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January 23, 2009

We Have Moved!


Please change your bookmarks, links and feeds. You will now find me here. Go! There's an improv/flashmob video waiting for you!

Everyone I met at the 1st Podcamp suggested I move from Blogger to Wordpress, sooner rather than later. At the time I thought it was too much of a hassle. After all, Blogger suited me fine.

Then, I made a Wordpress account for Και Τώρα... and was blown away! Like I told a friend, it's like Firefox to Blogger's Netscape Navigator...!
The new blog still has some rough edges -- I'm not done tweaking the layout and categories, yet, so bear with me. Once I'm done, though, it'll be smooth sailing.

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January 21, 2009

Both Funny and Not Funny

Obama's First 100 Days




Edit: More Inauguration Fun: (courtesy of The Onion)


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Change I Need to Believe In

I'm tired of hearing people say that "nothing will change" under Obama. As if they know somebody else who would change everything.

The election of Barack Obama is a historic event in and of itself. No other western country has managed to shatter racial barriers in such a way, and no other western country could, anyway. It's something that confirms my faith in humanity as a whole and fills me with respect and gratitude for the American people.

Separate from the event of his election is Barack Obama, the person. Admittedly, expectations are extremely high. It seems inevitable that he will disappoint. Still, that doesn't change the fact that he appears not only to be a sincerely decent human being, but also an extremely charismatic leader. Someone not afraid to admit he's fallible, yet no less able to inspire admiration and hope because of it.

Over the course of my lifetime, I don't expect to witness many politicians that I feel are better people than me. Much less heads of state of the most powerful country on the planet. If he fails us, and he very well might, then too bad. For now, though, he inspires me. He compells me to become a better person. He's a leader I want to follow. And that's a feeling so rare that I want to savour and hold on to it for as long as I can.

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January 19, 2009

Και τώρα... Και Τώρα!

Ανέβηκε (επιτέλους) το πρώτο επεισόδιο του podcast που ξεκινήσαμε με τον Διονύση Ατζαράκη.
Είναι αστείο!
Θα το βρείτε εδώ.
(Ψηφίστε εμένα!)

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January 12, 2009

The Bridess Prince



The cover of the 20th Anniversary Edition of the Princess Bride DVD is absolutely amazing! It reads both ways! I want this so badly. Too bad it lacks the features (and 2nd disc) of the special edition...

(via BoingBoing (via Justin))

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January 10, 2009

Things that renew my faith in humanity #4

I took part in the Erasmus Freeze at Ermou street in Athens (you can actually see me at 6:15, sitting on the far left) about a month ago. For all I know, it was the first flashmob event of its kind in Greece, after which people started organising "freezes" all over the place (understandable, considering how much fun we had).

I first came across the idea of freezing in place in this video by Improv Everywhere. Over the past few years, they've organised lots of inspired stunts, including pretending to move in slow motion and welcoming random people at the airport. As a matter of fact, today is No Pants 2k9, the 8th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride, where people, well, ride the subway without pants in 24 cities worldwide (the trick is in pretending that everything is normal and not smiling like an idiot).

Besides these events where anyone can participate, they also organise smaller-scale (but larger-scope) missions like the Food Court Musical. Some have elaborate scripts, such as the wonderful Romantic Comedy Cab or the Suicide Jumper. Some, like the McDonald's Bathroom Attendant just make me smile.
Finally - you absolutely have to see this, it's unbelievable - there's The Moebius.

If you still haven't had your fill, there's even more missions on their site.

It's just plain fun!

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