SFSU reunion

Long live facebook! After 15 years, I was able to locate most of my best friends during my MBA year at San Francisco State University and we have all agreed to meet next June for a week of sailing the Greek islands. Sixteen years since we last met all together. Initially the suggestion was NY but we thought that if we wanted to make it summery and warm, we should do the Med. And what better way to experience it than sailing around the islands?
So, sometime next June - hopefully we will all be able to get out of work for a week by then - we will meet in Athens to pay our respects to the Acropolis and then sail away. Where to? Not known yet. Stay tuned
Of all my friends, of course I have kept close contact with Helena over the years,but have not seen the others for a long time. At least 10 years and some 15, since I left beautiful Frisco.
The sail crew will come from all over the world. Helena from Paris, Karine from Monpelieu, Linda from Tel Aviv, Karen from San Francisco, Muriel from Montreal and of course myself from Athens.
A multinational reunion from the coasts of the Pacific to the Mediterranean waters..Pas mal :-)

An atrocious crime that has gone unpunished...how many more similar crimes take place daily and we do nothing?

People of Kavala, residents and tourists, adults and children, witnessed the most atrocious crime this year.
Someone driving a car at high speed had tied a dog from his leg and only stopped when the dog was definitely tortured to death and threw him in the garbage happy for his deed. The article says that everybody was shouting to him asking him to stop. The police apparently is looking for him. Of all these bystanders nobody managed to get his license plate? And what if the police caught him? You know how much is the fine according to Greek law against animal protection? 400-2000 euros in fine or max 3 months prison. Of course the judge could ask for a higher sentence claiming that he shocked underaged or that his driving was reckless etc.
Torturing a poor animal to death does not, in this country, guarrantee a life sentense as it should. I wish sometimes I was an outlaw. Someone that would take vengence of acts of crimes that go unpunished.
Unfortunately I am not. Nor can I influence policy makers to re-think the law about animals.\

Here is the link of the article, http://www.zougla.gr/page.ashx?pid=2&aid=55855&cid=4
of the flawed greek law http://faethoussa.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%B6%CF%8E%CE%B1-%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1/
and a beloved Mobby tune that takes new meaning if you watch the clip

Enough with Jacko already

Unfortunately the sad King of Pop can still not rest in peace. The investigation about the causes of his death is still open. There is speculation that he killed hismelf or that he was a victim of malicious act.
Please! Is it so hard to swallow all the millions of fans that they have played a huge part of his death? A slow death that started about 20 years ago?
Michael Jackson is probably one of the most miserable people that ever lived this earth.
His father ought to be hanged in public no doubt. So should the majority of the rest of his family. And the press. The fans as well. Michael had not produced something of value for at least 10 years. His ghostly white skin with his nose coming on and off should be a ticket to the best possible mental clinic that his money could buy.
But the emptyness of the majority of people that want to feel greater in the presence - even mental - of someone great allowed him to continue to kill himself slowly. He could never be MIchael of the Jackson five or of Thriller or even of Dirty Diana (by that time he was also becoming something of a clown)
His fans now say that he made a breakthrough in music. Well yes, about 30 years ago. What has he done recently? Nothing much because he couldnt. The poor lad could hardly walk or talk or even breath unaided.
Fans should demand that his idol - if they loved him as much as they claimed - should go in a clinic. He should look after himself. Not in the sick way that he thought he did. Instead they let him think it was alright to be abnormal. Or they called him a freak.
Michael needed to be loved in a healthy way. Nobody did that.
So, that investigation in my mind is extremely hypocritical. We all killed Michael. By allowing him to stay out of therapy.
What's worse, is that people still make money out of him. I hope that his soul will eventually rest in peace that he could not find among the living.

Myconos report

Myconos was as always lovely. A bit too crowded but it is expected this time of year.
Due to strong winds were only able to visit a couple of beaches, and wished I had only stayed in Lia where I stayed the first two days.
Lia is a superb southern beach, without music and people dancing. There is a button on the umbrella calling the waitor (!) which makes moving from the chaiselong unecessary unless if for a dive in the divine green-blue waters
Myconos is a also a gastronomical paradise - a bit expensive of course but if only for three days it is ok. As such we had to try the new Mashuhitsa restaurant (in place of Nobu run by the same people) in Belvedere hotel pool restaurant
Although everyone seemed to be going to Cavo for clubbing, the city's typical bars were also full but not too crowded. The best thing was when Antonis Remos had a concert in Namos, Psarrou beach (my most dreaded myconian place), so about half of the myconian visitors went to listen to him and we were able to have a lovely table on Remezzo's terrace overlooking the port and town. However, it was a bit hard to dance after the nobu dinner and the lovely cocktails they served us, so we only stayed for a while as our digestive function would take the best of us.
And then of course there are the sunsets at little Venice, one of the most photographed places on earth, and for good reason as well.
Some pictures prove the point

Right now back to real life. Well, till next time :-)

