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Adopted By a Milanese Family

My last night in Milano and one of those classic things that always happens to me happens to me. After wandering town all day long, and soaking in what my friend Alberto calls “typical Milanese environment”, ie: cloudy, rainy, busy, noisy; I made plans to meet my friend Sarolina’s parents in order to pick some stuff up to bring back to Amsterdam for her.

To my surprise and to Sara’s approval, her mom and dad not only wanted to say hello and drink tea.. the moment they greeted me in front of Café Zucca the mother says to me “marko… come to our house for dinner”. They seemed like charming people and knowing how great their daughter is, I happily agree.

So there I am, a Tuesday night in November, sitting in a VERY Italian parlour with wall-to-wall books, discussing the history of Portugal with her father.. in Italian somehow. As so often happens, the father was very surprised about how similar Italian is to Portuguese…. which means Italians need to spread the word… they have lots in common with the Iberian penninsula.

In the end, I had a fantastic meal, and great discussion about their travels and life, including the recounting of a journey through yugoslavia, soviet union, turkey, iran, iraq, jordan, and syria back in the 70’s.

“It was an amazing time, the father smiled, “we were so welcome there and you were free to travel everywhere. Not like today, now you can’t get far without being questioned and so much has been destroyed.”

Afterwards they insisted on driving me back to the vlog apartment. Which has gone from housing 6+ people to an oh-so-comfy 3. (I get my own huge bed tonight). Tomorrow we’re off to Verona, where star-crossed lovers used to kill themselves I think.

For those seeking importance in the world: I’ve been listening back and reading through the transcripts that were released, of the military tribunals for guantanamo prisoners.

bmtv27 Mispelling a Beautiful Place

Click To Play

This is the real deal. The amazingly beautiful Belaggio (which I didnt bother looking up proper spelling cause that isn’t the point, yes now I see I spelt the dam thing wrong.. sorry too late) This vlog starts in Varenna as we take the ferry to Bellagio. VlogEurope 06… beautiful.

the Vlog Europe Is The Bees Knees

The last day of vlog europe, the continent’s most fantastically whimsical video blogger conference, has come and gone. After a long day yesterday of talky talky, looky looky, snacky snacky… today was the tourism and socializing day as we explored this area around Lake Como.

As I write this post, maticulously evil mastermind vloggers from Scandinavia and North America are plotting important things… right here in this living room converted into a sleeping room for many. It is a unique experience that will scar me for a life. A blame most of the scarring on this vlog and perhaps this famous human beatbox.

Since the weekend here in Italy has been so wonderful and there is still so much more to see and do or not do and sleep… I’ll be sticking around town at least until Tuesday night.. so tell your friends in the Lombardy region.

I know the fans want to see actual vlogs from vlogeurope… which is a novel and strange idea, but I’ll do it… tomorrow. First I want to make sure the good citizens listen to yesterdays podcast and let it sink in. Into your souls.

So for now.. just some photos to wet your whistle.

Postscript thing: Thanks to the unknown person at VlogEurope who donated a nice chunk of change to me. I lurve you and promise to work hard to continue the media flow.

Lake Como Is Down There

Well Well.

Unexpected turn of events, I took an offer to stay over here high above Lake Como, or some Lake that might be Como. I think this town is called Lecco.

I’d like to enter into a “how fast can you learn italian” marathon, I bet it would take me 2 weeks, nonstop studying, and Id be fluent. Than my french and spanish would be ruined, and my Portuguese would be jealous. My english would just hang out with my Dutch, they need not know whats going on. In the meantime.. I do so love the language cause it is so famliar.. yet different.

The discussion on yesterdays post is still going and I like it alot. We don’t have to have the answers, we can just compare stories, experiences, facts.. if anything I get lots of help forming my own opinion… and in the end.. its a personal blog, so hahaha I win! I mean.. yay knowledge.

