fmaggi's blog http://www.blogher.com/blog/15696/atom/feed 2008-10-11T06:42:52-05:00 Lots o' Luck! http://www.blogher.com/lots-o-luck 2009-05-22T06:13:21-05:00 2009-05-22T06:13:21-05:00 fmaggi As I’ve stated many times before (and like many before me), Italy is nothing if not a land of contradictions. But, when it comes to looking at life’s petty inconveniences, if not truly huge disasters, the Italians always turn to the exact opposite of what one would expect.

]]> As I’ve stated many times before (and like many before me), Italy is nothing if not a land of contradictions. But, when it comes to looking at life’s petty inconveniences, if not truly huge disasters, the Italians always turn to the exact opposite of what one would expect.

For example, if you get shat on by a pigeon (a fairly common occurrence & the inspiration for this blog entry), while you’re pretty much standing there, immobile and absolutely grossed out, an Italian will quickly quip, “Porta Fortuna!” (it brings good luck). While you ponder the goock in your hair, and your upcoming dry cleaning bill, you wonder what kind of luck is in store for you…

Ditto for stepping in dog doo. Now, if this were truly the case, the Italians would be the luckiest populace on the planet, with a close runner up by the French. And the Singaporeans, who seem like a fairly happy lot, would have the highest suicide rates on earth.

Brides are told that rain on their wedding day also Porta Bene! Try telling that to Bridezilla.

But, my very favorite expression of all, is of course, “In Bocca al Lupo!” (in the mouth of the wolf) for anyone who has to pass a test, or to whom you simply want to wish good luck. It’s the Italian equivalent of Break a Leg! But still, as someone who grew up on Little Red Riding Hood, I can’t help but think there’s a bad omen in there somewhere.

Nonetheless, whomever said that Italians weren’t optimistic?

]]> What's Love Got To Do With It? http://www.blogher.com/whats-love-got-do-it 2009-05-06T07:02:01-05:00 2009-05-06T07:02:01-05:00 fmaggi When you first break with tradition, it often comes accompanied by a soundtrack similar to a herd of elephants in a china store. I’m thinking of things like, oh, little black girls attending a white school in America’s south, the investiture of a gay Bishop, the end of Apartheid, or even the first sounds of Elvis’ form of Rock n’ Roll.

]]> When you first break with tradition, it often comes accompanied by a soundtrack similar to a herd of elephants in a china store. I’m thinking of things like, oh, little black girls attending a white school in America’s south, the investiture of a gay Bishop, the end of Apartheid, or even the first sounds of Elvis’ form of Rock n’ Roll.

And so it is, in a country heaped in tradition when it comes to making and breaking marriage vows (both done with impunity), that the very public divorce proceedings of Silvio & Veronica will be providing bloggers, columnists and politicos with tittle tattle for years to come. Such an audacious break with tradition has not been seen since the very married Julius Caesar brought Cleopatra over for a shopping spree in downtown Rome (and look where that got him).

This is not France – a country where the mistress and the matron can share a funeral procession; or when one presides over the wedding of someone they will soon bed – publicly [although one has to hand it to Sarkozy, like Elizabeth Taylor, he prefers to marry his lovers].

In Italy, there are a few rules regarding the holy bond of matrimony:

1. Never air your dirty laundry in public. Never. Not even to your best friend. Found your husband in bed with another man? Just respond “Tutto bene, grazie.”

2. Make vows, getting married ‘under the eyes of God’, after all, no one else is looking when you flaunt those same vows with your endless affairs.

3. Everyone knows you’ll be having affairs, and people talk candidly about them, even showing up for public functions, amante in tow. Mussolini, Agnelli, Mastroianni…right down to your local bank clerk.

4. (Try) and stay married, despite these indiscretions, for the good of ‘La Famiglia’. ‘Don’t ask, Don’t tell’ is the order of the day.

So, what gives?
It’s not that the megalomaniac showman couldn’t keep it in his pants – after all, no one expected him to. It’s that he so audaciously chose to flaunt his affairs, his courtesans, his political promotion of hotties, his supposed virility so publicly.

But the Head of State being sued for divorce is simply unheard of. If anything, it’s the man who runs off during the throws of a serious midlife crisis (reference Pavarotti), leaving la mamma to tend to the nest. Obviously, living in a gilded cage now that the kids have moved is more stressful than we think.

But, one thing I know for sure: Thomas Friedman (NYTimes) often asserts that the greatest energy force in the whole wide world, stronger even than bonds of undying love, is a lack of dignity. Take away that, you unleash a hailstorm of fury – if you lose your dignity, you have nothing to lose.

And in this, with Silvio strutting his stuff, while popping Viagra 24/7, he has insulted the very dignity of the sales clerk-turned-Prime Minister’s Signora (for whom he divorced his first wife).

Obviously, Mr. Berlusconi does not know the old adage,

“Hell has no wrath as a woman scorned.”

