May
31

Italians and language learning.

2007 | Filed Under Italy, Language, Language teaching, Work | 2 Comments

I’ve heard this comment many times from my Italian students. It basically goes ‘Italians are not very good at/incapable of learning other languages’. Well, I have an appropriate response to this oft made comment: ‘bollocks’ (si equivala approssimante a ‘palle’ in italiano, credo).

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May
31

Moodling

2007 | Filed Under Language, Language teaching, Technology and Gadgets, Work | Leave a Comment

Moodle, if you do not know, is a course management system or CMS (Joomla is a CMS too, but in Joomla’s case CMS stands for Content Management System). Moodle basically allows people to develop and run just about any course for just about any subject on-line.   It’s open source and its free.  The Open University in the UK is working on a Moodle based e-learning set-up for its students.  If it is good enough for the Open University, then it is more than good enough for me.  I intend to use Moodle to develop and manage learning materials.

This is a preview of Moodling. Read the full post (411 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

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May
28

Want to translate an Italian word?

2007 | Filed Under Italian | Leave a Comment

Then try here: Frasi.net

The graphics may not be all that flashy, but the results are comprehensive. Try it, you might like it.

Permanent link to this post (24 words, estimated 6 secs reading time)

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May
28

Walter Tobagi - in memoriam.

2007 | Filed Under Italian news, Italy, Milan, People | Leave a Comment

Ever heard of Walter Tobagi? Nope.  Not a surprise, neither had I until today.  It is the anniversary of his death today, poor chap.

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May
28

Well, it was ‘ot.

2007 | Filed Under Italy, Me, Milan | Leave a Comment

It’s not hot today.  Lashing down with rain it is.  Cue summer colds.  A mere 13 degrees centigrade.  Bit of a change from the 34 degrees of last week.  Still, at least I can almost sleep at night - if were not for my writhing, squirming and kicking little son, that is.

Permanent link to this post (53 words, estimated 13 secs reading time)

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May
28

Bouncy wi-fi connection? Try this.

2007 | Filed Under Technology and Gadgets | Leave a Comment

UPDATE: 1st June 2007

I’m still having bouncy wi-fi problems, despite running the WinsockXPFi app once more.

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May
26

The curious case of Mr Visco

2007 | Filed Under Italian news | 1 Comment

Mr Visco, who is a deputy economy minister in Prodi’s band of brothers, has got himself into a spot of bother after he tried, apparently, to pressurise the head of the Guardia di Finanza, the Italian financial police, to ‘transfer’ a number of Guardia di Finanza operatives away from Milan.

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May
26

Montezemolo roasts the politicians

2007 | Filed Under Italian news | Leave a Comment

Montezemolo, the president of Ferrari and chairman of FIAT, and head of the Italian employers’ federation - Confindustria -  spoke at a conference the other day.  He commented that the current band of politicians where not really doing anything to assist Italy or businesses in Italy.  Prodi and his mob were at the front at this conference and could be seen to be writhing in their seats.

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May
24

Builder’s bottom becomes trendy

2007 | Filed Under Fashion, Italy, Milan | Leave a Comment

I didn’t think I would ever see the day when builder’s bum would become fashionable, but it has happened, and it has happened with a vengeance here in Italy.   You see, the girls love to wear hip hugging jeans and this means that, more often than not and especially when a crop-top is involved, when they sit down or bend over, bottom cleavage is clearly evident.  One does one’s best to avert one’s eyes, but sometimes it is hard to avoid these sights falling into one’s line of sight.  Don’t mention tangas.

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May
24

Gordon Bennet it’s ‘ot!

2007 | Filed Under Italy, Milan | Leave a Comment

Over 30 degrees C today in dear old Milan. Hot it is. As hot as August. Good thing we had air cond put in recently, even though it has given me a headache.

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May
24

Google Adsense

2007 | Filed Under Me, Technology and Gadgets, Work | Leave a Comment

Having experimented with a service called Adbrite and achieved zero, installed an adserver, but did not have the time to exploit it, so I finally activated my Google Adsense account and have set up Google adds on my Englishisin.com website; not everywhere.   I don’t know how well this will work, but it was quite easy to set up and I shall keep an eye on things to see how they are going.  If I manage to cover annual hosting costs, I shall be happy.

This is a preview of Google Adsense. Read the full post (334 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)

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May
23

5500k

2007 | Filed Under Digital photography, Italy, Me, Milan | Leave a Comment

Unusual title, I know.  Did you know that 5500k refers to the Kelvin colour temperature which matches, more or less, day light?  Maybe not, unless you are a photographer.

This is a preview of 5500k. Read the full post (139 words, estimated 33 secs reading time)

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