The Armenian Genocide – 101st Commemoration in 2016

To The Armenian Community of the World and as well as everyone,

2016 has officially arrived. It is never too early to remind and educate ourselves as well as others that this year in April on the day of the 24th, we must continue to strive to spread and raise awareness of The Armenian Genocide as it marks the 101st commemoration. Let us all continue that same energy we had for the 100th commemoration. We must not stop at 100. Recognition is the key component to prevention. No matter how many years have gone by. Never stop the peaceful demonstrations, the many events and the marching.

We must be big in numbers again all across the world to come together like how we did in 2015.  However even bigger. It speaks in volumes. We should always remember. We are still here on this earth, we have a purpose, we have a mission. It all begins with how we instill that to everyone and the importance of how crucial it is to spread Genocide prevention. Not only in Armenians, but everyone in the world who have been victims of genocide and to kill, torture and so many unspeakable, unimaginable criminal acts that we need to address.

Now, I know some people’s mentality that okay,  the 100th commemoration year of 2015 is now come and gone, next year is the 101st, it won’t matter anymore, and some people will not end up participating in Genocide peaceful demonstrations, and other events. That is what some people have told me and I was absolutely baffled and was in disbelief that some people actually said that. So, I guess the bloodshed of our ancestors and the horrific, and terrible days and years our people went through with all the suffering doesn’t matter anymore. Well, it does matter. These people’s lives were torn upside down, these children did not see life growing up because they were killed, women, men, babies all taken away, displaced, and massacred. They were also left to walk in the desert, and when they were tired and could not walk anymore, The Turks, punched, kicked, slapped and put them down to the ground and demanded them to get going and keep walking. Women were raped from Turkish soldiers too, while their children and spouses watched. We owe it to these victims, our ancestors and be there for them. Not only by just saying prayers and remembering, we must do more by going out and putting our time and effort to raise awareness. It is crucial.

We owe it to these victims, our ancestors and be there for them. Not only by just saying prayers and remembering, we must do more by going out and putting our time and effort to raise awareness. It is crucial. It is a way to pay respect and to take extra measures. I am not just talking about the Armenians, but the whole human race of the world.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire tried to destroy the whole Armenian race and wipe us all off the face of this earth, and they killed 1.5 Million Armenians and they also stole our precious land and our Mount Ararat in 1915. The Turkish Government still denies, lies, as well as make up stories that they never committed such terrible criminal acts to humanity of Armenians, and many other people in Greece as well as other places. They must admit their guilt. Justice and Recognition must be enforced.

Everything starts with how much of an impact we have and can spread around so that history never repeats itself. Where there is a will there is a way.

From:

Talin Orfali

Don’t Believe Everything You Read Online

In the last couple of days, we may or may not have seen the status posts about Facebook, its privacy notice and all that. Here is that status message.

“Now it’s official! It has been published in the media. Facebook has just released the entry price: £5.99 ($9.10) to keep the subscription of your status to be set to “private.” If you paste this message on your page, it will be offered free (I said paste not share) if not tomorrow, all your posts can become public. Even the messages that have been deleted or the photos not allowed. After all, it does not cost anything for a simple copy and paste.”

Or this one

“As of September 28th , 2015 at 10:50p.m. Eastern standard time, I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give notice to Facebook it is strictly forbidden to disclose, copy, distribute, or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. The content of this profile is private and confidential information. The violation of privacy can be punished by law (UCC 1-308- 1 1 308-103 and the Rome Statute). NOTE: Facebook is now a public entity. All members must post a note like this. If you prefer, you can copy and paste this version. If you do not publish a statement at least once it will be tactically allowing the use of your photos, as well as the information contained in the profile status updates.”

If Facebook were to start charging for its services or if an update were to arise, they would post an official message right on top of the News Feed and they would send you an official e-mail from Facebook stating the changes made to the account settings/privacy. This is definitely a hoax and you can tell the way it has been written. Not very professionally might I add, and Facebook will not post like that.

It is somebody that has way too much time on their hands, and wanting to start trouble. People really need to do more productive, inspiring and thoughtful things on the internet, instead of playing around and doing ridiculous things. People need to think about what they post and do online. It is very important to stop doing these things. It is absolutely ridiculous. I just want to tell you that, do not believe everything you see and read on the internet. Don’t fall for the trends. If you have posted these messages on your statuses, please remove them immediately, and share amongst your family, friends, co-workers, classmates as well and if they have posted it as well. Please tell them to remove.

