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MY WANT LIST
My World Be Free
A little over a month ago I had a parcel go missing. Inside was 98 records, a mix of old and new, rare and not so rare. The last month has been a roller coaster of emotions, but I'm now finally coming to terms with it. The parcel is officially lost and the records are gone. Fuck it.
Bizarrely, one of the records I was most excited about was the debut album by World Be Free, which came out at the start of the year. A friend had kindly picked me up a copy with a limited sleeve made for their tour in February, and I was looking forward to it. The band's logo is rad and I loved that the tour sleeve looked like a Chung King tribute. I also had the regular green and orange vinyl copies in the box too, which I was less fussed about. Well, that was until I realised that the first press was now completely sold out. Then replacing them became pretty urgent as I figured that I may still be able to find them in distros for relatively cheap.
The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that the labels used on this LP matches the labels on the Warzone LESC 7". As do the vinyl colours. It's details like that which can only really be appreciated by true Rev nerds.
The green vinyl wasn't too easy to track down. There were 553 copies of this made, and being the limited colour, this version was only sold by Rev and a couple of distros in Europe that order from Rev in bulk. Come mid May there were no labels or distros selling this as new, so I had to go to Discogs and pay double what I paid the first time around.
The orange was slightly easier to find. With 1,354 copies made, I was able to find a distro that still had copies available for new price, which was good.
This best bit about this release, aside from the crazy characters on the back cover, is the photos on the insert. When your band is made up of old dudes who have been in bands for years, and who are probably looking a little past their best, then why would you use current photos when you can just dig out pictures from back in the day? Ha!
Back when this came out I was hugely underwhelmed. But I gave it a few tries and in time found myself enjoying it. It's quite catchy stuff... although not immediately catchy. Definitely worth persevering with if you have the patience.
There's now a second press of this available, and it sticks with the Warzone vinyl colour theme. But it's not about the ones you have. It's about the ones that got away, and it's gonna take me a fair amount of time (and money) to find a replacement for my lost tour press. Fucking parcel losing cunts.
Labels: 2016 Releases, Revelation Records
1000th Post
I realised a few weeks ago that I was getting close to my thousandth post on here, and started wondering what I would put up to mark this occasion. At the time I had a parcel coming to me with nearly 100 records inside, and there were two records in there that I had been searching to for close to twenty years. So I figured one of those would be it. But then, unfortunately, that box went missing. So I needed an alternative choice. I figured this Sick Of It All 7" would be an apt choice for reasons I will get to at the end...
So Sick Of It All are now celebrating 30 years as a band, and back in March this year played a show at a venue called Conne Island in Leipzig, Germany, which is now celebrating 25 years as a venue. So when the two got together, it seemed fitting enough event to mark with a commemorative item. Revelation pressed up a gold vinyl copy of the 7" and some dude in Germany made a special cover and insert, and the records got sold at the one show on 12 March 2016. Now obviously I didn't go as that would have involved leaving the house, but luckily a friend helped me out.
As I mentioned, Rev didn't make the cover for this version, and the person who did went all out to make it unique. So whilst the front is the same picture as the regular version of this record that we all know and love, the back cover is something different:
Also, for some stupid reason the paper dust sleeves were stamped with characters from Batman. I'm guessing that it was some kind of tribute to the early Rev releases being stamped with Batman logo stamps, but in my mind this release could have done without it. I just don't think it adds anything really as it has nothing to do with the band or venue. Different numbers were stamped with different characters, so for anyone who's stupid (or rich) enough to try there are technically 5 different versions to go after.
The rest of the layout is pretty cool though, with lots of pictures of the band playing at Conne Island over the years. The inside of the cover is also hand numbered out of 330 copies, and there's a flyer for the show included.
The lyric sheet contains the lyrics on one side...
... and more photos of the band at the venue on the reverse. All in all, it's a pretty cool package.
The only thing I'm worried about is that the paper feels like it was made on a colour laser printer or colour photocopier. It's definitely got to go into my 'at risk' box. If it gets hot, it could end badly for all involved.
So when I thought about it, the reason I thought this would make an apt 1000th post was to do with this updated collection photo that I took. Back when I started this blog, I owned three SOIA 7"s - the Gilman press, and the grey vinyl and white vinyl represses. Over the last eight years since I started this blog, I've picked up a few more copies of this record, adding (on average) one more copy each year, to the point where I now have a pretty good collection going on. So in a way I think this photo acts as a pretty good representation of this blog and, in a way, me.
Labels: Revelation Records
Still Got Something To Prove
I spent a lot of time on Discogs lately looking for stuff I lost. At some point I stumbled across this Spermbirds 'Something To Prove' LP on clear vinyl. It's a classic record and despite not really wanting to buy any records at the moment, I couldn't really help myself.
I don't know much about this band. They were a German band with an American G.I. on vocals and were active through the 80s and 90s. The rumours suggest that they never toured the States because the singer went AWOL from the army and so couln't return to the States. I don't really know if that's true or not, but it certainly sounds like a good story.
More Jungle Jamz
I really like the Jaguarz 7" so I bought another copy on yellow vinyl. It helped that it was pretty cheap.
I did also buy two other copies of this 7" from the label just before it folded, which meant I would have had a pretty good little collection going on. Unfortunately though, those two other copies have now been lost in the mail, so I don't. Ah well.
Rot In Finland
A couple of months ago Rot In Hell went to Finland to play two shows. I didn't know about it at the time as I don't know anything anymore, but I soon became aware when pictures of a tour record surfaced. Turns out it was actually a limited tour cover made for 60 copies of the 'Termini Terrae' 7" that came out on Dark Empire Records back at the end of 2012. I guess they had a few copies leftover. The tour cover was made by Sam Layzell, who is (I think) the current bass player and a tattoo artist. So it looks pretty good like.
The blue dust sleeve is numbered out of 60.
The record also comes with a flyer for the two Finland shows, which is a nice momento for those who were there. And also those who were not.
So apparently the old singer is now back in the band. The replacement left and the old one came back. It's a bit like one of those games of chess where a player makes a move and then three years later the opponent finds time to take their turn.
Labels: Rot In Hell
Last Great Stamp
So last night I saw BURN play for the second time in 7 months. And just like the last time they played, they had a 'special' 7" for sale at the show. Well, kind of. The 'Last Great Sea' 7" hasn't been available since it was first pressed back in 2002. Back then very few people cared about vinyl, so Rev only pressed 1000 copies of the record total. And that was it, until a month ago when it finally got the repress treatment in honour of Record Store Day. And then, as always seems to be the case, it got pressed again on a different colour vinyl. So this year we got 1100 copies on orange vinyl for RSD, and then 432 copies on clear green for Rev mailorder types. And of the 432 green copies, 120 copies got sent to Burn to sell on tour in Europe.
As you can see, my copy has a big dirty black smudge in it.
And just like last time BURN came over, the copies sold on tour were stamped inside the sleeve. However, unlike last time these aren't numbered. And the tour copies aren't a unique colour of vinyl. And there are only 120. So there aren't too many and they're not so easy to identify.
I'm guessing that this one will divide opinion. People will either think this is the dumbest thing ever and not give a shit, or they'll hunt high and low and pay out the nose for the privilege of having the stamp. If you're one of the latter then all I can say is... good luck!
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Why: You can't beat the wonderful and wacky fusion cooking here – this cafe, located near Seven Dials, Covent Garden, is the perfect place to meet, eat and drink in the West End. They do fantastic coffee and fresh juices, energising and hearty breakfasts with seasonal ingredients and weekend specials. Eat all the brunch. Spiced banana French toast, grilled bacon, orange blossom labne, tamarind raisin relish, orange vanilla syrup (£10) and Kopapa's hot-smoked salmon, toast, spinach, 2 poached eggs, yuzu hollandaise (£12.50).
Why: They do a stunning breakfast here. If you like porridge, you can't miss theirs – simple yet perfectly made, Dean Street's porridge (£4.50) is served with hot milk and brown sugar. One can only imagine that the porridge gods are smiling when this bowl is rolled out. Although certainly not the healthiest option around, it is worth tasting how porridge is supposed to be cooked – moist and creamy.
Why: Nopi is cool on so many levels; the decor, the white walls, the low-lighting. They do fantastic juices and some of the best breakfast in London – the Shakshuka here is given a special kick with the smoked labneh – a traditional Lebanese soft cheese, with a slightly sour tang, that highlights the smoky flavours of the tomato sauce. Just brilliant.
Why: This fluffy omelette, with smoked haddock, hollandaise sauce and cheese, was invented at the Savoy in the 1920s and named after the writer and critic Arnold Bennett. The chefs perfected it to his taste while he was staying at the hotel, writing a novel. Come her for amazing breakfast – literally everything on the menu is totally delicious.
Why: Come to Caravan for all the eggs; their baked eggs are utterly beautiful. Their cornbread is top; delicious, savoury cake-y goodness with a Mexican spice and depth, it's everything you could want in a brunch dish. If you're feeling bold, try the Pumpkin Waffle with baked ricotta, maple and pecans – it's utterly fantastic.
Why: Cinnamon Soho is the third modern Indian restaurant from Vivek Singh of The Cinnamon Cluband Cinnamon Kitchen. Located just a stone's throw from the cobbles of Carnaby Street, Cinnamon Soho offers fresh, seasonal Indian cookery, with a quirky British twist. Open all day for lunch, dinner, afternoon tea and cocktails plus Indian takeaway, you're guaranteed great service and great food in a friendly atmosphere.
Why: For a real feast, try this incredible hotel. The Wolseley's breakfast comprises of home-made Viennoiserie, classic egg dishes, full English breakfast as well as fruit, yoghurts and cereals. Their Eggs Benedict are truly sublime. If you like something naughty in the morning, their French toast with bacon and blueberries is the one.
Why: You literally cannot go wrong at The Modern Pantry; everything on their brunch menu is simply fantastic. We love the raspberry & ricotta pancakes with berry & liquorice compote and crème fraiche, and the grilled cornbread with chorizo and two fried eggs. Anna Hansen's cuisine is daring, yet elegant, with some unusual flavours thrown in – this omelette is unlike anything you've tried before, and the smoked chilli sambal gives the dish a fantastic richness and serious kick. Heavenly.
Why: The Harwood Arms might seem like a regular boozer on the outside, but step inside and you're greeted with some seriously good gastropub food.They are currently the only Michelin-starred pub in London and pride themselves on using the very best British produce with a focus on game and wild food. We can vouch for the confit duck leg with pumpkin and orange marmalade, swiss chard and kohlrabi – you won't be disappointed.
Why: The brainchild behind OPSO is consultant chefs Georgianna Hiliadaki and Nikos Roussos, co-founders of two-Michelin starred restaurant Funky Gourmet in Athens. OPSO's menu of sharing dishes is spearheaded by signature fare such as grouper tartare; grilled salmon with celery root purée; pastitsio noodles with hilopites, beef cheek, tomato and béchamel sauce and lemon-oregano chicken drumsticks, slow cooked for 12 hours with potato purée. Best of all, you can enjoy your brunch on their 40 seater terrace outside.
Why: Riding House Cafe has the warm intimacy that you crave in winter; snuggle into one of their back room booths, or sit at the bar with a carafe of white wine, and watch the (trendy media) world go by. You can't help but fall in love with somewhere that serves Challah for breakfast, too. The traditional Jewish bread, made with eggs and sugar to give it a brioche-like sweetness, is perfect when fried in a little sugar, as they do in Riding House, and served with a dollop of tart natural yogurt.
Why: Enjoy the theatre of traditional Spanish ham carving at Camino's open jamón counter, where they have a selection of impeccable quality Ibérico black pig hams and lots more. All Caminos serve some of the best wines and craft beers Spain has to offer plus fantastic gin-tonics served in huge goblets. They are open everyday for lunch, dinner and everything in between – try them on weekends for Bottomless Brunch – 3 courses and bottomless cava for £30 per person, including fine charcuterie and irresistible churros. Genius.


