I've had a most interesting couple of days. On Thursday, Winslow Martin stopped by to join a bunch of us for dinner here at my place. Winslow is the talented photographer who did the "Yeraz" shoot for Pomegranate. He's one of the most respected photojournalists in Boston and I really like his style. This time around he dropped off the negatives from the shoot of the new Gor album, "Godfather Tom" coming out later this year. I am producing and releasing "Godfather" on my label. Winslow is always entertaining, talking wildly about his times in Armenia. He's been there four times and he intends to go sometime next year. I am always fascinated by people like him who are not Armenian but have been very active in Armenian projects. Perhaps getting that objective perspective of what others think of Armenia and Armenian is the curiousity I sometimes like to visit.

Today, I spent the day with a French journalist in from Armenia for a couple of weeks. I took here around Harvard Square in Cambridge and we talked at length about Armenian issues. I was ultimately interviewed for an hour of so for her doctoral dissertation focusing on the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia relations. She has no Armenian blood but was fluent in Armenian and currently lives in Armenia. Again, Laurence Ritter was a rare person who lives in Armenia despite having no previous connection to Armenia. She likes it there and intends to live there for a while. I was struck by her understanding of the Armenian Diaspora and what it is we want and are striving for. At the same time, her realistic perspective on contemporary Armenia was also interesting and insightful. She is currently teaching a generation of journalists in Armenia their craft. I wish there were more of her. I am constantly amazed and sincerly curious when I meet non-Armenian Armenophiles. What draws them to Armenia and why?