NEVER STOP SMILING

November is here...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:53:00 +0000

Dear all,

it's a longtime I don't update the blog. I think it's time to do it then...
November is here, in St. Louis the leaves are still on the trees, they are turning their colors to yellow, red, orange. It's quite a nice spectacle. The temperature are starting to fall down too, less than 2 weeks ago it was around 20-25 C, now they are surely lower... well, normal, since we are in the middle of Autumn...
Ok, so, here are some recent pictures, I hope you like them.

See you soon, I hope I can update this blog more often.

With Katie at the wineries

Halloween: a Roman senator...

Halloween: me dressed as a Roman Senator, and Ali dressed as a rapper...

A summer between Italy and England

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:09:00 +0000

After my sister wedding (see previous post), me and Katie decided to tavel for a week around Italy. We spent one day in Venice and the day after we went to Tuscany, in Versilia (the north of Tuscany), where we spent the rest of the week between sea, cities and landscapes...
After coming back to Como and spending some time with my parents, we went back to England.
Some pictures are shown in the following part.
Well, what to say? No words can describe this Summer, if not the fact that was surely the best Summer of my life...

In Rye (England)
The Abbey of Battle (England)
Katie over the Grand Canal
In Venice
The Grand Canal in Venice
A pizza in Tuscany
In Lerici
In Marina di Carrara
In Marina di Carrara 2
In Manarola
In Monterosso

In Cinque Terre on the Love Way
In Lucca
In Pisa
Katie in Como

In Eastbourne...trying to look like a Scot
At the Twickenham stadium for the rugby game
England vs. Wales
The gates of Twickenham
Me with my father and my mother
Katie with my father and my mother

Soundtrack: For once in my life (M. Buble')

Roberta and Ivan wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 22:41:00 +0000

Dear all,

on the 21st of July my sister got married...yes, my little sister Roberta is now no more only my sister, but also the wife of Ivan...I'm so happy for them...even though this makes me feel sooooooooo old...
Well, in these pictures you can see some moments of that day (I was the best man). An unforgettable day for all of us...

My father and my sister
Me reading a lecture
Ivan and Robi concentrated in reading
During the mass
Happiness in their faces...
The newlyweds!!!
Katie and my mother
Katie
Me with my brother-in-law Ivan
Me and Katie

Soundtrack: Amore al terzo piano (OttoOhm)

AC Milan...7 times European Champion!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 02:33:00 +0000

Maldini and the 7th European Cup!!!

Kaka' and Inzaghi with the European Cup!!!

Dear all,

this comes with a certain delay (3 weeks?) but I couldn't avoid writing it...and actually a friend of mine write me this post, so I have to publish it!!! Great, European Champions!!!

Champions League Final – AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC (by Stefano)

On 23rd May, at the Athens Stadium, took place the Champions League Final between AC Milan and Liverpool FC.
The season for the AC Milan started very badly this year, with a penalization and no chance to get any score...
In the meantime, Inter FC, the opposite soccer team of Milan, won the national championship and Milan supporters were very upset.
But AC Milan was admitted to the Champions League and slowly, match after match, it got the Final versus Liverpool FC.
For 45 minutes, no significant actions took place, but suddenly Inzaghi scored with a lucky move. In the second half of the match, AC Milan dominated. Inzaghi scored again (82 min.) thanks to a wonderful pass made by Kaka' (top scorer of the entire tournament); Liverpool scored at the end with Kuyt (89 min). The last minutes ran very slowly; this year it had already occurred that Milan lost a match in the last minute... but not this time!!!
This is the seventh Champion Cup in the club history!!!

James Morrison in concert

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:09:00 +0000

April 3rd, at Blueberry Hill. More or less 500 persons to watch the concert of James Morrison...Now, in America he's known, but not as much as in Europe and in UK specially. So, it was a unique opportunity to watch his concert with so few people and also talk a bit with him, while signing the CDs.
For those of you who don't know him, he's a young British singer, and he published last year his first album, "Undiscovered". An amazing talent as musicist and a really warm voice makes him one of my favourite singers and, in my opinion, one of the most promising singers in the next years. I strongly suggest you to check his music...

James Morrison / 1
James Morrison / 2
James Morrison signing the CDs

Soundtrack: Undiscovered (J. Morrison)

A wonderful time in Europe...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:50:00 +0000

During the Spring Break I went to Europe to visit Katie and my family. It was a wonderful trip, unfortunately too short...
Well, I arrived in London the 9th of March, and I went to Katie's home, in Eastbourne. That's a lovely city on the English Channel. Well, I think by far that was my best holyday ever, for many reason, but specially because I spent time with her in England. It was an amazing time, unfortunately the words are not enough to describe it...

Me in Eastbourne
With Katie at the top of the Bodium Castle

On Sunday 11th, together with Katie we flew to Italy and to Como, my home town. There my family was waiting for me, with my mother almost (ok, problably not almost...) crying and my father, my sister and Ivan there at the airport. It's amazing to come back home from time to time, and it was even better because it was the first time for Katie in Italy. Unfortunately 3 days passed fast...

Katie in Brunate
Me and Katie in Brunate
With my parents
With Robi and Ivan

After that we came back to England, and we spent the rest of the holydays between Eastbourne and Brighton. Not only, but Katie realized also one of my dreams: to see a lighthouse live, and the scenario was incredible: a riff called "The Seven Sisters", between Brighton and Eastbourne, one of the best place I've ever seen.

Well, that was absolutely an amazing holyday period...and the main reason for that was Katie (I love you...)

Me and Katie in a club in Brighton
Me in Brighton
In Brighton
Me and Katie
The Seven Sisters

Soundtrack: You give me something (J. Morrison)

Bravo Ennio!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:46:00 +0000

Ennio Morricone...a name which is a legend in the movie history, and from today finally awarded with the most important award for a composer like him, the Honorary Academy Award (Lifetime Achievement Award) "for his magnificent and multifaceted contributions to the art of film music"! Just as some of the biggest movie persons, such as Federico Fellini, he was nominated many times for the Oscar, but he never won.
For those who don't know Morricone, he's in my opinion the best movie composer ever in the history, he wrote wonderful soundtracks for famous movies. Most of the people in America know him as the author of the soundtrack of the "Spaghetti western" movies, such as "A fistful of dollars", "For a few dollars more", "The bad, the good and the ugly", "Once upon a time in the West". But Morricone composed magnificent soundtrack for many other movies, and among my favourites soundtracks thare are "The Mission", "Once upon a time in America", "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso", "The legend of 900", "The Untouchables", "Kill Bill", "Secret of the Sahara", and many other.
In other words, Morricone deserves this award, and I am so happy, and proud, he won it.
Bravo Ennio!!!

PS: watch the ceremony clicking on these links

The Complete Ennio Morricone's Award Ceremony 2007

Ennio Morricone's speech

Soundtrack: Deborah's Theme-Amapola (Ennio Morricone)

Commento molto interessante...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:09:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti,

ho trovato questo commento molto interessante sul sito di Repubblica, a firma Michele Serra. Siccome l'ho trovato molto adatto, lo pubblico anche sul mio blog...

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I cavalieri dell'Ideale di M. Serra (da Repubblica.it)

SI CAPISCE, uno ha tutto il diritto di coltivare i suoi ideali integerrimi. E di sentirsi eletto dal popolo lavoratore anche se è stato spedito in Senato da una segreteria di partito. Uno ha tutto il diritto di rivendicare purezza e coerenza, così non si sporca la giacchetta in quel merdaio di compromessi e patteggiamenti che è la politica. Però, allora, deve avere l'onestà morale di non fare parte di alcuna coalizione di governo. E deve dirlo prima, non dopo. Deve farci la gentilezza di avvertirci prima, a noi pirla che abbiamo votato per una coalizione ben sapendo che dentro c'erano anche i baciapile, anche i moderatissimi, anche gli inciucisti. A noi coglioni che di basi americane non ne vorremmo mezza, ma sappiamo che se governano gli altri di basi americane ne avremo il triplo.

Invece no: questi duri e puri se ne strafottono della nostra confusione e della nostra fatica. Prima salgono sulla barca della maggioranza, poi tirano fuori dal taschino il loro cavaturaccioli tutto d'oro e fanno un bel buco nello scafo, per meglio onorare la loro suprema coerenza e la nostra suprema imbecillità. Un bell'applauso ai Cavalieri dell'Ideale: tanto, se tornano Berlusconi e Calderoli, per loro cosa cambia? Rimarranno sul loro cavallo bianco con la chioma al vento.

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Bello, no? Io lo sottoscrivo...e voi?

Simone

Senza parole...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:33:00 +0000

Ma io dico...5 anni ad aspettare di sbarazzarsi di un governo per il quale ovunque nel mondo ci irridevano, e poi non si capisce che bisogna stare saldi e far vedere che si e' capaci di governare?
Non so come descrivere ora il mio stato d'animo dopo il voto di oggi al Senato sulla politica estera, ma penso che una parola tra il deluso e l'arrabbiato (per non dire di peggio) sia appropriata...Davvero, senza parole...E' possibile che ogni volta che bisogna mostrare di essere compatti, ci si dimostra invece piu' disuniti che mai? E la cosa tragica e' che probabilmente lo si e'...La differenza tra Centrodestra e Centrosinistra e' che, mentre il Centrodestra viveva sotto il ricatto della maggioranza (Berlusconi), il Centrosinistra vive sotto il ricatto delle minoranze (PRC,Comunisti italiani,UDEUR, etc.). Il che certo non gioca a favore di un governo stabile...
Ora, se si va di nuovo al voto, come prospettato, non mi stupirei. Certo, si darebbe l'idea che non si ha un governo stabile, e soprattutto in questo momento di leggera rispresa non ci vuole. Ma, ancora peggio, si darebbe il Governo di nuovo in mano a Berlusconi, quasi sicuramente. E questo e' un momento in cui non ci si puo' permettere cio', i pochi sforzi fatti per sistemare la situazione verrebbero vanificati nel giro di pochi mesi, con atti di demagogia pura quali eliminazione di tasse, reintroduzione di privilegi, etc. etc.
E questo, Prodi e soci lo sanno bene...speriamo che la notte porti consiglio...anche se non bastera' una notte per ridare forza a questo Governo o a questa Maggioranza...questo e' purtroppo solo l'inizio della notte...una notte che potrebbe essere molto lunga...

Soundtrack: Sogna ragazzo, sogna (R. Vecchioni)

New official website / Nuovo sito ufficiale

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 02:16:00 +0000

Dear all,

I just upload my new website, where I modified completely the layout and also update my information. When you have some free time, please take a look (the address is http://ese.wustl.edu/~ferrara/ or you can find the link directly on the side bar) and send me any comments and feedback about it. I would appreciate.

Carissimi,

ho appena preparato la nuova versione del mio sito ufficiale. Appena potete, andate a visitarlo e fatemi sapere cosa ne pensate. L'indirizzo e' http://ese.wustl.edu/~ferrara/ (oppure potete cliccare sul link presente nella barra laterale). Grazie mille!

Simone

The end of the paper era?

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:28:00 +0000

I was reading today that the Editor of the "New York Times" confessed in an interview that probably, in 5 years, this newspaper (one of the most known in the world) will be published only on line.
Apparently, this is not so surprising, if you think that many persons already read the news mostly via web. This is due, in my opinion, to many factors, first to the simplicity in accessing internet, second to the possibility to have a complete look of the news in a quick time, and third to the "lightness" of the news (not too dispersive when you read them).
But I think that this can be the first step to what I consider is the real advantage for all of us: the freedom of getting informed. In other words, if we have the possibility to read any news form any newspaper just accessing the web, and eventually compare them, we can really choose how to get informed, and how to understand the facts which happen around us. Only many different points of view can help us in discerning what is the "truth" and what is not or, at least, in creating a personal opinion.
So, it's probably starting a real new era of the information...with the disappointment of the paper's lovers....

Jamiextraordinary

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:01:00 +0000

Jamie Cullum and his piano

Tuesady (26th September) night I went to "The Pageant", in the Loop, to see one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful and amazing music performance I've ever seen in my life: the concert of Jamie Cullum. Do you know him? Have you ever heard about his music? Well, if not...it's better if you "fix" your problem as soon as possible! He's one of my favourite singers, but it was the first time I saw him playing live. And it was a wonderful experience. He's an eclectic young (27 years old) british singer, and, besides his extraordinary music, what impressed me was his energy on the stage and his ability to span all the different kinds of music with a simplicity which seems unreal. Yesterday night he played jazz, blues, samba (yes, samba too...) giving the idea that he was able to adapt all of these genres to his own particular style. And what you can see and feel when you attend one of his performances is that he LOVES to play music, he does enjoy to change rythms, styles, instruments (he played piano, obviously, and in a magic and astonishing way, guitar, drums, etc). And he is also a perfect showman, knowing how to entertain the spectators and how to involve people in his show. It was hilarious, for example, when he made joke of one of the most recent popular songs, "Don't cha", playing it just by beating with his fingers the upper part of his piano and adapting some phrases of the song to his person, or when he reminded the first time he tried the "White Castel" here in St.Louis.

So, have you ever fought with the music? Believe me, listen to Jamie Cullum, and you will make peace with it again...

Jamie Cullum

Soundtrack: High and dry (J. Cullum)

My summer

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 06:04:00 +0000

Hi all!!!

As promised, I'm posting the pictures of my summer, spent mostly in Italy!!! It's a long period that I'm not writing, but since I'm back in STL I didin't have time to post anything. So, I think the best way to show pictures and comments is to divide them in a chronological way. Let's start...

1) Visiting Versilia (Tuscany) and Cinque Terre (Liguria)

The first part of my vacation, after I spent some days in Como (my home town) and, unfortunately, after I went to the funeral of my grandmother in the Southern of Italy, was in Northern Tuscany and in this wonderful place called "Cinque Terre". It was my desire to visit those zones, and my parents gave me this gift...Many many thanks (Grazieeeee) ;).
What can I say about this part of Italy? Just that is wonderful, it'a one of the most amazing places I've ever seen, there is everything : fun, sea, mountains, coasts, astonishing landscapes, culture...Whatever you're looking for, you can find it there...The pictures explain better what I mean...

In Lerici with my family (my mother Angelina, me, my sister Roby and my father Salvatore)

With Ivan (my future brother-in-law)

Lerici

Drinking a cocktail in Forte dei Marmi (Versilia)

Portovenere

Portovenere: sea and sky

A window in Portovenere Rock

La via dell'amore (The Love Way)

With my sister in "La via dell'amore" (Cinque Terre)

Waiting for the food (me, Ivan, Roby and my mother)

2) In the Southern of Italy

The second part of my holydays was spent in the Southern of Italy, precisely in a small town called Agropoli. There I had a lot of fun (friends, my cousins, my parents) and I visited many places. In particular, I went with my family to this wonderful and world-famous island called Capri. You can guess from the following pictures why it's so famous...

With my sister

With my father, on the boat going to Capri

Roby and Ivan on a terrace in Capri

My mother in Capri

I faraglioni (world-famous rocks)

Me with "I faraglioni" on the background

With Ivan in front of an ice cream mini-store

The sea...

The best pizza ever: Fabiola's (a friend of mine) mother preparing it...

Me eating that pizza...

...and preparing my own pizza (I'm italian, I'm supposed to know how to do a pizza...)

And this is the result : my pizza! (Does it look nice?)

3) The way back (aka Odyssey...)

And finally the way back...and, as usual, it was another Odyssey...I had to take a flight from Rome to Dusseldorf, but since the weather in Rome was bad, the take off was delayed, and then I missed the connection in Dusseldorf...So? They reschedule my flight with an Air France flight from Paris. So, I took the airplane from Dusseldrof to Paris, and then from Paris to New York. Arrived in New York, it was too late to take a connection for St. Louis. So, I called my friend Sheila, who was there in NYC at her boyfriend's house and she offered me to stay with them (thanks again for everyhting). I was able to buy a ticket on Sunday (two day after my arrival in NY) and then I stayed with them on Saturday too. It was nice, we went to visit the Metropolitan Museum (really nice Museum, but too big...) and then in the night we went out for a Sheila's friend birthday party. Then, Sunday, time to go back to STL...via Washington DC...In total 5 flights...not so bad, isn't? ;)

The skyline of NY from the apartment...

Me on the balcony

Sheila at her friend's birthday party

Soundtrack of my summer : Gia' ti guarda Alice (T. Ferro)

Farewell, Chicago and visit in UK

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 14:44:00 +0000

On July 15th I left St. Louis to go back home for a vacation period. The night before I decided to have a farewell party at Bar Louie with all my friends. It was nice, but somehow sad...it's always hard to leave all your friends...

Lisa, me, Sheila and Gigi

Me and Brecht

Vicky and me

Lisa, Sheila, Vicky, me and Luca

Then, the 15th I went to Chicago to visit my friend Nick. It was a nice visit, even if I was a bit tired, but I enjoyed the time over there. They (Nick and his family) were really nice to me.

In Chicago, at the top of the Hancock Tower

On Sunday, I left for London. There, I met with my friend Gin and we went for a quick visit around London. The weather was amazing, and the city is truly nice, even if too big...

In London

In London, with the Big Ben

In the night, I went to Bath, where I met my friend Ronnie, and we stayed at her sister's place that night. Then, the day after, we left for Cardiff after having visited Bath (really nice town, with Roman Baths and narrow streets).

In Bath

So, on Tuesday we arrived in Cardiff, and in the night we went out with Ronnie's friends to eat in a really quiet place just outside the city. After that, we went to the Cardiff Bay for a drink. I have to say that Cardiff is a really lovely city, I suggest you to visit it.

In Cardiff

Finally, on Wednesday I left for London, where I met with my friend Zharina. We visited the Modern Tate Gallery and, in the night, I took the airplane for coming back to Italy.

Soundtrack : Wish you were here (Pink Floyd)

CAMPIONI DEL MONDO !!! (Live from St. Louis)

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:37:00 +0000

Ciao a tutti!!!

Ed ecco finalmente la cronaca, con foto, della vittoria del Campionato del Mondo vissuto a St. Louis.
Come alcuni di voi sanno, sono andato insieme ad altri connazionali (e non solo) a vedere la Finale al Bar Italia (ebbene sì, Bar Italia...anche se, come potrete immaginare, non è gestito da italiani...ma fa niente). Dopo esserci dipinti (nel bagno delle donne, eh eh) volti, braccia, mani, ci siamo seduti a vedere la partita, urlando a squarciagola inni, canti e nomi dei giocatori.

Pronti alle partita ... (da sx a dx: Gigi, Scott, Lisa, io, Luca, Adriana, Vicky)

Pronti alla partita 2... (da sx a dx: Vicky, io, Sheila)

Ovviamente, al gol di Zidane (rigore inesistente, poi parlano degli italiani che si tuffano...mais non, mais non, mais non) l'atmosfera si è rattristata, ma c'era nell'aria qualcosa di speciale quel giorno, e quindi...VAII RAGAZZI, ANDIAMO A VINCERE!!! Poi, dal nulla, a un certo punto (e qui Frengo continuerebbe col suo "a un punto certo, a un certo certo, punto punto") dal mezzo dell'area appare la testa di Materazzi che spedisce in rete la palla della gioia!!! 1-1, ed ora a noi. In realtà, la partita è proseguita tra sussulti e pericoli (San Buffon ci ha salvato su Zizou...) fino all'episodio che è poi divenuto argomento di dibattiti internazionali: la testata di Zidane...Ora, pare che Materazzi abbia chiesto a Zidane se volesse andare a giocare nell'Inter, altri dicono che gli abbia chiesto lo shampoo per il dopo partita... Beh, qualsiasi cosa sia successa, questa è la maglietta di Materazzi dopo la partita...

