Sunday, 30 November 2014
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Alexandria Quartet Art Exhibition in Athens; Andreas Georgiadis
Andreas Georgiadis
‘The Alexandria Quartet’ exhibition of paintings by the Greek artist Andreas Georgiadis is based on Lawrence Durrell's tetralogy of novels of the same name.
IANOS ΑΙΘΟΥΣΑ ΤΕΧΝΗΣ
Καλλιτεχνική διευθυνση: Μικρή Άρκτος / Επιμέλεια: Ίρις Κρητικού
Η IANOS Αίθουσα Τέχνης σας προσκαλεί στην έκθεση ζωγραφικής
Ανδρέας Γεωργιάδης
«Αλεξανδρινό Κουαρτέτο»
βασισμένη στην ομότιτλη τετραλογία του Λώρενς Ντάρρελ
Εγκαίνια: Τρίτη 16 Δεκεμβρίου 2014, ώρα 8.00 μ.μ.
Με την υποστήριξη:
BRITISH COUNCIL
Μορφωτικό Κέντρο της Αιγυπτιακής Πρεσβείας στην Αθηνα
Διάρκεια έκθεσης: 16 Δεκεμβρίου 2014 έως 17 Ιανουαρίου 2015
Ώρες λειτουργίας: καθημερινά 10.00-22.00, Σάββατο 10.00-18.00
IANOS Αίθουσα Τέχνης: ΣΤΑΔΙΟΥ 24, 210 - 3217810 | www.ianos.gr | www.ageorgiadis.gr
Copyright © 2014 Mikri Arktos, All rights reserved.
Greece: Amphipolis Tomb Presentation and Speech; Archaeology and Politics; Bones from Five Individuals
Thanks to June Samaras for this link. Many photos
“The dissemination of archaeological material to the international, national or local media, or the Internet requires the prior notification of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, with regard to the request and the institution submitting it, in order that the relevant approval is granted or not. Furthermore, the above mentioned material should not under any circumstances be shared in the social media (facebook, twitter, blogs etc.)”
Bones from five skeletons! Protagon Update
Five people buried in tomb (Kathimerini)
More details of the individuals
Bones from five skeletons! Protagon Update
Five people buried in tomb (Kathimerini)
More details of the individuals
Friday, 28 November 2014
Greece: Troika Negotations
From Kathimerini:
Update (in Greek)
...οι φορείς της τρόικας (Κομισιόν, ΕΚΤ και ΔΝΤ) έχουν κοινή θέση απέναντι στην ελληνική κυβέρνηση και έχουν τη βούληση να κλείσει ο έλεγχος, αλλά περιμένουν από την Αθήνα καθαρές δεσμεύσεις κυρίως στα παρακάτω θέματα:
1. Αντιμετώπιση του δημοσιονομικού κενού του 2015, το οποίο η τρόικα εκτιμά ότι κινείται στα 2,5 με 3 δισ ευρώ.
2. Προώθηση μίας αξιόπιστης μεταρρύθμισης του ασφαλιστικού συστήματος.
3. Αλλαγή του ισχύοντος καθεστώτος ΦΠΑ.
4. Ενίσχυση των μεταρρυθμίσεων στην αγορά προϊόντων.
5. Τροποποιήσεις στον σχέδιο της νέας ρύθμισης των 100 δόσεων για τα χρέη προς τις εφορίες.
UK: Dorchester, Dorset; South Street Market Traders; Fishmongers; Megrim Sole
There was a different fish-monger's van in South Street today. What happened to the other fishmonger? Perhaps the local Council can offer an explanation?
Bought some unfamiliar Megrim Sole to try..., didn't know it was caught by bottom trawling. Apparently not as tasty or as good quality as Dover Sole or Lemon Sole, but popular in Spain. Also known as Whiff and Sail-Fluke. We live and learn.
Some recipes
Two past items on Dorchester's South Street Market Traders
One October 2013
Two July 2013
Wonderful secondhand book-stalls and some great stalls for fruit and vegetables.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Scotland: The Smith Commission; Income Tax; Barnett Formula
BBC Report
"The Scottish Parliament should have the power to set income tax rates and bands, the body on strengthening devolution has concluded".