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"None of my ministers is corrupt" – President Buhari defends his cabinet
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, made a robust defence of the integrity of all 36 ministers in his cabinet challenging anyone with a contrary view to present evidence against such a minister.
Speaking in his first media chat, the president said the first gains of the war against corruption would become evident by the end of March, next year, even as he accused erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) of having allegedly committed atrocities against Nigeria through reckless disbursement of billions of government funds.
The president made his first dismissal of the agitation for Biafra stating that Igbo were in strategic position in the cabinet including holding the petroleum and labour portfolios besides the stewardship of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
President Buhari also assured of the administration's readiness to implement the N5,000 monthly transfer to vulnerable Nigerians even as he said the campaign promise did not emanate from him but from his then running mate, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. He also frowned at the allocation of N47.7 billion for the purchase of vehicles by the National Assembly even after the lawmakers had collected car loans from the government.
The president, who expressed his readiness to negotiate with any credible leadership of the Boko Haram sect for the release of the kidnapped Chibok girls also disclosed his readiness to consider a ban on the use of hijab should the trend of bombing through young veiled girls continue.
Noting the dire economic conditions facing the country, President Buhari was, nevertheless, against the immediate devaluation of the naira even as he revealed that N1.5 trillion had been recovered into the federation account through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account.
The president also spoke on the fate of the Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, saying that he had allowed the Kaduna State government and the military authorities to take the lead in the investigations. He affirmed that the cleric had over time overstepped his bounds to the distress of the communities he lived.
On the ministers:
"I don't think I tolerate corruption, I don't think I picked anybody that I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I have.
"I don't think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don't think I will deliberately make that mistake."
Asked if he would sack any of the ministers if he or she is charged to court for corruption, he said:
"No, I will insist that the case go through the courts."
On the crisis in Kaduna involving followers of the Shite leader, Sheikh El-Zakzaky, he said:
"I expect the Kaduna State Government to set up a judicial inquiry because it happened in Kaduna, in one of the cities and it has been there for the last twenty years from what I have been reading from papers. They will occupy a federal highway, sometimes from Kano to Kaduna. This is what I heard.
"We have a system of investigation, the military that was involved too have a tradition of investigation and I am the head of the federal government, I have to wait for the official report before I can come out as head of the federal government and make a statement. So I am allowing the Army and the Kaduna State government to submit their report of inquiry. Meanwhile it does not mean that the police, the SSS and other directorate involved are not doing their own part of constitutional role.
Frowning at the activities of the group, he said:
"Unfortunately it is very serious. How can any group proclaim statehood in a state? I don't want to speak about it in details now, I better leave it still after the report of the inquiry but there are a number of clips I saw, where some excited teenagers were visually hitting the chest of a general, mounting road blocks and threatening them with missiles.
On the contentious issue of subsidy, the president said that by the end of the next quarter that there would be no more talk about subsidy in the price of petroleum.
Credit: Vanguard

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Viktor Olegovics Pelevin (oroszul: Виктор Олегович Пелевин) (Moszkva, 1962. november 22. –) orosz író.

Élete és munkássága

1989-ben végzett a Moszkvai Energetikai Főiskolán, majd a Gorkij Irodalmi főiskolára járt. 1987 óta ír, 1989-ben jelent meg először nyomtatásban. A következő három évben számos novelláját közölték folyóiratok és antológiák. 1992-ben jelent meg első novelláskötete, majd 1993-ban első kisregénye Omon Ré címmel, mely a szovjet űrkutatást ábrázolja groteszk módon. A kötetet egyből lefordították angol és német nyelvre (magyarul 2001-ben jelent meg). Nem csak hazájában, de világszerte hamar népszerű lett, 2000-ben a New Yorker Európa hat legjelentősebb fiatal írója között emlegette. Viktor és Venyegyikt Jerofejev mellett a mai orosz irodalom "fenegyerekeként" emlegetik.

Stílusa minden előítélettől mentes, szatirikus, groteszk; gyakran keveri a nyelvi rétegeket, bátran használ szlenget, káromkodásokat; jellemző rá az intertextuális áthallás; a modern rockzenétől a klasszikus kínai szerzőkig sokféle kultúrkört mozgósít. Művein többen felfedezni vélték a fantasztikum számos irányzatának hatását, korai írásaira a tudományos fantasztikum kedvelői figyeltek fel, mondták posztmodernnek, mágikus realistának, Gogol groteszk világához hasonlították, fantasyvel rokon vonásokat találtak bennük. Mindezek mellett a posztszovjet világ egyik leghatásosabb ábrázolójának tartják.

