Ranias Blog

Dead end

2008-12-08T22:08:00.011+02:00

"You never need an argument against the use of violence, you need an argument for it."

Noam Chomsky

After the killing of a 15 year old boy by the police we are all reminded once again that we are living in a society that is violent. At the moment, some people are throwing Molotov bombs, some are destroying property and some are stealing goods from the stores.Some people are demonstrating peacefully, some are driven by a destructive rage and others take advantage of the incidence.I am against violence and t I believe that the individuals that are destroying blindly have no ideology. They merely take advantage of the upheaval that was created by the demonstrations that are not only justified; but long delayed. It is obvious that the political system is sick and peoples quality of life is worsening every day. So instead of trying to find people to blame (hooligans, thieves, anarchists )we should try to investigate the reasons behind their rage and violence. When people are violent the society is violent and our political, economical system in this country is offering to them just a dead end.

The positive aspect for me was seeing adolescents participating into demonstrations and the older generations getting up from their comfortable sofas. Young people are demonstrating on their own without belonging necessarily into a political party, with no organization just rage against the murder, the corruption and the economical crisis.They observe the dead end and are scattered across the streets; and surprisingly organized numerous demonstrations.So the next time that you say that the younger generations are more apathetic, that they only care about their comfort and that we were more rebellious; do think again and remember these days.And also do reflect on why it feels so comfortable for you to always say that our generation was better.

My anonymity travels in the dark....

2008-07-10T01:21:00.008+03:00

So many things to say the past few months that I could not write.I guess I lost my motivation as sometimes one can not see the reason to be an anonymous writer or get a feedback by an anonymous reader. Seeing people around me living less and chating more is scaring me.Feeling that some might prefer to read rather than hear my thoughts horrifies me.Seing so many anonymous people trying to communicate with other anonymous to find a meaning also puzzles me. But...
I always write at night.Anonymity seems to want to travel late in order to find company.This need that I have troubles me and always will.But I missed the traveling and the people that I met in my blog that I started to care about their feedback and opinions day after day.I missed starting an article that ends differently from what expected.Like now....

Documentations....

2008-03-14T12:13:00.014+02:00

Life is an adventure of our own design intercepted by fate and a series of lucky and unlucky accidents...

Patti Smith appears in a black and white cinema screen with these words and haunts the audience. Steve Sebring followed Patti for the last ten years in her dream of life. She travels, re-visit her mentors, reads poetry, engages in conversations and she performs. The only thing I knew about Patti is that she is a rock icon and a poet. Watching the documentary made me realise how she influenced music but more importantly how she inspired people in her life. More than an icon she is real, genuine and an amazing human being that still has a child's soul. Watch the trailer.

Another documentary that we loved was also dedicated to music but this time it was a punk music explosion. Punks not dead is really the best documentation that I have seen about punk that refers equally to the UK punk scene and the American punk scene. The journey of punk starts in the late 70's and continues in the present time.Dynner Susan created a daring documentary that tells a tale about the forms of punk today, the commercial punk (pop-punk etc) and the underground punk scene. Famous punk bands state their diverse opinions on the past and present of punk. Some of the punk band members that appear are Subhumans, Stiff little fingers, UK Subs, G.B.H, Jello Biafra, Henry Rollins, Bad religion etc... Everyone left with a smile after viewing the documentary and we could not stop singing. Τhe image of Joey Ramone still haunts me...Watch the trailer of punks not dead.Punk is really not dead but keeps influencing the way music is performed today. Both documentations are really worth seeing regardless of your music taste.

There would be no world as we know it without music....

(art by lara fairie)

Renovation...

2008-03-04T21:54:00.006+02:00

Δεν ξέρω αν πιστεύω στα ζώδια, ειλικρινά δεν ξέρω. Ένα χαρακτηριστικό μου όμως που συμφωνεί με το ζώδιο μου είναι μια έντονη ανάγκη που έχω για ανανέωση. Είναι κάτι σαν τα παλιά ρούχα που βαριόμαστε να τα φορέσουμε και τα πετάμε. Πετάω ιδέες που δεν μου κάνουν πλέον και αναθεωρώ καθώς μεγαλώνω. Έχω έντονη ανάγκη να μαθαίνω για διαφορετικά πράγματα και να εξελίσσομαι. Στις διαπροσωπικές μου σχέσεις δεν αντέχω τη στασιμότητα και όταν νιώσω αυτό το συναίσθημα δεν το αφήνω να φύγει. Δεν περιμένω από τον άλλο να προσπαθήσει αλλά εγώ προσπαθώ. Παρόλο που δεν αγαπώ τη ρουτίνα κάνω μακροχρόνιες σχέσεις και όταν αγαπώ το κάνω με πάθος. Σε μια σχέση δεν είναι όμως έντονη η ανάγκη μου να πετάξω κάτι όσο να το μεταποιήσω, να το ανανεώσω, να το εξελίξω. Δεν θέλω να το αλλάξω απλά δεν θέλω να το κλείσω σε μια ντουλάπα και να το αφήσω να το φάει ο σκόρος. Αυτό συνεπάγεται με καταδίκη. Θέλω κάτι να προσθέσω, κάποιο συστατικό που θα το πάει πιο πέρα. Οι σχέσεις εκτός από όλα τα συστατικά που ελπίζουμε όλοι να είναι αμοιβαίες, ειλικρινείς, παθιασμένες κτλ πρέπει για μένα να έχουν ένα σημαντικό συστατικό. Θέλω να είναι διασκεδαστικές. Γιατί τα λέω όλα αυτά; Γιατί σήμερα με επισκέφτηκε αυτή η ανάγκη και χαίρομαι που δεν με αφήνει να μιζεριάζω.Αρχίζω την ανανέωση απο αυτο το blog.

( to translate use the translator on the sidebar)
(art by atmosphere)

The quote game

2008-02-27T22:55:00.006+02:00

I was invited by Stormrider and Narita to play a game!And after all this blog absence this is refreshing. So I opened the book on my right and quote from the 5th sentence to the 9th an excellent separation quote:

"....That I am very fond of you I am sure that you will not doubt.I have proven it to you and I will prove it to you as long as I live.It is necessary for my happiness to know you are happy but not to be a witness to it. I have always told you that you are difficult to live with"...
Irvin Yalom " The Schopenhauer cure".

gorgi, ggk, khayman, sunshine, apotheosis you are invited too.

The trap of Liberalism

2008-02-24T18:23:00.003+02:00

Beliefs define the core of our existence and are enabling us to evolve as human beings. These liberal beliefs that are meant to free us frequently become an obstacle. They narrow our thinking and dictate our daily lives.

People that have liberal ideologies have stopped evolving, something that is contrary to what they advocate to believe. Their ideologies are only liberal on the surface and are trapped inside a vicious circle that their own beliefs have created. Their mentality is full of rules on what they should or shouldn’t do. This happens to the extent that they often create their own dictatorship inside their head. Rules that define what a free thinking individual should think, do or avoid.

I was always opposed to the labels that define our principles and beliefs. I think that this is a narrow minded attitude that enhances the separation amongst people. Belonging in a category always gave people a sense of belonging in a group. What I feel though is this need for belonging places our existence in categories. This separates us from ourselves and the world we live in. For me a liberal mind is the one that deconstructs categories. I don’t prefer to be liberal I prefer to be me.

art by inky

Realizations...

2008-01-04T10:07:00.000+02:00

Some scattered post holiday realizations ...
Even the supposed expensive destinations are cheaper than Greece.
Every person needs to play once in a while.I played (water parks, luna parks, theme parks, safari, swimming) and I realized how much everyone needs to escape their routine and just play.
Every time I travel I realize that people abroad are more hospitable than us, I wonder what became of the infamous Greek hospitality.
I realized that I am the luckiest girl having all these people that care for me and that I should stop complaining about friendships lost in the past.
I observed that there are people that have children and still remain fun, energetic and continue to do the same things as before.
I had a great flight with Olympic airways but they conveyed so strongly that it was an airline that is about to close.
I realized that during these holidays I drunk so little compared to others.
I realized that these were the first holidays that I bought so many presents.Cool!
I realized that emo is actually trendy as more people use this word in their everyday conversations.
I re-realized that traveling is my fuel, an amazing enriching experience and a lifetime purpose.

