Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros
Monday, April 21, 2014
Greece austerity causes 551 male suicides
1 dead, several seriously injured in Greek Easter celebrations; US woman critical
The Greek brain drain
Fandom Flashback: ‘Greek’
Greece food market: New market research published
Olympiakos beats Real Madrid 78-76, avoids sweep
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Defending Euroleague champion Olympiakos stayed alive in its quest for a third consecutive title when it beat Real Madrid 78-76 on Monday.
Greece’s Repo Luxury Cars to be Raffled To Taxpayers
Greek Easter celebrations leave 1 dead
How Is Greece Raising Capital Again?
13 Everyday Phrases That Actually Came From Shakespeare
On Wednesday, April 23, renowned poet, playwright and snappy dresser, William Shakespeare, will turn 450 years old.
Whether a fan or not, you probably use many of his phrases on a regular basis — maybe without even knowing.
We created a list of 13 popular, albeit strange, sayings The Bard coined. In fact, we say or write some of them so often, they've become clichés.
1. "Green-eyed monster"
Meaning: jealousy.
In "Othello," Iago describes jealousy as a monster which devours its source.
"Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on" (Act 3, Scene 3).
In this case, Iago uses romance as an example. He thinks a man would rather know his wife is cheating than suspect her without proof.
2. "In a pickle"
Meaning: a difficult or uncomfortable situation.
In "The Tempest," King Alonso asks his jester, Trinculo, "How camest thou in this pickle?" (In other words, "How did you get so drunk?")
The inebriated Trinculo responds, "I have been in such a pickle since I saw you last ..." (Act 5, Scene 1).
Trinculo's drinking does cause trouble for him, which gives the modern use its meaning. Shakespeare's original intent makes sense though, as many pickling processes require alcohol.
3. "The world is your oyster."
Meaning: being in a position to take advantage of life's opportunities.
In "The Merry Wives Of Windsor," Falstaff refuses to lend Pistol any money. Pistol retorts, "Why, then the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open" (Act 2, Scene 2).
Since Falstaff won't help Pistol financially, he vows to obtain his fortune using violent means.
We've dropped the angry undertones for modern use.
4. "Catch a cold"
Meaning: to get sick.
In "Cymbeline," one of Shakespeare's lesser-known plays, Iachimo says to Posthumus Leonatus, "We will have these things set down by lawful counsel, and straight away for Britain, lest the bargain should catch cold and starve ..." (Act 1, Scene 4).
In other words, if the deal takes too long, it will fall apart. This created the idea of "cold" causing an unwanted event, like illness, for the first time.
5. "It's all Greek to me."
Meaning: that something is indistinguishable or incomprehensible.
In "Julius Caesar," when Cassius asks Casca what Cicero said, Casca responds, "But, for mine own part, it was Greek to me" (Act 1, Scene 2).
Cassius didn't understand because he doesn't speak Greek. The phrase has obviously become not so literal.
6. "Love is blind"
Meaning: an inability to see shortcomings in a lover; doing crazy things when in love.
In the "The Merchant Of Venice," Jessica disguises herself as a boy just to see her beloved, Lorenzo. Needless to say, she feels a little silly but simply has to see him.
"But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit ..." (Act 2, Scene 6)
7. "Wild goose chase"
Meaning: a hopeless and never-ending pursuit.
In "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo makes a play on words comparing his shoe to his penis, and Mercutio just can't compete with Romeo's wit. He tells Romeo to stop joking, but Romeo implores his friend to continue — an impossible feat in Mercutio's mind.
Mercutio says, "Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done, for thou hast more of the wild-goose in one of thy wits than, I am sure, I have in my whole five" (Act 2, Scene 4).
8. "A heart Of gold"
Meaning: a very kind or honorable person.
In "Henry V," King Henry disguises himself as a commoner, and Pistol, unaware of the King's true identity, speaks to him. When the King asks if he considers himself a better man than the king, Pistol says, "The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp of fame ..." (Act 4, Scene 1).
Today, however, we say someone "has" a heart of gold, not that he or she "is" one.
9. "Break the ice"
Meaning: to start conversation.
"And if you break the ice, and do this feat, Achieve the elder, set the younger free ..." (Act 1, Scene 2).
In the "The Taming Of The Shrew," Baptista Minola has two daughters: a sassy one and a modest, beautiful one — the younger daughter. He refuses to let any suitors even speak to his younger daughter until his older daughter marries. Tranio (as Lucentio) suggests that another man marry the older daughter, so he can try to win the younger one's affection. But first, he must "break the ice" — maybe a reference to heart.
10. "Laughing stock"
Meaning: a person subjected to ridicule.
