How the Americans favour and promote Turks January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Cyprus Occupied.comments closed
I was astonished to read in the Voice of San Diego newspaper the following anti-Cypriot and anti-Greek article by James O. Goldsborough who claims to be a writer on foreign affairs! Well, maybe he is not! Or maybe in his envy of the Greek wealth in terms of money, as well as the rich Greek History and Heritage which counts more than 5000 years as opposed to the American history which is less than 500, he prefers to favour the so-called and illegal state of “Turkish Cyprus” which is only recognized by Turkey itself and is not internationally recognized by any other country including the USA and the United Nations! I bet he is asking the “30 dinars” as Thomas did once when he delivered Jesus Christ! The result of course is known: He hunged himself!
Here is the link to his article > San Diego State’s Turkey Trouble
And here are some comments (only 100 characters are accepted when someone posts a comment to the Editors of that San Diego newspaper) >
Reader Feedback
Comments so far on this story: Dan Asta wrote on January 11, 2007 9:05 AM:
“In his effort to take sides, Mr. Goldsborough gets it only half right. Of course meedling in academic affairs by politicians is wrong. He’s absolutely right therer. On the other hand, he calls Eisenstat’s description of the program as immoral “outrageous” and then he places the blame on the island’s division on Greek Cypriots, completely disregarding the illegal invasion that ethnically cleansed hundreds of thousands of Greek Cypriots from the north. While an overwhlemning number of Greek Cypriots want their rights restituted in the North, they realized that the unification plan of 2004 instead validated the ethnic cleansing of 1974.”
And her is copy of my comment posted on 8:46 μμ 11/1/2007 > Your comment has been posted!
“Mr. Goldsborough gets two things mixed up. First one is that he calls Turkish Cyprus the area of The Republic of Cyprus, a European Union State Member, which is currently under Turkish military occupation since July 1974, when Turkey invaded The Republic of Cyprus. Second, the so called and illegal state of “Turkish Cyprus” has never been recognized by any country in the world, except Turkey itself. Third, he refers to the Cyprus-Tuskish conflict and says its as old as Homer’s history. This is wrong, the conflict is since 1963. USA has played its role in the conflict.”
I am very much curious to see if my comment will be posted on their on-line newspaper! I will follow-up to check it on this link >
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2007/01/11/opinion/01goldsdsu.txt#blogcomments
James O. Goldsborough has written on foreign affairs for four decades, both from the United States and abroad, where he worked as a foreign correspondent for The New York Herald Tribune, International Herald Tribune and Newsweek magazine for 14 years, reporting from more than 40 countries. Visit his website http://www.jamesogoldsborough.com/.
UPDATE > 12 January 2006
As I said above, I followed-up on the above mentioned article and my comment posted has now appeared on the newspapers’ site, uncensored:
Reader Feedback
Comments so far on this story: George wrote on January 11, 2007 10:46 AM:
“Mr. Goldsborough gets two things mixed up. First one is that he calls Turkish Cyprus the area of The Republic of Cyprus, a European Union State Member, which is currently under Turkish military occupation since July 1974, when Turkey invaded The Republic of Cyprus. Second, the so called and illegal state of “Turkish Cyprus” has never been recognized by any country in the world, except Turkey itself. Third, he refers to the Cyprus-Tuskish conflict and says its as old as Homer’s history. This is wrong, the conflict is since 1963. USA has played its role in the conflict. ”
However, it will be interesting to read any further comments appearing. Let me call this a political debate!
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2007/01/11/opinion/01goldsdsu.txt
Postage stamps highlights of new show January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Hellenic Light Americas.comments closed
A postage stamp exhibit, “Stamped Out!” The Collaspe of the Ottoman Empire and the Growth of Greece” is on display at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center from January 16-February 21.
The exhibit is free. Tarpon Springs Cultural Center is at 101 South Pinellas Ave. Call 727-942-5605.
Theodore Grame, a retired professor of musicology and author of two books and many articles, is a collector of postage stamps featuring musical topics from 200 countries on six continents.
Some of the stamps in this exhibit are from Thessaly, Thessloniki, Mt. Athos, Alexandropoulis, Kavalla, Crete, Epirus, Kalymnos, Samos, Ikaria, Rhodes, Halki, Simi, and Cyprus.
The exhibit honors Grame’s Evzone father, Constantine, who was wounded fighting for his country in the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913.
In 1830 the new Kingdom of Greece achieved its independence from the tottering Ottoman Empire, but it would be 117 years before Greece reached its present borders, while Cyprus, then under British rule, had to wait until 1960 to become a sovereign nation. Between 1830 and 1913 Rumania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro freed themselves from Turkish control, and, by about 1920, the Ottoman Empire was gone, succeeded by the modern secular state of Turkey.
The aim of this exhibition is to illustrate the growth of Greece using postage stamps. The exhibit is of special interest in Tarpon Springs, since the Dodecanese Islands, the ancestral home of many Tarpon Springs residents, were not united with Greece until 1947, following centuries of Turkish and, later, Italian occupation.
Iron Maiden will play in Athens January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Music Life Live Gigs.comments closed
British metal giants Iron Maiden will play a headlining show in Athens, Greece on Sunday, March 11.
The concert is part of the band’s world tour in support of their latest album, “A Matter of Life and Death”, which was released last September.
The show will take place at the Pavilion Stadium of Tae Kwon Do in Faliro. The ticket price is 55 euros (before the show) and 60 euros (day of the show) and the venue’s doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
Related Links > http://www.didimusic.gr/dates/default.asp?id=335
An interactive new journey through antiquity January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Archaeology Greece, Architecture Greece, Arts Events Greece, Culture History Mythology.comments closed
The Foundation of the Hellenic World’s state-of-the-art dome on Pireos Street lets visitors experience the ancient world through technology. The cavernous foyer was created by joining the main building to the new dome. The layout is organized so that there is no crowding or holdups, even during invasions by schoolchildren. Guidebooks and a well-equipped library provide extra information.
The Hellenic Cosmos complex’s new dome, designed by Giorgos Andreadis, Yiannis Tsiomis and Natalia Ephraimoglou, looks like a spinning sphere at night. Its first digital, interactive display is a tour through Athens’s Ancient Agora during three phases of its history. Each member of the audience has a console and small screen.
The orderly ancient Athens on show at the Foundation of the Hellenic World’s new dome on its Hellenic Cosmos complex near the broken sidewalks of Pireos Street is a far cry from the chaotic modern city of today. But the contrast only highlights the possibilities for the foundation, which has been lauded for developing innovative educational programs. Its virtual-reality theater, which seats 132 people and was opened last December by President Karolos Papoulias, is particularly notable. And the foundation has invested in good architecture: The building’s exterior is lovely, resembling a spinning heavenly body.
Giorgos Andreadis, Yiannis Tsiomis and Natalia Ephraimoglou have designed a “building in motion” achieved through clever use of surface area and materials such as the alternating rings encircling the outer surface of the dome, and special lighting. To drive by it at night is to be rewarded by the unique phantasmagoric sight of a lighted sphere.
The dome is the Hellenic Cosmos complex’s new architectural symbol, its flagship. The underground and outdoor parking areas are entered from the rear. The entire complex is very well organized, even if one arrives at the same time as a gaggle of schoolchildren. The cafe and ticket offices, and it’s a good idea to book beforehand, are in the huge foyer, which was formed by unifying the original Hellenic Cosmos building with the dome itself.
The first impression inside the theater brings to mind the newly renovated Eugenides Foundation’s Planetarium, but the resemblance ends with the dome’s shape and the reclining seats. For this is where the innovations begin. The seats are equipped with four navigation knobs, a joystick and small screens that transform the audience from passive observers into co-creators in the course of the history on show.
The first interactive production is a virtual tour of Athens’s Ancient Agora in three different periods of its history, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman.
In this production, the audience can to some extent influence the course of history, by voting on the way the tour develops, or taking part in role playing games. As an example, we watched the greatest Athenian festival in classical times, the Panathenaea. By hitting the right buttons on their consoles, members of the audience can talk to the athletes or even take part in the events themselves.
But there are two innovations which are difficult to perceive with the naked eye. The computers set their course through digital space based on coordinates provided by averaging out the directions given by the audience with their joysticks. At the same time, the small screens on the consoles can replay something shown earlier, or give more detail about a particular section of the film.
The digital performance is the result of the dome’s pioneering technological infrastructure, 24 Dell computers with dual core processors, and stereoscopic display, creating a new digital experience that is unique.
Hellenic World, 254 Pireos Street, tel 212 2540000, www.tholos254.gr.
Optimistic outlook for plain sailing at 2008 Olympiad January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Aquatics.comments closed
Young Greek sets course for finish line after highs and lows
‘Sailing, and particularly championship sailing, exhausts the athlete’s body and soul, but it teaches you about yourself and your limits… The sea is where I feel both all-powerful and at my most vulnerable,’ says Vangelis Heimonas.
Vangelis Heimonas has all the characteristics of a champion, alongside his studies in international relations at the University of Piraeus, the 25-year-old titleholder of the Greek Laser class is counting down to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
At last August’s pre-Olympic tournament in China, Heimonas came in fifth. Hard training, top physical fitness and the support of his family, friends and sailing federation are what he says are his keys to success.
