Did you catch the chinese figure skaters pair dancing to Zorba the other night? What a pair! And how cool are their costumes!
Check out the full video at nbcolympics.com (requires silverlight)
posted on Thursday, February 25
2:00 PM CST FRIDAY: THANKS FOR ALL THE EMAILS! WE ARE OUT OF FLAGS TO SEND OUT. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.
Regular readers who have been following us for a while will recall that it's time for our annual Fly the Flag Campaign!
(above) Greek flag sent to Minnesota, USA and proudly used for celebration.
Fly the Flag 2010
What? The Fly the Flag Campaign began in 2006 as a simple expression to show case our culture and pride during the March 25th Greece National Holiday. We encouraged our readers and others in the Greek community to Fly a Greek flag from their home or business the week leading up to March 25th. The word got out, and readers from all over the world sent us pictures of their tribute to the Greek flag.
For three years, DF continued the program and has sent out Greek flags to hundreds of readers who requested them, free of charge. Dozens of pictures again came in from all over the globe from individiuals who partook in the movement.
So in 2010 we ask our readers to again join our effort in promoting our culture in a simple yet visible way.
If for a few days we can fly a flag in our communities to remember the sacrifices of our past, and teach our children and others about our community; its an effort that we believe is well worth it.
Why? To show our pride for one week leading up to the 25th of March and to raise awareness to non Greeks as well of the importance of Greek communities today.
When? March 17 to March 25. (In your local communities - many of which are having parades later in April, we encourage you to fly the flag to coincide with days of the parades as well - heck bring them with you!)
(above) Members of the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia at Albany, New York with a flag that was sent to them from DF.
Free Greek Flags:
2:00 PM CST FRIDAY: THANKS FOR ALL THE EMAILS! WE ARE OUT OF FLAGS TO SEND OUT. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT.
This year DF is again sending out Free Greek Flags to those who request them. It is on a first come, first serve basis and are giving out 100 flags this year. Please email us at kyriakos@dailyfrappe.com with a name and address so that we can get them out to you. We are also encouraging readers to send us pictures of you with your flags at your homes and businesses. Please note that this is on a first come first serve basis and we will honor all those that we can. We will post a message when we are out of flags.
*** Please note. For readers outside the US, we kindly ask for a donation of $3.95 to cover the shipping and handling costs associated with international shipping. You can use Paypal using our support@dailyfrappe.com address. Thanks ! ***
For more pictures of some of our readers from the past who have flown our flag around the world...click here.
(above) A reader from the Netherlands sent us this shot.
Below, some of the responses we have received from readers:
"We got our flag on time - and really enjoyed putting it out. My mother even Greek danced on our balcony after she set it up, singing as well and in the process disturbing the open house for the neighbors next door looking to sell. Ha ha! Well at least they know what they're getting themselves before they buy right?
My yiayia cried when we put hers up - it really was special to have it fly outside her home. I really appreciate you sending me an extra last year for her. I cannot begin to tell you how much it meant to her and my pappou.
It's a GREAT idea and I love seeing our neighbors put their flags up in March as well. I hope you keep it going for many more years. It's really great. We love it."
- Joanna Potakis, United States
"I donated it to our Greek church, but flew a smaller one. Thanks for it, and all you do to help keep our Greek culture alive and proud!"
- Hedy Stathis - United States
"I have received the flag you sent me! I want to thank you very much and also for this wonderfull idea of yours! Thank you and DF once again and keep up the great work you are doing!"
- Atanasios - Netherlands
"Πολύ καλή πρωτοβουλία, είχα αρχίσει να στεναχωριέμαι που ξέχασα να φέρω μια σημαία από Ελλάδα. Να δούμε τώρα που θα τη σηκώσουμε!
Ευχαριστώ πολύ, να είσαι καλά."
- Dimitris - Canada
posted on Thursday, February 25
With major strikes paralyzing Greece today, we thought it an opportune time to take a step back and relay what Dimitri Papadimitriou, President, Levy Economics Institute, (Annandale, NY, US) recently opined to the Financial Times:
"...The plethora of articles in your pages and others, some arguing in favour and others against a bail-out, contribute to market confusion and drive the country’s financing costs to record levels. It is not yet clear that a bail-out is even needed, but this market confusion is rendering the government’s ability to achieve its deficit goals ever more difficult.
Since the architects of economic and monetary union are neither about to change the system, nor to provide a sympathetic ear and a helping hand, what Greece really needs now is a holiday from further market confusion being created by contradictory, alarmist public commentary."
DF: A plea for moderation (at least from all the so-called Greece economic experts that have emerged in the last few weeks) sounds like wise advise to us.
** Germany and Greece are exchanging comments after a very insulting article in the German Magazine focus depicted the statue of Venus di Milo in a very rude way. Many Greek politicians were furious.
Quick hits for 24/2/10:
» Only six Greeks declared more than a million EUR in income last year? This news allegedly written by an anonymous in-country (Greece that is) banker. Can anyone confirm authenticity? Let us know ...via infectious greed
» Goldman admits helping Greece 'fiddle books:' "With the benefit of hindsight, it seems very clear that standards of transparency could have been and should have been higher..." ...via telegraph
» Say bye-bye to the "Aegean" name: The newly combined airline company, post Aegean + Olympic merger eventually will take the Olympic name ...via atwonline
» €7,548: That's the cost to obtain all the permitting needed to start a new business in Greece, according to Harvard economist Alberto Alesina. In the U.S., it takes US$166. ...via WSJ
posted on Wednesday, February 24
It has been about five and a half weeks since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti, killing what some Haitian govermental officials are now saying is up to 300,000 people.
