In just a few hours, I am going to be among the first audience members to see Nia Vardalos' latest film, "My Life in Ruins" thanks to free tickets provided to me by Aktina-FM!
The countdown to laugh my heart out started earlier this week, and I can't want to come back with the rundown for you before it hits theaters on June 5th.
Buy your June 5th tickets now and stay tuned for my review!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Britain's Got Talent and a Soft Spot for Greek-Irish Dancing
By now we know that an amazing dance group received this season's crown as the top act of Britain's Got Talent, beating out now-famous Scotswoman Susan Boyle, but you may have missed the Greek-Cypriot dance duo that had all judges grinning from ear to ear and frankly in stitches for the entire performance.
Father and son Demetris and Lagi squared off during a spoof of Michael Flatley's famous Irish dance in a shirtless and comical performance that was part jig and part Pentozali, that had the audience on the feet, judges clapping and Simon smiling for what seemed like an eternity by the show's standards.
The two received a resounding "yes," one nai (Greek for yes) and Simon's acknowledgement that it was one of his "favorite ever dance acts." And they walked off into the sunset to the tune of Zorba the Greek.
I LOVED IT! I'm still smiling.
Due to show copyrights, I'm unable to embed the actual video, but click here - you won't be disappointed!
Read about Demetri and Lagi Demetriou in the UK's Daily Mail.
Special thanks to my sister-in-law for sending this my way!
The Greek & Irish combo is particularly fun in our family!
Father and son Demetris and Lagi squared off during a spoof of Michael Flatley's famous Irish dance in a shirtless and comical performance that was part jig and part Pentozali, that had the audience on the feet, judges clapping and Simon smiling for what seemed like an eternity by the show's standards.
The two received a resounding "yes," one nai (Greek for yes) and Simon's acknowledgement that it was one of his "favorite ever dance acts." And they walked off into the sunset to the tune of Zorba the Greek.
I LOVED IT! I'm still smiling.
Due to show copyrights, I'm unable to embed the actual video, but click here - you won't be disappointed!
Read about Demetri and Lagi Demetriou in the UK's Daily Mail.
Special thanks to my sister-in-law for sending this my way!
The Greek & Irish combo is particularly fun in our family!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Prayers for the Crew of the MV Irene During Orthodox Holy Week
Days after the Easter miracle that saw an American sea captain rescued from the Somali pirates that are terrorizing the gulf of Aden, a Greek-managed ship by the name of MV Irene was overtaken early this morning. Early Reuters reports indicate that the 22-member is safe, but prayers go out to them and their families for a peaceful resolution. Somali pirates vowed to increase the level of violence against hostages after the rescue of the American captain over the weekend. Does increased pirate activity mean that shipping companies should consider arming commercial fleets? While Somali pirates are reportedly armed with AK-47s, would they be less apt to succeed if Blackwater-like security firms served as armed security guards of the seas?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Stop Turkish PR from Rewriting History of Armenian Genocide!
MSNBC is conducting a survey about whether the Armenian Genocide should be recognized.
As of a few minutes ago the numbers showed Yes 20%, No 80% thanks to a Turkish public relations campaign. The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact, and it should be recognized.
The most disgusting afront to humanity is the denial of tragedies - would it be acceptable for Germany to deny the Holocaust?
Let's make sure this poll reflects true public opinion and truth.
Vote now! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21253084
As of a few minutes ago the numbers showed Yes 20%, No 80% thanks to a Turkish public relations campaign. The Armenian Genocide is a historical fact, and it should be recognized.
The most disgusting afront to humanity is the denial of tragedies - would it be acceptable for Germany to deny the Holocaust?
Let's make sure this poll reflects true public opinion and truth.
Vote now! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21253084
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Obama/Biden Message to Greek-Americans
The following message to Greek-Americans was issued by the Obama/Biden campaign today; unfortunately, no parallel exists from the McCain/Palin ticket.
