This is a hilarious Zach Galifianakis interview on the Conan O’Brien Show from Monday, May 16, 2011. He talks about Hangover 2, his long Greek last name, and his very affectionate father. Hangover 2 opens on May 26th.
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Zach Galifianakis on Conan O’brien
“TIME” Publishes Socrates’ Trial Held at Manhattan Federal Court
“TIME” magazine presents the trial of Socrates, which was held at the Manhattan Federal Court, with the initiative of the “Onasssis” Foundation. According to the publication, many judges, lawyers and journalists were interested in this case. “TIME” notes: “The verdict of guilt was reversed by the contemporary judges” and was validated by more than 200 people who were in the audience. The publication describes the scene of the trial and the charges against the Greek philosopher. Preston University Professor Alexander Nehamas explains the information used during the trial that took place 2,410 years ago. As mentioned, the “Onassis” Foundation will include the trial on a DVD and will deliver it to schools, libraries and cultural foundations. The description of the trial is presented with striking examples of the orators’ speeches and of the evidence given by the participants. Referring to the time and the space of the trial, the chief judge said: “Welcome to Athens!”.
10th Annual Athens Dance Festival Takes Place May 18th-June 11th
The Athens’ annual Dance Festival marks its 10th anniversary this year, with a record participation of seventy-three dance troupes.
The program of the festival, which begins on May 18th and runs through June 11th, includes ninety choreographies and a new event titled “Athens Dance Week”, which is full of events in off-stage venues such as exhibition halls and museums.
“Athens Dance Week” will run from May 22nd to 28th, with performances in unconventional venues such as dance studios, exhibition halls, and even the Acropolis Museum, the Benaki Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Theocharakis Foundation for the Arts and Music.
A total of 475 works by up-and-coming Greek choreographers have been showcased in the festival to date.
(source: ana-mpa)
Egyptian Star Omar Sharif Combines Holidays & Work in Greece
Omar Sharif (photo) is taking a vacation on Kos, escorted by his ex-wife and movie partner Faten Hamama. The two famous artists were together from 1954, when Omar Sharif converted to Islam in order to be able to marry her, until 1974. The Egyptian star traveled to Kos in the 70’s and became really excited. “Kos is a large island, where even the most demanding visitor can find everything to be satisfied”, Mr. Sharif has said. He is also going to visit Athens, where he will talk with a Greek director and producer, the name of whom hasn’t yet been revealed, for his participation in a war drama. The shooting of the movie will take place in ancient Olympia and the cast will include Greek and leading foreign actors. During his stay in Athens, Omar Sharif hopes to meet with Vangelis Papathanassiou and Irene Papas, who he admires very much.
Police Officers Wounded in Pefki Shooting Incident, Athens
Two police officers were wounded after being shot by unidentified persons outside The Cultural Centre in the Athens suburb of Pefki.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening after a call was received by the Emergency Police’s centre that an incident was under way and after a patrol car was sent to the region. When the police arrived at the scene and got out of their vehicle, they were shot, according to initial reports.
According to the same reports, the two police officers were not critically wounded, although a citizen was also injured by a random shot.
(source: ana-mpa)
Greeks Upset at Closing of 3 Greek Consulates in Germany
There are feelings of frustration that pervade Greeks in Germany affected by the closing of Greek consulates in Hanover, Cologne and Leipzig, stated the Federation of Greek Communities (OEK) in Germany. The statement was made in a letter to the Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou.
“We address an ultimate appeal to the government and to you personally, Mr. Prime Minister, to postpone the removal of the three consulates until the modernization and the streamlining of consular functions is launched.
By eliminating the three consulates without parallel modernizing and streamlining of the functioning of the remaining five and of the consular department of the Embassy, the State submits the Greek immigrants in Germany to heavy financial burden and suffering”, stressed the statement of the German OEK.
The Federation of Greek Communities (OEK) in Germany reports also that the repeated announcement of setting up Centers of Citizen Support for the Greek Germans has not been implemented and there are no proposals adopted to serve the Greek Germans through the Greek communities.
Thessaloniki’s Mayor Giannis Boutaris Meets with Constantinople’s Mayor Kantir Topmpas
“The relations between Greece – Turkey are making a steady progress,” said the Mayor of Constantinople, Kantir Topmpas at a meeting with the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Giannis Boutaris. He added that he wants to strengthen the relations between Constantinople and Thessaloniki.
“Thessaloniki means a lot to the Turks as the city where Kemal Ataturk was born and raised”, said the Mayor of Constantinople.
Mr. Giannis Boutaris stated he is particularly happy to visit Constantinople, a city which always coexisted with Thessaloniki from the depths of history and he feels honored that Thessaloniki is the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal.
