Image (“Pasha Berlusconi and His Harem, after François Gabriel Lepaulle”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
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Not since Louis XII seized Milan has there been such conflict between France and Italy. French Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal urged the public to stop eating Nutella, the chocolate hazelnut goo, to help prevent deforestation. Nutella is 20 percent palm oil, and palm plantations are often created by cutting down huge swaths of topical forests. Italy went into an uproar, since Nutella is made by Ferrero, the huge confectionery firm based outside Turin. Michele Anzaldi of the Camera dei Deputati was outraged by the grave e brutto slur against eccellenza italiana.
James Brown performed with Luciano Pavarotti on May 28, 2002 at a concert in the latter’s home town, Modena, Italy. The Godfather of Soul was 69 and Maestro Pavarotti was 67.
Each year from 1992 to 2003 the operatic tenor held “Pavarotti & Friends” concerts with guest performers from all musical genres to raise funds for people in need due to disaster or conflict, and this one benefited the people of war-torn Angola. Other guest performers included Andrea Bocelli, Grace Jones, Gino Paoli, Lou Reed, Sting, and Zucchero.
“It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” was written by Betty Jean Newsome and originally recorded by Mr. Brown in 1966.
A few days back, Pope Francis told an interviewer that he misses being able to go out for a pizza. When His Holiness visited Naples, known for its pizza, Enzo Cacialle of Pizzeria Don Ernesto handcrafted a special Papal pie, jumped a street barricade, and handed the pizza to Pope Francis in the Popemobile:
Image (“Berlusconi Seraglio, after Fernand Cormon”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
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“8 Things You May Not Know About Nutella,” Jessica Bloustein Marshall, Mental Floss
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Short Link: http://wp.me/p6sb6-jjC
Image (“Still Life with Pewter Jug and Nutella, after Cezanne”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length
Image (“Berlusconi Seraglio, after Fernand Cormon”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com
Comments are welcome if they are on-topic, substantive, concise, and not boring or obscene. Comments may be edited for clarity and length.
Appearing on television after an appeals court upheld his conviction on abuse of office sex offences bribery tax fraud, one of his many convictions, billionaire septuagenarian, football team owner, Bunga-Bunga Party host, one-time cruise ship crooner and disgraced former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi claimed he is being harassed by vengeful political enemies:
“Today’s sentence confirmed my belief that a part of the judicial authorities has become irresponsible”
“I have never been anyone’s silent partner, I have never devised any system of fiscal fraud, there have never been false invoices in the history of Mediaset, just like there are no hidden funds abroad that are linked to me or my family.”
“In exchange for the commitments I have made for my country over almost 20 years and now as I am coming to the end of my public life, I have been rewarded with accusations and a verdict that is founded on absolutely nothing, that takes away my personal freedom and my political rights.”
“Is this the Italy that we want? Is this the Italy that we love? Absolutely not.”
“You’ve graduated, but there’s no work
you have a masters, but there’s no work
and you’re left with only your imagination
wanting to buy a house, it’s agony, wanting a family, it’s crazy
but if you stop, there’s melancholy
Get up, find a way, keep on going, don’t stop
find a way, take a chance, your voice is strong, make it heard.”
— Mauro Durante
More:
“Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino and Music to Exorcise Financial Demons in Europe,” Betto Arcos, PRI’s The World
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