Monday 31 October 2011

Pagan Ritual, Maumbury Rings, Halloween Eve


I took two of my grandchildren to the skate-park opposite Maumbury Rings yesterday evening, and happened to hear the drum beat from a group of pagans holding a ceremony at Maumbury Rings. I went to have a closer look, and discovered that it was a meeting of the Dolmen Grove. I was interested in the antlers worn by Taloch (beating the drum). I have been researching the history of Maumbury Rings, and antler-picks were an important part of the archaeological finds.


Sunday 30 October 2011

What's in a Name?

"My name is Bond...James Bond"

Until now, I'd never quite understand why the name James was the same as the Greek Iakovos. How did one derive from the other, especially as Greek friends always insist that  Jimmy is the same as Dimitri, James the same as Demetrios? There is in fact no etymological connection between Demetrios and James.

We all know that the Jacobean period refers to the reign of King James I.

But how was one supposed to know that James comes from an Old French variant of a late Latin name, Iacomus, which is itself apparently  a dialect variant of Iacobus (New Testament Greek Iakobos; Hebrew Yaaqov)? Iacobus-Iacombus-Iacobus, no need to explain the subtle sound shifts en route to James.

So Mr Bond could have introduced himself as Giacomo, Iago, or indeed as Jim, Jimmy, Jimi, Jamie or Jimbo.

Not quite the same thing. Less gravitas:

"My name is Bond...Jimmy Bond."

Ultimately, I suppose Mr Bond owed his name to Saint James the Apostle and martyr, son of Zebedee and Salome.

Or maybe it's just a good Scottish name.

George Soros on the Brussels Rescue Deal and the Greek Debt

Telegraph report

Nick Malkoutzis in Kathimerini (31 October)

The Best Show in Town (Black History Month, Dorchester)

It's a pity if you missed it. Daniel Defoe underestimated Dorchester!

This is a real event to celebrate. Put it in your diary for 2012.

The culmination of Black History Month: exhilarating African drumming and dancing from Bournemouth's Zubida Movements (Natasha Z); great rap from Liryc (South Africa); live poetry from Jamaican-influenced Bristol (Edson Burton); plus Gregg Kofi Brown and the Osibisa Collective. Little seven-year-old Ella was dynamite on the dance floor! I'm amazed that people weren't queuing up and down the High Street.







"From hence we turned up to Dorchester, the county town, though not the largest town in the county. Dorchester is indeed a pleasant agreeable town to live in, and where I thought the people seemed less divided into factions and parties than in other places; for though here are divisions, and the people are not all of one mind, either as to religion or politics, yet they did not seem to separate with so much animosity as in other places. Here I saw the Church of England clergyman, and the Dissenting minister or preacher drinking tea together, and conversing with civility and good neighbourhood, like Catholic Christians and men of a Catholic and extensive charity. The town is populous, though not large; the streets broad, but the buildings old and low. However, there is good company, and a good deal of it; and a man that coveted a retreat in this world might as agreeably spend his time and as well in Dorchester as in any town I know in England." Daniel Defoe

Friday 28 October 2011

SEFERIS INVITATION, CORFU

Have a break from politics and economics! Seferis Conference in Corfu, 11-13 November. 
Three NAI (Yes) days for poetry!
No denials-
go to the secret seashore (Maria Farantouri sings Arnisi
and
Kratisa ti zoi mou)

Theodorakis, Raven (Seferis), sung by Alexandra Gravas

i

If you're not planning to rip it up on Saturday night, 12 November, check the programme out (I can't post all six pages here):


OCHI Day, 28 October, Greek National Day

Some disturbing images here (blog)

and Athens News on OCHI Day

Thursday 27 October 2011

Euro Summit Statement & Views on Greece in Eurozone

All Plato's fault!

pdf file here

Keep Talking Greece asks some pertinent questions

"You cannot say no to the country of Plato" (see John Major article below; quoting France)

"Ce fut une erreur" (Nicolas Sarkozy, Le Monde, Friday 28 October).

(plus BBC coverage)

Comment from Greek Foreign Minister

Sir John Major has an interesting article in the Financial Times (October 27), "The price of the drift to fiscal union". He has some provocative things to say about Greece:

"Of course, it has behaved foolishly. But that does not mitigate the present pain. As salaries are cut, new taxes are imposed and other taxes rise. It is no wonder people are frightened. Some ask: why is Greece in the eurozone at all? The ease of her entry exemplifies the follies of the founders. France insisted: “You cannot say no to the country of Plato.” Maybe not, but every European is now paying the price for admitting an economically unfit nation to compete in the eurozone.

To safeguard the eurozone in the longer term requires a fundamental change of policy. It must become a fiscal union; a union of transfer payments to off-set regional disparities; or it must shrink. The latter option – essentially expelling Greece – has political consequences. There is no mechanism to do it. What would Greece’s future be? Would she remain democratic in the chaos that might follow? Pushing Greece out is not a risk-free option."
(I suggest you buy the Financial Times and read the full article, or register online).
It seems that Alan Greenspan holds similar views
as well as Nicolas Sarkozy  in Le Monde


Robert Peston, BBC blog

Maupassant on Marriage

From "Une Ruse" (1882), a charmingly satirical definition of married life!

"un échange de mauvaises humeurs pendant le jour et de mauvaises odeurs pendant la nuit"


This quote appears to have a certain universal appeal, but I hadn't come across it before reading the story in Penguin Classics (Selected Short Stories, translated by Roger Colet). Colet renders it thus:

"nothing but an exchange of bad tempers during the day and bad smells during the night".

Poor Guy, no wonder he came to a bad end.

The Pot of Gold at the End of the Road



I took the photos at the end of my road yesterday, in anticipation of the outcome of the Eurozone Summit in Brussels last night. Fortunately it seems that they've found the pot of gold.

The sheep and cattle carry on grazing . They don't seem to notice. Are they looking the other way?


Another pot of gold in Greece.

One rainbow goes left to right, the other right to left.

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Athens Anglo-Greek Literary/Cultural History Conference, January 2012.

Between two worlds: the British Council and Anglo-Greek literary interactions, 1945-1955
PROGRAMME

Friday, 27 January
10 a.m.  Welcome and introductory remarks
Professor Peter Mackridge (University of Oxford and King’s College London)
10.30-12.00.  Session 1.  The political context
Professor Robert Holland (Institute for Commonwealth Studies and King’s College London): “Britain and the civil war in Greece”
Jim Potts, OBE (former British Council Regional Director, Northern Greece): “Cultural relations and the 'non-political' problem: two political novels”
Sir Michael Llewellyn-Smith, KCVO CMG (sometime British Ambassador to Greece): “Steven Runciman in Athens: letters home”
12.00-12.30.  Coffee
12.30-2.00.  Session 2.  The British Council-sponsored periodicals
Professor Dimitris Tziovas (University of Birmingham): “Between propaganda and modernism: the Anglo-Greek Review and the rediscovery of Greece”
Dr Avi Sharon (New York), “George Katsimbalis: An Anglo-Greek Colossus”
Professor Theodosis Pylarinos (Ionian University, Corfu): “Το κερκυραϊκό περιοδικό Πρόσπερος και το Παράρτημα του Βρετανικού Συμβουλίου της Κέρκυρας”
7.00-8.30.  Session 3.  Some eyewitness recollections
Speakers will include Geoffrey Graham-Bell and Nanos Valaoritis.

