Monthly Archives: November 2010

Thanksgiving Day post

Posted on November 25, 2010 by hnbjr

You may be thinking of Ben Franklin as you dig into your turkey.  Recall — as a graffito artist in my neighborhood apparently has — that the founding father also noted, as many a revolutionary did, that “they that can … Continue reading →

Posted in america, human rights, immigration, music, Via Sarpi | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Italian Neighbors

Posted on November 20, 2010 by hnbjr

It’s been a long time since I’ve stayed up late to finish a book. But Tim Parks, with his impeccable rural Veneto credentials, has long fascinated me, and I finally got hold of his Italian Neighbors. To his credit, I … Continue reading →

Posted in lega nord, literature, macedonia, veneto | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Camorra boss Iovine arrested

Posted on November 18, 2010 by hnbjr

Right on the heels of Saviano’s public row with Maroni comes the arrest of one of the Camorra’s (many) top men who’s been on the lam for 14 years: Antonio Iovine. Maroni jibed back at Saviano through the press, “this … Continue reading →

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Saviano

Posted on November 16, 2010 by hnbjr

Roberto Saviano’s remarkable talk on Vieni Via con Me (which is really making the news this week) got over 5 million viewers last night. There’s a reason: it’s provocative and damned good, featuring the reenactment of an ‘ndragheta initiation rite … Continue reading →

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Organ Harvesting in Kosovo

Posted on November 16, 2010 by hnbjr

It’s such a common urban legend that it’s almost the stuff of jokes.  But organ theft is, apparently, alive and well, and right here in what’s loosely called “Europe.” Carla del Ponte caused a minor stir a couple of years … Continue reading →

Posted in Balkans, kosovo | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Knab S’tel!

Posted on November 10, 2010 by hnbjr

I’m not entirely sure what to say about this at the Banco di Sardegna near Corso Sempione, but I walk by it every night and it seems like the most peculiar deterrence to me: positioned inside the entryway to the … Continue reading →

Posted in italy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Benigni

Posted on November 9, 2010 by hnbjr

I’m not going to even pretend that this will be easily comprehenisble to those without a command of both what’s going with Berlusconi these days and the Italian language, although the Corriere‘s English language edition — serviceable but nothing compared … Continue reading →

Posted in electoral crisis, il cav, italy, the italian left, the italian right | Tagged , | Leave a comment

DomeniCa

Posted on November 7, 2010 by hnbjr

Not a lot makes me miss DC.  But these Fugazi videos did, even though they’re not shot in the District. Even those who might find the band overly serious or self-righteous still should appreciate the incredible energy of the band … Continue reading →

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Weekly digest: more Berlusca, the seriousness of ‘bunga-bunga’, more rain, and more Republicans

Posted on November 7, 2010 by hnbjr

It’s been awhile and no updates. Yet, in the US we’ve had the midterms, which happened pretty much as predicted, and here in Italy Berlusconi again dominates the headlines with another sex scandal. At this point I’m so fatigued by … Continue reading →

Posted in electoral crisis, il cav, italy, jack conway, milania, music, rand paul, the italian left, the italian right | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments