Presenting favorite Greek tales November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Hellenic Light Americas.comments closed
The Winni Players Youth Ensemble, made up of locals between the age of 7 and 16, will be presenting the original play, Drama for Dionysus today through Sunday.
The gods are bored! Tired of the same old offerings, Zeus, Apollo, Athena and the rest of the crowd on Mount Olympus demand that the mortals entertain them. Thus, they offer up fun, modern and zippy adaptations of five well-known Greek myths. With stories like “Icarus and Daedalus”, “Medusa” and “King Midas” turned into political debates, soap operas and musical parodies, this isn’t your great-great (great-great-great etc., etc.) grandfather’s Greek tales.
The 28 talented youngsters from Laconia, Gilford, Meredith, Gilmanton, Belmont, Center Harbor, Center Barnstead, Warren and Ashland have been working since September to make these tales entertaining and relevant to audiences young and old.
The script was written by director Johanna Halperin, although being a new work it was shaped and enhanced by suggestions and ideas from the cast.
The production is suitable for children aged five and over. Like some of the best children’s cartoons and movies of recent years, there are enough “in-jokes” and mature humor to entertain adults as well.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and can be reserved by calling 366-7377. Showtimes are Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Greek fashion takes off November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Fashion & Style.comments closed
Greek designer Alexi Andriotti took to the skies to unveil his latest collection on a chartered flight over the Aegean Sea on Tuesday night.
Six models took turns to strut down the aisle in his jewellery and winter wear creations, taking care to avoid bumping passengers’ heads with their elbows. Model Olga Kipriotou admitted later that she was terrified of flying but enjoyed being part of the show.
‘My blood pressure went up every time I walked down the aisle… but it was a beautiful idea,’ she said.
Greece is trying to gain an international audience for its fashion industry, leveraging off the infrastructure makeover its capital Athens underwent for the 2004 Olympics.
But US fashion critic Candy Pratts Price said the goal of elevating Athens to the status of Paris, New York, London and Milan might be some way off. She suggested reinterpreting the ancient toga for modern-day fashionistas would be a good place to start.
‘They need to embrace their own culture and design,’ said the fashion director at Style.Com, the website of Vogue and W magazines.
However, she said planes were a great place to stage catwalk shows because the audience was held ‘hostage’.
Mr Andriotti refused to say how much the event cost to stage, but said it was at least three times more than a regular runway show. A first for Greece, similar in-flight fashion shows have been held in Paris, New York and India.
China, Greece discuss Olympic security cooperation November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Olympic Games.comments closed
Officials from China and Greece on Wednesday discussed their cooperation in 2008 Beijing Olympics as Athens hosted Olympics in 2004.
Chinese Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang expressed his willingness to learn from Athens Olympics on security issues while meeting with Greek Justice Minister Anastassios Papaligouras.
Papaligouras briefed Zhou on Athens Olympic security practice, saying Greece will further cooperation with China in various fields.
Zhou, who is also Chinese state councilor, said China will work with Greece to enhance cooperation and exchanges in the fields such as law and justice to serve nation-to-nation relations. Papaligouras is on his first China visit at the invitation of China’s Ministry of Justice.
Hellenic Aerospace Industry signs agreement with BAE Systems November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Business & Economy.comments closed
Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) is set to become involved in the manufacture, further development and marketing of one of the world’s most advanced long range maritime radar systems (HFSWR).
The announcement, made today, follows the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) between leading global defence and aerospace company BAE Systems and HAI, the largest defence and aerospace industry in Greece.
Under the terms of the MoU HAI will lead on all regional marketing activities for BAE Systems’ over the horizon maritime surveillance radar. The company will also take responsibility for the manufacture and integration of the technology with existing operational systems and command and control (C2) technology. The two partners anticipate potential international and domestic sales of more than €20 million over the next two to three years.
As a result of this new alliance HAI will offer an integrated maritime surveillance solution, combining the long range surveillance capabilities of HFSWR with the short range surveillance of equipment already in service. The company will also oversee the integration of the SPIDER multi-sensor situational awareness C2 system.
In announcing the agreement Alastair Imrie, BAE Systems executive committee member, said: “This agreement recognises the high level of skills and capabilities of the HAI workforce, with whom we have had a developing relationship since March this year. BAE Systems is proud of its reputation for delivering mutually beneficial industrial partnerships and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with the HAI team.”