The vloggers are mostly at the node101 apartment in Milano. I’m here with a few other cats that are staying at the great Deirdré’s house, which overlooks alot of things from way up here on this mountain. On the floor to my right.. there’s a vlogger named Andreas… further over from him.. a vlogger named Anders. Danish I believe. Good men they are, me thinks.

My one wish… vlogger ladies. More of them. Crazy creative and perhaps single ones. That’s my wish.

Time for cliché italian words since I’m a dumb tourist: buona notte amici.

Drug Prices

The lil suitcase is packed for the grand open ended journey through Northern Italy, Slovenia, —– (fill in your own following destination).

Prior to packing for the journey, I was watching a PBS Frontline Special entitled “The Other Drug War”. I believe it’s and old program, last updated (according to their site) in 2003, but the torrent just fell in my lap the other day. (transcript anyone?)

By the other drug war, the title is referring to perscription drugs for seniors in the United States. All those pills that control cholesteral, blood pressure, depression, asthma, etc etc… they cost senior citizens mounds and mounds of cash. And of course, the catch is, because they need many of these drugs to go on living, they are at the mercy of the drug companies.

In the program itself, we see seniors in Maine organizing bus excursions to Canada, where drug prices are fixed by the government in order to keep them affordable for seniors. (and I guess the poor too) During the bus ride, the people talk about how angry they are at companies for being so unreasonable with prices, and with the government for not intervening. Later the program explains that the state of Maine, as well as a few other states have actually passed laws that will control the price of drugs for seniors.. which of course has been met by huge resistance by the corporations, who have taken the states to court.

On the other side, you also hear from the companies themselves. Mostly from a few reps and many many lobbyists, since apparently pharmaceutical lobbies are the biggest and most powerful in Washington, DC. They explain that the government musn’t control prices or else their profits will suffer, and as a result, they won’t be able to invest in new life saving drugs. They claim that the high prices are because research is so expensive, so the pill costs nothing to make but you’re paying towards future drugs. If the prices lower, the expected response from the company will be to cut down on research. There’s even a French CEO of some big US pharma company (Eli Lilly)who explains that in France the government fixes the prices and therefore France lags behind the US and other countries in research and development. (number 5 in the world apparently, at that time)

And so I the viewer, with some help from the internet and perhaps life experiences, sit here and evaluate the situation for myself. Whats more important… research and development, or access to the existing drugs.

In the end, everyone will have mixed answers. Put yours in the comments. Here’s a brief version of mine:

With most products in this type of capitalistic system of ours, which does not necessarily believe in fostering competition in many areas thought many claim it does, i can understand setting a high price for the cost of making something or researching it. Technology for instance.. computers.. cars.. you want the cool stuff.. you pay more. But when I look at medicine, I see something more than just a product making business. While it may be a business, it effects lives… more specifically.. it can effect if someone lives or dies. While its surely important for research to be properly funded, I’m not convinced that the healthiest way for a society to do it is to run up the profits for pharmaceuticals while making the seniors pay the price. I think a drug, however great it may be, is useless if people can’t afford it anyway.

I said this earlier today and Richard, who’s just arrived here and has worked for many years in hospitals, says that it is the other way around. That controlling prices limits the work of pharmaceuticals and hurts medical advances.

Your turn.

3 Videos Since Milan is Coming Up

Since I know yee good people have things to catch up on and I can’t keep writing mountains, today I’ll simply recommend three videos and be gone. Friday is the journey to Milan for vlogeurope, so video is the name of the game for the immediate future.

First: A New vlogger on the scene. You may recall I had a group of students I was tending to from Minnesota… well wouldn’t you know it.. one particular Rachel has started a vlog that has this great energy.. a certain je don’t know quoi.

Second: I’ve recently been writing for Richard’s news vlog, the Eclectic Newsbrief… news you won’t find in the mainstream and presented in a unique way. (see if you spot the societal critique)

And Lastly: A wonderful artist, my friend Hollye Davidson has a great understanding of how people relate to art. She even helps me to see my own art, which I often forget. Watch her latest vlog on dogs and art… i learned alot.