Been feeling unbelievably tired lately, couldn't really bring myself to writing yesterday, so the Jasikevicious special is postponed again, maybe later tomorrow.
In the meantime, one of the funnier scenes from Curse of Monkey Island, El Pollo Diablo:
Can you spot Manny Calavera from Grim Fandango?
Saturday, September 29
Thursday, September 27
Insanity
I had originally planned to make a Sarunas Jasikevicious special for this post, seeing as he just got to Athens earlier today, and it is sort of a big deal for Greek basketball in general, but something I heard made me change my plans. The Jasikevicious post will have to wait until tomorrow.
So what was it I read that made such an impression on me?
Remember the forest fires that destroyed countless forest acres in Greece earlier this summer? Especially the fires in August, in Peloponnisos, where more than 70 people died?
One of the places in Peloponnisos that was hit the worst was the prefacture of Ileia, where 45 people died.
It is in that very place where our story takes place, and more specifically in a small field, where a woman had gathered the stray dogs of the area. It was there that she fed them and gave them shelter, as stray animals do not live that long when left on their own, as you may know. Such a thing is common practice, after all.
Now, in our case, the neighbors of this woman begun complaining about the noise the dogs did during the night with their barking. Imagine that, dogs barking. Whatever will happen next?
It has happened before, people complaining about the noise that animals sometimes make, and in some cases these people end up poisoning said animals. Is this what happened here?
Nope.
They set the field on fire in order to kill the dogs, and of course it worked. The field burned to its entirety, and all the dogs burned alongside it.
Let us now assume, for the sake of the argument, that the noise the dogs were making was so terrible and so loud, that nobody could stand it. Let us also assume that the people in question could not, for whatever reason, talk to the woman and maybe find a more logical solution. This way, we reach the conclusion that killing the dogs is the most effective method of solving this predicament.
How the fuck do you decide to set an entire field on fire, when the entire region was almost annihilated by fires a mere month ago? I'm not even going to discuss how inhumane, how downright sick it is to kill so many animals just because they get on someone's nerves. There's pills that can help you with that, jackass. Leave the poor animals alone.
After all, it's always our fault that domesticated animals end up stray, it's us that leave them to their fate. But we always oh-so-conveniently forget that when we have to deal with a stray, don't we?
Though seriously, how fucking stupid must one be in order to do such a thing? Set an entire field on fire, a fire that could very well spread to a near forest and destroy what little acres of wood were left? Don't forget that you can never control a fire.
Honestly, words fail me. What's worse, nobody is ever going to do anything about this. I hate this country so much sometimes.
So what was it I read that made such an impression on me?
Remember the forest fires that destroyed countless forest acres in Greece earlier this summer? Especially the fires in August, in Peloponnisos, where more than 70 people died?
One of the places in Peloponnisos that was hit the worst was the prefacture of Ileia, where 45 people died.
It is in that very place where our story takes place, and more specifically in a small field, where a woman had gathered the stray dogs of the area. It was there that she fed them and gave them shelter, as stray animals do not live that long when left on their own, as you may know. Such a thing is common practice, after all.
Now, in our case, the neighbors of this woman begun complaining about the noise the dogs did during the night with their barking. Imagine that, dogs barking. Whatever will happen next?
It has happened before, people complaining about the noise that animals sometimes make, and in some cases these people end up poisoning said animals. Is this what happened here?
Nope.
They set the field on fire in order to kill the dogs, and of course it worked. The field burned to its entirety, and all the dogs burned alongside it.
Let us now assume, for the sake of the argument, that the noise the dogs were making was so terrible and so loud, that nobody could stand it. Let us also assume that the people in question could not, for whatever reason, talk to the woman and maybe find a more logical solution. This way, we reach the conclusion that killing the dogs is the most effective method of solving this predicament.
How the fuck do you decide to set an entire field on fire, when the entire region was almost annihilated by fires a mere month ago? I'm not even going to discuss how inhumane, how downright sick it is to kill so many animals just because they get on someone's nerves. There's pills that can help you with that, jackass. Leave the poor animals alone.