In "The Merry Wives Of Windsor," Doctor Caius says to Sir Hugh Evans:
"Pray you let us not be laughing-stocks to other men's humours; I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make you amends" (Act 3, Scene 1).
Here, Doctor Caius thinks the two will make fools of themselves if they fight — exactly what people want and expect. They should end the conflict and save their reputations instead.
11. "Wear your heart on your sleeve"
Meaning: to express your emotions openly, especially when others notice without much effort.
In "Othello," Iago says he'll "wear my heart upon my sleeve. For daws to peck at: I am not what I am" (Act 1, Scene 1).
The phrase most likely stemmed from jousting matches in the Middle Ages. Knights would wear tokens (such as scarfs) from their ladies tucked into the sleeves of their armor. But the first recorded use appears in Shakespeare's play.
12. "Dogs of war"
Meaning: soldiers; the brutalities that accompany war.
In "Julius Caesar," Mark Antony says to Brutus and Cassius, "Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war ..." (Act 3, Scene 1) shortly after Caesar's assassination.
Here, Mark Antony predicts that Caesar's ghost will come back, with help from the goddess of vengeance, to start a massive war in Italy.
He continues, "This foul deed will stink up to the sky with men’s corpses, which will beg to be buried" (Act 3, Scene 1).
Thus, the phrase today, either referring to soldiers or brutality in general, carries a serious connotation.
13. "Method to his madness"
Meaning: Someone's strange behavior has a purpose.
In "Hamlet" Polonius says as an aside, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t"(Act 2, Scene 2).
Just before this, Hamlet randomly pretends to read a passage from his book that makes fun of the elderly. Polonius, an old man, doesn't fully understand the jab but knows Hamlet has some "method" behind this "madness."
SEE ALSO: 12 Famous Quotes That People Always Get Wrong
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What 9 Highly Successful People Wish They Knew Before Starting Their First Jobs
Like countless college students before them, the class of 2014 has little idea what to expect when they enter the working world.
"Whether you know exactly where you're heading or feel a bit lost," writes Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in "Lean In For Graduates," the latest edition of her popular book, "everyone has this in common: you're all in for big surprises."
College graduates will leave the safe, structured world of higher education and enter a fiercely competitive job market, instantly going from the top of the food chain to the bottom. When they land a job, they enter a strange new world of office politics, power jockeying, and hidden agendas.
To give young people a head start, Business Insider polled some of the world's most successful people to find out what they wish they had known before they graduated.
A few common themes: Take risks, stay focused, don't underestimate the power of relationships, and expect the unexpected.
Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group and author of "Thrive":
"In college, just before I embarked on a career as a writer, I wish I had known that there would be no trade-off between living a well-rounded life and my ability to do good work.
"I wish I could go back and tell myself, in my thick Greek accent: 'Arianna, your performance will actually improve if you can commit to not only working hard, but also unplugging, recharging, and renewing yourself.' That would have saved me a lot of unnecessary stress, burnout, and exhaustion."
Scott Adams, creator of syndicated comic Dilbert and author of "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big":
"I would tell my young self to keep open as many options as possible because the future is wildly unpredictable. The best way to improve your options is to continually learn as much as you can in fields that are complementary to your main interests. It also helps your odds if you stay networked with as many influential people as you can."
Kay Krill, president and CEO of ANN Inc.:
"The advice I would have given to my college self and any young person entering the workforce today would be to always be authentic and true to yourself and your beliefs. Do not get sidetracked with advice from others that your gut tells you is wrong. By doing this, you will have the clarity of mind to always do the right thing for the business and for yourself."
Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur and investor:
"I wish that I had known it was just a job and not a mission to make my employer money. I thought I could truly impact the profits of the company — that my ideas were as good on my first day as the most senior executive. I should have been patient and tried to fit in and develop a possible career.
"But I didn't. I was a horrible employee. As it turns out, being bored and deciding to leave after nine months wasn't a bad decision. So I guess the real response is that I'm glad I didn't know it even though I should have. If I had known that, I might still be there…"
Denise Morrison, president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company:
"If I could give my younger self career advice, it would be this: Don't wait for doors to open. Open them yourself by being persistent and thinking strategically about your career. Plan your career destination, develop a personal mission statement, and build relationships with sponsors and mentors.
"And above all, network, because networking is working. Your ability will only take you so far. Your relationships will take you the rest of the way."
Tim Ferriss, host of "The Tim Ferriss Experiment" and author of "The 4-Hour Workweek":
"I wish I'd read Warren Buffett's early annual letters. There are so many gems that apply broadly to business and life. I'll paraphrase my favorites:
Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful. To be successful, you can get a lot of things wrong, as long as you get a few critical things right. Invest [your time and money] as though you have a single card with only five to 10 hole punches allowed.Whether you're playing on Wall Street or Main Street, I think his wisdom is an incredible asset."
