After the ecological disaster that the fires provoked in
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)
“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)
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?
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)
There is one person in my life that I considered a best friend and now we are estranged. The world is so small that it’s true that you can meet anyone by chance. I was at the beach with my boyfriend and I saw him. The first feeling I had was anger and then evolved into sympathy. Within a year he got married and had a child. What hurts me is that we used to be like brother and sister for so many years and now we are complete strangers as if there was never a friendship. I haven’t seen his child, I was not invited at the wedding, I never met his girlfriend and this hurts me the most.
O stormrider μου ζήτησε να γράψω 5 αγαπημένους προορισμούς διακοπών και με έχει βάλει σε απόλυτο κλίμα διακοπών. Μιας και λατρεύω τα ταξίδια με βάζει να ονειρεύομαι ακόμη πιο πολύ εξωτικές αποδράσεις. Δεν ξέρω αν εννοούσες μέρη που θέλω να πάω ή έχω πάει πάντως έγραψα κάποια μέρη που θεωρώ ιδανικά για διακοπές για διαφορετικούς λόγους το καθένα. Απλά θέλω να γυρίσω όλο τον κόσμο και νομίζω ότι κάθε μέρος έχει κάτι να ανακαλύψεις.
Mexico
Παραλίγο να πάω φέτος στον θείο μου για διακοπές αλλά το ταξίδι αναβλήθηκε για τον επόμενο χρόνο. Τα εισιτήρια μου έβγαιναν πολύ ακριβά για τον Ιούλιο. θέλω να πάω για να χαλαρώσω, γιατί λατρεύω το καυτερό φαγητό και γιατί θέλω να δω το Chichen Itz και να ανακαλύψω χαμένους Ινδιάνικους πολιτισμούς.
Ireland
Όταν πήγα δεν περίμενα αυτό που θα αντίκριζα. Υπέροχο πράσινο, απόκρημνα βράχια,κάστρα, κέλτικη μυθολογία και τον πιο χαρούμενο κόσμο που έχω γνωρίσει. Μια πόλη που δεν κοιμάται ποτέ. Ο κόσμος φιλικός και ευθύς.Σίγουρα θα μπορούσα να ζήσω για πάντα εκεί!
China
Θέλω να πάω στο Σινικό Τείχος και την απαγορευμένη πόλη. Θέλω να περιπλανηθώ στους δρόμους και να δω την παράδοση να φλερτάρει με το σήμερα.Θέλω να δω τους συμφοιτητές μου. θέλω να δώ τους ναούς και και να περιπλανηθώ στα χωριά.Θέλω να δω τις φυτείες ρυζιού.
Mallorca
Εξωτικές παραλίες είναι ότι χρειάζομαι αυτή την περίοδο. Να είμαι σε μια παραλία και να πίνω frozen margaritas. Κοντινός προορισμός και μια πανέμορφη πόλη.
India
Απλά μια εμπειρία ζωής αν υπάρχει χρόνος για περιπλάνηση.Ιστορία, αντιθέσεις και το Taz Mahal.
Από μέρη που έχω πάει η Σκωτία, Φλωρεντία και ο Νείλος ήταν μοναδικές εμπειρίες. Αν θέλουν ας γράψουν οι narita, ggk , apotheosis ,sunshine και wildflowersoul.
A little girl is wondering in a magical garden. The garden is full of flowers and beautiful trees. She observes the peaceful garden and feels relaxed. She is walking and at the end of the garden she notices a stair that leads to a beautiful beach. With every step that she makes to approach the beach she feels more and more relaxed. She feels calm, content and relaxed. When she reaches the beach she sits there and she draws a circle. Nothing outside this circle can hurt her. Even so the girl did something unusual. She began to cry…I admire eastern philosophies that teach inner transformation and tranquility. Something that requires a sacrifice that for most people is hard to handle. That is the freedom from attachments. One of the teaching of Buddha and his major philosophy is that human suffering ends when one becomes free from the attachments that cause him to feel loss, anger and despair. Because I acknowledge what eastern philosophies have to offer I can’t help to be critical of certain aspects of it.
Imagine then a world that everyone would be free of attachments. Imagine a world where everyone would experience a state of nirvana and would have achieved high levels of enlightenment. Nirvana is “mode of being that is free from mind-contaminants such as lust, anger or craving; a state of pure consciousness and bliss unobstructed by psychological conditioning. All passions and emotions are transformed and pacified such that one is no longer subject to human suffering.”
