Anastasia

Guiness World Records - Daredevils

I'm not really a TV fan but ,the other day, the Greek show on Guiness World Records caught my eye. I was shocked at what people can do in order to gain a place in the Guiness World Records! I was so impressed that I surfed the Internet to find out more. Here's what I stumbled upon:

Sir Hugh Beaver - an Englishman - was the creator of the Guiness Book of Records.  In November 1951, Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, went on a shooting party in North Slob, by the River Slaney in County Wexford, Ireland. He became involved in an argument: which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the Golden Plover or the Grouse? That evening at Castlebridge House it was realised that it was not possible to confirm in reference books whether or not the Golden Plover was Europe's fastest game bird.

Beaver thought that there must be numerous other questions debated nightly in the 81,400 pubs in Britain and in Ireland, but there was no book with which to settle arguments about records. He realised then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular. He happened to be correct.

Beaver’s idea became reality when Guinness employee Christopher Chataway recommended University friends Norris and Ross McWhirter, who had been running a fact-finding agency in London. The brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August 1954. A thousand copies were printed and given away

After founding the Guinness Book of Records at 107 Fleet Street, the first 198 page edition was bound on 27 August 1955 and went to the top of the British best seller lists by Christmas. "It was a marketing give away - it wasn't supposed to be a money maker" said Beaver. The following year it launched in the USA, and sold 70,000 copies. Since then, Guinness World Records has become a household name and the global leader in world records. The book has gone on to become a record breaker in its own right, with sales of more than 100 million copies in 100 different countries and 37 languages, Guinness World Records is the world’s best ever selling copyright book.

 

Having watched the video above I was simply amazed by all these crazy things people are willing to do for just a single moment of fleeting glory: driving a motorcycle through a tunnel of fire was described as "the raw courage of a man".  And here are some other recent records such as most bees on a human being, highest stackline walk (what a daredevil that man was!), world's smallest waist, world's biggest wave surfed. I'm not a daredevil as I don't think taking risks is doing something intelligent or great! But when I was 18, back in 1976 when I first met Alkis, he talked me into posing on the edge of a cliff in Fribourg , Switzerland, just to have our photograph taken!!

Alkis and me posing for a photograph at the edge of a cliff in Fribourg, Switzerland - Aug 1976

But Alkis had broken a kind of record a few days before. He had climbed Fribourg's tallest bare tree!  Such a pity it wasn't the world's tallest biggest bare tree!

Alkis climbing Fribourg's tallest bare tree - August 1976

What's the most dangerous or adventurous thing you have ever done? 

T.S. Eliot - The Eternal

When I first read Eliot, I was still at university. I fell in love with his work as soon as I read The Waste Land. T.S.Eliot haunted my college years to such an extent that I wanted to read more. Having read all his poems - my favourite being  Four Quartets -  I went on to read his plays and essays such as Murder in the Cathedral, The Cocktail Party and Tradition and the Individual Talent.

Almost 8 years after I had graduated from university, T.S. Eliot came to haunt me again. This time, I decided to write a book about this brilliant man concentrating on the elements of Time and the Eternal in his major poems. The book, published in February 1991, didn't sell well but it gave me the satisfaction of  making a dream come true. I have incurred many debts in writing this book. My understanding of the element of Time, of the Flux and the Eternal has been largely shaped by Staffan Bergsten's Time and Eternity and by Henri Bergson's Durée et Simultanéité. I owe more personal debts to my revered instructor John G. Blair who, despite the difficulty of some issues, greatly encouraged me with his help and advice to humbly add to the already considerable bulk of commentary on Eliot's poems.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter IV - Four Quartets

T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets were written during the period of the poet's mature life, between 1934 and 1942, and reflect with his personal experience his wide and varied reading and thinking.. A complex poetic structure is the means by which the emotional and intellectual elements are incorporated into a whole. Through the complexity of the poetic structure and the symbolism, one imposing theme, which becomes almost an obsession, is emphasized by the poet from the very outset: the theme of time.

