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brother
Warnings : 3
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 8920
Location: London/Cyprus
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| Birkibrisli wrote: |
| brother wrote: |
| Xenos 2Fan wrote: |
Good luck with quitting my excellent brother. This summer I won't smoke in front of you.  |
Much appreciated tatli kardesim but you are safe on that one, i think we will be smoking together.  |
You see,dear brother...It was easy to stop smoking wasn't it?
The more you do it,the easier it gets  .
I finally managed it at 49 years old.There is hope for you yet.  |
That leaves me 13 years to get it right, but i do enjoy it but i will try again to quit after the holidays i have planned for this year. |
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Birkibrisli
Deputy
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 1404
Location: Australia
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In my experience,the most effective way of stopping is to take the time out specially for that purpose.Like you plan a holiday,you should try to plan the smoking purge.I used to book myself into a health camp,and declare my intension.You get plenty of support from all those health fanatics,plus you don't want to lose face.With all the diversions there like,yoga and meditation,saunas and spas and massages etc you won't feel you are depriving yourself of anything,just the opposite.If you can last for 5 days,you have done it effectively.
What always brought me undone was feeling cocky after say 6 months,and saying "one cigarette won't hurt!".Before you know it you are back to two packs a day.
Another trick is to say "I will not smoke today,but might tomorrow..."
But you'll need to say that the next day as well ... |
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Lewis Gerolemou
Senior Villager
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 107
Location: UK
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Having a bad memory can help you give up smoking, I used to forget I needed a fag until I saw someone else with one. It really does help if you can get away from a smoking environment which is why I think these bans in public places is a good idea.
Smoking and Cyprus reminds me of a funny incident many years ago in a Cypriot cinema. Many years ago my brother an I went to the flicks , most of the audience seemed to be young National guards, we were "tourists" from the UK. A short public health film was shown about the perils of smoking, it was delivered in the way a priest would warn you about sin and the end of the world. At the end of this film a young soldier jumped up on the stage with a packet of cigarettes and shouted out in Greek "anyone want a fag" and started throwing them. The whole place erupted, everyone was offering everyone else cigarettes and started smoking - you could hardly see the screen for smoke. We had a really good laugh that day.
Ah the good old days! |
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Birkibrisli
Deputy
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 1404
Location: Australia
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| Lewis Gerolemou wrote: |
Having a bad memory can help you give up smoking, I used to forget I needed a fag until I saw someone else with one. It really does help if you can get away from a smoking environment which is why I think these bans in public places is a good idea.
Smoking and Cyprus reminds me of a funny incident many years ago in a Cypriot cinema. Many years ago my brother an I went to the flicks , most of the audience seemed to be young National guards, we were "tourists" from the UK. A short public health film was shown about the perils of smoking, it was delivered in the way a priest would warn you about sin and the end of the world. At the end of this film a young soldier jumped up on the stage with a packet of cigarettes and shouted out in Greek "anyone want a fag" and started throwing them. The whole place erupted, everyone was offering everyone else cigarettes and started smoking - you could hardly see the screen for smoke. We had a really good laugh that day.
Ah the good old days! |
That is why it is common wisdom that Cypriots are as stubborn as their donkeys,Lewis...
Tell them they can't do anything,something is not good for them,or is a sin,and that is what they will do.
Maybe the prists and imams should tell Cypriots that living together with the "other" infidels is a sin.That might solve Cyprob in no time ... |
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Alexios
Mukhtar/is
Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 976
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| Birkibrisli wrote: |
| Lewis Gerolemou wrote: |
Having a bad memory can help you give up smoking, I used to forget I needed a fag until I saw someone else with one. It really does help if you can get away from a smoking environment which is why I think these bans in public places is a good idea.
Smoking and Cyprus reminds me of a funny incident many years ago in a Cypriot cinema. Many years ago my brother an I went to the flicks , most of the audience seemed to be young National guards, we were "tourists" from the UK. A short public health film was shown about the perils of smoking, it was delivered in the way a priest would warn you about sin and the end of the world. At the end of this film a young soldier jumped up on the stage with a packet of cigarettes and shouted out in Greek "anyone want a fag" and started throwing them. The whole place erupted, everyone was offering everyone else cigarettes and started smoking - you could hardly see the screen for smoke. We had a really good laugh that day.
Ah the good old days! |
That is why it is common wisdom that Cypriots are as stubborn as their donkeys,Lewis...