The start of 2008 for me is full of optimism. I want even more now to try to live each day as it comes and have more fun.For this to happen of course we should be healthy and this is what I wish to all of you.Healthy happy faces, if we have that we can do everything.2008 kisses...

Happy Christmas

2007-12-22T16:16:00.001+02:00

Happy Christmas everyone.I am just leaving on holidays so you will not be hearing from me for the next week.Have fun, relax and enjoy.I hope that you will have some spare time to escape from the ordinary!What are you going to do this Christmas?

A moment captured...

2007-12-18T13:14:00.000+02:00

Τα γενέθλια μου τα γιόρτασα το Σάββατο στον Σταυρό του Νότου όπου έπαιζε ο Φίλιππος Πλιάτσικας. Θέλω να μοιραστώ 2 σκέψεις μου από εκείνο το βράδυ. Από το μπαλκόνι παρακολουθούσα τον κόσμο κάτω που ήταν άνθρωποι μεγαλύτεροι σε ηλικία και είχαν έρθει με την οικογένεια τους. Σκεφτόμουν ότι αυτοί οι άνθρωποι δεν έχουν πάει σε κάποιο σκυλάδικο αλλά έχουν έρθει να δουν κάτι που έχει ηλεκτρικές κιθάρες και ξέρουν τους στίχους. Αυτο με έκανε να χαρώ!Το δεύτερο που με έκανε να χαίρομαι είναι ότι έπαιξαν διασκευές από Placebo, Cure και Radiohead.Πραγματικά δεν το περίμενα.Ο Πλιάτσικας και η μουσικη παρέα του τραγούδησαν πολλές διασκευές και λιγότερο Πυξ Λαξ.Ο ίδιος φαινόταν πολύ σεμνός, η παρέα του ίσως να τραγούδησε και περισσότερο απο τον ιδιο και πολλά τραγούδια απλά τα συνόδευε με την κιθάρα του.Αυτές οι σκέψεις και οι φίλοι μου που ήταν μαζί έκαναν αρνητικές εικόνες που σχετιζόταν με το μαγαζί να χαθούν.Άντε και στον Παυλίδη που θα εμφανιστεί σύντομα.

Six Feet Under....

2007-12-14T12:18:00.000+02:00

I am watching lately a series that I loved from the very first episode.Its called Six Feet Under and it portrays the life of a family that run a funeral business.It sounds a bit macabre I know but it uncovers the topic of death and consequently life from different points of views, from religion to agnosticism as people deal with death differently.In every episode the series starts by showing the death of an unknown character whose funeral service will occur in Fishers and Sons funeral home.We can see the way that the relatives react,learn a bit about the person and the way that the Fishers are dealing with death.We can also learn about the commercial aspects of death and the ways that funeral homes run their business.The Fishers are a family that is hanging between functional and dysfunctional.Apart from dealing with people in grief daily they have also experienced a loss in their family and have to cope with that.The characters are complex and yet simple that go through life ordeals as they realize that life can change in an instance.This is really a series that combines drama, black comedy and the most accurate psychological profiles I have ever seen.

It is no wonder that the creator of the series is the Oscar award winning Alan Ball that created the film American Beauty. The series has also won various awards and has reached season 5. The complexity and simplicity of the characters portrayed, the existential angsts given through comedy and drama make this series something really special.It is at times quite surreal and this is the strong aspect of the series.Its a series worth seeing and every episode truly provides food for thought.That is if you are not too scared of mortuaries and cemeteries.Wait, I take it back. If you really are scared of the concept of death maybe it is essential that you watch this series; perhaps there you can find some answers.

Love is not a competition

2007-12-07T12:55:00.000+02:00

This girl is always in a constant competition with her boyfriend. I can imagine her keeping a notebook were she collects in detail all the mistakes of her boyfriend. Surely she records the date and time that he makes them so that she can prove her point. Well she always remembers his mistakes and she is believes that she is always right. She is very antagonistic and wants to do better than him. In company she doesn’t let him talk and degrades him often. She says she is in love.

This boy is always holding back. He doesn’t express too much emotion because he wants to maintain a mystery in his relationship. He is saying to his girlfriend that if they separate he will be the one that will separate first. He is neglecting her and with his friends they mutually take decisions. He always mentions to her about his past relationships. He is always competing in order to maintain a cool facade and show that he does not need her. He is keeping a record in his notebook and actually counts the times that he is affectionate. He doesn’t want to cross his limit. He claims he is in love.

