For F. Scott Fitzerald, Rome nights in the mid-1920s were anything but tender.
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(Slow) motion
When traveling with Italians, bring a back-up plan, a doctor, and a cure for anxiety.
Not too fast!
Umbria in winter is roast and rest time, though the restfulness is relative.
Kindness
Forget supermarket road rage, it seems like Americans are smiling more.
Checkmate, we lose
IRS efforts to recover taxes on offshore accounts could damage American interests abroad.
Fontamara
Silone's semi-autobiographical novel about the ethics of fascism remains haunting.
He lies!
Obama-hating still lurks deep in the American magma. To what end is unclear.
Sam and Dave
Dave was fluent in a number of languages, but English wasn't one of them.
Moneyball
Brad Pitt and Joshua King give career performances in a film that transcends sports.
Out you go
When it comes to religious belief, the author would much prefer an honest intellect.
The Girl from Ipanema
Jeff Freiert: "She's off looking for the snake. It went into the bushes — "
Anticipation
Early-year teases (Matthew Dear, FNU Ronnies, The Internet) hint at the year ahead.