]]> In awe of the Spaghetti Western http://www.blogher.com/awe-spaghetti-western 2009-05-04T09:19:08-05:00 2009-05-04T09:19:08-05:00 fmaggi Along with much of Italy, I've been
personally celebrating the filmmaker - visionary - & unbelievably
talented Sergio Leone. It's the 30th anniversary of his death. Don't
know quite why I never got into these 'Spaghetti Westerns' before, but
boy, the visual impact & awesome scores by Ennio Morricone will
drain you of such emotion, it'll leave you as dry as the sun-baked
Arizona desert -- and definitely thirsting for more.

]]> Along with much of Italy, I've been
personally celebrating the filmmaker - visionary - & unbelievably
talented Sergio Leone. It's the 30th anniversary of his death. Don't
know quite why I never got into these 'Spaghetti Westerns' before, but
boy, the visual impact & awesome scores by Ennio Morricone will
drain you of such emotion, it'll leave you as dry as the sun-baked
Arizona desert -- and definitely thirsting for more.

His films are studied by students and cinematographers the world over.  Not only did he put Clint Eastwood on the map, many are considered milestones.  (Once upon a time in America, Once upon a time in the Far West - starring Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and a host of the who's who of the 1960s and 70s). Like Wikepedia asserts:

"Many critics have called it ironic that an Italian director who could not speak English, and had never even seen the American Old West, almost single-handedly redefined the typical vision of the American cowboy."

How sad to discover he only made 8 films before his death at 60.

]]> Long Lasting Looks http://www.blogher.com/long-lasting-looks 2009-04-20T14:07:53-05:00 2009-04-20T14:07:53-05:00 fmaggi This week we honor the 100th birthday of pretty much the only woman in Italy who is truly respected for her mind, Rita Levi Montalcino, Nobel prize winning scientist and senator for life. And to think that she did it in an epoch in which women could barely make it to the upper echelons of anything but the top shelf at the Esselunga Supermarket. And while she is a source of pride for all of Italy, she’s still, unfortunately the exception that proves the rule.

]]> This week we honor the 100th birthday of pretty much the only woman in Italy who is truly respected for her mind, Rita Levi Montalcino, Nobel prize winning scientist and senator for life. And to think that she did it in an epoch in which women could barely make it to the upper echelons of anything but the top shelf at the Esselunga Supermarket. And while she is a source of pride for all of Italy, she’s still, unfortunately the exception that proves the rule.

Our new token, the ‘woman of steel’ at Italy’s ConfIndustria must have graphic artists from Trieste to Trapani all atwitter – they finally get to type the letters, r – a after the Sig. on invitations. But that’s not even entirely true, as, the men are called reverently, Dott. (Dottore), while the women still get to be called Mrs. And even in this they got it all wrong; women keep their last names, so, even the Mrs. is a misnomer.

The European Parliament decided to take action, recently decreeing that those endearing suffixes, like Dott.ssa, Avvocatessa, etc. be removed from titles in an effort to finally achieve parity. I recall when a friend from an elite American media outlet was to sponsor a business conference in Milan. When he asked, ‘Why are there no women on the panel?’ He was laughed out of the room. ‘Parish the thought’, ‘Not Serious’, ‘This isn’t America.”  Well, he briskly got up and left, taking his toys with him. He would have gotten in the last laugh if he wasn’t so darn mad about the whole affair.

Now that we have women Ministers and Cabinet members, this situation could have changed, except that Berlusconi’s first requirement -- that they be good looking to serve -- doesn’t help all that much. In Berlusconi’s world, Cabinet posts are car tops at automotive shows. But, we do have one thing to look forward to:

In Italy, women live so much longer than men, that eventually, we’ll get to hold the highest honors in the land and be esteemed from the top of the boot to the tip of the toe, just because we outlived the ones who couldn’t see our brains for our bosoms.

]]> Making Oranges out of Orangeaid http://www.blogher.com/making-oranges-out-orangeaid 2009-04-13T04:54:55-05:00 2009-04-13T04:54:55-05:00 fmaggi I remember back in the day when I taught nursery school, and each year, we’d ask the kids, ‘Where does orange juice come from?’ And we were invariably met with, ‘A Can. The Freezer,’ or some other variant [ask ‘em where money comes from…and you’ll always get, ‘A Machine.’].
We’d then proceed to make fresh squeezed o.j. with them. In Italy,
where bottled fruit juices are the next best thing to drinking the

]]> I remember back in the day when I taught nursery school, and each year, we’d ask the kids, ‘Where does orange juice come from?’ And we were invariably met with, ‘A Can. The Freezer,’ or some other variant [ask ‘em where money comes from…and you’ll always get, ‘A Machine.’].
We’d then proceed to make fresh squeezed o.j. with them. In Italy,
where bottled fruit juices are the next best thing to drinking the
actual fruit with a pour spout inserted, you know exactly where your
juice comes from. Nothing comes closer to ambrosia than this.

