Students in Rome Blog

Cruise Ship Captain Won't Go Back Onboard

2012-01-18T15:41:00.007+01:00

So everybody is up in arms in Italy right now because of this recorded conversation between captain of the sunken cruise liner, Francesco Schettino, and the coast guard captain, Gregorio De Falco. It's in Italian, so I hope you've been practicing!

...for those who haven't, basically the coast guard is telling the captain, who jumped ship, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves with no official guidance, to go back aboard the ship and take count of how many people are there and report on the situation. The captain, however, refuses. From the sound of this clip, he is basically peeing his pants, especially when the coast guard tells him that one passenger has already died. So he not only bailed out first, but refused to go back and help anyone. Hmm.

This guy must be going to jail for life, right? Mm nope. House arrest.

Students in Rome is Back!

2012-01-17T00:30:00.004+01:00

So I have been MIA for a while now, busy with lots of stuff that made it easy to neglect the site and blog. In the meantime, StudentsinRome.com expired and was apparently bought by godaddy.com, who is now re-selling it at $280. To them, I'd like to dedicate a big vaffanculo.

However, I have re-done the site on google sites (in the interest of time, ease and money). It would be cooler to have our own unique domain name, but the site is as good as ever. Now there is a place to comment on the articles and has a flashier new look (along with the blog). I will try to post on the blog when I can, as even though I moved back to the states, I am constantly reflecting on how life was in Italy.

Hopefully you find it helpful and let any friends who are thinking about studying in Rome know!

Students in Rome New Site

Roma Update

2010-11-20T14:07:00.004+01:00

A lot has happened for Roma recently, sorry about the lack of posts, I've been pretty busy. In Serie A, they finally got out of that horrible slump that we saw in the beginning of the season, which was one of, if not the single, worst in the club's history. They got back on track at the end of October, but solidified their rise with a huge victory against Lazio in the derby.

In the Champions League, they recently beat Basel, which has left them in second place behind Bayern Munich, who they will face at home this week (get tickets if you can!)

Tonight they play Udinese in Serie A at home, game starts at 6!

The non-Italian on an Italian Diet

2010-10-21T09:26:00.006+02:00

Here's the typical curve that non-Italians follow when they spend more than a week in Italy:

We start flying high...

1. Italian food is AMAZING, give me more pasta!

2. OMG it's sooo much better here than they make it at home!

3. I could LITERALLY eat pasta and pizza every day for the rest of my life!!

...technical difficulties...

4. Why do I feel myself wanting nachos? I'm in Italy for godssake the food here is DOPE.

5. OK, I mean one night of non-Italian food wouldn't hurt anyone. There's got to be some places that serve a good chicken salad.

6. Oh, there's basically nothing other than Italian food? Oh... that's ok... I'm in Italy after all, I should just enjoy it while I'm here.

...crash.

7. I WOULD SELL MY RIGHT KIDNEY FOR ONE NIGHT AT APPLEBEES!!! HOW DO THESE PEOPLE LITERALLY EAT PASTA AND PIZZA EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES!?!?

I love a good amatriciana as much as anyone, yet those of us that have stayed here for an extended period of time know that, all stereotypes aside, the Italian diet is somewhat limited. In any American city, you can find anything from Vietnamese to Peruvian to fried chicken. I guess that's why they call it the melting pot.

But still, how is it possible that the choice of ethnic restaurants in Italy is so limited? Sure, there's your Middle-Eastern kebabs (love those), over-priced Argentinian steakhouses, and ubiquitous Chinese/Japanese places, but that's really where it ends. Don't go to any of Rome's Mexican joints if you expect anything resembling an authentic chalupa (or if you're on a tight budget for that matter).

The fact is that Italians just love their staples and don't really trust anything else. Of course I'm over-generalizing, but it's clear that there's very little demand for anything other than the traditional dishes. Tourists, who usually only make it through 1-3 of the curve, compound this demand.

Ask an Italian how they can eat pasta almost every day and you'll get "Ahh but there are many different ways to cook pasta!" every single time. The Chinese are not trusted in general, so it's no big surprise they are not lining up to eat their food (it's an urban myth that the cats of Largo Argentina are used in the restaurant next to it). Everything else is too expensive to eat with any regularity.

While I don't want to be the ball-breaking foreigner who rolls into another country and has the nerve to tell them to change their ways, a burrito joint here and there really wouldn't hurt anybody.

New Parts of the Colosseum Open

2010-10-16T11:36:00.005+02:00

Ever been to the Colosseum and said, "awww why can't we go all the way up to the third ring or down underneath where the floor used to be?" Well, now it's open to the public.

The underground corridors, as I'm sure everybody who took a tour of it (or saw Gladiator, for that matter) is well aware, is where the gladiators would prepare for the fight. Animals, slaves, and fighters were kept here and could be introduced into the middle of a fight by a series of lifts. Many say that this is the most interesting part of the Colosseum, showing off the Romans' architectural brilliance, as well as their flare for the dramatic.

Further, since these corridors were buried underground throughout much of history, they are much better preserved than the rest, which has been subject to thousands of years of the elements.

The third ring that has opened (previously you could only go to the first and second) would be where the lower class Romans (plebeians) sat for the fights (even if, I've always thought that they had it better than the rich patricians, who sat so close that they risked death by a stray arrow or javelin). However, aside from the better view of the inside, the third ring also offers great views of Rome itself.

36 Hours in Rome

2010-10-11T07:44:00.005+02:00

In a new travel piece in the New York Times, 36 Hours in Rome, the newer, trendier aspects of Rome are explored instead of the classic tourist spots. It gives a list of (mostly) new things to do and places to go that likely won't be found in Rick Steves.

While I appreciate the desire to go off the beaten path, I can't help but feel that these are all expensive, ritzy places (located in the expensive, ritzy areas of Rome) made to seem as if they are hidden gems. It's like going to the upper East side of Manhattan and making a guide to the trendiest places in New York. Of course it's nice, but who can afford it?

I'd like to see a list of the countless not-so-glamorous, yet incredibly delicious restaurants, or the hidden treasures beneath Rome's surface that tourists often miss.

Bad Start For Roma

2010-09-16T05:54:00.002+02:00

Bad start for Totti and the boys. First there was the 5-1 loss at Cagliari. Now to be fair, the season is young, and despite the lopsided score sheet, it counts the same as a hard-fought 1-0 battle.

But then there was the 2-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Again, it's still early and Bayern is clearly the stiffest competition Roma will face in the group.

However, if we remember last year, Roma started horribly, yet picked up their game to finish oh-so-close to the top spot in Italy. In hindsight, if it hadn't had been for that bad start, and all other results remained the same, they would have handily won.

Now it's easy to look back and speculate, hindsight is always 20/20, but maybe, just maybe, could we learn from the mistakes of last year and not take two months to get our game going?

Berlusconi Making Friends in All the Wrong Places

2010-09-01T16:40:00.005+02:00

Well Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's whack-job dictator is back in Rome and Silvio is all smiles (again). For those unaware, Gaddafi has a history for outlandish actions and statements, like last year when he paid hundreds of young Italian women to come for a night out in Rome, only to sit them down and preach the Koran. In fact, in 2007 he said he wants to ''save European women.'' Then there was when he called for the dismantling of Switzerland, issuing a jihad against the country because his son was arrested there.

Well, he's not done, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi doesn't seem to mind. Just the other day he went for round two with the young Italian women in another paid preach-fest, as well as called for Europe to convert to Islam. Then, he asked for five billion euros a year to keep Europe from ''turning black'' as a result of African immigration. You can't make this stuff up (hence all the links).

