Michael V.

ESL teacher in Rome, Italy, Disco Vinyl blog, Italo Disco Lover, Cambridge Examiner, Social Democrat, Italian American, Connecticut born

[Unfiltered @quotesdaily100]

20 THINGS THAT MAKE ITALY'S CULTURE SPECIAL:

1. Meals as a ritual — Real connection. Meals aren't rushed; they're a time to sit, talk, and reconnect with family.
2. Art and history everywhere — Deep appreciation. Even small towns have centuries-old art and architecture woven into daily life.
3. Strong family bonds — Lasting loyalty. Family remains central, often across multiple generations living close together.
4. Passion in daily conversation — Real expressiveness. Italians speak with emotion and gesture, making even small talk feel alive.
5. Regional pride in food — Rich diversity. Each region defends its own recipes and ingredients as part of local identity.
6. Slow, savored living — True balance. Life moves at a pace that values enjoyment over constant rushing.
7. Timeless fashion sense — Effortless elegance. Style is simple, well-made, and rarely chases fleeting trends.
8. Ancient ruins beside modern life — Living history. Roman ruins often sit right next to modern shops and homes.
9. Coffee as a daily ritual — Small joy. A quick espresso at the bar is a meaningful daily pause, not just caffeine.
10. Sunday lunches with extended family — Lasting tradition. Weekly gatherings keep multiple generations closely connected.
11. Craftsmanship passed down generations — Real mastery. Skills like leatherwork or winemaking are often taught within families.
12. Local dialects still spoken proudly — Deep identity. Many regions preserve their own dialects alongside standard Italian.
13. Piazzas as social gathering spots — True community. Town squares remain central places for daily social life.
14. Opera and music woven into culture — Rich emotion. Music, especially opera, is treated as a serious source of national pride.
15. Reverence for grandmothers' recipes — Genuine heritage. Family recipes are protected and passed down like treasured heirlooms.
16. Festivals tied to local saints — Living faith. Many towns hold annual festivals honoring their patron saint, blending faith and celebration.
17. Beauty valued in everyday objects — Real artistry. Even simple items like packaging or furniture are designed with visual care.
18. Pride in local wine-making — Deep tradition. Many families still produce their own wine using methods passed down for generations.
19. Long, unhurried dinners with guests — Genuine hospitality. Hosting is taken seriously, with guests welcomed generously and never rushed out.
20. Strong sense of regional rivalry — Real character. Cities and regions playfully compete over food, history, and local pride, adding color to daily life.

[David Hinkle @DavidHinkle90]

Melania’s ex-top aide Wolkoff screams: seize her texts, Signal chats, private emails—she knew every move Donald made

She’s no victim; she’s complicit. She warns that accountability is coming.

The whole Trump family is rotting with greed, lies, and contempt for you.

[Shaiel Ben-Ephraim @academic_la]

The most important thing Mamdani did was change the American political conversation from identity politics to class and economic inequality. That could change our entire trajectory for the better.

[Ford News @FordJohnathan5]

Fun Fact: Democratic States and Cities are roughly 70% of US GDP. Also, majority of Donor states are Democratic states. Without Democratic states Republican states would go totally broke. They would be a 3rd world country. 🚨

[Just Dave now @justdavenow89]

In Turkey a drunk english wanker assaulted his wife during an argument, his son and daughter tried to defend her and were also attacked by the twat

bet hes a right wing moron who wants to protect women and kids... and bet his mates fail to call out his actions and still his mate

[Mario Nawfal @MarioNawfal]

🇺🇸 New York City got a once-in-a-lifetime sunset, right after a severe storm swept through.

America turned 250 and New York really dressed for the occasion.

Writer: Monica

[Sama Hoole @SamaHoole]

Watch the pattern. It only ever runs one way.

When butter was demonised, Unilever was ready with margarine.

When lard and tallow were demonised, Procter and Gamble was ready with Crisco.

When eggs were demonised, Kellogg's was ready with a bowl of cereal.

When red meat was demonised, Cargill was ready with soy.

When breastfeeding was demonised as backward, Nestlé was ready with formula.

When leather was demonised, BASF was ready with plastic cut to look like hide.

When wool was demonised, ExxonMobil was ready with the feedstock for polyester.

When animal fat itself was demonised, seed oil climbed from industrial waste to the most used cooking fat on earth.

Every one of them was a food or a fibre humans had thrived on for thousands of years, condemned at the exact moment a cheaper factory copy was sitting ready on the shelf.

The product came first. The science came trotting along behind it, right on cue, the instant there was a substitute to sell.

Follow the money. The advice starts to make a great deal more sense.

[Health Organica @HealthOrganica_]

Amazing Health Benefits of Cloves: A Powerful Cleansing Remedy

[Camus @newstart_2024]

Andrew Huberman’s no-BS fat loss protocol that actually works for real people:

Meat, fish, eggs, fruit, and vegetables. That’s it.

No bread, pasta, rice, tortillas, or processed junk. Water, coffee, or tea only.

People drop 4.5 kg (10 lbs) in the first week, stay full thanks to protein, and keep the results because it’s sustainable.

