Strange Day For Armenians - Easter & Armenian Genocide

Many Armenians celebrate Easter worldwide. And they will do just that today. But April 24 for many Armenians has a certain sentiment throughout the diaspora. This day in 1915: 300 Armenian leaders, writers, thinkers and professionals in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) were rounded up, deported and killed by the Ottoman Empire. It gets worse: On that same day in Constantinople (now Istanbul), 5,000 of the poorest Armenians were butchered in the streets and in their homes.

That wasn't the end of it: 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the Armenian Genocide between 1915-1923. They were methodically massacred, tortured, and sent out into the dessert to die of starvation and thirst. Women were raped and abused; children were also subject to the same vile and inhumane treatment. Nice, huh?

April 24th - a day Armenians all over the world commemorate this putrid, horrible tragedy committed against us innocent humans by our own species.

The United States government as a whole remains the last of many countries to officially acknowledge this as a Genocide. Year after year it comes up in our congress, and year after year it's "not the right time." Why? Because Turkey denies the genocide ever took place and threatens their relationship with the U.S.A.

Happy 2011!

"Act of God" - Fallen Tree in Glendale, CA

I woke up to a loud CRASH this morning about 4:50am. I thought it was some kind of thunder. The high winds in Glendale, CA had caused a tree to fall, completely blocking off the street. There's a car under there too. I hope they have insurance!










Daybreak
There's something comforting about this, in an apocalyptic way.


Looking up the street (Central Ave), away from the fallen tree.


Looking back down the street towards the fallen tree

They Said There'd Be No Math

Glad I made it here today! Tomorrow's 75% Fresh Pacific Red Snapper won't be as good.

Irony?

Film Vaults - "The Lot," Hollywood, California

I had a chance to visit an old studio lot in Hollywood, CA today. It's the old Pickford-Fairbanks Studios, later named Samuel Goldwyn Studios, and now known as "The Lot." Before leaving, a friend of mine took me to the back of the lot -- no, she wasn't going to strangle me -- to check out the old film vaults where they used to store the old very-combustible nitrate film reels. It was pretty surreal being back there. Check out the video.

World Trade Center Jazz Fest 1993 (photos)

Summer 1993, Shadowfax performing at CD101's "Jazz at the World Trade Center." This was my view from the stage when I looked straight up and saw the towers behind me. (click photos for full size)

Video - Satellite Flyby (International Space Station)

Saw this tonight! (Watch this on youtube in HD - looks much better)