tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72447892012-01-27T12:13:49.415+01:00The rapidly diminishing thoughts of an old Welshman living in MilanoWelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comBlogger1131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1138882303144278562006-02-02T22:47:00.000+01:002006-12-14T06:26:02.626+01:00

"Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here" They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is the picture, albeit in cartoon form, that has caused so much anger and hatred since it was first published by the Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, as a part of a series of 12 published last September.The issue that is being highlighted is simply that of the fredom of the press to report

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1138613317864926992006-01-30T10:20:00.002+01:002006-02-02T14:00:22.103+01:00

Well, well, well. I turn my back for a couple of weeks and find that our esteemed Prime Minister, Dott. Silvio Berlusconi, has announced that he is renouncing sex until after the Italian elections in April. What a strange thing to say. He is married and he is a Catholic. Yes, I know he is old, but men have sired children far, far older than he is. Just. However, the fact remains that he has

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1135347288514881842005-12-23T14:43:00.003+01:002005-12-25T14:01:02.310+01:00

It is traditional here in Italy to display a "Presepio" - usually a highly intricate representation of the birth of Christ in an even more intricate setting showing every type of scene that your space/budget will allow. The best (and most expensive) figures have long come from Napoli and the photo above shows a Presepio made in the 18th century for the King of Napoli, Carlo III. With this, I

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1135010567808796922005-12-19T17:40:00.000+01:002005-12-20T15:08:48.996+01:00

The Bank of Italy Governor, Antonio Fazio, has finally resigned. The sound of relieved breathing can be heard everywhere in Italy at the news of the departure of a man that has brought back memories of the infamous "Clean Hands" campaign that started in 1992, in Milano, just around the corner from where I have been living for the past 3 years, the Pio Trivulzio Old People's Home.Thank goodness.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1134570807320903762005-12-14T15:17:00.000+01:002005-12-15T12:00:10.886+01:00

Events are finally starting to catch up with the current head of the Bank of Italy, Antonio Fazio.You may recall that I wrote about his antics a couple of months ago, when the whole sorry saga hit the world press. He was accused of misusing his position as the Governor of the Bank of Italy in order to support his friend and father of his daughter’s fiancé, Gianpiero Fiorani.The latest events to

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1134479746316078702005-12-13T14:15:00.000+01:002005-12-14T14:42:09.050+01:00

With the new “Ex-Cirielli” law now passed through the Senate, becoming one of the ever-increasing list of Italian laws, there are a couple of surprising dissident voices. As I wrote back in October, the law, first drafted by Edmondo Cirielli also known as the "Save Previti" law and the "Cerami Bill", was seen as a means to streamline Italy’s megalithic legal system. It also seemed custom-made to

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1133858065974221602005-12-06T09:24:00.002+01:002005-12-12T16:43:56.050+01:00

Hot on the heels of the US Secretary of State, Condaleeza Rice, telling the people of Europe that we should do what we are told, or else - we have another example of state violence in Italy. Last night, in the Val di Susa, the demonstrations by the local people against the High Speed Train (TAV) project erupted into a bloody clash with the police resulting in at least 6 injuries.Now, you may

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1133782072929629112005-12-05T12:18:00.000+01:002005-12-05T17:14:53.633+01:00

In a strange turn of events the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is expected* to issue a warning to Europe today about the illegal US prison camps in Eastern Europe, including Kosova, being run for the interrogation and internment of people the US administration might consider a threat. I wrote a while ago about a US base on the island of Diego Garcia, that was being used as a

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1133535536104437762005-12-02T15:51:00.000+01:002006-04-08T21:18:10.873+02:00

I am assured that this memo is real - allegedly (clicking the logo should open a copy of the actual memo). Apologies for the language if you are an Italian speaker and are feeling insulted. No offence meant, I'm sure._____________________________________ MEMO to all the Staff: It has been brought to our attention by several officials visiting our establishment in Rome that offensive language is

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1132922019000504902005-11-25T13:26:00.000+01:002005-12-02T12:09:19.480+01:00

Christmas is coming! I can feel it in the air and the TV advertising jingles. But, Hark! What is that I hear now? Yes, that’s right. It’s the sound of the world famous “Singing Prime Minister”, trying to launch his Christmas CD of “Lurve” songs in good time the elections next year. This is not Singing Silvio’s first foray into the world of record production though, he actually had another CD

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1132837534815800732005-11-24T13:51:00.002+01:002005-11-24T15:28:51.313+01:00

