It was a great couple of weeks and I want to give a shout out to American Idol, particularly Kate, Kimberly and Sheila for the fantastic party in the most incredible house in Beverly Hills, Birgit, Michelle, Jessica, Jamie, Sam at UTA, Will at WME, Alex at CAA, oh the list goes on and on!!
A couple of things I want to talk about today the first being my phone call from the taxi service in Rome 06 3570. As you will know I had the most terrifying experience of my life a couple of weeks ago when I was robbed and threatened by one of their drivers.
Well, whilst in Los Angeles I did receive a phone call from one of the managers at 06 3570 who explained that they were taking the matter very seriously and I'm waiting to hear the outcome of the disciplinary review and the police about the criminal charges so as soon as this news is in I shall pass it on. I must say though it was reassuring to speak to someone from 06 3570 who did not treat me like the operators had when I reported the crime and he did point out something which must be said, and is true, not ALL the drivers at 06 3570 are like the one who robbed and threatened me. There are kind and sympathetic drivers there but it just takes one to ruin the reputation of the others.
Because I'm still suffering from jet-lag I've just woken up and wanted to catch up on the news. I will confess, I was trained by the BBC, I believe the news which comes into our homes and that which we read in our newspapers should be absolutely impartial and accurate but it would appear that RAI 3, the Italian State Broadcast Channel's news, does not believe in this principle! In all my years of working in news my mantra was "Every news organization has only its credibility and reputation to rely on." So I wonder why TG3 does not follow this creed?
I cannot believe that they spent 10-15 minutes out of a 30 minute programme, commenting on a protest in Rome against constitutional changes and a further 10 minutes on the sister protest in Milan on the same theme and both times the "reporter" - for me they are mere political mouth pieces and not reporters - gave political editorial comment to introduce the items. I watch the news when I am in Italy and I know that TG3's (they're left wing) counterpart is Emilio Fede and his news programme on Rete4 (they're right wing) but what I do not understand is why the Italian population put up with being treated as such idiots by the broadcasters. I do not understand why the editors of the news programmes and newspapers do not believe in news which is: 1. TRUTHFUL, 2. ACCURATE, 3. OBJECTIVE, 4. FAIR, 5. IMPARTIAL and why the Italian people continue to buy into this nonsense which claims to be news? It's true, whichever party is in political power in Italy controls the news by appointing political allies to positions of power within the media and the news is slanted to favour the party but how can a country which claims to be a democracy condone this type of behaviour? No doubt the Berlusconians will claim that TG3 is run by a bunch of commies (or 'Kabul television') - personally I'm fed up of hearing Berlusconi complaining about being "persecuted" by the magistrates, by the teachers, by the opposition by basically everyone who disagrees with him etc etc get over it, stop behaving like a victim, it goes with the turf! And I'm fed up of hearing the Lefties complaining about Berlusconi being a fascist, being a mafioso, being only interested in his own empire, get over it, try and be a decent opposition party and stop being fucking hypocrites going to your country houses in Sabaudia, living in incredible apartments in the best part of Rome and paying a pittance in rent, getting your suits handmade and staying in power, when you get there, just long enough to pick up your handsome pensions! You people are, in my opinion, morally bankrupt and you should not be throwing stones at Berlusconi as you are not actually fit to kiss his shoes. What Italy needs is a party that has no interest but that will never happen as Italy is about interest!
So that's it for today..I'm thinking of going into politics here in Italy as it's an incredible country with incredible people but it needs change!!