While it is best interpreted after reading it in its entirety, the following is particularly striking:
- Definite language about Turkish occupation in Cyprus
- Support of UN resolution about FYROM, which as of late supports Greek point of view, but could change
- Defense of Patriarchate not seen from McCain in past efforts
- Recognition that economics are Greek-American topics too
BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN: SUPPORTING GREEK AMERICANS
Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been true friends of the Greek American community throughout their careers in public service. Obama has worked closely with this community, especially the large constituency in Chicago, Illinois, and always supported the Greek community’s participation in the American political process. Obama and Biden greatly respect the major contributions Greek Americans have made to so many aspects of the American experience. They will continue to work closely with Greek Americans at home and reestablish America’s strong partnership with Greece and our other European allies abroad.
A Just and Lasting Political Settlement on Cyprus:
As president, Barack Obama will show U.S. leadership in seeking to negotiate a political settlement on Cyprus. He believes strongly that Cyprus should remain a single, sovereign country in which each of the two communities on the island is able to exercise substantial political authority within a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation. There must be a just and mutually agreed settlement of difficult issues like property, refugees, land, and security. A negotiated political settlement on Cyprus would end the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and repair the island’s tragic division while paving the way to prosperity and peace throughout the entire region. It would also give Cypriots a firm foundation on which to build their future after many years of division and uncertainty. It would help foster better Greek-Turkish relations, strengthen Turkish democracy, reduce the risk of military conflict, and remove a major obstacle to Turkish membership in the EU.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
Barack Obama was one of three original lead co-sponsors of Senate Resolution 300, which urged that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia work with Greece within the framework of the United Nations process to reach a mutually-acceptable official name for that country and achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals. Obama supports the UN-led negotiations and believes that there can and should be an agreement between Skopje and Athens on a mutually-acceptable name that leads to greater stability in the Balkans.
Ecumenical Patriarchate:
Barack Obama was one of 73 Senators who signed a letter to President Bush in 2006 urging him to press Turkey to restore the full rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Christian Church in Istanbul. He has sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a personal letter on the same matter. Senator Obama calls on Turkey to respect the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s rights and freedoms, including its property rights. Turkey should allow the reopening of the Patriarchate’s school of theology on Halki Island and guarantee the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals.
The U.S. Economy:
Despite their hard work, American families are finding it harder and harder each day to make ends meet. Barack Obama supports an immediate $50 billion emergency stimulus plan that would provide immediate assistance to help struggling local governments, continue needed infrastructure projects and protect jobs. Barack Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 95 percent of American workers with a tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Obama will fight for trade agreements that support American jobs and enforce good labor and environmental standards.
Affordable, Accessible Health Care to All:
There are 45.5 million uninsured Americans today. Obama will sign legislation by the end of his first term in office that will provide affordable, accessible health coverage to all Americans. His plan will save a typical family up to $2,500 every year on medical costs by modernizing our health care system.
While it is best interpreted after reading it in its entirety, the following is particularly striking:
- Definite language about Turkish occupation in Cyprus
- Support of UN resolution about FYROM, which as of late supports Greek point of view, but could change
- Defense of Patriarchate not seen from McCain in past efforts
- Recognition that economics are Greek-American topics too
BARACK OBAMA AND JOE BIDEN: SUPPORTING GREEK AMERICANS
Barack Obama and Joe Biden have been true friends of the Greek American community throughout their careers in public service. Obama has worked closely with this community, especially the large constituency in Chicago, Illinois, and always supported the Greek community’s participation in the American political process. Obama and Biden greatly respect the major contributions Greek Americans have made to so many aspects of the American experience. They will continue to work closely with Greek Americans at home and reestablish America’s strong partnership with Greece and our other European allies abroad.