Teresa Taylor, former COO of Qwest Communications and author of "The Balance Myth":
"When I was in college, I wish I would have known that you need to be more flexible with work life. You will have situations, bosses, and decisions that you cannot predict, and nothing turns out the way you thought it would. That's OK! Let things happen, and open yourself to new opportunities."
Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Millennial Branding and author of "Promote Yourself":
"As a college student, I never knew that entrepreneurship was a career solution to employment, nor did I consider an entrepreneurial approach to career management. Like most students, I thought that the ideal career path was to work your way up at a big company and then retire, and boy was I wrong.
"Through the years, I realized that the only way you can truly get ahead is by being accountable, networking constantly, and putting yourself out there. I realized that you need to think of a career as a collection of experiences along a journey and leverage everything you can to propel yourself forward."
Kat Cole, president of Cinnabon:
"What I wish I would have known is that everything will change and eventually work out in your career when you follow your purpose and passion. Don't get too caught up in the 'plan' that you have.
"As a mentor once shared with me, especially when you are young, each career move and choice you make won't be your last, and you can always course correct, so don't waste too much time overanalyzing the next few steps. Take a risk, be the best at the job that you can be, help others along the way, and the next right thing will present itself."
SEE ALSO: The 50 Best Employers In America
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Researchers Find Greek Austerity Caused More than 500 Suicides
Record Number of Greeks Attend Greek-Orthodox Churches of Australia
Pack a Picnic: Greek Salad with Lemon
Russia-Greek Bilateral Tourism Year due in 2016 — Rostourism Non-political ...
German Economist: When Greece receives the last tranche, it will stop cooperating
Avoiding extremes
Unanswered questions
Police seize 186 kilos of cannabis
City of Athens, Church of Greece hand out Easter Sunday meals
Papoulias marks junta anniversary, says democracy was not a ‘gift’
Researchers highlight link between cuts and suicides
Fatal MERS virus carried to Greece from Saudi Arabia
One dead and several injured in Easter celebrations
Coalition aims for surplus boost
Pesticides Killing Off Greek Bees
The environmental protection group Greenpeace has warned that bees in Greece are showing the effects of pesticides and are being killed off.
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Tax Lien on Old St. Nicholas Property
NEW YORK – The New York Post was focused on the Church of St. Nicholas at the World Trade Center last week. On April 15, Lois Weiss reported “We’ve discovered the vacant site at Cedar Street, which is being used to stage World Trade Center construction, is now on the city’s lien list as owing […]
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April 21: Day of the Junta
April 21 is a day most Greeks remember with fear. It was 47 years ago, weeks before scheduled elections, a coup of far right-wing military officers seized power.
The post April 21: Day of the Junta appeared first on The National Herald.
Perilous Reversal Watch: National Bank Of Greece (NBG)
Austerity in Greece caused more than 500 male suicides, say researchers
German plan to cut retirement age attacked
EU Week Ahead: April 21-25: Tusk, Deficits, Portugal and Greece
Cretan Killed, Others Injured by Greek Easter Pyromania
Greek Start-Ups Say They Can’t Solve Jobless Problem
Putin signs decree on rehabilitation of Crimean Tatars
Greece’s First MERS Virus Patient in Critical Condition
Vodafone Sued for 1.4 Billion Euros by Former Greek Distributor
Greeks in Qatar contributing to the great boom
Reforms Said Greece’s Way Out
Four years of harsh austerity measures, which have done as much damage as good, haven't done enough to lift Greece toward a recovery.
The post Reforms Said Greece’s Way Out appeared first on The National Herald.
Turkish Visas Deny Cyprus Exists
Cypriots who want to visit Turkey will either have to get visas that say their country doesn't exist or stipulate they live under Turkish rule.
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Santorini Easter Fireworks Hurt 7
The traditional setting off of firework on Easter injured seven people on the popular island of Santorini, including three American tourists.
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Ancient Greek Beauty Tips Every Woman Should Know
Greek-style seitan with lemon roast potatoes
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Denver 420 Festival Hits Fresh High as Revelers Blaze Up Now Legal Marijuana
Greeks in Mexico-Where Opa! Meets Ole!
MEXICO CITY – This year’s Greek Independence celebration took place on the exact date commemorating the occasion – March 25, which is also the date of the commemoration of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary – at the official residence of Greece’s Ambassador to Mexico, Polyxeni Stefanidou, who offered an elegant reception. After playing […]
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