UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw

   Ok, so before I begin talking about the draw, I have to mention a couple of things. First off, there was a heck of a coincidence in one of the couples I predicted and in one of the couples that actually came out. I mistakingly predicted that Paris Saint-Germain would play Arsenal, but taking a second look, I had already pitted Arsenal against Barcelona. And the only team I hadn't picked an opponent for was PSG's actual opponent in the final 16, Valencia!! What a twist of fate... Another thing that I would like to mention is the fact that I had already mentioned in my previous post that something like this might occur. With the exception of Real Madrid and Manchester United, who were pitted against each other, all other strong candidates for the cup got a relatively "good" draw. Let's take a closer look:
                                                        Real Madrid-Manchester United
                                                            AC Milan-FC Barcelona
                                                               Arsenal-FC Bayern Munich
                                                        Valencia CF-Paris Saint-Germain 
                                                                  Celtic-Juventus
                                                            FC Porto-Malaga
                                         FC Shakthar Donetsk-Borussia Dortmund
                                                  Galatasaray AS-Schalke 04

   So, by just looking at the draw, the eye immediately goes on three matches: Real vs United, Barca vs Milan and Arsenal vs Bayern. But, if we analyze things a little we'll see that things aren't really as they seem for the latter two couples.
   First off, we have the big game. A match that could've as well been the final. The biggest event in these games is of course Cristiano Ronaldo's big return to the Old Trafford. But there's so much more to it than that! We're gonna see such great games. With Ronaldo, Ozil, Benzema, Higuain, Alonso, Pepe, Khedira, Casillas on the one side and Rooney, Van Persie, Hernandes, Giggs, Ferdinand, Nani, Evra, Vidic, De Gea on the other. And the ultimate clash of Mourinho against Ferguson on the two benches. This is the game to watch and the entire world will be tuned once these two teams kick-off!
   Now let's take a look at the other two hot potatoes. These other games that are supposed to attract attention just because the names of the opponents is big. AC Milan vs Barcelona. Barca is probably the biggest club in the world right now. The definition of the word "team". They have three nominees for the "Player of the Year" award in the faces of Iniesta, Xavi and of course Messi. On the other hand, we have Milan, who lost again last night 4-2 to AS Roma, have lost several key players last season (including Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic) and are currently 7th in the Serie A. I think that with the season Milan is having, this draw was pretty easy for Barca.
   As for the Bayern vs Arsenal couple, the Bavarians haven't found any competition this year neither in the Bundesliga nor in the Champions League. And they want to claim what was stolen from them last year, so they'll be looking to go all the way to the final. On the other hand, Arsenal qualified as second from Group B in the Champions League and isn't really looking to be in the greatest form in the Premiership, despite being in 3rd. Of course, all this could change if someone like, I don't know, maybe David Villa were to move to the Emirates, but this is all just speculation right now.
   So you see that the only game that is actually a nail-biter is the first one. The other two have clear-cut favorites and as for the rest of them, if any one of these teams were to make it past the quarter-finals, I would call it a 2004-size miracle! But let's just take a look at them, shall we?
   In what is expected to be a close couple of games, Ernesto Valverde's Valencia go up against Paris Saint-Germain. The Parisians want to make a grand re-entry to European football, which is precisely why they've spent so much money on top-notch players such as Thiago Silva, Alex and Ibrahimovic. But the players of Valencia want to show their new coach what they're all about. They're already doing much better in their performances in the La Liga going from 15th place to 9th. But they have to prove that they deserve their position in European football. 
   Juventus got the luck of the draw. They will be going against Celtic, who literally qualified in the last minute. Juve is topping the table in Italy and their performance is just as good in Europe. Let's not forget they were the ones who disqualified European Champions, Chelsea. If they were to be disqualified now, it would be a shock.
   FC Porto goes against Malaga. The Portuguese are having a decent season, second in the table in their league (just 3 points behind leaders Benfica) and qualified through Group A along with Paris Saint-Germain. Malaga hasn't lost yet in the Champions League, despite clashing with giants such as Milan. This could go either way.
   Another tie that could go either way is Shakhtar vs Dortmund. Both teams did great in their group stages (Shakhtar was second against Juve and Chelsea, Dortmund was first against Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City), both teams are doing great in their leagues (Shakhtar 1st in Ukraine, Dortmund 3rd in Germany), so we really don't know what to expect from these two teams except a nice couple of games!
   As for the final game, Galatasaray vs Schalke, I can't really see any way for the Turks to break down the German side's formidable defence. And that's where it will be decided.
   Anyway, I'll give the prediction thingy one more shot. Here are my predictions for the final eight of the competition: Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Sain-Germain, Juventus, Malaga, Shakhtar Donetsk, Schalke 04.
   That's all folks! Merry xmas to all!!!   

How did it come to this?

   Unfortunately, before the year's end, we had a yet another tragedy. One that makes the human psychology seem so terrifying. I am talking of course, about the shooting in the elementary school in Connecticut that left 21 people dead (18 of which were children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old) and so many others scarred for the rest of their lives.
   Apparently the shooter, Adam Lanza, was searching for his mother that worked in the school and ended up killing everyone on sight. There are even reports of children being shot repeatedly. Others managed to survive, but will never forget this day. People lost their children and there is nothing in the world that can make up for that.
   The shooter had psychological problems, according to his mother. Of course he did. Which logical person would willingly kill 18 children? That had their whole lives ahead of them. Even though we are making jokes about the end of the world this Friday, the world may as well have ended after this event for the citizens of Connecticut. 
   There was supposed to be a limit, even to crime. But now we know there isn't. We stupidly thought that the great danger was in the high schools where the teenagers walk around with guns and lash out their problems. But apparently that isn't the case. We are growing more and more barbaric by the year, until soon we'll be killing each other off just because someone called us ugly! There is a huge problem that people refuse to face and it keeps leading to tragedies like this.
   Once upon a time there was no internet. No iPhones, no cell phones, no e-mails. If you wanted to speak with someone, you had to go out and see them in person. However, that is not the case with our age. We are "evolved" and do not need to find people in order to talk to them. So eventually we become more and more disconnected with others and more connected with our own personal "little world", whether it consists of one room, one pc and one cell phone, or a whole house. And we call that little world our "comfort zone".
   But what happened when we were young? When we were growing up? How did we become this way? We had to go through the harsh realization that no matter how hard we try, if we confess our problems to others we just come off as needy and weak. There were times when we had to deal with a lot, maybe even too much. And yet, when we turned to others for their help, they would brush us off, telling us that our problems are insignificant and that we need to "grow up".
   So in the end we all secluded our selves in little bubbles. The "comfort zones". And we rarely allow others in, since we're afraid of what might happen to us. And we communicate through there with our few friends, people who we have let in our lives but we don't really trust. Trust? That's a heavy word. Sometimes we don't even like the people we call friends but since they put up with us, we let them stick around.
   And what about this person that ended up being a killer? Or anyone else that has committed such atrocities. Were they really any different? Or did they perhaps just reach a boiling point of having too keep so much inside of them, that in the end they just burst and decided their lives weren't worth living anymore? Problems that may have seemed insignificant to their parents or their friends, but to them it was like their whole world was crashing down on them. How much could they take of being alone?
   And yet, nobody comes up with this issue. Everyone talks about "gun control". Well, if there were better people then we wouldn't need gun control OR guns! A little more acceptance to the problems of others. A shoulder to cry on. A health parent-child relationship. These are all basics of human communication. People have problems. Instead of hiding behind a computer screen inside a closed bedroom door, they should be able to go out and talk about them. We have forgotten how to communicate with each other. And that's the saddest part.
   Let me make myself clear at this point; I am NOT making excuses for the shooting! The person that did that was obviously out of his mind. I am just arguing the fact that there are so many of these tragedies in American schools. A repeated coincidence stops being a coincidence, to paraphrase a Greek phrase. So there must be a reason for this. And the lack of communication between people is the most obvious one to me.
   May the souls of the dead rest in peace...

