HATE CITY a.k.a. Thessaloniki, GR

An open letter to Greeks: Please stop calling me a liar!

2011-01-15T01:42:00.018+02:00

I was grabbing a sandwich at the local Deli on my way to a Bay area college game. While waiting to get my order my phone rang and it was my (Greek) friend Yianni asking me to join him for a little gathering for his name day. We chatted (in Greek) for a little bit and once I hung up the phone this gentleman next to me decided to challenge his foreign language skills and therefore asked me what language was I speaking. I smiled and replied "Greek of course, the mother of all languages". Whenever I meet random people I always try to surprise and kinda intimidate them for no other reason than enjoying the convo and this fine gentleman (a doctor working for Kaiser) was about to have it.
We started talking about Greece (of course) and the whole global economic mess when his face turned skeptic and he wondered, "How did you Greeks manage to screw everything up while living in such a beautiful country?? Really, I mean, what's wrong with you??". My Greek pride wouldn't let me unleash a few words about the lack of responsibility and the blame game that Greeks constantly play with the rest of the world and even their own people. Surprisingly enough, even for me, I turned to him and asked him the following question: "what if you had to choose between getting $ from somebody else (hello EU) just to work a few hours/day for the government (while enjoying full benefits) and spend a couple months every year by the beaches enjoying the greatest gift of god, the sun, while paying no taxes OR working nine full weeks (350 hours) longer than West Europeans do, paying a lotta of taxes (up to 40%) and enjoying a life with a pace that goes like "earn-spend-stress, repeat", what would YOU choose?" Well, he said, it's obvious, I would go with the first option. "I'm glad" I said, cause that's exactly what the Greeks do while resting on the Germans to pay their debt." What followed was a dropped jaw and a sad but quiet "wow". Now you know Larry, you are welcome.

I wanted to share with you this recent experience as an introduction before getting to my point and blasting Greeks about their horrible habit to not respect everyone's opinion and basically call everyone that disagrees with their point of view a liar. It's truly amazing and ironic how their ancestors invented democracy. Let me entertain you with some examples:

Here's how it goes: your friend is driving his car through Tempi in a typical "large" situation where one hand is on the wheel and the other one is being used to smoke a cigarette, going well beyond the speed limit (which btw is nowhere to be found) and tailgating the leading car. He's not going faster and you are not gonna fly by him so this whole thing is really unsafe, pointless and plain stupid. By tailgating I mean following in a distance less than the 10m recommended as a safe distance between cars. Here comes my comment as a co-driver: "Hey bud, why are you tailgating him?" Driver answers back (emphatically shaking his index finger) "No I'm not tailgating, you are wrong". I'm ok with the lack of responsibility since this is how generations and generations in Greece have learned to grow up but saying that I'm wrong is equal to calling me a liar and thats where I have a problem with you my dude. See here's something that was never taught to Greeks, we can always agree to disagree. Just because you have an opinion that doesn't mean that you shouldn't respect my point of view nor does it mean that I have to agree with you all the time. It's a free country and everybody is entitled to express himself/herself, just learn to respect that already.
In a recent debate, where again, me and some Greek friends were exchanging opinions about a matter here's what I heard in reply to making my point: "Your message is unfair and pointless", "You are allergic to common sense", "You are providing the wrong information", "This is one of your most pointless comments". Again, total lack of respect about my opinion and a behavior that seems to be interested more into attacking one other's ideas than elaborating on their own perspective. This is truly amazing, it seemed that they were more interested into making me agree with them (by erasing my perspective) than debating about the issue in question.
Even when I try to explain to a friend how I get offended by that kind of behavior their reaction is automatic, "I'm not calling you a liar", which totally proves my case right?

Unfortunately, Greeks don't get it, for years they've been in a state of denial that has reached the level of arrogance and that's why the rest of the world is pissed at them..Time to take a look into the mirror!

P.S. Nobody can visualize this post better than Mr Panos himself.

Blog update..

2009-12-04T01:08:00.004+02:00

Not that I'm shutting the blog down but the posts have been kinda sporadic and that really doesn't have to do much with me...blame it on technology!
Just like TV killed radio and the Internet appears to eliminate the newspaper and magazine world Twitter, yes Twitter is pushing blogs to the brink of elimination...
For random thoughts and acts of the Hate City gang you can follow some of the contributors on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/philysstar

http://twitter.com/FreestyleTweets

http://twitter.com/pitbullina

http://twitter.com/stevexatzi

http://twitter.com/fanimosc

NBA season preview 2009-2010...

2009-10-26T21:44:00.003+02:00

Just wanted to post a couple quick notes about the upcoming season which looks like a battle of 5-6 teams...yep, blame it on the recession!

Atlanta Hawks: A lot will depend on their defensive efficiency since they are now deeper (i.e. Jamal Crawford) and more experienced. Joe Johnson didn't sign an extension and is poised to hit the crazy FA class of 2010, Josh Smith didn't shoot (not made) a single 3 during this preseason and his FT percentage was bellow 50%. Coach Woodson seems unable to maximize this team's potential but they are a lock for the playoffs.

Boston Celtics: They are my pick for the NBA championship as long as they stay healthy. Rasheed Wallace playing DHoward 1-1 and KG on the weak side eliminate Orlando's advantage plus they match up well with the Lakers. Might need to sign a back up PG since Eddie House is a 2 and Marquis Daniels has played SG/F for his entire career.

Charlotte Bobcats: The team has been up for sale the last months and Larry Brown is known for taking bad teams and leading them to the playoffs but it takes time and this ain't happening this year...

Chicago Bulls: Losing Ben Gordon to free agency might have hurt them but I expect DRose to take over and the rest of the youth do develop. The mix of youth and veterans in their roster will take them to the playoffs but they only seem to be first round bound.

Cleveland Cavaliers: They needed versatile wings but they ended up with Shaq, Anthony Paker and Jamario Moon..Still, they got Lebron who claims to be a year stronger and better but it's hard to envision them taking it all the way; injuries will play a big part on their quest to success.

Dallas Mavericks: On paper they got better (Marion, Gooden, Tim Thomas), Dirk looks better than ever taking the summer off and Rick Carlisle is an established coach.; the bad? Josh Hpward could be out for a few more weeks...Expect BIG things!

Denver Nuggets: Carmelo is probably gonna have his best year in the league and like Sir Charles said he's probably the best pure scorer in the league. They lost some firepower (Kleiza, D.Jones) but J.R. Smith should explode as a starter.

Detroit Pistons: A big question mark; John Kuester (Detroit's fifth coach in nine seasons btw) seems to have abandoned Motown's traditional defense for a more up tempo style,;expect Hamilton or Prince to get traded..

Golden State Warriors: The Dubs once again have turmoil surrounding their season; it all starts up at the top of the organization though so let's just hope for more exciting basketball and less drama.

Houston Rockets: Clearly on a transition season with Yao and T-Mac probably lost for the season; don't expect them to quit though as Rick Adelman has made the playoffs for 17 years except for 2 season with, gues what, the Warriors...

Indiana Pacers: Another team on rebuilding mode, Danny Granger is phenomenal but he's gonna be alone with Lil Dun sidelined..

L.A. Clippers: They made some moves and they should be in the playoffs come season end as long as they stay healthy and develop some chemistry; Blake Griffin is either gonna be the ROY or the second coming of Danny Manning (he injured his knee during the last preseason game).

L.A. Lakers: Questions about the team's chemistry have risen since Ron Ron joined the Lakers show but this is where Zen Master comes in plus, although I hate to admit it ,Kobe is the best leader/player in the game..I can only see Boston preventing them from repeating but it's a long a season so we just have to wait and see.

Memphis Grizzlies: Yes Zach Randolph and AI are a bad fit for the exciting young trio of OJ, Gay and Conley..expect Z-Bo to get into a fight with one of his teammates and AI to be traded, a disaster in the horizon.

Miami Heat: They really haven't upgraded to any position since last year so the pressure is again gonna be on DWade to deliver unless Beasley explodes..Jermaine O'Neal claims to be in top form from his Pacers years just like Beasley said he was going for the MVP award last year..what's wrong in South Beach???

Milwaukee Bucks: Jennings leads the league in turnovers and Michael Redd gets traded for a 2nd rounder..what do you expect after this summer's sellout???

Minnesota Timberwolves: Season doesn't look good with a rookie PG running the team (no it's not Rubio) and Love, Jefferson sidelined at least for the first month but they weren't going to be good even if they were healthy..

New Jersey Nets: Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov reached an agreement to buy 80 percent of the team last week and nearly half of a project to build a new arena in Brooklyn then went on to spend $18757 on Lunch with Six Friends..oh, and for $25K Brook Lopez will come to your house for your birthday party!

New Orleans Hornets: CP3 all alone..Byron Scott is gonna be the first coach getting the axe this season and although he's just a mediocre head coach it's the management that blew it the last couple years.

New York Knicks: Hmmm, now that the Yankees play the Phillies for the world series they should be irrelevant for another month or so..clearly, they are shooting for next year's big FA market so expectations are kinda low..

Oklahoma City Thunder: You gotta love the young nucleus of Durant-Westbrook-Green-Harden but they were afraid to spend during the summer and add some veterans who are known to win in this league; defense has to reach the NBA level, otherwise they will remain a joke.

Orlando Magic: They are deeper and tougher (Bass & Barnes); everybody slept on them last year but they made the NBA Finals and lost only because of inexperience so they are poised to make it back there..

Philadelphia 76ers: New coach (Eddie Jordan) and Elton Brand is back but they will be missing Andre Miller's leadership..

Phoenix Suns: The Nash-Amar'e era is not over but they need to rebuild as this group of players hasn't been able to take it to the next level.

Portland TrailBlazers: High expectations for a team that added Andre Miller (although he won't be a starter); Greg Oden has been playing up to his potential but for some reason they don't look like contenders.

Sacramento Kings: Tyreke Evans is good, the rest of the team??? ugh

San Antonio Spurs: They are back on track with Manu healthy and a new SF, Richard Jefferson; Tim Duncan will be playing with a knee brace for the season and their starting C is 35y old Antonio McDyess. Sure they will be trouble for the Lakers but I don't see them beating the trio of Gasol-Bynum-Odom..

Toronto Raptors: People expect a big season for them but I'm afraid they will probably miss the playoffs..their roster has "overpaid underachievers" written all over. And hold on, Jay Triano is an NBA head coach???

Utah Jazz: Once again, a solid team with a solid head coach, question is can they make it to the next level? Yes if they stay healthy and figure out the SG position.

Washington Wizards: Arenas needs to become a true leader and the whole team has got to stop the beef with Lebron..It appears that they are cursed as Jamison is out for a few weeks but even if they are healthy they lack the big bodies to compete with the rest of the powerhouses..

Time for some serious basketball...

2009-09-07T07:59:00.003+03:00

Fast rewind: EuroBasket 2007, held in Spain was a wild tournament with exciting basketball, close games, crazy comebacks (most notable Greece completing a furious 14-1 to end the game against Slovenia in the quarterfinals) and a final that saw host Spain losing to a buzzer beater by a Pittsburgh native playing for Russia, J.R. Holden.

EuroBasket 2009 will take place in Poland in the next couple weeks and while there are some notable players missing the competition level will definitely be high with no clear favorites for the top 3 seeds and with 6 spots for the 2010 World Championships up for grabs.

Very few teams will appear at full strength laying the ground for potential upsets. Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman (Germany), J.R. Holden, Victor Khryapa and Eurobasket 2007 MVP Andrei Kirilenko (Russia), Jose Calderon (Spain), Dimitris Diamantidis and Theo Papaloukas (Greece), Beno Udrih, Rasho Nesterovic and Sasha Vujacic (Slovenia), Ramunas Siskauskas, Rimantas Kaukėnas and Šarūnas Jasikevičius (Lithuania), Igor Rakosevic, Darko Milicic (Serbia), Mehmet Okur (Turkey), Luol Deng (Great Britain) are all out of the tournament. Moreover Spain’s superstars Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez are plagued by minor injuries which might affect their performance and France’s Tony Parker will be playing although he suffered a sprained right ankle early in the summer.Who are the stars in Poland? The Gasol brothers, Ricky Rubio, Hedo Türkoğlu, Marcin Gortat, Andris Biedrins and Linas Kleiza among others; let’s break down the teams in groups.

THE CONTENDERS:

GREECE: They will be missing 4 starters (Papaloukas, Diamantidis, Papadopoulos and Tsartsaris) and they have a new head coach, experienced Lithuanian journeyman Jonas Kazlauskas who promised to play a more up-tempo style of basketball. Ex Rocket Vassilis Spanoulis is the leader of a team who added former Gator Nick Calathes and upcoming big Jazzman Kosta Koufos. They are deep and talented and can still play the pick n roll but they will be missing their 2 best defenders and that’s something that will probably come to haunt them.

LITHUANIA: A traditional superhouse but they will be missing the heart and soul of the team Šarūnas Jasikevičius (among others). Many expect Linas Kleiza to take over and lead this very talented but he will need lots of help. Again, Lithuania is missing experience and leadership but the team is consisted of a relatively young group eager for success and personal recognition. Watch out for young point guard Mantas Kalnietis who might be the best newcomer of the tournament.

SLOVENIA: Scoring PG Jaka Lakovic, former NBAer Boki Nachbar and post player Matjas Smodis will be leading an experienced group looking to make some noise. Slovenia has always competed at the highest level but personal feuds and constant turmoil in the locker room has kept them away from the top. This tournament will be another chance to prove people wrong but anything less than a medal will be considered a failure.

SPAIN: A tremendously deep team even without Jose Calderon and former captain Carlos Jimenez they are the clear cut favorite of the tournament. Injuries to Pau Gasol and Rudy Fernandez might slow them down but this is a thirsty team that could be competing in the NBA level. They destroyed opponents in exhibition games showing the world that they are on a mission.

THE PRETENDERS

BULGARIA: Let’s just say that Bulgaria is happy to have qualified in the tournament. There are zero expectations for this team as its best player Ibrahim Jaaber won't play at the EuroBasket because of his Muslim faith. Other than naturalized former NBAer (with Utah and Indiana) Andre Brown, the overall talent is below average and they will have to pull a miracle to get past the first round.

GREAT BRITAIN: This squad looked good on paper a couple months ago with talented NBAers Keleena Azubuike, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon; unfortunately none of them is playing, for different reasons, so all eyes will be on big man Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

ISRAEL: They have been consistent but only as mediocre team and they will be entering this year’s tournament with confidence and a group of proven European players, notably SG Yotam Halperim, and F Lior Eliyahu. King’s first round pick in this year’s NBA draft Omri Casspi decided to pull off the team and focus on making it to the NBA hurting Israel’s chances.

LATVIA: Led by Warriors big man Andris Biedrins they are poised to succeed after two straight EuroBaskets without a win and a similar disaster two years ago. Problem is they are relying too much on Biedrins and they are lacking the necessary perimeter shooting to complement the inside game.

THE UNDERDOGS:

CROATIA: They are lacking a flashy superstar but they are a solid, well coached group, relying on a consistent system. They are always trying to take advantage of match-ups with their opponents and they have a balanced group of players. Sharpshooter Marko Tomas is the late victim of an injury bug that seems to have hit this year’s EuroBasket so Bucks PG Roko-Leni Ukic will have to deliver big for them.

FRANCE: You really don’t know what to expect from a French team that had to work hard during the summer going through an additional qualifying round. It looks though that France is finally peaking at the right time and appears to be ready to take on the best in Europe. Tony Parker, Ronny Turiaf, Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum will provide an outstanding combination of speed, athleticism and quickness but defense has always been the black hole for team France.

RUSSIA: Yes they are the returning EuroBasket champions but key subtractions make them a whole new and young team that lost much firepower on both ends of the floor and their top 3 players (Kirilenko, J.R. Holden, Khryapa). Russia coach David Blatt promised his team will be competitive enough to defend its title but it’s hard to see that materialize on the court.

SERBIA: Serbia has been trying to reclaim its power as they traditionally produced great players (Vlade Divac, Peja Stojakovic). At the moment they are a very talented but young team as outside of Nenad Krstic, Popovic (26) and Kecman (33), every single player is under 24. Expect to see a preview of their future but it seems as they are not ready to compete at the highest level right now.

THE QUESTION MARKS:

F.Y.R.O.M. : A very interesting team that showed lots of promise during exhibition games they are led by veteran G Vrbica Stefanov who is ending his legendary career and a group of naturalized American players, former Tiger Darius Washington, former Wildcat Jeremiah Massey (who is enjoying a very successful career in Europe) and big man Mike Wilkinson. They are ready to perform on the big stage again and are considered a possible upset.

GERMANY: Team Germany has been very successful in the recent years due mainly to no other than NBA All Star Dirk Nowitzki. Even though without Dirk and Chris Kaman, expect a very competitive hard working young team which again will be led by successful veteran coach, Dirk Bauermann.

TURKEY: Team Turkey has been traditionally a good team but only on paper. Hedo Turkoglu, coming from a fantastic season with Orlando teams with former Buck Ersan Ilyasova, to form a dynamic duo at the forward positions but they will be missing the other NBAer, big man Mehmet Okur who apparently clashed with head coach Bogdan Tanjevic.

POLAND: They obviously have the home court advantage but they will be relying on 40 year old Polish legend Adam Wojcik and C Marcin Gortat, who is not Dwight Howard. They might be dangerous as they showed flashes during exhibition games and don’t forget that home teams have traditionally been very successful.

For complete coverage of the tourney, news, schedule and rosters visit the official website of 2009 EuroBasket: http://www.eurobasket2009.org

Social Networking = trouble!

2009-07-13T01:03:00.009+03:00

Most of you probably know the dangers of social networking today; yap a facebook account is fun and might help you get together with old classmates but nowadays employers are doing extensive research on people's accounts looking for reasons to hire or even worse fire potential/current employees..Anyway. I don't want to go too deep you can always check a couple sites about people tweeting or texting too much...Things can get really ugly when it comes down to famous people like I've explained in the recent Brandon Jennings fiasco and the reason of this post is to try and share with you a couple notables tweets from basketball people who keep proving that they don't get it and that they just live in a different planet...

Enter Rashad McCants, a 5year NBA veteran known for his scoring ability and selfish play on the court but also for his erratic persona out of it. Rashad is a straight forward guy who uses his twitter to give all kinds of opinions/advice, let's check his thoughts:

That doesn't sound bad; instead it's a totally legit point coming from a guy with a fat pocket who probably dated a couple groupies looking to hit the jackpot. Btw Rashad also used to date Khloe Kardashian...
Another solid advice by Rashad although it makes you wonder about how well he manages his bank account; to his credit the Louis Vuitton toiletries bag is as much of a requirement as Beats headphones in the NBA league.
I failed to mention that Rashad is a Free Agent this summer and he's been looking for a new K, he's only 24y old and his future looks bright right??? If you were wondering where is he spending his time until he finds a job Rashad is too kind to give you the answer...

On to my favorite overrated NBA player, Stephon Marbury; Stephon was given the opportunity to resurrect his NBA career last year after being released by the Knicks and playing with the Boston Celtics. This couldn't be a better situation for a player who has been labeled as selfish and not a winner. Well Marbury is also a free agent and he recently rejected an offer from Boston for the veteran's minimum for a chance to compete for an NBA championship, I mean who would say no to that opportunity at the age of 32?? Well Stephon did showing how much of a disconnect there is between professional athletes and the real world...
Jeanie Buss is the daughter of Los Angeles Laker owner Jerry Buss. Jeanie went to school at USC and studied business administration. She posed nude for Playboy magazine in 1995, and two years later she posed naked for Sports Illustrated. Jeanie is currently dating Laker coach Phil Jackson, and used to date tennis star John McEnroe..In other words a typical SoCal spoiled broad, oh wait she's also the Executive Vice President of Business Operations of the Lakers!!! Want proof of her basketball operations skills??? Check her twitter from a Finals Game, she's probably talking to her dog about all the important decisions she has to make...

Surpised??? My picks are already creating turmoil..

2009-06-28T23:27:00.005+03:00

I called it but damn even me didn't expect to be so true the next morning...
Apparently Jennings twitter page went down after he proved he's unable to manage his image on the web...Jennings is tight with rapper Joe Budden and Budden does a bit of his own web streaming. Poor Brandon was trying to get on Joe Budden TV, the rapper's live video feed...well good for him he made it down there but the result is way too embarrassing, here's our little start talking about a variety of topics

Here's the transcript for those of you who really want to know about Brandon's maturity level:

On next season in Milwaukee ...

Budden: You better worry about Ramon Sessions, diggin' in your a**, pause.
Jennings: He's not going to be here. [inaudible] That money is going to Charlie.
Budden: N****, Ramon Sessions is gonna be there.
Jennings: I doubt it.
Budden: They ain't go no other guards.
Jennings: Ridnour.
Budden: N****, get that bum-a** n**** outta here.
Jennings: He's going to be a backup.
Budden: To who?
Jennings: To who? Who else n****?

On what happened on draft night ...

Budden: Who was hatin' on you?
Jennings: Jay Bilas.
Budden: What happened? You ran in the draft late or some dumb s*** like a loser?
Jennings: No, I was at the hotel. This is what happened right. My agent is like "Well, we ain't hear nothing .We ain't have no guarantee." So we makin' phone calls and s*** and n***** is saying like "The workouts is great and everything and he's the best point guard but we don't know yet, we just don't know."
Budden: They didn't say that about Rick Rubio, number one, and number two they didn't say you the best point guard. They said your jump shot is shaky, you got some potential, but your work ethic is bull****. You averaged 3 points.
Jennings: You're a liar. I know you're lying now.
Budden: I'm just telling you what they said.
Jennings: That ain't nothing but a college person.
Budden: Just tell me what happened. You end up running in the draft? I tunred it off after that.
Jennings: No, n****, I came out there and made my appearance n**** and I had the best appearance out of all them n******. And I was the best dressed, they said, by the way. I was the best dressed.

On whether he'll start next season ...

Budden: You think you gonna start for real though?
Jennings: I don't know, actually, I really don't know.
Budden: I heard that n**** Scott Skiles is an a**h***.
Jennings: That n**** tough, that n**** tough though. There must be a reason he liked me. There must be a reason.

On Ricky Rubio and the Knicks ...

Budden: Let me know when Minnesota get there. So I can watch Rubio light your f****** a** up. I never seen a n**** hate on Rubio so much.
Jennings: [inaudible]
Budden: You know what's funny? You're the only guard in the draft talking s*** about Rubio.
Jennings: The other n***** are scared.
Budden: What are you going to do when Rubio comes to the Knicks?
Jennings: Rubio is not coming, they are not giving up Rubio. You got Jordan Hill, you happy with that?
Budden: I don't really know enough about Jordan Hill to be happy ... I'm happy with Toney Douglas.
Jennings: I know they were booing this n****.
Budden: What does that mean? They boo everybody n****.
Jennings: If it was Stpehen Curry, them n***** would've went crazy in there.
Budden: Shut the f*** up, you don't even know nothing about New York basketball.
Jennings: F*** the Knicks, them n***** skipped out on me.
Budden: Oh man, you feel to the Knicks like I do about Jay-Z? [Laughs] Yo, the Knicks is your Jay-Z?
Jennings: F*** the Knicks, them n***** is always going to be weak.
Budden: This is where I f****** hang up on your f****** ass for talking stupid.
Jennings: Duhon ain't gonna get it done.

Let's just say that we are all excited for Jenning's upcoming career on and off the court!

Moving on to our next project, DeJuan Blair I'm glad that GM's followed (obviously) my advice and skipped picking him for the entire 1st round till he eventually got drafted by San Antonio at 37. Everybody says it was a steal I'm saying SA is a smart franchise..they are taking a risk but with minimal financial impact, what are you risking? $880,000? That’s a drop in the bucket...2nd round picks don't have their contracts guaranteed and that's why teams avoided getting him in the 1st round, I mean who goes out and drafts a basketball player with no ACL in both knees??? In high school, Blair tore both of his ACLs and had them surgically repaired. Blair’s scar tissue essentially got re-absorbed by his body and the result left Blair with essentially no ACLs and some team physicians feel that Blair could eventually develop a nagging issue that could wear him down a few years down the road...Really???

As for Tyreke??? He went as high as No 4, Sacto is totally excited but really he ain't no PG and once Ricky Rubio's star starts to shine he'll already be the second coming of Larry Hughes...

Memo to NBA teams: stay away from these cats...

2009-06-25T22:34:00.004+03:00

With NBA draft 2009 only hours away, endless mock drafts, lots of trade action and Shaq joining Cleveland and becoming "The Witness Protection" I want to take a step back and alert NBA teams on how to avoid drafting poorly and risking their jobs (I still can't believe Steve Kerr, John Paxson and Chris Wallace have a job as an NBA GM - just check their track record, it says FAILURE)..I don't claim to have any secret insight or something but I've been keeping notes on all those pospects for the last month or so..Inspired by this great article on biggest NBA busts here are my candidates for this year's draft:

Brandon Jennings, PG: "Most Important thing about the Draft/NBA, Get on a TEAM that fits your game and kill those 3yrs and GET THAT Big 2nd contract! O yea and WIN" That's a line from his twitter account a couple weeks ago..Let me get it straight to you guys, BJ is Marcus Williams' cousin, for those of you who follow NBA Marcus is a very talented PG who was drafted by the Nets, had a great first-half season and then got traded to the Warriors...Word is that the reason he's out of the league now is his attitude, no surpise there...A year ago today, Jennings was the best high school point guard in the country, a sure-bet to crack the top five in this year's draft. Jennings committed to play at the University of Arizona but failed to meet academic standards and therefore became the first American to skip college and play professionally in Europe since the NBA's age restriction rule was implemented. He signed with Lottomatica Roma, a top professional team, for $1.2 million, plus a $2 million endorsement deal with Under Armour. In Italy, his practice time far exceeded his playing time. European style revolves around the entire team getting involved, rather than exploiting individual skills. He claimed the team treated him "like a little kid," and couldn't understand why the coach insisted on getting every player into the game. What was this, the YMCA? He played in 27 of 30 games for Lottomatica Roma, which went 20-10 and reached the Italian League semifinals. The ostensibly best point guard American high schools had to offer averaged 5.1 points and 2.1 assists....There are those darn numbers, mocking him, possibly reducing his value in the draft. He went to Europe to polish his skills, to bide time until the moment he fantasized about finally materialized. Today, word is he will be slipping in the draft just like Rashard Lewis a few years ago...
Tyreke Evans, SG, Memphis: His talent is unquestionable but what everybody is missing is that on Tuesday, 18-year-old Pennsylvanian Jamar Evans was sentenced nine-to-20 years in prison for the drive-by shooting murder of 19-year-old Marcus Reason..Jamar is Tyreke's cousin and as we know all too well, many professional athletes have relatives who commit heinous crimes. But there's a twist in this case, one which doesn't implicate Tyreke but pops your eyes wide open: when Jamar Evans shot and killed Reason, Tyreke Evans was his driver. Tyreke Evans was never charged in connection with the murder. The prospect was expected to testify on behalf of his cousin, the Times reports, but never did before Jamar Evans pled guilty. A relative of Reason told the Times he felt Tyreke should have been charged with accessory to murder...you know the facts, now who's willing to take such a gamble???
DeJuan Blair, F, Pittsburgh: This has nothing to do with character issues it's just that I've been around long enough to be able to identify talent, Blair is the second coming of Robert "Tractor" Taylor, undersized, crafty but not NBA bound...if you think that thing will be able to survive with the Duncans and the Stoudemires good luck...

