Dolce. Sweet. Puppies saved from the recent avalanche in Italy’s Gran Sasso region.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
MTM
Peeps, I am completely without words to express my sadness at the death of Mary Tyler Moore. I will process and write about it later. I wanted to write about Robbie Burns and many other things this week, but something more close to home has been taking my attention – my Significant Other had hip replacement surgery this morning. He is doing well, thankfully. But the day has been busy, so for now I will link back to my Burns post of exactly one year ago tonight. Mary would approve. She was a friend to the animals.
Barron Trump
I feel for the kid. He is obviously an introvert stuck in a family of extroverts – this was my situation as a child and teen, and it was very difficult. It was made worse by the fact that I was viciously bullied by a family member (who frequently got other family members to join in). I hope poor Barron at least gets support at home – I sense he does. His mother seems very good as do his sibs. But he is now being bullied from the outside. Very unfair. He did not ask for this. I hope people will leave him be, as Chelsea Clinton requested.
Always with the Fascism, these People
I love Italy, but no amount of love for it can help me deal with how easily one can find Fascist — and Nazi — paraphernalia at street markets and even in legitimate stores. It’s very disturbing. I’m not talking about people who might want to collect, say, vintage World War II items. That I can understand. I’m talking about things made today – Mussolini calendars, and lighters with Swastikas on them and so forth. Really icky.
Some examples:
From a liquor store in a trendy Roman ‘hood;
from that same store – yeah, sure, I’ll have some Chateau Adolf and a Barolo Benito;
from a store in a swanky part of Rome;
from a kiosk where they sell newspapers – who wouldn’t want a 2017 Mussolini calendar, with a ‘fascist songs/hymns’ CD?;
and the rest are from an open market in Perugia. This table was set up among the ones featuring cheeses and honey and crafts:
not really my taste, but I gather some might want it on their wall;
everyone’s fave anti-Semitic pope;
more mini-Benitos;
lighters that say “I’m a Nazi f**k”;
ashtrays, in case your guests aren’t merely Fascists, but also smokers!;
and still more wine with creepy labels.
And I left one out – check it out on my Instagram. We found it at a local fair in Umbria. Really would not want it on my mantelpiece.
Charlie Hebdo
The attacks started two years ago today. I say “started” because, of course, they continued at the Hyper Cacher a couple of days later. Here is a piece I wrote on the matter and on the left’s unfortunate need to calibrate and mitigate the crimes with “buts” and “what abouts” and all other manner of distraction.
Birthday
Today would have been my brother’s 68th birthday. I wrote about him here (on the anniversary of his death) and I won’t add much in this post, other than to say he would absolutely love this political climate – not the divisions or anger, but the vibrant, rebellious aspects. And it would be so great to have him to talk to about it. In his honour, I post two terrific columns about Obama’s disastrous legacy. Alan would agree with both of them! The first is from Lord Black; the second from John Robson.
Resolutions…or Not
I would say my list from last year could easily be repeated/continued, except for #14, which I accomplished and have absolutely no intention of doing again.