The heritage of 2012...

   Hello to all! With the festive season right in front of us and an illness having kept me in bed for the past couple of days, a new Facebook app gave me the inspiration I needed to come back here. This new app involves reviewing the most important events in our lives this past year. So, what were the milestones of 2012? Well, perhaps we still have a few ahead of us (like the -oh, so fearsome- 21/12), but with most of the year behind us and less than three weeks to go, let's try and make a quick recap.
   Of course, in such a year, no other event could take precedence over the Olympic Games that were held in London. Many stories were told and many heroes were born. Just off the top of my head I can recall the heroic images of South-African runner Oscar Pistorius who made everyone admit that in the end he had as much of a right as anyone else to participate, Michael Phelps who became the first athlete to conquer 22 Olympic medals and Usain Bolt who gave yet another splendid performance, defying human logic about the body's capabilities. These games were an amazing success and both the opening (which involved the Queen herself in a James Bond scetch) and ending ceremonies were magnificent.

 
   Another important event that 2012 brought was the re-election of Barrack Obama as President of the U.S.A. The people seemed pleased with how he has been handling their affairs such as the financial crisis and decided to give him yet another chance, leaving his opponent Mitt Romney to state his full support on the re-elected President. The effect of the elections was obvious on the social media, as the tweets that came right after the exit polls were the most popular since the arrival of Twitter.

   Yet, this year (as all) had it's sad and unfortunate events as well. One of them concerned a certain diva. On February 11th, Whitney Houston was found dead due to alcohol and drug poisoning at the age of 48. She had an incredible voice and inspired a whole new generation of female artists such as Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Leona Lewis and so on. Whitney Houston was mostly known for her work in the movie The Bodyguard, in which she co-starred Kevin Costner. She also provided the soundtrack for the motion picture.Whitney Houston released a total of six albums.

   Other events include the Champions League upheaval by Chelsea for the first time in football history, after a dramatic final against Bayern Munich that ended in a 1-1 draw and was decided in a penalty shootout. Also, and although this doesn't count as an important world event, it was one of my personal favorites, the European Basketball title of Euroleague went to the underdogs Olympiacos, who completed a total comeback in the final from 19 points behind 2 minutes before the games completion. 

   The Korean sensation Psy made his appearance around September and the entire planet was "forced" to dance to his "Gangnam Style". At the movies, both the "Twilight" and the "Dark Knight" epics came to a conclusion, with "Breaking Dawn - Part 2" and "Dark Knight Rises" respectfully.
   And I guess that sums it up for a quick recap of 2012. Now remember, it's not over yet, so we still have time to do stuff that'll make it into the headlines!

UEFA Champions League group stage results

   The group stage of this seasons Champions League came to a close not too long a go and the first upsets are already here. One of them was actually the greatest upset in the history of the Champions League itself! But we'll get too that a bit later. First off let's see which teams qualified to the next round. We have: Paris Saint-Germain, FC Porto, Schalke 04, Arsenal, Malaga, AC Milan, Dortmund, Real Madrid, Juventus, Shakthar Donetsk, FC Barcelona, Celtic, Manchester United and Galatasaray SK. Did anyone notice someone's missing? I thought so.
   We'll take this group-by-group. In both groups A and B there was no real competition. All teams (PSG, Porto, Schalke and Arsenal) lived up to their expectations and made it through to the next round. The only surprise, if you can call it that, was the fact that Schalke topped their group ahead of the gunners. But the Ruhr-river side team has shown great defensive ability and teamwork throughout these first six games, so no real shocker there.
   Despite what many were saying about them and their financial instabilities, Malaga managed to finish top of group C and knock out Russian giants Zenith. And why wouldn't they when they have the likes of Demichelis, Toulalan, Duda, Buonanote, Kameni and so many others to back up their efforts! AC Milan also clawed their way through, but their future in this competition doesn't look too bright. 
   We had a major upset in group D. Manchester City managed to not only get knocked out of the Champions League, but the Europa League as well! That's right, the Premier League champions will not be playing European football in February! They were able to hit rock bottom of their group. Dortmund, on the other hand, seem to have learned a lot from last season's lesson and managed to take first place, with Real Madrid following them in second.
   And if anyone was looking for Chelsea in the teams that qualified, they should stop. Because the Champions League title-holders didn't make it through! Apparently they were too busy switching managers or whatnot but the fact remains that this is the first time ever that a Champions League champion doesn't make through the group stage. And with all that money spent... I wonder what Abramovich is thinking right now. Juventus and a splendid Shakhtar Donetsk side sent Chelsea plummeting to the Europa League.
   In the final two groups there were nail-biters only for the second places. Both Barca and United secured their qualifications from early on, leaving Benfica and Celtic in Group G and Galatasaray and Cluj in Group H to battle it out. In the end, it was the Scots and the Turks who celebrated.
   As for predictions in who will play with whom in the next round, first off we have to know who can play with who as there are certain rules:
-Teams from the same country cannot be paired against each other.
-Teams from the same group cannot be paired against each other.
-The teams have been divided into two groups. Those who qualified as first in their group and those who qualified as second. Teams that finished first in their group or teams that finished second in their group cannot be paired against each other.
   That being said, I would like to see a Juventus-Real Madrid or a PSG-AC Milan just so we can reminisce about the old days when these teams would play against each other and it would be a really big deal. But in my opinion, this next round will feature a lot of david-vs-goliath matches that will guarantee even more action in the quarter-finals. Anyhow, this is my prediction for the draw:
                                                           Barcelona-Arsenal
                                              Manchester United-Celtic
                                                               Schalke-Real Madrid
                                                    Bayern Munich-Galatasaray
                                                              Juventus-Porto
                                                               Malaga-Shakhtar Donetsk
                                                             Paris SG-Arsenal
                                                           Dortmund-AC Milan
   So there you have it. I predict there will be one or two crowd-pleasers, like Dortmund vs AC Milan, but nothing too massive. Let's not forget that football is also a lot about advertising. We'll check back here on 20/12 to see how right I was. Till then...