Will Ferrell..period!

2009-06-16T04:57:00.006+03:00

Add this to why he's my favorite comedian...best skit ever!!! It's called "Let us play with your look" and no I don't want to take anything away from Jimmy Fallon..

California living...

2009-05-19T22:37:00.003+03:00

I've been practicing my photography skills lately only to find out that I probably need a better (professional) camera...(That's probably the most boring sentence of this post, trust me keep reading...)

Both my late night drink exits last week were violently interrupted due to a bar fight ..I'm getting tired of that shit and the smurfs jumping into the conversation I'm having with a French girl who is obsessed with Sakis, telling me I have to clear the premises asap...oh and please don't forget to pick up the tab...
It's getting even harder to have good times around Broadway since San Francisco is the first city to ban loitering outside nightclubs...too much regulation might end up killing one of the most funny places in earth to party...

DNA lounge gets my vote for the most interesting spot around the Bay Area as it offers everything: A full service kitchen with Mexican food, while computers are made available throughout the club that features a wireless network as well. There is a main stage and a second stage that boasts its own sound system, and there are three bars...Did I mention that they also have a webcam just so that you can check the action???

Speaking of sound systems I was trying to get some gas the other day at this station next to my place when a totally decent guy pulled over with his truck right next to me; I was like, "U r lost or something, need help finding your way???" Apparently he wanted to sell me a 42'' Plasma TV with a Dolby Surround system for only $150 because he had missed the deadline and his boss was going to be mad at him...well I didn't buy into that story and after offering $100 I said thanks but no thanks!
Little Star Pizza is another food paradise I recently discovered...It offers deep dish pizza with cheese at the bottom and all kinds of toppings at the top for a reasonable price..don't tell me you are not hungry!!!

Saving the best for last check out what a 30ish lady told me the other night: "I'll be your sexual bunny and entertain your every fantasy..All I am asking is for you to assist me with my mortgage...
See yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Stay classy Panathinaikos....

2009-05-08T01:23:00.005+03:00

Το να εισαι αξιος πρωταθλητης και μαλιστα επι σειρα ετων σημαινει οτι σαν προπονητης εχεις καταφερει να γινεις απολυτος κατοχος και δασκαλος του παιχνιδιου, example Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson... it's about reaching that point where not only you don't care about what other people are saying (from fans, to media, to referees...) but you are able to deceit and manipulate them...I mean Zen Master is the perfect example, check this video here, where Phil Jackson calls a timeout with his team up by 30 and then tells D'Antoni (the opponent's coach) "What the (beep) is wrong with you? Go sit down!" without getting whistled for a T...
Apparently Zelimir Obradovic prefers to act like the 5 year old kid whose candy was stolen...Οχι πως λεω οτι ηταν σωστο το timing της ερωτησης απο τον αστειο αυτο δημοσιογραφο Καρμοιρη αλλα η αντιδραση του δειχνει την αδυναμια του να τον αντιμετωπισει και να τον γελοιοποιησει...

obradovic vs karmoiris
by dubbit13

Τι να πει κανεις ομως και για την διοικηση αυτης της ομαδας η οποια αδυνατει να δειξει οποιοδηποτε επιπεδο αξιοπρεπειας και μετα την κατακτηση του Ευρωπαικου τροπαιου εξέφρασε και επισήμως τα παράπονά του για τη διαιτησία του Αρτεάγκα στον τελικό του Final Four...

"Με μεγάλη μας έκπληξη διαπιστώνουμε πως δεν έχετε τιμωρήσει ακόμα τον συγκεκριμένο διαιτητή όπως έχετε κάνει στο παρελθόν με άλλες παρόμοιες διαιτησίες. Ελπίζουμε πραγματικά πως θα τον τιμωρήσετε παραδειγματικά για όσα διέπραξε".

Ποιος??? Η ίδια ομάδα η οποια λογω ενος εσφαλμενου σφυριγματος εκλεψε τον 1ο ευρωπαικο της τιτλο το 1996...

Quick Picks Second Round...

2009-05-05T04:01:00.005+03:00

The Chicago - Boston series was sure 1 for the ages (a very nice collection of highlights here)...The Bulls played a good game and made it an epic series but the truth is they are still young and inexperienced, let's hope they can capitalize on this year as they have a tendency to get worse after promising seasons...Cleveland, Denver and the Lakers looked great in the first round while Orlando, Dallas and Houston showed that they are capable of moving past solid teams...Round 2 is next with some equally exciting and promising match ups, let's break them down...

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Cleveland vs (4) Miami
Atlanta has a very athletic team and is so dominant playing home but they are such a bad matchup for Cleveland...They might have a chance stealing 1 if the Cavs appear lethargic and grumpy as they haven't played a game for 10 days but on the other side the same Cleveland team lost only 2 games at home this season.. Bibby did a good job defending Wade at times, but he’s too small for Lebron, and while Evans/Johnson are far more athletic they’re also too small. FYI Josh Smith doesn’t do one-on-one defense. Hawks need Joe Johnson to stay HOT through the series but that’s it. Atlanta showed very little in the first series - teams that get blown out three times in a series by Miami don’t exactly earn my vote of confidence.
Prediction: Cavs in 5 (sweep alert)

(2) Celtics vs (3) Magic

Orlando has a great chance of making this a quick series. They have to take advantage of Celtic's fatigue and injuries, play some aggressive defense and kill them in 5 or 6 games. Boston has the home court and they've proved that they are too hard to die in a 7 game situation...I just can’t go against guys like Pierce, Ray, Rondo and Doc Rivers down the stretch of a close game..Orlando has a tremendous advantage at the 4 and 5 position: Rashard Lewis should explode as there's no 1 that can defend him on the Celtics team (except if Brian Scalabrine decides he's a actually an NBA player and not a mascot) and Dwight...well he's Superman..Bench production is also gonna be huge, Celts bench nearly cost them the first round series, adding nothing in all but two of the games...Magic were supposed to lose game six in Philly, with Howard being suspended but with the great play of the "Polish Hammer", they were able to handle the ’76ers with ease...
Prediction: Magic in 6 (Boston will win it if it goes to a 7 game series)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Los Angeles vs (5) Houston
Kobe Bryant missed practice yesterday with a sore throat...I hope he has the swine flu and he contaminates all Lakers fans...ok, excuse me for the outbreak back to reality. The Lakers are just too versatile and Houston is strong enough defensively to slow them down a little....The combination of having to contain the game’s most potent scorer while keeping tabs on two talented postmen is too much for almost anyone..The Rockets are physical and playing extremely well, but the Lakers just survived a team on-par with Houston for physicality (Utah), and besides, I get the feeling LA haven’t even begun to stretch their legs. . If Yao can finally step it up and take advantage of Bynum's injury they might have a chance. Key factor will be the play of Rockets PG Aaron Brooks; if he can constantly score 15 through the series Lakers might be in trouble and again don't forget that home team will be a little rusty for the 1st game.
Prediction: Lakers in 6

(2) Denver vs (6) Dallas
I really like Denver to win it all only because of the solid leadership of Chauncey Billups. Their bench has emerged and they are the best lteam in the league to take a 10 point lead and push it to 30...just check what happened to the poor Hornets..Arguably the two most in-form teams in the playoffs but Denver has the edge here. A final note: JR Smith's nickname should be Morton 'cause he's always pouring salt in wounds...
Prediction: Denver in 5

NBA PLAYOFFS 2009 - 1st Round Predictions...

2009-04-18T21:31:00.008+03:00

Best 2 months of the season about to start, some great match ups in this year's first round will make things even more exciting! Other than that Sixers team everybody is going to be in totally competitive mood..And 1 quick note, everybody says it's gonna be Lakers - Cavs playing in June's Finals and I guess it's happening for a couple reasons mostly because of ratings and NBA looking to create a new rivalry (insert Lebron vs Kobe here) BUT I got a feeling somewhere down the road there's gonna be a big time upset...Let's break them down:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Cleveland vs (8) Detroit

It seems that after the epic performance of Lebron during the 2007 Playoffs this Detroit Pistons team is in its downfall..The Pistons are still the most dangerous below .500 team ever to be in the Playoffs because of the collective experience of their veteran starters but where's the motive??? Michael Curry has done a great job coaching a group of veterans who are so hard to be coached, Detroit has had 4 coaches in the last 6 years!!! On the other side there's Cleveland , a team with great chemistry, playing with home court advantage and 1 goal, the ring...The biggest factor besides the presence of LBJ is the absence of AI. Without him the Pistons don’t have anyone else who can compensate for his 18 points and 5 assists...this team has so many holes, and has also lost its leader so can the Pistons make a series out of it??? Let's just say the odds are better for Charlie Villanueva to grow some hair...
Prediction: Cavs in 5 (sweep alert)

(2) Celtics vs (7) Bulls

Well Chicago already managed to pull the upset with a historic game by ROY Derrick Rose (first ever rookie to have 35 & 10 in his playoff debut, he actually had 36 &11) but I'm really not so sold on those Baby Bulls..While the mid season trade has made them a better overall team they are still too inexperienced to pull the upset.. Boston isn't looking good too, with KG probably out for most for the season, but worst case scenario would be for the Celtics to go back to their last year's habits (e.g needed 7th game to win series against Atlanta and Cleveland), they are so damn good to get eliminated even without their emotional leader.
Prediction: Celtics in 7 (although for those of you who watched the game the Bulls have unveiled their well hidden weapon for the series, Vinny's Del Negro's dad, great story here).

(3) Orlando vs (6) Philadelphia
I heard some people talking upset in this series mainly due to the Magic finishing poor the season (by losing games to Knicks and Bucks) while resting injured stars Turkoglu and Lewis...well guess again, Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard is going to bring his A game against a team that is lacking it's best interior presence, Elton Brand and is last in the league in hitting 3's..Orlando will probably double team Iguodala so role players will have to hit big shots...
Prediction: Magic in 5

(4) Atlanta vs (5) Miami
For me, the most interesting series in the East, Hawks look ready to take it to the next level but can they do it again Flash??? Dwyane Wade this year has been injury free creating highlight reels every single night, most important he showed us that he's back and ready to take the Miami franchise on his shoulders. Atlanta clearly has the edge with a balanced, athletic team that can run and shoot from everywhere but Miami's goal should be to try and stay close till the end of the games..if they can manage that then Wade, 1 of the best finishers in the game will be able to take over and deliver...BIG. It's Atlanta's series to lose folks and I never liked coach Woodson for that team!
Prediction: Miami in 6

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Los Angeles vs (8) Utah
...Mmmm, I really don't have anything left for here, like.. seriously, the Jazz lost home games against the Wolves (24-58) and the Dubs (29-53) last week to finish a horrendous season where they witnessed: their starting PG, All Star Deron Williams missing the first 20 games, then coming back, then losing F Carlos Boozer for most of season, him coming back but never being the same old Booz (reason possibly being going through a painfull divorce), owner Larry Miller dying after battling diabetes for years,want more??? Yes, it appears that the team's chemistry has been damaged and with Memo Okur not being 100% I don't see them getting it done against a cocky Laker team claiming that everything THAN winning the championship makes the season a failure (yap, it's that kind of attitude people in LA are known to have...)
Prediction: Lakers in 5 (Jazz has 1 of the best home courts in the history of NBA so they might be able to steal 1)

(2) Denver vs (7) New Orleans
It's very unfortunate that 1 of those teams will be eliminated in the 1st round..Denver is coming off a great season, the difference being made by Chauncey Billups; he was the missing part, a general, a true leader and a clutch performer who makes solid decisions and loves to play under pressure..Now, Denver is coached by George Carl, first thing that comes up to my mind??? This!Biggest upset of all times...I enjoy watching the Nuggets play but I'm not afraid to say that other than Billups I consider this team a bunch of immature gangsters from Martin, to Melo, to J.R. Smitht to Chris Andersen who are known to do stupid things in n out of the court: from flagrant fouls, to brawls, to ill advised plays, to refusing coming out of the game, to meaningless confrontations, to drugs, DUI's blahhhhh blahhh blahhhh...
Many people have been saying that Melo is a different person after last summer's experience with the US team in Beijing but really, Chauncey has been the stabilizer....against a very poised New Orleans team run by NBA sensation Crhis Paul the only certain thing is a long and exciting series as long as New Orleans stays healthy..they are not deep but other than Paul they have a great starting 5 with the best offensive rebounder in the game (Chandler) and my boy Peja, 1 of the best all time 3 point shooters.
Prediction: Denver in 6

(3) San Antonio vs (6) Dallas

Dallas has been cruising under the radar for the last couple weeks going from potentially missing the playoffs to climbing at the No6 seed and so the ailing Spurs without Manu Ginobli and a quickly aging Tim Duncan will try to hold court against the surging Mavericks who have won seven out of nine! If Ginobili was healthy, this isn’t even a series. but with his injury, it makes the spurs vulnerable..Duncan ALWAYS turns it up in the playoffs, he looked slower last year, then game 1 of the playoffs, he drops 40...even on one knee, he’s gonna eat Dampier and Bass alive. Howard is a spurs killer, so he’ll be that x-factor... I'm going with experience here, San Antonio always comes up with phenomenal plays, they just deny to lose...Have to say though that this is a totally winnable series for a Dallas team that lost its swagger after getting humiliated in the 1st round of the 2007 playoffs by those Dubs!
Prediction: Spurs in 7

(4) Portland vs (5) Houston

There’s almost no difference between these teams statistically and that's why it makes sense for them to be the number4 and 5 seed respectively..In a playoff year that is full of entertaining first round match-ups, the showdown between Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets has to be at the top. The Trail Blazers have been tagged as the team of the future as their blend of youth and a defensive mindset has them maturing rapidly. The inexperience of the Blazers is going to be a factor many will bring up, but it could actually help a team that is ignorant to how big the moment is. The Rockets have the T.O.-esque diva, Tracy McGrady, who bounced back and forth before finally ending his season to get knee surgery. Then there is Ron Artest, who has the ability to break down his opponent, or just plain break down and Yao has not found the keys for a playoff success..add this to Rick Adelman's woes during his stints with Portland (lost to NBA finals by Bulls) and Kings (lost memorable 7th game by Lakers) and I see the youngsters advancing and giving some serious trouble to the Lakers...
Prediction: Portland in 7

"Role Models" Best comedy of the year so far..

2009-03-29T23:59:00.005+03:00

Ok, I can go on with all the stereotypes: "This film is never cheesy or overdone. It is honest and never takes the easy way out. I laughed from start to finish. It's not particularly high brow, but it does take a fairly usual concept - hating your job and letting life pass you by, and having to deal with the consequences - and does some unique stories with it".
BUT, comedy crossing the line is why you should watch Role models..EXAMPLE:

"Beyonce pouring sugar on my d#$@"

Wheeler has to complete 150 hrs of community service; therefore, he is assigned a foul-mouthed black kid who likes to draw pictures like the above 1...
There are lots of laugh really hard out loud moments. I thought it was better written and well acted, with only few potty jokes and a lot more humor...

What's wrong with kids today (SPORTS EDITION)

2009-03-22T03:27:00.009+02:00

THE FACTS: I was at a high school lacrosse game the other day sitting at the stands but very close to the coach of the home team...Other than knowing the game and having a solid game plan I think great coaches are able to motivate their players whenever, wherever...In a nippy and rainy Saturday morning those 16 yr old were facing this instead of that... at the same time they were playing a Division I playoff game but the lack of hustle and energy was obvious..with time running down, the coach was heard screaming to its players "If there's no grass on the field you GOTTA play in the mud..." Great motivation there right??? Especially if it comes from a mad white Irish dude about to have a stroke and multiple heart attacks..

THE PROBLEM: Well kids started laughing (after leaving the bench and entering the court), some of the bench players were heard calling the coach homo/faggot (when he was like 1 mile away from the bench) while all kind of jokes were provided by entrepreneurs in the stands...

THE DIAGNOSIS: Kids today are soft and spoiled, period.They don't know and they don't appreciate how good they got it..No agency cared if our parents beat us..As a matter of fact the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Band aids??? Hello??? My first basketball game was next to a chicken coop out of a wooden bucket previously filled with tomatoes...that's mud AND poop at the same time! Can you feel me??? You're spoiled! You guys wouldn't have lasted a minute back in the 90's...

And please don't get me wrong I'm not saying we should go back to that:

Although we get a very entertaining point about Greeks and what's wrong with them being lazy and not wanting to work...

Time to review some MOVIES!!!

2009-02-12T09:28:00.006+02:00

Caught a glimpse of Pulp Fiction the other day and I'm currently stuck with 1 of the best dialogues E-V-E-R..

Why do we feel it's necessary to talk about bullshit in order to be comfortable? - I don't know. That's a good question. - That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence...

Back to reality I'm going to list a couple of notable movies I've recently seen...

BOTTLE SHOCK:

A great story, taking place at the 70's, about Napa Valley and how the US wines managed to appear in the world market making a name for themselves...Jim Barrett is a down on his luck vineyard owner, whose last few seasons trying to make a decent Chardonnay, haven't bore any fruit and he isn't getting anywhere, no thanks to his uninterested son, Bo, a laid back, party loving surfer dude. When British oenologist Steven Spurrier (pictured above), owner of a Parisian boutique specializing in world wines, decides to pit the famed invincible French wines against unknown foreign product, he makes the trip out to the California hills, in order to locate worthy competition in his contest. As he slowly makes his way through the various locations and wine products, Spurrier raises the local hopes that their brands might get some much needed recognition on the global scale.

Best small budget movies are always the ones based on real-life events, especially inspired ones about underdogs who make their mark in the world. Most of the varied cast are memorable in their individual roles: Alan Rickman portrays Steven Spurrier with panache, as the ever-stereotypical wine snob looking for a way to increase business in his small specialty wine shop. Director/writer Randall Miller gives Rickman great lines, without making him a villain in any way, shape or form...Up and coming actor Chris Pine also shines as Bo Barrett, the surfer dude whose pride is bruised more than once during the story.

WHY I LOVED THIS MOVIE: Bottle Shock is the kind of precious little film that makes the audience want to pause the film in order to locate a good bottle and glass of a tasty vintage, in the spirit of truly celebrating a good wine, and the incredible effort and art behind the making of such. Like a fine bottle, this movie is to be savored again and again.

CHE PART I & II

Che” is actually two movies that tell one cohesive story. The first, “The Argentine,” follows Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s (Benicio del Toro) rise from doctor to rebel hero in the successful Cuban Revolution, while the second, “Guerilla,” tracks his later attempt to continue the cause in a not-so-successful charge in Bolivia. The reunion of “Traffic” Oscar winners del Toro and Soderbergh is an exciting prospect, and del Toro has already won a best actor prize at Cannes for his efforts here. Never been a fan of Che and this 1 is a classic "Hollywood" movie aiming at elevating his fame after death ... “The Argentine” cuts back and forth between Guevara’s rise and his political life years, providing enough narrative momentum to qualify as engaging. When it’s all over audiences are likely to have a clear understanding of Guevara’s commitment to his cause, but there’s an awful lot about the man (and his allegedly ultra-violent tactics) that isn't mentioned or showed. Shouldn’t four hours and two films deliver more than that?

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE??? O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D

RIGHTEOUS KILL??? You can see how the ending is coming plus chemistry is something you can't teach...know what I mean???

GRAN TORINO??? Yes, Clint Eastwood is 1 of the all time greatest actors and yes that's all you need to know about the movie...Having him repeatedly calling out "the gooks" should be illegal...

MILK:

First off let’s get one thing clear, this isn’t a film about milk. I didn’t see one glass of milk in the entire film. ;-) Milk is the true story of Harvey Milk’s crusade for gay rights, and his rise to becoming the first openly gay politician in California history. Unlike other films that deal with this subject matter, It was the cast that drew me to this film.

The visual style of Gus Van Sant, really captures the look and vibe of the Seventies. He grounds the film with remarkable archival TV news footage that locks in the true story aspect of the film. Sean Penn, again delivers a powerful performance as the gay politician Harvey Milk. James Franco also delivers a powerful performance. Emile Hirsch and James Brolin (as usual) provide amazing life to there characters..A very educational film and if somebody comes to visit me I promise to take you to the man that had the whole gay community beg him to move his grocery store in Castro..heck he was getting free drinks at the famous SF Bar "The Cockpit"...

A couple notes...

2009-02-03T07:00:00.003+02:00

My pick for best commercial during yesterday's Superbowl has to be the "Bud light "with Conan O’Brien..This is like a total parody of those weird commercials celebrities did in japan when no one was watching...You have to love the Vanstroodlen..

And most heartbreaking commercial (although I'm still laughing my ass off) was a $3 million ad where Jack Box gets hit by a bus--his condition, serious...follow up at http://hangintherejack.com/

And my point of view about the Utah Jazz..many sportswriters have been arguing about how great Paul Milsap has been with Carlos Boozer held out of action the last couple months...can't argue that, Milsap is a 20/10 machine and the rest of the team is the same so why not let Boozer opt out this summer??? Memo to everybody: it's easy to find a 20/10 guy but it's rare to find a 20/10 guy that wins! Jazz is 17-18 with Milsap and it seems like they will be missing the playoffs...

Update on my boy Josh Childress and it's not always about the dunk!!!

2009-01-21T07:23:00.008+02:00

Another classic in the long history of "Josh Childress doing lines": “I’m glad to be home, but I didn’t want it to happen this way...”

Big news out of Philly this morning...Swingman Josh Childress, had surgery to repair a tear in his abdomen...While initial reports projected Josh would miss between 6-8 weeks, Josh and his medical team think the time frame could be shorter: “The doctor said he thinks we can push the envelope on the recovery and I could be back in 3-4 weeks. ”
Meanwhile, reports from the other side of the Atlantic, were saying yesterday that "Olympiacos Pireaus on Tuesday announced that forward Josh Childress will undergo hernia surgery today and miss most, if not all, of the Top 16."
There is a story here totally going under the radar:
While the surgery has been reported as a hernia, Childress and his doctor said (after the surgery was performed) that it was actually an abdominal tear. Said, Josh: "Everybody (in Greece) diagnosed it as hernia, but the specialist in Philly said it was a tear. Actually, I’m kind of unclear, because the team doctor said he thought it was a hernia, and he was here at the surgery as well."
Childress had the surgery in the U.S. because he had a clause in his contract that allowed him to come to the U.S. and see a doctor if he suffered any serious injury. He went to a specialist in Philly — the same guy who treated Shaq’s strained abdominal muscle.
Again Josh is showing us that he has been less of an outstanding basketball player and more of a professional business ~~basketball~~ player...
It's funny cause once in a while I get together with professional scouts and when I bring up the Josh Childress situation they all have kinda the same ~~non basketball related~~ response "He proved his Stanford education"...

We have to be grateful for streaming technology...After you replay this video 10 times, think about exactly how many highlights we’ve missed...but here there's MORE than just the dunk!!

This dunk by the 6-3, 190-pound was one for the ages, (although it's an obvious offensive foul), but the celebration and the audio were just as classic. Joshua Beale (no. 44) gives high-fives to random people on the sidelines. Cheerleaders come up to talk trash. The victim (6-6 junior swingman Mason Ambler) just lies on the floor. Not a single teammate comes near to help him up...I’m laughing at the dunker’s teammates too. Two of them screamed in the face of the kid who got dunked on. That was brutal. One of them was even mugging the dude as he walked to the free throw line like he dunked the ball or something.

Ignorance is worst than extremism...

2009-01-07T23:27:00.003+02:00

HATE CITY BABY!!!! PURE…..

