The Great Baccal? Heist

Although dried salted cod (baccal?) is probably not the Italian dish coveted by most visitors, it has become precious merchandise on the black market.
Refrigerated trucks bringing baccal? to Italy from Norway have been hijacked so frequently in recent months that insurers now refuse to guarantee shipments anywhere south of Rome. A traditional favorite on Italian tables during the holidays, often served fried or with garlic and parsley, the Bel Paese spends ? 187 million (approx. $166 million USD) on baccal? yearly.
Gunnar Apeland, spokesperson for the Norwegian Truck Owners Association, says these hijacks have become business as usual in Italy. As a result Apeland has urged truck drivers to use guarded parking lots and to take as few rest stops as possible. Newspapers have reported that some refrigerated trucks have even hired armed guards to deter possible attacks.
Mario Esposito, president of the Italian Association of Norwegian Royal Stockfish, smells something fishy, "I hope they’re not trying to discredit us, once again, with the insinuation that all Italians are members of the Mafia." His solution to the hijacks means to ensure Italians will get their baccalà by any means necessary: "If they don’t want to send trucks here, we’ll send Italians up there to bring it back down."?1999-2004 zoomata.com

Zoomata is the brainchild of a bilingualjournalist based in Italy who thinks out of the box. This brain is for hire.
Related resources:

www.ricetteonline.com/elenco_ricette_az.php?letterina=B
Three ways of making it from different parts of Italy…

When spring springs, early

The song of black birds usually doesn’t make the news, but this year mating-season tweeting started about three weeks early leading scientists to predict an early and warm spring for Italy. “It’s an important anomaly,” noted Giampiero Maracchi, director of the Institute for biometeorology of national research center (CNR) in Florence. “By observing these signs from nature we’re able to make three month-predictions. Temperatures in the second half of January through March will likely be much higher than normal.”

Artful Italy: the Hidden Treasures
Any better reason to pack your bags?

Italy by Numbers: virtual sex: nah…

2 million Italians chat regularly
36.5 minutes of virtual sex per month (Italians)
55.4 minutes of virtual sex per month (Norwegians)
59.2 minutes of virtual sex per month (Germans)
Apparently, Latin lovers still prefer a hands-on approach to sex. In part, the preference for real sex over cybersex can be put down to low computer use in Italy, according to think tank Eurispes which recently studied the phenomenon.
Researchers found there are almost as many eros-related Italian web sites as users–about 35,000.
Some 40,000 Italians last year claimed to have engaged at least once in ‘virtual’ sex, according to the "Report on Italy" due for release on Jan. 25. Although cybersex statistics are low compared to European counterparts, the business of sex shops in Italy has boomed over the past decade–increasing more than seven fold from 40 to 293.
Italian women are also becoming less shy about sex-related products. Inspired by a study which revealed women as high consumers of pay-TV porn films, a women’s coop in Bologna recently announced plans for a porn shop open only to the gentle sex.

Web wise: Jan 14-21

Using the Euro: an interactive quiz • Whoa Cavalli: Men’s fashion from Pitti Uomo •Maserati Spyder: revving up for the US market • Job Offer:Goat Farm/shop Farm worker

Using the Euro: an interactive quiz
Test your working knowledge of the new currency with this quiz –do shop owners have to give change in euro? Validity of checks in euro-countries? What about stamps in lire? Can one pay with the two currencies tighter? In Italian.
http://news2000.iol.it/euro/infograf/popup_infog.jhtml?nome=euroquiz2.swf

Whoa Cavalli: Men’s fashion from Pitti Uomo
Roberto Cavalli showed a somewhat subdued version of his beloved rock-fashion on catwalks of his hometown in Florence–giant fur coats, scruffy models & lots of caramel leather…
Take in video clips & VIP snaps from Salvatore Ferragamo and John Varvatos.
http://quotidiano.monrif.net/redazione/pitti2002

Maserati Spyder: revving up for the US market
Get an eyeful of the new convertible–the first to hit the American market in 12 years. The price tag wasn’t revealed, but the poor sister of Ferrari has a goal of selling only 22 of the 2,000 cars produced each year….www.maseratispyder.com

Job Offer: Goat Farm/shop Farm worker
Looking to work in Italy? We’re starting a free newsletter for English-speakers looking to work or change jobs in Italy.
To sign up: by web, choose italyjobfinder from the drop-down menu
www.zoomata.com/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi

Goat Farm/shop Farm worker
Job Location: Radda in Chianti, Siena, ITALY

Small Cashmere Goat farm in Tuscany between Siena and Florence. The herd is about 100 and growing. Until now the farm’s main source of income has been tourism (week-long stays in what is described as "agriturism" – i.e."farm stays"). Over the last 4 years I have also created a line of skincare products made with goat’s milk which we package and sell on the farm.
Business (rentals, herd, products) has taken off over the last year and I am now in need of at least one person full time and a second person part time (which will probably become full time as business increases). Until now I have managed by having temporary help in the summer and doing most of the work myself – also because there was not enough income to seriously consider hiring a full-time employee). I now anticipate increasing my herd considerably, the products part of production has swelled and makes up most of my income, and I now have to have a full-time. long-term person/persons that I can count on totally to help run the various facets of the farm so that I can dedicate my energy to marketing, personal contact with clients (which will entail considerable travelling), etc.
I envision the following role, although this is currently an evolving situation and what is needed today may change considerably six months from now:
Woman: – cleaning, including sweeping, mopping, change of beds, laundry, ironing, etc. for rentals (weekly in the three-bedroom house and more often in the small apartment. As needed in our house. – packaging (wrapping, cutting, etc. of soaps, preparing shipments) and organization of farm shop. Spring-fall mostly wrapping and selling to off-the-road tourist trade. Fall-winter packaging and shipment of wholesale and retail orders. Basic inventory and organizational skills…………. – feeding animals (goats and dogs) as needed – watering as needed
Man – all goat care: feeding, moving as needed, capturing and holding for vaccinations, hoof-trimming, etc. – basic maintenance of fences, gates, road and farm buildings (no tractor), painting, sanding, etc., of windows, doors, etc….. – basic gardening (mowing, raking, hoeing, planting etc.) – pool maintenance, sweeping and raking of grounds
If there is not enough work for two full-time positions in the beginning we have several neighbors who will hire for the extra work hours so that both people will have full-time positions.
Only people who already have EEC citizenship/visa, experience working with animals and with an independent, responsible work ethic should apply. I have temporary living accommodations until the beginning of the tourist season in an apartment for 2 which however I need from the spring through the fall for rental income. Housing in this area is very hard to find, and is the major drawback to hiring someone who does not already live here.
I am looking for a reliable, long-term arrangement with the right person, and after a brief trial paid will hire legally with all benefits included. The work week will be long in the summer months and shorter in the winter. Referenced nonsmokers will be given preference. Own car will be necessary – we have a scooter on the premises for one person.
I hope to interview immediately for hire before the end of January. The month of February here will be dedicated to repainting/repairing rental accommodations, kidding, etc. Tourist season stars at Easter
Please contact Dr. Nora Kravis at info@chianticashmere.com http://www.chianticashmere.com

Italy By Numbers: Cell Phone Greetings

270,000 text messages sent, Christmas 2001
70,000 text messages sent, Christmas 2000
10 average text messages sent, per person
1 blasphemous joke sent by text

The notoriously slow national postal service has made Italians loath to send Christmas cards, but that doesn’t stop them from sending greetings to friends and family via the ubiquitous mobile phone.
This year, thanks in part to a series of jokes in dubious taste, the number of messages sent on Dec. 25 skyrocketed 285% over the previous year. Here’s the one of the most popular: "The pope has canceled Christmas celebrations in the Vatican due to the absence of Cardinal Maria Martini. The message ends stealing the punchline from a popular Martini ad starring George Clooney, "No Martini, no party."
www.georgeclooney.org/html/Martini.html
The ad that launched a thousand text messages…

Web wise: Jan 7-14

Save us from Jovanotti’s new single ? Italian practice: all about the Flu ? January Sales: The Calendar ? Job Offer: Corporate English Teacher

Save us from Jovanotti’s new single • Italian practice: all about the Flu •January Sales: The Calendar • Job Offer: Corporate English Teacher

Save us from Jovanotti’s new single
For years this pop icon has tried to get serious, but his new single "Salvami" has gone a bit far. The title track, written after Sept. 11, takes a pot shot at legendary war correspondent Oriana Fallaci. Fallaci’s fierce criticism of "political correctness" clearly got his goat, so he simplified her stance as being pro-war,because it reminds her of when she was young and beautiful. Va bene tutto, but come on…
www.soleluna.com
Hear it for yourself–the lyrics in question are in the very beginning…

Italian practice: all about the Flu
This animated news short will teach you what you need to know about this mal di stagione…Salute!
http://news2000.iol.it/popup_newsanimate.jhtml?nome=influenza2.swf

January Sales: The Calendar
Getting a bargain at the twice-yearly sales can require a bit of legwork, since not all of them start at the same time. Some regions have separate decrees which fix the dates each year, while others–most importantly Lazio (Rome) and Lombardy (Milan) change yearly. This year sales in Rome & Milan start on Jan 12 while Florence won’t come cheap til Jan 14…Here’s where you’ll find the rest of the dates, region by region…
www.confcommercio.it/home/Comunicati/01-01.doc_cvt.htm

Job Offer: Corporate English Teacher
Looking to work in Italy? We’re starting a free newsletter for English-speakers looking to work or change jobs in Italy.
To sign up: by web, choose italyjobfinder from the drop-down menu
www.zoomata.com/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi
or send a blank email to: italyjobfinder-subscribe@topica.com

Si cerca un insegnante DI inglese madrelingua che impartisca lezioni a piccoli gruppi di dipendenti a diversi livelli di conoscienza della lingua.
Sede di lavoro: Milano centro
Send an email to italy@antal.com

An Italian Starter Kit for Euro Vocab

The new common currency ushers in a huge change for the new year, although both the euro and the lira will be valid in Italy until Feb. 2002. Foreigners used to the decimal system may find learning the vocab necessary for dealing with the new currency easy–the only real experience Italians have with these words are from Disney comic books, where terms like "cent" were translated directly into Italian. Just brush up on your numbers from 1-100….
We’ll keep you up to date on the euro-evolution of the language–so far use of the term "euri" got a ministerial degree into a still-unresolved dispute with Italy’s language academy…

Italian Translation/Use
l’euro name for the new currency, more common than euro dollar (euro dollaro).
Note: invariable…two euros==due euro
plural: gli euro
centesimo cent, plural: centesimi
5,16 euro

"cinque euro e sedici centesimi".
The equivalent of 10.000 lire or about $5.00. Note the comma: the Italian system works the opposite of the US –thousands get periods and hundreds get commas.

 

Con che cosa paga?

"What are you paying with?" (formal) has become the ubiquitous question at the cash register.
Until the end of February be prepared to answer:
Lire
Euro
bancomat (debit card)
carta di credito (credit card)

Everyday phrases: extinct?  
Non ho una lira. I don’t have a lira. These may simply be substituted with "centesimo."
Senza spendere un lira. Without spending a lira.
Cacciare una lira Fork out a lira.

Related resources:
www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/squizzes/italian/italiannumbers2.tdf?0
Test your knowledge of Italian numbers with these interactive quizzes

www.x-rates.com/calculator.html
Converts major world currencies into euro

http://www.unioncamere.it/euro/Moneta/index-moneta.htm
Familiarize yourself with the new money before hand–remember the coins go up to 1 and 2 euro (about $1-2). One easy way to remember the bank notes if you’re a history buff, they start with architeture from classical times (five euro) and go up to the 20th century (500 euro).

http://194.244.130.139/giochi/spendieuro.asp
Have a go at shopping for everyday items with the Italian treasury’s "spend in euro" game

www.filastrocche.it/leggi.asp?id=5617
A nursery rhyme honoring the ol’ lira…

Priest beats Pinups for most popular calendar

Father Mariangelo da Cerqueto, 85, is an undisputed publishing phenomenon –despite the lack of pulchritude his calendar "Frate Indovino" has been a sell out since 1946.
The title, which means "Brother Fortuneteller," refers to the daily weather forecasts–the calendar first gained popularity among farmers in Father Mariangelo’s native Perugia region for the accuracy of predictions made. The secret? The capuchin priest uses a manuscript from the 1600s found in the monastery archives.