Add walking, then some resistance training, energy, sleep, mood, and libido all skyrocket.

Simple real food. No complicated rules.

What’s one simple eating change that’s helped you lose fat or feel way better?

[Michael V. @ExpatMichael]

@DivaDepressao I agree with my choice of Erotica.

[Desirée Townsend @Cheering4Change]

Why did Elaine Chao, Mitch McConnell’s wife, run straight to China to meet with high ranking government officials, three days after he went into cardiac arrest? And why did the mainstream media cover up the EMS dispatch audio until I released it on social media?

[Deen @Deens786]

Well well.. @TRobinsonNewEra you predatory nonce cunt. #TommyRobinson #UniteTheKingdom

RETWEET & SHARE!!!

[jacques @flamencolambada]

the synchronicity of Confessions II being released 45 years to the day that the first ever article about AIDS was published in the New York Times

[Michael V. @ExpatMichael]

@Reis1870749 @NotHoodlum Doesn’t the Democratic Governor get to appoint?

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

Happy Fourth of July, New York City

[Being J Wood @BeingJWood]

I’m pretty sure 95% of Americans opposed to “socialism” could not accurately define it if their life depended on it.

That number may be low.

[rosie 💜🎀🇺🇳 @tetrarosie]

brexit was likely the worst mistake any country has made in the 21st century

[Las Cloacas del Sistema @LCDS_2]

🚨MANUEL SCHADWALD: El niño cuya muerte fue filmada en el yate de la élite.

El 24 de julio de 1993, Manuel Schadwald, un niño alemán de doce años, salió de su casa en Berlín. Iba solo. Nunca regresó.

La policía abrió una investigación. En 1998 la cerró sin resultados. Sin cuerpo. Sin culpables. Sin respuestas.

Mientras tanto, en Bélgica y Países Bajos, activistas descubrieron que las pistas llevaban a una red mucho más oscura.

Manuel fue secuestrado y llevado a burdeles de niños en Ámsterdam y Rotterdam. Pero la versión más terrorífica apunta al yate Apollo.

Según testimonios e inteligencia holandesa, en ese velero el niño fue abusado y asesinado mientras lo grababan. Un snuff film real. El cuerpo fue arrojado al mar y el yate limpiado en un puerto militar.

El yate estaba vinculado a Gerrit Ulrich, implicado en el escándalo de Zandvoort (1998). Tras su muerte, la policía encontró miles de imágenes y vídeos de abuso infantil extremo, incluyendo bebés, junto con listas de clientes de varios países.

Una de las personas que investigó esta conexión fue Gina Pardaens-Bernaer, trabajadora social belga. Su trabajo la llevó al material de Zandvoort. Envió copias a Interpol.Recibió amenazas. Su hijo fue atropellado. En noviembre de 1998 dijo: “Con lo que he descubierto, o Bélgica explota o me asesinan”.

Al día siguiente su coche apareció destrozado contra un puente, sin marcas de frenado. La policía lo cerró como accidente. Horas después allanaron el despacho de su abogado. Gina murió.

Su caso se suma a la lista de muertes sospechosas vinculadas a estas investigaciones.

El caso de Manuel está directamente conectado con el caso Dutroux. Las mismas redes. Las mismas acusaciones de protección institucional. Las mismas sospechas de que personas influyentes estaban involucradas y que las investigaciones fueron frenadas cuando apuntaban demasiado alto.

Las autoridades nunca investigaron a fondo las conexiones con el yate Apollo ni con Zandvoort. La policía holandesa dijo que no encontró nada. La policía alemana cerró el caso sin conectar los puntos.Y sin embargo, los documentos existen.

Archivos de inteligencia holandesa hablan de un niño alemán asesinado en un barco y de un caso tapado porque “había personas influyentes a bordo”. Los testimonios detallan hechos y nombres. Gina Pardaens aseguró tener una copia del snuff film. Esa copia desapareció tras su muerte.

Treinta y dos años después, Manuel Schadwald sigue desaparecido. No hay justicia.

Este caso no es solo la historia de un niño que desapareció.

Es la historia de cómo una red de abuso infantil operó durante años en Europa con impunidad. Cómo las investigaciones se detenían cuando llegaban demasiado cerca del poder. Cómo un niño de doce años pudo ser secuestrado, abusado y asesinado mientras alguien lo filmaba… y el sistema decidió que era mejor no mirar.

Manuel quería ir a jugar un día de verano.

Terminó en un yate de la élite, siendo violado y asesinado mientras grababan su muerte.Y 32 años después seguimos sin saber quiénes estaban en ese barco.

La verdad está ahí. En los documentos. En los testimonios. En las conexiones con Zandvoort y Dutroux.

La pregunta ya no es qué le pasó a Manuel Schadwald.

La pregunta es: ¿cuánto tiempo más vamos a seguir permitiendo que estos casos queden archivados mientras los responsables siguen protegidos?

[Inside The Groove @insidethegroove]

Tonight I made 300 gay men very happy under the arches in Vauxhall!