So, it is not without some controversy that Italy’s government decided that orange or lemon drinks (aranciata)
no longer has to include the actual fruit juice. As a staunch
capitalist, I think this is wise. But, as someone who loves the pure
juices without having them tainted with sugar, corn syrup and all of
the other insidious ingredients which creep into American beverages,
well, it’s a travesty. And the outcry has been huge.

One of my favorite columns, Lapis in fibula, from Epolis, penned by a satirist who calls himself Chicco Gallus weighed in on the subject. Here’s his take:

It’s just like an Aranciata – with Oranges

It
is about to be permitted to sell orange flavored beverages without
oranges, or rosé wines by simply mixing red and white wines together.
It’s one of those curious laws that reenter into laws that everyone was
happily living without.
I’ve never come across someone who was left
horrified after having drunk an aranciata, only to be overcome with the
horrible suspicion that inside, there might have been a trace of fresh
squeezed something or other.
Foods proudly produced in order to avoid affecting those suffering from food allergies usually write, in bold letters, NO SALT!, Contains no glutens!, or Without fill in the blank. And obviously, they make you pay more for them.
Here we have instead the exact opposite taking affect:
It's
up to the consumer to discover whether or not that which they just
gulped is in some way related to what they perhaps originally wanted in
the first place.
With the wine debacle, the issue is even more
subversive; because, to make a rosé wine, you need an elaborate and
costly system; cultivating the red grapes in a particular way. Mixing
red and white wines together simply takes a split second.
In
reality, however, this new way of making rosé even works in our favor:
After all, up 'til now, to make a nice rosy wine out of your reds, all
we needed to do was add a little tap water.
So now, we have to look forward to new permits of creative manufacturing, like, orange wine with no oranges, or fake aranciata rosé wine (all it takes is removing the fake yellow out of the fake arancione).
Heck – it could even turn into a new profession: not producing inventive beverages but, getting someone to drink them.

]]> Feelin' the Earth Move Under My Feet http://www.blogher.com/feelin-earth-move-under-my-feet 2009-04-09T15:39:28-05:00 2009-04-09T15:39:28-05:00 fmaggi All of us are still reeling from the quakes felt all the way to Rome
and from the horrific images of the damage done to one of the most
pristine and picturesque places in Italy. The rescue and mobilization
of volunteers and squads from nearly all of Italy was exceptional – the
response was immediate, well-organized, and all those affected who
could, pitched in to pull people from the rubble. I even saw pictures
of Spanish rescuers with dogs searching for survivors. Teams of

]]> All of us are still reeling from the quakes felt all the way to Rome
and from the horrific images of the damage done to one of the most
pristine and picturesque places in Italy. The rescue and mobilization
of volunteers and squads from nearly all of Italy was exceptional – the
response was immediate, well-organized, and all those affected who
could, pitched in to pull people from the rubble. I even saw pictures
of Spanish rescuers with dogs searching for survivors. Teams of
national guards are busy assuring that looting was at a minimum (besides, there was little left to loot)
and the idiots who sent out an sms warning of future quakes to lure
people from their homes will be met with more severe sentences than
ever. In short, the coordination of departments, the exodus into nearby
hotels, and the treatment of patients in field tents all went like
clockwork.

But, no sooner have the aftershocks stopped than investigations have been called. The biggest question remains -- Why did the more recent constructions collapse like a house of cards?
The answer usually lays with corrupt builders and city officials with
greased palms and blind eyes. But, it could simply be that the force of
the quake was simply too great for any building to hold up under.

The
second story to make the rounds is of the supposed seismologist who
predicted an imminent earthquake, until being trounced by pretty much
every other scientist, technician, engineer and media advisor on the
airwaves. This guy, it turns out, is the Italian cousin of Joe the
Plumber - not truly a seismologist, he sounded the alert weeks ago,
based on radon gases he was finding. He was unceremoniously jailed for
his efforts.
A reality check: If we could predict earthquakes, everyone from Tokyo to Tahoe would sleep easily at night (well, they do anyway, but that’s besides the point). The best scientists in Japan and the USA can’t call ‘em, and neither can a hobbyist from the Abruzzo mountains.

But – and you’ve read it here first (and at the risk of being jailed for sounding a false alarm)
-- the biggest – and heretofore – still unmentioned repercussion of
this quake is the arrival of every sort of malady stemming from Asbestos. Every building in Abruzzo (and much of Italy for that matter),
from schools to hospitals to households is made with asbestos in the
roofs. Those apocalyptic scenes of entire blocks reduced to rubble are
all the more scary because the entire area has been blanketed in the
stuff. After the earthquake demolished my family’s Abruzzo town in
1985, I was told NOT to replace the roof, but to seal it so the
asbestos could never get out. Lifting the roof off would have released
a Pandora’s box. Just like the Twin Towers workers, we’ll be hearing
about the effects in a few years’ time.