What's fishy though is that this all seems to be a side-show, during which serious ties are being strengthened between Italy and Libya. Italian firms are taking an increasing role in building up Libyan infrastructure, while Libya is investing heavily in Unicredit, one of Italy's biggest banks.

Given Italy's economic (La Repubblica reports that one in four young Italians is unemployed) and political instability, I'm not so sure that buddying up with guys like Gaddafi is sound politics.

Roma Cesena 0-0

2010-08-29T21:34:00.002+02:00

Not much to say after Roma's 0-0 tie yesterday against Serie A newcomer Cesena. Lots of opportunities, no finishes. Let's hope for more than that when they travel to Cagliari in two weeks.

Champions League Draws Are Set for Roma

2010-08-27T16:29:00.006+02:00

The match-ups are set for this year's Champions League (here is the table in pdf). Roma is in Group E and will open up the tournament against Bayern Munich on September 15. Considering how some of the other groups (like G) are stacked, I think we are sitting pretty.

Regular season starts tomorrow against Serie A newcomer Cesena (match preview here).

Here's a highlight reel of last year's goals to get you excited for the season, complete with commentary from legendary romanista Carlo Zampa (and some Lady Gaga):

Tu vuo' fa' l'americano

2010-08-26T23:43:00.009+02:00

Nobody who has set food in Italy over the last few months hasn't heard the addicting (or annoying, depending who you ask) tune of 'We No Speak Americano.' It's dominated the Italian pop music scene for pretty much the whole summer, and is likely to be heard blasting out of tiny fiats driven by aviator/trucker hat/tracksuit-clad teenagers.

This song has a lot more history than you might think. The old-fashioned sounding song that it uses is a Neapolitan post-World War II tune that is basically telling Italians to be themselves. When American soldiers flooded Italy towards the end of the war, intermingling and socializing with their Italian counterparts, the Italians were somewhat impressed.

So much so that it was very common to imitate the Americans in the way they dressed, acted, etc. This became known as 'doing the American,' or 'fare l'americano.' Since then, fare l'americano is an expression used to describe someone who tries to impress others by acting like them, abandoning their own roots and traditions. Renato Carosone wrote this song in the Neopolitan dialect to tell Italians to stop 'doing the American' and be themselves:

tu vuo' fa' l'americano - You want to do the American

ma sì nato in Italy - But you were born in Italy

non ce sta' niente a 'ffa - You've got nothing to do with it

...

Comme te po' capì chi te vò bene - How can the one who loves you understand you

si tu le parle 'mmiezzo americano? - If you speak half American

Quando se fa l'ammore sotto 'a luna - When you make love under the moon

come te vene 'n' capa 'e dì: 'I love you' - What will come to mind, 'I love you?'

The rest of the translated lyrics can be found here (did you really think I understood Neopolitan?!)

The mess that is Italian Politics

2010-08-06T03:04:00.003+02:00

If you dare try to follow Italian politics here's the latest: we've got conspiracy plots in the government, shady bills trying to get passed, important people quitting, and more shady power struggles.

Is Italy too Italian?

2010-08-02T03:56:00.003+02:00

Check out this new New York Times article.

What to Pack for a Semester in Rome

2010-07-31T15:52:00.003+02:00

Packing for a three-month semester in Rome is no easy feat. You’ve got to strike a good balance between what is easy to transport and everything you will likely need, and I don’t envy you as you go through the process. While I can’t tell you what to pack, I can give you some of the most pertinent information, along with a few tips I’ve learned, so that you can make your own decisions.

What to Pack for a Semester in Rome

Watch the World Cup in Style at the Fifa Village

2010-06-20T10:45:00.004+02:00

Well the World Cup is well underway and it's full of surprises so far. Italy plays again today against New Zealand and the best place to catch it has to be the International Fifa Fan Fest in Villa Borghese.

It's basically a little park, free to enter, dedicated to the World Cup; it's got a giant screen that shows every game, a large turfed area to camp out and watch, a little field to play against friends, and lots of vendors selling beer and snacks (although you are absolutely allowed to bring things in, which is probably a lot cheaper).

You can find all information about it's location and other details on the official website (in English), the link for which is above.

Public Transportation Strike Tomorrow, June 11

2010-06-10T21:11:00.004+02:00

There will be a public transportation strike (sciopero) tomorrow, June 11, in Rome. The ATAC website says that services will be available before 8.30 in the morning and between 5 and 8 p.m., but other than that all bets are off (I wouldn't exactly count on service being great in those hours either though).

So, just make sure you are within walking distance of one of these bars, pubs, or even cinemas that are showing soccer to catch the beginning of the World Cup!!

Google street view an invasion of privacy?

2010-05-19T19:30:00.002+02:00

One of the awesome things about Rome is that it is one of the few European cities (and the only Italian city, I think) that has Google street view. This helps so much when trying to plan where to go or get an idea of what your destination looks like.

However, Italy and Google haven't been seeing eye-to-eye recently. Saying that the street view is a breach of privacy, an Italian watchdog is investigating to see whether or not there are grounds to take action.

If you ask me, too many people were caught in places they weren't supposed to be. At the moment that these pictures were taken, there were inevitably people going in and out of sexy shops, which could be embarrassing, not to mention who-knows-what-else could be going on.

Either way, it's raising some eyebrows in a country that has been suspicious of the internet from the start, not to mention had other problems with Google in the past. I just hope they don't get rid of it!

Inter wins Scudetto

2010-05-16T21:58:00.003+02:00

That's all she wrote, folks. Even though Roma beat Chievo today, Inter did what needed to be done against Siena, maintaining their first-place position and thus securing the championship.

Despite all the "what ifs" about this season and the fact that it was such a heart-breaker to come so close, nothing but good things can be said about Roma. After an extremely poor start and coaching change, the giallorossi pulled it together the second half of the season to make an incredible run at the title, challenging an extremely strong Inter team that rarely makes mistakes.

Now, the only thing left is to see if Inter can complete their championship trifecta by winning the Champions League on Saturday against Bayern Munich (the other two were the Coppa Italia and Scudetto). Apparently coach Jose Mourinho was in tears after the win at Siena today, but I'm not buying it. If Inter wins next Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised to see Mourinho high-tail it out of Italy to the highest bidder (ehm, Real Madrid).

Arrivederci Spring 2010 Students!

2010-05-11T21:39:00.002+02:00

Well it's that bittersweet time - time to go home for spring 2010 students in Rome. With only summer awaiting you and a load of good memories from your stay in the eternal city, Students in Rome would like to hear from you!

Tell us something that you have learned, pass on a funny experience, or offer a word of advice for the next group. We'll put any responses up on the site with attribution (or no, if you prefer), so help the next group of students by saving them a headache you went through!

Either comment on this post or send an e-mail to studentsinrome@gmail.com, responses can be as long or short as you like. We appreciate your contributions!

Roma beats Cagliari, championship not over yet!

2010-05-09T21:40:00.002+02:00

After coming back to beat Cagliari 2-1 this afternoon, Roma have forced the championship to be decided on the last game day of the year. It all comes down to next week's games (Roma vs Chievo, Inter vs Siena). Basically, if one ties or loses and the other wins, the championship will belong to the winning team.

The infamous Inter coach Jose Mourinho has been throwing jabs at Roma in his usual attempt to play mind games, saying that they should pay Siena to try and win against Inter. Roma coach Claudio Ranieri responded by not responding (that is, refusing to get involved in Mourinho's childish games).

Shopping Malls in Rome

2010-05-07T17:21:00.003+02:00

Shopping in the center is a hallmark of Rome. However, for those of us who are here for long enough that the via del Corso loop gets old (and expensive), there are a number of giant, modern shopping malls in Rome that, although they are outside the center, are not difficult to get to. Check out the new article on Students in Rome.

