Happy New Year!

This is us on Yerevan's central Republic Square at midnight. Here's to a new year! Happy 2010.

More Marine Ball Photos

You may have noticed Brian's not-so-photogenic grimace in earlier photos. It's nothing permanent; he's just afraid of cameras, as evidenced by his hiding behind Sarah below.

With friends Sgt. Sean Morio and Laura Conaway.

Sarah looking ravishing...

Brian looking completely natural in his penguin suit...

Marine Corps Ball photos

Once again, the Marine Corps Ball gave us a chance to get all dressed up. Here we are! The first two are with our friend Sgt. Morio.

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Happy New Year!

Celebrity Sighting: Yevgeny Plyushchenko Opens Figure Skating School In Armenia

Olympic Champion of Figure Skating legendar Yevgeny Plyushchenko will open a figure skating school in Armenia named after him and will closely contribute to development of figure skating in the country.

In 2009 a Figure Skating School named after Olympic Champion Yevgeny Plyushchenko will be opened at the Sport and Concert Complex after Karen Demirchyan. Here Armenian children will be able to train with the help of Russian specialists, which means that Armenian figure skaters will participate in international competitions more frequently.

While on a visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan Yevgeny Plyushchenko said that he is not simply interested in opening a figure skating school after his name, but also is interested to closely help to develop this beautiful type of sports in Armenia.

Shareholder of “Bamo” Company Hovik Muradyan assures that the second skating-rink will be created within the coming two years. On New Year’s Eve, on December 27 and 28 world known figure skater Yevgeny Plyushchenko and famous Hungarian composer Edwin Marton will perform the luxurious “Stradivarius’ golden ice” for Armenian spectators.

Plushenko took a break from competitive skating following the 2006 Olympic season. He has said the off season has helped him rest and recover from past knee injuries he has battled.

After seeing the poor results of Russian skaters in the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships (which was the worst since 1960), Plushenko was worried about Russia losing its status as a dominant force in figure skating, and was also concerned that Russia might even lose spots for its skaters in the 2010 Winter Olympics. He announced in April 2007 that he has decided to return to competitive skating for the 2007-2008 season, to keep Russia at a competitive level with other countries until the next generation of Russian skaters can take over. Plushenko has since delayed his return indefinitely.

Plushenko has also stated that he plans to compete in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

In 2008 Plushenko, together with violinist Edvin Marton, accompanied Dima Bilan on stage as part of the winning Eurovision Song Contest performance "Believe" in Belgrade, Serbia.

Plushenko skated on stage as part of the performance.

Reported by Armradio.am

New York Times Article on the Foreign Service

Hiring Window Is Open at the Foreign Service

By EILENE ZIMMERMAN
Published: December 20, 2008

A RARE bright spot has appeared in a job landscape dominated by layoffs: the Foreign Service.

For the last several years, hiring in the United States Foreign Service was minimal because of a lack of Congressional funding. In addition, war has created an urgent need for diplomatic personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as officers have moved to these countries their previous jobs have remained unfilled.

So, in the last several months — with a new president on the horizon and new funding from Congress — both the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, are ramping back up.

A supplemental war funding bill, which became law in June, has provided money for Foreign Service hiring. And President-elect Barack Obama “has talked explicitly about the need to increase the Foreign Service and we hope he will make that a priority,” said John Naland, president of the American Foreign Service Association, the professional association and labor union representing career diplomats.

Full Article

Information on careers and internships at the State Department