After all, it's always our fault that domesticated animals end up stray, it's us that leave them to their fate. But we always oh-so-conveniently forget that when we have to deal with a stray, don't we?
Though seriously, how fucking stupid must one be in order to do such a thing? Set an entire field on fire, a fire that could very well spread to a near forest and destroy what little acres of wood were left? Don't forget that you can never control a fire.
Honestly, words fail me. What's worse, nobody is ever going to do anything about this. I hate this country so much sometimes.
Tuesday, September 25
The start of a new season
Heroes season 2 debuted yesterday, and while I haven't watched it yet (read some mixed opinions, too) it does mark the start of the new TV season, at least as far as I'm concerned.
What's to look forward to? A revamped 24, the new 16-episodes per season format for Lost, the final season of Battlestar Galactica (in which I really got into this summer), and I also wonder if CSI: Las Vegas will have another main story arc, like last year, which was pretty damn awesome.
But another show I really got into this summer is House. I have to admit I was snubbing it at first, because, well, it's a show about a doctor and a hospital and well, zzz... I blame E.R. for making me think this way.
At any rate, I decided to catch a few re-runs of season 1 in a local Greek channel and oh my. A show devoted completely on a misanthropic bastard? Why didn't anyone tell me about this before?
Naturally, I fell in love with it. I also loved the CSI-esque episodes of season 1, but from what I've been reading, that changes in the next seasons. I've watched an episode from what I presume was season 2, and it was good, but not as great as some of my favorite season 1 episodes. I'll be keeping an open mind though.
And of course, Hugh Laurie is amazing. Incredible. Best misanthrope I've seen on TV since Bender.
Look deep into his eyes, as he erodes your very soul.
I was also surprised to find out that the girl playing Cameron on the show is Jennifer Morrison, whom I remembered from films like Stir of Echoes, and whom I always considered to be very talented (and cute.) Way to go Ms. Morrison.
Here's a preview of season 4, full of spoilers if you haven't watched season 3 yet (like me, arrgh!)
What's to look forward to? A revamped 24, the new 16-episodes per season format for Lost, the final season of Battlestar Galactica (in which I really got into this summer), and I also wonder if CSI: Las Vegas will have another main story arc, like last year, which was pretty damn awesome.
But another show I really got into this summer is House. I have to admit I was snubbing it at first, because, well, it's a show about a doctor and a hospital and well, zzz... I blame E.R. for making me think this way.
At any rate, I decided to catch a few re-runs of season 1 in a local Greek channel and oh my. A show devoted completely on a misanthropic bastard? Why didn't anyone tell me about this before?
Naturally, I fell in love with it. I also loved the CSI-esque episodes of season 1, but from what I've been reading, that changes in the next seasons. I've watched an episode from what I presume was season 2, and it was good, but not as great as some of my favorite season 1 episodes. I'll be keeping an open mind though.
And of course, Hugh Laurie is amazing. Incredible. Best misanthrope I've seen on TV since Bender.
Look deep into his eyes, as he erodes your very soul.
I was also surprised to find out that the girl playing Cameron on the show is Jennifer Morrison, whom I remembered from films like Stir of Echoes, and whom I always considered to be very talented (and cute.) Way to go Ms. Morrison.
Here's a preview of season 4, full of spoilers if you haven't watched season 3 yet (like me, arrgh!)
Monday, September 24
Blah di blah blah
Sunday, September 23
Friday, September 7
And Now For Something Completely Disturbing
As I'm writing this, Greece is getting bitchslapped by Spain in Eurobasket 2007. The score right now is 32-18 for the Spaniards, as we're playing even worse than Wednesday's game, not even our defense is doing its job tonight. 'Tis quite sad, as I'm quite proud of this team, but it happens.
But I'd like to discuss something different today. In June's issue of PC Master, a local magazine about PC gaming, there was an editorial piece discussing how absurd the MMORPG community has become. The gist of that article went something like this: Why are people spending hundreds of dollars/euros so their digital avatars will have better gear than the next guy? Why are Chinese people slaving away at some unlit basement so they can gather gold, which their "employers" will sell to the people mentioned above? This feels like something straight out of a weird cyberpunk novel.