In the meantime, we
get to look forward to an inordinate amount of corruption in contract
procurement and the relative urban sprawl while the region rebuilds --
already Berlusconi has tipped his cards, on his idea to build 'new
towns' thereby destroying the charm and countryside of what is left of
the Aquila countryside. To get a picture of the future, just take one
look at Perugia in the years since the Assisi earthquake.

You can send donations through the Italian Red Cross. Probably a fairly safe bet to make sure your funds are put to good use.

]]> Expat Shopping Spree - or, things we love about America http://www.blogher.com/expat-shopping-spree-or-things-we-love-about-america 2009-03-07T05:41:10-06:00 2009-03-10T14:03:49-05:00 fmaggi

]]>


My
friend Annabel, accomplished chef, food writer & marketing maven is
coming to Rome. She'll be blogging about her experience [Her past blogs include India: Who's Sari Now? and Tokyo: Vending for your life
- where she left with no suitcase & decided to purchase all of her
necessities from the ubiquitous vending machines which purportedly sell
everything from underwear to electronics and more..]. Needless to say,
the last time she came over, she ended up developing Tex Mex menus for
Dixieland restaurants in Milan, training the kitchen staff to make
Uevos Rancheros and Silver Dollar Pancakes (still on offer, I might add
-- although they probably cost a silver dollar to eat them).

Her arrival sparked in me, however, a little Expat Shopping Spree.
Having not been back to the USA for well over a year, I was in definite
need of things. And, I'm very brand loyal. So, I thought I'd bring you
one of my periodic Public Service Announcements,
for any of you 'across the pond' who come visit us over here. My
brother for one stocks up on yummy granola, kids' toothpaste and
vitamins. This is not to say you can't find the items here (and
Carrefour gets our vote), but, at nearly $12 for a little bottle of
maple syrup, well, it's a lot less trouble to go to www.drugstore.com and let your fingers do the walking (and your friends do the carrying).

So,
here's my short list of things I absolutely, positively, cannot live
without (it goes without saying that we're talking family-sized
containers, a concept that has not quite reached the continent):

Maple syrup -- because here it costs more than truffles
Imitation vanilla -- bottles here are sold for a family of lilliputians
Arrid Extra Dry
-- incredibly, boiling hot Europe offers either anti-perspirant or
deodorant, and never the twain shall meet. I won't go into the net
effect of this most outrageous practice.
Brown sugar -- not cane, but soft, packed, thrice-refined, imperative for cookies, brown
Ghirardelli Brownie Mix -- I know a caterer in London who brings it in by the case full -- there is no greater product on earth.
Bisquick
-- for those Sunday a.m. pancakes - and don't let them fool you,
Europeans love American breakfasts if it's put in front of them.
Aveeno lotion -- this is sold here, and prices on toiletries are nearly the same these days, but I still hold out for the family-size
Ditto for Johnson's Baby Oil, Nivea & other sundry items including Aquafresh (which, anyone coming to Europe will find the 'minty' taste has been altered -- turns out, they hate our mint, we theirs).
Starbucks chai tea packs
- they don't sell the loose stuff over here (and thankfully, there are
no Starbucks in Italy -- I think even the Italians will balk at a 4
euro latte)
Brita water filters -- can't find them at those prices over here!
Marshmallows -- just because
Hand-held dish scrubber sponges -- make great gifts too!
Altoids -- they say they come from England, but you won't find them over there (believe me, I've tried!)
Coffeemate & Folgers Instant -- when you want a cup o'Joe that's "good to the last drop" and decidedly not an espresso with lots of water added!

And, for those of you leaving Italy, always pack a huge family-sized Nutella jar, you won't find 'em even that large at CostCo.

]]> Good News for Travelers to Italy http://www.blogher.com/good-news-travelers-italy 2009-03-05T08:19:56-06:00 2009-03-05T08:19:56-06:00 fmaggi You may have noticed I’ve been playing hooky for awhile, but, hopefully
all will be forgiven as I have been picking up great experiences for the blog…But first, the good news (which does not include finding snackpack-sized Oreos
in every airport and bar these days. Although it was seriously about
time. I think Marco Polo even with his 20 year stint in China brought
noodles here sooner).

]]> You may have noticed I’ve been playing hooky for awhile, but, hopefully
all will be forgiven as I have been picking up great experiences for the blog…But first, the good news (which does not include finding snackpack-sized Oreos
in every airport and bar these days. Although it was seriously about
time. I think Marco Polo even with his 20 year stint in China brought
noodles here sooner).

While driving to and fro, the big electronic sign boards on Italy's highways have posted a new message (Heaven forbid they actually tell us about tie-ups):
Make sure you fasten your child in a child seat with seatbelt.

We
don’t know what drove the authorities to come to their senses (pun not
intended), much less if it will have any effect, but we still remain
pleased. If it can just get one mother to reconsider holding la bambina in her arms, well, it will not be all for naught.