This also goes for any suspicious e-mails that go to your inbox or Junk mail. If you are unsure of an e-mail, please contact me, do a screen shot of it or delete it right away. Also, do not get tricked in sending an e-mail where it asks you for your name, birth date, account information, and all that. It is fraudulent and can lead to identity theft, viruses and much more and can result in an unfortunate hassle, which can lead to a headache of draining your bank account, and your name and existence.

The internet is a fun and wonderful place full of information and research on your favourite actor, actress, movies, facts, recipes, watching videos, social media and e-mail which you can connect, communicate with your loved ones, co-workers, and make new friends. Ultimately, it is how you utilize the internet that makes it all the fun and awesome.

Just because everybody is concentrating and involved in a trend online, it doesn’t mean that you have to do the same. Don’t fall for it. It is common sense. Be careful. Prevention is key to a safe, fun, and educational environment.

So, think about it.

Have you been tricked online before?

What advice do you have for issues like this?

Would like to hear from you.

The CN Tower & I

I know it is kind of crazy to even write about this, but growing up as a child and into my lower teens, I was always obsessed and loved the CN Tower a lot. Being able to get up there 2-3 times around those times was something so exciting, being able to experience the observation deck, the glass floor to see down to the street. I would see it from the 401, the Gardiner Expressway, The CNE, and a lot of places around the City of Toronto and downtown. Even from my Grandmothers balcony.

I still know the facts about the CN Tower by heart. I know its a free-standing structure and one would ask, how can someone be obsessed with a tower?

Well, I have always been and always will be sentimental and these things were and still is a big deal for me. CN Tower is one of the most important structures and one of Toronto’s major icons and that makes our skyline what it is. Every time I see it, go near it, it makes me think of my childhood. I have still kept all of the CN Tower stuff I used to collect from magazines and everything. I once had CN Tower Staff mail me a huge package full of Pictures, Facts, Figures and everything back in the day. I am not sure if they still do that now, but if you inquire it, you can e-mail them or contact them here, http://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/contact-us/contact-us.html… I wrote them a letter which I was a kid and I got my package a few weeks later. It was awesome. I still have that too.
I will forever love my City of Toronto and the CN Tower.

You can go to the tower with friends, family, schools and spend a full day at the tower and enjoy the sights, sight-see from the top of the tower, you can observe Lake Ontario, see our major highway arteries, buildings from the north, south, east and west.

Here are some facts/figures about the CN Tower:

– It is located at 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6 – In the heart of Downtown Toronto

– One of Ontario, Canada’s main attractions

– The height is 553 m which equals to 1,815 feet.

– It opened it’s doors in 1976

– it is 147 Stories high.

– It has been surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai

– John Andrews is the Architect of the Free Standing Structure.

– It is a marvel in civil Engineering

– There is an Antenna which broadcasts to over 30 fm/radio and television signals across Southern Ontario with an addition to wireless paging, cellular telephone service/signlas

– There is a restaurant called 360 and it is a revolving restaurant where it turns around in a circular motion.

– The CN Tower introduced a thrill called the Edgewalk, where you walk on the edge of the Tower up top and all that is holding you is a Harness. I have never tried it, but I would love to.

– The high speed elevator takes you up to the top in 58 seconds.

– There is the skypod, lookout level which is 33 more floors up

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All this and more information about the CN Tower — Visit — http://www.cntower.ca/

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CN_Tower

Edgewalk CN Tower — http://www.edgewalkcntower.ca/

Things to do in Toronto http://www.toronto.com

The Buzzfeed Website – Entertaining & Educational

In 2013, I discovered a really informative, entertaining and educational website named Buzzfeed. BuzzFeed is a website that compiles social news, entertainment, which brings a whole new twist into the social media buzz of modern society. Buzzfeed is one of the most sharable breaking news, entertainment, videos, fun quizzes, illustration, and photos from the world.

This website has it all from Animal facts, Science, Greatest hits, Geeky, and anything you can possibly imagine.

Buzzfeed Also brings you back to your childhood with memories from rewinding to the past with the famous TV Shows, Gaming systems, technology, as well as foods that we used to consume back in the day, which does not exist anymore.

The website also provides news about comics, styles, books, music, tips, facts and other exciting things. Buzzfeed also has product information, diet, wellness, and gives people a whole new perspective on looking at things. I find this website to be one of the most thorough, detailed, and incredible website which makes me stay on there for hours sometimes just surfing, gaining information and just basically such a fun place to be.