Regényei

 1992 ― Омон Ра ― Omon Ra
 Omon Ré. Budapest, JAK-Osiris, 2001. Fordította Bratka László.
 1993 ― Жизнь насекомых ― Zsizny naszekomih
 A rovarok élete. Budapest, Park, 1999. Fordította Király Zsuzsa.
 A rovarok élete. Budapest, Park, 2006. Fordította Király Zsuzsa.
 1996 ― Чапаев и Пустота ― Csapajev i pusztota
 Az agyag géppuska. Budapest, Európa, 2001. Fordította Bratka László.
 Az agyag géppuska. Budapest, Európa, 2013. Fordította Bratka László.
 1999 ― Поколение "П" ― Pokolenyije "P"
 Generation "P". Budapest, Európa, 2001. Fordította és az utószót írta Bratka László.
 Generation "P". Budapest, Európa, 2006. Fordította és az utószót írta Bratka László.
 Generation "P". Budapest, Európa, 2009. Fordította és az utószót írta Bratka László.
 2003 ― Числа ― Csiszla
 Számok. Budapest, Európa, 2005. Fordította és az utószót írta Bratka László.
 Számok. Budapest, Európa, 2007. Fordította és az utószót írta Bratka László.
 2004 ― Священная книга оборотня ―
 A Metamor Szent könyve. Budapest, Európa, 2006. Fordította Bratka László.
 2005 ― Шлем ужаса. Креатифф о Тесее и Минотавре ―
 A rettenet sisakja. Budapest, Palatinus, 2006. Fordította Bratka László.
 A rettenet sisakja. Budapest, Cartaphilus, 2011. Fordította Bratka László.
 2006 ― Empire "V" ―
 Empire "V". Budapest, Európa, 2008. Fordította Goretity József
 2009 ― t
 T. Budapest, Európa, 2011. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós
 2011 — S.N.U.F.F.
 S. N. U. F. F.. Budapest, Európa, 2013. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós
 2013 — Бэтман Аполло
 Apolló Batman. Budapest, Európa, 2015. Fordította Iván Ildikó.
 2017 — iPhuck 10
iPhuck 10. Budapest, Helikon, 2018. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós.

 2018 — Тайные виды на гору Фудзи
Titkos pillantások a Fudzsi-hegyre. Budapest, Helikon, 2019. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós.
2019 — Искусство лёгких касаний
Gyengéd Érintések Művészete. Budapest, Helikon, 2020. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós.

Magyarul

 A rovarok élete; ford. Király Zsuzsa; Park, Bp., 1999
 Omon Ra; ford. Bratka László; JAK–Osiris, Bp., 2001 (JAK világirodalmi sorozat)
 Generation "P"; ford., utószó Bratka László; Európa, Bp., 2001
 Az agyag géppuska; ford. Bratka László; Európa, Bp., 2001
 Kristályvilág. Budapest, JAK, 2002 (második kiadás Budapest, Gondolat, 2004). Fordította Bratka László
 A tervhivatal hercege. Budapest, Gondolat, 2004. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós és Bratka László (Princ Goszplana)
 A hunok harmóniája. Budapest, Gondolat, 2005. Fordította M. Nagy Miklós és Bratka László. Előszó Podmaniczky Szilárd (Szinyij fonar)
 Számok; ford., utószó Bratka László; Európa, Bp., 2005
 A rettenet sisakja; ford. Bratka László; Palatinus, Bp., 2006 (Mítosz-sorozat)
 A metamor szent könyve; ford., utószó Bratka László; Európa, Bp., 2006
 A sárga nyíl. Elbeszélések; Budapest, Európa, 2007. Fordította Bratka László, Goretity József és Herczeg Ferenc (A fordítás a Zsoltaja sztrela kiadás alapján készült; Vagrius, Moszkva, 2000)
 Empire "V". Elbeszélés a valódi felsőbbrendű emberről; ford. Goretity József; Európa, Bp., 2008
 P5. Pindosztán politikai pigmeusai – pá, pederaszták; ford. Goretity József; Európa, Bp., 2010
 T Viktor Pelevin; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Európa, Bp., 2011
Ananászlé a szépséges hölgynek. Háború és béke; ford. Goretity József; Európa, Bp., 2012 (Ананасная вода для прекрасной дамы, 2011)
S. N. U. F. F. Utøpia; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Európa, Bp., 2013
Apolló batman; ford. Iván Ildikó; Európa, Bp., 2015
IPhuck10; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Helikon, Bp., 2018
Omon Ré; ford. Bratka László; Helikon, Bp., 2018
Titkos pillantások a Fudzsi-hegyre; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Helikon, Bp., 2019
Gyengéd érintések művészete; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Helikon, Bp., 2020
A legyőzhetetlen Nap; ford. M. Nagy Miklós; Helikon, Bp., 2021

Szakirodalom

 Bratka László: Viktor Pelevinről. Életünk 1999. November-December 1023
 Bratka László: Utószó. In Generation "P". Budapest, Európa, 2001
 Bratka László: Utószó. In Számok. Budapest, Európa, 2005
 Podmaniczky Szilárd: Előszó. In A hunok harmóniája. Budapest, Gondolat, 2005
 M. Nagy Miklós: A Pelevin-mítosz. Könyvjelző, 2010. október

Források

 Rövid életrajz a Se apák, se fiúk – poszt szovjet dekameron című kötetből (Budapest, Osiris/2000, 1992. 245. o.)
 Rövid életrajz a Huszadik századi orosz novellák című kötetből (Budapest, Noran-Kiadó, 2006. 634. o.)
 Magyarul Babelben – Pelevin, Viktor Olegovics oldala
 Oroszország Hangja – Viktor Pelevin
 Európa Könyvkiadó honlapja
 Cartaphilus Könyvkiadó honlapja

Orosz írók
1962-ben született személyek
Élő személyek

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By Zia H Shah on August 24, 2018 • ( Leave a comment )
Rohingya Muslims seeking refuge in Bangladesh would rather die than go back
'I Would Rather Die Than Go Back': Rohingya Refugees Settle Into Life In Bangladesh
By JASON BEAUBIEN
The Myanmar soldiers arrived in the morning, Dildar Begum says. They surrounded her village. It was in the days before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha and her family had been preparing for the upcoming feast — a feast that would never happen. In the ensuing attack, Begum says, government troops killed 29 members of her family.
"It's been 12 months that I'm living in Bangladesh, but there's not any days in which I don't remember my family," she says. "I miss them every day. I shed tears from my eyes for them every day."
In late August of last year, Begum was among hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled across a muddy brown river into neighboring Bangladesh, escaping what they now refer to as "the genocide." They arrived with horrific accounts of Myanmar soldiers and pro-government militias attacking their villages, killing their neighbors, raping their children and torching their houses.
Categories: Asia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Rohingya Muslims, The Muslim Times
Angry Pakistanis torch minority Ahmadi's place of worship
Australia's next PM made his name on turning back refugees
3lu5d on Biden's foreign policies in th…


If you own a wedding planning business and feel like your current advertising campaign is not generating the business you need to survive, then it may be time for to switch it up by using visual content marketing. An estimated 60 to 65 percent of the population consists of visual thinkers, yet they are bombarded with text-based advertising campaigns that don't create a lasting impression in their minds. Some of today's most successful companies are taking advantage of visual content marketing to appeal to this huge population of visual thinkers, and you should, too. Here are two ideas to get you started using visual marketing content for your wedding planning business.
Aside from the fact that so many people are visual thinkers, there are other theories about why visual content marketing campaigns succeed where text-based advertisements don't. Visual content marketing helps you communicate with visual thinkers by sending information to the right side of their brains instead of the left. The right side of the brain processes images, while the left processes text-based information and language. The right side also processes emotions, which may be why visual marketing leaves such a lasting impression on people where text-based marketing fails.
Visual marketing is also just a whole lot of fun. It is fun for your target audience and can be fun to create.
Visual content marketing is a perfect fit with the wedding planning industry. Images and interactive tools appeal to the right brain that is already filled with emotion when planning a wedding. Here are a couple of ideas on how to tickle the minds of visual thinkers who are planning weddings and make sure they take notice of your business.
1. Create a fun, interactive, design-your-own wedding dress web page. You can create a page on your website where women who visit your site choose from a selection of virtual "bodies," upload photos of their own faces onto them, and then choose from a variety of virtual wedding dress bodices, skirts, veils, and shoes to create the dress of their dreams. Many women looking forward to their weddings love looking at the wedding dresses of their dreams in bridal magazines and online, but your page will be even more fun by allowing them to not only look at dresses but also put together their own creations.
Women will visit your website over and over to play with the program, share their final creations on social media with friends, and then have friends who visit the page for fun. While not every woman who visits your page to play with the "design a dress" feature will become a client, the shares on social media and word of mouth about the fun program will lead to many new clients.
2. Create social media accounts or use your existing ones to host shareable visual content. If designing an interactive web page feels out of reach right now with your tight budget or feels just a bit intimidating, then take a cue from today's smart businesses that simply post visual content on their social media accounts that the public just cannot wait to share with friends.
To start, simply make a social media page for your wedding planning business on as many free social websites as you can. Then, instead of posting the usual blurbs about your current deals or discounts for new clients, make the pages fun places to go for anyone planning a wedding, whether they live down the street from your business or across the world. You can even post content just loosely related to the wedding industry if you think it is fun and will lead to many shares.
A fun infographic for shoe lovers. You may have seen infographics breaking down the cost of a wedding into a handy pie chart. Instead of making a typical, accurate chart, create one for shoe lovers by displaying the pie slice for wedding shoes as half of the pie instead of just a small fraction. Or you can choose a completely different infographic design to stand out from the other basic pie charts out there. You may be surprised how many times something simple, yet fun, gets shared with the large community of shoe lovers out there who want to pass on a good laugh to their friends.
Memes. Look into the latest memes before posting, since posting an old meme that is no longer popular can make your business look out of touch with the latest trends. Then, simply download the meme and add your own humorous words before you upload it to your social media accounts. Stick to non-offensive memes, like animals or holiday themes, and be sure to avoid any polarizing ones, such as political figures, that could offend potential customers. People love sharing memes and this leads to easy exposure for your company.
One of these 100 ideas. There are so many types of posts you can create that are fun and unique that Forbes magazine has created a list of ideas for business owners like you. Whenever you need inspiration, glance at it and you may be surprised how much fun you have working on each idea to make it your own.
Make it a goal to post one new piece of visual content to your social media accounts each day. Some may take off quickly and others may not, but by posting daily, you have 365 chances each year to initiate new interest in your business just by creating fun, shareable posts.
If you want to make your wedding planning business stand out from all the rest, then take advantage of visual advertising and the many visual thinkers who will enjoy, share, and remember them. While not every person who shares or enjoys your content will become a customer, your name will get out there and be the first on people's lips when asked if they know any wedding planners who can get the job done. Contact a company like X Plane for more visual marketing tips.


