Monthly Archives: June 2007

Love is in the air

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Charles Lambert

The transmitters used by Radio Vatican to broadcast its message of eternal love and harmony are apparently so strong that people in the Roman suburb of Ponte Galeria, where the transmitters are sited, can hear Holy Mass when they answer … Continue reading →

Posted in vatican | 2 Comments

Footnote to previous post

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Just to give you an idea of the moral ambience within the Italian secret services, Pio Pompa (I just love writing it!) was second in command to Nicolò Pollari, ex-head of SISMI and now on trial with a bunch of … Continue reading →

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Watch out! There’s a magistrate about!

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Charles Lambert

If anyone needs to be reminded just how fragile supposedly democratic states can be, a story in yesterday’s Repubblica is exemplary. It describes the plans being drawn up by the Italian secret services soon after Berlusconi’s electoral victory in 2001 … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, corruption, democracy | Leave a comment

New Writing 15

Posted on June 8, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Just got my complimentary copy of New Writing 15, published by Granta and the British Council. My story (Entertaining Friends), ironically, isn’t new at all. It was written many years ago, and describes the pleasures and perils of a world … Continue reading →

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Non-literal geographies

Posted on June 6, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Once again, thanks to Bits and Pieces for this. The post says: This canvas by artist Kim Dingle doesn’t look like a map, more like a herd of cows. But actually it’s a collection of maps. The artist asked teen-aged … Continue reading →

Posted in art | 2 Comments

A question of numbers

Posted on June 6, 2007 by Charles Lambert

According to its promoters, the Family Day demonstration a few weeks ago, designed to fight government proposals for recognition of civil unions, attracted a million people. That’s more or less one sixtieth of the population and enough, says Paola Binetti, … Continue reading →

Posted in civil union, DICO, family day, gay pride | 2 Comments

Democracy derailed

Posted on June 6, 2007 by Charles Lambert

George Bush says that democratic reform in Rusia has been derailed. You can understand why he’s worried. Rigged elections and the illegal disenfrachisement of voters. Prisoners held for years in subhuman conditions without trial. The economy held hostage by a … Continue reading →

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Gimme me a wafer and a mouthful of wine blues

Posted on June 5, 2007 by Charles Lambert

According to ANSA, a priest in the province of Bari has refused the Eucharist to a young gay man from a ‘difficult family’. Unfortunately, the press release doesn’t specify what kind of Eucharist. The tasteless wafer produced in some factory … Continue reading →

Posted in eucharist, homophobia, religion | 4 Comments

Odd bedfellows

Posted on June 5, 2007 by Charles Lambert

In the wacky Tweedledum and Tweedledee world of post-modern Poland, it seems only natural that Tinky Winky and Goethe should find themselves sharing the same rather incommodious bed of censorship. The purple Teletubby and the great German poet apparently both … Continue reading →

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Flyer found in toilet

Posted on June 4, 2007 by Charles Lambert

Another great find by Jane. A flyer spotted in the Ladies’ Powder Room (honestly) of Beatties department store, Wolverhampton, now, alas, part of the House of Fraser. Those of you who know Beatties will understand how sad this is. I … Continue reading →

Posted in trouvé | 2 Comments