Thursday, May 6, 2010
Souvlaki Hut in Melbourne
A Melbourne Greek restaurant chain with under 20 outlets is at the top of a survey measuring the satisfaction level of Australian franchisees, according to market research group, 10 Thousand Feet.
Souvlaki Hut, founded by Bill and John Fotiadis in 2004 in the Melbourne suburb of Hillside, was ranked number one in a survey of 900 franchisees from more than 50 franchise systems in Australia, outranking the larger Quest Serviced Apartments and Frontline Recruitment.
Franchisees ranked SouvlakiHut, which has 16 outlets, for their intention to renew franchises, the level of financial and social rewards, lifestyle, support and opportunities.
Ian Krawitz, Head of Intelligence at 10 Thousand Feet, said it was a surprise for a relatively small franchise system to come out on top.
''But when we examined Souvlaki Hut's success in more detail, it was clear that its focus on training and supporting its franchisees was the deciding factor,'' he said.
The survey ranked waterless car washing franchise Ecowash Mobile in 4th place, followed by Beaumont Tiles, Xpresso Delight, Mortgage Choice (which has more than 400 franchises) and ANZ Mortgage Solutions.
http://www.watoday.com.au/small-business/franchising/souvlaki-hut-top-franchise-20090619-cqol.html
Souvlaki Hut, founded by Bill and John Fotiadis in 2004 in the Melbourne suburb of Hillside, was ranked number one in a survey of 900 franchisees from more than 50 franchise systems in Australia, outranking the larger Quest Serviced Apartments and Frontline Recruitment.
Franchisees ranked SouvlakiHut, which has 16 outlets, for their intention to renew franchises, the level of financial and social rewards, lifestyle, support and opportunities.
Ian Krawitz, Head of Intelligence at 10 Thousand Feet, said it was a surprise for a relatively small franchise system to come out on top.
''But when we examined Souvlaki Hut's success in more detail, it was clear that its focus on training and supporting its franchisees was the deciding factor,'' he said.
The survey ranked waterless car washing franchise Ecowash Mobile in 4th place, followed by Beaumont Tiles, Xpresso Delight, Mortgage Choice (which has more than 400 franchises) and ANZ Mortgage Solutions.
http://www.watoday.com.au/small-business/franchising/souvlaki-hut-top-franchise-20090619-cqol.html
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Early Kytherians
The Early Kytherians
Murbah appeared on the Greek menu in 1903, a year after the town was incorporated as a municipality, when E. Comino of the Premier Oyster Saloon in Brisbane, Purveyor to His Excellency Sir Herbert Chermside, started running regular large adverts in the local papers urging all Northern NSW travellers to his fair city to give E.C. a trial. ‘E.C.’ was in fact the alias of the tricky Freeleagus Bros taking advantage of the high-profile Comino brand name, which was almost synonymous with oyster saloons by then. But they gave up on their entreaties to the Murbahians a couple of years later when Samio & Andronico brought the first physical Greek presence to town. Grand celebrations took place on Saturday 27May1905 when this pair opened The Sydney Oyster Saloon in Main Street, about where the Pouloudis fruit shop in the present Tweed Fruit Exchange building now stands.
Samio was 17yr old Athanasios Anastasios Aloizos and Andronico was 19yr old Theodoros Constantinos Andronicos. Athanasios (Arthur) was as tricky as the Freeleagus and alternated between his two names over the three years he spent in town. He landed in mid 1903 and went straight to Coonamble to join Andronicos, both moving out together around late 1904, Andronicos to Casino and Samios to Sydney, before they met up again in Murbah. They were both being economical with the truth when they advertised that ‘Our experience has been gained in the leading Metropolitan Saloons’. Andronicos had landed in 1901 and spent all his time out west while Samios could only claim 8mths in Sydney. (Who staked the two teenagers is a mystery, but 18mths later the first Greek oyster saloon appeared in Tenterfield with much the same opening adverts - Andronico Bros... Their experience has been gained in the LEADING METROPOLITAN SALOONS..., and claiming they had branches at Tenterfield, Muswellbrook, Casino and Murwillumbah, perhaps implying the Tenterfield Andronicos, Con, Stan, David and Charlie, the sons of the Reverend Father Theo of Kousounari on Kythera, were the benefactors.)
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~aliens/chapter_1.htm
Murbah appeared on the Greek menu in 1903, a year after the town was incorporated as a municipality, when E. Comino of the Premier Oyster Saloon in Brisbane, Purveyor to His Excellency Sir Herbert Chermside, started running regular large adverts in the local papers urging all Northern NSW travellers to his fair city to give E.C. a trial. ‘E.C.’ was in fact the alias of the tricky Freeleagus Bros taking advantage of the high-profile Comino brand name, which was almost synonymous with oyster saloons by then. But they gave up on their entreaties to the Murbahians a couple of years later when Samio & Andronico brought the first physical Greek presence to town. Grand celebrations took place on Saturday 27May1905 when this pair opened The Sydney Oyster Saloon in Main Street, about where the Pouloudis fruit shop in the present Tweed Fruit Exchange building now stands.
Samio was 17yr old Athanasios Anastasios Aloizos and Andronico was 19yr old Theodoros Constantinos Andronicos. Athanasios (Arthur) was as tricky as the Freeleagus and alternated between his two names over the three years he spent in town. He landed in mid 1903 and went straight to Coonamble to join Andronicos, both moving out together around late 1904, Andronicos to Casino and Samios to Sydney, before they met up again in Murbah. They were both being economical with the truth when they advertised that ‘Our experience has been gained in the leading Metropolitan Saloons’. Andronicos had landed in 1901 and spent all his time out west while Samios could only claim 8mths in Sydney. (Who staked the two teenagers is a mystery, but 18mths later the first Greek oyster saloon appeared in Tenterfield with much the same opening adverts - Andronico Bros... Their experience has been gained in the LEADING METROPOLITAN SALOONS..., and claiming they had branches at Tenterfield, Muswellbrook, Casino and Murwillumbah, perhaps implying the Tenterfield Andronicos, Con, Stan, David and Charlie, the sons of the Reverend Father Theo of Kousounari on Kythera, were the benefactors.)
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~aliens/chapter_1.htm
Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill
Australia in the mid-20th century was a boom time for a type of business that has all but disappeared. With names like the Paragon, the Olympia or the Parthenon, and often with an art deco facade, the Greek cafe used to be a part of everyday Australian life. A Queensland researcher is now trying document this often overlooked chapter of recent Australian history, and has self-published a book on the subject entitled Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill.
http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/documents/heritage/aphrodite_and_the_mixed_grill.pdf
KERRY O'BRIEN: Australia in the mid 20th Century was a boom time for a type of business that has all but disappeared. With names like the Paragon, Olympia and the Parthenon and often with an art-deco facade, the Greek cafe used to be a part of every day life. A Queensland researcher is documenting this part of Australia's history and has a self-published a book Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill. As Peter McCutcheon discovered, this part of history for many Greek Australians is still very much alive.
PETER MCCUTCHEON: Angelo Pippos is one of the last of his kind. His business in western NSW is a rare living example of a phenomenon that swept the country nearly a century ago: the Greek cafe.
ANGELO PIPPOS: It's one of the original ethnic things that ever happened in Australia as far as we're concerned.
Café De Luxe opened in 1926 by George Pippos and 83yrs later his son Angelo and wife Margie Pippos are still carrying on the traditions from 1926.
When you step through the cafe’s doors you’re hit with the true colors of the outback’s friendly surroundings and our friendly staff.
Come in from a weary day of travel or a hard day at work or even just if you’re passing by. Try our home made hand cut chips (the only potato cut chips in Australia.) Our mouth watering mixed grills, T-Bone Steaks, famous fish and home made Lemon, Orange and Pineapple squashes.
www.abc.net.au/7.30
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/food/stories/s1069152.htm
http://cafedeluxe.net.au/
http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/documents/heritage/aphrodite_and_the_mixed_grill.pdf
KERRY O'BRIEN: Australia in the mid 20th Century was a boom time for a type of business that has all but disappeared. With names like the Paragon, Olympia and the Parthenon and often with an art-deco facade, the Greek cafe used to be a part of every day life. A Queensland researcher is documenting this part of Australia's history and has a self-published a book Aphrodite and the Mixed Grill. As Peter McCutcheon discovered, this part of history for many Greek Australians is still very much alive.
PETER MCCUTCHEON: Angelo Pippos is one of the last of his kind. His business in western NSW is a rare living example of a phenomenon that swept the country nearly a century ago: the Greek cafe.
ANGELO PIPPOS: It's one of the original ethnic things that ever happened in Australia as far as we're concerned.
Café De Luxe opened in 1926 by George Pippos and 83yrs later his son Angelo and wife Margie Pippos are still carrying on the traditions from 1926.
When you step through the cafe’s doors you’re hit with the true colors of the outback’s friendly surroundings and our friendly staff.
Come in from a weary day of travel or a hard day at work or even just if you’re passing by. Try our home made hand cut chips (the only potato cut chips in Australia.) Our mouth watering mixed grills, T-Bone Steaks, famous fish and home made Lemon, Orange and Pineapple squashes.
www.abc.net.au/7.30
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/food/stories/s1069152.htm
http://cafedeluxe.net.au/
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Greek Yoghurt in Queensland
Our Greek yoghurt is made from natural ingredients (milk and honey) and has a thick, creamy consistency because of the traditional methods we follow to produce our Greek yoghurt. The fruits we mix with the Greek yoghurt are 100% real fruit. The fruits contain no colouring, no flavouring and no preservatives. Only real 100% fruit.
The Greek Yoghurt Company
46 Caswell Street
East Brisbane
Queensland 4169
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS
The Greek Yoghurt Company distributes Real Greek Yoghurt. The Greek Yoghurt is hand crafted following traditional methods and a 100 year old family recipe.
Many companies attempt to imitate our Greek yoghurt, but The Greek Yoghurt Company remains the only Real Greek yoghurt on the market.
Simply follow the Quality Assurance Checklist to make sure you are buying Real Greek Yoghurt supplied by The Greek Yoghurt Company. Don't be confused or misled by false branding.
What is the difference between Real Greek yoghurt and Greek "style" yoghurt?
Real Greek yoghurt is made using natural ingredients (milk and honey) and has a thick, creamy consistency due to the traditional techniques applied to make Greek yoghurt. Greek "style" yoghurt contains one or more of the following ingredients; cream, gelatine, gum blends, stabilizers, preservatives, non-fat milk solids and milk solids. Greek "style" yoghurt is thick because of these thickening agents. Greek "style" yoghurt is not Real Greek yoghurt
The Greek Yoghurt Company
46 Caswell Street
East Brisbane
Queensland 4169
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS
The Greek Yoghurt Company distributes Real Greek Yoghurt. The Greek Yoghurt is hand crafted following traditional methods and a 100 year old family recipe.
Many companies attempt to imitate our Greek yoghurt, but The Greek Yoghurt Company remains the only Real Greek yoghurt on the market.
Simply follow the Quality Assurance Checklist to make sure you are buying Real Greek Yoghurt supplied by The Greek Yoghurt Company. Don't be confused or misled by false branding.
What is the difference between Real Greek yoghurt and Greek "style" yoghurt?
Real Greek yoghurt is made using natural ingredients (milk and honey) and has a thick, creamy consistency due to the traditional techniques applied to make Greek yoghurt. Greek "style" yoghurt contains one or more of the following ingredients; cream, gelatine, gum blends, stabilizers, preservatives, non-fat milk solids and milk solids. Greek "style" yoghurt is thick because of these thickening agents. Greek "style" yoghurt is not Real Greek yoghurt
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Zorba in Queensland
Along the water at Margate, Redcliffe, Queensland, Fast and tasty, Pizza Pasta and Gelati.
Have a Stroll along the boardwalk with your gelati, or enjoy their great greek pizza outdoors in the outdoor patio setting.
Margate, near Redcliffe, is a coastal strip which features one of the Moreton Bay area's longest mainland stretches of sand beach. The name is greek, but the menu tends to a more Italian flavour :-)
It also boasts a long, flat boardwalk promenade, making it ideal for those who like to walk, cycle, rollerblade or even scooter. There's always a lively and active atmosphere just metres from the waters of Moreton Bay.
Seating and shelters, with barbecues and other picnic amenities are located at regular intervals along the esplanade for visitors. There's a popular swimming spot with clean white sand and sheltered waters - making it a favorite dipping spot for families with young children.
When the wind is up, Scotts Point at the southern end of Margate is perfect for windsurfing. This is one of the few locations close to Brisbane which is not majorly affected by tides.
The quaint swimming pavilion at Scotts Point is an historical reference to a bygone era. There are many Norfolk Pine trees lining the esplanade which were planted by the first settlers in the area, more than 150 years ago.
With eateries and seaside stores conveniently located along the esplanade or nearby Oxley Avenue, Margate is well worth a visit. It's about 50 minutes' drive from the centre of Brisbane.
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/brisbane/places-to-visit/margate/index.cfm
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Greece's deficit
Over the past decade, Greece took full advantage of a strong euro and rock-bottom interest rates to fuel a debt binge by the country's consumers and its government. When the global economy crumpled, the stage was set for a financial crisis that soon drew in much of Europe and ultimately the International Monetary Fund. While a deal was reached to support new borrowing by the Greek government, the episode raised new questions about the fate of the euro zone.
The trigger for the crisis was Greece's admission in late 2009 that its government deficit would be 12.7 percent of its gross domestic product, not the 3.7 percent the previous government had forecast earlier. Investors were stunned. In early 2010, the fears grew into a full-fledged financial panic, as investors questioned whether Greece's Socialist government could push through the tough measures it has promised to reduce its budget deficit. As the fear spread to Portugal and Spain, leaders of Europe's more affluent countries like Germany and France, worried about lasting damage to the euro, stepped in with a pledge to defend the currency but initially stopped short of an outright bailout for Greece, which had built up $400 billion in debt.
As part of an austerity plan, the Greek government in early March 2010 approved a round of tax increases and pay cuts for public employees. The steps were met with a series of angry but peaceful protests by civil servants and others that seemed to suggest a limit to the extent to which the country could cut its way out of the crisis. But the cuts also gave some reassurance to investors and to France and Germany that Greece was moving to get its house in order.
After months of fractious debate, in late March the 16 countries that use the euro agreed on a financial safety net for Greece, combining bilateral loans from those European nations with cash from the International Monetary Fund. The proposal, brokered by France and Germany and then approved by European leaders, would take effect if the Greek government were unable to borrow in the commercial markets. Under the deal, loans would be provided at market rates and offered only with the agreement of all the nations that use the euro currency.
The vague assurances were not enough by themselves to reassure the bond markets, who steadily raised the interest rate on money they were willing to lend Greece. On April 11, European leaders announced that they would make $30 billion available to Athens, along with $10 billion from the I.M.F., in the form of loans with an interest rate of 5 percent -- lower than the 7.5 percent Greece had been paying, but high enough that German officials could insist that it did not constitute a subsidy or bailout. Two days later, Greece sold $1.6 billion in new bonds, in a sale that was heavily oversubscribed.
New York Times
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/greece/index.html
Monday, April 12, 2010
How to raise a greek daughter LOLOL
How To Raise A Greek Daughter
1. Never let your daughters spend the night anywhere, except at a fellow Greek's house.
2. Spend their whole life trying to find them a husband and disapproving of every one they find on their own.
3. Spoil them rotten, but make them feel guilty for it when they ask for something.
4. Fathers - tell them their just like their mothers when you're mad. Mothers- tell them they have their father's head when you're mad.
5. Always compare them to other greek girls (preferably those they can't stand) when trying to make them do something.
6. Complain that their clothes are too short, too tight, too low cut, too black, too cheap, or not right for church.
7. Brag to your friends about how beautiful and smart they are, but tell them to make their sons to stay away.
8. Press for them to marry a greek man, but then ward them off any Greek man you see them with. "He's okay, but his mother is crazy." "His father cleans up goat shit." "I heard his has a big house but he locks his yiayia downstairs, do you want to marry someone like that?" "No policemen."
9. Tell them they eat too much or not enough, depending on the situation.
10. Let them run around naked as children, but make them dress like nuns as adults.
11. Complain they spend too much money shopping, and then go out and blow $1000 on a poker game or gambling.
12. Tell them they never keep their car clean enough, even if your vehicle is covered in dust, reeks of smoke, and has empty coffee cups and food crumbs covering the inside.
13. Force them to be nice to people they can't stand, while you talk about those same people like they are dogs.
14. Have a fit when they use the word 'malaka', but use it yourself as if it were going out of style.
15. Let their brothers get away with murder.
16. Embarrass them by getting drunk at name days, Easter, festivals, etc, and then dancing the zembekeiko.
17. Assign a name to all their friends, and use them at inappropriate occasions (i.e. the mavra, the fat one, the ugly one, the dumb one, the slut, the chinese one)
18. Never let them leave the house after 10 O'clock.
19. Force them to go to church, join GOYA, dance in the festival.
20. Tell them "good greek girls don't behave that way" as many times as possible within a lifetime.
21. Buy them gold jewelry even when you know they only wear silver.
22. Fathers - always leave your shirt unbuttoned at least 3 buttons, exposing chest hair and gold cross, when going anywhere with your daughters.
