents. I am thankful for all the good they gave me. I always wished to be a person they would be proud of.”

During the early part of her education, Ani dedicated herself to studying the English language. She initially learned the language from Peace Corps volunteers.  Ani has a vibrant personality, and she has been involved in public works since the age of 14. For several years, she worked as an administrative assistant at an NGO in her native town. At the same time, she worked as an English tutor and taught English to children.

Ani at the FAR Office

Credit: FAR Staff

We would say that Ani has made her grandparents proud! “I felt stressed for the first time, when I learnt about my involvement in the paid educational system of the university” remembered Ani.

However thus far during her studies, Ani has received “excellent” grades on all exams.  Due to her academic excellence, she has been transferred from the paid educational system to the free educational system within the university.

Peace Corps volunteers told Ani to apply to the Fund for Armenian Relief for additional assistance.  “It was the last day for the applications to be submitted to FAR. I applied, and a few days later received FAR’s invitation to participate” told Ani Kalashyan.  Ani is thrilled to be part of the program, and she is committed to studying with excellence in order to justify the selection and expectations.  Ani will use the money she receives from FAR to buy a new computer.  We have no doubt that she will prove herself to be a worthy beneficiary of the scholarship!

Ani Shows us her Home

Credit:  FAR Staff

(Graulhet – vue depuis la Salle de l’Odéon)

La pensée du jour: “Je ne cesse de rencontrer des gens obsédés par l’idée que les autres se font d’eux, et dont toute l’énergie se mobilise pour ressembler au modèle qu’ils ont créé un jour pour séduire, et qui les a réduits une fois pour toutes à l’esclavage.” Henri Chapier, journaliste, critique de cinéma, réalisateur, scénariste et acteur français d’origine roumaine.

Thought for the Day: “I keep meeting people obsessed by the idea others have of them, who mobilize all their energy in resembling the design they once created  in order to seduce others, and have become permanently enslaved by it.” Henri Chapier, French journalist, film critic, film director, scriptwriter and actor, of Rumanian origin.

***

(design: Olivier Pesquié de la FAR)

Nos remerciements au Président de la Fédération des artistes de la région Graulhétoise (FAR),  Monsieur Robert BOURGES pour le communiqué dont Ici Graulhet tire  les informations suivantes:

En prévision du traditionnel Marché de Noël les 5 et 6 décembre 2009, tout membre en règle de la FAR pourra exposer gratuitement de 3 à 6 oeuvres (suivant les dimensions et les espaces disponibles). L’exposition se tiendra à la Salle de l’Odéon en dessous de l’Auditorium ainsi que dans les nouveaux locaux de la FAR, situés sous cette Salle.

De plus, la FAR sera représentée rue Jean Jaurès par trois de ses membres qui avaient déjà retenu un chalet auprès de la mairie, soit Pierrette Guiraud, Mike Milleville et Paco Salamander.La FAR occupera en outre le même espace Passage du Trianon que lors de la Foire Commerciale. Robert Bourges, Geneviève Ribes, Olivier Pesquié, Véronique Ardiot et Béatrice Auriole se sont déjà portés volontaires pour l’animation de cet espace. Des volontaires additionnels seraient les bienvenus, pour assurer les relais.

Pour participer à ces expositions: Si vous êtes déjà membre de la FAR, vous recevrez aujourd’hui ou demain une demande d’inscription, à retourner impérativement avant le 27 novembre à robourges@me.com

La prochaine réunion du conseil d’administration de la FAR se tiendra demain, le mardi 17 novembre à la salle des Joyeux Pinsons, Maison des Associations, Place Bosquet à Graulhet (en face de la gendarmerie). Les membres y sont toujours les bienvenus et peuvent y apporter leur formule d’inscription, s’ils le désirent.

Si vous êtes artiste dans l’une de disciplines des arts visuels, vous pouvez adhérer  à la FAR, soit en contactant Monsieur Bourges à l’adresse email ci-haut, soit en communiquant avec la FAR par le biais de son blog.

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(Oeuvre de Jéfré Dubochaiz)

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NEWS FROM THE FAR

Our thanks to the President of the  Fédération des artistes de la région Graulhétoise (FAR), Robert Bourges, for the press release from which Ici Graulhet highlights the following information:

During Graulhet’s traditional Christmas Market on December 5th and 6th, all paid-up members of the FAR may exhibit at no cost from three to six of their works (depending on size and space availability.) The exhibition will be held in the  Salle de l’Odéon under the Graulhet Auditorium and in the FAR’s new home, directly under it.

At the Christmas Market, the FAR will be represented on rue Jean Jaurès by three of its members who have reserved one of the chalets:   Pierrette Guiraud, Mike Milleville et Paco Salamander. Moreover, the  FAR will also be exhibiting in Passage du Trianon (the same location as during the Commercial Fair).  Robert Bourges, Geneviève Ribes, Olivier Pesquié, Véronique Ardiot  and Béatrice Auriole have already volunteered for the animation of that venue. Additional volunteers would be welcome,  to insure sufficient relays.

