The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Monday, December 16, 2013

Actor Peter O'Toole died ..[ 3215 ]

Peter O'Toole, 'one of the giants of film and theatre,' dies at 81

By Alan Duke, CNN
December 15, 2013 -- Updated 2247 GMT (0647 HKT)
O'Toole's first major film success came in the title role of T. E. Lawrence in "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962. It earned him the first of eight Academy Award nominations. O'Toole's first major film success came in the title role of T. E. Lawrence in "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962. It earned him the first of eight Academy Award nominations.

(CNN) -- Actor Peter O'Toole died peacefully Saturday in a hospital, his agent Steve Kenis said Sunday. He was 81.
O'Toole's first major film role in the title role of T.E. Lawrence in "Lawrence of Arabia" in 1962 was "absolute genius," British film critic Richard Fitzwilliams told CNN. It earned him the first of eight Academy Award nominations and propelled him to world stardom.
"Ireland, and the world, has lost one of the giants of film and theatre," Irish President Michael D. Higgins said in a statement.
Born in Ireland and raised in England, O'Toole's acting career began on stage in England as a teenager, moving later to television roles in the 1950s and then the big screen.
"His family are very appreciative and completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of real love and affection being expressed towards him, and to us, during this unhappy time," daughter Kate O'Toole said in an written statement. "Thank you all, from the bottom of our hearts."
O'Toole had "been ill for some time," his daughter said.
"In due course there will be a memorial filled with song and good cheer, as he would have wished," she wrote. "We will be happy to speak to you all then but in the meantime if you could give Peter O'Toole the respect he deserves and allow us to grieve privately we'd appreciate it."
"On stage and screen, if their function is to reflect the human condition, then O'Toole did it absolutely brilliantly with his highs and lows and his remarkable ability to convey emotion," Fitzwilliams said. "He was so expressive, and his great triumph was undoubtedly 'Lawrence of Arabia.'"
O'Toole's portrayal of Lawrence was followed in 1964 by the role of King Henry II in "Becket," opposite Richard Burton as Thomas Becket. Both men were nominated for the best actor Oscar for the film, but both lost.
The pattern of Oscar nominations, but no statuettes, for O'Toole is unmatched. "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride," he once said.
GoldDerby.com writer Tom O'Neil said it was one of Hollywood's biggest mistakes, but that O'Toole took the oversight in stride.
O'Toole was nominated for the best actor Oscar again for playing Henry II opposite Katharine Hepburn in the 1968 film "The Lion in Winter."
His fourth Oscar nomination came in 1969 for the role of a shy English school teacher in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips."
Although his portrayal of the 14th Earl of Gurney in the 1972 movie "The Ruling Class" was nominated for best actor, Fitzwilliams cited it as an example of O'Toole's overacting.
"He was an actor, admittedly, of uneven merit, but what you had was this phenomenal life force, almost a wayward genius," Fitzwilliams said.
O'Toole's battle with an alcohol addiction hampered his career in the 1970s, but he staged a comeback with his 1980 leading role in "The Stunt Man." It brought him a sixth best actor nomination from the Academy.
He mocked his own image as an over-the-hill, alcoholic matinee idol in "My Favorite Year" (1982). He was again nominated for best actor but did not win.
O'Toole was presented an honorary Oscar by Meryl Streep during the 2003 Academy Awards. The engraving on the gold statuette reads: "Whose remarkable talents have provided cinema history with some of its most memorable characters."
But he was not done. He was also nominated for the best actor Oscar for his role as an aging, out-of-work actor obsessed with a young woman in the 2006 film "Venus."
He acknowledged in 2012 that his acting career had ended, bidding a "profoundly grateful farewell" to the industry.