PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTING...SERIOUSLY

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...

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....

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...

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??????

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...

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...

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)...