dimitris.gr

back in black

2009-07-01T22:54:00.003+01:00

lets see what we got in the last 3 months...

lefteris moving out

myself moving out

myself moving out again

myself looking for a new flat (now)

a trip to poland, with fine weather, countryside, people and food

a trip to gorgeous barcelona

a trip to greece for easter, an excursion to the western part of the country (at last)

pascal and francis visiting in london

an arsenal chelsea london derby

senia in london

a 5k charity run (not mine)

a promotion

seeing 81db live in coventry

some fine dining in london

effie in london

greenwich and richmond

a new record

a barbeque, the brasilian way

re-connecting with nikos in london, after the old army days (4 years ago!)

an AC/DC concert which rocked

going to the royal ascot

a lot of nostalgia and dreams

a new blog on my blogroll

doing an abseil for charity

a lot of falling down, and pulling myself backup

a (new) commitment not to disappear again?

india

2009-03-31T18:25:00.002+01:00

it’s been a while now since i returned from india, indeed a bit more than a month. and the concept of time in my mind is a bit blurred, as it happens. eventually, you tend to sink into everyday reality again, no matter how much of an eye opener a trip abroad can be.

two and a half weeks are of course not enough to see anything in that great country. but at least you get a taste. i’ve been wanting to go for a very long time, more than 6 years now, and i finally got the opportunity. and it is as beautiful and overwhelming as I thought it would be.

2 and a half weeks with a week in kerala, 4 days in pune, 2 days in goa and another 3 in mumbai, i have to say we did our best to see as many and as diverse things as possible. from the beaches of goa and panjim to dharavi, from the indian wedding of rohit and carol to the backwaters and the tea plantations in kerala, from elephanta island to cochin.

t was my first time in that land, but definitely not the last one.

101 greatest questions of all time?

2009-03-15T07:31:00.001Z

not so sure, but some of them are worth reading the answer to...

here

Why do identical twins have different fingerprints?

What is OK short for?

Do plants die of old age?

Why do I get more car sick in the back?

etc

happy birthday, internet!

2009-03-15T07:23:00.000Z

the internet is 20 years old, today!

article in greek (enet)

article in english (cnet)

who would have thought...

happy birthday!

sum 41 - pieces

2009-03-12T05:52:00.000Z

I tried to be perfect,
But nothing was worth it,
I don’t believe it makes me real.
I thought it’d be easy,
But no one believes me,
I meant all the things I said.

If you believe it’s in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I’m better off on my own.

This place is so empty,
My thoughts are so tempting,
I don’t know how it got so bad.
Sometimes it’s so crazy,
that nothing can save me,
But it’s the only thing that I have.

If you believe it's in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I'm better off on my own.

On my own...

I tried to be perfect,
It just wasn't worth it,
Nothing could ever be so wrong.
It’s hard to believe me,
It never gets easy,
I guess I knew that all along.

If you believe it’s in my soul,
I’d say all the words that I know,
Just to see if it would show,
That I'm trying to let you know,
That I’m better off on my own.

τι να μας πεις κι εσύ απ' τη ζωή σου...

2009-02-05T02:46:00.002Z

είπαμε. ναι, 20-30 πόντοι έπεσαν στο λονδίνο και παρέλυσε το σύστημα. εδώ οποιοσδήποτε καιρός είναι δικαιολογία για να έχουν πρόβλημα τα μέσα μεταφοράς αλλά τουλάχιστον από χιόνι δεν είμαστε συνηθισμένοι, οπότε χαλάλι το χάος για μια μέρα. αλλά να είναι για μια μέρα τα σκουπίδια έξω (στους -2 και δε μπορεί εκ των πραγμάτων κανείς να τα συλλέξει λογω παράλυσης συγκοινωνιών) και να γκρινιάζουμε ότι έχει λέει μπόχα...ΗΜΑΡΤΟΝ!

δεν έχει νόημα να συγκρίνουμε με τα χειρότερα για να χαρούμε, αλλά αυτό είναι και λίγο υπερβολή. για φαντάσου αθήνα καλοκαίρι με 40 βαθμούς και σκουπίδια έξω για 2 βδομάδες. επανάσταση θα είχε γίνει εδώ μου φαίνεται. η απλά ρεσιτάλ γκρίνιας...

a bit of a different beauty in this city

2009-02-05T02:22:00.003Z

finally saw some winter in this town. stressful as it may be as i imagined all sorts of nuclear scenarios about my flight to the promised land tomorrow, i still enjoyed it. especially since we didn't get to go to work on monday and i still get to see this beautiful landscape just opposite my place, in wandsworth common. the real beauty of the winter season

...enjoy!

