Saturday 28 February 2015

Dorset Life: Invaluable Articles Archive




Don't forget this wonderful resource!

Hours of pleasurable browsing.

"Lost on the River (of Life)", Hank and Audrey Williams Duet, with Bouzouki-Like Mandolin Solo; "The Battle of Armageddon"- a Song for Greece



The "Lost on the River" duet was recorded on 22 December 1948.

The mandolin solo, played by Clyde Baum, sounds almost like a bouzouki solo:

"Lost on the River", duet, Hank and Audrey Williams

Note on Clyde Baum, mandolinist


Compare the duet with Hank singing solo:

Hank, with his guitar

Tyler Durden:

"It was in May 2012, just around the time of the second Greek bailout, that Charles Dallara, who as head of the International Institute of Finance (IIF) spent months in Athens negotiating the largest ever sovereign debt restructuring, said that "the damage to the rest of Europe from Greece leaving the euro would be "somewhere between catastrophic and Armageddon."

Yanis Varoufakis:

“We constantly hear, ‘if you don’t sign on the dotted line there is going to be Armageddon’. My answer is ‘let it happen!’

The Battle of Armageddon (Hank Williams; YouTube)


And here's a rarely-heard humorous song, "No, Not Now"


Rare video: With Roy Acuff and The Carter Family - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nQ66GiWysU

Friday 27 February 2015

Dorset: Bridport and West Bay, Property Prices




A Guardian property feature

I agree that "Broadchurch" is "bafflingly overrated". I'm surprised the second series hasn't caused a serious drop in house prices.

"The area has long had to get used to lazy headlines about Notting Hill on Sea. It is far nicer. Far nicer than Broadchurch, too. There are metropolitan types, but there are also human beings of all proclivities (though with a liberal, easy-going bent), and a community life to suit all of them".

But the TV series has helped to put Bridport on the map (Dorset Life)



The Albanian Riviera, via Corfu



I received an email with this competitive budget airline offer, with flights from Brussels:





Discover unspoilt Albania from 59.99,-
Do you fancy something different for your summer holidays? 
Consider sun-drenched Albania, a hidden gem 
still unspoilt by mass tourism.


Jetairfly enables you to discover the most beautiful places
of this Mediterranean country.

Discover the Albanian Riviera from Corfu
Sunbathers can easily combine a holiday on the Greek island of Corfu 
with a visit to the stunning Albanian south coast.

The fast ferry service takes you to the seaside resort of Sarandë 
in barely 30 minutes.


Flights to Corfu from € 59.99 







Household Projection Plans for England, Published 27 February 2015




Communities and Local Government Household Projection Plans

Read here

More Specific Housing Statistics Data, for England, 2012- 2037


"Local Authority Figures: Local authority projections are provided in the accompanying Live Tables"
 NB- Documents may prove difficult to open!

"If you use assistive technology and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@communities.gsi.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need.

It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use".

Household Interim Projections

See also, earlier posting House-Building, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland

Divided Decade, The Independent - "Britain's divided decade: the rich are 64% richer than before the recession, while the poor are 57% poorer"



George Seferis' s London (4 March)





Το Λονδίνο του Γιώργου Σεφέρη - George Seferis’s London

a lecture in Greek by Dr Giorgos Georgis,  University of Cyprus

with simultaneous translation projected on a screen

Wednesday 4 March 2015, 7.15 pm

Great Hall, Hellenic Centre

16-18, Paddington Street, London, W1U 5AS

The lecture deals with the impact London had on Seferis’s poetry. George Seferis (1900-1971) lived in London for considerable periods throughout his life. His poem Fog was the outcome of his first stay during the period of summer of 1924 and February 1925. As a diplomat he was posted to London in August 1931 for three years and then again in April 1951; from June 1957 until August 1967 he was appointed Greek Ambassador in Great Britain. While in London he met T.S. Eliot, Auden, E.M. Forster, Dylan Thomas and other literary figures.

Free Entry

Booking essential on 020 7563 9835 or at press@helleniccentre.org



Greece: Varoufakis; Revelation about Deliberate Ambiguity and 'Fig Leaf' Deal; «δημιουργική ασάφεια» - Ακατανόητη αποκάλυψη Γιάνη Βαρουφάκη για τη συμφωνία παράτασης…



March 1st  Interview with Wolfgang Schäuble: BILD am SONNTAG sagt er, was er von seinem neuen griechischen Amtskollegen Varoufakis hält

More

Details in Kathimerini (AFP)

"The new Greek government has strong public support,» Schaeuble said in an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. "I am confident that it will put in place the necessary measures, set up a more efficient tax system and in the end honour its commitments. "You have to give a little bit of time to a newly elected government,» he told the Sunday paper. «To govern is to face reality."
Schaeuble also insisted that his Greek counterpart Yanis Varoufakis, despite their policy differences, had «behaved most properly with me» and had «the right to as much respect as everyone else».

More from finanzen.net

From Mignatiou

A negotiating error?

Το μέγα ερώτημα είναι, ότι η αποκάλυψη αυτής της «λεπτομέρειας», θα μπορούσε να περιπλέξει τη διαδικασία, καθώς οι αντίπαλοι της Ελλάδας θα μπορούσαν να χρησιμοποιήσουν τη συνέντευξη του Έλληνα υπουργού ως επιχείρημα απόρριψης, ενώ δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι την αποκάλυψη αυτή δεν έκανε κάποιος Ευρωπαίος αξιωματούχος! Κατά συνέπεια, η πρωτοβουλία του υπουργού θα μπορούσε να αποδειχθεί διαπραγματευτικά άστοχη… Θα είχε νόημα εάν για τον οποιονδήποτε λόγο, κάποιος στόχευε στο να τορπιλίσει την έγκριση της συμφωνίας από τα εθνικά Κοινοβούλια.


France 24


Kathimerini: EU Deal a Fig Leaf


From Protagon


Berlin Denial iefimerida


Related: Bloomberg


Euronews: PM Tsipras on Meritocracy and Transparency


Very Much To The Point:

Reuters: Greece Runs Out of Funding Options


Sakellaridis, Protothema

Δεν είναι στις προθέσεις της κυβέρνησης να ζητήσει παράταση αποπληρωμής του Διεθνούς Νομισματικού Ταμείου δήλωσε ο κυβερνητικός εκπρόσωπος Γαβριήλ Σακελλαρίδης μια ημέρα μετά τα όσα δήλωσε ο υπουργός Επικρατείας Αλέκος Φλαμπουράρης.


