User talk:Raffi/Archive 1

Remember

(Raffi's notes to himself)

• http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Template:Wikipedia

1. REDIRECT pagename

&redirect=no

2 items

One big, one small; for both see Talk:Armenian Attraction Ratings. Best, Bill Thayer 14:25, 26 Jan 2005 (PST)

Vandalism (sort of)

Hiya Raffi, I didn't see any mechanism like Wikipedia's "Votes for Deletion", and after all, for now certainly, you're the Horse's Mouth around here, so here are some candidates of mine:

• Monte Cristo
• Carzou

There's nothing wrong with either page per page, but neither one has any content. I.e. — and I'm afraid I can't help at all! — who is Carzou, what is his career as a painter; and what exactly is Monte Cristo, if it's in Armenia at all, and in what way is it a gay venue? (I guess I actually could help a bit; at any rate, I googled and fixed the latter.)

This one, on the other hand — Ara Baliozian — is incomprehensible, irrelevant to Armenia, and not about anyone named Ara Baliozian, although it might be the name of the person who planted it there.

Best, Bill Thayer

NPOV

I just wanted to know if NPOV (neutral point of view) is enforced here? It's strictly enforced over at Wikipedia. Just wondering. TomServo 01:29, 17 May 2005 (PDT)

Pictures

I also wanted to know if you minded the uploading and adding of pictures to some of the articles? Plain text articles, while informative, can be rather boring for the eyes. TomServo 17:57, 18 May 2005 (PDT)

Always happy to have more good pictures... --Raffi 05:02, 20 May 2005 (PDT)

---

I expanded on Monte Cristo, and need to get some info on Carzou (I think I have some stored on my hard drive somewhere). The gibberish on the Baliozian page is actually his writing in a very unorganized fashion. Each of his essays ought to be put onto a seperate page, but I haven't had time... --Raffi 17:20, 11 Feb 2005 (PST)

"Armenian text"

Hello Ashot - I don't know if you'll find your note and my response here, where I moved it, but this is where it belongs. Not on the "about" page for the entire site (but perhaps on the talk page of the about page for the site it would have been ok as well), and I don't know why you emailed admin@armeniapedia - since there is no such address and I never said there was one. But anyway... either you'll find this or you won't.

I assume you are Barsga-Hay, because you write using the Mashdots system, but you write in Eastern Armenia. This combination is the most difficult of all for me to understand, and therefore I just don't understand much of what you wrote - sorry. I gather though that you a promoting a greater degree of Armenian text on this site. Great. I'm all for it. As you can see from what I have just written, I personally cannot contribute much to that effort, since my Armenian writing skills are atrocious, but as you can also see from below, the site is fully capable of integrating Armenian text quite flawlessly. If you would like to contribute in Armenian, and translate the directions on how to add pages and texts into Armenian, that's fantastic. I have some Armenian texts online already on this site, and some more are coming (entire books in fact).

So this is my answer to you - unless you want to translate some of your note that I may not have addressed into English - which it appears you can read and understand.

---Raffi 19:32, 24 Feb 2005 (PST)

Խնդրեմ հայերէնով դիմէք: Ես ինձ զգում եմ քաղաքավարի ձևով ստիպուած, որ անգլերէնով հաղորդակցեմ, ինչը լիովին կիմաստազրկի իմ ասածը:

Ես ոչ թէ առաջարկում եմ աւելի շատ հայերէն, այլ ասում եմ, որ ոչ–հայերէնն այս կայքում տեղ չունի: Շատ զարմացած եմ, որ դուք ձեզ անհատական իրաւունքներ եք վերապահում մի բանի վրա, ինչն իր մտահղացմամբ համընդհանուրինը պիտի լինէր: Ամէն մարդ պիտի կարողանար ներդնում անել: Իսկ թէ արդիւնքում ինչ կունենանք, կլինի հենց այն, ինչի արժանի ենք (ի դէպ, ցաւալի է, բայց հիմա էլ նոյնն է): Այնինչ դուք տասնեակ կողպեքներ եք դրել, որ հնարաւոր չլինի մի բան գրել, խմբագրել: Այն, որ հնարաւոր էր ի վերջոյ ինչ որ ձևով ձեր ուշադրութեանն արժանանալ, «ձեր» կայքէջի ընձեռումը չէր, այլ այն, որ ես համառօրէն, քանի անգամ փնտրելուց յետոյ, վերջապէս ինչ–որ լաւ չվերահսկուած զարտուղի ճամփաներ գտայ (ինչ–որ էջեր դեռ խմբագրելի են), որ մի բան գրեմ: Ասես բացի ձեզնից, ոչ–ոք չի կարող որևէ ասելիք ունենալ: Անգլերէն պեդիան արդեն մօտ կէս միլիոն, գերմաներէնը քառորդ միլիոն յօդուած ունի: Նոյնիսկ ադրբեջանական պեդիան — թուրքերենից բացի, էջերն ադրբեջաներէնով է տալիս: Իսկ հայերն՝ անգլերէնով: Ինչու՞, մենք լեզու չունե՞նք, թէ՝ գիր–գրականութիւնով զիջում ենք: Վաղը–միւսին մեր շրջապատի միւս ժողովուրդների պեդիաները հազարներով յօդուածներ կկուտակեն, իսկ Արմենիապեդիան դարձեալ աչքի կընկնի անգլերէնի, ռուսերէնի ու էլ ինչ իմանամ, ինչ լեզուներով գրուած տափակութիւններով:

Ոչ, ես պարսկահայ չեմ, ես երևանցի եմ (Մոնրեալում եմ բնակւում, թէ ինչու՝ այլ հարց է), որը կարող է գրել–խօսել արևմտա– և արևելահայերենով, չի խորշում գրաբարից և դասական ուղղագրութիւնն էլ իր լեզուի նկատմամբ խորին պատկառանքի պատճառով է գործածում: Ես ձեր կայքերը գիտեմ, անշուշտ չեմ վիճարկում, որ դուք արժանիքներ ունեք, բայց դրանք հայերէն չեն: Հիմա Արմենիապեդիան էլ էլի մէկ ուրի՞շը պիտի լինի ձեր անգլերէն կայքերի թւում:

Եթէ հետաքրքրուած եք, կարող եմ առաջարկել իմ համագործակցութիւնը, որ սկսենք սկզբի էջից: Այն դարձնենք հայերէն: Բոլոր շաղկապները պէտք է ուղղեն դէպի էջէր, որոնք առաջարկում են գրել նոր հայերէն նիւթ, եթէ չկայ: Եւ էլի կանեմ, ինչ–որ ժամանակս և հնարաւորութիւններս թոյլ կտան: Խմբագրման հայկական էջը ձևաչափի նշանները կուլ է տալիս: Մաթեմատիկա, և հետևաբար ոչ մի այլ ճշգրիտ գիտական յօդուած, չես կարող գրել: Ես լաւ ծրագրաւորում գիտեմ և կկարողանամ տեսնել, թէ ինչն է բանը: Անգլերէնի կայքէջում նման բան տեղի չի ունենում:

Միայն թէ դուք պէտք է համաձայնէք հանէլ պատճենման վրա ձեր, կարծում եմ, անիմաստ, իրաւունքների յիշատակումները և համաձայնէք, որ կայքէջն ի վերջոյ միայն հայերէն դառնայ: Որովհետև, վաղը, ռուսախօս, ֆրանսախօս, իսպանախօս և այլն, հայերն էլ, «մեր տունն է, ինչ ուզենք՝ կանենք» սկզբունքով, կսկսեն ռուսերէն կամ այլ լեզուներով գրել (եթէ իհարկէ համաձայնէք թոյլ տալ, որ ամէն մարդ կարողանայ ներդրում անել) ու մենք կունենանք այն, ինչից պէտք է փախչել հենց սկզբից՝ մի ժողովուրդ, որը հպարտ է իր լեզուով չգրել, չխօսել: Հպարտ է իր լեզուն էապէս մեռցնել:

Իսկ admin@armeniapedia.org հասցէն Ռաֆֆու դիմաց (ի դէպ, երևի Րաֆֆի պիտի լինի) դրուած է զրուցասրահում, որտեղ իմ երկտողը մինչև օրս միակ ներկայիւթիւնն է: Այցելէ՛ք "անդամների ցուցակ", կտեսնէք: wikiHyur–ը ես եմ:

Աշոտ

––––

Թոյլ տուեք չհամաձայնել ձեր շնորհակալութիւններին և ձեր գնահատականներին: Արմենիապեդիան մահացած է ծնուել և դրան կեանք տալու բոլոր փորձերն ապարդիւն են, գոնէ առայժմ, ես չեմ յաջողել: Չկայ ոչ մի հնարաւորութիւն այս հայկական հանրագիտարանին նիւթ առաքել: Դուք լիովին բաւարարուած եք, որ այս կայքէջը գոյութիւն ունի, սակայն, որ այն չի գործում ու հնարաւոր չէ որևէ առաքում անել, ձեզ ամենևին չի հետաքրքրում:

Ես ձեզ նամակ եմ հասցէագրել admin@armeniapedia հասցէով, այսպէս կոչուած զրուցարանում միմիայն իմ լուրն է խնդրանքով, որ որևէ մէկը ցոյց տայ, թէ ինչպէս ձեզ տեղեկութիւն հասցնել, որ գոնէ մէկ շաղկապ դրուի, որ հնարաւոր լինի նիւթ առաքել

Չեմ զարմանայ, եթէ այս երկտողն էլ վերացնեք, որ հայերէնի հետքն էլ չլինի Արմենիպեդիայում: Կարելի է կարծել, թէ այս կայքէջն անգլիախօսների կազմածն է անգլիախօսների համար: Թշուառ հայերն իրենց խղճուկ, անգիր, անգրականութիւն լեզուով ի վիճակի չեն, իհարկէ, ինտերնետի հանրագիտարան պահել: Ա՛յ դրա համար կարող եք շնորհաւորել ինքներդ ձեզ և ձեր համագործակիցներին էլ շնորհակալութիւն յայտնել:

––––

Մի քիչ խիստ է գրուած, բայց արդարացուած է սրտի ցաւով և այն բանով, որ հայկական ինտերնետային հանրագիտարան կոչուածը հայերէնի համարեա թէ բացարձակ բացակայիւթիւնն իր բնորոշ յատկութիւնն է դարձրել: Կցանկանայի աւելացնել, որ շատ յարգարժան պն Րաֆֆին կարծեմ թէ լաւ չի ըմբռնել սոյն նախաձեռնութեան իմաստը: Այն ամենևին օտարախօսներին հայերէնի դասեր կամ Հայաստան այցելողներին օժանդակ ուղղութիւններ մատնանշելը չէ, այլ որևէ բնագաւառի մէջ հայերէն լեզուով, ազատօրեն խմբագրելի, իհարկէ ցանկալի և խրախուսելի է, որ բանիմաց և գրագէտ ու գրագէտ հայերենով, յօդուածների հաւաքածու ստեղծելն է: Ցանկացած շաղկապ սեղմելիս, բոլոր ինձ յայտնի —պեդիաներն ասում են «դեռ չունենք այդ էջը, չէի՞ք ցանկանայ ստեղծել այն»: Իսկ Արմենիապեդիայում յանգում ենք մի էջի, որտեղ բոլոր դէպքերի համար օժանդակ շաղկապներ են նշուած տուեալ հարցի վերաբերեալ, աւելի հաճախ նոյնքան անօգուտ, որքան այդ էջն ինքը:

Անհրաժեշտ է միայն նկատել, որ Արմենիպադիայի յօդուածներն անպայմանօրէն հայերէն պիտի լինեն: Անկախ՝ արևելա—, թէ արևմտահայերէն, բայց հայերէն անպայման: Առայժմ (յուսամ միայն առայժմ) չպէտք է հետապնդել, որ անպայման մաքուր հայերէն, դասական ուղղագրութիւնը պահպանուի, ներկայումս դրա անհնարինութեան պատճառով: Բայց միայն այդքան թողտւութիւն:

Ցանկացած այլ լեզուով յօդուածները պէտք է տեղադրուեն համապատասխան լեզու—պեդիաների կայքերում, որտեղ դրանք իսկական հայկական ներկայիւթիւն կարող են խորհրդանշել, այլ ոչ թէ ստորաքարշութիւն ու ինքնայարգանքի բացակայութիւն, երբ օտար լեզուով յոդուածները պարտադրուեն հայ այցելուներին: Վերջին հաշուով հայերը և նաև օտարները կարող են միւս կայքերն այցելել ու կարդալ հայերին վերաբերուող նիւթեր:

Ինչ որ է: Երկար փնտրտուքից յետոյ, ես ի վերջոյ գտայ շաղկապների մի յաջորդականութիւն, որն առաջնորդում է Արմենիապեդիայում նոր յօդուած խմբագրելու էջին: Ահա այդ յաջորդականութիւնը:

ա: Սկզբնէջի (Main Page) առաջին տողն է «Welcome to Armeniapedia, an online encyclopedia about Armenia that anyone can edit»: Ա՛յ այս «anyone can edit»—ը շաղկապ է: Զա՛րկ վրան:

բ: Գալիս ես «Armeniapedia.org:How to edit a page» էջ: Քիչ վար գտիր՝

գ: How to start a page շաղկապը: Զա՛րկ վրան և կստանաս խմբագրելու էջը:

Անհրաժեշտ է միայն ուշադրութեամբ հետևել յօդուած խմբագրելու կանոններին նախապէս, թերևս բազմիցս, ուսումնասիրելով «Help:Editing» էջը, ինչի հայերէնն էլ երբևէ կունենանք:

Աշոտ

––––

Ցաւով պէտք է աւելացնեմ, որ հայերէն խմբագրի էջում ինչ–որ աւելորդ խիստ չափաւորումների պատճառով անհնար է մաթեմատիկական տեքստ ստանալ՝ NaodW29-pre5c6ed79e4a6be2d300000001 (նոյնիսկ այստեղ, կանխաչափի <pre> նշանների մնջև, անհնար է ստանալ ճիշտ տեսքը) արտայայտութիւնը «sin» ֆունկցիան պէտք է տայ, այնինչ այն վերածւում է «NaodW29-math3bdf78632830341c00000002»–ի:

Բարեւ ձեզ,

Ես ճիշտն ասած չհասկացա թե ինչումն էր բեճը, սակայն ենթադրում եմ, որ այն վերաբերում է վիքի կամ հայկական վիքիփեդիային։ Ինչեւ ասեմ, որ գորյություն ունի վիքի հայկական օրինավոր կայք էջ։ Այն կարող եք այցելել հետեւյալ հասցեով եւ գրել հայերեն լեզվով։ http://hy.wikipedia.org/ Մեր լոզուն թանկագին է.պահպանիր այն օգտագործելով։

Armenian Genealogy Heading

I could not find any heading for Armenian genealogy. could you add a section so I can post articles and links

Thanks

mailto:johnmel@pacbell.net

pictures

Hello, I am a student at ISTP, a Californian school, and i would like to use 2 of your pictures for a school website. Would you be so kind to reply at MicheleDeGiuli@ISTP.org Sincerly your, Michele

IMPORATNT: False information on the site

Dear Raffi,

please review this page: http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_History

as i see everyone can change the site, therefore, someone changed the original text to the history of Azerbaijan.

in my opinion, the site should not be allowed to be edited by everyone.

best regards, Norayr

False infor posted on the site

Dear Raffi,

please go to the

http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_History

user from 151.203.144.135 changed the text to the history of Azerbaijan

best, Norayr

More false info on the site

see what this person added to the site

http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Special:Contributions&target=151.203.144.135

Norayr

I hope this corrects all the problems - thanks for the warning. Let me know if you find anything else... --Raffi 05:10, 20 May 2005 (PDT)

Eastern Armenian

Dear Raffi,

I read (and bought) your Rediscovering Armenia book - tremendous work! However, the table on Eastern/Western Armenian words is a bit disappointing! I tried to edit this section yesterday but some of my corrections were rejected. Well, it's your right but let me explain my opinion as well.

When giving Eastern Armenian equivalents you often use SLANG words that are never found in Eastern Armenian dictionaries. Yes, these words are (unfortunately) commonly used but they are NOT correct. After all, if the word "Yo!" is commonly used in Queens that does not mean it is the US equivalent of "Hello". Examples: estegh (correct: aystegh), entegh (aystegh), sents (ayspes), nents (aynpes).

Both 'otanav' and 'ink'nat'ir' may be used (though I personally do not like ink'nat'ir because it's a primitive copy of Russian 'samolyot' = 'flying by itself'). 'Samaliot' is a nightmarish slang, a badly pronounced Russian word that Eastern Armenians, for whatever reason, prefer to use. An educated Armenian would NEVER say 'samaliot'. And you'll never find it in any dictionary.

As you wrote, many sounds in Eastern / Western Armenian occasionally flip-flop. Therefore, 'road' is pronounced 'tjanapar' (I use tj to transliterate Ճ), not janapar, BBQ = khorovatz (Ծ).

Regards,

Armen Shirinian, Moscow, Russia

Hi Armen, as you can see I have kept the majority of your changes, which were quite helpful. However, when it comes to the examples you mention, I could not. The guide is meant to realistically prepare Western Armenian speakers for speach in Armenia. I have never once heard the word Otanav used in Armenia, and when I've used it I often get blank stares. Samaliot is universally understood however, and often used, so it should be in the guide so people will know what it means when they hear it! As for the transliteration scheme - I use a strict system which is outlined on the same page, and prefer that consistency and brevity. Thanks for your help... n_w$$h

Eastern Armenian - a bit more

Dear Raffi,

sorry but your answer confused me even more. Did you want to give an idea of commonly spoken Eastern Armenian (I'd rather call it slang) or 'official', correct language? If first, then your original version with samaliot, sents, nents, stegh, kravat (BTW, it's mahchakal, not makjakal), etc. was unfortunately right. If second, then it is inknatir (OK, let's forget about otanav), ayspes, aynpes, aystegh, mahchakal ONLY. I believe it would be fair to specify in the main text whether you give slang or official equivalents and not to mix them up.

