The View From Bologna - An Italian blog on Politics, culture, and society

Archive for December, 2008

Facebook in the firing line

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008

Matteo Salvini, the outspoken Lega Nord MP and activist (is there any other sort of Lega Nord MP?), has thundered indignantly about censorship to the national press. The reason? His facebook account has been suspended, without explanation.
Salvini has vowed to take up the case with the minister for telecommunications, claiming that he’s received notice of [...]

Be afraid - Berlusconi’s plans for the internet

Monday, December 8th, 2008

In the same week that Berlusconi’s much contested minister for education, Mariastella Gelmini, took a leaf out of Obama’s book and created a youtube channel to address students directly*, Silvio Berlusconi announced to the world that he would be seeking to sort out the internet at next year’s G8 summit which will be held (disgracefully [...]

Critical Mass counter the Bologna Motor Show

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Every December one of the most important car shows in Italy - and perhaps Europe - takes place in Bologna. For two weeks the city’s transport system is put under ever-more pressure as car-crazy enthusiasts flock to the city to see the latest glitzy models (in the traditional and automobile sense) on display.
Walking back from [...]

Vladimir Luxuria and the lure of the TV screen

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Last week, seemingly against the odds, Vladimir Luxuria won the Italian reality-tv game show L’Isola dei Famosi (a type of ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here’). What makes her victory worth discussing - outside of the tv pundity columns - is that she is a) transgender, and b) a former member of parliament [...]

The Monkey Defends Murdoch!?

Friday, December 5th, 2008

It’s not everyday that this monkey, or indeed the various journalists and commentators who are also writing about this case, finds it in his heart or logic to defend Rupert Murdoch or his business interests.  He’s a big boy who can look after his own extensive interests - interests that are not necessarily conducive to [...]

The Courts rule on Monica Lewinsky defamation case

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

This blog has already spent some time dealing with the paternalistic Italian laws that govern what you can, and can’t say. We’ll remind readers that, in a political context, one is entitled to call Silvio Berlusconi a buffoon but to suggest it in general may be another kettle of slanderous fish (although, one has to [...]