TresSugar

Tom Hanks/ Prof. Robert Langdon Not Welcomed in Church

LibertySugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:30:21 -0700

Tom Hanks is a persona non grata in all of the churches of the Vatican and Rome. The Vatican has banned the filming of Angels and Demons, Dan Brown's sequel to The Da Vinci Code because it is "an offense against God."

The head of the Vatican's Prefecture For Economic Affairs said:

[The stories] turned the Gospels upside down to poison the faith. It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into mendacious films in the name of business.

The Church did not even read the script, as the name Dan Brown was enough to merit a ban. In The Da Vinci Code, Brown suggests that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children, and Angels and Demons paints a picture of corrupt leadership in the Catholic Church.

I'm still trying to decide whether viewers are sophisticated enough to distinguish between fiction and accepted theology. Still, while modern moviegoers may wish the Catholic Church lightened up for the sake of art and entertainment, it's hard to imagine the Church freely giving its stamp of approval. Would it not lend credibility to the theology created by Dan Brown? Do you approve of the Church's disapproval?

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UN Leader: World Needs 50 Percent More Food

LibertySugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:00:21 -0700

The world must produce 50 percent more food by 2030, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told world leaders yesterday at a summit hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

The UN leader urged nations to minimize trade barriers, and to produce more food. Pope Benedict XVI had a slightly different message, noting that the world already has the means to solve the problem. The Pope said: "hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable in a world which, in reality, has sufficient production levels, the resources, and the know-how to put an end to these tragedies and their consequences."

While they meet about how to solve the immediate hunger crisis caused by rising food costs, world leaders don't want to look like a bunch of foodie hypocrites. To see what they'll be eating, read more.

Leaders, including Prime Minister Berlusconi of Italy, President Sarkozy of France, and Iran's Ahmadinejad, will dine off a more modest menu which includes: pasta, mozzarella, spinach and sweetcorn, instead of the usual lobster, goose, and foie gras. But don't worry, they'll still get to sample some Italian wines.

From where I'm sitting in America, surrounded by frequent news of chronic obesity, it's hard to imagine needing more food. The world leaders' decision to cut back on their own consumption may be a signal to those who have plenty, or to those who only experience the food crisis at the cash register, but not in their stomachs. Perhaps we need to increase the supply of food and cut back on demand in certain places.

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Berlusconi's Mistress Tells Us More Than We Need to Know

TresSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:23 -0800

Italians really take their sex scandals to the next level. Today, Patrizia D'Addario, former call girl mistress to Italy's "I'm no saint" prime minister, adds a "lesbian dimension" to her tale of sex, power, and retaliation.

Patrizia has a book coming out and excerpts reveal that she has been the target of threats, robbery, and violence after going public about her affair with Silvio Berlusconi. But that's not stopping her. Describing a party held at Berlusconi's home, Patrizia shares the prime minister's preference for white silk pajamas and women who like other women. To see an excerpt, read more.

Patrizia writes:

"Other girls arrived, including a pair of lesbians, and a few other escorts. . . My first thought was that I'd found myself in a harem. He was on the couch and all of us, 20 girls in all, were at his disposition."

While the presence of lesbians probably seems relatively inconsequential, it might upset Italian citizens who were otherwise willing to dismiss heterosexual escapades. And as the Guardian reports, Berlusconi can say good-bye to a recent break from bad press: "The publication of D'Addario's book will divert public attention back to the affair after a period in which the focus had been on another sex scandal involving the former center-left governor of the region around Rome. Piero Marrazzo resigned after being filmed taking drugs and having sex with a transsexual." Mama mia.

Mad Men: Why Is Vacation Sex So Good?

TresSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:15:00 -0700

Last night on Mad Men, dapper Don Draper has to go to Rome on business, and seemingly on a whim, Betty asks if she can accompany him.

Once they're in Rome, something happens to Betty. She glams it up, flirts with Don, and their stultifying marriage seems to get an erotic adrenaline shot to the heart. It's as if they get to meet each other for the first time all over again. In fact, in one sequence, Betty waits for Don at an outdoor cafe, and when he sees that a couple Italian men are trying to pick her up, he pretends to horn in on their pickup. He sits down, begins chatting with her, and the Italian men, disgusted, leave.

Predictably, as soon as they get back home, Betty stiffens up and rebuffs Don's romantic overtures, telling him bluntly that she hates her life at home. He gives her a gift, a charm of the Roman Colliseum, and her deflating response is, "So every time I look at it I'll remember the time we had in Rome."

It would be wonderful if we could bring home the excitement we have with our partners on vacation. Although not all of us turn into stone cold Betties upon our returns home, there is something about traveling that can bring out our best. Why is vacation sex so good, and is it possible to keep the excitement going?