2009-01-06T07:30:00.009+02:00

Συγκλονιστικό update απο W.H.I.V.S.I.V που δείχνει οτι δυστυχώς τα πράγματα όχι μόνο δεν αλλάζουν αλλά γίνονται χειρότερα στην πιο αδικημένη πόλη του κόσμου...l-o-l

Κλασσικές μέρες περισυλλογής και αυτοκριτικής. Γενικώς είναι οι μέρες της σούμας… Βαρύγδουπες αποφάσεις, μεγάλα λόγια, φρούδες ελπίδες… Από την άλλη νέες προοπτικές, σχεδιασμός (say what??), επαναπροσδιορισμοί στόχων σε όλα τα επίπεδα… δεν έχω σκοπό να μπώ σε πολλές προσωπικές λεπτομέρειες (όσες χρειαστεί θα μπουν σφήνα στο κείμενο) αλλά θα μιλήσω γενικά για κάποια πράματα και ως συνήθως θα επιμείνουμε σε κάποια must say γεγονότα…

Γιορτές τέλος λοιπόν , τα κεφάλια μέσα από Τετάρτη (Τι?Δευτέρα???χαχαχαχαχα….Ελλάδα είσαι!!!) και τα χαμόγελα ξαναπαγώνουν στα πρόσωπα..(και σίγουρα όχι από το κρύο)….Οι φετινές γιορτές σίγουρα είχαν κάτι το ιδιαίτερο λόγω των γνωστών γεγονότων (στα οποία δεν θα ήθελα να επεκταθώ γιατί ίσως να κινδύνευε από την λογοκρισία το blog του brother Dio για φιλοχουντικές απόψεις!!)…Η περίεργη και σίγουρα καθόλου ευχάριστη κατάσταση που επικρατούσε ήρθε σαν βούτυρο στο ψωμί των κάποιων Κων Ευαγγελάτων και η τρομοκρατία των ΜΜΕ γνώρισε μεγάλες στιγμές..Όλα αυτά και φτάσαμε στην καρδιά των εορτών με τον Ζορό νομάρχη να δηλώνει ότι θέλει ανοιχτά καταστήματα 365 μέρες το χρόνο (υπερβολικός είμαι ως συνήθως αλλά u got the point) και τον κόσμο ενώ έχει κάποια χρήματα να φοβάται να αγοράσει μήπως και τα χρειαστεί για να αγοράσει ρύζι για τον επερχόμενο οικονομικό μαρασμό της χώρας (συμβουλές Εισαγγελάτου)..Ανάσες στην αγορά, κόσμος στην πόλη και εδώ θα σταθώ λίγο στον έναν κι μοναδικό, τεράστιο –είμαι βλάκας και έχω και βλάκες συμβούλους αλλά δεν με νοιάζει γιατί είμαι ζόμπι- δήμαρχο αυτής της πολύπαθης πόλης!!! Κάθε στιγμή ευχόμουν να είναι εδώ μαζί μας ο DIO αυτές τις μέρες –όχι μόνο γιατί πολύ απλά μας λείπει- αλλά γιατί επιτέλους θα μπορούσε να κάνει το όνειρο του πραγματικότητα….Να κατέβει με το Hammer στην Τσιμισκή και να γίνει ο τιμωρός των πάντων!!!!¨ακουσον-άκουσον, ο – είμαιβλάκαςκαιέχωκαιβλάκεςσυμβούλουςαλλάδενμενοιάζειγιατίείμαιζόμπι- δήμαρχος αποφάσισε ότι η Δημοτική –ή αλλιώς εισπρακτική- Αστυνομία δεν θα τιμωρεί με κλήσεις τους οδηγούς ΟΠΟΥ και αν παρκάρουν στο κέντρο της πόλης για να τονωθεί η κίνηση στην αγορά……χαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχακλαψ,κλαψ,κλαψ,κλαψ,κλαψ,κλαψ,κλαψ…..με λίγα λόγια???Να γελάς ή να κλαις????Ρε τεράστιε????μόνος σου το σκέφτηκες???Απόφαση δημάρχου στο κατώφλι του 2009…..Το πρόβλημα ήταν το παρκάρισμα και όχι το μποτιλιάρισμα που τελικά δημιούργησες….Ε?Το πρόβλημα ήταν το πρόστιμο της κλήσης????Αυτά ήταν τα προβλήματα????θέλεις να σου αναφέρω ΠΟΛΥ-ΠΟΛΥ επιφανειακά τι προβλήματα ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΗΣΕΣ αντί να λύσεις??? Τελείως επιγραμματικά, ας αναφέρουμε τις συνέπειες του ατιμώρητου και ελεύθερου παρκινγκ όταν αυτό παρέχεται απλόχερα στον Έλληνα οδηγό-βόδι:

1. Διάβαση για ανάπηρους?????? Occupιed….Μιλάμε για εξοργιστική εικόνα….¨Αξια του λαού μας….ΑΠΕΡΙΓΡΑΠΤΗ ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ….

2. Διάβαση για πεζούς??? Καλά ρε φίλε πεζοναύτης δεν έκανες??? Πήδα 2 αμάξια να περάσεις απέναντι..Φλώρε….

3. Στάσεις λεωφορείων??? χαχαχαχα….Έχανες το λεωφορείο μέχρι να κάνεις τους ελιγμούς….

4. Πεζοδρόμια??? Πως είπατε??? Συγγνώμη κύριε, ποιός είστε????Σ ημειωτέον επιτρεπόταν και η ΚΑΘΕΤΗ στάθμευση……

5. Στην Τσιμισκή 3πλοπαρκαρισμένα…..χωρίς αλάρμ….έτσι απλά…..Άρης είσαι….

6. Ντρέπομαι καν που το λέω σαν παράβαση ΚΟΚ σε σχέση με τα από πάνω αλλά δεν υπήρχε γωνία στενού ή σταυροδρομίου που να είναι ανοιχτή. Ορατότης μηδέν για οδηγούς οι οποίοι κινδύνευαν και από τους ιπτάμενους-κασκαντέρ πεζούς (μην ξεχνιόμαστε—Βλ. παρ.2)

7. Ελαχιστοποίηση χρήσης ΜΜΜ….~~Οικολόγος~~ ο mayor ε??

8. Απίστευτο μποτιλιάρισμα…..Για οικολογία είπα τίποτα???

9. Τόνωση κέντρου-θάνατος τοπικών αγορών Κ. Δήμαρχε??? Ha???

10. To Κυριότερο για μένα……Πως θα ξαναβάλετε τους οδηγούς στο σωστό δρόμο πάλι Κ. Δήμαρχε από βδομάδα που θα αρθεί η ασυλία???15 μέρες είναι ανεξέλεγκτοι…Πως λοιπόν??? Να μαντέψω??? Με κλήσεις ε???? Και σαν να ακούω τους διαμαρτυρόμενους –δενείμαιηλίθιοςαλλάτοπαίζωγιαναπαρωπίσωτιςπινακίδες- οδηγούς να φωνάζουν στο Μέγαρο (πως είναι το ξερνάω στα Αγγλικά??) της Δημοτικής «Δεν ξέραμε ότι δεν ισχύει πλέον το μέτρο», «15 μέρες εκεί το έβαζα ρε φίλε», «μα 2 βδομάδες το είχα 3πλό στην Τσιμισκή, δεν θα μπορώ να το έχω μέχρι και τις ….επόμενες εκλογές ας πούμε????» κτλ,κτλ…..

Ελλάς το μεγαλείο σου…Αδικημένη πόλη η Θεσσαλονίκη…..ε?? Ή καλύτερα αυτοαδικημένοι πολίτες οι Θεσσαλονικείς….(Ο γραφών ήδη ντρέπεται αρκετα για κάποιες τοπικές πολιτικές επιλογές…..Shit happens….)

Θα το κλεισω το θεμα γιατί ειλικρινά πολύ απλά δεν υπάρχει καμία λογική και κανένα θέμα συζήτησης για έναν στοιχειωδώς σκεπτόμενο άνθρωπο….

Συνεχίζουμε λοιπόν μέσα στις γιορτές οι οποίες φέτος ήταν παραγγελιά για τον Έλληνα….Χριστούγεννα-Πρωτοχρονιά την Πέμπτη….Τι σημαίνει αυτό??? Με 7 μέρες άδεια 18 μέρες καθισιό… .Αμ δε…. Και χωρίς άδεια πάλι 18 μέρες κάτσανε οι περισσότεροι….Ζωάρα ρε….Κρίση…Έλλειψη χρημάτων..Γκρίνια…Αλλά 18 μέρες ΞΗΣΙΜΟ….Τί γίνεται ρε παιδιά??? Πως στέκουν αυτά τα πράματα μαζί??? Δλδ give me a break….Everybody fucks in this town except me (us)???..Για να κάθεσαι και να ξύνεις τα’αρ$$%%^*& σου για 18 μέρες χρειάζεσαι πολλά λεφτα…Άρα μας δουλεύεις γιατί λεφτά πολύ απλά ΔΕΝ έχεις (το είπε και ο Ευαγγελάτος)…Άρα τι γίνεται??? Σαν να έκλεισε η χώρα για 2 εβδομάδες….Αν ήταν εμπορικό κέντρο η χώρα θα ήταν κλέιστό για 15 μέρες..Κλειστό…τέρμα….

Ίσως κάποιοι γνωρίζουν το επάγγελμα μου…Μικρή σημασία έχει προκύπτει από την mini-ιστορία που ακολουθεί…Τρίτη 23 Δεκεμβρίου στη δουλειά-μια ανακαίνιση διαμερίσματος-..Συζήτηση με εργάτη από Αλβανία (καμία ρατσιστική τάση….αλλά μην τα ισοπεδώνουμε όλα…)-ΜΗΧΑΝΙΚΟΣ-Α, ΕΡΓΑΤΗΣ:Β

Α: Ακάκιε, αύριο θα έρθετε για 2-3 ωρίτσες να τελειώσετε κάτι μερεμέτια γιατί μετά τις γιορτές περιμένω άλλο συνεργείο???

Β: Άμα τέλεις να έρτω κ. Στέφανε…..(ΠΑΠΑΣ….Δείτε γιατί). Αλλά αύριο είναι παραμονή Χριστουγέννων….

Α: Το ξέρω ρε Ακάκιε..Γιάυτό σε ρωτάω..Αν και είναι εργάσιμη η μέρα..Υπηρεσίες,γραφεία,τράπεζες,αγορά ΟΛΑ ανοιχτά…..ΕΡΓΑΣΙΜΗ…HELLOOOOO???

B: Το ξέρω ρε Στέφανε (το κ. έγινε καπνός!!!!χαχαχχα…προφανώς και χέστηκα έτσι..??ψάξτε αλλού για τίτλους!!!)..Αλλά είναι παραμονή…(Βλέπει κανείς κανένα επιχείρημα σε αυτή την επαναλαμβανόμενη πρόταση?????)….

Α: Ωραία ρε Ακάκιε..Θα έρθεις ή όχι???Εγώ εδώ θα είμαι,θα δουλέψω κανονικά!

Β: Ε αφού τέλεις τα έρτω…..(Φεύγει προς την πόρτα…..)

Β: (Σταματάει στο κατώφλι, μαζεύει θάρρος και πετάει την ατάκα…) Τελικά (τεράστιο επίρρημα….. Διαχωρίζει την τωρινή σκέψη από την αρχική… Και το κυριότερο, επιβεβαιώνει την ύπαρξη της ίδιας της σκέψης!!!!) θα ΠΡΟΤΙΜΟΥΣΑ ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΔΟΥΛΕΨΩ ΑΥΡΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΜΗΝ ΕΠΙΜΕΝΕΙΣ!!!!!!!!....

Α: …………Μυδίασμα……Καλά Χριστούγεννα…………..

Νομίζω ότι είναι ένα χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα και δεν έχει να κάνει με καταγωγή, εθνικότητα και ιδιότητα…. Δίπλα ακριβώς ήταν ένας Έλληνας μάστορας ο οποίος δέχτηκε να έρθει να δουλέψει την εργάσιμη Παραμονή… Και ήταν ίδιας εθνικότητας με αυτούς που 18 μέρες ΚΑΘΟΝΤΑΝ….Άρα είναι θέμα τσίπας ανθρώπου….Και όχι ΜΟΝΟ καταγωγής….Όμως πραγματικά μου έκανε φοβερή εντύπωση η ατάκα του μάστορα…ειλικρινά….Ίσως κακώς αλλα μου έμεινε…. το έλεγα σε όλους και ρωτούσα να δω μήπως κακώς στράβωσα….. Το θεώρησα ένα φοβερό σημείο των καιρών….Σε περίοδο κρίσης, απόλυτης κρίσης- ειδικά στα οικοδομικά- ο αρκετά ικανοποιητικά αμοιβόμενος αλλά χωρίς σίγουρη δουλειά πλέον εργάτης δεν θέλει να δουλέψει μια εργάσιμη ημέρα… .Δεν λέω, οι μέρες εκείνες είναι κάπως χαλαρές… Αλλά το χαλαρές δεν σημαίνει νεκρές…. Τουλάχιστον όχι στην Ελλάδα…..Εμείς γιατί τελείωσαμε την Παραμονή στις 7 το απόγευμα??? (καλά στις 5, μην αρχίσουμε και μεις τον παπά…) Γουστάραμε??? Μπα…Μάλλον για να έχει δουλειά ο μάστορας και να βγάλουμε και εμείς το παντεσπάνι μας!!! Θα το κλείσω και αυτό το θέμα…τα σχόλια δικά σας….

Πλήρης ανοργανωσιά και απροθυμία φέτος στην οργάνωση εξόδων παραμονής πρωτοχρονιάς….Αφύσικη απροθυμία…(Το ξέρω ,η αλλαγή θέματος αδόκιμη…αλλά who cares???)…Η μόνιμη απάντηση στην ερώτηση «Τι θα κάνεις την Παραμονή?» ήταν «ΔΕΝ ΞΕΡΩ…»…Δεν κατάλαβα ακόμα το γιατί..Πάντως όχι τα χρήματα…(Το καζίνο ήταν ασφυκτικά γεμάτο….Με πολλούς μαλάκες σαν κι εμένα…..ΓΓΓκκκκκρρρρρρρ)..Α και τα μπουζούκια….Εκεί δεν πήγα, μου το είπαν…..Κλίμα χαλαρό και μάλλον απαξιωτικό και λίγο στενάχωρο….Τελικά και οι δύο παραμονές εξελίχθηκαν ΠΟΛΥ ωραία….Αλλά αυτό είναι προσωπική άποψη και τελικά δεν έχει και σημασία…Η ουσία είναι ότι κάτι δεν πάει καλά….Στην California υπήρχε mood Dio??? Και το χειρότερο ξέρετε πιο είναι??? Δεν είχε ρεβεγιόν με ΑΦΘΟΝΗ ΣΑΜΠΑΝΙΑ στο Αχίλλειον φέτος…..χαχαχαχα…..Ελεούρα!!!!! Να και τα καλά της κρίσης….Και εγώ που νόμιζα ότι όση μπορούν να πληρώσουν την άφθονη σαμπάνια δεν επηρεάστηκαν από την κρίση….(Το είπε και ο Εισαγγελάτος….)..Άρα που καταλήγουμε??? Ή ότι η παραπάνω διαπίστωση είναι λανθασμένη ή τελικά από τους 100 που έπιναν άφθονη σαμπάνια πέρσι, οι 90 την πλήρωναν με δανεικά…. Αφθονοσαμπανο-δάνειο….. Είμαι υπερβολικός???Ε????Και πάλι τα σχόλια δικά σας……

Είχα σχεδόν πεισθεί λοιπόν ότι τελικά η παραπάνω διαπίστωση ήταν λανθασμένη… Μέχρι που ήρθε η 3η Ιανουαρίου να με βάλει σε σκέψεις…. Καλεσμένος εκ παραδρομής –απλά συνόδευα την κοπέλα μου, δεν γνώριζα προσωπικά τους εορτάζοντες-στο γνωστό και μη εξαιρεταίο Bar-Restaurant της πόλης…..Σημασία έχει η ηλικία της εορτάζουσας και η οικονομική της κατάσταση…25-αρκετά έως πολύ καλή είναι οι απαντήσεις…Το μισό μαγαζί δικό μας με open bar (γονατισμα….) για τους καλεσμένους..Ερώτηση στην πόρτα: « Είστε για την δεξίωση????»….-Κρύος ιδρώτας, Βλέμμα απορίας προς την κοπέλα μου που μεταφράζεται σε «Πες μου ότι έπρεπε να έρθω με φράκο και εγώ έβαλα τζιν», απάντηση της κοπέλας με βλέμμα « Δεν είχα καταλάβει ότι είναι τόσο formal και γω casual ντύθηκα» στραβοκατάπημα και απάντηση με περίσσεια αφέλεια «Τι εννοείτε ΔΕΞΙΩΣΗ????»…… Με τα πολλά και τα λίγα μπήκαμε και περάσαμε και ωραία (μάλλον μόνο εγώ και η κοπέλα μου…) αφού χορέψαμε ,γελάσαμε κτλ….Όμως η σκέψη με τυραννούσε όλο το βράδυ…Στα 25 μου χρόνια πρέπει να δώσω 2-3 χιλιάρικα για να διασκεδάσω με τους φίλους μου φορώντας τουαλέτα και χορεύοντας σαν τη ΘΕΊΑ ΜΑΡIΚΑ??? Στα 25 μου πρέπει να είμαι με το χέρι στην τσέπη (δεξί κατά προτίμηση σύμφωνα με το «εγχειρίδο του σωστού κουκλεντέ» του γνωστού πλέον αρθρογράφου THE DON) και το αντίθετο πόδι ελαφρώς πιο μπροστά με κίνηση-σπάσιμο του γόνατου στο ρυθμό της μουσικής επειδή αν χορέψω σαν άνθρωπος θα χαρακτηριστώ γελοίος??? Πρέπει στα 25 μου να είμαι ντυμένος με μια καπότα από πάνω ως κάτω???? Το προφυλακτικό λοιπόν, είναι το πιο άσχημο πράμα που αναγκάστηκε να «φοράει» ο άνθρωπος στην πιο ωραία πράξη της ζωής του, στις σεξουαλικές του ΣΧΕΣΕΙΣ… Συμβολίζει το γεγονός πως ότι και να γίνει ποτέ δεν θα είμαστε σαν ένα!!! Κάτι υπάρχει ανάμεσα μας…. ένα κομμάτι πλαστικό… Και εσείς δεσποινίς και κύριε (ναι συνοδευόταν η δεσποινίς προφανώς) ΕΠΙΛΕΓΕΤΕ (και εκεί είναι το στενάχωρο) να το φοράτε και κατά τη διάρκεια των κοινωνικών-φιλικών σας ΣΧΕΣΕΩΝ??? Δηλαδή τι έμεινε αληθινό και ανεμπόδιστο τελικά??? Τί έμεινε αγνό και άμεσο???? Άμα είναι να δίνουμε και χειραψία με γάντι…Ε?? Μην κολλήσουμε και τίποτα…. Έτσι ακριβώς ένοιωθα όταν έβλεπα αυτό το 25χρονο ζευγάρι….Σαν να φοβόταν μη τυχόν κολλήσει ΚΕΦΙ και ΑΝΕΜΕΛΙΑ…..Τι να πω….Απλά ξαναμπήκα σε σκέψεις…. Α,και ήπια τσάμπα από το μπουκάλι ΜΟΥ!!!( Κυριολεκτικά, μόνο εγώ έπινα Dewars-δεν ήταν special γιάυτό ίσως-..Open bar δεν είπαμε?)

Που θέλω να καταλήξω??? Ότι δυστυχώς ή ευτυχώς η διαπίστωση περί της επίπτωσης της κρίσης στους έχοντες δεν ήταν λανθασμένη τελικά……(Όλα συνδέονται…You see???)…Άρα η φούσκα υπήρχε –όχι μόνο εδώ, σε όλο τον κόσμο φυσικά- και η άφθονη σαμπάνια καταναλώθηκε από τους «ΈχωCayenneαλλάμεleasingκαι δίνω300€τομήνααλλά έχωCayenne» τύπους….

Καλή χρονιά σε όλους εύχομαι και ειδικά στον αδερφό Dio!!!

PS1: Αν και ξέρω ότι δεν τα γουστάρεις αυτά θέλω απλά να πω ότι μας λείπεις όλους αλλά δεν ευχόμαστε να ήσουν εδώ!!! Ευχόμαστε να ήμασταν εμείς εκεί!!!!

PS2: Επειδή πολύ γκρίνιαξα θα κλείσω με κάτι αισιόδοξο… Δεν υπάρχει πιο ωραίο συναίσθημα από την δικαίωση μιας προσπάθειας είτε αφορά στη δουλειά είτε στις προσωπικές σχέσεις…. έχω την τύχη να το ζω και στα 2 επίπεδα πλέον εδώ και λίγες μέρες!!! Άργησε αλλά ο επιμένων νικά….. Και όλα αυτά με τακτική Dio….Ήρεμα, ψύχραιμα, χωρίς υπερβολές και αδικαιολόγητες απαιτήσεις!!!!

PS3: Αρρώστια αυτό το μηχάνημα….(Για λίγους!!!!χαχα)

PS4: Κρίση είναι, θα περάσει!!!!

Those guys at TNT are real comedians...

2008-12-19T22:17:00.004+02:00

NBA on TNT has been my favorite show since...well forever! Excellent crew (Barkley, Kenny and Ernie) with great chemistry and a bunch of guys behind the scenes always coming up with crazy shit just to tease Sir Charles...Great knowledge of the game helps too (you think I miss those dudes in Greece who do broadcast without even knowing how to pronounce players and team names????).

While NBA TV show with Chris Webber, Gary Payton,and Ahmad Rashad has made significant steps to become equally entertaining, once C-Webb comes through on the TNT set big things happen...

Where do I start??? Charles Barkley is caught off guard and has to dodge a couple of shoes thrown in his direction, as C-Webb does his best impression of an Iraqi journalist..
The slow-motion version is just H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S and what makes it even funnier is Webber saying ” This is for Gene Chizik”...Chizic was hired last week as the football head coach at Auburn University ...Auburn fans about the hire was overwhelmingly negative with Auburn graduate Barkley accusing athletic director Jacobs and the school of racism in its hiring of Chizik over Buffalo head coach Turner Gill. Barkley noted that Chizik had the worst resume of all the coaches interviewed (via ESPN)
That is funny enough, I don’t need any more Christmas presents. This will do it...

ΑΓΚΡΑΦΑ – ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΑ ΣΗΜΕΙΩΣΑΤΕ 1 και Η ΓΕΝΙΑ ΤΩΝ 2.000 €

2008-12-08T01:56:00.006+02:00

Don-G-kanos (a.k.a. THE DON) is doing it again!!!

(2 άρθρα σε 1 -write & go- αφορμή το ένα για το άλλο)