A Just and Lasting Political Settlement on Cyprus:
As president, Barack Obama will show U.S. leadership in seeking to negotiate a political settlement on Cyprus. He believes strongly that Cyprus should remain a single, sovereign country in which each of the two communities on the island is able to exercise substantial political authority within a bi-zonal, bicommunal federation. There must be a just and mutually agreed settlement of difficult issues like property, refugees, land, and security. A negotiated political settlement on Cyprus would end the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and repair the island’s tragic division while paving the way to prosperity and peace throughout the entire region. It would also give Cypriots a firm foundation on which to build their future after many years of division and uncertainty. It would help foster better Greek-Turkish relations, strengthen Turkish democracy, reduce the risk of military conflict, and remove a major obstacle to Turkish membership in the EU.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
Barack Obama was one of three original lead co-sponsors of Senate Resolution 300, which urged that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia work with Greece within the framework of the United Nations process to reach a mutually-acceptable official name for that country and achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals. Obama supports the UN-led negotiations and believes that there can and should be an agreement between Skopje and Athens on a mutually-acceptable name that leads to greater stability in the Balkans.
Ecumenical Patriarchate:
Barack Obama was one of 73 Senators who signed a letter to President Bush in 2006 urging him to press Turkey to restore the full rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Christian Church in Istanbul. He has sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a personal letter on the same matter. Senator Obama calls on Turkey to respect the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s rights and freedoms, including its property rights. Turkey should allow the reopening of the Patriarchate’s school of theology on Halki Island and guarantee the right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals.
The U.S. Economy:
Despite their hard work, American families are finding it harder and harder each day to make ends meet. Barack Obama supports an immediate $50 billion emergency stimulus plan that would provide immediate assistance to help struggling local governments, continue needed infrastructure projects and protect jobs. Barack Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 95 percent of American workers with a tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Obama will fight for trade agreements that support American jobs and enforce good labor and environmental standards.
Affordable, Accessible Health Care to All:
There are 45.5 million uninsured Americans today. Obama will sign legislation by the end of his first term in office that will provide affordable, accessible health coverage to all Americans. His plan will save a typical family up to $2,500 every year on medical costs by modernizing our health care system.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Hummus is to Lebanon as Feta is to Greece
Nearly three years ago the EU declared that Feta is Greek, no questions asked. Well, now it is hummus's turn! It turns out that Lebanon is tired of it's tasty spread being claimed by Mediterranean neighbors as their own.
While an argument can be made that all of us in the general vicinity have been building off of each other's culinary traditions over the last 2,000 years, I stand by the Lebanese on this one. Of course, I'd ask the same favor in return for tzatziki and taramosalata, okay?!
I'm particularly irritated at how SABRA, one particularly popular brand of hummus in the States, uses Greek accents to market the product with little actual connection. In fact, the name of the product itself, Sabra, is term used to describe a native-born Israeli Jew.
- Music on the website ... very Greek-sounding
- Images on website ... very Greek-inspired (Mykonos to be specific - thank you windmills!)
- Winning user-generated video ... very Greek-attired Evzone imitator
Frankly, it seems to me like a way to make the product more acceptable. Following the popularity of the Mediterranean diet and Greek yogurt, this is now a way to make the healthy, exotic connection. In my humble opinion, it is also a way to distance the product from the meaning of its name for fear that it might alienate some consumers.
In any case, I don't like it. I agree with Lebanon - hummus is Lebanese.
While an argument can be made that all of us in the general vicinity have been building off of each other's culinary traditions over the last 2,000 years, I stand by the Lebanese on this one. Of course, I'd ask the same favor in return for tzatziki and taramosalata, okay?!
I'm particularly irritated at how SABRA, one particularly popular brand of hummus in the States, uses Greek accents to market the product with little actual connection. In fact, the name of the product itself, Sabra, is term used to describe a native-born Israeli Jew.
- Music on the website ... very Greek-sounding
- Images on website ... very Greek-inspired (Mykonos to be specific - thank you windmills!)
- Winning user-generated video ... very Greek-attired Evzone imitator
Frankly, it seems to me like a way to make the product more acceptable. Following the popularity of the Mediterranean diet and Greek yogurt, this is now a way to make the healthy, exotic connection. In my humble opinion, it is also a way to distance the product from the meaning of its name for fear that it might alienate some consumers.
