Just found a brilliant activity for teaching moments at A-level. You can find it at http://www.revisingphysics.com/. You then click on “A-level”, then “The Italian Job”. You need to watch the end sequence of the original version of the film. Luckily there is a Youtube clip to this on the revisingphysics.com site (under “Physics on Film” in the A-level section). The worksheet then poses two questions; a moments question to work out the position of the centre of gravity of the people and then a “discuss” style question to figure out a solution to the problem.

This is a brilliant activity for A-level students as it takes an otherwise dry topic and really makes it fun. Couple this the experiment to find the centre of gravity of a person laying on a plank (think it’s an old Nuffield experiment) and you have a really good (may I say outstanding!?) A-level lesson!

I had just watched the Italian job film with my boyfriend and it got me thinking about the cars. I wasn’t swayed by the fact a celebrity was driving it (I’m not that sad) but it did make me think twice! I found a red Fiat Grande Punto in Ashford as well yesterday, and i have to admit i was pleasantly surprised. You sat in it and almost forgot it was a Fiat. It was the perfect little hatch with a decent engine. I think I’ll be probing my sister to get one as her first car. She desperately needs one that’s safe, reliable and built well as she’s not the best driver around.

Harry Brown premiered Tuesday night and I managed to go and see it last night. There had been a lot of hype about this release, not just from the media, but also from friends of mine who had managed to see it before I had.
BOY, does it live up to its expectations, I loved it.

Here is the trailer;

The star of the film is obviously Michael Caine, known particularly for his lead in the original “The Italian Job”. He is supported by younger, perhaps more urban actors, such as Ben Drew (aka Plan B) and Jack O’Connell (Skins, Eden Lake, This is England).

The soundtrack is by Chase and Status, with Plan B. The video does a decent job of summing up the film;

It follows an elderly man (Caine), going vigilante on a London estate gang of kids (Drew, O’Connell) fighting ofr justice of his friend Leonard, who was murdered by the gang.

He finds himself in all kinds of situations you wouldn’t expect a man of his age to be in, and mixes with some very odd characters.

I don’t want to say a lot more because I do not want to give away the plot. All I can say is that it is one of the best films to come out this year, certainly the best British production. Caine delivers one of his best performances.

I will most definitely buy this on DVD when it comes out, and I very much suggest you go down to the cinema and watch this beast. If you like the music I blog, and crime/thriller movies, this is definitely for you.

Peace out.

Anyone who’s seen the Italian Job will remember the famous high-speed Mini car chase through the streets of Turin as the gang try to escape after robbing the bank. Now whilst most people are happy to watch the film from the comfort of their sofa, other, crazy people, want to act it out for real. Well if you’re one of these crazies there’s actually a charity which can fulfill your dreams! The Italian Job charity runs a car rally each year to raise money for children’s charities, allowing enthusiasts to have “a Mini adventure” driving for 10 days through some of the most spectacular scenery Europe has to offer.

The charity has raised over £2 million for children’s charities since it was launched,  and this year’s event, which ran between  19th-31st October, was even more special it marked the 20th anniversary of the tour, the 40th anniversary of the iconic 1969 Italian Job film and, of course, the 50th anniversary of Mini. The tour started in Rome and finished in London’s Kensington Gardens

So if you fancy a “holiday with a difference” next year, you could get involved with the Italian Job charity. Unlike your counterparts in the film, there’ll be no trying to outrun the local police by escaping across  weirs, through sewage pipes or crowded city centre streets (sorry!) But you might be able drive on the roof of the famous Fiat Lingotto Roof top test track which appeared in the 1969 film, and maybe even on the Grand Prix circuit of Monza! And rather than stealing gold, you’ll be trying to raise as much money as possible. Again, sorry. But, hey, at least you won’t get arrested!

You do need to own a Mini (or have access to one) to take part, so if you don’t – get down to your local Mini dealer and buy one! But here’s a little trivia fact for you – Michael Caine didn’t have his driving licence when the movie was filmed – he’s always seen in the passenger seat.

And just to remind yourself why it’s the coolest British film ever – here’s a little treat for you:

It was just one week ago (this very moment!) that I was driving home from the airport, fresh (or fatigued, depending on your outlook) from my first visit to the beautiful, exasperating, exciting, strange and wonderful county of Italia, a whirlwind week of food, art, history, and friendship.  As if the jet lag wasn’t enough, we made sure we wore ourselves out, drinking in (literally and figuratively…I still don’t know how I functioned each morning after the wonderful bottle or so of wine I polished off every dinner) everything we could in the short time we had.  Our motto: Do it now, process it later.

I live in Southern Ontario, not exactly Hollywood North (although a fair bit of filmmaking does take place in Toronto and isolated areas) so when I see my environs captured on celluloid, it’s usually Anyplace, U.S.A. over top of places familiar to me with all the requisite flag and sign changes.  I can still however, scream and point as I see these poorly disguised landmarks in movies like Short Circuit, To Die For and Dawn Of the Dead (shot in the mall I used to work at and okay, I simply screamed in pain at Short Circuit).  But here was a country so steeped in history, so utterly familiar to those who have never been there that the very names conjure up vivid images, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pompeii, the Colosseum, mozzarella, pizza, Michelangelo.  And so I found in my travels that so much of what I was seeing in person revived memories of movies both recent and long forgotten.  It seemed as though each sight, taste or smell elicited a film flashback  and so I will give a day-by-day reminisce, mingled with the movies brought to mind.

Day One: Rome (the airport at least)-Flying into Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, a suburb of Rome, I was reminded of the opening scenes of Avanti!, the Billy Wilder-directed Jack Lemmon comedy about an American businessman wrested from his golf-and-martini life to fly to Italy to facilitate the shipping of his father’s body back Stateside, even as he is engulfed by ‘amore’.  The opening scenes are the pilot’s view of the approach to Da Vinci Airport and I looked out the small window over the wing (why does it seem I’m always over the wing?) at the vast sprawl of suburban Rome, feeling somewhat more excited about the prospect than Jack Lemmon did.  As I climbed into my tiny Fiat Grande Punto and raced down the Autostrade on the 3 1/2 hour journey to our hotel, I felt at times like Matt Damon racing through the countryside in The Italian Job or one of the Bourne movies, until my wife told me to slow down or the GPS bleated its insistence that I was in fact speeding.  We arrived at our hotel, jet-lagged and apprehensive about this strange new country.

Day Two: Paestum-A mere four kilometres from our hotel (although the guide book said one kilometre so we decided to ditch the car and get a taste of the countryside…boy, did we ever) is the ancient Greek town of Poseidonia, which the Romans later named Paestum, where lay what most historians consider the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world.  Beyond the quiet humility I felt as I thought about my relative insignificance in the long dance of history that played out on this plain, I also felt awed as I envisioned a 40-foot-high Laurence Olivier sitting in the enormous temple of Zeus in the Ray Harryhausen ‘classic’, Clash Of the Titans.  But what I was most reminded of, sadly, was the movie that played on the plane the day before, the latest Nia Vardalos fiasco, My Life In Ruins.  The (unfunny) story of a Greek tour guide finding romance with the hunk bus driver while showcasing the beauty of Greece, I was saddened for a fleeting second by the thought of the wasted potential of Vardalos, who wrote and starred in the wonderful My Big Fat Greek Wedding then squandered that with Connie and Carla and this latest dreck.  Fortunately, the glory of my surroundings woke me from this sad reverie.  After our sojourn at the ruins, we stopped for our first lunch in a small bar/gelateria (a bar in Italy is the North American equivalent to a coffee shop) and it was here that one of the real differences between Europe and North America becomes most evident, the food.  In North America, we have a philosophy that more and bigger is better.  Grocery stores have become supercentres with several dozen varieties of, well, everything.  Buffets are ubiquitous, obesity is on the rise and processed is the word of the day.  In Europe, however, they still seem to take pride in their food, both growing and making it.  Everywhere we went, from the wonderful hotel restaurant to the Autogrill, Italy’s expressway rest stop, the food was terrific and made with care from fresh ingredients.  Virtually every local pizzeria featured what I would term ‘artisan’ food.  Which leads me to…