(42-24? Make it stop!)
Seriously, if someone was talking about this situation ten or twelve years ago, people would never believe such things would happen.
Yet truth is stranger than fiction, and that was never more true than in the case of a certain girl, a regular World of Warcraft player. Her story is quite... interesting, and if you're observant, you should have noticed that I've already provided a somewhat hidden link to the whole story, including NSFW material.
So what's so interesting about this girl, who shall remain anonymous in this article, then? Well, at first glance it seems that she was using her gender as means to get some of the males in her guild to like her and help her in the game, with items and such. Now that is hardly original, especially given that there's a lot of adolescent, single boys playing such games. Nope, the girl in question was not the first to do such a thing.
What makes this story different is that she did not only send her boytoys the odd smile in-game, giggle in their TeamSpeak server or heck, even have some sort of cybersex with them. She actually sent them nude pictures of herself, and even went as far as to sent out videos where she masturbated in front of her camera! Naturally, the boys went nuts about her, and did all she ever asked for. Of course, massive drama ensued and their guild disbanded, which lead to this story going public after a while, along with the pics and videos.
Now what I find of special interest in this story, is the girl. No, not the guys that went crazy over her. As anyone who has ever played an MMORPG in their lives, you could totally see people acting this way over a girl that's willing to go naked, even if she's not that hot to begin with. What I honestly can't understand is why she would take of her clothes to make a few geeks online like her.
I mean, seriously, out of all the things people can whore themselves out for, she chose to do it so she would receive a few items of great quality in an online game, and for the admiration (to put it lightly) of some men she'll never ever meet nor really care for in her life? Sweet zombie Jesus. How fragile an ego must you have in order to do such a thing?
C'mon girl, others do it and get paid for it, not for a few "epixxx" (triple "x"'s have never been more appropriately used in this word.)
DISCLAIMER: I'm neither saying nor suggesting she would be better off by actually getting paid for getting nekkid. It's merely meant as a joke at the absurdity of it all.
At any rate, I'll be out of town for a few more days, so don't be surprised if updates are scarce again.
(45-27 at the third quarter. This is depressing.)
But I'd like to discuss something different today. In June's issue of PC Master, a local magazine about PC gaming, there was an editorial piece discussing how absurd the MMORPG community has become. The gist of that article went something like this: Why are people spending hundreds of dollars/euros so their digital avatars will have better gear than the next guy? Why are Chinese people slaving away at some unlit basement so they can gather gold, which their "employers" will sell to the people mentioned above? This feels like something straight out of a weird cyberpunk novel.
(42-24? Make it stop!)
Seriously, if someone was talking about this situation ten or twelve years ago, people would never believe such things would happen.
Yet truth is stranger than fiction, and that was never more true than in the case of a certain girl, a regular World of Warcraft player. Her story is quite... interesting, and if you're observant, you should have noticed that I've already provided a somewhat hidden link to the whole story, including NSFW material.
So what's so interesting about this girl, who shall remain anonymous in this article, then? Well, at first glance it seems that she was using her gender as means to get some of the males in her guild to like her and help her in the game, with items and such. Now that is hardly original, especially given that there's a lot of adolescent, single boys playing such games. Nope, the girl in question was not the first to do such a thing.
What makes this story different is that she did not only send her boytoys the odd smile in-game, giggle in their TeamSpeak server or heck, even have some sort of cybersex with them. She actually sent them nude pictures of herself, and even went as far as to sent out videos where she masturbated in front of her camera! Naturally, the boys went nuts about her, and did all she ever asked for. Of course, massive drama ensued and their guild disbanded, which lead to this story going public after a while, along with the pics and videos.
Now what I find of special interest in this story, is the girl. No, not the guys that went crazy over her. As anyone who has ever played an MMORPG in their lives, you could totally see people acting this way over a girl that's willing to go naked, even if she's not that hot to begin with. What I honestly can't understand is why she would take of her clothes to make a few geeks online like her.