This girl wants to be adored. She wants her boyfriend to be constantly jealous. She provokes him daily so as to make him jealous by telling stories about the men that gave her a look or a phone number. When he is not jealous she is mad and tells him that he doesn’t love her. But when other girls look at her boyfriend she is even more furious. He is not allowed to make her feel jealousy. She is keeping a record of her successes that need to be higher than her boyfriends. She needs to be in control of her relationship. She says she is in love.

This boy is with his girlfriend because she is beautiful. He is introducing to his friend his new girlfriend as if she was a trophy. He doesn’t want to know much about her. She has to fit in his life but he will not make a space for her. No compromises, no changes. His best friend tried to kiss her but he did not mind as he likes the world to feel jealous. He says he is in love.

(art by krecha)

False Memories

2007-11-30T14:33:00.000+02:00

"One need not be a chamber to be haunted;
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place."
Emily Dickinson

In a study that was published by the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology participants viewed photographs of the Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing that occurred in the 80's and the protest against the Iraq war which took place in Rome in 2003.The researchers dived into two groups people that had participated on the demonstrations; and showed to one group digitally altered images of the events and to another group the original images. The researchers discovered that the manipulation of the photos influenced the memory of the participants. In the photos that were manipulated as being violent where there was no violence, the participants even described even more violent incidents like injuries and damages that were never recorded. They discovered that misleading information and propaganda can actually alter people’s memory of the event. They conclude that very easily mass media can alter the way that we view a past event even when we have experienced it and that it can actually change they way that we view historical events.

I think that its a very interesting finding that confirms the power of the mass media and propaganda has on people. I think that another interesting thing that was not mentioned is that people sometimes tend to describe the events that they have lived as more dramatic anyway; to give emphasis as to how important their experience was. Apart from the role of mass media I think that maybe we as people tend to distort our memories as we grow older. Maybe not distorting actual events rather than its significance and impact. Moreover, we tend to suppress memories that are painful and there are times that we don't even trust our own memories and rely on others recollections.

All these is quite interesting especially if you believe like me that we are defined by our own memories.

Inside a deep well...

2007-11-26T01:10:00.000+02:00

In our lives we all go through moments that are particularly difficult. Moments in which everything seems to be going wrong; times where an unpleasant event succeeds another. Usually unpleasant incidents attack as a group. It’s as if misfortune likes company and just waits to test ones limits as to how much he or she can handle. I am reading this novel by Haruki Murakami that is titled “The wind up bird chronicle”.

The protagonist observes a series of unfortunate events happening to him and we engage in his struggle to cope and rediscover his lost happiness. When he was younger the protagonist remembers a wise elder that told him “that when you are going down find the deepest well and stay there”. Years later when everything in his life started to fall apart he remembers the elder words and he actually finds a deep and dry well and stays there day in order to think. He then distances himself from reality, even forgetting his own material existence as he stays in the dark well. He re-visits his memories and thoughts and by staying deep inside a well he attempts his first steps to recovery. It s like what many people say that sometimes you have to die in order to be reborn into someone that is more happier and healthier. I thought that this well metaphor is actually really beautiful. And only a Japanese author could turn something that is metaphoric to an act that would transform a character. Just had to share.

Really what is amazing as we are so complex individuals is that everyone has a different way of coping with the misfortunes that life throws at us.

(art by pesare)

A cup of tea

2007-11-21T22:46:00.001+02:00

Sometimes there is just not enough time!This is what happened to me lately if you are wondering!I am missing this blog but there was not just enough time this past months. The truth is that the little time I have left aside from work, hobbies etc I spend it with friends and boyfriend.And I read a lot every night at least two hours before I go to bed; unless I come late home and have an early wake.This time is really a creative time for me but not in the field of writing.Since I did not have much time to go online this month,do have an online cup of tea with me and tell me how you all are my blog friends.I will be back and did miss your blogs!Μάκια!

(art by annie julie)

A bug...

2007-10-31T21:42:00.000+02:00

Psychosis is a state when one can not distinguish what is real and what is not.During a psychotic episode individuals experience a state where they hear , smell or experience things that are not happening.Psychosis can be so scary for the person that experiences those episodes as it affects cognition, perception, mood, behaviour and movement. Genetics and environmental factors define the onset and prognosis of any type of psychosis.As I have said many times those individuals with the appropriate help can be functional and learn to control the psychotic episodes.Of course psychotic episodes can also be drug induced or brief psychotic episodes that appear in a stressful period of ones life and leave as sudden as they appeared.

Last week I watched on the theater a play called "bug". The whole story is unveiled in a motel room where Agnes is leaving in fear as she finds out that her ex husband is on parole. Then her friend comes to visit her and they stay drinking and snorting cocaine in her room.Her friend introduces Agnes to Peter a person that she recently met.They are left alone and start falling in love.After they make love Peter starts observing bugs inside the sheets.Agnes can not see them but Peter says that they are really small and feed of our skin.Then Agnes finds a secret.Peter said that he was in the army where they experimented on him and things start to get worse.More bugs and an interplay of fantasy and reality.

Throughout out the play are mentioned many conspiracy theories.Conspiracy theories can leave people living in fear, in agony, in terror in an almost psychotic states sometimes.Can actually conspiracy theories induce psychosis?Can they make people even more vulnerable to any government and media demands?So many thoughts on psychosis....

(art by krecha)

Piracy may save music...

2007-10-19T17:06:00.000+03:00

Lately more bands are giving the opportunity to their fans to download their songs for free or to buy their cd at a smaller price like Radiohead and Charlatans.The past years the record labels and the media have struggled against piracy by using the motto " piracy kills music". As they watch the record sales dropping, they have adopted an aggressive policy towards those who download or distribute music for free.In that battle even bands participated like that would actually go to court with their fans (Lars Ulrich vs Napster).

I believe that piracy does not kill but actually saves music.The record sales have been reduced over the past years but for me the cause is not the free exchange of music.The record labels exploit their artists and the price of the cd's its really unnecessarily high. Moreover, artists due to the pressure of the record labels have started to release records that are not worth buying. They have one or two hits on their album and then the rest of the album is of a bad quality.Why then would someone want to buy their record? If a record is good then through free downloading a wider audience can listen to their music.Don't forget that its impossible to buy every cd that we like. Then if their work is decent many people will buy their record regardless if they can get it for free. They will buy it to see the artwork, to read the lyrics, to have a good quality sound and mostly to support the artist or band.

When a band is worth people will buy their album and support it. Their music will be listened by a wider audience and in that sense piracy saves music.The only thing that a band or an artist needs to do to sell is to respect their audience.

(art by honeychick)

The curious world of David Lynch

2007-10-03T00:00:00.001+03:00

“Inland Empire is about a woman in trouble and it’s a mystery, and that’s about all I want to say about it”

David Lynch for me is more than a talented director; he is an artist. The Lost Highway haunted my adolescence and introduced me to a different form of narrative and storytelling. His films are thought provoking, based on detail and surely leave anyone watching thinking the plot for the following days. Even when someone thinks that his films are too weird can’t deny that they are thought provoking.

His films are surreal, metaphorical and refer to the inner soul or mind. They are like traveling inside a labyrinth. The “Blue Velvet”, “Mulholland Drive”, “The Elephant Man” “Lost Highway” and “Twin Peaks” are just a few of his masterpieces. A critique wrote “Lynch's films are tragedies about the overwhelming tendency for people to condemn themselves to a world of darkness and confusion, by succumbing to violence and the desire to control others. " He is an artist that is not afraid to explore the humans psyche darkest aspects and often comes to surprising conclusions. Apart from his film making; he is a painter, a sculptor and a photographer.

After Mulholland Drive he released his new film Inland Empire. It was released last year but due to circumstances I missed the cinema screening. I watched it a few days ago and I still can’t get it out of my head. His new film definitely is the most difficult and weirdest of all. Many people that like his films thought that this time he took it too far. Inland Empire is too weird. It leaves you after viewing wandering how the stories connect and makes you want to watch it for another four times in order to understand it.

For me this film is simply another masterpiece. Its true that it leaves you hanging but it is filled with some killer lines, a great atmosphere and nightmare like images. I think that people are trying too hard to understand his films as his films are like a painting. It can provoke mixed feelings and people can come up to different assumptions about what it portrays. However, like a painting, its profound, thought provoking, original and has an identity. I do urge you to watch it with an open mind.

Unconditionally....

2007-09-23T22:27:00.001+03:00

We live our lives in the company of others that most of the times love us conditionally, help us conditionally, hang out with us conditionally. This is not necessarily bad because people need each other but it does depend on the conditions and compromises that each of us accept when forming relationships. There is no right measure I think but this really depends on each individual and each relationship. However, sometimes in our lives we learn that there is a love that can be unconditional. Someone might approach us and love us posing no terms. This love can be friendship, romance or a platonic kind of love. But it happens to be unconditional and we can either embrace it, or we can deny it and hurt the one that loves us most. Of course there is always the chance that we don't even notice something nice happening to us...

There is a song stuck in my head that was originally by Kate Bush but I prefer the Placebo version. It’s just being played over and over inside my head the past week. People can interpret the lyrics as they want and this is the beauty of art and music. For me its a bitter sweet song about overcoming life's difficulties, about switching places with a person that you care while you approach him or her unconditionally. Mostly its about all unconditional and real relationships in life....

It doesn't hurt me.
You wanna feel how it feels?
You wanna know, know that it doesn't hurt me?
You wanna hear about the deal I'm making?
You be running up that hill
You and me be running up that hill

And if I only could,
Make a deal with God,
And get him to swap our places,
Be running up that road,
Be running up that hill,
Be running up that building.
If I only could, oh...

You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There is thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?

(Art by pesare.)
You can listen the song in my playlist

A political dead end....

2007-09-13T11:26:00.000+03:00

"Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary"

The coming elections have stirred an upheaval in the country.The TV channels are constantly broadcasting shows that concern the coming elections and cast the politicians at their panels. They are all loud, they talk simultaneously and none of them has a clear political stance. All the politicians no matter if they belong to the center, right or left are all the same because what it is important for them is to maintain their prosperity and cultivate amongst us the need to be governed. Its so funny to see so many politicians that appear on television panels just before the elections that soon after will disappear from the news. They will not only disappear because the elections would be over so there is no need to persuade the voters anymore but also because they don't care for the common good. Politicians vanish from the face of the earth as easy as they appear and to me they all look like salesmen.They knock on your door only to sell something.

Personally non of the parties satisfy me;to me they are all the same. At the same time a stateless state is completely Utopian at this age and time ;so I find my self in a political dead end. No one really cares other than him self in order to offer something new for the greater good.However, just for a philosophical reflection I would like to end this article with a quote by Proudhon and only hope that who gets elected causes the least damage.I would be interested in your ideas concerning what could release us from this political dead end...If you think that is that there is a dead end.

"To be governed is to be watched over, inspected, spied on, directed, legislated, regimented, closed in, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, assessed, evaluated, censored, commanded; all by creatures that have neither the right, nor wisdom, nor virtue... To be governed means that at every move, operation, or transaction one is noted, registered, entered in a census, taxed, stamped, priced, assessed, patented, licensed, authorized, recommended, admonished, prevented, reformed, set right, corrected. Government means to be subjected to tribute, trained, ransomed, exploited, monopolized, extorted, pressured, mystified, robbed; all in the name of public utility and the general good. Then, at the first sign of resistance or word of complaint, one is repressed, fined, despised, vexed, pursued, hustled, beaten up, garroted, imprisoned, shot, machine-gunned, judged, sentenced, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed, and to cap all, ridiculed, mocked, outraged and dishonored. That is government, that is its justice and its morality! ...O human personality! How can it be that you have cowered in such subjection for sixty centuries?"

He predicts a riot

2007-09-05T12:01:00.000+03:00

There are some people that really mean what they believe. Even though at times they seem extreme it’s really amazing that they really stand up to what they believe. More importantly not only they stand up to what they believe but they also practice their beliefs in their daily lives. Nowadays these individuals are a species that is facing existence .