Seeing a report published this week about the increasing numbers of people resorting to plastic surgery, I noticed that men are now a growing user of the services of the plastic surgeon. The Prime Minister himself, Silvio Berlusconi, happily admitted to having undergone the surgeons knife to try and roll back the years (or at least, the baggy skin around his ageing eyes) a couple of years ago. He

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1132153963370712272005-11-17T23:02:00.000+01:002005-11-17T12:54:27.090+01:00

Tim Bell - The GuardianBack in the UK, Prime Minister Tony Blair is still having a pretty tough time of things at the moment. With the bill for the introduction of ID cards now before the House of Lords in the UK, it is looking likely that he will suffer even more embarrassment before the month is out.What is the fuss about ID cards though? In most of Europe ID cards are a normal requirement and

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1132051079582413292005-11-15T11:30:00.000+01:002005-11-24T15:03:56.470+01:00

I resurrected a bit of my youth over the weekend when I went to see Bob Dylan in concert at the Assago Forum on the outskirts of Milano. Quite a memory jogger it was too. I have seen Bob Dylan once before in concert in the UK – in 1969. A lifetime ago, or so it seems now. He was good then. Very good. On Saturday, however he was fantastic. I have been listening to Bob Dylan since the early 1960s,

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1131627574894061062005-11-10T13:59:00.000+01:002005-11-10T15:36:54.620+01:00

Still keeping on the subject of what we do with our toxic waste, I see that the proposed new EU bill regarding chemicals use in the EU, REACH, is progressing well at the moment. It is a very watered down version of the original proposal by Guido Sacconi, but surely a step in the right direction. I briefly touched on the problem of toxic waste disposal yesterday, with the discovery that the USA

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1131531184470118582005-11-09T11:26:00.000+01:002005-11-09T15:40:17.223+01:00

It always amazes me to find how reading one newspaper article can lead into so many different areas. A case in point was my reading a piece in the New Zealand Herald about the dumping of chemical weapons by the USA off the coast of New Zealand after WW2. An amazing story when one considers how much fuss the USA have been making over supposed chemical weapons dumping in Iraq recently.The article

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1130069931702140092005-10-23T21:30:00.000+02:002005-10-24T10:03:58.156+02:00

With the screening of “Rockpolitik” last Thursday night on RAI 1, one of the state run TV channels, a new paragraph was written in the political history of Italy. The show itself was interesting enough, being a mixture of music, comedy skits and political satire – very much the kind of TV programme that we are used to seeing in the rest of Europe – “That Was The Week That Was”, for example, back

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1129888944447409122005-10-21T16:15:00.000+02:002005-10-21T18:41:34.836+02:00

The Messina Bridge as it will look from Sicily. I have been looking recently for more information about the new Messina Bridge as the contract has just been awarded to the civil engineering firm, Impregilo SpA . As so often is the case here, nothing is quite as it seems, so this will be another rather long item. Sorry about that.The bridge itself is relatively straightforward to describe. It will

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1129842919707107062005-10-20T23:15:00.000+02:002005-10-21T13:50:51.093+02:00

Adriano Celentano - a true Italian.I would like to just say how much I was moved tonight whilst watching a brand new TV show on Rai uno, RockPolitik (in fact, I am still watching it as I type). It was as though I was observing a beautiful woman shedding the sackcloth and ashes she had been forced to wear for the past few years. Bravi Italiani! I feel privileged to have witnessed the shedding of

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1129664034881085132005-10-18T18:00:00.000+02:002005-10-19T10:06:27.076+02:00

Romano Prodi in Wales There have been several issues of interest happening here in Italy over the past week. The week started with an election. It was actually a referendum for the public to elect the leader of the centre-left coalition of the many left-wing, liberal and eco-sensitive political groupings and parties in order to fight – and most likely win at this moment in time - the coming

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1129281160936424142005-10-14T12:00:00.000+02:002005-10-14T12:20:12.846+02:00

The Berlusconi Contract - Click image to read it.With elections in Italy looming on the near horizon, it is scarcely a surprise to find yet another political fiasco brewing in the hazy world of Berlusconi politics. This time, he is attempting to steam-roller a change in the voting system just 6 months before the next set of elections. There is no secret that the electoral system is in dire need

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1129051245723432952005-10-11T18:00:00.000+02:002005-10-12T11:43:00.456+02:00

Cesare Previti enjoying a happy moment during his trial in Milano.Our dear friend Silvio Berlusconi is, if nothing else, a very loyal man. He looks after his friends and family in the true style of a gentleman Man of Honour. The most recent development in the long saga of how the Prime Minister of Italy runs the country he is currently “in charge of” is in the protection of one of his oldest,

