Category: History
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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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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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Its No Joke
The parties of Salvini and Meloni, and obviously that of Berlusconi, yesterday announced officially that their candidate for President of the Repubblica is Silvio Bunga Berlusconi. Under the arcane rules of voting, it is highly possible that the 84 year old ‘seriously ill’ Silvio could become the next president of Italy. The left and the…
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Bubbling Under
Here are three little takeaways to ‘celebrate’ the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. On the day itself, in the comune of Cogoleto (Genoa) 3 members of the opposition parties – one Leghista, one from Fratelli d’Italia and an independent, thought it apt to give the Roman salute – banned in Italy. Meanwhile a retiring…
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Like getting blood from a stone
The miracle of San Gennaro didnt happen yesterday. Consternation and gnashing of teeth in Naples and beyond. The December ‘miracle’ is relatively new – it was instituted after the eruption of Vesuvius in 1631 when the saint stopped the lava flow short of Naples. It’s the ‘civil’ miracle, as opposed the one on September…
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Berlusconi’s Pad
The story of Arcore It’s a story that reads like a film. As a plot of a film it would be dismissed as barely credible. A story that involves the aristocracy, politicians and a Prime Minister, as well as sex, murder and the Mafia, and yet is unknown outside Italy. Arcore is Silvio Berlusconi’s home. …
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Black and white bread
There’s a mystery in Italy to Italian bread, and Ive heard so many reasons behind it, it’s up there with Area 51 as a conspiracy. To any seasoned breadaholic from another country, trying to find a decent wholemeal loaf in Italy is like searching for the Templar treasure. Lots of bready products emblazon their labels…