Archive for September, 2009

Review: Kolaborator

Review: Kolaborator

  Based on actual testimony of soldiers on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, “The Kolaborator” is a powerful short that surprises, brings about discussion and leaves you wanting so much more. Directed by Chris Bessounian, who co-wrote the script with Tianna Langham, this 15-minute film follows Goran ( Mark Simich) [...]

Overheard on the Net: Hairy Chests, The Armenian Problem, Virgins

Overheard on the Net: Hairy Chests, The Armenian Problem, Virgins

  Let’s get right into these, shall we? Why do armenian men never shave their fucking chests, but always manage to miss the top 5 buttons on their shirts? leaving a chest hair pie Many, if not most Armenian men are hairy. Accept it. Learn it. Love it. Embrace it. There’s nothing wrong with being [...]

Armenia Tree Project’s 15th Anniversary Documentary

Armenia Tree Project’s 15th Anniversary Documentary

  In a classroom in Armenia, full of vibrant, young, wide-eyed students, a teacher asks “Why are trees important?” Although this could be considered a typical scene in any institute of learning, it is especially important in Armenia, where the exportation of raw timber, an energy crisis and illegal felling has led to a devastating [...]

Interview: The Humane Society’s Michael Markarian

Interview: The Humane Society’s Michael Markarian

A third generation Armenian-American who grew up in Buffalo, New York, a town once known for being America’s “City with a Heart,” Executive Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States Michael Markarian now lives in Washington D.C, where he works to pass state laws and federal statues to protect animals, including laws [...]

The Khohanotz: Fig Jam

The Khohanotz: Fig Jam

In “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath,  human wants, needs and desires are likened to green figs, hanging from the great big tree of life. In the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, fig leaves are used to cover unmentionables in the Garden of Eden. Along with its references in literary works of yesteryear, the [...]

Pomegranate Film Festival Gears Up in Toronto

Pomegranate Film Festival Gears Up in Toronto

The fourth annual Pomegranate Film Festival, an event organized by the Toronto chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society is set to take place in Toronto from Sept. 25 through Sept. 27, and will be featuring 27 films with a wide variety of subject matter and from a slew of countries, including Turkey, [...]

Gene Simmons Films Armenian Herpes Commercial

You know you’ve made it in the world when you turn on an episode of “Gene Simmons: Family Jewels,” the umpteenth reality show featuring the KISS member and his family and see Mr. Simmons himself filming a commercial in Armenian. About Herpes. Genital Herpes. I don’t particularly have to preface this clip too much, but [...]

Letter From the Editor: July/August 2009

Letter From the Editor: July/August 2009

As summer comes to a close and hot and humid temperatures are replaced with cool breezes, the weather isn’t the only thing that has begun to normalize. Armenia and Turkey recently announced that long overdue peace talks between the countries will begin. As a bonus, Turkey hopes to open its border with Armenia by the [...]

Listen to This: Vatche

Listen to This: Vatche

If you’ve ever attended an Armenian gathering, no matter if you were in Los Angeles, Beirut, Cyprus or Tehran, chances are you know Vatche, the Armenian singer who switches from hits in Greek, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Spanish and English. Originally from Beirut, Vatche began playing in nightly clubs and hotels with his band until the [...]

Overheard on the Net: Yelling, Hospitality, Seat Belts

Overheard on the Net: Yelling, Hospitality, Seat Belts

  Here we are once again, trying the scour the internet for commentary about Armenian affairs. Due to the welcome announcement earlier this week that Armenia and Turkey are set to establish diplomatic ties, the chatter around trivial matters concerning Armenians died down considerably – this could either be interpreted as a good thing or [...]