Reuters on ECB Bonds

Kathimerini, ECB Bonds

Lafazanis/Varoufakis Differences on Privatisations and Parliamentary Ratification

The Telegraph, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard in Athens

Reuters on "Anti-Athens Axis"

Business Insider on Tax Evasion

Tax Evasion Study (TAX EVASION ACROSS INDUSTRIES: SOFT CREDIT EVIDENCE FROM GREECE, Nikolaos Artavanis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Adair Morse University of Chicago Booth School of Business, NBER, Margarita Tsoutsoura University of Chicago Booth School of Business)

Corfu Forum, Re: Why Can't Greece Shake its Corruption Problem: A Reply from Ilias

"I am "we" rather than "they" as I am a Greek citizen. I obviously do not agree with this article which was written by someone who has a summer house in Greece and comes here for holidays rather than a Greek who lives, works and toils in this country. This fallacy of tax avoidance just goes on and on and on. It is a fallacy because in today's Greece in order to do anything at all, you have to provide your latest tax clearance certificate. It is not now easy to avoid tax in Greece unless you are one of the cheats who has found a way to remove your money and put it into a foreign bank account. These are the people we need to hunt down.... I would just add that I have always paid all taxes owed by me, so there is at least one honest Greek and I resent inferences that I am not representative of thousands if not millions of other Greeks".

Varoufakis: Special New Taxes Will Be Necessary

"Patriotic Duty to Pay Taxes" 

Give Syriza a chance, Bild - Christian Odendahl

Syriza MPs revolt

Jenny Diski, "Why didn’t you just do what you were told?" - and more; Skating to Antarctica




I am reading the highly-recommended memoir "Skating to Antarctica, A Journey to the End of the Earth". It is an engrossing read. I am currently re-reading a profound section on the nature of memory (page 154)....

Now contemplating a section on the experience of depression (p 190-191)...

Finished. An exceptional book.

"There are infinite ways of telling the truth, including fiction, and infinite ways of evading the truth, including non-fiction" (p.229)

I am reminded of a sonnet by Hopkins

"O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall
Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Hold them cheap
May who ne'er hung there".

In Jenny Diski's book, the mind has icebergs.

From London Review of Books - "Why didn’t you just do what you were told?"


Doris and Me


Blackness ever blackening


Wikipedia Entry


In her book "The Sixties" (2009), Jenny Diski is particularly strong on 60's ideas about schooling and education (Chapter 5, p 108-118, pb ed.), and about the influence of R D Laing (Chapter 6), and Roy Jenkins (Chapter 4, p. 64-65).

She seems to have got it wrong about Jimmy Savile, who, amongst others, apparently called for a Nationwide Petition for Public Decency, and campaigned for 'traditional values' to prevail by virtue of the moral majority coming out to be counted" (p.85).



Thursday 26 February 2015

Sky Landscape Artist of the Year Competition, 2015



Details here

Terms and Conditions

FAQs

Walking the Balkans: Peaks of the Balkans Trail; Trans-border Hiking through Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro



As recommended by John Pilkington

What People Say (including John Pilkington):

"This spectacular new trail is Europe’s best-kept trekking secret. Go and enjoy it before everyone else does!"


'The transnational “Peaks of the Balkans Trail” leads through one of the most remote and wild mountainous regions of the Western Balkans. By using shepherd paths and footways, the trail winds through high alpine mountains up to 2,300 metres above sea level and leads through wild mountain scenery, with a diversity of breathtaking landscapes, varying from green valleys to crystal-clear mountain lakes, waterfalls, rivers and remote picturesque mountain villages, in which time seems to have stopped. All in all a “hidden treasure” for nature lovers and hikers'.

Tax Evasion in the EU: Alain Lamassoure, Chair of Special Committee





From EU Observer


Greece: News Round-Up and Ambiguous Headlines; "The Europeans Asked For Vague Concepts in Order To Gain Parliamentary Approvals"; Οι Ευρωπαίοι ήθελαν ασάφειες για να μπορεί η συμφωνία να περάσει από τα Κοινοβούλιά τους.




More news-links for those who are not truly weary of the headlines about Greece.

I'd like to be able to change the subject. So would Greece's Finance Minister.


Wall Street Journal

Reuters

Having it both ways: Doublespeak (Kathimerini/AFP)

Telegraph/MSN

"Constructive ambiguity", Deutsche Welle

Varoufakis (Antenna) : "The Europeans asked for vague concepts in order to be able to get the agreement passed through their parliaments" - Οι Ευρωπαίοι ήθελαν ασάφειες για να μπορεί η συμφωνία να περάσει από τα Κοινοβούλιά τους.

Antenna: Varoufakis Interview, with video

Ο Γιάνης Βαρουφάκης αναφερόμενος στη συνεργασία του με τον ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, που οδήγησε και στο σημερινό του αξίωμα, σημείωσε:

«Εγώ δεν ήμουν και δεν είμαι μέλος του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ. Η σύγκλισή μου με το κόμμα και τον Τσίπρα έγινε τα τελευταία δύο χρόνια» και συνέχισε τονίζοντας τα κοινά στοιχεία μεταξύ του ιδίου και της παράταξης που τους έδεσαν:

«Πιστεύω ότι οι απλουστευτικές διαδικασίες μειώνουν την ελευθερία. Κάθε που παίρναμε μία δόση μειώναμε τις διαπραγματευτικές μας ικανότητες. Μπαίναμε σε μία κρίση από την οποία δεν μπορούμε να βγούμε.

Εκλέχτηκε μία κυβέρνηση που θα έλεγε ΟΧΙ. Και αυτό έκανα στις διαπραγματεύσεις».

Απατώντας στις κατηγορίες που επιρρίπτονται στην κυβέρνηση ότι έκανε «κωλοτούμπα» υπογράφοντας ένα νέο Μνημόνιο, το οποίο βάπτισε «πρόγραμμα», έδωσε τη δική του ερμηνεία στο τι σημαίνει Μνημόνιο.