Tell them they can't do anything,something is not good for them,or is a sin,and that is what they will do.
Maybe the prists and imams should tell Cypriots that living together with the "other" infidels is a sin.That might solve Cyprob in no time ... |
How about them issuing a common firman prohibiting intercommunal affairs Bir??? That should certainly help our Paphian Democracy... |
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Birkibrisli
Deputy
Joined: 29 Aug 2005
Posts: 1404
Location: Australia
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| Alexios wrote: |
| Birkibrisli wrote: |
| Lewis Gerolemou wrote: |
Having a bad memory can help you give up smoking, I used to forget I needed a fag until I saw someone else with one. It really does help if you can get away from a smoking environment which is why I think these bans in public places is a good idea.
Smoking and Cyprus reminds me of a funny incident many years ago in a Cypriot cinema. Many years ago my brother an I went to the flicks , most of the audience seemed to be young National guards, we were "tourists" from the UK. A short public health film was shown about the perils of smoking, it was delivered in the way a priest would warn you about sin and the end of the world. At the end of this film a young soldier jumped up on the stage with a packet of cigarettes and shouted out in Greek "anyone want a fag" and started throwing them. The whole place erupted, everyone was offering everyone else cigarettes and started smoking - you could hardly see the screen for smoke. We had a really good laugh that day.
Ah the good old days! |
That is why it is common wisdom that Cypriots are as stubborn as their donkeys,Lewis...
Tell them they can't do anything,something is not good for them,or is a sin,and that is what they will do.
Maybe the prists and imams should tell Cypriots that living together with the "other" infidels is a sin.That might solve Cyprob in no time ... |
How about them issuing a common firman prohibiting intercommunal affairs Bir??? That should certainly help our Paphian Democracy... |
Yep,the more fermans (Turkish spelling) they issue the more Paphian numbers will grow.We will soon become the most populous state,hold a referandum and join Norway or Sweden or Denmark or somewhere like that with plenty of tall and blond women... |
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Bullika
Warnings : 1
Ministerial
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 3025
Location: World
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| Birkibrisli wrote: |
| Alexios wrote: |
| Birkibrisli wrote: |
| Lewis Gerolemou wrote: |
Having a bad memory can help you give up smoking, I used to forget I needed a fag until I saw someone else with one. It really does help if you can get away from a smoking environment which is why I think these bans in public places is a good idea.
Smoking and Cyprus reminds me of a funny incident many years ago in a Cypriot cinema. Many years ago my brother an I went to the flicks , most of the audience seemed to be young National guards, we were "tourists" from the UK. A short public health film was shown about the perils of smoking, it was delivered in the way a priest would warn you about sin and the end of the world. At the end of this film a young soldier jumped up on the stage with a packet of cigarettes and shouted out in Greek "anyone want a fag" and started throwing them. The whole place erupted, everyone was offering everyone else cigarettes and started smoking - you could hardly see the screen for smoke. We had a really good laugh that day.
Ah the good old days! |
That is why it is common wisdom that Cypriots are as stubborn as their donkeys,Lewis...
Tell them they can't do anything,something is not good for them,or is a sin,and that is what they will do.
Maybe the prists and imams should tell Cypriots that living together with the "other" infidels is a sin.That might solve Cyprob in no time ... |
How about them issuing a common firman prohibiting intercommunal affairs Bir??? That should certainly help our Paphian Democracy... |
Yep,the more fermans (Turkish spelling) they issue the more Paphian numbers will grow.We will soon become the most populous state,hold a referandum and join Norway or Sweden or Denmark or somewhere like that with plenty of tall and blond women... |
Good choice! rich and socialist countries! |
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Dream_Merchant
Warnings : 1
Senior Villager
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 422
Location: Limassol
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First of all hello. On a little introduction about myself, I am an armenian cypriot who is currently residing in limassol.
Now, back to the discussion, which to much of my displeasure has diverted from a discussion on suggestions for possible solution of the political stalemate to a debate on historical issues, which I think have their own forum.
I think Kifeas has some good ideas here, and I am not saying this from a G/C point of view or some anti T/C point of view. I also think that if Viewpoint could calm down a bit, and Kifeas be a bit more patient with him, he would see that his fears on G/C domination of the proposed Senate are dealt with by the system suggested by Kifeas.
Dear Viewpoint, in the worst case scenario ( and this is completely imaginary here mind you ), if all of Cyprus is somehow populated exclusively by G/C and there would remain only 5 T/C in the entire island, the T/C community would still be guaranteed 5 seats in the proposed Senate with effective 'vetoing' rights at every decisive motion, no matter how trivial it might be. There can not be a 'safer' safety valve than that.