23. Expect them to know all of the Greek dances - except for the tsiftetelli.
24. Make them believe that Greek women never have sex.
*www.europeans.co.za*
1. Never let your daughters spend the night anywhere, except at a fellow Greek's house.
2. Spend their whole life trying to find them a husband and disapproving of every one they find on their own.
3. Spoil them rotten, but make them feel guilty for it when they ask for something.
4. Fathers - tell them their just like their mothers when you're mad. Mothers- tell them they have their father's head when you're mad.
5. Always compare them to other greek girls (preferably those they can't stand) when trying to make them do something.
6. Complain that their clothes are too short, too tight, too low cut, too black, too cheap, or not right for church.
7. Brag to your friends about how beautiful and smart they are, but tell them to make their sons to stay away.
8. Press for them to marry a greek man, but then ward them off any Greek man you see them with. "He's okay, but his mother is crazy." "His father cleans up goat shit." "I heard his has a big house but he locks his yiayia downstairs, do you want to marry someone like that?" "No policemen."
9. Tell them they eat too much or not enough, depending on the situation.
10. Let them run around naked as children, but make them dress like nuns as adults.
11. Complain they spend too much money shopping, and then go out and blow $1000 on a poker game or gambling.
12. Tell them they never keep their car clean enough, even if your vehicle is covered in dust, reeks of smoke, and has empty coffee cups and food crumbs covering the inside.
13. Force them to be nice to people they can't stand, while you talk about those same people like they are dogs.
14. Have a fit when they use the word 'malaka', but use it yourself as if it were going out of style.
15. Let their brothers get away with murder.
16. Embarrass them by getting drunk at name days, Easter, festivals, etc, and then dancing the zembekeiko.
17. Assign a name to all their friends, and use them at inappropriate occasions (i.e. the mavra, the fat one, the ugly one, the dumb one, the slut, the chinese one)
18. Never let them leave the house after 10 O'clock.
19. Force them to go to church, join GOYA, dance in the festival.
20. Tell them "good greek girls don't behave that way" as many times as possible within a lifetime.
21. Buy them gold jewelry even when you know they only wear silver.
22. Fathers - always leave your shirt unbuttoned at least 3 buttons, exposing chest hair and gold cross, when going anywhere with your daughters.
23. Expect them to know all of the Greek dances - except for the tsiftetelli.
24. Make them believe that Greek women never have sex.
*www.europeans.co.za*
Aristotle and the recovery of Greek Medicine
The Loss and Recovery of Greek Medicine in the West
After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, most works of the Greek physicians were lost to Western Europe.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, however, Western Europeans began to rediscover Greek scientific and medical texts. This was due in part to the discovery of Arab repositories of learning in Spain and elsewhere during the Crusades as well as the immigration to Italy of Byzantine scholars at the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
At first Greek theories, prescriptions, and procedures were accepted as medical dogma about human anatomy, physiology, and treatment. Later, however, the Greeks’ entreaties to their readers to observe the human body and the world around them won out, and scholars began to perform their own research, leading to much of the medicine practiced in the West today.
...But save me. Take me to the ship, cut this arrow out of my leg, wash the blood from it with warm water and put the right things on it - the plants they say you have learned about from Achilles who learned them from Chiron, the best of the Centaurs."-The Iliad of Homer, Book XI
Athenaze Greek Exercises
University Of Victoria Online Athenaze Greek Exercises
Athenaze is an introduction to Attic Greek, the dialect of the great Athenian writers of the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. My suggestion to those who are brave enough to learn this marble language would be to start with Attic Greek instead of Koine (New Testament) Greek. Attic Greek is a more complex form of the language and it is much easier to go from Attic to Koine than it is from Koine to Attic. If you learn New Testament Greek at some dirty Bible college, you will not be able to enjoy Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes, Sophocles, Lysias et al.
Click Here !!Welcome! This site will help you practice what you learn from the Athenaze text book. Before you start, please read the instructions to make sure your computer is able to handle the materials correctly.
