Author: Kalashian Nyrie

MLive.com, MI
Feb 15 2009

Albums of the Aughts No. 7: "Toxicity" by System of Down makes "Chop
Suey" of metal conventions

by Bill Chapin February 15, 2009 05:00AM

Categories: Albums of the Aughts, MLive Entertainment, MLive Music
Every Sunday, I’ll be posting an entry in my Albums of the Aughts
series, highlighting 50 great or near-great albums released since
Jan. 1, 2000. Read more about the series in my initial post.

7. "Toxicity," System of a Down

Amazon.com
Released: Sept. 4, 2001
For folks who …

want to fly their freak flag, rage against the machine and bang their
head.

would maybe be more into heavy metal if the bands would simply throw a
little melody in among those brutal beats and guttural growls.

need proof that even the most embarrassing of musical movements ‘ in
this case nu metal ‘ can produce a masterpiece.

The backstory: This is, for better or worse, what America was
listening to when the planes hit the twin towers on
Sept. 11. "Toxicity" was the No. 1 album in the country that week.

The fact that such a discomforting album endured during a time when
all people wanted was a little comfort, that its revolutionary
politics didn’t turn everyone off during a period of intense
patriotism, that its lead single cracked the Billboard Hot 100 despite
a chorus that spoke of "self-righteous suicide" that got it pulled
from radio station playlists ‘ it all points to, I think, the power of
the music. There’s nothing weak about "Toxicity," and maybe Americans
were looking for that, too.

Founded by a quartet of Armenian Americans from Southern California,
System of a Down had been developing a cult following since their 1998
debut. With omnipresent producer Rick Ruben at the sound board, they
recorded and released their follow-up just as the nu metal wave was
cresting and crashing into a sea of Limp Bizkit jokes. "Toxicity" may
have even played a role in that, since just by comparison it made
their contemporaries’ work look juvenile.

System of a Down followed with the conjoined albums "Mezmerize" and
"Hypnotize," both of which made good use of the formula (thrash metal
hyperactivity + Eastern European harmonies + Dada-esque weirdness =
win) established by "Toxicity." Since 2006 the band has been in hiatus
limbo, with members working on separate projects and hinting they’ll
maybe reunite when the time is right.

My two cents: I remember being terrified by the video for "Chop Suey!"
in general and Daron Malakian’s body art in particular. Being a nerdy
wuss, my gut reaction to anything with a double kick drum was to run
and hide, but I couldn’t get over those beautiful harmonies in the
chorus. I didn’t hear the rest of "Toxicity" until after SOAD had
already won me over with "Mezmerize," but it cemeted their status as
my favorite metal band.

Someone else probably said it better: " … Co-songwriters Daron
Malakian and Serj Tankain sound like are the bastard children of Frank
Zappa and Slayer. … When a band takes this many left turns, you’d
expect them to start going in circles sooner rather than later, but
this is not the case with System of a Down. Hands down one of 2001’s
top metal releases, Toxicity may well prove to be a lasting heavy
metal classic to boot." ‘ Ed Rivadavia for All Music Guide

Moment that kills me every time: Whenever Serj Tankian spouts some
knowledge in "Prison Song," especially: "Drug money is used to rig
elections and train brutal corporate sponsored dictators around the
world!" It’s really the way that he says it, racing to cram it all in
before the chorus and tossing off the last three words with indignant
goofiness. Very few people can pull of indignant goofiness. Serj is
one of them.

If you listen to just one track, make sure it’s … : "Chop Suey!"
(although all three singles from this album are pretty accessible).

in/2009/02/albums_of_the_aughts_no_7_toxi.html

Lawyer: S.C. police targeting Phelps

Eight arrested in investigation

Baltimore Sun
February 13, 2009

By Kevin Van Valkenburg and Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun reporters

South Carolina authorities continue to gather evidence from a party
attended by Michael Phelps in November at which he was photographed
allegedly smoking marijuana, but even as more arrests are made and
witnesses interviewed, what’s still unclear is what might happen to
the 23-year-old Olympic swimmer.