«Μνημόνιο για μένα είναι: Αν δώσεις υπό όρους λιτότητας σε ένα χρεοκοπημένο κράτος ένα τεράστιο δάνειο, μειώνοντας τα έσοδά του, δεν θα το ξεπληρώσει ποτέ. Τα κριτήρια και οι όροι του κάθε προγράμματος, έπαιξαν το ρόλο της απαξίωσης των μεταρρυθμίσεων» και έκανε σαφείς κάποιες παραμέτρους της τρέχουσας συμφωνίας με τους εταίρους:

«Η Συμφωνία είναι γεμάτη από δημιουργικές ασάφειες. Και είμαστε περήφανοι γι’αυτό.

Οι Ευρωπαίοι ήθελαν ασάφειες για να μπορεί η συμφωνία να περάσει από τα Κοινοβούλιά τους.

Δε θα αναφερθώ ποτέ σε νούμερα αν ξέρω ότι δεν μπορώ να το πετύχω».


Varoufakis proud of deliberate "Creative Ambiguity", Mignatiou

Dutch Satirical Rap Video (NB not polite)

Nikos Bistis, Protagon

Ta Nea - Τσίπρας: «Ξεκινάμε το ξήλωμα του μνημονιακού καθεστώτος στον κρατικό μηχανισμό»

In the next four months, one of the government's main aims will be to demolish (to unravel or to roll back) the Memorandum: "να υλοποιήσουμε τη λαϊκή εντολή για άσκηση της διακυβέρνησης της χώρας, ξεκινώντας το ξήλωμα του καθεστώτος του μνημονίου και των εκπροσώπων του στον κρατικό μηχανισμό"

iefimerida

The New National Anthem?  Roll Over Mantzaros and Solomos!

Tsipras-Theodorakis Meeting (Andreas Petroulakis cartoon, Kathimerini)



Dancing the Sirtaki (RTBF)

The Telegraph

Kathimerini

Irish Times

Reuters

The Guardian

Bloomberg

Bloomberg 2

EU Observer

New York Times 1

New York Times 2

New York Times 3

New York Times 4

New York Times 5

New York Times 6

New York Times 7

Bild

Wednesday 25 February 2015

UK: Dorset Recycling Centres: Options for Savings



The latest situation - Consultation on possible changes to Dorset household recycling centres (HRCs)

Greece: No One's Done a Koungi (Kunghi, Κούγκι); Souliot War Song; Terrible Souli; Kako-Souli (Kακο-Σούλι )




So far, no one's "done a Koungi", which must mean that the Greek government got what it wanted.

 See my earlier posting.

The bravery and resistance of the Souliots have never been forgotten. We should take note of the war songs of the Greeks.


Published 1917 








See a tragic report in Keep Talking Greece

On Souli and Koungi (Kunghi):

Some background Frédéric Guillaume de Vaudoncourt

The Reverend Thomas Hughes on Kunghi

William Martin Leake, the Monk Samuel

Cartoon, Ilias Makris

To do a Koungi - or a Delphi?

Andreas Embiricos, translated by Nikos Stangos and Alan Ross,

from Neoptolemos A, King of the Hellenes (last page)

Greece: L’Humanité, February 25th 2015: Special Issue on Greece: Costa-Gavras Interview



See articles on Greece, in French, from today's special issue

Costa-Gavras Interview (you have to pay to read this)



The Aral Sea: Waiting for the Sea (BBC)



BBC Feature

Waiting for the sea

It took just 40 years for the Aral Sea to dry up. Fishing ports suddenly found themselves in a desert. But in one small part of the sea, water is returning.

Sweden: Property Tax, The Pros and Cons



From Svenska Dagbladet

Greece: Cartoons by Andreas Petroulakis



See some brilliant - but not always kind- political and satirical cartoons

Article, The End of Hate 25.1.2015

In Greek (Protagon)

More

Move It On Over- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel



The soundtrack of this enjoyable and colourful film got off to a good start with a rocked-up version of Hank William's proto-rockabilly "Move It On Over" - in this version by George Thorogood, I think. About the song.

Film Trailer

We had an early preview of the film in Dorchester on 24 February- two days before its official release date.

Greece: The "Thessaloniki Programme"; Taxation Plans and "The Treasure Hunt"; "Greece Needs To Grow Up" - Varoufakis




CNBC; Varoufakis interview "Greece needs to grow up"

BBC Business News: SYRIZA Dumps Marx for Blair, Robert Peston

"What happened to the government's socialism? Well it is in a postscript to the reforms headed "humanitarian crisis" - in which it promises "targeted non-pecuniary measures", such as food stamps, to tackle poverty. But even here it pledges "no negative fiscal effect". That said, Greece's plutocracy still has some reason to be afraid, because Mr Varoufakis says he is determined to reduce legal tax avoidance and illegal tax evasion, and to ruthlessly stamp out endemic corruption".

Varoufakis talks to Charlie Hebdo (Reuters)

Comment on Alpha


The "Language Question", 2015?

Ilias Makris Cartoon


Some searching analysis and comments from Reform Watch Greece

Global Research, Coverage and English Translation of Costas Lapavitsas' Blog Questions

"It is difficult to see how this agreement will be be conducive to reaching the ‘Thessaloniki’ commitment, which involves cancelling most of the debt and the immediate replacement of the memoranda with a National Reconstruction Plan"

Varoufakis, Listen to Real.gr MP3 Papanikolaou interview, in Greek : Q. A New Memorandum? A. We're saying things with their correct name. Q. We are afraid of the words, but the substance is the same. What's the difference from the previous Troika? A. Four months moratorium. Q. FPA? ENFIA? Renaming and re-baptisms only? Talking to the European Commission or the same three institutions (Troika)?
A. There is no longer a Memorandum, or a Troika.Q. And the question of Debt? The Thessaloniki Agreement? The issue of First Homes? A. The Thessaloniki programme is a 4 year programme. The 100 installments will continue Q. On  promises to clamp down on Tax evasion, we've heard it many times before from different governments. And the question of promises of untaxable income up to 12,000 Euros, when will that be introduced? A. It depends on the economic situation and the outcome of negotiations. Q. And the opposition of Manolis Glezos? (NB the interview needs more accurate and complete translation)

Tensions Within SYRIZA, kathimerini

From Mignatiou

Greece will not go ahead with electricity privatisation: Lafazanis (Reuters)

It's legal, says Varoufakis

Mats Persson, Open Europe


From in.gr

Κωδικοποιημένα σημεία του προγράμματος της Θεσσαλονίκης που είχε παρουσιάσει τον Σεπτέμβριο ο Αλέξης Τσίπρας και περιλαμβάνονται στη λίστα των μεταρρυθμίσεων, η οποία απεστάλη στους θεσμικούς εταίρους, παρουσιάζει η κυβέρνηση με ανεπίσημο σημείωμά της.

Στο εκτενές σημείωμα επισημαίνονται το κεφάλαιο για την αντιμετώπιση της ανθρωπιστικής κρίσης, δημοσιονομικές και διαρθρωτικές πολιτικές, η επανεκκίνηση της οικονομίας, το θέμα των λεγόμενων «κόκκινων δανείων», οι δημόσιες δαπάνες, το πρόβλημα της διαφθοράς κ.α.

New taxation plans in the Varoufakis Reforms List

Cracking down on tax evasion, 'hunting for treasure', Varoufakis, CNBC video

The Greek List (in Greek)





A Swedish Artist in Athens, Daniel Egnéus



Challenging the stereotypes - Daniel Egnéus

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Greece, IMF: Letter from the Managing Director of the IMF to the President of the Eurogroup; Press Release




Read here

"While the authorities’ list is comprehensive, it is generally not very specific, which is perhaps to be expected considering that the government is new in office. In some areas, like combating tax evasion and corruption, I am encouraged with what appears to be a stronger resolve on the part of the new authorities in Athens, and we look forward to learn more about their plans. In quite a few areas, however, including perhaps the most important ones, the letter is not conveying clear assurances that the Government intends to undertake the reforms envisaged in the Memorandum on Economic and Financial Policies. We note in particular that there are neither clear commitments to design and implement the envisaged comprehensive pension and VAT policy reforms, nor unequivocal undertakings to continue already-agreed policies for opening up closed sectors, for administrative reforms, for privatization, and for labor market reforms. As you know, we consider such commitments and undertakings to be critical for Greece’s ability to meet the basic objectives of its Fund-supported program, which is why these are the areas subject to most of the structural benchmarks agreed with the Fund. Thus, it is important for me to emphasize that for the discussions on a completion of the review to be successful they cannot be confined within the policy perimeters outlined in the Government’s list".


Commentary, The Wall Street Journal

Deutsche Welle


The Guardian

The Telegraph

Greece, ECB: Letter from the President of the European Central Bank to the President of the Eurogroup




Read the letter here (tweeted by Peter Spiegel).

"I assume that it is clear that the basis for concluding the current review, and also for any future arrangements, will be the existing commitments in the current Memorandum of Understanding and the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP). In this context we note that the commitments outlined by the authorities differ from existing programme commitments in a number of areas. In such cases, we will have to assess during the review whether measures which are not accepted by the authorities are replaced with measures of equal or better quality in terms of achieving the objectives of the programme.

I would also again urge the Greek authorities to act swiftly to stabilise the payment culture and refrain from any unilateral action to the contrary. "

Australia: The Kimberley, A Fair Go For All



A Fair Go For All,  Dr Anne Poelina

More Australian Stories

Thanks to Aboriginal Art Directory for the link

Neil Oliver on making Coast Australia

Monday 23 February 2015

Greece: Greek List of Reform Measures Approved as Sufficiently Comprehensive



Eurogroup Approves List: Statement

"The Eurogroup today discussed the first list of reform measures presented by the Greek authorities, based on the current arrangement, which will be further specified and then agreed with the institutions at the latest by the end of April. The institutions provided us with their first view that they consider this list of measures to be sufficiently comprehensive to be a valid starting point for a successful conclusion of the review. We therefore agreed to proceed with the national procedures with a view to reaching the final decision on the extension by up to four months of the current Master Financial Assistance Facility Agreement. We call on the Greek authorities to further develop and broaden the list of reform measures, based on the current arrangement, in close coordination with the institutions in order to allow for a speedy and successful conclusion of the review".

BBC Report

Drama and Confusing Ambiguity in the lead-up:

Greek media report 1 "Dijsselbloem optimistic" -
Γ. Ντάισελμπλουμ: Είμαι αισιόδοξος ότι οι ελληνικές προτάσεις θα είναι αποτελεσματικές

Greek media report 2; "I don't share the positive view of the Commission"- Dijsselbloem -
"Δεν μπορώ να μοιραστώ την θετική αποτίμηση της Κομισιόν για την ελληνική λίστα" δήλωσε ο επικεφαλής του Eurogroup, Γ. Ντάισελμπλουμ

Reform list to creditors on Tuesday morning (Kathimerini)

HuffPost with Christine Lagarde, Video Interview

Where Greece Now Stands, John Psaropoulos, The New Athenian

Nick Malkoutzis in The Guardian

The Greek List of Reform Proposals (Kathimerini)

English summary

BBC Report

Real GR

Reuters

Kathimerini/Reuters

More detail, in.gr Thanassis Koukakis:

Το πρόγραμμα αυτό, εκτιμώμενου κόστος της τάξεως των 2 δισ. ευρώ, αποτελεί ένα ολοκληρωμένο πλέγμα παρεμβάσεων για τα πιο ευάλωτα κοινωνικά στρώματα.

Περιλαμβάνει:

Δωρεάν ρεύμα σε 300.000 νοικοκυριά κάτω από το όριο της φτώχειας (έως την ποσότητα των 1200 Kwh το τετράμηνο ανά οικογένεια).
Πρόγραμμα επιδότησης διατροφής με κουπόνια σίτισης σε 300.000 άπορες οικογένειες.
Δωρεάν πρόσβαση για όλους, ασφαλισμένους και ανασφάλιστους, στις δημόσιες δομές υγείας και διασφάλιση της πρόσβασης για όλους στην αναγκαία φαρμακευτική αγωγή με δραστικό περιορισμό έως μηδενισμό της επιβάρυνσης στη συμμετοχή των ασθενών στη φαρμακευτική δαπάνη.
Πρόγραμμα εξασφάλισης στέγης (με στόχο σε πρώτη φάση 25.000 διαμερίσματα).
Στήριξη χαμηλοσυνταξιούχων με αποκατάσταση της 13ης σύνταξης σε 1.262.920 συνταξιούχους που λαμβάνουν σύνταξη έως 700 ευρώ.
Ειδική κάρτα ετήσιας διάρκειας μετακίνησης με τα μαζικά μέσα μεταφοράς με μειωμένη συμμετοχή για μακροχρόνια άνεργους και όσους διαβιώνουν κάτω από το όριο της φτώχειας.
Κατάργηση της εξίσωσης του ειδικού φόρου κατανάλωσης στο πετρέλαιο θέρμανσης και κίνησης.