As to pronounciation, no matter how I transliterated the words, they are pronounced in a different way (as opposed to what you wrote). To avoid misunderstanding, I use your transliteration system: CHanapar (not Janapar), khorovaTS (not khorovaDZ).

My best regards, Armen.

yes, I am interested in commonly spoken Armenian. That is, after all what people will hear. I try to stick to the standard transliteration system, but because I grew up speaking Western Armenian and my Armenian reading/writing is poor, there is a lot of room for mistakes. Corrections are welcome. Thanks! --Raffi 21:13, 7 Aug 2005 (PDT)

Iosif Andriasov (Ovsep Andreasian), the Armenian descend composer and philosopher

Dear Mr. Raffi,

My name is Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova). I am a widow of Iosif Arshakovich Andriasov (Ovsep Andreasian), an internationally acclaimed composer and philosopher. He was born in Moscow, former USSR, to an Armenian family, and lived for the last 21 years of his life in the US (New York City).

His website is:

www.iosifandriasov.net

I would appreciate it very much if you look at his webpage. Looking forward hearing from you.

With a great respect to your dedication to preserve the Armenian culture. Sincerely, Marta Andriasova, a musicologist, a former docent of Moscow conservatory,a founder and owner of the IMMA Publishing Co.

HI

Hey Raffi, It's been a long time... How are things with you? Rob talbotrf@hotmail.com

congratulations and suggestions

Sireli Raffi,

Congratulations for Armeniapedia!

I work as one of the editors of Lraper Church Bulletin www.lraper.org of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and also am the contributor to four encyclopedias in Turkey on Armenian items.

There are some suggestions that I would like to make concerning some items on the Armenian Church in Armeniapedia. Shall I write about them directly to you?

Sincerely,

Vagharshag Seropyan haybad@superonline.com

Hello Raffi

Once in a while I have visited your website and I have enjoyed what you've presented. Yesterday I visited the hall of fame again as a friend was interested in it. While trying to find your email (which I didn't) I had a chance of reading your biography. Lo and behold, you're the son of a friend (not that close though, I was closer to your uncle and aunt). I am Dikran Abrahamian; I was in Addis Abeba from 1970 to 1973 teaching at the Armenian Kevorkoff School. Reading about Armenian Ethiopians brought old memories. The year that I left for Armenia to study medicine your dad was preparing for the ECFMG exams. Since 1981 I've been in Canada; I am still practising Medicine and trying to scale down my practice to retire in a few years. On Sept 29th I'll be visitng an old friend (I have not seen him for forty years)in San Diego, stay there overnight and then travel to LA to visit friends for a couple of days. I would wish there were a way to get in touch with you and your father while being around. Although my schedule is already crowded, I don't mind making an extra effort. Some friends have suggested some other names for your hall of fame, such as Hovhannes Abkari Adamian (first person to patent a tricolor transmission of pictures via TV), Ohan Durian-the great conductor (whose 90th birthday is this year), Atom Egoyan (the movie Ararat), Yusuf and Malak Karsh Brothers (The gamous picture of Winston Churchill with a cigar belongs to Yusuf Karsh), Arshil Gorki(y)(the famous painter. So long for the moment. Keep in touch. Dikran Abrahamian BA, MD dikran.a@rogers.com

obsenity posted at 0500 ish i have 0/ experience editing did my best ~ 1900

raffi: obsenity posted at 05:00 ish i have 0/ experience editing did my best ~ 19:00 nooneh (ucla) btw my parents are visiting armenia and i was trying to reach the church in louisiana

Thanks for the warning - I have reverted all the changes :-) --Raffi 20:45, 21 Sep 2005 (PDT)

From Eurasia CPO/Armenia

Dear Raffi,

I am interested, may I replace the article about the activities of my organization in this web site? I represent the Eurasia Charity Public Organization. We implmented and continiu to implmenet a lot of interesting projects aimed at development of economy, improvement of environment etc. and we want to share our victories with other Armenaians.

Thanks in advance for consideration of this letter.

Best regards,

Nver

Hi Nver - yes, feel free to edit any page. Just go to the page you want to change and click on the "edit" tab on the top. Thanks, --Raffi 19:09, 27 Sep 2005 (PDT)

Licensing problems

Raffi, wikipedia.org and its media repository wikimedia.org need your photos, but they only comply with US fair use rules, thus, only the English wikipedia can use them; wikipedias in other languages mostly can't - rules acceptable for wikimedia can be found here. So far the only images relating the Armenian Genocide that conform to wikimedia.org rules are these. It would be helpful if you could ask your authors for permissions or provide other photos that are in the public domain.

