As The World Churns

By Bob Nicolaides

A new excavation in the Xirokambi area of Aghios Vassilios west of Sparta in the Peloponnese, has revealed a richness of Mycenean artifacts including the remains of a palace, Linear B tablets, fragments of wall paintings, and several bronze swords. The excavation, led by emeritus ephor of antiquities Adamantia Vassilogrambrou, was presented publicly at the biennial Shanghai Archaeology Forum at the end of August as one of 11 sites showcased from different parts of the world. The Aghios Vassilios excavation began in 2010, pointing to the existence of a powerful central authority and distribution system. The deciphered texts were concerning perfume and cloth production, the trade of which was controlled by a palace administration in the Mycenean era. Evidence of a central palace administration was confirmed also by the architecture, which is dated to the 14th century BC, while contact with Crete was confirmed by the finding of a double axe, a feature of the island’s palace culture.Artifacts found include seals, a multitude of ceramic and bronze vessels, and 21 bronze swords. According to the evidence, a sudden fire that broke out either at the end of the 14th century or the beginning of the 13th destroyed the three buildings on the site which were never rebuilt at the same location. …..

Floropoulos: Teaching Global Governance

 

 

Yiannis Floropoulos is a professor of Global Governance, Law and IPG at Montclair State University in New Jersey….Yiannis Lartides on the other hand is a retired restaurateur who lives in London, Canada and attends art gallery premieres because he himself has become an artist doing oil paintings which he sells to clients… Constantine Constantinides has won the votes to sit in the New York City Council representing parts of Queens, and Gus Prentzas lost that contest. But some friends are telling me that there’s more than meets the eye in that Constantinides win…

Ahmeti: His party's DUI

Ali Ahmeti, president of the ethnic Albanian DUI party ought to be very careful if he ever gets to the States. Cops may confuse his party with a booze party and arrest him for Driving Under Intoxication (DUI.).

Stephanopoulos & Wentworth: Forgot the handle!

The morning of 9/3, George Stephanopoulos tweeted news of Katie Couric’s engagement to financier John Molner.” Congrats to @katiecouric and John Molner on your engagement. Ali and I are thrilled for you,” Stephanopoulos wrote. But the ABC anchor forgot to use his wife’s Twitter handle when sending Ms. Couric his good wishes. Comedian/actress/enthusiastic Twitter user Ali Wentworth promptly tweeted at her husband about the oversight (after all, he did sign her name on the tweet!)…Tina Fey will host SNL premiere this season….



 

 

Avranas: His flick gets him Best Director raves



Coumbis: Can't kiss the Bride

Panou:Great Act

 

Anastas N. Michos is responsible for the cinematography in the black comedy Duplex starring Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux and Drew Barrymore…..Theo Coumbis  portrayed a Greek immigrant with a thick accent in You May Not Kiss the Bride......It’s been a while since we’ve had a winner at the Venice International Film Festival, so I laud Culture & Sports Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos for congratulating film director Alexandros Avranas and actor Themis Panou for the important distinctions they won in the 70th Venice Fest. Avranas won the Silver Lion for best director for his film Miss Violence and Themis Panou won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor in the same movie. A day before winning the Silver Lion, Avranas had won the federation of film critics Fedeora award for Best Euro-Mediterranean Film and the Arca Cinema Giovanni young cinema award.

 

Though they’ll be airborne by this month, SkyGreece Airlines, the newest Hellenic carrier looks forward to serving the North American community by connecting the Greek capital with legendary hospitality from take-off to landing, with direct flights to Chicago, New York, Toronto and Montreal. They call their airline the Greek Spirit in the Air…..

 

Chef/Partner George Kyrtatas on Cooking Channel’s Odyssey.

 

Whoever happened to come in for dinner on September 22nd at Sweetwater Bar & Grill they sure enjoyed what was dubbed the ‘Cutthroat Party’ to celebrate partner and chef George Kyrtatas’ latest competition on Food Network’s new hit show Cutthroat Kitchen. George offered his commentary on the show as he watched it for the first time on the screen at his restaurant. The important news is that Kyrtatas has renewed his contract as the host on PBS’s cooking show The Cooking Odyssey. Sweetwater Bar and Grill is at 10 Rte 130 in Cinnaminson, NJ, is a new establishment sharing the same building with the Hathaway Diner which also has been refurbished, and now opens only for breakfast and lunch, while Sweetwater accommodates guests for lunch and dinner, giving their guests a wider variety of dishes. Sweetwater is decorated in a modern motif with a comfortable seating arrangement that can accommodate 175 guests, not counting the open air section, fashioned as a large balcony. The restaurant is operated by George with his brother John……

Word of The Month- Diatribe:Dιscourse, Pass Time Away-  from Greek Διατριβή.