το είδαμε κι αυτό...

2008-11-14T00:02:00.002Z

αυτό, εννοώ.

πώς τυχαίνει και είμαι μέσα στην αναμπουμπούλα από καιρού εις καιρόν...ήμουν στην πρώτη σειρά και μας πήραν κ εμάς κάποια αυγουλάκια (ελαφρώς μόνον). δεν ήταν και πολύ αποτελεσματικός τρόπος να διαδώσει κανείς το μήνυμα της αλληλεγγύης στους κρατουμένους και την εναντίωση στο καπιταλιστικό σύστημα, νομίζω.

πάντως στιγμιαία παγώνεις βλέποντας καμιά δεκαριά άτομα να μπουκάρουν και να φοράνε μαύρα κρύβοντας πρόσωπα κτλ. λες μέσα σου "ρε λες να βγει κανένα όπλο και να αποχαιρετήσουμε σπί τοπου τα εγκόσμια?" μετά καταλαβαίνεις ότι είμαστε τύποις σε ελληνικό αμφιθέατρο, όπου τα πιο κουφά και ενίοτε γελοία, συμβαίνουν.

άσχετο, αλλά από όσους έχω δει κι ακούσει να μιλούν, ο αλογοσκούφης μιλάει τα καλύτερα αγγλικά (εντάξει, με λίγο ελληνική προφορά, αλλά και ποιος δεν την έχει αυτή?)

η μάρω στη σουηδία

2008-11-12T19:46:00.002Z

διαβάζω το βιβλίο της μάρως βαμβουνάκη με τίτλο «το φάντασμα της αξόδευτης αγάπης» και βασικά μου έχει σηκωθεί η τρίχα. είχα διαβάσει κάποια λογοτεχνικά της παλιότερα («οι παλιές αγάπες...») που μου άρεσαν, αλλά αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ελαφρώς διαφορετικό.

δεν με πειράζει κάποιος να βάζει τις εμπειρίες του σε μια σειρά και να γράφει ημιδοκιμιακά ή να εκφέρει και άποψη. αυτό που με ενοχλεί όμως (κ ενώ αρκετά από αυτά που γράφει με βρίσκουν σύμφωνο) είναι να καταδικάζει κανείς την αντίθετη άποψη.

χαρακτηριστικό κομμάτι του συγγράμματος αναφέρει:

«όχι, δεν πιστεύω πως όποιος ερωτεύτηκε αληθινά μπορεί κατόπιν να γίνει ειλικρινά φίλος με όποιον ερωτεύτηκε. δεν υποφέρεται αυτή η μετάλλαξη. είτε δεν ερωτεύτηκε αυτότ ο πρόσωπο ποτέ ως πρόσωπο, μόνο ένα σενάριο σχέσης, μια ιδέα απρόσωπη ερωτεύτηκε, είτε πρόκειται για χαρακτήρα-νεροκολοκύθα, δεν τον συγκλονίζει τίποτα, δεν τον γονατίζει τίποτα, δεν μπορεί να πονά, άρα δε μπορεί να αγαπήσει. αγαπάει μόνο τις ανάγκες του και όποιον και γι αόσο του τις καλύπτει. εναλάσσει επιφανειακές συντροφιές που αποκαλέι σχέσεις. περιφέρεται στην όψη του, δεν κατεβαίνει στην ψυχή του ούτε στους άλλου την ψυχή. χωρίζει "φιλικά", όπως διατυμπανίζει με καμάρι. αν είναι δυνατόν να χωρίσει ποτέ κανείς χωρίς πόλεμο! δίχως φρίκη, κακίες, ζήλιες, εξευτελισμό, εκδικητικότητα. δίχως όλα αυτά τα απαίσια αρνητικά συναισθήματα που οι πειρασμοί θα τον περιτυλίξουν με φλόγα, για να καεί ή να καθαρθεί. είναι μεγάλη πρόκληση πνευματικής ανάπτυξης ο ερωτικός χωρισμός, γι' αυτό και πονάει άγρια. πόνος που, σαν κάθε πόνος, ερεθίζει τον ύψιστο εγωισμό και μας καλεί να τον νικήσουμε ή να νικήσει.»