A lawyer representing a man who attended the party said the Richland
County Sheriff’s Department investigation seems to be targeting Phelps
– to the point investigators are asking questions only about the
14-time gold-medal winner.

But Phelps, who has hired a lawyer, hasn’t been charged with anything
or been contacted by the sheriff’s department, according to Drew
Johnson, a representative from Phelps’ management company, Octagon.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has arrested eight people who
attended the party near the University of South Carolina, according to
Dick Harpootlian, a Columbia, S.C., defense attorney and former
district attorney in Richland County. Harpootlian represents one of
the men who was at the party and was a renter at the house where the
party took place.

His client was arrested last weekend at another house, where police
found a small amount of marijuana.

"All of the questions they asked him were related to Phelps,"
Harpootlian said.

That left the attorney with no doubt investigators are making arrests
in an attempt to gather information about the swimmer.

"There’s no question that this would not have occurred the way it did
if Michael Phelps was not involved," said Harpootlian, who oversaw
many drug cases as a prosecutor. "It’s silly that they’ve taken eight
kids and arrested them like this. I don’t think it’s a valid use of
very limited law enforcement resources."

Richland County authorities – namely Sheriff Leon Lott, who publicly
vowed that Phelps would receive no special treatment because of his
celebrity – have not said what charge Phelps might be facing. Under
South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a
misdemeanor that carries a fine of up to $200 and 30 days in jail for
the first offense. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a $500 fine.

Jack Swerling, a criminal defense attorney who has practiced in
Columbia for more than 30 years, said he has known Lott for 30 years
and called him an "honorable" man who is in a difficult position.

"I think you have to consider that having this news in an English
newspaper put Columbia, South Carolina, on the map in a way no one
wanted," Swerling said. "Here’s the sheriff of our county, and
everybody is looking at this big pot party in Columbia. Does he do
nothing and get criticized for that? Or does he do something and get
criticized for that? He’s kind of damned if he do and damned if he
don’t."

Swerling said simple possession charges are usually handled one of two
ways if the defendant has no prior drug offenses.

Many cases are sent to pretrial diversion, meaning the defendant
submits to drug counseling and testing for a short time. Once the
requirements are completed, charges are usually dismissed and wiped
from the defendant’s record. In other cases, the defendant pleads
guilty but a judge withholds the sentence for 90 days and orders urine
tests and possibly community service. Again, the charges are usually
expunged from the defendant’s record once those requirements are met.

"I would be shocked if this case is handled any other way. I don’t
foresee any circumstance where jail is even a possibility," Swerling
said. "The same rules should apply, whether we’re talking about
Michael Phelps or not."

Harpootlian said he has asked investigators why they’re acting the way
they are.

"They say that no one is above the law," he said. "But this isn’t a
question of someone getting preferential treatment to his
benefit. He’s getting treated differently to his detriment."

Kenneth W. Gaines, a professor at the University of South Carolina law
school with expertise in criminal procedure, said he sees no chance
that Phelps will face anything worse than a simple possession charge
but thinks the swimmer could do himself a favor by turning himself in.

"Cut them off at the pass," Gaines said. "You say, ‘I’m doing this
because kids look up to me and I want them to see me abiding by the
law.’ … Why let all of this draw out? On the legal side, he’s not
going to be hurt at all."

If Phelps were charged and decided to fight it, a case against him
would almost certainly have to be built using witness testimony,
according to Andrew D. Levy, a Maryland criminal defense lawyer and
adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Law,
where he teaches criminal law.

Levy characterized the investigation as "a little silly" but tried to
explain what the sheriff’s motives might be.

"It could simply be an effort by a local elected official to get his
name in the paper. … But here is what I think the sheriff would say:
Because Michael Phelps is not a normal person, because he’s the
world’s most famous athlete, it makes the consideration to prosecute
by that law enforcement official different. Because he is so famous,
it makes the harm that can flow from his conduct, and a failure to
prosecute him for that conduct, that much greater."

