World Day against Racism

My friend, Katy, gave me Gazmend Kaplani's book "Small Diary of Borders" (Μικρό Ημερολόγιο Συνόρων) as a Christmas present three months ago. However I hadn't gotten around to reading it until last week.
I had already thanked her for the gift, but after finishing the book last week I thanked her again for such a great gift.

The only free time I have to read books is while commuting back and from work on the trains. I was so fascinated with Mr.Kaplani's storytelling that I couldn't control my eyes brimming with tears or my mouth smiling while reading the book. All week long my co-passengers stared intensely at the cover of the book I was reading trying to understand the cause of my mirth or why I was dabbing my eyes with a tissue.

Today, March 21st is World Day against racism and my humble contribution to the blogosphere is read this book.

This book is
for Greeks,
for Albanians,
for anyone who has lived the life of the immigrant,
for anyone who has looked down on and treated an immigrant badly,
for anyone who has a sense of humor,
for anyone who has a sense of humanity.

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Bookshelf lamp

I know I don't need it.
Something about it makes me want it.

[via]

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Book donations for school libraries in fire-stricken areas of Hleia

While the fires in Southern California continue their demonic calamity, the Greek disaster areas from this summer's deadly fires are trying to recover. We CAN help.

On Saturday, October 27, 2007 from 10a.m. until 9p.m. at Aghios Antonis Square (METRO station at Peristeri) the volunteer group "Greek Active Citizens" will be collecting books for the school libraries -kindergartens, elementary, gymnasia (jr.high), lykeia (high school)- of the fire-stricken areas of Hleia

The books will be distributed the following day to the schools in the disaster area.

The message in Greek:

ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΙΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΠΥΡΟΠΛΗΚΤΩΝ ΟΙΚΙΣΜΩΝ ΤΗΣ ΗΛΕΙΑΣ
ΔΕΝ ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΝ ΛΕΞΕΙΣ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΨΕΙΣ, ΥΠΑΡΧΟΥΝ ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΒΟΗΘΗΣΕΙΣ. ΕΠΕΙΔΗ ΠΑΡΑΜΕΝΟΥΜΕ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΙ

Η εθελοντική ομάδα «Έλληνες Ενεργοί Πολίτες» το Σάββατο 27-10-2007, στην πλατεία του Αγίου Αντωνίου, στο σταθμό του μετρό στο Περιστέρι, από τις 10 το πρωί έως τις 9 το βράδυ, συγκεντρώνουμε βιβλία για τις βιβλιοθήκες των σχολείων (νηπιαγωγεία, δημοτικά, γυμνάσια, λύκεια) των πυρόπληκτων περιοχών των πρόσφατων πυρκαγιών της Ηλείας.

Bοήθεια η οποία την επόμενη ημέρα, θα μοιραστεί από τα ίδια τα μέλη της αποστολής, στα σχολεία των πληγέντων οικισμών.

Συγκεντρώνουμε βιβλία: παιδικά, παραμύθια, εικονογραφημένα, ιστορικά, λογοτεχνικά, πολιτισμούς άλλων χωρών, εγκυκλοπαίδειες, περιβαλλοντικά, γνώσης και επαφής με το διαδίκτυο, εθελοντισμού, πρώτων βοηθειών και αντιμετώπισης καταστροφών. Επίσης βιβλία για την επιμόρφωση των καθηγητών όπως βιβλία παιδαγωγικής ψυχολογίας και διδακτικής μαθησιακών δυσκολιών κ.τ.λ.

Πιστεύουμε ότι οι συμπολίτες μας θα ανταποκριθούν σε αυτή την προσπάθεια, δείχνοντας τη μεγαλοσύνη και την αλληλεγγύη τους, όπως και στο παρελθόν σε παρόμοιες περιπτώσεις.

Παρακαλούμε να δημοσιοποιήσετε την προσπάθεια αυτή με όποιο τρόπο μπορείτε, είτε:
στα ΜΜΕ,
με μορφή E-MAIL-forward,
με SMS,
με προσωπική επαφή,
στα blogs και τα forums,

ώστε να ενημερωθούν όσο το δυνατόν περισσότεροι συμπολίτες μας που θα ήθελαν να βοηθήσουν.

Σας ευχαριστούμε για την ευαισθησία σας.

Πληροφορίες : Διομήδης Στάθης
Τηλέφωνα επικοινωνίας: 210-5722034, 697-2259600
E-mail: stathisd@otenet.gr

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Closure.

DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE NO SPOILERS.

Today was the first day in a very, very long time that I had the day to myself. Daughter#1 left for a week long vacation last night and Daughter#2 has been and will be at summer camp until the end of the month. So, I had the entire day to spend with my imaginary wannabe son, Harry Potter.

I got up early today and true to my promise I went and purchased JK Rowling's final installment of the series. The bookstore offered a few comfy chairs and a cafe to dive immediately into Harry's world, but I knew that once started I wouldn't be able to tear myself away and Husband and my in-laws were expecting me for lunch.