La maglietta di Materazzi a fine partita...

Ed infine, i calci di rigore. NOOOOOOOOOO, abbiamo sempre perso ai calci di rigore, eccetto una volta, agli Europei del 2000, vinti poi dalla Francia contro di noi...Vuoi vedere che la dea della vendetta calcistica ci abbia riservato la vendetta più gustosa e succulenta? Ebbene sì, neanche un errore dal dischetto...e siamo CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!!!

Campioni del mondo!!!

Beh, non resta altro che festeggiare, tra urla, foto, stromabazzate, caroselli in macchina (peraltro bellissimi, gli ammmericani non li capiscono...però partecipano) e spumante a go go. Che emozioni, ragazzi, CAMPIONI DEL MONDO. Anche a St. Louis!

Con Sheila

Il carosello (ok, 4 macchine, non sarà stato come in Italia, ma ci si può accontentare, no?)

Con Vicky

Foto di gruppo

Soundtrack : Feels just like it should (Jamiroquai)

CAMPIONI DEL MONDO !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:50:00 +0000

CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!
CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!
CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!
CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!

4 times...it sounds sooooooooooo nice!!!

Scream, Cannavaro : we are the Champions!!!

Wow, it's 2 days that the we won the Final, but I still don't believe it. And that's the funny thing. That I didn't play, as all of the italians, but we all feel World Champions. That's the wonderful thing of football (sorry, but I don't like the word soccer...), you participate with your team and you feel the same feelings they feel. It's so absurd...and so unbelievable!

I went to watch the match with many friends of mine, and the emotion of winning a World Cup when you are outside your country is somehow stronger, because you feel it more inside. I cannot describe it. Next days I'll put some more pictures and comments, for the moment watch these...

We won it...

And this is for my french friends...;)

Soundtrack : We are the champions (Queen)

E finalmente…le vacanze estive!

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 22:39:00 +0000

And finally…summer holydays!

Carissimi,

come alcuni di voi ormai già sanno, il 15 Luglio parto da St. Louis per passare le vacanze estive in Italia (e in parte, anche in Europa).

Questo il calendario:

15 Luglio : partenza da St. Louis per Chicago
16 Luglio : dopo un giorno a Chicago dal mio amico Nick, partenza per Londra
17 Luglio - 19 Luglio : a Londra, Bath e Cardiff con Ronnie
19 Luglio : arrivo a Milano
20 Luglio - 30 Luglio : a Como e dintorni
31 Luglio – 6 Agosto : a Marina di Carrara (e dintorni) con i miei, mia sorella e il suo ragazzo
7 Agosto – 25 Agosto : da mia nonna in provincia di Salerno
25 Agosto : ritorno a St. Louis via Roma – Francoforte – NewYork - Chicago

Spero di vedere parecchi di voi in questo periodo, anzi, se volete, fatemi sapere quando siete liberi. Magari si riesce ad organizzare qualcosa…

Ciaoooo

Simone

(English version)

For non italian speakers,

on July 15th i’ll leave St. Louis for holydays.

This is the calendar:

July 15th : leaving St. Louis to Chicago
July 16th : after spending a day at my friend Nick’s place, I’ll leave to London
July 17th – July 19th : staying in London, Bath and Cardiff with my friend Ronnie
July 19th : arrive in Milano
July 20th – July 30th : in Como, at my place, and around it…
July 31st – August 6th : with my family in Marina di Carrara (Tuscany)
August 7th – August 25th : at my grandma’s place close to Salerno (South of Italy)
August 25th : coming back to St. Louis via Rome - Frankfurt - New York – Chicago

See you on line!!!

Ciao,

Simone

Soundtrack : Roses from my friends (B. Harper)

Weekend in Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 04:38:00 +0000

Last weekend (9th-12th June) I went, with Murat (roommate and labmate) and Satya (labmate) to Chicago for spending the weekend. The official reason was the wedding of one of our labmates, Nannan, but we use the opportunity to stay some days in that city. It was my first time there, since I'm the only one in the lab who came directly to St.Louis without studying at UIC (University of Illinois in Chicago), but finally I had the possibility to visit it.