Όλα ξεκίνησαν εκείνο το γ@μημένο βράδυ… 1/12/2008 και αισθανόμουν πιο φευγάτος από ποτέ. Ήρθε η μέρα και ερχόταν και η ώρα. Σήμερα θα έπαιζαν οι θρυλικοί πλέον PUBLIC ENEMY στο Μύλο της Θεσσαλονίκης, για μια και μοναδική εμφάνιση. Γενικά έχω παρατηρήσει μια έξαρση «ψακτικών» event (με αποκορύφωση για εμένα πλήθος dj απ’ την ninja tunes) στην πόλη μας και αυτό με ικανοποιεί, γιατί υπάρχουν πολλές εναλλακτικές και το καθημερινό μας «φευγιό» πλέον είναι το καλύτερο ναρκωτικό….
Να μην τα πολυλογώ, η συναυλία ξεκινούσε 21:00. Ώρα 19:00 και τελευταίο ραντεβού στο γραφείο μου με τον κ. Σπ@σαρχ1δόπουλο... Ούτε που άκουγα τι μου έλεγε… Σα να μου μιλούσε και από πίσω να άκουγα το dope beat απ’ το fight the power!!! Ώρα θα ‘ταν να κρεμούσε και το ρολόι τοίχου που έχω, στο λαιμό του σαν τον Flavor Flav και να γουστάραμε άσχημα…. Αυτό το σκηνικό πολύ απήχε απ’ την πραγματικότητα όμως, και μάλλον ήταν οι παραισθήσεις απ’ το «φευγιό» που μ’ είχαν πιάσει…Ναι κ. Σπ@σαρχ1δόπουλε, ναι, ναι, ναι, έτσι ακριβώς είναι. Μπίμπα στις ρητορικές ερωτήσεις ο διάλογος. Του χα την λύση στο γ@μημένο το πρόβλημα του, πριν καν πατήσει στο γραφείο μου και αυτός δεν έλεγε να μ’ ακούσει (χρονοχρέωση? Ούου? Γιούχου? Πόσο την ώρα? Χαχαχαχα!).
Περνούσαν τα λεπτά αργά και βασανιστικά και άκουγα την φωνή του σαν LP βινύλιο που το έπαιζες σε λιγότερες στροφές απ’ ότι έπρεπε. Στο τέλος καταλήξαμε, δώσαμε τα χέρια (με σφιχτή και επαγγελματική χειραψία και όχι με blackness approved σαν τον undercover lover) και ανανεώσαμε το ραντεβού για άλλη φορά…Το τηλέφωνο βαρούσε ασταμάτητα και κάποια στιγμή απάντησα. Ηταν η κλασσική κ@ριόλα που καλεί από τηλεφωνική εταιρία, να μου πει ότι κέρδισα μια σκούπα, ένα φούρνο μικροκυμμάτων και ένα ταξίδι στην λωρίδα της Γάζας, αρκεί να μπλα, μπλα, μπλα…. Σε κλάσματα δευτερολέπτου είχα γειώσει το τηλεφώνημα…Δεν έδωσα σημασία σε τπτ άλλο και άρχισα να μαζεύω τα πράγματα μου γρήγορα. Ξαφνικά χτυπάει η πόρτα και ξεπροβάλει πρώτα ένα τεράστιο σαρδόνιο χαμόγελο σαν του joker και μετά ο γνωστός σε όλους πελάτης καικαλάήμουνστηνγειτονιακαιείπαναπεράσωδενπιστεύωναχειςδουλειά έσκασε μύτη. Η επίσκεψη του όμως έσκασε σαν βόμβα. Ηδη ήταν 20:00 και ήμουν μισός oldschool μισός κυρίλας (σαν transformer που δεν πρόλαβε να ολοκληρώσει την μεταμόρφωση, όπως κάνει και ο dio τον ήχο κουχουχουκου..) Ναι κύριε καικαλάήμουνστηνγειτονιακαιείπαναπεράσωδενπιστεύωναχειςδουλειά, πείτε μου, γιατί βιάζομαι. Αυτός όμως είχε ένα σοβαρό θέμα και δεν μπορούσα να τον αγνοήσω (τη μέρα που ορκίστηκα γιατί δεν είχα σταυρωμένα τα χέρια μου από πίσω?). Έπρεπε να κάτσω να ακούσω το πρόβλημα του και να βρω λύση, με το ήδη θολωμένο μυαλό μου απ’ το «φευγιό»… Οι στροφές στο LP ακόμα πιο κάτω, ο δείκτης των δευτερολέπτων στο ρολόι σαν κινέζικο βασανιστήριο, η γραβάτα με έπνιγε σαν κρεμάλα. Ας μην το γ@μ@με όμως. Ο άνθρωπος χρειαζόταν βοήθεια και εν τέλει αναιρώντας στο μυαλό μου και στο κείμενο το προηγούμενο intro τα έκανα όλα πέρα και έκατσα να δουλέψω. Ευτυχώς ήρθε αποτέλεσμα, γιατί γουστάρω αυτό που κάνω και αφού μ’ ευχαρίστησε εξαφανίστηκε μέσα στον σκοτεινό πλέον για την ώρα διάδρομο. Η συναυλία θα ξεκινούσε σε λίγο και ο καθρέφτης μου έλεγε: «ΠΟΥ ΠΑΣ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΑΓΚΡΑΦΑ???». Είχε δίκιο, δεν ήμουν στο σετ! Βουρ για το σπίτι…( εμ δεν ειχες την αγκραφα looking goooooood!!!)
Βγαίνω απ’ το γραφείο και για κακή μου τύχη είχε την γιορτή των αγγέλων! Έλεος! Γιατί! Why dude, why? Σύρθηκα και κινήθηκα σβέλτα μέσα στον κόσμο σαν χορογραφία break dance.. Με το ζόρι άκουγες εκεί πλέον ελληνικά και οι άγγελοι πουθενά. Μήπως ήταν άγγελοι στο όνομα? Αλλιώς δεν εξηγείται αυτό το άθλιο σκηνικό… (το χουμε κανει master και αυτο το θεμα, μ'αρεσει πως τα κολλας ολα)..Ούτε που με ένοιζε, χώθηκα στα αμάξι και έβαλα από πρώτη κατευθείαν πέμπτη. Ξεκινάει ο γολγοθάς με τα απεγνωσμένα τηλεφωνήματα της τελευταίας στιγμής: «άντε ρε μλκες πάμε, πάμε γμτ, δεν την παλεύω». Γειώσεις η μια πίσω απ’ την άλλη… Ακόμα και τα καλύτερα χαρτιά μου λυγίσαν… Έστω και μόνος θα πήγαινα σκέφτηκα. Έστω για πέντε λεπτά, έστω για μια photo, έστω για ένα ταξίδι σε εκείνη την μοναδική old school εποχή. Τα μάτια κλείναν απ’ την νύστα η ώρα περνούσε, πολύ κίνηση στον δρόμο, αλλά ήδη είχα σκεφτεί το φούτερ με την ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΑ που θα έβαζα για να γίνω και εγώ ένα με το πλήθος! Σημειωτέον στον δρόμο και στο αμάξι άκουγα τσίτα 2PAC…. Επίκαιρος ακόμα και μετά από τόσα χρόνια να σημειώσω τους στίχους του στο “CHANGES” που λένε «"..........And although it seems heaven sent, we ain't ready, to see a black President.........." Και όμως έγινε και αυτό… Τέσπα, έφτανα σπίτι, και ήμουν σε απόσταση αναπνοής απ’ την ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΑ και τα sneakers… Η κόπωση μεγάλη, τα τηλέφωνα συνέχιζαν και κάθε φορά που τα έκλεινα με αποθάρρυναν όλο και πιο πολύ, την επομένη ξύπνημα χαράματα λες και πάω στην φάμπρικα γμτ… Θα κάνω ένα μπάνιο και θα ρίξω το τελευταίο μου χαρτί (τραβάς από 17 όμως? εδω μονο ο W.H.I.V.S.I.V μπορει να απαντησει) … Μετά το μπάνιο ήμουν διαλυμμένος, απ’ τις 7:00 το πρωί στο πόδι… Το φευγιό άρχισε να χάνει την επίδραση του και δεν είχα άλλη δόση… Τράβηξα και από 17 και κάηκα.. Η ώρα πλέον 11 παρά… Τα παλικάρια απ’ ότι είχα πληροφορηθεί θα το κλείναν σε λίγο….
Τα παράτησα, τετέλεσται… Δεν είμαστε για τπτ σκέφτηκα, δεν μπορούμε να μαστε διαφορετικοί, δεν μπορούμε να γουστάρουμε δηλαδή πλέον, μόνο να υποκρινόμαστε ή να μαστε θύματα της και καλά διασκέδασης? Μπήκα youtube, πληκτρολόγησα public enemy live και ξάπλωσα στο κρεβάτι μου, χωρίς να βγάλω την κουκούλα μου… Τώρα ήταν η αγκράφα μακριά.. Αλλά σε ελάχιστες ώρα που θα ξυπνούσα θα ξανάπλησιάζε απειλητικά σαν αντίδοτο για το «φευγιό». Ανοίγω ειδήσεις και τι άλλο: Βατοπέδι και γενιά των 700 €… Χαίρω πολύ, έπρεπε να γίνω παπάς σκέφτηκα.. Πιο εύκολα θα πήγαινα στους public enemy… Μη σου πω θα είχα και VIP θέση με τους original gangstaz και τους oldschool… Τώρα είναι αργά όμως, το σκέφτηκαν άλλοι πριν από εμένα… Και μετά άρχισα να βλέπω και για την γενιά των 700 €, ένα ρεπορτάζ-Ξανθόπουλος, χωρίς ασπρόμαυρο φόντο… Ένα άρθρο που καταπλακώνει και αποθαρρύνει τους νέους, μόνο και μόνο για να πάρει κανάς δημοσιογραφίσκος προαγωγή.. Βάλε 2 κιλά κρίση, βάλε ¾ γενιά των 700 €, ρίξε και 3 κουταλιές της σούπας βατοπέδι και βουαλά (σημειωτέον και αυτό έγινε μπουζουξίδικο ε? εκεί που έπαιζαν κάποτε Masters at Work? Τραγική ειρωνεία, μη στείλω κανά μπόγια), έχεις τους νέους κατευνασμένους σαν πρόβατα, σαν ρομπότ, σαν ανδροειδή… Για να τους κάνεις επαναστάτες, για να τους ξεσηκώνεις προς την λάθος κατεύθυνση και ούτω καθ’ εξής (το απίθανο είναι ότι αν googlareis την λέξη γενιά, το πρώτο που θα βγει θα ναι γενιά των 700 €). Δε λέω οι εποχές αλλάξαν, και έρχονται ακόμα πιο δύσκολοι καιροί… Αλλά όλοι αυτοί που κάνουν αυτά τα ρεπορτάζ και προωθούν αυτήν την προπαγάνδα ανήκουν στην γενιά των 2.000 €… Ευρώ παρακάτω!!! Αυτοί κάθονται και κλαίγονται στα κανάλια για όσους ανήκουν στην γενιά των 700 €!!! Και πάλι τραγική ειρωνία! Τι να μας πουν αυτοί οι μεγαλοδημοσιογράφοι!! ΡΕΕΕΕ? ΑΚΟΥ ΕΜΕΝΑ ΣΟΥ ΛΕΩ!!! LIVE THE GREEK DREAM: Αμαξάρα με leasing, βιλάρα με δάνειο, κάθε μέρα μπουζούκια και να χρωστάς τα μπρόκολα στον μπακάλη!!! Και απορούν και όλοι με την κρίση!! Σαν κάτι ρεπορτάζ που λένε για τον δολοφόνο: ναι, ναι πέσαμε απ’ τα σύννεφα, δεν το περιμέναμε, ήταν καλό και ήσυχο παιδί, ακόμα να καταλάβουμε πως μπήκε σε ένα καπί με ηλεκτρικό αλυσοπρίονο και έσφαξε τους πάντες… Τι πέσατε απ’ τα σύννεφα ρε?, αφού το χρήμα εδώ και καιρό είναι πλέον καθαρά εικονικό, πλαστικό άντε και ηλεκτρονικό… Δεν υπάρχει ρευστό!!! Όλα ήταν εικονικά και τα αμάξια και τα σπίτια!!! Μόνο τα μπρόκαλα ήταν αληθινά και αυτά δεν τα πλήρωσες ΜΛΚ ΕΛΛΗΝΑ!! Γι’ αυτό κόψανε οι τράπεζες το χρήμα και τέρμα… Αυτό ήταν.. Αντε τράβα να αγοράζεις τώρα νουνου και μακαρόνια σαν να έρχεται πόλεμος… Αλλά ο μέρμυγκας μαζεύει το καλοκαίρι για να έχει το χειμώνα, ενώ ο τζίτζικας καθεται στο δέντρο και την παίζει (την κιθάρα) και τον χλεβάζει… Και μου έρχεται ξαφνικά στο μυαλό: ΑΝ ΔΕΝ ΕΙΧΑΜΕ ΤΗΛΕΟΡΑΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΕΣ ΘΑ ΕΙΧΑΜΕ ΚΑΤΑΛΑΒΕΙ ΤΠΤ ΑΠΟ ΤΗΝ ΚΡΙΣΗ??? ΘΑ ΕΙΜΑΣΤΑΝ ΑΒΟΥΛΑ ΑΝΔΟΕΙΔΗ (μέχρι και στο BLADE RUNNER είχαν ξυπνήσει τα ανδροειδή και διεκδικούσαν!) Με σεβασμό φυσικά σε όσους είναι βιοπαλαιστές και τα χουν βρει σκούρα με όλα αυτά, αλλά να ξέρουν ότι όλοι στο ίδιο καζάνι βράζουμε και ρόδα είναι και γυρίζει …
Έτσι έκλεισε εκείνη η άδοξα χαραγμένη νύχτα… Άξιζε που τους έχασα? Τι? πρέπει να πω ναι για να έχει ηθικό δίδαγμα η ιστορία?? ΟΧΙ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙ ΤΕΤΟΙΕΣ ΜΛΚΙΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΟΧΙ ΔΕΝ ΑΞΙΖΕ ΠΟΥ ΤΟΥΣ ΕΧΑΣΑ… Πότε δεν έμαθα τι έγινε εκείνη την νύχτα και ούτε θέλω να μάθω… Την άλλη μέρα το νούμερο ένα event ήταν οι αγγελοι!!! Το γκόλ μπήκε όμως στις καθυστερήσεις… ΑΓΚΡΑΦΑ-ΚΟΥΚΟΥΛΑ σημειώσατε 1 παρακαλώ… Θα μαι εδώ όμως για την ρεβάνς και με άλλα μυαλά ίσως.. Keep it real….

And a classic courtesy of W.H.I.V.S.I.V.

Ο ΠΑΠΑΣ Ο ΠΑΧΥΣ...

2008-11-12T23:46:00.009+02:00

No more Bullshiting please...

Yes!!! It is a disease and Yes we appreciate your contribution W.H.I.V.S.I.V. for bringing us true, everyday life stories from the hood..

Όχι δεν έχω σκοπό να γράψω για το Βατοπέδι και τους παπάδες τους παχιούς (sic)…Όταν έκραζα για το παγκάρι και τους εράνους με χαρακτήριζαν άθεο… Βρε ούστ, λαμόγια…

Ο τίτλος παραπέμπει στο πιο χαρακτηριστικό στοιχείο του Έλληνα πολίτη…και ειδικά τα τελευταία 1-2 χρόνια..Μιλάμε για πολύ σύγχρονο disease….Τί?? Ακόμα δεν το πιάσατε??

Φυσικά και μιλάμε για το φαινόμενο του ΠΑ-ΠA…

Αυτόν που πουλάει πλέον ακόμα και ο πατέρας στο παιδί του..Παπάς παντού..Ακούς από εδώ, ακούς από εκεί και τελικά δεν αλλάζει τίποτα…Πως γίνεται αυτό??? Εύκολα….Όλοι,καλύτερα σχεδόν όλοι, πουλάνε ΆΠΕΙΡΟ ΠΑΠΆ…Στα πάντα και για τα πάντα…Στη δουλειά, στις σχέσεις, στην καθημερινή επαφή και το χειρότερο από όλα στον ΕΑΥΤΟ ΤΟΥΣ… Πουλάνε παπά στον εαυτό τους..Δεν ακούγεται απίστευτο?? Kι όμως είναι αληθινό πέρα ως πέρα…. Ψευτοκυριλέδες, δήθεν επιχειρηματίες, γκόμενοι/ες, πλούσιοι με leasing βρίσκονται παντού. Πλέον καθώς κυλάει η μέρα σου και προσπαθείς να έχεις το μυαλό σου συγκεντρωμένο και τα μάτια σου ανοιχτά συνειδητοποιείς ότι σου πουλάει παπά και ο πιο απίθανος τύπος..Έχει χαζέψει ο κόσμος..Όλοι σε θεωρούν ηλίθιο…(Ευτυχώς όχι οι φίλοι σου ,όχι ακόμα τουλάχιστον)…Σου πουλάει παπά ο υπάλληλος σου και επειδή εκείνη την ώρα εσύ έχεις τον νταλκά σου φεύγει και νοιώθει και υπερήφανος και σίγουρα θα το λέει και στους άλλους ότι το αφεντικό δεν πήρε χαμπάρι τον παπά…Μιλάς με επιχειρηματίες, με στημένα και καλοδουλεμένα μαγαζιά και επιχειρήσεις, και σου τρίβουν τον παπά στη μούρη…Είναι συγκλονιστικό..Σε κοιτάει στα μάτια σου λέει τις μαλ@#$ες του,τον κοιτάς και του λές ότι «κ.Μαλάκα,καταλαβαίνω ότι μου πουλάς παπά τώρα οπότε κόφ’το» και αυτός ορκίζεται ότι είναι ειλικρινής και συνεχίζει να σου πουλάει παπά…Όσοι με γνωρίζουν ξέρουν πόσο καιρό εργάζομαι,αν είμαι καλός ή κακός στη δουλειά μου και αν γνωρίζω τι γίνεται στην πιάτσα…Έχω λοιπόν να το λέω για ένα συνομήλικο συνάδερφο τον οποίον συνάντησα τυχαία και στην κλασσική ερώτηση «Πως πάνε οι δουλειές ρε μαλάκα???» ο τύπος έχει φορέσει το ράσο,έχει πάρει το θυμιατό και μου πουλάει τόσο παπά που δεν μπορούσα να το πιστέψω…Πραγματικά ΔΕΝ μπορούσα να το πιστέψω….Ο Τζανετάκος της σχολής μας, σε περίοδο απόλυτης οικονομικής κρίσης και πλήρους κατασκευαστικής επιβράδυνσης είχε ένα γραφείο μόνος του και εκείνη την περίοδο έκανε 4 ανακαινίσεις,2 μελέτες και σήκωνε και 3 οικοδομές…..χαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχαχα…..Why dude??? why???? tell this bullshit to a lawyer….Not to a colleague of yours….For god's shake…..Και λογικά θα μου πείτε όσα δεν φτάνει η αλεπού τα κάνει κρεμαστάρια, δεν είναι στάνταρ ότι σου πουλάει παπά….Κι όμως η επαλήθευση του παπά ήρθε από 4 διαφορετικά άτομα εκ των υστέρων….

Συζήτηση με μικρότερη δικηγόρο…. Κλασσική ερώτηση…….."Πως πάει η δουλειά Κα Παπαρίδου?»…-Δεν έχω καθόλου χρόνο… Καίγομαι..Σήμερα να καταλάβεις δεν πρόλαβα να πάω ούτε για κατούρημα…..

Μάλιστα….

Γκόμενα αφού έχεις χαμουρευτεί και τα σχετικά…«Πρώτη φορά μου συμβαίνει αυτό!!!!Δεν κάνω τέτοια συνήθως…»

Όλως τυχαίως σε 10’ έχουν καταρριφθεί οι αναστολές της και είναι στο κρεβάτι σου….και εσύ νοιώθεις τυχερός που την πρώτη φορά που της έτυχε ήσουν εσύ παρόν.. Βρε ξανά ούστ!!!

Ο απόλυτος παπάς παντού!!!!

Το πλέον κλασσικό παράδειγμα,απλό και καθημερινό….

Τηλεφωνείς κάποιον για δουλειά που πρέπει να γίνει και είναι δικιά του υποχρέωση…

ΕΣΥ:Α-ΑΥΤΟΣ:Β

Α:- ΠΟΥ ΕΙΣΑΙ ΡΕ ΜΑΛΑΚΑ?? 2 ΜΕΡΕΣ ΣΕ ΠΑΙΡΝΩ ΤΗΛ ΚΑΙ ΔΕΝ ΤΟ ΣΗΚΩΝΕΙΣ

(1^ος ΠΑΠΑΣ,ΓΙΑΤΙ ΚΙ ΕΣΥ ΕΙΧΕΣ ΞΕΧΑΣΤΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΝ ΤΟΝ ΠΗΡΕΣ ΤΟΝ ΠΗΡΕΣ ΜΙΑ ΦΟΡΑ..ΤΟ 2 ΜΠΑΙΝΕΙ ΓΙΑ ΕΜΦΑΣΗ). ΤΙ ΘΑ ΓΙΝΕΙ ΡΕ ΜΑΛΑΚΑ ΜΕ ΕΚΕΙΝΗ ΤΗΝ ΕΚΚΡΕΜΜΟΤΗΤΑ ΠΟΥ ΕΧΟΥΜΕ ΜΕ ΤΟ ΣΠΙΤΙ ΤΟΥ Κ. ΡΗΤΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ??

Β:- ΕΛΑ ΡΕ ΜΑΛΑΚΑ.ΘΑ Σ’ΕΠΑΙΡΝΑ ΣΗΜΕΡΑ (2^ος ΠΑΠΑΣ), ΤΟ ΣΚΕΦΤΟΜΟΥΝ ΑΠΟ ΤΟ ΠΡΩΙ (3^ος ΠΑΠΑΣ). ΗΤΑΝ ΝΑ ΠΑΜΕ ΑΥΡΙΟ (4^ος ΠΑΠΑΣ) ΑΛΛΑ ΧΑΛΑΣΕ ΤΟ ΦΟΡΤΗΓΑΚΙ ΠΟΥ ΕΧΩ ΤΑ ΕΡΓΑΛΙΑ ΜΕΣΑ (5^ος) ΚΑΙ ΕΚΤΟΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ Ο ΒΟΗΘΟΣ ΜΟΥ Ο ΙΒΑΝ ΕΦΥΓΕ ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΠΕΘΑΝΕ Ο ΠΑΤΕΡΑΣ ΤΟΥ(6^ος)….ΓΑΜΩ ΤΗΝ ΑΤΥΧΙΑ ΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΓΑΜΩ ΤΗΝ ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ ΜΟΥ…(ΜΠΙΝΕΛΙΚΙ ΠΑΠΑΣ ΓΙΑ ΕΜΦΑΣΗ)..ΑΛΛΑ ΤΙ ΝΑ ΠΕΙΣ,ΑΝΘΡΩΠΙΝΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΥΤΑ,ΝΑ ΜΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΑΦΗΝΑ ΝΑ ΦΥΓΕΙ???(ΠΑΠΑΣ,ΡΗΤΟΡΙΚΗ ΕΡΩΤΗΣΗ ΣΥΜΠΟΝΟΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΙΑΣ)..

Α:- ΟΧΙ ΡΕ ΦΙΛΕ,ΔΕΝ ΓΙΝΟΝΤΑΙ ΑΥΤΑ (ΠΑΠΑΣ,ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΑ ΚΡΙΜΑ ΡΕ ΓΑΜΩΤΟ..ΤΙ ΣΟΥ ΕΤΥΧΕ ΡΕ ΓΑΜΩΤΟ??).ΝΑΙ ΑΛΛΑ ΕΓΩ ΤΟΥ ΕΙΠΑ ΤΟΥ ΡΗΤΡΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ ΟΤΙ ΑΥΡΙΟ ΘΑ ΠΑΜΕ ΝΑ ΤΟΥ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΟΥΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΕΚΚΡΕΜΟΤΗΤΑ (ΠΑΠΑΣ ΤΡΕΛΟΣ!!!ΕΝΝΟΕΙΤΑΙ ΟΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΕΧΕΙΣ ΜΙΛΗΣΕΙ ΜΕ ΤΟΝ ΡΗΤΡΟΠΟΥΛΟ!!!)..ΔΕΣ ΤΙ ΜΠΟΡΕΙΣ ΝΑ ΚΑΝΕΙΣ ΡΕ ΜΛΚ…ΣΕ ΠΑΡΑΚΑΛΩ….

Β:-ΤΙ ΝΑ ΚΑΝΩ ΡΕ ΓΜΤ..ΚΑΛΑ ΘΑ ΔΩ ΤΙ ΘΑ ΚΑΝΩ ΚΑΙ ΘΑ ΣΕ ΠΑΡΩ ΜΕΧΡΙ ΤΟ ΑΠΟΓΕΥΜΑ ΝΑ ΣΟΥ ΠΩ…(ΤΕΛΕΙΩΤΙΚΟΣ ΠΑΠΑΣ!!!!!Α-Π-Ο-Κ-Λ-Ε-Ι-Ε-Τ –Α-Ι ΝΑ ΣΕ ΠΑΡΕΙ ΤΗΛ….ΑΠΟΚΛΕΙΕΤΑΙ!!!!)ΠΑΝΤΩΣ ΑΝ ΟΧΙ ΑΥΡΙΟ ΠΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΘΑΥΡΙΟ ΘΑ ΕΙΜΑΙ ΕΚΕΙ ΣΤΑΝΤΑΡ (ΕΠΙΒΕΒΑΙΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΠΑ ΟΤΙ ΘΑ ΠΑΕΙ ΑΥΡΙΟ!!!).ΑΦΟΥ ΜΕ ΞΕΡΕΙΣ ΡΕ ΜΛΚ,ΔΕΝ ΣΕ ΕΧΩ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΕΙ ΠΟΤΕ..(ΜΟΛΙΣ ΣΕ ΕΧΕΙ ΚΡΕΜΑΣΕΙ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΤΑΞΥ!!!). ΘΑ ΣΕ ΠΑΡΩ ΤΟ ΑΠΟΓΕΥΜΑ ΝΑ ΣΟΥ ΠΩ (ΕΛΕΟΣ ΡΕ ΦΙΛΕ,ΟΧΙ ΑΛΛΟ ΠΑΠΑ!!!!)

Α:-ΚΑΛΑ ΡΕ ΜΛΚ..ΔΕΣ ΤΙ ΜΠΟΡΕΙΣ ΝΑ ΚΑΝΕΙΣ…ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΩ!!(ΜΑΛΑΚΑ….ΠΑΠΑΣ)

Ειλικρινά αν νομίζετε ότι είμαι υπερβολικός τότε περιμένω τα σχόλια σας….Πραγματικά νοιώθω ανά πάσα στιγμή ότι το όλο σύστημα στηρίζεται στον παπά….Ξέρουμε ποιοι μας τον πουλάνε αλλά ο καθένας μας νομίζει ότι ο άλλος δεν τρώει τον δικό μας….Αυτή αυταπάτη έχει σαν αποτέλεσμα όλοι να τον πουλάνε και κανείς να μην τον τρώει τελικά!!!! Είναι τελείως οξύμωρο αλλά είναι ότι πιο κοντινό σαν περιγραφή ισχύει την περίοδο αυτή….και ειλικρινά δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω το γιατί…και κυρίως δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω που θα πάει αυτό το πράμα….

Όλοι δουλεύουν και κανείς δεν έχει λεφτά…

Κανείς δεν έχει λεφτά και τα καζίνο-μπουζούκια είναι γεμάτα!!!

Όλοι έχουν ομαδάρες τον Σεπτέμβριο και τον Ιανουάριο κάνουν 13 μεταγραφές!!!

Όλοι γουστάρουν τον Ομπάμα αλλά μακριά από εμάς!! Σκεφτείτε έγχρωμο υποψήφιο πρωθυπουργό στην Ελλάδα!!!

Όλοι πιάνουν το στοίχημα αλλά κανείς δεν πάει να πληρωθεί γιατί τελικά έπαιξε άλλη ομάδα από αυτή που νόμιζε!!!

Everybody fucks in this town except me!!!

Δεν ξέρω, ίσως εγώ είμαι ο υπερβολικός της υπόθεσης αλλά θα το χαρακτήριζα την μάστιγα των ημερών μας!! Κάτι πρέπει να γίνει με τον παπά γιατί ο παπάς μας οδήγησε σε αυτήν την κρίση αν το καλοσκεφτείτε!!!

Θα μπορούσα να πω πολλά αλλά μάλλον σας έχω κουράσει ήδη …

Άλλωστε που ξέρεις, μπορεί να σας πουλάω και εγώ παπά για να το παίξω έξυπνος!!!!

Can I laugh or is it embarrasing???

2008-11-10T01:33:00.002+02:00

Some things never change, people in Thessaloniki are pretenders who like to fake and be too f$#%&@# serious even when watching a comedy movie....We keep telling you, but you won't listen..why so serious ??? W.H.I.V.S.I.V. is back taking a shot at those bums! yay!!!!! GET A LIFE PEOPLE!

I know, I know..I’ve let down all my thousands readers by not uploading a single article for a long long time..But now the anticipation is over!!! W.H.I.V.S.I.V. is back and do be honest I don’t know where to begin with..

Let’s take things in a random way and begin with a –I wanna hope- worldwide phenomenon which I like to call “Complete Lack of Humor”-CLH. I guess Dio will call it a Greek phenomenon and in a way he’s right but that’s not the issue... Let’s get to the point. Coming out of a just perfect end of summer in CA,USA me and my bro-Biz- came back in the best of moods ready for another difficult winter…While in CA for 22 days we were bombed by movie trailers and especially the trailer of the movie “TROPIC THUNDER” directed by our favorite Ben Stiller..I guess we all know what Ben Stiller stands for and so are his movies…The guy is just hilarious..He is a humor-genius…Add to that the ultimate transformation and performance of Junior and the absolutely awesome character of Cruise and you have a real masterpiece movie…Ok, most of you are already having a thizzle face wondering “how on earth is a stupid comedy called a masterpiece???”..Well that’s exactly the point…Let me get this straight…We’re talking about a movie which you can watch just so that you spend 2 pleasant hours and temporarily forget about your –too many- every day thoughts and problems…You won’t get a “best script” or a “best actor” Oscar award out of it, that’s for sure..But you’ll get a 2 hour smile in your face.. Isn’t that important too??? My point is that I’m really fed up with all the self-called “Cinemaniacs” who are really pathetic just judging and booing every movie not directed by Almodovar (nothing against the guy)… Comments like “Oh baby, that was really silly” or “Oh man that movie crapped, what’s funny about a fully retard actor-little John character- anyway??” and staff like that really make me furious…It’s like watching a James Bond movie and as you exit the hall saying “How can he always escape without a scratch in his $10000 suit??? That’s bullshit, can’t happen in real life”…. Really bro??? Oh reaaaallyyyy????Don’t tell me that..You’ve just watched o Bond movie…C’m on..Let’s get serious…If you can’t stand it stay to your place and watch a Sunday’s newspaper DVD…I think that going to the movies is one of the best ways of entertainment. You can choose what to watch, you sit back comfortably and finally have fun..Don’t ruin that… Following “TROPIC THUNDER” we watched another laughter masterpiece called “ZOHAN” starring another best of mine actor, Adam Sandler…What can I say about that movie??? I was laughing to tears…But as I realized afterwards that made me an immature 30 years old guy according to the majority of the around 25-30 years old girls. Generally the point is that you can’t expect a 30pts,7stl,6blk,15ast game from Pzrybilla…Or to make it more obvious, you can’t expect a Honda Civic ’92 model, reaching a 200miles final speed….

So until you manage to reach that speed, we will laugh our butt down with “Zoolander” and “Zohan” and you can just f@#$ off and watch Aggelopoulo….

Is Greece a heaven or a 3nd world country when it comes to playing basketballl???

2008-11-08T01:09:00.003+02:00

Greece! Sounds like paradise for basketball players taking the challenge and going overseas (not you Coby Carl...)..That's it as long as you believe my man Josh Childress who enjoys a great ~~vacation~~ basketball season in Athens...

"Ακούς για μεγάλα συμβόλαια, εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων και συνήθως φέρνεις στο μυαλό σου μόνο ομάδες από το ΝΒΑ. Ούτε στα πιο τρελά μου όνειρα, δεν μπορούσα να φανταστώ ότι θα είχα μια τόσο μεγάλη οικονομική πρόταση από την Ελλάδα". Ωστόσο, όπως αναφέρει το κείμενο, είχε κάποιες ανησυχίες, οι οποίες βασίζονταν κυρίως στα όσα είχε ακούσει για παίκτες από το ΝΒΑ που πήγαν στην Ευρώπη και δεν πήραν όλα τα χρήματά τους. Αλλά μέχρι στιγμής "στην Ελλάδα είναι όλα όμορφα. Δεν έχω έρθει σε χώρα του Τρίτου Κόσμου!" Are you sure Josh? Wait til playoffs come Josh and the whole season is on the clock, then we'll check what you have to say about it...

Now, as always, there are 2 sides of a story and you might have to change your view about professional basketball in Greece if you listen to sharp-sooting journeyman, Tracy Murray, now 37, who spent a dozen years in the NBA and another 3 in Europe...

Talking about playing in Europe and especially Greece this is what he had to say:

"I was a little bit older, but I was able to steal a couple of years over there, I felt like I had some game left in me. At the same time, it’s a constant struggle and hustle, I don’t envy the guys who are over there that didn’t make the League that are trying to make a career over there. They have to deal with so much just to get their money. You don’t have to deal with anything like that in the NBA, you sign the contract and they honor it. Overseas, you have to fight for your money. These are guys that have families back home and they’re over there practicing twice a day and beating their bodies up. They might not get their check if they won their game. You have to be superman to play over there to get your check on time. Something has to be done about that. If I had to do it all over again, even though it was a good experience and got to live in France and Greece, if I know what I know now, I woudn’t have done it. I would have stayed here and started my life after basketball with my name fresh.

My second year, when I played for PAOK in Greece, the city was a cool, beautiful place. Dealing with the organization was another thing. They still owe me 45,000 Euro from 2005. I doubt if I’ll ever get it. I call them on it and they say they’re in the process but they’re not going to give me my money. Panathinaikos still owes Dominique Wilkins for winning the Euroleague championship over there in 1996. I don’t know what John Salley or Cliff Livingston’s situation was, but I don’t know if they’ve gotten all of their money. This is a major issue, especially in Greece.

Want more??? Wait, he's got some advice for our guy Josh!

I was on Facebook talking with Josh Childress the other day. Our families are friends, and I’ve been kind of looking out for him since he’s been in the League. I wanted to check and make sure that he was OK over there. He’s playing for the rival team that I played for. At the same time, when you’re an American and you’re in Greece, even though you’re on opposite sides, Americans have to be like family over there... I told Josh that if there is a day that he doesn’t get his check that he needs to sit out of practice. If he doesn’t stand up for himself, he’s going to be paying for free.(poor Tracy you really want Josh to get into trouble...). With the type of contract that he’s got, he’s says that there hasn’t been a problem. If I was Kobe or LeBron or any of those cats who they might offer $50 million to go over there, I would make sure I got $25 million up front before they get on the plane.

I really can't wait for playoff time......

OBAMANIA!!!

2008-11-05T04:19:00.005+02:00

What have we learned from this election and just so that we clear things out:
Barack Obama, the next president, is black AND Muslim while the Americans once again achieved their goal...everybody is AGAIN happy with this country and its' citizens...Don't fool yourselves, they don't care for you if you like Barack, they only want to manipulate you so that you adopt the American way of life and you bring more money to corporate America...yahhh!

NBA Season...right on!

2008-10-31T19:44:00.007+02:00

Damn, I'm so excited about the upcoming season!!!
I t seems like the talent level in the NBA has finally reached the mid 90's level and people are back watching the game...Still there are lots of great players but also a couple of horrible teams...can you say Oklahoma City Thunder???

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is one of the league's great treasures. He knows David Stern is a complete novice when it comes to on-court issues, and he won't hesitate to publicly criticize the commissioner on any count. If his players don't like the dress code, Popovich takes on their case himself. During the rigors of playoff travel, he has been known to cancel a mandated media session and pay the fine himself so his players can get some rest. He treats the Stern-imposed, in-game interviews as the rude inquisitions that they are. He also has a fine sense of humor. In the wake of Shaquille O'Neal's recent rant, saying it was "cowardly" for Popovich to pull the "Haq-a-Shaq" strategy at certain times,

Popovich used Michael Finley to intentionally foul Shaq on the Suns' first possession of the season. With Popovich smiling broadly, both thumbs up, even Shaq had to laugh.

Popovich ain't my favorite neither but you gotta love that kind of humor...

Teams I'll be watching this year:

Cleveland: looking great with a brand new true PG and Lebron getting bigger and better...
Dallas: probably on the downfall..this is NOT Jason Kidd's team and Kidd was always running his teams, literally and figuratively !
Denver: Even before the Iverson - Billups trade but now it's even more interesting!! Where does this trade leave both teams? They swapped guards that do things in entirely different ways and to move from a steady point to a score-first undersized two-guard (and lose the point position all together) makes for some uncertainty in Detroit. It seems uncertain if this trade will make the Pistons a better team and a more viable candidate to supplant Boston as the boss of the Eastern Conference, but I can guarantee you that the Denver Nuggets will be immediately better.
Houston: Do Yao, T-Mac and Artest form a true big three?? Yes, IF they can stay healthy which I don't believe they ll do...
LA Clippers: They actually "traded" Corey Maggette and Elton Brand for Baron Davis and Marcus Camby..will they be better or worst??? early indications show the lateral and again injuries will be huge for them..Oh, and I heard Baron Davis just bought a moped.
New Orleans: My pick for winning it all while, contrary to what everybody is saying ,their bench IS solid!
New York: you gotta love all the drama in the Mecca of basketball..Check this out: Last season Stephon Marbury was the scapegoat for this poor Knicks team, taking all the blame from his coach, the press and the fans...You'd expect the same reactions this year since the Knicks haven't been able to get rid of Stephon, right??? Guess again! During the team's first home game of year some fans in the Garden crowd surprisingly started chanting "We Want Steph" with 11:10 remaining in the fourth (others booed the chant)... A stewing D'Antoni was caught on MSG Network cameras Wednesday in a tirade, mouthing:
"You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. You've got to be (bleeping) kidding me. What a bunch of (bleep) holes."
You gotta love the drama NY... Marbury received a DNP, his second of his career, and is out of the rotation indefinitely despite likely being the team's most skilled player..
Phoenix: New coach and new system, will Steve Nash's numbers go down??? Will Amare finally mature?? and can Shaq stay healthy?????
Portland: Young and exciting team but will they be solid??? Greg Oden proving to be the new Sam Bowie doesn't help...

Go out there and Vote! yay!!

Keepin' it gangsta in a " lack of common sense" environment...

2008-10-24T22:11:00.012+03:00

I was cruising with my ghetto car (pics and videos coming soon, I promise) downtown in the infamous Tenderloin when I got this hella funny view of a Thai??? guy (or girl) wearing THIS shirt...

and yes it says GREECE...guess that was the only thing he could afford...

I'm gonna keep it simple and just describe a common day a friend of mine had today...So, she wakes up in the morning and she borrows her roommate's car, ALTHOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE A VALID CA DRIVING LICENSE and she failed her test last week...
Where to??? She goes and picks her friend for an abortion appointment...Did I mention that she's 24, with a 5 years old kid and into her 4th month of pregnancy????
After they r done they go for "room decorating shopping" as my friend has just moved to her new place...
How else could you describe the lack of common sense people in USA have???
And it's not only young people but professionals too...
Rafer Alston was found not guilty yesterday of a DWI charge he picked up back on August 7th. He was initially stopped for driving without his headlights on, but when police began questioning the Rockets' guard, he became increasingly irritated with the proceedings, and ended up asking the officer to take him in, because he was apparently done answering questions.
Wait! There's is a video too, it's called:

"Rafer Alston would like to show you how NOT to talk to a police officer:

Had he been a little more patient and a little less hostile to the officer during the line of questioning, it's likely that the incident wouldn't have escalated to an arrest in the first place...

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“The flying dog, or whatever that’s called? No, I’m not good at it.” — Roger Mason Jr., on Gregg Popovich having the team do yoga together.
Not long ago everybody used to try and be like Mike , in today's world though it's NBA coaches trying to be like the original Zen Master, Phil Jackson!

NBA outstanding stat of the year: The Milwaukee Bucks are the first team to ever have in their roster two Dutch 7-foot Centers, Fransisco Elson and Dan Gadzuric...

Giving you an update about stories previously released here I'll try to make it to the Booksmith Bookstore tonight where this event is taking place...gotta give some luv to all people that make us laught!!!

Mark Farina - Mushroom Jazz Vol. 6 Out Today!

2008-10-22T00:06:00.003+03:00

It’s very rare that I buy entire recordings these days. After checking out the samples of this latest Mark Farina compilation, I will be buying Mushroom Jazz 6. Twenty tracks for $9.99 and I liked all but five of these acid jazzy/nu jazzy works.

I thought I have moved out from Greece where coaches get fired for no cause and before they can even get familiar with their practice facilities..
Apparently, same shit is going on around the Bay, as both coaches of the NFL teams around here have been given the axe...no time to prove their draft pick selections or their long term plans...again, all those professional leagues are results oriented but still I really can't see the difference from Greece when firing the coach 2 weeks BEFORE the team gets a day off and they can regroup...

I just ordered a Beno jersey from NBA.com...

2008-10-15T00:49:00.004+03:00

The NBA preseason is generally considered irrelevant and nobody seems to care about playing some serious basketball and providing some highlights for us, the fans...Except from the blue collar journeymans hustling to get a last minute contract, right???
Enter Beno Udrih, who really did Kobe dirty...Once you get shook like that, there really is no coming back from that, even if your name is Kobe...It’s like the guy who got you steals all of your basketball powers and claims your soul...Beno’s gonna avg. 40 the first month of the season for sure....

and Mr Irrelevant, fooling Devin Harris...
Devin Harris = NBA player, starting PG in a structured game, multi million contract, nothing to prove...
Tanner = nobody, legend in an unstructured game, everything to prove...
Still, that was SICK!!!

I really didn't have the time to catch a movie lately but I spent last night watching (again) 1 of my all time favorites, a great masterpiece, a classic about teen life in California, San Diego and SoCal in general..."Fast times at Ridgemont High" For all of you that haven't seen that piece of art just go out and rent it...You'll be rewarded with one of the best characters ever seen on the big screen..a legend...Surf's Up, Spicoli!!!

Funny stories around the Bay...

2008-10-08T01:25:00.005+03:00

So I'm sitting there having an interview with this HR guy who reads my resume and starts laughing his ass off when he realizes that 1 of "my clients" has been Basketball Legend Walter Berry...

"Walter Berry boy? That's definitely a blast from the past..." he says! Oh yeahhhhhhh, I repeat...

1 of the reasons I love California and I wanted to be here is that this state has always been so innovative to the point that it has become ridiculous.....A friend of mine recently had to go under surgery and when I ~~politely~~ asked her what was wrong I found myself pretty much embarrassed...Apparently, she was having this breast reduction procedure that helped her change her bra size from G(!!!) to D....and yes they were natural!
On to the bride sight...As must as the fast food addiction in America has been criticized , again, California is the first state (worldwide) to seriously take actions against it ...last week the "Terminator" signed a bil l that will be requiring large chain restaurants to notify customers of the nutritional content of menu items....Given the past of this bill and the fact that all those chain restaurants have been trying to discourage citizens and legislators from taking actions towards healthy nutrition America might start claiming that No 2 ranking on the fattest children world index....I mean , seriously, you have to be totally stupid or unable to read to let your kids rush into a 12000 calories menu....
I took a break from real life last week and visited a place that most of the entire population on this earth could not locate, Shinegletown,CA....

View Larger Map

My friends were telling me how this place was full of rednecks...You know, no offense but they were so totally right...what more can I say when I come up with this sign in the local grocery store...just check this list, my pic can most def make it in there...

Also, in California, palms tend to replace all kinds of plants everywhere...even in the church!

More movie reviews....

2008-09-25T00:14:00.005+03:00

M. Night Shyamalan is a brilliant writer/director who always manages to impress with his unique ideas or twists on previously attempted genres. For the record, my favorite two films of his were Unbreakable and The Village. That's exactly the case with his new movie too which however, I didn't really enjoy...The story is about an airborne toxin which causes those engulfed to kill themselves - possibly spread by trees and plants - and has been launched on the East Coast of America. A great story that fits perfectly today's worries about global warming as we are all witnessing how the mother nature is coming right back at us..."Ike" anybody???

A great story though ain't enough to produce an equally great movie... The Happening delivered no one-liners, no stand up acting from any particular actor/actress, and no real climax. It felt real. The characters reacted in a very human way, no heroes, the lines didn't feel scripted. It felt as though the person sitting next to me would react the same way. Amazingly realistic. Almost too realistic. BUT the acting was generally poor..The acting across the board is terrible. This is the worst movie I have ever seen Mark Wahlberg do. He talked to everybody in the movie as if they were seven years old for no apparent reason other than being a high school teacher...(By the way how many of you do you know that the actor Mark Wahlberg used to be the ultra funky rapper MarkyMark?????) The only good performance in the movie is given by John Leguizamo and he dies within the first forty five minutes..

More on the bad side: I like having no idea where the film is headed, and The Happening was a predictable joint. The plot was weak and at many times didn’t make much sense. We learn the “twist” in the first twenty minutes of the movie! There is no drama build up to the twist like a good suspense movie, and the twist itself doesn’t land in any way towards us the viewers.

The ONLY silver lining for this movie and probably the biggest reason to see it is the score. Although the suspense and story is terrible, the music is actually pretty great. Brilliant. Simply stunning. The music made the movie. Had the score not been as wonderful, the movie would not be worth seeing...

3 HATE CITIES!

Also, giving an update on plane flights and ways to make the most out of an uncomfortable airplane trip...

How To Keep Motherfu#%s From Putting Their Seats Back .

***A great update from SNL about Mark Wahlberg's acting....hysterical but quite realistic...***

2008-09-20T07:11:00.007+03:00

LET’S PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACCCCE! I finally saw the Dark Knight in a cinemaplex yesterday! I wanted to take a break and watch "The Dark Knight" a few months after its initial release in order to avoid getting drifted by "Top 10 Movie on my all time list" comments...the hype for this one was huge while all kinds of problems surrounded production the bigger of them Ledger's tragic suicide/death...

But was the hype around Ledger's performance and the praise it’s garnered thus far well deserved????
Well, yes and no! While this is probably 1 of the best movie I’ve seen in years it seemed to me that the movie was tooooooo long and actually dead after the 1st half when batman brings back to Gotham City the Chinese dude...It felt like the movie reached it's peek and then went on a downfall with twoface's emerge being the only bright spot...Heck, I though they could have made a sequel out of this piece of tape...

Ain't no hater, I love Batman, my Movies collection includes the original batman and Robin TV series from the 70's... Christian Bale is the best Bruce Wayne since Adam West (that’s the vintage s*** there). George Clooney was by far the worst. Gyllenhall was excellent, Eckhart was dynamic (and his two-face makeup was superb. it looked as though his face was blown off for real), Caine, Freeman, Oldman–all of these guys are accomplished actors. Its the like the dream team or something!!!! Oh yeah, Aaron Eckhart’s performance as Two-Face was fantastic although it will be lost behind Ledger’s Joker...
ENTER the Joker, a homicidal freak who wants nothing more than to burn down the city and break down the spirits of its residents. From the bank heist at the beginning of the flick to the hostages on the boats in the end, Joker proved to be next level psychotic. A true criminal mastermind that’s two or three steps ahead of his competition. His laugh was a murda maniacal one and his sense of humor was sick. Heath Ledger’s Joker was so brilliant that I really felt he made Jack Nicholson’s version seem like something out of a Disney Channel movie. Dude, Heath Ledger wasn’t genius, that was epic, phenomenal. Voice change, mannerisms, tics, the smacking of the lips, the eloquence, that might have been one of the best villains ever. He was scary. Just like Joker should be...
"skimmers...skimmers trying to control their little words...I'm not a skimmer, I'm trying to show the skimmers how...pathetic their attempts to control the world really are..."
The hospital scene and especially the ending is actually going down as a true all time classic....it's called great acting and it's a natural talent...Just check out how Ledger manages to deliver a true epic performance that stands miles above Jack Nickolson's Joker..Can't blame him for being furious over the production for overpassing him...

"It isn't about the money, its about sending a message" - The Joker

As for the haters?? just chill...the only thing you need to do in order to enjoy movies, whatever kind, is to forget it’s fiction...
Rule Number 2: Wanna get out right away??? Watch a movie, its cheaper than catching a Southwest flight... That’s what this movie did. I forgot about all my problems and was living in Gotham City for two and a half hours...When you forget that you’re watching actors live out a written script. That’s what this movie did. I forgot about all my problems and was living in Gotham City for two and a half hours. The flick was so well written that it was like poetry on the silver screen. The twists in the plot and the action was phenomenal. The dark humor was great. The gadgets that Batman was rocking was off the hook. Great dialogs, intelligent story. And the acting was impeccable...

All bullsh*t aside, I have to say it: “The Dark Knight” is almost a true classic. If this movie had any flaws it laid with Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). It had nothing to do with her acting, she did her, but come on, they couldn’t cast someone attractive? Did it have to be all about the acting? But even though she’s a very good actress, bringing Katie Holmes back instead of Maggie G. would have been perfect. Especially the tougher looking sophisticated Katie Holmes of today not the sweety from Batman Begins!
Also, the ending sucks...Batman has now become the scapegoat, the Dark Knight...I guess it's not a big deal, just another prime example of how we build our heroes up only to tear them down...This movie actually makes you root for the bad guy, Joker!
Extra credit goes for a great music score and a wide range of official posters which manage to intrigue and promote a truly dark side of Batman...

Introducing my brand new movies rating, 5 hate cities means the movie was horrible, I hated it and you shouldn't be watching it while 0 hate city means I almost got nothing to hate , a masterpiece...

Hands down, only 1 Hate city...go watch it if you haven't already!

Ηρθε το φθινόπωρο...

2008-09-15T20:14:00.004+03:00

Ήρθε το φθινόπωρο σήμερα στη Θεσσαλονίκη.
Σαν να κιτρίνισαν τα φύλλα μέσα σε ένα βράδυ και ο αέρας άρχισε να τα ρίχνει στα βρώμικα από την πρώτη βροχή καπό των αυτοκινήτων.
Ωραία είναι. Δεν είναι ωραίο το φθινόπωρο;
Εγώ αυτό βλέπω από το παράθυρό μου από τη δουλειά… Πλατάνια στην οδό Βαφοπούλου (στην οδό που βρίσκεται το Βαφοπούλειο) με κίτρινα φύλλα…

fou!

Update on Josh Childress....

2008-09-13T07:07:00.003+03:00

I have it on good word that Josh Childress, who actually moved to Athens, Greece a few weeks ago, is at least adjusting to the food: He’s eating most of his meals at TGI Friday’s....

PARENTHESIS

Rich people in California send their kids to Stanford University, that is if they are smart and capable enough to make it out of a program designed for the best ...if not the alternative but equally prestigious destination for ~~over spoiled teen life~~ is USC...

END OF PARENTHESIS

Apparently, Friday's has been at the base of Josh's food pyramid since the move to Athens...Friday's is decent and all, but I expected more out of you, Josh. I was awaiting the award-winning Greece guidebook you were supposed to pen with that Stanford education, highlighting all of those secret hole-in-the-wall eateries with the best souvlaki and the cutest little coffee shops with TO DIE FOR desserts. But instead you bring me Jack Daniels chicken and mozzarella sticks? Shame on you, Josh. Shame on you....c-mon man, you r in Greece where food is supposed to be fresh and good...if you still want to stick with the fast food be my guest and check "Taste of America in Greece" by an American in Athens...

Late 20’s. Καιρός για αποφάσεις ή να περιμένω τα 30’s; ‘Έχω ακόμα μια δεκαετία!

2008-09-03T21:29:00.002+03:00

Glad to see "fou" back with a nice piece about what exactly is inside young people's mind these days...

Έχεις τελειώσει με σπουδές. Έχεις τελειώσει από φαντάρος, αν είσαι αγόρι. Έχεις βρει μια δουλειά (μπορεί όχι την τέλεια αλλά κάτι είναι κι αυτό). Μετά;

«Πρέπει να κάνεις οικογένεια» αντηχούν στα αυτιά μας οι φωνές των μαμάδων, των μπαμπάδων, των γιαγιάδων και πάσας εκνευριστικής θείας.

Οικογένεια. «Μικροί δεν είμαστε ακόμα» θα πει κάθε αγόρι της ηλικίας αυτής και μερικά(αν όχι τα περισσότερα πλέον) κορίτσια της ίδιας ηλικίας. Και η απάντηση έρχεται σχεδόν σαν παλιά χιλιοπαιγμένη κασέτα, με την ταινία να κρέμεται φαγωμένη έξω : «Εγώ στην ηλικία σου είχα δύο παιδιά».

Τι γίνεται; Τι έχει αλλάξει τελικά και εμείς είμαστε τόσο μικροί για γάμο όταν εκείνοι στην ηλικία μας είχαν ήδη την πολυπόθητη οικογένεια; Οι σχέσεις, οι δουλειές, οι άνθρωποι; Τι;

Έχει απασχολήσει πολύ αυτό το θέμα. Έμενα η αλήθεια είναι ότι δε με απασχόλησε ποτέ μέχρι τώρα. Δεν είμαι από τα κορίτσια που ονειρεύονται το γάμο τους και ξέρουν τι νυφικό θα βάλουν και πως θα έχουν τα μαλλιά τους εκείνη, την πιο ευτυχισμένη μέρα της ζωής τους.

Η αλήθεια είναι ότι όσο περνούν τα χρόνια έχει αρχίσει να καλεί την τάξη μας. Κάθε καλοκαίρι και πιο πολλοί γάμοι. Και σιγά-σιγά αρχίζουν να παντρεύονται και κολλητοί. Εκείνοι που πίναμε προχθές ποτά και δεν τους περνούσε καν από το μυαλό να βολευτούν σε ένα δυάρι για να ξεκινήσουν και αυτοί την οικογενειακή ζωή.

Εντάξει εδώ μπαίνουν πια, πιο θεμελιώδη ερωτήματα, όπως το πώς διαλέγω κάποιον για να τον παντρευτώ. Είναι αυτός που τυχαίνει να έχω μία καλή ή κακή σχέση εκείνη την εποχή μαζί του; Είναι μήπως κάποιος που είμαι πολλά χρόνια μαζί του και παρόλο που δεν λειτουργεί η σχέση, πρέπει να κάνω το επόμενο βήμα για να τακτοποιηθώ και εγώ; Ποια είναι τα κριτήρια; Τι πρέπει να έχει ένας άνθρωπος για να τον πάρω από το χέρι να ανεβούμε τα σκαλιά του δυαριού και κατ’επέκταση της εκκλησίας, του δημαρχείου κτλ;

Και αν δεν υπάρχει κάποιος, που να πληροί τα δικά σου κριτήρια; Τι κάνεις; Φαντάζομαι διαλέγεις αυτόν που πλησιάζει περισσότερο σε αυτά. Αν δεν έχεις διάθεση να ψάξεις το τέλειο. Η το παίρνεις απόφαση και λες ότι έχεις διαφορετικές προτεραιότητες στη ζωή σου, με τη μανούλα να μαραζώνει από τον καημό της(«γιατί το δικό μου το παιδί δεν μπορεί να βρει κάποιον να φτιάξει τη ζωή του; Κλαψ!»)

Ας αφήσουμε όμως τις μαμάδες. Περνούν διάφοροι άνθρωποι από τις ζωές μας. Σχέσεις που κρατάνε, σχέσεις που διαλύονται, έρωτες, πάθη… Πως παίρνεις για κάποιον την απόφαση να κάνεις το παραπάνω μαζί του… Και αν κάποιος από αυτούς που άφησες πίσω σου ή κάποιος που δεν έχεις βρει ακόμα είναι ιδανικότερος;

Η ρομαντική άποψη είναι η εξής: «Την/τον αγαπάω και μ’αγαπάει». Σοβαρά τώρα φτάνει αυτό;

Μία πιο συμβατική άποψη είναι «Περνάω καλά μαζί του/της και μου προσφέρει κάποια από αυτά που θέλω». Συμβιβασμός η διορατικότητα;

Τι πρέπει να κάνουμε τέλος πάντων; Ας πει κάποιος καμιά ιδέα… Με ποιον το παίρνεις απόφαση; Με τον τρελό σου έρωτα; Με αυτόν που σου προσφέρει την περισσότερη ασφάλεια; Με αυτόν που έχει τα περισσότερα λεφτά (γιατί είναι και αυτό ένα κριτήριο, έτσι;);

Φτάνει με τις ερωτήσεις. Ας μιλήσω για μένα. Οι ανασφάλειες μου ήταν πάντα αυτό που με χαρακτήριζε. Και υπήρξαν άνθρωποι που τους απέκλεισα από τη ζωή μου. Άνθρωποι με τους οποίους παθιάστηκα αλλά δεν μπόρεσαν να με βοηθήσουν να ξεφύγω από τις γαμημένες ανασφάλειες μου. Και διάλεξα εκείνο που είναι πιο κοντά σε αυτό. Στη ασφάλεια. Την πιο ασφαλή λύση. Με κάνει κότα αυτό; Και τι έγινε αν δεν είμαι τρελά ερωτευμένη; Και τι έγινε αν είναι μπερδεμένα τα αισθήματα; «Άσε τους συναισθηματισμούς και τους έρωτες», μου έλεγε ένας από τους ανθρώπους που είχα δίπλα μου. « Άλλα πράγματα έχουν σημασία, να μπορούμε να συνεννοούμαστε, να καταλαβαινόμαστε».

