Happy Easter
I was recently told that I haven't been logging for some time now, and because I was surprised, they were surprised. I tried to explain that I actually was logging and that probably it had something to do with the font I was using or something� After all it�s not a perfect world we are living in. I went on explaining how incompatible computer systems are to one another�
Well, I haven�t been logging for a good reason. For me the log is to reflect life in Armenia through our (the loggers�) life. Not the other way around. And when there isn�t really much going on in your life that you would like to share with other, you�ll probably talk about the common-to-all issues. Winters, the cold and major events in the country are a few examples of what I�m talking about. Most of the loggers talk about this stuff; I bet you heard a lot about how cold winters are in Armenia. That�s what we (programmers) call redundancy of information and, of course, the higher the redundancy the lower the efficiency.
So, it�s spring again, and after �laying low� for a season or two, I decided to surface. The weather helps, sure, but I also have some interesting stuff to share with you. What is most interesting to me is to notice and feel the changes this country going through, a hard thing if you are living the changes, but if they are major and important you can�t help but take a moment and really think about them. That includes the good and the bad, although I like talking about the good better.
Since I mentioned some technical stuff, I�ll start by work. As some of you (the ones with good memory) may recall, I�m a computer programmer, working for HPLA (www.hpl.com) and one of the things that I really like to tell you all, is that HPLA is constantly expending, hiring more and more people and taking over more floors in the building. We are about 150 already and still growing, seeing new faces is something I got used to for the past 6 months. We are taking over (or at least they are negotiating with the land lord) what will become to be our 4th floor. They have also been talking of buying a building or a land and build on it. Also, through my friends in other computer-related companies, I know that it�s not only HPLA that is growing, Netsys and Credence are two good examples.
One of the things that I don�t admire is heavy advertisement. I�m talking about streets and building walls being covered with huge ads. But the rate at which they pop-up makes you take that moment I mentioned earlier and think about it. Sure the person/company/family that is selling the ads is making a gross amount of money, which doesn�t really mean that economy is improving; it might be a sign of monopoly though. But it sure reflects how well the advertisers are doing, albeit roughly. It also tells us something about the consumers. I don�t want to mislead everyone into thinking that this actually means the whole country�s economy has improved. It�s just some of things that I noticed and like to share with you. Also, Namak news reported a week ago that the average wage has risen by 15%. From what I noticed, the number of cars has increased tremendously in the past 2 years. When seeing a fancy car, I used to think about the gross amount of money the owner must have stolen from the county to get him a car like that. But in the past 6 month, I noticed that it�s not only BMWs and the Mercedes cars I run into, a lot of European and Asian cars are in the streets today and they were scarce (if ever) a year ago. Examples are: Opel, Audi, Golf (VW,) Hyundai and more. That also tells me something; they can�t all be from the mafia to buy cars like that. Also these cars are not as expensive as, say, a M5 BMW or a 600 SEL Benz. Which tells me that you don�t need to be in a gang to get one; good business can help you afford one.
I know how some of you might think about what I�m talking about, but as much as I like acknowledging the bad and the negative, I like to be optimistic and see the good and try to rejoice. The negative is usually easier to manifest, faster to destroy hope and beautiful dreams.
Yesterday I went to the CD shop to see what�s new, and to my surprise I found out about something I�ve been trying to find forever; English spoken movies. Yes, it might sound weird, but the only source for such movies was VHS tapes, which aside from the low quality, I don�t have a player and a TV. What I was looking for was video CDs to watch on my home computer. To my surprise, what I found was beyond what I wanted; multi-language CDs (English and Russian) with Russian subtitles. Now this might not be interesting to you, but for someone who is trying to learn Russian this is god sent. Before, they used to be Russian only. Now I can watch my favorite movie in English then with the Russian translation or with the subtitles. I got �God Father� (all three parts) and �Indiana Jones� ;-) I think you can guess what that means to me.
Talking about learning Russian reminds me of the improvement I�ve made recently speaking the language. I guess I passed the stage where �What�s your name?� sounds like �What are you staring at!� I can understand about 75% of conversations if I know the subject, or it�s easy to learn form the dialog itself. I�m very excited about speaking and writing it. I can already read, but writing is just another league.
From another side, I so much enjoy seeing more kids on the roller blades every other summer, more people in shorts and more people working-out and going to swimming pools. Oh, I don�t mean watching the kids, looking at the men in shorts or joining them in the pools, I mean watching the number grow�
Since I don�t know when I�ll log again, and no, I won�t promise, I hate to break promises, I�ll tell you a bit about my personal life. Aside my work I go to the computer science and computer engineering school at State Engineering University of Armenia. I have another 2 years and I�m planning on getting a Ph.D. degree. I�m also planning on buying an apartment (although not for another year.)
Some of you might also recall that I was working on a project called Spitak or like it was called on several occasions "Project Espion!!" for no obvious reasons. I'm still working on it, only I'm planning on finding more hands to support the project along other 3 huge projects. I'm working on them and soon will be sharing some of my dreams with the rest of the world asking them to help them grow and prosper.
Untill the next time, Happy Easter.
Ash
Please take a moment and sign this petition: http://users.ihost.biz/armgeno/petition2002.asp?order=signdate&page=1
And visit a great site about the Genocide: www.genocide1915.info
Please also email them to your friends and relatives, Armenians and Foriegners alike.