Driving to Chicago

Chicago is a really nice city. If you've ever been in New York, Chicago has maybe 1/10 of the skysrapers of New York, but it looks like there are more. I think the reason is that the city is more compact than NYC, and everything is concentrated in a relatively small area in downtown. One thing: even if you go during summertime to Chicago, don't forget to bring some heavy clothes...The equation summer = warm in Chicago doesn't work always...
By the way, the 10th of June was also my birthday...and I celebrated it in some locals with Murat and his turkish friends. It was really funny. And of course, thanks to everyone sent me wishes (and also to those who forgot it, dont worry...)

Millennium Park

In front of the Chicago Tribune

Over the Chicago river

The Michigan Lake

On Sunday 11th there was the wedding of Nannan (with Ben). It was a really nice cermony, followed by a nice lunch and some dance.

The wedding cake

With the groom and the bride

A nice weekend. I'm sure I'll go back again to enjoy more that city...

Chicago skyline

Soundtrack : High and dry (J. Cullum)

Katy and the wineries

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 07:32:00 +0000

Last weekend (the Memorial Day weekend) I went with some of my friends to a wonderful place. I still don't really know which is the name of this region, the only thing I know is that is the Missouri wineries region (around 50 miles east of St. Louis). I have to be sincere, I didn't expect a place like this in Missouri. And instead...it reminded me some places in Italy... It's a wonderful place to relax and have fun with your friends. Besides, there is a very nice trail for biking, called Katy trail.

Katy trail

The name is due to the fact that it was the old railroad for the trains going from St. Louis to Texas through Kansas (Kansas--> Ka, Texas --> Ty). Nowdays, this trail is a State Park that goes from St. Charles to (almost) Kansas City. The nature and the peace you can see and find there deserves to be experienced.
We stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast in the little town of Marthasville, on a hill dominating all the meadows around it.

Bed & breakfast

A sunset on the Missouri river

Me biking on the Katy trail

We biked every day, and the nice thing is that, after all the efforts, you can sit down in some nice winery enjoying a glass of wine, talking with your friends, with some live music in the background.
It was a wonderful weekend, and I suggest you to go there, if you have the possibility. It's really worth...just look at the pictures to find a proof...

Landscape

Vineyards

Telegraph road

The Missouri river and the nature

Soundtrack : Telegraph road (Dire Straits)

Ma che vittoria è questa?

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 05:27:00 +0000

Non ci credo. Non ci voglio credere. Sembra che l'incubo non voglia finire... 5 anni del tragico Governo Berlusconi e c'è ancora esattamente metà Paese che crede a quello che promette e lo vota? Ma come è possibile? Ma cosa doveva accadere in Italia per capire che è tempo di cambiare?

E l'Unione? Festeggia per la vittoria. Ma che vittoria è questa? Ok, 60 deputati in più, ma i senatori? Vero, Berlusconi ha perso, ma purtroppo Prodi non ha vinto (a proposito, leggete l'articolo di M. Giannini "Il crepuscolo del Cavaliere" su "La Repubblica"). Ed in realtà, chi davvero non ha vinto è stata l'Italia. Un'occasione per dare speranza al Paese non capita spesso, ed è un peccato mortale lasciarsela sfuggire...

Deluso? Sì, perchè credevo che gli italiani avessero imparato la lezione, e che finalmente volessero voltare pagina. Forse confidavo troppo nell'intelligenza degli italiani...

For non italian people: sorry guys, I'm really sorry for the result in Italy. You know what I expected, and it was exactly what you expected : firing Berlusconi. Actually it seems that he was fired, but I don't know if it was enough for getting rid of him. Let's hope...

Soundtrack : Maybe tomorrow (Stereophonics)

Il Signor Malaussène e il Signor Berlusconi

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 07:33:00 +0000

Note for non italian people: next April 9th (and 10th) in Italy there will be the elections for the new Parliament and the new Prime Minister. Now, my position is for the Left (i.e. Prodi), and in this post I'm just writing my impressions about the electoral campaign in Italy, where Berlusconi is trying to say to all the italians that Italy is perfect, there is no crisis and that we are economically healthy...Now, i think you know the "real" situation...So, sorry if I write this post just in italian, but it's intended for italians.

Carissimi,

per coloro di voi che non lo sapessero, il Signor Malaussène è un personaggio di successo creato dalla fantasia dello scrittore francese Daniel Pennac, e protagonista di quasi tutti i suoi libri (che peraltro vi suggerisco vivamente…). Ebbene, la professione di questo signore è quella del capro espiatorio. Sì, avete capito bene: per lavoro, si assume le responsabilità di tutto ciò che di negativo possa accadere.

Ora, in questi giorni mi è capitato di sentire più e più volte, grazie ad internet ed alla possibilità di guardare le trasmissioni politiche che stanno letteralmente “sommergendo” l’Italia, il Presidente dei Presidenti, colui sotto la cui guida l’Italia è stata traghettata in questi ultimi 5 anni. Ed a suo dire, in maniera eccellente…Il signor Berlusconi, poverino, è sotto accusa. I comunisti, di cui l’Italia è un pericoloso covo (si pensi che circa l’85 % dei giornali italiani, cioè quelli che non appartengono al gruppo editoriale del signor B., sono “chiaramente” comunisti…), lo attaccano, perché “evidentemente” lo odiano, dicendo che l’Italia è un paese allo sfascio, che la crescita economica è ferma, che la credibilità internazionale è perduta. Ma come? Che bugiardi, ribaltano la realtà, d’altronde l’hanno sempre fatto, fa parte della loro cultura…Vero, povero signor B., ce l’hanno tutti con lei. Ma io forse, e con umiltà le rivolgo del lei, una soluzione ce l’ho. Dopo aver svolto praticamente tutti i possibili lavori esistenti in questo mondo (ricordo ancora quando, con l’elmetto in testa si è definito “Presidente operaio”, che meraviglia…) perché non prova a seguire l’orma del Signor Malaussène? Potrebbe anche lei svolgere il lavoro di capro espiatorio, d’altronde non le manca nessun requisito: nemici in numero infinito, una serie infinita di cause collaterali che le hanno impedito di realizzare il suo miracolo economico (crisi internazionali, guerre, carestie, nubifragi, peste e quant’altro…) e un tempo troppo breve per poter programmare bene i suoi piani. Eppure forse qualcosa le manca…Eh sì, perché per fare il capro espiatorio dovrebbe ammettere prima che forse la situazione in Italia non è delle migliori, che effettivamente hanno ragione quelli del Centro-Sinistra, o semplicemente tutta quella popolazione che non riesce ad arrivare a fine mese…Ma no, lei non lo può ammettere. Non lo vuole ammettere. Il Paese è in una situazione ottima, brillante, non siamo messi peggio di altri paesi (come dire, mal comune, mezzo gaudio…), siamo all’inizio della ripresa (perché, ci eravamo fermati?), siamo al record di numero di lavoratori (per metà anno, l’altra metà no dato che molti di questi lavorano ad intermittenza…), le opere pubbliche sono state inaugurate in numero eccezionale (peraltro, più e più volte…), gli italiani hanno più di un telefonino a testa (ecco dove spendono i soldi…), insomma, un mondo a tinte rosee, un po’ come quello delle pubblicità della Mulino Bianco di una volta.

Beh, a volte mi immagino una situazione molto comica. Ipotizziamo che lei, per un qualche malaugurato motivo, vincesse davvero queste elezioni. Il giorno dopo, svegliandosi, cosa penserebbe? Non lo so, ma questo è quello che mi immagino. La immagino svegliarsi l’11 Aprile, guardarsi allo specchio, con un volto a metà tra il sorpreso ed il preoccupato, e chiedersi “Ed ora? Che cavolo faccio? Ho detto che tutto era perfetto, ho promesso che tutto era in ordine, che le cose andavano bene…Ed ora? Cavolo, come faccio adesso a risolvere davvero questi problemi? Dove li prendo i soldi? E chi lo dice agli italiani che io lo affermavo solo perché ero convinto di perdere…Cavolo, quelli mi hanno creduto davvero…”.

Bene, ora, con la speranza che quest’ultimo pensiero sia solo frutto della mia immaginazione, spero che chi di voi ha la possibilità di andare a votare il 9 e il 10 Aprile prima di tutto ci vada, secondo che quando entri nella cabina elettorale si passi la mano sul cuore, sul portafogli e sulla coscienza e voti per il bene del Paese. Io credo che questo bene, al momento, sia solo una svolta completa, cioè l’Unione. D’altronde, il 25 Aprile è già la Festa della Liberazione. Non sarebbe bello averne un’altra nello stesso mese, una quindicina di giorni prima? Pensateci…

Un saluto,

Simone

Vignetta di Staino

Soundtrack : Change the world (E. Clapton)

New York, the Capital of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 05:12:00 +0000

Yes, New York…How many times I heard Frank Sinatra singing “…I wanna wake up in a city that doesn’t sleep” and I dreamt to be in New York…And finally, I went there last weekend (actually from the 10th to the 15th of March) for a short trip with Murat (my roommate) and Susan (a Dutch girl friend of us).

Well, what can I say about New York that anyone already said? New York is what for the Roman Empire was Rome, the Capital of the World. You cannot feel stranger in that city, because it belongs to everyone.

And it’s also for this reason that what happens there the 9/11 touched everyone so deeply, and I can assure that it’s still like this even now. I went to Ground Zero, I stayed there for a long time, looking at the site, at the names of people who lost their life that day, and I felt the same way I felt that day…hollow, and without any power. I felt like I don’t do enough for this world, I’m still trying to understand which is my “mission” and why I’m doing what I’m doing, if it can help at least someone to improve his life. And in that site, all those thoughts lived my mind…

Anyway, New York is a wonderful and incredibly enjoyable city. Skyscrapers dominating over narrow streets, water surrounding and defining the contours of the Boroughs, a Statue symbol of that Freedom that every person in the world should have.

One of the thing I missed was running in some places, like Central Park or the seaside. I would like to do it, and maybe one day I’ll do it, maybe for the New York City Marathon…Let’s see.

I don’t know how to narrate New York if not through pictures. So, in the following part you can see some pictures I took. I hope you’ll enjoy them with me…

The Broadway Theatre

Me, Murat and Susan in Times Square

Full moon "looking" at Times Square

A part of the victims list of 9/11 attack

The Statue of Liberty

Me with the Brooklyn Bridge on the background

The Rockfeller Center

The Brooklyn Bridge at night

"Unique Forms of Continuity in Space", U. Boccioni, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

"Starry night", V. Van Gogh, Musem of Modern Art (MoMA)

Times Square as seen from the Empire State Building

Manhattan Midtown as seen from Central Park

The New York Stock Exchange

The Westin New York Hotel

Soundtrack : Follow through (G. De Graw)

To all the women (A tutte le donne) ...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 04:38:00 +0000

To all the women,

to my mother, who gave me my life
to my sister, who makes me proud to be her brother
to the girls I loved, for the love, the passion and the unforgettable moments they gave me
to all the women I know, because a world without you would be just useless.
To all of you,

HAVE A WONDERFUL WOMEN'S DAY !

A tutte le donne,

a mia madre, che mi ha regalato la vita
a mia sorella, che mi rende fiero di essere suo fratello
alle ragazze che ho amato, per l'amore, la passione e gli indimenticabili momenti che mi hanno donato
a tutte le donne che conosco, perchè un mondo senza di voi sarebbe semplicemente senza significato
A tutte voi,

UNA FANTASTICA FESTA DELLE DONNE !

Simone

Soundtrack : La vie en rose (E. Piaf)

E' il tuo giorno, sorellina !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:44:00 +0000

Robi, questo giorno è tutto tuo! Hai sudato tanto per arrivarci, hai studiato parecchio, a volte ti sei scoraggiata, ma alla fine ce l'hai fatta, e oggi ti laurei.

Wow, non immagini quanto sono orgoglioso di te! La mia piccola Robi, quella dolcissima ragazza che ho avuto la fortuna di avere in dono come sorella...

E mi ricordo quando, entrambi bambini, ci sedevamo sul divano, tu, piccolina e con quegli occhioni color castagna, ed insieme guardavamo la televisione, giocavamo insieme ai nostri giochi in scatola preferiti, ogni tanto litigavamo, ma è normale, no? Altrimenti che fratelli si sarebbe?

Poi siamo cresciuti, insieme, prima con le estati dalla nonna ( ti ricordi? Andavamo al mare quasi ogni giorno, giravamo per il paese, wow, che bei momenti…) poi in cortile con i nostri amici. Ed intanto entrambi crescevamo, ognuno con le proprie esperienze, ogni tanto con qualche litigio, ma conservando sempre quell’affetto che ci teneva uniti, seppure è normale che passassimo meno tempo insieme.

Ed infine, ti ho riscoperta donna, ti ho riscoperto sorella, ho scoperto di avere la sorella più fantastica che potessi desiderare.

E purtroppo, in questo giorno così speciale per te, non posso essere al tuo fianco perché un Oceano ci separa…Ma nessun Mare, nessuna Terra, neppure la più vasta, può impedire alla mia anima di essere lì al tuo fianco. Ti penso sempre, sei sempre nel mio cuore, una parte di me è fatta anche di te.

Ed allora…Brava Robi, brava Sorellina!

Ti voglio un’infinità di bene!

Il tuo fratellone,

Simone

Ps for those of you who don't understand italian: my sister will graduate today, so if you want to leave a comment for her, please leave it. Thanks!

Soundtrack : Il cammino dell'età (G. D'Alessio)

How far you are from home...

noreply@blogger.com (Simone) — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 04:29:00 +0000

Yesterday, while I was in my room, I was listening to one of Enya’s songs, “May it be” (I think it was in the soundtrack of “The Lord of the Rings”). It’s a wonderful song, you should try to listen to it, and the lyrics are even better

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be as darkness falls
Your heart will be true
YOU WALK A LONELY ROAD
OH! HOW FAR YOU ARE FROM HOME

…

May it be the shadows call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
WHEN THE NIGHT IS OVERCOME
YOU MAY RISE TO FIND THE SUN

This song reflects perfectly my current feelings…I feel far from home, it’s natural at the beginning of a new period, it’s hard to overcome these feelings, but many persons are helping me in this “journey”. It’s true, I’m far from my home, from the people I love, and I miss them so much. But I have to be strong, to continue and to pursue my street. I know, all of them are close to me, in a way or in another, and I thank them for this. I feel them, but sometimes you would like to have them by your side, close to you. It’s difficult, but I have to continue in “walking a lonely road” and trying “to rise to find the sun”…

Soundtrack : May it be (Enya)