So help me God
Italy long ago backed away from Catholicism as its state religion, but the faith remains fundamentally important, even in the [...]
Protect and kill
One of the most durable phrases in the Pentagon’s Vietnam War–era arsenal of euphemisms consisted of two words, protective reaction. [...]
Ferrante’s genial friend
Recently ranked number one on the "The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century" by "The New York Times Book [...]
To smoke (or not)
Every time I go to the doctor and have to fill out my medical history, one question gives me pause: [...]
Cloud cuckoo land
My father had a favorite phrase when coming upon people and situations that defied all common sense. “Cloud cuckoo land,” [...]
Spotting Italians abroad
Until last year, I never thought Colombians and Italians had much in common. Then I met an Italian for the [...]
Won’t get fooled again
The lame-duck Biden administration’s position toward embattled Ukraine is now cynically clear: provide that country with as much authorized military [...]
The red button
In the eleventh hour of his presidency, Joe Biden has given Ukraine the green light to use American short-range missiles [...]
Hungry man
In the modern dialect of sportswriting, the concept of desire has come to play a critical role. An upset, whether [...]
Chemo girls
I’ve been quiet in recent years. Like a mouse. Breast cancer and chem can do that. Zap your zeal on [...]
Goodbye to all that
In the early days of autumn, my friend and helper made a trip to my local Rome supermarket to pick [...]