I did cheat a little however. A few days ago scanned pages of the book's epilogue were being passed around the Internet and not showing any will power whatsoever, I read the last page, to brace myself for the end. Rumors on the web said that the scannings might be a hoax so while I was stroking the hardcover of the book wondering if it was true or not. I whipped open the last page and satisfied my curiosity.

I started reading at 2.00 p.m., a couple of bathroom breaks, four ice-teas (which is why I'm still awake and blogging) and three laundry washes later, at almost midnight, with puffy eyes and a very wet handkerchief I sighed, hugged the book and said my good-byes.

JK Rowling knows her closures, that's for sure.

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Harry Potter packed summer. Counting down for movie #5 and final book #7.

How I met Harry Potter

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Greek Blogger Books

While book browsing at a large bookstore, I came across a shelf of books by Greek bloggers. Leafing through them, I imagined how happy these writers must feel to see their blog posts printed in form of a book, reaching out to readers beyond their web audience.

I'm afraid that by the time any publisher finds my humble blog appealing, the novelty of bloggers' books will have worn off and become very banal, losing me my chance to claim my own personal ISBN. [dammit!]

So... I'm thinking my blog could be transferred to a more innovative, catchier art form.
I'm thinking: Flubberwinkle. The Musical.

Andrew (as in Lloyd Weber), call me. We'll do lunch and kick some ideas around.

[Same text in Greek]
Βιβλία Eλλήνων Mπλόγκερς

Χάζευα τις προάλλες σ΄ένα μεγάλο βιβλιοπωλείο κι βρήκα ένα ράφι με βιβλία γραμμένα από έλληνες μπλόγκερς. Ξεφυλλίζοντάς τα, φαντάστηκα τι χαρά θα νιώθουν οι συγγραφείς βλέποντας τα ιστολόγιά τους σε έντυπη μορφή, απευθυνόμενοι σ' αναγνώστες πέρα του Διαδικτύου.

Φοβάμαι ότι μέχρι να βρεθεί εκδοτικός οίκος να του αρέσoυν τα ταπεινά μου γραψίματα, η καινοτομία των μπλογκερ-βιβλίων θα έχει ξεθωριάσει και θα θεωρούνται πλέον τετριμμένα. Θα χάσω -έτσι- την ευκαιρία να αποκτήσω ένα ολόδικό μου ISBN. [gamoto!]

Επομένως... οραματίζομαι ότι το δικό μου μπλογκ θα μπορούσε να μεταφερθεί σε μια πιο πρωτότυπη και ασυνήθιστη μορφή τέχνης.
Οραματίζομαι: Φλάμπεργουϊνκελ. Το μιούζικαλ.

Περιμένω τηλεφώνημα από τον Ανδρίκο (λέγε με "Cats"-νιάου και "Phantom of the Opera"-μπού!) οσονούπω.

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So much for da code

I don't know about you but when I finished reading the "The DaVinci Code" I thought I had just finished reading a movie script. So, a million other readers and I weren't suprised when news came out that the book was being made into a movie. Personally, I was suprised Tom Hanks had been cast for the role of 'Robert Langdon' (the script described the leading man as a Dan Brown look-alike, if memory serves right).

Anyway, last night husband and I saw the movie for two different reasons. Husband, hadn't read the book, wanted to know what all the ruckus about the film is about (Greek church demonstrated outside cinemas on opening night) and I wanted to see how the movie script fared under the direction of Ron Howard.

We gave it a thumb up for Ian McKellen's appearance and I personally liked how Howard managed to intertwine the character's pasts with the present (i.e. Sophie's memories). Hanks was good choice. For those who've read the book no surprises.

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Sometimes judging a book by its cover is OK

Christmas past, I was searching for a book to give my husband. Since he hadn't dropped any clues I was title hunting all on my own. He's big on how the world came about theories and stuff that makes my brain itch, so I stood in the not so busy non-fiction department scanning the shelves and trying to look like I knew what I was looking for. An annoying salesperson kept circling me like a desert vulture over a staggering cow in search of water. Just when I was ready to give up and keel over, I eyed this: "What Einstein forgot to tell his barber". What's this? I smirked arching my eyebrow, "A cute title in the geek section"? Flipping through it, I found it both scientific AND amusing. What are the chances of ever putting THOSE two words together in a sentence? I asked the salesperson -who in the meantime had given up trying to sell me the Complete Works of John Gribbin- to gift-wrap it.

The outcome of this chance buy was affirmative. Husband liked it. In fact, he liked it so much that he also requested the preceding book title "What Einstein didn't know".

-"Is this a series?" I inquired, apprehensive of yet another wily title involving old Albert.

-"I'm not sure. By the way, what made you pick this particular book, did you read a book review or someone suggest it?"

-"Nope. I chose this one entirely by its cover and title".

-"Good call".

While I was out searching for husband's book order, I chanced upon this translated Greek title: "French women don't get fat". I actually COULD NOT recall any fat French women, so I grabbed the book safely to my bosom, smiled smugly that at long last I might be cradling the secret for a perfect figure. The book has been worthwhile and elucidating. So, I guess the moral of the story is that sometimes judging a book by its cover is OK. Mais, oui!

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