Saturday, 28 January
10.00-11.30.  Session 4.  Anglo-Greek literary encounters: the role of individuals
Professor David Ricks (King’s College London): “MacNeice in Greece”
Professor David Roessel (Richard Stockton College of New Jersey): “Gone native: Francis King at the British Council in Athens, 1949-1956”
Professor David Holton (University of Cambridge): “Kazantzakis in Cambridge”
11.30-12.00.  Coffee
12.00-1.30.  Session 5.   Round-table discussion: Archiving the past and future research agendas
Chair: Professor Roderick Beaton (King’s College London)

The conference is co-sponsored by the British School at Athens and the British Council. It will be open to all, free of charge and without prior registration.

Britain and the EU: BBC debates, before, during and after last night's Parliamentary debate

Listen here (BBC 4, Today, 19 October)

The World Tonight (BBC 4, 24.10.2011), from 14.02 minutes in.

and watch a fascinating Newsnight (24.10.2011) after the vote in the House of Commons, and the backbench rebellion.

(BBC I Player)

What (some of) the people think. Guardian poll.

Monday 24 October 2011

Enter the Prism (Greece, A Country in Crisis)

The various films constituting the Prism project can be found here

The collective documentary, Krisis

The Jukebox as Time Travel Machine (Tom Waits)

"The studio is torn down, all the people who played on it are dead, the instruments have been sold off. But you are listening to a moment that happened in time 60 years ago and you are hearing it just as sharp as when it was made. That remains an amazing thing to me."

Tom Waits talking to Tim Adams
The Observer, 23 October, 2011.

"I remember when I worked in a restaurant, sweeping up by a jukebox, and thinking, 'OK, how do you get in the jukebox and come out of it? That's the real trick."

Tom Waits talking to Andy Gill, Uncut, December 2011 (plus great cover CD, Tom Waits' Jukebox).

The American jukebox arrives to corrupt British teenagers, 1955 (FT Magazine, Dec 5/6 2009)


From around 60 years ago (nb 1951 was the year that disc jockey Alan Freed started broadcasting rock and roll music and using that term for R 'n' B):

Howlin Wolf, Moanin' at Midnight

Muddy Waters, Rollin' and Tumblin'

John Lee Hooker, I'm In the Mood

Bill Haley, Rocket 88

Bill Haley, Jukebox Cannonball

Hank Williams, I can't help it

Fats Domino, Rockin' Chair

Fats Domino, Don't Lie to me

Ella Mae Morse, Tennessee Saturday Night

Big Joe Turner, Boogie Woogie Country Girl

How Many More Years (my own time-travel back 60 years, to 1951): a Howlin' Wolf Tribute

Some hot jazz from the 1930s (recorded 15 January, 1935):

Nickel in the Slot, Wingy Malone and his Orchestra

Back to Weymouth



Two-speed Europe

Charlemagne (The Economist) on developments in Europe and the Eurozone.

BBC report.

Friday 21 October 2011

Greek Property Tax Bills: In The Post

Kathimerini reports

Wait until the Norwegians arrive!

When the ink runs out and the well runs dry.

Patrick Cockburn in The Independent, a different angle.

Legal appeal against property tax

Letter to Athens News from Finland, 17 October, 2011:


From Finland with reserve
I’VE JUST read in your newspaper that Greeks are worried about the food cost rising 3 percent in one year. How sad! I know it’s not normal people who have done all this to your country! It must be the system around you that made it possible.
Well, let me tell you all how much prices have gone up here in Finland. Total food costs are 20 percent higher than in other EU countries. Food prices have gone up 7 percent in one year, electricity 20 percent in one year, apartments /houses up to 70 percent in 10 years, bus tickets 27 percent in 5 years, fuel up 9 percent in one year, while alcohol and beer cost 70 percent more than in other EU countries.
We have to work until the age of 64 and 65. Our pensions after that are around 45 to 50 percent of the salary (whereas in Greece I believe it is 80 percent). We pay high taxes on almost everything we buy and own.
Sometimes it feels that the government is taxing also the air we breathe! Our tax system makes life very, very tight. And now the new government is planning to raise our taxes again!
However, we have little corruption.
Now I read that Greek people don’t want to pay these new solidarity and property taxes.
Your country has unpaid taxes worth 41bn euros. The capital outflow from January to July 2010 was 34bn euros and continues by 3bn-4bn every month. Now you have plans to build a new Formula 1 racetrack in the Peloponnese and a new cultural centre (opera, library) in Athens. Could someone tell me how this is all possible?
From my salary, that I earn by working four days a week, I’m afraid that after I’ve taken care of the housing costs (electricity, water, garbage, road dues, property tax, insurance etc), bills (like telephone, TV et al) and food and income tax (now 27 percent), not much has been left.
I always buy my clothes from the secondhand or flea market. There is no eating out, no movies, no holidays abroad in my life.