Dear Kifeas, one thing which I can not understand is the merit of the Bi-zonal federation. I understand from the de facto condition in the island a bi-zonal state would be 'implicit', but if we want to truly lay the foundations for a united island, why not simply suffice ourselves to a bi-communal republic. By this I mean the following modifications to your proposed Senate.
a 40 member Senate, with 20 members being elected by direct vote from the People of the republic and an additional 20 members, 10 from each 'ethnic' group.
Given a population of 80% G/C and 20% T/C to the total, that would , theoretically, leave a Senate with 14 T/C members and 26 G/C members, which would mean a 35% representation by T/Cs and 65% representation by G/Cs ( which is analogous to the figures you suggest ). As with your idea, the majorities you quote would be required for motions to pass.
The creation of a bi-zonal federation creates a separatist potential by itself and I personally do not see any benefits in this case. In addition, reducing the complexity of the system allows both the citizens as well as the system to function more efficiently. |
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cypezokyli
Ministerial
Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Posts: 2344
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 to the forum dream_merchant.
its not that easy to get rid of bizonality , bc first we have accepted it and second its part of the latest SC resolutions.
ofcource it can take all kinds of acceptable and unacceptable forms , but to denounce it completely it is just not possible. |
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brother
Warnings : 3
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Aug 2005
Posts: 8920
Location: London/Cyprus
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Hi Dream_Merchant and welcome to the forum
Good start and keep them coming |
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Dream_Merchant
Warnings : 1
Senior Villager
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 422
Location: Limassol
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well, alright maybe I jumped the gun here.. but I was referring more to the state representations in the Senate. Even though I find it fair, I also find it unnecessarily clunky and yet another step where bureaucracy and power games could take hold.
Perhaps we can not get rid of it entirely, and it might be useful in other facets of the comprehensive solution in a watered down version, but for this part I do not think to integrate it serves a constructive purpose.
Also even though the SC may give its directives, at the end we as Cypriots are, or at least should be, the masters of our own destinies and if we as Cypriots agree on something regarding our country who is the SC to tell us otherwise |
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Kifeas
Warnings : 6
Ministerial
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Posts: 2733
Location: Location: Pafos-Cyprus, since 1974 ethnic cleansing. Originally, Lapithos, northern occupied Cyprus.
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| Dream_Merchant wrote: |
First of all hello. On a little introduction about myself, I am an armenian cypriot who is currently residing in limassol.
Now, back to the discussion, which to much of my displeasure has diverted from a discussion on suggestions for possible solution of the political stalemate to a debate on historical issues, which I think have their own forum.
I think Kifeas has some good ideas here, and I am not saying this from a G/C point of view or some anti T/C point of view. I also think that if Viewpoint could calm down a bit, and Kifeas be a bit more patient with him, he would see that his fears on G/C domination of the proposed Senate are dealt with by the system suggested by Kifeas.
Dear Viewpoint, in the worst case scenario ( and this is completely imaginary here mind you ), if all of Cyprus is somehow populated exclusively by G/C and there would remain only 5 T/C in the entire island, the T/C community would still be guaranteed 5 seats in the proposed Senate with effective 'vetoing' rights at every decisive motion, no matter how trivial it might be. There can not be a 'safer' safety valve than that.
Dear Kifeas, one thing which I can not understand is the merit of the Bi-zonal federation. I understand from the de facto condition in the island a bi-zonal state would be 'implicit', but if we want to truly lay the foundations for a united island, why not simply suffice ourselves to a bi-communal republic. By this I mean the following modifications to your proposed Senate.
a 40 member Senate, with 20 members being elected by direct vote from the People of the republic and an additional 20 members, 10 from each 'ethnic' group.
Given a population of 80% G/C and 20% T/C to the total, that would , theoretically, leave a Senate with 14 T/C members and 26 G/C members, which would mean a 35% representation by T/Cs and 65% representation by G/Cs ( which is analogous to the figures you suggest ). As with your idea, the majorities you quote would be required for motions to pass.
The creation of a bi-zonal federation creates a separatist potential by itself and I personally do not see any benefits in this case. In addition, reducing the complexity of the system allows both the citizens as well as the system to function more efficiently. |
Thanks a lot my friend!