He started sailing at the age of 10 in the Optimist class. At the Sailing Association (NAS), his coaches noticed his talent and he began training on a daily basis. After switching to the Laser class, in just six months he was Greece’s youth champion and also won the Balkan championship. In 1998, he came in second in the world races for youth. “Unfortunately, for a number of reasons I wasn’t ready for the Sydney Olympics, so I set a course for 2004,” he said. Yet luck was not on his side and during the Athens Olympics he was disqualified in the fourth race, putting him in 16th place. Since then he has realized that remaining calm is not enough.
“You need a lot more, most of all concentration,” he said. His best memory of the Athens 2004 Olympics was the opening ceremony. “When we walked into the stadium, the enthusiasm! Those are unrepeatable, unbeatable moments.” Now he travels the world to compete against the best athletes, but says he does not neglect his studies or his friends.
Asked whether he was interested in politics, he said: “Of course I am. Although most of my friends are apolitical, we are very concerned about things. We all know that the way universities are today cannot last for long. But there’s not much we can do about it, except talk. Young people have the impression that politicians don’t care. They don’t consider young people to be part of society’s future, let alone its most vital component. The fact that the family unit is still strong in Greece makes many young people avoid claiming for themselves what in other countries is taken for granted.”
Back to sailing, which is no doubt an expensive sport. “Yes, it is even though we live in a country surrounded by the sea. And because not every pocket can afford it, it doesn’t appeal to most parents for their young children. It is true that when I go abroad I take not only my suit but my boat and all the equipment I need. When the journey is transatlantic, things are even more difficult, as we need a container. Fortunately, the federation supports us. I have also had the support of businessman Giorgos Vassilopoulos all these years. You have to have a sponsor, but they are not easy to find. Sailing is an amateur sport, but training for the Olympics demands professional standards.”
A foretaste of the Beijing Olympics came last August at a pre-Olympics regatta. “The races in Beijing will be difficult. There are currents and we have to stay there for long periods in order to get used to them. In other sectors, the Chinese have done a wonderful job. The installations are ready and very impressive. The Chinese are very well organized. As for whether I will succeed, let’s first see if I qualify for the national team.”
Doping, he said, is not an issue in sailing. “Fortunately sailing occurs in clean waters. We don’t need banned substances. The sport has to do with your mind.” Heimonas said he has never had second thoughts about his choice of sport.
“Sailing, and championship sailing in particular, exhausts the athlete’s body and the mind. But it teaches you about yourself and your limits. You are competing against yourself. When you succeed there are no words to describe the joy. I also admit that the sea, the waves and my boat are all a part of my life. The open sea is my other self. It is where I feel all-powerful and at the same time extremely vulnerable.” Apart from sailing, Heimonas is very interested in his studies. “I might go into diplomacy, I’ll see,” he said about his future.
Railways to run on twin tracks January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Transport Air Sea Land.comments closed
The 130th anniversary of the Greek railway system was marked yesterday by the government saying that the company responsible for running the country’s trains will soon be split into two to comply with European Union regulations.
Transport Minister Michalis Liapis said that the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) will be divided into two bodies. One will be responsible for infrastructure and the other for the actual running of the trains.
Liapis did not give an exact timetable for the shake-up but said that the changes were necessary to help modernize the service and improve OSE’s finances. He added that the Proastiakos suburban railway will become part of the new setup.
Passengers who use the Proastiakos gave the train service marks of almost nine out of 10 for punctuality and speed but are less satisfied with the frequency with which trains run, according to a survey made public yesterday. Data RC questioned some 1,350 passengers and found that 26.9 percent of them were using the railway as an alternative to driving their cars.
Tribute to Arthur Miller and Greek theater January 11, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Stage & Theater.comments closed
The Hellenic American Union’s cultural series of events for 2007 is about to open with a tribute to Arthur Miller, probably the most significant postwar playwright in the United States.
The exhibition «Arthur Miller and the Greek Theater» curated by drama experts Grigoris Ioannidis and Maria Houliara, will go on display next Monday, January 15. It should be noted that 2007 marks the 60-year anniversary of the first-ever staging of a Miller play in Greece.
Miller wrote numerous plays including the famous «Death of a Salesman» which earned him the Pulitzer Prize, as well as many successful film scripts, such as «The Misfits».
The first part of the exhibition traces the reception of his work in Greece, based on the two images of America he depicts in his work: On the one hand he presents it as the land of freedom, democracy and wealth and on the other as a field of social questioning.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to have a complete overview of all of Miller’s plays staged in Greek theaters, along with reviews, sketches of set designs and costumes, programs and much more.
The second part presents aspects of Miller’s life, as well as the historical framework that influenced him, prompting him to create some of his most important works, through audiovisual, archive material and more.
The tribute also aims at highlighting unknown aspects of the Actors Studio, its history and methodology which established it as one of the most successful acting workshops. For 60 years it has been dedicated to the evolution of theater artists, actors, directors and playwrights and has turned into a unique theater organization. The exhibition will run to January 27.
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