I love Greece, but...
Name withheld on request

Troika Draft Report on Greece

Troika Draft Report on Greece Pdf file here

Euro Summit Draft Statement here

Kathimerini report on Troika Report

On Papandreou's Doubts re EU Summit Meeting

Uncertain summit developments (The Telegraph 23 October))

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Corfu's Richard Pine on the State of Greece

Read Richard's comments in The Irish Times.

Meanwhile the general strike proceeds.

Sandra Gionas, on the Greek Ethos (TVO, Canada)

John Psaropoulos interview (The New Athenian/PBS)

Queen of Australia (and Garry Shead)

BBC on the Royal Visit


                      I wonder if Garry Shead has prepared his canvases for a new series of paintings?

Tuesday 18 October 2011

Celebrate Black History Month, Dorchester, 2011



Don't miss this great event! Last year it was very enjoyable, with some superb drumming and dancing by Zubida Movements, and more good music from a group called Dub Educators. It's where I first met the poet Louisa Adjoa Parker.

Here's my own unofficial online contribution to this year's celebrations: a film I made about Ethiopian history and art.

Also, at County Hall, Dorchester, the All Different, All Dorset exhibition. It opened yesterday (17-28 October). See Dorset Echo article. And an earlier article

William Barnes, "Woone Rule"


With inscriptions it's also difficult to be sure of the punctuation marks.

Here's  the Barnes poem, "Woone Rule", from which this quotation (penultimate line) "What is, is best, we needen fear" is taken:

An' while I zot, wi' thoughtvul mind,
Up where the lwonesome Coombs do wind,
An' watch'd the little gully slide
So crookèd to the river-zide;
I thought how wrong the Stour did zeem
To roll along his ramblèn stream,
A-runnèn wide the left o' south,
To vind his mouth, the right-hand zide.

But though his stream do teäke, at mill.
An' eastward bend by Newton Hill,
An' goo to lay his welcome boon
O' daïly water round Hammoon,
An' then wind off ageän, to run
By Blanvord, to the noonday zun,
'Tis only bound by woone rule all,
An' that's to vall down steepest ground.

An' zoo, I thought, as we do bend
Our waÿ drough life, to reach our end,
Our God ha' gi'ed us, vrom our youth,
Woone rule to be our guide--His truth.
An' zoo wi' that, though we mid teäke
Wide rambles vor our callèns' seäke,
What is, is best, we needen fear,
An' we shall steer to happy rest.

Questioning Thomas Hardy's "Nature's Questioning"




I've been re-reading Thomas Hardy's poem, Nature's Questioning. Can anybody tell me which is the correct last line?

My 1923 edition of Collected Poems of Thomas Hardy gives this as the final verse:


"Thus things around. No answerer I...
            Meanwhile the winds, and rains,
            And Earth's old glooms and pains
Are still the same, and Life and Death are neighbours nigh".


The 1898 Wessex Poems and Other Verses ends differently:

        "And Earth's old glooms and pains
Are still the same, and gladdest Life Death neighbours nigh".

Presumably Hardy himself made the changes. Which version do you prefer? Which version should be inscribed in stone at Poundbury Cemetery? How is the meaning changed if one reverts to the earlier ending?

Sunday 16 October 2011

Harry Klynn got it right!

 It's a long time since I saw Greek comedian Harry Klynn in a live show (in Corfu or in his home town, Thessaloniki), but I was glad to be reminded of his special brand of humour and stand-up satire, by blogger CorfuKorfu.

Two from YouTube:

1.  A song about taxes

and one I found myself:

2. A TV sketch (O Eforiakos)

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Great fan as I am of most of John Le Carre's novels, I found the film dull and disappointing, in spite of the enthusiastic reviews:

The Guardian

The Telegraph

I have to admit I preferred Johnny English Reborn.

"Do not resuscitate, not appropriate"

No wonder we all try to keep out of hospitals

Care of the elderly

George Seferis Conference, Corfu, Final Programme, 11-13 November, 2011

          
                                                                               ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΣΕΦΕΡΗΣ
  «ΑΝΘΗ της ΠΕΤΡΑΣ»
                                      
Επιστημονικό Συνέδριο
                                    (40 χρόνια από τον θάνατό του)

                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                   
     
                                               Κέρκυρα, 11, 12 & 13 Νοεμβρίου 2011
                                                                 Είσοδος ελεύθερη 

                             
Παρασκευή 11 Νοεμβρίου 2011
Απόγευμα
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Εναρκτήρια συνεδρία
Επί συνόλου ολίγα

Άνθη της πέτρας μπροστά στην πράσινη θάλασσα

Πρόεδρος: Θεοτόκης Ζερβός
Γραμματέας: Μαγδαληνή Μανωλοπούλου

17                                17.30   Νίκος Παπαδημητρίου: Ο αιθέρας μιας παμπάλαιας στιγμής και το άλγος του νόστου στη σεφερική περιπλάνηση

17.50   Ερωτόκριτος Μωραΐτης: Ο «δίκαιος λόγος» του Σεφέρη

                                    18.10 Νάσος Μαρτίνος: Με τα χρώματα της μοναξιάς

                                    18.30   Διάλειμμα             

                                    18.50   Γιώργος Κεντρωτής: Ο μεταφραστής Σεφέρης

                    19.10   Τάσος Παπαναστασάτος: Το Φονικό στην Εκκλησιά και η προγενέστερη μετάφραση δύο χορικών από τον Φόνο στη Μητρόπολη

19.30   Συζήτηση

20.00   Ο ποιητής Νάνος Βαλαωρίτης μιλάει για τον Σεφέρη (DVD γραμμένο ειδικά για το Συνέδριο)

20.20   Λήξη συνεδρίας



Σάββατο 12 Νοεμβρίου 2011
Πρωινή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Για τον τρόπο του Γ.Σ. (α΄)

Αργά μιλούσες μπρος στον ήλιο

Πρόεδρος: Κώστας Καρδάμης
Γραμματέας: Μαρία Μπαλού

            09.30   Δημήτρης Κονιδάρης: Προετοιμάζοντας την αλλαγή: Στροφή, Η στέρνα, Τετράδιο Γυμνασμάτων (1928-1937)

09.50   Νικολαΐς Πέννα: Το ταξίδι καθοριστικός παράγοντας προσωπικής και κοινωνικής ιδεολογικής αναζήτησης     

10.10   Νίκος Κοσκινάς: Το Ημερολόγιο Καταστρώματος Α΄ και Β΄

10.30   Λένια Σέργη: Σεφέρης και Κύπρος

10.50   Συζήτηση

11.10     Διάλειμμα
Μεσημβρινή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Για τον τρόπο του Γ.Σ. (β΄)

Καθώς περνούν τα χρόνια και κουβεντιάζεις
με λιγότερες φωνές

Πρόεδρος: Αναστασία Σιώψη
Γραμματέας: Βέρα Κονιδάρη

                    11.30   Βασίλης Π. Καραγιάννης: Από τις «Γάτες τ’ Άϊ Νικόλα» στην πολίχνη Ξεχασμένη Μακεδονίας και περιχώρων. Μια βραδυραγούσα ποιητική ταχεία