Inter wins Coppa Italia

2010-05-06T08:33:00.004+02:00

That was an ugly one last night. Inter was able to frustrate and distract Roma, taking them completely off their game. It was full of fouls, insults, and one giant kick in the leg for Mario Balotelli, courtesy of Francesco Totti, resulting in a red card for the giallorossi captain.

While I would have loved to see Roma win this one, I think that last night Inter was the more deserving team. The Roma players couldn't get anything together.

So that's one title for Inter, as they chase two more in the coming weeks: Champions League (May 22 in Madrid against Bayern Munich) and the scudetto, which will be decided in the remaining few games of the Serie A season.

Want to soak up the sun? Go to the beach!

2010-05-04T08:48:00.002+02:00

Anyone who was looking out their window on the flight into Rome knows that it is not far from the Mediterranean at all. In fact, the beach at Ostia is the go-to for Romans when they want to relax and cool off, mostly because it is so close and easy to get to.

Getting there with public transportation is really easy. What you need to do is take the Metro B to Piramide, which is also a train station, and take the train line that goes directly to Ostia. Once you get there you can either walk to the beach or take one of the buses a couple stops, nothing too difficult.

It's the same type of train as the metro and takes about 45 minutes (no worse than most normal journeys within Rome on the metro). According to the article linked to above, they are stepping up traffic to the beach on this train line, as well as offering a bus (although I would recommend the train, just for it's simplicity).

Reaction to Lazio-Inter

2010-05-04T08:46:00.002+02:00

Well it looks like I'm not the only one to be upset about Lazio willfully conceding to Inter the other night. Here is a good article (in English) of both the situation and what the press around the world is saying.

Lazio rolls over

2010-05-02T22:39:00.004+02:00

Lazio bent over and took it with a smile tonight, doing what they do best against against Inter: losing. In front of a crowd of Lazio fans cheering against their own team, they played like 10-year-olds at recess. This was against an Inter who was practically sleeping, having tired itself out with Barcelona earlier this week.

It will be interesting to see what the press reaction is to this, considering how anticipated this game was and how many people were wary of this exact situation. Not only is it a disgrace to the game, the fans, and everyone involved in Italian football, but it's illegal. Let's not forget that Italy is the home of calciopoli, (match-rigging -- the most famous instance of which was in 2006 when they took away the championship title from Juventus after discovering that they paid referees).

Roma wins 2-1 over Parma

2010-05-01T20:41:00.003+02:00

With a fantastic goal from talisman Francesco Totti, Roma has held out this weekend with a 2-1 win over Parma, keeping the dreams of a championship tantalizingly close. We are left praying for an Inter loss (or tie) tomorrow against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Changes to the site

2010-05-01T15:50:00.004+02:00

So I've made a few changes to the website. I'm trying to keep up with the ever-changing integration with social networking sites (facebook) as well as make things a little more organized. There should be some new articles coming your way soon, I just need to find the time.

If there's anyone out there that would like to write an article, review, or anything else interesting, shoot me a message at studentsinrome@gmail.com, we'd love to have you.

Lazio wants to win against Inter

2010-04-30T12:56:00.003+02:00

Or so says coach Edy Reja. This comes amid suspicion that Lazio will go down easily against Inter to prevent Roma from winning the championship.

Let's just say that Lazio rolling over would not only be gutless, but illegal in professional athletics.

Primo Maggio Concert this Saturday

2010-04-28T17:22:00.003+02:00

This Saturday, May 1st, is a holiday in Italy (their Labor Day) and is celebrated in Rome every year with a big free concert at San Giovanni. The lineup is mostly made up of Italian artists and the show will go on all day and even well into the night.

If you are not familiar with San Giovanni, it's just a couple stops from Termini on the Metro A, and has a lot of buses pass by it. Google map it here on our main page if your unsure. When you get off the Metro, just go under the old Roman aqueduct and you're there. It will probably be absolutely packed with people (that's last year in the picture above), so I am sure you won't have trouble finding it.

Getting a job in Rome?

2010-04-28T00:07:00.004+02:00

Did you know that you can work on a student visa in Rome? It's probably not the number one thing on everyone's mind, but a few spare euros never hurt anyone either. By law you are allowed to work 24 hours per week.

Just remember that things are very different in Italy from the North America (as well as Great Britain and Australia, I assume), so don't expect a minimum wage, or even any sort of legal contract. Bartender jobs, etc will probably not pay more than 5 euros an hour. However, you're drinking for free, so maybe it evens out in the end.

If you're considering it, the first place to look is Wanted in Rome, an English-language website devoted to those of us living and studying in Rome. Check it out, but just be wary, as always, of those trying to take advantage.

Forza Lazio?

2010-04-26T23:06:00.006+02:00

That's what Luca Toni says, and I guess it's the only hope we've got. Since Inter is one point ahead of Roma, they need to either tie or lose one of their remaining games, the most difficult of which is Lazio this weekend.

For most, it is a lost cause, considering Lazio won last weekend, and so is neither in danger of being relegated to Serie B nor is in contention for a top spot. This means that the game is wholly meaningless to them in terms of points. Considering also the animosity between Lazio and Roma, I wouldn't put my money on Lazio showing a feat of strength to beat the powerful Inter squad, knowing full-well that it would mean delivering the championship to their city rivals.

You never know though, which is why they play the games. If Lazio has any pride, they won't give the game up on purpose, but the fact remains that they are playing an Inter that is not only the strongest Italian team, but also playing very well right now.

Bickering in the Italian Government...

2010-04-25T23:28:00.002+02:00

After seeing the feud that took place this week between Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and House Speaker Gianfranco Fini, I am not sure if I am happy with Fini for standing up to Berlusconi, or skeptical that he's just jealous of Berlusconi's power. I'd like to say the first was true, but am leaning towards the second.

BNL International Tennis Tournament in Rome

2010-04-25T23:18:00.003+02:00

Don't miss the BNL International Tennis Tournament in Rome, which is going on now. It started yesterday, April 24th and will continue until May 8th, featuring most of the big names in tennis (Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, although no Andy Roddick).

I would recommend trying to get out to see the early rounds, since many matches will be happening at the same time, so you can wander from match to match and get the most tennis out of your ticket, whereas if you go later in the tournament you will only be able to see a few, or just one, match.

The tournament is located in the Foro Italico in the north of the city, right next to the Stadio Olimpico, where Roma plays. Search 'Foro Italico' on the google map on our main page.

Bah...

2010-04-25T23:08:00.002+02:00

The title-hunt just got a lot harder. After our 1-2 loss tonight against Sampdoria, Inter is in charge of Serie A once again, one point ahead of Roma. All is not lost, of course, but Inter must either lose or tie in the remaining games and Roma must win them all (or at least more than Inter).

We do have an ace in the hole, however, which is that if Roma and Inter finish the season tied in points, the scudetto would go to Roma based on head-to-head competition. Let's just hope Inter tires itself out with Barcelona on Wednesday...

VUUUCINIC!!

2010-04-19T07:53:00.003+02:00

Mirko Vucinic scored two goals last night to give Roma their biggest win of the season over crosstown rival Lazio. In the derby, Lazio scored first, then missed a penalty, but when Roma was awarded one in return, Vucinic put it home. He struck again not long after on a direct penalty kick just outside the box.

With few games remaining in the season and Roma sitting on top of Serie A, the excitement in Rome is tangible. I think people were honking in the streets until about 3 in the morning last night. The scudetto is close and you can feel it.

Roma's remaining games are against relatively weaker teams, so they are in control of their own destiny now. Inter, who is only one point behind, also faces an easy schedule for the last leg of the season and are ready to take home the championship if Roma slips up.