In any case, I don't like it. I agree with Lebanon - hummus is Lebanese.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Mac's Foreign Policy Man on FYRO-Macedonia
As part of my promise to continue to search for the candidates position on what most deem Greek-related matters, I stumbled upon this piece originally posted on Hellenic News of America. If it is true, it not only brings McCain's foreign policy stance in to question, but also the notion that he is somehow a maverick candidate who despises DC's corrupt systems. I say this because Scheunemann's antics are a bit reminiscent of Tom Delay's inner circle around the time of the 2000 election.
Obviously this type of information is important to those that think it is important to know where America's next President stands on issues related to Greece, in addition to their stance on vital domestic issues.
I'd especially like to highlight that up until recently, I thought that the debate over the naming of FYROM was irrelevant; this changed when I saw propaganda masquerading as school textbooks that show FYROM's borders extending to the Aegean, including Thessaloniki. Under this olive tree, call yourself what you want, but don't go using that name to redraw maps or incite people to defend the concept that map defines.
We are all aware of the letters sent by FYROM Prime Minister Gruevski to Greek PM Karamanlis, to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso,to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many other world leaders regarding an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Following the veto to it's anticipated membership at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, FYROM's political leadership is in the process of transferring its dispute with Athens to the USA, with the objective of changing the breadth and the depth of the negotiations, which are currently being held under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Matthew Nimetz, and of 'isolating' Greece as a country which severely violates human rights.The coordination of these activities, as well as the confrontation of the 'Greek Lobby' has been assigned to ORION Strategies, a company founded by Randy Scheunemann.Randy Scheunemann is the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to John McCain and coordinator of the opposition to the 'Greek Lobby' and of the promotion of FYROM's propaganda, through ORION Strategies.
His relationship with the Republican Party's presidential candidate is an especially close one and they frequently travel together.
As a down payment, his company received US $300,000 from the organization United Macedonian Diaspora.
The aim of ORION Strategies is to establish a propaganda machine incorporating US government officials, operatives, diplomats and analysts.Randy Scheunemann was also instrumental in convincing President Bush to attack Iraq. And he almost succeeded in getting American troops involved in the Russia-Georgia conflict.
John McCain's current Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, Randy Scheunemann, is being paid by FYROM to lobby against Greece. He is coordinating Gruevski's letter writing campaign raising issues of an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Imagine what would happen if McCain becomes president.
Obviously this type of information is important to those that think it is important to know where America's next President stands on issues related to Greece, in addition to their stance on vital domestic issues.
I'd especially like to highlight that up until recently, I thought that the debate over the naming of FYROM was irrelevant; this changed when I saw propaganda masquerading as school textbooks that show FYROM's borders extending to the Aegean, including Thessaloniki. Under this olive tree, call yourself what you want, but don't go using that name to redraw maps or incite people to defend the concept that map defines.
We are all aware of the letters sent by FYROM Prime Minister Gruevski to Greek PM Karamanlis, to the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso,to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and many other world leaders regarding an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Following the veto to it's anticipated membership at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, FYROM's political leadership is in the process of transferring its dispute with Athens to the USA, with the objective of changing the breadth and the depth of the negotiations, which are currently being held under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations Matthew Nimetz, and of 'isolating' Greece as a country which severely violates human rights.The coordination of these activities, as well as the confrontation of the 'Greek Lobby' has been assigned to ORION Strategies, a company founded by Randy Scheunemann.Randy Scheunemann is the Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to John McCain and coordinator of the opposition to the 'Greek Lobby' and of the promotion of FYROM's propaganda, through ORION Strategies.
His relationship with the Republican Party's presidential candidate is an especially close one and they frequently travel together.As a down payment, his company received US $300,000 from the organization United Macedonian Diaspora.
The aim of ORION Strategies is to establish a propaganda machine incorporating US government officials, operatives, diplomats and analysts.Randy Scheunemann was also instrumental in convincing President Bush to attack Iraq. And he almost succeeded in getting American troops involved in the Russia-Georgia conflict.
John McCain's current Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, Randy Scheunemann, is being paid by FYROM to lobby against Greece. He is coordinating Gruevski's letter writing campaign raising issues of an artificial "Macedonian" ethnic minority in Greece. Imagine what would happen if McCain becomes president.
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