The Church of Greece and the Government of Greece were amongst the first to pledge help, and continue to provide assistance to Haitians. A recent visit by Metropolitan Athenagoras of Mexico helped capture the efforts. Nearly 3,000 Haitians are living in tents on the property of the Orthodox Mission in the area.
For more of the pictures, please join our Facebook Fan page.
posted on Tuesday, February 23
The Bakopoulos sisters of Guelph, Canada came back from Paris with a great prize after presenting their new book at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards - Best in World. The name of their cookbook is Three Sisters Around the Greek Table.
Three Sisters Around the Greek Table won in the best foreign cookbook category. The awards were held in Paris on Feb. 11. The sisters — Betty, Eleni and Samantha Bakopoulos — drew from their Greek heritage when compiling the book, which they photographed and published themselves.
The book contains 105 recipes, 112 food photographs, tips, variations and make-ahead recipes. The sisters also share some of their experiences with family and food.
Quick hits for 22/2/10:
» Saving Greece's buffalos: While it may be unknown to many, Greece is home to a native buffalo species called the Bubalus bubalis domestic water buffalo. The buffalo used to be prevalent throughout northern Greece and had a population of about 75,000 until about 1950's, but that dwindled down to just 600 by 1992, and a conservation effort has been taking place since to reproduce them. They currently number around 2.000. More here.
» Greek immigrant in Missoula, Montana gives it a second try: A Greek American immigrant recently opened up his second restaurant in the city of Missoula, Montana. Having run the popular Zorba's restaurant in the city for 20 years, his second place is called Epicurean Bistro. A Greek restaurant in Missoula? There truly are Greeks under every rock. American Dream.
» New Greek hang out opens up in London: This past weekend Mythopolis opened up in London and is offering Greeks of the city a new venue to meet, drink and socialize.
posted on Monday, February 22
In the first ever official and public celebration in Athens, the Chinese community celebrated Chinese New Year at Kotzia Square. Red laterns, Chinese folk costumes and dances greeted the spectators who came to see the celebration. Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis was in attedance and said "I wish 2010 will bring hope, love and development to both people." Chinese performers also dazzled Athenians with singing Greek folk songs and partaking in Greek traditions.
Students also took part in kung fu rituals and lion dances.
Quick hits for 19/2/10:
» Flooding hits central and northern Greece. People in Kastoria, Trikala and Alexandroupouli are watching rivers after heavy rains have caused several of them to burst their banks. While farmland has been flooded, few homes have thus far been affected.
» One year later - Remembering Black Saturday in Australia: One year after devastating brush fires swept through the Australian landscape, Neos Kosmos (Greek Australian Publication) goes back and visits with a Greek Australian who's life was forever changed.
posted on Friday, February 19
neologism: A newly coined word, expression, or usage.
The Research Center for Scientific Terms and Neologisms in Athens has been hard at work keeping the Greek language up to date. The center recently published approximately 500 new neologisms based from foreign-language words and phrases . A sampling below:
... via to vima
Quick hits for 18/2/10:
» Hotel prices slashed! Hotel managers in Greece, in a measure by the national hotel association, have decided to cut hotel and accommodation rates by five percent in order to combat the economic crisis.
» Goldman-Greece-gate: The Naked Capitalist has a good read if you want to understand how Greece and Goldman Sachs worked together on the now infamous 'swap' deal.
» Cash no longer king: DF still can't get its head around the decision to make cash transactions over 1500 euros illegal. WTF? ...via csmonitor
posted on Thursday, February 18
Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air have announced they are in talks “for possible cooperation.” The speculation of course is that these preliminary discussions could lead to a merger between the two air carriers.
A combined company would have revenues of more than 1 billion euros and control 95 percent of Greece’s air travel market. Stay tuned...
...via ana
posted on Wednesday, February 17
The shear number of articles written about Greece in the last 72 hours has been impressive. Google News (at the time of this post) lists "Greece" as the number two top trending story, trailing only "Afghanistan." It seems every major media outlet in the world has latched on to the falling fortunes of Greece. Of course, there's good reason. Parts of the story are just getting started.
As we first alerted you last Tuesday (well before the WSJ, FT, and NYT mind you), there's plenty of interest in what role Goldman Sachs played in aiding the massive accounting fraud in the Greece Finance Ministry. For those of you not up to speed, Greece, almost overnight, went from a deficit of 3% to one of just under 13%. The country needs to raise close to €54 billion this year to cover its budget shortfall.
So with all the buzz swirling around our beloved Greece, we thought we'd take the temperature of our smarty pant readers. Let us know what you're thinking below!
Final note...
If anyone was questioning what lengths the Greek government is willing to go to (whether serious or not) to satisfy Brussels, ponder this tidbit that Reuters reported last week (wow!):
"From 1. Jan. 2011, every transaction above 1,500 euros between natural persons and businesses, or between businesses, will not be considered legal if it is done in cash. Transactions will have to be done through debit or credit cards"
posted on Tuesday, February 16
Carnival goers the time has come to rest. Today marks the beginning of the 40 day of Lent (Sarakosti). While a holiday atmosphere still prevails, the foods consumed are all "pure", without the shedding of blood. But this allows cuttlefish and squid, fish roe, and other items. "Lagana" is a flat bread traditionally served on this day. Do our readers still do a strict fast during Lent?
Patras, Corfu, Moschato in Athens and several other cities throughout Greece had carnivals over the past weekend, with the largest being in Patras.
Some great images and info about Patras Carnival at the following link.
...and below, the annual flour bomb fight in Galaxidi.
posted on Monday, February 15