Museums Free this Week

2010-04-14T22:33:00.003+02:00

All of Rome's state-run museums will be free of charge from the 16th to the 26th, taking part in the Settimana dei beni culturali, or annual culture week. The cultural ministry is also putting on several exhibitions, tours and other events to celebrate the week.

This is a great opportunity to get out and see some of Rome's incredible art and history FOR FREE. Just be wary that you aren't the only one taking advantage of this and the lines will be around the corner, so make sure to get there early!

Here's the full article on WantedinRome

"Mangia, mangia!"

2010-04-13T19:06:00.003+02:00

Check out this recent New York Times article about a really cool program in Italy that allows you to go have dinner with a family, to get a more authentic experience, instead of a restaurant.

1st Place!!

2010-04-11T16:53:00.004+02:00

With today's win against Atalanta and Inter's tie with Fiorentina last night, Roma is now in first place in Serie A!

Next week will be the ever-heated derby between Lazio and Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, as the season winds down and Roma tries to win their first championship since 2001.

"16-year old Italian Set to Make History at the Masters"

2010-04-09T12:35:00.003+02:00

Meet Matteo Manassero, a 16-year old Italian from Verona who will be the youngest golfer ever to compete in the Masters.

Silence in Italy over church abuse scandal

2010-04-09T12:00:00.004+02:00

While I'd rather not comment on the actual church scandal in progress right now (the whole thing really just disgusts me, and I think the facts speak for themselves), it is interesting to see the lack of attention that it gets in Italy, or specifically, Rome. Sure, it's not absent from the papers, but there is not nearly the craze and disgust that is taking place in the rest of the world - if you haven't seen much, here is a good summary of what different newspapers are saying in the United States.

Does anyone else think it's strange that the American press, a million miles away, has more freedom (or balls, maybe) to directly confront the church on this outrageous and shameful hypocrisy?

It could be a don't-ask don't-tell kind of thing; that is, Catholicism is so diffuse here that it is uncomfortable to hear about these scandals. For devout Catholics, I imagine that it takes a while to absorb something like this.

Or it could be just more of the Berlusconi media thing; that is, Berlusconi is buddy-buddy with the Vatican and doesn't want to make it look bad. Just count the hypocrisies: Berlusconi, a right-wing, conservative values, divorced, pro-life, orgy-attending, multi-billionaire defending a conservative values, child molesting, pro-life, lying, extremely rich institution, the Catholic church (note: I have nothing against Catholicism, only people who molest little boys).

Berlusconi vs Free Press, continued

2010-04-08T12:55:00.003+02:00

Apparently Bruno Vespa, one of Italy's most famous television hosts, agrees with me on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's intolerance for freedom of the press. This is doubly significant because Vespa usually takes great pains not to criticize Berlusconi.

Things looking good for Roma

2010-04-08T12:36:00.003+02:00

After a brief vacation for Easter, I'm back, and things are looking great for Roma. They beat Bari this past weekend 1-0, with 15,000 romanisti travelling with the team to the south of Italy. Meanwhile, Inter and Milan both won as well, so the standings have remained the same, with Roma in second place, one point behind Inter.

This week Roma will host struggling Atalanta, while Inter will go to Florence for a not-so-easy match, and Milan will host Catania.

A real story, however, is Juventus. The perennial powerhouse has lost its way recently, losing its last game to Udinese 0-3, leaving it in 7th place. This week they have imposed a "press silence," that is, they refuse to say anything or give interviews to the press.

Buona Pasqua a tutti!

2010-04-03T12:36:00.004+02:00

Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! Hope you all eat well tomorrow.

Make sure to remember that EVERYTHING will be closed tomorrow and Monday. Easter Monday, Pasquetta in Italian, is also considered an important holiday. Things will open back up on Tuesday.

Enjoy this beautiful weather: Villa Torlonia

2010-03-30T14:14:00.005+02:00

This is without a doubt the best period to be in Rome. The weather is warm and sunny, yet not overwhelmingly hot (like in August), so enjoy it! As I posted earlier this year, Rome has a lot of parks where you can get away from the smog, traffic, and confusion of the city and enjoy the weather.

Villa Torlonia is not such a well-known park, yet it is very beautiful. Located near the Policlinico Metro B stop, it's not difficult to get to (search "Villa Torlonia" on the Google map on our main page). I would recommend it, as Villa Borghese usually fills up quickly when the sun comes out, despite the fact that it is relatively not as big as other parks. Of course, this is one of many, but I just thought I'd give you a heads up!

Regional Elections in Italy

2010-03-29T20:56:00.005+02:00

For any of you wondering why there are all these signs everywhere saying "Vota" this person or "Vota" that person, it's because there are regional elections happening right now. Here a summary of the important facts, for those of you interested:

General Summary

The Candidates

Italian Judiciary Responds

2010-03-28T23:23:00.003+02:00

Unsurprisingly, the ANM, the association of Italian judges and magistrates, agrees with my take on Berlusconi's persistent attempts to destroy any institution that tries to check his power.

Forza Roma!

2010-03-28T22:56:00.002+02:00

What a win against Inter last night! This, combined with AC Milan's tie with Lazio tonight, means that Roma is in second place, just one point shy of an Inter Milan that has dominated the standings since the season started. The possibility of winning is within reach, and the excitement is tangible.

Making things even better, both Inter and AC Milan have difficult schedules for the remainder of the season, while Roma's is relatively easy. Not to get ahead of ourselves here, but the prospects are certainly exciting. Roma will travel to Bari, who really is not a team to look past, however not one of the Serie A heavyweights.

This week there will also be the next round of Champions League games, which are always fun to watch. Rai will play the Inter vs CSKA Moscow game on Wednesday, which should be a win for Inter.

Disco events this weekend

2010-03-27T09:54:00.003+01:00

Here is your weekly roundup of events (sorry it's a day late, I've been busy lately):

Saturday, March 27th

DJ Spen at Room 26

Claudio Cocculoto at Goa

Irish Village

Glamour Spring Party at MyClub

Piper Club

Disclaimer: I'm just bringing these events to your attention, not promoting anything (even if they should pay me!!) or guaranteeing anything. Make sure, in one way or another, to read what they have written in the description, because there is often important information about prices, what to wear, what you have to do to get on the list, etc.

"Italy prepares for 'match of the year'"

2010-03-27T09:47:00.002+01:00

Don't miss the so-called "match of the year" tonight between Roma and Inter. Game's at 6 o' clock at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, but tickets are long since sold out. Get your seat at a pub and let's hope for the best!

Why I love SouthParkStudios.com

2010-03-25T14:16:00.005+01:00

Much better than Hulu and its stupid no-Europe policy.

Roma faces Bologna tonight

2010-03-24T10:19:00.003+01:00

Well Serie A is really heating up right now, as the race for the championship gets closer and closer. Roma has real hopes of winning their first championship since 2001, which would turn the entire city into a giant party/mess/frenzy/riot/celebration for about a month.

Tonight, Roma travels to Bologna for a must-win game, before hosting Inter this Saturday for what is being anticipated as the biggest game of the year for the giallorossi.

Why I hate Hulu

2010-03-23T13:03:00.001+01:00

Bah.

Airline strikes across Europe

2010-03-23T12:29:00.002+01:00

A wave of airline strikes has swept across Europe as national airlines compete with low-cost companies like Ryan Air and Easy Jet, including several Alitalia flights. Double-check before heading out on a weekend trip to make sure that there are no strikes where you are going (or where you are coming from!)

How to Make a Monarchy 101

2010-03-23T12:18:00.004+01:00

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is so upset with the Italian courts' latest rulings that he is planning a major overhaul of the whole system.

I think this is what comes right before emergency decrees and political assassinations in How to Make a Monarchy 101. The Italian courts are the only thing preserving some sense of justice and order in the Italian (ehm, democratic) government, and any good aspiring dictator would take them out first.

A word on the recent pro-Berlusconi rally

2010-03-22T10:46:00.006+01:00

Some of you around Rome on Saturday might have seen the pro-Berlusconi demonstration that paraded through the city. The rally was held to support the Premier after multiple anti-government protests, culminating in a speech by the Prime Minister himself at San Giovanni that served to label anyone that is not with him a communist (so, basically like every other speech he gives).

At this point, politicians and pundits are left arguing over the number of people that were there, Berlusconi claiming there were a million, and the police in Rome that there were only 150,000 (ehm, welcome to Italy.) The left is saying that people were paid as much as 130 euros by unemployment firms to attend the rally, in addition to the free buses that were provided from around the country.

My two cents:

1. The problem with Berlusconi is not that he is conservative. The problem is that he is letting Italy rot while he reaps huge benefits, he is centralizing power and limiting freedoms, and is just overall corrupt. The biggest rally against the Prime Minister was called "No-Berlusconi Day," because it was not motivated by any political ideology, but just contempt for this individual person.

So, when he responds that all his critics are "communists," not only is it a false accusation, but irrelevant. Conservative Italians have just as much reason not to like him as liberal ones (or actual communists). The fact is that it is not a politically-motivated debate, it is personal.

2. The opposition to Berlusconi plays right into his hands. I can't understand why Italians think that to oppose a right-wing candidate, you must oppose it with far-left ideas. To show that people did not support the rally, they flew red flags on the streets where the parade marched. In anti-government rallies, all you see are communist flags. How stupid! Talk about making it easy for him to label the opposition communist.

Come on people, haven't you learned anything in history class? Communism would never work in Italy (take away a work holiday and then we'll see a real revolution). All this does is make a reasonable solution impossible, because, as usual, everybody is left bickering like 8-year-olds in a schoolyard. Why not criticize a problem for what it is and propose rational solutions instead of trying to fight fire with fire, leaving everyone burned.

3. People often make the comparison between Berlusconi and Bush, which I don't think fits. Being American, it is admittedly difficult to criticize after having a president ruin so much, however the situations don't correspond well. While Bush was ruining the world, he was doing what he thought was right, whether or not it actually was.

He was acting in what he and his administration perceived as America's best interest, while Berlusconi is not doing anything of the sort. Sure, I won't deny that private interests benefited from Bush's policies, but they weren't the motivating factor like they are for Berlusconi.

Whew! I feel better. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

Great weekend for Roma

2010-03-22T10:17:00.003+01:00

Well this weekend has been a dream for Roma. After plowing through Udinese on Friday and watching Inter stumble with Palermo, our hopes that Milan would not win on Saturday were answered by Napoli.

This leaves Inter on top of the table with 60 points, followed by Milan with 59, while Roma sits comfortably in third with 56, not out of striking range. After a round of Wednesday games this week, in which Roma will travel to Bologna, they will host Inter at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday the 27th, for what will likely be the biggest game of the season for both the giallorossi and the nerazzurri.

Pete Tong in Rome and other disco events this weekend

2010-03-19T13:22:00.008+01:00

Here's your weekly round-up of discoteca events:

Friday, March 19

Pete Tong at Room 26

Nicola Fasano at 45 Giri

Friday Dinner/Spectacle at Jet Set

Special Guest Percussionist Davide Ruberto at Loop

Saturday, March 20

Cassius vs. Scarlett Ettiene at Spazio 900

Supreme Party w/ DJ Bizzaro at Saponeria

Free Entrance on the list at Akab

Lista Vida Loca at Piper

Does universal healthcare work in Italy?

2010-03-18T09:59:00.004+01:00

With the firestorm surrounding the healthcare debate in the United States right now, it might be interesting to take a look at a country where universal healthcare already exists, to let you make up your own mind about whether Obama's initiative is legitimate.

In Italy, healthcare is free. Anyone in need (not only Italian citizens) can go to a hospital and receive free care. This, of course, means that the lines at hospitals are unbearably long, and that the system, like many of its kind in Italy, is far from efficient. It also means that Italians must pay higher taxes to support the system. However, there is a basic, undeniable right to healthcare, a fact in which most Italians take a lot of pride.

Private insurance companies and healthcare also exist, and once in a blue moon an employer will offer private insurance. Many agree that the private doctors and clinics give higher quality care than the public hospitals and clinics, however this is not given. Since this is a very expensive route to take, as you would have to pay insurance fees on top of national healthcare taxes, it is not very common.

The fact is that, Italy being Italy, most people have a preferred doctor, who may be a friend of the family (or who becomes one after an appointment!), that usually does not charge much. A free pack of medicine here, a quick check-up there, it is taken for granted that care and treatment come first, money later. It's a cultural hierarchy of importance that does not value money over all else.

Italy's healthcare is perfect. The frustrating inefficiency in hospitals is on par with the inefficiency in other aspects of Italy (e.g. the Poste Italiane, a.k.a. eighth circle of hell), but the notion that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, is something that I think many Americans should think long and hard about. Maybe it's for this that the Italian healthcare system was rated 2nd in the world by the World Health Organization, while the United States' was 37th.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-17T18:36:00.003+01:00

Well here's a good excuse to go to Scholars, The Abbey, or any other of Rome's pubs and grab a Guinness!

Italy's battle with free press, Part III: Che schifo

2010-03-17T17:50:00.004+01:00

First, the Berlusconi government banned political talk shows, a serious infringement on the freedom of press in Italy. Then, the courts lifted the ban because it was illegal. Now, the board of directors of Rai, Italy's public television network, has voted to keep the ban in effect, despite what the judges ruled.

What a joke.

This is merely showing that Berlusconi, one of the richest men in Italy (and the world), has complete control over the Italian television, if not the media in general. He owns Mediaset, the most powerful private television network in Italy, and, being Prime Minister, evidently has the ability to control Rai, which is funded by Italian tax dollars (ehm, euros). It's no mistake that Rai's board of directors is full of like-minded Berlusconi-lovers.

So, what does a leader with control over the media do? Silence the opposition, obviously. Good thing fascism is in the past.

Roma (sigh) misses another opportunity

2010-03-16T14:38:00.004+01:00

Roma had an opportunity to close in on first place this weekend, but failed to capitalize, tying Livorno 3-3 on Sunday. Instead, they paved the way for Milan, who, after beating Chievo 1-0, is within one point of Inter. Can I get a che palle?!

In other soccer news, Inter will face Chelsea tonight for the second game in the Champions League round of 16. This is doubly important for Italian soccer because if Inter loses, Italy will only be granted three spots for Champions League next year, instead of their usual four (the top teams in each European league earn a spot in the Champions League, and the best leagues get more spots).

So, from Roma's perspective, this would be bad, because it means that making a mistake that bumps them to fourth place would destroy Champions League hopes for next season.

Current art exhibits in Rome

2010-03-14T12:20:00.004+01:00

There is never a shortage of beautiful art in Rome. Here is a list of the current exhibits, as shown on lifeinitaly.com:

Capitoline Museum: The Age of Conquest: The Lure of Greek Art in Rome; masterpieces looted from Greece between the third and first centuries BC; until September 5.

Scuderie del Quirinale: Caravaggio; 24 masterpieces from Italy and abroad including Musicians from the Met, Lute Player from the Hermitage, and many others; until June 13.

Fondazione Roma Museo: Edward Hopper, 170 works mostly from New York's Whitney Museum including The Sheridan Theatre, New York Interior; until June 13.

Vittoriano: From Corot to Manet, The Symphony of Nature; 170 impressionist works including Corbet, Boudin, Pissaro, Sisley; until June 29.

Chiostro del Diamante: Boldini, De Nittis, Zandomenighi, other Italian painters in Paris; until March 14.

Can you Digg it?

2010-03-13T16:11:00.004+01:00

I've spent the past couple days integrating the sites with Digg.com, which is pretty cool. It's a bit like Facebook, except instead of "liking" something, you "digg" it, and the most "dugg" articles appear on the website, grouped together with similar articles.

So, if you like an article either on the blog or the Students in Rome main site, let me know, digg it!

Inter loses Saturday, there's hope for Roma!

2010-03-13T15:51:00.006+01:00

Wow. So Inter blew it last night. After their loss to Catania (3-0 nonetheless!), the title race for Serie A is up for grabs. Assuming that Milan and Roma win tomorrow, they will be 1 and 4 points, respectively, behind Inter, which is not such an unsurmountable task, considering that Inter has dominated the table the entire season.

Roma takes on struggling Livorno tomorrow, which is a must-win (or, better, a must-not-screw-up) for the giallorossi, who will have Luca Toni available. Game's at 3 in the afternoon in Livorno.

"English words invading Italian vocabulary"

2010-03-13T15:43:00.003+01:00

Having trouble learning Italian? Don't worry, from the looks of it, in a couple years it will be the same!

There are many English words used in Italian, and evidently the number is rising. A few examples: il weekend, fare shopping, fare lo spelling, l'internet, fare jogging etc etc...

Bravo, Italy!

2010-03-12T14:07:00.006+01:00

For those as worried as I was about two most recent reasons to be so, I am happy to eat my words today.

Firstly, the regional court of Lazio (TAR) "overturned... a controversial ban on political talk shows... for commercial TV Friday." I don't want to celebrate this as great, as much as be temporarily content that there are, in fact, branches of the government working to do what is right. The ban would have been a blatant restriction on the freedoms of speech and press, and is going where it belongs -- the trash can.

Secondly, the TAR (my respect for Italian judges has gone through the roof) did not allow the Berlusconi government to essentially change the law so that their party could run in an election it shouldn't have. Berlusconi's PdL issued decree as a means of letting the candidate for governor of Lombardy to run, despite the fact that he did not meet the requirements to be a candidate (not in Lazio, however, where a similar mistake was made, and made me worried in the last post).

Berlusconi predictably resorted to insults and name-calling, but the point was made: the law is the same for everyone.

Bravo!

Disco events this weekend

2010-03-12T09:54:00.004+01:00

Here's a few excuses to get out and go dancing this weekend:

Friday, March 12th

Dinner, Live Music, then Dancing at JetSet

DJ Stefano Capasso at 45 Giri

Free Entrance at Babel

Women Enter Free at Akab

Saturday, March 13th

Aperitivo and Dance at Gilda

Commercial/House Music at Joia

University Party at Glamour

Aperitivo Buffet, Live Music, then Dancing at Sky Bar

Fantastic article about Italy in NYT

2010-03-12T09:48:00.004+01:00

In today's New York Times, Richard Cohen wrote a spot-on article about Italian culture, and the differences between the United States. I would give this one a read if you are, or will be, spending any time in Italy.

Public Transportation Strike Tomorrow, March 12

2010-03-11T18:29:00.002+01:00

There will be a public transportation strike (sciopero) tomorrow, March 12, for buses and metro throughout the morning.

Roma ties Milan 0-0

2010-03-07T16:54:00.005+01:00

Well we can look at Roma's 0-0 tie last night against Milan in one of two ways: 1. it could have been worse 2. a missed opportunity. It leaves Roma comfortably in second place, six points in front of Palermo. However, they remain three behind Milan and nine, assuming Inter wins tonight, from first place.

In my last post about it I said that this game would make or break the season, and, basically, this did neither decisively. While it didn't hurt Roma significantly, it made winning the scudetto (a long shot as it is) virtually unreachable, without a miracle. Take a look at the updated table here to figure out the different possibilities.

Next Sunday they travel to Livorno to get back their winning ways.

Two more reasons to be worried about Italy

2010-03-06T16:22:00.004+01:00

There is not much to be optimistic about in the current state of Italian affairs. Beneath the surface of Italy's beauty and historical wonders lies a divided society led by an increasingly fascist-leaning government. Two recent actions have only further shown this and, frankly, scare me.

1. Berlusconi's government has created rules that don't allow political talk shows to be shown on Rai during prime time slots. Mediaset, the other giant television network, is free to do what it would like. So, let's put two and two together here: Berlusconi owns Mediaset, and Rai is supposedly public (Italians pay a tax that funds Rai).

This is a very serious restriction on the freedom of press. These new rules will be affecting political talk shows that are often critical of Berlusconi, who, if you don't know by now, has a lot to be critical of, while talk shows on Mediaset are free to blow his horn.

Imagine if the British government said that the BBC couldn't talk politics, but Sky could. Imagine if the American government said NBC had to remove it's political shows, but Fox could do what it wants (although NBC is not public). It would be war. Why is it not war in Italy?

2. The government is either bypassing or changing a law so that the right-wing (PDL) candidate for the governor of Lazio can run, despite the fact that he missed the deadline for declaring his candidacy. Ok, bear with me here: to be a candidate for governor of Lazio, one must submit a petition by a certain date to be considered. I think this is pretty standard for elections around the world, if not in the details, in theory. However, the PDL (Popolo della Libertà) did not submit their petition on time. Now, the government is searching for a way to change the law, or "interpret" the law more vaguely to let it slide.

Granted, this is a somewhat strange event, which would leave many voters without a candidate, and basically give the election to the left-wing Partito Democratico (PD), but maybe the PDL should have thought about that before waiting until the last minute. They had over a month to submit the petition. If I didn't submit a research paper to my university professor, they gave me an F, they didn't change the rules just for me. Why should the rules be changed in this case?

Can you imagine if it would have been the PD who made the mistake? How hard would the government have tried to allow them to run?

These two events are just the latest that seem to be taking Italy back to the 1930s. Italians will know that they waited too long when the political assassinations begin...

Huge game between Roma and Milan tonight

2010-03-06T12:58:00.003+01:00

Tonight will make or break the season for Roma. They take on AC Milan at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to see who will claim second place in the standings and have a shot at challenging Inter for first place. Take a look at the table to do the math.

Roma will have striker Luca Toni, midfielder David Pizzaro, and goalie Julio Sergio back from injury, while Milan will be without star striker Pato, as well as Mancini.

The game will begin at 8:45 pm, following the equally-exciting match between Juventus and Fiorentina, which begins at 6 pm. If you ask me, it's a great excuse to camp out in a good pub with a few beers and watch some great soccer.

English-language cinemas in Rome

2010-03-06T12:56:00.003+01:00

Finding an cinema that shows films in English is much easier than one might think. Find out how in the new article on Students in Rome.

Discoteca events this weekend

2010-03-05T09:38:00.006+01:00

Well seeing as how everyone is really only interested in the nightlife while studying in Rome, I figure that I'll try make use of my stunning intellect, practically-but-not-quite-fluent-but-still-pretty-good Italian skills, and super-fast googling capabilities to bring you some of the best events every weekend, starting this weekend. Enjoy.

Tonight (March 5th):

Dennis Ferrer at Goa

Imogen Heap at Circolo degli Artisti

Bizzaro at Saponeria (in English)

Sanremo Forever at Art Cafè

Tomorrow (March 6th):

Pampero Night at Ametista Club

Women Enter Free (on the list) at Akab

Dinner and Disco at JetSet

Celebrity Guests from Around the World at Vogue

Instant replay should be used in European soccer

2010-03-04T09:42:00.004+01:00

Italian Soccer Federation President Giancarlo Abete is making a "renewed appeal to FIFA to authorize trials of video refs in the light of recent high-profile mistakes such as Thierry Henry's handball goal against Ireland."

I completely agree.

Refereeing is a tough job. There are a million things happening on the field at the same time and it's impossible to see them all. Diving, or "simulation," as it's officially known, is by now so common that it is part of the game, and players have gotten extremely clever about getting away with cheap fouls.

This is not necessarily the referee's fault. Sure, there are some refs who are just terrible, but the most part have very good judgement and do their best to make the right call. However, this is not an easy thing to do.

For this, I think it is time that instant replay was brought to European soccer. It has worked amazingly well in the United States' NFL and NHL, as well as international tennis.

Although they would have to develop a unique system, it would likely go along the lines of the current setup in the US. Coaches would get a certain number of opportunities to challenge a given call, at which point the referee would see several replays of the event and be able to re-evaluate his decision. If the challenge turned out to be negatives (that is, the referee chose to uphold his decision), the team would be penalized (although in soccer, this is tricky because timeouts, which are taken away in other sports, are not as common). However, I'm sure they could figure something reasonable out.

Now I don't mean to argue that European soccer should be "Americanized" or changed for the worse; there is definitely a certain character and culture to it, which includes this sort of showmanship and simulation at times. However, this is OK until the course of games and seasons are being changed by cheaters, because Henry's handball, Eduardo's dive, and all others that do this sort of thing regularly, are nothing more than cheaters.

Italy Cameroon 0-0

2010-03-04T09:31:00.003+01:00

Nothing much to say about Italy's 0-0 tie last night with Cameroon. Coach Marcello Lippi claimed it was useful to try out some new players and styles. Although these matches are important to see how the teams are shaping up, they are meaningless in terms of standings.

Around the world, the United States lost to the Netherlands 2-1, England beat Egypt 3-1, Spain beat France 2-0, and Argentina beat Germany 1-0.

How to Get Delivery Pizza in Rome

2010-03-03T11:25:00.002+01:00

Find out in the new article on Students in Rome. It's actually really easy!

Italy vs Cameroon Tonight

2010-03-03T09:43:00.006+01:00

The defending World Cup champions are tuning up for this summer in South Africa with a 'friendly' game tonight against Cameroon (who features Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o). Although the game itself is not very important, it's a glimpse of what we'll be seeing this summer.
Many say that gli azzuri are too old to bring home the World Cup again, favoring teams like Spain, England or Brazil, but then again, non si sa mai!

The game will be on Rai 1 (channel 1 on your TV), so you don't necessarily have to go to a pub to see it, and starts at 8:45 pm.

Tax evasion? Italy? No... couldn't be...

2010-03-02T14:36:00.003+01:00

Is it a surprise that tax evasion is a giant problem in Italy? Well, it shouldn't be, when the Prime Minister is the biggest culprit of tax evasion.

I guess he follows the old adage 'do as I say, not as I do.' Good thing too! If we were all like him we would cheat on our wives with prostitutes and 18 year old girls, have orgies in Sardegna (that were photographed, no less), and call all our opponents poor communists, in addition to cheat on our taxes.

Dennis Ferrer at Goa Disco this Friday

2010-03-02T14:16:00.004+01:00

For those who like house music, Rome discos, dancing, a great time, or all of the above, the American DJ Dennis Ferrer will be at Goa this Friday. Should be pretty cool, he's ripping it up in the house music scene right now.

Refresh your memory of Rome's club scene here.

Caravaggio Exhibit at the Qurinale

2010-03-01T14:37:00.005+01:00

Make sure that you get out to see the Caravaggio exhibit at the Scuderie del Qurinale this semester. It will be there until June, so you have time, but make sure to check it out, it's full of incredible art that is usually not on display in Rome.

Here is a list of other exhibits both in Rome and throughout Italy (scroll down to where the exhibits for Rome are listed).

Roma screws the pooch... again

2010-02-28T16:55:00.003+01:00

Just as everyone was starting to celebrate a great victory, Roma gave up 2 goals to Napoli, settling for a 2-2 tie this afternoon.

All is not lost, but next Saturday's game against AC Milan will make or break their season. If they win, they are tied for second place and within striking distance of Inter. If they lose, they will drop to third (at least) and be a good 5 points down on AC Milan, a gap that would be difficilissimo to overcome this late in the season.

Correction: In yesterday's post I wrote that if Roma wins they will be in second place, but they will only be tied for second with AC Milan.

Supposed 50,000 fill Piazza del Popolo for demonstration

2010-02-28T14:05:00.004+01:00

Well, the rally yesterday went as usual, full of people, flags and speeches. Let's hope something actually comes from it.

Links section of Students in Rome updated

2010-02-27T10:55:00.002+01:00

So I discovered that craigslist has a section for Rome, in English! (Yes, I get excited about these little conveniences). This inspired me to update the links section on Students in Rome. Check it out if you get a chance, it's got some pretty useful links for people studying here.

Anti-Berlusconi rally today in Piazza del Popolo

2010-02-27T09:55:00.004+01:00

There will be a demonstration today (una manifestazione) against several attempts by Berlusconi that try to make him immune to Italian law. It will be held in Piazza del Popolo, which will likely be packed, if it's anything like the other anti-Berlusconi demonstrations have been.

Basically, the Prime Minister is in a bunch of trouble with the law for corrupt business practices of his and now he is trying to change Italian law so that he cannot be punished while he is Prime Minister. This rally will be a united rejection of this.

I personally recommend that, even if you are not so interested or informed in Italian politics, to come out today. These rallies are usually really interesting, if not entertaining. I guarantee that if you go you will not forget it. Hope to see you there!

"La legge è uguale per tutti" -- The law is the same for everyone

Chinotto... Coke meets coffee?

2010-02-26T15:16:00.003+01:00

My current addiction to chinotto (pronounced kin-oh-toe) has inspired me to share this treasure with all of you. That is, those who haven't already discovered its bitter greatness.

Chinotto, sometimes written chin8 (think about it), is like the mutant offspring of two great things: Coke and coffee. A little bitter, a little sweet, a lot awesome. Try it if you haven't already.

Roma eliminated from UEFA Cup

2010-02-25T23:43:00.003+01:00

Wow, that was unexpected...

That, combined with Milan's win against Fiorentina on Wednesday that knocked Roma down to third place, have made this a straight-up disastrous week for the giallorossi. Let's hope for the best as they travel to Naples this weekend...

Springtime in Rome

2010-02-25T11:41:00.002+01:00

Ok, I'll take a break from depressing posts about Italian politics. And for good reason, too: the weather is fantastic! Spring is arriving (knock on wood, or better, tocco ferro) and it's about time to take advantage of this great weather and check out Rome's many parks.

Although Villa Borghese is probably the most central and popular, if you go a little more north you will find Villa Ada (pictured above), which is much bigger. Take a short metro A ride out to Colli Albani and there is the Appia Antica park, which is beautiful and huge.

Hmmm, I feel a Students in Rome article coming...

"Premier seeks 'Army of good against evil'"

2010-02-25T11:34:00.003+01:00

Hmmm, this recent statement sounds strangely familiar...

Italy vs. The Free Internet

2010-02-24T15:38:00.006+01:00

It is clear that Italy is currently undergoing an identity crisis as its traditionally conservative culture meets modernity. Italians are torn between conflicting cultural traditions and new conveniences.

A predictable result of this is a strong conservative backlash that shuns modern technology like TV and internet, branding these as trash, inappropriate, and even harmful to Italian culture. Instead of embracing the internet and television as a future means of communication, many Italian politicians and pundits are turning their back on it, which is creating a big problem on where to draw the line between freedom of speech and offensive content.

Considering that the internet, with all the anonymity and vastness entailed, has just about everything posted for anyone to see, there are always people that will cross the line. Recently, hateful and tasteless groups on Facebook have been banned by the Italian government, as well as a horribly offensive youtube video posted by an Italian that currently has resulted in Google being sued.

While there is certainly no doubt that these groups and other hateful content are absolutely disgusting and completely inexcusable, cases like these should not be used to show that the internet as a whole is a bad thing. However, in Italy, they are being used as excuses to clamp down on the freedoms of Italian internet users.

Freedom of speech is, by definition, open: there will be good ideas, bad ideas, noble ideas and offensive ideas. However, many Italian politicians are hinting that the problem is the freedom of speech itself that exists with the internet. They are led by the Prime Minister himself, Silvio Berlusconi, whose opinion is that "the internet must be regulated," and consistently tries to tighten his government's grip on the internet.

This is not right. It sounds more like fascism than democracy, and it needs to stop.

It is completely justified that victims pursue guilty offenders for hateful content, but not to question the freedoms of the system itself. If someone's house gets robbed, they are angry at the criminal, not the fact that they don't live in a police state where citizens can't walk freely from one house to another.

It is very likely that this is just a phase, a result of Italy's current identity crisis. It is likely that Italy will be forced to adapt to the freedom of information that comes with the internet and other modern technology, just as they are grudgingly adapting to increased immigration and fast food.

Considering the alternative, speriamo bene.

Roma beats Catania 1-0

2010-02-21T17:18:00.002+01:00

Nothing pretty, but a win is a win. Now Roma is only 5 points behind Inter, which is something that seemed impossible at the beginning of the season.

"Mafia has don't ask, don't tell policy"

2010-02-20T12:35:00.003+01:00

Wow, I guess now that the USA is changing, it's one less policy we have in common with the mafia...

Rain, rain, go away

2010-02-19T10:52:00.003+01:00

Is all this rain bothering you? Well it's doing a little more in Sicily, where mudslides are destroying countless houses and leaving many dead in and around Messina. Just this week, 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes as a result.

Uff...

2010-02-19T10:40:00.004+01:00

Beh, no Totti, no Mexes, no Julio Sergio... 3-2 loss in Greece. The good thing is that away goals are worth more than home goals, so if Roma wins on the return trip in the Stadio Olimpico 1-0 or 2-1, they are on to the next round of the UEFA Cup.

Next up, Catania this Sunday in Rome...

Nostalgia for Mussolini?

2010-02-18T10:19:00.003+01:00

I am constantly amazed by the way that Mussolini is treated by Italians. The rest of the world is pretty united in the view that he was not only an evil dictator, but a second-rate evil dictator at that. Yet here amongst the people that knew him and his policies, there is not much consensus.

While on the surface, almost everybody must reflexively condemn him, not far beneath there is a hint of nostalgia for someone who was strong enough to get Italians to clean up their act. His racism is often played down, while his successes (which there were actually quite a few domestically) are missed.

By the strong fascist right-wing in Italy, Mussolini is someone who had the right idea but just didn't do it right. I think this is scary.

I am sure that the fascist regime had domestic successes. For example, they were one of the few governments to stand up to the mafia. However, the notion that the only way this can be achieved is with a strong (read "ruthless") dictator is an idea that should have died with the French Empire.

Yet we continue to see hints of this nostalgia scattered throughout Italian culture, which is the tip of a very dangerous iceberg.

Roma vs Panathanaikos tonight in Europa League

2010-02-18T10:02:00.002+01:00

Here's a good excuse to go to a pub tonight.

Best cafè in Roma

2010-02-17T11:46:00.003+01:00

I can't help but share this little gem with all of you. If you don't already know it, Sant' Eustachio bar in Rome is famous for making the best coffee in the city. (83 Piazza di Sant'Eustachio, Rome, Lazio, Italia, Google map it) Order the Gran Cafè Speciale, you won't regret it.

Remember Abruzzo?

2010-02-16T18:57:00.011+01:00

Remember that earthquake? No, before Haiti. Right, it was only one year ago, yet many families in Abruzzo who have lost their houses have not even seen construction begin on their homes, let alone have fully adjusted to after the catastrophe.

The Berlusconi government promised residents of Abruzzo full reimbursement for lost or damaged property, as well as 80% reimbursement for non-residents who lost property in the earthquake (as well as cruise holidays). However, for many of these people, work has not even begun yet, despite relative silence in the media.

Snow in Rome!

2010-02-16T18:25:00.002+01:00

Che bella la neve! Mark it down, snow in Rome on February 12th, quite a rare occurrence. Too bad it melted about 5 minutes later...

Students in Rome Blog

Cruise Ship Captain Won't Go Back Onboard

Students in Rome is Back!

Roma Update

The non-Italian on an Italian Diet

New Parts of the Colosseum Open

36 Hours in Rome

Bad Start For Roma

Berlusconi Making Friends in All the Wrong Places

Top Ten Posts from Bloggers in Italy

Roma Cesena 0-0

Champions League Draws Are Set for Roma

Tu vuo' fa' l'americano

The mess that is Italian Politics

Is Italy too Italian?

What to Pack for a Semester in Rome

Watch the World Cup in Style at the Fifa Village

Public Transportation Strike Tomorrow, June 11

Google street view an invasion of privacy?

Inter wins Scudetto

Arrivederci Spring 2010 Students!

Roma beats Cagliari, championship not over yet!

Shopping Malls in Rome

Inter wins Coppa Italia

Want to soak up the sun? Go to the beach!

Reaction to Lazio-Inter

Lazio rolls over

Roma wins 2-1 over Parma

Changes to the site

Lazio wants to win against Inter

Primo Maggio Concert this Saturday

Getting a job in Rome?

Forza Lazio?

Bickering in the Italian Government...

BNL International Tennis Tournament in Rome

Bah...

VUUUCINIC!!

Museums Free this Week

"Mangia, mangia!"

1st Place!!

"16-year old Italian Set to Make History at the Masters"

Silence in Italy over church abuse scandal

Berlusconi vs Free Press, continued

Things looking good for Roma

Buona Pasqua a tutti!

Enjoy this beautiful weather: Villa Torlonia

Regional Elections in Italy

Italian Judiciary Responds

Forza Roma!

Disco events this weekend

"Italy prepares for 'match of the year'"

Why I love SouthParkStudios.com

Roma faces Bologna tonight

Why I hate Hulu

Airline strikes across Europe

How to Make a Monarchy 101

A word on the recent pro-Berlusconi rally

Great weekend for Roma

Pete Tong in Rome and other disco events this weekend

Does universal healthcare work in Italy?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Italy's battle with free press, Part III: Che schifo

Roma (sigh) misses another opportunity

Current art exhibits in Rome

Can you Digg it?

Inter loses Saturday, there's hope for Roma!

"English words invading Italian vocabulary"

Bravo, Italy!

Disco events this weekend

Fantastic article about Italy in NYT

Public Transportation Strike Tomorrow, March 12

Roma ties Milan 0-0

Two more reasons to be worried about Italy

Huge game between Roma and Milan tonight

English-language cinemas in Rome

Discoteca events this weekend

Instant replay should be used in European soccer

Italy Cameroon 0-0

How to Get Delivery Pizza in Rome

Italy vs Cameroon Tonight