As for your comments in the second part of your posting, I think they were adequately addressed by Cypezokyli. Bi-zonal Federation (in addition to bi-communal) is a demand of the Turkish Cypriot community which we accepted since 1976 /77 (high level agreements.) Unless the T/C community doesn't ask to do without it, it seems we have no choice than accommodating it.
However, what we strongly disagree with bi-zonality, is the meaning and essence the T/Cs (and Turkey) are trying to give to it, i.e. two strictly ethically based state structures and zones, as if the north part of Cyprus was ever their (T/C’s) exclusive historical homeland since time and memorial -in a nationally exclusive historical ownership sense, and which state and its territory they now bring along with them and add into the equation, in order to found a disguised confederation with the other part of Cyprus (the G/C state.) Basically this was also the disguised philosophy of the Annan plan through the so-called virgin-birth approach, which the T/Cs exploited and manipulated accordingly. |
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Dream_Merchant
Warnings : 1
Senior Villager
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 422
Location: Limassol
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I still do not see any merits.
Just because we have agreed on something does not mean we can not agree on something else.
Let me put it this way, if what you say is true, and I think it is in essence, than we have not agreed on anything actually, because it is obvious what the T/C side means by bi-zonality and accepts it and that is very different than what the G/C side understands and accepts as bi-zonality. The way the T/C side understands it is completely unacceptable, to me personally as well because it defines the very separation we are trying to overcome, however I can also see why the T/C side finds the G/C proposals unacceptable as well, simply because they lack sufficient meaning.. as the proverb goes, there is no point in being allowed to go to the well if they won't let you drink the water as the T/C side is given a state, but its not really given a state.
I would like some constructive feedback on this from a T/C, to explain me what are the relative merits of bi-zonality, also particularly in the context of this thread.
To say that we have agreed is a play with words on just the letters of a word. Until we can actually agree on what we mean.. how in the world can we discuss on what we want. Maybe if we were all speaking the same language... |
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erolz
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 4195
Location: Kyrenia / Girne
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| Dream_Merchant wrote: |
| I would like some constructive feedback on this from a T/C, to explain me what are the relative merits of bi-zonality, also particularly in the context of this thread. |
I am not sure about the relative merits of bi-zonality. From a Turkish Cypriot perspective bi-zonality means security. We suffered as a community in the 60's because we we spread out and thus when conflict broke out we were scattered and vulnerable. The basic idea behind bi-zonality therefore as I see it, is to allow Turkish Cypriot to feel secure in a reunited solution. That if the worst was to happen and violence were to break out again, we would at least have a contiguous geographical area under our numerical control. To me bizonality does not mean an ethnicaly 'pure' zone but it does have to mean an ethnicaly numercialy dominant zone. It also has a degree of poltiocal security to it as well. Whilst at the federal level it is possible to provide bi-communality stictly divorced from bi-zonality, at regional, district and municipal levels there is some concern that Greek Cypriot will politicaly domainate. So bi-zonality also ensures a Turkish Cypriot nuerical dominace in some regional, district and municpal levels that may not exist at all without bizonality or exist only in very few instances.
I would also add that I agree with you that talk of bi-zonality, where it is defined as two zones but without any mechanism to ensure that one of the zones is and remains numericaly dominated by members of the Turkish Cypriot community, is actualy more 'destructive' to negotiations than just saying bi-zonality is not acceptable. Bi-zonality with nothing to ensure that both zones do not end up with a Greek Cypriot numerical majority in each, is to me not bi-zonality at all, but just 'weasle words' or 'spin'. |
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Dream_Merchant
Warnings : 1
Senior Villager
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 422
Location: Limassol
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| erolz wrote: |
| Whilst at the federal level it is possible to provide bi-communality stictly divorced from bi-zonality, at regional, district and municipal levels there is some concern that Greek Cypriot will politicaly domainate. So bi-zonality also ensures a Turkish Cypriot nuerical dominace in some regional, district and municpal levels that may not exist at all without bizonality or exist only in very few instances. |
Please clarify this with further details if possible.
I am glad we are of the same mind about the nature of the negotiations. Even though compromise lies at the heart of any negotiation, one must not resort to half-measures as a form of compromise. If I, being a villager, want to buy a sheep and I want a discount because I think the price is too high, the other villager whom I am buying from ought not offer me 10% discount by cutting off one leg. There is a minimum level of integrity that must be kept in an idea if it is to be promoted. If an agreement can not be found, than a different idea all-together must be proposed. |
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