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The Battle of Shusha (Armenian: Shushi) ( or ; ) was a battle fought between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, militarily supported by Armenia, over the control of the city of Shusha, during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The battle is considered one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Shusha, known to Armenians as Shushi, and the surrounding mountainous terrain, is one of the most strategically important locations in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, and is usually referred to as the "beating heart" of the region. Until the middle of the 19th century, the city was considered the cultural and political centre of the regional Azerbaijani population, as well as one of the two main cities of the Transcaucasus for Armenians and the center of a self-governing Armenian principality from medieval times through the 1750s.

The city had a mixed Armenian-Azerbaijani population until the Shusha pogrom in 1920, when Azerbaijani forces destroyed the Armenian half of the city and killed or expulsed its Armenian population—up to 20,000 people. Since the massacre left the city predominantly Azerbaijani, it was thereafter incorporated into the Azerbaijani SSR, along with the rest of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. The city was captured in 1992 by Armenian Armed Forces to lift the Siege of Stepanakert during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and its then predominantly Azerbaijani population was expelled from it. The city subsequently served as a defensive backbone within Artsakh, connecting the de facto capital, Stepanakert, to the town of Goris in Armenia via the Lachin corridor.

Advancing from the city of Jabrayil, the Azerbaijani military captured the town of Hadrut in mid-October. The Azerbaijani forces then advanced further north, entering Shusha District through its forests and mountain passes. Although Shusha had been under bombardment since the beginning of the conflict, local warfare erupted near the city on 29 October. Azerbaijan seized control of the village of Chanakchi, followed by part of the strategic Shusha–Lachin road on 4 November, with the Armenian forces subsequently closing the road to civilians. Le Monde reported that the battle had turned in favour of Azerbaijan on 6 November, despite Artsakh's denial.

Supported by artillery fire, Azerbaijani special forces entered Shusha on 6 November.  After two days of battle, the Armenian forces were driven out of the city, and on 8 November, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated that Azerbaijani forces had taken control of Shusha; Armenia issued a denial. The next day, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence released a video from the city, confirming full Azerbaijani control. On the same day, the Artsakh's Presidential Office confirmed that it had lost control of Shusha, although this was later contradicted by statements from the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan, and the Armenian Ministry of Defence. Following the signing of a ceasefire agreement, President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan reiterated that Artsakh had lost control of the city on 7 November, and Pashinyan admitted to the loss of the city. Due to the strategic advantage the city provided, the capture of Shusha became a decisive moment in the war, with Armenia surrendering and Azerbaijan declaring victory a few days later.

Azerbaijan's victory in Shusha was widely celebrated in Azerbaijani society and its diaspora. 8 November, the day the President of Azerbaijan announced the victory of the Azerbaijani forces, was declared Victory Day in Azerbaijan, and a future Baku Metro station was named "8 November". A military award was created for those who took part in the battle.
The name of Nobel Avenue in Baku has been changed to "8 November" Avenue.

Background

Shusha was the second-largest city in the Nagorno-Karabakh region prior to the 2020 war. It is de jure part of the Shusha District of Azerbaijan, although it had been controlled by the unrecognised Republic of Artsakh since the end of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994, as part of its Shushi Province. The city is located at an altitude of 1,300–1,600 meters (4300' to 5200') above sea level, about  from the regional capital Stepanakert, referred to by the Azerbaijanis as Khankendi. The two settlements are separated by a valley, and Shusha, which serves as a buffer zone for Stepanakert, and is situated in mountainous terrain overlooking the region, has been described as a "strategic height from where one could keep all Nagorno-Karabakh under control". The strategic hilltop town is popularly referred to as an "unassailable" mountain fortress by both the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis. A key road connecting Goris in Syunik Province, southern Armenia, to Stepanakert passes through the Lachin corridor via Shusha; the only other major road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh passes through the Murovdağ mountains in the northern Kalbajar District.

Directly prior to the Armenian-Azerbaijani War of 1918–1920, Armenians formed a slight majority in the town. However, the town was left with a predominantly Azerbaijani majority after the war, as the Armenian population was massacred and the Armenian half of the city was razed during Shusha massacre. Subsequently, in 1923, under the Soviet rule, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) was created, and Shusha was the only large settlement with an Azerbaijani majority to be incorporated into the oblast.

In February 1988, the government of the Armenian-majority NKAO voted in favour of seceding from Azerbaijan and unifying with Armenia, leading to a wider ethnic and territorial conflict between the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis living in the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis vied to take control of Nagorno Karabakh and the fighting had escalated into full-scale warfare by early 1992. By then, the enclave had declared its independence and set up an unrecognised government. Beginning in late 1991, Shusha became used by Azerbaijani forces as a base for daily indiscriminate rocket attacks onto the regional capital of Stepanakert during the Siege of Stepanakert, causing at least 169 civilian deaths. On 8 May 1992, the Armenian forces launched successful offensive to capture Shusha in order to break the siege, and its Azerbaijani population of about 15,000 people, which made up 85.5% of the city's population in 1979, was forced to flee. Most of the city came into ruins, and Shusha turned into a ghost town. The ethnic Armenians, most of whom were the ones who fled anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan, then settled in the city, with about five thousand people living in Shusha prior to the battle in 2020. In 2020, the de facto President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan announced plans to move the National Assembly of Artsakh to Shusha, which escalated the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The city has historical, political and cultural importance for both the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis. For Armenians, Shusha has served as a town and ancient fortress for Armenian principality of Varanda during the Middle Ages and through the 18th century. It was one of the two main Armenian cities of the Transcaucasus and the center of a self-governing Armenian principality, the Melikdoms of Karabakh, from medieval times through the 1750s. It also has religious significance to the Armenians, as the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral is located in the city, and was the seat of the Diocese of Artsakh of the Armenian Apostolic Church until the end of the war.

For Azerbaijanis, the city holds particular cultural significance, who consider the city to their cultural capital in the region, and regard it as more important than Stepanakert. Through history, the city was a home to many Azerbaijani intellectuals, poets, writers and especially, musicians (e.g., the ashiks, mugham singers, kobuz players). Thus, Shusha is often considered the cradle of Azerbaijan's music and poetry and one of the leading centres of the Azerbaijani culture.

The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, had frequently described retaking the city as one of the war's key objectives. In a 16 October interview with the Turkish television, Aliyev said that "without Shusha, our cause will be unfinished", while the self-declared Armenian President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, called Shusha "one of our greatest legacies we have inherited from our ancestors", and added that "who controls Shushi, controls Artsakh". Despite the symbolic importance of the town, the International Crisis Group's Azerbaijani analyst Zaur Shiriyev stated that it remained unclear whether the capture of Shusha was a military or political target, while according to the Azerbaijani political analyst Fuad Shahbazov, the victory of Azerbaijani forces in Shusha would be "perceived as a moral victory for Azerbaijanis, whether they are on the front or not", which will also lead to "serious demoralization" among Armenian soldiers, and according to International Crisis Group's senior analyst Olesya Vartanyan, the side that controlled Shusha had "automatically gained control over Stepanakert".