Η πραγματική οικονομία

Τα μέτρα που προτείνει η κυβέρνηση υιοθετούν μεγάλο μέρος του δεύτερου πυλώνα του προγράμματος της Θεσσαλονίκης που αφορά στην τόνωση της πραγματικής οικονομίας με άμεση προτεραιότητα στην ρύθμιση των ληξιπρόθεσμων οφειλών, των «κόκκινων δανείων»καθώς και την άρση των πλειστηριασμών πρώτης κατοικίας.

Σύμφωνα με κυβερνητικές πληροφορίες στην λίστα προτείνονται διαρθρωτικές μεταρρυθμίσεις που οδηγούν σε ένα δίκαιο φορολογικό σύστημα, στην καταπολέμηση της φοροδιαφυγής, της διαπλοκής και της διαφθοράς, στην πάταξη του λαθρεμπορίου και στην ανασυγκρότηση του δημόσιου τομέα.

Στη λίστα γίνεται αναφορά στις μεταρρυθμίσεις στα εργασιακά με αναφορά στις συλλογικές συμβάσεις και διαπραγματεύσεις.

Σημειώνεται πως η κυβέρνηση είχε δεσμευθεί να επαναφέρει το θεσμό της μετενέργειας, των συλλογικών συμβάσεων, του ΟΜΕΔ και της διαιτησίας, ωστόσο η απόφαση του Eurogroup της προηγουμένης Παρασκευής της στερεί ελευθερίες από το να το πράξει μονομερώς.

Δεν γίνεται αναφορά σε επαναπρόσληψη απολυμένων στο Δημόσιο, διότι αυτό θα ενταχθεί στις ήδη προγραμματισμένες προσλήψεις που προβλέπονται από τον προϋπολογισμό (15.000), ενώ «μνημονεύεται» η συμφωνία Άνχελ Γκουρία - Αλέξη Τσίπρα για τις αναγκαίες διαρθρωτικές μεταρρυθμίσεις, που έχει ανάγκη η χώρα.

Πάντως, δεν έχει διευκρινισθεί ακόμη τι θα ισχύσει με την άμεση κατάργηση τουΕΝΦΙΑ, την επαναφορά του αφορολόγητου στα 12.000 ευρώ, την «νέα σεισάχθεια» (η επιστροφή των χρημάτων του ΤΧΣ στον EFSF θέτει περιορισμούς), αλλά και με την επαναφορά του κατώτατου μισθού στα 751 ευρώ για όλους τους εργαζόμενους, ανεξαρτήτως ηλικίας, δεσμεύσεις που αποτελούν κομμάτι του προγράμματος της Θεσσαλονίκης, αλλά αποτελούν «κόκκινες γραμμές» για τους πιστωτές.

Η χρηματοδότηση των μέτρων

Δεδομένου ότι πολλές από τις παρεμβάσεις που προτείνει η κυβέρνηση στους πιστωτές απαιτούν πρόσθετη χρηματοδότηση για να υλοποιηθούν, αυτό είναι κάτι που ενδεχομένως θα εξετασθεί στο αποψινό Eurogroup.

Σύμφωνα με κυβερνητικά στελέχη, το μεγαλύτερο μέρος των παρεμβάσεων του προγράμματος για την αντιμετώπιση της ανθρωπιστικής κρίσης θα χρηματοδοτηθεί από τους πόρους που θα προέλθουν από την καταπολέμηση της φοροδιαφυγής και της φοροαποφυγής.

Ωστόσο, τα χρήματα αυτά δεν είναι άμεσα διαθέσιμα και ως εκ τούτου προκαλείται χρηματοδοτικό κενό, κάτι που οι θεσμοί δεν αναμένεται να επιτρέψουν, δεδομένων των ήδη αδύναμων δημοσιονομικών επιδόσεων και των ήδη αυξημένων χρηματοδοτικών αναγκών.

Σημειώνεται πως το Μάρτιο θα πρέπει να καταβληθούν 7,27 δισ. ευρώ σε υποχρεώσεις για δάνεια, τόκους και έντοκα γραμμάτια, 1,5 δισ. ευρώ σε μισθούς και συντάξεις και 1,3 δισ. ευρώ για ασφάλιση, περίθαλψη και κοινωνική προστασία. Μεγάλο μέρος από τα χρήματα αυτά η κυβέρνηση δεν το έχει ακόμη εξασφαλίσει, γεγονός που καθιστά τη σημερινή έγκριση του Eurogroup πρόσθετα σημαντική". Θανάσης Κουκάκης

Google automatic translation of part of the list:

Free power for 300,000 households below the poverty line (up to the amount of the quarter, 1200 Kwh per family).
Food subsidy program by feeding coupons to 300,000 poor families.
Free access for all, insured and uninsured, to public health facilities and ensuring access for all to the necessary medication with drastic reduction to zero of charge to patient involvement in pharmaceutical expenditure.
Roof assurance program (aimed initially 25,000 apartments).
Support low pensions with restoration of 13 pensions to 1.26292 million pensioners who receive pensios up to 700 euros.
Special one-year travel card with the public transport with reduced participation for long-term unemployed and those who live below the poverty line.
Remove the equation of excise duty on heating oil and motor.

The new in.gr article is now very different!

Suddenly, it;s more in line with the Reuters report

The Guardian reports

"The proposals, according to leaks in Athens on Monday evening, appeared vague, failing to give figures or detail on the expected fiscal impact of the measures...The troika also has to conduct a review of more detailed Greek proposals".

More about the Lapavitsas objections

ALL VERY CONFUSING

Weymouth: Town Centre Masterplan Draft



Read here

Supplementary Draft Plan

Management Committee Meeting, 3rd March

Public Consultation Documents

Dorset Echo Report

Greece: The French Left on Greece - Twelve Page Special Issue on Greece, l'Humanité, 25 February



For a different political perspective. NB - "formerly the daily newspaper linked to the French Communist Party (PCF). The paper is now independent, although it maintains close links to the PCF" (Wikipedia).

Special issue on Wednesday 25 February.

Ce qui a déjà changé dans le pays. Le récit d’une politisation populaire. Des reportages, des portraits sur l’élargissement des soutiens à l’action du gouvernement. Un entretien avec Costa Gavras.

Main article

Costa-Gavras Interview (paying)

Aristides Baltas (paying)

Water Privatisation

On Thessaloniki

On Compromise - Grèce : des compromis mais pas de compromission

Support Greece, Change Europe

Four months to negotiate

Tsipras and Social Salvation

Victory for the Tsipras Government

Communist Support

Not sure if it will be in the English online edition

Weymouth-Cherbourg Super Fast Ferry Discussions




This would be a great development

"A NEW high-speed passenger ferry service to France could be up and running from Weymouth Harbour next year in a move that will create 90 jobs. HighSpeedFerries.com is in discussion with the borough council to operate from the town. HighSpeedFerries plans to run two or three regular sailings a day in season from Weymouth to Cherbourg. The journey would take less than two hours port-to-port".

BBC News

In Support of Greece and the Greek Economy



I may be in England, but it seems my subconscious told me to make a Greek coffee this morning. I had a double dose.



Should I refill the flitzani

I forgot to use the coffee dregs to read the fortune... 

P.S. I'm not hoarding.




"Given the low interest rates, Greek debt is sustainable"


Greece Forced Into a Corner for Negotiations: Mackinnon
"The reality and the mandate collide- irreconcilable?"

More from Bloomberg

Paul Mason, Channel 4 News

Kathimerini: Discussions Ongoing with Partners

Voices of Dissent Within SYRIZA Getting Louder Against Reforms Agreement, in.gr

Costas Lapavitsas, SYRIZA MP: Five Questions

******

What can one do? Only very insignificant things.
 I rushed out to buy some Greek Feta. I checked the small print:

"Produced and Packed in Greece from Greek Milk"

Bought two packets - the real thing, not just "Greek-Style".
Encouraging Greek competitiveness and exports is important.


Greek Wines (Wall Street Journal)

Greece: The View of Mikis Theodorakis; Costas Lapavitsas, Urgent Questions, Blog, 23 February (Kώστας Λαπαβίτσας, Πέντε ερωτήματα απαιτούν απάντηση)



From Theodorakis' website

"Θα πρέπει όμως, για να ξεκινήσουν αποφασιστικά, να καταργήσουν άμεσα όλα τα μέτρα των Μνημονίων ξεκινώντας από την αποκατάσταση της Εθνικής μας Ανεξαρτησίας, για την οποία δεν άκουσα ως τώρα να γίνεται λόγος".

Update 26 February 2015-  "NO to the present-day enemies of our people, local and foreign"

Οι περισσότεροι συμπολίτες μας δεν γνωρίζουν ότι αν και πέρασε ένας μήνας από την εκλογική νίκη του ΣΥΡΙΖΑ και την πλειοψηφία στη Βουλή της Αριστεράς (γενικά) στη χώρα μας, εξακολουθούν να ισχύουν οι παρακάτω προδοτικές δεσμεύσεις:

Πρώτον: η παράδοση της εθνικής μας κυριαρχίας στους ξένους.
Δεύτερον: η καθολική δέσμευση της δημόσιας περιουσίας της χώρας και
Τρίτον: η απαγόρευση άσκησης εθνικής οικονομικής και εξωτερικής πολιτικής.

Δηλαδή όροι που ταιριάζουν σε λαούς ραγιάδων και δούλων και όχι σε περήφανους και ελεύθερους πολίτες όπως θέλουμε και παλεύουμε να είμαστε ο Λαός και η Πατρίδα μας.

Ως ελεύθερος Έλληνας αισθάνομαι αγανάκτηση και ντροπή γιατί η καινούρια Βουλή ανέχεται ακόμα την ύπαρξη των Μνημονίων που μας ντροπιάζουν και μας εξευτελίζουν διεθνώς και προ παντός απέναντι σ’ αυτούς που έδωσαν τη ζωή τους για να είμαστε εμείς ελεύθεροι.

Σήμερα η συντριπτική πλειοψηφία του Λαού μας είπε ένα στεντόρειο ΟΧΙ στους σημερινούς εχθρούς του Λαού μας, ντόπιους και ξένους.


Kathimerini coverage

Costas Lapavitsas blog (23 February) - he asks some fundamental and urgent questions:

"Οι στιγμές είναι απολύτως κρίσιμες για την κοινωνία, το έθνος και φυσικά την Αριστερά. Η δημοκρατική νομιμοποίηση της κυβέρνησης εδράζεται στο πρόγραμμα του Σύριζα. Το ελάχιστο που απαιτείται είναι να έχουμε μια ανοιχτή συζήτηση στα κομματικά όργανα και στην Κοινοβουλευτική Ομάδα. Πρέπει άμεσα να δώσουμε καίριες απαντήσεις σε αυτά τα ερωτήματα ώστε να διατηρήσουμε τη μεγάλη στήριξη και δυναμική που μας δίνει ο ελληνικός λαός. Οι απαντήσεις που θα δοθούν το αμέσως επόμενο διάστημα θα κρίνουν το μέλλον της χώρας και της κοινωνίας. 

Within SYRIZA, Voices of  Dissent Growing Against Reforms Agreement, in.gr

Tsipras-Theodorakis Dialogue (Video) Real GR

Blues Guitar: Acoustic or Amplified? Finger-Picking Purists and the "Mouldy Fig Mentality"; Link Wray







Charles Keil writes a lot about "the moldy-fig mentality" in Urban Blues (1966). He was referring to collectors who preferred old pre-war acoustic blues to contemporary electric Chicago blues.

There were times, when I saw John Lee Hooker performing live, that I wished he'd play acoustic guitar and some slow, deep, Mississippi country blues rather than his more commercial R 'n' B. But I always liked both styles, acoustic, and amplified, even those heavily distorted electric jump blues and boogies from his early days.

Snooks Eaglin: I still prefer his acoustic recordings. I love Doc Watson's acoustic finger-picking. The same goes for John Jackson, Mississippi John Hurt, and many pre-War blues musicians. I also admire Dick Gaughan's guitar style.

On Doc and Snooks

Acoustic and electric: Doc Watson and Duane Eddy -: Thunder Road/Sugarfoot Rag

Who would deny the noise and exciting energy of the sounds made by the likes of  Duane Eddy, Al Casey, Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, T-Bone Walker, Hubert Sumlin, Magic Sam, B B King, Elmore James, Scotty Moore, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Keith Richards, James Burton and all those other masters of the amplified electric guitar?


