As The World Churns

By Bob Nicolaides

Is there a connection between sleuth Valerie Plame and Greece? If you read her book, Plame-gate you’ll know that there is. A big connection at that! The bombshell CIA agent whose identity uncovering caused ripples in the Bush White House was just 26 when she arrived in Greece, according to chapter 2 of her much-discussed tome. That second chapter of her very interesting book is in its entirety devoted to her life-and deeds-in Athens the Spring of 1989 when she rented an apartment in the northern suburbs as she assumed her first mission outside the US-officially as a simple clerk of the Embassy of her country-until 1992 when she was sent packing after the November 17 organization got her identity straight. To be sure, what with the business people, the foreign diplomats, the offices of Palestinian and Middle Eastern organizations, what with her ties with Egyptian and other Arab characters, the easy targets of terrorists and Greece’s extensive coastal lines, that nation was a significant first assignment for the beautiful spy. What the, was Valerie Plame doing in Athens? Her assignment in plain words was to “find sources of information, to recruit agents who would aid the US Government to digest, to foresee and to influence in a more comprehensive way the political developments in Greece.”… The late and former NYC mayor Edward Koch practiced his own brand of Judaism that was, mixed with a deep, abiding respect for Christianity.” “He attended Mass. He believes that God hears prayers if they are in Greek, Latin or Hebrew.

The Esperia Palace is just one of the 41 hotels in Attica that have shut down over the last three years, according to data presented early February by the chief of the local hoteliers’ association, Alexandros Vassilikos, reflecting the extent of the problems being suffered by the capital’s tourism industry. The data showed that the decline in occupancy at Attica hotels amounted to 13.4 percent last year compared with 2011, while prices have dropped by 7.8 percent year-on-year.

Crain's New York Business held a discussion panel on February 6^th at the JW Marriott Essex House, NY, comprised of New York State Senators Dean G. Skelos and Jeffrey D. Klein to hear them discuss details of how the Senate's Republican-Democrat power-sharing agreement will be executed and what happens when the two Senate presidents disagree…..The international food and wine exhibitions DETROP and OENOS, respectively, will be hosted by exhibition organizer HELEXPO in Thessaloniki on March 7-10. DETROP is a food, beverages, machinery and equipment exhibition and OENOS is wine exhibition and both are aimed at promoting the sectors' private companies in foreign markets.....HSBC Bank, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, said it has reached an agreement to sell its 73 pct equity stake in HSBC Mutual Funds Asset Management to Ioannis Vezanis, current chief executive of HSBC Mutual Funds Asset Management, owner over the remaining 27 pct in the company... Senator Michael Gianaris said, “Constant service disruptions, a lack of service change notifications and increased commuter expenses due to limited free transfers make clear that the MTA treats the G train like the ugly duckling of its system. As the only train that directly connects Queens and Brooklyn, the G is a lifeline for those New Yorkers who travel between the two boroughs. It should provide commuters with direct, convenient access between Queens and Brooklyn, rather than forcing travel through Manhattan to get from one borough to the other.” ….Dimitris Panagiotopoulos is the name of the Vice Chairman of Procter & Gamble, born in Tanzania, Africa, and who speaks perfect Swahili….An AHI Dinner  on March 9^th in the nation’s capital honored, Ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Philip Christopher and others while HAC is honoring the same ambassador–among others-in LA on March 30^th with the Aristeio Award . Needless to say that AHI stands for American Hellenic Institute, while HAC stands for Hellenic American Council. The only comment I wish to make here is adding to what the reason given for the honor, which is saving the Olympics in Greece. Or on second thought, not adding at all…

The Libra Group is a global conglomerate, which has 23 offices across four continents and operating subsidiaries focused principally on aviation, shipping, real estate, hospitality and renewable energy. Students will be placed with one of Libra Group's subsidiaries around the world. Students in four-year degree programs in North America are encouraged to apply by submitting a completed application, two letters of recommendation, and official college transcripts to the Greek America Foundation at www.greekamerica.org/libra-internship. Internships are also available to students at the American College of Greece, Athens. The "cousins" are back! Chicago's Greek Media Club hosted a private, invitation-only event Thursday February 28, 2013 at Chicago's premiere art gallery, Hilligoss Galleries, located on the world famous "Magnificent Mile."  . Wine, cheese and  light appetizers were served. Sneak preview of Chicago landscapes by internationally recognized portrait artist Nikolai Blokhin Also, current exhibit of the works of Matt Lamb!

