Back to hunting for Birhday decorations. John's celebration is on Shrove Tuesday this year - according to the Orthodox Calendar. =)

I have a correction. We have the Shrove Monday just after last carnival Sunday. So this Tuesday is not Shrove Tuesday. It is the next. (Shrove Tuesday it means clean Tuesday or fasting Tuesday for us in Greece) The fact that you remember my birthday is the best decoration. But, is someone, which can be glad because he becomes older? It is better to celebrate the fact that we are alive until this day and between good friends too. John

That is what it supposedly is in the western church but it is the day we eat everything we cannot eat for the next 40 days of Lent. We celebrate the fact that you were conceived and born into the world so we might come to know and to love you, john! Aging is not something I think about. Rather, I consider a birthday the celebration of your life during which I also give flowers dedicated to your mother. Rejoice and join us in celebrating John who is amongst us and has enriched our lives with his presence. I am busy gathering flowers for you and in your mother's memory.

For those who can get the Arts and Entertainment channel on TV, look for the hour each day when they broadcast the Paralympics from Salt Lake City. Congratulations to New Zeland for winning the women's downhill (skiing) and to the US who won their Sledge hockey game against Canada. Too day they are not more publicised or better covered. This is even more wonderful than the others were. Each person paricipating has some horrific tale of survival to tell, and their overcoming the obstacles life has given them is truly inspiring. Give it a look! http://www.paralympics2002.com/

HAUOLI NA HANAU, KEONI Mauna Loa Lei Handcrafted from 250 Vanda Orchid centers

that is very pretty!!!

In Hawaii, even the men wear flowers - even in their hair or behind their ears. No one dares call Polynesian men sissies. They are strong and built solidly and massively. Flowers actually look very good on men. More to come... =)

FOR JOHN FROM GEO

it's tomorrow greece time isn't it? marcia, i've seen two samoan men here in my tiny adventures, and they were giants--it was like david looking at goliath.

Samoans fear nothing on earth except for other Samoans! You're right. They are giants. We have a large percentage of Samoans at UHH and when their students graduate, they all come and sing and dance for the entire audience. It is spine-tingling in the nicest meaning of the word. They also do it for student athletes after they play their last collegiate game. That is totally magical. Everyone is totally transfixed. IT IS THE 12TH OF MARCH IN GREECE.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that was really supposed to be a whole lot bigger.....like this: HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN, from Wolfie

thanks marcia for posting it for me!!!!

oh no, now the bold is taking over

eeek!!

*whew* I must have missed a closing tag when I did yours - John will be amused!

This is Great honour for a simple sensitive man. This is the first time where one day it had 36 hours!!!! My international birthday! It started normally in Greece and ends in Hawaii 12 hours after my midnight. Thank you Marcia Thank you Wolfie THANK YOU GEO Deeply of my heart. John

Wow! I never thought about 36 hour birthdays! You are right.... how wonderful. Now, if only you had managed to come around the world backward you could have repeated the entire 36 hour day as you crossed the international dateline.

wow, 36 hours of celebrating!! how lucky you are!!!!!!!

...and how luck we are for being able to be the celebrants!

John, I missed your birthday and posted your birthday wishes at the wrong conference. So, I'll try again. Sorry for being late. Happy Birthday, John!

John figured it was already a 36 hour celebration - so I extended the event for the rest of the month. Watch him turn Irish on Monday!

*laugh*

It�s all right Cheryl. Thank for your wishes. Thanks to Geo and the two opposite sides of Earth, a celebration day can hold out 36 hours. It is normal if you have good friends at the both sides. I feel great honor that I am member in Geo between very god friends from USA, New Zealand and around the world. Especially, I must thanks Marcia that is the great in waiting hostess, Wolfie, Rob and all Geo members. It is great honor for me. John

I have some news about our earthquake prediction research. In the ALPHA TV (Greek channel) exists a 3-hours airing every Thursday night. This airing presents everything that is or sounds strange in Greek political and social life. Its name is JUNGLE. The airing of last Thursday was dedicated to our earthquake prediction research. Dr. Thanassoulas described thoroughly our method. At the discussion that followed were heard only positive scientific opinions and no one negative. Seismologists, they had nothing to say. My participation was by telephone. We gave the lie to rumors for an oncoming big EQ at the Northwest Greece during this airing. Tele-view of this airing was very much high. Afterwards this airing, I had two TV reporters of different TV channels in my house on Friday morning. I gave also three live talk shows for radio stations. Also, I was sitting in an airing of one hour talk show in ASTRA TV and in the Evening News of TRT TV that are channels of central Greece. Finally, I have to say two things. One: It is much difficult if you become the day person suddenly. Two: I hope that Greek government or someone else can help us to install and operate at least two additional stations in Greece. John

*woohoo* they're standing up and taking notice, john!!

John is famous in Greece! He did not tell you his website had many hits after the program. It is better than the Neilson Ratings we have! He will soon outgrow Geo's humble surroundings, I fear. My Congratulations for this long overdue publicity and all honors. No one has said anything negative !!!

Happy St Patrick's Day

erin go braugh!

Forecver - yes, if they stop finding ways and reasons for killing each other. I think they are gonna make it, after all! Dhia duit!

May there always be work for your hands to do; May your purse always hold a coin or two; May the sun always shine on your windowpane; May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. Thanks, Meredith! *HUGS*

Visitors flood Patras for annual carnival 16/03/2002 20:14:21 Thousands of visitors poured into Patras in summer-like weather on Saturday for the start of the western port city's annual carnival, the largest in Greece. The carnival peaks on Sunday with a major parade through the city centre, this year featuring Poseidon, the sea god of ancient Greek mythology. Hoteliers reported that hotels were filled to capacity.

I understand that the childish depravity of New Orleans Mardi Gras and the Rio Carbivale has not yet gotten to Greece. Too much of the wrong stuff to drink, I would suppose, but not the naked debauchery for which I am at a loss to explain. Where ARE their parents?!

For John who is the only one on Geo who can actually pronounce this wishes: 'Kala Koulouma':Clean Monday and 'Kali Sarakosti', the fourty day period before Greek Orthodox Easter

It is still Monday in Hawaii so I can post this but cannot see well enough in the dark to participate in the festivites. Clean Monday or Katheri Deftera 40 days before Easter, marks the first day of lent and it is customary to go out in the country and fly paper kites.

Greeks celebrate end of carnival, start of Lent 18/03/2002 18:18:02 Thousands of Athenians on Monday climbed Philopappou Hill near the Acropolis to celebrate the start of Lent with traditional delicacies and music. Leading the annual municipally-arranged event was Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. Children around Greece flew kites, another tradition that marks the end of the annual carnival season and the beginning of Lent, leading to Greek Orthodox Easter, which falls early in May this year. In the capital for celebrations were the leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress, Nikos Constantopoulos; and the head of the Communist Party of Greece, Aleka Papariga. President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos spent the holiday in Rio, Achaia; Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Aghii Theodori, Attica; and the leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Kostas Karamanlis, on the island of Evia. On Saturday, thousands of visitors had poured into Patras in summer-like weather for the start of the western port city's annual carnival, the largest in Greece. The carnival peaked on Sunday with a five kilometre long parade through the city centre, this year featuring Poseidon, the sea god of ancient Greek mythology, as the carnival's traditional King of Laughter, whose effigy is burnt at the end of the event. The theme of the parade was the Mediterranean. The carnival also includes a treasure hunt, enjoyed this year by about 35,000 children wearing masks and costumes. Hoteliers reported that hotels in Patras were filled to capacity. http://www.hri.org/news/greek/apeen/2002/02-03-18.apeen.html

This is for Marcia This is for Rob John

Thank you, John. This one is for you. (We have missed you!) I wonder if we might be able to put smaller icons like these on the Front Page of Geo...

For John and for the metrically challenged, I think seeing your weather in bothe metric and "American" might be more meaningful:

With the mention of the vernal equinox this week, it seems we have been very Northern Hemisphere-centric. We forgot about Rob in New Zealand, where it was the autumnal equinox. Happy Belated Autumnal Equinox, Rob!

You're right! He says Autumn becan two weeks ago for them - the first winter storm. That is how I known when seasons change in Hawaii. The onset of summer is more difficult to discern!

HOW IS THE DATE FOR EASTER DETERMINED EACH YEAR? There are two different formulas for Easter, since there are two Easters, in most years. The basic formula is: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 20, the first day of spring). This year, the holiday falls on March 31. (It can occur any time between March 22 and April 25.) But there is another formula. In the Eastern Orthodox religion, the formula is: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox after Jewish Passover. That is why the two Easters rarely coincide.

hey, where's mine? *laugh* (where can i get one?--dunno if i can ftp yet either)

(and i'm glad i'm not keeping track of two easters! just knowing when lent starts and ends is enough for me)

I'm Looking Sweetie! That last calendar explanation was the easiest for me to understand. 18 days after ours. I wonder if that goes for all things or if Greece keeps two calendars. John, we need you!

Wolfie, check here http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KCASANPE1

I wish there was one for Volos somewhere. I'm still hunting!

I think I have found a dinasour tooth? I don't know anything about Archaeology Can anyone help.

Maharaja, I know several personal contacts I can ask for you, or you may join this group and ask them. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/geofossils/ That Geo'fossils is both friendly and full of knowledgable people who would be happy to help you. I suggest you submit a picture - can you arrange to have a digital photo taken of it? If you email it to me, I can post it both here (Geo 7 which is my paleontology topic) and in Geo'fossils. Good luck! Most importantly Aloha and welcome to Geo!

Larissa is closer than is Athens - for John

~*~ Independence Day In Greece - March 25th ~*~ Traveling in Greece this week? You're fortunate - Independence Day on Saturday, March 25th, will fill the streets with parades and celebrations, both secular and sacred. In Athens, military parades will vie with church celebrations, keeping the streets both busy and sometimes blocked. In 1821, Greeks vigorously rose up against the oppressive Ottoman Empire which had occupied Greece for nearly four hundred years, embarking on the ultimately successful war of independence. Bishop Germanos of Patras boldly raised the Greek flag at the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting the Peloponnese to rise against the oppressors. On this day in the Orthodox calendar, the archangel Gabriel appeared to the maiden Mary and announced the news: she was pregnant with the divine child. Bishop Germanos chose this day to deliver a different but not unrelated message: a new spirit was about to be born in Greece. The churches celebrate the Festival of the Annunciation with pomp, ceremony, and joy. The spectacle is especially vivid on the islands of Tinos and Idra (Hydra). Hydra, a maritime merchant power with a swift, well-maintained fleet, was a determined and effective supporter of the War for Independence, doubling the celebration there. You can also expect colorful religious ceremonies wherever the local monastery or church is named "Evangelisimos" or "Evangelistria", such as Panagia Evangelistria on Tinos. Travelers who don't throw themselves into the spirit of the day may be frustrated with delays, unexpected closures, and a general lack of attentiveness by the Greeks, who are busy with the dual holiday. Greek Independence Day is also celebrated by many of the Greeks of the diaspora, and large parades are becoming more common in United States cities where Greeks have made their homes, including Boston and New York City. Each year, the U.S. President marks the occasion with a proclamation reminding citizens of the contributions of Greece to democracy, and of the ongoing contributions of expatriate Greeks in their new communities throughout the world. http://gogreece.about.com/library/weekly/aa032400a.htm

Thanks for your advice to contact geofossils. I will do that. I will try to send a digital picture of it to you too. Actually I had seen a program on the Discovery channel and they showed a dinosaur's tooth, it resembled the one I had found that's why I became 90% sure that it was a dinosaur's tooth. Best Regards. TheMaharaja

The source of the above information and a lot more about Greek Independence: http://www3.sympatico.ca/bourdeka/25March.htm

Maharaja, Fatastic news. I'll also do some hunting for you and post it on Geo 7 which is my Paleo topic. Both are essentially picking the same worthy brains for information. I'm delighted you have fossils to find. My island is so new all we find is yesterday's buried lava flow and a new black sand beach.

Since the Mailto links no longer work here on the topics, Use the one on Geo/all to find my email address is marci@aloha.net. Sorry for not making that clear, Maharajah, sir!

NOW they work!!!

Welcome Maharaja. Warm regards from Greece John

Greetings to the Maharaja! Marcia, I did know that Orthodox Easter had to fall after the Jewish Passover. I didn't really know that the Vernal Equinox or full moons had much to do with Orthodox Easter. I thought that was for "Western" Easter. Easter still retains some of its pagan origins. The name has been suggested to be a variant of that of the Babylonian goddess, Istar. She was Inanna to the Summerians and in the "Epic of Gilgamesh" was remarked as having sexual liasions with "gods, men, and animals". There are also supposed to have been the influences of European fertility goddesses in the celebration of Easter. Things like rabbits and eggs. As far a fertility goes, rabbits breed like, well, rabbits. As for eggs, their link to fertility is pretty evident. Marcia, do you know if there was there ever an ancient European fertility goddess with the name of Estore, or something similar. I think I read somewhere that the name "Easter" came from her name or festival.

Cypriots mull giant offshore Aphrodite The government of Cyprus is seriously considering a proposal to build a colossal statue of Aphrodite balancing on a scallop shell off the island�s southwestern coast, in an attempt to attract more tourists, reports said yesterday The 50-million-dollar project is the brainchild of one Xanthos Menelaou, a London-based Cypriot architect, who was inspired by Sandro Botticelli�s 15th-century painting of the ancient goddess of love being wafted ashore by the winds. According to Greek myth, Aphrodite was born in the sea and first set foot on land at Paphos, on western Cyprus. Cypriot Tourism Minister Nikos Rolandis was impressed. �Egypt has the Pyramids, London has the Tower, New York has the Statue of Liberty,� he said. �I believe Cyprus needs an identity, and that should be Aphrodite... It will be a very imposing thing.� Menelaou said Cyprus needs to be �upgraded as a product.� �Romantic things like sea and sand don�t work any more.� The Cypriot Cabinet will discuss the idea on April 3. http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_357385_23/03/2002_14707

OEstre the fertility goddess of the Celts also took the form of a rabbit on occasion (their fertility is legendary) thus we have the OEstre bunny. How Ishtar got in on it is a recent development. I did my research in the early 80's and it was already well known in books written at the beginning of the 20th century. I suspect that the mother goddess has many permutations and you will find her everywhere in similar names. When the Romans conquered all Gaul and Britain thereafter they got many holidays and Godesses which they transformed into Christian belilef structures. (That bit of knoweldge sent me on another year's chase looking for evidence of that fact.)

Thanks to John and Cheryl for welcoming me The Maharaja. I am enjoying reading some very intellectual discussions going on on this site. Marcia I will send you an email on your given email address and tell you more about my finds. Yes, there is more. My nick "The Maharaja" also has a story. It was given to me by my students. I am an English Language teacher. Best regards to all. The Maharaja

You will have had an email from me by now. I think your students have judged you well, and we welcome your input to Geo's topics. Even English majors can inject science in to what they are teaching, and you just might influence some of your students to expand their horizons. Share you find and let them know there are good people on the internet looking for answers for you and for them. I know - my major was English albeit, with a technical slant. Welcome and Aloha again, Maharaja.

Thanks Marcia for the information on OEstre and OEstre as a rabbit. The Easter Bunny is female!

Take a dose of Estrogen for Easter. Seems lots of things were named for her!

Eat those soybean products, I suppose. They're full of plant estrogens. Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny is not only female, but another symbol of Oestre is the egg - ususlly pink or red - so our Lady Bunny lays eggs. I wonder how they knew?!

Being in estrus. Laying eggs. How remarkable! Especially colored as they were. I wonder where the turquoise eggs came from? Male bunnies?

Maybe Lady Bunny was feeling very in touch with her masculine side when she laid those turquoise eggs?

*Laugh* But, of course!!! I never thought of that! I won't ask about the green ones! Dr Seuss had just amde a house call?

