Zolota's greek speech (former prime minister of Greece and outstanding academic!), 2/10/1959

Kyrie, it is Zeus' anathema on our epoch (for the dynamism of our economies) and the heresy of our economic method and policies that we should agonize the Skylla of nomismatic plethora and the Charybdis of economic anaemia. It is not my idiosyncracy to be ironic or sarcastic but my diagnosis would be that politicians are rather cryptoplethorists. Although they emphatically stigmatize nomismatic plethora, they energize it through their tactics and practices. Our policies should be based more on economic and less on political criteria. Our gnomon has to be a metron between economic,strategic and philanthropic scopes.  Political magic has always been anti-economic. In an epoch characterized by monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic antagonism and polymorphous inelasticities, our policies have to be more orthological, but this should not be metamorphosed into plethorophobia, which is endemic among academic economists. Nomismatic symmetry should not antagonize economic acme. A greater harmonization between the practices of the economic and nomismatic archons is basic. Parallel to this,we have to synchronize and harmonize more and more our economic and nomismatic policies panethnically. These scopes are more practicable now, when the prognostics of the political and economic barometer are halcyonic. The history of our didimus organization on this sphere has been didactic and their gnostic practices will always be a tonic to the polyonymous and idiomorphous ethnical economies. The genesis of the programmed organization will dynamize these policies. Therefore, i sympathize, although not without criticism one or two themes with the apostles and the hierarchy of our organs in their zeal to program orthodox economic and nomismatic policies, although I have some logomachy with them.I apologize for having tyranized you with my Hellenic phraseology. In my epilogue, i emphasize my eulogy to the philoxenous aytochtons of this cosmopolitan metropolis and my encomium to you, Kyrie stenographers.

[Κύριοι, είναι "Διός ανάθεμα" στην εποχή μας και αίρεση της οικονομικής μας μεθόδου και της οικονομικής μας πολιτικής το ότι θα φέρναμε σε αγωνία την Σκύλλα του νομισματικού πληθωρισμού και τη Χάρυβδη της οικονομικής μας αναιμίας. Δεν είναι στην ιδιοσυγκρασία μου να είμαι ειρωνικός ή σαρκαστικός αλλά η διάγνωσή μου θα ήταν ότι οι πολιτικοί είναι μάλλον κρυπτοπληθωριστές. Αν και με έμφαση στιγματίζουν τον νομισματικό πληθωρισμό, τον ενεργοποιούν μέσω της τακτικής τους και των πρακτικών τους. Η πολιτική μας θα έπρεπε να βασίζεται περισσότερο σε οικονομικά και λιγότερο σε πολιτικά κριτήρια. Γνώμων μας πρέπει να είναι ένα μέτρο μεταξύ οικονομικής, στρατηγικής και φιλανθρωπικής σκοπιάς. Σε μια εποχή που χαρακτηρίζεται από μονοπώλια, ολιγοπώλια, μονοπωλιακό ανταγωνισμό και πολύμορφες ανελαστικότητες, οι πολιτικές μας πρέπει να είναι πιο ορθολογιστικές, αλλά αυτό δεν θα έπρεπε να μεταμορφώνεται σε πληθωροφοβία, η οποία είναι ενδημική στους ακαδημαϊκούς οικονομολόγους. Η νομισματική συμμετρία δεν θα έπρεπε να ανταγωνίζεται την οικονομική ακμή. Μια μεγαλύτερη εναρμόνιση μεταξύ των πρακτικών των οικονομικών και νομισματικών αρχόντων είναι βασική. Παράλληλα με αυτό, πρέπει να εκσυγχρονίσουμε και να εναρμονίσουμε όλο και περισσότερο τις οικονομικές και νομισματικές μας πρακτικές πανεθνικώς. Αυτές οι θεωρήσεις είναι πιο εφαρμόσιμες τώρα, που τα προγνωστικά του πολιτικού και οικονομικού βαρομέτρου είναι χάλκινα. Η ιστορία της δίδυμης οργάνωσης σε αυτήν την σφαίρα είναι διδακτική και οι γνωστικές τους εφαρμογές θα είναι πάντα ένα τονωτικό στις πολυώνυμες και ιδιόμορφες εθνικές οικονομίες. Η γένεση μιας προγραμματισμένης οργάνωσης θα ενισχύσει αυτές τις πολιτικές. Γι' αυτόν το λόγο αντιμετωπίζω με συμπάθεια, αλλά όχι χωρίς κριτική διάθεση, ένα ή δύο θέματα με τους αποστόλους της ιεραρχίας των οργάνων μας στον ζήλο τους να προγραμματίσουν ορθόδοξες οικονομικές και νομισματικές πολιτικές. Απολογούμαι που σας τυράννησα με την ελληνική μου φρασεολογία. Στον επίλογό μου δίνω έμφαση στην ευλογία μου, προς τους φιλόξενους αυτόχθονες αυτής της κοσμοπολίτικης μητρόπολης καθώς και το εγκώμιό μου προς εσάς, κύριοι στενογράφοι.]