Of course, there will always be exceptions:
A
woman in America was arrested recently for holding her baby in her arms
– WHILE DRIVING. AND BREAST-FEEDING. AND SCRIPTING A TEXT MESSAGE. Talk about multi-tasking…

Also while making the rounds, I discovered Bagels being touted at the Autogrill!!! (pun intended). Personally,
I don’t like the idea of all these American treats on every
thoroughfare, but I secretly rejoiced while downing one of their
fabulous blueberry muffins…

While in Rome, those monster buses have been rerouted out of the center.
This is just one element of Mayor Alemanno’s drive to make the city
center a better place and his work does not go unnoticed.
Although I found on those same buses a huge ad campaign explaining the new (increased) parking rates for those driving around…
Considering
that the majority of bus passengers are immigrants, school kids and the
elderly, I thought the message was a bit misplaced. Might have made
more sense just to post the rates around the parking areas…

While traipsing through Fiumicino Airport (aka Leonardo Da Vinci) on a Sunday night, we were surprised to find the shops open
(even if the exit doors were not). We don’t know if this is due to the
recession, but, it was nice to see things lit up – even on Sundays –
and in Arrivals. I also noticed that the airport departures lounges
have gone silent (for the most part).
Great
news for all of us iPod people…now we’ll really be in peace, but you
really gotta keep your eye out for last-minute gate changes. I’ve
nearly missed flights coming and going as a result.

And, good news for the train traveler, one of whom I used to be…but why bother when you can fly to London for less?? They now (actually for some time now) have a superfast train Rome-Milano.
But
lest you get visions of bullet trains dancing in your head…Italy boasts
the only superfast trains that go slow. But, they cut out the middlemen
(Florence – Bologna) and now you’re on your way. Now, if they can only
apply the concept to business…

Tune in this week for the Bad News for travelers.

]]> Italy's Update of the Movie Coma? http://www.blogher.com/italys-update-movie-coma 2009-02-10T14:12:14-06:00 2009-02-10T14:14:58-06:00 fmaggi Eluana, Italy's Terry Schiavo, after 17 years living in a total
vegetative state finally breathed her last breath. May she and Terry
both rest in peace. I won't go on about the amount of political
maneuverings, legal loopholes and misconceptions that accompanied her
passing (Berlusconi's incredible statement 'well, she can still
reproduce') was just one of the many even more sickening opinions on
this very private matter which went expressed.

]]> Eluana, Italy's Terry Schiavo, after 17 years living in a total
vegetative state finally breathed her last breath. May she and Terry
both rest in peace. I won't go on about the amount of political
maneuverings, legal loopholes and misconceptions that accompanied her
passing (Berlusconi's incredible statement 'well, she can still
reproduce') was just one of the many even more sickening opinions on
this very private matter which went expressed.

And while I won't
go into the implications of this decision to discontinue her feeding
tube (which include political, human rights, constitutional, religious
posturing and street protests; not to mention the family's very own
right to privacy), I'd just like to say that perhaps Berlusconi, in his
eternal quest for the fountain of youth, was actually serious.
After
all, what with his hair plugs, facelifts, and barrage of sexual potency
insinuations (he must have his very own Viagra production house), I'm
sure he would like to live on forever; even if that means being kept
indefinitely on a feeding tube.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's taken all his money and arranged to have himself frozen in a cryonic suspension case,
so he can come back later and appear on talk shows in the Year 2310
next to 20-somethings in bikinis. Who knows? He may still have his
singing voice.

But, this idea of keeping people alive just because we can strikes me as something out of the 1978 Michael Crichton flick, Coma.
Just think: there are not enough beds in Italy to house the temporarily
infirm, where will we put the bodies? Maybe this is Berlusconi's true
solution for Malpensa Airport. Use the hangars for hangers. That might
explain the secretive meetings with officials in Milan.

Whether or not you agree, it certainly beats the Soylent Green solution.

]]> Playmobil, Pinocchio, & other Play things http://www.blogher.com/playmobil-pinocchio-other-play-things 2009-02-03T15:43:40-06:00 2009-02-03T15:43:40-06:00 fmaggi Well, today I discovered that Hans Beck, the German creator of those little Playmobil
figures died. It’s almost like hearing that Charles Schulz finally
passed away, the creator of Snoopy. You'd think they could just keep on
creating forever (and, in the case of Playmobil, I imagine they will).
And, it started me thinking of how many things we grew up with, which,
in America, everyone simply believes is American. Like Prince

]]> Well, today I discovered that Hans Beck, the German creator of those little Playmobil
figures died. It’s almost like hearing that Charles Schulz finally
passed away, the creator of Snoopy. You'd think they could just keep on
creating forever (and, in the case of Playmobil, I imagine they will).
And, it started me thinking of how many things we grew up with, which,
in America, everyone simply believes is American. Like Prince
spaghetti, Pinocchio (although Gepetto kind of gives him away) or even
Speed Racer. In our limited world view, there are many people out there
who probably don’t realize a lot of the things that have achieved
nearly cult status are, in fact, imports [although today one could
argue that it's all coming from China anyway].