Time present and time past

Are both perhaps present in time future

And time future contained in time past

(Burnt Norton I)

The theme of time, which gradually developed in Burnt Norton and the other Quartets, is also brought into contrast with another theme: that of the timeless or eternity. The antithesis of time and eternity is significant for the structure of the Quartets because, as a symbol, it reflects two basic elements important to Eliot's experience as man and poet: the individual life and history in general versus the eternal and unchanging.

In Four Quartets, there are elements from Heraclitus' philosophy but these do not relate to Eliot's own positive theory of time. They represent rather the notion of the Logos in the flux, the creative and at the smae time destructive character of the four elements: earth, water, air and fire. Eliot's aim is not to imitate Heraclitus but to transform these ideas into his own christian philosophy. So, when he writes "The way up is the way down, the way forward is the way back", he does not mean that time is relative or that the temporal is the ultimate reality. What he really means is that within the flux, there is only one choice: either death or God. If we reject God, who is the timeless, the Eternal, all experiences are worth nothing. It is in this way that Eliot changes the Heraclitian theory of time into a christian theory of value: within the flux, if nothing else is recognised as more real, no experience is any different from any other in so far as its value is concerned. Eliot's theory of time tends to be rather neo-platonic than Heraclitian. It is essentially an immanence doctrine to which the Eternal or the Timeless is regarded as the creative force of the flux or the temporal.

This is not to say that Eliot denies the reality of the flux. For Eliot, the flux is real but its reality is sustained by the more ultimate reality of the Eternal. The flux is not an illusion, but it is an illusion to regard it as the only reality.

Excerpt from T.S. Eliot The Eternal by Anastasia Marou

Do you read or write poetry? Who's your favourite poet? 

Your Opinion Matters!

I've been blogging on TypePad for almost seven years and this has been an exciting journey and a unique experience I have derived so much pleasure from. Back in 2004, I never thought anyone would ever read my posts. In the course of time, I realised that quite a few people in the blogosphere would stop by and read my blog and even leave a comment. As a result, I started taking my readers into serious consideration and trying to see what interests them most in my blog. I would like, therefore, to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for stopping by regardless of whether you leave a comment or not.

Sitemeter - 27 March 2011

Naturally, your comments are precious and your opinion matters. I don't have a niche as I usually blog on the spur of the moment or whenever I have some free time. I'd greatly appreciate your feedback and constructive criticism. 

• Is there anything you would like me to post blog about?
• What do you like most in my blog? What do you like least?
• Any recommendations?

 

The Island by Victoria Hislop

via www.youtube.com

l  am profoundly touched and grateful to Victoria Hislop who decided to trust the TV series based on her book "The Island" to a Greek TV channel - Mega Channel. I had read the book while on holiday in Kefallonia 2 years ago and was hooked on it. I finished it in two days. As Louise France says in her review in The Observer: "Her message seems as relevant today as it would have been a century ago. Same prejudice, different disease."  The first episode of the TV series on Monday filled me with awe. Excellent casting and amazing photography. More importantly, I felt that the series conveys all those wonderful messages of love, strength and encouragement that Victoria Hislop communicates through her book. "The Island" is not just another beach book. It's a masterpiece!

Photo Credit

TV Ratings were impressive: 45% in Cyprus and about 72% in Greece. No other TV show or series has ever beaten these ratings before in Greece and Cyprus.

Have you read Victoria Hislop's "The Island?"  Your opinion matters.

Sea Thoughts

i saw the sea

in high pressure
or in low pressure
moderation she knows not

i saw the sea
weeping its heart out
pity, none to notice
her pain or tears

i saw the sea
stretching its parched
tongue for a dropp of water
to quench her thirst

i saw the sea
looking longingly
at the dark clouds
passing by...

i saw the sea
raising beyond her
desperate to touch
the moon beyond

i saw the sea
caressing the sky
the sky bloomed
the sea smiled

i saw the sea
in my palm
i saw the sea
in my heart
i saw the sea
in your eyes

how i wish to
be one with the sea

28sep2009
22.34hrs

By indira babbellapati

via www.poemhunter.com

I'd sit hours on end just contemplating the sea - I do feel so lucky I live only a short walk away from her. The Venerable Lady as Mrs Claire Angelides describes her. So, when I talk to her, I always call her "My Lady". In her own, unique way, Her Ladyship always provides me with soothingly invigorating answers when I'm sad, and with a gay laughter when I'm happy. Some people call her "ocean" but to me she's nothing like the ocean. She is the sea - thalassa in greek.

