Life

Dear Kojak,

It seems you were a pain in the @ss for some people but since you like history and being to many old places, I attach this for your file..

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Learn Greek in 5 minutes

If you read this, after only five minutes you will speak some Greek words for ever...

Spoiler: Soiler

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The Greek you already know…

The Greek countryside with all its alternations, its bright blue sky, the warm sun have contributed , among other things, to the creations of a language that is mild, malleable, vivid, harmonious, expressive, full of vowels. And it's exactly because of its flexibility and its ability to combine, Greek is the perfect language to create new words according to needs that may emerge.

One of the most characteristic features of the Greek language is its appropriateness to describe other worlds besides the one the language itself was developed in.

Not only European but also Asian and even African languages resorted to the wealth of the Greek vocabulary to cover their linguistic needs.

Even, for example, the word microphone, a modern invention, is described with words use by the ancient Greeks. Micro which means small, little, and phone which means voice.

Before you go on reading, I'd like to point out that it is not my intention to pay tribute to the Greek language and overestimate its value. What you are about to read is rather a reminder of the influence the Greek language has had on international thought and expression. At the same time, yet, I want to prove to you that you already speak Greek. The evidence I'm going to show you comes from scientific research conducted by eminent linguists, their finds as well as information from the Centre for the Greek language.

Let's start with a word game...

How can you say friend in Greek? Or perhaps wisdom? Don't hurry.
If you take your time to think about it, you'll see that you do know the answer. Let's have a look at the word philosophy. It is a Greek word which means the friend (philo-) of wisdom (-sophia). So, you see, friend in Greek is philos and wisdom is Sophia.

Let's look at another example. How can you say book and writing in Greek? Have a closer look at the word Bibliography. In Greek it book (biblio) and writing (graphy) which means where books are written (recorded). Thus, biblio in Greek means book and graphy means writing.

There are also other words which are not compound and if you use them in Greece, everybody will be able to understand you. For instance: analysis, synthesis, problem, hypothesis, method, theory, axiom, music, melody, orchestra, rhythm, harmony, rhapsody, hypocrisy, theatre, drama, tragedy, comedy, poetry, lyrism, democracy, tyranny, anarchy, despotism, oligarchy, idea, logic, dilemma, program, system, symbol, syllable, phrase, dialogue, dialect, energy, machine, mystery, phenomenon, dogma, symmetry, metal, crisis, philosophy

The most common of these words add up to some 500, and as international linguists assert, if these words were to be excluded from their vocabulary they would have a serious communication problem.

Specifics in numbers

Strange though it may seem, there are thousands of clearly Greek words which are used in your own language. To be more specific:

a) The number of Greek words referred to in the English dictionaries varies between 5,000 and 8,500, representing 15-21% depending on the level of the dictionary. The more advanced level of the dictionary, the greater the number of Greek words included.

b) In Merrian Webster, the most advanced American dictionary today, in a total of 166,724 entries, there are 42,914 clearly Greek words. This means that one out of every four words is Greek.

c) In medical terminology, according to the highly-esteemed Dorland dictionary, there are 24,862 entries of Greek words in a total of 46,251, representing 53.75%. If we were to add words that derive from Greek roots, the percentage rises to 68%.

d) Let us take a look at international scientific terminology, take zoology for example. According to Nomenclator Zoologicus, which contains the official international scientific names of all animals, which number 337,789 species, to be discovered by 1944, there are 195,779 Greek words, which represents 57,96%.

The Germans seem to be surprised with the Greek section which exists in their language. They also show disbelief as it is difficult for them to believe that so many words that they read, hear, even use in their daily life are actually Greek, such as : Theater, Museum, Musik, Orchester, Demokratie, Programm, Problem, System, Klima, Politik, Therapie, Technik, Klinik, Methode and many more. However, they also express great joy to discover that they can already speak Greek without being aware of it.

Today, the French language, as well as Spanish, German, and English contain words that were used by Homer, Isiodos, Hippocrates, Thucydides, Galinos. Bear in mind that the most ancient texts on history, philosophy and life sciences were written in Greek.

Besides, the Gospel (bible) was written in Greek and even today, many words that do not exist in English are in Greek, for example martyr or baptism.

A good many scientists, when referring to the Greek language, call it Mother Language. Mr Oliver Taplin, Professor of Classical Languages and Literature at the university of Oxford, points out that even the word ALPHABET is made up by the first two letters A (alpha) and B (beta) of the Greek alphabet.