And so it is as well with the Legos.
Who knew they came from Denmark (well, except all you out there who’ve
been to Legoland). Awesome. Pretty soon we’ll learn that Barbie
actually came from Bali or Bermuda or even Sweden.

There’s actually a fabulous book on Amazon
for kids, Look What Came from Italy, which shows all the things we have in America that came from
Italy, including the pretzel [I actually know this story which is on my
Audio Tour of the Vatican Museums…a
baker made them in honor of the Polish General who fought off the
Muslims at Rome’s Ponte Milvio…they were called after his stirrups or
something like that…]

But, there’s a Dutch import I truly wish had never left its borders: TV’s Big Brother.
Was I relieved to learn it wasn’t yet another trash American export
come our way…! But then again, although it’s from the same country that
gave us the Red Light District, they also came up with those rich
Coffee Houses and so…we won’t hold it against them.

]]> Unveiling the Veline Defense http://www.blogher.com/unveiling-veline-defense 2009-01-19T13:51:23-06:00 2009-01-19T13:51:23-06:00 fmaggi Anyone who has heard any news from Italy these days knows about the
murder trial going on in Perugia. Amanda Knox and her (now) ex
boyfriend who are on trial
for murdering her roommate with a quick knife cut to the throat. And,
although she changed her story time and again, she says she’s innocent.

]]> Anyone who has heard any news from Italy these days knows about the
murder trial going on in Perugia. Amanda Knox and her (now) ex
boyfriend who are on trial
for murdering her roommate with a quick knife cut to the throat. And,
although she changed her story time and again, she says she’s innocent.

Obviously,
the year she’s already spent in jail watching Italian TV (in Italy,
you’re guilty until proven innocent) has taught her a few things. And
so 'Foxy Knoxy' (her internet i.d.) has decided on a charm defense,
trying to turn it on for the presiding judge, after seemingly already
winning over her lawyers. So here we have another case of a
20-something naughty girl (or Veline, as they're commonly called here, basically, 'eye candy') laughing it up with yet another overdressed
septuagenarian man. Only this time, he’s not donning a 3 pc. suit, but
covered head to toe in robes.

There’s one thing her Italian
finishing school didn’t teach her, though. That laughing is not
acceptable for girls of any repute, let alone of ones of hers. I might
add that, given the circumstances (oh, say, a senseless murder of a
roommate or, you know, the fact that you may rot in an Italian prison
for some 30 years), that one might cop a more serious pose. I’m
thinking something along the lines of say, the Statue of Liberty and
decidedly not Charo.

So
her coquettish behaviour, giggles and hardy laughs with the men
obviously garnered the big headlines. Not so much for offending the
décor of the trial itself, but for having so blatantly flaunted one of
the Golden Rules for Women Living in Italy: THOU SHALT NOT LAUGH IN PUBLIC. I swear it’s one of the 10 Commandments.

Amanda says in her defense, “They’ll come ‘round to seeing my side of the story”.
But what about the victim’s side? Let’s just hope the judge can keep
his hormones out of the courtroom. Perhaps the prosecution can show him
a few episodes from Perry Mason or Colombo as a sort of counter-defense
measure.

]]> Obama's Inauguration - as Seen from Abroad http://www.blogher.com/obamas-inauguration-seen-abroad 2009-01-19T03:21:18-06:00 2009-01-19T03:21:18-06:00 fmaggi As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, America has always signified for me, a place of hope, success, progress, and a place where anyone – despite their background -- could make it if they wanted to.  Those words on the base of the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” have long stood out as a reminder to every American whose ancestors came from another land.  A gift from France, she proudly stands as a beacon to those who long for a better life.
 

]]> As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants, America has always signified for me, a place of hope, success, progress, and a place where anyone – despite their background -- could make it if they wanted to.  Those words on the base of the Statue of Liberty, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” have long stood out as a reminder to every American whose ancestors came from another land.  A gift from France, she proudly stands as a beacon to those who long for a better life.
 
When those towers fell right at her very feet, the entire world was shaken.  Living in Italy, bustling Milan fell silent.  People wept openly in the streets, candlelight vigils were held in front of the Embassy, and overnight, American flags sprung up on nearly every balcony, over car windows and across store fronts.  Despite her gaping wound, everyone knew that America would stand upright again, and shine her light across the globe.  I was proud to be American and, as such, a spokesperson for a country looked up to by so many from so far.
 
Sadly, almost as fast as those flags went up, they disappeared.  Solidarity turned to cynicism, defending the innocent turned to war profiteering, and candlelight vigils became hostile street protests.  Anti-American graffiti was splayed across every wall and, after more than once getting mobbed, I was afraid to drive my car with those glaring Michigan plates.  For those of us living abroad, the hostility was palpable.  The last 7 years have been sown with international discord, personal discomfort, and the depressing fact that democratic America was not only looked down upon, but was driven into the same category usually reserved for despot dictators.
 
