IM Italian magazine issue #18

Volume # 18

Summer - 2024 - June / September

The Duality Issue

in m 1967 ABC Interview

Allen Ginsberg

n o i n i y op

Palestine Resort

Biden

the art of political rhetoric

Wild Phographer

Cinema

Global Harmony

on the cover

Fabio Massa

G

e o p o l i t i c a l - d u a l i t y

I

n current global events, geopolitical duality is evident in various hotspots around the world.

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine between Russia and Western powers reflects the geopolitical duality of competing interests in Eastern Europe. Similarly, the tensions in the South China Sea between China and its neighbors underscore the strategic rivalry and conflicting territorial claims in the region.

G e o p o l i t i c a l - d u a l i t y

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Vol. 18 Summer - 2024 - June / September

Publisher & executive Creative director Fabrizio Catalfamo Writers: Susanna Casubolo Roberto Sironi Fabrizio Catalfamo (F. Guzzardi) Photo credits : Art graphic work : Fabrizio Catalfamo Woman on page 3: Nataljia Arbuzova Photos: Wild Photographer: Alessio Chiariglione Art picture on background cover: Roberto Sironi Photo Mafia By LaInspiratriz Photos Mr. Fabio Massa from the Los Angeles red carpet: Eugenio Blasio (Dress: Andrea Garofalo) Other photos within the magazine have been generated with AI

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IM Italian magazine ( ISSN 2688-0601 - online 2688-061X) is published quartetly by ZERO TIME, 32082 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA. © 2021 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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Editorial

Gr

e o p o l i t i c a l - d u a l i t y

By Fabrizio Catalfamo

F.Guzzardi

efers to the inherent tensions and that arise when nations have conflicting interests and in international relations. This concept is a fundamental aspect of global politics, shaping diplomatic relations, economic policies, and security strategies worldwide. Understanding geopolitical duality is crucial for policymakers and analysts in navigating the complexities of the modern world and achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts.

Conflicting interests and ideologies often give rise to geopolitical duality, leading to a situation where countries are simultaneously allies and adversaries with one another. This duality can manifest in various forms, such as competition for resources, strategic rivalries, or ideological differences. For example, the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China reflects the geopolitical duality of their relationship, where they are both major trading partners and strategic competitors in the Asia-Pacific region.

Historically, geopolitical duality has been a defining feature of international relations. During the Cold War, the ideological divide between the United States and the Soviet Union created a bipolar world order with competing interests and alliances. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 is a prime example of geopolitical duality, where the superpowers were on the brink of nuclear war while also engaged in diplomatic negotiations to defuse the crisis.

In current global events, geopolitical duality is evident in various hotspots around the world. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine between Russia and Western powers reflects the geopolitical duality of competing interests in Eastern Europe. Similarly, the tensions in the South China Sea between China and its neighbors underscore the strategic rivalry and conflicting territorial claims in the region.

The implications of geopolitical duality are far-reaching and impact diplomatic relations, economic policies, and security strategies. Diplomatically, navigating conflicting interests requires skillful negotiation and diplomacy to prevent escalation into conflict. Economically, countries may adopt protectionist policies or sanctions to assert their interests, leading to trade disputes and economic instability. Security-wise, nations may engage in military build-ups or alliances to counter perceived threats, increasing the risk of conflict.

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Editorial T

o address geopolitical complexities and resolve conflicts, policymakers must promote dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding among nations. Diplomatic efforts, such as mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms, can help defuse tensions and build trust between adversaries. Economic cooperation, through trade agreements and investment partnerships, can foster mutual prosperity and undermine the zero-sum mentality of geopolitical competition. Security strategies, such as arms control and confidence-building measures, can reduce the risk of conflict and promote stability in regions of tension.

Geopolitical duality is a pervasive and enduring aspect of international relations, driven by conflicting interests and ideologies among nations.

Understanding and navigating this duality is essential for policymakers and analysts to promote peace, prosperity, and security in an increasingly interconnected world. By addressing the root causes of conflicts, promoting dialogue and cooperation, and building trust among nations, we can overcome the challenges posed by geopolitical complexities and forge a more peaceful and stable world for future generations.

tragic deaths in both regions serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of war on innocent lives, and underline the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to these conflicts.

While the situations in Ukraine and Gaza are different in many respects, there are also striking similarities that cannot be ignored. Both conflicts are fueled by deep-seated

Children

T

he recent tragic deaths of children in both Ukraine and Gaza have once again brought to light the devastating impact of conflict on innocent lives. The loss of these young souls is a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by civilians caught in the midst of violence, and serves as a wake-up call to the global community about the urgent need to prioritize the protection of children in conflict zones.

In Ukraine, the death of four children in a shelling attack on a school in the eastern city of Donetsk has shocked the world, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence that has engulfed the region.

Similarly, in Gaza, the recent killing of 66 children during Israeli airstrikes has once again underscored the vulnerability of Palestinian children in the ongoing conflict with Israel. The

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political grievances, and both have resulted in the loss of countless innocent lives, including children.

G

eopolitical-duality

T

G

eopolitical-duality

he international community must acknowledge the interconnectedness of these conflicts and the need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to address the root causes of violence and instability in these regions.

The tragic deaths of children in Ukraine and Gaza also raise larger questions about the state of international relations and the effectiveness of conflict resolution mechanisms. The failure of the international community to prevent such

achieve their political objectives. The international community must also step up its efforts to mediate and facilitate peaceful resolutions to these conflicts, and support initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of violence and instability in these regions.

As individuals, we can also play a role in promoting peace and stability in Ukraine and Gaza by raising awareness about the plight of children in conflict zones, supporting humanitarian organizations working to provide assistance

tragedies speaks to the shortcomings of existing frameworks for addressing conflicts, and underscores the urgent need for a renewed commitment to diplomacy, dialogue, and peacebuilding.

In order to prevent such tragedies in the future and promote peace and stability in Ukraine and Gaza, it is imperative that all parties to the conflicts prioritize the protection of children and civilians, and refrain from using violence as a means to

to affected communities, and advocating for policies that prioritize the protection of innocent lives.

The tragic deaths of children in Ukraine and Gaza are a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for a renewed commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of innocent lives.

Let us honor the memories of these young souls by working together to build a more peaceful and just world for all.

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Index Vol. 18

Summer - 2024 - Juin / September

Editorial

Geopolitical duality

Chapter I Culture

Global Harmony S. Casubolo interview with Fabio Massa Cinema Made in Italy 1967 ABC Interview Allen Ginsberg Literature: Maria Scerrato

5 10

Two artists, an island, and the sea :

By Roberto sironi

Chapter II Life style

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The Italian WayWild Photographer: Interview with Alessio Chiariglione “Be gentle with yourself-”

Chapter III Political

U.S. public debt: effect of the war economy?Fontana (Lombardy) in the USA: Region at work to guarantee large investments Italian innovation flies to Silicon ValleyIn my opinion: President Biden: the art of political rhetoric / Palestine Resort-

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Special Guest Fabio Massa

Interview with Susanna Casubolo

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Chapter I

By Susanna Casubolo

Global Harmony

“

Fabio Massa

Good morning, we are here for our readers of I’M Italian with Fabio Massa, an actor and director we already know.

We brought it well to our interviewees, you won an award. So tell us about this beautiful adventure.

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Culture

F

irst of all, thank you, thank you again for your hospitality. I’m really happy to be with you again and yes, in fact, it all happened unexpectedly. I shot two years ago, a year and a half ago, actually a new film called Global Harmony, an American film that was shot in American in Naples, in Lampedusa. Then we made incursions into Tunisia, France America, the United States, and New York specifically and we had the world premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Italy 2024 ladies and gentlemen, the film, after various evaluations, among other things There was also Oscar winners on the jury, we managed to reach the maximum, the most coveted award which was the best film. When we received the email certifying this win, it was truly a very happy, fantastic, happy, and proud moment for me and for all the people who are part of this crew, of this splendid project, to be able to share it with you today too.

It’s beautiful, fantastic, it also gives us a lot of stuff.

Y

es And then why didn’t I expect it? Because if you read the names of the films that competed, there was a nice parterre both as an author and as a film in competition. And this opened a few doors for us, a bit of reporting we will go to other festivals later. We are leaving, for example for New Mexico, where there will be three festivals that will host the films, so it will be a sort of tour within New Mexico we had already done the spoke at the International Film Festival in Washington before and therefore the path continues then we will also arrive in Europe where we will have for example Corfu Braga Germany Palma de Mallorca Barcelona and then obviously also in Italy where the film will have its Italian version and I believe and hope that it will be released in theaters between October and March so until 2024 early 2025 but in the meantime, there will be no shortage of festivals, so we will also have a nice round of festivals. And for all your Italian followers there is a nice surprise because in the Italian version, we have a great master of Italian music.

He gave us a gift, he gave us a real homage. So in the Italian version, we will have a song

by Claudio Baglioni that will close the film and I can’t wait to let you listen to it. In short, because you will have the song that already exists, which he at the time, as I was told at least wrote, is for Lampedusa in Lampedusa.

So it is a tribute to the city and the entire island of Lampedusa in this case we made it ours it was truly a beautiful participation of the master who showed me, in addition to being a great artist, above all being first and foremost a great man which It made me appreciate it even more. I made him appreciate it even more. Besides being his fan. Now I find myself to a small extent also being a person with whom he collaborated, so I’m really happy.

I’m very happy for you because you did a lot of work on this. So I bring up the theme of this number eighteen of “I’M Italian” also on duality and you were both director and actor. And even more.

Y

ou know when you find yourself dealing first and foremost with a world that you love which is that of cinema in general for me it is truly my life and I found myself first of all writing this story and actually writing it with Diego Olivares starting from a subject of mine co-producer, because I am also co-producer on this film, Metis Miller, who is an American who has always had a very strong, true, genuine vision of life in the world in general, in fact he had an idea of a world based on global cooperation on on respect for the rights of man of man of the person so we love he told me about this story quite some time ago then finally during the pandemic you know you’re a little more firm start to think ok maybe it’s time to focus on something so as not to go crazy and we started writing this story which we then finally had the opportunity to shoot and we somehow got active especially on the idea of the message towards children and therefore the violation of children’s rights especially with regards child labor exploitation of child labor.

This story was born which saw me as both an actor and a director specifically, so imagine myself fighting with myself because from a directorial point of view for example, I would come into conflict with my producer self, because then I would say that for example I here I want 100 people in this church then I made amends with myself as a producer I said Fabio we can afford 100 people here then maybe those 100 people became 70 and then the director of the part told me no but I want 100 the producer said 80 so let’s try to doing a bit like this instead is very beautiful was the part.

Jokes aside, the creative part involved me as a director and as an actor, because it is an international set. In the cast of the film there are, I think 85% of international actors, starting with our protagonist, Morgan David Jones, who is Australian and lives in Canada. Then there are many Americans. For example, there is Randall Paul, there is the participation of Thomas Raina.

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F

or example, we have the female protagonist who is Syrian, or we have French actors, Sri Lankan actors, the Germans but obviously, there are also the Italian ones, both the official Italian ones, let’s talk about Maria Grazia Cucinotta and the Verso Cristina Donadio but also the acquired ones like Sergio Muniz, or Vanni Mendez. Cristina Donadio, among the Italians, already thinks they have her and have nominated her. And then there is the debut of a very talented and beautiful little girl called Fatima, who is Italian, I think the daughter of an Italian and an African, she was very good in her debut at just seven years old, she made us understand what it’s talent and it was truly a great experience then we have of the actresses, Marzouk for example from Ukraine even though she is now very Italian and then there are German actors such as Rosetta Pedone who even though her name is a bit reminiscent of Italy still lives in Cologne and therefore her acting career there and then there are many other Italian Americans and directing this group of actors, therefore having to deal with quite specialized English, quite complicated to use, I already had quite a bit of predisposition towards English, role certainly improved and then instead from an acting point of view the challenge was in the search.

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I

am not the protagonist of the film, I am a co-protagonist, I will have about ten scenes. It’s very important to the story. Yes, absolutely. So I also had to somehow deal with myself from an acting point of view. So once I dedicated myself to the actors as director I did the storyboard as director and started the whole creative process as director of photography which is Gianni Mammoliti.

Then later I also had to think about myself as an actor so you find yourself there communicating to yourself what perhaps you have already communicated to others. But when you talk to yourself you are much more serious, much more you have to do this, you have to do this. It was, it was a beautiful journey that fortunately had just begun. I can’t wait to show it to everyone so let’s keep our fingers crossed that it can reach as many places and as many people as possible precisely because of its social message.

Because I, just like in the other film, have always supported social cinema. A cinema can indeed be entertainment, therefore entertainment, but it can also communicate something which for me is a very important thing and is the reason why I make cinema today.

How long were you there to shoot?

A

bout five weeks and most of the filming was done in Lampedusa. A Lampedusa that becomes new in our film because we didn’t have that is, today Lampedusa is unfortunately known to the world for the phenomenon of immigration, all those negative consequences that derive from such a phenomenon despite it being an ambitious tourist destination and we instead placed it from another point of view, that is, it has become the cradle of the protagonist’s dream of reinventing the world and trying to give a future to children, the most disadvantaged ones and therefore fighting for the protection of children’s rights.

And so the dream became the cradle of the protagonist’s dream which was then a bit like that of all of us who participated in the film. It was truly an intense moment filming there on the island. I thank all the people of Lampedusa who have given real support. It felt like being at home, everyone gave us a hand in every way, in every place, as a song said some time ago.

And it was truly a very beautiful experience.

Among other things, we are organizing a return to Lampedusa, this time with images of the film to show, because it seems right to me to honor it in this way.

Now then, filming on a different island was a very beautiful and sometimes alienating experience for me because it felt like being on holiday.

Think that there were three days in which Aeolus decided to be, to be too strong, therefore this wind was blowing very strong, and added to the fact that there was a rough sea, the ships were not able to leave from Palermo to reach the destination of Lampedusa and therefore we spent practically three days staring each other in the face and taking baths and therefore, in short, it also had its own because I know why it was playful but in general it was a beautiful experience which was very strong from many points of view which I it has certainly strengthened me and every time an experience like this arises that I manage to live an experience like this I say to myself wow, I was lucky and I hope that luck kisses me again.

What kind of plans do you have for the future? So we can meet again...

Y

ou are always welcome because it means that we continue to work both on your part and mine and it’s nice to meet up with such cheerful people like you.

And so, first of all, there is the release of the film, because at the moment we are on a festival journey that will lead to the release in theaters, and television platforms, we have an international sales agent based in Berlin who goes to Berlin to Los Angeles, who is taking care of the contracts for us which I hope will start at the end of the year, but will start next year. Then there are two already written screenplays that we are examining, one in American and the other in Italian. And it is, in short, a typically Italian case that I am pursuing. Both fascinate me. I would like to start them tomorrow morning. I still can’t say much about the American one about the Italian one. I say that the script is already finished and is currently being examined a bit to the right and the left of various situations.

But there are still projects in the pipeline and at the moment I’m enjoying the release of this film as soon as it happens. But in the meantime the release, the festivals, and everything that concerns the presentations and the meeting with the public, even with journalists.

Many journalists like you are giving us space and therefore have reviewed the film, they are bringing the film into the homes of the public before they actually arrive in the theater and therefore I enjoy this space and try to draw the fruit of the experience I am I’m doing it now.

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And if I can ask but if you can’t say it doesn’t matter. Are these two screenplays Italian, and American, could they also be said to be set in Italy and America or are they set in different places?

W

e say it in some way, perhaps a little in a roundabout way, but we say it, the Italian one is certainly a story filmed on Italian territory and should have been born if we succeed in mixed Campania, he is the son of a family from Campania, therefore Emilian, but and then we will also cross a certain period that goes from 1990 to today so we will cross these 30 years and spend years exploring Naples, this if the project goes through, obviously the other is a truly international path.

At the moment Italy is not covered, but there are areas ranging from Africa to America, France a bit around the world with Russia such as China, and Japan. These things are here. We’re still in the writing phase here too, so right before we met I was contesting on Zuma for a screenplay meeting with my co-writer Craig Perez. A greeting. Since we’re there, however, I can’t go any further than this.

We Don’t ask for more...

I I

was good and said what I could but a minimum of information goes to him and the producer they wouldn’t kill me and I’d get away with it quite easily.

Absolutely, but do you always intend to, let’s say, play this winning formula, actor-director also in these other two projects? really don’t know yet definitely the Neapolitan film director and there is a role that I would like to do so I will audition myself and see if I can do it. The more complicated part is doing an audition for myself, precisely doing it for others. So there are a lot. And then the other one, I don’t know yet what will happen, it’s a really big project that if it were to start we would see cinema applied to the words we are writing now so we are talking about important international actors.

But since it’s not my habit to say things that maybe, being a big project, can stop immediately or start in two years or start tomorrow, I don’t feel like saying things at the moment whether I’m writing or not and I’m fine because I’m imagining a world. If this world could also be my directorial world, I would be truly satisfied and happy. But I can not. At the moment the agreements are for writing, and screenplay, then who knows?

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Then we wish you the best for this upcoming tour, which will take you around. In short, with this product he may have won an award and, therefore certainly notable. It will certainly find some good audiences.

T

he most important thing for an author is to reach the public and understand if your message reaches the public in the right way, the way you filtered it, dreamed it, and managed it, so for me, meeting with the public is always the most beautiful, important thing there is. I repeat, at the moment there have been two occasions and they both went well, just in terms of public response.

One led us to this very important award that we were talking about before and there are three further meetings right now so in short, in addition to being a tourist in New Mexico, I will also try to bring this message to the public, we will go there again, myself and co-producer Metis Miller and so we hope we keep our fingers crossed that the public can receive it in the right way but maybe they can also have a minimum of thought about what they saw and that it can somehow not make you change your point of view.

Because it is not a manifesto film, it is a film that can give you some directives and inputs to think about, but perhaps we should behave differently. question mark and that question mark is enough.

So we wish you a lot of luck for this tour and above all, also a lot of luck for the next projects, maybe they can go the way you want.

T

hank you. You are very kind, thank you all for the space you have given me when you see a global Harmony title, I recommend everyone take it and see it.

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We certainly won’t miss going to see Global Harmony too. For now, we say goodbye to you, it was a pleasure meeting you and we hope to meet again for the next future projects.

A

bsolutely! There are. Whenever we need it I will be very happy. A thousand thanks. Long live Italian cinema, long live cinema in general, long live culture.

We agree. Ciao Fabio.

L

ong live Italian cinema, long live cinema, long live culture

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Game On 18

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Making cinema: the Italian Film Week in Ljubljana The Italian Film Festival is back in Osaka

Born in 2001, the Italian Film Festival is one of the central events in the promotion of Italian culture in Japan and since 2010 it is also held in Osaka.

The 2024 edition of the Festival will offer Osaka a careful selection of seven recent Italian films ranging from comedy to drama to thriller, all in the original language with subtitles.

The screenings, organized by the Italian Institute of Culture in Osaka in collaboration with The Asahi Shimbun Company and Cinecittà, will be held in presence on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May at the ABC Hall, while an online section allows its vision on the whole Japanese territory.

On the first day of the festival will be presented the films “Comandante” by Edoardo De Angelis, “Io Capitano” by Matteo Garrone and “Lubo” by Giorgio Diritti, all of 2023. On Sunday, then, it will be the turn of “The first day of my life” by Paolo Genovese, “C’è ancora domani” by Paola Cortellesi, “The last night of Love” by Andrea Di Stefano and, the only 2024 film, “Un mondo a parte” by Riccardo Milani. (aise)

LUBIANA? aise\ - Tomorrow, May 9th, the seventh edition of the “Italian Film Week in Ljubljana” (Fare Cinema) organized by the Cineteca Slovena and the Italian Institute of Culture will begin on Sunday, May 9th, to conclude on Sunday 12th.

The programming of the previous exhibitions has started a path of in-depth analysis on Italian cinema of the 2000s, starting from a strong relaunch of the auteur production, appreciated in the circuit of festivals and gathered around the works of a new generation of masters (such as Paolo Sorrentino, Matteo Garrone, Gianfranco Rosi, Emanuele Crialese, Paolo Virzì) and promising directors at the beginning of their career.

The program of this 2024 now wants to take a look at some films shot in recent years, presenting to the public some happy surprises that have received a vast international consensus and a classic that dates back to 1956.

Two films scheduled for tomorrow: “Il sole dell’abando” by Nanni Moretti at 18.00 and “Il Ferroeravano” by Pietro Germi at 20.00.

Friday, at 19.00, it will be the turn of “Io capitano” by Matteo Garrone.

Two films proposed on Saturday: “I told you” Ginevra Elkann at 18.00 and “Il colibrì” by Francesca Archibugi at 20.00.

It closes on Sunday with “Stranizza d’Amuri” Giuseppe Fiorello at 17.00 and “La chimera” by Alice Rohrwacher at 20.00.

The films will be screened at the headquarters of Slovenska kinoteka. (aise)

STOCKHOLM aise\ - The Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm, in collaboration with Cinecittà, the Embassy of Italy in Sweden and the ICE, presents the fifth edition in Sweden of the Cinema Made in Italy festival, to be held at the Bio & Bistro Capitol from 12 to 15 May. For four days, the audience will have the chance to see some of the most interesting Italian films of the season.

The festival was born with the aim of promoting contemporary Italian cinema in the world. The last few years have seen a boom in the Italian film industry, with an increasing number of productions that has remained high even during the years of the pandemic.

The festival will be inaugurated on Sunday 12 May at 17:45 with the screening of Rapito (2023) by Marco Bellocchio and will continue in the following days presenting the films: Alice Rohrwacher’s La chimera (2023), The Commander (2023) by Edoardo De Angelis, Lubo (2023) by Giorgio Diritti, Invelle (2023) by Simone Massi, Una Estrum on Sunday (2023) by Alain Parroni and La bella estate (2023)(aise) Summer 2024 - The duality issue

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“A writer is a writer not because he writes well and easily, because he has amazing talent, because everything ehe does is golden. In my view a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway.” – Junot Diaz

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Literature MARIA SCERRATO

Poetry

MARIA SCERRATO, MA in Foreign Languages at La Sapienza, Rome, is a teacher in Alatri (Frosinone).

