Also of note: Both FT Deutschland and Bild have written open letters to Greeks (in Greek!) urging them to vote for ND. The two open letters were paternalistic and insulting (especially the Bild article) and have created a furor here. This has obviously the reverse effect (outrage) and might even prove decisive if the vote is close, leading to the obvious question: what are they thinking? So yesterday's win against Russia that in all likelyhood has set up A Greece-Germany Quarter final, was greeted in Greek social media with the note: "tomorrow Germany", and the possibility of a Tsipras-Merkel first meeting on the 22d in the VIP stands of the game.

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

While legitimate questions can be asked as to which of the two programs of staying in the Eurozone is more apposite, this is not the way that the BBC and the rest are reporting them. Violating every journalistic standard and principle known to man or woman, they are insisting on a portrayal of an electoral tussle between pro-Euro and anti-Euro parties.

Moreover, a mindboggling inconsistency is running through their narrative. On the one hand, it is abundantly clear to them (and they actually let it be known that it is their view too) that the current EU policies of bailouts-plus-austerity are killing the Eurozone. Witness the brilliant cover in last week's Economist (featuring a sinking tanker with a bubble asking: "Can we switch on the engines now Mrs Merkel?"). On the other hand, however, in the same breath, they argue that failure by Greek voters to support this ruinous path may lead to the collapse of the... Eurozone. So, my message to BBC journalists and other reporters is simple. Decide folks: Either the present course is ruinous and Europe's peoples (including the Greeks) must abandon it. Or it is a decent policy mix which we ought to consent to. You cannot have it both ways, unless of course your only concern is how to alarm your audience via intentional disinformation while treating the Greek people like swine that need to be beaten into submission.

But again this is around 1-3 pm. This is not a final estimate

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

Skai TV gives first seat projections from their exit polls: Syriza 28% 124 seats, ND, 27.5% 73 seats, Pasok 13% 33 seats. I

Telling exit poll stat: Syriza leads among 18-34s AND 35-54s. If center-right wins, will be entirely due to seniors: http://bit.ly/IxZZbb

At SYRIZA headquarters people are dissapointed but not depressed. It seems that the campaign of fear was effective especially among the older and the not despairing. PASOK is holding at -1%. The nazis are at the same levels...

I expect that this gvt will fall within months. But what they will leave behind I'm afraid is a total social and economic disaster

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake

#greece2012‬ Pasok sources saying Hollande phoned Venizelos to "congratulate him on managing to keep socialists percent from falling further"

http://www.theworld.org/2011/10/village-greek-success-story/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yraCtUo9N6E

Although a mountain village surely isn't Athens, I think his method of problem-solving can play rather well on a national stage. Just stick to the basics: "I'm not shady," and don't always ask, "What's in it for me?"

VOLOS: Last month, Eleni, a struggling cafe owner from Rafina, a port town about 40 minutes outside Athens, underwent lifesaving surgery for an ovarian tumour.

Unable to pay for the operation, the 51-year-old mother of two proposed to settle the bill with 17 rabbits.

...While the country's future in the eurozone is more uncertain than ever, Volos, at the foot of Mt Pelion, is already turning away from the euro. This seaside community is side-stepping the crisis with its own alternative local currency - TEM (topiki enallaktiki monada). It is a rapidly-swelling social network that is breathing hope and dignity back into many embattled families.

It is, in effect, a highly-organised barter economy, where members sign up online to access a database and to activate their own TEM account, which starts at zero. They then take payment for their goods and services in TEMs and use the units accrued to buy goods and services from other members. The currency, which began actively functioning in mid-2010, is also backed by a voucher system resembling a chequebook.