"For David Cameron, there will also be anger among some of his MPs that, once again, Scotland appears to have been given more power and allowed to retain the generous Barnett funding formula"
(from Analysis, Norman Smith, BBC Assistant Political Editor)
The Return of Vinyl Records (plus the 78 - and the typewriter?)
Time for the return of the 78rpm record?
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Donizetti, L'elisir d'amore, Royal Opera House
In cinemas, by live satellite transmission
A great show!
ROH introductory video
Lucy Crowe on Adina
Review
The Story
"Nemorino, a naive village boy, is besotted with Adina, a farm owner. She rejects his declarations of love. Fortunately, Doctor Dulcamara is on hand with a 'love potion' to help him win her heart.
Adina seems to remain immune to Dulcamara's potion (nothing more magical than red wine) and agrees to marry the boastful Sergeant Belcore. But she finally realizes she cares for Nemorino and admits her love. All rejoice – Dulcamara most of all, as he celebrates the proven power of his potion"
.
Background
"L'elisir d'amore is one of the most frequently performed of all Donizetti's operas. It combines a touching love story and hilarious comedy with beautiful music, including the much-loved aria 'Una furtiva lagrima'. The opera’s premiere in Milan in 1832 was a triumph and secured Donizetti's place as one of the leading Italian opera composers of his day.
The Royal Opera's charming production is set in the sun-drenched countryside of 1950s Italy, complete with haystacks, Vespas and even a stray dog. It is injected with lively, visual humour, from Nemorino's tipsy clowning to Dulcamara's lumbering truck from which he sells his quack remedies. Donizetti deftly brings his characters alive with a sparkling score: Nemorino's love for Adina is expressed through lyrical arias; Adina’s animated, flamboyant style softens as her feelings towards Nemorino begin to change – and all the while Dulcamara endlessly chatters away with irrepressible self-belief".
Pavarotti: Una furtiva lagrima
Simoneau
Caruso (vocal recorded 1904)
1947 movie version
Background
"L'elisir d'amore is one of the most frequently performed of all Donizetti's operas. It combines a touching love story and hilarious comedy with beautiful music, including the much-loved aria 'Una furtiva lagrima'. The opera’s premiere in Milan in 1832 was a triumph and secured Donizetti's place as one of the leading Italian opera composers of his day.
The Royal Opera's charming production is set in the sun-drenched countryside of 1950s Italy, complete with haystacks, Vespas and even a stray dog. It is injected with lively, visual humour, from Nemorino's tipsy clowning to Dulcamara's lumbering truck from which he sells his quack remedies. Donizetti deftly brings his characters alive with a sparkling score: Nemorino's love for Adina is expressed through lyrical arias; Adina’s animated, flamboyant style softens as her feelings towards Nemorino begin to change – and all the while Dulcamara endlessly chatters away with irrepressible self-belief".
Pavarotti: Una furtiva lagrima
Simoneau
Caruso (vocal recorded 1904)
1947 movie version
Ancient Chinese Poets; Scholars and Civil Servants
Civil Servants, scholar poets on postings to distant provinces
From First Known When Lost blog by Stephen Pentz.
Putin and Merkel: A Prolonged Standoff or a Diplomatic Dead-End?
From Reuters
"The channels of communication with Putin will remain open, but Berlin is girding for a long standoff, akin to a second Cold War. "I think we need to prepare ourselves for a prolonged conflict in which Russia will use all the means at its disposal," Norbert Roettgen, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag and a member of Merkel's conservative party, told Reuters".
Euronews on the Iron Curtain Trail
A View from Estonia
Sherborne Castle Wines
Where to obtain the Special Reserve Sherborne Castle white English wine
"The tradition of wine making on the Sherborne Castle Estates started in the Middle Ages when Bishop Roger, who built the Old Castle planted a vineyard on the northern side of the lake. By 1146 this was sufficiently mature to be mentioned in the bull of Eugenius II.
In 1982, the tradition was revived on the estate by John Wingfield Digby at Wake Court in Bishops Caundle. The vineyard has three hectares of vines on a south facing slope with soil types of limestone loam over clay. The vines are planted on a wide high wire system known as Geneva Double Curtain that gives a smaller number of vines per hectare. This gives a better exposure to the light which is very important to fruiting.