Boutaris said that he wants the citizens of both countries to visit and learn about Thessaloniki and Constantinople. He wants the Turkish people to see the Ottoman monuments of Thessaloniki and he believes that the student exchanges and the opening of new universities will certainly develop the relations of the two countries.
“What is important,” said Mr. Boutaris, “is for the Turks to feel at home in Thessaloniki as the Greeks feel at home in Istanbul”. Mr. Boutaris also said that the objective of his visit is the transfer of knowledge in the management of a city.
Mr. Topmpas called Greek technical groups to visit Constantinople to benefit from the experience of Mayoralty on planning, transport, waste management and municipal services.
“The transfer of knowledge and experience is an important contribution to the relations between the two countries,” he said and stressed that he believes in a fruitful partnership with Mr. Boutaris.
The Mayor of Thessaloniki also met with tourism stakeholders and announced that from May 27th, Turkish Airlines will start direct flights from Constantinople to Thessaloniki.
Bonham’s Greek Art Auction Only Sells 51% of Works, London
The results of yesterday evening’s auction of Greek art works, from the auction house Bonhams in London, confirmed the crisis has hit the Greek art market too. This auction had the lowest rates in recent years, similar to the Greek sale at Sotheby’s on May 9th, where pieces remained unsold. Specifically, with a total turnover of 2.25 million Euros, only 51% of the projects (175 in total), were sold. While the percentage of the value in the appraisals was 60%.
These rates were slightly better than those of Sotheby’s (48.1% and 40.9%, respectively). However, Bonhams had significantly lowered the prices of the works in an effort to adapt to the economic crisis. “The reasonable estimates in prices are the key to maintaining the Greek market stability and its further development,” quoted Terpsichore Angelopoulou of Art Expertise, who is responsible for the Greek sales at Bonham’s house. “If we think,” she continues, “that in just two weeks 300 works-along with those from Sotheby’s came out and nearly half of them were sold, then in such difficult times this is a satisfactory result”.
The “main players” of the auction were mostly Greeks. However as noted by Mrs. Angelopoulos, the Greek middle class, those who had a surplus and used to sell in the art market, and had also increased from 2000 to 2008, have now disappeared. The works of the Greek sale in Bonhams were not too expensive. “West Coast”, by C. Volanakis (photo), was the work that found a buyer at 181,000 Euros, between the lowest and the highest pre-analysis, as happened with the majority of the works sold.
The “Falais” by Hadjikyriakos – Gikas, came next which changed hands, selling at 167,000 Euros. Third place was shared by 111,360 Euros between the “Unsalted” by Maleas and “Cloudy Sky, Trees and Riverbed” by Ghikas.
A record was only noted for Costas Tsoklis with a museum project that reached 48,700 Euros.
European Union Νeeds Skilled Workers
New research shows that the European Union risks being left behind in the global competition for skilled engineers and scientists.
The study by Business Europe states that the inflow of graduates in science and technology is falling across the 27-member bloc.
According to the research Germany is suffering from a shortage of 117,000 skilled workers. Austria reported a 77 percent shortage of skilled labor in 2010.
The European Commission has stated that the EU needs millions of skilled migrants by 2050 to remain competitive. This has been the driving force behind the blue card initiative, a one-stop shop for non-EU skilled migrants that will enable them to gain work and residence permits in EU member states.
The EU has also put forward an intra-company transfer scheme which will allow multi-national firms to bring overseas workers into the EU.
“The challenge ahead of us is immense,” said Philippe de Buck, Business Europe’s director-general. “The position of Europe in today’s world economy is under pressure.”
“Emerging economies are pushing hard,” he added.
FM didn’t Rule Out the Possibility of Further Dismissals in the Public Sector
Finance Minister G. Papakonstantinou made a step for consensus, stating that opposition party’s proposal includes provisions that the government has already integrated or could integrate in its program.
“We will invite the main opposition to a debate on a framework for joint action”, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said at the Economist conference in Lagonissi, south of Athens. “The Greek government fully assumes its responsibilities. We shall tell the truth and move forward”, he added.
The economic team had identified “some positive aspects” in the proposal of the main opposition party New Democracy last week, adding that they could form a basis for debate between government and opposition.
At the same time, the Minister didn’t rule out the possibility of further dismissals in the public sector as a result of state organizations’ mergers.
A year after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, things did not cleared out, and questions multiplied, Giorgos Papakonstantinou said.
A country cannot move along with a deficit of 15.5%, he noted, adding that the country still has not passed the tough situation.
Everyone realizes slowly but surely how tough was the project, as the government moves in an environment that has become more difficult than before, Papakonstantinou said.
But the Interior Minister Yiannis Ragousis earlier on Wednesday again ruled out imminent layoffs, stressing that “for the time being, there is no question of layoffs in the public sector including employees with a permanent status and those under open-ended work contracts”.
(source: capital)