Ποιον διαλέγεις τελικά να έχεις στη ζωή σου;

Αυτόν που αγαπάς εσύ πολύ ή αυτόν που σ’αγαπάει πολύ;

Και πιο από τα δύο σε κάνει πιο εγωιστή;

Εκτός αν είσαι τυχερός και είναι αμοιβαία τα αισθήματα, μωρό μου…

P.S . Διονύση καλή καινούρια αρχή. Είσαι πολύ τυχερός που έχεις τη ευκαιρία να κάνεις μια καινούρια αρχή, παρόλο που αυτό σημαίνει ότι άφησες κάτι πίσω.

fou

I'm out you fools! Ball till ya fall...

2008-08-29T00:17:00.004+03:00

Party time is over and I 'm finally out of town after a long and "soul destroying" 6 month period that had really nothing to offer...Yap, that's right I moved out and I'm enjoying every single minute out of it.. And while I'll probably miss some of my friends and family in Greece and especially in Hate City it feels good that in the place I'm currently living I get appreciated by people I don't even know...All hood baby, all hood! Just going back to Cali...

Olympics came by just like that while pretty must everybody was on vacations and there was really nothing special about them except maybe Michael Phelp's phenomenal performance going 8 for 8 and Chinese gymnasts going gold while being under age...The funniest thing for me though has been the medal count! The Americans claim to be the winners with 110 total medals compared to China's 100 while those damn Chinese got almost double the gold medals compared to US (51 to 36)...So while in China, and in most parts of the world, the medal tally is calculated by the number of gold medals in US people believe that they actually won the Olympics..In my opinion this was 1 of the worst Olympics for team USA with dissapointing results in sports like boxing and track & field where they used to dominate...just check what happened to the 4*100 relay team both men and women!!!
Here’s the top 20 Olympic gymnastics falls of all time...I know I know, but I had to come up with some funny shit right??? You can't beat number 1 but number 2 is actually my favorite..

And what about Fidel Castro going public in favor of the Cuban guy that hit the referee...I got nothing against Fidel or Cuba but there is conspiracy and there is madness old guy, I guess you can hardly sererate them those days...it is called "fair play" and I'm pretty sure it's not being teached in communist countries amigo..

Thanx but no thanx, this blog isn't done yet...I'm actually working on developing a new section about pros and cons of American fast food and American cuisine in general...what is hot and what is missing...like In'N'Out baby they just don't know!!!
That's of course after playing the damn tourist and checking all sightseeing and vista point areas around the Bay Area...

My Big Fat Greek Contract!

2008-07-28T16:49:00.008+03:00

Josh "My main man" Childress: “The NBA is great, some of the most fun four years of my life. That obviously isn’t gone. But I think this opportunity is great.”....yeah sure, I feel you hommie, can you say $$$$$$??

For all those cats outside there getting overexcited and learning to spell C-h-i-l-d-r-e-s-s let me break it down for you:

Josh is an NBA talent, not gonna argue about it, a dynamic forward with a multitude of skills and few weaknesses...His 11.3 ppg ranked 112th in the NBA last season, putting him behind guys like Jamaal Tinsley and Ronnie Brewerat...at the end of the day he's above average at everything but outstanding at nothing..so please stop calling him Kobe, Lebron or whateva he still ain't a big time NBA player...and definitely not irreplaceable as he was replaced by Mo Evans, yes the same Evans that rocked an Olympiakos jersey 4 years ago..funny how life turns out...
What is a fact though is that this is the most lucrative deal in Euro history!!!! It is also very important to understand that this contract is loaded with perks, from a car and a house to the team actually picking up the taxes on the contract. So, in terms of value, it might be worth a little more than $20 million, total. With NBA guys having to pay tax on their salaries, a three-year, $20 million contract is actually more like a three-year, $12-14 million deal...In the meantime, for Josh, who is reall a nice guy, this really was about an opportunity to make the kind of money he just couldn’t make here in the NBA. Sure, he’s not happy that the Hawks didn’t jump to sign him up, but Olympiacos came hard after him and made him feel wanted. And Josh understands the value of money — this is a guy who spends most of his cash on sneakers and video games, hardly bank-breaking items. Here's a great example, courtesy of SLAM Magazine 120:
"My next purchase is probably going to be a watch with this money I saved up. Marvin Williams and I played a per diem game all season, trying to see how much money we could save. Each day we get like $98 to pay for our meals. And when you’re at hotels like the Ritz, room service breakfast is like fifty freakin’ bucks. So Marv and I tried to eat more normal meals and get out from the hotel, maybe going to nearby diners or whatever, and instead of spending $50 we’d spent like $7. For the whole season, I ended up saving $4,100. He had like $3,400. (We went on the honor system.) It made me realize that I don’t need to spend that much money. Just because it’s convenient doesn’t mean you don’t have to spend it."

It is called poor management and Atlanta has been so familiar with it the last years...Apparently a change did occur this summer, with Billy Knight resigning, Hawks fans throwing a parade, Rick Sund being hired and poor poor Hawks fans having to witness 1 of the biggest fiasco in team sports history....This really wouldn't be happening if Atlanta took care of its business. By low-balling Josh Smith and Childress last summer, (when they had the chance to agree on an extension) the Hawks allowed themselves to saunter into July '08 with two potential crises. Both players got better over 2007-08 (shocking! good young players get better!) and Atlanta really shouldn't be in the business of losing either. Attention out there!!!!! this is the same franchise that rumor has it is considering two blockbuster sign-and-trade proposals for josh Smith...the other restricted free agent who can be considered nothing more than a cornerstone player...you have to be able to sign your franchise player if you seriously want to compete, right???? As for whenever he decides to move back, If the Hawks don't resign Childress, they won't be able to sign a major free-agent, either. If they resign Childress, they'll probably severely overpay him...deadend baby!
If you really want to feel what I'm saying and how lame the Hawks management has been you gotta check the Hawks GM statement regarding the departure of Childress:

“We were informed this morning by Josh Childress’ representatives that he has signed with Olympiakos in Greece, and we want to wish him the absolute best with his future career in FIBA (FIBA is the governing body of international basketball competition, not the European league or clubs. Childress and Olympiakos have nothing to do with FIBA).
We have a great deal of respect for Josh and appreciate his contributions to our franchise. We were very comfortable when we began this process that if Josh were to play in the NBA, he would remain with the Hawks. This is a unique situation with Greece, and to my knowledge it is believed to be the highest contract ever awarded in Euroleague history.
We feel we presented a very fair and competitive offer to keep him in Atlanta, and we will now move forward with the options we have to improve our roster.”

Finally a big kudos to his agents ...with an opt-out clause (not a buyout) after each year of the deal Childress can fly back home just like that...he will still be a restricted free agent for the next 2 years but I'm sure Atlanta will be able to move him easily (with a sign trade the most likely scenario) since he is already screwing their cap...AGAIN: If the Hawks had overpaid Childress with, say, an $8 million annual contract, they would be able to go get a $12 million player in free agency next year ... and they'd have Childress's production! Instead, nothing and nothing. Good work, Sund!
Josh, I love you man, but you really can't go out and pull those silly comments....“I’m excited about playing for Olympiacos this upcoming season. They are a great organization and Athens is a great city. It will be an adjustment, but I’m thrilled about this opportunity.” Wow, is Athens really that great or r you missing something homie???? I guess you ll be spending all your time in those nice places, right????

(A big thanx goes out to Cat for the video)

Question of the day: Seriously,what is going on with the music in mostly all of the beach bars around Chalkidiki and deucebags getting a groove with it????? Why do they keep throwing a mix of house-acid-punk-greek rock-with a J-Lo fake mixtape?????

And whatever happened to those songs???

Old school funky French rap baby!!!!! yeahhhh, you got schooled!

PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTING...SERIOUSLY

2008-06-25T12:41:00.003+03:00

During the last 24 hours I've experienced the following somehow shocking moments of truth:

An Italian friend considering himself an artist and working in the field of theater as an actor, director, producer and scene-painter among others told me in the midst of a discussion we had: "Of course I don't like to work, that's why I became an artist..."
Another friend, this time a Greek doctor, was telling us how he ~~ignored~~ skipped a call from a family friend on a Sunday claiming how "Ain't no human too? Can't I enjoy a day at Chalkidiki without being bothered????" Somebody should probably remind him of the oath he gave right? Didn't think so in a society where we treat doctors as the closest to god and where malpractice law has yet to appear...
Dinner yesterday was at a famous fish tavern around Thessaloniki where we were urged by the owner to have swordfish among others...I have to admit that the pick was awfully delicious, what I didn't know and was revealed to us afterwards was that the meze was the outcome of illegally fished baby swordfishes..More info here...Speechless I considered myself for the rest of the night....

Shaq definitely made sure to back my column the other day by delivering a massive freestyle beatdown of Kobe at a club...

Check this stretch of lyrics…:
"Last week, Kobe couldn't do it without me...
Now that’s the difference between first and last place....
I’m a horse, Kobe ratted me out,
that’s why I’m getting divorced.
He said, Shaq gave a bitch a mil.
I don’t do that, ‘cause my name’s Shaquille.
I love ‘em, I don’t leave ‘em.
I got a vasectomy, now I can’t breed ‘em.
Kobe how my a*s taste?
Everybody, Kobe how my a*s taste?
Yeah, you couldn’t do without me.
Kobe, you can’t do without me.
Kobe, you can’t do without me"

Yeah, nothing personal there at all, right???

Pequeño...

2008-06-19T13:33:00.005+03:00

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, your 2008 NBA champions..while I 've really never been a fan of the Beantown I am proud for 3 guys on this year's squad...Ray Allen a.k.a. Jesus Shuttlesworth, James Posey, probably 1 of the best role players to ever play the game and Sam "I Am" Cassell, can you say clutch???
See, for me the NBA has always been about phenomenal player personalities like Voshon Lenard a.k.a "The Deerhunter", Sheed Wallace (no comments), Qyntel Woods a.k.a "Pitbull Fighting", Charles Barkley of course, R.I.P. Eddie Griffin caught masturbating while watching porn on a DVD in his vehicle immediately after crashing an SUV!!!, the whole JailBlazer team, Isiah Rider who currently possesses a tremendous rapsheet, Shawn Kemp, who is NOT married but a proud father of 7 children with 6 women...oh, and I almost forgot, Jason Caffey (supporting member of the MJ Bulls team in the 90's that erupted for 6 NBA champions) who put new standards with ten children with eight women....And don't forget that "60 per cent of retired NBA players go broke five years after their NBA paycheques stop arriving"...You are probably getting the big picture, damn I love this game!!!

Add to that list Pacer forward Danny Granger who apparently is a big Batman fan and is reportently considering building a batcave in his house...hilarious stuff there, those dudes really keep impressing us...

NBA Finals Top moment (sponsored bu Mark Madsen and "white men should not dance"):
Another favorite of mine, Brian Scalabrine, a totally Irish benchwarming figure delivering a classic right after Game 6:

Brian Scalabrine is clearly an NBA champion who doesn't take himself too seriously...

As for Kobe's press conference, he spoke in depressed two or three word answers reminding everybody what a jerk he really is and how he cannot stand losing even if this comes from a better squad...
No Kobe, you AND your teammates got shutdown during the 2008 NBA Finals where everybody was placing their money on the Lakers to win it easily...
No Kobe, you are not Jordan and you r never going to become Jordan how hard you try.... solo a copycat...MJ would never had let the opponent team to come back from a 25 points deficit in the 3nd quarter in a home game...you let it happen by NOT dominating a situation where you are supposed to dominate...UPDATE:

See more funny videos at CollegeHumor

No Kobe you still haven't made it alone...Shaq earned his ring in Miami a couple years ago proving that he can put his ego aside for the team's best...
No Kobe, you are not as good as a lot of people think, and certainly nowhere near the transcendent, all-conquering great your most loyal supporters have claimed.
Want Proof??
Kobe is and was that good for most of the regular season and playoffs, but he simply came up small when it counted most...that's why the new nickname: Pequeño!
And don't miss 2 great pieces about NBA superstars, Kobe and Kg..
The 1st one from my main man Paul Shirley who had the chance to be a teammate of both Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant and comes up with an excellent comparison, mainly of characters...
Kobe and KG
The other from SLAM magazine editor Khalid Sallam, a longtime 76ers fan, who nicely breaks down why Kobe is both loved and hated so much...worth reading!
The Divisive one by Khalid Salaam

Somebody please call 911....

2008-06-04T11:01:00.007+03:00

Teddy bear story gone wrong...what a city...drowned and abandoned for the past 3 days and counting this cute little thing can't rest his soul...Classic symptom of urbanization??? People turning away in the land of frappe??? C-mon! I mentioned this to a bunch of people, reactions?? "Why the f*** should I care? It ain't my problem? Where's that mayor of ours??? I'm too busy for that s***!

It's all about the ladies...

2008-05-19T16:08:00.012+03:00

Let’s start with a laugh....

I really can't help me, I've become obsessed with models falling apart on the stage...and please don't give me that bull about how difficult this s*** is...That’s a foul. Not being able to do the one and only thing required of models…C-mon! Top Model just called and Tyra wants her shoes back...Enough with the models talk, it actually drives me crazy, the reason??? I dated that chick back in high school, I know she misses me...lol, just kidding...talking about decisions and commitment...

Candace Parker??? U seem to be a true gangsta baby! I've made WNBA jokes...
You've made WNBA jokes...
But Candace, the No 1 draft pick of this year's WNBA, is no joke...
In her professional debut on Saturday, Parker scored 34 points on 12 of 19 shooting for the Los Angeles Sparks in a 99-94 win over the Phoenix Mercury . She also added, and try and follow along, folks, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and a block. That's Josh-Smith-like stat filling right there, only with more points. Did I mention she's still wearing a brace on her shoulder??? Sick!
It's just one game, and it's not likely that there will be any swarm of interest flowing to the WNBA, but it definitely raises the profile of the struggling league...

Και στο κεφαλαιο Internazionale F.C.:
Πρεπει να ειναι η πιο μισητη ομαδα που εχει υπαρξει ποτε...Και τι δεν εχω ακουσει τα τελευταια χρονια..."Δεν είχε αντιπάλους". "Ευνοήθηκε από την διαιτησία (!)". "Στη Ιταλια ειναι μονο 3 οι μεγαλες ομαδες, Juve, Milan, Fiorentina!!!" "Δεν μπορεί να κάνει κάτι αξιόλογο στο Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ." "Κέρδισε μόνο δύο από τα έξι ντέρμπι με Ρόμα, Γιουβέντους, Μίλαν". "Στα μερικά κρίσιμα σημεία δεν έδειξε χαρακτήρα και έκανε τα πράγματα δύσκολα" Αυτό που δεν είναι εύκολο, όμως, είναι όλοι να σε αμφισβητούν, αλλά παράλληλα να σε φοβούνται. Ολοι να σε κρίνουν, αλλά κανείς να μην σε κερδίζει. "Ηταν η Ιντερ εναντίον όλων των άλλων", σημείωσε ο καημενος ο Μάσιμο Μοράτι, ο οποιος ειναι αποριας αξιον πως δεν εχει παθει ακομη εμφραγμα με ολα αυτα που εχει δει... Και έχει δίκιο...Μεχρι να παρει καποιος αλλος τα ηνια στο Scudetto you can do as much talking as you want and simply kiss our a$$!

Irrelevant brief comment of the day: Boy that Andie MacDowell is such a bad actress....gaw f*** off with the gross hair already... just finished watching Short Cuts...hated it!

And I got a little something for the ladies...I believe that Greek chicks (of my age) are somehow trapped between 2 realities, 2 different worlds...The first one is the old school generation, our parents generations (just around the sexual liberation of the 70's) where ladies were getting married after a setup, a matchmaking (προξενιο) and where loοοοοοοοng negotiations were taking place about the bride's dowry...The second 1 is today's status quo, a result of the invasion of the American style and TV teens hit shows in the 90's, (insert Beverly Hills 90210 jokes right about here...), the role model of the independent woman who can have (try) a bunch of guys before finally settling down with a man and having a family...and then divorcing him of course for a wealthier husband, lol! I could put some blame for the parents too here...you know the deal, overspoiling and shit.. they usually turn around and blame every fucking thing on this earth, except their own obviously fucked parenting skills...
Although there are still around some of those old school ladies I find many girls willing to take the new age approach, break the rules and get into the whole "1 night stand" party...
The fact that we, man, are always set to receive the blame is the best part of it and what keeps me laughing all day long...Reality test: why should a man commit when there are plenty of young girls out there ready to "spread the love"????
I've seen many of those girls making the exact same mistake and changing "mates" just like that...well no hard feelings here but you' ve probably had too much "Sex and the City" while failing to realize that Greece and Thessaloniki especially are never gonna be New York City...good luck finding the perfect mate, he is Greek of course with lots of $$$ and eyes only for you...oh and I almost forgot, "Σαν την Χαλκιδικη δεν εχει", lets build a 4th peninsula!

Again, that was just a random though of mine, some will 'preciate it some will hate it just remember "not to worry about the people in your past , there is a reason they didn't make it to your future.."

NBA conference Finals update:
Funny how the last 10 years or so (actually 5 of last 8) it's the time of the year where I find myself rooting for the Spurs (awwwwwwg!) to eliminate those damn Fakers...Up next? I see Pistons and the Lakers fighting for the trophy...
And what about those socking news, Charles Barkley decides to stop gambling!
A little late for Sir Charles but wise move after facing last week felony charges for failing to repay a $400.000 gambling debt to the Wynn Casino...yay! Vegas baby!

What the f*** is art??????

2008-04-21T20:18:00.006+03:00

Following the huge controversy caused by this Absolut Vodka ad, which has Mexico reclaiming California, Absolut had indeed to apologize and withdraw the aforementioned ad campaign as too much $$$ are in stakes while Grey Goose Vodka claims the No1 spot in the US market...What really has me pissed off is that I bet very few people (and yes, I mean Americans) know California was indeed a part of Mexico and was captivated effortless by General Scott during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848, How do I know this stuff??? Check out this awesome book from my collection)..It was Mexico that lost California when it considered it of little value, but the territory soon suddenly acquired far greater value with the discovery of gold...I mean how do you have an opinion when you ain't know shit??? And don't tell me that Mexicans are dreaming of getting back those territories...Anyone who believes in a conspiracy being carried out by Mexicans and Mexican-Americans on behalf of Mexico doesn't know beans. Again, who says Mexico even wants the Southwest? Why own when you're already enjoying a windfall? Mexican workers in the United States send home nearly $25 billion annually in remittances. More important, Mexican immigrants aren't exactly loyal disciples of the Mexican government, which many of them blame for the corruption and poverty that sent them packing. This whole controversy was silly, and only Americans seemed to be intoxicated by it. Mexicans couldn't care less...Set aside the historic and politic aspect of the issue I keep wondering why didn't people approached this ad as a damn form of art..is it art, or not? and how do we define art? and how do we explain art to Americans who conceive the world as captivated in the following pic???

More on art and its meaning. Guillermo Vargas Habacuc had 2 children catch a dog which then chained and used as “art”. He told everyone not to feed this dog. The dog died in the gallery. This guy calls himself an artist but there is like a zillion of people out there signing petitions to ban him while calling him an animal abuser, a killer, a brutal monster, a sick pervert blah blah blah and mainly NOT an artist. 2 things: First, DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ (those who know me the most can acknowledge how I've been saying this quote forever...!). This story was soooo intriguing so having all the tell-tale signs of being an internet hoax, I thought little of it. Then yesterday I got 100! invites to join a Facebook group about a petition to stop the artist from repeating the exhibition. The group had grown 17 0.000 members strong and I started to worry, not for the dog but for my friends who so willingly let themselves be caught by the dragnet of mass suggestion..Why??? For the dog did not starve, nor die. The gallery put out a public statement saying that the dog had been fed throughout the exhibition and had escaped after the first day. The Humane Society validates this on their website:

"According to local animal welfare organizations, the dog was in a state of starvation when he was captured from the street for display in the exhibit. We have also been informed that the dog spent one day in the exhibit and later escaped the gallery".

As to whether such an exhibition should be called art I have to go with a big YES cause for me art is such a freedom thing and when we try to define it we inevitably oppress it. There will always be cultural boundaries and different definitions of what is defined as “art”... In no means I approve dog abuse I'm just against censorship. In Greece, in an exhibition back in 2003, there was this pic causing major controversy..Greek government decided this wasn't art and banned it...who signed similar petitions then????

NBA playoffs update:
After watching Tim Duncan hit this amazing super clutch 3 pointer (the 1st of the season too) during the 1st OT of an epic game I can only assume he is drinking some bad gatorade...Here's the proof:

I'm going with Celtics, Pistons, Cavs and Magic from the East and Fakers, Suns, Dallas, Utah from the West..See you in the second round!

Tremendous video clip of the day...

2008-04-11T00:56:00.004+03:00

Amazing amazing amazing video clip, I don’t know why I can’t stop laughing. It’s not even that funny, but I keep watching it over and over...

I don’t know what’s better, the woman falling through and disappearing or the man coming after her and falling through a different hole…

And what about those reporters getting smacked down… I’m pretty sure four people died in that video...

Revolver: probably THE best movie eva...

2008-04-10T01:46:00.004+03:00

Seriously now...I'm planning on taking a leave of absence (from everyday life) after watching Guy Ritchie's phenomenal masterpiece (a little bit of exaggeration ain't that bad)...I might have to visit a psychiatrist too (or a shrink, whatever)...
Well, I always though that I could have been happier if I wasn't such a big thinker...problem is I still haven't figured out a way to manage to do so and therefore I very often find myself trapped in a series of questions, dilemmas and options...Not that I'm having trouble making decisions but it gets tougher when the options are endless and you think about all possible consequences and implications...Wish I was dumb??? Hell no, but I'll never find out what's better...
Back to the movie, the story is pretty interesting with a fast pace plus an excellent casting (actors totally suiting for their roles), you really can't and won't quit on it...And when moving to the point that GR is trying to make then it really gets complicated. And that's why this joint didn't get good reviews but was blasted as "incomprehensible and inconceivable"...
Wondering what's the main idea of the movie right????
Take your ego away and then you will feel what's real freedom like! "The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you will ever look" Our true enemy is in us - it is our ego... The voice that always tells us that we are important, that gives us our pride, that tells us not to give, but only to take, that creates our aggression, that wants to be in control, that creates all the negative feelings and thoughts. The only way to gain true control is when you loose control and you just let go of your personal importance.
Pretty interesting don't you think??? U really have to watch that last part of the movie to get a true "feeling"...
Anyway, I'm out, check the trailer but if you really want to catch a great movie just watch it. Funny I'm writing those things in a blog related to Thessaloniki...Each and everyday I'm finding out that people around are more interested in drinking the frappe or going to bouzoukia (typical in Tuesdays) rather than watching a film...Let me revise that: people, meaning no students (no offense of course)...

Funny stories and my favorite blogger...

2008-04-03T19:18:00.007+03:00

Baseball was really never my favorite team sport, it didn't even hit my fav 5...reasons??? Lots (9$ beer among other), but last week I came up with totally persuasive evidence...I give you the "OWNED BASEBALL FANS" (click pic to enlarge)

Baseball is a contact sport. But its the backstory that makes it great...Where do I have to start from??? The lady with the sun glasses that totally "flies the kite", the little girl that reaches for...who knows what, the people on the left who look like they’re watching a horror film and are screaming, the woman behind the bat in the blue shirt going hysterical, or the poor old man that suffered a broken rib...not sure though how he didn’t break his jaw. Then again he’s wearing an Ireland shirt, so I’m sure he’s used to getting hit in the face...And think the funniest part of the picture is how he’s the only one not defending himself from the bat. People a few seats over have their hands raised or are covering themselves...

Dealing with Andrew Bogut's lack of friends or existence of fantastic ones:
The term team chemistry is used to describe "a strong mutual attraction, attachment, or interaction between people working together"...Such interaction is harmonious when effective, when not, then this what you get:

Paul Shirley (for those of you who aren't familiar with him) is a white male basketball player from Kansas...he ain't no superstar and he pretty much didn't want to be a bball player as he 've earned a degree in Engineering...He's more like a journeyman having logged time practically everywhere in the roundball universe, from six NBA cities to proleagues in Spain and Greece to North's America's pro ball Siberia, the minor leagues. Hell, he's even played in the real Siberia...all of it because he fits the model of the tall (6'10) white dude and well, when you are seven feet tall people expect you to be a professional basketball player, even when you only want to be a mechanic, lying on your back doing an oil change on a '75 Montego...He is also my favorite blogger, with a writing style riding between selfsarcasm and amusement....His original Phoenix Suns blog can be found here, along with an article he wrote for Esquire magazine here, an exchange he did with the great Neal Pollack for slate.com here and a piece he did on his own for that website here....Just take a glimpse and you will see how hilarious this guy is...He recently published his book writing down all his pleasant and especially unpleasant memories, which tend to increase rapidly once he exits US customs...The most exciting part of his stories is hands down when he reminisces events occured during the 2001-2002 basketball season where he played for Panionios B.C. in Athens...You can ready lots of stories in his book including lines like the following:

"It would be my opinion that Greeks dislike two things: lung health and authority"...or
"In my time in Athens, I learned that Greeks are a duplicitous lot. Team officials would lie to me with no hesitation"...I guess that has something to do with the fact that we call each other "Λαμογια"...
"I never did know how to get to the Greek team's offices; I was always taken there as if I were a hostage who could not be allowed navigational knowledge"
"I'd never known that lamb could be used in an omelet" (Durimg his extensive stay at a hotel room)...
I think it's totally amazing to get the perspective of a foreigner especially when he is open minded and not biased...Paul was fair enough to give the Greeks the "thumbs up"...

"My linguistic development is also being hampered by the attitude of the Spanish people. In Greece, when I would break down and attempt to ask for something in Greek, the person to whom I was speaking seemed truly grateful that I was making an effort then he would correct my mangled version of the language and say something in English, usually along the lines of "Nice try. Now tell me what you want"...

Comparing Greek fans and their extreme creativity to even throw a row of bleachers or cell phones to players has an advice for the Slovenians: "Amateurs...You have a long way to go..."

The reason though I'm mentioning Paul in today's post in that he recently decided to publish some previously unpublished extras from his book at myspace...well guess what, Greeks are the center of his attention once again...worth reading!

"I think I may be a convert. Driving a manual is more fun than driving an automatic. The reason I’ve had time to contemplate this paradox is that my blue Hyundai is currently being fixed (or at least sitting somewhere and resting) and the rental company that provides my car is letting me use another Hyundai that happens to be an automatic. (This is the second instance of engine trouble in the last month for this car—surprising, considering the unending respect usually reserved for those fine Korean carmakers.) So, I’ve had some opportunities to notice the differences between the two. For example, when I’m attempting to accelerate in order to avoid Sotiris the pizza boy on his moped and my gas pedal turns to mush while the automatic tries to figure out what gear it should select for the job.
The Greeks sure are chipper folk. Any time you walk by and give them a smile, or at least one of those eyebrow-raises that says, "Hey, I’m trying to be nice," they never hesitate to give you their nicest death-glare that says, "Hey, it’s noon and I can’t believe I’m awake so soon. Go to hell." But in the most lovable way possible...(Probably my favorite part, what is going on with you people??? Life is beautiful!!! )
My internet service ran out recently and I was forced to find a new provider. It was easy and I had no problems. (If you believe that, you haven’t been paying attention to any of my experiences here.) I bounced on down to the local computer store sometime during its two daily business hours and purchased what looked like a reputable service for the next three months. I got home and began the job. The information contained on the set-up disc was, not surprisingly, all in Greek and all completely worthless, so I called the help line, thinking, "Ha, no simple language barrier can stop me."
What did stop me was that the phone number in the box was, in fact, wrong. After several tries, I finally broke down and called the store where I purchased the fine product.
"Oh, the number changed."
(This is where most people would say –we should have told you, but the Greeks would interpret this as a sign of weakness.)
Eventually, it worked, until the next day, when the internet dial-up number magically changed. But they were happy to tell me that, when I called them.
I had another experience with Athens’ finest about a week ago. As I was returning from watching Harry Potter (a little disappointing, but the book set the bar pretty high), I was again waved to the side of the road by the police. This time, however, it was 1:30 a.m. and the whole proceedings took on a more sinister air. The officers were moderately amused by my lack of Greek language skills and again asked for my passport. Unlike the first time this happened, I didn’t have it since it isn’t exactly the first thing I reach for on my way to the movies, and this definitely did not excite them. They grudgingly settled for my Kansas driver’s license and then gave me a breathalyzer test. I fortunately hadn’t had any Nyquil that night, or who knows where I would be right now, and they sent me on my way. The whole painful situation was, thankfully, eased slightly by the Greek person I had with me, who moderated some of the proceedings. The sheer absurdity of the entire experience struck me in the car and I spent a long time afterwards laughing like an idiot. Would I have ever thought that I would have my first-ever sobriety test in Athens, Greece, standing by the side of Voulaigmenis Avenue at 1:30 in the morning? Probably not.
Dejan Bodiroga, the highest-paid player in Europe with a salary of $2 million per year, approaches me on the dribble. We (Panionios) are currently leading Panathanaikos, the second-place team in the Greek league, by two on our home court. When Bodiroga (buddy-ro-gah) received the ball, there were exactly 3.2 seconds on the scoreboard (the one that works, that is).
In the time-out preceding the play in which we are currently suspended, we have managed to set up almost no defensive strategy. But, because a fan took it upon himself to aid our cause by throwing a bottle of water on one end of the court, delaying the game by five minutes, we have had the time to decide to "switch" any screens in the ensuing play. But I digress.
I see Bodiroga, having caught the ball at a point even with the far free-throw line, dribble once, twice and then I decide he is in my realm of the court and pick him up. He dribbles again with his left hand and as I cut him off as passively as possible (my main goal, I’m thinking, is not to foul), he spins, fumbles slightly, dribbles twice with his right hand and reaches the top of the key at the end of the court we are defending. The whistle blows. Bodiroga pump fakes and I think to myself, "The game is over, but I might as well challenge this shot," and fly by on his fake.
Over my shoulder, I watch his meaningless three-point shot sail cleanly through the net. And now, curiously, the referee throws up both hands and I stare in disbelief as the game is awarded to Panathinaikos. The replay shows conclusively that time expired well before the shot was taken, but in Greece, the referee has no access to replay immediately after the game.
I am told that an appeal has been made, but will be denied, as Panathinaikos is one of the two "big" teams which carry the most weight (and money) in our league. I think two things hurt our chances of getting the correct call. One, the buzzer on the one functional scoreboard in our gym does not work, so the scorer’s table is forced to make snap judgments as to the end of quarters, games, etc. And two, it is obvious that the referees involved did not have the necessary amount of testosterone flowing through their bodies that day to stick by the correct call in the face of controversy. And we all know where in the body testosterone is produced.....lolololololol
My brothers Dan and Matt made it to Greece with no trouble. Getting home was a different story, but more on that later. We managed to make it back to Delphi and were duly impressed with the place (me for the second time). Because we had some extra time after exploring the site at Delphi (it closes at 2:45—it’s important for the one person that works there to get his rest) we continued our journey to the coastal town of Galaxadia. We were adventurous enough to try a fish restaurant at random and were served some shrimp that just did not meet our palates’ standards. The shrimp were served whole and a body had to tear each individual animal open to get to the meaty morsel inside, at which point one was faced with, er, removing the shrimp’s digestive system and its contents. Just a little too much work for we simple folk.
Another highlight of their stay was our trips to the beach. We also noted that an alarming percentage of Greek men find the Speedo to be their weapon of choice. I do not know who tells these people, "Yeah, that looks good on you. Really."
While my brothers were here, we were overwhelmed with stares, as is always the case when the three of us walk around together. The difference here being that the Greek people, because they have no tact, continue to look long past the normal Kansas gawking. We even had our pictures taken by a couple of groups of tourists. We were hoping it was due to our rakish good looks, but are forced to admit that it was probably our freakish tallness that made us photography-worthy.
Unfortunately, my brothers’ exit from the country was not as easy as their entry, as previously mentioned. The team told me all week that they had ticket reservations for the trip home and that the team simply needed to give me the tickets. As it turned out, the team did not even start looking for the tickets until two days before they were to leave. Surprisingly, on two days notice, there wasn’t much to be found, so my brothers missed an extra day of school in order to hang out in Greece for an extra day (which did allow them to see the previously described Panathinaikos game).
The mess with their return tickets probably would not have been so irking except that: a) the team lied to me for the whole week: and, b) while D & M were here my landlord called twice to tell me that Panionios had not paid the rent and he would be kicking me out if they did not pay within the week: and let’s not forget, c) the team owes me a month and a half of salary at this point. All of this led to a little added stress around my brothers’ return to the US and I have to admit that, going into the Panathanikos game, I was feeling rather unmotivated to put out my best effort, and it showed. Immature? Probably. But I was feeling a little betrayed by the team and that is the way my brain works"..

If you were amused and want more go buy his book for a ton of similar awkward moments...if not, then I dunno what the fck is wrong with you people...reminds me of what my hommie W.H.I.V.S.I.V. told me a couple of weeks ago..after recommending Comedy of the year Superbad to some friends (a couple) he got rebuffed...if you don't know you ain't know I guess...

More funny stuff here:

First, this cute girl pulls a badass hammer on her man, with absolutely no reason at all..Boy, those American girls are something else...funny shit right???

Cute Girlfriend Gives Good Head...ache - Watch more free videos

The dude always abides and comes back getting revenge with a hilarious prank...

Guy Gets Revenge on Girlfriend for Headache - Watch more free videos

I'm not e regular of Greek TV but yesterday my eye caught a glimpse of an advertisement where the disgusting Γρηγορης Αρναουτογλου was promoting some cell phone company, with yellow and white people following him. Don't get fooled, the concept of this ad is 1 that is being used for ages by Verizon Wireless...Check the video, indeed Greece is the land of copyright infringement..

101 Sports education - Part 1

2008-03-17T16:53:00.007+02:00

The main difference between sports in USA and Europe is straightforward the element of entertainment. It's not like in US people don't care about winning, it's just the fact that people enjoy sports, sports came into life to amuse and be a productive and enjoyable part of their lives. Even when it's about fans and supporting your team those people have their way of cracking me up, check this video: UGA was playing at Auburn in 1996 and their mascot Uga tried to bite Auburn’s Robert Baker after he scored a touchdown!!!!!

Now, don't get me wrong, college sports are a whole different story and the arenas are always filled with young (Irish) students from the campus; no typical families on Sundays...and check out this article about fan cheering and another 1 pointing out that people had enough of drunk and abusive college fans, raising 1st Amendment issues; isn't it always about freedom of speech???
Actually, having attended both events I can tell there are too many similarities, only 1 big difference: alcohol is NOT served in Greek courts unless you are a VIP..
Back to professional sports: big markets lead to higher expectations, big stars performing and on to the point, BIG TIME entertaining!
When people want to protest they act ridiculous (- ly funny)...just check those Bucks fans putting brown paper sacks on their heads and heading into their teams arena, sitting down and watching their team play as a show of total shame for said team's inability to prosper.
When we talk about Greece it gets even more anti-entertaining... win or go home. An enormous amount of pressure is constantly put on the players and coaches to perform while being unpaid for extensive periods is considered normal... As for fans, you know the deal, the land of "kafroi"...As a result todays' Greek authorities are still contemplating about the ability of a typical Greek family to safely attend a classic Sunday sports event (in the fear of extensive and dangerous altercation)...and this is the land where Olympics where invented!!!

Anyway, this is a blog, not a politics forum, so in the name of entertainment, check out the following pics:

NBA: Where Looking at the Cheerleaders Gets You in Trouble' Happens...Trust me fellas, a sporting event is a terrible place to go on a date…a fancy restaurant or the movies are a much safer bet. Why? Well, because if you go to a ballgame, something like this might happen:

That poor,poor,poor guy. Can’t even do a little gawking at the Mavs dance team...

Shaq is plain simple the funniest guy ever to play the game...At the time this happened, I was of the opinion that this dive by Shaq into the stands was excessive. After reviewing it a few more times, I stand by my initial take. He didn't need to do this, but after all, Shaq is a performer, and this is at least part of what the Suns signed up for when they traded for him so they'll just have to put up with theatrics like this along the way, because Shaq wants to make damn sure that if he's going to go all out like this, that we all notice when he does.

Now the funny part. A couple days after the above mentioned unnecessary and excessive diving into the stands we have the same play only this time it's Shaq and bench (acting like wussies) instead of Shaq vs. fans..

What cracks me up, though, is how everybody moved out of the way, even guys at the end of the bench who weren't close to getting hit -- it was like magnets repelling from each other, or cockroaches scattering when you turn on the light.

The Rockets these days are having great times enjoying an astonishing 22 (and counting) wins in a row. It's all about karma, when you r having fun the whole team can go on and do an impersonation of 41 years old Dikembe Mutombo who apparently always seems to sound like a drunk Cookie monster!!!

Bonus material on Deke...“It was named after pasta…”

Finally, it's all about the game..Check out Jason Maxiell's ridiculous, gravity defying rejection on Tyson Chandler...Chandler was elbows over the rim, and Maxiell got up from a flat-footed position to swat it out of bounds..'Nuff said, block of the year!

Stuff White People Like...

2008-03-02T15:56:00.007+02:00

A site that’s been circulating widely around the ‘net the last few weeks has been Stuff White People Like. Someone sent it to me about a month ago, and I immediately bookmarked it, intending to post to it but eventually forgetting about it. I’ve seen it mentioned elsewhere a few times lately, so I figured I’d post it up today. Funny stuff there. I actually spent a solid two hours yesterday ~~laughing out loud at my desk as I was reading through it~~ working on a project.
The more you read the more you will be amazed by the accuracy of this statement... That website is simply awesome, apparently stereotyping white people works…who knew! Be sure to check the comments section too, some very creative lines coming up...

My favorites include:

Assists!

White people love to pass, it’s no secret. In basketball, it’s kind of a must so that white guys can carve out a niche and guarantee acceptance on a team (From Pete Maravich to Larry Bird to John Stockton, Scott Skiles, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash...) One explanation is that white people still feel guilty over slavery, colonialism, and the crusades so passing is a way to make up for it. But more importantly, it makes them feel good to help others.

Making you feel bad about not going outside...

White people love to be outside. But not everyone knows that another thing they like to do is make people feel bad for wanting to watch sports on TV or play videogames. Usually, they will see that you are preparing to enjoy your life and they will say “hey, lets go for a hike in the park,” and most people will say “hey, thanks but I’ve been working all week and I’m really excited about watching this game,” and then they will respond “don’t be a lump on the couch, you’re wasting your life away, etc…” If you ignore them, they will eventually go away.

Asian girls!

95% of white males have at one point in their lives, experienced yellow fever. Many factors have contributed to this phenomenon such as guilt from head taxes, internment camps, dropping the Nuclear bomb and the Viet Nam War . This exchange works both ways as asian girls have a tendency to go for white guys. Another factor that draws white guys to asian women is that white women are jealous of them.Take for instance the fact that asian women well into their 30s and 40s retain teen / college girl looks without the help of botox, yoga or a trendy diet (future posts). Asian women also avoid key white women characteristics such as having a mid life crisis, divorce, and hobbies that don’t involve taking care of the children. Should white guy / asian girl marry, they produce hybirds that are aestically pleasing, but are very annoying. This practice is also a means by which white people can catch up to the asian peoples in the population race, as most of the hybirds often act white rather than asian.

Not Having a TV!!!

The number one reason why white people like not having a TV is so that they can tell you that they don’t have a TV. It is effective in making other white people feel bad, and making themselves feel good about their life and life choices.

Apple Products!

Plain and simple, white people don’t just like Apple, they love and need Apple to operate. Apple products tell the world you are creative and unique. When you ask white people about Mac’s they will say “oh, it’s so much better than Windows,” “it’s just easier to use,” “they are so cutting edge,” and so forth. What’s amazing is that white people NEED to meet people who use Windows to justify themselves spending an extra $500 for a pretty looking machine. Knowledge of Apple products can be useful in a number of social situations. If you see a white person with a Mac, an easy way to approach them is to say “Is that a Powerbook? What OS do you have?” They will happily start talking to you, after the requisite five minutes, you can invite them to an 80s night.

(Insert BIG applause): Knowing What's best for Poor People...

White people spend a lot of time of worrying about poor people. It takes up a pretty significant portion of their day. It is a poorly guarded secret that, deep down, white people believe if given money and education that all poor people would be EXACTLY like them. In fact, the only reason that poor people make the choices they do is because they have not been given the means to make the right choices and care about the right things. But it is ESSENTIAL that you reassert that poor people do not make decisions based on free will. That news could crush white people and their hope for the future.

Honorable mention: Farmers Markets, Non-profit organizations, Yoga, Snowboarding, Lawyers, Bottles of Water, Arts Degrees, Study Abroad, Standing Still at Concerts....more to come!!!

I sure managed to save the best for last...
THE 10 RAP SONGS WHITE PEOPLE LOVE (to dance):

Oscar 2008: Only Europeans Get Oscar Gold!

2008-02-26T20:54:00.010+02:00

Συντομο wrap up για τα φετινα Oscar: Εννοειται οτι ο θεσμος ειναι οτι να 'ναι, devoid of any real substance, αλλα ενιοτε περιλαμβανει και επιτυχεις επιλογες και απονομες...

Εντυπωση μου εκανε το οτι αναδειχτηκε το "No Country for Old Men", το οποιο ειδα προ εξαμηνου, καλυτερη ταινια. Οχι τιποτα αλλα η ταινια κανει 1 φοβερη κοιλια χωρις ωστοσο να χαλαει την αριστουργηματικη σκηνοθεσια και τις αντιστοιχες ερμηνειες του Javier Bardem και Tommy Lee Jones...Συμπερασμα: μάλλον το "There Will Be Blood" δεν εχει να προσφερει και πολλα εκτος φυσικα απο την ερμηνεια του πρωταγωνιστη της.
Johnny Depp στο Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: OVERRATED! Απο τις μεγαλυτερς φοβιες μου ειναι οταν πηγαινω να δω 1 ταινια και εξελισεται σε musical...
Juno: UNDERRATED! Best Original Screenplay για πλακα...Και η Diablo Cody στο Myspace εχει για επαγγελμα "Masturbator"...xaxaxa!
Javier Bardem: totally gangsta performance αλλα δεν καταλαβα 1) γιατι δεν φιλησε την Jennifer Hudson που του εδωσε το βραβειο (το κοριτσι ειναι African-American) και 2) τον totally εθνικιστικο ευχαριστηριο λογο του στα Spanish, μονο τον Franco ξεχασε να αναφερει...Κατα τ'αλλα αναμενεται ακομη πιο gangsta στη νεα του ταινια "Killing Pablo" ...Escobar!
Καθολου εντυπωση που εμεινε με αδεια χερια το Atonement, I mean, καλη ταινια αλλα λιγο επαναλαμβανομενο το θεμα...
Η μονη ταινια που μετανιωσα που εχασα, το "La vie en Rose"...
Για το supporting actress θα πω οτι δεν υπηρχε τιποτα το εξαιρετικο, για μενα νικητρια επρεπε να ταν η Amy Ryan στο Gone Baby Gone. Τρελο junkie -mom με Αγγλικη προφορα - αλανι...
Αδικημενες ταινιες: 3:10 to Yuma, Lions for Lambs, The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (ειδικα για cinematography ηταν 1 κλαση πανω), Sicko...

Καλυτερο διδυμο επι σκηνης, Seth Rogen Jonah Hill....Superbad baby! Also with the honor of best Matching Hairlines!
Best performance for acting and trying to be cool while everybody considers me cool: Colin Farrell..
Coolest drunk pervert: Jack Nicholson...
Απολυτη αμερικανια η απονομη 1 βραβειου απο 5 mariners στο Iraq, πως και δεν γιουχαρανε... μαλλον μαζεψανε πολλα φυτα φετος...
Καλος host o John Stewart (tops για μενα μαζι με Jimmy Kimmel) αλλα περισσοτερο East Coast to humor του..Best line: ""You have to give Barack Obama credit, he's overcome a great deal. Not just he's an African-American. Barack Hussein Obama is his name. His middle name is the last name of Iraq's former tyrant. His last name rhymes with Osama. That's not easy to overcome. "
Finally can we please get more of Jessica Alba??? Boom dizzle knows a thing!!!

Amy at the club...The epitome of SoCal b#@%*s...

2008-02-01T15:44:00.000+02:00

Man, this is sooooooooooo real! I love Eliza Skinner!!!
This 1 is for everybody left wondering what it feels like to meet (and date) a Southern California girl...
It also points out the huge gaps in English vocabulary...1 could easily argue that the American vocabulary consists of just three words: OMG (Oh my god), awesome and shit.

JUNO...watch it!

2008-01-30T13:11:00.000+02:00

Some people may be surprised that I went to see Juno. Or that I was excited to see Juno...First things first: You could take a date to see this movie. On the other side, I like to see most movies first and then recommend it to my friends but since I had a hard time persuading my peer to join me (remember: the average rate for a Greek going out for a movie is ONCE in a year!!!) I went to catch this by myself...
Nothing extraordinary, some may even claim it's the classic feel-good American movie (Αμερικανια)... The movie is funny thanks to Ellen Page and Michael Cera, the kid from Superbad (wtf??? still haven't seen Superbad Fogell?????)
The story? (via IMBD): Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child...

She's a smart teen who takes responsibility for her actions and yet we get to see she has flaws just like every teenager trying to grow up. The story is very real, but the reason the movie works is because the parents support her through the whole experience and we see how Juno's pregnancy changes her... Without giving away the entire story because you need to see it yourself, all I can say is that across the board it's a great movie: Great script. Great acting. Great directing. Not too many movies hit the mark on all of them. Two hours flew by for me. Seriously, this is a must-see movie. It's no wonder why Ellen Page has gotten the award nods. She seems like a young Hilary Swank or Natalie Portman who will go on to bigger things..
Bonus feature!!!! The movie comes up with a great great soundtrack...

03-the_kinks-a_well_respected_man.mp3

46 + 5 Λογοι που μας κανουν περηφανους που ειμαστε Ελληνες...

2008-01-26T16:55:00.000+02:00

Proud to be Greek? Be my guest....ΞΕΧΩΡΙΖΩ:

Εχουμε 20 (ολογραφως ΕΙΚΟΣΙ) αθλητικες εφημεριδες...
Φοραμε σανδαλια χωρις καλτσες...
Εχουμε τις περισσοτερες επισημες αργιες απο οποιαδηποτε αλλη χωρα στην Ευρωπη...
Ξυπναμε στις 12 τα μεσανυχτα για να βγουμε...
Ειμαστε η μονη χωρα με ΣΥΜΠΡΩΤΕΥΟΥΣΑ...
Τρωμε για βραδυ μετα τις 10 και πρωινο πριν παμε για υπνο...
Οταν αναβει πορτοκαλι ΠΑΤΑΜΕ ΓΚΑΖΙ αντι να κοψουμε ταχυτητα...
Μας παιρνει 3 ΩΡΕΣ για να πιουμε 200ml ΚΑΦΕ (κατα προτιμηση φραπε)...
Δεν πινουμε τα ξιδια με καλαμακι...
Τα πεζοδρομια ειναι θεσεις παρκαρισματος...
Μετραμε το χρονο και το χωρο με βαση το τσιγαρο και το ποτο...Για το σκοπο αυτο εχουμε δημιουργησει τις εκφρασεις: "ΕΝΑ ΤΣΙΓΑΡΟ ΔΡΟΜΟΣ", "ΑΛΛΟ ΕΝΑ (ΟΥΙΣΚΙ) ΚΑΙ ΕΦΥΓΑ"...
Η λεξη "φιλοτιμο"δεν μπορει να μεταφραστει σε καμια γλωσσα του κοσμου, η λεξη "MALAKAS" ειναι international και δεν χρειαζεται μεταφραση...
Ειμαστε η μονη χωρα οπου τα delivery ερχονται πιο γρηγορα απο τα ασθενοφορα...
Σε 3 μολις χρονια οργανωσαμε Ολυμπιακους, πηραμε το Euro σε ποδοσφαιρο και μπασκετ, νικησαμε τα Αμερικανακια στο μπασκετ και πηραμε και τη Eurovision!!!
Μενουμε μεχρι τα 35 με τους γονεις μας και δεν ντρεπομαστε γι'αυτο. Αντιθετα ΤΟΥΣ ΖΗΤΑΜΕ ΚΑΙ ΧΡΗΜΑΤΑ για να βγαλουμε εξω τη γκομενα...
Παμε για ΣΕΡΒΙΣ το αυτοκινητο πιο συχνα απ'οτι παμε για CHECK UP στο γιατρο...
Παιρνουμε ΔΙΑΚΟΠΟΔΑΝΕΙΟ ακομη κι αν δεν εχουμε λεφτα να πληρωσουμε την πουτανα τη ΔΕΗ...
Εχουμε πιασει το νοημα της φοιτητικης ζωης. Φτυνουμε αιμα 1 χρονο για να περασουμε και μετα αραζουμε τα υπολοιπα τεσσερα...Μαθαινουμε ομως ΚΑΛΟ ΤΑΒΛΙ!
Καταφερνουμε παντα μ'ενα μαγικο τροπο να κανουμε ΜΙΑ ΜΕΡΑ ΑΡΓΙΑΣ "τριημερο"...
Εχουμε τα πιο φθηνα εισητηρια στα Μεσα Μεταφορας σε ολη την Ευρωπη. Παρ'ολα αυτα ΔΕΝ ΠΑΜΕ ΠΟΥΘΕΝΑ χωρις το αυτοκινητο μας...
Γεννησαμε τους Ολυμπιακους Αγωνες και μετα ΑΦΗΣΑΜΕ ΝΑ ΚΑΕΙ το μερος απ'οπου ξεκινησαν και πηραν το ονομα τους...
Ξερουμε καλα οτι Ο ΧΡΟΝΟΣ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΧΡΗΜΑ...Γι'αυτο ακριβως πεταμε τα σκουπιδια απο το μπαλκονι και οταν θελουμε να στριψουμε στο φαναρι παρακαμπτουμε τα αυτοκινητα που ηδη περιμενουν και "χωνομαστε" μπροστα...
Μεχρι το 2006 ημασταν ΟΙ ΤΕΛΕΥΤΑΙΟΙ ΣΕ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ INTERNET και μεσα σε ενα χρονο γιναμε η χωρα με τους πιο γοργους ρυθμους εγκαταστασης ευρυζωνικων συνδεσεων!!!
Αγοραζουμε με μανια CAYENNE KAI CHEROKEE για να πηγαινουμε βολτα στο κεντρο (Κολωνακι). Επειδη ομως τσιγκουνευομαστε το parking τα παραταμε στις γωνιες με αποτελεσμα να μην μπορουν να στριψουν τα Saxo...
Βαζουμε τα καλα μας για να παμε για καφε και σαγιοναρες για να παμε σε club...
ΑΓΑΠΑΜΕ τη μητερα μας και κανουμε τη μουρη κιμα σε οποιον μας την προσβαλει...ΜΙΣΟΥΜΕ ομως τη μητερα του αντιπαλου και δεν χανουμε ευκαιρια να το φωναζουμε καθε φορα που πηγαινουμε στο γηπεδο...
Δεν χρειαζεται να ψαξουμε Σκανδιναβες...Αυτες ερχονται σ'εμας...
Ποτε δεν παραδεχομαστε οτι ΕΚΑΝΕ ΠΕΝΑΛΤΙ ο ποδοσφαιριστης της ομαδας μας ακομη και αν ο αντιπαλος φευγει απο το γηπεδο με πολλαπλα καταγματα...και τελος
Μπορουμε να πηγαινουμε διακοπες σε διαφορετικο νησι μεχρι να πεθανουμε...χιχι!

The wait is ALMOST over...

2008-01-22T13:19:00.000+02:00

Και 1 καταπληκτικό άρθρο που συγκρίνει το "Lost" με τον αγαπημένο μας Γιωργάκη!

