Is calling Italians Vociferous, or Gesticulators, or Pretend Ciceros, Negative Stereotyping???? Perhaps, but the damage if any, is so slight, to be "de minimus".

Actually, I find it amusing, and good reason to reasonably laugh at myself, and us.

57 million cellphones in Italy ????? The population of Italy is 56 million  :)  :)

Business Report
South Africa
Wednesday, July 14, 2004

One doesn't like to dwell on ethnic stereotypes. But let's face it - Italians have a reputation for being vociferous. So do cellphone users worldwide.

So getting Italian cellphone users to keep quiet for two whole hours may be a stretch.

Nevertheless, AFP reports that four consumer groups in Italy have optimistically called on millions of cellphone users to turn off their instruments for two hours tomorrow to protest against the high prices imposed by operators.

The groups have joined forces to urge users to not make any calls or even send text messages between midday and 2pm tomorrow.

Millions of cellphones are in daily use across Italy, and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi even got into hot water after his party sent out a political text message on the eve of the European elections last month.

The communications authority estimates that at the end of last year 57 million cellphones were in use in Italy.

Business Report - Italians urged to 'cell out' tomorrow
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=
552&fArticleId=2148837