I was recently told that I haven't been logging for some time now, and because I was surprised, they were surprised. I tried to explain that I actually was logging and that probably it had something to do with the font I was using or something� After all it�s not a perfect world we are living in. I went on explaining how incompatible computer systems are to one another�
Well, I haven�t been logging for a good reason. For me the log is to reflect life in Armenia through our (the loggers�) life. Not the other way around. And when there isn�t really much going on in your life that you would like to share with other, you�ll probably talk about the common-to-all issues. Winters, the cold and major events in the country are a few examples of what I�m talking about. Most of the loggers talk about this stuff; I bet you heard a lot about how cold winters are in Armenia. That�s what we (programmers) call redundancy of information and, of course, the higher the redundancy the lower the efficiency.
So, it�s spring again, and after �laying low� for a season or two, I decided to surface. The weather helps, sure, but I also have some interesting stuff to share with you. What is most interesting to me is to notice and feel the changes this country going through, a hard thing if you are living the changes, but if they are major and important you can�t help but take a moment and really think about them. That includes the good and the bad, although I like talking about the good better.
Since I mentioned some technical stuff, I�ll start by work. As some of you (the ones with good memory) may recall, I�m a computer programmer, working for HPLA (www.hpl.com) and one of the things that I really like to tell you all, is that HPLA is constantly expending, hiring more and more people and taking over more floors in the building. We are about 150 already and still growing, seeing new faces is something I got used to for the past 6 months. We are taking over (or at least they are negotiating with the land lord) what will become to be our 4th floor. They have also been talking of buying a building or a land and build on it. Also, through my friends in other computer-related companies, I know that it�s not only HPLA that is growing, Netsys and Credence are two good examples.
One of the things that I don�t admire is heavy advertisement. I�m talking about streets and building walls being covered with huge ads. But the rate at which they pop-up makes you take that moment I mentioned earlier and think about it. Sure the person/company/family that is selling the ads is making a gross amount of money, which doesn�t really mean that economy is improving; it might be a sign of monopoly though. But it sure reflects how well the advertisers are doing, albeit roughly. It also tells us something about the consumers. I don�t want to mislead everyone into thinking that this actually means the whole country�s economy has improved. It�s just some of things that I noticed and like to share with you. Also, Namak news reported a week ago that the average wage has risen by 15%. From what I noticed, the number of cars has increased tremendously in the past 2 years. When seeing a fancy car, I used to think about the gross amount of money the owner must have stolen from the county to get him a car like that. But in the past 6 month, I noticed that it�s not only BMWs and the Mercedes cars I run into, a lot of European and Asian cars are in the streets today and they were scarce (if ever) a year ago. Examples are: Opel, Audi, Golf (VW,) Hyundai and more. That also tells me something; they can�t all be from the mafia to buy cars like that. Also these cars are not as expensive as, say, a M5 BMW or a 600 SEL Benz. Which tells me that you don�t need to be in a gang to get one; good business can help you afford one.
I know how some of you might think about what I�m talking about, but as much as I like acknowledging the bad and the negative, I like to be optimistic and see the good and try to rejoice. The negative is usually easier to manifest, faster to destroy hope and beautiful dreams.
Yesterday I went to the CD shop to see what�s new, and to my surprise I found out about something I�ve been trying to find forever; English spoken movies. Yes, it might sound weird, but the only source for such movies was VHS tapes, which aside from the low quality, I don�t have a player and a TV. What I was looking for was video CDs to watch on my home computer. To my surprise, what I found was beyond what I wanted; multi-language CDs (English and Russian) with Russian subtitles. Now this might not be interesting to you, but for someone who is trying to learn Russian this is god sent. Before, they used to be Russian only. Now I can watch my favorite movie in English then with the Russian translation or with the subtitles. I got �God Father� (all three parts) and �Indiana Jones� ;-) I think you can guess what that means to me.
Talking about learning Russian reminds me of the improvement I�ve made recently speaking the language. I guess I passed the stage where �What�s your name?� sounds like �What are you staring at!� I can understand about 75% of conversations if I know the subject, or it�s easy to learn form the dialog itself. I�m very excited about speaking and writing it. I can already read, but writing is just another league.
From another side, I so much enjoy seeing more kids on the roller blades every other summer, more people in shorts and more people working-out and going to swimming pools. Oh, I don�t mean watching the kids, looking at the men in shorts or joining them in the pools, I mean watching the number grow�
Since I don�t know when I�ll log again, and no, I won�t promise, I hate to break promises, I�ll tell you a bit about my personal life. Aside my work I go to the computer science and computer engineering school at State Engineering University of Armenia. I have another 2 years and I�m planning on getting a Ph.D. degree. I�m also planning on buying an apartment (although not for another year.)
Some of you might also recall that I was working on a project called Spitak or like it was called on several occasions "Project Espion!!" for no obvious reasons. I'm still working on it, only I'm planning on finding more hands to support the project along other 3 huge projects. I'm working on them and soon will be sharing some of my dreams with the rest of the world asking them to help them grow and prosper.
Untill the next time, Happy Easter.
Ash
Please take a moment and sign this petition: http://users.ihost.biz/armgeno/petition2002.asp?order=signdate&page=1
And visit a great site about the Genocide: www.genocide1915.info
Please also email them to your friends and relatives, Armenians and Foriegners alike.
posted by Ashod at 1:38 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home