You wish to exhibit?  If you are a member of the FAR already, you will be receiving your registration form today or tomorrow at the latest. This must be filled and returned no later than November 27th to the following email address:  robourges@me.com

The next Board meeting of the FAR will be held tomorrow, Tuesday November 17 in salle des Joyeux Pinsons, Maison des Associations, Place Bosquet in Graulhet (opposite the Gendarmerie). Members are always welcome and may deposit their registration form at the meeting, if they so wish.

If you are an artist working in one of the visual arts media, you can join the FAR, either by contacting Monsieur Bourges at the above email address, or by contacting the FAR’s blog.

(design: Olivier Pesquié, FAR)

I was born on Veterans Day.  My mother calls me each birthday and says that she remembers the day I was born: “Today is a beautiful clear day, just like the day you were born,” is how she often begins the conversation. 

 My 29^th birthday was not a beautiful clear day.  I woke up at a quarter to seven, looked out the window, and felt my heart sink: wind, rain, clouds.  Not a chance of flying.  My 3-hour first lesson was cancelled.  Of course, the first lesson is not 3 hours of flying.  A good 1.5 hours of that is paperwork and regulations, neither of which is affected by the weather. 

There are two different courses you can take to become a private pilot, as recognized by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). 

FAR AIM: An early birthday gift from a friend

FAR part 141 is a professional training course that utilizes an FAA-approved curriculum (it primarily provides regulations of flight schools).  FAR part 61 is an unstructured avenue to take lessons that will eventually lead toward a private pilot’s license (used by people who want to just take lessons, or who want to convert from a helicopter to a private pilot license).  I am pursuing FAR 141 because I prefer a structured approach and because my employer is willing to reimburse some of my flight-related expenses, provided they follow a curriculum format that would fit with the company’s tuition-reimbursement program.

I began by purchasing an entire kit of curricula and instruments.  I was a little wary of this.  Did I really need all these books and instruments?  It was heavier than my high school book bag.

I felt like I was in a position to be taken to the cleaners.  I knew nothing about how to become a pilot, so I could easily be suckered into purchasing just about anything.  After a little discussion, though, I decided it was worth it.  Glen had come with me, and we made it my birthday present. 

I then headed to the back of Dulles Aviation with Lucas for paperwork, which took about half an hour.  I now have an entire file started on me!  Then we took about an hour to go over regulations, and the course of study.  One item that was particularly interesting had to do with flight patterns. 

Lucas explained to me that when taking off, I would always fly to the left – in a counter-clockwise pattern.  This made sense, until I realized that on my discovery flight we had flown to the right.  I asked him about this.

Manassas Regional Airport has two runways.

On my first flight, Lucas and I took off from the short runway (Left in the diagram).  Apparently, you fly in a pattern to the right when taking off from the shorter runway.  I felt a modicum of pride at having noticed the discrepancy between the diagram and what had actually happened.  I also wondered how this would work for my next time up. . . I had a little reading to do.

Nothing.

Sometimes, it all comes down to absolute nothingness. There is no reason to actions, no reason for behavior, no reason for thoughts. Sometimes, it all comes down to nothing, at all, whatsoever.

Despair sets in as the weeks go by. Despair coupled with longing and yearning for something else, something different, something old and familiar rather than new.

Not all the time. No, some moments are full of their own fierce emotion, their own wonderful, eventful, meaningful something. Those are the moments for which all is worthy, all is important, all is enduring and good. Those are the moments when things make sense, passions burning brightly, thoughts whirling in an endless stream of new ideas, new names and faces, new imagined scenery.

But sometimes, when the limbs are suffused with a weariness beyond measure, when the thoughts are sluggish and illogical, when the very tips of the fingers don’t wish to respond to a thing in the world… then, it all comes down to nothing, and the vast void that fills the future is frightening.

What do you think about Drake’s new mixtape cover? LOL

lol smiley face

Its sad how much people don’t take a chance when there is something right in your face. For FREE!!!

Just had to put that in your head. But shout out to Johnny Juliano. We fxcks with him & not with every nigga with fruity loops who is tryna sound like him. SMH We noticed. If you don’t know who Johnny Juliano is, check out www.JohnnyJuliano.com he made a lot of beats for some rappers.

Johnny Juliano making a beat

Oh. This morning I saw something interesing on WSHH. Don’t really watch too many movies & I probably wont watch this one either but Jessica Alba sure knows how to sell some tickets!

Rappers, don’t forget to check out the BEPBeats page on youtube. We got free beats on there to use.

Yea,  that’s us.

We will post about the plague expected to hit the United States but until then, later!!! HUaH!