Monthly Archives: September 2010

Do Not Underestimate Silvio

Posted on September 30, 2010 by hnbjr

He’s a survivor. He’s saved.  For now.  But rumors are afoot, thanks to no less than leading leghista Maroni, that the government will fall in March.  But for now, Fini has relented and they’re in it together for a bit … Continue reading →

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The Death Penalty in Virginia and Iran

Posted on September 28, 2010 by hnbjr

Discussing study opportunities in the US with my wife’s cousin’s 15 year old, he suddenly interrupted his excited line of questioning about the Hard Rock Cafe and eggs for breakfast to ask something more serious: “Is it true that they … Continue reading →

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Of New Princes

Posted on September 28, 2010 by hnbjr

I realize how remiss I’ve been to have a blog on Italian politics without addressing, at least directly, the very acute crisis that Italian politics is going through right now. Angelo Panebianco’s front-page editorial in yesterday’s Corriere directly assigned the … Continue reading →

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Bossi Youth

Posted on September 24, 2010 by hnbjr

MTV.it has an interesting series of videos up on the youngest members of the Lega Nord. I saw in the Corriere, mainly because I’d never imagine that MTV in the US would be capable of anything less than totally vapid. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bossi, immigration, lega nord, maroni | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Class is in session

Posted on September 21, 2010 by hnbjr

Meanwhile, the first week of school last week meant tons of education reform excitement in Italy (as well as less posted from your chronicler).  Yes — a subject that usually makes most Americans huddle and cry while as vaguely-defined horrors … Continue reading →

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Svezia, inferno e paradiso

Posted on September 21, 2010 by hnbjr

One expects political upheaval in Italy. After all, the country has had as many governments as Boliva since World War Two, and my primer on Italian politics had a photo of parliamentarians fist-fighting on the cover. But — Sweden? As … Continue reading →

Posted in eu, immigration, italy, lega nord, the italian right, the right in europe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More on the Roma Debate

Posted on September 17, 2010 by hnbjr

Berlusconi comes out with Sarkozy against criticism on France’s treatment of Roma. Quoted in Le Figaro yesterday, “[EU Citizen’s Rights Commissioner] Reding would have done better to treat the subject in private with French leaders before speaking publicly as she … Continue reading →

Posted in eu, france, gypsies, immigration, italy, lega nord, roma, romania, sarkozy, the right in europe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bossi: Today’s News (?)

Posted on September 17, 2010 by hnbjr

Well, Rachel Donadio has been a busy woman lately, and she’s hitting all the right places. Observing Bossi’s Lega Nord has been one of my preoccupations since a wealthy Amerophile in Parma told me in late 2004 that Italy should … Continue reading →

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Donadio on Prato today

Posted on September 13, 2010 by hnbjr

I don’t want this to become a blog just filled with links to outside sources. BUT, with that caveat in mind, check out Rachel Donadio’s excellent piece on the Chinese influence in Prato in today’s NYT. Analysis and thoughts to … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinatown, Chinese, eu, immigration, italy, lega nord | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

La Chinatown milanese

Posted on September 2, 2010 by hnbjr

The blog has been on hold recently due to my moving to the area around via Paolo Sarpi – Milan’s “Chinatown.”  This is a fascinating neighborhood that has exploded in the past decade or so with Chinese wholesalers.  It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinatown, Chinese, eu, immigration, italy, lega nord, maroni, Via Sarpi | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments