All Things Skype

[garo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta for some history on Pasta/Noodles.

If you want to know more about the late 20th century dark side of Italy read this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0865477248

Fo a more historical perspective read this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0684825007

[mfgoode]

[QUOTE=garo]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta for some history on Pasta/Noodles.]

Thank you garo.
A transcript from the same site for those who questioned the Chinese claim

"The earliest known records of noodles in Europe are found on Etruscan tomb decorations from the 4th century BC. Actual pasta dating back to about 2000 BC has been found near Lajia at the Huang He in Western China. The site was devastated by an earthquake followed by a flood. The yellow noodles survived in an upside down clay pot underneath a thick layer of loess. Archeologist Houyuan Lu discovered the noodles and was able to take some photos. Analysis showed that the noodles with a length of ca. 1/2 meter and a diameter of 3 mm were produced from millet.

Utensils that are thought to have been used to make pasta were also found in the ruins of Pompeii, where other Chinese objects were found, the silk road having extended to Rome in 30 BC. Thus, we know the popular legend of Marco Polo bringing back pasta to Italy from China is absolutely false - though he certainly may have brought back an assortment of Chinese noodle recipes then unheard of in Europe with him. Note, however, that Chinese noodles before the age of industrialized food production were always used fresh, and they are comprised of one giant noodle mass through the cooking process because it is considered bad luck in China to cut noodles before serving them to eat.

Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing the first macaroni machine to America in 1789 when he returned home after serving as ambassador to France.
Mally

[mfgoode]

Originally Posted by garo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasta for some history on Pasta/Noodles.

If you want to know more about the late 20th century dark side of Italy read this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0865477248

Fo a more historical perspective read this:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...l/-/0684825007

Thank you Garo once again.
The reviews of both these books are not favourable by the readers and considered inaccurate.
An e.g. "Otherwise, Jones appears to be consciously writing an anti-travel book that does not flow very smoothly, and really shows the hyperbole and judgmental tendencies of an outsider who thinks he's been in the county long enough to understand it. (Jones is a British journalist who had lived in Italy for just four years.)"

My views were as I found Italy with the man/woman in the street. These people had a song in the heart, and simple fun loving people and one could find them everywhere not just in theatres.
My worldwide and ancient fraternity frowns upon discussions on politics and religion so I dont see this side of the 'moon' and neither do I care.
Mally

[garo]

The books I referred to were specifically in response to ET_'s post about the dark side. Mally I think it is unfair to say that the reviews for the books were unfavourable. The featured review for the Jones review actually gives it 5 stars and even the somewhat critical review gives it three. You quote the sentence critical of the book out of context! The Jones book will never be a masterpiece as it is a bit sloppy in places but is still a pretty good piece of journalism.

The Barzini book on the other hand is widely acknowledged to be a masterpiece. It is written by one of the most respected Italian journalists of the 20th century and perhaps the only criticism that can be levelled on the book is that it is a bit dated as it was written over 40 years ago. Most of my knowledgeable Italian friends who have spent any length of time outside Italy - which is essential to give one perspective - agree with the basic theses of the book. To quote a review:
"I believe this book has been more or less continuously in print for 36 years, and with good reason."

I wonder what Luigi thinks about the books....

[mfgoode]

Originally Posted by garo

Most of my knowledgeable Italian friends who have spent any length of time outside Italy - which is essential to give one perspective - agree with the basic theses of the book. To quote a review:
"I believe this book has been more or less continuously in print for 36 years, and with good reason."

I wonder what Luigi thinks about the books....

I presume that you yourself have never been to Italy your self and are depending on your knowledgeable friends and books to give you an idea of the blessed land of Italy. :surprised

No book, no matter how good the author is, can one match personal experiences.
In the last 75 years most of my family have visited Italy from my father down to my sons and they loved it, regardless of its political slants or what goes on in the dark alleys.

I agree I was hasty to pass judgement on books I have not personally read and depended on readers views, not even professional critics.
Had I personally read them it would have been a different matter
Mally

[garo]

Originally Posted by mfgoode

I presume that you yourself have never been to Italy your self and are depending on your knowledgeable friends and books to give you an idea of the blessed land of Italy. :surprised

Ah! The irony...

You presume incorrectly my friend. I am living in Italy.

[mfgoode]

Originally Posted by garo

Ah! The irony...

You presume incorrectly my friend. I am living in Italy.

:surprised
Millie Gratiae Signore! Millie Benissimo.
Mally

[OmbooHankvald]

And - to go completely offtopic for a moment - I've just returned home from a (nice) trip to Italy today. What a coincidence!

Things I noticed about Italians:

1) You have many, many big churches (at least in Rome)

2) Your ice-creams are good

3) Your metros are crowded

4) You don't know how to park cars!

[ET_]

Originally Posted by garo

The books I referred to were specifically in response to ET_'s post about the dark side.
[...]
I wonder what Luigi thinks about the books....

I must admit I never read it, though I did read "Berlusconi's shadow": Italy is a very complicated nation, as I told you before, maybe it grew up too rapidly, and people couldn't afford the change. We (still) don't have a global and nationwide perspective as a whole, but each of us has a need for balance and equity; we should only learn how to cope with it *together*.

Note that each time the "dark side" comes up, there is a single man who tries to steal people's benefits. I'm sure we will become the most democratic of all countries as soon as we learn how to isolate those singles bad ones, as soon as we appreciate the word Freedom as a whole, and not an advantage for singles.
We shall overcome because of our history, our past culture, our capacity to bear suffering with a smile on our faces.

Or, at least, I'm sure we will.

Luigi

[ET_]

Originally Posted by OmbooHankvald

And - to go completely offtopic for a moment - I've just returned home from a (nice) trip to Italy today. What a coincidence!

Things I noticed about Italians:

1) You have many, many big churches (at least in Rome)

2) Your ice-creams are good

3) Your metros are crowded

4) You don't know how to park cars!

French people used to say: "Italians measure distances in churches instead of using kilometers..."

As for your 4th point, you missed the correct preposition: we don't know WHERE to park our cars, so we leave them wherever we can

Next time try Bergamo: it's a lovely small city where people are educated, cars are well parked and children work hard...

Luigi

[mfgoode]

For all those using SKYPE 1.0 the new Skype 2.0 has now come out recently which combines voice mail and video viewing and is superior to others Like Yahoo, MSN etc. There are basic requirements for this system which are all outlined before the download. And yes it is all free.
Mally