Prelude

On 27 September 2020, an Azerbaijani offensive marked the beginning of clashes in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is de facto controlled by the self-proclaimed and unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, but de jure part of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani forces first advanced in Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts, taking their respective administrative centres. From there, they proceeded towards Hadrut. The Armenian forces planned to hold out long enough until winter brought the Azerbaijani offensive, and especially its aerial operations to a standstill, buying time for international pressure to propel the Azerbaijani leadership to abandon its offensive. But after the fall of Hadrut around 15 October, the Azerbaijani troops began to advance more intensively, and the Armenians started to retreat, with the Azerbaijanis then taking control of Zangilan. Launching an offensive for Lachin, the Azerbaijani forces also pivoted their war effort towards Shusha, penetrating into Shusha District through its forests and mountain passes.

Shusha had been under sporadic artillery fire since the beginning of the war. Novaya Gazeta reported that on 4 October, the Azerbaijani forces had rocketed the House of Culture in Shusha, where, according to local residents, hundreds of military and police officers were present. Later on, the local Armenian media reported that more than 22 police officers were killed, and about 200 more were injured during the attack. The New York Times also reported that the building was damaged. On 8 October, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in the city came under bombardment, reportedly by Azerbaijan, and was seriously damaged; Azerbaijan denied any responsibility. Throughout October, reports emerged that Shusha, as well as villages nearby, were being rocketed and shelled by Azerbaijani forces, while Azerbaijan denied shelling the city. On 28 October, Artsakh authorities stated that the situation in Chanakchi, located several kilometres south-east of Shusha, was "tense". The next day, Armenian Ministry of Defence stated that clashes were taking place in the village, and the self-proclaimed President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that the Azerbaijani forces were already  from Shusha. On 30 October, clashes were reported to have erupted near Shusha, especially Dashalty. On the same day, an Abkhazian Network News Agency correspondent reported that large explosions were heard near the city. The next day, Artsakh authorities stated that Shusha had again come under bombardment. On 2 November, the Armenian authorities stated that fierce clashes were taking place near Shusha.

Before the battle, in late October and early November, both Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of using white phosphorus near Shusha. On 30 October, Artsakh authorities had accused the Azerbaijani military of using phosphorus to burn forests near Shusha; Azerbaijan issued a denial. On 20 November, Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan filed a lawsuit, accusing the Armenian Armed Forces of using chemical munitions to "inflict large-scale and long-term harm to the environment" around Shusha, while Azerbaijani authorities had also stated that the Armenian forces were transporting white phosphorus into the region. The use of white phosphorus is strictly regulated under an international agreement that neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan had signed.

Battle
According to the Azerbaijani accounts, the Azerbaijani special forces, who were tens of kilometers (miles) away from the main Azerbaijani forces in Hadrut, continued on foot towards Shusha for five days, as both the terrain and the route were not suitable for vehicles. Choosing to move through the forests, they had avoided the Lachin corridor and Qirmizi Bazar, which was heavily defended by the Armenian forces. This was reiterated by the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev later on, who stated that the Azerbaijani forces had crossed the ravines, forests and mountains to reach the city. On 4 November, the Armenian authorities reported that clashes continued near Shusha. This saw Azerbaijan capture the mountains south of Shusha, as well as make progress into the Lachin corridor.

Subsequently, the Armenian forces closed the Shusha–Lachin road to civilians, trapping 80 journalists within the enclave, according to Reporters Without Borders. The Armenian authorities stated that Shusha was heavily shelled on the morning of 5 November, and that clashes continued the following day. The Russian media reported that the Azerbaijani forces had managed to surround the city from three sides–the south, west, and east. On 6 November, Le Monde reported that the battle had turned in favour of Azerbaijan, despite a denial by Artsakh. In the early morning, Argishti Kyaramyan, who had served as the head of the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) until October 2020, stating that his duties in the region were completely fulfilled, left Shusha. In the meanwhile, the Armenian military commander Seyran Ohanyan, who was leading a group of 16 men in the city, also left Shusha.

The next day, thousands of Armenians fled Shusha and neighbouring Stepanakert, with long lines of vehicles jamming the road. The Armenian artillery batteries were repositioned outside the city and local servicemen set up last-minute checkpoints to ensure no male resident under 58 was leaving. On 7 November, the Armenian authorities stated that fierce combat took place overnight near Shusha and Dashalty, and also claimed that several Azerbaijani attacks had been thwarted; Azerbaijan denied this, and its president, Ilham Aliyev, announced that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Garabulag and Baharly in Khojaly District, located to the southeast of the city.

The Azerbaijani forces entered the city on 6 November. In addition to artillery support, a group blocked the Lachin corridor to prevent the Armenian forces from bringing additional support to the city, while another group, after capturing Dashalty, provided fire support. Also, the Azerbaijani forces had destroyed a strategic bridge over the Hakari River, which allowed Armenia to move supplies and additional soldiers to the city, further breaking the supply lines crucial to the Armenian forces. An Abkhazian Network News Agency correspondent at scene reported that the Armenian forces in the city were supported with armoured vehicles, and that the technical superiority of the Azerbaijani forces was "gradually fading away" as the Azerbaijani forces were unable to use combat drones due to the foggy weather. The Azerbaijani accounts state that the Azerbaijani special forces, consisting of 400 men divided into four groups of 100, climbing the "steep rocks of Shusha with ropes" and lightly equipped, broke into the city in the morning from four sides and urban warfare immediately began. Azerbaijani forces used grenades and anti-tank missiles, as well as artillery support from outside the city, to combat the armoured vehicles of the over 2,000 Armenian defenders.

The next day, the Armenian forces were driven out of the city centre in the afternoon, and, according to the commander of the Nakhchivan branch of the Azerbaijani special forces, Tehran Mansimov, who took part in the battle, the Azerbaijani forces formed a defence line in the Shusha fortress. They thwarted three Armenian counterattacks, while the major Gunduz Safarli and his squad seized the building of the Shusha City Executive Power and continued building-by-building combat. Fighting along frontlines surrounding the city continued throughout the night. On the morning of 8 November, the Azerbaijani forces continued their offensive outside the city.

Aliyev, during his visit to Aghdam on 24 November, after the Armenian side handed it over to Azerbaijan as part of the ceasefire agreement, stated that in Shusha, the Azerbaijani forces were equipped with light weapons and engaged in combat in an "almost hand-to-hand battle." He reiterated this and added that the Azerbaijani soldiers had climb the cliffs of Shusha to reach the city during a victory parade in Baku held on 10 December, labeling the battle a "historic moment." The Azerbaijani accounts also suggested that the number of the Armenian forces in the city, supported by heavy artillery, was at least 2,000. While the Armenian sources and officials haven't commented on the number of the Armenian forces in Shusha during the battle, Artsakh's self-proclaimed president had stated that some 6,000 Azerbaijani soldiers were sent to the area before the battle. In the meanwhile, the Armenian media reported that the Armenian-allied forces had launched an Iskander missile on the city on 7 November, and some Armenian political figures reiterated this report, though in January 2021, the Armenian Mayor of Shusha, Artsvik Sargsyan, refuted this report, stating that there "would be no building standing in the city" if the report was true. In March 2021, the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) stated that Armenia had used Iskander missiles during the battle, adding that they found the remains of two exploded Iskander missiles during the demining of the area in Shusha.

In the afternoon of 8 November, Aliyev announced that the Azerbaijani forces had taken control of the city, also congratulating the commander of the Azerbaijani special forces, Hikmat Mirzayev. Although an Izvestia correspondent on scene confirmed Aliyev's claim, the Armenian authorities denied this on 8 and 9 November, stating that the fighting continued in and out of the city. On 9 November, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence released a video from the city, with a report by Major Zaur Rahimov in the end of it, confirming full Azerbaijani control. Aliyev also announced that the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of several villages to the south and east of the city, including Chanakchi, Signag, Shushakend, and Dashalty. The Azerbaijani media further reported that Mansimov had continued military operations and attacked the Armenian positions in Stepanakert, disobeying the orders of the higher command, though the Azerbaijani authorities and Mansimov himself denied this. Subsequently, the Artsakh authorities acknowledged that they had lost control of Shusha, adding that the Azerbaijani forces were closing in on Stepanakert. However, the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan appeared to contradict this, stating that the battle was continuing; this claim was later reiterated by the Armenian Ministry of Defence, and the Armenian MP Nikolai Baghdasaryan, who called Armenian public to not panic. Some Armenians speculated that the social network accounts of Artsakh officials were hacked and their statements did not correspond with the reality. Several Armenian officials and analysts also accused the Azerbaijani leadership of "lying to their people." However, on 10 November, following the signing of the ceasefire agreement, which confirmed the fact that the Azerbaijanis were controlling Shusha, Artsakh's self-proclaimed president, Harutyunyan, stated that his forces had lost control of the city on 7 November,  and Pashinyan admitted the loss of the city.