Athenaze is an introduction to Attic Greek, the dialect of the great Athenian writers of the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. My suggestion to those who are brave enough to learn this marble language would be to start with Attic Greek instead of Koine (New Testament) Greek. Attic Greek is a more complex form of the language and it is much easier to go from Attic to Koine than it is from Koine to Attic. If you learn New Testament Greek at some dirty Bible college, you will not be able to enjoy Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes, Sophocles, Lysias et al.
Click Here !!Welcome! This site will help you practice what you learn from the Athenaze text book. Before you start, please read the instructions to make sure your computer is able to handle the materials correctly.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
George Dalaras - European Tour 2010
“George Dalaras sings in Greek, yet his music, springing from the heart, has a universal appeal” stated the French daily Le Figaro in 1993, long after the reputation of this great Greek musician had reached across the boarders of his native land. Throughout his triumphant tours in Europe, the United States, Canada and every other corner of the world, George Dalaras stayed in close touch with his roots, leaving a trail of saplings behind to bloom in the traditional Greek rhythms destined, one might say, to accompany today’s blending of world cultures.
Born in Piraeus, the main port of Athens, George comes from a tradition of folk and blues music. His father was a traditional musician and “bouzouki” instrumentalist and his first musical memories are of the main forms of Greek music: the laika (popular), the rebetika (a kind of blues) and the paradosiaka (traditional).
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Gypsy clothing designer - VALENTINA STRATAKI
A clothes designer is using the power of fashion to help Roma girls assimilate into society and avoid being treated like second class citizens.
This unique experiment is happening in Greece, where prejudice against the Roma is particularly prevalent.
From Athens Malcolm Brabant reports....
Valentina Strataki,designer
Marina Garagouni,
Eleni Garagouni
Saturday, March 27, 2010
AETOS - We are following the eagle to see where it lands
Greece has a huge tradition of music and music-oriented culture. This film needs a recognized musician of Greek origin to implement the traditional music with a modern day soundtrack. The story is often supported by the music, and often relates to the theme of any particular scene, particularly music such as; Rembetika, Greek folk, Kleftiko, and Smyrnaiko influences. This style of music resembles the popular tradition of other cultures, such as Flamenco, Celtic, Moroccan, etc., and it is important to allow the soundtrack to reflect the style of music in a popular way. The music will carry the audience through the story, and illustrate harmonically the cultural aspects of the film.
Short Story Synopsis
There is a part of recent Greek history that remains untold until now. AETOS follows the journey of a young boy through to his manhood. He is one of the unsung heroes of Greece that fought for his liberty and personal freedom against the phalanx of oppression and dictatorship. Through his story, we become acquainted with Greek culture and a way of life that existed in a time of political turbulence. We delve into the secret world of the "mangas"; an underground sub cultural society that existed within a fascist world. We follow AETOS and his experience with Hashish smoking and drugs in the Hash Dens "TEKEDES" of Piraeus. The emergence and evolution of REMBETIKO music in a time of turmoil, precedes this story, yet amplifies the tragedy that lies within. Romance and adventure combined with humor fill the scenes. This is indeed a Modern Greek tragedy, documented as one mans attempt at a life in a world of hypocrisy. There is no happy ending, because for many there were none. This film will tell a true story. A story until this day remains untold.
MyGreekSpirit will follow the progress of this exciting project and we will keep you posted.
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/damn_soc.htm
If the role of the wife of a manga followed the traditional pattern, his girl friends were generally more liberated. Many would have been prostitutes or factory workers - or gypsies whose love of hashish and devil-may-care attitude made them very popular.
Crazy Gypsy
Crazy gypsy, where are you going,
All in the night , where to ?
Your leaving is sorrow
In my heart forever.
Where are you going alone and so fast,
Like a passing stranger?
Take me with you to a faraway place,
I'll come with you forever.
Crazy gypsy, where are you going?
All alone, you abandon me.
Let's go, gypsy, before the dawn,
I'll come with you whatever happens. Recorded by Tsitsanis-1948.
What was Rebetika Music??
Rembetika was established in parts of mainland Greece in the first two years of the 20th century. It made use of 2-3 derivatives of the Turkish saz (a.k.a. tampoura and boulgari): The bouzouki and its smaller brothers, the tzouras and the baglamas. The saz itself is a lute but quite different from the archetypal Arab lute, 'al oud' - meaning 'wood'. The latter was very popular in Asia Minor. Rembetika were urban blues of a quasi-criminal subculture, despised by the middle classes and suppressed by the authorities.
