WE, THE PEOPLE...

...understand the Reason of State.
However, when the Reason of State collides against the reason of few who are greedy for power and money
We, the People, object!
It is our right and we mean to stand by it.

VENEZIA, MY LOVE - THE PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC SEA...

...daily defaced
- by ignorant 'tourists' who just come here for a selfie
- by those who think it's 'cute' to eat a piece of foreign-made pizza (if one can still call it pizza), sitting on the          historical steps of Le Procuratie and insult centuries of history by littering those grounds. Would you    
       ever conceive the same happening  in Place Vendôme?
- by imported 'merchants' who sell chinese glass under the false label of Murano
- by unlawful immigrants who sell counterfeit goods in all places
- by criminals from Eastern Europe who organize drug rackets, with Africans  in some areas where people
        are now afraid to live in?
My poor Serenissima.
You're sinking under the weight of ignorance and mass tourism.
You deserved better.
You, Pearl of the Adriatic where artists and connoisseurs chose to live, create and die.
You, Venice, who stood up against the Popes and the Inquisition
You, Venice, are you now giving up completely the values that made you so powerful?
You, Venice, do you really want to become a kind of discredited  Disneyworld?

LET'S NOT BE SURPRISED...

...if the People react against decisions made in high place that deny the People's Will .
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2016/04/24/01003-20160424ARTFIG00136-autriche-l-extreme-droite-en-tete-au-premier-tour-de-la-presidentielle.php

YEHUDI MENUHIN ... A GIANT AND A GENTLEMAN

EARTH DAY

Somehow, I can't help to associate this day with this Pink Floyd's song

Hey You!

BETTER ONE DAY LATER THAN NEVER !

Sinopoli: a giant !
..and so elegantly always self-effacing.

Sole loved the Adagietto (Adagietto from SYMPHONY NO.5 by Gustav Mahler)..she played it over and over, sometimes for hours
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BUtzb63yMM&feature=em-subs_digest

8TH OF APRIL - JACQUES BREL

On this day,  year 1929, a legend was born.
He's still in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls and will never be forgotten.
The strength in his voice, in his words, in his songs is unique.
If songs could be (as they should) be compared to other artworks, I'd say he was no lesser than Rodin, Monet, Titian and so many other Masters.

Here is his most acclaimed song..but not the lesser

...and the one I love most

and one that is not often recognized as one of his masterpieces but I think it is

and the most powerful, descriptive and poetic about that wonderful town of Amsterdam

and the funniest and most ferocious against the 'Bourgeois', the people who think they have reached a status...but we know better, don't we?

and the lightest and amusing reminder of old Brussels' times. 

With my deepest feelings and sadness for all those who were recently  killed and injured through Islamic Terrorists who were welcomed in this small country of liberty and made a terrorists' nest of it.

It's also noteworthy to remember that Brel was not only a great chansonnier but also a fine actor/director. Some of the movies he directed or played in were amongst the finest of cinematography's history, although not the best-known or best-rated. But, then, so is the life of many geniuses.
And
Sole loved him.

RICHES AND POVERTY

In case anyone still have some doubts
http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2016/04/07/panama-papers-comment-le-petrole-congolais-s-evapore-dans-les-paradis-fiscaux_4898082_3212.html

It all sums up with a memorable movie by Luchino Visconti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Leopard_(1963_film)

"Everything must change so that nothing changes"

That's not only Mafia. That's the mantra for all of the financial, banking and business lobbies.
Today's international dealings are none other than business agreements between lobbies and conglomerates. Small people are not taken into account but as pawns.

MARCOS, CEAUSESCU, ERDOGAN...

... men who could have been great but were just grabbers.
Nobodies who - through corruption and harsh domination - succeeded in reaching power and became a ridiculous image of it.
Huge buildings where the void is of essence are just the image of such men.
Some made use of army.
Some of ideology and brain-washing.
Some of religion...as is the case for Erdogan who keeps his power thanks to the illiterate masses of people in the poorest regions of Turkey.
Where women are just there to give birth to so many little muslims as they can.