Eiffel Tower, Paris

Out of all my pics of Eiffel Tower in Paris, this one I made few days ago is my favourite so far.

Armenia’s incumbent president: why bother campaigning?

Looking at Serj’s campaigning one may wonder why he bothers to campaign at all? The only reason he campaigns is to show the international community that this election is not a farce but rather ‘exemplary’ one. Ironically, with each passing day, he is making more and more mistakes, to put it mildly, damaging further his reputation. Not that this decreases his chances to be elected. With or without people’s votes.

Today, marking the Army Day, a woman managed to approach the president and started complaining about social hardship she is living in. This has angered Serj. Seriously. He had nothing better to say than get back to the woman and complain arrogantly that with her coming here and crying she is spoiling the holiday. This is more like a քուչի տղա response, rather than president’s.

Regardless how annoying or inappropriate this woman’s complain may seem to him, this is absolutely not a way any official, let alone president, should speak to the very people he (supposedly) serves.

Հայոց բանակի կազմավորման 21-րդ տարեդարձի առթիվ ՀՀ բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաները այսօր այցելել են Եռաբլուր պանթեոն, ծաղկեպսակներ դրել արցախյան հերոսամարտում զոհվածների շիրիմներին: Իսկ մինչ  Սերժ Սարգսյանի գլխավորությամբ բարձրաստիճան պաշտոնյաները կատարեցին իրենց պարտքը եւ ցանկանում էին լքել տարածքը, նրանց մոտեցավ մի կին եւ խնդրեց, որպեսզի լսեն իրեն, հաղորդում է Galatv.am-ը: Սերժ Սարգսյանին մոտեցած կինը հայտնեց, որ ապրում է ծայրահեղ ծանր պայմաններում: Նախ թիկնապահները փորձեցին հեռացնել նրան ճանապարհից, սակայն կնոջը հաջողվեց մոտենալ, իսկ երբ կինը լացակումած պատմում էր իր ապրելակերպի մասին, Սերժ Սարգսյանը արձագանքեց. «Եկել ես ստեղ, լաց ես լինում, մեր տոնը խանգարում ես, որ ի՞նչ անես»:

Read also:

“Towards secure Armenia”: Public admission of fail with bizarre stage-managed election campaign launch

and

It's Christmas Day in West and end of an era in Armenia politics

“Towards secure Armenia”: Public admission of fail with bizarre stage-managed election campaign launch

“Towards secure Armenia”- this is Armenia’s ruling republican party slogan for presidential campaign. Effectively, this is a very public admission that president failed in ensuring one of his main duties, as per Constitution:

Article 49 The President of the Republic shall be the guarantor of the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Armenia. 

Their campaign launched with a music video where everyone is happy smiling and dancing literally everywhere. It depicts a disturbing picture of nation under drugs. The only dancing part that - unfortunately! - looks believable is dancing in the airport before the plane’s take off. “Towards secure Armenia”? Ha!

The very threat to the security of Armenia is a current political establishment headed by republican party with formally accepted neo-nazi style ideology. A party whose high level officials, including the spokesman, publicly and unashamedly support terrorism against a group of their own citizens and spread intolerance and discrimination towards anyone who does not fit into their ‘national standards’.

Never before my friends and relatives in Armenia were so indifferent to presidential election. It’s no news for them, just a time for occasional mocking (in a #funnysad way) looking at the clownery named “campaign” (with few exceptions of Heritage party leader, ex-FM Raffi Hovhannisyan and ex-PM Hrant Bagratyan).

Just how fake everything connected with the ruling republican party is perfectly illustrated in this video.... Not that we needed any additional proof. 

Here in this video, unzipping a blatant stage-management of the campaign, school children were trained to greet current Armenia president. The video then continues to present slightly different version of ruling party's presidential election campaign music clip. Closer to the reality.



And in case you were nostalgic of Soviet/Stalinist style “Dear party leader” nauseating lines, watch this pretty #funnysad clip from one of week No.1 election campaign meetings of current president Serj Sargsyan. I will never look at my childhood favourite Cheburashka the same way again. Not only they ruin the country. They ruin my childhood memories too.

Ice graffiti, ice chess + ice sculptures: International Ice Sculpting Festival in London

Was at the International Ice Sculpting Festival in London over this weekend.

I was not particularly impressed with the sculptures per se but I liked the atmosphere: fun and interactive.

And I liked the idea of "ice graffiti" for that very reason.

There was also "ice chess" on offer, although it was not as popular as the graffiti above.

This sculptural composition by French artists was entertaining. Depending on the angle you view it, you get different image, perhaps not what was intended :)

And an ice cross by US team.

I am not posting other pics as they do not look particularly interesting picture-wise.

McLenin's: Russian art in London

 *McLenin's by Alexander Kosolapov (1990-1991)

*Russian Revolutionary Porcelain by Alexander Kosolapov (1989-1990)

As seen in Saatchi Gallery, London.

'Ideal slogan': Russian art in London

 *Parade / Demonstration by Vitaly Komar & Alexander Melamid (1972)

 *by Vitaly Komar & Alexander Melamid (1972/2012)

 *Study, Son! by Alexander Kosolapov (1973)

*Entry - No Entry by Erik Bulatov (2006)

As seen in Saatchi Gallery, London.

'Criminal government': Russian art in London

*Criminal Government by Gosha Ostretsov (2008)

*Violin at the Cemetery by Oskar Rabin (1969)

*Nepravda by Oscar Rabin (1975)

As seen in Saatchi Gallery, London.