Keen on the history and culture of southern Lazio, she has been given several talks on these topics for almost a decade.

She is on the board of the association “Il Cammino sulla Frontiera del brigante Chiavone,” the objective of which is to enhance the walking paths between Lazio and Abruzzo.

She has published short stories, poems, literary and historical essays.

Her debut novel was in 2016 with FIORI DI GINESTRA. DONNE BRIGANTI LUNGO LA FRONTIERA 1864-1868, which Il Manifesto – Le Monde Diplomatique defined: “A good read that promotes a more coherent knowledge of that universe, in the pleasantness of the fictional narrative.” The work has obtained great success.

In July 2018, she published the historical novel LA GUERRA DELLE DUE LUNE for Vincenzo D’Amico Editore, which was shortlisted for the Fiuggi Storia section prize. Southern Lazio 2018.

In 2020, with her cousin, Lucia Scerrato, she published her third novel, IL GENTILUOMO ENGLISH for Valtrend (Naples), inspired by the English archaeologist Thomas Ashby with the postface of Richard Hodges.

She is a member of the poetry group “Circolo dei Poeti erratic,” active in southern Lazio. In 2022, she won the Hombres Itinerante award with the collection SASSI, COROLLE E MUTEVOLI COLORI, published in the same literary competition.

For Il Convivio editore in 2023, she published the poetry collection “Nel fremito e nel tremore,” Canto di Camilla Regina dei Volsci, inspired by the character of the warrior virgin Camilla from the Aeneid.

Since 2017, she has been among the jurors of the Zeno Literary Prize, and since 2022, she has been the president of the Marchesa Celeste Ferrari Literary Prize.

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Culture

Il tempo del domani Voliamo leggeri come vapore, come torpore, come lingua di fiamma nel sapore del miele.

Ci teniamo per mano lungo il corso di una vita allentata.

L’amarezza del distacco assottiglia il tempo e si allunga nei fragili steli dei ricordi Per altri giorni, settimane, anni, restiamo lontani: due non uno.

Silenzi bianchi, attimi bigi.

L’età di mezzo ha bisogno di pause per riprendere il fiato che si accorcia per non strozzarsi.

Da qualche parte il filo del ragno avvolge il futuro come un batuffolo di polvere sotto il mobile all’angolo.

La consapevolezza dell’essere ci rende umani, umili comparse del nostro domani.

Non sono foglie d’autunno o rivoli d’acqua o pioggia caduta in gocce sottili ad accarezzare un arido mondo.

Non c’è liana che trattenga l’universo dal suo fluire.

Non c’è cosa che passi senza lasciare traccia di sé, mai.

Come pianeti in equilibrio precario su orbite sconnesse, come una fame d’aria per chi nuota nell’immenso, con occhi spalancati di paura.

Da Le poesie del Clepsamia 2023

The time of tomorrow We fly light like steam, like torpor, like a tongue of flame in the flavor of honey.

We hold hands through the course of a loose life.

The bitterness of separation sharpens time and stretches itself into the fragile stems of memories For other days, weeks, years, we remain apart: two, not one.

White silences, dull grey moments.

Middle-agers need breaks to catch their breath which is shortened so as not to choke.

Somewhere, the spider’s thread wraps around the future like a ball of dust under a piece of furniture in the corner.

It’s the awareness of being to make us human, humble extras of our tomorrow.

They are not autumn leaves or streams of water or rain falling in droplets to caress a dry world.

No vine stops the universe from flowing.

There is nothing that passes without leaving a trace of itself, ever.

Like planets precariously balanced on disconnected orbits, like a hunger for air for those who swim in the immense, with eyes wide open with fear.

From Le poesie del Clepsamia 2023

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Literature

Culture

OnShort

By F. Guzzardi

The Director and the Saleswoman

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hat do you think about now, do you still think about yourself? What pretension if, I have added another detail to the shopping bag, not a little for those who are well, are you well?

You, I mean, artificial gymnastics, sweat-free, do you think you’ve ever been farther away than you are now? Turn on the light, (synonymous with opening the way or the mind,) but, she lies, said the actor who, as soon as he got off the stage, stumbled into love. It was clear, however, that this was the name given to all heartbeats that went beyond a certain frequency, the one that usually passes between a “cappuccino” and a kiss, between a goodbye and an attraction.

Attracting, magnetizing, sticking, gluing, what drama was foreseen before that fusion of gazes?

The director had only imagined it, yes, the last scene always succeeds to everyone because the muscles of the neck are more and more relaxed, as after an orgasm, you can say things of an unprecedented madness or nothing, almost meditating on the void. The life of the Saleswoman who applauded at the end of each act was also empty. A unique spectator, perhaps paying (in the sense that she suffered from it) and regretting everything even the last visit to the gynecologist. She who had never betrayed anyone with her looks, suddenly turned the script upside down and began to cry, as artists do in the face of beauty, because, they say, “there is nothing better than feeling envious of the works of others”.

“You amaze me, madam!” on the other hand, do not think that by the mere fact of having paid for a ticket, you are allowed to contemplate. Contemplation is a divine (another?) gift. Divinity exists in madness, and what greater madness is there than that which agitates the devourer of the stage?”

The director stopped talking but the woman’s breath had also shortened, it never happens, love at night, after a day of porterage and it was not the right time either, so much so that the saleswoman squeezed her legs after taking a position in the front row. She already knew that the artist was going to spit a few lines in her face, it happens when you’re in the front row, it happens when you pay for the ticket.

It was the middle of the night, then, as often happens in invented stories, the woman apologized again and did so politely, as it always behaves, considering the late night. “You, doctor, are a clear example of unexpressed talent”! And she said it as she stuck out her tongue but not as a sign of mockery or even with sexual undertones, only she was about to vomit because of the wine she was not used to.

“And you often come at this time”? The director asked, embarrassed, and then burst into laughter joined by the sneer of the frightened saleswoman.

And yet, the theater vibrated with all that could have been. In the distance you could hear some notes of that alternative author, yes, one of those avant-garde musicians dedicated to alcohol and women.

Deafening, as did the lady in elephant fur (it seemed) with caviar diamonds (poetic license). Expressionless the cashier was chewing a gum.

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A universal duality!

By Roberto Sironi

T

he nature or condition of that which is composed of two elements or principles is called duality!

Man is the most fitting example of this, certainly not the only one, but he is the most appropriate and relevant!

The duality in man as he is made up of soul and body!

This mind-body dualism can be conceived as a perfect machine, an exceptional and exemplary apparatus that moves like an instrument that is self-sufficient in all its parts, a mechanism that on the one hand works philosophically, and on the other uses physics as dominant and essential energy!

In the conception of this concept that has always intrigued human beings, one finds, in fact, the presence of two fundamental principles conspiring towards a goal or contrasting with each other!

Duality is a symptom of harmony and its opposite!

Plato, Kant, and Descartes, especially the latter are the ones who introduced dualism into modern philosophy, and other philosophers have tried, each in their own way, to define this principle, and all, without distinction, have supported it with intelligence and culture, this indispensable concept!

I would like to address this topic not with order, but with a mental disorder that however gives meaning to this journey, even metaphorical, to the metaphysical

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world, that world which on the one hand is immaterial, supernatural, transcendental, and on the other is sensitive, empirical, material and immanent!

White and black!

I am a painter, and as such, dualism in the world of colors would be almost impossible instead, even in this colorful universe, metaphysics seen as an absolute value through an image is very important!

Black and white are the absolute masters of color in general!

Both defend and fight the worlds they interpret and represent! They are two material entities with a very authoritative presence and their incisiveness and their essential and indisputable necessity mean that both become inevitable and mandatory for the creation of a work! Black and white in their very ancient duality, probably already existing at the dawn of life, of any type of life, even that which would seem to have no life, determine everything that then becomes for us humans and not only through visual effect or induction everything that can be considered color: the color of the known and unknown universe!

In this disorder with which I am tackling this topic, the man-woman relationship, the man-man relationship, or the woman-woman relationship cannot be missing! Duality here exhibits itself as a true science of thought, therefore as an idea that shapes, even in the smallest and most infinitesimal details, our human race!

Accustomed as we are, by culture, religion, tradition, and

custom to distinguishing men from women, perhaps we have forgotten the best part of this useless distinction, namely duality!

The masculine part and the feminine part are the most important polarities that coexist in each of us and it is a duality that Jung defined as Animus and Anima, the two primary archetypes of the unconscious mind with an anthropomorphic rather than animal aspect!

According to Jung, the Animus, the woman, represents the unconscious psychic counterpart, while for the man the Anima is nothing other than the true center of the individual!”

Man, woman, black and white! Images reflected in the same mirror which, despite changing their “existential illustration”, maintain their metaphysical dimension by mixing into each other, amalgamating and blending into billions of possible and impossible visions!

If the synonyms of dualism, of this contrast of opposing forces which over time have become the pillars of good and evil, are antagonism, contrast, disagreement, opposition, dichotomy, or rivalry, they’re opposite, assuming that opposite exists, lies in the fact that there can be a singularity, an exceptionality, an “unequal ability”, therefore a uniqueness!

Could be? Would it even be possible in the philosophical sense? Could the idea of the whole be founded as the synthesis of the unique?

Literature

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robably not, therefore uniqueness is also part of a property process that cannot define “the unique” as the only concept of the unrepeatable, a concept that can only impose itself in the extraordinary abstract because “the unique ”, which should have no equal, is by induction the perfect example to be able to affirm that nothing is so precious as to be unrepeatable!

In this era of great social, religious, political, and even philosophical changes, duality has taken over and from a concept assimilated and assimilable to the philosophical world, it has also become a representation of custom, an idea, and a thought that in reality has transformed a model of life in an existential scheme! As per the technical principle: two distinct lines identify one point and only one!

I let myself be carried away, even if only for a moment, by the idea optimized by physical and mathematical characteristics regarding duality. The trap is always around the corner and it is a corner that if in reality does not exist in any geography of thought, it is still a corner behind which every point of view can be right, optimal, correct, or just convenient!

Culture, sometimes, plays strange tricks and by culture, I mean everything that we individually know, we know! Culture moves and stirs consciences, cultivates them or, on the contrary, can impoverish them if those consciences are not ready for change! Culture annihi-

Culture

OnShort

lates ignorance, exalts intelligence, galvanizes the desire to exist, electrifies souls, revives and refreshes even the most atrophied minds and mentalities as long as it always takes into consideration any type of evolution and any adaptation to reality!

Life and death: duality, also in this case, reigns supreme! One thing does not cancel the other!

Both live, die, and relive in a complex and infinite existential rotation!

Man and woman, black and white, good and evil, life and death! An infinite metamorphosis which in all probability will never have an ascertained goal, an understandable, decipherable, and accessible answer to determine a probable end!

