Aragatsotn is a province ("marz") of Armenia. It is in the west of the country. The capital is Ashtarak. The name means "a foot of Aragats". During the Arsacid Dynasty of the Kingdom of Armenia, the region was part of the Ayrarat province. It was ruled by the Amatuni noble family with its capital at Oshakan.
Aragatsotn's western edge forms part of Armenia's border with Turkey.
There are 3 urban communities and 111 rural communities.
Ararat Province
Ararat is a province of Armenia. The capital is Artashat. It is named after Mount Ararat. The province borders Turkey to the west and Azerbaijan to the south.
Two former Armenian capitals are in this region (Artashat (Artaxata) and Dvin). The Khor Virap monastery was the place of Gregory the Illuminator's 13-year imprisonment.
In 1993 and again in 1995, CYMA (Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia) worked in Ararat province. They built community centers, fixed schools, had a children's day camp and gave aid to families affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh War. CYMA co-founders Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Ronald Alepian chose Ararat due to its well-organized youth movement.
There are 4 urban communities and 93 rural communities.
Armavir Province
Armavir is a province of Armenia. The capital is Armavir. It is in the west of the country, between Mount Ararat and Mount Aragats. It shares a 45-mile border with Turkey to the south and west. The province has the Holy City of Echmiadzin. Echmiadzin is the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the seat of the Catholicos of Armenia and of All Armenians. Also in this region is the historic city of Sardarapat. It was the site of the 1918 Battle of Sardarapat.
Armavir is the smallest province of the country. There are 3 urban communities and 94 rural communities.
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York City. It is the second largest public library in the United States
The library has branches in the boroughs of Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. The branch libraries are open to the general public.
John Astor gave $400,000 for the creation of a public library. which was built in 1854
The size and importance of the library grew along with the city.
Reiki (era)
LGBT rights in Thailand
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Thailand may face legal challenges that non-LGBT residents don't have to. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in Thailand. Same-sex couples and families headed by same-sex couples cannot get the same legal protections that opposite-sex couples can.
Thai LGBT people "still [in 2014,] face discrimination affecting their social rights and job opportunities"; they also "face difficulty gaining acceptance for non-traditional sexuality, even though the tourism authority has been promoting Thailand as a gay-friendly country".
In May 2009, the Thai Red Cross reaffirmed its ban of men who have sex with males (MSM) becoming blood donors, despite campaigns to change this policy. Gender-Reassignment Operations have been performed in Thailand since 1975, and Thailand is among the most popular destinations globally for patients seeking Gender-Reassignment Operations.
LGBT rights in Myanmar
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) people in Myanmar face legal challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal within the Union of Myanmar and punishable by fines and imprisonment for ten years to life. The past authoritarian nature of the government made it difficult to obtain accurate information about the legal or social status of LGBT citizens of Myanmar. However, along with the ongoing political reforms, improvements in media and civil freedoms have allowed LGBT people to gain more and more recognition in the country.
During the Military regime, no organised Bangladeshi LGBT political or social life was able to exist. Burma's social mores about human sexuality have been described as being "extremely conservative." Aung Myo Min is an openly gay man and has been involved in the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF). In 2005 he talked about his coming out process and the homophobia that exists, even with the pro-democracy opposition. Today he is involved with exile Burma human rights organizations, including the Campaign for Lesbian Gay Rights in Burma. In 2003, Focus Asia (Star TV) aired a story about the Nat Kadaws. The "Utopia Guide to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Vietnam" references "Transgender shaman channelling spirits at Myanmar sacred festivals." Yet, within Burma itself, no formal gay bars or LGBT human rights organisations exist as of yet. There are only some unconfirmed reports that certain nightclubs in the cities that are a reputation for both heterosexual and LGBT clientele. Burma also celebrated its first gay pride in several cities around the country in 2012, to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
Gegharkunik Province
Gegharkunik is a province of Armenia. Its capital is Gavar. Gegharkunik was named after Gegham. Gegham was a Haykazuni King and the fifth generation after Hayk. Geghama mountains and Geghama lake, now called Lake Sevan, were named after Gegham.
Gegharkunik Province is in the east of Armenia. It borders Azerbaijan. It is the largest province in Armenia. Much of the land is covered by Lake Sevan. There are 5 towns and 87 rural communities.
Kotayk Province
Kotayk or Kotaik is a province of Armenia. It is in the centre of the country. The capital is Hrazdan. It is best known for its world-renowned beer of the same name. Tourist towns are Garni and Geghard. Also the popular winter sports resort Tsakhkadzor is where Soviet Armenian physiologist Leon Orbeli was born.
There are 7 towns and 60 rural communities.
Lori Province
Lori is a province of Armenia. It is in the north of the country. It borders Georgia. The capital is Vanadzor. Stepanavan is the second largest city. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Haghpat and Sanahin and the well-preserved Akhtala monastery.
It was damaged by the 1988 Spitak earthquake.
Lori is the birthplace of several famous Armenians. These include musician Sayat-Nova, poet Hovhannes Tumanyan, Soviet aircraft designer Artem Mikoyan, and Soviet statesman Anastas Mikoyan.
There are 8 urban communities and 105 rural communities.
Shirak Province
Shirak is a province of Armenia. It is in the north-west of the country. It borders Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. The capital is Gyumri. Shirak is known as the homeland of khash. Shirak is served by Shirak International Airport near Gyumri.
There are 3 urban communities and 116 rural.
Syunik Province
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders Iran to the south. The capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (ARMSTAT) reported its population was 152,900 in 2010.
Historically, Syunik was one of the 15 provinces of the Kingdom of Armenia. It was part of the Persian Empire around 369.
Syunik is home to many of Armenia's largest mining operations. There are 7 urban communities and 102 rural communities.
Sakurai, Nara
Sakurai is home to Ōmiwa Shrine. It is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.
The shrine is linked with brewing sake.
According to tradition, Sakurai was sometimes the site of an Imperial Palace, including
Sakurai is part of Yukio Mishima's novel, "Runaway Horses".
Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights is a 1997 American drama movie written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy and Heather Graham. It follows the life of a pornographic actor in San Fernando Valley.
Tavush