Seagulls

On the pier the seagulls

at sunrise

flew around playfully

hurriedly moving their beaks.

They dived into the water one by one

like soldiers,

and sailed on the early-woken sea

that longed for day'

Seagulls always travel

like dreams.

Claire Angelides - Venerable Lady : The Sea
Thessaloniki, June 1997

Translated by Constantinos E. Evaggelides  

How very true! "Seagulls always travel like dreams." This is also the impression I got when I first saw at the cinema "Jonathan Livington - The Seagull." What a superb film that was! And Neil Diamond is simply divine!

How To Become a Famous Blogger And A Blogthing

Cartoon by Dave Walker

You Are Fantasy / Sci Fi

You have an amazing imagination, and in your mind, all things are possible. You are open minded, and you find the future exciting. You crave novelty and progress. Compared to most people, you are quirky and even a bit eccentric. You have some wacky ideas. And while you may be a bit off the wall, there's no denying how insightful and creative you are.

What Kind of Book Are You?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

TypePad For Dummies

When I first heard of that book, I only wished it had been published when I joined TypePad in September 2004. I only had a vague idea then of what a blog was and, most importantly, I was unable to post a photo. All I managed to do on that first day was type out my post. And that was because TypePad had made it very easy for computer illiterate people like myself, right from the start!  I was also naive enough to ask for help from other more experienced users!! Naturally, I got no answer! So, I learnt the hard way - by clicking TypePad's Help section. At the beginning, I didn't even know I could submit a help ticket. I also discovered that through Help.

TypePad For Dummies is written by Melanie Nelson, founder of BloggingBasics101 and Shannon Lowe, author of Rocks in My Dryer. Written in layman's terms and, when necessary, explaining every single technical term, this book is a real jewel not only for TypePad members but also for any blogger. The book is divided in 18 chapters and  two Appendixes including Domain Mapping and Third Party Stat Counters. You are not supposed to read through the book; you can use it as a guide and skip chapters. Well I have read it through from beginning to end within 24 hours. I was really hooked. I could have skipped some chapters but I didn't as they also contain some useful information on how to use the new TypePad. Besides, it was a good review for me!

This is a great book- sold at a very reasonable price  $16.49- which I warmly recommend to all bloggers and to all TypePad members.  After all, we are all beginners on the new TypePad and there are great tips on Touring the TypePad Dashboard. You will also find tips on How to Write a Great Blog Post (p.104), on Podcasting Equipment (p.173), on Twitter Etiquette (p. 186) or on ...how to encourage readers to step out of the woodwork!(p.122) - to mention only a few.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading TypePad for Dummies and I honestly believe that this book is not just for Dummies! It's very useful to all bloggers whose inspiration derives from humility. As my illustrious ancestor Socrates once said: " Γηρασκω αει διδασκομενος" - I live and learn.

 

Readerless Books?

Greece is sinking under a deluge of books. With more than 35,000 new titles published last year and unit sales going up every year, it seems as if our appetite for printed matter is becoming more and more voracious year by year. Greek bookshops now have a market worth in excess of €1.2 million, and that doesn't include the numerous book clubs, author clubs and the public libraries.

Yet, amidst this boom in book production a nagging question has arisen - who is actually reading these books? Recent surveys have revealed that the average Greek purchases 4.7 books a year and reads 6.2; but 40% of people never buy books, and of book buyers, 1 in 10 never reads a book.Clearly a discrepancy exists, so how has it come about? Pundits point to several factors, for instance "the gift book" phenomenon and the "me too" mentality.

It appears that a large number of people have discovered that books make the ideal birthday or Christmas gift - they are relatively cheap, easy to find, and are culturally and socially acceptable to all levels and sectors of society. Understandably, few recipients of such gifts feel obliged, actually, to read the books they have been given, especially when they would much rather have had the latest computer game or X-Box or whatever other electronic device.