The Wake Court Vineyard is a perfect example of an English vineyard producing fine wines. The Special Reserve is a blend of four grape varieties. In addition two traditional method sparkling wines are made and matured, a white and a rosé. There is also a wine Brandy aged in oak produced from the wine of the Seyval grape.
On average 15,000 bottles are produced each year. The varieties grown are Bacchus, Leon Millot, Pinot Noir, Regner, Reichensteiner, Schonburger and Seyval Blanc.
Once the grapes have been harvested the wine is produced by a contract wine maker, Steve Brooksbank, of the Bagborough Vineyard, Pylle, Shepton Mallet who uses the latest technology and equipment, including stainless steel vats that ensure a clean fruity wine".
Greece: New Regional Airport Management; 40 Year Operating Concession, Fourteen Airports; Airport Privatization Tender; Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Thessaloniki, etc
Including Corfu
Fraport-Copelouzos to Manage Concession for 40 Years - 14 Airports Including Thessaloniki, Chania (Crete), Kerkyra (Corfu), Kos, Rhodes and Others - Some 19 Million Passengers Annually
"Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and its partner Copelouzos Group have been selected as preferred investor for a 40-year operating concession by the Hellenic Republic Assets Development Fund (HRADF) for 14 regional airports inGreece, including Aktio, Chania (Crete), Kavala, Kefalonia, Kerkyra (Corfu), Kos, Mitilini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Samos, Santorini, Skiathos, Thessaloniki - Greece's second largest city - and Zakynthos.
Combined, these airports served a total of about 19.1 million passengers in 2013. The total purchase price of 1,234 million euros will be paid by the time of closing, expected in the autumn of 2015. Fraport AG will hold a majority share in the consortium.
Against strong international competition, Fraport and Copelouzos delivered a convincing bid to win the privatization tender for these Greek airports. Fraport AG's executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte expressed satisfaction with this latest new expansion of the company's international portfolio: "The Greek regional airports add another airport investment with dynamic development potential. The choice for Fraport underscores our position as a leading global airport manager. Our extensive know-how gained over many decades will contribute to expanding and strengthening the competitive position of the Greek regional airports."
As new owner, the Fraport/Copelouzos consortium will be responsible for maintaining, operating, managing, upgrading and developing the 14 gateways of international tourism until 2055. The mainland airports include Aktio (PVK), Kavala (KVA) and Thessaloniki (SKG). The remaining eleven are located on the Greek islands of Corfu/Kerkyra (CFU), Crete/Chania (CHQ), Kefalonia (EFL), Kos (KGS), Mitilini (MJT), Mykonos (JMK), Rhodes (RHO), Samos (KGS), Santorini (JTR), Skiathos (JSI) and Zakynthos (ZTH).
The founder and chairman of Copelouzos Group, Dimitris Copelouzos, stressed the project's importance at the local, national and international level: "Modernization of the airports will allow us, via reliable and safer transportation services, to further enhance Greek tourism continuously - thus empowering competitiveness of the local and national economies and generating new jobs. Our goal is to create airport gateways that meet the growing needs and expectations of the Greek people as well as visitors from around the globe."
More:
Reuters
Kathimerini (Greek)
Kathimerini (English)
Airport tender exceeds expectations
Statement from the Mayor of Corfu
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
Wessex: Hidden Villages (Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire); UK Channel 4
Yarlington, West Bay, Poundbury, Chideock, Milton Abbas etc, with Penelope Keith on Channel 4
"Penelope follows her guidebook through Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, including a visit to Castle Combe, voted Britain's prettiest village. Penelope Keith takes to the road to explore our changing relationship with that most quintessential of British institutions, the village".
Mail Online
Thatched Roofs, video clip
Channel 4 (4oD Service) does not like Adblocker software, and will not provide access if you are running it on your computer.
I prefer to block the ads. Channel 4's loss.
Corfu, Greece: Invitation to Tender for the Re-Opening of the Corfu Town Bicycle Lanes! ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΙΑ ΥΛΙΚΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΣΥΜΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΙΚΕΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΑΝΑΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΔΗΛΑΤΟΔΡΟΜΩΝ ( 25/11/2014 )
What can one say? It was a fiasco last time round. For cyclists it would be good if the cycle lanes could be redesigned, reopened and kept open. But ....not more money down the drain?