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES IN GREECE

This is a book directed mainly to academia, but if one is patient enough and has access to the authors to direct questions about the statistical tables or basic principles of politics, it is a superb book
I could not be a prouder sister. My brother Manos was asked to write the first chapter. The book is a compilation of academic articles about the political phenomena in Greece. Manos' article is about old and new dividing structures. By structures he means the social structures as they are depicted in political parties and how these have evolved from traditional ideologies and left-right or center-periphery divide (work-capital in Europe is stronger) to modern political ideologies (economic agenda, ecology, conservativism-social modernization and so on)
The only slight problem is that Manos had struggled with the Greek language a bit and sentences are hefty making it mandatory to be extremely focused when reading it. Definitely not a beach book unless one goes to a quiet beach (Lia :-) and reads through carefully
The way the book is edited, Manos' article sets the framework explaining the political structures and social implications in Greece and providing some contrasts with other European countries. The rest of the articles, very interesting as well, deal with more specific phenomena like the Greek 2007 elections and the submission of duopoly(ND/PASOK) to that of a multi-party parliament(Tsimbras).

Best read I had in years and there is definitely not a single sister on this planet that is prouder than I am.
His other articles are for academic journals and I am trying to get my hands on them and he is now starting working on a book.
Now I understand his obsession of researching instead of teaching. Teaching wastes time of his brilliant analysing talent. Yet, people need to learn from geniuses. Manos is one of them

Constitutional right

I can hardly believe that there is another self respecting nation that will allow such atrocity. I believe that in the Constitution, it is a constitutional right to have freedom of speech. I guess you can say what you want but you can not believe what you want. Greek Orthodox religion is regulated and directed as part of the Ministry of Education!!!! Actually it is called Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. You will see Greek orthodox priests working as public servants. Oh, BTW, Church is not taxed in Greece but priests are paid by the state. Luvly
Now, in a country that a lot has been said about reforming the educational system, especially the higher education, necessary module to make this southeast European wannabe corner competitive, the State itself is moving backwards. Since when the State imposes on its people the religion to worship? We are still talking here about a country that wants to respect itself as a progressive nation. (Hilarious)
Oh, btw, the typical answers I am getting from the secular part of the ministry is 'we don't know, we can't help you there...hmmmm I don't really know what to tell you...'

I guess I should go to the priests side. Perhaps they can talk to God and answer my questions. Really...Greeks as a people probably deserve the Government they have...including the Religious affairs


BUCKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

London parks

London on a sunny day is beautiful. Best to spend the day in the beautiful parks that it has. One of the most important things I am jealous of world capitals is their parks. It reminds me of what we miss in Athens. Well, one of the things that would make Athens a better place to live.

In the loop

British, no matter what they will do, they will be more alternative. They have deeply embedded in their culture the importance to be self-sarcastic, and if delivered with humor, it is a regarded a quality of high intellect.
In consequence, all British comedies embody at least an element of sarcasm, taking the piss, as a favorite British expression has it
In 'In the Loop', the brilliant team responsible are absolutely taking the piss on big political decisions and, of course, politicians.
It is a hilarious comedy, definitely the best comedy I saw since a Fish Called Wanda. It will make you fall from your seat laughing. Oh, it does require a good ear for british english, especially if no subtitles are on. Definitely a must go, especially if you have had experience living in Britain.

A dog's best friends

Dogs are said to be a man's best friend. Man is not necessarily the same to the dog. But dogs can have some very good strange friends.
Elvis, the dog lives in Leintal Zoo, in Schwaigern, Germany. His two best friends Panya and Malia love him very much and show him with cuddles and play all day long. Elivs loves the attention and the care of his friends and disregards all the strange looks of Zoo visitors.
Love rules.

Learning from superior beings - video sent by Ceasar

I have very often referred to animals as superior beings. This reference had nothing to do with me being a weirdo or an eccentric late 30s single tree hugger freak. No. I am a person who loves animals and is equally naive about human kidness. Hense the single status. Well, to cut a real long story short, I have many times referred to the superior beings but rarely explained why. Well the reason is simple. They know how to love, to survive, to care, to nurture, to accept, to change, to move on. If a dog can breastfeed orphan kittens why can not a priviledged human adopt an unpriviledged child? What was the drive so strong to this dog that made her want to keep these babies alive? Why do humans equal their own survival with the destruction of someone else? Would they hurt to breastfeed orphans? Or feed the poor? Or teach them to live? Or cure them? Wouldn't global trade benefit of the hundreds of societies that are sieged by poverty, disease, illiteracy, and eventually gloom? One of the key principles in economics is the only way to make money is to let money flow in the market. Eventually it will come back to you.
Instead then of keeping all these poor nations under global debt by giving them all the more expensive money and letting them suffer under undemocratic governments, feed them, teach them, cloth them, house them, make them feel secure. Then they will be able to consume. At equal grounds. Like you and me. Like all of us. This will probably take place sometime in the following centuries and scarcity of resources will make people work together instead of killing each other. Till then, ponder on the lessons of some who have come to wisdom before our species

Now tell me where you see the human superiority over wild life....