Fillide's activity

Not a source I would normally cite (and I have one or two issues with the article)  but this is a pretty brilliant introduction to the current Italian political scene. Definitely worth reading!  http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/05/the-chaos-in-italy.html?mbid=social_retweet

Neville Shute wrote a fascinating book (can't remember the title) but in it he made improvements to democracy by giving people (such as war veterans, and rich people) extra votes so that the proles didn't get so large a say. I sincerely hope Nigel Farage hasn't read it - but no, he wouldn't have, would he, he needs the prole vote.. Just some details on this 'not allowed to vote' thng in Italy - I can vote just because I live in Italy (even stand as a candidate) in comune, province, regione, European (though that's slightly more tricky) elections. I can't vote in any UK election, nor in any national Italian election.  If I was desperate to vote in Italian national elections I could become an Itlalian citizen, without giving up my UK citizenship (as far as I have been informed). It does seem that there is no possibility of my voting in any UK election - so as Gala says, it does look like the UK is out of line here, because they don't run the equivalent of an AIRE register which means any Italian living anywhere gets a vote in the Italian (national, and European) elections. 

I do agree with much of your post - particularly about the bloated political casta (mangiano con quattro ganasche) - but I think you overstate the corruption side of stuff, and have not appreciated that Berlusconi simply BUYS votes. He is going to destroy Letta's attempt to form a government unless Letta gets rid of IMU - (he won't) - so then Silvio will force an election and (quite possibly) win. The parallels between the treatment of Grillo and his M5S movement (by not only the Berlusconi media) and the ridicule with which the UK establishment treated UKIP are quite fascinating. It is perfectly acceptable (IMO) to take an intellectual position which sees realism in the positions which both Farage and Grillo take about the (widely) perceived weaknesses of the European experiment, and (because the establishment, whether it is Berlusconi, Renzi or Letta) state that they are utterly converted to the necessity of 'Europe' (and the Euro): which raises the hackles of the voters because it certainly looks like a pro-globalisation gravy train eclipsing the most gross corruption evident in (even the reasonably transparent, I would say) the Italian elected representatives. A lot of Europe (politically, democratically) is in the same position as Italy, so I think it is a bit unfair of you to 'blame' the Italians who have remained in the home country for being only as selfish and self-serving as any other European electorate (of course, including the Germans).

I think the PD has already imploded. Berlusconi (with his able henchman Brunetta!) are fighting the PdL corner of course, and at this point the Berlusconi controlled media is in an even more threatening position than usual. Threatening to Italy, I mean. 

They work just fine. You don't usually buy them (though you might find a local builders' merchant, or a very go-ahead quarry, who have some displayed); you buy (or commission a local fabro to knock up) a metal cage, and you buy rocks to fill it with. This way you can build something very substantial with very limited lifting equipment! Simple really.

I'm fortunate in that although midges (in whatever bit of Europe) do seem to find me very attractive, I don't react badly. Oddly enough I have found that a loose shirt is much better than anything tucked into my jeans to avoid these pests nibbling the back of my waistband! I think there is some very good advice in this thread - and I would go along with Ram's opinion about plug in mossie deterrents. I would never use one of these in a room without the window wide open - but if the plug-in is below the window (and you can't smell it) I think they are effective and not toxic. (Coughs, I could be wrong!)

Is this a PC or a smartphone/tablet? I agree with steve - it should work (certainly on a PC) unless it is a rights restricted issue. (I use a Vod dongle). I've had issues with the BBCiPlayer app on the smartphone, but going to the internet app and asking for iPlayer does work, (this with a Vod SIM).

The Zeebrugge ferries land you in Belgium about 8.30am after a good nights sleep, and withoout rushing you can be in Luxembourg for lunch - so you don't need to stop in Belgium. Below Lux there is a bit of France and then either over into Germany at Strasbourg, or stick with France. If you do the ferry crossing on Saturday night driving on Sunday is very easy, and the ferries are less full of idiots on weekend trips.

The company with whom I am insured does allow this according to their terms and conditions (though I have never done it!) It costs €25 to reactivate it, so short term suspensions are probably not economically efficient, It's a nice company, with a great online site, try it.  http://www.genialloyd.it/GlfeWeb/gl/it/home/prodotti/polizze/auto.html The fascicolo informativo is the document to read - it is a pdf so just search on sospensione.

If you use Twitter, there is quite a lively poster under @Lifeinsicily.