Saturday, February 16, 2008

NYTimes; One Italian in a Funk Can Generate as Much Happiness Static, as Three Danes on Cloud Nine.

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Last Month, the New York Times, reported on a Cambridge Univ. Study  that

"Italians are the least happy of 15 Western European nations. Denmark ranked No. 1 in happiness."

 

Susan Spano a writer for the LA times who spends a great deal of time in Italy responds:

"One Italian in a funk can generate as much happiness static,  as three Danes on cloud nine.

 

Clever retort !!!

 

But further I would say, I am suspect of Englanders measuring Happiness,..... who are rather dour unless drunk  :) :)

 

Further, the alleged reasons reported for such Italian "funk", i.e. "political chaos, organized crime, retrograde culture and economic stagnation" are either inaccurate, distorted, overblown, and show no understanding for Italian composure when faced with "difficulties".

It seems that Subway Bombings in London and Terror Threats in England, Immigrant Riots in France, and Denmark count for little.  

Hey, Italy, Why So Blue?

Los Angeles Times

Susan Spano, Staff Writer

February 16, 2008

When I was in Rome last month, Italians were digesting an article that ran in the New York Times about the collective funk into which the country has fallen, purportedly because of political chaos, organized crime, retrograde culture and economic stagnation that is expected to put it behind Spain in the near future.

Many Italians took issue with the notion that the country is suffering from long-term, apparently untreatable clinical depression. The New York Times article was based on a University of Cambridge study, which found that Italians are the least happy of 15 Western European nations. Denmark ranked No. 1 in happiness.

So finding out whether Italians are really depressed will be high on my agenda when I move to Rome next month.

On the other hand, I would guess that one Italian in a funk can generate as much happiness static as three Danes on cloud nine.

http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/?p=1350

 

The ANNOTICO Reports Can be Viewed (and are Archived) on:

Italia USA: http://www.ItaliaUSA.com [Formerly Italy at St Louis] (7 years)

Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com (3 years)

Annotico Email: annotico@earthlink.net