8.29.2007

FIFTY YEARS of ON THE ROAD

Pennsy Kerouac PATH Ad from the past

Next Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road. These artcles offer some insight into the celebration.

Road Rules – by David Gates/Newsweek

On the Road, Again, by Joe Woodward

If I had to name five of the most influential books I read, a quick list would include:

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

The Strawberry Statement, Notes of a College Revolutionary by James Kunen

Desolation Angels
On The Road


anything by Erma Bombeck or Dave Barry*

*Yeah, I said books, so what.

The first three were in high school, no less. So, here's to anniversaries and the good old Paperback Book Store that once existed in Bloomfield (N.J.) Center ... of course, back in the day. It was there I picked up Desolation Angels because I liked the cover. The same could be said for MASH. Who knew what a book about living in fire-watch towers would lead to?

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

8.26.2007

CIAO AMORE! AMADO MIA

It's been said that ever since we got back from Italy, I've been stuck in a tranche of Italian music.


I admit finding myself saying "grazia" instead of merely "thank you," but I reconverted all my euros (except the coins) and have tipped my toe into the editing of more than 5GB of digital images.

And here I am. Listening to Italian love songs I don't understand.

Home sweet home – I see I have jumped the shark, amado mia, what shall we do now? Love me forever, it has already begun.



This band, Pink Martini, sings this ballad Amado Mia on Ciao Amore!
and the above video matches it with the old Glenn Ford - Rita Hayworth film, Gilda, with the same song.

You don't have to like that kind of music to get swept into it.

Anyway, it turns out Pink Martini will be performing at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on March 11, 2008. It would give you a chance to enjoy their eclectic sound.

Pink Martini
7:30 pm
Prudential Hall
The music of this 12-piece ensemble has been compared to a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 1950s – but with a global perspective that’s decidedly modern.


I first heard this song on a compilation CD I bought at Starbucks. I do recommend the disk, but be forewarned, there's a lot of music you will not be able to stop yourself from singing along with - whether you know what you're saying, or not.

Various Artists, Ciao Amore!

The tunes on Ciao Amore are for lovers, baby. Feel the smoke in your eyes. Hear the rhythm of your beating heart. Sense the Bella Notte weave its magic spell of enchantment around you on a long drifting note. Now come dance ... or call for another cappuccino. That's amore.


Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

LINKS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

8.25.2007

VIA CON ME - PAOLO CONTE



Paolo Conte and this song - Via Con Me - of his are driving me crazy. I can't get it out of my head and I have no idea what it is he's singing except for the refrain: chips, chips.

When I looked up the lyrics and then fed them into the Google translator, here's what I got:

Author: Conte.Paolo
Title: Via_con_me
VIA WITH ME
Via, via, you come via from here,
nothing piu' you alloy to these places,
neanche these blue flowers…
neanche this time gray
full load of musics and men who you son piaciuti,
It's wonderfoul, it's wonderfoul, it's wonderfoul
good luck my babe, it's wonderfoul
it's wonderfoul, it's wonderfoul, the dream of you…
Chips, Chips, du-du-du-du-du
Via, via, you come via with me
it enters in this love buio, not to lose you to the world not at all…
via, via, not to lose you to the world not at all
the show of varied art of one in love of you,
it's wonderfoul, it's wonderfoul…
.......................................
Via, via, you come via with me,
it enters in this full love buio of men
via, via, it enters and taken a bath warm
there e' a blue bathrobe, outside piove a cold world,
it's wonderfoul, it's wonderfoul…


I'd sure appreciate if someone could give me a legitimate translation of what's being said instead of the Martian translation from Google.

This video makes me think he's some sort of Italian version of Leonard Cohen.

I first heard this song on a compilation CD I bought at Starbucks. I do recommend the disk, but be forewarned, there's a lot of music you will not be able to stop yourself from singing along with - whether you know what you're saying, or not.

Various Artists, Ciao Amore

The tunes on Ciao Amore are for lovers, baby. Feel the smoke in your eyes. Hear the rhythm of your beating heart. Sense the Bella Notte weave its magic spell of enchantment around you on a long drifting note. Now come dance...or call for another cappuccino. That's amore.

