January 2010

Learn Italian in Signs: Horses and Dogs

January 31, 2010

^ Milan billboard advertising a van: “Milanese Proverb. The master commands, the horse [he] trots.” ^ This sign on a train has been altered from “service rooms” to “torture rooms”. ^ I don’t remember where I took this picture, but it says “Dogs have the right to make dirty [poop], masters have the duty to [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Gianna

January 31, 2010

Gianna by Rino Gaetano This song is difficult to translate because it’s essentially nonsense (or is it?). But it’s a fun, bouncy tune that I can’t resist. (It sounds a lot better in the recording than in the above concert version.) Gianna Gianna Gianna sosteneva, tesi e illusioni Gianna Gianna Gianna supported theses and illusions [...]

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Balancing Career and Family – Over Years

January 31, 2010

I hear a lot in the US about work-life balance. The concept is increasingly at the forefront of consciousness for both sexes, as both men and women think hard about the roles they want to play in the world and in their own families. Most large corporations at least pay lip service to the notion [...]

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“Drink Your Coffee…”

January 31, 2010

I’m not attached to many objects; I’ve moved too much and had to leave behind too many things to want to invest emotionally in anything other than people. But there a few items do have particular sentimental value. The cup above has a history: my friend Sue inherited it after the unexpected death of her [...]

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Fashion Statement

January 31, 2010

This Swatch was my major fashion statement for several years, until (as you can see) I wore it out. The design isn’t easy to understand at a casual glance, so people would ask me about it: “Is that a mermaid?” “No,” I would explain: “It’s Eve, gathering apples.” (As for the snake, take a close [...]

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Learn Italian in Signs

January 30, 2010

Piazza Gambara, Milano Vorrei svegliarti ogni mattina con un bacio – “I’d like to wake you every morning with a kiss.” This sign mysteriously appeared on a bus stop in Lecco. I haven’t seen any others like it, and have no idea who’s responsible, whether it’s one it a series…? It says: “When you take [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Fossi Figo

January 30, 2010

This piece of rude irony by Elio e le Storie Tese (Elio and the Tense Stories) is a good example of the use of the conditional tense in Italian, as well as covering some common Italian slang, and some use of English words in everyday Italian. The video features Gianni Morandi, for no apparent reason [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Largo al Factotum della Citta’

January 30, 2010

Largo al factotum della citta’ Make Way for the Factotum of the City (excerpted and translated by D’) [factotum = do-everything] Largo al factotum della citta’, largo! Make way for the factotum of the city, make way! Presto a bottega, che l’alba e’ gia’, presto. Hurry to the shop, it’s already dawn, hurry. Ah, che [...]

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Everyday Italian: Signs of the Times

January 29, 2010

^ Occasione means “For sale, great deal!” (And no wonder…) ^ June 14, 2006 – This new shop in Lecco is “opening soon” (prossima = soon or next, apertura = opening [noun]). But maybe it’ll close soon after? ^ English education in Italy clearly never includes proper use of the apostrophe (a common mistake among [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Emozioni

January 29, 2010

Emotions Another classic by Lucio Battisti. Seguir con gli occhi un airone sopra il fiume e poi To follow with your eyes a heron above the river and then ritrovarsi a volare find yourself flying e sdraiarsi felice sopra l’erba ad ascoltare and to stretch out happy on the grass to listen un sottile dispiacere [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: L’Emozione non ha Voce

January 28, 2010

Emotion has No Voice Adriano Celentano. The video above comes from Rockpolitik, a variety show hosted by Celentano in 2006. Io non so parlar d’amore l’emozione non ha voce E mi manca un po il respiro se ci sei c’e troppa luce La mia anima si spande come musica d’estate poi la voglia sai mi [...]

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The Twitter Diaries: 2010-01-28 CO

January 28, 2010

(In reverse chron order, sorry!) Jan 28, 2010 @KathySierra a lot of us prefer keyboards, though. I find handwriting painful and screen-touching slow. And I type VERY fast. RT @wanderingitaly: Mmmm. RT: @ContextItaly: Jewish Cuisine in Rome event May 17, led by the wonderful Katie Parla http://bit.ly/9b24Xw @nonstick that is very true. @nonstick I don’t [...]

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MPxIO

January 28, 2010

MPxIO: A multipathing solution for devices accessible through multiple host controller interfaces. An in-depth transfer of information by Chris Horne. download mpxio1-iPhone.m4v Part 2 download mpxio2-iPhone.m4v Part 3 download mpxio3-iPhone.m4v filmed & edited by Deirdré Straughan

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Learn Italian in Song: E la Barca Tornò Sola

January 27, 2010

And the Ship Returned Alone Renato Carosone (1960) Erano tre fratelli pescatori, con una mamma bianca, con una barca nera e con tre cuori ancora da creatura… Il mare urlava cupo quella sera e il legno della incognita straniera cercava aiuto in tutto quell’orrore. “Chi rischierà la vita per salvare la bionda forestiera, chi sarà?” [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Due su Due

January 26, 2010

Song by Articolo 31. Once again, the theme of family and mamma. Two on Two ritornello: refrain: io non so cosa pensavi quelle notti con papà I don’t know what you were thinking those nights with Dad ma grazie mamma ne hai fatti due su due Thanks, Mom, you made two on two [two alike?] [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: La Coppia Piu’ Bella del Mondo

January 25, 2010

by Adriano Celentano with Mina This is often played as a waltz at town festivals featuringballo liscio (“smooth dancing” – ballroom), and all the couples, from the youngest to the oldest, pile onto the dance floor, each singing lustily that they are “the most beautiful couple in the world.” Unfortunately, this video leaves off the [...]

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ZFS Crypto

January 25, 2010

Cindy Swearingen interviews Darren Moffat about the ZFS Crypto project. January, 2010. filmed & edited by Deirdré Straughan

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Learn Italian in Song: Una Su Un Milione

January 24, 2010

by Alex Britti Una Su Un Milione One in a Million Accettami così Accept me just like this ti prego non guardare I beg you not to look nella mia testa inside my head c’è un mondo da ignorare there’s a world to ignore Voglio che tu sia I want you to be mia complice [...]

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Learn Italian in Song: Il Ragazzo della via Gluck

January 24, 2010

The Boy from Gluck Street A supposedly autobiographical song by Adriano Celentano which may have been Italy’s first environmental protest song, presented at the San Remo music festival in 1966. Note: Via Gluck in Milan, like many Italian streets, is named for someone famous, in this case composer Christoph Gluck. The further you go from [...]

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Thinking Badly of Others in Italy

January 24, 2010

A very indicative Italian saying: A pensare male si fa peccato, ma si indovina [quasi] sempre. This translates roughly as: “To think badly [of others] is a sin – but you’re nearly always right.”

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