Welcoming the agreement, HAI Chief Executive, Tassos Phillipakos, added: “Signing this MoU means that HAI and BAE Systems will combine their respective skills in order to create new abilities for developing, producing and delivering integrated surveillance solutions, incorporating HFSWR technology. Also, with this cooperation, both companies will have the opportunity, to expand their business activities worldwide by taking advantage of all the new financial and technological opportunities that are going to be offered by promoting this product”
HFSWR offers a low cost, all weather solution providing 24hr surface and air surveillance of maritime waters from ranges of 15km out to over 200km from shore. HFSWR delivers situational awareness, underpinning the effective operations of airborne and surface assets engaged in maritime security and law enforcement roles.
HFSWR is a land based, long range over the horizon radar system that enables maritime law enforcement and security agencies to maintain a constant picture of surface and air activity. When combined with data and intelligence from other sources appropriate to tactical objectives, HFSWR facilitates an awareness of maritime activity previously only achieved by standing airborne and surface patrols.
Relatad Links >
Hellenic Aerospace Industry S.A. (HAI) www.haicorp.com
BAE Systems www.baesystems.com
Greek ancient computer 1,000 years ahead of its time November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Archaeology Greece.comments closed
The Antikythera Mechanism was recovered from a ancient shipwreck in 1901
An ancient astronomical calculator made at the end of the 2nd century BC was amazingly accurate and more complex than any instrument for the next 1,000 years, according to scientists. The Antikythera Mechanism is the earliest known device to contain an intricate set of gear wheels.
It was retrieved from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1901 but until now what it was used for has been a mystery. Although the remains are fragmented in 82 brass pieces, scientists from Britain, Greece and the United States have reconstructed a model of it using high-resolution X-ray tomography. They believe their findings could force a rethink of the technological potential of the ancient Greeks.
“It could be described as the first known calculator,” said Professor Mike Edmunds, a professor of astrophysics at Cardiff University in Wales. “Our recent work has applied very modern techniques that we believe have now revealed what its actual functions were.”
The calculator could add, multiply, divide and subtract. It was also able to align the number of lunar months with years and display where the sun and the moon were in the zodiac.
Professor Edmunds and his colleagues discovered it had a dial that predicted when there was a likely to be a lunar or solar eclipse. It also took into account the elliptical orbit of the moon.
“The actual astronomy is perfect for the period,” Professor Edmunds said. “What is extraordinary about the thing is that they were able to make such a sophisticated technological device and to be able to put that into metal.”
The model of the calculator shows 37 gear wheels housed in a wooden case with inscriptions on the cover that related to the planetary movements. Francois Charette, of the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany, said the findings, reported in the journal Nature, provide a wealth of data for future research.
“Newly deciphered inscriptions that relate to the planetary movements make it plausible that the mechanism originally also had gearings to predict the motion of the planets,” he said in a commentary.
Professor Edmunds described the instrument as unique, saying there is nothing like it in the history of astronomy. Similar complicated mechanisms were not been seen until the appearance of medieval cathedral clocks much later.
“What was not quite so apparent before was quite how beautifully designed this was,” he said. “That beauty of design in this mechanical thing forces you to say, ‘Well gosh, if they can do that what else could they do?'”
Related Links > http://www.antikythera-mechanism.gr
Blaze damages an old Mt Athos monastery November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Religion & Faith.comments closed
A 13th century monastery in the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece caught on fire late on Tuesday, causing damage worth an estimated 50,000 euros but no injuries, authorities said yesterday.
The blaze, which broke out at about 10 p.m., burned 60 square meters of the Koutloumousiou Monastery’s roof and floor space.
Authorities said that the fire damaged some furniture but was contained before it could threaten ancient manuscripts or other valuable items. It was not immediately clear what had started the blaze.
The monastery, sixth in the hierarchy of 20 in the all-male Orthodox Christian sanctuary, has suffered repeated fire damage over the years, including as recently as 1980.
Metro line to Aegaleo by April November 30, 2006
Posted by grhomeboy in Transport Air Sea Land.comments closed
Three new metro stations will be ready in April of next year as the underground railway will stretch out to Aegaleo in the western suburbs.
The 4.3-kilometer stretch will connect Monastiraki station in the city center with three new stops: Votanikos, Elaionas and Aegaleo. It will cater to 80,000 commuters daily.
The positioning of the Aegaleo station was changed after the discovery of archaeological artifacts that will be on display at the station.
Residents of the western suburbs will be able to travel from Aegaleo to Syntagma in six minutes, according to official estimates.
In a further move to help ease Athens’s massive traffic problems, the metro will be further extended to Haidari by the end of 2008. The companies that will build the leg linking Haidari with Piraeus will be chosen near the end of next summer.
HomeboyMediaNews 