Day Three: Rome-We rose at 4:30 for the 3 1/2 hour drive back to Rome.  I know, “Why are you driving all the way back to Rome?”, you ask.  Well, you see, we had tickets for a papal audience at the Vatican at 10:30 and I had never driven in Rome proper so I wanted to get there in plenty of time, for that as well as REAL reason for the trip back, a 12:45 appointment at the top of the Spanish Steps to have our wedding vows renewed (yes, I’m such a romantic)!  Well, we made great time (again, Italian Job) and it seemed, as we approached the outskirts of Rome and the GPS informed us that we had a half hour to drive just 13 kilometres to reach our exact destination, that we were on the cusp of possibly the greatest day of our lives and everything was falling into place.  Then we hit the famed Rome traffic jam, five packed lanes as far as the eye could see!

(In the spirit of my beloved serials)…What dastardly deed had the populace of Rome foisted on our hapless hero and his blushing bride-to-be (sort of)?  Would they make it to their appointment with destiny?  Are their upcoming nuptials in jeopardy?  Would the marriage be consummated (okay, ewww..)?  Find out in the next spellbinding chapter of From Italy With Love or My Week In Italy Through Film at this theatre next week (or whenever I get the rest done)!

Come promesso, ieri sera in un’intervista a Sky TG 24, da Richard Beeston, caporedattore degli Esteri del Times, il quotidiano britannico pubblica stamane due articoli, sulla pratica dei pagamenti ai comandanti talebani per conservare la stabilità nelle zone controllate dagli eserciti. Le fonti citate, che a loro volta si basano su dei “sentito dire”, sembrerebbero mettere gli Americani nella posizione di chi era a conoscenza di una pratica, che di per sé non appare condannabile. E la domanda che ci si pone è la seguente: è una pratica diffusa, utilizzata anche da altri eserciti? è possibile che i Francesi non ne sapessero niente? che neanche sospettassero che la pace potesse essere acquistata a suon di denari? Sono veramente responsabili gli Italiani della “imboscata” in cui persero la vita 10 soldati francesi?

Intanto, in attesa di come risponderà il governo francese alle richieste fatte dall’opposizione, e magari se si potesse avere la conferma dell’Ambasciatore USA circa la protesta fatta all’epoca al governo italiano, ecco cosa scrive il Times, con un articolo il cui titolo, manco a dirlo, è

The Italian Job

From The Times, October 17, 2009

La guerra, disse Clausewitz, è la continuazione della politica con altri mezzi. Il Times di questa settimana ha parlato di una strategia politica distinta, adottata dall’Italia nella guerra in Afghanistan. Ufficiali italiani dell’intelligence hanno pagato somme, ammontanti a decine di migliaia di dollari, ai Talebani in cambio di protezione. Il patto era che nessuna delle due parti avrebbe attaccato.

Quando gli Italiani furono rimpiazzati dalle truppe francesi nel distretto di Sarubi in Afghanistan, l’anno scorso, i nuovi arrivati erano convinti di svolgere una missione a basso rischio, in quanto c’era stato un solo incidente capitato agli Italiani l’anno precedente. Ma gli Italiani hanno dimenticato di parlare dei pagamenti. Nel giro di un mese dal loro arrivo, furono uccisi dieci soldati francesi, e 21 ne furono feriti in un attacco talebano.

Il governo italiano ha fermamente smentito il nostro rapporto, inclusa la nostra affermazione secondo cui l’Ambasciatore U.S.A. aveva inoltrato una lamentela formale circa i pagamenti italiani agli insorti locali della provincia di Herat. L’opposizione in Francia ora ha chiesto delle spiegazioni, e dovrebbe riceverle. Noi restiamo senza riserve dalla parte del nostro servizio. Dalla sua pubblicazione, un comandante talebano e due alti ufficiali afghani hanno confermati che questa strategia era usata dalle forze italiane, in questa ed in altre regione afghane.

La strategia italiana è scandalosa. E’ importante chiarire come e perché. Il famoso detto di Clausewitz, spesso viene frainteso. La politica a cui si riferiva il grande pensatore militare si riferiva non solo agli obiettivi perseguiti da uno Stato, ma anche alle condizioni esterne nell’ambito delle quali tali obiettivi vengono perseguiti. E l’adattamento degli obiettivi alle limitazioni, fa parte di qualunque strategia militare che aspiri ad avere successo.

I risultati della coalizione guidata dagli Stati Uniti in Iraq, hanno cominciato a cambiare a partire dal 2006 quando fu nominato un nuovo comando militare che aveva profondamente ripensato le strategie per avere successo nel contrastare gli insorti. La nuova strategia riconosceva che i successi politici non potevano essere attinti se prima non si ristabiliva la sicurezza a Baghdad e nelle aree circostanti. Smuovendo i livelli delle truppe alleati, i comandanti della coalizione deliberatamente cercarono quegli elementi locali considerati più docili facendo loro delle offerte. Questa strategia mirava a rompere l’insieme delle forze, già fortemente eterogeneo, lasciando indietro i rimanenti gruppi di irriducibili Islamisti e fanatici di Baath.

Si trattava di un rischio calcolato. E funzionò. Al Quaeda ne rimase seriamente danneggiata e perse dei santuari importanti, a Baghdad ed Anbaar. Invece di dominare il paese, i jihadisti stranieri girarono i tacchi e fuggirono via. E’ questo il risultati di cui l’Afghanistan ha bisogno, per il bene del popolo e della sicurezza in Occidente. E’ ragionevole, e anche previdente, che le forze di coalizione usino i mezzi economici per sconfiggere il nemico islamico. Tale approccio sarebbe coerente con l’osservazione del Generale Stanley McChrystal, il comandante Nato, per cui la coalizione deve operare in modo da minimizzare i danni.

Ma è pericoloso e irresponsabile che una nazione della coalizione persegua una strategia unilaterale, senza consultare i suoi alleati. La campagna contro i rivoltosi è un’operazione collettiva, condotta tramite la Nato, con lo scopo di dare sicurezza alla collettività . E’ prevedibile che si facciano contrattazioni sul luogo. Per quanto immorali possano apparire ai puristi, sono comunque preferibili a singoli attacchi militari che inavvertitamente uccidono e feriscono dei civili, facendo guadagnare ai rivoltosi l’appoggio della pubblica opinione.

Gli accordi negoziati a livello locale non possono essere accordi fatti in sede separata, in ogni caso. Questo porta al disaccordo tra Alleati, allo scompiglio e alle morti inutili. C’è un’accusa rivolta alla strategia italiana in Afghanistan. Il governo di Berlusconi deve rispondere.

Vai all’articolo originale  

Le fonti citate dal Times, a sostegno delle sue tesi di cui sopra, sarebbero le seguenti

Gli USA ammettono di aver affrontato gli Italiani sulla questione dei pagamenti ai Talebani

From Times Online, October 17, 2009, Tim Reid in Washington

Il Governo USA ha ammesso per la prima volta, ieri, che il pagamento in cambio di protezione, fatto ai Talebani dalle forze italiane in Afghanistan è stata materia di discussione tra ufficiali americani e italiani, l’anno scorso.

Un alto ufficiale americano ha confermato, due giorni dopo che il Times ha scritto del pagamento da parte delle autorità italiane per finanziare le bustarelle, che “l’argomento [ei pagamenti] è stato affrontato con gli Italiani”.

L’ufficiale non può confermare né negare che la rappresentazione, al governo Berlusconi, abbia preso la forma di una lamentela o di protesta diplomatica, ma gli ufficiali Nato hanno detto al Times che tale lamentela fu fatta a Roma dagli Americani l’anno scorso.

Il pagamento di soldi da parte degli Italiani fu rivelato dopo la morte di dieci soldati francesi, nell’agosto del 2008 per mano di una grande forza talebana a Sarubi, ad est di Kabul. Le forze francesi avevano preso il distretto dalle mani degli Italiani, ma non erano al corrente dei pagamenti segreti fatti dagli Italiani ai comandanti locali, per fermare gli attacchi, e così giudicarono male i livelli di rischio.

Il giorno dopo al report del The Times, un comandante talebano e due ufficiali afghani hanno anche detto che le forze italiane avevano fatto accordi per prevenire attacchi alle loro truppe.

Bruce Riedel, già capo della politica afghana del Presidente Obama quest’anno, ora non più membro dell’Amministrazione, ha detto al Times che aveva sentito di affermazioni a proposito di pagamenti italiani durante un viaggio a Parigi, l’ultima settimana di settembre. Un imprenditore con legami stretti con il governo francese gli aveva detto che gli Italiani stavano pagando i Talebani e “avevano dimenticato di dircelo”, ha detto Riedel.

Roma ha rabbiosamente negato il report. “Il governo Berlusconi non ha mai autorizzato né permesso alcuna forma di pagamento ai membri della sommossa talebana”, ha detto l’ufficio del primo ministro.

Ignazio La Russa, Ministro della Difesa, insiste che le accuse “sono assolutamente spazzatura”. Ma l’opposizione francese ha chiesto spiegazioni urgenti al Parlamento, descrivendo il fatto come “molto serio”.

Ieri, Hervé Morin, ministro della difesa francese, ha detto che l’idea che un esercito paghi i Talebani per non attaccare le truppe, è contro la dottrina militare tradizionale. Ha aggiunto: “Non ho ragione di mettere in dubbio la parola del governo italiano”.

Anche il Canada è stato costretto a negare i resoconti sul pagamento fatto ai nemici in Afghanistan per mantenere la pace. Un servizio telefonico stranieri ha citato una fonte dell’esercito afghano secondo cui i soldati canadesi nella provincia di Kandahar pagava gli insorti.

“Non ho mai sentito di alcun tipo di pagamento fatto dalle nostre truppe per stare al sicuro”, ha detto il Tenente Colonnello Chris Lemay, portavoce della spedizione canadese.

Vai all’articolo originale

Weekly travel news from the papers for week ending 3rd October 2009. Our apologies for being a little late this week.

Vineyeards in Francve, native american eco villages and Glamping, yes GLAMPING!

A new glamping experience combines a county house setting and the feel of an explorer’s camp with grown-up luxuries

Source: The Guardian

20 frivolous ways to spice up your holidays from the Times including Drive the Italian Job!

Join the Self Preservation Society on the Italian Job rally, an annual charity event that puts you and your Mini on the Adria raceway circuit and the Lingotto rooftop test track, featured in the 1969 film. The 2009 event takes place October 19-31; entry costs £500 per team, and you should aim to raise £1,500 in sponsorship for the children’s charity KidsOut. Register at italianjob.com or call 01273 418100. If you haven’t got a Mini, you can rent one from coolcars4hire.co.uk; prices start at £325 a week. You won’t be allowed to drive through any sewers in Turin, though.

Nature and Nurture in New Zealand is a featured article in the Independent…

A decent slosh of rain has done wonders for the local plants. Tane Mahuta is in fact the largest remaining example of New Zealand’s ancient kauri trees, and it, or rather he, rises near the centre of Waipoua, a sub-tropical rainforest. Slow-growing, reaching immense heights and ages, these giants were once found throughout the northern part of the country. However, their strong, flexible timber meant that they were particularly prized by European settlers, who swiftly set about chopping down as many as possible and turning them into boats, houses and furniture.

A interesting piece in the Mirror about Cyprus and a reference to Zorba…

It’s when you stray off the beaten track – by accident or by design – that you discover the real essence of a place.

And, if you’re in Cyprus, you might even bump into Zorba.

That’s my name for a grizzled, larger-than-life man who instantly reminded me of the main character in the memorable Hollywood film starring Anthony Quinn.

So there we have it, the weekly travel news

The villawarehouse.com admin team

You have no idea how stoked I am to see this movie. Michael Caine is one of the most stylish yet badass actors there is. Currently he’s best known for his role in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, but some of you might know his younger more sophisticated roles from the likes of Alfie, The Italian Job and Get Carter. Harry Brown reminds me of Gran Torino minus the racial slurs but with more violence. Plot goes old man doesn’t like the youth, friend dies, avenges friend and upholds beliefs. To be honest, I’m not really worried about the artistic value of the film since I’ll get to see Caine kick ass again.

Amo l’Italia. Sfruttando quello che il nostro paese offre, si potrebbe stare tutti benissimo. Cultura, agricultura, risorse umane. Un bengodi. Invece no. Una ragazza che mi raccontava la sua esperienza di lavoro in un paese del nord Europa osservava che la differenza sostanziale tra li e qui e che li a nessuno viene in mente di fregare lo Stato. Perchè lo Stato sono i cittadini, ovviamente. Che senso ha rubare a se stessi? eppure da noi succede a livello capillare. La rassegnata  risposta è: “non c’è nulla da fare, siamo in Italia”. Inutile protestare, inutile chiedere rimborsi, inutile. Si viene derisi, umiliati, come se si violasse un patto di solidarieta: oggi a me, domani a te. Che rabbia.  Lungi da me trasformare questo ludico trastullo che è il Filo in un pesantone sito di denuncia del piffero, ma oggi mi è arrivato questo articolo riguardante la più benevolmente accettata malattia d’Italia, la raccomandazione senza merito, ed in più ho assistito a un piccolo espisodio, una stupidaggine, ma che mi ha fatto riflettere. Per andare dalla stazione Termini a Roma all’areoporto di Fiumicino c’è un treno. Il percorso è breve, ma ovviamente il prezzo del biglietto è esoso (11 euri per una corsa). I treni sono quelli standard: marci, puzzosi, senza aria condizionata e strapieni di gente. Al binario di Termini, però, c’ è un elegante controllore, con tanto di baracchino, che alla richiesta degli stranieri di controllare se hanno il biglietto giusto, annuisce. Lungi da lui, però, dire ai suddetti ignari turisti innamorati dell’Italia (“dove il tempo si è fermato”) che il biglietto va obliterato. Siccome non è costume di tutti i paesi (in Inghilterra si fa, in Spagna no, ad esempio), alcuni non lo sanno. Ebbene, una zelante controllora oggi  ha fatto cinque o sei multe nel mio vagone a stranieri che col trenino stavano lasciando felici l’EternaRoma, vanto del Belpaese (dove si suona). Dopo essere stati rapinati da albergatori, ristoratori, negozianti, ecc. ecc. ci mancavano le FS. Si, c’è un regolamento, ma avro visto mille volte nella mia trentennale carriera di pendolare, i controllori lasciar perdere di fronte alle allegre compagnie di vecchietti chiassoni che regolarmente si dimenticano di timbrare il biglietto prima di salire sul garrulo trenino della Valsugana o meglio ancora incappando nell’italioto stentato dei tanti extracomunitari che tra i vari diritti hanno acquisito, come noi locali, quello di fare gli gnorri su certe regole. Sulla linea con cui vado al lavoro, salgono regolarmente decine di zingari che chiedono l’elemosina, fatto che non mi tocca in alcun modo, ma che si fanno un bel pezzo di viaggio, ovviamente senza biglietto. Che differenza c’è tra me e loro se entrambi usufruiamo dello stesso servizio? Ebbene, la sfortunata ragazza spagnola di fronte a me (che il salato biglietto ce l’aveva)  stamattina ha dovuto sborsare, come i suoi colleghi di vagone, 50 euri che la bigliettaia con un inglese fluente (segno evidente che è abituata a fare il discorsetto di continuo) giustificava con una violazione dell’Undicesimo Comandamento (non truffare le FS) sottolineando che dietro il biglietto, a caratteri microscopici, c’è scritto di timbrare.  Cosa che il suo collega di terra si è ben guardato dal dire alla ragazza e agli altri che chiedevano se il ticket era quello giusto. Io la chiamo associazione a delinquere a fini di stupidità, specialmente in un paese che potrebbe vivere solo di turismo. Come altre volte, mi sono vergognata di essere italiana.

Ben più grave è questa storia desolante (grazie a Massimo per la segnalazione)

Ingaggiato dal Miur per essere imparziale e poi bersagliato da raccomandazioni

ROMA – Claudio Fiocchi è un medico ricercatore nato a Roma, laureato in Brasile e residente da molti anni negli Stati Uniti. Per conto del ministero italiano dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca avrebbe dovuto dare il suo giudizio su un paio di progetti scientifici. E sulla base di questo giudizio il Miur avrebbe poi deciso se finanziarli o no. Ma il professor Fiocchi questo giudizio non se l’è sentita di darlo: pochi giorni dopo aver accettato l’incarico, gli sono piovute addosso insistenti richieste “di una decisione favorevole” e “del più alto voto possibile”. Tentativi di raccomandazione, insomma. Malgrado la garanzia avuta dal ministero sul mantenimento del suo anonimato. Una storia “forse fin troppo comune da voi”, commenta con amarezza Fiocchi. Ma per lui, che partecipa da tempo alla valutazione dei progetti dei National Institutes of Health Usa, sulla base dei quali vengono assegnati i fondi federali, queste pressioni non sono affatto normali, tanto che alla fine ha deciso di declinare l’incarico, “con disgusto”, “ma anche con molta tristezza”. E di raccontarlo a Repubblica: “Forse quando verrò in Italia molti colleghi non mi saluteranno. Ma molti mi diranno che ho fatto bene”. Fiocchi lavora come ricercatore nel campo delle malattie digestive al Cleveland Clinic Foundation Lerner Research Institute. “Per via della mia attività di base – spiega – da molto tempo sono coinvolto nel sistema “peer-review” dei National Institutes of Health, che assegnano i fondi del governo federale basandosi esclusivamente sul valore intrinseco delle proposte scientifiche, che sono esaminate da comitati composti da vari ricercatori, i “pari” della persona che richiede fondi per la ricerca. Inoltre, partecipo anche a “review systems” in vari altri Paesi, tra questi l’Italia”. Nel luglio di quest’anno infatti il professor Fiocchi ha ricevuto dal Miur la richiesta di verificare la validità di alcuni progetti scientifici. “Le faccio notare che l’ultimo paragrafo di quest’invito – rileva il ricercatore – dichiara che il processo deve essere condotto in ’stretta confidenza’ e che la persona che accetta di fare la valutazione deve aderire a ‘principi di etica e confidenzialità’”. Giusto. Peccato che appena “una settimana dopo aver accettato di valutare uno dei progetti”, racconta il professore, “ho ricevuto un paio di email da parte degli stessi ricercatori del progetto che avrei dovuto valutare, nelle quali dichiaravano che erano consapevoli del compito assegnatomi, e mi chiedevano non solo una decisione favorevole, ma anche il voto più alto possibile per garantire che ricevessero i fondi”. Ma i ricercatori italiani vanno anche oltre, e cercano gli amici degli amici: “Passati pochi giorni un mio ex-fellow (allievo, ndr) italiano, che ha studiato nel mio laboratorio negli Stati Uniti, è stato contattato al telefono e sollecitato perché intercedesse presso di me”. A questo punto Fiocchi non ne può più: “Faccio questo lavoro da molti anni, e non mi era mai successo. Oltre che negli Stati Uniti ho lavorato per il Cile, l’Argentina, l’Australia”. Così decide di scrivere al Miur per declinare l’incarico, spiegandone dettagliatamente le ragioni: “Avevo accettato di essere un valutatore di questo progetto – si legge nella lettera inviata il 5 agosto all’ufficio Prin del Miur – ma circostanze recentemente emerse mi forzano a lasciare l’incarico”. Il professore enumera i “contatti indesiderati”, quindi conclude: “Considerando i conflitti di interesse ed i problemi etici creati da queste circostanze, non mi resta che rifiutare di valutare il progetto. Infine, devo confessare che è con disgusto ma anche molta tristezza che prendo questa decisione”. Una lettera amarissima. Che a tutt’oggi, oltre un mese dopo, non ha ricevuto alcuna risposta: “Un messaggio di questo genere avrebbe scatenato una tempesta immediata di telefonate e inchieste al NIH e tutti quelli coinvolti sarebbero stati chiamati a deporre. Nulla di questo succederà in Italia, sono sicuro, e io probabilmente sarò silenziosamente sostituito da un valutatore più malleabile e amichevole”. Forse è già successo. E il professor Fiocchi si chiede con molta onestà cosa farebbe al posto dei suoi colleghi italiani: “Sono perfettamente cosciente che se lavorassi in Italia non so come mi comporterei”. Però, certo, “che farsa richiedere ai valutatori di aderire strettamente ai principi di etica che sono poi ignorati da quelli che hanno creato e gestiscono il sistema”. E com’è triste che “la corruzione e mentalità mafiose dominino anche le menti ‘nobili’ dei ricercatori, che dovrebbero invece essere usate per fare la miglior ricerca possibile e vincere per merito proprio, ammesso che la meritocrazia esistesse in Italia”. Nella vicenda c’è perfino un aspetto “comico”. L’incarico di valutare i progetti, spiega Fiocchi, viene dato dal Miur prevalentemente a “ricercatori fuori dall’Italia per migliorare la qualità e, purtroppo, l’onestà del ‘review system’ italiano”. Come dire: non ci si può fidare dei valutatori italiani, quindi assumiamo quelli stranieri, che sono più seri. Salvo poi fare in modo che vengano subissati da raccomandazioni, proprio come quelli italiani.

Creator/writer of Z-Cars, Edge of Darkness (BBC), The Italian Job, Kelly’s Heroes, Colditz, The Sweeney and Reilly, Ace of Spies, Troy Kennedy Martin died yesterday of liver cancer at the age of 77.

For cult TV fans his 80s sci-fi/eco-thriller Edge of Darkness is probably what he will be best remembered for and the film version, starring Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone, helmed by it’s original BBC director Martin Campbell (Goldeneye, The Mark of Zorro, Casino Royale) is in post-production and due for release next year.

Guardian Report

Our podcast about The Italian Job can be listened to here.

For the last couple of days I’ve been kind of fixated in putting my family tree back up on the web.  I had it all on Ancestry.com, together with photos, and then in some kind of fit of pique one day I removed it all, meaning only to rely on my home ‘tree’ and not continue to fill the coffers of Ancestry.  (Yeah, I know, I was being hasty and silly.  I get like this once in a while).  Well I’m paying for that decision now.  My brother showed an interest in the tree on his recent visit and really by far the simplest way to show it all to him, together with pretty pics, is to load it all back onto Ancestry….not to mention the ability to both expand the tree and potentially connect with long lost relatives.