Although I understand its value it sounds so boring to me. The greatest thinkers, the greatest works and achievements have been created because some people have experienced misery, sadness, lust, anger and emotional upheavals. I think that one should not forget that all emotions exist for a reason and life is about experiencing emotions even if they are exaggerated sometimes. Even sadness can help us appreciate and distinguish happiness. For me what is described as a pacified emotion resembles an emotional prison or dullness. All emotions are experienced by all of us and they signify that we are alive. What I do value concerning eastern teachings is Zen and the importance of enjoying silence. However, no one can determine what can bring happiness or stop human suffering as my happiness is not your happiness, my suffering is not your suffering. There can’t be a universal law.
(photography by citizen four "the balance")
When my cousin came from overseas she watched the gossip television shows and the gossip news. Even though she can’t speak Greek fluently I was amazed with how much she could understand when she watched this gossip show over dinner. She told me that she is amazed that these shows came to Greece finally as in Latin America they exist for more than 10 years. She said it as if it was the most natural thing, a part of a culture and a sign of progression and modernity.
My problem is not so much that many people enjoy watching these gossip shows as they can exercise their personal choices. Theorists claim that gossip is something that facilitates communication and consequently we all become frequently the carriers of rumors. What annoys me is the way that we gossip . The gossip shows and the gossip news and in particularly a Greek channel have taken a different turn recently. The "journalists" that present them are not only gossiping but also they devalue, disrespect and frequently are immoral towards the people that they gossip. They have become hate mediums in which one day they love a celebrity and idealize them and the other day they devalue him so much that can easily destroy their career. I feel that by watching these shows with this hateful comments we even encourage them to be even more spiteful and hateful. Not to mention the power and control that these gossip "journalists" have.
I think that the constant exposition to such hateful comments can have an impact to society as a whole. I think that we become more tolerant to hate and we too make really cruel and unjustified remarks for no reason and without evidence. I hear people condemning one another more frequently. Furthermore, we have forgotten the possibility that the gossip we hear could be just a false rumor and we tend to believe that the gossip we heard is an actual fact.
Gossip is a part of our lives and the extent from which we exercise varies from one individual to another. Without a doubt it has a function as it serves as a form of communication. However, we as society have surpassed the stage of gossip and have turned to the stage of immorality. The gossip is not bad by itself but the way it is exercised recently makes me really worried and angry.
Memories define our lives and yet we tend to remember and consciously recall events in our mid or late childhood. But if we make an effort and try to think back at our first memory, the first recollection of events that we ever had we will realize that we remember something that happened really early in our lives and people do not believe that this is possible.Piaget believed that children do not form conscious memories in the preschool years. Latest research though has demonstrated that children could recall events even before they could talk. The infants that recall birth events and they demonstrate that in drawing as still they are unable to speak (Bauer 2004). Memories are certainly present not only amongst infants but also in the prenatal period. When mothers read stories in the last trimester to their babies’ research has indicated that babies could recognize the story during the first 33 hours after birth. Traumatic events in birth could not be consciously recalled but they are portrayed in adulthood as fear.
For some reason we can’t recall many events if any of our early childhood and the reason is “childhood amnesia”. Although from a relatively young age, children retain memories over long periods of time; younger children nevertheless exhibit faster rates of forgetting, relative to older children. But some events can be recalled and are usually events that have a sentimental value. Recollections of positive events (feelings of happiness and satisfaction); negative events (feeling sad); or events that captured our attention and curiosity.
I remember that I was dreaming that I was older and that I had a brother and we were playing. I also remember that when I woke up I was a baby inside a cradle. I can’t tell how old I was but I guess that I could yet not walk. I am positive that then I had not a brother as my brother came 4 years later and there was only one cradle in the room. Maybe my parents talked about having a brother and I saw this.This is my earliest memory and it was a dream.
(This article was inspired by syna’s beautiful article were she was describing a memory that she had when she was really young and that no one would believe her that she could actually remember. Your article inspired me to write a post, thank you).
(art by ploop)
Ότι πιο καθημερινό και μικρό θα μπορούσες να φανταστείς
Tι σας κάνει να σηκώνεστε το πρωί;
Τo κινητό μου και τρελή όρεξη
Η τελευταία φορά που ξεσπάσατε σε γέλια;
Ο αυθορμητισμός
Ποιο είναι το βασικό σας ελάττωμα ;
Σε ποια λάθη δίνετε επιείκεια;
Σε αυτά που δεν έγιναν σκόπιμα.
Με ποια ιστορική προσωπικότητα ταυτίζεστε;
Τον Cartman (south park), Calvin (Calvin and hobbs)
Ποιοι είναι οι αγαπημένοι σας ήρωες σήμερα;
Deconstruct your heroes...
