Armenia and world:

The Other Side of Ararat

“The tradition of past generations collapse on the living like a nightmare” (Karl Marx).

October 4, 2010
Ararat is visible from everywhere in Yerevan. According to “political geography”, this Olympian mountain, which I learnt to be one of the important symbols of Armenian identity, is completely inside Turkish borders. We are taught to call it Mount Agri, maybe because in Turkish this name insinuates “whitening”, in reference to the fact that snow never melts on this mountain’s peak. But maybe because the same word also means “pain” in Turkish, referring to the memory of real pain that this mountain stands witness to...
Economy:

Why is it unprofitable to grow grain in Armenia?

As of the end of July 2010, 34 hail-suppression stations were set in Armenia.

October 4, 2010
Grain cultivation and harvesting comes to around AMD 182,000 per ha in Armenia. A farmer from Yeghvard town (Kotayk region of Armenia) told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that plowing of 1ha costs AMD 25, 000, grain sowing – AMD 8,000, land leveling – AMD 10,000, cultivation – AMD 12,000. Meanwhile, farmers have to pay AMD 20,000 for irrigation, while it is necessary to water grain three times a year.
Sport:

Tigran G. Martirosyan World Weightlifting Champion

Review of September 23-30 sports events.

October 4, 2010
Weightlifting: Armenia’s Tigran G. Martirosyan claimed double gold in both clean and jerk and total in men's 77kg category at the World Weightlifting Championships in Antalya, Turkey. Martirosyan combined 173kg in the snatch and 200kg in the clean and jerk to win gold with a total weight of 373kg.
Politics:

Week’s topics: Karabakh issue and namaz in Ani

Review of September 25 – October 1 political events.

October 2, 2010
Political events in Armenia started with discussions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as usual.
IT & Telecom:

Half of Armenian population has access to Internet

Review of September 20-27 telecommunication and information technology events.

September 28, 2010
Internet World Stats usage and population statistics has published the results of Armenia-based survey as of June 2010. 1,396,550 Internet users (47.1% of the population) were reported in Armenia according to the Public Services Regulatory Committee.
Culture:

Armenia hosts the most delicious festival

The initiators of the barbecue fest promise a better organization next year.

September 22, 2010
The second barbecue festival was held in Akhtala, Lori region of Armenia, on Sunday, September 12. It was dated to two other events: re-consecration of Surb Mariam Astvatsatsin Church and inauguration of a monument to wedding rings.
Society:

Armenians do not celebrate Navasard as national holiday because Hayk Nahapet was not Christian

Navasard had been one of the most popular holidays before Gregorian calendar took effect.

August 13, 2010
For dozens of centuries Armenians had been celebrating the New Year, Navasard, on August 11. Once a favorite popular holiday, it now became a topic of historians’ remarks or Armenian folklore only. “August 11 is the first day of the new year according to the ancient Armenian calendar. It was celebrated by all – the rich and the poor,” said ethnographer Gohar Vardumyan, senior fellow at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
 
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