 

American Airlines has announced that its planes will get new paint jobs and a fresh logo, and flight attendants will get brand-new uniforms as well. The new outfits will be designed by Kaufman Franco, which has dressed such celebrities as Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez and Halle Berry. Now speaking of Aniston, you must know that she has signed on to be the new face for Aveeno skincare. There had been rumors that the former Friends star could become a model for the US brand, but the news has only just been confirmed. "We can confirm that Jennifer Aniston will be partnering with Aveeno for skincare," her spokesperson Stephen Huvane told E! News. "You can expect to see the results of this collaboration later this year," he added. Jennifer, who has appeared in campaigns for SmartWater, L'Oreal hair care and her own eponymous fragrance, would be the label's most famous face, following previous Aveeno spokesmodels including All My Children actress Daniella van Grass….. …..Every time you hear Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’ theme in Grey’s Anatomy you can thank music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas who set the tone for countless shows, from including Scandal, Suburgatory, and Mad Men. Alexandra, 44, after finishing the soundtrack for Warm Bodies, which premiered February 1^st, has gone back to her early years to create the music for The Carrie Diaries and sampling electronic music for The CW’s Cult. “I/m one of those lucky individuals” says Patsavas “ who were able to turn their passion into a vocation.”….. A’ is a feature film by Stathis Athanasiou inspired by the myth of Antigone raises questions regarding the contemporary meaning of the terms democracy, freedom, authority, free will, state. The story takes place in the near future in an urban environment where a faceless authority executes publicly ‘offenders’ or sends them in exile at the ‘Forest’, located beyond the electric fence that surrounds the city. The main characters are Alpha, a woman conformed to the oppressive way of living because of fear to react, and the Fugitive, a man who crosses over to the opposite side and is declared a ‘Terrorist’ by the institutionalized terror of the ruling Regime.

30 Rock star Tina Fey, looked elegant in an Oscar de la Renta frock, and had reason to smile -- she picked up the award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series from the Screen Actors Guild awards on 1/27, very important now that her show is no longer producing new episodes….Jenni Pulos, the star of “Flipping Out,” one of the most popular shows on television has been tapped to host the 2013 Gabby Awards in Hollywood this Memorial Day weekend. Jenni is a shining example of exactly what the Gabby Awards are all about. At her core she is a Greek American actress, comedian, writer, songwriter and producer. She also won Showtime at the Apollo, the legendary New York amateur talent contest, rapping her way to the top prize and even designs jewelry in her spare time. Jenni Pulos absolutely refuses the concept of a label. She’s well-known best as Jeff Lewis’ Executive Assistant (and softer half) on the hit Bravo TV reality show "Flipping Out," which is now in its sixth season. And this year, she will star again (and co-executive produce) together with Lewis, Bravo's second season of "Interior Therapy," a spin-off of "Flipping Out."

 

Patty Andrews, the last surviving member of the singing Andrews Sisters whose hits such as the rollicking “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” and the poignant “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” captured the home-front spirit of World War II, died Wednesday. She was 94.Patty was the Andrews in the middle, the lead singer and chief clown, whose raucous jitterbugging delighted American servicemen abroad and audiences at home. She could also deliver sentimental ballads like “I’ll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time” with a sincerity that caused hardened GIs far from home to weep. Together they also did a Coca-Cola commercial song in the Greek language, that’s besides the one in English….. HelenaMaria performed at Valentine's Day 2013 Grand Opening of My Big Fat Greek Restaurant in Burbank, CA that benefits Project Hope for Greece and Family Services Agency of Burbank

The Athenaeum Intercontinental Hotel featured a number of romantic one-night stays for Valentine Day, with dinner, champagne and special cocktails in a variety of deluxe or club rooms Love Me Do in the Première & Bistrot Vienna. All that was available on February 14..  Stix, which soft-opened in Flatiron, is the newest restaurant cooking ethnically sourced meat and serving it in a fast-casual setting. Owner Stathis Antonakopoulos put a roster of meat and fish kebabs at the center of the menu, which also includes a variety of salads made with whole grains, a Greek yogurt bar, and a juice menu that includes flavors like carrot and sea buckthorn, and cucumber-apple with pine. Elsewhere, an ample-sounding coffee menu features espresso piccolos and correttos. These detours, it turns out, indicate serious pedigrees at work: Executive chef Nikolaos Stavrakakis worked at Noma, and Stefanos Domatiotis, who designed the coffee menu, was this year's Greek Barista Champion.. Check out the menu…..Avlee is the name of a new Greek restaurant in Brooklyn, which can accommodate no more than 25 patrons at the time…… There’s a restaurant in Greenpoint, NY that’s called Achilles Heel. No, Greek food it doesn’t serve but I thought you want to know….

 

Word of the Month: Ambivolent:From Gr. Aμφιβολία, Not sure, having reservations about an issue