Total Solar Eclipse Today ...

Check this link for live view of the eclipse from Kastelorizo and Athens, Greece.

I hope the link works! If not, try this one or here
Enjoy

Paris Xmas 2005

This photo is showing two middle-aged (they look old, but it's probably due to the alcoholism) homeless men, sitting on the pavement (I think it is outside the Military academy or sth like that) on makeshift beds/homes, drinking and laughing... It was a very striking image!


Another striking image was the makeshift "homes" of the homeless people under the bridges of the Seine. Unfortunately (or rather fortunately) I haven't got any photos that have captured these tents and "homes"...





You might wondering why the hell am I talking about Paris today... The reason is that I had a dream about it last night and it was such a vivid dream!

I am sick as a dog!

Sore throat, headaches, a little bit of a fever, blocked nose etc... Oh, and a lot of sneezing!

So, I am staying at home, being nursed, drinking plenty of orange juice, eating soups...

Unfortunately, I can't sit in front of the computer for a long time cause of the headaches and the sneezing (hehehe).







I like this photo!

Stupid note

These photos were taken during my last visit to London Underground, around December.

This note was stuck on a door, in one of the corridors of the Oxford Circus or Bond St stations (I can't really remember).

try to read the note











































Stupid note = Clever public intervention = Great photo opportunity

The weekend is here!

No new words today and tomorrow... Enjoy the weekend, by going out for a stroll, watching a movie, go pub crowling etc.

I had only a couple of hours worth of sleep after a really great dinner party in Brighton. Plenty of food with a variety of tastes and colours (mainly north African and mediterranean cousine), an overflow of wine (Red, Rose and White and even the bubbly stuff, Moet& Chandon)and last but certainly not least there was the luscious desserts!
What a feast! I do applaud the great effort of our hosts, Andrew & Christina ...
I really enjoyed the whole party, it was cosy and funny and all of the guests were having fun throughout the evening!

I am bit tired right now... I feel sleeeeppppppppppppppppyyyyy..........zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Five more words

abnegation
Pronunciation: "ab-ni-'gA-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin abnegation-, abnegatio, from Latin abnegare to refute, from ab- + negare to deny -- more at NEGATE
: DENIAL; especially : SELF-DENIAL

gaunt
Pronunciation: 'gont, 'gänt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English
1 : excessively thin and angular (a long gaunt face)
2 : devoid of warmth, comfort, or hope (synonyms-Barren, desolate)

lore
Pronunciation: 'lOr, 'lor
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English lAr; akin to Old High German lEra doctrine, Old English leornian to learn
1 archaic : something that is taught : LESSON
2 : something that is learned: a : knowledge gained through study or experience b : traditional knowledge or belief

nosh
Pronunciation: 'näsh
Function: noun
: a light meal : SNACK

belfry
Pronunciation: 'bel-frE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural belfries
Etymology: Middle English belfrey, alteration of berfrey, from Middle French berfrei bell tower, siege tower, of Germanic origin (akin to Middle High German bërvrit siege tower); akin to Old High German bergan to shelter and to Old English frith peace, refuge -- more at BURY
1 : a bell tower; especially : one surmounting or attached to another structure
2 : a room or framework for enclosing a bell


good luck!

Today's five new words

arduous
Pronunciation: 'är-j&-w&s, -dyu-w&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin arduus high, steep, difficult; akin to Old Irish ard high
1 a : hard to accomplish or achieve : DIFFICULT b : marked by great labor or effort : STRENUOUS
2 : hard to climb : STEEP

jurisprudence
Pronunciation: "jur-es-'prü-den(t)s
Function: noun
1 a : a system or body of law b : the course of court decisions
2 : the science or philosophy of law
3 : a department of law

bedlam
Pronunciation: 'bed-l&m
Function: noun
Etymology: Bedlam, popular name for the Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem, London, an insane asylum, from Middle English Bedlem Bethlehem
1 obsolete : MADMAN, LUNATIC
2 :(often capitalized) a lunatic asylum
3 : a place, scene, or state of uproar and confusion

wane
Pronunciation: 'wAn
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): waned; wan·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wanian; akin to Old High German wanOn to wane, Old English wan wanting, deficient, Latin vanus empty, vain
1 : to decrease in size, extent, or degree : DWINDLE: as a : to diminish in phase or intensity -- used chiefly of the moon b : to become less brilliant or powerful : DIM c : to flow out : EBB
2 : to fall gradually from power, prosperity, or influence

neigh
Pronunciation: 'nA
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English neyen, from Old English hn[AE]gan; akin to Middle High German nEgen to neigh
: to make the prolonged cry of a horse


Ok... these are five new words, but I have to use them in sentences in my social life...today!
It is pretty difficult! or should I say, arduous?


my sources : Merriam-Webster, and my really old English-Greek dictionary (Oxford English-Greek Learner's dictionary)

Sudoku ...

I found this sudoku (difficulty level: Difficult) on the Daily Mail.

I am not sure if I should post it or not, but I do quote that it is a Sudoku found on the Daily Mail online archive.


You should visit The Mail Online here to do a sudoku!

enjoy

Get Smarter in 7 days...

Did you know that you can boost your IQ by 40% in a week ?

A new BBC show called "Get smarter in a week" uses a number of volunteers that try to boost their brain power by following a 7 day special routine... It includes doing puzzles (crossword, sudoku etc), brushing your teeth with your other hand, eating healthy meals, learning a number of new words and using them in sentences during your daily social life, memorising your shopping lists or telephone numbers... etc
I am in!

I tried to brush my teeth with the wrong hand this morning... the result is shown below :













photo taken from here




Anyway, I will try to post any new word I am going to learn this week, or try to post a sudoku...

Good Luck !

Am I getting older ?

I suppose so! ... Apparently, everyone is getting older.

I found this photo, where I am wearing those cute little shoes and a really fancy looking red shorts and t-shirt... and I look rather happy/confused. It seems like I was praying.

This photo was taken around 1982 (I think)
















The next one is the photo that I use in my profile... I was a very imaginative boy... If I remember correctly, I was using this wine box as a car/boat/airoplane/even as a spaceship.
But most of the time I was rowing away in that small wine box, embarking on several long journeys. It was magical!


This photo was taken in 1984

Great times

Clever Advertising !

Really funny !

I've found it on : Agencyfaqs

Good morning!

I woke up around 7am and it was already a bright morning, the sun is rising earlier by the day.
I prepared some coffee, and I am sipping it while I am making porridge... (oatmeal and wholegrain porridge)

I need to go to the farmers' market, and then to the lab...

good morning and enjoy your weekend!


The photo is completely irrelevant!
and that was certainly a photo opportunity...

4 Seasons

This is the view from my balcony
Winter to Autumn!


The lovely oak tree and the cypress tree...





English skies... calm and evil !