monuments of global heritage-man's works to admire

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/photogalleries/101023-ancient-landmarks-vanishing-global-heritage-report-pictures/

all magnificent! and so many others left in oblivion, too!

recovery

Be like the flowing river,

Silent in the night.

Be not afraid of the dark.

If there are stars in the sky, reflect them back.

If there are clouds in the sky,

Remember, clouds, like the river, are water,

So, gladly reflect them too,

In your own tranquil depths.

By Manuel Bandeira

clouded sky seen from my window

An odd story :)

Wanting my next uploading after all this time to be light and joyful, I thought to site here an essay my 14 year old daughter had written for practice in writing English. Enjoy!

WRITING

Topic: You have decided to enter a short story competition and the rules of the competition say that you begin with the words: As I locked the front door, the snow was falling.

As I locked the front door, the snow was falling. The wind was really icy, so, I should stay in the house. I was in a big house somewhere in the middle of nowhere because, I was babysitting two little children whose parents were out to the cinema.

Suddenly, I saw something white coming towards me. Then, I heard a glass cracking and a blood-curdling scream. I ran out quickly, and I saw some footprints in front of me. I walked down the road looking for a human presence when I all of a sudden stumbled and fell down. I was shocked! A few meters along me a leg was lying there dead!!! I run quickly there, I pulled the leg and I saw an injured man, attached to the leg.... I dragged him into the house, and helped him to wake up.

After an hour I realised that the white thing was a snowball and it was thrown by this man in an effort to be helped.

After all these things, I called an ambulance for the injured one. When finally everybody left the house, I sat and started thinking of this amazing, odd and full of mystery adventure.

Sophia

unanswered questions, by P. Coelho, the googliest

Climbing up a track in the Pyrenees in search of somewhere to practice archery, I came upon a small French army camp, where I met a colonel who asks me if I am the writer. And then, getting over his almost visible shyness, he tells me that he too has written a book and begins to explain me the curious genesis of his work.

He and his wife made donations for a leper child who originally lived in India but was later transferred to France. One fine day, curious to meet the little girl, they went to the convent where the nuns took care of the child. One of the nuns asked if he would help in the spiritual education of the group of children who lived there. Jean Paul Sétau (the officer’s name) said that he had no experience teaching the catechism but that he would give it some thought and ask God what he should do.

That night, after saying his prayers, he heard the answer: “instead of offering answers, try to find out what the children want to ask.”

From then on Sétau had the idea of visiting several schools, asking children for the questions to be put in writing, so that the more timid among the pupils would lose their fear of exposing themselves.

Here are some of them:

Where do we go after we die?

Why are we afraid of strangers?

Are there extra-terrestrial beings?

Why do accidents happen even to people who believe in God?

Why are we born, if in the end we die?

Who invented war and happiness?

Does the Lord also listen to those who do not believe in the same (Catholic) God?

Why are there poor and sick people?

Why did God create mosquitoes and flies?

Why isn’t the guardian angel close by when we are sad?

Why do we love some people and hate others?

Who gave names to the colors?

If God is in heaven and my mother is up there too because she died, how can He be alive?

I hope that some teachers or parents who read feel stimulated to do the same thing. In that way, instead of trying to impose our adult understanding of the universe, we will end up remembering some of our questions as children – and which were never really answered.

Welcome to Share with Friends – Free Texts for a Free Internet

the load of soul

"Γιατί είναι τόσο μεγάλα τα φτερά για το σώμα σου;" ρώτησε το μυρμήγκι την πεταλούδα. 

"Πολλοί με λένε και ψυχή, κι αυτό έχει μεγάλο βάρος", του απάντησε. (Λουδοβίκος των Ανωγείων)

διάφανη πεταλούδα σε μωβ λουλούδι

Η μέλισσα κι ο άγγελος - Λουδοβίκος των Ανωγείων

Μια μέλισσα καθώς μπαινόβγαινε

στα άνθη του κάμπου, είδε έναν άγγελο

να κάθεται στη σκιά του πεύκου

λευκοντυμένος, με μακριά μαύρα μαλλιά.

-Είσαι ένας άγγελος του Θεού;

-Είμαι ένας άγγελος του Θεού.

-Και είσαι αγόρι ή κορίτσι;

-Δεν είμαι, είπεν ο άγγελος

και γύρισε αλλού το κεφάλι.

-Ούτε κι εγώ είμαι,όμως θέλω να σε ρωτήσω

εκεί στους ουρανούς που γυρνάς,

τον έρωτα τον έχεις δει; Πώς είναι;

-Ένας κλέφτης!

Από σένα πήρε το κεντρί και το μέλι,

κι από μένα τα φτερά, μέλισσά μου !

Ερως και ψυχή- γλυπτό του Αντόνιο Κανόβα

How to climb mountains, P. Coelho

….Learn from someone who has been there before

However unique you may think you are, there is always someone who has had the same dream before, and who will have left signs behind that will make the climb less arduous: the best place to attach a rope, trodden paths, branches broken off to make it easier to pass. It is your climb and it is your responsibility too, but never forget that other people’s experiences are always helpful.

Dangers, seen from close to, are controllable

When you start to climb the mountain of your dreams, pay attention to what is around yo. There are, of course, precipices. There are almost imperceptible cracks. There are stones polished so smooth by rain and wind that they have become as slippery as ice. But if you know where you are putting your foot, you will see any traps and be able to avoid them.

…. Be prepared to go the extra mile

The distance to the top of the mountain is always greater than you think. There is bound to come to a moment when what seemed close is still very far away. But since you are prepared to go still further, this should not be a problem.

…. Make a promise

Now that you have discovered a strength you did not even know you had, tell yourself that you will use it for the rest of your days; promise yourself, too, to discover another mountain and set off on a new adventure.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

photo by Martyn Fordham

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

1923 by Robert Frost

“Η αγνώριστη” (απόσπασμα) του Σολωμού

Ποια είναι τούτη που κατεβαίνει
ασπροεντυμένη οχ, το βουνό;
Τώρα που τούτη η κόρη φαίνεται,
το χόρτο γένεται άνθι απαλό
κι ευθύς ανοίγει τα ωραία του κάλλη
και το κεφάλι συχνοκουνεί
κι ερωτευμένο, να μην το αφήσει,
να το πατήσει, παρακαλεί…

                  δεν είναι τρυφερό;

Mike Oldfield: "No mans land"

Δεν περίμενα να είναι τόσο ωραίο!!!

1 GOAL kids dreams

τα έργα τέχνης είναι πολιτισμός...

... αυτοί που τα καπηλεύονται, είναι πολιτισμένοι;

ο Βάρναλης απαγγέλλει... τη μπαλάντα του κυρ Μέντιου

... συγκινητικό το άκουσμα του ποιητή...
... κι ο καθένας ας κάνει τους συνειρμούς του!!!

Paulo Coelho, tribute

    Χειρότερο από το να περπατάμε μόνοι και δυστυχισμένοι είναι να έχουμε κάποιον πλάι μας και να τον κάνουμε να νιώθει ότι δεν είναι ούτε στο τόσο σημαντικός για τη ζωή μας…

… Στο δόμο της επιστροφής συνάντησα κι άλλους ανθρώπους στην ίδια κατάσταση με μένα και πρόσεξα ότι είχαν δύο ειδών βλέμματα: υπεροπτικά γιατί ήθελαν να προσποιηθούν ότι είχαν επιλέξει τη μοναξιά εκείνη την όμορφη νύχτα, ή θλιμμένα γιατί ντρέπονταν που ήταν μόνοι...

The Zahir  

Ο χρόνος μας σε τούτη τη γη είναι ιερός και πρέπει να γιορτάζουμε την κάθε στιγμή…

Ο χρόνος μου έδειξε και κάτι άλλο παράξενο. Μπορεί κανείς να αγαπήσει πάνω από ένα άτομο στη ζωή του. Πρέπει όμως να φανώ προσεκτικός και να μην προσπαθήσω ποτέ να συγκρίνω τις δυο εμπειρίες… η αγάπη δε μετριέται όπως μετράμε ένα δρόμο ή το ύψος ενός κτιρίου.