Maybe a mention of these electric guitarists is just a later expression of the mouldy-fig mentality?

When it comes to harmonica, I love the acoustic sounds of Noah Lewis as well as the amplified mouth-harp of Little Walter.

As for guitar, I'm currently listening to the best of Link Wray:

Rumble

Jack the Ripper

Raw-Hide

The Swag

Big City After Dark

Vendetta

Ace of Spades (film)

Ace of Spades (original)

Robert Gordon & Link Wray - Red Hot
Link Wray sets  First time I really listened to Link Wray's music- really loud- was in a club in Copenhagen. He was based in Copenhagen from 1977 until 1984. He died in Copenhagen in November 2005, and he is buried in Copenhagen.

How to play Rumble (YouTube)

How to play Big City After Dark


As regards Greek music and panigyria in Epirus, I often lament the over-amplification. Like Christopher King, I much prefer to hear acoustic instruments, especially the klarino and violin.



Sunday 22 February 2015

Wadham College, Oxford, Alumnae Film Successes; Directors and Actresses



Wadham College, Oxford, has had a long tradition of its alumnae making an international impact in the film industry. Alumnae included Tony Richardson and Lindsay Anderson, to name just two distinguished film directors.

Well-known Wadhamites


Oscar nominations for two Wadham alumnae


Two Wadham alumnae, Rosamund Pike and Felicity Jones, have been nominated for ‘best actress’ Oscars in the 2015 Academy Awards while The Imitation Game, based on a book by Wadham Fellow Andrew Hodges, has been nominated for ‘best picture’.




The ‘best actress’ nominations are for Felicity Jones’ (English, 2003) performance in The Theory of Everything and for Rosamund Pike’s (English, 1997) leading role in Gone Girl. Other nominees for this award are Marion Cotillard in Two Days, One Night, Julianne Moore in Still Alice and Reese Witherspoon inWild.


The Theory of Everything, the story of the renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, is based on the memoir Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, by Jane Hawking and is directed by James Marsh. In 1963, as a cosmology student at Cambridge University, Stephen (portrayed by Eddie Redmayne) is making great strides and is determined to find a "simple, eloquent explanation" for the universe. His own world opens up when he falls in love with fellow Cambridge student Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). But, at 21 years of age, he is diagnosed with motor neurone disease which threatens to take his life within two years.

Gone Girl is an American thriller film directed by David Fincher and adapted by Gillian Flynn from her 2012 novel of the same name. The story begins as a mystery, set in the US, about a man whose wife has gone missing. Although at first he has support in his quest to find her, he eventually becomes chief suspect, particularly after the discovery of his wife's diary. The film stars Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, Tyler Perry, and Carrie Coon.

In the best picture category, The Imitation Game (Black Bear Pictures and Bristol Automotive; The Weinstein Company) is up against tough competition including winner of the Golden Globe award,Boyhood, as well as American Sniper, Birdman, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Selma, The Theory of Everything and Whiplash.

The 2014 British-American historical thriller film The Imitation Game is about British mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing. Turing was a key figure in cracking Nazi Germany's Enigma code, helping the Allies win World War II. Turing went on to be criminally prosecuted for his homosexuality. Benedict Cumberbatch has been widely acclaimed for his performance of Turing in this film. Keira Knightly, Rory Kinnear, Charles Dance and Matthew Goode also star in the film.Alan Turing: The Enigma, by Wadham’s Tutorial Fellow in Mathematics Dr Andrew Hodges, was originally published in 1983. This biography of Turing has provided the inspiration for a series of productions including this film.

The 87th Academy Awards ceremony will take place at the Dolby theatre in Hollywood on 22 February 2015.

Rosamund Pike (YouTube)

Felicity Jones (chat show, YouTube)


Some Wadham College Alumnae (authors, artists, broadcasters and entertainers)

Monica Ali, novelist (1986 PPE)
Lindsay Anderson, film director,1923-1994 (1941 English)
Sir Thomas Beecham, (1897 Classics) conductor 1879-1961
Melvyn Bragg, (Lord Bragg), television cultural presenter, novelist (1958 History)
Simon Brett, writer (1964 English)
Alan Coren, comic writer, 1938-2007 (1957, English)
Cecil Day-Lewis, (1923 Classics) Poet Laureate, 1904-72
Emma Duncan, Deputy Editor, The Economist (1987 PPE)
Nordahl Grieg, Norwegian poet and playwright, 1902-1943
Felicity Jones, actress (2003 English)
Hari Kunzru, novelist (1988 English)
Tim McInnerny, actor and comedian (1976 English)
Patrick Marber, comedian and playwright (1983 English)
Jodhi May, actress (1994 English)
Anne McElvoy, journalist, The Economist (1984 Philosophy/Modern Languages)
Julian Mitchell, playwright and novelist (History 1955)
Iain Pears, novelist (1974 History)
Rosamund Pike, actress (1997 English)
Tony Richardson, English theatre, film director and producer, 1928-1991 (1948 English)
Michael Rosen, poet and broadcaster (1965 English)
Mary Ann Sieghart, former assistant editor of The Times (1979 PPE)

Greece: "Falling Property Prices - Prices Could Halve Again"



More scare-mongering from Mail Online

"Would you dare go Greek on the cheap? These stunning properties have plunged in price but with a Gr-exit looming, this could be a fools' paradise.

Property prices have plunged 35% in just over a year.

Brits snapping up villas and homes at knock-down prices.

Threat of Greece leaving Euro zone means prices could halve again."

Not on Corfu!

Journalism.

But see also: Houses Built on State-Owned Land

Observing Greece, Klaus Kastner: Greece's Current Account, January-December 2014

"Conclusion: as Greeks spend more money, imports go up because the domestic economy cannot provide the products and services which Greek consumers desire in a sufficient amount, or not at all. There is no better argument to support structural reforms than this! The Greek economy will only begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel when increased consumer spending stimulates the domestic economy instead of the economies of other countries".

Profile: Yanis Varoufakis (Praise and Critiques)




BBC 4 Radio Profile  - BBC iPlayer

"The casually-dressed Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has, in challenging the eurozone, become - almost overnight - one of the most important politicians in Europe. In this edition of Profile Mark Coles hears how Varoufakis grew up under the Greek colonels but was shaped by life in Thatcherite Britain before embarking on his unusually restless international career in economics".

Producer: Chris Bowlby, Editor: Richard Knight.