Casualties
In mid-November, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), assisted by the Russian peacekeeping forces, started to find and exchange the bodies of the fallen soldiers from both sides, and on 25 November, the Russian sources reported that, in the city, the ICRC had found more than 2,000 corpses in total.

Armenian
Armenia had not commented on its military casualties from the battle before the trilateral agreement. On 6 November, Le Monde reported that the hospitals in Stepanakert did not have enough space to accommodate any more injured during the battle for Shusha. Also, Reuters reported that the corpses of the Armenian soldiers were lining the stretches of a road in Shusha. On 7 November, allegations emerged that the Armenian military commander, Seyran Ohanyan, who was in Shusha during the battle, and his son, Arthur Ohanyan, were severely wounded, but this was denied by Armenia. The Azerbaijani media, citing military sources, claimed that more than 800 corpses of the Armenian soldiers have not been released into Armenian possessions. The Armenian Ministry of Defence had asked Azerbaijanis to transfer these corpses to the Armenian side. In an interview on 29 January 2021, the Azerbaijani commander Tehran Mansimov noted that the bodies of about 730 dead Armenian servicemen from Shusha, its environs and nearby forests were handed over to the Armenian side after the ceasefire agreement. However, on 16 November, self-declared President of Artsakh, Arayik Harutyunyan, stated that 150 bodies belonging to the Armenian forces were recovered from the outskirts of Shusha and hundreds were still missing, while the Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that over 300 bodies belonging to the Armenian forces were recovered from 14 to 16 November. On 21 November, Artsakh authorities stated that they had found a wounded Armenian police officer near the city.

Azerbaijani
Azerbaijan did not disclose its military casualties during the war. On 3 December, Azerbaijan's ministry of defence disclosed the total number of Azerbaijani servicemen killed throughout the war, and stated that it will provide the details later on. On 14 November, the Russian peacekeeping forces handed over the bodies of six Azerbaijani soldiers who were killed near Shusha to the Azerbaijani authorities. However, the Armenian authorities claimed that at least 200 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the vicinity of Shusha before the battle. The wounded Azerbaijani servicemen were taken to the nearby forests around the city, and were evacuated on November 9.

Aftermath

Armenia

The battle was a key point in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and was seen as a significant blow by both the Armenian military and the wider Armenian society. The Armenian army started to disintegrate and two days after the battle, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced the signing of a ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan. According to the Armenian political scientist Suren Sargsyan, the ramifications of Shusha's loss was difficult for the Armenians to grasp. Sargsyan added that it would lead to demands from the Armenian opposition for a change of government. In the aftermath of the war, many Armenians turned against Pashinyan, with violent protests erupting throughout the country, and a common claim of him "selling out" Shusha became popular among his opponents. Ex-president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, also criticised the Armenian military leadership for not stopping the Azerbaijani forces from reaching the vicinity of Shusha, as, according to Kocharyan, the Armenian forces had about two weeks to form up a new defensive line. Kocharyan also claimed that Vitaly Balasanyan, then the secretary of the National Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh, offered to command the Armenian forces in Shusha, but was rejected.

A series of military authorities backed Pashinyan, contending that Armenia's military position was much direr than many people believed. Pashinyan, in response, stated that after the Azerbaijani forces took control of Shusha, Stepanakert was left defenseless, and that twenty to thirty thousand Armenian soldiers in Askeran and Martuni would've been under siege, adding that the lives of the Armenian soldiers were more important for him. Artsakh's self-declared president, Arayik Harutyunyan, also pushed back against allegations of treason, stating that the ethnic Armenian forces lacked the manpower to defend the city. Then, the Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that when the Azerbaijani forces captured Shusha, a critical situation arose for the Armenians and that the Azerbaijanis could've further advanced, capturing Stepanakert, adding that the immediate cessation of the warfare was in the interest of the Armenian side. In the meanwhile, Putin also stated that Pashinyan had the opportunity to sign a ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan in October, with the Armenian forces still controlling Shusha, though with the Azerbaijani refugees of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War returning to the city. Putin added that Pashinyan rejected this offer, which Pashinyan confirmed later on.

Pashinyan, in response to the allegations of Shusha being "sold out," stated that Shusha was an "unhappy and dull city," asking if the Armenians needed it or not, Then, in January 2021, at a meeting held by the Armenian government in the parliament, Pashinyan stated in response to a question from Naira Zohrabyan, a member of Prosperous Armenia, that "there was no option in the whole negotiation process to prevent the Azerbaijani refugees from returning to Shusha," adding that before the Armenian forces seized control of Shusha in 1992, "90% or more of the city's residents were Azerbaijanis." These statements created a resonance in the country, with political figures like Ara Abramyan, Aram Sargsyan, Mikayel Minasyan, Naira Zohrabyan, Robert Kocharyan, and Zaruhi Postanjyan, criticising Pashinyan. At a briefing, local journalists asked the MPs representing My Step Alliance, which is led by Pashinyan, whether or not they had "any doubts" of Shusha being "an Armenian city," though left the briefing without answering the question. On 29 January, a journalist protested Pashinyan's statement in front of the building of the Armenian government. Vice-president of the Armenian National Assembly, Alen Simonyan, stated that the local media had "misinterpreted" Pashinyan's statement and taken his words "out of context," adding that "provocations that exist in the media should be related to journalism." Pashinyan also responded to the public backlash via Facebook live, calling it a "media manipulation."

On 3 December 2020, Deputy Head of the Shushi Province, Samvel Harutyunyan, stated that about 4,500 Armenians were displaced from Shusha. Later, in January 2021, the Armenian Mayor of Shusha, Artsvik Sargsyan, stated that the Armenian refugees from Shusha, who "didn't know what was going on," and were thinking that they were "leaving for a few days, soon the issues would be resolved, and they would return to their homes," had faced with unfavourable living conditions, and high rent prices, as well as lack of food and clothing in Armenia despite the efforts of the charity organisations.

In January 2021, former director of the Armenian NSS, Argishti Kyaramyan, claimed that the members of the Homeland detachment, led by another former director of the NSS, Artur Vanetsyan, had left their positions during the battle, though Vanetsyan, and other members of the detachment later denied this claim.

Azerbaijan

In contrast, the announcement of the city's capture by the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev led to celebration among the Azerbaijanis, with flag-waving, singing, and the sounding of car horns in Baku, the country's capital. A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the Alley of Honor in Baku with the participation of Aliyev and the Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. Ships moored in the Bay of Baku honked their horns, and the Azerbaijanis in Moscow celebrated with a firework display, while cars decorated with the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey rallied through Brooklyn, New York.  In Azerbaijan, some political figures labelled the battle the Divorce in the Mountains (), in reference to the Armenian name Operation Wedding in the Mountains (Armenian: «Հարսանիք լեռներում» ռազմագործողություն) for the 1992 capture of the city.

On 20 November, at a plenary session of the Azerbaijani National Assembly, a draft bill on amendments to the bill "On the establishment of orders and medals of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was submitted for discussion. The For the Liberation of Shusha Medal was established on the same day in the first reading in accordance with the bill on the occasion of Azerbaijan recording a victory in the battle and winning the war, with Ilham Aliyev proposing the medal's name. On 1 December, the Azerbaijani singer Samra Rahimli, known for representing Azerbaijan in Eurovision Song Contest 2016, released a song titled Shusha, we are back (). 27 September and 10 November were declared Memorial Day and Victory Day respectively, although the latter's date was changed to 8 November as the previous date overlapped with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Memorial Day in Turkey.

On 4 December, at 12:00 (GMT+4) local time, a moment of silence was held in Azerbaijan to commemorate the fallen soldiers of the war. In this regard, flags were lowered across the country, and traffic halted, while the ships moored in the Bay of Baku, as well as cars honked their horns. The Azerbaijani soldiers also stood in front of the Shusha fortress and commemorated those killed in the war. On 8 December, the Azerbaijani authorities announced that the new station in the Baku Metro will be named 8 November at the suggestion of the President Aliyev. On 10 December, during the Baku Victory Parade, the first flag hoisted in Shusha when the Azerbaijan forces seized the city's control was declared the Victory Banner of Azerbaijan in the war, which the personnel of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, led by Zaur Mammadov, who also took part in the battle and was appointed the city's commandant, marched with it in Azadliq Square. Servicemen of the Special Forces of the Ministry of Defense, led by the Commander of the Special Forces, Lieutenant General Hikmat Mirzayev, who took part in the battle, also marched in the parade.

In November, the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads started the construction of a four-lane highway to Shusha, labelled the "Victory Road", which begins in Alxanlı, and takes a route via Fuzuli, and the Topkhana Forest. A groundbreaking ceremony for the highway, which is planned to stretch  and be  wide, occurred on 24 November in the presence of the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, and the First-Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva. The road will also link up with the Baku–Shirvan–Saatly–Horadiz route. It is planned to get finished by September 2021. On 12 November, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that it had moved the Shusha police department, which was previously located in Tartar District, into Shusha, while the organizers of the Turkvision Song Contest stated that they were exploring the possibility of holding the contest's 2021 version in Shusha, and in January 2021, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture started preparatory activities on the Khari Bulbul Festival and Days of the Poetry of Vagif. In December, the chairman of the Public Association Organization for the Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan, Faig Ismayilov, stated that the Azerbaijani refugees of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War from Shusha will start returning to the city at least by summer 2021, while the chairman of the Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijani MP, Tural Ganjaliyev, stated that they were planning to relocate the community to the city in the near future.

On 5 January 2021, Shusha was declared the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, while the Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Salim Al-Malik, proposed to declare the city as the cultural capital of the Muslim world, and on 19 January, Secretary General of the Turkic Council, Baghdad Amreev, during a teleconference with President Aliyev, stated that Shusha will be declared the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2022. On 15 January, the President Aliyev and the First-Vice President Aliyeva visited Shusha. The next day, busts of Khurshidbanu Natavan, Uzeyir Hajibeyov and Bulbul, which were kept in the yard of the National Art Museum in Baku since the Armenian forces captured Shusha in 1992, were returned to the city, while Aliyev hoisted the Azerbaijani flag in the city centre. On 27 January, Aliyev appointed Aydin Karimov as his special representative in the city.

Role of Russia

On 9 November, the day when the ceasefire agreement was signed, the Azerbaijani forces in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic accidentally shot down a Russian Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter near Yeraskh, in Armenia. According to Anton Troianovski and Carlotta Gall of The New York Times, this potentially gave Russia a reason to intervene in the war, and the Russian president Vladimir Putin delivered an ultimatum to the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev. According to Troianovski and Gall, in this ultimatum, Russia stated that if Azerbaijan did not cease its operations after seizing control of Shusha, it would intervene. The same night, an unknown missile hit an open area in Khyrdalan, near Baku, without causing any injuries, according to Azerbaijani sources. Also, yet again on the same day, a video emerged on the social media apparently showing the Armenian forces launching a Russian-made Iskander missile into Azerbaijan. The former Head of the Military Control Service of the Armenian MoD Movses Hakobyan, right after resigning from his post on 19 November 2020, confirmed the use of an Iskander missile on Azerbaijan by Armenia, though he did not say where the missile hit. According to Can Kasapoğlu, the Director of Security and Defence Studies Program at the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies, an Istanbul-based independent think tank, Armenia could've used Iskander missiles only with Russia's consent.

Wagner Group
On 28 September 2020, Russian media reported that Russian private military companies were ready to fight against Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. On 1 October, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, citing a Wagner Group source, claimed they were already in Nagorno-Karabakh and participating in hostilities. The Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer also stated that Wagner contractors were sent to support the Armenian forces as ATGM operators. After the war, in December 2020, a photo of a Wagner mercenary, apparently taken in front a church in Shusha during the war, appeared on the internet. Also, the Russian media leaked a message, apparently describing how the Armenian government refused to pay the Russian mercenaries for their work, and how, because of the, some of the Wagner mercenaries intended to return to Russia or defect to the Azerbaijani side. The Russian media reported that, in November, there were about 500 Russian mercenaries fighting on the Armenian side, and some 300 Russian mercenaries had taken part in the Battle of Shusha, with Victor Zlobov, a retired captain of the Russian Armed Forces, stating that Shusha was "defended mainly thanks to the Russian volunteers."

The Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has been linked to the Wagner Group, denied any involvement of the Russian PMCs in the war. According to the Armenian journalist Karine Ghazaryan, writing for Bellingcat, there was no "any firm evidence showing their arrival or involvement in the war." She stated that Reverse Side of the Medal (RSOTM), a media channel linked to Wagner Group, which, according to Ghazaryan, was the main source of the reports, was not the "breaking news source."

Peacekeeping
On 13 November, following the ceasefire agreement, the Russian peacekeepers from the 15th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade deployed to the region set up an observation post on the outskirts of the city. The Russian peacekeeping forces also took control of the Lachin corridor, which, according to the statement, did not affect Shusha. A new road through the Lachin corridor is planned for construction, which will bypass Shusha, unlike the current road that runs along the city's outskirts. A checkpoint located at a road going through the Ganja Gate, the northern entrance to the city, was guarded by the Azerbaijani servicemen.

The first major breach of the ceasefire that was confirmed by the Russian peacekeeping forces in the region occurred on 11 December, in an area close to Shusha, which became an Artsakh holdout after the war. The Azerbaijani forces seized control of Hin Tagher (Köhnə Tağlar) on 12 December, with some clashes continuing in the area. Both sides accused each other of reigniting the conflict. The Russian peacekeeping forces requested both sides to respect the ceasefire. On 13 December, the Russian peacekeeping contingent took control of Hin Tagher. However, the next day, the Russian Ministry of Defence released a map showing some of the area outside of the boundaries of the peacekeeping mission, and it came under Azerbaijan's control.

War crime allegations
In mid-November, a video of a wounded Azerbaijani soldier Amin Musayev receiving first aid by Ukrainian journalist Alexander Kharchenko and Armenian soldiers in the outskirts of Shusha after the ceasefire came into force was spread on social media platforms. Following this, a video was released showing Musayev being abused inside a vehicle. It is reported that he was lying on the ground in the car and asked: "where are we going?" In response, the alleged Armenian soldier said, "If you behave well, go home," and cursed, after which it became clear that the Azerbaijani soldier had been kicked. On 18 November, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yerevan said that information about this person was "being investigated." The ICRC's representative in Yerevan, Zara Amatuni, declined to say whether she had any information about Musayev. The Artsakh ombudsman said he had no information about the Azerbaijani soldier, but that if he was injured, he was "probably in hospital in Armenia." The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the issue was being investigated and will be reported to the relevant international organizations. According to the ministry, "the information about the torture of prisoners is first checked for accuracy and brought to the attention of relevant international organizations." On 25 November, ICRC's representatives visited Musayev and Karimov in Yerevan. On 5 December, the family of Musayev was informed of his condition through ICRC. According to a reported copy of the letter sent by Musayev, he stated that his condition was well. Musayev was returned to Azerbaijan on 15 December as part of the POW exchange deal. Azerbaijan had officially accused the Armenian side of ill-treating the Azerbaijani POWs. Amin Musayev, and several other Azerbaijani POWs had stated that they were tortured by their Armenian captors until being transferred back to Azerbaijan. Dilgam Asgarov, a Russian citizen of Azerbaijani descent, who was detained by the Armenian-allied forces alongside Shahbaz Guliyev, an Azerbaijani citizen, in 2014, during an incident in Kalbajar, in an interview he gave after being released, also stated that the Armenian captors had tortured the Azerbaijani POWs.

On 15 November, the Armenian Apostolic Church claimed that the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, which was shelled earlier, and Kanach Zham were defaced after the Azerbaijani forces took control of Shusha, prompting a statement by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denouncing the alleged act. Human Rights Watch confirmed that "Azerbaijani forces attacked a church in the city of Shushi on October 8, 2020", calling it a "possible war crime", specifying that it was hit twice "in what appears to be a deliberate targeting in violation of the laws of war". Azerbaijan's president Aliyev stated that the Christian churches would be protected, this was seconded by Azerbaijan's Acting Minister of Culture Anar Karimov who, in an interview with France 24 on 1 December, brought the Armenian Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church in Baku as an example and added that the Christian religious monuments in Karabakh were "inherited from their ancestors." On 14 January 2021, in an interview with Azeri Press Agency, he said that Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, among other Christian monuments, would be restored by the government. In May 2021, Ghazanchetsots Cathedral dome and the cross were removed, Azerbaijani authorities stated the cathedral was being reconstructed to "restore" its "original" form. The Armenian Foreign Ministry called these actions of Azerbaijan an act of "vandalism aimed at depriving the Shushi Cathedral of its Armenian identity", pointing out that it was done without consulting with the Armenian Apostolic Church, thus violating the rights of its congregation, also denying access to UNESCO mission of independent experts. The USCIRF also expressed concern over these actions undertaken by Azerbaijan.

