There is a great rivalry between we French and those Italiens. Clouseau le Chien says that eat can get quite heated sometimes. In a restaurant, par exemple, we will often choose a New World wine over that biofuel that they make south of the Alps. But I grudgingly have to admeat...

...that the reason for our rivalry is that we are both countries of great culture.

At least that is what one would think.

You may remember that two weeks ago I wrote an article about the shame I feel over that aviator glasses wearing "plouc" that the papers call our "Président." I must admeat that in this area we have been outdone by the Italiens. What an oxymoron it is that the land of Leonardo Da Vinci, of the Sistine Chapel, of the café latté and gnocci al pistou should vote for such a vulgarian clown as Silvio Berlusconi. I know of a few Italians who are utterly ashamed of their "new" (for the third time) prime minister. They are not, however, in the majority.

It just goes to show that the Italiens are devoid of culture.