Why a strong spirit will always surpass a strong body...

   Speaking out of personal experiences, there is one thing I know. There are somethings in life that are terrible. Downright awful. There are days when you wish you would've just stayed in bed rather than get up and deal with everything that came. Sometimes you just don't want to talk to anyone, but you have to (like, f.e. if you have a job). Other times you feel you've had enough of all the crap that has been going on in your life, and you feel like you're about to go off in a rage. Maybe sometimes, you do.
   So? Is there a point in all of this? Personally, I never thought there was. I thought it was just an endless torment, where it's just there to constantly remind us that life sucks and that we're powerless to do anything to change our fate. Boy, was I wrong... 
   It's certain that if someone is in a bad mood and things just keep building up inside him, eventually he will pop like a balloon, no matter what type of person we're talking about (and actually, the less social they are, the worse the outcome may be when they let themselves go). But, if this person learns to make use of these feelings, then this whole experience can be a massive tool for the future.
   So, let's say someone's having a horrible day. At the office, at school, at home, anywhere. It happens to the best of us. The priority in these situations is to have some sort of a haven. A place where we can escape to and that makes feel safe, comfortable and relaxed. Whether that's just a room or a gym, it depends on the individual.
   The next step would be to rationally think about the events that transpired during the day that made us so upset. What went wrong, where we were at fault and where others were to blame, solely to keep ourselves from repeating the same mistakes in the future.
   The final step would be to prepare ourselves for the day ahead. Especially if during our outrage session we made others feel bad. We should be ready to apologize and move forward from there, fixing any damage caused to relationships through the course of time.
   These hard days aren't very easy to forget, and there's a reason for that! They allow us to remember all the wrong things we did in order to keep us from doing them again. It's like some sort of mental exercise.
   It's a fact that we cannot escape difficult or embarrassing situations, especially not during our younger years. But, learning to manage them in a way that allows us to learn and mature from them is a hidden strength. If we just brush everything off like it never happened, then we don't learn anything. Taking experiences and sorting them out in order to not repeat our mistakes in the future is power.
   People hurt one another with words. Daily. Hourly. But, it takes a special kind of person to not listen to other people's bad remarks, and to not reply. It's difficult to shut your ears. But not letting anyone affect you, not letting anybody get to you, knowing your own weaknesses and strengths to the point that other's words don't reach you no matter how hard they try is something that only comes from life experiences. Only you know who you really are, what you've done, why you did it, where you did it and how you did it. Everyone else can only see what you let them see, so they judge upon that. Keeping faith in ourselves and who we really are is one of the most difficult things nowadays.
   In a sad conclusion, I will remark that people never truly understand each other in this life. Not through the deepest friendships, not through marriage, not even through parenthood. So, since we're alone, it's very important to have a very strong spirit, because we may not take many physical blows in life, but we take more than enough mental ones...

A lost generation

   So, yesterday (or, to be more accurate, last night), the government decided (under the caring advice of the U.N. "if you don't vote it, you're out") to vote the new mnemonium. It will be the third that this country's people will have to endure and it will make the situation even more insufferable. Of course, some people gathered to protest it down at Syntagma square in front of the Parliament but this government is an old fox at breaking up peaceful displays of dispute (plant a few policemen to pose as hooligans among the crowd, turn into a war zone, break it up with tear gas and some water tanks and everyone goes home). 
   Last night it was the Parliament workers' turn to lose their rights. They were to be treated from now on as typical employees and not get any "special treatment" if the new law was to pass. So said the minister of financial affairs. But that caused a riot inside the Parliament itself, which was followed by a strike. The politicians were now afraid for their safety, so the finance minister was forced to withdraw the statement.
   Things got worse last night for the Greek people. Again. From now on, it is law that if you want to go into a hospital, you need to pay a 25 euro ticket. You're not allowed to get sick have you not the money for it. Also, people that have been working in companies for years are about to get sacked and their compensation will be next to nothing compared to the work they put in. And yet, the deputies are still making thousands per month. Nothing ever touches that.
   So what did the people themselves have to say about this? Why does this keep happening? Well, apart from the hundred-something thousand that gathered in front of the Parliament last night (but quickly split), none of the people seem to understand just what is going on anymore. It's more than obvious that the Greeks have given up. Considering they can't change anything since this country is run by a couple of hundred people, they just don't bother with it anymore.
   If the impact that these measures will have on the Greek person's everyday life was comprehended by everyone, there would've been at least a million people in the streets last night. Fighting for their rights. Fighting for their children's rights. Making sure that these laws never see the light of day.
   But it's easier and much more comfortable to just sit at home, on your bed, in front of the pc or the tv and just watch everything get taken away from you, thinking "what can I do about it?". Which is exactly why this has happened to this country. 
   There is nothing left to lose. One of the ministers claimed that if these measures were not to pass, then there would be no meaning to talk about employment cause there would be no jobs left in Greece. HE is the employment minister! Has he recently checked the unempoyment rate, I wonder? Whether Greece stays in the euro or returns to the drachma it's one and the same, since most people can't afford stuff anyway.
   So Greece is only in the eurozone for a few thousand people, who can still afford luxuries like a full shopping cart or medication! Because, yes, those are now considered luxuries in this land. A democratic land in which three hundred people, that have no idea of the side affects of the laws, since they consider themselves above them, get to create them as they wish and force them upon 9,5 million others. 
   People work eight (maybe more) hours a day for 500 euros a month, have no health insurance, get sacked with no compensation, can't afford to even get sick... Especially the young people's faces are full of misery, disappointment, emptyness, helplessness. It's so sad to see an entire generation just give up. They don't even talk about it anymore.
   It's true that Greeks have been selfish in the past. Not just when it comes to politics, but in a lot of matters. Even in the war there were those who dobbed upon their friends to the Germans just for their own personal freedom and gain. Nothing's changed. My personal opinion is that Greece is now paying off a debt that it has owed for centuries. It's just so sad for this generation to have to carry such a burden.