PanARMENIAN.Net

Oxfam can help Armenia fight financial crisis
14.02.2009 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Minister of Diaspora Affairs Hranush
Hakobyan met Friday with Oxfam non-governmental British Organization
representative, Nicolas Colof and Oxfam Armenia Subsidiary Director
Margarita Hakobyan.

A possible role of Oxfam in the development of Armenian economy was
discussed. Oxfam representatives gave organizationâ??s
programs assessment in view of world financial crisis.

Minister Hakobyan shared her views on the problem. â??The
major task is to prevent possible unemployment increase that could
result in problems in healthcare and education fields,â?? she
said.

She also emphasized the necessity of new job opportunitiesâ??
creation, especially in regions.

"To use foreign investments to their full effect, permanent exchange
of experience and human recourse development are in order", she said,
the Ministryâ??s press office reported.

BAKU WANTS PEACEFUL CONFLICT RESOLUTION, OPEN TO OTHER OPTIONS – AZERI FOREIGN MINISTRY

Interfax
Feb 10 2009
Russia

Azerbaijan is set to continue peace talks to resolve the Karabakh
conflict, the country’s Foreign Ministry press secretary Khazar
Ibragim told Interfax-Azerbaijan on Tuesday.

"Azerbaijan has proven its commitment to the peace process to resolve
the Karabakh conflict, after years of talks with the country which
has occupied part of its territory," Ibragim said.

He was commenting on the statement by Armenian Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandian, who said that, "Azerbaijan’s belligerent rhetoric
is thwarting the peace process of resolving the Karabakh conflict."

"We are committed to the peace process, although Azerbaijan has every
possibility of resolving the issue in line with international law,
by using other means permitted by the United Nations Charter and
other international documents," Ibragim said.

As for the increase of Azerbaijan’s defense budget and the buildup
of its military potential, this is a normal practice, and the country
will continue to work in this direction, the diplomat said.

"Naturally, in today’s situation, we are not going to use other methods
as we are in diplomatic talks. However, the use of other methods has
never been removed from the agenda," Ibragim said.

Baku is not going to intimidate anyone by its growing military
potential, the press secretary said.

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT TO APPROVE FOREIGN POLICY CONCEPT BY MARCH 15

ARKA
Feb 10, 2009

YEREVAN, February 10. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Government will approve the
country’s foreign policy concept by March 15, RA Foreign Minister
Edward Nalbandyan said today, reporting back to the RA Government.

"This is a rather complicated document, but we are to draw it up on
a tight timetable," he added.

Touching upon the ministry’s activities in 2008, Nalbandyan pointed
out dozens of government decisions, with some of them remaining on
paper. The government postponed amendments to the Law on Diplomatic
Service and the RA Land Code to 2009, the minister added.

The RA Foreign Ministry last year asked foreign diplomatic missions
to support Armenia revising those laws, particularly the Law on
diplomatic Service.

In his turn, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stressed the need for
adopting a single document for Armenian officials and delegations
participating in international conferences and workshops on the
Karabakh conflict.

"Since we often send our officials on missions, they need a document
about our official stand on basic issues," Nalbandyan said, adding
a similar document on the Karabakh conflict and other international
issues has been forwarded to all agencies.

AMERICAN EXPERT: "THE JEWISH LOBBY CANNOT EASILY BLOT OUT TURKEY"

APA
Feb 9 2009
Azerbaijan

Washington. Zaur Hasanov – APA. Expert of US-based Jamestown Foundation
on Turkey studies Emrullah Uslu interviewed by APA’s US bureau

– Mr. Uslu, what are the main motives of Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan’s demarche in Davos?