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1128696183624771822005-10-07T09:00:00.000+02:002005-10-08T15:54:29.673+02:00

Browsing through the various news feeds the other day, I came across an item about the new EU website aimed at encouraging the various mobile telephone service suppliers across Europe to take a little look at their pricing strategies. Living, as I do, in one of Europe’s most expensive countries with regard telephone services (as with electricity – but that’s another story) I was immediately

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1128503420594558662005-10-05T09:00:00.000+02:002005-10-05T12:31:16.093+02:00

Please, please, please... Whilst the Fazio affair trundles on and on still, the Prime Minister is continuing in his quest for world (or at least Italian) domination. I’m sure that the coming elections have nothing at all to do with the recent appointment of his 39 year old daughter, Marina Berlusconi, to the elevated seat of President at the helm of the family flagship company that still

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1127731206774351382005-09-26T21:30:00.000+02:002005-10-05T12:23:06.523+02:00

A sorry tale of intrigue, political shenanigans and power play is nothing new here in Italy. It is what helps keep the interest levels up and the conversations in bars and cafès alive across the country every day.The latest tale to hit the world media has been brewing for quite some time though. Antonio Fazio, the erstwhile governor of the Bank of Italy since taking over the reins from now

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1123771857287620892005-08-11T16:00:00.000+02:002005-08-28T13:38:29.230+02:00

On second thoughts, please don’t. There has been a very strange craft making its slow but steady voyage to the centre of Milan recently. A submarine. Not one of those cute little one-man ones that you can see so often in diver training centres all around the Mediterranean, but a dirty great big one. A genuine warship that cruised around the coasts of the Mediterranean looking for suitable prey

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1123761210659989782005-08-01T13:00:00.000+02:002005-08-12T00:09:28.103+02:00

Whilst most of Europe still busies itself with life in the “fast lane” of modern society, Milan, the business heart of Italy and the fashion centre of the world, takes a well-earned break from its normal busy, self-absorbed style. It takes a holiday as the majority of Milanese flee for the hills – or at least the seaside – for their annual 4 week holiday.It is my favourite time of the year here

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1120794487245362932005-07-08T09:00:00.000+02:002005-09-28T08:58:05.600+02:00

What a world we live in. Here I am, in Australia for a couple of weeks, watching mans continuing inhumanity to man from a distance. I have to add that the distance has certainly not made my view any the fonder either. The first event I would pass some comment on is the dreadful bombing of London Transport yesterday, resulting in the death and maiming of a great many completely innocent, unrelated

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1113930001613455372005-04-19T18:45:00.001+02:002005-07-08T07:01:15.213+02:00

After all of the fuss and speculation, the Catholic Church has elected 78 year old Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the pope to follow on from Pope John Paul II who died on April the 2nd at 84 years of age.This would seem to confirm that the church is following the conservative views that the late pope held firmly, squashing for the time being any thoughts of a liberalisation of the views of the

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1113923323152745842005-04-19T13:00:00.000+02:002005-04-19T17:40:50.080+02:00

I could hardly believe my eyes when this was forwarded on to me. Of course, I didn't believe a single word of it. Naturally.__________________________________________________________GREETINGS AND BUONGIORNO MIO CARO,MY NAME IS SILVIO AMADEUS FLETCHING BURLESCHIONI AND IAM WRITING TO YOU TO SEEK YOUR HELP WITH A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM I HAVE HAVING HERE IN ITALIA.RECENTLY I HAD THE SEVERE

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1113818143608476662005-04-18T16:30:00.000+02:002005-04-18T17:34:48.480+02:00

Prova!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1113817404027713862005-04-15T00:30:00.000+02:002005-04-18T17:35:07.023+02:00

So much for Phoenix then...

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1097053489842468402004-10-06T10:30:00.000+02:002004-10-06T14:18:44.006+02:00

Being an active supporter of the concept of the European Union, I was shocked (almost!) to find that the “clear, informative and far-reaching, the Eurostat yearbook 2004” which “serves as a practical statistical guide to the major issues relating to the evolution of the European Union” has just been published with a front cover map illustration which OMITS WALES from the map! How ever

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1091442960135438152004-08-01T13:00:00.000+02:002004-09-06T10:40:15.586+02:00

I just wanted to wish you all an excellent August and to say "see you in September". Take care of yourselves in the meantime. CIAO! Lecce today

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1091180522348580042004-07-30T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-30T16:09:36.970+02:00

