Strange heroism
Jan. 16th, 2010 07:27 pmFrascati is something which, according to Our Lord, cannot be hidden: a city built on a hill. It rises, a part of the historic crown of "Castles of Rome", descended from the Latin free cities of antiquity, on the volcanic ranges of central Lazio, steep and old and beautiful.
Years ago, a Polish woman came to the neighbourhood, meaning to settle. She had a little girl who was born in Frascati, and was therefore an Italian citizen. When her time came, she was sent to the local elementary school; and by her sixth year of school - which was this year - the Polish lady's daughter had built up a reputation as her year's star student, hard-working, well-behaved and always neatly turned out.
Which is impressive when you consider that she and her mother had spent the last month of winter living in a local cave.
The woman had never managed to get a permanent job, and the stream of temporary cheap jobs that had kept mother and child going for ten years had dried out. So she had taken that strange refuge - directly below a local public park; and every morning she and the child used the park's fountains to wash, and every evening the child did her homework, God knows how.
The woman had a boyfriend, who became worried and got in touch with social services. Eventually mother and daughter were found a place in a volunteer housing project. But there is something immensely impressive about the cleanness and dignity of this story - which, according to today's La Repubblica newspaper, is absolutely true.
Years ago, a Polish woman came to the neighbourhood, meaning to settle. She had a little girl who was born in Frascati, and was therefore an Italian citizen. When her time came, she was sent to the local elementary school; and by her sixth year of school - which was this year - the Polish lady's daughter had built up a reputation as her year's star student, hard-working, well-behaved and always neatly turned out.
Which is impressive when you consider that she and her mother had spent the last month of winter living in a local cave.
The woman had never managed to get a permanent job, and the stream of temporary cheap jobs that had kept mother and child going for ten years had dried out. So she had taken that strange refuge - directly below a local public park; and every morning she and the child used the park's fountains to wash, and every evening the child did her homework, God knows how.
The woman had a boyfriend, who became worried and got in touch with social services. Eventually mother and daughter were found a place in a volunteer housing project. But there is something immensely impressive about the cleanness and dignity of this story - which, according to today's La Repubblica newspaper, is absolutely true.
Or at least the state is turning out all its pockets to see if it has anything worth selling that will help stop the most immediate holes in its budget: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/05/schwarzenegger-san-quentin-colisseum.html . Next step, bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, the Italian banks, which are bulging at the seams with liquidity, are backing Sergio Marchionne's attempt to take over Chrysler and the whole overseas GM operation, including Latin America and South Africa. It appears that while most British and American banks are afraid to move for fear of bankruptcy, the financial institutions of Italy, Spain and, believe it or not, Turkey, having kept faith with the original vocation of banks, have so much investment capital they do not know what to do with it. Watch out for San Quentin being turned into a Turkish prison. Then Alan Parker can do Midnight Express II next door to Hollywood.
Meanwhile, the Italian banks, which are bulging at the seams with liquidity, are backing Sergio Marchionne's attempt to take over Chrysler and the whole overseas GM operation, including Latin America and South Africa. It appears that while most British and American banks are afraid to move for fear of bankruptcy, the financial institutions of Italy, Spain and, believe it or not, Turkey, having kept faith with the original vocation of banks, have so much investment capital they do not know what to do with it. Watch out for San Quentin being turned into a Turkish prison. Then Alan Parker can do Midnight Express II next door to Hollywood.
How Bush II capitalism works
Jul. 17th, 2008 06:23 amRobert Novak is one of the most famous conservative journalists in America. He is, thank God, an honest man, and is quite willing to tell truths uncomfortable to Republicans. Today's column about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is required reading:
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Curious rumours
Apr. 27th, 2008 09:35 amI wonder if ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notebuyer, or anyone else who knows about finance and stock exchange practices - I don't - has any opinion about the rumour I placed behind the cut. I am serious. You and I may disagree on a number of things, but I always like to hear an expert's view. And this is both so curious and (if at all true) so significant, that I really would welcome an opinion.
( Read more... )
notebuyer, or anyone else who knows about finance and stock exchange practices - I don't - has any opinion about the rumour I placed behind the cut. I am serious. You and I may disagree on a number of things, but I always like to hear an expert's view. And this is both so curious and (if at all true) so significant, that I really would welcome an opinion.( Read more... )