With the arrival onto the political scene of the improbable candidate, Barack Obama, a sea change seemed to be brewing. With his election, it felt more like a tsunami.  In Rome, Bangladeshi car washers would give me the thumbs up when seeing my ‘Obama 08’ bumper sticker, Italian newspapers followed his ascent almost as closely as their own elections, and Europeans gathered in pubs and piazzas from Scotland to Sicily to watch the election results throughout the night.
 
With Barack Obama’s inauguration, the swearing in of a son of an immigrant who yearned for a better life, a man without a European-like political dynasty to prop him up, a man who embodies the very ‘melting pot’ that is America, we have shown the world that once again, what America truly represents:
that it is still a place where anyone can rise to greatness; where an education at top universities is possible, despite your meager means; where the oldest democracy in the world can still shift power without violence, corruption or coups and where a house built by slaves can one day be inhabited by a mixed race family.
 
When Barack Obama takes his oath, once again, Lady Liberty can proudly shine her light and lead the way – bringing back hope to people, wherever they are, who look to her example for the very values that all of us Americans hold true, wherever we may be.

]]> Oh Happy Day! (When Jesus was Born) http://www.blogher.com/oh-happy-day-when-jesus-was-born 2008-12-26T16:12:22-06:00 2008-12-26T16:13:51-06:00 fmaggi It’s Christmas Eve, the night that most Italians celebrate with
family and close friends, awaiting the arrival of the Baby Jesus. In
fact, only at midnight he makes his appearance in the crèche.

]]> It’s Christmas Eve, the night that most Italians celebrate with
family and close friends, awaiting the arrival of the Baby Jesus. In
fact, only at midnight he makes his appearance in the crèche.

Driving up to my little slice of paradise in the hills outside Rome, I listened
to my favorite Christmas Cds, and I noticed how American (and English)
Christmas tunes are often more fun and funny, versus the reverence one
pays here in Italy. If you stop and think about Jingle Bell Rock, even the lively Deck the Halls! Or the sassy, Santa Baby, and of course, what holiday would be complete without Grandma got run over by a Reindeer?

I guess having the Pope in your backyard helps keep the dial firmly on
Jesus. In fact, the Italians even have their very own Christmas Carol
about the whole event: Tu che Scendi dalle Stelle. It seems our tunes, even Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night or even Away in a Manger, don’t quite mark the seriousness of the birth of Jesus the way the Italians do.
Singing
this ditty in our Caroling group, I forgot all about Santa, Joy &
Merriment and started hoping they had laced the eggnog with Prozac.

(As I type this, it’s the opening song to the Verona Christmas Eve Concert on TV – I’m getting the vodka out now)…

Tu scendi dalle stelle,     You come down from the stars
O Re del Cielo,      Oh King of the Heavens
e vieni in una grotta,       and you come into a cave
al freddo al gelo       cold and icy
e vieni in una grotta,
al freddo al gelo.

Now here comes the Catholic Guilt

O Bambino mio Divino      Oh my Baby Jesus, My Divine
Io ti vedo qui a tremar       I see you here shivering
O Dio Beato         Oh Blessed God
Ahi, quanto ti costò      Oh, how much it cost you
l’avermi amato!      to have loved me!

In case it didn't quite sink in...

Ahi, quanto ti costò
l’avermi amato!

– the kiddies are singing it on TV…there’s not a smiling face in the house.

A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore,      To you, you who are the world, the Creator
mancano panni e fuoco          there are no diapers, no flame
O mio Signore!         Oh my God!
mancano panni e fuoco       there are no diapers, no flame
O mio Signore!

And it ends with…

Povero ancora.      Still poor, still poor.

Pass the tissues.

]]> The End of Ignorance http://www.blogher.com/end-ignorance 2008-11-08T18:25:09-06:00 2008-11-08T18:28:06-06:00 fmaggi In the words of Gaius Giulius Caesar, I say to Barack Obama, Veni, Vedi, Vinci.

]]> In the words of Gaius Giulius Caesar, I say to Barack Obama, Veni, Vedi, Vinci.

It is truly rare in one’s lifetime to experience history being made. Talk to your grandparents and you will hear – no feel
– the emotion of watching man taking his first footsteps on the moon,
children being given chocolate bars as American troops marched down the
streets of newly liberated Rome, the end of Marcos in the Philippines,
the literal breaking down of the Berlin Wall. And you could always
count on those who would bear witness to these earth-shattering events
to understand and convey with a mixed sense of euphoria, eloquence and
even gravitas worthy of the event to others who had not the privilege
of seeing it for themselves. Naturally, we turn to our leaders.

“What belongs together is now growing together,"
former West German chancellor Willy Brandt eloquently surmised for the
world to hear on November 10 1989, the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Armstrong boldly declared: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

At midnight of August 14, 1947 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s leader, delivered his now famous “Long ago we had made a tryst with destiny…” on the British withdrawal from India.