Age has nothing to do with life lessons...

   Before I begin, I would like to specify that this concerns a personal matter. It is in fact something that has happened to me recently and that gave me another important life lesson. One I thought I knew but soon came to realize there is a world of difference between saying you know something and actually having the knowledge of it.
   I won't go into detail just to protect the other person's name, but I will say this: even though sometimes we may be older than others, that doesn't really say anything about us. Yes, we are supposed to act more mature and more responsible, but life is so unpredictable that you just don't know what's waiting for you around the corner.
   So yes, this does indeed involve me and another person of a somewhat younger age. A much younger age actually. Not that that has anything to do with it, just to throw some salt on the wound. A few years back, during some classes I was taking (and let me tell you, I've been taking those classes seriously and vigorously), I came across a couple of children of a higher level than I was. And, along with everyone else in those classes, even though we competed, we started to learn more about each other and become friends. I began to make other friends in these classes as well. Until I felt part of one big family. And you know how it goes with families, some people you're closer with, others you're not, but they're all there. And you subconsciously miss them if they're not. This is kinda what I began to feel in time.
   Along that big family came those two children of the same age. Twins, I think. One boy, one girl. They showed me a lot of respect for the effort I was putting into these classes and they were growing quite fond of me. It gave me some confidence as well. That if others are believing in me, then I should believe in myself a bit more. I felt capable, stronger. All because of a pat on the back, a joke or a "good work!". (You wouldn't believe how far a little recognition can get you!) And I was responding to it, of course. Trying to give back the strength they had given me. Not just them, but everyone. I felt great at that time!
   But, as they say, it was just the calm before the storm. During one of our exams for these classes, I found out something that I just thought was too hard to accept. This man, this horrible person, and one of the people responsible for countless futures lost, unimaginable tragedies, suicides, poverty, so many others suffering (and I could go on for a while), this guy had come to see our exams! The reason? To watch his two children, the ones that were spurring me on and pushing me forward, the ones that I considered my friends and part of my new family! I passed the exam, but it didn't even matter to me. I felt angry, bitter! I didn't know what to believe anymore. I quickly tried to erase them from everywhere (Facebook, my life, etc.) and not have anything to do with them. 
   Some sound advice and some days to think made me realize that this was a big mistake. It didn't matter where they came from, all that mattered was who they were. That's what everyone around me said when I asked them. It wasn't their fault that they were born there. I tried to accept that, I tried to understand that they were too young to comprehend anything that's going on around them, to imagine the difficult life they must have because of who their father is and just forget about the whole thing... But the damage was already done. On both sides...
   Deleting someone from your facebook profile and then sending them a friend request two days later always raises questions. So you can imagine that I was asked about it when I did it. And, as a loyal fan of speaking my mind, I told the young girl everything when she asked me. What I got in return for my honesty was viciousness, mean looks, and not a single word out of her mouth for about four months now. I don't blame her really... "I-didn't-know-who-you-were-so-then-I-hated-you-for-it-but-now-I-changed-my-mind-and-I-like-you-again...", sounds kind of a lame excuse. But also, she was kinda hurt because she thought she had found a friend in me.
   Since then I've been having a bit of a mental torment. This especially cannot be helped when you have nothing to do, so you sit around thinking about stuff. On the one hand, I have the children of a man because of who I and many others are without a job, without money, without dreams. I've ended up hating this country because of the likes of him and I'm forced to leave. And those kids have a great life thanks to all the sacrifices that our people were forced to make! We weren't even asked about it! (Even though the people are as much to blame for this situation as the politicians, but I think I've analyzed that in a different post).
   On the other hand though, there's two great personalities, two fun kids that have never acted like they're higher above anyone. That have worked their butts off to prove that they're not just daddy's little kids, but something on their own. That have had to carry a burden since birth of about 9,5 million people cursing their father's, or even their whole family's name. And yet, even at such a young age they have the courage and the maturity to realize it and turn the other cheek, to smile at their hardships, to be kind, polite, happy and independent.
   It took me a while but I understood that I don't have the right to even look at that little girl anymore. I had ten years on her and yet, she made me look like a ten-year-old. I hurt her feelings but her maturity in handling the situation made me mad at first, so mad in fact that I even held a grudge. I was being foolish. The lesson I got from that 15-year-old girl was that it doesn't matter if a person is born in an alley or in Buckingham Palace. All that matters is what's inside of them.
   Yes, her father was yet again last night (one of the ones) responsible for who knows how many people to lose their jobs and get little to no compensation for it. Yes, I was mad, like the rest of this country. But that's another story, for another topic. A lesson hard learned.
   For what it's worth, and if you ever read this, I'm sorry...

Where do idols come from...

  As children we all have people that we look up to. People that we idolize. People that we admire and that we wish we could be like them. Since we're only young it's sort of like our duty to receive positive inspirations and when asked about what we want to do with ourselves give a response in the likes of "I want to be a doctor" or something. It's not like anyone takes our musings seriously anyway, but to us these first impressions are dead serious.
   For a child to receive a positive inspiration is easy. He could just see his mother or father working and say "I wanna be like them when I grow up". The difficulty comes when the child starts to grow. When the child gets older and it begins to understand and better perceive it's surroundings. That's when it's "inspirations" need to be steadier than ever.
   It's easy for an idol to crumble. And when that happens, when a child loses faith in what it believed in (or, even worse, if it finds out it was a lie), it can be difficult for it to believe in people again, let alone idolize or find inspiration. This especially can't be helped with the teenage generation when everything appears much bigger an issue than it really is.
   The only answer to this is for the children to be able to have faith in their idols. No matter the difficulties they need to be able to look up to them and communicate with them. A healthy parent-child relationship is exactly what is needed for the next generation to be able to steadily take it's place. 
   Eventually those children grow up to be the ones that will be admired. It is the previous generations duty to guide them, help them out however they can and show them the way so they can eventually become strong people. People with confidence that know their path in life and will use all their previous experiences to their own benefit.
   But, taking a good look at today's generation, one can't help but feel a little sad. At the legacy left to us by our predecessors and by the one we will leave to the ones that will come after us. Children of rich families unable to communicate with their parents and turning to drugs and alcohol. Poor children not able to create a future for themselves or that are forced to leave their friends and family behind to go abroad. And the situation is only going to get worse.
   At the end of the day, all we have is each other. And we need to let each other know as often as possible. Because knowing you'll always be welcome, no matter how much has changed... That's what having a home is all about.