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Some Greek words used in English:
Α. abyss, academy, acme=δόξα-ακμή, acrobat, acropolis, aegis, aerial, aerodrome, aeronautics, aeroplane, aesthetic, air, all, allegory, allergy, alphabet, amalgam, ambrosia, amethyst, amnesia, amphibian, amphitheatre, amphora=αμφορεύς, anachronism, anaemia, anagram, analogy, analysis, anarchism, anathema, anatomy, angel, anomalous, antagonism, anorexia, anthology, anticyclone, aorta=αορτή, apathetic, aphorism, apocalypse, apologise, apoplexy, apostasy, apostle, apostrophe, apothecary, archaeology, archbishop, archdeacon=αρχιδιάκων, archipelago, architect, arctic, aristocratic, arithmetic, aroma, arsenic, asbestos, ascetic, asphyxia, asthma, astrology, astronaut, astronomy, asylum, atheism, athlete, atmosphere, atom, atrophy, aura=αύρα-φωτοστέφανο, austere=αυστηρός, authentic, autobiography, autocrat=αυτοκράτωρ-μονάρχης, automatic, autograph, autonomous, autopsy, axiom. (80)

B. bacterium, baptism, barbarian, baritone, barometre, basic, basil, bathos, basis, Bible, bibliography, bigamy, biochemistry, biography, biology, biplane, blasphemy, botany. (18)

C. call, callus, calyx, canon, captain, card, cartography, castor, cataclysm, catacombs, catalogue, catalyst, catapult, cataract, catarrh=καταρροή, catastrophe, catehism, categoric, cathedral, cathode, catholic, caustic, cell, cemetery, cenotaph, centre, ceramic, chameleon, chaos, character, chart, chasm, chimera, chiropractor, choir=xoρός-χορωδία, chiropodist="πεντικιουρίστ", chord=χορδή, choreography, chorus, Christ, chromatic, chromosome, chronic, chronicle, chronological, chronometre, chryssalis, chryssanthemum, cinema, cirrhosis, claustrophobia, cleric, climacteric, climate, climax, clinic, code, colosal=κολοσιαίος, coma, comedy, comic, comma, cosmos, cosmetic, cosmonaut, cost, crisis, criterion, criticism, crypt, crystal, cybernetics, cycle, cyclone, cyclopaedia, cyclotron, cylinder, cymbal, cynic, cyst. (80)

D. deacon=διάκος, decade, decalogue, delta, demagogic, democracy, demography, demon, demotic, dermatology, diabetes, diabolic, diadem=διάδημα, diaeresis, diagnosis, diagonal, diagram, dialect, dialogue, diameter, diamont, diaphanous, diaphragm, diatribe, dichotomy, dictator, didactic, diet, dilemma, dinosaur, dioxide, diorama, diphtheria, diphthong, diploma, diplomat, disaster=δυσαστρία-δεν "έχω άστρο", disc, dolphin, dose, double, draconian, dragon, drama, drastic, dynamic, dynamite, dynasty, dyspepsia.(49)

E. eccentric, ecclesiastic, echo, eclectic, eclipse, ecology, economic, ecstasy, ecumenical, eczema, egoism, elastic, electric, elegiac, elephant, eliptic, emblem, embryo, emetic, emphasis, emporium, encyclopedia, endemic, energy, enigma, enthrone, enthusiasm, entomology, enzyme, ephemeral, epidemic, epigram, epilepsy, epilogue, epiphany, episode, epistle, epitaph, epithet, epitome, epoch, erotic, esophagus, esoteric, ether, ethic, ethnic, ethos, etymology, eucalyptus, Eucharist, eugenics, eulogize, eunuch, euphemism, euphony, euphoria, Eurasia, eureka=εύρηκα, evangelic, exodus, exorcize=εξορκίζω, exotic.(63)

F. fable=φαύλος-μύθος, fanatic, fantasy, father, frenetic=φρενήρης.(5)

G. galaxy, gastronomy, general, genesis, genus, geography, geocentric, geophysics, geopolitics, geology, geometry, gerontology, gigantic, glycerine, gyro, goverment, grammatical, gramophone, graphic, gymnasium, gregorian, gynecaology. (23)