Ποιο είναι το αγαπημένο σας ταξίδι;
Η Ιρλανδία και η Σκωτία απο αυτά που έχω πάει.
Ποιοι είναι οι αγαπημένοι σας συγγραφείς;
George Orwell, Tomas Hardy, Gaardner…τόσοι πολλοι...
Ποια αρετή προτιμάτε σε έναν άνδρα;
Χιούμορ και αυτοσαρκασμό.
Ποια αρετή προτιμάτε σε μια γυναίκα ;
Τρυφερότητα και αυτοσαρκασμό.
Ποιος είναι ο αγαπημένος σας συνθέτης;
Clint Mansell (π,requiem for a dream, the fountain)
To τραγούδι που σφυρίζετε στο ντούς;
Δεν σφυρίζω αλλά σιγοτραγουδάω, πολλά...Pure Morning by Placebo.
Ποιο βιβλίο σας σημάδεψε;
Η φάρμα των ζώων,το άρωμα
Ποια ταινία σας σημάδεψε;
Οταν ήμουν μικρή το "χορεύοντας με τους λύκους"Ο τζωνυ πήρε το όπλο του"και το "stand by me".Καθώς μεγάλωνα η Χαμένη λεωφόρος και το requiem.
Ποιος είναι ο αγαπημένος σας ζωγράφος;
Roy Lichtenstein,Frida Kahlo, Kandinsky
Ποιο είναι το αγαπημένο σας χρώμα;
πράσινο, κίτρινο, μαύρο...το ουράνιο τόξο
Ποια θεωρείτε τη μεγαλύτερη σας επιτυχία;
Το οτι είμαι εγώ και δεν με καταπιέζω συχνα με πρεπει.
Ποιο είναι το αγαπημένο σας ποτο;
Mπύρα, Caipiroska, margarita( δεν πίνω πολύ και ζαλίζομαι με μία μπύρα)
Για ποιο πράγμα μετανιωσατε περισσότερο;
Για κάποιον που πλήγωσα και με αγάπησε.
Τι απεχθάνομαι περισσότερο από όλα;
Την στασιμότητα
Όταν δεν γράφεται ποια είναι η αγαπημένη σας ασχολία;
Μουσική, ταινίες,βόλτα...
Ποιος είναι ο μεγαλύτερος σας φόβος;
Nα μην έχω καλή υγεία.
Σε ποια περίπτωση επιλέγετε να πείτε ψέματα;
Οταν κάπoιος δεν αντέχει την αλήθεια προτιμώ να σωπαίνω.
Ποιο είναι το μoτο σας;
Ζήσε το τώρα
Πως θα επιθυμούσατε να πεθάνετε;
Ευτυχισμένη
Εάν συνέβαινε να συναντήσετε το Θεό τι θα θέλατε να σας πει;
Ότι ονειρεύομαι.
Σε ποια πνευματική κατάσταση είστε αυτόν τον καιρό;
Ώρα για χαλάρωση. Ουφ τέλος το διάβασμα.
(Δεν ξέρω τι αντιπροσωπεύουν αυτά τα παιχνίδια και ποιος είναι ο εμπνευστής της συνέντευξης ίσως αντιπροσωπεύουν μια ανάγκη να μάθουμε κατι παραπάνω για τον αλλο και να δώσουμε μια μορφή σε αυτη την δικτυακή πραγματικότητα.Πισω απο τα avatars.Αν θέλουν οι stormrider, ggk, wildflower, apotheosis μπορουν να γράψουν...)
You know that I adore you and that I miss you. When I was young I spend all my summers with you and I have the most beautiful memories. To be honest I was happy to get away from the house and coming there felt like a sanctuary. You loved me and let me be myself and gave me the greatest lessons in life. You said that you wish that you could escape.The other relatives are fighting and gossiping all the time and you told me yourself that I am lucky to live in Athens and not in Crete. You always protected me from them and when they hurt me... you never forgot. Today you called me and I feel so sad. I know that you are older and I know that life is short but it hurts me when you talk like that. I know that you have problems now that my grandfather has dementia and that instead of supporting you they are hurting you. Today you said to me that you call me because you want to hear my voice as you think that you will die soon. You said to me that you are sorry that you can’t live to see me married and happy because this is the only think that keeps you alive. It breaks my heart to hear you say this to me and... I told you that my father will come soon and he will come and get you. I know that you want to leave but you can’t escape from there… but I hope that you reconsider and look after yourself. There will be a chance for me to see you and you will see that I am happy. You know that we will not let you sit in a corner like the others do to you because you are useful and strong. My family loves you and I adore you. All I want to say is that I am so happy that you are my grandmother…mi abuelita.