The big city

   Good evening to all. I realize it has been quite a while since I wrote anything here but I've just been busy. Collecting life experiences can be time-consuming! It is amazing how much stuff a person can learn in just a matter of days. And one way to accomplish that is by traveling. I personally traveled to London not too long ago. And let me tell you it was something I will never forget!
   One of the main things that struck me about the city was the massive amount of people that surrounded me constantly. Whether I was going sight-seeing, out to lunch or to see a soccer game, I always had an incredible amount of people around me. Going somewhere, returning from somewhere, who knows? But they all seemed so distant, so much that if you were lost and wanted to ask for directions, you would hesitate, since people there didn't really seem open to talking to strangers. I got the feeling there was a security issue in that place.
   Another thing that came to make that feeling even stronger was the high level of security that was enveloping the entire city. Either in the underground or in the streets or even in a taxi, everything was constantly monitored and safe-guarded. I, as a newcomer, had the impression that something awful had happened in this place and they were doing their best for it never to occur again.
   Of course that's not to say that London was short on entertainment! Far from it actually! Anyone who has been knows that whichever station of the underground you get off at, there's something fun to do. Whether riding the London Eye at Westminster (across the Thames), going to the London Dungeon at the London Bridge, having dinner at Canary Wharf or out clubbing at Soho near Leicester, there's always something to do at any hour of the day!
   The living there ain't so rough either. With basic monthly expenses that come up to about 1200 pounds and monthly salaries that begin from about 950 pounds, it could be pretty easy to embark on a new life adventure in London, provided you are proper organized. One of the main concerns of a person attempting this though, would be food and transport, as costs for transportation (mainly underground and buses) and daily shopping are quite high.
   Another thing I did not see in my short stay in London (although I could be wrong about it) was a getaway. A place for people to go running or jogging or riding their bicycles in (an equivalent to New York's Central Park, if you may). A place where people can go to get away from their daily routine and just relax. I heard this complaint from people who were living in London. That they don't have any getaway's. They're stuck in the big city.
   Apart from that it's a massive place in which you can easily get lost in and just as easily lose yourself in. It has something for everyone and it really takes a lot of effort for someone to actually get bored there. Quite an experience! 

Dear Mr. Hildebrand...

   Having recently read an article on the Australian "Daily Telegraph" by Joe Hildebrand ( http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/joehildebrand/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/exclusive_the_rise_and_fall_of_civilisation/ ), it would be appropriate to make a few remarks on it, seeing from both sides of the same coin.
   Mr. Hildebrand is indeed right for the most of the article. He came to Greece to do research and research he did. He discovered the facts that have led the Greek people down this road, or at least SOME of those facts.
   It would be quite a false statement if one were to say that the Greeks were cautious and careful people. No. This would be a lie. They have a deep seeded need for expenditure, even if they know that it is beyond their reach. They have a saying that "poverty demands a good time", which translates to spending every little dime they are able to get their hands on since they won't be able to do anything useful with it anyway.
   Greeks are like this for a number of reasons. Firstly, because of their vanity. They do not want to be called stingy. They give to others even if they don't have for themselves. Second, they like having a good time. There's a reason this place is known as a paradise for holidays. People here know how to enjoy themselves, no matter the cost. And lastly because they don't like to think about tomorrow. Greeks are lazy. They do not want to think about going to work the next day or any other responsibilities they may have. And the unemployed ones just like to leave their worries behind them.
   As for Mr. Hildebrand's example, yes many stores do this. They try to keep the few customers they have so that they may approach other customers as well. So they end up wasting a lot of their provisions just for one or two tables (since in this case we were talking about a restaurant).
   But when we say that Greek people are big spenders, we mean all the Greeks. From the common folk to the ones in charge. And it is mostly because of those people's never ending love for expenditure, that the country is in the sorry state that it is in today.
    The few Greeks remaining that actually have jobs though (and this is worth remarking) are among the most hard-working people across Europe. They are forced to do the labor of their colleagues that the companies had to let go (because they weren't making enough profit), so they end up doing 11 and 12 hour shifts and getting next to nothing for it.
   So, yes, Greeks are lazy, frivolous and financially unstable, but when it comes down to it and they have to work, they get the job done. All this country needs is some better guidance.