11.50   Περικλής Παγκράτης: Τα ακραία υποκειμενικά όρια του ποιητή (Τρία Κρυφά Ποιήματα)

12.10   Σοφία Μωραΐτη: Ο Νούκιος Νίκανδρος και οι σεφερικές προσδοκίες

12.30   Γεράσιμος Ρομποτής: Καρυωτάκης, Άγρας, Σεφέρης: Ποιητές και υπάλληλοι του μεσοπολέμου          

12.50 Συζήτηση

13.10 Λήξη συνεδρίας 

Σάββατο 12 Νοεμβρίου 2011
Απογευματινή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Σε άλλους καιρούς

Στη σφενδόνη, πάλι στη σφενδόνη,στη σφενδόνη

Πρόεδρος: Θεόδωρος Παππάς
Γραμματέας: Νικολαΐς Μπαλού

17.30                           17.30   Κώστας Λιντοβόης: Σεφέρης: Δάνεια από την αρχαία τραγωδία

17.50   Σωτήρης Τριβιζάς: Ο μύθος των Ατρειδών στην ποίηση του Σεφέρη

18.10 Κώστας Σουέρεφ: Η Αποκάλυψη του Ιωάννη σε μεταγραφή Σεφέρη. Μια δεύτερη ανάγνωση

18.30     Συζήτηση       

18.50                           18.50   Διάλειμμα



ΒΡΑΔΥνή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Σε άλλους τόπους

Ευτυχισμένος που έκανε το ταξίδι του Οδυσσέα

Πρόεδρος: Νίκος Παπαδημητρίου
Γραμματέας: Χρύση Παγκράτη

                        19.10   Jim Potts (Τζιμ Ποττς), μτφρ. Δημήτρης Δάλλας: Γιώργος Σεφέρης: Πολιτιστική διπλωματία

19.30   Σωτήρης Σουλιώτης: Σεφέρης και Δανία: Η απήχηση του έργου του        
19.50 Martti Leiwo (Μάρττι Λέιβο): Ο Σεφέρης και η Φινλανδία

20.10   Συζήτηση

20.30   Λήξη συνεδρίας      

18.50                      
                       


Κυριακή 13 Νοεμβρίου 2011
Πρωινή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Για τρόπους άλλους

Πόσοι γύροι, πόσοι αιμάτινοι κύκλοι

Πρόεδρος: Μιχάλης Πολίτης
Γραμματέας: Λεωνίδας Μερτύρης

09.30   Κατερίνα Κούσουλα: Το φως στον Σεφέρη

09.50     Ανδρομάχη Μπάτζιου: Τα limericks στην ποίηση του Γ. Σεφέρη
                                                                                                                                     
10.10                                         10.10   Βασίλης Λέτσιος: Για τα χαϊκού του Σεφέρη  
10.11                                          
10.30   Σταυρούλα Τσούπρου: Τα ποιήματα για παιδιά του Γ. Σεφέρη

                    10.50   Συζήτηση

11.10   Διάλειμμα


Μεσημβρινή συνεδρία
(Αίθουσα Μουσείου Σολωμού)
Για τρόπους άλλων

Ήρθαν όταν κανένας δε μιλούσε και μου μίλησαν

Πρόεδρος: Νάσος Μαρτίνος
Γραμματέας: Έμιλυ Περατικού

11.30                          
11.30   Νάσος Βαγενάς: Η γενιά του ’30

11.50   Πάνος Βλαγκόπουλος: «Τούτο το σώμα»: Ο ποιητής ως συνθέτης

12.10   Στέλλα Κουρμπανά: Σεφέρης και Βάγκνερ, παράλληλοι

12.30   Πασχάλης Νικολάου: Μεταφορές φωτός, άνθη επίδρασης: Σεφέρης, Berengarten, Βαγενάς, Λάγιος