NB There appear to be two or more fake twitter accounts called Yanis Varoufakis: very confusing!

On the Greek List of Reforms (Kathimerini)

Varoufakis Confident

Provisional list of reforms submitted

Tax the Oligarchs- How? Protagon.gr

"Και, φυσικά, στα νερά μας εκτός από καρχαρίες, κολυμπούν και τα πιράνχας. Δεν είναι μόνο οι «ολιγάρχες» που ληστεύουν το κοινωνικό σύνολο με τη μη απόδοση φόρων. Είναι και οι εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες μικροί, οι ελεύθεροι επαγγελματίες που, ταυτοχρόνως, αποτελούν και εκλογική βάση της κυβέρνησης. Η πάταξη της φοροδιαφυγής δεν είναι μία συνθήκη που απευθύνεται σε λίγους. Είναι μία πολιτική για τους πολλούς".

Costas Lapavitsas, Urgent Questions, Blog of 23 February:

"Οι στιγμές είναι απολύτως κρίσιμες για την κοινωνία, το έθνος και φυσικά την Αριστερά. Η δημοκρατική νομιμοποίηση της κυβέρνησης εδράζεται στο πρόγραμμα του Σύριζα. Το ελάχιστο που απαιτείται είναι να έχουμε μια ανοιχτή συζήτηση στα κομματικά όργανα και στην Κοινοβουλευτική Ομάδα. Πρέπει άμεσα να δώσουμε καίριες απαντήσεις σε αυτά τα ερωτήματα ώστε να διατηρήσουμε τη μεγάλη στήριξη και δυναμική που μας δίνει ο ελληνικός λαός. Οι απαντήσεις που θα δοθούν το αμέσως επόμενο διάστημα θα κρίνουν το μέλλον της χώρας και της κοινωνίας". 

Brinkmanship on hold, for now, EU Observer

On the Art of Negotiation (The Temper Technique)

"Heated episode" (Business Insider) denied by Greek Finance Minister:

Yanis Varoufakis @ yanisvaroufakis

@ businessinsider I Have Bad News for You: You Report Is Fake. Never was there such a moment between Jeroen and me. Sorry to disappoint.

Enikos.gr: Οι Ευρωπαίοι ομόλογοί του, μαθημένοι σε ένα στυλ πολύ κωδικοποιημένο των υπουργικών συνεδριάσεων, δέχονται πολύ άσχημα τον «ξένο» και τις δηλώσεις του, που χαρακτηρίζονται πολύ «καθηγητικές». «Κάνει μάθημα στους ομολόγους του αντί να δίνει νούμερα και συγκεκριμένα στοιχεία» καταγγέλλουν πολλές ευρωπαϊκές πηγές. Οι Ευρωπαίοι πραγματικά δεν καταλαβαίνουν αυτή τη στάση, «την ώρα που οι Ελληνες μας έχουν ανάγκη και όχι εμείς».

Le Monde report

Some topical Greek humour:


Fly the kite higher!

Posted on Facebook by Kostas Karakonstandis
Facebook Comment: Τελικά είναι Μπαρουφάκις!

There is much play in the Greek press on the word Μπαρούφα:
ΜΠΑΡΟΥΦΑΚΗΣ

"Barufakis"

Italian: baruffa {noun}

baruffa {f} (also: riga, schiera, lite, confusione)
row {noun}


baruffa {f} (also: pezzetto, brandello, briciola, boccone)
scrap {noun}


baruffa {f} (also: contrasto, alterco, diverbio, lite)
quarrel {noun}


baruffa {f} (also: tafferuglio, azzuffamento, colluttazione, bagarre)
scuffle {noun}


baruffa {f} (also: tafferuglio, azzuffamento, colluttazione)
set-to {noun}


Related News, Tough Words and Critical Comments (It's as well to be aware)


"The Greek government had mounted a spirited but adolescent defiance of the EU"


Κανένα δελτίο ειδήσεων δεν λέει ξεκάθαρα ότι το μοναδικό (και σουρεαλιστικό) «επιχείρημα» της νέας κυβέρνησης είναι επί της ουσίας το εξής: «Αν δεν μας επιτρέψετε να κάνουμε ό,τι θέλουμε με τα δανεικά σας, θα αυτοκτονήσουμε και ελπίζουμε να σας πάρουμε μαζί μας». Μην κρυβόμαστε, αυτό είναι το μόνο όπλο μας. Ή μάλλον η απειλή την οποία ενδόμυχα όλοι τρέμουμε μήπως αποδειχθεί αυτοεκπληρούμενη προφητεία, αλλά οι εκπρόσωποί μας δεν διστάζουν πια να την εκστομίζουν δημοσίως. Για Αρμαγεδδώνα μίλησε ο κ. Βαρουφάκης, με Κούγκι απείλησε ο υπουργός Αμύνης και ουδείς τους ρώτησε αν στην εντολή που έλαβαν για να κυβερνήσουν περιλαμβάνεται η αυτοκτονία της Ελλάδας.

INSIGHT-Ten days that shook the euro; how Greece came to the brink,
 Alastair MacDonald and Jan Strupczewski:

"The 10 days it took to strike a deal featured a shambolic round of U-turns, leaked drafts and personal slights while panicked savers withdrew money and pushed Greek banks close to failure, forcing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to step in over Varoufakis's head. More than that, the confusion officials recounted from behind the scenes left mutual trust in such tatters that it casts doubt on whether the four-month bailout extension will lead to an agreement over how to keep Athens solvent".

 Manolis Glezos on re-baptising meat as fish:

Η μετονομασία της Τρόικας σε Θεσμούς, του Μνημονίου σε Συμφωνία και των Δανειστών σε Εταίρους, όπως και όταν βαφτίζεις το κρέας ψάρι, δεν αλλάζεις την προηγούμενη κατάσταση.

By renaming the Troika as "Institutions", the Memorandum as an "Agreement" and the Lenders as "Partners" - as if re-baptising meat as fish - does not change the situation. 

«Η αξιοπρέπεια της χώρας προσβάλλεται»
Την ώρα που η κυβέρνηση μάς βομβαρδίζει με όλα τα μέσα ότι αγωνίζεται για την αξιοπρέπεια των πολιτών, εμείς νιώθουμε ότι η αξιοπρέπεια της χώρας προσβάλλεται.

Tax Hit List, The Guardian

More in Tune: