Archive for the ‘current events’ Category
if the shoe fits…you’re not an italian policewoman
When Italy’s Interior Ministry decided it was time to spruce up the uniform of the 14,750 women police officers (for more on the numerous branches of Italian police, head over to Mental Mosaic), they did what many of us do in a fashion crisis.
They bought new shoes–with higher heels for a “younger and sexier look” according to La Stampa.
Trying to save money, though, the government bypassed all the world-renowned (but expensive) Italian shoemakers and went with a company from Romania.
Unfortunately, when the shoes arrived, they weren’t in standard European sizes, so the shoes didn’t fit.
Which means a lot of useless shoes.
Oops.
You think they’ll give the Italian government its money back?
Floor’s open to your comments on whatever leaps out at you. Stomp away.
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[tags]italian policewomen, shoes, bureaucratic blunders, italy[/tags]
What’s Happening in Italy?
Oh a lot, amici miei.
Let’s start from the most serious and head down to the downright silly:
(1) Italian Premier Romano Prodi has called for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty in front of the United Nations General Assembly. Without getting into a huge political debate (although you’re welcome to do so in the comments!), I’m firmly against the death penalty, and I’m molto fiera that Italy has stood up against it in the UN.
Of course the United States will be one of the key opponents of the moratorium, but Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema thinks it has a good shot at passing since public opinion has shifted over the years in favor of outlawing the death penalty. Time will tell, but I’m just happy that the discussion is on the floor and that Italy is in the forefront.
(2) This isn’t technically in Italy, but we’ll get there in a second. The Vatican City State has a new stamp–and not just any new stamp. This time the saint is from Calabria! Yeah! Go San Francesco di Paola!
For those who aren’t up on Roman Catholic saints, Calabria’s own Saint Francis is often overshadowed by Saint Francis of Assisi, the co-Patron Saint of Italy with Saint Catherine of Siena (although there is some debate on that, with Saint Joseph (father of Jesus) as the other contender). Anyway, it’s nice to see *our* Saint Francis, the Patron Saint of Calabria, being recognized.
Here’s a preview:
(3) And finally, guess who’s invading the Bel Paese? You’ll never guess. Or maybe you will. Give up?
This ABC article is actually from April 30 of this year. Scary thing is that the article talks about the time frame of 24-36 months during which Starbucks plans to open branches in France, Germany, Spain, and (gulp) Italy.
Which means we’re *that* much closer to no more of this in the morning:
Yeah right.
So now that I’ve touched on politics, religion, and coffee–three subjects guaranteed to get any Italian fired up (only calcio is missing!)–I’ll leave you to your Saturday.
Hope it’s as gorgeous as ours is here!
legislating the seven-year itch
As I’m buried under work, I wasn’t going to post anything today, but I just saw this headline on Yahoo and thought it might make for an interesting weekend discussion:
Glamorous politician wants law to allow 7-year itch
For those who aren’t familiar with the term (or the classic film–you know, the one in which Marilyn Monroe stands over the subway grate and gets her white halter dress blown back up at her?), this refers to the belief that the inclination to be unfaithful increases after seven years of marriage.
Generally it’s come to mean that a lot of couples come to a crossroads at that seven year mark, and indeed, this follows through even when one considers other life changes, such as moving to a new country. I’ve read that it takes an expat about seven years to really feel at home in a new country–or decide to leave forever–so there seems to be something to that particular number of years.
Anyway, Gabriele Pauli, Bavaria’s most glamorous politician according to the article above, wants to make marriage a true social contract in Germany–one with a seven year expiration. At that point, she proposes, couples would have the option to extend the marriage or otherwise it would dissolve automatically under the law.
(Too bad there still wouldn’t be any money-back guarantees! Hah!)
Obviously such a proposal wouldn’t change religious rites regarding marriage so couples would continue to be married in that respect after the seven years passed; such a law would only affect a couple’s civil status.
There would surely have to be more details ironed out, such as how would it work if one party wants to renew and the other doesn’t? Would prenuptial agreements then become required/heavily encouraged–if there will be a split after seven years, surely there should be some sort of provisions for assets and most importantly, future/current children?
What other factors would need to be considered?
Do you think this would make leaving a marriage easier if one could just hold out those seven years? Or wouldn’t it make any difference in the “divorce” rate at all?
Would you be in favor of such a proposal?
Make some arguments you believe in or just play Devil’s Advocate–I only ask that you keep it all respectful.
Come on! I’ll be reading.
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[tags]seven year itch, legislation, marriage, divorce[/tags]
britney spears & shameless self-promotion
For some Friday fun, click here to read
5 Lessons Britney Spears Could Learn From a Tomato
as composed by none other than . . . me
(there’s the shameless self promotion part).
Come on. You know you’re dying to know what *that’s* all about.
And here’s another photo of my village from the archives.
Buon weekend y’all!
(That was for Brit.)
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[tags]britney spears, tomatoes, medieval villages, southern italy, calabria, badolato[/tags]
STRIKE! drop the tagliatelle & no one will get hurt
I’ve been away from here for a while, so you may be wondering what’s going on in Italy.
Well right here in the Bel Paese where a third of citizens say they prefer a plate of spaghetti over sex, Italy’s going on a pasta strike on September 13.
Seems impossible, insane even, but Italy’s four largest consumer groups are stufi with the planned price hikes of electricity, gas, train service, bread, milk, school books, and, of course, pasta, and they feel that a strike on pastasciutta would be a symbolic demonstration of citizens’ feelings on the matter.
Some say that these planned increases would cause Italian families to shell out another 1000 euros per year on such items, spending up to 25-30% more–a huge increase especially if you consider that the average monthly salary in Italy hovers around that magic 1000 euros mark.
Go ahead. Gasp.
We all know that Italians are famous for their strikes (I’m guessing more than a few of you reading this have been affected by one or another), but a “sciopero della pasta?”
Unheard of, so you know this is serious.
Most Italians eat pasta every day, and some estimates say that an average Italian eats 54 kilos (119 pounds) of pasta per year–for some, as you can imagine, that’s their own body weight or more.
The increasing price of wheat is really behind this, and it brings to mind Mexico’s recent problems with the rising cost of corn to make its famous tortillas. What else is a nation to do when their food staple is threatened?
I have to say I think the Italians have a point here.
Now you may be worried about those Italians who might suffer the side effects of no pasta for a day, but don’t worry–volunteers from the consumer groups will be handing out bread and milk throughout the country to assuage any pangs.
So if you’d like to support your Italian friends, just say no to buying or eating pasta on Thursday, September 13.
And an inside tip?
Start savoring that espresso, as it too has been the victim of a recent price increase.
And if you think Italians are protective over their pasta . . . .
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[tags]sciopero della pasta, sciopero, strike, pasta strike, italy[/tags]
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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