-There are two principal issues behind Prime Minister Erdogan’s
behavior and statements. From the aspect of domestic policy, when
Israeli President Shimon Peres said to Erdogan: "What would you do if
Istanbul underwent air strikes?", Prime Minister presumably thought it
would not suit his image as a leader in Turkey. After AKP came to power
in Turkey opposition began to accuse Prime Minister of behaving as
US and Israel say. Opposition often spoke about AKP’s close relations
with Washington and Tel Aviv in the rallies and on television. These
accusations worried Prime Minister. Shimon Peres’ speech in Davos
would give extra grounds to the opposition in Turkey. That’s why Prime
Minister reacted so vigorously. The second reason that made Erdogan
angry was David Ignatius’ attempts to cut him off. It made him angry.

– Up to then Turkey had been known as a U.S. ally pro-western country
and a state established basing on the principles of market economy. But
after AKP came to power nonstandard directions were observed in
Turkey’s foreign policy: Turkey began to establish good relations
with HAMAS, Iran, Sudan and other countries. Is Turkey changing its
foreign policy?

-Turkey is in the transition phase now – it is realizing the concept
of its role in the region. Why was Turkey considered as a strategic
country in the period of Soviet Union? It was so, because Turkey
was playing an important role in the anti-communist struggle as a
border country with USSR. Turkey has lost its significance from this
perspective since the collapse of USSR. Therefore a new concept was
elaborated. According to this, Turkey must play an active role, as
possible, in the Middle East, Balkans and the Caucasus to increase its
significance as an irreplaceable mediator in Europe, the East and the
Caucasus as well. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has started to
realize this concept aggressively since taking power. The main question
now is how the Turkish-Israeli relations will develop. Recently Arab
countries stated at the meeting of the Arab League foreign ministers
that non-Arab countries couldn’t interfere in the domestic affairs
of the Arab countries. It was a message to Turkey. Davos statement
of the Turkish Prime Minister made him popular among the Arab
peoples like Gamal Abdel Nasser. It makes the Arab leaders anxious,
because most of them, in the eyes of their peoples, are incapable and
corrupted leaders, who are under the US influence and incompetent in
the Palestinian problem. Therefore Prime Minister Erdogan’s demarche
in Davos cooled his relations with both Israel and Arab leaders. The
question is that can Turkey turn its image of leader among the Ararb
peoples into the political capital or not, which is very difficult
issue. As distinct from Turkey, there is no need to contend with the
public opinion in the Arabic world, because there are not a democracy,
free elections and press there.

– How will cooling of the Turkey-Israel relations impact on the
Turkey’s position in the United States?

-Turkish-US relations have a strategic character. Turkey supports
US-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a role of its
military base in Injirlik. However there is an Armenian issue in
the United States. The local Jewish lobby supported Turkey in this
issue. US Congress has more information about this issue as against the
previous years. Last discussions in the Congress showed that Americans
are dissatisfied with the attempts of congressmen to re-write the
history. The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers
also published articles about it. Probably Turkey will need in the
Jewish lobby this year too. The Jewish lobby, which is a network led
by the wise and intelligent people, cannot blot out Turkey.

JAVIER SOLANA ASSESSES DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY AS VERY GOOD

ARMENPRESS
Feb 9, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS: EU High Commissioner on Foreign Policy
Issues Javier Solana assesses the dialogue started between Armenia and
Turkey as very good. "I will be very happy to see it deepening more,"
J. Solana said February 7 at the 45th annual international summit on
security issues in Munich in response to the question of Armenpress.

After the speech of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan at the
session-discussion on "Management of Instability: South Caucasian
Region and Western Balkans" and discussions over the region, summing
up his impressions J. Solana said that Armenia is a very important
country, and hopes are great if its relations with the neighboring
countries improve.

"I have an impression that the relations with Turkey are improving
and I hope that in this respect something may happen months ago. We
hope that the frozen conflict will also be regulated: it is important
not only for you, the whole region but also for us – the EU," the EU
high commissioner said.

Former foreign minister of Germany, now the deputy speaker of German
Bundestag on foreign policy issues Markos Mekel said that for Armenia
which is not in good contacts with its neighbors, the solution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict is very important.