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

HEALTH ALERT -- DANGEROUS NEW VIRUS :-)

 There is a dangerous virus being transmitted electronically, orally, and by hand.   This virus is called
Weary-Overload-Recreation-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT.  This virus will completely wipe out your personal life.
 
 If you should come into contact with WORK, follow these simple instructions:
 
1. Put your jacket on.
 
2. Take two good friends with you to the nearest liquor store.

3. Purchase the antidote known  as  Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER).
 
4. Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system. 
 
You should forward this warning to a minimum of 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends,  you have already been infected, and WORK is controlling your life. In this case, simply follow steps 1 - 4 on your own...
 
A forward you wish you found in your email!




Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

8.22.2007

DINING IN THE CITY, SOMEWHERE IN ITALY

Italy photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Italy photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Italy photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Italy photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino


Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Trafalgar

LIDO WAR MEMORIAL

Venice, Italy, photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino



Venice, Italy, photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Venice, Italy, photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

No one in my family is surprised that I found a war memorial nearly five thousand miles from home, on the island of Lido in Venice, Italy.

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Trafalgar

8.21.2007

ROMA CALLING!

Roma photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino



Roma photos copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino



Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Trafalgar

8.20.2007

FUNNY SIGNS IN ITALY

Italy photo copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino



Italy photo copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Italy photo copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

Italy photo copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino


Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

Trafalgar

8.19.2007

AUSTRALIAN FRIENDS in ITALY

Vegemite photo copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino

It wasn't until we got to Maori on the Amalfi Coast of Italy that one of our Australian traveling companions broke out the jar of Vegemite.

She offered it to us Americans, and to the other Aussies along for the trip, and the two New Zealanders, too.

I spread it like peanut butter in a thick slab on a crispy slice of bread and bit into it. Don't worry I won't make that mistake again.

A fellow traveler followed, but instead spread it like you'd spread a light coat of butter on bread when you don't like butter. Now, that's the way you enjoy Vegemite.

Sure fooled me.

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission. Updated May 2008

Trafalgar Tours

8.12.2007

GREETINGS FROM FLORENCE, ITALY

FIRENZE, ITALY - Yesterday we saw the statue of David. Today we saw the copy outside in the piazza.


We happened to catch a cool wave here in Florence, as it is usually much, much hotter than it has been.

I still can't get used to the keyboard. So, for now, take my word that we are having a great time in beautiful Italy.

It took so long to figure out the keyboard, I don't have time to upload any pictures.

Till the next Internet Caffe, see ya.

TONOOSE

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.

8.10.2007

GREETINGS FROM VENICE, ITALY

VENICE, ITALY -- After three days of canal rides and walking the labyrinth of shops and food stands, we are finally getting to know this island quite well. We can find our way back to San Marco Square and our transportation back to Lido Island.


Of course, the food here is wonderful. The weather has been cooperative - especially the other night during our evening gondola ride  and afterward with our drink in San Marco Square while the orchestra played.

Our earlier adventure was to Como and Bellagio (not the casino) and Lugano, Switzerland were excellent. We used that to adjust to the six-hour-time difference. By the time we are fully adjusted we expect to be headed back home! We left the mountain region of the pre-Alps and headed across northern Italy passing corn fields and it reminded me of Pennsylvania ' except for the HUGE mountain in the background. A bit later, we moved through grape country and all you could see for miles were vineyards.

It was odd to ride our bus onto the ferry from the mainland, but we got a great view of the canals and the various islands of Venice.

Anyway, we found this Internet hotspot across from our hotel in Lido, the Bar Maleti is a great place to have a drink, a gelatto and also use the Internet.

The keyboard here in Italy is a bit skewered to what I'm used to. The captital key gives you < and the apostrophe is à, so itàs a kind of hunt and peck to type the hyphen is ' so when you see ' it likely should be a -, so forgive the typing.

All the best.
-- Anthony

http://www.Anthonysworld.com

corrected Sunday afternoon

Copyright © 2007 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved. Content may not be used for commercial purposes without written permission.