The 6th Annual Big Brother Award winners have just been announced by Privacy International, which were 'presented' as a special ceremony at the London School of Economics (LSE) on the 28th July. This sounds like the television 'reality' series, Big Brother, known and apparently loved by millions of bored Brits - to say nothing of the many other national flavours of Big Brother around the

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1091114748684759412004-07-29T17:00:00.000+02:002005-07-11T17:01:45.980+02:00

It is holiday time here in Italy, which as many of you will already know, closes for August (well, almost!) Along with everyone else, I will be vanishing into the sunset next week for a few weeks of relaxing, sitting back and enjoying the wonders and beauty of Italy. No - no trip to Barbados for us this year! I thought that you might enjoy a very quick tour of the Italy that we will be driving,

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1091031390060043492004-07-28T18:30:00.000+02:002004-07-29T13:34:55.916+02:00

Following on from my earlier items about weather changes and global warming, here is an interesting item from the BBC discussing the Greenland ice-melt 'speeding up'

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1091026647838168822004-07-28T17:00:00.000+02:002004-07-29T09:29:31.476+02:00

The EU has criticised several Member States for over-fishing and various other breaches of the CFP (Common Fisheries Policy). The rogue states, if they can be termed that way, are Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, with infringement procedures being initiated against both the UK and France as well. The CFP has long been a thorn in the flesh of the UK, with it carrying the blame for causing

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090926426372099372004-07-27T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-27T19:23:35.326+02:00

The full text of the Approved Judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of the Chagos Islanders (which includes the island of Diego Garcia) and The Attorney General with Her Majesty’s British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner is available here. As I outlined some while ago, it is a tragic situation, involving as it does the US Government requirement for a military base in the region

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090851587658415502004-07-26T19:00:00.000+02:002004-07-26T19:05:34.243+02:00

I have been very remiss in not talking about the EU parliament shenanigans involving the UKIP recently. You may recall that at the recent European Elections, the UKIP actually won 12 seats - due mainly to the lack of interest shown by the British voters for the election. I have already talked about the avowed objective of the UKIP before they took up their seats - which was duly modified

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090838738538079632004-07-26T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-27T11:59:30.430+02:00

I see that the British Government, through the Home Office, are about to launch a major new anti-terrorist initiative. They are, next Monday, publishing a booklet for distribution to every household in the UK during August, with advice and practical tips for survival including such useful hints as keeping a stockpile of tinned foods, bottled water and batteries (!) The British Home Office tells

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090592039025296812004-07-23T16:00:00.000+02:002004-07-29T19:19:46.440+02:00

Reading an article in today's Guardian, I was annoyed by the way in which they were reporting a story they had written about television programming here. The fact that Silvio Berlusconi owns Mediaset, the independent TV broadcaster, together with having effective control of RAI, the state broadcaster, by virtue of his position as Prime Minister of Italy, would give many people pause for thought

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090584623026716682004-07-23T13:00:00.000+02:002004-07-23T14:10:23.026+02:00

I just wanted to share this item with you. Words are not needed beyond those describing the situation on board Flight 93, which crashed to it's death in Pennsylvania on September 11th 2001.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090503339628166342004-07-22T15:00:00.000+02:002004-07-26T09:45:26.326+02:00

To revert to a previous story that I posted on July 12 about the fake prison that was found to be operating in Afghanistan, there have been several developments - not least being that the three men are facing trial in Afghanistan on charges of robbery together with beating and torturing the people that they kidnapped. We can, of course, say 'kidnapped' without fear of censure as the men were

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090411386441322842004-07-21T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-22T12:17:58.090+02:00

I was discussing here, a couple of weeks ago, my feelings regarding vandalism and graffiti here in Italy. Not, of course, that Italy is any worse than anywhere else in the world, naturally. It is just blessed with some of the most beautiful buildings and works of art which make the vandalism seem more intrusive to the eye. The Senate Justice Committee has just given first approval to a proposed

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090414141790529892004-07-21T13:59:00.000+02:002004-07-21T15:50:19.586+02:00

Octopus at her berth in Antibes "Where did we park the boat, Paul? They all look the bloody same in this marina, don't they!"