In 1921 the Greek army occupied Turkey at the instigation of England, France, Italy and Russia. The Ottoman empire was in a state of collapse and the Great Powers, eager to carve up the territory, let Greece know that if they were to take the coast of Asia Minor where there were two million Greeks living there from ancient times, they could expect support. (They were using Greece to do their dirty work for them since the Italians had invaded from the south and were marching North. They wanted to use the Greeks to stop them from taking the entire coast of Asia Minor.) All went well and the Greek army controlled Smyrna and the coast but then two things happened that sent events rapidly downhill. The Greek army decided to march inland and take Ankara while at the same time the French backed out of the deal. This caused the other powers to withdraw their support so as not to start another world war. The Greek army found itself in retreat from a Turkish army led by Kemal Attaturk. As they passed through towns and cities they were joined by the local Greek population who did not want to be left behind when the angry Turks swarmed into town. Thousands died and the city of Smyrna was burned.
As the army retreated back to Greece it brought with them the surviving Greek population of Asia Minor. By 1922 there were two million refugees in the country. These were Greeks who had never lived in Greece. They had come from the fertile lands of Anatolia but were now forced to live in a small mountainous country that could not support them, or in refugee settlements in Pireaus and Thessaloniki. It was in the cafes and hash dens near these settlements that what we know as Rembetika was forged from the early mainland movement with its bouzouki and the oriental tunes, rhythms and singing techniques that came from Asia Minor.
Imagine yourself as a refugee. In Asia Minor you may have had a business, a nice home, money, friends, family. But in the slums of Athens all you had was whatever you could carry with you out of Turkey, and your shattered dreams. You went from being in the middle class to being underground in a foreign country that did not particularly want you. Rembetika was the music of these outcasts. The lyrics reflected their surroundings, poverty, pain, drug addiction, police oppression, prison, unrequited love, betrayal and hashish. It was the Greek urban blues.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Biden “Big f*cking deal!” Gaffe Inspires Internet Entrepreneurs to Cash in
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Eleni and Souzana Vougioukli
Official page: http://vougioukli.gr
Traditional songs from Epirus and Thrace
Voice: Eleni and Souzana Vougioukli
Biography taken from their site, greek - english translation is not up to normal standards
Eleni Vougioukli born and raised in Thessaloniki to Xanthi. Πτυχιούχος του Τμήματος Βαλκανικών, Σλαβικών και Ανατολικών Σπουδών του Παν/μίου Μακεδονίας. Graduated from the Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies at the University of Macedonia. Έχει σπουδές στο πιάνο -από πέντε ετών-, ανώτερα θεωρητικά και μονωδία, Βυζαντινή Μουσική, καθώς και τζαζ τραγούδι και θεωρητικά. He has studied piano at five-year, theory and monody, Byzantine music and jazz song and theory. Ξεκίνησε με δημοτικό τραγούδι από οκτώ χρονών, με επίσημη πρώτη στις Γιορτές Παλιάς Πόλης της Ξάνθης με το Πολιτιστικό Κέντρο Θράκης. It started with folk songs in eight years, with the first official Celebrations Old Town of Xanthi in Thrace Cultural Center.
Έχει διακριθεί στον Πανελλήνιο Μαθητικό Διαγωνισμό του Υπουργείου Παιδείας, με το Α΄ Βραβείο στο τραγούδι a cappella. In Panhellenic Contest of Ministry of Education, the First Prize in singing a cappella.
Susana Vougioukli born and raised in Xanthi, where her parents are professors at the Democritus University. Πτυχιούχος του Τμήματος Μαθηματικών, κατεύθυνση Καθαρά Μαθηματικά, του Αριστοτέλειου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης, έχει σπουδές στο πιάνο - από πέντε ετών-, κιθάρα, ανώτερα θεωρητικά και μονωδία, καθώς και στη τζαζ- τραγούδι και θεωρητικά. BA in Mathematics, Pure Mathematics direction, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, has studied the piano - five-years, guitar, music theory and monody, and the jazz-singing and theory. Ακόμη, ασχολείται με τη σύνθεση. It also deals with the composition.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Glykeria at the Gabby Awards 2009
Film Festival in Los Angeles
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