You know, there is a really, really good reason that you don't see any Italian groups on the International rap scene.  What could that reason be, you may ask... just click above and remember that Italians make great food and wine, ok?

Oh yeah, and promise you will keep watching it at least until you see the Michael-Jackson-esque moonwalk. Trust me, it is worth the wait.

Face it, I'm back in the states for a few months, so I just don't have much material for the blog these days.  I mean, when I am in Italy, I could write several posts a day, but I am sitting here in Florida, what to contribute to THIS blog?

That said, little things catch my attention here and there, and while I was clicking away on Youtube, I stumbled across another one that had me rolling on the floor.

All I have to say can be said by this video. 

I'm feeling safe now thanks to the POWEHRRR RAYNGERRRZ!

I’ve been back in Los Angeles for a week now, and last night we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner for the first time since I got back.  This may not seem like a big deal, but for us it is always a tragedy.

The restaurant was Pomodoro in Woodland Hills.  I don’t want to say it is a bad place by American standards.  Actually, it is one of the better chains.  It is just that I was in Italy having the real thing a week ago, and by those standards, even the best place in the states simply stinks.

To give you an example of what I mean, let me go back about a month.  I was having a mega craving for roasted chicken and roasted potatoes.  In the states, we would generally call it Tuscan chicken, since it is generally a central Italian thing.  In Soriano, there is a place that makes roasted chicken and potatoes that are to die for, and this craving I was having needed to be addressed.

As you travel the world, you continuously run across things you never thought you might.  Some are big, some are minor.

All Uncle Ben is good for in the states is rice, but it seems he has been secretly spending some time south of the border.  If you want mexican food products in Italy, Uncle Ben’s runs the market.  In fact, his little monopoloy is such that tortillas (not very good ones) cost $0.50 each

Grilled Flesh... YUM!

When I lived here in Soriano, I was, quite simply, 'The American". In fact, the immigrant population of the area consisted of me, two Brits and a Brazilian. Outside of that, nobody spoke a word of English. My, how things can change over the course of 20+ years.

A few years ago a company bought a beautiful palace in the town and converted it into a hotel, which is marketed toward Brits and Americans. One night I was eating in one of the local cafes, and every table surrounding mine was occupied by Brits and Americans. It just felt wrong. 20 years ago, I used to eat at this place regularly. It was a little place for the locals. Now they even have an English menu.

So what of this 'ENGLISH MENU'?
This is not the only place to have one. Every restaurant and cafe in town has a translated menu. The problem is that the rush of english-speaking tourists is new to them, and they haven't quite gotten their act together yet. Every menu in town is poorly translated. For example, one place (this one beats all in the bad translation contest) offers 'Bisteca alla griglia'. The correct translation is 'Grilled Steak'. Unfortunately, whoever it was that looked up the word 'Bisteca' made a critical error, as they translated it to 'FLESH'. So, while in Soriano Nel Cimino, you can order Grilled Flesh at a local cafe. Tasty! Other menu items to be found include 'Pizza's Pocket' (for Calzone), 'Tomato's Cherry' for 'Cherry Tomatoes', etc. It goes on and on.

I think whoever is doing the translations is having a blast with Babelfish. The problem is that this covers official translations as well. You will find placards next to historical monuments that have unintelligible descriptions. For example, the town tourist board's home page offers this delightful description of Soriano nel Cimino:

"The lucky hilly position, the mild climate, the wood's healthy air, together with its history, arts and tradition, make Soriano nel Cimino the ideal place where to spend a serene and pleasant stay or a vacation in every season"