Greece observes 1821 War of Liberation anniversary 25/03/2002 16:37:59 Nationwide celebrations marking the 181st anniversary of Greece�s War of Independence culminated on Monday with the annual military parade through downtown Athens before tens of thousands of people and the country�s top leadership.  As in previous years, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and the rest of Greece�s political and armed forces leadership viewed the parade from grandstand in front of the country�s Parliament.  Stephanopoulos declined to make statements after the parade. Prime Minister Costas Simitis cited, among others, Athens� goal of leading � amid an area plagued by crises over the past decade -- regional efforts for peace, cooperation and development, all aimed at achieving the prosperity of both the Greek people and other neighbouring peoples.  In his comments honoring Greek Independence Day -- March 25 -- Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis called on all forces in the country to make every possible effort towards safeguarding unity and national consensus.  National Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, meanwhile, offered his assurances that Greece�s armed forces remain strong, reliable and effective, ready at a moment�s notice to defend the country�s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.  March 25, 1821 is officially celebrated as the beginning of the Greek nation's War of Liberation against dour Ottoman rule. http://www.ana.gr/

I feel difficult with a teacher of English here. I am sure that you have bad degree for my posts The Macharaja. I am sorry for my not correct English (I know that they are Greeklish), sir. I hope that you can understand what I want to say each time. John

If anyone complains, My Dear John, revert to posting in Ancient Greek and we are all going to be in great difficulty. I think TheMaharaja is much kinder than that. For someone whose English is self-taught, John, you are doing splendidly.

john, i have no trouble with understanding what you're saying. thank you for your eloquence and modesty *HUGS*

Can you imagine how they were clothed women and how they were adorned their face, 3800 years before, at the ancient Thera? Wall-painting of Ladies and Papyri Akrotiri, House of the Ladies. Mature Late Cycladic I period (17th century B.C.). This is from: http://culture.gr/2/21/211/21121m/e21m18c.html John

Women in Minoan Culture Images of women occur more frequently than men in the Minoan archaeological record, both on Crete and in the more recent excavations on the island of Thera. At both sites women are seen depicted in frescoes either alone or in groups. Minoan Snake Goddess from Knossos, Crete (1600 BC) (Archeological Museum, Herakleion) One of the most revealing images of the status of women in Minoan society is the so-called Toreador fresco in which young women, shown with the conventional white skin, and darker-skinned men, engage in the dangerous sport that appears to involve somersaulting over the back of a charging bull. Toreador Fresco from the East Wing of the Court of the Stone Spout, Knossos (1400 B.C.) Fresco (restored). (Archaeological Museum, Herakleion) Although it is difficult to decipher exactly what these figures are doing, the context and their proximity to the raging bull clearly denotes a game or ritual which involves bravery, agility, and skill, qualities which in any other contemporary eastern Mediterranean culture would be thought of as residing exclusively within the domain of men. That they are being demonstrated also by young women in the Minoan fresco strongly suggests that on ancient Crete women occupied a significant place in society. http://witcombe.sbc.edu/snakegoddess/minoanwomen.html tml John

It would seem that Minoan women held a status equal to, or perhaps superior to that of men. We don't really know much about their culture except that it was one of, if not, the most highly advanced of its time. Part of the problem is that no one can read Linear A; it has yet to be decyphered.

how interesting! several ancient cultures depicted women as goddesses, and the more voluptuous, the better!

Linear A--how does one go about learning to decypher a cryptic language? will have to look this one up!

Liner A has not been decyphered - or am I remembering Linear B? I recall that from college archaeology courses and my reading since then. As for Minoan ladies - rather lower neckline than I am used to wearing. I suspected you might post these pictures. I wish they had been in archaeology, but I am happy to see them in any case. Thank you, John!

Wolfie, you are not learning cryptography from your boss? There is a whole school of cryptographers currently employed (and in the past, too) by all governments, I think!

oh, indeed not! have never heard of Linear A or B (since i've never taken an archaeology course). are there pictures of it somewhere? will have to do some more research on the minoan culture....my son finished up some studies on the maya (7th grade humanities) and he was very interested in that stuff--they're on to the vikings now.