You can contact me at my wikipedia.org user page or reply here.

Which images do you mean specifically? I just checked and my images seem pretty much to be free with attribution... --Raffi 20:26, 7 Oct 2005 (PDT)

We could use all that are free with attribution, but they would need to comply explicitely with one of the Attribution/Share-Alike Licenses, and we would need an authoritative source for that, e.g. a photographer/publisher stating so either on his website, in a book or via email/fax to me or other wikipedia contributors.

Sorry for the hassle, but wikipedia is an exposed and well known non-profit foundation, so we have to be careful with legal issues. --Tickle_me

Please spell out exactly what you need me to do - as far as I can tell from the page you referred me to, I have released the photos for free use with attribution. --Raffi 01:46, 8 Oct 2005 (PDT)

There's no mention of it at Armenian_Genocide_Photos, it says there:

Pictures come from James Nazer's book, "The First Genocide of the 20th Century: The story of the Armenian Massacres in text and pictures" and from "The Armenian Genocide as reported in the press" by Richard Kloian.

I therefore infer that most likely the creators or copyright holders entitled to release the images are James Nazer and Richard Kloian. As far as I can tell (am quite into the matter presently due to my wikipedia work), you are not entitled to release the photos under whatever conditions unless you are the creator or copyright holder yourself; however, as US resident you are entitled to publish them under the US "Fair Use" provision, which is not quite the same. Thus, publishing them at armeniapedia.org is OK, at wikimedia.org it wouldn't, as we need explicit consent of the creators/copyright holders.

So the question is: Is there a notice in the books mentioned above about image licensing or did the authors or publishers inform you about it? --Tickle_me

Ah, you mean the pictures on Armeniapedia, not Wikipedia. I see. Well for the genocide photos you should contact Richard Kloian directly at hynek AT jps.net (unfortunately I don't have a contact for Nazer). Good luck! --Raffi 12:11, 8 Oct 2005 (PDT)

thx, I mailed him; Nazer published his book in 1968, so I might have to look for his legal heirs. --Tickle_me

email Wallstein Verlag

Dear Mr. Raffi, I recognized, that you show at your website "Armeniapedia.org" photos of the genocide taken by Armin T.Wegner All rights concerning the work of A. T. Wegner are at Wallstein Verlag, Goettingen, Germany. Please contact me (aporath@wallstein-verlag.de). Yours sincerely Antina Porath

I wrote to you - hope it came through... --Raffi 00:08, 14 Oct 2005 (PDT)

I didn't refer to armeniapedia.org in my mails, yet it's a strange coincidence you get contacted now, sorry if I've caused you trouble; anyway: checking Fair Use and Wikipedia:Fair use should show you how to use the imgages without copyright violations. Ask me if you need help. Besides, wikimedia.org still hasn't got photos, so keeping me updated here on the wallstein-verlag issue would be appreciated. --Tickle_me

No worries, I think the family has always wanted to photos to be shared - but had no idea as to how I could contact them, and also knew the photos were taken 90 years ago... so they are looking into it now. --Raffi 03:03, 17 Oct 2005 (PDT)

Armenian text of Eusebius' Chronicle

I just spent the last hour looking for your email or any other way to contact you and almost gave up....

Anyways, I don't know where else to look: Any idea where I can find a copy of the Armenian text of Eusebius' Chronicle?

Thanks,

Reuben

rzaramian@rogers.com

nope. --Raffi 22:36, 7 Nov 2005 (PST)

Credentials

Raffi, Could you please explain your credentials as an expert on Armenia and its history/culture? Thank you.

um, yeah. --Raffi 12:43, 9 Nov 2005 (PST)

could you release your Bert Vaux entry to the public domain?

Raffi, could you release the Bert_Vaux entry to the public domain? If so, I'd merge it with wikipedia.org. Of course, you are welcome to do so yourself. I need it to fight POV, bot Turkish and -unfortunately- Armenian regarding the Armenian_language article. Cheers --Tickle_me

ok --Raffi 10:47, 20 Nov 2005 (PST)

done, thx. --Tickle me

Change of the Hyelog Web address

The new Hyelog Web address is:

hyelog.blogspot.com/

Thank you,

Vahe Balabanian

Release of "Armin Wegner" into the public domain

Hello again, would you release Armin_Wegner into the public domain, so I can copy it to wikipedia?