In January 2021, the Azerbaijani officials claimed that the Mamayi Mosque and a nearby fountain were vandalized by the Armenian forces.

International reactions

On 8 November, following Aliyev's announcement, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, congratulated Azerbaijan while addressing the crowd in Kocaeli, stating that he believed it to be a "sign that the rest of the occupied lands will be liberated soon too." Selçuk Bayraktar, a Turkish engineer who's been largely credited for the creation of the Bayraktar TB2 combat drone, which was widely deployed by Azerbaijan during the conflict, also sent a message of congratulations. Also, in Turkey, Vice President Fuat Oktay, the Ministry of National Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Justice, Abdulhamit Gül, the chairman of Republican People's Party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavaş, Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, chairwoman of the İYİ Party, Meral Akşener, spokesperson of the ruling AK Party, Ömer Çelik, the head of media and communications in the Turkish presidency, Fahrettin Altun, Turkish presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Mustafa Şentop, the former prime minister and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Binali Yıldırım, former MP and Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mahir Ünal, General Manager of BAYKAR Defence, Member of TUBITAK Board of Directors, Haluk Bayraktar, and the president of Directorate of Religious Affairs, Ali Erbaş, former deputy leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Ümit Özdağ, as well as Turkish actor Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, and BB Erzurumspor, a Turkish professional football club, congratulated the Azerbaijani people on the occasion. On 9 November, Iranian MP Ahmad Alirezabeigi stated that the "liberation of Shusha city from the occupation proved that justice has been restored", adding that he was "proud and happy" for the occasion, while the Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan also congratulated Azerbaijanis. Former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga and former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbaev both congratulated Aliyev in their positions as members of the Baku-based Nizami Ganjavi International Centre.

In January 2021, the chairman of MHP, Devlet Bahçeli, after congratulating the Azerbaijanis over their victory in Shusha, stated that he wanted to build an Idealist Hearths (Gray Wolves) primary school named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov in the city on his personal instructions, if the Azerbaijani president Aliyev and the Turkish president Erdoğan "permitted and found it appropriate". The Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan stated that if the Azerbaijani president Aliyev approves, Bahçeli's willing will be realized, and added that numerous organizations and government bodies in Turkey were ready to "provide any kind of support." On 26 January, Bahçeli made a speech at MHP's group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He stated that with the school's project was approved by Erdoğan and Aliyev. According to Bahçeli, the school's ownership will be delivereted to the Azerbaijani government immediately after its completion. In February 2021, the deputy chairman of MHP, Mevlüt Karakaya, met with the President Aliyev, the Minister of Education of Azerbaijan, Emin Amrullayev, and other officials to further discuss the initiative to construct a school of culture and art in the region.

On 9 November, France expressed its "very strong concern over the military advance toward the town of Shushi".

Notes

References

Bibliography

External links

Battles of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
Battles in 2020
Battles involving Armenia
Battles involving the Republic of Artsakh
Battles involving Azerbaijan
Military history of Shusha
Operations involving Azerbaijani special forces
2020s in Shusha
2020 in the Republic of Artsakh
2020 in Azerbaijan
November 2020 events in Asia
November 2020 events in Europe


text:
Q: Cayley Transform (PDE) I really need your help in solving the following problem:
Prove that a unitary operator $U$ acting on a Hilbert space $H$ is the Cayley transform of some self-adjoint operator if and only if $1$ is not an eigenvalue of $U$.
At the first direction, I have tried assuming that 1 is an eigenvalue for the eigenfunction $f$. This implies $Uf=f$ ,where $U=(L-i)(L+i)^{-1}$ for some $L$.
But since $U^* U=1$  we get that also $U^* f =f $ , and thus:
$<Uf,f>=<Uf,U(U^*f)>=<f,Uf>$, which implies $U$ is symmetric, and in particular $U=U^*$ and $U^2=1$. I can't figure out how to get some contradiction out of this. Maybe we know that $U$ must be one-to-one or something?
As for the other direction, I need some detailed guidance.
Hope someone will be able to help
Thanks !

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text:
"We're So Good Together" is a song written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Annie Roboff, and recorded by American country music artist Reba McEntire.  It was released in September 2000 as the third single from the album So Good Together.  The song reached #20 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Chart performance

Notes

References

2000 singles
1999 songs
Reba McEntire songs
Songs written by Bob DiPiero
Songs written by John Scott Sherrill
Song recordings produced by David Malloy
MCA Nashville Records singles
Songs written by Annie Roboff


text:
John Bennet (died before 1479) was a fifteenth-century Mayor of Dublin. He held office as Mayor from 1456–67. He was a landowner in counties Dublin and  Kildare. He was probably the John Bennet who sued the Prior of the Order of Hospitallers at Kilmainham for debt in 1453.

He married Joanna de Snyterby, only daughter and heiress of Reginald de Snyterby (died c.1436), who was appointed second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1424. The de Snyterby (or Sueterby) family were natives of Snitterby in Lincolnshire, and also had strong Irish connections: Reginald was the third member of the family to hold high judicial office in Ireland. John and Joanna had at least one son Thomas, who married Elizabeth Bellew.

John had died by 1479, when his son Thomas granted his lands at Ballymore, County Kildare, to the Prior of the  Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Dublin (now Christ Church Cathedral). The profits from the lands were to be used to pay for four choristers (professional singers), to sing at divine services for the repose of the souls of Thomas, his wife, and his parents.

John's widow Joanna was still alive in 1484, when she, like her son previously, made a grant of lands in County Dublin to the Prior of Holy Trinity Cathedral.

Sources
Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 London John Murray 1926
Close Rolls 5 Henry VI
Patent Rolls 13 Henry  VI
Statutes of the Parliament of Ireland  1453-4
Twentieth Report of the Deputy Keeper of Public Records in Ireland Dublin Alexander Thom and Co 1885

Lord Mayors of Dublin
15th-century Irish politicians


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text:
The $100 Samsung Gear VR Is Going to Change Everything
Alissa Walker
Filed to: oculus connect 2015Filed to: oculus connect 2015
oculus connect 2015
Oculus announced a lot of cool stuff at its developer conference today, like a set of new streaming apps, including one for Netflix that's available now. But there was a verifiable Oprah moment at the Dolby Theater in LA when it was announced that Samsung's new Gear VR headset will be sold for $100 this fall.
I got to see one in person when I met with Samsung today and I don't think I'm overstating things when I estimate that this one product will instantly push VR into the mainstream.
Much of the focus for this Gear VR version was on improving comfort, says Jim Willson, director of immersive products and virtual reality for Samsung. That started with lowering the headset's weight. The stripped-down headset is 22 percent lighter than the existing Gear VR Innovator Edition (which sold for $200) thanks to a streamlined design that trades some of the plastic parts for webbing or mesh.
There are also some nice material changes: Instead of using indifferent foam where the goggles meet your face, there's a second layer of soft padding that's almost like the microfleece you'd find on one of those supercuddly baby blankets. Just this tiny difference in texture improves the tactile experience and also makes the headset feel less likely to slide down your face in a current of nose grease.
Although additional comfort was deemed key, there are some technical improvements: The touchpad on the temple now has little grooves that help guide your finger in four directions, something that's infinitely helpful when you can't see where you're touching. It was also important to help lower the learning curve, says Tom Harding, immersive products and VR director for Samsung. "We wanted to make sure from a mobile VR perspective that it's intuitive to use."
But maybe even more important than all that is the fact that the new Gear VR is also engineered to fit more phones—albeit only new Samsung ones. The Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+, S6 and S6 edge all snap into the adjustable headset. So people who might have been putting off purchasing one because they don't have the right phone no longer have an excuse.
Plus, at the $99 price point (reminder: phone not included) VR is now cheaper than an iPod Touch. And no other virtual reality headset comes close. This not only makes the product much more accessible, it's creating even more of a gateway drug for VR by loading it up with some very user-friendly mainstream apps like Netflix. Meaning virtual reality will no longer be the realm of role-players. This is VR your grandparents will want.
The lower price point is also poised to potentially change several industries. Beyond gaming and entertainment, Samsung is seeing applications in fields like education and the nonprofit world where organizations being able to afford more headsets could make a critical difference. Willson gave an example of surgeons who are using it to teach complicated medical procedures. "Now at this price point, this is a game-changer."
The timing also couldn't be better really, as this is basically the most perfect Christmas present (it will be available for purchase by Black Friday). Of course, this is all provided you have the phones. But who knows? This may be such an intriguing prospect to some consumers that Samsung might be selling a few new phones this holiday as well.
Follow the author at @awalkerinLA
Top photos by Alissa Walker/Gizmodo; other photos courtesy Samsung
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