Greek original ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΣ (Municipality of Corfu)
English Automatic Translation
Νέα και ανακοινώσεις
ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΙΑ ΥΛΙΚΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΣΥΜΠΛΗΡΩΜΑΤΙΚΕΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΑΝΑΛΕΙΤΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΔΗΛΑΤΟΔΡΟΜΩΝ ( 25/11/2014 )
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ 25 /11/2014
ΝΟΜΟΣ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΣ Αρ. Πρωτ. : 82419
ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑΣ
Δ/ΝΣΗ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΩΝ ΥΠΗΡΕΣΙΩΝ
ΤΜΗΜΑ ΠΡΟΜΗΘΕΙΩΝ
ΤΗΛ: 26613 62726 – 728
FAX: 26610 25555
ΠΡΟΣΚΛΗΣΗ ΕΚΔΗΛΩΣΗΣ ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΟΝΤΟΣ:
Προμήθειας υλικών για συμπληρωματικές εργασίες για την επαναλειτουργία των ποδηλατοδρόμων με την διαδικασία της απευθείας ανάθεσης
Ο Δήμος Κέρκυρας πρόκειται να προβεί σε απευθείας ανάθεση για την προμήθεια υλικών συμπληρωματικής σήμανσης ήτοι πινακίδων και διαχωριστών κυκλοφορίας προκειμένου να χρησιμοποιηθούν από το Συνεργείο Οδικής Σήμανσης του Τμήματος Κυκλοφορίας και Συγκοινωνιών της Δ/νσης Τ.Υ. του Δήμου Κέρκυρας, το οποίο θα προβεί σε συμπληρωματικές εργασίες συντήρησης στις διαδρομές του ποδηλατοδρόμου, όπου τούτο απαιτηθεί.
Τα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά των ανωτέρω ειδών περιγράφονται αναλυτικά στη συνημμένη μελέτη που έχει συνταχθεί από την αρμόδια υπηρεσία του Δήμου.
Η συνολική δαπάνη της προμήθειας προϋπολογίστηκε στο ποσό των 14.944,50 €
(συμπεριλαμβανομένου Φ.Π.Α 23%) και θα βαρύνει τον Κ.Α30.7323.015 «Προμήθεια υλικών για συμπληρωματικές εργασίες για την επαναλειτουργία των ποδηλατοδρόμων» του Δημοτικού προϋπολογισμού έτους 2014.
Το κριτήριο για την κατακύρωση της προμήθειας είναι η χαμηλότερη τιμή εφόσον
η προσφορά καλύπτει τις τεχνικές προδιαγραφές.
Οι ενδιαφερόμενοι που επιθυμούν να λάβουν πληροφορίες
παρακαλούνται να επικοινωνήσουν με το γραφείο Προμηθειών τηλ. 26613 62726 – 728
ή να αναζητήσουν την σχετική ανάρτηση στην ιστοσελίδα του Δήμου www.corfu.gr. (ενότητα διαγωνισμοί)
Οι προσφορές κατατίθενται ενσφράγιστες στο γραφείο Πρωτοκόλλου του Δήμου Κέρκυρας
(Δ/νση Λ.Αλεξάνδρας 6Α ,Τ.Κ. 49100,Κέρκυρα) τις εργάσιμες ημέρες και ώρες.
Οι προσφορές θα γίνονται δεκτές μέχρι και τη Τρίτη 02/12/2014
και ώρα : 13.μμ. (ώρα λήξης επίδοσης οικονομικών προσφορών).
Η κατακύρωση του αποτελέσματος της προμήθειας θα γίνει με απόφαση Δημάρχου ύστερα
από τη γνωμοδότηση της αρμόδιας επιτροπής αξιολόγησης.