«…Έχω αποδεχτεί τις σφυριές που μου δίνει η ζωή και κάποιες φορές νιώθω κρύος και αναίσθητος σαν το νερό που κάνει το χάλυβα να υποφέρει. Θεέ μου, μην παραιτηθείς μέχρις ότου πάρω τη μορφή που περιμένεις από μένα… Ποτέ όμως μη με βάλεις στο σωρό με τα παλιοσίδερα των ψυχών»

…κι ο Χριστός θα της απάντησε: κοίτα, κόρη μου, κι εγώ απ’ έξω είμαι. Πάει πολύς καιρός που δεν με αφήνουν να μπω εκεί μέσα. (εν. εκκλησία)

The witch of Portobello

Κανείς δεν μπορεί να κρίνει. Ο καθένας γνωρίζει τις διαστάσεις του πόνου του ή της απόλυτης απουσίας νοήματος στη ζωή του.

…Σταμάτα να σκέφτεσαι όλη την ώρα ότι ενοχλείς το διπλανό σου. Αν οι άνθρωποι δε σε θέλουν, θα διαμαρτυρηθούν. Κι αν δεν έχουν το θάρρος να το κάνουν, δικό τους πρόβλημα!... 

…οι νόμοι δεν κατασκευάστηκαν για να λύνουν προβλήματα αλλά για να παρατείνουν τις δικαστικές διαμάχες επ’ αόριστον… (! σας λέει κάτι αυτή η σκέψη;)

Veronika decides to die

(apparently my favourite writer!)

"The kingdom of this world" By Paulo Coelho

An old hermit was once invited to visit the court of the most powerful king of those times.

- I envy such a saintly man, who is content with so little – said the ruler.

- I envy Your Majesty, who is content with even less that I – responded the hermit.

- How can you say such a thing, if this entire country belongs to me? – said the offended king.

- For precisely that reason. I have the music of the celestial spheres, I have the rivers and mountains of the whole world, I have the moon and the sun, because I have God in my soul. Your Majesty, on the other hand, has only this kingdom.

Μιχαήλ Άγγελου: «Πιετά»

Ω, γλυκύ μου έαρ, γλυκύτατόν μου τέκνον, πού έδυ σου το κάλλος;

“21 grams” the movie, by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

“How many lives do we live?

How many times do we die?

They say we all lose 21 grams at the exact moment of our death. Everyone!

And how much fits into 21 grams?

How much is lost? When do we lose 21 grams?

How much goes with them? How much is gained?

The weight of a hummingbird!

How much the 21 grams weight?”

Τα γόνατα του Ιησού

Καρφωμένα στ’ αγριόξυλο του σταυρού, σχηματίζουν
μι’ αμβλεία γωνία.

Είναι τα ίδια τα γόνατα
που προβάτιζαν, παίζοντας, γύρω από το κόκκινο
φουστάνι της μάνας του, όταν
ήτανε βρέφος δέκα μηνών.

Που αργότερα, έφηβος, τ’ ακούμπαγε κάτω
στη γη πριονίζοντας το ξύλο ενός κέδρου.

Που λύθηκαν κι έπεσαν, ένας σωρός,
-μια νύχτα που η άνοιξη ήταν αβάσταγη
και μύριζε η γης κι ο ουρανός λεμονάνθι-
στο Όρος των Ελαιών.

Κι είναι ακόμη τα γόνατα
που κάθιζε, αμίλητος, δυο δυο τα παιδιά
κι απλώνοντας δίπλα του, πάνω στη γη,
το απέραντο χέρι του, τα φίλευεν
ένα λουλουδάκι-
κομμένο
από τον πλούτο του σύμπαντος.

Νικηφόρος Βρεττάκος

Paulo Coelho (in “Like a flowing river” )

…The boy was walking to buy bread when the mayor of the city crossed the street.

‘The reason he is so powerful, is because, he’s made pact with the devil,’ a very devout woman in the street told the boy, and he was intrigued.

Some time later, when travelling to another town, the boy saw a beautiful corn field. He asked who the owner was as soon as he arrived at his destination

‘All this land belongs to the same man. I’d say the Devil had a hand in that.’ – answered someone.

Later the same day, a beautiful woman walked past the boy.

‘That woman is in the services of Satan!’ cried a preacher angrily.

From then on, the boy decided to seek the Devil out. One day he managed to see him face to face.

‘They say you can make people powerful, rich, and beautiful.’

‘Not really,’ replied the Devil. ‘You have just been listening to the views of those who are trying to promote me.’

(... creation of Adam, detail)

The road not taken - Robert Frost (the original)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I–
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963).