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090333446540062512004-07-20T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-20T16:27:36.303+02:00

A speech given by the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Edward Clay, has caused quite a stir. In his speech, he tackled the issue of corruption in the Kenyan government. He said: " It is outrageous to think that corruption accounts for about 8 per cent of Kenya's GDP. Kenya is not a rich country in terms of oil deposits, diamonds or some other buffer which might featherbed a thoroughgoing

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1090238447473609762004-07-19T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-19T16:35:05.540+02:00

Following on from my thoughts about the weather some while back, I was caught up in a discussion about pollution and the effects that pollution causes - as well as the common understanding of pollution as an issue. A very typical misunderstanding that is often proposed and believed by 'the man in the street' with regard to pollution and pollutants is that of 'dirty' air. Popular myth has it

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089970180211780752004-07-16T00:00:00.000+02:002004-07-16T13:12:23.766+02:00

This has all lead me to consider a little more what we mean by racist. I gave a definition earlier in this Blog that describes the meaning as; "someone who believes that other races are not as good as their own and therefore treats them unfairly". Obviously, there is a bit more to it than that, as we are including Muslim and Jew as racial descriptives now in our everyday speech and thought -

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089894004070134002004-07-15T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-16T13:03:53.783+02:00

The term "racist" is used most often as a form of insult, an attack againt the person it is aimed - but what actually IS a racist? The dictionary description is pretty simple and straightforward. In the Cambridge Advanced it is defined as; (1) noun "someone who believes that other races are not as good as their own and therefore treats them unfairly" I only ask the question because the BBC,

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089818375067654472004-07-14T18:00:00.000+02:002004-07-14T19:02:17.653+02:00

With the Constitutional Treaty for Europe now finally passed the initial approval stage, having been discussed and formulated by the Constitutional Convention for the past year and a half, I was interested to take a look to see how the Constitution was actually created. Predictably, the Daily Mail printed front-page headlines claiming that it was a blueprint for tyranny, marking “the end of a

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089805823253508002004-07-14T13:49:00.000+02:002004-07-14T14:54:21.813+02:00

Today in Europe Reading an article in today's Guardian about the consequences to London of the melting of the ice cap, I was reminded of a discussion I had had recently about the whole issue of Global Warming and it's subsequent effect on the planet. Of course, the comments and analysis are not new or unheard of, are they. We have all heard of the effects of Global Warming before. What drew my

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089731211122254192004-07-13T17:06:00.000+02:002004-07-13T17:50:48.570+02:00

The European Court of Justice struck down in a landmark ruling today a decision by EU finance ministers that had frozen deficit sanctions against France and Germany. The decision came after 18 months of bitter debate over whether to make the pact flexible in light of persistent economic weakness that have stretched the budgets of key EU members. The union's council of ministers, ignoring a

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089714795767946952004-07-13T12:00:00.000+02:002004-07-13T13:14:50.300+02:00

A piece of news which seems to have managed to avoid publication in most of the world press concerns the US planning to build a couple of new missile defence sites - here in Europe. The intention seems to be to build a huge missile facility in Poland with another in the Czech Republic.. The negotiations with the Czech Republic and Poland have been in progress for several months now - Polish

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089624619791024312004-07-12T10:00:00.000+02:002004-07-22T16:50:45.580+02:00

Cowboys & Iraqians I was reading an article on CNN about the arrest of 3 "American citizens" in Kabul last week. Nothing particularly unusual about that, apart from the fact that these US citizens were arrested for running a "fake prison" inside a private house in Kabul, close to the Intercontinental Hotel. A FAKE prison? Unbelievably (almost) these men had rented a house for the sole purpose of

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089363307152721582004-07-09T10:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:06:56.790+02:00

A highly important issue which will come to a head today surrounds the ruling by the International Court of Justice regarding the "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory". This is the infamous "West Bank Wall" that Israel has claimed it needs in order to protect itself from marauding, homeless Palestinians. The issue is of such world interest that

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089292918108814512004-07-08T15:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:07:19.486+02:00

At the risk of turning this into a Berlusconi blog (heaven forfend!) I am just adding to the saga of the growing portfolio of jobs that Berlusconi is trying to take upon himself. You read a couple of days ago that he has appointed himself Minister of Finance, with the 'resignation' of Giulio Tremonti over the weekend. The most likely cause being because of pressure put upon Berlusconi by his

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089191984902637422004-07-07T11:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:08:06.253+02:00

It seems that Mario Monti, Europe's competition commissioner, the man tipped for the role of Finance Minister in Berlusconi's ailing government, has made his decision now - and it's not good for Berlusconi. Well, it's not good for Berlusconi if you believe the version of events from Mario Monti, that is. His version is that he turned down the offer in order that he could continue working in

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089124673016805092004-07-06T16:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:08:31.936+02:00

It's strange how you come across things sometimes, isn't it. I was reading EUbusiness, looking at the latest reports on the financial situation with regards to the recent Italian plea for leniency (see item below) and came across this interesting litle item about France declaring that it could be the protector of Europe, seeing as it has a nuclear capability. Interesting, I thought. Especially

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089105134077830602004-07-06T11:00:00.000+02:002004-07-07T13:35:57.040+02:00

I was amazed to hear that Austrian Finance Minister Karl-Heinz Grasser said after Monday's meeting of EuroZone Finance Ministers: "Berlusconi is ambitious ............................. we trust him." With all the too-ing and fro-ing of the last week, where Italian Minister of the Economy, Giulio Tremonti, left the multi-party Italian Government - or did it leave him, I wonder - and il

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1089020252778684022004-07-05T11:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:09:07.493+02:00

30 years on.. We like to think of ourselves as humane, caring, responsible and as a beacon of compassion that all those strange people from other parts of the world should be following as an example for their own lives. So, how do we explain away what has happened and continues to happen on Diego Garcia, a small island in the Indian Ocean, part of the Chagos Archepelago, that used to be part of

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088770224703739392004-07-02T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:09:34.476+02:00

It doesn't take very long, once one is in Italy, to experience the excitement of crossing the road when faced with 50 massed scooter riders that don't give any sign of seeing any road signs, let alone complying with them. What makes it even more 'interesting' is the fact of most of the riders seem to be under the age of 16! Well, Italy has now decided to introduce and enforce (perhaps) a law to

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088677680657796192004-07-01T12:00:00.000+02:002004-07-12T14:09:55.610+02:00

But, the flag of what?Reading through the Guardian this morning, I was struck by a small cartoon at the bottom of the page by Austin, a regular contributor. A knight in armour, holding a banner showing the flag of St George. The dragon that St George is so famous for slaying is standing close by saying "That flag makes you look a bit of a loser". It got me thinking about the flag of St George

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088597416684323902004-06-30T14:10:00.000+02:002004-06-30T14:09:40.636+02:00

I guess spelling is off the agenda as well then.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088597226998847542004-06-30T14:00:00.000+02:002004-07-21T17:56:05.636+02:00

A terrible thing has just happened in Venice. An idiot, presumably either trying to make a name for himself in the league of the brainless, or in desperate need of urgent medical care, attacked a couple of the sculptures on the facade of the Redentore church in the very heart of Venice with a hammer. A hammer, for goodness sake. This idiot broke off the hands of St Francis, shattering them into

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088510097987701382004-06-29T13:54:00.000+02:002004-07-05T15:43:04.286+02:00

Who thinks that the English are a "Nation Apart" now?How the Celts were pushed out of the way and ended up in Wales, Cornwall and Brittany - possibly even in Euskadi.An interesting view on European Celtic history can be read here - I would only like to add that my own opinion as to the nature of the Celts in Britain is that they actually originate from the northern Celtic tribes, which are red,

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088504303386374742004-06-29T12:18:00.000+02:002004-06-29T12:22:00.736+02:00

Or shall we stay in our own little houses?

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088501250007048272004-06-29T11:23:00.000+02:002004-06-29T18:54:08.696+02:00

I was just reading an old story in the Guardian by Larry Elliott, the Guardian's economics editor, about Europe - the contention being that it isn't working. The story gives three possible reasons for working together in the single cohesive group that the EU is supposed to represent. The need to tackle the 'problem' of the USA - secondly, to deal with the 'problem' of US capitalism - thirdly

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088428976467226152004-06-28T15:22:00.000+02:002004-06-28T18:09:03.216+02:00

The boy done good - whowhat will he do next?

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088428373471200662004-06-28T14:33:00.000+02:002004-06-28T16:29:03.390+02:00

I've been taken to task somewhat over my comments about the England v Portugal match, which England lost during a penalty shoot-out after the match itself ended with a draw. The reason that I was criticised was because of my comments about the press attack on the match referee, Urs Meier, because he disallowed a 'goal' that English fans would have liked to have seen allowed. Well, enough to say

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088174306231046232004-06-25T16:38:00.000+02:002004-06-25T16:42:42.276+02:00

Selling like hotcakes too, I'm told....Some people will see a marketing opportunity everywhere, won't they!Just a shame he hasn't actually read it yet though!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088165116618703482004-06-25T14:05:00.000+02:002004-06-25T14:06:24.513+02:00

Confused? Umm? I just needed to 'ask a friend' how to kick a goal...

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088156036249173582004-06-25T11:32:00.000+02:002004-06-25T13:14:45.380+02:00

England are out of the Euro 2004 football competition. I'm sure you know that already - it's hardly news now, is it. But, the story continues nontheless. The match itself was pretty unremarkable up until the last, dying moments. A goal was disallowed by the Swiss referee because of the English players jostling and pushing the goalkeeper. Nothing new about that, is there. I mean, players push

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088069435231241682004-06-24T11:30:00.000+02:002004-06-24T11:32:27.166+02:00

..... For Himself!The UKIP visit Brussels to sign up for their Pensions.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1088069316322830232004-06-24T11:26:00.000+02:002004-06-24T18:09:36.246+02:00

It is always interesting to see how the British press handle the reporting of European Issues. The latest issue that should be of some interest and concern to Britain is the arrival in Brussels of the 12-strong contingent representing the UKIP party. You will recall that the UKIP are campaigning for the complete withdrawl of the UK from the EU. That is ALL they are campaigning for - nothing

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087978796559589472004-06-23T10:19:00.000+02:002004-06-23T17:59:08.656+02:00

Totti and Vieri share a moment together remembering Sardinia.Is this the end of two footballing careers? Probably not!A life on the Sardinian Costa Smeralda is hardly training for football, is it? But, hang on a minute there - the English team actually holiday train there as well! Gosh!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087978529223609772004-06-23T09:54:00.000+02:002004-06-23T10:54:38.766+02:00

No sooner is there someone (il Presidente del Consiglio, Silvio Berlusconi) complaining that his defeat in an open competition has been "rigged" by competitive 'players', than another conspiracy is announced with a claim by Italian soccer federation president, Franco Carraro, to excuse the failure of the Italian football team to get their act together and actually play football well enough to

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087908779496875812004-06-22T14:52:00.000+02:002004-06-22T16:46:48.326+02:00

This Voting paper is spoilt! Why has this voting paper got other people on it? It should only have ME on it! It's a fix - a swindle - a democracy......!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087908668386395502004-06-22T14:40:00.000+02:002004-06-22T15:03:58.933+02:00

Well, it had to happen, I suppose. Il Presidente del Consiglio, Silvio Berlusconi, has now claimed that the European Elections, where his party, Forza Italia, scored only 21% of the votes, was rigged. Yes, I'm being serious here - he (il Presidente del Consiglio, Silvio Berlusconi) is claiming that the left-wing political parties in Italy have it "in for me" and he has now claimed that some

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087903312162987632004-06-22T13:21:00.000+02:002004-06-22T15:34:39.710+02:00

The Duomo in Milano at nightThe Duomo as it would have been seen by the Japanese tourists if they had visited a couple of years ago.Photograph by Darren New 2001

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087902944419533632004-06-22T12:33:00.000+02:002004-06-22T14:17:44.300+02:00

I've seen claimed many times by various English visitors that Milano is a dead city as far as touristic entertainment is concerned. I would like to try and set the record straight here now. Last weekend was a so-called "White Night" weekend. That is when Milano opens itself up with it's shops open and entertainment, music and art of all kinds, available for everyone right through into the wee

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087828616674304252004-06-21T16:36:00.000+02:002004-06-22T15:35:20.146+02:00

Pull Your Finger Out.So, Jaques, you think that we should agree on right finger wagging, do you?

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087823493064688682004-06-21T15:09:00.000+02:002004-06-21T15:35:18.620+02:00

With the agreements reached in Brussels last Friday regarding the Constitution (Italiano o English), I felt I should just go over some of the issues and try to find some sense in the discussions and the Constitution itself. The moreextreme flag-waving British have always seen the rest of Europe as a bit of a serpant headed monster - fuelled by centuries of war and argument, perhaps a little

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087568539172616182004-06-18T16:22:00.000+02:002004-06-22T15:36:05.643+02:00

Where's the Chilled Foods Cabinet?Finding the coolest part of the Supermarket will be a new skill to be acquired....