The calendar, which sells between six and eight million copies yearly, dispenses pearls of wisdom like: “Since onions produce tears, chop them in moments of political or emotional turmoil” as well as recipes, folklore and proverbs. Sales for the priests’ calendar, which retails for L.6,500 (around $3), rival those of girlie calendars. Income from the Frate Indovino publishing house, which includes books and videos, fund the order’s missionary works. The 2002 edition may be the last one written by Father Mariangelo, who describes himself as “tired but not disappointed,” nonetheless declared this year’s motto “Laughter is Living.” Evviva!www.ofmcappuccini.umbria.it/indovino/index.htmOfficial site for the Frate Indovino publishing house–and yes, they do e-commerce…

Italy by Numbers: euro skeptics

80% Italians know value euro-lire
(1 euro=1936,27 lire)
56% think they’ll be cheated by shop owners
57% unconvinced change to Euro is good for the economy

Looks like an apprehensive "addio’" for the lira. Despite a pro-euro public awareness campaign headed by prehistoric frontman Pippo Baudo, most Italians aren’t expecting anything good to come from the conversion in January 2002, according to polls by SWG. Recent media debates over price increases have fueled the fire–newspapers, cappuccino and bus tickets typically cost 1.500 lire (or .77 euro) but there is some question whether these everyday items will bump up to 1 euro for simplicity’s sake, a 29% price increase. Consumers are protected from euro-related price hikes on institutional costs (banking fees, utilities, fines) but prices on consumer goods are set by suppliers.

Related resources:
http://194.244.130.139/giochi/spendieuro.asp
Have a go with the Italian treasury’s "spend in euro" game

Beat Holiday Blues: Virtual Visit to Italy

Job offer: Country managers, Rome • 2002 horoscopes • Ivrea: the Other Carnival • All about the Befana • Virtual Italian New Year • Italians in London: the movie

Looking to work in Italy? We’re starting a free newsletter for English-speakers looking to work or change jobs in Italy.
To sign up: by web, choose italyjobfinder from the drop-down menu http://www.zoomata.com/cgi-bin/mojo/mojo.cgi
or send a blank email to: italyjobfinder-subscribe@topica.com

Job offer: Country managers, Rome
Posti: 2 Luogo: Roma
Establish and look after strategic partnerships with other website in order to increase visibility for our clients. Dymanic, motivated english mothertongue with italian or eu passport and excellent knowledge of internet. graduates with knowledge of other languages preferred Telelavoro: Non previsto
Società: Venere Net S.p.a. Sede: Roma (RM)
Settore: Informatica: progetti/servizi Dipendenti: 20 – 49
Url: www.venere.com
Profilo aziendale: italian internet company managing online hotel bookings, primarily in italian and other eu countries.
daniela@venere.com

Love & Luck in 2002: Your Italian horoscope
Find out what’s in the cards for the coming year with an Italian horoscope..
www.corriere.it/speciali/oroscopo2002/oroscopo.shtml

Italians in London: South Kensington, the Movie
We warned Rupert Everett against making this movie with the kings of Italian movie kitsch, brothers Enrico & Carlo Vanzina, but who listens? The resulting wiggle & giggle comedy of two Italians who rent from a dissolute English lord (Everett) contends for the big Christmas box office rush…Above & beyond the usual trailers & set photos the official site tells the story of Italian immigrants in London & a restaurant guide…
www.southkensington.it

Virtual Italian New Year
If you can’t bring in the New Year in Italy, try these webcams:
Venice:
http://turismo.regione.veneto.it/webcam/webcam2.html

Sorrento:
www.aminta.it/LiveWebcam.htm

Rome:
www.capitolium.org/eng/virtuale/webview.htm

Genoa
www.primonet.it/english/view/index.htm

The Befana: a web guide
Here’s what you need to know about the old lady who brings the end to winter holidays on Jan 6. Includes Neapolitan poetry, menus for good & bad children and a link to the "red Befana," the no-global version…
www.virgilio.it/canali/extra/natale/befana.html

Ivrea: The Other Carnival
Lose the winter doldrums: participate in a lesser known but very lively Carnival in Ivrea, near Turin.
The festival, which has origins in medieval times starts Jan. 6, but the merrymaking rises to a fever pitch on March 6 with the famed Battle of Oranges..
.Some three thousand participants divided into 100-strong teams ride through town in carts, pelting each other with oranges. Not into the vitamin C? Try making it for the bean festival, pylon burning or fireworks. This year marks the 195th edition.
www.carnevalediivrea.com