12.50   Συζήτηση

13.10   Εδώ τελειώνουν τα έργα της θάλασσας, τα έργα της αγάπης: ΣΥΜΠΕΡΑΣΜΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟΥ                 

13.30     Λήξη συνεδριών

                Κυριακή 13 Νοεμβρίου 2011

ΣΤΗΝ ΙΕΡΑ ΜΟΝΗ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΑΣ (ΚΑΡΜΗΛΟΥ)
της ΤΕΝΕΔΟΥ
(Σπηλιά)

Θέατρο αναλογίου
Λαγάρισε τον αέρα, καθάρισε τον ουρανό,
πλύνε τον άνεμο
19.00                  
20.00   T.S.Eliot: Φονικό στην Εκκλησιά, στη μετάφραση του Γιώργου Σεφέρη. Θέατρο αναλογίου από το ΔΗ.ΠΕ.ΘΕ. Κερκύρας.

(είσοδος ελεύθερη)


Η Ιερά Μονή της Παναγίας της Τενέδου, λατινική (καθολική) εκκλησία μπαρόκ με σημαντική ιστορία, αφιερωμένη στην Παναγία του Καρμήλου, κτίστηκε προς το τέλος του 17ου αιώνα.

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ΟΡΓΑΝΩΤΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟΥ
Πρόεδρος: Περικλής Παγκράτης, Αντιπρόεδρος: Δημήτρης Κονιδάρης,
Γραμματέας: Κώστας Καρδάμης, Ταμίας: Λουκιανός Ζαμίτ,
Μέλη:  Κώστας Λιντοβόης, Νίκος Κοσκινάς

ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΙΑ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟΥ
Γεωργία Παπαδοπούλου, Λεωνίδας Μερτύρης

Η εικονογράφηση στο εξώφυλλο είναι της Ρένας Κρουαζιέ.
Φινλανδικό Ινστιτούτο Αθηνών: Υποστήριξη για την παρουσία του Φινλανδού εισηγητή
        Μartti Leiwo (Μάρττι Λέιβο).
        Καθολική Αρχιεπισκοπή Κερκύρας: Διάθεση της Ιεράς Μονής της Παναγίας της Τενέδου
        για το θέατρο αναλογίου.

  Other information

Two Landscape Artists

Two very interesting artists:

Richard Long

Ian Hamilton Finlay

See also an earlier posting on stone-carving and environmental art

Friday 14 October 2011

Fighting Tax Evasion in Greece

The New Athenian (John Psaropoulos) reports

Gavin Hewitt, BBC blog

Extortion Game  How much of this is fact or fiction? Like 'the payment of pensions to the dead', some of these stories do the rounds and keep resurfacing.

Eurointelligence, 19 October:


"Commenting in Bild Paul Ronzheimer attacks the Greek government for its inaction against Greeks bringing their money out of the country. “While the euro-countries send one package of billions (of euros) after the other the rich Greek have since a long time brought their money out of the country”, he writes. “There is still no trace of the announced transfer tax, tax evaders are still not being punished, the Greek elite are still protecting one another. Grandiose announcements by the Greek finance ministers to publish a list of all tax evaders have been taken back”, Ronzheimer says."
 Dealing with garbage when the landfills are full...


Thursday 13 October 2011

Dourahani Monastery, Ioannina - and Palaiokastritsa Monastery, Corfu



It is a much more meaningful experience to visit Dourahani Monastery (above; the opposite side of the lake from Ioannina) than Palaiokastritsa Monastery in Corfu, which has been turned into a commercial tourist trap, with salesmen of "folk-art", commercial photographers and artists, and two ladies in Corfiot costumes helping people up the steps towards the waiting photographer.







I suppose it is one path towards privatisation. Time for some people to recall some relevant passages?

Mark 11:12-16:
"On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts."


Matthew 21:12-19:
"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"