Jonah Peretti is the founder and CEO of Buzzfeed, with Jon Steinberg, John Johnson, alongside with the incredibly talented great staff who are working around the clock to keep us entertained at all times with giving us fresh new content daily, with catchy titles, with illustrating articles which keeps us engaged into it all which then definitely gets us to share instantly to our family and friends on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media outlets.

See, social media is not all that bad and we can definitely learn a thing or two from sites like this. Buzzfeed definitely gives a whole new twist into the social media platform with more than half of the world who are online. It amazing. Best wishes to Buzzfeed team. You guys are awesome!

http://www.buzzfeed.com

99th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide to Take Place in Ottawa, Canada – April 24th, 2014

The 99th Anniversary on the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide is quickly approaching next month on April 24th, 2014. To Canadian-Armenian community and more, Lets make our attendance in Ottawa, Ontario Canada in front of the Parliament Hill, The March to The Turkish Embassy a successful one with thousands of people, Lets crowd and fill the park by the Turkish Embassy, lets make the march there a huge one. Lets stand tall, voice ourselves even louder.

We need to get out there in the public eye and raise awareness about the Armenian Genocide. Not just getting together in Armenian Community Centres to commemorate, but must take a stand outside Like of course Ottawa, Queens Park, and in front of the Media eyes, gain as much Television, Social Media Awareness, get these news casters to the scene, get us on Television, and make us well known. That is how we are going to let people know what happened. We have many Armenians in Media. Lets get this Rolling…. I have never seen our Ottawa commemorations air on our TV’s and Broadcasting Corporation Channels. Something must be done about that.

The Turkish Ottoman Empire Killed 1.5 Million Armenians, and tried to wipe us all off from the Earth on April 24, 1915, but could not succeed. They also stole our lands and our Mountain Ararat – Also Known as Mount Ararat.

Please make prior arrangements from now to attend the commemoration. It is important and something we all should participate in and do our best. Lets help each other and join each others hands and lets go to OTTAWA, CANADA. Canada’s Capital….

Please see your local Cambridge, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Laval and other Armenian communities to gain more information on Buses, and times, so on and so forth. Lets make this year a big number in attendance. We can do this.

My Motherland & Beautiful Armenia & Its History

Today, I am going to talk to you about My Motherland and Beautiful Armenia.  Armenia is located between Europe and Asia. We have an incredible history of people and things. Our Alphabet has 38 letters and it was invented by one of our great inventors Mesrob Mashtotz (MES-ROB, MASH-TOTZ). We have a library called Madenataran and our important books of history are kept there and a statue of our Mesrob Mashtotz is just outside. Our very first Pontiff/Pope of Armenia was St Gregory the Illuminator, in Armenian we say (Sourp Krikor Lousavorich). He was falsely imprisoned in a hole for 13 years under this church called Khor Virab (KHO-R VEERAB), and from this Church Monastery you can see the Mount Ararat which was once Armenia’s Property and I still think to this day it is still ours. It is where the Noah’s Arc came to rest. Mount Ararat was stolen from Armenia and it’s lands from the Turkish Government. in April 24, 1915, The Armenian Genocide happened and 1.5 Million Armenians were killed and massacred by the Turkish Ottoman Empire, and which they stole our lands and property. Since then we have commemorated and paid our respects to those brutally murdered in Armenian Communities around the world. In Armenia we have the Armenian Genocide Memorial, and its called Dzidzernagapert (D-ZID-ZER-NAGA-PERT). Every year on April 24th, All of Armenia’s Schools, Workplaces would be closed and everyone would go to the Memorial to place flowers all around the Eternal Flame which has never stopped. The Turkish government still fails to recognize their crimes against Armenia and its been an ongoing struggle for the Armenians, but we sure will not give up and we will continue to protest every year until justice is served for our people who’s lives we lost. I have friends whose families in the past have been through the Genocide. There are still Survivors to this day, but Very few left in the world. Armenia’s Capital city is Yerevan. It is located in the heart of Armenia.

Our Armenia flag has 3 colours, Red, Blue and Orange. Armenia has so many different types of produce and food. Armenia’s national fruit is the Apricot (Dziran) (D-ZEE-RAN), and as well as the Pomegranate. We also have the freshest Cherries, Grapes and Watermelons.  Armenia has a beautiful lake called Sevan. I remember going there a couple of times, to swim and take in the beauty of Armenia. We have incredible monasteries and churches such as St Etchmiadzin, St Mary, Haghardzin, St Hripsime, Garni, Geghard, Saghmosavank, and so much more. We have incredible Cafes, and restaurants, we have incredible fashion stores, Armenian Cognac and different types of Liquor Factories, Kotayk Beer, Coca Cola Bottles written in Armenian letters, Wonderful tasting Ice creams. Armenia is beyond rich in History.