ΗΜΑΡΤΟΝ!

δηλαδή εμείς που δε χαλάσαμε τις σχέσεις μας με παλιές αγάπες, που δεν μαλλιοτραβηχτήκαμε, που δεν πετάξαμε πιάτα στον τοίχο, που θέλουμε ο ένας να ξέρει τι κάνει και πώς είναι ο άλλος (ακριβώς επειδή είμασταν σημαντικό κομμάτι ο ένας της ζωής του άλλου) και που μπορεί να έχουμε βγει και μαζί έξω μετά το τέλος της σχέσης μας, είμαστε ρηχοί? δε ζήσαμε τίποτα? περάσαμε και δεν ακουμπήσαμε? προσποιούμασταν τότε, η προσποιούμαστε τώρα? και μπορεί να να τα νιώσεις όλα αυτά τα απαίσια, αλλα επειδή δεν αρέσει της κυρίας βαμβουνάκη, δεν επιτρέπεται να τα ξεπεράσουμε?

το ανέκδοτο βέβαια εδώ, είναι ότι έχω και κοντινούς μου φίλους που δεν το καταλαβαίνουν αυτό, και με φωνάζουν «σουηδό» όταν η κουβέντα πάει σε αυτά τα θέματα!

είναι εντάξει να λες ότι «εγώ δεν μπορώ να το κάνω αυτό» ή «δεν το καταλαβαίνω», αλλά να φτάνεις στο σημείο επειδή δε μπορείς να το κάνεις ή να το καταλάβεις να λες ότι όσοι το κάνουν είναι ρηχοί, είναι αφοριστικό και φανερώνει σύνδρομο ανωτερότητας («το δικό μου είναι το σωστό, ΜΟΝΟ, και κανένα άλλο!»)

γενικά δεν έχω καταλάβει επίσης που το πάνε όλες οι αναφορές στη θρησκεία μέσα στο βιβλίο. ιδίως η ιδέα ότι ο σύγχρονος τρόπος ζωής μας επιβάλλει ενοχές (συμφωνώ) ενώ ο χριστιανισμός μας απελευθερώνει από αυτές (διαφωνώ κάθετα, ολόκληρη η θρησκεία βασίζεται στο να δημιουργήσει ενοχές στον άνθρωπο και να τον φοβίσει) είναι αντιφατικότατη. αλλά δεν συνεχίζω εδώ γιατί μακρηγορώ...θα τελειώσω το βιβλίο και θα βγάλω τελικα συμπεράσματα για την πάρτη μου.

we accept the love we think we deserve

2008-11-09T12:48:00.002Z

some nice secrets on postsecret today

το πέρασμα.

2008-11-09T09:41:00.005Z

η πτήση ήταν πρωινή και φτάσαμε στο γιβραλτάρ στις 9.30. δεν είδαμε και πολλά, μιας και κουβαλούσαμε τους σάκκους μας και η μετακίνηση δεν ήταν εύκολη. πάντως όλα όσα ξέρει κανείς για το γιβραλτάρ ήταν αισθητά. ο επιβλητικός βράχος, οι ιστορίες γύρω από την κυριαρχία στα στενά, και η γνώση ότι είμαστε στην άκρη της ευρώπης, και μόλις μια ώρα απέναντι είναι η μεγάλη άγνωστη, η αφρική.

ρίξαμε λοιπόν μια ματία στο βράχο και πήραμε ένα ταξί για το algeciras, αφού περάσαμε τα σύνορα της ισπανίας πεζή. από εκεί πήραμε το ferry για την ταγγέρη. αργότερα εκείνη με ρώτησε γιατί πήραμε πτήση για το βράχο αφού δε θα μέναμε, και το ίδιο βράδυ θα καταλήγαμε στο μαρόκο. η απάντηση ήταν απλή: ήθελα να διανύσω τα Στενά και να περάσω απέναντι. πάντα είχα έναν ενθουσιασμό με τα σύνορα. δεν ήταν τόσο η σφραγίδα στο διαβατήριο - σαν τρόπαιο - αλλά περισσότερο το ότι νιώθεις πραγματικά (ή και όχι, καμιά φορά) πως περνάς από χώρα σε χώρα. έτσι, όταν πρωτοσκέφτηκα το ταξίδι στο μαρόκο, η πρώτη προσμονή ήταν αυτή του ταξιδιού στο καράβι. αυτή η αίσθηση πως δεξιά σου είναι ο ατλαντικός και δεξιά η μεσόγειος, πίσω σου η ευρώπη και μπροστά σου η αφρική. και πως αυτό δεν είναι ένα απλό σύνορο, είναι ένα πέρασμα σε έναν άλλο κόσμο.