One of my friends is a punk parent. He never pressured his child to believe in a god, never pressured his child to be something other than herself.I think that his child is the happiest girl I have ever seen! He loves nature and the proof is that he never owned a car. He went around the city with his punk bicycle. He recycles every day and respects nature. He is against animal testing and he is a vegan. He doesn’t listen to CDs only supports DIY record labels that are non-profit. He never liked to read magazines but only handmade fanzines. He is a punk from 1977 the year that punk started and is still today. He never wanted to buy a TV as he believes that TV kills creativity.He is a giving caring person that helps without a second thought his friends when they are in need.

His lifestyle might seem extreme for many but he really stands for what he believes. I never told him but I am lucky that I have met him. I am lucky that we are friends for more than a decade.Even though I also find some things extreme he taught me that your beliefs are the most important thing that anyone has. No matter what your beliefs are its important to stand up for yourself. Even more; when you are alone and no one is watching it is important to practice the ethical rules that you believe .So many people support something that is contradictory to the way they live and many times they lie to themselves; but not him. I never told you, even though once I told you my objections, I am so incredibly proud of you my friend.I don't admire him because he is a punk, there are still many out there and many are horrible, I admire him because he doesn't lie to himself and others. He is not afraid to be nothing more than who he is.

(photo by girltripped)

The cry of the forest

2007-09-04T23:54:00.000+03:00

"He who plants a tree, plants hope..."

After the ecological disaster that the fires provoked in Greece there are few words left to be said. The shocking realization is what the inhabitants of this country lack the most is ecological awareness. It is a shame that we tend to remember nature only when an ecological disaster occurs. We live in a country where you have to search hard in order to find a place to deposit material for recycling. Most people have never recycled in their lives. We live in a country that hasn't taught people to respect nature and without regrets we throw our garbage and burning cigarettes outside our car window. We live amongst people that do not respect animals and the role that they play in our ecosystem rather we view them only as food material. We live in a place that has not employed enough fire-fighters and the ones that we have are not adequately trained. We live in a country that has not created an escape plan in case of emergency. We live in a country that the protection of the ecosystem was never on the agenda. We live in a country where its people in order to explain the unexplainable create conspiracy theories and look behind their fingers.

The country is certainly to be blamed for years of neglect.
The country should not only be blamed but its inhabitants as well that avoid responsibility.
Unfortunately we live in a country that things are easily forgotten...
I write this so that something can be remembered.

(image by pesare)

Pay it forward

2007-08-23T00:09:00.000+03:00

“You don't pay back a favor, you pay it forward.”

It starts with a schoolteacher setting an assignment for 11 year old children. “Think of an idea that could change our world and put it into action”. This assignment inspires a child to create the idea of pay it forward. The idea is that when someone is doing something important for you instead of returning the favor back to the person that helped you; you help three other people that are in need. This can be a small act but surely its an act of consideration for others and it can evoke kindness to other strangers. This was portrayed as a boy’s idea to change the world. The movie is actually really good as apart from the brilliant actors there is portrayed an accurate psychodrama of people that face difficulties. The movie was inspired by the book of Catherine Ryan Hyde and actually I was amazed to discover that it inspired the emergence of non-profit foundations and classroom material.

Kevin Spacey was setting a really hard question not only to children but to mankind in general. What each and everyone can contribute to make the world just a tiny bit better. And don’t forget the world is not an abstract big place; it is your family, friends, neighbors, fellow human and environment. Many social, and political movements have theorized throughout history on ideas that could improve the world and not much has happened. If complex theories have not succeeded in improving the world can a simple act of kindness succeed? Then I started thinking what I have ever done to improve this world.

(art by pesare)

Three minutes to live

2007-08-16T15:45:00.000+03:00

A person wakes up in the morning as he does usually every day to prepare for work.When he goes into the bathroom he realizes that he has something like a bomb detonator embedded on his chest.He tries to remove it but he can't.In the short time left before the machine reaches the end time he has not even time to call for help.He doesn't know who to call, the police, the fire brigate or the hospital.There is just no time!He has only three minutes to live.He is desperate and he tries to call for his neighbors but there is no one there.Or maybe no one opens, the depiction of the cities isolation.

During the last minutes thoughts come in mind.Thoughts mixed with panic would come in mine.For goodbyes and things that was never said.For things that was neglected, for things not yet just lived.For regrets and things that could be different if ego was not a barrier.At this moment nothing matters but truth and ego, barriers and inhibitions sound silly.The story was depicted in the new video clip by brilliant U.N.K.L.E and this was the effect that it had on me. I think that I would remember that when ego and other inhibitions come on the way or when I simply wait for the right time to present itself.When things that are meant to be said remain untold.When there is only one time and maybe the right time never appears because of lack of time.I guess the right time is the time at any given moment.Now not later...

Watch the video burn my shadow I am sure that you will make your own reflections....That was mine...

City Escape and blog thoughts

2007-07-08T11:13:00.000+03:00

This is time to escape the city,to look after ourselves and enjoy the summer. Now what I plan to do is to swim a lot, go for holidays, go out a lot with friends and read plenty of books.A reason that I love summer so much is because the roads become lively as people go out of their houses a lot.Even the ones that entrap themselves within a house at least open their window, they open their window to the world.

Have a beautiful summer and on September I have already lots of things to write.However, its difficult for me to stay long in the computer and I think I do need a break.I was reading an article the other day in a blog where he was saying that people who start a blog must be a bit vain or at least self-centered if their blog is a diary of thoughts .What an interesting thought!I don't know if I am vain but I certainly need the expression even though I am very sociable and expressive.I might be a bit vain in the sense that I like my self and that I believe that what I write matters.I am happy that I believe that what I write matters and that I can influence or touch others.If we believed that what we said or did didn't matter then we would never start anything.

At the same time during this last blog year there was a time that I wanted to quit when I realised that some blogs served the purpose of dating and bitching without arguments. But society is like that and I guess the blog community is a microcosmos of society. If people are so eager to back stab you then why not attempting to do that in a blog community.However, this is not something that affects me; a person has to do what they have to do and I can chose what to read.

In the blogs I learned news faster than anyone and news were followed with a variety of arguments something that the media does not provide a reader.I have also met and made lots of blog friends that have never met but their ideas, opinions are inspiring and look forward as always to read more of their articles and discover bits of their personalities.

I think that blogs are like traveling in a foreign country.The more blogs you read the more open minded you become as you get acquainted to different ideas.Of course there always people that only want to find people that would enable them only to strengthen their ideas and fit in a group.Well, its their loss....

Shuffle me...

2007-07-03T00:40:00.000+03:00

Stormrider invited me to shuffle a playlist in my winamp and answer each question with the random song that I hear. I chose the most diverse playlist to shuffle.Some of the songs do match and some don't but it surely was loads of fun to do it. So here we go:

If someone says "is this ok" then you say:

This monkey gone to heaven-Pixies

What would best describe your personality?

Seven Nation Army-White Stripes (I am not that strong)

What do you look in a guy?

Common People-Pulp (that was my song!)

How do you feel today?

Yellow-Coldplay (so happy)

What is your lives purpose?

Sheena is a punk rocker-Ramones (finally a serious goal)

What is your life motto?

Demystification-Zounds (sadly I love mystery)

What do your friends think of you?

The mercy sit-Nick Cave (vote pixie for rescue )

What do you think of your parents?

Bigmouth strikes again-The Smiths (so true)

What is 2+2

No surprises-Radiohead (wow)

What do you think of your best friend?

Mala Vida-Mano Negra (χι, χι)

What do you think of the person you like?

Crestfallen-Smashing Pumpkins (nice one)

What is your life’s story

Purity-New Model Army (what meaningful lyrics)

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Eternal-Paradise Lost (nice occupation!)

What do you think when you see the person you like?

Where is my mind-Pixies (pixies rule my life)

What will they play at your funeral?

Take me out -Franz Ferdinand (so funny what a denial!)

What is your hobby/interest?

Sunburn -Muse(no but love the song)

What is your biggest fear?

Dirge-Death in Vegas

What is your biggest secret?

The only one I know-The Charlatans (confirming the title!)

What do you think of your friends?

Fools Gold-The Stone Roses (friends are gold!)

It would have also been interesting to answer every question by deliberately choosing a song or a verse instead of randomly.But shuffling is fun too and can be enlightening...ggk, apotheosis, liliputeios,khayman,wildflowersoul,dawkinson,narita,optimus shuffle if you want...

(art by only one musa)