So that’s me.  That’s where I’ve been and am likely to continue to be for a few days.

I just took a break from it all to post a Friday video.  You know how some film and TV phrases seem to sink into the national psyche and get used over and over?  This is a very short clip from the original ‘Italian Job’ (another all-time favourite of mine).  I had been looking for the scene with Noel Coward where his character of Mr Bridges says: ’someone’s broken into my toilet’  in that wonderful plummy, clipped voice of his.  Instead I came across this much-loved and much-used phrase in our house when anything goes totally belly up:

Now, to come up with a top ten ain’t easy. But as a franchise, there’s only so many. So here’s the best of the best according to this Fireballed opinion. See these one after the other, and in that way, you get to get as totally sick as possible… leading to taking the next day off from work …and watch the next franchise. (See how I just figured that out? I’m just so cool that way.)

What was I saying? …Oh, yea. Bar none, the best Action Genoirs of our time. Is Genoir a word? No. But I don’t care, so here we go…

NUMBER 10 – ITALIAN JOBBERS

Minis on a Mission. Fun to watch, (not so much Walberg). They used 90 MINIs in this film to catch all that action. And screwed up all 90. Yea, nice.

NUMBER 9 – GONE IN 60 SECONDS’EZ

Mustangs leaping. No sense whatsoever, but enough crashes and complete destruction to keep you re-filling you chip bowl. And her name was Eleanor. Nice.

NUMBER 8 – FAST AND REALLY, REALLY MAD

Young people ruining the city,… um, cities, in every way possible. Plus, girls everywhere. Oh, and girls. Did I mention girls? Nice…………. girls.

NUMBER 7 – MATRIXES

Dark, dreary, sexy, fast and rubber. Both on the cars and on Trinity. Plus, enough CG to have a Cardiac Arrest. A CG Cardiac Arrest, of course. Nice.

NUMBER 6 – TRANSPORTERS

Cars, Karate, a nasty girl with machine guns and no clothes. Yup, that’s a movie for us. Oh, and really silly over-the-top chases that make no sense. Nice.

NUMBER 5 – BOURNES

Gritty, fast, mind-blowing chases with hardcore brutal endings. No punches pulled here, just the raw real deal. Ouchy. Oh,…. nice.

NUMBER 4 – JIMMY BONDS

Every kind of chase in just about every kind of car. Fun, exciting and full of Bond. James Bond. Always leaves you shaken, not stirred. Nice.

NUMBER 3 – MAD MAXED

Lots of room in the outback to fully destroy any car, truck, bike or any moving object. Super cool cars, cool badass bad guys and dust. Lots of dust. Ni… cough, Nice.

NUMBER 2 – TERMINATORS

Metal grinding metal. Self aware Harleys, buxom Terminatrixes and yes, a badass Ford Pickup driven by Arnie. ‘Nuf said. Nice.

AND NUMBER 1 – BATMANS

The Tumbler. Nice.

So there….

After the countless remakes, both legal and illegal, Bollywood will dole out yet another indianised version of a big budget Hollywood flick.

This time, the ensemble 2003 blockbuster ‘The Italian Job’ gets a desi treatment and Bollywood biggie, the prince Khan, Saif Ali has been cast as the lead. Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has tasted success recently and is fast approaching the Bollywood A List has been cast alongside Saif in the film.

The Italian Job starred Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Jason Staham, Edward Norton and a bunch of zippy cars that drove in tunnels, subways and heavy traffic. The Italian Job was itself a remake of the 1961 film of the same name, which starred Hollywood veteran Michael Caine in the lead role.

The yet untitled Bollywood remake will be directed by Abbas-Mustan. Neil Nitin Mukesh will play Mark Walberg’s character while Saif Ali Khan will slip into the antagonist Edward Notron’s shoes. According to the news John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor were considered for the role of Neil. No word yet on who will play Charlize Theron’s character, but according to Abbas-Mustan, there will be not one, but two leading ladies in the Bollywood remake. Rumour has it that Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu have been approached for the roles.

“We’re changing the original film considerably. There’ll be two important female characters in our version who weren’t there in the original” Abbas said to reporters.

Abbas-Mustan recently worked with Saif Ali Khan and Bipasha Basu in the 2007 thriller ‘Race’. The main draw of ‘The Italian Job’ was the cars; which cars do you think should be featured in the movie- Jaguar XK, Maruti Grande Vitara ?

Milano, este capitala Lombardiei şi este al doilea  oras ca marime din. Italia. Înstărit şi cosmopolit,Milano se bucură de o reputaţie de succes in cercurile oamenilor de afaceri din  Italia. Adoptarea tradiţie, sofisticarea ambiţie şi, în egală măsură, ele sunt la fel de probabil să urmaţi de operă la La Scala ca acţiunile lor pe oraşului bursa sau AC sau Inter la San Siro Stadium.

domul din milano

De trei ori în cursul istoriei sale, orasul a avut de a reconstrui după ce a fost cucerit. Fondată în cea de-a şaptea-lea î.Hr. de către Celts, în oraş, apoi cunoscut sub numele de Mediolanum ( ‘mid-plain “), a fost concediat de către Goths în 600s (AD), apoi de către Barbarossa în 1157 şi, în final, de către aliaţi în WWII, atunci când mai mult de un sfert din oras a fost turtit.

Milano se succesiv reinventat sub franceză, spaniolă şi apoi austriac conducători de la 1499 până la reunificarea din Italia in 1870. Este un miracol faptul că atât de multe istoric comori încă mai există, inclusiv a lui Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Cina, care a supravietuit direct lovit în WWII. Milanesi lui de apreciere de traditie include un singular respectul faţă de religie, ei chiar să plătească un impozit special spre catedrală de întreţinere. Prin urmare, este montarea că din oraş simbol de durată este poleit statuie a Fecioarei, în partea de sus a catedralei (Il Duomo). Milano este fondată în jurul unui nucleu istoric radiante de la catedrala, cu o stea în formă de axa de artere raspandeste prin intermediul moderne suburbii la inelul rutier.

vacanta milano

Modern centru civic se află la nord-vest, in jurul lui Mussolini Centrala, si este dominata de Pirelli skyscraper, care dateaza din 1956. De comerţ şi de târguri de modă a avut loc în districtul Fiera, la vest de nucleu în jurul Porta Genova staţie. Milano a succesului economic a fost înfiinţată la sfârşitul secolului al 19-lea, în cazul în care fabricile de metal şi cauciuc mutat în industriile, de înlocuire a agriculturii şi meschin de comercializare, astfel cum a oraşului principalele surse de venit. Milano poziţia în centrul unei reţele de canale, care a oferit de irigare pentru Lombard câmpii şi comerţ important legături între nord şi sud, au devenit mai puţin important ca industria a preluat – şi căile navigabile au fost ocupate.

orasul milano

Cateva canale, rămâne în Navigli district langa Universitatea Bocconi, un domeniu în care la modă de a bea şi de a asculta muzică live. Începând cu anii 1970, Milano a rămas în capitala Italiei industria automobilelor şi a pieţelor financiare, dar la vedere este dominata de case de moda, care, la rândul lor, au stabilit agenţii de publicitate şi mass-media în oraş.

Milano rămâne pe piaţă pentru moda italiană – moda aficionados, supermodele şi internaţionale paparazzi tăbărî asupra oraşului de două ori pe an pentru primăvara şi toamna anului târguri. Valentino, Versace si Armani mai proiectarea şi fabricarea lor haine de altă parte, dar Milano, care a păzit cu grijă reputaţia de fler, teatru şi a creativităţii, este Italia naturale etapă.

Intro to the 1969 film The Italian Job, featuring a Lamborghini Miura. It’s a wonderful ad for for Lamborghini and in turn Miura. Many of the brand’s sports cars are named after bulls from the Miura ranch of Andalucia, including Murciélago, the founding father and Islero, the bull that killed Manolete. Probably the most famous herd of all time, they are known for being exceptionally brave, smart and noble animals. Qualities that Ferruccio Lamborghini sought to associate with his brand. The bull, present in the Lamborghini logo, assumes an almost totemic value, a constant reminder of the original aspiration of the brand, to design Miura-like cars.

Just before graduating from Harvard University, the Hooligans stole the Gutenberg Bible from Widener Library. In this dramatic action film which has not yet been nominated for an Academy Award, you will experience the magic of education and friendship.

We have greatly enjoyed making these ridiculous little videos for your consumption. Although the original Harvard Hooligans will now be dispersed around the globe doing good works, a new team of idiots will be picked to replace us next year. Please stay tuned.

Now and then I dip my toes into various Mornington Crescent games (don’t ask, I can’t tell you…but I can say I am a Black Belt nth Dan at the reverse Saint Johns Wood twist).

One of the games was a play on words – when films collide…

Some of it may be a bit on the blue side – so don’t read it unless it’s past 9pm…..

———————————————————————-

Wargames 2001

David Lightman looked at the screen….a few simple keystrokes and he was in. What was this though?

David realised that he had only a few hours to undo what he thought was going to be a sneak preview of an upcoming computer game…but now he was head to head with the U.S. Air Force’s WOPR computer system….one false entry and it would trigger a countdown to World War III.

Jennifer looked on in disbelief as Lightman’s 1980’s sound card blurped into life….

“Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave?”

———————————————————————-

Titanic – The Revenge

Standing on the bow of the vessel, Rose DeWitt Bukater stretched her arms out to her sides whilst the handsome young Jack Dawson held his new love firmly around the waist. The sea air was fresh and the sound of the gulls was momentarily drowned out by the noise of the waves crashing on the side of the craft…..

Rose suddenly swung her arm around and pointed with vigor to the forward port side of the vessel to where the gulls were gathering over the freshly laid chum…

“THERE IT IS JACK!” Rose screamed over the growing oceanic cacophony…

“I SEE IT ROSE!” cried out Jack, and then under his breath he muttered to himself…“I think we’re going to need a bigger boat…….”

da dum….da dum….da dum da dum da dum da dum da BADA DAAAAAA!!!

———————————————————————-

Being Papa Smurf

In the low ceilinged Manhattan building of Lestercorp, puppeteer Craig Schwartz and Maxine Lund were walking, bent double, to a small out of the way office.

Craig spoke softly to Maxine, as if speaking these words any louder would make them sound madder than they actually were…“There’s a tiny door in that empty office. It’s a portal, Maxine. It takes you inside another person. You see the world through that person’s eyes, then, after about fifteen minutes, you’re spit out into a ditch on the side of The New Jersey Turnpike.”

Maxine smiled at Craig “Sounds delightful. Who the fuck is this person?”

“He’s famous. One of the most well known characters of the 20th century.”

“What’s he done?”

“Lots of things. He’s very well respected. Musical albums and a T.V series, for example. The point is that this is a very odd thing, supernatural, for lack of a better word. It raises all sorts of philosophical questions about the nature of self, about the existence of the soul. Am I me? or is this person me? Was the Buddha right, is duality an illusion? Do you see what a can of worms this portal is? I don’t think I can go on living my life as I have lived it. There’s only one thing to do. Let’s get married right away.”

“I think I should see this portal first…then we’ll talk…”

They entered the office and moved a heavy filing cabinet to one side, revealing a hole in the wall, as Craig had said.

“Please,” He started “look for yourself!”

Maxine was already through the hole in the wall, and within moments she was seeing things through anothers eyes….first there were trees…lots of very tall trees…a cottage….it looked closer than it really was, because as she walked up to the cottage she realised that it was huge….and those trees were not that all in comparison…she was short…

From inside the cottage came a gravel like voice…a wretched hunch back of a voice…and then a scatching at the door she was stood outside of…

The voice spoke to the source of the scratched door….“What can you smell? What is it…do you want to go out..?” The voice paused as a hissing yeowl of a cat startled Maxine, then the voice came again…“…Can you smell him? Can you Azrael? Surely we’re not lucky enough that Papa Smurf has ventured up here – within our grasp!!!” cackled Gargamel.

———————————————————————-

Chitty Chitty A-Team

Lieutenant Templeton “Face” Peck walked over to Sergeant Bosco “B.A.” Baracus…

“B.A…What is it you are actually making out of this fine 1921 Paragon Panther?”

“Fool…just git outa my face, Face.”

“Leave him alone,” muttered Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith “He’s working on an idea that Murdoch came up with…”

“Heh, heh…that mad fool might be on to something…” sniggered B.A.

Face walked over to Murdoch and the Berriwillock (Meaning of Liff) of the Team, Frankie “Dishpan” Santana. If Murdoch had a good idea, then it must be a crazy one that kinda made sense….he head to find out.

“Hey Murdoch…What on earth is B.A doing with that old race car?”

“Hey Face Man…it’s just an idea I came up with…you know…like he hates getting in any damned ‘plane, but it really is the fastest way for us to get around…”

“Hi” said Dishpan, you might not rememb…

“So, what is this idea Murdoch?….What could you come up with that could get B.A so excited?” asked Face, looking at himself in a piece of tin plate he’d found in the garage.

“Well Face Man, B.A ain’t never getting on no ‘plane, and we feel that drugging him in the same way each time we need to fly is getting tedious….and it makes B.A look like a mad fool for falling for it…”

“HEY FOOL…I HEARD THAT!”

Hannibal interjected “Relax B.A, it is true after all. Please continue Murdoch.”

“Well…he always says he ain’t geting on no plane…so I came up with this idea…”

“That’s a car though Murdoch” mentioned Face, “That’s not a plane…”

“I know…and he’s never said he ain’t never getting in no car. He has also never said anything about being IN the plane itself…just the getting in bit makes him mad….”

“YOU MAD FOOL…Heh…you had a good idea this time though…I’m still gonna kick yo ass though…”

“QUICK…To the 1921 Paragon Panther racing car….DECKER’S coming!” ordered Hannibal.

The A-Team jumped into the car as B.A fired the engine into life. Decker’s men burst in through the doors either side of the building, failing to do the obvious and put a gaurd on the waffer thin hangar doors to the front.

With the engine howling, B.A threw the car into gear and shot off forward through the waffer thin doors…

“Bugger” said Decker “Who’d have thought that!?”

As the car sped out of the building, B.A pulled on a lever on the side. Slowly red and orange material appeared from the sides of the car in a sweeping arc, gradually becoming tighter as a delta shaped appeared. The car eased away from the ground and took to the air, leaving Decker nothing to do but shoot wildly at the departing A-Team, missing the slow flying car with every fully trained military career mans shot…

“It ain’t no plane when I get in..Heh heh” Laughed B.A “You may be a fool Murdoch, but this idea really takes off!!!”

Down below, ignored by everyone, a lone voice screamed upwards…”Guys…what about me?…Dishpan…the fifth member!..series five?..guys…..GUYS!!!!”

“Good thinking Murdoch,” commented Face…”this is just the thing we need to help free those kids from the evil Baron Bomburst and his Child Catcher”

Smiling, Colonel Smith stammered out a well honed phrase through his cigar….

“I love it when a ‘plane comes together….

———————————————————————-

Snow White and the Taxi Driver

The jealous queen’s attempts to get rid of her beautiful step-daughter had taken a step further forward. The poison apple should have worked by now! There could be no way that Snow White was still ‘alive’!

She happily imagined the dwarfs, all seven of them, mourning the loss of their house guest! Yes…now no-one could stand in her way….she must be the fairest woman alive!

The wicked queen walked over to the all seeing mirror, and asked once more the question she was so sure of…

…”Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, now, who is the fairest of us all?”

The mirror shimmered into life, the mists cleared and its all knowing face appeared…After a moments pause, a blink, and a glance around the room, the mirror responded….

” You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me? Well, I’m the only one here. Who do the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”

———————————————————————-

From Dusk til Zulu Dawn

Seth Gecko looked over the occupants of the ‘Titty Twister’…this looked like a good place to rest up for a while whilst they were waiting for their ride. The Fullers had been ‘good enough’ to drive them this far, but Seth wasn’t letting them go just yet.

Across the table tops came a leggy dancer, introduced as ‘Santanico Pandemonium’. She started to sway in a seductive manner…this was starting to look good. A table of what could only be described as ‘True Brits’ sat across the room, trying hard not to look at the degrading dance. By all that was British, this wasn’t what they were used to.

In a flash everything turned to Hell…the once plain ugly and aggressive clientele had turned to ugly and aggressive clientele with blood sucking tendencies…this was going to be a blood bath…

Seth and the Fullers were one side of the bar, fighting and mowing down these evil Hell spawn. Using every weapon at their disposal. Blood flowed freely as the onslaught continued. Several times it looked as though it was all over, and that the Texan bank job they had pulled was all for nothing.

The gun shots died down…the smoke settled…the flow of blood from the un-dead slowed…Seth and the remaining Fullers looked over the room…Seth saw the Brits, still smart in their attire, although slightly dishevelled.

“Hey Limeys” called Seth “There must have been 4,000 of these suckers! I think we got ‘em all though, heh! I mean, like, how many did you get?”

Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead shouted back to Seth and proclaimed “Sixty! We dropped at least 60, wouldn’t you say?”

Lt. Josef Adendorff, NNC, spoke out quietly to Bromhead…“That leaves only 3,940.”

“Whatever man!” returned Seth “I think it’s a miracle we’re still a-fuckin-live man!”

“If it’s a miracle, Sir, it’s a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 calibre miracle” muttered Lt. John Chard.

Colour Sergeant Bourne spoke from under a split corpse “And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind.”

“I think there’ll be more…we need to make a defence or somit man” said Seth, cleaning off some demon gut from his forehead, “How many men do you Brits have over there on your table?”

Bromhead replied, “Seven officers including surgeon, commissaries and so on, wounded and sick 36, fit for duty 97 and about 40 native levies. Not much of an army for you…as for defences, I don’t think we have the strength or will left to build any…” Bromhead was cut off mid flow,

“I don’t give a damn! And I want this wall nine feet high, firing steps on the inside. Form details to clear away the Vampire bodies, rebuild the south rampart, keep ‘em moving! Do you understand?” screamed Chard

“Haven’t you had enough? Both of you! My god, can’t you see it’s all over! Your bloody egos don’t matter anymore. We’re dead!” sobbed Adendorff.

———————————————————————-

Magic Trainspotting

Begbie turned and asked Sick Boy a simple question…it always started out with a simple f**cking question…

“Did you bring the cards?”

“What?” replied a laid back Sick Boy

“The cards, the last thing I told you was to mind the cards!”

“Well, I’ve not brought them.”

“It’s f**king boring after a while without the cards.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Bit f**king late, like.”

“Why didn’t you bring them?”

“‘CAUSE I F**KING TOLD YOU TO BRING THEM, YOU DOSS C**T! “

“…Christ.”

Dylan nudged Begbie
“Chill out guys, I’ve got something stashed that just might help.”

“Dylan,” started Bryan, “we don’t have time to indulge in recreational activities…“

———————————————————————-

Brokeback Martian

ET: E.T go home?

Ennis: I’m sorry little guy, we just can’t….

Jack: Yeah, we’ve tried to let you go, but it’s so hard….

Ennis: We wish we knew how to quit you…

———————————————————————-

Jamie and the magic….. torch….

Jamie! Jamie!
Jamie and the Magic Torch.
Down the helter skelter, faster and faster
towards Cuckoo Land.

Wordsworth! Wordsworth!
Following hard behind.
Ready for adventure, always there to lend a paw
…or hand!

Mr Boo and all the others too,
the strangest people you’ve ever seen.
And the torch with it’s magical beam -
If I hadn’t really been there
I’d think that I was dreaming!

Jamie! Jamie!
No two nights are the same.
And life is one long glorious game
with Jamie.
Jamie and the Magic Torch!
[Yeah! Switch On!]

VvVvShOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooom

…..Okay…. that’s your lot!

Hey Pet Society fans! An Italian merchant was in town this past week secretly securing deals with most of the village shop keepers in preparation for Festa della Repubblica! So sign on to Pet Society now via Facebook and head to your favourite store to see what Italian inspired pieces your pet might enjoy! Remember that any items labelled This Week’s Special (TWS) will be in store until midnight GMT on Monday the 8^th of June, 2009, but may be available again at some point in the future.

In the Luxury Store, Felicity introduces the fine Mandolino, as well as a model of a Retro Car and the carefully crafted Roman Couch!

Terrence, not wanting to be left behind in the Cash Shop, brings you this fantastic life-size Retro Scooter Deco; the Pet Statue to commemorate the influential pets of days past; the Traditional Wood Fire Oven and Cooking Pot With Spaghetti to bring some Italian flavour to your pet’s kitchen; plus the Gondola Bench which will allow your pet to imagine it is peacefully rowing through Venice!

If your pet wishes to decorate in the style of an Italian restaurant, Preston has some great Red Checker items and a Condiment Set to assist in the Furniture Store! Or, for a more classic look, check out the Roman Side Table.

Lily is sure to impress this week in the Clothes Store, with Italian inspired outfits ranging from the Blue Soccer Shirt and Pants that are similar to what you might find Italian soccer supporters wearing today; to the Empress Dress, Gold Wreath and Legion Armour, drawing inspiration from the time of the Roman Empire!

For the homely touch, ensure you visit Grumble in the D.I.Y. Depot. He has some Italian Villa selections; plus install the Colosseum View Window in any room for a great outlook.

Truffles is delighted to bring an Italian feast to the Food Store this week, so ensure you try some before Truffles eats it all himself!

The flavour of Italy even extends to the Café, with Tiramisu and Biscotti the newest additions!

Note that this update is for Facebook only, and that MySpace is still subject to the MySpace Rewind.

Matthew Field has written an extraordinary biography about the exceptional film producer Michael Deeley.  His knowledge of Deeley’s work is so encyclopaedic that once during the interview Deeley asked Field for a point of clarification on his own work. 

We were told of the challenges in making the ‘Italian Job’ and even the tale during the filming of ‘The Italian Job’ of the driver and private plane on standby in Milan in case the mini car stunt scene went awry and Deeley needed to escape from the Italian police (life/art?).  We even heard what would have happened after the cliff hanging ending of the film – solving on of cinema’s great mysteries.  The producer pulled no punches in his distaste for The Deer Hunter writer/director Michael Cimino and their disagreements during the making of the oscar winning epic.

We were treated to clips from both of these films plus excerpts from ‘The Wicker Man’, ‘Don’t Look Now’ and perhaps the finest film which Deeley has produced; ‘Blade Runner’.  If you want to know which version of ‘Blade Runner’ to watch, Deeeley was clear the ‘the final cut’ is the definitive version.

E não é que eu fui convidado para o lançamento do novo carro da BMW?

