The Guidos from New Jersey Shore – MTV Sucks

We reported a while back on rumours that MTV was filming a new show entitled “The Guidos.”  Apparently MTV is now calling its new reality show the”Jersey Shore.”  MTV claims to lift the veil over “one of the Tri-state area’s most misunderstood species … the GUIDO” (as per its press materials). You don’t need to be the head of an Italian American organization to protest the trash that MTV is dumping on America.   Italian Americans should protest this offensive show by pulling the plug on MTV and letting the local cable know that such trash is not acceptable by all Americans and not just by Italian Americans.  Here’s a Teaser for the show spotlighting the “hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos”  working out, working on their tan, and working on their hair. As always, let us know what you think.

Lady Gaga: She is an Italian American too!

Born in March 28, 1986, in Yonkers, New York, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, now known as  Lady Gaga, has hit America like no other storm. She’s is everywhere!  Her latest CD, the Fame Monster, captures appropriately her quest for stardom – something she has already accomplished.  As the Washington Post said today (Nov, 24), “Lady Gaga is pop’s newest shining thing, a real-life kewpie doll weaned on a steady diet of Wagner and Ectasy.”  On top of that, she also recently said that she loves to cook. and that she is really good at Italian food because she comes come from a “very Italian family.” She is, we’re all discovering, an Italian American.  Ciao America!

Italian Americans Seek Congressional Recognition of Galileo and Andrea Palladio

Italian Americans are being asked to urge their Congressmen to co-sponsor and to support two resolutions honoring Galileo and 16th century architect Andrea Palladio. Washington, D.C. attorney Joe Grano noted that 2008 was the 500th anniversary of the birth of the influential Italian architect. “His influence can be seen in the architecture of Europe, England and the United States, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol.” This year is the 400th anniversary of the first use of the telescope for astronomical observation. “With that act, Galileo literally and figuratively changed the way we see the universe,” said Grano. This anniversary is so significant that the United Nations has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy.” Read more…>>

New Jersey Honors Fallen Italian-American Police Detective MarcAnthony DiNardo

Italian-American police detective MarcAnthony Di Nardo was honored at the Annual Mass for Law Enforcement officials held on November 12, 2009, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, New Jersey.  DiNardo was slain on July 21, 2009, as he tried to arrest two robbery suspects.  He was 37 years old and married with three young children. The mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Newark, H.E. John Joseph Myers.  Among the attendees were N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine and Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who met for the first time since the election, and deputy police chief William Schievella, president of the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey.  Ciao America!

Veteran’s Day 2009 – Saluting Italian American Veterans

Ciao America! salutes the men and women who serve and have served in our armed forces. On this Veteran’s Day, we are particularly proud of the hundreds of thousands of Italian Americans who served in World War II and in particular those who helped liberate Italy. Their courage, valor, service and allegiance to America makes us all proud to be Italian Americans.

Giro d’Italia Coming To Washington

A couple of days ago we received an inquiry from a UK journalist asking us what we thought about the Giro d’Italia coming to Washington.  At first we thought he was kidding.  But, the more we thought about it, the more sense it made and we became excited about the possibility.  Washington’s Mayor Adrian Fenty is an avid sports enthusiast – a triathlete – and an amateur cyclist.  His mother, Jan Fenty is Italian American.  Much of the architecture in our nation’s capital reflects the splendor of  Italy.  The avenues criss-crossing the city were designed by a Frenchman.  Washington would be just  an ideal location for the start of the  Giro d’Italia!

 But the rumors have been confirmed that D.C. is indeed in the running.  Jack Pfeiffer,  Mayor Fenty’s  spokesman  said  yesterday that there  have been discussions about hosting the start of the race, although “nothing is final.”  Pfeiffer said that “the city welcomes discussions with race officials and share their enthusiasm for the District to serve as a host city.”  The director of Giro d’italia, Angelo Zomegnan, was quoted quoted as saying, “There exists a concrete interest from the city of Washington.”  

The 2010 Giro will start in Amsterdam.  In 2011, let’s make it happen in Washington, DC.

Online Polling Service Says Italian Accent Number 2 – after Irish

There’s nothing scientific about polls administered by online pollster www.OnePoll.com, but the last one grabbed our attention. After polling 5,000 women worldwide, it was determined that French men were no longer at the top of the sexiest-accent list. Replacing them are men with an Irish accent. In second place are Italian men, followed by the Scottish.  The American accent came in 10th. Oh well, romance is in the ears of the listener.

Italian American Dede Scozzafava Not Republican Enough

Italian American Dede Scozzafava, the G.O.P. choice to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representative from upstate NY, ended her bid following a national campaign by conservative republicans who felt she did not belong to the Republican Party given her views on gay rights and abortion. Scozzafava , originally from Buffalo,  is the daughter of an Italian immigrant and an Irish father.  She is married to an all Italian husband Ron Scozzafava. She was first elected to the NYS Assembly in 1998, and is the current Ranking Minority Member of the Codes Committee, as well as a member of the Education and Local Government committees. She is one of 41 Republicans in the 150-seat Assembly. The first ever female Minority Leader Pro Tempore in the history of the New York State Assembly. Scozzafava is now supporting the Democratic candidate – proving perhaps that she was a Democrat all along!  She still is, however, an Italian American!

Judge Giovanni Falcone’s Legacy Recalled at U.S. Supreme Court

The legacy and contributions of Italian Magistrate Giovanni Falcone, who built bridges across the Atlantic in his quest to destroy the Mafia, were recalled today (Oct. 29) at a seminar held at the U.S. Supreme Court.  Judge Falcone was killed on May 23, 1992, together with his wife and three of his bodyguards, by a bomb that blew up a section of a highway near Palermo’s airport just as his car was passing. He was 53 years old. His assassination and that of his colleague Paolo Borsellino two months later, became a turning point in Italy’s fight against the mafia.

Read full story in Ciao America.

Italian American Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino at NIAF Gala

We liked what actress Carla Gugino had to say at the 34th Annual National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Gala on Saturday upon receiving NIAF’s Special Achievement Award in Entertainment. Carla recounted that when she was growing up, her Italian-American father liked to say that there were two types of people in the world:  “Italians, and those who wanted to be Italian.”  Carla then told the story of how when she arrived in Hollywood as a teenager, producers suggested that she change her last name because it sounded too ethnic.  Carla says she gave it some thought but then quickly remembered her father’s words and decided against becoming Carla Smith.  

Gugino now says her choice to remain true to her Italian-Americas roots, or to the Italian-American “tribe”  as she put it, has been an asset to  her career.  She knew she had made the right decision when she walked on to a movie set one day and saw three chairs awaiting the film’s stars. The chairs were inscribed with the names: Roberto De Niro, Al Pacino, and Carla Gugino.   Ciao America!