When I was a child., I began to learn a lot about my culture, heritage, history, Alphabet, to learn how to speak it, to read and write Armenian, my parents sent me to Armenian Saturday School. When I graduated grade 8 in 1999, and it was the first year from the Armenian Saturday school trip that we embarked on a trip to our Motherland Armenia on July 21st, 1999. We flew with Air Canada to Paris, France Charles De Gaule Airport, where we toured Paris for a good 10 hours, then we headed back to the Airport to take Armenian Airlines (Which is now Armavia) right to our Motherland Armenia. I will never forget the feeling when I landed on Armenia’s Soil. I kissed the ground and I felt so different being there. All around me are Armenian Letters, Armenian Speaking people, and everything I learned in school came right before my eyes. It was an incredible journey and experience of a lifetime and I will never forget it. At times when I was in Armenia, I felt very homesick with my first time taking a trip without my parents as beforehand all the traveling was done with my parents. My cousins also had come with me and it was a great experience. To this day, I still remember everything so fresh in my mind ,and everything was incredible. After Armenia, we took Armenian Airlines to Frankfurt Germany, where we were there for 6 hours. Then we flew Lufthansa back to Toronto, Canada where our families were waiting anxiously for us in the waiting area of the Airport.

I had arrived to Toronto, but my luggage was left behind in Germany. I had so many things and souvenirs I had packed in my luggage and I got so upset. About a few days later, my luggage was found and later brought back to Toronto on another flight. All my things were safe and nothing was broken thankfully because I had packed them very well and I had already become an experienced and good packer. I have kept my boarding passes, tickets and everything from my Armenia trip and I have created a Special Armenia box with everything in it. Later than I began to join Armenian clubs, youth committees and trying to do everything I can to keep my Heritage alive and to this day, I still do. I love being Armenian and I am a proud to be one. If you have the chance and if your making travel plans, make sure Armenia is on your list. In terms of getting a visitors Visa, you can get it right from Armenia’s Airport called Zvartnotz. You do not need any special vaccinations, shots to enter Armenia. It is very safe and clean. Armenia people are so friendly and helpful and they will accommodate your every need.. Visit Armenia. Its beautiful. for more information and if you want to know more, search the internet and you will find photos, history, background and so much more.

Shunoragalem (SHEN-ORA-GAL-EM) in Armenian means Thank you.

What Neil Armstrongs Mission To The Moon Meant To Me.

After hearing about Neil Armstrong’s passing yesterday. it got me to think about how important it is to work hard at your dreams even if it means to reach for the moon and stars. Now, you see Neil Armstrong left a huge legacy and a good name for himself. In the history books, on the internet and in world history, he will always be the one who first walked on the moon being called, the man on the moon, and that sends out a message to everyone to never stop dreaming and go for what you want, because most of the time it doesn’t come to you, you have to go after it. Now, what this meant to me is that dreams can come true, but in order for it to come true is that you must work hard at it and it will. You just have to keep pursuing what you want out of your life. You can be what you want to be, but you have to really get going. You can’t say I will do it next year, or I will start doing something soon, no, things don’t work that way. If your going to do something, do it now, and don’t leave it for another day or next time because that next time sometimes doesn’t come back. What you have to do now, you do it. Everything comes into place after whatever you do and however you want it. Sometimes things take time to progress and takes time to be successful but think of it this way, the more your procrastinate and keep leaving things off, the more time it will take to where you want to be. Now is the time to get going with your plans and do something about it. You never start from the top. Work your way up to bigger and better things.

You can do anything you put your mind to. There is no time for excuses. I am not saying everyone has to reach the moon in order to be successful in life, each one of us has a gift and talent that we can utilize. One person can be good at something and one person can’t be good at that same thing, but each of us have something to offer to this world. If not now, in future. It all depends on how you overlook your life.

I respected Neil Armstrong and now that he has passed away, I’d like to offer my sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and all those who knew him. His legacy and his mission will always be remembered in our hearts and he will always be known as a go getter who was mainly the man on the moon, and now he is there with the stars in the sky and heaven gained an angel. God rest his soul and keep his soul bright in the white and lighted heavens in the sky.