Αναδημοσίευση απο ΤΑ ΝΕΑ της Δευτέρας:
ΤΟ ΕΠΙΤΕΛΕΙΟ του Γιώργου Παπανδρέου- καθ΄ ομοίωσιν του ιδίου- είναι το πιο μοντέρνο της ελληνικής πολιτικής. Οι άνθρωποι είχαν ήδη Μπλάκμπερι, όταν όλοι οι άλλοι έσπαγαν τα δάχτυλά τους να στείλουν SΜS. Γνώριζαν εξ αρχής ότι το Ρodcast δεν είναι μάρκα τηλεόρασης. Και παραγγέλνουν πολιτικά βιβλία ή τηλεοπτικές σειρές σε DVD από το Αmazon. com. Το βιβλία είναι τροφή για σκέψη, ενώ οι σειρές προσφέρονται για μεταμεσονύκτια χαλάρωση. ΥΠΑΡΧΕΙ ΜΙΑ σειρά που τελευταία αρέσει πολύ. Είναι το «Λοστ»- ελληνιστί «Οι αγνοούμενοι». Μια αναγκαστική προσγείωση αεροπλάνου υποχρεώνει μια μοδάτη παρέα- όχι πολύ διαφορετική από την ομάδα του «ΓΑΠ»- να ζήσει σε τροπικό ερημονήσι. Γίνονται πολλά και διάφορα κάτω από τους φοίνικες. Οι «Αγνοούμενοι»- άντρες με γράμμωση και γυναίκες με ψαλιδωτό μαλλί- τσακώνονται μεταξύ τους ή με άλλους. Το νησί έχει δική του ζωή, όντας πλήρως αποκομμένο από τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο. ΟΜΟΛΟΓΟΥΜΕΝΩΣ, όλα αυτά μοιάζουν λίγο με το ΠΑΣΟΚ. Η αναγκαστική προσγείωση της 16ης Σεπτεμβρίου 2007 έχει εγκλωβίσει τους επιζήσαντες σε ένα έρημο νησί στο μέσον του ελληνικού πολιτικού αρχιπελάγους. Ό,τι και να συμβαίνει γύρω, το νησί δεν επηρεάζεται. Ο Γιώργος Παπανδρέου και οι δικοί του αλληλοτρώγονται με τον Ευάγγελο Βενιζέλο και τους δικούς του, σε μια διένεξη που δεν βγάζει νόημα παρά μόνο αν τρέφεσαι με καρύδες, σε βαράει ο ήλιος τη μέρα και σε τρώνε τα κουνούπια τη νύχτα. Η ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗ και ηθική κατάρρευση της κυβέρνησης Καραμανλή είναι προφανής. Καταγράφεται πλέον και στις δημοσκοπήσεις. Ωστόσο, το ΠΑΣΟΚ δεν παίρνει πόντους. Είναι αποκομμένο από το πολιτικό περιβάλλον και βγάζει είδηση μόνο όταν πλακώνονται οι «αγνοούμενοι». Δυσάρεστη και δυσοίωνη κατάσταση. Γιατί πόσο μπορείς να επιβιώσεις σε ένα έρημο νησί;

Don't Taze Me, Bro!

2008-01-14T09:15:00.000+02:00

I'm talking about the dudes that don't bring their A game...Dudes around Hate City who only live for the showoff...Makes me wonder why I sometimes find myself in a place with so many dudes...dudes walking around the room and staring at the floor...Hey, sorry to bring you the bad news, but this is what ALL the dudes who have no social value do!

If you are interested in a girl...you talk to her!!! You don't work the phones all night long trying to keep it busy and you don't let her hear you saying: "We r still out there, I pretty much dunno where we'll be next" while you already have plans with a different bunch of people...
If you are not interested back off or lay low!!! You don't just stay with the girls to keep your hommies happy...what kind of sorry-ass attitude is that? Women tend to give you social value by how hot the women and men you're with are...Nothing happens though if you keep acting like the dude that just stares the floor...
Be creative and stay classy (staying classy doesn't mean you have to be a dork)!!! If you wanna make a good impression never take somebody to a place where you haven't been and tested...If you do so, don't just take a leave of absence 15 min afterwards, to avoid being hacked (girls hated the place) by saying you got plans...C-mon, how much more of a loser can you be???
Each and every one of us commits fashion blunders once in a while, but several fashion mistakes made by dudes are just unpardonable and downright illegal:

Blaring Designer Labels or "The Show off": I don’t fancy being a walking billboard and neither must you. Dude seriously... It’s not a stylish look. Just because you are wearing a designer’s name on your chest, sleeve, or anywhere, doesn’t make you stylish.
Shiny or Glittery Shirts, Suits and shoes: If you are searching for a getup to go nightclubbing in, I can think of much better choices than those that are sparkly, shiny and ultimately in bad taste. Keep it simple stupid!

And now to my favorite dude: The good lookin' educated dude who finds himself at this totally "underground" bar, falls in love with it just to impress the girls around and says to me: "My friends don't come to those places, I wish they were like you so I could be hanging here more..." Dude seriously, r u for real??? The same dude who pretends to like camping and goes on as to say that he camps for the last 10 years or so..The bitch who met him this summer at a Greek island turns to him and gives her side of the story: "But you told us when we met that it was the first time you were camping"....Awkward and a little embarrassing I'd say...
And you definitely don't wanna be the drank dude that pushes you to hit a girl, her boyfriend being out of town, a close friend of yours...

And I have to come up with some funny shit about couples...People can develop bad habits in long relationships if they lean too much on the other person. They can depend so much on the other person that they lose the ability to take care of themselves. And I'm talking about simple things...This dude, who was spending the whole night at his girlfriend's arm, says to me "Fuck! it's too crowded here, can you please call the waiter , I need a drink!" C-mon man, ain't your bitch, wake up! It turns out these bad habits can really take over every aspect of their lives...

So...If left wondering what you DO:
Be the stalker!
Go to the City's best nightclub and ask for ID's from 16 years old-my role model is Paris Hilton- lolitas...shit makes them so scared you might even get a bj...
And straight forward give a hug to whoever hangs around wearing a t-shirt like this 1:
Remember: "Only wise men learn from their mistakes..."

Irrelevant observation of the day: It seems like those damn Chargers are gonna put SD on the map in a major way...! SAN DEEEYAHGOOOO BABY!!!!!!!!!!! If these Chargers can beat the Pats, it is entirely possible that the world will end immediately afterward...

Sports psychology...

2008-01-09T17:50:00.000+02:00

Posted by Fou:

It’s all about the game, λοιπόν, φίλε W.H.I.V.S.I.V…
Πάντα το μπάσκετ ήταν το αγαπημένο μου άθλημα (να το παρακολούθω βέβαια... ) Είναι γρήγορο, έχει ένταση, έχει εναλλαγές... Εκτός από ένα σημείο. Ένα σημείο που κέντριζε πάντα το δικό μου γυνακείο μυαλουδάκι, στο οποίο αναφέρθηκες και εσύ πολλές φορές στο τελευταίο σου post.
Είναι η στιγμή που κάποιος από τους παίκτες έχει κληθεί να σουτάρει ελεύθερες βολές. Μαγικό σημείο. Και δεν χρησιμοποιώ αυτό το επίθετο γιατί πολλές φορές από την έκβαση των βολών αυτών κρίνονται αγώνες ή ολόκληρα πρωταθλήματα. Άλλη είναι στιγμή στην οποία αναφέρομαι.
Είναι εκείνα τα δευτερόλεπτα, που ο παίκτης που βρίσκεται στη γραμμή, με τα βλέμματα όλων στραμμένα πάνω του, με τις προσδοκίες όλων να τον βαραίνουν, σκύβει για να χτυπήσει την μπάλα μερικές φορές στο δάπεδο, σα να τη ζυγίζει, σα να την προετοιμάζει και αυτήν και μετά σηκώνει το βλέμμα του στο στεφάνι... Εκεί είναι που τρελλαίνομαι. Το βλέμμα του παίκτη είναι στραμμένο εκεί αλλά είναι σαν να κοιτάει αλλού... Όχι χαμένο. Κοιτάει ευθεία μπροστά του. Και ξέρει ήδη. Από τη στιγμή που η μπάλα έφυγε από τα χέρια του, αν αυτή τελικά κατέληξε εκεί που έπρεπε η όχι.
Είναι τελικά η ζωή σαν το μπάσκετ...; Πάντα οι γυναίκες ξενερώνουν με τις αθλητικές παρομοιώσεις που κάνουν οι άντρες, συνήθως τη πιο λαθεμένη στιγμή. Κι όμως, η αθλητική ψυχολογία είναι πλέον μία ολόκληρη επιστήμη, πολύ χρήσιμη για όλους μας.

Sports psychology is a specialization within psychology that seeks to understand psychological/mental factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity and exercise and apply these to enhance individual and team performance. The principles and theories may be applied to any human movement or performance tasks.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_psychology)

Τι σκέφτεται εκείνη τη στιγμή ο παίκτης; Όταν σηκώνει τα μάτια του και αφήνει τη μπάλα να φύγει από τα χέρια του; Το πιθανότερο είναι να σκέφτεται... τίποτα! Μετά από τις εκατομμύρια φορές που έχει κάνει ακριβώς το ίδιο πράγμα στις χιλιάδες ώρες προπόνησης, μάλλον απλά το κάνει. Αυτή η ιεροτελεστία όμως κρύβει τη γοητεία της υπόθεσης. Το πόσες φορές χτύπησε τη μπάλα, το ρυθμό του χτυπήματος, τον ήχο που κάνει το δάπεδο. Και πως ξέρει ο παίκτης πριν φτάσει η μπάλα στο προορισμό της αν θα είναι μέσα η όχι; Προφανώς κάτι πήγε στραβά σε αυτά τα λίγα δευτερόλεπτα. Άργησε, βιάστηκε... Κάτι χάλασε πάντως.
Είσαι ο παίκτης και έχεις κληθεί να κάνεις κάτι, το οποίο ξέρεις ότι το κάνεις πάρα πολύ καλά. Είσαι σίγουρος, είσαι πλήρως αυτοσυγκεντρωμένος, είσαι έτοιμος, έχει μπει ήδη το καλάθι... Και ένα δευτερόλεπτο αργότερα ξέρεις ότι δεν τα κατάφερες...
Στη ζωή τα πράγματα είναι λίγο πιο περίπλοκα. Σε γενικές γραμμές, όμως, συμφωνώ και εγώ. Είναι κάπως έτσι. Όλα σε στιγμές κρίνονται. Μπορεί να αργήσεις λίγο (όχι δέκατα δευτερολέπτου στη ζωή, ίσως μέρες, μήνες, χρόνια) και η ζωή να συμβεί χωρίς εσένα. Εσύ έχεις το βλέμμα σου μπροστά και φαντάζεσαι την μπάλα να μπαίνει μέσα, εκείνη όμως ήδη έχει περάσει στα χέρια του αντιπάλου. Το ήξερες. Το ήξερες από τη στιγμή που έφυγε από τα χέρια σου. Αλλά τώρα έφυγε. Είναι ήδη στον αέρα. Και δεν υπάρχει rewind.
Και σε αυτή τη περίπτωση πάλι από το μπάσκετ πρέπει να διδαχθούμε. Τι κάνει ο παίκτης μετά τη βολή, είτε έχει κερδίσει τον πόντο είτε όχι; Έχει γυρίσει ήδη στην άμυνα. Μέχρι όλοι εμείς να συνειδητοποιήσουμε ότι δεν μπήκε η μπάλα εκείνος βρίσκεται ήδη στην άλλη άκρη του γηπέδου. Απλά. Γιατί θα πάει ξανά στη γραμμή κάποια στιγμή. Και ίσως τότε τα καταφέρει. Ίσως πάλι όχι.
Τώρα, όμως, έχει άλλα πράγματα να κάνει.
Έμαθε κάτι από το λάθος του και εδώ συμφωνώ με τον W.H.I.V.S.I.V. τα λάθη έχουν πάρα πολύ μεγάλη αξία. Ας κάνουμε, λοιπόν, όλοι τα λάθη μας άφοβα. Και όταν θα τα συνειδητοποίησουμε ας τρέξουμε απλά στην άλλη άκρη του γηπέδου να συνεχίσουμε να παίζουμε το παιχνίδι της ζωής.
Αφού βέβαια περάσουμε μερικές βραδιές με ποτά και Sinatra...
Άλλωστε δεν μας πιέζει το χρονόμετρο...

ΑΠΟΤΙΜΗΣΗ…from inside….

2008-01-08T16:56:00.000+02:00

Στιγμές αυτοκριτικής και περισυλλογής απο τον W.H.I.V.S.H.I.V. με το φάντασμα του Nick Anderson (lol) να κόβει βόλτες...

‘Ώρα συγγραφής: 2:26π.μ. 8/1/2008…Μετά του Αι-Γιαννιού(sic)…
Original soundtrack άρθρου: I did it my way-Frank Sinatra..(στο repeat χωρίς έλεος)
Κατάσταση αρθρογράφου: Σχεδόν μέθης…
Είναι πολύ πιθανόν να σας κουράσει το άρθρο..Αυτός είναι και ο σκοπός..Να το διαβάσουν μόνο αυτοί οι οποίοι δεν θα το παρεξηγήσουν..
Έχοντας πιεί αρκετά ποτά και ενώ η αυριανή ημέρα είναι 100% εργάσιμη και ως συνήθως με αρκετές υποχρεώσεις πολύ απλά δεν άντεξα άλλο και είπα να μεταφέρω κάποιες σκέψεις στην οθόνη..
Έφυγε λοιπόν και το καταραμένο 2007..για μένα μιλάω προφανώς..καταραμένο γιατί..τι φταίει το 2007??όλα τα στραβά που συνέβησαν μάλλον οφείλονται σε δικά μου λάθη, σε δικά μας λάθη για όσους συμφωνούν για το καταραμένο… Εμείς καθορίζουμε την τύχη μας και την κατάληξη μας..Εκτός αν κάποιος μας έβαλε το πιστόλι στον κρόταφο..Που δεν νομίζω… Καταραμένο γιατί????γιατί στις αρχές του χώρισα με την so called γυναίκα ης ζωής μου, καταραμένο γιατί μπήκα κυριολεκτικά στην φυλακή, γιατί μαύρισα το μητρώο μου συνοδευόμενο από βαρύ πρόστιμο, γιατί αποδείχτηκε ότι τελικά δεν είμαι και τόσο μάγκας στη δουλειά μου, καταραμένο γιατί μένω μόνος μου πλέον με ότι αυτό συνεπάγεται, καταραμένο τέλος γιατί αυτή με την οποία χώρισα στις αρχές αποφάσισε να λογοδοθεί στο τέλος του..(έτους)
Κι όμως αυτό το καταραμένο έτος ήταν ταυτόχρονα ευλογημένο για πολλούς λόγους.. Οξύμωρο αλλά αληθές..Μπήκα φυλακή???Τώρα είμαι μάγκας και δεν θα την ξαναπατήσω..Χώρισα με την γυναίκα της ζωής μου??Ήρθα ποιο κοντά με τους φίλους μου..Μένω μόνος μου???Ε και???Ποιο καλή η μοναξιά..(σχολείο που θα έλεγε και ο Λάκης)..Έφτασα στο αμήν με τα στραβά????Σηκώθηκα και πήγα στην Αμερική να ξεσκάσω στον αδερφό Dio.The best days of my life…
Γιατί σας ζαλίζω τον έρωτα με τα προσωπικά μου και που θέλω να καταλήξω???(αν καταλήξω κάπου)…Ουδέν κακό αμιγές καλού..Κάθε εμπόδιο σε καλό. Σώπα ρε μεγάλε –είπατε οι 9 στους 10 που φτάσατε μέχρι εδώ(και ευχαριστώ ήδη γι’αυτό..)..Το θέμα δεν είναι να το λέμε όμως ..το θέμα είναι να το ζούμε..και να το πιστεύουμε..Γιατί τελικά σε αυτή τη ζωή την μεγαλύτερη αξία από όλα τα πράματα και το εννοώ είναι τα ΛΑΘΗ. Πάντα με την λογική ότι θα κερδίσεις κάτι από αυτά και όχι ότι δεν θα τα ξανακάνεις, αλλά και να τα ξανακάνεις δεν θα είναι στον ίδιο βαθμό...
Έκανες λάθος επιλογές ???Μπράβο ρε φίλε..καλώς ήρθες στο κλαμπ των ανθρώπων....
Το αγνόησες?????Καλώς ήρθες στο κλαμπ των ζώων..Σαν το ποντίκι που πέφτει συνεχώς στη φάκα..
Το εκμεταλλεύτηκες???Καλώς ήρθες ξανά στο κλαμπ των άξιων ανθρώπων..
Δυστυχώς νοιώθω ότι σε συγκεκριμένα θέματα ανήκω στην κατηγορία των ζώων..Αλλά το πρώτο βήμα για να φύγω από αυτό το κλαμπ είναι να το συνειδητοποιήσω και να κάνω κάτι γι’αυτό… Είναι μια καλή αρχή.
Προσοχή όμως…. Έκανες ότι μπορούσες??? Εύγε νεαρέ/ή μου..Συνεχίζεις με πολύ καλές πιθανότητες να κλείσεις τα μάτια σου με χαμόγελο στα χείλη..Δεν το έκανες?? Δυστυχώς για σένα..Πολύ κρίμα..θα καταλήξεις να γράφεις άρθρα παραμονές εργάσιμης στις 2:30 το βράδυ… Αυτή είναι η ουσία (αν υπάρχει έτσι???) του όλου γραπτού… Δεν είναι πολύ δύσκολο..Πίστη και επιμονή χρειάζεται..θα γίνω υπερβολικά κυνικός όπως μ’αρέσει και συνηθίζω να γίνομαι… Δείτε το τελείως ψυχρά… Μια ζωή την έχουμε το κέρατό μου..80 σκατοχρόνια??? so fucking big deal…2,3 άντε 4 λάθος επιλογές είναι ικανές να μας αφαιρέσουν το δικαίωμα της ευτυχίας σε αυτήν την πουτ$%$#να τη ζωή..Δεν είναι κρίμα???Σαν να προηγείσαι σε ένα ματς και να χάνεις 4 βολές στο τέλος..Πολύ κρίμα..(Dio σου θυμίζει κάτι???)Εγώ νοιώθω ότι την μία την έκανα ήδη και είμαι στα πρόθυρα της δεύτερης χαμένης βολής… Άρα στενεύουν τα περιθώρια..Και έρχομαι τώρα σαν μαμά Τερέζα να πω ότι δεν πρέπει …Είναι λάθος… Αν δεν έχετε χάσει βολή στο ματς βάλτε τα δυνατά σας...Είναι πολύ άσχημο το συναίσθημα… Αποφάσεις… Σχέσεις.. Επαγγελματικά.. όλα τα σκατά… Ψυχραιμία, ηρεμία και πάνω από όλα εγωισμός μηδέν…. Τουλάχιστον όταν πρόκειται για ανθρώπους που μας αγαπάνε..Γονείς, γκόμενες, φίλους…. Γίνεται να χαμογελάτε όσο το δυνατόν περισσότερο?? προβλήματα έχουμε όλοι..Μην με χαρακτηρίζετε γραφικό… Δείτε λίγο πίσω από τις λέξεις..Όλα τα στραβά κάποτε τελειώνουν..Και αν νοιώθετε πως όχι, δεν μασάμε τίποτα..Αυτό μας ήταν γραπτό, με αυτό θα ζήσουμε και θα διασκεδάσουμε..
Αρραβωνιάζεται η γυναίκα της ζωής σας???(και προφανώς όχι με εσάς!!)..Κάνατε ότι μπορούσατε???Lucky you..Δεν κάνατε?? Ας προσέχατε..Το κεφάλι κάτω, κλείνεσαι, ξεκλείνεσαι, έχεις φίλους, ps3, και κοροϊδεύεις τον εαυτό σου μέχρι να ξαναπατήσεις στα πόδια σου… Δύο είναι τα σίγουρα..Προσπαθείς να μην ξαναφήσεις να σου φύγει μια lifetime ευκαιρία (αν σου δοθεί γιατί ο θεός δεν είναι πάντα χουβαρντάς) και βάζεις τα δυνατά σου προκειμένου να μην χαραμίσεις και το υπόλοιπο της ζωής σου..(να μην χάσεις άλλη βολή)..
Είσαι έτοιμος να τα θυσιάσεις όλα για έναν άνθρωπο??? Όχι, ποτέ… Είναι λάθος..Χαρακτηρίστε με όπως θέλετε..Θα θυσιάσεις όσα πρέπει..Γιατί ????Για 13243242 λόγους… Εσύ είσαι εσύ και είσαι ένας..Εκτός άμα θέλεις να γίνεις ήρωας οπότε πολύ απλά πάνε να γίνεις πυροσβέστης..Η ζωή είναι δική σου και μόνο δική σου..Κανείς δεν θα είναι ο εαυτός σου..Τί θέλεις??Έχεις την δύναμη και την δυνατότητα να το κάνεις??? Κάν’το..Do it..Καμία γκόμενα και κανείς φίλος δεν μπορεί να στο στερήσει αυτό..Κανείς..Do I make myself clear???Ακόμα και η ΜΑΛΑΚΙΑ πρέπει να ανήκει αποκλειστικά και μόνο σε σένα..Έτσι ώστε να την ,λουστείς μόνο σου και να μην πάρεις κανέναν στο λαιμό σου.YOU MUST DO IT YOUR OWN WAY..
Προφανώς ο λόγος που κάθομαι και πίνω σαν βλάκας και ακούω Sinatra και γράφω μαλακίες είναι γιατί έχασα μια καθοριστική βολή..Δεν ντρέπομαι να το πω..I missed it bad…Και ευθύνομαι κυρίως εγώ..Μου έλεγαν, κάτσε και κάνε προπόνηση..Και εγώ υπεροπτικά κάπου απαντούσα ότι «το’χω..είμαι καλός..» σκατά..στην προπόνηση όλα μέσα πάνε..We’re talking about the game,..Not the practice..It’s all about the game….But you can’t win the game without practice..So at the end we’re talking about practice….Να ζητήσω συγγνώμη από τον εαυτό μου??So what??από τον άνθρωπο που έχασα και ταλαιπώρησα??So fuckin what???Η ζωή συνεχίζεται..Απλά οι ευκαιρίες λιγοστεύουν όπως και τα περιθώρια για λάθη..Το ματς είναι οριακό έτσι κι αλλιώς..Από την έναρξη του..Κάθε λάθος πληρώνεται..Πληρώστε σαν κύριοι και ξαναβρείτε την δύναμη να κερδίσετε το ματς… Εκεί φαίνεται ο μεγάλος παίχτης..Κι ας ακούτε αποδοκιμασίες από παντού για την χαμένη βολή..Δεν σε νοιάζει… Απλά…Σε πονάει φρικτά αλλά πρέπει να σε κάνει πιο δυνατό..Easy said…????Easy done..It’s all in our mind….Γαμώ την πουτάνα μου γαμώ..Γιατί να μην είναι όλοι απόλυτα ειλικρινείς ( και ο γραφών-παθών φυσικά)????Όλα θα ήταν τόσο ωραία..μα τόσο ωραία… Μακάρι να είχα την επιλογή σου κολλητέ..Θα είχα φύγει ήδη..Γιατί??Γιατί απλά αυτή η ζωή είναι σαν τηλεπαιχνίδι..Πρέπει να μαζέψεις όσους περισσότερους πόντους μπορείς και στο τέλος θα βγεις νικητής.. Μπορεί να τα χάσεις όλα αλλά ποτέ δεν θα μείνεις με την περιέργεια…. Μετά δουλεύεις και λάντζα και πεθαίνεις με μια πικρόγλυκη γεύση… Αλλιώς?????Θα αναρωτιέσαι πως θα ήταν η ζωή σου…. Και το χειρότερο??Δεν θα μάθεις ποτέ...
Η τελευταία μου χαμένη βολή μου στοίχισε πραγματικά..Μπορεί να μην μπορέσω να γυρίσω το ματς..Και όλα αυτά γιατί δεν έκανα ότι μπορούσα… Θα παλέψω και ότι βγει..Αλλά δεν το’χω..Ίσως το βρω..Ένα καλό σερί χρειάζεται..Βρείτε το και εσείς..Κάντε το..What the fuck!!! ΡΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕΕ..
Η ζωή είναι πραγματικά πολύ μικρή… Και για να το πάω στο αγαπημένο μου μπάσκετ και πάλι…. Αν δεν σουτάρεις δεν κερδίζεις… Στην καλύτερη να βγεις ισοπαλία (0-0)..Κάτι το οποίο αποκλείεται..Πρέπει να σουτάρεις..Πρέπει να κερδίσεις…. όχι για να ακούσεις καλά λόγια για την νίκη..Να φύγεις με ένα χαμόγελο… Ρε πούστη είναι συγκλονιστικά σημαντικό αυτό το πράγμα…
Έχω γράψει ήδη πολλές παπαριές νομίζω..Ασυνάρτητες ίσως αλλά τουλάχιστον αληθινές… ’Έχασα πολύ σημαντική βολή και όσοι με ξέρουν ξέρουν και το όνομα της..Θα το παλέψω..Όμως το σημαντικό είναι ένα..Ότι η νίκη έχει ένα όνομα..ΖΩΗ…. Και την νίκη δεν την χάνεις ακόμα και αν χάσεις τις βολές που δικαιούσαι να χάσεις.. Εκτός από μια περίπτωση..Ακραία μεν, υπαρκτή δε… Πρόσεξε μην χάσεις την βολή σε νεκρό χρόνο…
Δόξα το θεό ακόμα στο 2ο δεκάλεπτο είμαστε..(οι συνομήλικοι τουλάχιστον)
Σας ευχαριστώ πολύ…
ΥΓ: Baby… το γνωστό..Πολύ σ’αγαπάω..
ΥΓ2:Dio…εσένα πιο πολύ…
YΓ3: W.H.I.V.S.H.I.V: Δεν πειράζει, πάμε την επόμενη.. (βολή)

2007-12-31T01:26:00.000+02:00

Αφηνουμε την πουτανα γκλαμουρια να λουζεται ξανα και ξανα remix προηγουμενης δεκαετιας, βλεπε "Beggin", και παμε με true, authentic και original kick-ass mix απο Shantel...
Ο Shantel ειναι ένας μουσικός με πολλά πρόσωπα και ταυτόχρονα παραγωγός που έχει χαρακτηριστεί ως "ο βασιλιας του βαλκανικου dance floor" . Ο Shantel έφερε τους ξεσηκωτικούς ήχους της ανατολικής Ευρώπης στα clubs και είναι αναγνωρισμένος παγκοσμίως για τα πολύ επιτυχημένα mix από βαλκανικά beats, Gypsy-Grooves και Freestyle Electronica....Enjoy!

05 SUSULEKER.mp3

03 KOUPES - I LL SMASH GLASSES.mp3

13 MARKO I SHANTEL.mp3

"My baby came down from Romania, she was the queen of Transylvania"..xaxaxaxaxaxa ...