MetaFilter posts tagged with France and italy

Love Lego? Love Rugby?

Scottie_Bob — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:01:28 -0800

Ever wanted to see rugby highlights animated in lego? Of course you have! The Autumn Rugby Internationals finished a few weeks ago, with England famously upsetting the odds in their win over New Zealand, adding to their total of only seven wins in 35 occasions, while both Wales and Scotland slumped home with zero wins over Southern Hemisphere opposition. If you want to watch the highlights, there are plenty online. But perhaps the best of the bunch is this one here. Animated by Graham Love, he's done a bunch of stuff with lego and famous sporting events.

Perry Anderson's essays about modern states in The London Review of Books

Kattullus — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 16:15:39 -0800

Perry Anderson's book length three part series on the history of India from the beginnings of its independence movement, through independence and partition into its recent history as a nation-state is the latest in a series of erudite, opinionated and wordy articles in The London Review of Books by the UCLA professor of history and sociology on the modern history of various countries, so far taking in Brazil, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus, the EU, Russia, Taiwan and France. Lula's Brazil (previously). Land without Prejudice: Berlusconi’s Italy, An Entire Order Converted into What It Was Intended to End: Italy’s Decline, An Invertebrate Left: Italy’s Squandered Heritage. Kemalism: After the Ottomans, After Kemal. The Divisions of Cyprus (previously). Depicting Europe (previously). Russia's Managed Democracy: Why Putin? (plus Anderson's contemporary reflection on being in Moscow when the Soviet Union collapsed). Stand-Off in Taiwan. Dégringolade: The Fall of France, Union Sucrée: The Normalising of France. The letters in response appended to the bottom of the articles are often quite interesting and generally worth reading. Perry Anderson has also written articles on other subjects for the LRB.

Franco-Italian Alps cleared of barbed wire

fraula — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:12:53 -0800

Barbed Wire no longer lines the Franco-Italian Alps. On the 11th of July this year, after working since 2002, mainly in the Mercantour National Park, the last of 134 tonnes of steel was finally removed for recycling by teams of volunteers. During WWII, although the Franco-Italian alpine border was "not a military front of primary importance, it was defended by massive fortifications and specialised troops: the Italian Alpini and the French Chasseurs alpins, who were recruited from local communities." There were several types of barbed-wire defences, many of which could be found in the Alps: "For about 70 years, the ground in the area had hidden a network of metallic spikes, barbed wire, and debris". The Franco-Swiss and Franco-Italian Alps have now been cleared of these dangerous installations [article in French], which had been injuring and hampering wild animals as well as hikers. In order to preserve the wartime history, each barbed wire site was mapped, and a line of it was kept at France's Mont Saint-Sauveur, with a sign explaining its background.

International pop

LSK — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:14:08 -0800

"Euphoria", which won the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest (previously), is a #1 in several countries, including Ireland, Austria, and Switzerland Of course, it's not the only song charting internationally that you might never hear on US radio. It should come as no surprise that one can readily find international hits online. For instance - Sweden, #4: Panetoz - Dansa Pausa Sweden, #9: Mange Makers - Drick Den This doesn't purport to be an exhaustive list, but rather a jumping-off point. Finland, #1: Robin - Frontside Ollie Finland, #8: Haloo Helsinki! - Jos mun pokka pettää Norway, #10: Michel Teló - Ai Se Eu Te Pego Italy, #2: Emma Marrone - Cercavo Amore France, #1: Gusttavo Lima - Balada France, #3: Tacabro - Tacata (also a hit in many other countries, including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden) Japan, #1: AKB48 - Manatsu no Sounds Good Israel, #2: גלעד שגב ומירי מסיקה - קולות הלב

Animated Histories of European Football

hoyland — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:03:21 -0800

In advance of Euro 2012, the Guardian has made animated histories of six of the competitors: England, Spain, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Germany and France. (Autoplay video in last six links.)

Europe on fifteen hundred yuan a day.

WalterMitty — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:38:19 -0800

Evan Osnos joins a tour group from China as they traverse Europe. In the front row of the bus, Li stood facing the group with a microphone in hand, a posture he would retain for most of our waking hours in the days ahead. In the life of a Chinese tourist, guides play an especially prominent role—translator, raconteur, and field marshal—and Li projected a calm, seasoned air. He often referred to himself in the third person—Guide Li—and he prided himself on efficiency. “Everyone, our watches should be synchronized,” he said. “It is now 7:16 P.M.” He implored us to be five minutes early for every departure. “We flew all the way here,” he said. “Let’s make the most of it.” We settled into coach on an Air China non-stop flight to Frankfurt, and I opened a Chinese packet of “Outbound Group Advice,” which we’d been urged to read carefully. The specificity of the instructions suggested a history of unpleasant surprises: “Don’t travel with knockoffs of European goods, because customs inspectors will seize them and penalize you.” There was an intense focus on staying safe in Europe. “You will see Gypsies begging beside the road, but do not give them any money. If they crowd around and ask to see your purse, yell for the guide.” Conversing with strangers was discouraged. “If someone asks you to help take a photo of him, watch out: this is a prime opportunity for thieves.” I’d been in and out of Europe over the years, but the instructions put it in a new light, and I was oddly reassured to be travelling with three dozen others and a guide. The notes concluded with a piece of Confucius-style advice that framed our trip as a test of character: “He who can bear hardship should carry on.”

Didn’t you notice the palpable difference between what is happening in Libya and what is happening elsewhere?

Pastabagel — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:21:17 -0800

"[T]he real target of Western bombers and soldiers is in no way the wretched Gaddafi...For the target of the bombers is definitely the popular uprising in Egypt and the revolution in Tunisia, it is their unexpected and intolerable character, their political autonomy, in a word: their independence." Philosopher Alain Badiou attacks the left's support for the NATO intervention in Libya. Background: Europe's economic entanglements with Gaddafi's Libya in the Irish Left Review.

Pink foam walls reveal national character.

Alison — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:47:42 -0800

Tunnels no Minasan no Okage Desu is a Japanese game show where contestants strike poses to fit through cutouts in pink foam walls. International reproductions of this game show reveal much about national character; reproductions exist in Italy, Russia, France, Denmark, Hong Kong, Korea, and Australia. Though this game show has popped up before, it's popularity has grown to a worldwide scale. Next up is the United States.

Oh Isabelle... eat something. Anything. Pleeeaaaase.

miss lynnster — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:47:55 -0800

"I've hidden myself and covered myself for too long. Now I want to show myself fearlessly, even though I know my body arouses repugnance. I want to recover because I love life and the riches of the universe. I want to show young people how dangerous this illness is." French Comedienne Isabelle Caro, 27, an anorexic who weighs just 68 pounds, was displayed on Milan billboards (NSFW) for fashion designer Nolita as the city celebrated fashion week. The prevalence of eating disorders within the fashion industry have only recently been addressed officially, however Georgio Armani has complained that since Caro isn't a model herself it proves "even people who take no notice of fashion get anorexic."

River Art

tellurian — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:15:08 -0800

Ahmad Nadalian's work can be found all over the world. He is an artist that carves symbols on rocks and then leaves them at the site where they were created (sometimes burying them).

C'mon, you knew it was going to happen...

Cyrano — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 12:59:03 -0800

The World Cup! This is your spoiler-free post... Don't be a dick. Don't post a FPP revealing who won!!!

Francesco Petrarch & Laura deNoves

hama7 — Sat, 24 Jul 2004 15:44:16 -0800

Francesco Petrarch & Laura deNoves.