Some thing I have thought about, like , in the past fortnight: 1. The low standard of Irish politicians is merely the product of the low standards of the electorate. From last week’s Western People: “Mayo, it seems, remains loyal and steadfast in it’s [sic] support of the Flynn Dynasty, as Independent Beverly looks odds […]
“‘I recall one superb pun anyway: qui vive la pietà quando e ben morta’ She said nothing. ‘Is it not a great phrase?’ he gushed. She said nothing. ‘Now’ he said like a fool ‘I wonder how you could translate that?’ She still said nothing. Then: ‘do you think’ she murmured ‘it is absolutely necessary […]
One of the most puzzling aspects of the proposed plan to site an American missile radar-base in the Czech Republic is the almost total lack of debate. Proponents of the plan, such as the Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolánek, spin platitudes about strengthening European security. Those who are opposed stand around outside the proposed site […]
In Polish it is called “tarcza antyrakietowa,” or anti-missile shield. But therein lies a fine irony. “Tarcza” also means target, which is what some fear the country will become if the mooted ten missile interceptors and the accompanying US military presence required to service them are installed. The Polish translation of US Defence Secretary Robert […]
Visiting Romania recently an advertisement on commercial radio caught my attention. At first there was just the engine-noise of a large approaching vehicle, being greeted by a hubbub of angry voices. Now the jostled, harassed voice of a ‘reporter’ informed you that what you were hearing was the sound of a protest, as yet another […]
Prior to the 1980s Italy didn’t consider immigration as a particularly pressing problem. Throughout its post-war history, in fact, the country had suffered far more from large-scale emigration, as thousands left the impoverished and largely job-less southern regions to become gastarbeiters in wealthier European countries like Germany. A massive influx of refugees from Eastern Europe, […]
One thing that the worlds of entertainment and politics have in common in Italy is the fact that most of the key figures involved are past the normally accepted retirment age.
The political stage is dominated by figures like Silvio Berlusconi (age 72), Romano Prodi (age 67), not to mention the cabal which recently brought down the government in the senate – Giulio Andreotti (age 88) and Francesco Cossiga (age 78).
Entertainment on both the public and private TV channels is dominated by figures like Pippo Baudo (age 77), and Mike Buongiorno (age 83).
Last week the release of journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo sparked off controversy left, right, and centre – outside Italy. Inside Italy, apart from some opportunistic jibes from Berlusconi*, virtually all political parties supported the government’s efforts to release Mastrogiacomo, who had been held captive in Afghanistan by the Taliban.
In the wake of Ireland’s astonishingly unexpected win over Pakistan in the Cricket World Cup, drawls can be heard throughout the bosky suburbs of Dublin proclaiming “You know, I could delivery a pretty mean googly before the rugger took up all my time.”Meanwhile, the angst of Pakistan’s defeat has been compounded by the death of […]