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087568118743056822004-06-18T16:06:00.000+02:002004-06-18T16:54:22.253+02:00

Says Donato Greco, coordinator of the new anti-heat campaign" that has just been announced in Italy for the benefit and comfort of Italian pensioners this summer. An odd remark, but the context is just as odd. The plan is to take any pensioners of 65 or over, that are suitably registered with the appropriate authorities (I'm getting the hang of all this bureaucracy now!) and take them to local

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087567062402848682004-06-18T15:57:00.000+02:002004-06-22T15:37:50.396+02:00

Silvio feeling humble before the Union Flag. hahahaha!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087566731203246522004-06-18T15:46:00.000+02:002004-06-18T15:52:11.203+02:00

There! That's made us all feel much better, hasn't it! Just when we thought that il Presidente del Consiglio, Silvio Berlusconi was taking us for chumps by sending EVERY single mobile phone owner in Italy an SMS message to encourage them to vote (obviously not for himself! Heaven forbid the thought!) we now have the answer: The initiatives of the President to send a text message to inform voters

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087557436688088522004-06-18T13:17:00.000+02:002004-06-18T13:17:16.686+02:00

Big Brother - Reality has a new meaning.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087556184337774712004-06-18T12:46:00.000+02:002004-06-18T18:17:48.270+02:00

There is a huge furore in the UK at the moment about a TV show there called "Big Brother". Why, you may ask? Well, it seems that there was a fight on Wednesday night that resulted in the live feed being cut and the police called. What is going on there? They encourage the greed and ego-seeking side of human nature - then feed it with a mixture of alcohol and fame - then BINGO! - You have a scene

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087554352597369432004-06-18T12:25:00.000+02:002004-06-18T12:25:52.596+02:00

Not new news, I know, but I just noticed that my copy of the Europa Newsletter shows a photograph on the front cover of the attending Heads of State. Can you spot the missing one there? Is this significant, do you think?

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087553793326457432004-06-18T12:16:00.000+02:002004-06-18T12:16:33.326+02:00

Ahh! That's where he went! Copyright Steve Bell 2004

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087553096124954182004-06-18T12:04:00.000+02:002004-06-18T12:04:56.123+02:00

G8 member Heads of State shown together at the recent Summit held in Sea Island, Georgia, on the 8th and 9th June 2004.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087546574705914042004-06-18T09:53:00.000+02:002004-06-18T16:56:31.906+02:00

Is there always destined to be a power struggle between the French and the English in Europe? The recent history is, of course, fuelled by the UK row about the increasing growth of the UKIP - a splinter group whose stated intention is to remove the UK from the EU as quickly as possible. They have attracted a considerable number of what would probably have been Tory votes to elect Kilroy-Silk as

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087488629530497882004-06-17T18:10:00.000+02:002004-06-17T18:10:29.530+02:00

Copyright Steve Bell 2004, with acknowledgements.

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087482625494821712004-06-17T16:14:00.000+02:002004-06-18T16:57:22.460+02:00

Well, the Congressional Committee has presented it's preliminary report on the reasons for why the US attacked Iraq - and it isn't exactly what the Bush camp would have liked to read. "Bin Laden also explored possible co-operation with Iraq. Bin Laden is said to have requested space to establish training camps, as well as assistance in procuring weapons, but Iraq apparently never responded. We

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087481606426057952004-06-17T16:13:00.000+02:002004-06-17T16:13:26.426+02:00

The Congressional Report examining the reasons for the USA attacking Iraq will make uncomfortable reading for G W Bush - if he reads it, that is. 

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087480935209357332004-06-17T15:18:00.000+02:002004-06-17T16:10:04.606+02:00

No, I'm not about to launch into an "I hate Michael Fish" diatribe - even though the man does rather deserve all of the scorn that has been poured on him over the years - in my humble opinion, that is. No, this is as a result of a friend of mine in the UK telling me how sorry he is feeling for me due to the fact of the weather in the UK being so much warmer than it is here in Milano. What!? Can

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087401385336835272004-06-16T17:56:00.000+02:002004-06-16T17:56:25.336+02:00

Portugese police dealing with rioting English football fans last night in Albufeira. 

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087401168394653642004-06-16T17:37:00.000+02:002004-06-16T18:52:45.856+02:00

Another night in Portugal - another opportunity for English football 'fans' to cause even more aggressive mayhem there. They must surely realise that they are creating the situation where England will find itself banned from playing any matches in Europe, as was the case a few years ago. Tony Blair has weighed in with his statement about the 'fans' bringing "shame on our country" and further

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087395281341948312004-06-16T16:14:00.000+02:002004-07-01T16:38:04.810+02:00

This is the way that the blog that was actually appears on all of my computers here. Win2000, NT4, MacOS9, OSX - all identical. Refresh sorts it all out, however. Obviously it's a bit of a problem with Google as I've seen it on several blogs. I have a feeling that restricting the number of posts shown on the page before archiving helps. It's worth a go, anyway!

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244789.post-1087313226830458682004-06-15T17:27:00.000+02:002004-06-15T17:27:06.830+02:00

With apologies to Silvio..................or no? 

WelshmaninItalynoreply@blogger.com0