Monthly Archives: December 2009

Must be Santa

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Charles Lambert

This is as festive as I plan to get, so far anyway (though I’ll admit I was tempted by the Twelve Gays of Christmas). It’s Dylan, who can (almost) do no wrong, and I think it’s played straight, because otherwise … Continue reading →

Posted in bob dylan, christmas, music | Leave a comment

Love came down

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Charles Lambert

Are you enjoying the latest cat-fight as much as I am? I’m talking about the one between the Vatican and the Northern League, after Roberto Calderoli, minister for simplification (and they don’t come much simpler than Calderoli) criticised Milan’s Cardinal … Continue reading →

Posted in italy, politics, racism, vatican | Leave a comment

Kapow! Biff! Clunk!

Posted on December 10, 2009 by Charles Lambert

Berlusconi and his trained seal, justice minister Alfano, have been crowing about their latest victories against the Mafia – two arrests that just happened to coincide with the anti-Berlusconi march in Rome last Saturday (about which more anon). Proof, they … Continue reading →

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Shock horror: Homophobic obscurantist has top job

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Charles Lambert

I discovered an interesting fact about Italy’s National Research Council (CNR) today, thanks to a letter in Repubblica. The CNR is a state-financed public organization that, according to its website, exists “to carry out, promote, spread, transfer and improve research … Continue reading →

Posted in creationism, homophobia, italy, religion, science, very dark cave | Leave a comment

Garden Noam

Posted on December 8, 2009 by Charles Lambert

According to Boing Boing, garden gnomes can take £15,000 off the value of your house. I wonder what Chomsky would have to say about that.

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A thousand and more pictures

Posted on December 6, 2009 by Charles Lambert

Scott Pack says this is one of the best things you’ll see this year. You have to be a book-lover for this to be true, but I’m sure you are, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. You can buy a humbler … Continue reading →

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Crossed digits

Posted on December 3, 2009 by Charles Lambert

I’ve spent too much time today trying to get our television in the kitchen to work. Or, to be more precise, trying to get our NEW television in the kitchen to work. Everything was fine until a few months ago. … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, journalism, television, umberto eco | Leave a comment

Troppo sapeva

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Charles Lambert

I’ve just finished my usual round-up of the day’s English language papers, sitting here at my desk in a small provincial Italian town, without even having left the house. I’ve read the Guardian, the New York Times, the Independent. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in berlusconi, italy, mafia, saviano | 3 Comments