Ο ΑΝΤΙΔΗΜΑΡΧΟΣ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΩΝ
ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ – ΗΛΙΑΣ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΙΟΣ
Greece: Karaghiozis Shadow Theatre; Sior Nionios; Sior Dionysios
Two key books:
Sior Nionios, the character from the Ionian Islands:
Zakynthos, Kantada
Another Kantada
Text and illustration from Rom Gudas,
The Bitter-Sweet Art, Karaghiozis, The Greek Shadow Theatre,
Gnosis, Athens, 1986
Another Kantada
Text and illustration from Rom Gudas,
The Bitter-Sweet Art, Karaghiozis, The Greek Shadow Theatre,
Gnosis, Athens, 1986
Ellis Stratakos, Trombone; Early Dance Band Jazz; Ellis Stratakos Hotel Jung Orchestra
A new name to me. Any more biographical details?
STRATAKOS, Ellis - Trombone
1904, Dec 1 - 1961, Jan 25
"Played with Tony Parenti and Johnny Wiggs. Led his own band, the Ellis Stratakos Orchestra at the Jung Hotel Roof in the late 1920s-early 30s, with notables such as Irving Fazola, Louis Prima, Frank Frederico, etc. in the line-up at various times. He was also popular with dancers along the Gulf Coast resorts". Source website (research and compilation by Jasper van Pelt)
Listen:
As trombone player 1925
Ellis Stratakos and His Hotel Jung Orchestra 1929
Monday, 24 November 2014
Haydn's Wife (Settling Old Scores)
The Mermaid's Song
Animated Score
What do we know about Haydn's wife?
That she'd use his scores for curlers,
Or to line her baking tray.
They told us at his birthplace-
Now it's all over the net.
Did she tear out sheets to curl her hair,
Or to show she knew he didn't care?
(Rohrau, Austria)
Haydn's Birthplace, Rohrau
Bermudas, Andrew Marvell
Sunday, 23 November 2014
BRIDPORT HARBOUR, William Barnes; West Bay, Dorset; Giles Dugdale
I was pleased to find this 1954 edition of the Dorset Year Book at Bridport Market on Saturday.
.jpg)
Some West Bay images:
John Cowper Powys
From Horned Poppies
and Red Cliffs
They lie who say that nature lacks
The wonders and the wiles of art –
Her magic moons that wane and wax,
Her fiery stars that gleam and dart….
Did you design for your own joy
These cliffs so soaked in rusty blood…?
Albania Opens Cold War Bunker
BBC News
"A large secret bunker that Albania's communist regime built in the 1970s to survive a nuclear bomb has been opened to the public for the first time. Former dictator Enver Hoxha wanted the bunker near the capital Tirana to guard against Soviet Union or US attacks".
Saturday, 22 November 2014
Dorset: Music at Milton Abbey; Choral Society Concert; On Music, Beauty and Morality; James Brown Biopic at Weymouth
Including -
Purcell: Come Ye Sons of Art
Vivaldi: Gloria
Come Ye Sons (Bach Consort Ensemble) YouTube
Gloria (The English Concert) YouTube
On Beauty, Music and Morality: philosopher Angie Hobbs (BBC Radio 4)
Tomorrow, by way of contrast, the James Brown biopic, Get On Up (trailer)
Could there be a greater contrast?
James Brown, I'll Go Crazy
Night Train
Please please please
It's a man's world
The White Cliffs of Dover
Come Ye Sons (Bach Consort Ensemble) YouTube
Gloria (The English Concert) YouTube
On Beauty, Music and Morality: philosopher Angie Hobbs (BBC Radio 4)
Tomorrow, by way of contrast, the James Brown biopic, Get On Up (trailer)
Could there be a greater contrast?
James Brown, I'll Go Crazy
Night Train
Please please please
It's a man's world
The White Cliffs of Dover
OPEN CULTURE; Cultural and Educational Media
Amazing resources on this website
"The best free cultural and educational media on the web"
Films, courses, audiobooks, languages, ebooks: all free online
Some refresher language courses, amongst the many available.
Czech Course
Amharic Course
Greek Course
Swedish Course
Swahili Course
Friday, 21 November 2014
Heavy Snow in Corfu?
Four feet of snow!
Read more - Corfu, USA, that is (Corfu is a village in Genesee County, New York).
Greece Under Pressure
From Kathimerini
From To Vima
Bloomberg View, editorial opinion piece
"Greece's creditors are testing the country's endurance -- again. If they keep pressing, they could split the euro area apart, which would be a disaster for them as much as for Greece".
Marathon conference call
Still a budget rift gap
Benefit of the doubt?