H. hagiology, halcyon=αλκυονίδες ημέρες, harmony, hecatomb, hectare, hedonism, hegemony, helicopter, heliotrope, helium, helot=είλωτας, hemisphere, hemorhage=αιμοραγία, hemoroids, hepatitis, heretic, hermaphrodite, hermetic, hermit=ερημίτης, hero, heroin, hesperus, heterodox, heterogeneous, heterosexual, hexagon, hexameter, hierarchy, hieroglyph, hilarious=ιλαρός-εύθυμος, hippopotamus, hippodrome, history, holocaust, holograph, homeopathy, homogeneous, homonym, homophone, horizon, hymen, hyperbole, hypnosis, hypocrisy, hypotenuse=υποτείνουσα, hysteria, homosexual, horde=ορδή-στίφος, horizon, hormone, hour, hydrostatics, hydrophobia, hyena, hygiene, hymn, hypertrophic, hypochondria, hypodermic, hypothesis.(60)

I. iamb, icon, iconoclaust, idea, ideorgam, ideology, idiot, idiolect, idiom, idiosyncrasy, idylle, Ireland=xώρα της Ίριδος, ironic, isobar, isosceles, isotope, isthmus. (17)

K. kaleidoscope, kilo, kilocycle, kilogram, kilometre, kilolitre, kinetic, kleptomania. (8)

L. labyrinth, laconic, laic, larynx, lava, lesbian, lethargy, leukemia, lexical, lithography, logarithm, logic, logistics, lynx=λύγξ-αγριόγατα, lyre, lyric. (16)

M. macrobiotic, macrocosm, magic, magnet, mania, mathematics, mechanic, medal, megacycle, megalith, megalomania, megaphone, megaton, meiosis, melancholia, melodic, melodrama, meningitis, menopause, metabolism, metallic, metallurgy, metamorphosis, metaphor, metaphysics, meteor, meteorite, meteorology, meter, metre, metric, metronome, metropolis, miasma, microbe, microbiology, microelectronics, micrometer, micron, microorganism, microphone, microscope, mimeograph, mimetic, monarch, monastery, monogamy, monogram, monolith, monologue, monomania, monoplane, monopoly, monosyllable, monotheism, monotone, morphology, museum, music, myopia, myriad, mysterious, mystic, myth.(64)

N. narcissism, narcotic, nautical, nautilus, narcomancy, necropolis, nectar, nemesis, neolithic, neologism, neon, nerve, neoplasm, nephritis, neuralgia, neutrasthenia, new, nostalgia, nymph.(19)

O. oasis, ocean, octagon, octane, octave, octogenarian=ογδοηκοντούτης, octopous, ode=ωδή, odyssey, oecumenical, Oedipous complex, orgy, oligarchy, Olympiad, Olympic, onomatopoeia, ontology, ophthalmia, optic (optimist, option), orchestra, orchid, organ, organic, organism, organize, orgasm, orphan, orthodox, orthographic, orthopaedic, osteopath, ouzo, oxide, oxygen.(34)

P. pachyderm, pagan=παγανιστής-ειδωλολάτρης, paleolithic, paleontology, palm, panacea, panchromatic, pancreas, pandemic, pandemonium, panegeric=πανηγυρική ομιλία, panic, panoply, panorama, pantechnicon, pantheism, pantheon, panther, parabola=παραβολή, paradigm, paradox, paragon=παράγων-υπόδειγμα, paragraph, parallel, paralysis, paranoia, paraphrase, paraplegia, parasite, paratyphoid, parenthesis, pariah=παρίας, parody, paroxysm, pater, pathetic, pathology, pathos, patriach, patriot, patronymic, pedagogue, pederasty, pediatrics, pedometer=βηματομετρητής, pentagon, pentameter, Pentateuch, pentathlon, Pentecost, pepsis, perihelion=περιήλιον, perimeter, period, peripatetic, periphrasis, periphery, periscope, peristyle, peritonitis, petal=πέταλο άνθους, phalanx, phallus=φαλλός, phantasm, pharmacology, pharmacy, pharynx, phase, phenomenon, philanthropy, philately, philarmonic, philology, philosophy, philtre, phlebitis, phlegm, phobia, phoenix, phone, phonome=φώνημα, phonetic, phonograph, phonology, phosphorous, photo, photoelectric, photogenic, photograph, photolithography, photometer, phrase, phrenetic, phrenology, phthisis, physics, physiognomy, physiology, physiotherapy, planet, plasm, plasma, plastic, plectrum=πλήκτρο, pleonasm, plethora, plutocracy, plutonium, pneumatic, pneumonia, pole=πόλος, polemic, policy, police, politics, polyandry, polygamy, polyglot, polygon, polymorphus, polyphony, polypous, polysylable, polytechnic, polytheism, porn, practice, pragmatism, presbyter, prism, problem, prognosis, programme, prologue, prophecy, prophylactic, proscenium=προσκήνιο, proselyte, prosody, protagonist, protocol, proton, protoplasm, protozoa, prototype, psalm, pseudonym, psyche, psychedelic, psychic, psychoanalysis, psychology, psychopath, psychosis, psychotherapy, pterodactyl, pylon=πυλώνας, pyramid, pyre=πυρά, pyrites, pyrotechnics=πυροτέχνημα, python.(162)