(art by freckleface)
“Insanity -- a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world”
R.D Laing (psychiatrist)
Suffering from a mental illness is like been trapped in a labyrinth. The labyrinth is dark and vast and it is difficult to find an exit. Those people are often labeled easily by the “normal” ones as being disturbed, crazy and scary. When a murder occurs we are ready to assume that this was an act of an insane person and we are ready to separate us from them because we are normal and they are not. For me what is normal is something relevant and the most gruesome acts can are caused by the so called “normal” people.
Before you haste to condemn and stigmatize someone for being crazy or psycho consider the following facts: People that suffer from a mental illness are not more likely to commit a murder that the so called “normal" people. In particular schizophrenics that have been stigmatized and feared are usually catatonic and passive. They are more likely become a threat to themselves as they often commit suicide and its rare to become a threat to others and can only happen if untreated. If a person that suffers from a mental illness commits a murder do not haste to assume that this happened because he/she had a mental illness. One should consider factors like the experiences and environment that interplay and this can be the cause of the excessive anger that is bottled up inside someone before they commit a crime. Even amongst serial killers what was discovered that they had in common was heavy consumption of alcohol and drugs that can elicit violent behavior. Violent behavior can also be elicited when someone has a personality disorder but again every person that has a personality disorder does not commit homicides. The causes are deeper and more complex and I think really we have to consider them individually with every case. The so called normal people are committing more murders.
The mind is a complex mechanism and there is always logic as to why things happen even behind the most gruesome acts. These acts are disturbing but society itself is disturbing and promotes violence, alienation and insecurity. Moreover, if there is a person that committed a murder and suffered from a mental illness it is sad for people that suffer from a disorder to be stigmatized. What they need is our support, ongoing treatment and a secure base so that they don’t feel that they are falling in the void.
(art by pesare)
A cage went in search of a birdThe cages around us are many and varied and the people that search for a secure cage are increasing. They become entangled in so called secure relationships, they become victims or they just isolate themselves behind closed doors. They become afraid to live, afraid to love and fear of change. They engage in vicious circles of dependence which they are not only unable to escape but unwilling.
The nature of the birds is to try to escape from their cage and similarly this is the nature of human existence. As Kafka was saying the road is endless and nothing can be added or subtracted. Everyone has a measure that they carry from childhood and with this measure they can calculate the length of the road that they want to walk. This part of the road in particularly should be walked and no one can take this from us.The road represents our life and is the road that leads to our personal happiness and no one can take this from us but ourselves.
The cage went in search of a bird but sadly could not find many birds that could fit because their wings were too large and their existence too important so they could not sacrifice security for personal freedom. They preferred to live rather than feel secured in a cage. Besides, a cage is always a cage and there is nothing worse than the imprisonment of one’s spirit and soul.
This was the start and slowly a tremendous noise echoed across the cities. The cages started breaking one after another as no one wanted to use them anymore.
(art by libelle)
It’s so beautiful having people staying in your house and share every day moments with them. I like it because I believe that the every day moments that people share are the moments that really matter and that these little occurrences bring people closer. I don’t feel that the people who share tragic or traumatic events are the ones that bond rather the people that can tolerate each other during their daily routines.
In the countryside a tree and a grass were having a conversation
Greece and in particularly Athens faces a variety of socio-economical problems. There is a growing number of unemployment amongst people that are educated in their most productive age. Many from those that work are forced to have more than one occupation in order to survive. The income of people is very low compared to the work they produce and the market where we observe the prices augmenting. The educational system is static and outdated and offers knowledge that is many times sterilized and unimportant. There is a lack of an ecological consciousness amongst its habitants and the threat of growing pollution is eminent. There is a lack of a comfortable and efficient national transportation and there is a chaos on the roads as the numbers of cars increase daily.The above for me are real issues that interfere with our quality of life. Instead of addressing those issues and take our lives into control we wait for a government to be kind enough to address these issues instead of taking a few simple steps ourselves. We recently remembered the glory of 1821 and acted like barbarians in the match against Turkey. We recently became offended with the history book that claims that the secret school did not existed even though this is true. Even if it never existed I heard arguments that were saying that in the history book it should write that it existed because this is our tradition. We recently claimed that the movie 300 was propaganda of America that was written against Iran, a comic that was actually written many years before.
These are the problems of a nation that is brainwashed and the only thing that they try to preserve is their national pride. Our future and quality of life is what is important and as long as we don’t get that we get the country and life that we deserve.
(Art by krecha)
