Author Archives: Charles Lambert

Kapow! Biff! Clunk!

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

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

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.

Posted in chomsky | 1 Comment

A thousand and more pictures

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

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

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

Punished for good behaviour

If you’re in Rome on 5 December you might like to take part in No-Berlusconi Day, the product of a viral campaign to eject the Buffoon from power before he does any more damage. Don’t be put off (or encouraged?) … Continue reading

Posted in berlusconi, corruption, mafia, politics | Leave a comment

The Fiction Desk interview

A couple of weeks ago I met up with Rob, the man behind one of the most interesting and wide-ranging literary blogs around, The Fiction Desk. We had an excellent lunch and talked about, among other things, writing, publishing strategies, … Continue reading

Posted in any human face, interview, little monsters, picador, the scent of cinnamon, writing | Leave a comment

Charlotte Gainsbourg and Beck: Heaven can Wait

Posted in beckmann, music | 1 Comment

Partial but clear-sighted vision

Posted in USA, william burroughs | Leave a comment