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Category Archives: Italians
Giving Italian-American History month a break for 2022
Since the Cartoon Network turning 30 was more fun I decided to table the traditional stuff about Italian Heritage and pizza. They’ll return in 2023 and hopefully I will have new, interesting people to write about. During the “off season,” … Continue reading
Domino’s Pizza closing its last 33 locations in Italy
What were they thinking in the first place? Of all the fast food chains to bring there, Domino’s is pretty low on the list, right along with Starbucks, Little Caesars and Olive Garden. In their defense, we could speculate that … Continue reading
Italian designers need a little help with English slang
With Jennifer moving in, I’ve been changing out some appliances and one thing she got me hooked on was an electric, “direct” kettle. A couple decades ago, my parents gave me a traditional kettle as a gift which is nice … Continue reading
1302: Dante expelled from Florence
As many famous Italians artists of the Renaissance, we Americans only know the writer by Dante’s first name and are often stumped when asked, it’s Alighieri. The world also just knew him for his poetry but full-time writing came somewhat … Continue reading
Festa dei Sette Pesci 2021!
A new year, a new opportunity, a new menu and a new (and better) person to share this great experience with! Austin’s genuine, ass-kicking Italian bistro L’oca D’oro (The Golden Goose) held up my newish tradition…Feast of the Seven Fishes. … Continue reading
1901: The first Trans-Atlantic radio transmission!
On this day, Marconi’s solution to wireless transmissions was put to the test. From Cornwall (UK), the letter S in Morse Code was transmitted and clearly received in Newfoundland (Canada). The success paved the way for the UK’s naval forces … Continue reading
Posted in History, Italians, Physics, Science & Technology
Tagged 20th Century, Radio
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Italian #60: Giovanni Martino
Giovanni is a really an odd character in History thanks to his two brushes with fame through coincidence. The latter, read on, is what made him a temporary celebrity in the US and it should’ve led to a cameo in … Continue reading
Italian #59: Enrico Casarosa
We now move on to the miscellaneous professions of the numerous people with Italian heritage. This entry goes to Enrico who is an animation person and you might be familiar with his biggest work to date, Pixar’s Luca. The movie represents … Continue reading
Italian #58: Oriana Fallaci
Oriana was primarily a journalist who was famous for getting some really spectacular interviews, experiencing some History firsthand and writing numerous books which allows me to give her the final author slot for this month. Her life was also a series … Continue reading
Italian #57: Licia Troisi
For starters, her name is pronounced LEE-cha TRO-easy, not, what I’m predicting from lazy American English, LEE-sia TROY-see. I’m also going to be upfront, I don’t know much about Mrs. Troisi other than I was thrilled to find a person … Continue reading
Danny DeVito is closer to the real character’s height
OK, I was wrong, according to imdb.com, Danny is 4′ 10″ (1.47 m) and what I remember from the Marvel Universe comics, Wolverine (aka Logan) is 5′ 2″ (1.58 m) but let’s face it, movies prefer the illusion of height: many … Continue reading
Italian #56: Niccolò Machiavelli
Much like Orwell, Dickens and Kafka, poor Niccolò shares the distinction of being the second oldest author I know of, whose surname became an adjective everybody thinks they know the definition of…yet, the real person was nothing like it. Most … Continue reading
Posted in Books, History, Italians
Tagged Instructional Media, Politics, Renaissance
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Italian #54: Chelsea Peretti
I will conclude the string of comedians with Chelsea. I saw her at the first Moontower through a showcase hosted by Dana Gould and I really liked her material. She’s probably the most recognizable I’ve covered this year through her run … Continue reading
Italian #53: Natasha Leggero
Natasha Leggero has been quite busy these days. For several years she co-starred in a parody of all those Victorian shows everybody goes ape shit for, Downton Abbey…blech! Could the Anglophilia be any grosser? Hers was called Another Period and co-starred … Continue reading