Two arms, two legs, two eyes, two feet, two nostrils...Duality or what we understand as such doubles our sensations, makes them its own, and manages them even without our knowledge! Our body, which we almost always see as a single body, as an isolated and specific physical body to which we then give the most varied definitions such as person, figure, shape, and organism, is the synthesis, the apotheosis of our unconscious duality, of our unaware and extremely limited “uniqueness” which selfishly convinces us that we are without equals and instead…

And yet here we are with our very ancient philosophies coming and going to remind us that what we know is not all the knowledge we should know and that what we see is not all we can see!

We will always be “dual”, inevitably, with or without our approval, with our very weak concept of assent, or with the endorsement and approval of everything we rec-

ognize as reality!

We will always and forever be “two” in one vision, inseparable, indissoluble, indivisible, inseparable!

“We are us, apparently alone with our conscience and while we manage to see ourselves again, to recognize ourselves in front of a mirror, our conscience, which could even do without us, is there to remind us that black and white, good and evil, man and woman, life and death are only one face of existence because the other, the one that has always been hidden, is in a universal duality!”

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Digital

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Culture

Two artists, an island, and the sea: Marco Lais and Anna Tea Salis.

by Roberto Sironi.

- Who is Marco Lais and Anna Tea Salis?

We are a couple not only in art but also in life. The love for Art has somehow brought us together for over ten years. We play together in different projects combining music and literature. We are Cultural and Experiential Operators at the “Suona Association” in Serrenti, creating many events (film forums, concerts, exhibitions, book presentations and so on), we create experiences in which people feel an integral part of our events through art and a familiar and pleasant environment. With us there is no curtain, no distance, no veil between audience and artist, but synergy and sharing are created.

- What is Sardinia for you?

Sardinia vibrates deeply for us. It is an island made up of many small continents, each with its own history, cultural richness and mysticism that is difficult to detach from. That’s why those who come often suffer from the “Mal di Sardegna”, that feeling of nostalgia that assails you when you leave the port and part with it.

- Sardinia is surrounded by the sea... Is it just an island or is it much more?

It is a beating heart, the sea on the horizon gives us the sensation of Infinity, a bit like the Threads of Infinity by the artist Maria Lai. You feel like you’re an integral part of something more... We have always been attracted by encounters and sound forms with the sounds of this land. Surely music was able to open the way to perceive the beauty of this island. A land perhaps still unable to manage and preserve its many riches in the best possible way, but certainly a magical land.

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- Tell us about this life project made of music, art and literature!

Well! We believe it is dictated by the awareness of being able to share, as already mentioned, many spaces and many experiences where we can create encounters and comparisons between the various artistic expressions.

- More generally, what is Art for you, I mean all artistic forms?

Art is always contemporary, it responds to needs in a given historical moment, it does not give answers but poses reflections, and it has the ability to create beauty by interpreting what surrounds us.

- What is Domu Odilia? What does it represent? And above all, why Domu Odilia, what is its meaning and importance?

It is a recreational and receptive space where we host many events and create experiences. Domu comes from Sardinia, indicating Casa. Odilia was the name of the owner who bequeathed to us (in a completely unexpected way and as in fairy tales) her manor house, a structure made of Trachyte (the typical stone of Serrenti). This legacy has given us the opportunity to create not only our Art Center, but also to create an experiential B&B where the people who come to visit us find themselves in an intimate environment, they immerse themselves in the past, the rooms maintain the old furniture in an antique/modern style, bathrooms and kitchen are shared, The idea is to recreate a family environment and to introduce people to each other. You can collect the story of Mrs. Odilia in the book The White Widow by Anna Tea, who was inspired by the house and told her life.

Culture You can also view Domu Odilia’s spaces on the Domu Odilia B&B Facebook page.

- I know that you are very close to cinema as a place of history and culture, do you want to talk about it?

Cinema inspires all our movements. Marco is deeply attached to cinema because his grandmother opened one in 1964 which unfortunately closed in the early eighties. For over 40 years, the apparently aged structure has continued to tell the dream of being able to give warmth and life back to a space that has remained preserved in the memory of the whole community. Through the involvement of some island artists, we are creating a living movement of audio and video documents to enhance a recovery project. One of these documents is currently visible on You Tube and is made with Roberto Sironi.

- Question for Marco: what is music for you?

Music for me is a connection with the sounds and rhythms of nature. It is an act of kindness to the world that needs its energy. Without music, you don’t get anywhere. Music is a salvation and a way to discover our potential. I have been playing guitar for over 30 years and in my life I have collaborated with “many and diverse” artists (musicians, poets and painters). I spend a lot of time researching sounds, often inspired by folk music, hence Crudo, a solo Guitar project with a World Music flavor that you can view on my Marco Lais you tube page. I also deal with music teaching activities for children and paradoxically I find myself being their student.

-And question for Anna: and what is literature for you? Would you like to tell us about one of your books?

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It’s hard to answer... I can say that writing is an extension of myself. I tell stories that inevitably reflect part of me, transfigure thoughts and experiences. As a reader I have always found in books a window of life, of suggestions, of freedom, of “poetry”, as a writer I would like to convey and give emotions and reflections. I write songs in Sardinian and Italian, I have four publications to my credit: my latest book is entitled “Quartiere Benvenuti” published by “Catartica Edizioni di Sassari” in 2021, it tells of an ideal neighborhood in which different life stories intertwine on two time axes in which the time of the Neighborhood alternates with the stories of the Shardana and Ancient Sardinia. By 2024 my new book “Emme, Effe e P in Seconda” should be released, the story of a bizarre and artistic family.

- Is there a project that is closer to your heart?

Definitely “Marco, Tea and Bianchina”: an On The Road sound project aboard a very nice Autobianchi del 69 (Chiama Bianchina), with which we take our art around. If you want to know more, visit our pages Marco, Tea and Bianchina.

- What do you think of Italy from an artistic point of view?

It is not easy to answer this question, let’s say that Italy, despite being the cradle of art and culture, does not enhance and protect artists and new artistic perspectives in the best possible way.

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- A little more Sardinia: artistically, what do you think?

Artistically, it is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for natural, urban and ancient landscapes. Marco believes that the condition of insularity has accentuated an intimate connection with Art. - A dream in a drawer, what could it be for you?

We would like to renovate and finish Domu Odilia B&B in the best possible way, recover the old Family Cinema creating a large artistic/cultural complex.

- Future projects?

We are working on new songs and shows that will be released soon. In addition, in June there will be the Tour with Roberto Sironi who will touch various prominent locations in Sardinia. To view the various appointments, you can visit our social pages of Marco Lais and Anna Tea Salis and the Suona https:// www.facebook.com/as.sonua/ Association.

- What do you want to say to the readers of I’M ITALIAN? Come and visit us, we will have some beautiful experiences!!

Who knows, we’ll land in the United States with Marco, Tea and Bianchina to tell you about our adventures.

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1967 the “Hippies”

ABC Interview Allen Ginsberg, the poet-prophet of

ABC - There is a lot of talk in these last times of communities hippies in New York.

We would like to know something more precise.

Allen Ginsberg - New York and also in San Francisco there are a lot of young people « enlightened in the heart and conscience” and their number continues to increase.

They have rituals, growing social structures, that are consolidated every day. Above all they have newspapers for communication: they are the so-called “underground” newspapers, open to the public but with facts different from newspaper commercials. If you can’t communicate in public through the mass media, if desired have a personal meeting, subjective, real, with it takes a certain energy of institutions or places such as the lodge or forum to meet us. Finally, we have the rooms: the center of the ritual sacred is music, music sacred which is often the rock and roll of the young. There are also many manifestations of artistic icons in Catholic churches; they use new means such as lights, personal and authentic cinema, new and synthetic colors, the dance: it is a church for the whole family.

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Culture

THE SACRAMENT OF LSD They come there young people, mothers, children, the little ones, even all the little Jesuses children. You can go also for smoking marijuana.

That is, you smoke in the street, at home and then there gather for the ceremony for the group. The newspaper also provides information on the quality of hashish available in the city, the price list prices like those of the stock exchange.There are also shops, a bit too much at the moment marketed, where yes they sell sentimental artifacts of the expansion of conscience: incense, candles, some photos of Jesus below Buddha...

ABC - There are starting to be some also in Italy though this is something very snobbish, not true. Some news by Timothy Leary.

Ginsberg - As I was saying, all this is hippie: the newspaper, rock, and roll, daily information, community services for sleeping, for eating, even poetry services: poets do readings of their new productions in churches or parks or cafés. The poets alternate like this: for example, for half the evening there is music, then an hour of important poetry: Voznez Jenskij is one of the most popular readings.

ABC - Voznezjenskij isn’t doing so well in the Soviet Union at the moment, is he?

Ginsberg – Yes, I know he has problems…

ABC - We read that there is

a community organized by Timothy Leary up there in New York, we believe.

Ginsberg - Timothy Leary organized a psychedelic community, full of many LSD experiments, experiments on how to live together and maintain an open consciousness. He has constituted a rule of thumb for the government; he did it for tactical, legal reasons: you need to have a religion to freely use LSD or marijuana as part of a formal sacrament, but Timothy Leary doesn’t intend to make it a general religion, he doesn’t want to be the messiah or the pope and become a rita car, don’t aspire to power.

ABC - What do you think of European literature about American literature and above all, therefore? what about avant-garde literature?

Ginsberg - It’s such a broad question, it would be like if you asked me what I think of the universe... and too much. Self you ask me what I think of some particular author and better, but I don’t know what you mean when you talk about avant-garde European literature, nor when you talk about avant-garde American literature...

ABC - There are fundamental differences we believe...

Ginsberg - Suffering, com!! you say they are too generalized to have a real conversation. It’s like an academic question, what author is

thinking at this moment?

ABC - Let’s think now about Robbe-Grillet, Butur, the new French novel...

Ginsberg - Well, I don’t read the Nouveau Roman, I read a lot of Louis Fernand Celin or Jean Genet, but I don’t read Sartre’s prose, little, very little, of Camus’s take and I haven’t read anything of new wave.

ABC - And what do you know about Italian literature and therefore what do you think about it?

Ginsberg - Very little... I know Dante. For about a year I read in Italian when I was at school. I read a bit of Marinetti; Marinetti’s posters were interesting.

It is quite curious that he became a fascist. The young people of now, the young people of the so-called avant-garde should keep this in mind to avoid the same fate, so as not to repeat the same absolutism and so that they too do not lose their sense of humor as happened to Marinetti.

I read a bit of Ungaretti, and a bit of Montale. I love Ungaretti as a person, I’ve met him many times, and he has a lot of strength and a lot of humour. They told me that he too was a fascist, but it is very difficult to understand today everything that happened to the men here.

I found him to be a man of very open manners, very bohemian, very dignified, very cheerful. I love him as a poet of the time. But it’s necessary I realize that we are

all crucified by the past. We must live today, but we must live openly today.

ABC - Are you interested in cinema and in particular which authors and which works?

Ginsberg - Just last night here in Turin I saw some films that I greatly admired.

The films were well made, I saw splendid color images: man and machine, the man from Mars or man from space or other internal planets which also emerge in Turin as in the United States United. It’s a daily vision of the apocalypse.

ABC - She also loves New American Cinema: Mekas, Backage. And what do you think of Hollywood cinema?

Ginsberg - Even in Hollywood there are good things, there are realities everywhere, but I am more interested in the work of young people without money, who wander the streets and who can be heard directly. Hollywood’s fabrication of reality is not given as an objective fact, Hollywood is too subjective, Hollywood is subjective fantasy; Young people’s cinema is very objective because it is life itself, the objects, the people are of the life that we know, that we encounter. In New American Cinema, I especially admire Ron Rice, he made a film with Taylor Mead, I think The Queen of Sheba. Backage works very well as eye yoga.

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Culture

“

To freely use marijuana and LSD it is necessary to have a formal religion: here it is a sense of community. “hippie” • One of the thinks that politics is made up of real things: this is a real delusion. Politics is “happening,” Fidel Castro has a nice beard, but the flesh of the revolutionaries is not calm

ABC - What is Bob Dylan doing currently? Does he still sing?

Ginsberg - He got married a year or two ago and has a son. After the accident, he retreated to meditate and read a lot. Reads Brecht Emily Dickinson, Rimbaud Blake, Shelley, and Catullus. He continues his education by reading everything that interests him. He gathered in the he hosts all his collaborators and lives with them.

He makes music every day, but for a year he decided to make songs just for himself; and the last one, he told me, was a dead song to the world. For the moment, in short, he wants to experiment with music. I feel like that’s a very nice thing to retreat from the world for playing music.

ABC - Do you think that New American Cinema has an important role in avant-garde cinema?

Or not?

Ginsberg - These are crazy categories. What is avant-garde cinema? It’s the cinema of people who don’t have a lot of money and don’t work in Hollywood. So there is a vanguard here, one in New York, and everywhere. If you want to define them as avant-garde, that’s fine, they are avant-garde. If you want to call them important, that’s fine, they’re important. I believe it is the first manifestation of private, personal cinema, therefore in this sense important, because it introduced the idea of doing what one wants with personal means, not with industrial, commercial means, but with family

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means, those of amid, the means of the poet who writes poetry. The other arts have also passed through privacy.

A man takes a piece of paper and can do whatever he wants. With cinema, it wasn’t possible. Now with technological development, we have a camera and we can do whatever we want. You don’t need to have a million dollars to make an epic film, you can make your epic in your room “for love”. This also leads to the inclusion of various love scenes in cinema, as has already occurred in the other arts.

ABC - What do you think are the relationships between life and literature, between life and cinema?

Ginsberg - If you write something an action, like going to the mountains. If it moves, a hand to make a work, or to write a poem to move through life.

What’s the difference? Doing politics is another action. They are all poems.

Politics is a variety of poems. One thinks that politics is made of royal roses: well, this is a delusion. Politics and revolution are another variety of poetry, they are a happening, another type of happening. It’s about choosing what style of happening one prefers.

ABC - What do you think of the Living Theatre?

Ginsberg - Incidentally they are good artists and good friends. I gave my Kaddish text to Julian Beck so he could sell it and come to Europe for the first time a few years ago. And I met him for the first time in many

years in Paris last month. I went to see Frankenstein.

ABC - Moving on to something else, art? the Ginsberg - Pop art is also another yoga technique to pay attention to what is done with films, paintings, and advertising, to stimulate optical attention to posters, and mental attention to subconscious suggestions, to to which we are exposed. Pop art has magnified, and revealed what we don’t see around us like this Cinzano billboard; we see this billboard every day, but we don’t see it, we see it with pop art.

ABC - And Fidel Castro?

Ginsberg - He has a nice beard... he’s good, I like him, but I had some problems in Cuba; they expelled me; I had protested the persecution of young “Barbudos” by bureaucrats.

When I complained that they persecuted people who smoked marijuana, out of an old habit. Havana, the police expelled me.

ABC - But are you for non-violence or revolutionary violence?

Ginsberg - They are both an abstraction. I am in my flesh and my flesh is peaceful. If the flesh is not calm, ideology takes over. The flesh of the revolutionaries is not calm and then a lot of ideology emerges.

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A #1 bestseller on The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times!

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah’s The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

He’d never wanted anyone enough to chase them...until he met her.

Charming, easygoing, and rich beyond belief, Xavier Castillo has the world at his fingertips.

He also has no interest in taking over his family’s empire (much to his father’s chagrin), but that hasn’t stopped women from throwing themselves at him...unless the woman in question is his publicist.

Nothing brings him more joy than riling her up, but when a tragedy forces them closer than ever, he must grapple with the uncertainty of his future—and the realization that the only person immune to his charms is the only one he truly wants.

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams.

But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end.

In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale’s mysterious disappearance.

Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale’s web of lies slowly unravels.

And then Tricia reaches the final cassette.

The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth.

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Culture

The Orphan Collector Ellen Marie Wiseman A first-generation German American, Ellen Marie Wiseman discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in NYS. She is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into twenty languages. Her debut novel, THE PLUM TREE, is loosely based on her mother’s stories about growing up in Germany during the chaos of WWII. Bookbub named THE PLUM TREE One of Thirteen Books To Read if You Loved ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE. Ellen’s second novel, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, was named a Huffington Post Best Books of Summer 2015. Her third novel, COAL RIVER, was called “one of the most “unputdownable” books of 2015” by The Historical Novel Review. THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN, was named A GREAT GROUP READS Selection of the Women’s National Book Association and National Reading Group Month and a Goodreads Best Book of the Month. THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR was an instant New York Times Bestseller. Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and a spoiled Shih-tzu named Izzy. When she’s not busy writing, she loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. Find Ellen on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/EllenMarieWisemanAuthor

Instant New York Times Bestseller From the internationally bestselling author of What She Left Behind comes a gripping and powerful tale of upheaval—a heartbreaking saga of resilience and hope perfect for fans of Beatriz Williams and Kristin Hannah—set in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak—the deadly pandemic that went on to infect one-third of the world’s population…

“Readers will not be able to help making comparisons to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how little has changed since 1918.

Wiseman has written a touching tale of loss, survival, and perseverance with some light fantastical elements.”

—Booklist “An immersive historical tale with chilling twists and turns. Beautifully told and richly imagined.”

—Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of America’s First Daughter In the fall of 1918, thirteen-year-old German immigrant Pia Lange longs to be far from Philadelphia’s overcrowded slums and the anti-immigrant sentiment that compelled her father to enlist in the U.S. Army. But as her city celebrates the end of war, an even more urgent threat arrives: the Spanish flu. Funeral crepe and quarantine signs appear on doors as victims drop dead in the streets and desperate survivors wear white masks to ward off illness. When food runs out in the cramped tenement she calls home, Pia must venture alone into the quarantined city in search of supplies, leaving her baby brothers behind.

Bernice Groves has become lost in grief and bitterness since her baby died from the Spanish flu. Watching Pia leave her brothers alone, Bernice makes a shocking, life-altering decision. It becomes her sinister mission to tear families apart when they’re at their most vulnerable, planning to transform the city’s orphans and immigrant children into what she feels are “true Americans.”

Waking in a makeshift hospital days after collapsing in the street, Pia is frantic to return home. Instead, she is taken to St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum – the first step in a long and arduous journey. As Bernice plots to keep the truth hidden at any cost in the months and years that follow, Pia must confront her own shame and fear, risking everything to see justice – and love – triumph at last. Powerful, harrowing, and ultimately exultant, The Orphan Collector is a story of love, resilience, and the lengths we will go to protect those who need us most.

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Culture

Stories of life and feelings: the literary competition at the start in Lomas de Zamora LOMAS DE ZAMORA - aise - As part of the XXIV Week of the Italian Language, the Italian Consular Agency in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, has organized the second literary competition in Italian for residents in the constituency.

Considering that 2024 is the Year of Italian Roots in the World, the chosen theme concerns the experience of emigration and ties with Italy.

The best works will be presented during the closing celebrations of the Language Week, scheduled from 14 to 18 October 2024.

The Competition is addressed to the entire community of the constituency of the Italian Consular Agency in Lomas de Zamora, without distinction of nationality. There are no age limits to participate.

The theme of the competition is therefore “ITALIANI IN ARGENTINA, STORIES OF LIFE AND SENTIMENTS” and ends with the delivery of the papers on September 20, 2024.

Each competitor, as explained by the Consular Agency of Lomas de Zamora, can participate in the competition with a single story or poetry in Italian. Participation in collective form is allowed. In this case, the co-authors of the work will be considered as a single competitor.

The final work must be in Italian, original, unpublished, not being published and which does not infringe the rights of third parties. The file must be in PDF format, maximum 12,000 (twelve) bars, including spaces.

Each story/poetry must contain the data necessary for the identification of the participants and possibly the school or association of belonging. The sending of the work must be carried out by e-mail to agentcons.lomas-esteri.it no later than midnight on 20 September pv. On the first page must be indicated: name and surname of the author-i/author-i; title; reference email (the three information is excluded from the calculation of the length of the text).

All the works received will be evaluated by a Jury, composed of employees of the Consular Agency. The decisions of the Jury will be taken by a majority. The jurors will examine the works received on the basis of criteria of: originality of the idea at the base of the project; consistency of the work with respect to the idea behind it; creative characteristics.

At the first three classified, the Jury will award a recognition consisting of a plaque or other. The award-winning works will also be published on the Consular Agency’s website and on its social channels. (aise)

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I I r e t p a h C

y a W n a i The Ital Click

or scan

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Ah, Italy. Known for its delicious cuisine, passionate people, and, let’s face it, some pretty hilarious stereotypes. From the over-the-top hand gestures to the insistence that everything must be done “the Italian way,” there are plenty of clichés that pervade the perception of Italian culture. So, let’s take a closer look at some of these stereotypes, shall we?

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the italian way

First

up, the notion that all Italians are fashion-obsessed is, of course, completely accurate. I mean, have you ever seen a group of Italians walking down the street in anything less than designer attire? It’s as if they were all born with an innate sense of style and a closet full of Gucci and Prada. I swear, even their pajamas probably have more flair than my best going-out outfit.

And let’s not forget about the food. Italians are renowned for their culinary prowess, and rightly so. But there’s this idea that every Italian meal is a three-hour, multi-course affair complete with copious amounts of wine and endless chatter. While that may be true for special occasions, the reality is that most Italians are perfectly capable of throwing together a quick pasta dish in under 30 minutes just like the rest of us. Although, it is entirely possible that they do it with a little more flair and finesse.

Of course, no discussion of Italian stereotypes would be complete without mentioning the infamous temper. It’s widely believed that Italians are easily riled up and quick to anger, ready to engage in a heated argument at the drop of a hat. And while it’s true that Italian conversations can sometimes sound a bit, well, passionate, that doesn’t mean every disagreement is going to end in a shouting match worthy of a soap opera. In fact, most Italians are more than happy to peacefully discuss their differences over a good cup of espresso.

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The Italian Way

Cliche` But

perhaps the biggest misconception of all is the idea that all Italians are Casanovas and Casanovettes, ready to sweep you off your feet with their smooth-talking charm and romantic gestures.

While it’s true that Italians do have a certain way with words and a reputation for being great lovers, not every Italian is a walking romance novel waiting to happen. Besides, who has the time for grand gestures when you’re too busy perfecting your pasta recipe or arguing with your neighbors about who makes the best pizza?

So, the next time you find yourself face-to-face with an Italian and tempted to pigeonhole them based on these stereotypes, remember that there’s always more to a person than meets the eye. And hey, who knows? You might just discover that underneath all that pasta and passion lies a whole lot of depth and complexity – just like in a good bottle of Chianti. Cheers to breaking down stereotypes, one laugh at a time! Saluti!

IM Italian Team

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Glorifying Mafia

I 48

n recent decades, cinema has often glorified the figure of the mafia, presenting it as a fascinating and charismatic character. Films like “The Godfather” and “Goodfellas” have contributed to creating a romantic image of organized crime, making it look like being a mafia is a choice for a glamorous and intriguing life.

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owever, there is a growing debate on how ethical and responsible the directors represent the Mafia in such a positive way.

The reality of the mafia is quite different from what is often painted on the big screen: It is a criminal organization that causes terror, corruption, and violence in the communities in which it operates. Mafiosi’s are not heroes to admire, but criminals who harm society.

This glorification of the mafia in cinema can have harmful effects on society. First, it helps to normalize violence and crime, making it seem acceptable and even desirable to be involved in criminal activities. In addition, it can negatively influence the perception of people on the forces of order and justice, giving the idea that the law is not so important if you have the charism and strength of a mafia.

Of course, cinema is a work of fiction, and we should not take everything we see in the letter. However, movies have enormous power in shaping our opinions and beliefs, and we should be aware of the effect they can have on our worldview.

As a result, it is important that directors and screenwriters be responsible and carefully reflect on the representations of the mafia and its members. Glorifying mafia is not only morally questionable but can also have negative consequences on society. We must be critical of these narratives and ask for a more realistic and balanced representation of organized crime. Only in this way can we help to combat the glorification of the mafia and to raise awareness of the damage it causes.

IM Italian Team

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Mattarella: the mafia can be defeated

ROMA\ aise\ - “The attack in Capaci was an attack that the mafia consciously wanted to bring to Italian democracy. A criminal strategy, which after a few weeks replied the same, inhumane, horror in via D’Amelio.

Ferma Ferma was the reaction of the Italian institutions and people. A mobilization of consciences sprang up. The life lesson of Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino became part of the best ethics of the Republic. So the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the massacre of Capaci.

On May 23, 1992 Francesca Falcone Morvillo, Antonio Montinaro, Rocco Dicillo and Vito Schifani died on May 23, 1992. Together with them, on this day Paolo Borsellino, Emanuela Loi, Agostino Catalano, Walter Eddie Cosina, Vincenzo Li Muli and Claudio Traina are also commemorated. All “witnesses of legality, whose name remains marked with indelible characters in our history”, underlines Mattarella. “Their names are a statement of commitment to a definitive victory over mafia cancer and the moved thought goes to their family members who guard their memory and moral heritage.”

“As Falcone and Borsellino claimed, the Republic has shown that the mafia can be defeated and that it is destined to end. The commitment to combating it never fails, the President assures, also because “the attempts at pollution of civil society, the intimidation of economic operators, are always lurking”.

The Day of Legality, therefore, “wants to be the sign of a common responsibility”, because “it is necessary to keep vigilance high. Institutional antibodies, social mobilization to prevent mafia organizations from finding shores in grey and complacent areas, cannot be weakened. (aise)

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Giovanni Falcone and Paolo borsellino

“

The legacy of Falcone and Borsellino – concludes Mattarella – is a living heritage that belongs to the entire national community. Carrying out their work means working for a better society.”

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Alessio Chiariglione

Wild Photographer

By Susanna Casubolo

Chapter II Life Style

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Game On

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Good morning, we are here for IM Italian with Alessio Chiariglione.

What do we interview for our audience, Alessio, would you like to introduce yourself to our audience?

First, thank you for your interview because it was certainly a very pleasant thing and it will certainly be until the last question you ask me, so I am ready for any question. So you asked me who I am. Well, my name is Alessio Chiariglione, I am 52 years old. I live in Rome. And not so long have I had this passion for photography that I had since I was young. In short, I have gradually cultivated, sometimes abandoning as my primary job that forces me to be very loyal to duty as I am part of the representation of the Italian law enforcement agencies. We will not go into too much detail, so let me stay in the shadows, in short.

So why do we have a duality, in the sense that you are both, let’s say, have this aspect a little more normative? Concerning law enforcement. Well, what about this more creative aspect as a photographer?

I am in limbo where I’m forced to follow the rules of the law and the rules of photography. So, I am right in the middle. The rule of third parties is one thing, the rule of the penal code is another. These are the two differences that I have in common and that sometimes I need to know. What is, let’s say, the right time to apply for it, obviously during the work phases.

That is when I feel freer to be a wild photographer and then get rid of all this weight and escape into the woods and mountains, old-fashioned.

What does it mean to be a wild photographer?

Anyway, nowadays being a photographer is enough. Simple, in the sense that you can buy a camera, go to the sky and shoot. But to be a true wild photographer you have to love simplicity, you have to be able to detach yourself from the current society, therefore from the technology that surrounds us, then the mobile phone that unfortunately despite everything. It is both an emergency necessity and a necessity for a hobby. Here, for example, in wild photography, unfortunately nowadays if you want to show what you do and therefore want to look for an alternative route, unfortunately technology follows you everywhere and therefore even when I go to the mountains, knowing then that I have to take home some important shots. Technology. Unfortunately, you must bring your camera with you in this case, in this case your mobile phone to do the filming, then publish it on my Instagram channel that I am following, and I am trying to grow, so it’s an obligation. Not too much. Because then there is also the weight, in short of the technology, because it does not seem like it, but this tool are around four kilograms.

What are your favorite subjects, what do you photograph in your, let’s say, your Wild journey?

First of all, the subject who is looking for a Wild boy is the inspiration that it could be a mountain, a beautiful landscape, or lately, I have been becoming passionate about animals and therefore avifauna, therefore be it birds or deer what differentiates, let’s say so, my search for the subject is not so much photography, history, therefore stakeouts perhaps in hunting lodges or at Gazzola for bed watching, those in the oases that I frequent, so to speak, I try to explore as many places as possible but as much as real hunting in the sense that I load the car, I put it on my shoulder and go looking for the animal by turning and walking, so I also take advantage of the physical activity.

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In your profile, you can also see photos in which you are dressed and hidden.

The use of camouflage precisely to, let’s say, disappear of animals, which is something that animals often spot before you spot them and obviously, they are there, in their environment, but you are not. But here, with this Siebel technique, they recognize the movement which normally with that technique let’s say of the suit you would have to stay in wait perhaps sitting ready with a camera in your arms to shoot and the beauty of the Wild that many the stakeout can last hours and sometimes you return home with a bit of desire because in the end maybe you don’t catch anything that day. After all, it can happen those days in which you spend two or three hours waiting for something interesting to pass by, but in reality, you don’t catch anything. So you get the very fact of going there in a positive way, it will be better next time. This, so to speak, is part of it.

But do you also travel elsewhere besides Italy?

Seldom. Yes, it happened to me, due to work experiences, to visit Latvia and there obviously we don’t have these great mountains here, all the steppe, plain and then chapter of winter. So the landscape is completely different, apart from the cold, from what is or can be found in Italy. Let’s say yes as standard, even if in Italy we have a multitude of landscapes among which possibly this is also one.

However, in Latvia, I was hoping to find something more satisfying, but I was a bit unlucky because generally in terms of fauna the area that was destroyed, let’s say, does not have large foxes, just a few foxes, the area was very, very difficult to find precisely for the S area a specific problem, the area, so to speak, didn’t provide much fauna, but on a basic artistic level there were woods and beech forests or various things, little stuff, in short, little interesting stuff.

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Did you have the opportunity to exhibit the works or in short make them known?

Let’s say that a long time ago, at the beginning there was a period in which only landscape architects were exclusively landscaping and now I get the name of the city of artists it’s called now the name escapes me where there was the mayor of this cascade this is how it came to the name Calcata and there was the mayor who found me there on the spot taking photographs and asked me what I was doing?

Always a pointillist. Well, I’m not a professional, I’m a hobbyist. But I showed him all the faces. He was very enthusiastic and he said to me why don’t you send me on the route? What do you do in Calcata? Well, when do I want? I sent them, he asked me if I wanted to have an exhibition crowded there at the expense of the Municipality. Obviously, at the time, I wasn’t that interested, so to speak, in doing it, also because there was all the preparation that needed to be done. I wasn’t ready yet, I didn’t have a lot of material to show so I postponed it. But well, it was the mayor’s request to want to have an exhibition then let’s say so in 2022 but almost for fun I took part in a photographic competition induced by the ACEA regarding the Christmas lights in Via del Corso in Rome, an area almost for fun I took the excuse of leaving the house the car wanted to go and take some shots and it practically took a shot but almost by luck it was almost a stroke of luck. Not to the side there was this little boy with his hand raised in front of this, let’s say, this Acea Christmas light and I won and got to direct third place without wanting to. Check the winning artist again. I’ve never done any big activities, but I’m thinking about it, and as time goes by it will become material, it’s something I’ll think about doing.

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We know each other because we published some photos you took of an actor we interviewed and in short you also take portraits in addition to this activity let’s say.

The director is actually the actor-director Fabio Massa and it’s true, yes normally I have a passion so to speak for portraiture exclusively of the face and it’s a passion because practically with the subject he has direct contact with the eyes and therefore with the camera. I like to bring out, so to speak, the soul of the personality of the subject in front of me, not because I ask him to but because I leave him free to speak and express himself, I try to steal that moment in which he is there. that personality and then leave it to posterity so that one day they will look at that photograph let’s say look at that expression that we say yes I have this passion for portraits in addition to everything else even if lately I have abandoned it a bit let’s leave it like that because portraiture it takes me, so to speak, to be a stage and therefore a subject in this period instead I want to break away from the usual beautiful season so take them to escape out of town also because with the work I do he is always among the public, always among the disorder, chaos.

Would you like to become an inspiration in the future or at least teach other people to be a photographer?

But look, I had thought about it, so much so that I even opened the website at the time, but then I closed it and I thought about starting to indoctrinate, maybe bringing beginners along, so to speak. The seed of knowledge, photography, and beauty that is in Silence is spread. Let’s also say that it encompasses photography itself for passion. And then I also had some employees, but then it was really from the cloud, it’s very accomplished.

Now I’m trying to expand this activity again with my Instagram channel. I created other teams because I would like to create a team of photographers in Italy, not to create, let’s say, guides of viral work, meaning that as a whole the group could rely on each other to go and explore, take photographs in a place where perhaps there ‘It’s that side that could accompany you in the area and make you do some work.

Something that you have not yet achieved to date, here, on a professional level, from the point of view, is the photography that you would like to achieve in the future...

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Yes, let’s say that to achieve this goal which is precisely to become a professional and so let’s say so.

Taking the whole day as well as sharing it with work and family because there is also the family with whom I have to share my time, let’s say a full-time photographer let’s call him that so it would be interesting but I think that’ll have to wait until I retire, but I don’t miss the opera that much, but eight years is a long time and I want it.

Then I would have to divide you between the two again.

But here I am preparing my head instead of looking at the construction sites I will look through the lens of the camera this is for the construction sites I want to photograph but maybe as late as possible ear and distant goal because in reality current happiness is broken, so to speak, by working life. Obviously in our work, we say that when we come into play there is normally something wrong apart from perhaps prevention but here’s what leads to let’s say use that period that you are working with the trilogy of work, therefore, the law enforcement forces gravitate towards things that make you reflect, therefore the happiness that you have at the moment perhaps earned the day before is not a photograph but clashes a little with this cruder reality and therefore tries to balance it every time.

But it’s not difficult, in the sense that once you find the right balance to carry forward you can do it unless something more serious happens, you take it, absorb it, metabolize everything, and then look for the solution. Because photographer’s guides find solutions that must survive. The first commandment that each of us responds to is to survive in any way.

What if there was a genie in the lamp? I always ask this question. And that he could fulfill your wishes? What kind of wishes do you want to express?

It would be interesting. And the first thing he asks him Do you want to exchange? Why not take his place?

Okay, so it was nice meeting you.

Thank you, my pleasure.

In short we have collaborated with IM Italian Italia but we have never had the pleasure of meeting you and there are future projects for which we will be able to look for you again. Is anything in the works?

Let’s say that if everything goes well and I hope it goes well, you will soon have news of this face on television too. But it’s not a secret that remains there, in limbo at the moment, and we don’t go too far from the window, because falling is a moment as long as one remains in the window. A bit like the holy man, everyone applauds him, everyone smells if it falls.

It was a pleasure meeting you. See you soon. We usually bring good luck to the people we interview, so maybe we bring good luck to you too.

Then you need to tie a knot on your finger with a fork. Remember your wild friends!

Ciao Alesssio, grazie.

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“Be gentle with yourself!”

By F. Guzzardi

G

oing through a divorce judgment that I felt was unfair was one of the most emotionally and psychologically challenging experiences of my life. Navigating the legal process itself was exhausting and draining, as I had to relive painful memories and emotions while trying to fight for what I believed was right. However, when the judgment came down and it did not go in my favor, it felt like a devastating blow to my sense of justice and fairness.

The aftermath of the divorce judgment brought on a wave of emotions, including anger, sadness, betrayal, and a deep sense of injustice. I struggled with feelings of powerlessness and resentment towards my ex-spouse and the legal system that I felt had failed me. It was difficult to let go of the intense emotions and thoughts that consumed me, and I found myself stuck in a cycle of rumination and replaying the events leading up to the judgment.

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n coping with the challenges, I sought support from close friends and family members who provided a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on.

Their validation and empathy helped me feel less alone in my struggle and gave me the courage to face my pain head-on. I also sought professional help through therapy, which provided me with a safe space to explore my emotions, gain perspective, and develop coping strategies to navigate the aftermath of the divorce judgment.

Through therapy, I learned the importance of self-care and prioritizing my mental and emotional well-being. I made efforts to engage in activities that brought me joy and peace, such as exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature. I also practiced self-compassion and forgiveness towards myself and others, recognizing that healing from such a traumatic experience takes time and patience. One of the most valuable insights I gained from my journey is the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. While it may seem impossible to move forward after experiencing a divorce judgment that feels unfair, it is possible to heal and rebuild a fulfilling life. By seeking support, practicing self-care, and seeking professional help if needed, individuals going through an analogous situation can find the strength and courage to overcome their pain and start a new chapter in their lives.

My advice to others going through a comparable situation is to be gentle with themselves, to seek support from loved ones and professionals, and to remember that they are not alone in their struggles. It is okay to feel overwhelmed, angry, and hurt, but it is important to take steps towards healing and moving forward. By practicing self-care, resilience, and seeking help when needed, individuals can learn to navigate the aftermath of a divorce judgment and find peace and happiness on the other side.

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Chapter III Political

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U.S. public debt: effect of the war economy?

by Mario Lettieri and Paolo Raimondi

ROMA\ aise\ -There is a strange and deafening silence of the European Union and the various governments on the level of American public debt and its unsustainable growth. Talking about it is in the interest of the economic and political stability of our continent.

Ignoring the global impact could be interpreted in the world as a submissive complicity. Is it fear of revealing the uncontainable collapse of the Bretton Woods system? In any case, the bill to be paid is presenting itself without the major actors involved having a real plan B in the drawer.

It is the US Treasury itself that provides official debt crisis data that was published by Monthly statement on public debt, the monthly report of the fiscaldata. treasury.gov. At the end of April 2024, the total public debt, called Total Treasury Security Outstanding, i.e. the sum of the various bonds and government debt securities, was $34.617 billion. 12 months earlier this sum was 31,458 billion. In one year, public debt increased by $3,160 billion, equal to Germany’s level of public debt, the world’s fourth economic power, and much more than our public debt. All this in 12 months!

It’s not normal! They are not even fake news. Approximately 26,000 billion of the figure mentioned above are considered “marketable”, i.e. they are marketable securities on the market. Of these, about 23% are bonds lasting a year or less, 50%

are bonds with a maturity of 2 to 10 years and only the rest has a maturity of 20-30 years. This puts the refinancing of maturing debt in a high-risk position. The risk that is added to the dangers inherent in the amazing growth. It should be noted that more than $8 trillion of “marketable” securities are owned by foreign operators and international financial institutions, i.e. investors whose behavior is hardly predictable, also because they are often driven by speculative interests.

Moreover, during this fiscal year, the payment of interest on the debt will “feed” 13.5% of the entire federal budget, an increase of 2.6 times compared to 2021.

The picture is disturbing and expectations are not rosy. In the first quarter of 2024, the increase in GDP was 1.6%, a point less than expected, while inflation reached the annualized rate of 3.7%, 2% more than the fourth quarter of 2023.

ried. A recent editorial titled “The Long Shadows of America’s Growing Debt” expresses concern that the U.S. risks a new “Liz Truss case”: remember that the then-British prime minister’s tax proposals in September 2022 brought down the UK bond market. And with it the Truss government itself. The newspaper notes that “American debt is on an unsustainable path.” It also warns that “the global influence of the United States could lead to a dangerous complacency among its political leaders.” Obviously, more than solutions, the Financial Times proposes the classic recipe for austerity: higher taxes and cuts in budget spending. Under observation are public bonds and their interest rates.

U.S. Treasury bonds are the benchmark for determining the global debt price. The IMF claims that the 1% in-

crease in US rates has led to more than 0.9% in bond yields of other so-called advanced economies and to more than 1% in emerging markets. The FT warns, or threatens, that if U.S. executives do not intervene “budive traders, panicked, they could force them to do so.” For a long time there has been a thought about the need for major monetary and financial reform in the context of a new multilateral international order.

In the meantime, the geopolitical situation has, unfortunately, been very incancrened. Hope is the last to die.

Today, more than yesterday, the only actor who could mediate and chart a path to a new Bretton Woods would be sovereign and independent Europe. We hope that the new Parliament and the new Commission will be able to go in this direction.

This led to a review of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate reduction plans. At the end of 2023 there was talk of 6 downward adjustments during this year, today it is thought that there could be at most a retouching.

Inexplicably few focus on the debt problem, many, however, speak of a possible stagflation, a new period of economic stagnation with high inflation. This is not the case with the Financial Times. As City’s spokesman, the largest hub of world big finance, he can only be worSummer 2024 - The duality issue

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Political

Before leaving Chicago and reaching Indianapolis, the final stage of the mission in the United States led by the president of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, with the aim of attracting new investments on the territory, the governor, together with the undersecretary with responsibility for international relations, Raffaele Cattaneo,

has made a first assessment of the results obtained so far during the various meetings on the agenda.

“Lombardy - Fontana has emphasized - is recording, as demonstrated by the latest surveys, results always better, is regarding the GDP is regarding the attractiveness of foreign capital is regarding the productivity. We wanted to present these positive peculiarities of the territory to the American economic world and I must say that, in the meetings held so far, we have found a great demonstration of interest, a great ability to listen, but above all the will to get in touch more and more with the Lombard world “.

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“So much that we are dealing with a U.S. multinational for an investment of about $4 billion.”

The President of the Lombardy Region preferred not to make the name of the company known at the moment, but he stressed that the operation should end in a short time, “more likely after the European elections”.

“Lombardy - it has confirmed the undersecretary Cattaneo - has a very strong appeal in every part of the world and also in the United States we are finding or itself success. Our region, in fact, appears in the eyes of the Americans as an extremely interesting territory rich in potential to carry out new and innovative initiatives.

From the data presented by the president of the Lombardy Region to the conservative think tank ‘Americans for Tax Reform’ emerges a European record in terms of GDP growth (+5.5% in the period 2021-2023), with over 440 billion in 2023, equal to 23% of the national GDP. “Numbers - said the

undersecretary - which testify to the excellence of the Lombard economic fabric and represent a pin on which to leverage to further improve”.

“We do not want to rest on our laurels - it has specified the Governor - in the optical of an ever greater attractiveness of the territory. Our maximum commitment is focused on reducing bureaucracy, which remains the biggest obstacle for those who want to invest, and to promote even closer public-private collaboration.

“The U.S. market is a privileged and growing market, with about $20 billion a year of interchange and a positive trade balance.”

The governor and the undersecretary of Lombardy then focused on the automotive theme, focus on the last stage of the mission in Indianapolis, during which, on the occasion of the ‘500 miles’, the delegation will participate in a world forum and the visit to a series of companies that represent Italian excellence in the sector, such as the Emilia-based Dallara and the Lombard Officine Meccaniche Rezzatesi (Omr).

“We want to discuss alternatives to electric - they said - a choice that seems ideological and unsustainable to us.

This is why we also spoke with Marco Margheri, chairman of Eni USA, a company at the forefront of biofuels.

Fontana (Lombardy) in the USA: Region at work to guarantee large investments

The institutional mission will continue tomorrow in Indianapolis.

Among the events scheduled to participate in the Indiana Global Economic Summit 2024, during which the Lombard governor will speak together with Joe Hogsett, mayor of Indianapolis, and David Rosenberg, Secretary of Commerce of the State of Indiana, in an in-depth session dedicated to the key role of local relations to promote trade, innovation and contribute to the achievement of an increasingly resilient economy to future global challenges.

Fontana, together with the Undersecretary to the Presidency with responsibility for International Relations and the President of Assolombarda, Alessandro Spada, who will reach the delegation tomorrow, will also meet the Governor of the State of Indiana Eric Holcomb.