And Winston Churchill stated, at the eve of WWII, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”

And
so it is with great dismay and deep disgust that we heard from Silvio
Berlusconi, former nightclub singer and now Prime Minister of Italy
remarking on the historic election of Barack Obama, the 44th President
of the United States of America. And while it’s true an ignorant quip
is more representative of the speaker than of the person being spoken
about, sheer ignorance upfront and center still can feel like a slap in
the face.


It
is no wonder that Berlusconi loves to flaunt being buddy-buddy with his
other verbally and intelligence-challenged comrade in arms, George W.
Bush (who so eloquently expressed Obama’s landslide victory using the
adjective of a brain dead teen on ecstasy…“awesome”).

Berlusconi, head of the 7th largest economy in the world, while standing at the side of Russia’s new premier, says he was “just cracking a joke”. Certainly, if his name had been the byline as a reporter for Jon Stewart, or for the political satirical website, 23/6, or as a writer for SNL or even Striscia la Notizia, his line was “awesome”. Just take a look at these day-after headlines from the top satirical reporters in the USA:

Inappropriate Hottie Rundown - The Obama Cabinet!

Barack Obama has been president-elect for two days yet my cancer isn't cured- WTF?

Presidential dog not leaving his White doggie-house without a fight

Barack Obama: Young, handsome and even tanned!


[Berlusconi on what the President-Elect brings to negotiations with Russia]

Now
that there is a highly intelligent and articulate man in the White
House we can finally go back to Statesmanship as it was intended. To a
day that when world leaders speak, people don’t have to sift through
the rubble of their garbled sentences to find the significance; To when
we no longer have to see someone like Boris Yeltsin peeing himself on
the tarmac, a place where Cabinet Posts aren’t thoughtfully based on
the sex appeal of the occupants as if running the Playboy Empire.
Hopefully, we will now find ourselves in a time where gaffes are not
excused as ridiculous slips of the tongue but are accurately and
vehemently called out for demonstrating the pea-sized brain of the
person who has uttered them.

The symbolism of an unknown Senator
from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, who, after having put an end to
slavery, uniting the States, has been oft-quoted this election cycle.
Known for his gift of elocution, and his firm commitment to his
beliefs, I leave dear Berlusconi with this message, that you may reap
something from his sage words:

“The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.”

]]> Hadrian...Made in Italy http://www.blogher.com/hadrian-made-italy 2008-10-11T06:42:52-05:00 2008-10-11T06:42:52-05:00 fmaggi While in London I treated myself to a magnificent show about Hadrian at the outstanding British Museum.
One of the greatest men to ever have lived, it did not disappoint. And
despite the somewhat boring audioguide, I did learn a bit about this
great poet Emperor of ours whose immense burial tomb is now Castel Sant’Angelo.

]]> While in London I treated myself to a magnificent show about Hadrian at the outstanding British Museum.
One of the greatest men to ever have lived, it did not disappoint. And
despite the somewhat boring audioguide, I did learn a bit about this
great poet Emperor of ours whose immense burial tomb is now Castel Sant’Angelo.

In
Hadrian’s time, just like today, oil was the big issue – olive oil,
that is. It fueled the empire, it was taxed and transported far and
wide, and those that had it were pretty well off. Although at the helm
of a fairly united Europe, Hadrian was unable to contain the Brits (probably for their lousy weather…after all, who’d want to occupy their country anyway?). And the Libyans and the Palestinians were regularly in revolt.

What
is not quite common knowledge is that Hadrian was actually of Spanish
stock. Given the rivalry these days between these two countries, well,
I don’t blame the Italians for sweeping that little detail under the
tapestry, so to speak. One might have noticed, however, since his
beautiful head of curly locks did not reveal that most Italian of
conditions…male pattern baldness. But soon enough (after being adopted by the childless Trajan), he certainly took on some Italian habits of his own.

Of
course, like most politicians, he was duly married to the lovely
Sabina, but had an open and long term relationship with a stunning
youth (judging by the statues on hand),
Antinous. While today, those paramours are still tightly kept secrets,
I can assure you, they’re still going strong—after all, it’s a
long-standing tradition.

His very first act upon attaining high
office was to cancel tax debts, not unlike our new government which has
also banished the housing tax on their first day on the job -- a
terrific tactic to please the populace.

Hadrian also built
himself a villa fit for an errrrr Emperor. Standing at Tivoli with over
900 rooms, I can say it’s a bit more over the top than most of today’s
politicians' homes, but, I’m sure the artwork and entertainments that
go on inside are right up his alley.

But Hadrian, like Trajan
before him, took the reproduction thing one step further than our
single-child Italians – he remained childless (for my very own explanation, see affair above) and adopted a few nieces and great nieces to keep things going.

Note: the word for nepotism comes from the word nipote, meaning nephew…a hallmark of the Italian way.

And
finally, despite being a marked man, (he had a creased earlobe, a
telltale sign of coronary artery disease), he lived a very long time,
dying at the ripe old age of 62.

I don’t need any further proof
than this, though, that the Italian 'Quality of Life' with its
accompanying glass of red wine a day will certainly let you go far.


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