"For Armenia the issue is how the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict will be. This is an issue which is important for the two
parties, and by its regulation it is possible to find key for the
regulation of relations between the two countries, over Armenia’s
role and the rest issues. During the discussions I noted that there
is certain tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Not everything
is normal. That is why first of all it is necessary to ensure an
atmosphere of trust towards each other so that it will be possible to
negotiate in normal conditions. I am of the opinion that the regulation
of the issue is not so close yet and there is still much to be done,"
he said.

M. Merkel said that he has registered positive and important change in
the Armenian-Turkish relations which he said inspires great hope. "We
have noted that both President of Armenia and Turkish Foreign Minister
positively respond to the regulation of the relations between the
two countries. They have a serious approach towards the regulation of
the issue. We hope that this year Armenian-Turkish border will open,"
the German representative said.

Foreign Minister of Sweden Karl Bildt pointed out that in the speech
of the Armenian president a positive dynamics is noted in all the
regional directions.

"It is highly assessable that the positive dynamics is also notable in
the establishment of relations. We know that Armenia has difficulties
in relations with neighbors but there also exists positive dynamics to
overcome those difficulties. The positive dynamics in Armenian-Turkish
relations inspires great hope, as to relations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan the move is very small," Swedish foreign minister said.

EVERYONE VOTED FOR HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN

A1+
[07:40 pm] 06 February, 2009

Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan was
elected President of the Council of Yerevan State University of
Economics. Abrahamyan candidature was put forward by the University’s
ex-rector Grigor Kirakosyan. 27 members voted for Abrahamyan during
the secret ballot.

Note that Serzh Sargsyan heads the Council of Yerevan State University.

US ARMENIANS LAUNCH NEW ‘GENOCIDE’ RECOGNITION CAMPAIGN

Today’s Zaman
Feb 5 2009
Turkey

An influential Armenian organization based in the United States has
launched a new campaign to put pressure on the new US administration
to officially recognize Armenian claims of genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) called on
Armenian-Americans to send letters to both US President Barack Obama
and the representative of the district they live in to urge them to
officially recognize the alleged Armenian "genocide," the Anatolia
news agency reported yesterday.

"We are optimistic concerning the recognition with the new Congress
and the new administration," Mark Kirk, a Republican congressman close
to the Armenian diaspora, was quoted as saying by Anatolia. Kirk is
co-chairperson of the US Congress’ Armenian Caucus.

Late last month some 20 Armenian-American advocacy, civic, religious,
charitable and educational organizations sent a joint congratulatory
message to Obama to mark his inauguration while also outlining the
Armenian community’s expectations of the incoming Obama administration.

"Our government must clearly condemn the 1915 crime of race
extermination by Ottoman Turkey that, during the course of eight years,
killed 1.5 million Armenians, emptied vast areas of the Armenian
homeland and inflicted grave material harm to every aspect of the
Armenian people’s cultural heritage, depriving it, to this day, of its
right to exist on its native soil. Sadly, the inevitable consequence
of Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge this crime has been its inability
to adapt to the changing realities in the region," the message said.

ABRAHAMIAN: WHY WOULD TASHNAQ PARTY ACCEPT THE EXISTENCE OF ARMS OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF THE LEBANESE STATE

iloubnan.info
tics/actualite/id/31719
Jan 3 2009
Lebanon

BEIRUT – In an interview with An-Nahar newspaper on Tuesday, Retired
General Nareg Abrahamian of the Free Lebanese Armenian Movement
wondered why the Tashnaq Party would accept the existence of arms
outside the control of the Lebanese state and how can it greet March
8 forces and support what threatens democracy and the coexistence.

Abrahimian said that last’s month shooting of the Free Lebanese
Armenian Movement official is now in the hands of the Lebanese
judiciary system and there is no backing down from the case until
those who are responsible are apprehended and prosecuted.