desperate but not serious: it's Italy, believe it or not

Snow, schools and rugby

Signor Smith — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:52:00 +0000

I am writing this at 10: 45 am and there’s no sign of snow. Schools and public offices are closed, today and tomorrow. But the 6 Nations match between Italy and England is still on tomorrow at 4:00 pm .

Snow! In the name of love…

Signor Smith — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:39:20 +0000

Snow, again, over Rome. Tomorrrow 10 to 15 inches of snow are expected over Rome. Schools will be closed (5th of the last 7 days) and Corriere.it explain how it is “normal” that only 10% of public buses will be equipped with chains or snow tyres.

(Snow storm, I ain’t scared.. – says the sign)

Let it snow…

Signor Smith — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:12:43 +0000

Rome is covered in snow. A lot. 8 to 12 inches of snow is something quite extraordinary here, although the city must come to terms with the fact that snow is not witchcraft. It’s the 3rd winter in a row with some snow.

That is why sound grottesque the answer given to those that were asking why snowplows were not at work in the emergency: they weren’t equipped with snow tyres or snow chains.

speed of light

Signor Smith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:13:45 +0000

Today I have received a “raccomandata” sent from Gallarate (VA), few miles from Milan roughly 350 miles from where I live.

The letter was dated january 11th and was accepted by “posta raccomandata online” on january 13th. The service send the text to an office in the destination city, where it is printed and then phisically delivered to the destination address. This process took 12 days.

Gone, but not forgotten

Signor Smith — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:03:37 +0000

The “wanished ones” are a number of machines donated by FIAT for excavation in the aftermath of the L’Aquila earthquake that occurred in april 2009.

The 6 items, worth around 1.000.000,00 (1M) USd, were donated by FIAT to the “Protezione Civile” and then given to the NAtional Fire Departement to be given to the local FD. But they never made it there. Link

Up against the wall

Signor Smith — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:27:47 +0000

You just can’t put your adverts on the first free wall you find. You have to use the right places and pay the fees the City has set. Unless…

Unless you’re a political party. In that case you can take advantage of the exemption that the Parliament (i.e. the same political parties) has ruled, stating that the fine is reduced to a mere € 1.000,00 for every province. This means that the city of Milan – that was supposed to receive an estimate € 6.000.000,00 (yes, 6 millions euros) will have to be satisfied with less than a dozen thousands. And you still have more than 30 days to use…

It’s all true! And it has happened before…

openings vs maintenance

Signor Smith — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:28:54 +0000

Italian columnist Beppe Severgnini writes on Corriere della Sera about Italy and the cruise liner ashore at Giglio island…

Leo Longanesi – a perceptive Italian columnist, our H.L. Mencken – once wrote: “Gli italiani preferiscono l’inaugurazione alla manutenzione”- Italians prefer openings to maintenance. There is a lot of truth in this. It’s not a verdict, but a warning.

the full story is here.

Pretty in pink

Signor Smith — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:14:19 +0000

There is a public attention to women presence in the public life. In the italian political world, very old and 99,9% masculine, women are seldom used as an attraction for the election rather than an option for a different prospective.

So they came up with “Quote Rosa” or “Pink Share”, meaning with this that a certain percentage of candidates or member of a certain body must be women. So the Major of Rome had to dismiss the government that “rules” Rome, and that was questioned few times in the past for having only one woman.

The Major was afraid that the fore-coming court decision on this matter would have ruled against the city government. So he just dismissed the old “Giunta” and appointed a new one. With exactly the same people. Thus the court can’t rule anymore as “that” government ceased to exist yesterday, and if someone has (again) something against the new one has to file a new legal action.

link – link – link

billboard jungle

Signor Smith — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:30:00 +0000

It all started with an issue from The Guardian where Tom Kington wrote about advertising firms planting thousands of billboards across Rome.

The billboards are often erected along kerbs, towering over head height and obscuring bus stops and street signs. Recently a hoarding was put up so close to passing traffic on Via Tuscolana that a moped driver and his passenger were killed when they collided with it.

Rome’s mayor, Gianni Alemanno, a former neo-fascist elected on Silvio Berlusconi’s ticket in 2008, was forced to take notice when the head of Telecom Italia, one of Italy’s biggest advertisers, said he was so disgusted by the “jungle” of billboards that he was pulling all his street ads from the city.

Now we find out that Police is investigating more than 40 advertising company and the person head of the office that should have taken care of the scandal.

Ready? Go!

Signor Smith — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:29:32 +0000

The City of Rome has asked to be chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Mr. Gianni Petrucci, Italian Olympic Committee Chief, showed yesterday the bid to the new italian government, stressing how useful this would be to boost the whole country’s economy.

Rome hosted the 2009 Swimming World Championship. The event was hosted in the “old” Foro Italico area (refurbished for the occasion) as the new “City of Sport” (in Torvergata) wasn’t finished yet. And still isn’t today.

Sports City is scheduled for completion in time for the World Swimming Championships, to be hosted by Rome in 2009.

The 2009 event (with no new swimming pools built) ended with a 12,7 M euros loss, in a little bit more than 2 weeks of championship.