Thought for the Day

As I have often mentioned I don't normally comment on politics here in Italy - as a guest it is not seemly or proper. However and you knew there had to be a however given Mr. Berlusconi's comments today I feel that there has to be a response.

For anyone who has missed it, in defence of possible charges concerning a 17 year old girl the 74 year old Prime Minister stated: As always, I work without interruption and if occasionally I happen to look a beautiful girl in the face, it's better to like beautiful girls than to be gay.

In response a friend of my friend Mark posted the following picture on Facebook.

Better gay than Berlusconi.

With thanks to Herman for what is the perfect response to Mr. Berlusconi's inane comment.

02 novembre - La Commemorazione dei defunti

Oh! Canada!!!!!

When I received this little item today from my friend David Smith I wasn't surprised. Frankly nothing that comes out of the office of any political party in Canada surprises me anymore. But when such stupidity comes out of the Office of the Prime Minister I cringe with embarrassment.

OTTAWA - An unfortunate blunder by the Prime Minister's Office has residents of Nunavut alternately chuckling and cringing.

A news release sent out Monday outlined Prime Minister Stephen Harper's itinerary as he began a five-day tour of the North. The release repeatedly spelled the capital of Nunavut as Iqualuit - rather than Iqaluit.

The extra "u" makes a world of difference in the Inuktitut language.

Iqaluit, properly spelled, means "many fish."

Spelled with an extra "u," the Nunavut language commissioner's office says the word translates as a derogatory reference to "people with unwiped bums."

Bloggers from Iqaluit were quickly online ridiculing the gaffe - some light-hearted, some angry.

Iqaluit was named capital of Nunavut when the territory was created in 1999.

A news release today from the PMO spells Iqaluit correctly.

From Canadian Press

Oh! Canada! What the hell is happening to you?
18 agosto - Sant'Elean Imperatrice