O engraçado é que durante muito tempo, eu com minha mente de nerd, sempre imaginei que para o Brasil um carro pequeno, compacto, simples, leve e barato fosse muito bom. Sempre pensei que para mim que morava sozinho, um carro desses ia ser perfeito! Eu só ia precisar sair de casa para ir à faculdade, ao mercado e para as festas e baladas. O melhor de um carro desses é que eu não ia ter problema com estacionameto ou balisa, principalmente aqui em Curitibna.

Não sei o que acontece com Curitibanos quando estacionam, mas eles sempre deixam um espaço na frente e atrás do carro suficiente para um veículo, mas nunca para o carro que você está dirigindo. É o tipo de espaço que, se o motorista tivesse bom senso, ele deixaria ou na frente ou atrás e caberia facilmente mais um carro, mas não, ele ocupa DUAS vagas.

Com um carro desses, pequeno e ágil, eu não teria esse problema.

Foi quando em 2003, enquanto estava na Oktoberfest em Blumenau, resolvi ir ao cinema. Estava em cartaz um filme com atores que gosto muito, como Donald Sutherland e Edward Norton, além da maravilhosa Charlize Theron, por quem me apaixonara uns anos antes quando vi Advogado do Diabo. Mas, é claro que na época não podia falar nada, pois estava namorando. Agora que estou solteiro, posso dizer livremente o quanto admiro e aprecio seu talento.

Mas a história era sobre a Oktoberfest. Esse filme que fui ver, com minha namorada que havia ido comigo para a Oktober, era The Italian Job, conhecido aqui no Brasil como Uma Saída de Mestre. Esse filme conta a história de um grupo de ladrões que resolve assaltar um banco em Venesa e conseguem muito, mas MUITO dinheiro. Todos tinham grandes planos, mas no final, um desses ladrões roubou os outros e ficou com todo o dinheiro e todos os planos e sonhos dos outros ladrões.

Foi então que esse grupo, liderado por Mark Walberg (numa atuação que não chamou muito a atenção, diga-se de passagem) junto com a maravilhosa Charlise Theron e os outros ladrões, conseguiram roubar de volta o dinheiro roubado pelo primeiro ladrão, interpretado por Edward Norton. De tanto que eles roubaram, esse filme poderia ter se chamado no Brasil “Ladrão que Rouba Ladrão…” ou simplesmete “100 anos de perdão” que com certeza o brasiliero iria entender o recado.

Mas, além da trama emocionante e da maravilhosa Charlise Theron (eu não vou cansar de dizer que ela é maravilhosa, porque ela é e ponto), uma das coisas que mais me chamou a atenção foram os carros que eles usaram. Pela primeira vez eu vejo um filme que pensa na praticidade na hora de roubar e não no estilo. Todos os outros filmes de ladrões que viamos, como 60 Segundos, mostram ladrões com carros estilosos. Mas esses ladrões precisavam de carros pequenos e leves. Para quê? Para andar em corredores das casas e descer escadas do metrô.

Foi então que eu conheci o Mini Cooper. E vi que realmente aquele carro que eu tanto sonhara, pequeno, ágil, simples, leve, que pudesse subir e descer as escadarias da Santos Andrade, realmente existia! Mas não no Brasil. Mas por quê? Será que as grandes montadoras achavam que o Brasileiro só gostava do Gol e carros desse tipo?

E pensei que talvez as montadoras construíssem perfis de seus usuários em diferentes países. As montadoras estadunidenses, como a GM e a Chrysler, faziam para os Estados Unidos carros muito grandes e pouco econômicos, enquanto esses carros menores eram feitos para a Europa. Para o Brasil, tínhamos os carros populares como o Gol, o Pálio, o Celta e outros carros desses que se parecem entre si. Mas mesmo assim, para mim, ainda não fazia sentido não termos carros compactos aqui no Brasil!

Mais Charlise Theron, só pra constar

Mas, não é preciso esperar mais. Porque a BMW resolveu lançar este mês o Mini Cooper em território Tupiniquim! É claro que ela não vem com a maravilhosa Charlise Theron ou alguma mulher que se pareça com ela, mas mesmo assim é uma ótima notícia!

Mas, como nem tudo são rosas, essa excelente notícia vem com uma má notícia: o preço aqui no Brasil desse carro mais do que maravilhoso chega perto de espantosos (e nem um pouco maravailhosos) R$100 mil (cem mil reais)!! Com esse preço, dificilmente poderia adquirir um de meus sonhos de consumo.

Mas, como nem tudo são espinhos, não sei como, mas eu consegui ser convidado para participar do lançamento do Mini Cooper aqui em Curitiba! Então, por mais que eu não possa adquirir um carro desses, vou poder chegar MUITO perto deles.

Realmente, eu não sei como foi que ganhei, só sei que eu fui o quarto nome confirmado de 12 escolhidos via Twitter. Durante o dia, recebi várias indicações de pessoas que achavam que eu merecia ir nesse evento. A todos vocês, meu grande obrigado! E, quando cheguei em casa de noite, depois de um longo dia de trabalho e reuniões, enquanto estava no Twitter, resolvi entrar na brincadeira. Fiz minhas indicações e mandei um Twit pra organização do evento dizendo:

@MINICooper_BR Se eu puder fazer uma campanha pra minha indicação, tenho podcastS e blogS e sempre uso o #N95 pra Twittar! =D

E não é que deu certo? Minutos depois disso recebi a confirmação de que meu nome estaria na lista de convidados! Antes de mim, haviam sido confirmados os nomes do Alottoni e do Azaghâl, do Jovem Nerd e um cara de Joinville que tem um blog de carros. Não sei o que eles usaram como critério, mas aposto que dizer que uso meu N95 ajudou. O mais legal é que depois de mim, os nomes indicados todos foram todos do Curitiblogs! Então estarei lá entre amigos…

É por isso que enquanto estiver lá vou, além de twittar as novidades, twitpicar as fotos que tirar de lá e também ou aproveitar para gravar minhas impressões e lançá-los como episódios do Projeto Ouça Bem!

Então, se vocês quiserem saber novidades do lançamento, fiquem de olho no meu Twitter @passis e depois aqui com os podcasts que irei lançar. E também, assim que conseguir, vou lançar no Nerd Curitibano, um review técnico sobre o Mini Cooper, já que vou ter visto ele de perto e talvez feito um test drive. Mas pelo menos terei várias fotos! E quando fizermos um NerdExpress sobre carros, vou poder contar mais sobre a minha experiência com o Mini Cooper.

O evento é amanhã, 16 de abril, a partir das 19hs. Então, fiquem espertos e acompanhem as novidades! E visitem o site oficial para mais informações.

Racconto una storiella universale. Una cosa che può capitare dappertutto.

Al mio paese c’è un EX senatore della Repubblica, ex missino, poi AN, già nell’occhio del ciclone per vicende di presunte raccomandazioni in concorsi pubblici e scivoloni in tv (su La7, trasmissione Italian Job, si fece prendere per i fondelli dall’attore travestito da imprenditore russo che voleva aprire casinò in Puglia), certamente testimone della cattiva gestione della politica in terra di Brindisi che

mioddio quant’è lunga ’sta frase

che dopo piroette, giravolte, capriole, frizzi e lazzi, finisce nel giro dell’UDC (ma come?! un post-fasc… come si chiamano?, con i democristiani?) e fin qui tutto bene ma

dico

tra “inciuci” provinciali e amministrativi che fa? finisce pure col PD!

insomma, questo post(-fasc…) è solo una scusa per:

1. riprendere, da parte del sottoscritto, un seppur minimo rapporto coi puntini di sosp…;

2. infilare la canzone del video quissù; già mi immagino i comizi del PD, tutti insieme col braccio bello teso in aria, come quando c’era lui.

(versione Afterhours perché il PD è un partito gggiovane; il nome dell’EX senatore? diciamo che non è lungo, ecco)