έτσι κι έγινε. το ταξίδι της μιας ώρας δεν ήταν και τόσο συναρπαστικό, αλλά φτάνοτας στην ταγγέρη, και με την απαραίτητη στάμπα εν πλω στο διαβατήριο, αμέσως καταλάβαμε πως τα πράγματα εδώ είναι διαφορετικά. πέρασαν 16 χρόνια από το 1992 που ήμουν στην αίγυπτο, αλλά οι εικόνες ήταν πια ζωντανές και πάλι, μα και παρόμοιες. πολυκοσμία, πολυχρωμία, φασαρία, σκόνη, άνθρωποι που πουλάνε ό,τι μπορείς να φανταστείς στο δρόμο, με έντονα συναισθήματα στο πρόσωπο. χαρά από καλοζωία ή και ατελείωτη θλίψη από δύσκολη ζωή και πολλή φτώχεια. παραδοσιακά όμορφα σπίτια, αλλά και εκτρωματικά κτίρια, σε μια προσπάθεια πρόχειρης απομίμησης της ευρώπης του '80.

κι η παραλία εκεί, να σου θυμίζει πόσο διαφορετικά είναι τα πράγματα στην άλλη πλευρά. να σε κάνει να αναρωτιέσαι αν ο κόσμος που κάνει τη βόλτα του εκεί, κοιτά απέναντι προς την ευρώπη με αδιαφορία, με προσμονή, ή ονειρευόμενος μια ευκαιρία για καλύτερη ζωή.

η πρώτη μέρα λοιπόν, περιελάμβανε απλά εξοικείωση με τις πρώτες εικόνες στο μαρόκο. χαλάρωση, φαγητό στο όμορφο ριάντ (ξενώνα) μας, βόλτα στην αγορά και την παραλία της ταγγέρης, λίγο κρασί.

με την εξοικείωση ήρθαν και οι πρώτες συζητήσεις για το διαφορετικό της χώρας. πώς είναι εδώ οι οικογένειες, τι επιτρέπεται και τι όχι να φορά κανείς στο δρόμο, αν οι ντόπιοι "κλέβουν" τους τουρίστες, τα δικαιώματα των γυναικών, γιατί στο δρόμο συναντάμε κατά 90% άντρες, από τους οποίους οι περισσότεροι, νέοι και παλιότεροι, απλά παρατηρούν τον κόσμο να περνά μην κάνοντας τίποτα, με ένα άδειο βλέμμα. οι εικόνες αυτές, μαζί με την πολυκοσμία, τη φασαρία, μια διερχόμενη νεκρώσιμη πομπή με τραγούδια (!) εκεί που πίναμε τον καφέ μας, και η ομορφιά των σοκακιών της πόλης, σημάδεψαν την πρώτη μας μέρα εκεί.

έπρεπε πια να αποφασίσουμε πώς και πότε θα φύγουμε για το φες το επόμενο πρωί. είχαμε πια περάσει απέναντι και το ταξίδι είχε αρχίσει.

book review: watching the english

2008-11-08T20:33:00.003Z

after a couple of years or more in this country, i finally found a book - watching the english - that partially deciphers and organises all that we are trying to find out about the attitude of this strange people. a good effort on behalf of the author, kate fox, the book being both funny and informative at the same time, without being too funny or too academic at any point in time. i enjoyed every bit of it. [see a couple of these bits below].

now the question remains whether there will be anyone with the guts to write the book about greeks!

a couple of parts i found hilarious:

[...] it is common, and considered entirely normal, for english commuters to make their morning and evening train journeys with the same group of people for many years without ever exchanging a word. the more you think about this, the more utterly incredible it seems, yet everyone i spoke to confirmed the story.
'after a while', one commuter told me, 'if you see the same person every morning on the platform, and maybe quite often sit opposite them on the train, you might start to just nod to each other when you arrive, but that's as far as it goes.' 'How long is a "while"?', i asked. 'oh, maybe a year or so - it depends; some people are more outgoing than others, you know?' 'right', i said (wondering what definition of "outgoing" she could possibly have in mind). 'so, a particularly "outgoing" person might start to greet you with a nod after seeing you every morning for, say, what, a couple of months?' 'mmm, well, maybe' my informant sounded doubtful, 'but actually that would be a bit, um, forward - a bit pushy; that would make me a bit uncomfortable.'
this informant - a young woman working as a secretary for a PR agency in london - was not an especially shy or retiring person. in fact, i would have described her as quite the opposite: friendly, lively and gregarious. i am quoting her here because her responses are typical - almost all of the commuters i interviewed said that even a brief nod constituted a fairly drastic escalation of intimacy, and most were highly cautious about progressing to this stage, because, as another typical commuter explained, 'once you start greeting people like that - nodding, i mean - unless you're very careful, you might end up starting to say "good morning" or something, and then you could end up actually having to talk to them' [...]

[...] tea is still believed, by english people of all classes, to have miraculous properties. a cup of tea can cure, or at least significantly alleviate, almost all minor physical ailments and indispositions, from a headache to a scraped knee. tea is also an essential remedy for all social and psychological ills, from a bruised ego to the trauma of a divorce or bereavement. this magical drink can be used equally effectively as a sedative or stimulant, to calm and soothe or to revive and invigorate. whatever your mental or physical state, what you need is 'a nice cup of tea'.
perhaps most importantly, tea-making is the perfect displacement activity: whenever the english feel awkward or uncofortable in a social situation (that is, almost all the time), they make tea. it's a universal rule: when in doubt, put the kettle on. visitors arrive; we have our usual difficulties over greeting protocol. we say 'i'll just put the kettle on'. there is one of those uneasy lulls in the conversation, and we've run out of weather-speak. we say, 'now, who'd like more tea? i'll just go and put the kettle on'. a business meeting might involve having to talk about money. we postpone the uncomfortable bit by making sure everyone has tea. a bad accident - people are injured and in shock: tea is needed. 'i'll put the kettle on'. world war three breaks out - a nuclear attack is imminent. 'i'll put the kettle on' [...]

shes got a chicken to ride!

2008-11-08T12:53:00.003Z

click here!

i think when it comes to songs that sound like something else than what was originally intended, the beattles lyric above is the first that comes to mind. (the link above will demonstrate what i mean!)

did a bit of a search on the web and found some more examples. have fun reading:

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Take your pants down and make it happen'' -- Right Lyric: ''Take your passion and make it happen'' -- From: Irene Cara's ''Flashdance...What a Feeling''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''I got shoes, they're made of plywood'' -- Right Lyric: ''I got chills, they're multiplying'' -- From: John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John's ''You're the One That I Want''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''The girl with colitis goes by'' -- Right Lyric: ''The girl with kaleidoscope eyes'' -- From: The Beatles' ''Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Doughnuts make my brown eyes blue'' -- Right Lyric: ''Don't it make my brown eyes blue'' -- From: Crystal Gayle's ''Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''The ants are my friends/They're blowin' in the wind'' -- Right Lyric: ''The answer my friend/Is blowin' in the wind'' -- From: Bob Dylan's ''Blowin' in the Wind''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Baking carrot biscuits'' -- Right Lyric: ''Takin' care of business'' -- From: Bachman-Turner Overdrive's ''Takin' Care of Business''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Clown control to Mao Tse-Tung'' -- Right Lyric: ''Ground control to Major Tom'' -- From: David Bowie's ''Space Oddity''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Jacques the monkey'' -- Right Lyric: ''Shock the monkey'' -- From: Peter Gabriel's ''Shock the Monkey''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''I am a rock, I am an onion'' -- Right Lyric: ''I am a rock, I am an island'' -- From: Simon & Garfunkel's ''I Am a Rock''

-- Wrong Lyric: ''Last night I dreamt of some bagels'' -- Right Lyric: ''Last night I dreamt of San Pedro'' -- From: Madonna's ''La Isla Bonita''

source: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297074,00.html

travis - my eyes

2008-11-08T11:10:00.000Z

Deep in my heart, there's no room for crying,
but I'm trying to see your point of view
Deep in my heart, I'm afraid I'm dying,
I'd be lying if I said I'm not

Welcome in, welcome in,
Shame about the weather
Welcome in, welcome in,
You're welcome
It's a sin, it's a sin,
Where birds of a feather, are welcome to, land on you

[CHORUS]
Ya Ya Ya *2
You've got my eyes
And we can't see, what you'll be, you can't disguise
But either way, I will pray, you will be wise
Pretty soon you will see, tears in my eyes..

As each day goes by, makes way for another,
We discover that we're not alone
And each day we try, the best we can to recover,
All the feelings that we left below

Welcome in, welcome in,
Shame about the weather
Welcome in, welcome in,
You're welcome
It's a sin, it's a sin,
Where birds of a feather, are welcome too, land on you

[CHORUS]
Ya Ya Ya *2
You've got my eyes
We can't see, what you'll be, you can't disguise
But either way, I will pray, you will be wise
Pretty soon you will see the tears in my eyes..

Welcome in, welcome in,
Shame about the weather
Welcome in, welcome in,
You're welcome
It's a sin, it's a sin,
Where birds of a feather, are welcome too, land on you...

[CHORUS]
Ya Ya Ya *2
You've got my eyes
And We can't see, what you'll be, you can't disguise
But either way, I will pray, you will be wise
Pretty soon you will see the tears in my eyes.. *3

i'm sure you've seen the relevant list...

2008-11-06T19:35:00.002Z

i, for one, have seen this chain e-mail a few times in the past, in greek and in english. but even though i haven't smoked for 7 1/2 weeks now, i still don't see any difference.

any clues of whether the below notes have anything to do with reality or not?

:-)

[usually the websites with "facts" like the ones below, also advertise a method to quit smoking. for the record, i have never used a method other than will, and am not using any other as we speak]

#1 - Within 20 minutes of quitting smoking your lungs and airways begin to heal and your blood pressure and pulse return to normal.

#2 - Eight hours after quitting smoking, the nicotine levels in your blood reduces by 50%, and your oxygen levels return to normal.

#3 - Twenty-four hours after quitting smoking, your lungs begin clearing out mucus and other smoking debris.

#4 - Forty-eight hours after quitting smoking, your body is free of all nicotine and your sense of taste and smell greatly improves.

#5 - Seventy-two hours after quitting smoking, your bronchial tubes will relax, allowing you to breathe easier, and you will have more energy?

#6 - Two to 12 weeks after quitting smoking, your blood circulation improves.

#7 - Three to 9 months after quitting smoking, your coughing, wheezing and breathing difficulties begin to improve.

#8 - Five years after quitting smoking, your chance of experiencing a heart attack drops 50%.

#9 - Ten years after quitting smoking, your chance of developing lung cancer drops about 50% and your chance of experiencing a heart attack is that of someone who has never smoked.

#10 - It's never too late to quit. Even if you are 65 years old, you can reduce your risk of dying of smoking related diseases by 50% if you quit smoking now.

change has come

2008-11-06T19:11:00.002Z

i really do hope he realises what a momentum he has, not only in the us of a, but in the entire planet. and do something positive for his country and their role in the world.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

PARTNERS IN THE JOURNEY

A little bit earlier this evening I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him, I congratulate Governor Palin, for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure. To my sister Maya, my sister Auma, all my other brothers and sisters - thank you so much for all the support you have given me. I am grateful to them.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best political campaign in the history of the United States of America. My chief strategist David Axelrod, who has been a partner with me every step of the way, and to the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

VICTORY FOR THE PEOPLE

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; it grew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organised, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

THE TASK AHEAD

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child's college education. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

REMAKING THE NATION

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity.

Those are values that we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours: "We are not enemies, but friends… though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too.

AMERICA IN THE WORLD

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those who would tear the world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you.

And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

A HISTORY OF STRUGGLE

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes, we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes, we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "we shall overcome". Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes, we can.

THIS IS OUR MOMENT

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: yes, we can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

time for change

2008-11-04T00:13:00.001Z

"There is no getting around the fact that Mr Obama’s résumé is thin for the world’s biggest job. But the exceptionally assured way in which he has run his campaign is a considerable comfort. It is not just that he has more than held his own against Mr McCain in the debates. A man who started with no money and few supporters has out-thought, out-organised and outfought the two mightiest machines in American politics—the Clintons and the conservative right. "

full economist article is here. boy am i looking forward to thursday.

pigeons get arrested for spying...