Unrelated: I see that the Wallstein Verlag gave you permission to reproduce these photos. Did they mention wikipedia.org? If not, is it promising to contact them on wikipedia's behalf? --tickle me

I cannot release the photos myself. As you can see I am using them with permission and you must contact them about their terms. I hope it goes well, since it would be great to have them on there... --Raffi 15:59, 26 Nov 2005 (PST)

And I just noticed the first question. Sorry, I cannot release the text of Armin Wegner either, I do not know my source :-( Sorry. Of course you can rewrite it, I may have done that myself... --Raffi 08:34, 27 Nov 2005 (PST)

Did so. --tickle me

The Oath of Armenian Unity

Hello Raffi,

My name is Ara Arzumanian. I am working on a project to increase awareness and everyday practice of the quality and virtue of "unity" among Armenians. With the assistance of colleagues, I have prepared an "Armenian Oath of Unity", the text of which you'll find below. I am requesting that you display this oath along with the accompanying symbolic logo on your site--if you find that it meets with your approval. I will be sending this to various websites and requesting the same of them. I intend to find it many homes on the Internet and ultimately I seek, against odds, to expand its ideologies to the real world, which is the next step of my project. I have just begun this program and so the oath--so far as I know--appears on only two websites (links are below). If you should decide to display the oath, please do not attach my name to it. I feel that it is an oath that has been written through me and not by me, and I do not mean to take any undue credit. In addition, I mean it to advance unity and group achievement as opposed to individual recognition. If you have any suggestions on the oath, please feel free to communicate them to me--after all unity means working together.Thank you for your time.

Ara Arzumanian arzumanian@gmail.com

Regardless of whether or not you decide to display the oath, I enjoy both Armeniapedia and Cilicia.com very much. Thank you for your hard work in cataloging and compilin all of this essenial inforation. You are really taking on a heavy burden for yourself and deserve to be recognized for it.

Enclosure: 1. Four versions of the symbolic Logo. Please email me at arzumanian@gmail.com and I will provide you with the logo. 2. Text of "The Oath of Armenian Unity (pasted below) 3. Explanatory text on the symbolic logo (pasted below oath). Meant to appear either with logo or as a link from the logo--to your discretion. 4. Link to website currently displaying the oath: http://www.angelfire.com/hi/Azgaser/ http://www.yerkir.org/

---

The Oath of Armenian Unity

We vow always to work toward the betterment of the Armenian nation--the nation of people known as the Armenians--worldwide, and at home in the Armenian homeland.

We vow to work toward bridging cultural, political and ideological differences among Armenians--in the Armenian homeland and throughout the Diaspora.

We vow to help our Armenian sisters and brothers rise in the world and move towards our common goal. We will not engage in fraternal in-fighting.

We vow always to reach toward our fellow Armenian sisters and brothers in sincere love. Love is the foundation of our unity. In the end, if we have nothing else in common, we all love our children. Let us also love the children of one another with the same passion--thus we will love our nation.

We vow to create, cultivate and live by the ideal of Armenian unity. This means, that while we will inevitably disagree on many subjects--even fundamental subjects--we will continue to work with one another, trusting in each others good will toward the future of our people.

We vow to pass on to youth the importance of working together and living our culture.

We vow to make ourselves meek before the needs of the nation.

We vow to make ourselves meek before the needs of our families.

We affirm that what is good for the nation is good for our families.

We vow never to put the interests of a foreign power before the interests of the Armenian nation.

We vow not to allow despair to take us over. We will not be disheartened by failings of the past or current difficulties. We will each work to become the change we desire to be. We will each become the concept that is unity.

We will resist with all our might, employing violence against fellow Armenians. We must work toward peaceful conflict resolutions at all levels of society.

After I make all of these vows, I will attempt to change my thinking. To think less and less in terms of "I" and to think more and more in terms of "we."

---

Symbolic Logo Explanation:

This insignia is an ancient cave drawing found in the Vardenis region of Armenia. The drawing is dated at approximately 2000 B.C. It is drawn in conjunction with representations of various celestial constellations surrounding it. The circle with the cross has many meanings. Most practically, the circle and cross signify a three dimensional sphere--the earth. The human figures on the four sections of the sphere represent human beings living throughout the world. The ancient Armenians (the indigenous tribal inhabitants of the region that are the direct ancestors of the 3000 year old Armenian nation) knew 4000 years ago that the earth is a sphere.

The circle and cross have further significance, as the four arms of the cross reaching outward signify eternity and immortality. In essence, the symbol is a sort of Armenian spiritual infinity sign. The symbol is also understood to represent unity--as in the unified Tribes of Nairi which came together and became the progenitor of the Armenian nation.