Following, a “side event” of presentation of Lombardy at the Indiana Global Summit Partner, with the participation of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, universities and the business world.

The following of Saturday 25 May will be the automotive sector.

The delegation will meet Paul Mitchell, president and CEO of

Indy Autonomous Challenge at the company headquarters, “with the aim - explains the president of the Region - to lay the foundations for possible future virtuous synergies related to the Monza Circuit, the engine sector and, more generally, to the world of the university and research”.

Meetings are also scheduled with Roger Penske, owner of the racetrack (“which - says the governor - together with our Monza is the most famous and iconic in the world”) and the IndyCar Series, with Giampaolo Dallara, founder and owner of the homonymous company specialized in the production of racing cars.

Meccaniche Rezzatesi. The Group, based in Rezzato (BS) and specialized in Automotive components, makes use of the capacities of over 3,200 people operating in 15 plants located in 4 continents. In particular, the delegation of the Lombardy Region will take part in a working moment with the ad for the USA Gary Cerasale and with the president Marco Bonometti. (aise)

Of particular interest is also the meeting and with the leaders of Officine

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Italian innovation flies to Silicon Valley: SMAU brings the best of Made in Italy to San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO\ aise\ -SMAU, an independent and dynamic platform that brings together companies, startups and big players around it, flies to San Francisco for the second consecutive year and as the third stage of the international tour, created in collaboration with ITA - Italian Trade Agency, after the successes of London and Paris. On May 21, at Innovit, in the world capital of innovation, 45 Italian startups and the largest companies active on the Open Innovation front will meet the protagonists of Silicon Valley, which maintains the primacy from 2020 in the global innovation ecosystem, followed by New York City and London both in second place, with San Francisco elected first on the top list of the best cities for AI startups in the world.

The event, organized by Smau with ITA - Italian Trade Agency until 23 May, will involve cutting-edge companies in the areas of sustainability, engineering, artificial intelligence, but also mobility and smart communities.

The aim is to highlight the best innovative solutions of the Italian ecosystem, encouraging the meeting between the made in Italy startups and Italian companies present, including Edison, FNM, Intesa Sanpaolo, Pelliconi, Terna, UnipolSai, but also with the protagonists of the international market, incubators, accelerators and Venture Capital.

The program of activities will begin with an inaugural reception, in the presence of the Consul General of Italy Sergio Strozzi, scheduled today, May 20, at the Fugazi Club, an iconic location for the Italian community of San Francisco, which since its opening in 1914 has hosted artists, oratories, politicians and cultural in-

novators. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21, at INNOVIT, a technological hub for the promotion of the Italian ecosystem in the United States, the protagonists will be the startups, who will have the opportunity to present their innovative solutions to American companies, investors and enablers. At the end, a tour of the innovation venues of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 May, to visit incubators, accelerators and innovation hubs most active in the Bay Area.(aise)

Made in Italy

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In my opinion

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F. Guzzardi

Some narcissistic traits tend to fade over time, and opinions also release certain inhibitions.

Opinions are not negotiable and are part of the sphere of our subconscious. Irony attenuates its extremism. Opinions are always biased, without conscience, incorruptible and vulgar, without memory and chameleon-like. They know about things not seen or heard; opinions are boats in stormy oceans, useless and practical, like Instagram stories or early morning tweets.”

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President Biden: the art of political rhetoric

s we approach the one-year mark of the Biden administration, one thing is abundantly clear: this administration sure knows how to talk the talk. From promises of unity and bipartisanship to commitments to addressing climate change and racial inequality, President Biden and his team have certainly the art of political rhetoric.

However, when it comes to actually walking the walk, well, let’s just they seem to have a bit a wobble in their step. Take, for example, the administration’s approach to climate change. Despite proclaiming bold intentions to tackle the existential threat of global warming, the Biden administration has thus far failed to implement any significant measures to curb carbon emissions or transition to renewable energy sources.

Instead, they seem content to continue cozying up to big oil and gas companies, pumping billions of dollars into pipelines and drilling projects while paying lip service to the urgency of the climate crisis. It’s almost as if they believe that simply saying the right things is enough to placate their progressive base, while simultaneously pandering to their corporate donors.

But fear not, dear readers, for there is hope on the horizon. If the Biden administration truly wants to deliver on their promises and enact meaningful change, they need to start holding themselves accountable and taking real action. This means prioritizing the needs of the American people over the interests of wealthy donors and special interests, and implementing bold and transformative policies that address the root causes of our most pressing issues.

So, Mr. President, if you’re reading this, it’s time to put down the rhetoric and start making some real changes. Because as the old saying

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goes, actions speak louder than words – especially when those words are riddled with political spin and empty promises. Let’s see some real progress, shall we? The clock is ticking, and the American people are watching.

Trump, with his penchant for tweeting like a teenage girl hopped up on caffeine

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t seems like former President Donald Trump just can’t seem stay out of the headlines, much to the dismay of the majority of the American. His controversial legacy continues to haunt the Republican Party like a bad case of indigestion after a night of eating Taco Bell.

Trump, with his penchant for tweeting like a teenage girl hopped up on caffeine, managed to turn American politics into something resembling a reality TV show. It was like watching “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” with more spray tans and less intelligence.

The Republican Party, once known for its conservative values and principled leadership, is now more like a circus tent filled with clowns juggling hot potatoes. And guess who’s at the center ring? That’s right, the man who never met a conspiracy theory he didn’t like.

The Trump loyalists, or as they like to call themselves, “patriots,” continue to double down

on their support for a man who couldn’t find honesty with a GPS and a road map. It’s like they’ve drunk the Kool-Aid and can’t seem to snap out of their political coma.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Republican Party is trying to distance themselves from Trump faster than a cheetah chasing down a gazelle. They’re like the cool kids in high school who suddenly realize the kid they were hanging out with is actually a total loser.

But even as Trump fades into the background like a bad rerun of “The Apprentice,” his legacy still looms large over American politics like a storm cloud on a sunny day. The damage he’s done to our democracy is like trying to unscramble an egg – impossible.

So, as we navigate the rocky terrain of the current political landscape, let’s remember the lessons we’ve learned from the Trump era. And let’s hope that the Republican Party can find its way back to sanity before it’s too late.

Otherwise, we may be in for a sequel that makes “Sharknado” look like a documentary.

Black and white?

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n recent years, the conflict in Palestine has dominated headlines and sparked heated debates the world.

But how much do we know about the history of complex region? Let take a satirical deep dive into the true historical background of Palestine, to shed light on the misconceptions and complexities surrounding this hotly contested area.

First off, let’s address the elephant in the room - the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine. Many people believe this conflict dates back to biblical times, with Israel claiming ancestral rights to the land while Palestinians assert their indigenous presence.

But in reality, the history of this region is far more nuanced than a simple biblical narrative.

Did you know that Palestine was once part of the Ottoman Empire, until the British came along and decided to carve up the Middle East like a Thanksgiving turkey? The infamous Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 divvied up the region into artificial borders, setting the stage for decades of tension and conflict.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and we find ourselves in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both sides have legitimate claims to the land, with Israel seeking security and self-determination, while Palestinians yearn for statehood and recognition. But instead of working towards a peaceful resolution, both parties seem more interested in finger-pointing and blame games. Maybe they should take a cue from the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and try some therapy sessions -

Dr. Phil would have a field day with this dysfunctional family.

And let’s not forget Gaza, the tiny strip of land that often gets overlooked in the larger narrative of the conflict. Gaza has been subjected to multiple wars and blockades, turning it into a virtual prison for its inhabitants.

It’s like Shawshank Redemption, but with less Morgan Freeman narration and more airstrikes.

The history of Palestine is a messy, convoluted saga filled with political intrigue, historical grievances, and a whole lot of misconceptions. But by injecting a dose of humor and irony into the mix, we can start to unravel the tangled web of narratives and challenge our own preconceived notions. So next time you hear someone spouting off about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, take a step back, put on your satirical glasses, and see the bigger picture - it’s a lot more colorful than black and white.

Would you like to live in another world, perhaps not too far?

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re you tired of the monotony of everyday life? Do you feel like you were prisoners in a world that does not belong to you? Would you like to live in another world, perhaps not too far, to keep an eye on everything that happens without being too involved? If the answer is yes, Palestine could be the perfect place for you!

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ut wait a minute, before taking the first flight to Tel Aviv or Gaza, there are some things you need to know.

First of all, Palestine is not exactly what you expect. It is not Ukraine, it is not even a state, but rather a region that includes both Gaza and Israel. So, when you hear someone scream “Palestina free”, remember that the situation is a little more complicated than it looks.

In fact, the history of Palestine has been the subject of debate and disputes for decades. On the one hand, there is the Palestinian people who claim their right to self-determination and freedom, on the other hand there is Israel who defends its existence and security.

But in the midst of all this chaos, there is room also for a little sarcasm and irony. Because, in the end, laughing is better than crying, right?

So if you want to live in another world, maybe not too far, to keep an eye on everything that happens in Palestine, prepare yourself for a comedy of errors, twists and eccentric characters. You may meet a corrupt political leader making empty promises, a journalist who does not know what he is saying and a Palestinian who does not know if he is closer to Gaza or Tel Aviv.

I mean, if you’re looking for some fun and adventure in your life, Palestine could be the perfect place for you. But remember, reality often exceeds imagination, and in this region of the world, surprises are on the agenda.

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So, get ready to experience a unique and unforgettable experience, where nothing is as it looks and where every day is a new adventure. Have fun!”

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There are no Ukrainians in US universities

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n a shocking turn of events, the once fiery protests in Ukraine have dwindled down to a mere flicker.

What could possibly be the cause of this decline in revolutionary spirit? Let’s delve into the absurd reasons behind this sudden lack of activism.

One possible factor contributing to the decrease in protests is the Ukrainian people’s apparent obsession with borscht. Yes, you heard that right.

It seems that instead of taking to the streets to fight for their rights, Ukrainians have opted to spend their days simmering beets and cabbage into a delicious soup. Who needs social change when you have a piping hot bowl of borscht to warm your soul, right?

Another amusing reason for the decline in protests could be the rise of cat videos on the internet. Yes, you read that correctly. It seems that Ukrainians have traded in their picket signs for endless hours of mindlessly watching adorable kittens frolicking about. Who needs to overthrow a corrupt government when you can watch a fluffy feline chase a laser pointer?

And let’s not forget about the impact of Ukrainian education on the decline of protests. With a curriculum focused more on memorizing historical dates than fostering critical thinking skills, it’s no wonder that the younger generation is more interested in acing their exams than taking to the streets. Who needs to fight for social justice when you can recite the entire lineage of Ukrainian presidents?

In all seriousness, the decline in protests in Ukraine is a complex issue with no easy answers. However, it’s important to take a step back and look at the

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absurdity of some of the reasons behind this trend. Perhaps it’s time for Ukrainians to put down the ladle, turn off the cat videos, and start fighting for the change they want to see in their country. Until then, we can only hope that the spirit of revolution will be reignited once again.

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Game On