I mean, seriously, out of all the things people can whore themselves out for, she chose to do it so she would receive a few items of great quality in an online game, and for the admiration (to put it lightly) of some men she'll never ever meet nor really care for in her life? Sweet zombie Jesus. How fragile an ego must you have in order to do such a thing?
C'mon girl, others do it and get paid for it, not for a few "epixxx" (triple "x"'s have never been more appropriately used in this word.)
DISCLAIMER: I'm neither saying nor suggesting she would be better off by actually getting paid for getting nekkid. It's merely meant as a joke at the absurdity of it all.
At any rate, I'll be out of town for a few more days, so don't be surprised if updates are scarce again.
(45-27 at the third quarter. This is depressing.)
A change of plans
So Greece lost to Russia yesterday, after playing what was probably their worst game in like four years. Seriously, our offense was downright atrocious, and even though Russia played pretty badly, they won quite easily in the end.
I'm getting the idea that the Greek players are too tired from playing all year long since 2004. It would explain while they are so damn slow on offense, which makes them predictable, but also the defense is pretty static on defense as well. I mean, the defense is there and it's still difficult for other teams to score on us, but we don't get as many points from a steal and a fastbreak attack from our good defense, unlike what happened in the last couple of years. Fatigue is my best case as to why this is happening, but I'm hardly an expert on the subject.
For today's post I wanted to write a rant about how useless serving the army in this country is, as you only train for a month and then just clean yards and toilets, but... It felt a bit useless, as I would just be ranting, and its uselessness can be summarized in a single sentence.
So I would just be ranting for the sake of it, and while I've had a streak of bad luck lately, I think rants aren't good for much either. Plus I had decided when I started this blog that I'd stay away from the usual blog-gy rants you find on the Internets, so I'm sticking to that plan.
Instead, I'll close off this post with one of my favorite feel-good songs, from the show Animaniacs, called The Monkey Song. I always watch it whenever I need some cheering, it hasn't failed me yet.
I'm getting the idea that the Greek players are too tired from playing all year long since 2004. It would explain while they are so damn slow on offense, which makes them predictable, but also the defense is pretty static on defense as well. I mean, the defense is there and it's still difficult for other teams to score on us, but we don't get as many points from a steal and a fastbreak attack from our good defense, unlike what happened in the last couple of years. Fatigue is my best case as to why this is happening, but I'm hardly an expert on the subject.
For today's post I wanted to write a rant about how useless serving the army in this country is, as you only train for a month and then just clean yards and toilets, but... It felt a bit useless, as I would just be ranting, and its uselessness can be summarized in a single sentence.
So I would just be ranting for the sake of it, and while I've had a streak of bad luck lately, I think rants aren't good for much either. Plus I had decided when I started this blog that I'd stay away from the usual blog-gy rants you find on the Internets, so I'm sticking to that plan.
Instead, I'll close off this post with one of my favorite feel-good songs, from the show Animaniacs, called The Monkey Song. I always watch it whenever I need some cheering, it hasn't failed me yet.
Wednesday, September 5
Contrary to popular belief...
...I'm not dead. I just took an overlong vacation, as I tend to every August. This year is even more important, as this time next year I'll be serving my time in the Greek army. Trust me, it's not half as fun as it sounds. So I figured I'd spend extra time in my mountain village of Neraida, near lake Plastiras, this year, to make up for next year's.
What's more, with the recent atrocities that happened in Pelloponisos and in other parts of Greece lately, I'm starting to worry that the forests I love so much won't be around for much longer. Even without fires, the scorching heatwaves that plagued Greece this year took their toll on the plant and animal life of said forests. The only ones that didn't seem affected were all those fucking flies. My god, the flies. I swear there were at least a million around at any given moment, even at the deepest part of the forest all you could hear was a constant, loud, buzzing sound.
Still, spending your time in the mountains beats Athens and my hometown of Karditsa any day, so it's why I didn't want to leave. Having a few drinking buddies around never hurt, either.
So what's been happening in the world while I was away? Elections were suddenly announced for the 16th of the current month, but let's get serious, I'm not gonna bother with that one.
I was thinking of writing an article about all the disgracing forest fires of June, July, and August, but so much has been said about them recently that I have nothing really significant to add. Except of course for a big ol'"FUCK YOU" to all those that caused this, and all those who could have done something to stop it, but didn't.
At the end of the day though, nothing will say or do will change anything. Elections are a little over a week away, and after that (a month tops) nobody will remember about the forest fires of 2007, and naturally nobody will do anything to prevent such a thing from happening again. It's like this graffiti that's reportedly been seen around Athens lately, loosely translated by yours trully it goes a bit like: "This country is being torn apart by indifference, but what do I care?"
That's Greece in a nutshell for ya.
Anyway, I don't want my first post after so long to be a total downer, so on the positive side, Eurobasket 2007 has been very interesting so far. It's not that the matches that have been played as of today are awesome or anything, but they're really close for the most part. Like last night's game between Greece and Serbia, where Gurovic tied the game with a three-pointer from like nine meters away at the buzzer. I wasn't too happy about it personally at the moment, but in retrospect it helped an otherwise bad game become exciting.
Better yet was Slovenia's win over Italy, with the Italians taking the lead with a few seconds to go for the first time in the game, and then... Well, just watch the following video. Damn, that must have sucked royally for the Italians.
And now I must be off, the basketball match between Greece and Russia is starting any moment, last game of the first round for the Greek team so far, hopefully it will mark our third win. Oh and the Serbs managed to fuck up for the fourth year in a row in a major competition by losing to Israel and coming up... last. Heh.
What's more, with the recent atrocities that happened in Pelloponisos and in other parts of Greece lately, I'm starting to worry that the forests I love so much won't be around for much longer. Even without fires, the scorching heatwaves that plagued Greece this year took their toll on the plant and animal life of said forests. The only ones that didn't seem affected were all those fucking flies. My god, the flies. I swear there were at least a million around at any given moment, even at the deepest part of the forest all you could hear was a constant, loud, buzzing sound.
Still, spending your time in the mountains beats Athens and my hometown of Karditsa any day, so it's why I didn't want to leave. Having a few drinking buddies around never hurt, either.
So what's been happening in the world while I was away? Elections were suddenly announced for the 16th of the current month, but let's get serious, I'm not gonna bother with that one.
I was thinking of writing an article about all the disgracing forest fires of June, July, and August, but so much has been said about them recently that I have nothing really significant to add. Except of course for a big ol'"FUCK YOU" to all those that caused this, and all those who could have done something to stop it, but didn't.
At the end of the day though, nothing will say or do will change anything. Elections are a little over a week away, and after that (a month tops) nobody will remember about the forest fires of 2007, and naturally nobody will do anything to prevent such a thing from happening again. It's like this graffiti that's reportedly been seen around Athens lately, loosely translated by yours trully it goes a bit like: "This country is being torn apart by indifference, but what do I care?"
That's Greece in a nutshell for ya.
Anyway, I don't want my first post after so long to be a total downer, so on the positive side, Eurobasket 2007 has been very interesting so far. It's not that the matches that have been played as of today are awesome or anything, but they're really close for the most part. Like last night's game between Greece and Serbia, where Gurovic tied the game with a three-pointer from like nine meters away at the buzzer. I wasn't too happy about it personally at the moment, but in retrospect it helped an otherwise bad game become exciting.
Better yet was Slovenia's win over Italy, with the Italians taking the lead with a few seconds to go for the first time in the game, and then... Well, just watch the following video. Damn, that must have sucked royally for the Italians.
And now I must be off, the basketball match between Greece and Russia is starting any moment, last game of the first round for the Greek team so far, hopefully it will mark our third win. Oh and the Serbs managed to fuck up for the fourth year in a row in a major competition by losing to Israel and coming up... last. Heh.
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