(For more Mad Men, check out BuzzSugar's 5 Maddest Mad Men moments from last night's episode.)

Photo courtesy of AMC

Stats on Staring! What Do You Know About Ogling?

TresSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:00:00 -0700

Everyone had a good laugh last month when an inconvenient photo of President Obama "checking out" a woman in Rome hit the Internet. (Was he or wasn't he?) Fascinated with the topic of ogling, a British firm decided to research how much time men and women spend with their eyes fixed on the opposite sex. The results are pretty fun! See if you can guess the lecherous tendencies of both sexes.

Source

Take the quiz

Do, Dump, or Marry? Swimmer Ricky Berens

TresSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:00:00 -0700

I'd never heard of US swimmer Ricky Berens until I saw pictures of his magnificent backside, exposed when his wetsuit "unfortunately" ripped in two at the World Championships in Rome over the weekend. As far as introductions go, I'd say - not bad!

But now that I get a glimpse of his cute face, I'd say Michael Phelps, who you all overwhelmingly disapproved of in our last poll, has some competition. So what is it, ladies?

Italy Searches For Survivors, Authorities Ignored Warning?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:00:41 -0700

While residents east of Rome slept this morning, a deadly quake shook the earth. As of now, almost 100 people have died, 1,500 were injured, and tens of thousands are homeless. The search for survivors continues in the medieval town of L'Aquilla, and camps have been set up for those who lost their homes.

About a month ago, seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani predicted a large quake in the area. Vans equipped with loudspeakers went around telling people to evacuate their homes. But the local authorities accused the scientist of spreading panic, and he was forced to remove his warning from the Internet. While many claim that its impossible to predict earthquakes, this sounds like a dangerous form of censorship!

Check out photos of the destruction and recovery in this slideshow. Source

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Front Page: 6.3 Earthquake Rocks Italy, Killing at Least 90

CitizenSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:02:49 -0700

At least 90 have died in Italy after a 6.3 earthquake shook 60 miles northeast of Rome. - BBC News
Speaking in Turkey, President Obama expressed his strong support for Turkey's accession into the European Union. - New York Times
For the first time in 18 years, the media is covering the homecoming of fallen soldiers. - Washington Post
Fast and Furious came in first place at the box office this weekend, bringing in $72.5 million. - New York Daily News
After a gunman killed 14 in Binghamton, NY, Friday, two more shootings happened this weekend in Pittsburgh and Washington state. - Wall Street Journal
Sarah Palin's camp has lashed out at Levi Johnston for exploiting Bristol by going on The Tyra Banks Show to talk about sex. The interview airs today. - People

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Front Page: CA Moves to Lay Off 20,000 State Workers

CitizenSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:00:13 -0800

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to send layoff warnings to 20,000 state workers today after budget negotiations failed yesterday. Public works projects will also be shut down. - SF Business Times
President Obama plans to sign the stimulus bill in Denver today, after he tours a solar panel project. - New York Times
NATO has warned Pakistan over a deal it reached with the Taliban to impose Islamic law and suspend a military offensive in Swat, a former tourist center. - AP
A 200-lb. pet chimpanzee was shot dead after it mauled a woman visiting his owner in Connecticut. - BBC News

Japan's finance minister resigned today after he appeared incoherent and groggy at a G-7 news conference in Rome on Saturday. - USA Today

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America's Leading Lady: Michelle Obama Lands Vogue Cover!

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:45:13 -0800

Michelle Obama looks stunning on the just-released cover of March Vogue. In the issue, "the first lady the world's been waiting for" opens up about how she plans to live her new life.

On being a mom: I'm going to try to take them to school every morning - as much as I can. But there's also a measure of independence. And obviously there will be times I won't be able to drop them off at all. I like to be a presence in my kids' school. I want to know the teachers; I want to know the other parents.

On her background: We like to joke that the South Side of Chicago is our Kennebunkport. . . . We learned in our household that there was nothing you couldn't talk about and that you found humor in even some of the toughest times. I want to bring that spirit of warmth, openness, and stability to my task.

On her fashion choices: I love clothes. First and foremost, I wear what I love. That's what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.

On bringing Sasha and Malia along on trips: I've been grateful that my girls have been able to see parts of the country that I'm just seeing at the age of 44," she says. "It's not only seeing Paris, London, and Rome. It's also the remote places . . . exposing them to what we hope all kids will have: a feeling that they are citizens of the world.

Michelle definitely has style and grace; but she's only the second first lady to ever grace the cover of Vogue (Hillary Clinton appeared in 1998). Take a look at some photos from the upcoming issue!

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