Yiannis Ritsos (The Other Side)

One of my favorite Greeks. I've met him once in Athens (happy day!) a few weeks before his death (sad day) .Somewhat he still rides in the shadow of Kostis Palamas, Giorgos Seferis, and Odysseus Elytis, but it's in his poems that I've discovered the real, ambiguous spirit of Greece. His presence is to be found on the islands, around Athens and certainly on the mysterious, dark & lonely (off season) small peninsula of Monemvassia. A real, complete website should be devoted to him! (I never found one) Picture comes from his "Selected Poems" © Efstathiadis Group and one of the five books I will take into my grave, so to speak...;)

Hear him reading the poem "Moonlight Sonata" (with Beethoven’s Sonata playing in the background) Many thanks to Ifigenia! Also, here's a nice little blog on Ritsos & Monemvasia.
Few people know that he also painted and when in exile he started painting on simple stones or pebbles. I think I've seen a book on this collection on "Painted Stones" (Great Idea!) but all I could find on the web so far was this picture on Flickr:

by logty

Thanks to Isabella (logty ) I know now that this exhibition was organized in the Benaki Museum
in Athens in 2005. Wow, I wish I had seen it! Luckily she's send me two more revealing pictures:
(click to enlarge)

(2B Continued)

All B's, all Me! (Happy B-Day JDC!)

Slide-show for The G that visited B!

A Slide Through 2008: Most Interesting

My Most Interesting Pics
Set automatically created by dopiaza's set generator on 31st December 2008 at 4:39am GMT

A Slide Through 2008: Turnhout

Coronis

In 1991 I worked (for a very brief period) as a switch-board operator for George Livanos on his private island, Coronis. Just getting there was already quite an experience! I have no pictures of it, I believe it was - like so many things there- forbidden, so I looked it up today in Google Maps. Ironically, I find that the shape of this island actually resembles much that of a whale .

Humo: Freedom of speech!

Still looking for the picture? Click Here !

Freedom of speech is a big thing to me and therefor this post. This has nothing to do with Obama, but hereby I do congratulate personally my fellow-flickr! :-)

Yesterday the Court in Belgium ordered to take out all copies from the market of HUMO, a highly acclaimed magazine with a big satirical background. Now, bad taste or not, this is again a "flagrant infringement on press freedom and freedom of expression, and also to the right of humor and satire." To get the "joke" you really have to be in Belgian Politics, but let's just say in a nutshell this is a reaction on "How good-looking girls got high post "jobs".

Here's the full original text, translated with Google Translate that Humo placed on their website:

"On the orders of the Court, we must all take measures to ensure that Humo of November 4, 2008 is of the market, in all outlets, and this on pain of a penalty payment of 250 euros per copy offered for sale yet. The court held that a photomontage in 'The Hole in the World, "a clearly demarcated satirical column Humo, wrote about the presentation. However, the attentive reader inevitably find that it is an installation in a satirical context is. The proceeding unilaterally petition let us not able to speak at a progressively debate. We have the decision of the court of first instance even through the press should know. Meanwhile, the ruling means and we are obliged Humo at least provisionally to retrieve from the shelves. We consider the third opposition to appeal against the decision. We believe that the ruling and the procedure followed in total mismatch with the intended outcome and the damage Humo and Sanoma Magazines Belgium this encounter. Moreover, we consider this state of affairs as a flagrant infringement on press freedom and freedom of expression, and also to the right of humor and satire.
Nevertheless, we are now calling for the press sellers to immediately Humo all copies of this edition from the shelves to retrieve and no longer to sell."

And just when you thought Belgium was such an example of an "enlightened" state. Personally I wander how HUMO is going to react since it seemed to be a very interesting copy, this week.

Barack for President!

I admit it...I'm biased because he's a buddy! of mine on Flickr ;). But anything instead of a horrible repetition of a stage play we've seen before. Remember how Nixon came to power ? Just listen to that woman's voice! You feel the same anger, paranoia, pettiness as Dick had in his days. On top of this she has the intelligence of Reagan at his worst and that same stubbornness we all had to suffer from W!
Now look at this resemblance: already better no? Although Barack resembles more Bill Clinton astrologically (both are Leo) with Lyndon (Virgo) he shares an open inviting look with sharp traits, investigating eyes and a strong yet friendly chin.


I personally believe that Lyndon tried to be good president, but was really "rushed into it" and had to deal with issues he simply had to proceed. I hope that Barack will learn from this.
Hell, I just tell him myself!
(2B continued)