A rather well-padded lady once confided to me that she had been born in the wrong century when I showed her the Willendorf "Venus" http://witcombe.sbc.edu/willendorf/willendorfdiscovery.html Happily or unhappily I seem to match the current version of beauty. This ancient "Venus" is over-endowed.

Wolfie, see Geo 17 for discussion of Linear A & B and the Phaistos Disc

did that, thanks sweetie... oh, and a note about venus--famous designers are now creating styles for the real women of today--styles that are scaled correctly -- a size 0 and a size 14 are the same except for the size -- instead of making tents for those of us in the plus sizes... the average american woman wears a size 14 (and a 14 is not a plus size) and i have one thing to say, ree-head, the real women of this world are getting noticed!! (marcia, no slight on you, my dear twin, you are a real woman!)

John: Marcia is absolutely right. Language is a means of communicating our thoughts and if we understand the message then we are using the appropriate language. Furthermore, I teach English to people who do not know anything about it. So, you could call me "one-eyed teacher is TheMaharaja among the blind". I am increasing my knowledge just by reading your exchanges. Now, I know a little about Aphrodite too, thanks to Marcia's explanation. I will now dig into my encyclopedia and learn more about it. The Maharaja

You are very kind The Macharaja. I do justice to it. Hearing that you say for �one eye teacher�, I understand that you descend to my level, as must do it a Real Teacher. You are very kind The Macharaja. I do justice to it. Hearing that you say for �one eye teacher�, I understand that you descend to my level, as must do it a Real Teacher. Ancient Greeks were adorers of beauty. They also were saying: �I am aging always learning.� It is absolutely true independently of the time I think. I really have some difficulties with my English but I am happy and I feel lucky that Geo family can understand what I try to say. In any case, I must thank you again. My best regards John

just want to break in here and say hi to the maharaja. please tell us more about yourself. john, i am an admirer of beauty and i get absolutely covered in goosebumps in the presence of it (be it nature, man-made, music, what-have-you).

Wolfie, of course you do. You are my "twin" after all. Please inform me as to the comments of the Blind man. Both of you seem highly intelligent and literate. English has so many permutations that it is difficult to keep up with the current jargon. Some vernacular speech means the opposite from how it appears. "Cool" means Hot in the sense of popularity and up-to-date. I try to stay away from using such comments lest they be interpreted incorrectly. In the land of the Blind the One-eyed Man is King! We need all the one-eyed teachers we can get if this is the case and your students are the blind!

MARCIA!!!!! have you received any of my messages???

Yes, I'll respond as soon as you sign off IM with me =)

is that a hint or what? *LAUGH*

Now is it is time to welcome TheMaharaja to the Geo family with big warm *HUG* full of aloha and delight. You are now, part of this little family which will wecome and come to your rescue if needed. I am delighted you have found a home here! *HUGS*

Thanks Marcia, John, Curious Wolfie for having me as a family member. Curious Wolfie, I am a 54-year-young man. I was born and grew up in Karachi Pakistan. Apart from Karachi I have lived in Saudi Arabia and England for 10 years and 18 years respectively. I have always been knowledge thirsty and I like sharing it. I am married and have two daughters 24 & 20. What about you all. May I know a little more about my family members. Yes Marcia, you have given the correct proverb, I adapted it to suit my profession. The Maharaja

You're currently living in England, Maharaja?

Welcome to Geo, officially, TheMaharaja Sikander. We are delighted you have joined us. As the son of The Indus Valley, you represent the oldest known civilization. After we "pick your brains" (that is a compliment) about the rocks and fossils of Pakistan, I'd like you to mention anything archaeological in your vicinity. Dare I ask... do you know Sanscrit? As far as I know, the current ancient language person is John with Ancient Greek. Your age is perfect. I was afraid I would become the mother figure if I admitted to being older than forty. You are in good company, and I consider you achieving the mature state of grace as does fine wine or brandy. Your students are fortunate, indeed. Do you get to take them on field trips? We talk and respond in real time posts only when Hawaii (-10 UTC)evening matches up with the other side of the world's morning. We are a far-flung bunch, so you will find someone awake around the clock.