Category: Culture
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Art is in the safe of the beholder
Sgarbi has finally resigned, though it’s probable he was pushed. It’s also probably that there has been a deal done and he will rear his ugly head in time for the European elections to add another salary to his already groaning wallet. The evidence this time is a little convoluted, but well worth the hearing.…
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Ministry of Culture Wars
The repellent Daniela Santanche (minister of Tourism) has to answer to the House this week because of her diabolical business practices. It seems she been buying up and asset stripping companies, as well as not paying her staff. A damning exposé by Report has shown up her (and her various partners) practices of investments and…
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Mr GoodFaith
Ive lived in Sicily for 20 years. Perhaps I have been unconsciously affected by the Sicilian lack of faith in all state systems, so the arrest of Matteo Massimo Denaro yesterday doesnt make me feel that the state has triumphed. It’s true that Meloni has had a tough couple of weeks as despite her promises…
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Absolutely not fabulous
The repellent Daniela Santanchè, new minister of tourism under Meloni, is a political travesty. Resembling a Jennifer Saunders caricature la santanchè has of late given her opinion of Italian beaches. Here it’s important to know that she is/was a co-owner of Twiga – a ridiculously overpriced lido in Forte di Marmi- where she and her…
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Merry?
In 1943 The Decima Mas was a flotilla of the Italian Fascist navy used against the partisans. It has largely been forgotten about, until recently when one of the contestants on Celebrity Big Brother got thrown out of the house for wearing a tshirt with the logo. Of course, in 2022 this has caused not…
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What a Pillon
Simone Pillon – senator for the Lega, ex teacher at a secondary school and economist. Also ultra catholic, ultra conservative and mover behind the odious ‘Family Day’ against abortion, women rights, lgbtq, and divorce which happily received money from Russia. This week he published this tweet – ‘Happy Sunday, friends. Look at the ray…
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It’s your fault.
The Court of Appeal outdid itself yesterday. Ruling on the compensation due to the families of the victims of the 2009 Aquila earthquake, the High Court decided to reduce the payouts by 30%, because the fact that people died was their own fault. This shameful verdict is based on the fact that notwithstanding the…
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The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Padrino called a meeting yesterday. Silvio Berlusconi – 85 years old, seriously ill, in the middle of court cases, and close friend of convicted mafia men wants to be President of Italy when Mattarella chucks in the towel in the spring. Not only is it difficult to imagine that every judge in the…
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Scratch the Surface
Notwithstanding the ludicrous temperatures in my part of Sicily this week, (25 degrees at 6 am, and 50 at 2 pm), the rituals must go on. Now is the time when driving to work you encounter little old men parked appallingly on minor road and blind bends, harvesting capers at dawn, no doubt on the…
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The Dame is Game
Italian funny man Checco Zalone and Helen Mirren team up for a song to encourage people to get vaccinated. The theme is that if you get vaccinated you’ll be able to get back to going out on the pull. It’s a typical Zalone song, near the knuckle and autoironic. Here is a free translation of…