Jun 7, 2021
Another quick piece of Pixel Art I made long ago.
seen from Canada
seen from United States
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seen from United States
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seen from United Kingdom
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seen from Canada
seen from Türkiye
seen from Malaysia
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seen from Türkiye
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seen from United States
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seen from Canada
seen from United States
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Another quick piece of Pixel Art I made long ago.
Un final feliz 💑
David Odgen Stiers, Cogsworth and the narrator in Beauty and the Beast, died one year ago today. RIP
David Ogden Stiers, Din Don y el narrador en la versión original de La Bella y la Bestia, falleció hace un año. RIP.
Podéis leer la entrada dedicada a él por el blog pulsando aquí.
Nuevas figuras del Clásico
Más información
La fascinante historia de los animadores de Din Don y Lumière Más información
🌹Vamos, a ver cómo sonríe/Come, come, show me the smile (1991 & 2017)🌹
In an incisive analysis, Yanis Varoufakis, Secretary of MeRA25, has dissected Greece’s 2025 budget, currently under debate in Parliament. Hi
13.12.2024
A grim forecast for Greece’s economy
Varoufakis characterises the 2025 budget as emblematic of a “living dead state,” warning of declining consumption, a bursting real estate bubble, and an unsustainable debt load. He argues that austerity measures and systemic issues in banking and debt management are driving the economy further into stagnation.
“The predatory class that governs us is thriving, while 80% of society can no longer bear the weight of this so-called resilience,” he notes, highlighting the disparity between Greece’s oligarchic elite and the broader population.
Banking and housing woes
Varoufakis sharply criticises Greece’s banking system, which he claims has become an instrument of foreign funds and local elites. He calls for an end to the “Hercules” asset protection scheme and advocates for a public-private debt management entity to address the crisis of non-performing loans that continues to drain the economy.
The housing market, another flashpoint, is described as a ticking time bomb. “The real estate bubble has already begun to burst,” Varoufakis warns, linking this to rising inequality and worsening conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Austerity and external shocks
The analysis highlights Greece’s spiralling current account deficit, which has returned to pre-2008 crisis levels, with imports far outpacing exports. Austerity remains entrenched, with the European Commission capping state spending growth at 3.7% annually for the next four years.
Varoufakis predicts that the 2025 budget is ill-prepared for external shocks, including a downturn in exports, tourism, and real estate, exacerbated by global developments. He also points to international pressures, such as increased military spending and demands for European contributions to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
A call to action
Varoufakis concludes with a stark warning: “Just as the 2008 budget collapsed under the weight of harsh reality, the 2025 budget will deepen the country’s dependency and hollow out its economy.” He calls on Greek citizens to mobilise against the budget, advocating for a new economic direction prioritising sustainability and independence from foreign interests.
MeRA25 vows to support these struggles with analysis and active participation, positioning itself as a key voice against the policies driving Greece’s economic and social decline.
The €19 billion in state guarantees under Greece’s Hercules Asset Protection Scheme (HAPS) have come under scrutiny during a high-level meet
08.2025
The €19 billion in state guarantees under Greece’s Hercules Asset Protection Scheme (HAPS) have come under scrutiny during a high-level meeting at the Bank of Greece, with top officials from the government, banks, and loan servicers in attendance.
Hercules Under Pressure
The Hercules scheme, launched in two phases (Hercules I and II), was designed to reduce Greece’s non-performing loans (NPLs) from crisis-era highs of over 45%. While NPL ratios have since fallen sharply to 8.6% by end-2023, significant challenges remain:
Properties repossessed through foreclosures are often sold at deep discounts, eroding recovery values.
Delays in restructuring and pending court rulings (e.g., the Katseli loans case) are adding uncertainty.
Mass restructurings, such as those linked to Swiss franc mortgages, could further strain the framework.
The risk: a potential shortfall in state guarantees that could translate into fiscal costs for the Greek government and undermine market confidence...