R. radio

S. sandal, sarcasm, sarcophagus, sardonic, satyr, scene, sceptic, schematic, schism, schizophrenia, scholar, scholastic, school, scoria, scorpion, Scotland=χώρα του σκότους, Scylla, seismic, semantic, semaphore=σηματοφόρος, septisemia=σηψαιμία, serial, sir, solecism=σολοικισμός, sophism, spasm, sphinx, stadium, stalactite, stalagmite, star, static, statistics, stereophonic, stereoscopic, sternum, stigma, stoic, stomach, strategy, stratagem, stratosphere, strptococcus, streptomycin, strophe, sycophant, syllogism, symbol, symmetry, sympathetic, symphony, symposium, symptom, synagogue, synchronize, syncope, syndrome, synod, synonym, synopsis, syntax, synthesis, syphilis, syphon, syringe, system.(67)

T. tactic, talent, tantalize=υποβάλω κάποιον στα μαρτύρια του Ταντάλου, tartar, tautology, taxidermy, technique, technocracy, technology, telegram, telegraph, telemetry, teleology, telepathy, telephone, telephoto, telescope, thetatre, theism, theme, theocracy, theology, theorem, theoretic, theory, theosophy, therapeutic, therapy, therm, thermal, thermionic, thermometer, thermos, thesaurus, thesis, tone, topography, tragedy, tragicomedy, tremor, trigonometry, trilogy, tripod, trirem, triple, trophy, tropic, typhoon, typical, typography, tyrrany.(51)

U. unonymous

X. xenophobe, xylophone

Z. zephyr, zeugma, zodiac, zone, zoology.(5)
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After all that, are you sure that you still can not speak Greek?

 

"Pain in the @ss"..... pretty much sums up my life.....

When I reported to the NCO Advance Course at Fort Benning....all the leadership slots had been given....not wanting to insult me , I was senior to everyone in the class, the Training Company Commander created a special job.....I was to report directly to him on the quality of the instruction we received.... as some of my reports were not well received....the students began to look at me as a way to "b*tch" about the school.... one of my fellow Green Berets came to me and complained about being trained on "Tank Warfare".....As we walked down the hall I pointed out that we were being trained as ARMY NCO's not just Green Berets and that I saw no problem with learning other NCO skills.... a passing full bird colonel mumbled...."Glad we finally got something right"

I have always been a loner.....a gadfly..... and irritant.... ask Rhoody

 

Speaking of Greek, anyone ever been to Jimmy's World Famous Greek Restaurant at Carlston Melbourne Aus.? That that was a great experience.

 

Americans fantastic lifes-

Hi, after reading all this I am amazed how great and adventorus you americans are. Well the most exiting thing
I did well let me see....

Well once I built this house north of Dumaguete somewhere- and let it fall into the hands of the family mob. Hmm exiting huh? And yes, once in Norway, I did help an old lady change the flat tyre at the side of the highway.

 

The most death defying one yet:D.

Around 10 years ago, a friend and I were on the hunt for a water pump for his truck, our search took us all over Cebu. We wound up in a less than affluent area of Colon.

As we walked up to the auto parts place, out of the corner of my eye I saw a guy sitting at dirty wooden box with what I thought was a large mound of peanuts for sale. Then when I walked over to take a look I had a huge shock!

It was a pile of teeth. As I stood there in disbelief he asked if I needed any teeth pulled? No I don't think so!

Just then a guy walked up and sat down, The dental expert opened a small case, loaded up the syringe and stuck him in the mouth. Cracked a few jokes and yanked out the tooth, charged P30 and the patient walked away with a frozen smile on his face.
Ron