Does it sometimes seem as if the Kathimerini English edition is used as a supplementary medium for negotiation by the Greek side?
Paris Negotiations (Bloomberg)
Political Aftershocks (Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos, World Politics Review)
Tax revenues fall below revised target
UK: Rochester By-Election
BBC on the UKIP win
An unfortunate tweet
The Independent on the tweet: A Labour front bench MP has resigned after she apologised for tweeting a photo of a house in Rochester adorned with three England flags, which saw her accused of holding working class voters in “contempt”.
Media and Miliband over-reaction?
Ionian Islands: 150th Anniversary Concert in Athens; Mantzaros Philharmonic Society; Megaron; Musical Corfu
Megaraon, Athens, 22 November
150th Anniversary of the Accession of the Ionian Islands to the Modern Greek State
“Mantzaros” Philharmonic Society
22 NOVEMBER 2014/20:30
“SELECTIONS”
Works by N. Mantzaros, Sp. Samaras, Sp. Xyndas, N. Labelet, P. Carrer, G. Kouroupos,
Sp. Mavropoulos etc.
CORFU, The Most Musical Island (Greek Reporter)
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Benjamin Britten, Metamorphoses After Ovid for Solo Oboe; Aurora Ensemble Concert
This recording is by Nancy Ambrose King
Pan
Phaeton
Niobe
Bacchus
Narcissus
Arethusa
Last night I much enjoyed hearing Pan and Bacchus performed by Gwenllian Davies (oboe): echoes of Ancient Greece, introduced with great wit, humour and charm by Gwenllian Davies.
The whole concert by a talented wind trio (Andrew Mason, clarinet; Gwenllian Davies, oboe; Stuart Russell, bassoon) from the Aurora Ensemble Wind Quintet, was exceptional and delightful.
Swedish Court Warrant: Julian Assange
Euronews
"The founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange has failed in his bid to have a detention order revoked. A Swedish appeals court has upheld an arrest warrant against Assange".
At least Duolingo has now made a course available in the Swedish language.
Svenska Dagbladet item
Svenska Dagbladet, more
An Opinion Piece Elisabeth Massi Fritz
"Make no exception for Assange - We are all equal under the law. That is a fundamental human right and no exception should be made for Julian Assange, writes Elisabeth Massi Fritz, lawyer representing one of the women".
Dagens Nyheter
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Greece: Illegal Landfills Deadline
From Kathimerini
"Greek authorities have less than two weeks to close down dozens of illegal landfills or face large fines as the European Court is set to announce the size of the total penalty for Greece’s flouting of European waste management laws on December 2".
The Rubbish Problem
"Last ditch efforts"
World Toilet Day
Euronews: a serious matter (not an opportunity for polite pedants to insist it should be called World Lavatory Day).
EU Strategy: Adriatic and Ionian Regions
EU Strategy
Strategy Conference
Launch Conference
"This is the first EU 'macro-regional strategy' with such a large proportion of non-EU countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia) cooperating with EU members (Croatia, Greece, Italy, and Slovenia). The Strategy mainly revolves around the opportunities of the maritime economy - 'blue growth', land-sea transport, energy connectivity, protecting the environment and sustainable tourism – sectors that are bound to play a crucial role in creating jobs and boosting economic growth in the region. The starting point for this is the Maritime Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, adopted by the Commission on 30 November 2012 and now incorporated into the Strategy".
More Information:
Press Release
Memo "Q&A on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region"
Communication and Action Plan on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region
Towards an EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region
Study on the Adriatic Ionian sea basin cooperation
Brochure on Blue Growth (data by country and sea basin)
Twitter: @EU_Regional @JHahnEU - @MariaDamanakiEU #EUSAIR
Greece: "Angry" Troika (Bloomberg)
From Bloomberg
"Troika representatives are furious because the Greek government has failed to come up with any concrete measures to plug the fiscal gap since euro-area finance ministers warned earlier this month about a lack of progress in Greece meeting its commitments, one person said".
"Who lost Greece?" (Kathimerini)
On the "100 Doses" (To Vima, Greek)
Czech Republic: Velvet Revolution Anniversary Speech
This Euronews video makes me realise that I am completely out of touch with political developments in the Czech Republic.
UK: NHS Consultant Outcome and Performance Data (including Mortality Rates)
An important step forward in NHS transparency and performance evaluation (including mortality rates)
Consultant Outcome Data
"The consultant outcome data published here lets you see the results of consultants’ practice for a range of specialties - medical treatments and surgical procedures.
The data shows how many times a consultant has performed a particular procedure and, in many instances, includes other quality measures such as length of hospital stay, re-admission rate, complication rate, adverse events and mortality rates.
Publication of the data means consultants' performance can be compared openly for a given specialty to help spread best practice and identify any issues that need investigating".
BBC article
Telegraph article: Only 3 surgeons rated poor
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Dorset, West Bexington: Rare Bustard Sighting
From BBC News
"A bustard bird, which has not been seen on mainland Britain for 18 years, has been sighted in Dorset. The little bustard was photographed by Mike Morse on farmland in West Bexington, near Bridport".
Broadchurch, Series 2; West Bay Cliffs
I wasn't a fan of the first series, but here are two of the "teaser trailers" (I love the sea, the cliffs and the locations). The new series begins in January.
Teaser
Continuation
"What happened then...destroyed my town".
A New Cold War or Iron Curtain? How President Putin Sees It
A new book in Swedish "Crimea belongs to us: the empire's return"
Update March 2016, Black Sea Strategy (pdf), CEPA
Svenska Dagbladet - Zebulon Carlander: Ryssland tar över Svarta havet
Older:
From MSN
President Putin Interview, German TV
How others see it
Chancellor Merkel (Deutsche Welle)
Euronews
Bloomberg (on economic issues)
Webcam spying? (Mail Online)
Webcam spying (Telegraph)
Hilary Clinton (in March)
No new Iron Curtain (Putin)
How Bo Diddley saw it
Problematic Texts: Trying To Read New Testament Greek
I have a problem with the English translations from the New Testament Greek- and with the proper interpretation and underlying meaning- of two passages. Here are the passages in question:
Luke 14:25-35 and Matthew 10:34-39
(Is there some connection or analogy here to the Buddhist concept of non-attachment?)
In the words of Blind Willie Johnson...
Corfu: Erimitis Land Sale for Development (near Kassiopi) - "Not in Natura" = No Environmental Protection
From Corfu Press (in Greek)
On Natura 2000 (Wikipedia)
It's a pity that residents of the island didn't protest about environmental destruction and inappropriate building developments in the past.
See The Corfiot, November 2007, for an online article by John Waller on Corfu's Natura sites (pdf), pages 16-17.
Greece Exits the Recession; GDP Figures
From The Economist
"ON NOVEMBER 14th Greece received a welcome surprise. Revised GDP figures showed that it had emerged from recession earlier this year, growing for each of the first three quarters (on a quarterly basis)...Exiting recession is an important moment, but only the first step in Greece's recovery"
Kathimerini viewpoint
Monday, 17 November 2014
The Stonen Steps (William Barnes): Dorset Poem, Epirot Images; Stone Steps, Paths, Bridges
And up these well-worn blocks of stone
I came when I first ran alone
Were these old stairs laid down by man
Before the bridge's arched span?
.jpg)
The Stonen Steps
A MAN AND HIS FRIEND
MAN
These stonen steps that stand so true
With tread on tread, a foot-reach wide,
Have always climb'd the sloping side
Of this steep ledge, for me and you.
Had people built the steps before
They turn'd the arch of our old door?
Were these old stairs laid down by man
Before the bridge's arched span?
Did workmen set these stones so trim
Before they built the spire so slim?
FRIEND
Ah! who can tell when first — aye who —
These steps first bore a shoe.
MAN
And here beside the sloping hump,
From stone to stone with faces flat,
The littlefooted children pat,
And heavy-booted men-folk clump.
But which the last may beat a shoe
On these old stones: shall I or you?
Which little boy of mine shall climb
These well-worn steps the last in time?
Which girl, childquick or womanslow,
Shall walk the last these stones in row?
FRIEND
Aye, who among us now can know
Who last shall come or go?
MAN
The road leads on below these blocks
To yonder springhead's stony cove,
And Meldon Hall and elm-tree grove,
And mill beside the foamy rocks.
And up these well-worn blocks of stone
I came when I first ran alone;
The stonen stairs beclimb'd the mound
Ere father put a foot to ground.
'Twas up the steps his father came
To make his mother change her name.
FRIEND
Aye, who can ever tell what pairs
Of feet once trod the stairs?
William Barnes
Patrick Leigh Fermor: Istanbul of the Imagination
See the excellent PLF blog, for an article by Charles Sabatos (first published in The Daily Sabah, 25 August 2014)
Sunday, 16 November 2014
Dorset Rewritten: William Barnes (BBC Radio)
Just heard the end of this BBC Radio 4 programme
Now on BBCiplayer
"Before Thomas Hardy, there was another Dorset poet. His name was William Barnes. Scrape a finger across Hardy's Dorset and you'll find Barnes' underneath. Daljit Nagra goes in search of Hardy's friend, forebear and inspiration.
William Barnes was fascinated by language and the dialect used by the people around him. But today he's been all but forgotten. Barnes inspired Hardy, Larkin, and Hopkins yet Britain has never taken him to its heart. Barnes was fascinated by language, obsessed even. He was a polymath. He believed in Pure English and wanted to distil words to their Anglo -Saxon origins; 'photograph' for instance, becomes, 'sun-print'. Curious then that while his poetry is thick with dialect, Barnes spent most of his life teaching English in its conventional form, as a curate and a school master.
A former Poet Laureate, a young teacher from Barnes' Blackmore Vale, and a dialect poet from the Black Country reflect on the curious verse of 'the other' Dorset poet".
Produced in Bristol by Clare Salisbury.
Comments on programme in Dorset Echo letter from Dr Alan Chedzoy
First published Wednesday 26 November 2014
"Last week BBC Radio 4 broadcast a programme entitled ‘Dorset Rewritten’ in which a number of local people, includ-ing myself, participated.
The programme was advertised as being about the Dorset dialect poet, William Barnes, and I suspect that some thousands of local people will have listened to it hoping to hear more of Barnes’s poetry.
Imagine my concern then, that apart from two verses of the obligatory ‘Linden Lea’, there was hardly any poetry by Barnes broadcast, just a few lines and there.
Yet they found time for a poem by Hardy, and two whole po-ems, for some reason, by a woman from the Black Country.
There was also an appalling bit of verse, in fake rustic speech, made up by the presenter.
I cannot for the life of me explain this, and so I must enquire whether the compiler had actually read a few poems by Barnes.
It seems to me that when one considers the great resources of the BBC, the subject was not properly addressed.
Certainly it would have come as a great disappointment to many Dorset people.
Why were there no Barnes poems included in full?
There are so many fine ones to choose from and some are quite short so that they would have fitted the format.
Why was the irrelevant Black Country poet given so much time? Was she somebody’s friend? I am baffled and vexed by this. The compiler has a few questions to answer".
Dr Alan Chedzoy, Biographer of Barnes and past chairman, The William Barnes Society
Gallery of photos
Sound clips
"Uncle an' Aunt" read by Brian Caddy
An older BBC item on Barnes
Tom Burton - Hearing is Believing: The Dialect Poems of William Barnes (1801–1886). University of Cambridge.
Andrew Motion reads Linden Lea, Poetry Archive
John Shirley Quirk, Linden Lea
"Mr.Turner", Mike Leigh Film
I seem to be in a very small minority. I found the Mike Leigh film boring in parts, uninspiring and deeply disappointing overall - and full of misleading caricatures (eg of John Ruskin) as well as factual inaccuracies (Turner tied to the mast, almost certainly a myth).
Trailer
Clip
Press Conference at Cannes
Timothy Spall Interview
Leigh and Spall, BFI London Film Festival
Reviews:
The Telegraph
The Guardian
Saturday, 15 November 2014
Greece: Property Tax Headache (Objective versus Market Values)
From Kathimerini
Not enough time
Update November 24
"From next year the transfer tax will be based on the actual sale price of each property as detailed on the contract rather than on its estimated value".
Update, capital gains taxes etc
Friday, 14 November 2014
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Birthday Portrait in a Dorset Diner and a Surprise Visit
and a wonderful surprise visit, my daughter flew in from the USA :
Arrival
Departure