Champions League predictions

   Hey mates! Great day today for European football and, since the sports journalist inside is never asleep, I thought we might take a look at the Champions League draw. Let's start of the group stage.
   In the first group it's gonna be a tough battle. We have Porto, who are never an underdog, Dynamo Kyiv, who have been showing up in at least the final 8 of the Europa League these past couple of years, Paris Saint-Germain, who have become quite a respectable power in European football and Dynamo Zagreb who never gives up. This draw was really lucky for PSG in their return to top-notch football. But, they are known for their inconsistencies since they let the title slip away to Montpellier last season, and that's something that they won't be able to get away with against the likes of Porto and Kiev. But, with a bit of help from Zlatan, they should be alright. Porto should be along for the ride in second.
   In Group B we have a case of dejavu. Just like last year, we have a group of Arsenal, Olympiacos, a German team (Schalke) and a French team (Montpellier). Unless newcomers Montpellier (who have lost a lot of firepower this summer like Giroud who went to Arsenal) are able to pull a rabbit out of their hat, we'll go with Arsenal and Schalke for this group.
   The third group is a bit of an anything-can-happen situation. We have AC Milan, Zenith, Anderlecht and Malaga from Spain. It makes sense that Milan and Malaga would be pointed out as favorites, but when we're talking about a Milan side that lost Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Nocerino and Seedorf without making a single addition (with the exception of Pazzini), then we understand how things get complicated. If we add to that the fact that they are going up against the Russian champions who have been showing up in the group stages for the past several years and the Belgian champions who are capable for the best and the worst... we could get some excitement from this group.
   But if you think that group is exciting, wait for group D! Real Madrid, Manchester City, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund! Four champions from four of the best championships across Europe! Of course everyone will be watching the Real Madrid-Man. City games! For this group, it looks like a done deal, but since I've seen both Dortmund and City's European performances, I'll say let's hold off for that second place just a little while longer.
   Group E is a no-brainer. The champions, Chelsea, up against the likes of Shakhtar, Juventus and Nordjelland. It's nice to see the vecchia signiora back in the Champions League though. It just didn't feel quite the same without them. I'll be hoping they get second place in this group.
   Group F has a flashback of the 2001 final where FC Bayern Munich faced off against Valencia. Joining them in the group will be Lille OSC Metropole and FC BATE Borisov from Belarus. Considering how powerful both last season's runners-up and the Spanish bats are, it will be nothing short of a shocker if Lille manages to sneak in between them.
   Group G is similar to E. Barcelona is paired up with SL Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Celtic. Portuguese football is on the rise these past few seasons so let's go with Benfica for second, keeping in mind that anything is possible with the likes of Celtic and any Russian team.
  Group H is pretty much the same deal. Although Manchester United will have to be extra cautious against SC Braga, Galatasaray SK and Cluj, if they don't want a repeat of last season's shameful exit (knocked out by FC Basel). Considering that they'll be topping the group, second place might be going to Galata. The Turkish champions have been on the rise for quite a while now and have a team full of experienced players.
   After all this is said and done, let's try and take a shot at this years champion, shall we? Even though the two Spanish gallants seem strong for yet another season, it doesn't look possible for either of them to be in the final. Mourinho's messed up locker rooms and Barca's new coach seem to be obstacles that they cannot overcome in front of stronger opponents. The English teams are looking good (with the exception of Arsenal). Robin Van Persie is adapting well to his new environment in United and City have the same solid unit from last year, so we expect them to come back stronger in this tournament. Chelsea may have lost Drogba and Anelka, but they replaced them in the best possible way! Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Brazilian midfielder Oscar are more than sufficient to cover up the losses. FC Bayern is also in top shape! With the addition of Mario Mandzukic and Javi Martinez among others to back up the efforts of Ribery and Robben, the Bavarians are more than likely to take home what they were so close to in last season's cliffhanger final. As for an upset, if Paris Saint-Germain can manage to create a good enough team, then they may have a shot at the final four of the competition. They have become quite stronger in the last two years and it would be refreshing to see some new faces.
   Overall, this looks like Chelsea's tournament, at the moment. But this is so unpredictable that anything can happen. Which is why it's so fun to watch!

That special thing...

   This one isn't going to be a long one...  I was just listening to some of my favorite tracks and, while listening, I had a thought. Everyone has something special in their lives that inspires them to do what they do. Without this inspiration people wouldn't be able to tap into their hidden potential (of course the inspiration could just be the beginning of it, or the main reason).
   For some their inspiration is the person that they love. They take one look at them and they get all the inspiration that they need. To go, to keep going and to push themselves to become even better. So that they can become a better person for their other half. 
   Others look at other people and become inspired. Like someone might look at a good singer and try to imitate them. And eventually set a goal to be as good as their role model.
  And others just have a dream. Something in their minds that keeps them going. That someday they will be able to accomplish something good, something important, something that they want. And that's what keeps them going.
   Of course it could as well be a compilation of these reasons. Like, someone could have a role model and a personal dream. But I personally think that we don't need more than one reason to get inspired to do something good. Something special!

The origin of faith

   Hi people! How is everything? It must be tough for some of you out there to accept the fact that summer's almost over and you have to go back to your everyday lives. But you never know what this new season might bring you so try to stay optimistic about it, even though this may seem difficult at such a time. Try to find a new hobby to do in your spare time, something that you've been wanting to do but kept putting it off for no adequate reason. That should motivate you enough for this season!
   Anyway, getting back to the matter at hand, it would be nice to address another important issue: religion. Now before I begin, I would just like to say that anyone is of course entitled to their own opinion. Some are Orthodox, others are Catholic, others are Muslim, others are Mormons and so on. Every person can believe in whatever he/she wants to and that is fine.
   But only when someone has given it a certain amount of thought and not just blindly following the same path from the day that they are born. Why? Because that's what everyone does and it would be weird to do otherwise. How logical of a way of thinking is that? How is disproving everyone else's religion just because "it seems weird" make any sense at all?
   Parents raise their children to believe in deities. Some because of fear, others to lead them into a proper way of life and others because that's what they learned from their own parents and just think it normal to pass it down to the next generation. But with that same state of mind, we should've just blindly accepted that the Earth was flat and never looked into it because "that's the way it was". People should be able to question and choose what they believe in.
   There are faiths that tell you what is right to eat and what isn't. There are other faiths that tell you how you are supposed to live your life. Some faiths even demand you give up your life for them! It is awful to watch children give up their lives for something that they were forced to believe in.
   That isn't the true meaning of religion. The true meaning was just the need people have to answer to an authority higher to them, the need to believe that their life has some sort of meaning, some purpose. And these faiths were brought up in ancient times, when people were still wandering the planet, not having any goals or anything motivating them.
   But today, we have all that. The meaning of religion has been twisted and corrupted by other people that like to take advantage of weaknesses. People need to understand that faith doesn't come from some higher authority but from themselves. Instead of having faith in some power that we don't even know exists and sacrificing time, effort or even lives for it, we should just put that belief in our own selves.  That's the only true source of power. We sent people to the moon (soon to Mars), we make amazing scientific discoveries, we build incredible stuff, and yet we continue to believe in something above us. Having more faith in each other and ourselves would certainly work a whole lot better for us!

Let's make a fun one!! (Tribute to Final Fantasy)

   Ok, so I've sorta had enough with the whole "human race" thingy I got going on in here, and I decided to do a new topic. Video games. Yup. Video games. My faves and why they're my faves. There's gonna be pics and everything so this might even be the best one yet! (For those of you who actually know me, you might know where this is heading.)
   So, from a few years back I used to be a video game enthusiast. My sister was the first one to actually bring me in contact with a gaming console, which was the GameBoy and a little game called Tetris. I wasn't any good at it but I really liked it! Afterwards, the first colored consoles appeared. The Sega Megadrive, the Gamegear and the NES were the first that I remember. All of them starred Mario and Sonic of course. My first console was the SNES (aka Super Famicom). I mostly played the Mario Bros games since I didn't really know of anything else back then. Actually, that's still a habit of mine. Clinging on to a title and not trying anything else but that.