Today we look at this ancient symbol and attempt to understand the profound knowledge of our venerable ancestors, on whose shoulders we stand. This understanding of knowledge is a dialogue, in which we communicate with our past by drawing out contemporary meanings. The human figures on the four sections of the circle not only represent humans living throughout the world, but also our current situation with Armenians living throughout the world. These human Armenian figures stand on the very symbol of unity; thus, unity is the foundation of our nation. Although the figures represent communities throughout the world, the physical figures themselves are close enough to one another to reach out and join hands. As such, we must learn from the profound wisdom of our ancestors, and reach out to one another. This "primitive" wisdom surpasses our "modern" abilities in many ways. It unifies spiritual, temporal, political, geographical, astronomic, scientific etc. ideas in a single depiction. With a simple insignia our ancestors have been able to communicate throughout the millennia complex ideas that we today must fill pages of text to understand.

Let us show respect and understanding to our ancestors as well as our own future descendants and come together in the spiritual and physical unity represented in this symbol.

Information Needed

Hi Raffi,

My name is Shawn Michael Panosian. I was raised in America. Over the last several years I have been coming back to my roots. Mainly because I have three sons, but also because I love being Armenian. Anyway I have owned a consulting company in Dallas TX for the last five years. It has done well, and now I plan to sell it. I am interested in starting a business in Armenia. I want to live there and build a business. I have done business all over Asia and South America, but never in Armenia. One problem is I do not speak Armenian. I started taking lessons six months ago, but I am no way close to being even at a beginners conversation level. Is it possible to start a business before I learn Armenian? Also what is a good resource for me to look at to find business opportunities offered in Armenia?

Thanks for your time.

Shawn

Hi Shawn, this is great news. I think you should just come and see what you think is needed yourself - there is so much opportunity. From a huge home depot type store, to smaller production, all kinds of things would do well here. For more info you can try http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_Business and the Armenian Development Agency site, and one or two others. Just make sure you treat Armenia like any other country you do business in!!!! Don't be more trusting or careless. The language barrier is a non-issue. Simply hiring an interpreter is more than enough...

Good luck! -Raffi

Armenian namesdays request

Hi Raffi, you might remember me from Wikipedia, though I've recently been taking an extended break from editing there. I've recently been trying to find an Armenian namesdays calendar, where the name of the saint (or just a name) for each day of the year is given, and I've looked all over the net, but came up empty-handed. I was wondering if you might have access to such a calendar, as it would make a great addition to Armeniapedia as well as Wikipedia (given the existence of articles such as Namedays in the Czech Republic). I'm not even sure if there is a separate namesdays calendar and a calendar of saints in Armenia. If you have a print copy and don't have the time to transcribe it, I'll be happy to do it for you and put it up here and/or in Wikipedia if you upload a scan of it. Let me know what you think about the idea. Thanks. --Aramgutang 23:20, 24 Dec 2005 (PST)

Hi Aram, I don't have access to anything like this at the moment unfortunately, but if I see such a thing I will make sure and save it for you. When I get back in Yerevan I'll check a box of papers I've saved of things I want to eventually put online. --Raffi 12:41, 11 Jan 2006 (PST)

Այս հաղորդագրման նպատակն է շտկել հետեւյալ թյուրիմացությունը

Հարգելի ընկերներ,

Հետեւյալ բաժնի http://armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Armenian_Language_Lessons_Chapter_1 43րդ օրինակում կա վրիպում, որը պետք է շտկվի կամ հեռացվի։ Այն կարդացվում է հետեւյալ կերպ՝ Գլխավոր հրապարակում գտնվում է Լենինի արձանը: Կարծում եմ այդ սրիկայի անունը չի կարելի օգտագործել հայոց լեզվի ուսուցման ժամանակ։

--ՀակոբԳ 00:43, 11 Jan 2006 (PST)

Hello Hagop, I agree that Lenin was a disaster, but since it is a complete Soviet book I have put online, I decided to leave it all "as is" since communism (or more like Sovietism) is dead and gone, and now it is no longer a threat... but I will point out that if you want to add/change things on this site in general, you can always edit any page. If a particular page is locked, it is only because of problems I have had with repeated spam or vandalism (check the history of the page and you'll see why). I can unlock the page if you want to work on one and we'll see how the spam issue goes... best, --Raffi 12:39, 11 Jan 2006 (PST)

Hi Raffi,

my name is Hrach, I study and work in the field of tourism, especially in hiking and trekking, and I also take photos, I have a big base of photos in Armenia, and I interested how can I work with you connected with this site, for example we can talk about photos, if you need...

Sincerely Hrach Hovhannisyan e:mail` hrachess@rambler.ru