The Census released a report in December on the New York City neighborhood known as Little Italy. Popular for its Italian restaurants, grocery stores and culture, the neighborhood used to be the center of Italian-American life in the United States. That, however, has changed.
The Census report found that just 5 percent of the residents of Little Italy identify as Italian-American.
Sadly, the report could not find a single person who was actually born in Italy.
The neighborhood currently has around 8,600 residents. 4,400 of them were foreign-born. Of that group, 89 percent were born in Asia.
Many of the stores are still owned by Italian pe0ple, but the community has grown increasingly fragmented. Just last year, a Korean immigrant won a tenor competition and a Chinese immigrant was elected to represent the area on the city council.
The numbers are shocking because of how quickly the area has changed. In 2000, just 6 percent of the people identified as Italian-American. A half century earlier more than half of the residents of Little Italy identified that way.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi finds himself still, amazingly, the head of his country, in spite of numerous gaffes while in office. Sex scandals, politically incorrect language, corruption and sexist comments are among the problems he’s had. Most recently, Berlusconi called in to a television program to condemn the host’s conduct. Look below for a clip (in English). In spite of all these scandals, support for his party has INCREASED over the past month.
Among the many other gaffes and scandals, here are some of the highlights…
July 2, 2003: The Prime Minister compares a German politician to a concentration camp guard. The remarks provoke outrage across the EU.
March 2008: Offends China by suggesting that the “black book of Communism” supports boiling children for agricultural purposes.
November 6, 2008: While trying to congratulate President-elect Obama, Berlusconi calls him “suntanned.”
April 3, 2009: At the end of a group photograph, Berlusconi yells out to President Barack Obama. The Queen quips back, “What is it? Why does he have to yell?” Calling out seems odd at the formal occasion.
April 4, 2009: Berlusconi keeps German Chancellor Angela Merkel waiting while he speaks on his mobile phone to someone. After waiting over a minute for the Italian leader, Merkel walks away without him.
April 8, 2009: The day after the worst earthquake in 30 years, Berlusconi told a group of reporters that the 17,000 people homeless in the Abruzzo region should think of their time outside as “a weekend of camping.”
June 5, 2009: Nude pictures of women lounging at Berlusconi’s villa are published by El Pais (NSFW).
September 2009: Berlusconi greets First Lady Michelle Obama like this…Notably he is the only world leader she insists of shaking hands with, instead of the customary kiss on the cheek.
December 13, 2009: A man with a history of mental illness strikes the Prime Minister in Milan. The incident left Berlusconi with a bloodied face, a broken nose and broken teeth.
February 2010: In an official list of election candidates, Berlusconi selects a Miss Italy candidate, a former TV weather girl and his dental hygienist (who was an ex-showgirl) for political positions. Nicole Minetti, the hygienist, was nominated despite having no political experience and is pictured below:
October 2010: A long-brewing scandal finally erupts. Ruby Rubacuori (Stealer of Hearts) says that Berlusconi gave her 7,000 pounds at a dinner for 10 women at his mansion on Valentine’s Day. In May, he helps free her from police custody. She describes the now-infamous “bunga bunga” parties. At the time, she was 17-years-old. A second woman has come forward recently.
November 3, 2010: Speaking in regards to the latest scandal, Berlusconi quips “liking pretty girls is better than being gay.”
January 24, 2011: The Catholic Church finally speaks about the various scandals. They warn that the immoral behavior reflects poorly on the country and could hurt the future.
Darco Sangermano, 28, was walking through downtown Naples with his girlfriend on New Year’s Eve when he was struck in the head by a stray .22 caliber bullet. Doctors believe that the bullet had been slowed by the time it struck him, and that fact accounts for his survival. In spite of the nature of the injury, he sustained relatively little injury from the gunshot wound. He was, however, suffering from severe blood loss and an ambulance rushed him to the hospital. As he waited to go into surgery, he sneezed. Out popped the bullet from his right nostril. Sangermano will make a full recovery.
So claims an Italian researcher. After analyzing the Mona Lisa— Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous masterpiece— Silvano Vinceti, of the Italian committee for cultural heritage, claims to have discovered a secret series of letters and numbers in her right pupil (on the left side if you’re looking at the painting).
In a series of findings due out next month, Vinceti reveals that the pupil contains the letters “LV,” which could represent the artist’s name. A second set of letters and a number, possibly “72” are also located within the eye.
Not Intent on Arriving 