   My favorite's were Yoshi's Island and Mario Kart. I had a great level of skill with these games and soon realized that I was into them, even though no one else I knew was. Most of the kids at school were into shooting games like Wolfenstein or the early Duke Nukem games. I only had one more friend that liked the Mario games.
   Then came the next generation. I was in year 5 when the Playstation came out. Due to traveling back and forth from another country, I was forced to make new friends. One of them invited me to his house one day, told me he had a sweet game to play. When I went there, I saw him playing this:

    It must've taken me about one hour to lose myself in it. I didn't have a Playstation at the time, so I would just go back to my friends house everyday after school, just to catch up on the storyline. When we watched Aerith die it was one of the most shocking moments ever. He got pissed off because he had her on his team, and didn't talk to me for a while. Then he completed the game, and I didn't see it again for a while. That's when the next installment, Final Fantasy VIII was released. He got that as well, but I hadn't even gotten a Playstation yet.
   When I finally did get one, Final Fantasy IX came out and it was the first one I ever played on my own. I enjoyed it so much that I would lock myself in the house with everyone gone, just so that I wouldn't miss any of the story. It may have been the best gaming time of my life.
   During the next generation, I made sure I was prepared. So I already had a PS2 when Final Fantasy X came out and I had just as much fun with that game as well. And although the story didn't seem as good as the one in IX, the renewed graphics made up for that to the fullest.

   Even though Final Fantasy XI disappointed  me in being an online game (something I have a policy against), I carried on with the Final Fantasy mythos and there were still good things to come like X-2 and XII. But then, it was finally time for the return. Final Fantasy VII, the one that started it all for me, was coming back!
   There was a whole series of material planned named the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. There were two games, one movie, one game for cell phones and a bunch of books. I started off with what was the latest in the storyline, Dirge of Cerberus. Then I saw the movie called Advent Children which was pretty good, but somehow felt incomplete.
   That's when I decided on the purchase of a PSP for the sole purpose of getting a chance to play Crisis Core (the game that was before the Final Fantasy story). something that I did not regret.

   

   Possibly the most emotional -or one of the most emotional at least- games I had ever played. After this it was hard to imagine if anything would top it. Of course the movie was re-released with much better graphics, and it was kinda on the same level, but to this day, I have to admit that this and the first Final Fantasy VII game were the best I had played.
   After that we entered the third generation. It all began very promising, with announcements and releases of new games, but we are still in the process of it. This began with the release of Final Fantasy XIII for the new, flashy, PS3. It had a nice story to it, nothing of the likes of VII though, but it was awfully difficult! About a year later the sequel, XIII-2 was announced, but until it's release I got to play some of the older classics like Final Fantasy VI and V, and I also purchased Dissidia Duodecim for my PSP. Out of the three, only VI was worth the effort. V was way too hard and the menus were a mess, and Duodecim was too easy and had absolutely no concept. It was just a fighting game.

    Then XIII-2 was finally released. It was fun, pretty easy and not at all boring. It was a nice improvement, but that ended with a great big "To Be Continued" sign as well. So, still waiting. On that and on other games Final Fantasy games as well.
   I also began to look more into other games I might like. When I first bought a PS3, I also bought Dragonball Raging Blast, which was a pretty fun fighting game, as was Naruto Generations which I bought in March. These aren't half as fun as a good Final Fantasy but since you know the characters and the story behind them, it's always good to try new stuff.
   The most attractive elements to the Final Fantasy series is that most of the time they tell the tale of different characters. It's like all of a sudden you come into contact with these people that you don't know and don't care about and as you move along the story you find pieces of yourself inside of them, so whether you want to or not, you become attached. Squall from Final Fantasy VIII was one of the greatest examples. Squall didn't like to talk much. He brushed others off, not caring what they'd say and all he'd do was follow commands, not once giving a damn about anything else. Until eventually you find out that Squall was (spoiler alert) taken from his mother when he was a baby and put in an orphanage from where the only other person that he trusted was pulled out of before he even turned eight. That's what's so magical about these games. Sure, they have nice graphics, music and they're fun to play, but this is what has won over most of the players. And that's why they're expecting even more of this in the future.

The rise and fall of a great people

   Hey guys! How've you been? Hoping that this past month or so has treated everyone well. Can't say the same unfortunately. One thing I've yet to mention is that I live in a most troubled country. A country filled with people that refuse to look at their problems until they are literally pushed to the edge of the cliff. That country is Greece.
   Greece used to be a grand nation. It's people were capable of massive things. This is the land from which all philosophy, sciences, politics, sports and other important things hailed from. In the ancient years the progressiveness of it's people led them to be so advanced that they were revered by the rest of the then known world. Basically there wasn't much contact with other countries or civilizations back then, so the Greeks just communicated with each other. Stone tablets found in Crete are proof that Greece was also the origin of the first fully developed alphabet.
   But the Greeks were a proud race. There were lots of them, Athenians, Spartans, Myconians, Thevans, and they are all ancestors of the Greeks of today. And because there were a lot of them, there were wars. Greeks would be at war from ancient times. Either with each other (like in the trojan war or in the hundred-year war) or with neighboring nations (Persians). Most of the time this is what they would do. Which is why there was never truly a dominant force in the Greek lands until they all united and became the Vyzantinium Empire.
   Greeks were always ravaged by wars. In the early years, then afterwards when they started to come in contact with other civilizations they would usually be at war with them (like with the Ottoman Empire which led to the fall of Constantinople -nowadays Istanbul- in 1453). And even after that in the later years, they were involved in both World Wars. 
   In fact, it's World War II that has left the biggest scar on this land. Being under foreign rule for so long, they became suspicious and began to think only of themselves. Their own pockets, their own advantage. There was a lot of mistrust during the war because of the fact that the Germans would offer money to anyone who would give them information for any rebellious movement that was going on at the time. Others took this to their advantage to gain the trust of the Germans and others tried to hide as best they could, so they began turning away from each other. This is what turned the Greeks into what they are today.
   There is constant complaint for anything that doesn't satisfy them, but very little will to do something to change it. They vote whomever promises to give them a good job instead of who is better for the land. They constantly want, but do not want to give. They keep thinking that someone has wronged them, never thinking about what they themselves have done wrong.
   This comes from the family, the household. When someone raises their children with the mentality to only take and never give back (just because he lived in another time and age), it is only natural that the kids grow old thinking of ways to "get rich quick", take advantage of others and do as less work as possible.
   And yet, even after all that, Greeks maintain some false sense of pride. In their own minds they somehow think themselves superior to others and try to outwit them, while in the meantime everyone else is doing the exact same thing to them, the result being that nobody gets what they want so they all end up arguing.
   This country is now broke. Not only economically, but morally. It has nothing to do with the Greeks from the past, despite the same name. Children smoke from 11 years old, older people don't know what to do with themselves so they go out stealing, murdering or even going so far as to commit suicide. And all anyone does is to blame the politicians, from their couches or chairs, in front of some television.
   Everyone is trying to get out. But this pride, arrogant, selfish race of people could become like a plague to the world. Greece has fallen. How many other nations must it take with it?

A reason to keep going...

  Howdy again. Now that I've gotten started it seems a bit hard for me to stop! Now that I actually have the free time to do this as well. But enough about that. Yesterday I was browsing around the social media when I came upon this picture:

I looked it up a bit further and found out it was an athlete called Oscar Pistorius who, even though has no legs, has made through to the semi finals of the (200 m, 400m, I don't know) of the Olympic Games of London! And I kept thinking of what sort of effort this man had to go through, to be where he is today. Totally worth it!

   Then it got me thinking on another issue... What are people actually capable of? This person lost his feet and yet he is one of the fastest people on the planet! Others have had major setbacks and came through to become quite remarkable as well. Einstein sucked at math, f.e.

   But what is it that drives people to reach greatness? What makes us legends? Well, for me personally a person must be talented at something if he's to actually go to that level. But there are other things as well. Talent can only get you so far. Effort is also important. To make mistakes, to be willing to learn from them and to have the guts to not give up when things get tough. To be able to handle the pain so that you can reach your goal. All that is what defines the legends from the rest of the people. Surely anyone has the potential to do it. But only few reach the end.

   There are a few kids that are credited in the beginning of their career as having "amazing potential". So they rest on their merits, thinking that they are already good enough than the rest. Until, one day, they suddenly open their eyes to fact that they've been left behind by others who weren't even half as good a few years (or months) back. But, by trying hard enough, even an outcast can become better than a prodigy. So when getting into this kind of thing it's always important to keep remembering your goal, always staying with it and never quitting.

   But what's it all for? There are people who begin their careers as hobbies and end up sacrificing everything for them. What urges them so? Well, unfortunately the most common answer these days is money. Specifically if the career we're talking about evolves around a low income and a person is required by his company to transfer to another town f.e., then that person is actually sacrificing his life for his career. Or even in other professions such us entertainment (singing, acting, etc). A lot of those people that are millionaires spend months or even years away from their families because they are tied to multi-million contracts that demands their presence until their work is done. So, not everything is peachy there either.

   Another common answer would be that some people don't know any differently. Their career choice is something they have been doing from a young age and probably don't consider themselves good at anything else simply because they haven't tried (even though most of them would have wanted to, as goes the "always-wanting-what-you-can't-get" paradox in the human psychology). So they go to great lengths to maintain their careers out of fear of the unknown.

   And then there's another reason. One that comes to mind if you consider the fact that people have always been doing this sort of stuff, even before the invention of money and before the settling of the routines we have today. So, what was it all for? A reason to be remembered. People have always wanted glory, they have always wanted to be spoken of by others, and, of course, they want to be remembered even after their deaths. They strive for greatness so that they can have something to leave behind, something for the next generations to speak of. That is the noblest of reasons and even though this doesn't apply for many people today, it's still there. That gives them all the power and strength they need to go through any hardship, any struggle that might come their way, so that they can leave a legacy behind them. 

   This world is full of possibilities. But that's all they are. It's up to us to find our reason for greatness, decide how we're gonna go for it and make it to the top. Anyone can do it...

Hey guys!!!

So, what's up people??

    Hey there everyone! Name's Alex. Been wanting to create my own blog for a while now since facebook just isn't enough for a person to express his opinions nowadays. There is a number of topics I would like to address. But number one on my list is the simplest of them. Today's relations between people and what has become of them through the years. And what we can learn from that. Let's take a closer look...

   Back in the day, there were no means of communications other than a few scarce telephones here and there. So people had no other choice but to actually talk to one another, face to face. This has been put to the side greatly in our time because of the ease of method our new inventions have provided us. But is that truly a reason? If you talk face to face with another person, you are subjected to their eyes and their mind, their thoughts. It is not easy for you to lie or hide your feelings when you're in front of another person. Whereas, on the phone or even better, online, you can say (almost) anything you want and not worry about it. But aren't these feelings what make us human? And this interaction between one another?  Today we hide behind screens and keyboards, scared to death of what people what may think if they caught a glimpse of our true selves.

   Which brings us to another issue of today's relations between people; our image. We struggle daily to create an image of ourselves that others will find entertaining, fun to be with, and into all the latest stuff. We create alter ego's of ourselves so that not only the ones that surround us, but even total strangers (thanks to social media) think we are "hot", "cool", "sexy", "in-style", and a great big bunch of other words that simply won't come to mind right now. The reality of the situation is, we are all lost in our vanity. Most people who create this "alter ego" are desperately seeking someone to share their free time with, and as for the others... They spend their time trying to hide their envy for the "cool" people and secretly hating themselves, not realizing that both sides are just as depressed. 

   Of course it's not the same for everyone. For example the situation is worse when it comes to teenagers (since that's the age when the person grows up and starts finding out the reality about themselves and the world) and it's always different between men and women. Men are usually more relaxed as they grow older, but there is always competition between them when they get together (a.k.a. the law of the jungle). The women are a different story.

   But the ones that end up paying for it are the children. This loss of communication is being "passed down" from generation to generation. People are becoming unable to express their emotions to anyone so they prefer to carry on to what is known to them as reality or everyday life, but most children recognize this as a sign of desertion or indifference from their parents' side. So they end up growing on their own, never truly maturing and using other people to teach them whatever they don't know. And, ultimately, they inherit their parents incapability to express emotions. 

   Even when they find other people they can relate to and engage in some sort of relationship with them (social, sexual), their inability to openly express their likes and dislikes usually leads them to trouble. Some try too hard to not lose the ones close to them, so end up becoming pushy. Others try to "play it cool" and pretend that they don't care (a quite popular course of action these days), so end up losing the one they want, without the other ever knowing about it. All because of the fact that when someone expresses what they actually feel, they are considered a desperate, needy weakling.

   So, what could we do to fix up this situation? Well, for one, turn off the pc! If you want to speak to someone, do it face to face. Next, try talking to as more people as possible. Even strangers. Try to make conversation with others, even if you think the worst about yourselves. That's not what others think of you! Another step would be to try and express your feelings to the ones close to you. It doesn't have to come all at once. Even a simple "thank you" at start would be sufficient. Anything just to show that you appreciate the ones you have. Any type of verbal communication will do, just as long as you're honest. Or at least try to be. We need to be more open with our own feelings and more accepting with other people's feelings, especially in today's world! Keep talkin' people!!!