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I know its been quiet, but with Berlo gone my inspiration dried up.  But today, with the announcement that Sarkozy is going to run for a second term, my bile rises anew.   Of course in the foreign press all the scandal surrounding San Remo isnt mentioned. For those of you with better things to…

2012 the year of Monti and the resurgence of Italy.  Here’s the news: a stenographer in parliament earns more than the King of SPain. THe Guardia di FInanza went to Cortina – uberchic ski resort of the Italian wealthy and ruined their New YEar.   On the day of the Finanza checks bars, restaurants, and…

It was 20 degrees centigrade  here yesterday.  The law says that I must have snow chains in my car if I want to from modica to Ragusa between 15 Dec and 15 March.   If I dont, I get fined.   Draw your own conclusions.

The papers are talking about it, due to 150.000 likes on Facebook for a page which wants the Vatican to pay ICI.  Finally it seems that the Church may be constrained to act as a mere mortal with regard to taxes.  Mention it on telly and you get the biggest round of applause of the…

Remember that strange day back in  the last century when the Tories, having turned on the charismatic (and barking) Mrs T, elected the grey man Major to lead them into their decline and fall.  Watching Mr Toad slowly descend into the tenebre and the grey image of Angelino Alfano take his place brought it all…

So Mr Toad is back, inveighing against the left – ‘the communists’ – ‘the most inhuman and criminal force in all of history’.  Not the Nazis then. Its a bit rich to start with the red under the bed threat again, especially when coupled with the ‘ we’re going to have a tax police state’…

Three little stories that show the state of Italy: 1.  A nurse who in the last 9 years has worked a total of 6 days has finally been rumbled by her employers.   It amounts to working 1 second a day.  Fake difficult pregnancies, back trouble  and child benefit payments for 30K – she is…

The Mp’s are up in arms.  The press photographers have taken photos of them in the Commons doing everything but what they are paid to do.  Now a group of MPs are demanding that photos taken of them sleeping, playing with their iphones and ipads, comparing make up tips and so on should not be…

Looking at my newspaper this morning – the headlines are as follows (omitting world news which is even more depressing),: 200.000 euros in bribes from FinMeccanica and Enav destined for a political party A private hospital in Milan mired in corruption booked and paid for private jets for politicians. The head of the  Italian MI5…

The Vatican is very unhappy about the new Benetton ads and threaten legal action.  On what grounds, exactly?  Personally I would love this image to be used worldwide to get the Vatican to pay their taxes.  The new Monti govt had the wholehearted approval of the Vatican, and yesterday, despite talk of fairness, there is…