2008-10-21T19:02:00.002+01:00

it's true. first it was the squirrels. then came the pigeons. then what? read the story here.

how a sweet little kid can cause mayhem in a zoo...

2008-10-14T12:42:00.002+01:00

just when you thought you'd seen it all...!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649876.stm

the build up for christmas has started...

2008-10-14T08:35:00.001+01:00

ads are beginning to pop up everywhere, pubs make themselves available for parties, people are starting to talk about their holidays and how they're going to spend them. so here's a video for you to get you in the spirit...

http://www.nimportequi.com/video_popupNEW.php?id_video=11

from my favourite, "n'importe qui"

more videos at http://www.nimportequi.com/videos.php

travels with herodotus

2008-09-19T23:06:00.004+01:00

what a great book!

my first encounter with ryszard kapuscinski just totally drew me into his world. an amazing book blending a few of my favourite topics: travel, history, the modern and the ancient world, discovery. if you come accross it, read it!

one of my favourite parts...
"...For all intents and purposes, [such people] do not grow attached to anything, do not put down deep roots. Their empathy is sincere, but superficial. If asked which of the countries they have visited they like best, they are embarrassed - they do not know how to answer. Which one? In a certain sense - all of them. There is something compelling about each. To which country would they like to return once more? Again, embarrassment - they had never asked themselves such a question. The one certainty is that they would like to be back on the road, going somewhere. To be on their way again - that is the dream."

and yet another one of the many gems and anecdotes hidden in the book:

"...Croesus personally received Solon and ordered his servants to show him his treasures, and, certain that the sight of them astonished his guest, he queried him: "So I really want to ask you whether you have ever come across anyone who is happier than everyone else?"

But Solon did not flatter him in the least and instead cited as the happiest of men several heroically fallen Athenians, adding: "Croesus, when you asked me about men and their affairs, you were putting your question to someone who is well aware of how utterly jealous the divine is, and how it is likely to confound us. Anyone who lives for a long time is bound to see and endure many things he would rather avoid. I place the limit of a man's life at seventy years. Seventy years makes 25,200 days...No two days bring events which are exactly the same. It follows, Croesus, that human life is entirely a matter of chance...

"Now, I can see that you are extremely rich and that you rule over large numbers of people, but I won't be in a position to say what you're asking me to say about you until I find out that you died well...Until [a man] is dead, you had better refrain from calling him happy, and just call him fortunate...

"It is necessary to consider the end of everything...and to see how it will turn out, because the god often offers prosperity to men, but then destroys them utterly and completely."

πραγματικά απίστευτο

2008-08-19T19:38:00.000+01:00

εκείνη την εποχή ήταν απλά αστείο. σήμερα η προφητεία του μητσικώστα είναι απλά απίστευτη! καλά, πόσο μετρούσε?

new link

2008-07-21T21:00:00.000+01:00

check the link on the left for the failblog.

pure gold!

screw viagra - eat watermelon!

2008-07-19T10:59:00.001+01:00

it's official. scientists are close to proving that fruit is good for you. especially watermelon.

in greek

in english

too bad this country doesn't really produce any decent watermelons.

sw11

2008-07-19T10:48:00.003+01:00

surprise! dimi has moved yet again. i think it's about number 15 in the last 12 years, and it is definitely the 4th place in live in london in the past 2 years. but it's the best one so far, and have been thoroughly enjoying it for the past 7 weeks!

so after a tour in the East (the infamous E17), the West (W14, barons court was not all that bad), the North West (golders green), i am now a resident south of the river, in clapham junction. i love it so far. the combination of northcote road with wandsworth common and me being in the middle of that, is great!

i also just realised why i am getting so restless these days. it's because i have crossed a threshold of staying in the same city (london) and the same job (!) for two years in a row (completed june 13th for london and june 19th for the job) for the first time since...??? i think the last time i stayed in the same place for 2 years in a row was 2000-2002 in athens and have been pretty much a nomad ever since. if i manage to stay in the same flat for 2 years in a row that must really mean i'm growing up then!

the last thought was really not needed, since i'm turning 30 in just 10 days!