Similarly, the value of books as symbols of "culture" and literacy have led to a spate of keeping up with the Joneses. The phenomenal success of Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time.- Download StephenHawking-ABriefHistoryOfTime - is a case in point. After many years at the top of the British and American bestseller charts, I have yet to meet anyone who has either finished it or understood it. It is simply a cultural accessory which every self-respecting "educated" person has to have on their shelf.

Costas Montis

Reading on Sunday afternoons while listening to my favourite concert for piano number 2 by Rachmaninov has almost become a habit. Even when we are away for the weekend, I always carry a much-loved book with me - usually poetry. Costas Montis is regarded as one of the greatest Greek poets of the 20th century and he is also one of my most favourites. There's something magic in his poems most of which have been translated into English.

 

 

Costas Montis was born on February 18, 1914 in Famagusta, and died on March 1, 2004 in his house in Nicosia, surrounded by his family. He has received numerous honors and awards throughout his life, and his books have been translated into several languages. Costas Montis has received honorary doctorates from both the University of Cyprus and the University of Athens. He has been nominated for the Nobel Prize, and in 2000 he was declared Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens, the highest honor conferred upon intellectual creators living outside Greece.
In support of his proposal to the Academy of Athens, Professor Nicholas Konomis included the following: "Costas Montis is one of the greatest living Greek poets, and certainly one who renewed in a unique way modernistic lyric poetry, and enriched modern Greek poetry from the point of view of Cyprus. With his uninterrupted literary creation of 70 years, he has been able to depict artistically the authentic rhythms, the temperature, and the action of the deepest historical and emotional fluctuations of the soul and breath of Cyprus and her people. In his extremely powerful work he has recorded every vibration of the island (erotic, social, political), and all the thoughts of the people of Cyprus have been set down..... He has made use of the whole wealth of the linguistic, historical, and cultural tradition of greater Hellenism, and entrenched in his work, with unprecedented poetic force, the indelible character of the deep-rooted values of the Greek nation."

His official website created by his daughter contains information about his life and work but also video clips of him reciting his poems

COSTAS MONTIS: Excerpts from MOMENTS

The first vowel of my heart was yours,
its last consonant will be yours.

I'm afraid that I see
how small I am mirrored in your eyes,
I'm afraid that I see
how distant I am mirrored in your eyes.

This Sunday which combed its hair
and sat unsuspecting by our side,
this Sunday which looks us in the eyes like this!

How far do you think death is distant from this power,
how far do you think death is distant from this beauty?

Always we think that we are utterly ready,
and always, when the curtain rises and it's too late by then,
we see that something was left behind.

One more step and the human being begins.
Have your cameras ready.

We have fixed the verbs to begin with the first person,
we have fixed the grammars to begin with the personal pronouns.

An inscribed polygon in a circle we are.
At our best moments
at the very most we touch the circle.

Curious thing the heart.
The more you squander it, the more you have.

How close we are
to what we thought was so far away!

(Translated by Amy Mims)

A Sense of Humour

A sense of humour may take various forms and laughter may be anything from a refined tinkle to an earthquaking roar, but the effect is always the same. Humour helps us to maintain a correct sense of values. It is the one quality which political fanatics appear to lack. If we can see the funny side, we never make the mistake of taking ourselves too seriously. We are always reminded that tragedy is not really far removed from comedy, so we never get a lop-sided view of things.

This is one of the chief functions of satire and irony. Human pain and suffering are so grim; we hover so often on the brink of war; political realities are usually enough to plunge us into total despair. In such circumstances, cartoons and satirical accounts of sombre political events redress the balance. They take the wind out of pompous and arrogant politicians who have lost their sense of proportion. They enable us to see that many of our most profound actions are merely comic or absurd. We laugh when a great satirist like Swift writes about war in "Gulliver's Travels". The Lilliputians and their neighbours attack each other  because they can't agree which end to break an egg. We laugh because we are meant to laugh; but we are meant to weep , too.

The sense of humour must be singled out as man's most important quality because it is associated with laughter. And laughter, in turn , is associated with happiness. Courage, determination, initiative - these are qualities we share with other forms of life. But the sense of humour is uniquely human. If happiness is one of the great goals of life, then it is the sense of humour that provides the key

Example:

How do you get a Scotsman to climb onto the roof of his home?
Tell him that the drinks are on the house.