…the Rome-based Italian artist (b. 1955) who is admired by all of my Italian artist friends, has an audio piece which I encountered today in a hallway gallery at MAXXI (making the most of the much appreciated Spring-like weather in Rome, I arrived by bicycle via the path along the Tiber River embankment – also ..

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…from the trees out back are keeping me buzzed on a daily infusion of fresh citrus – when I arrived in September  it was the grapes and figs – later it was the persimmons – and this Spring and Summer I’m looking forward to availing myself of the Roman classics: artichokes a..

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…the fragrant yellow Mimosa tree native to Australia whose clouds of clustered of bright yellow pom-pom flowers are the first sign of spring in the Italian landscape, is already in full bloom out in the back garden – probably since it is protected in a warm little micro-climate by the massive Aurelian Wall that surrounds ..

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…is good, they are devouring my kitchen scraps (about 3 pounds a week), turning it into sweet smelling fertile black-gold worm casting compost, and reproducing like crazy (lots of little babies) – all from the comfort of their plastic bin which feels like the essential heart of the Roman Rooftop Homestead, the highlight of each ..

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…is the evocative name of the just inaugurated online shop of the handmade and eclectic goods whose inventory will constantly shift based on the whims of those doing the making: my sister Emily & her friend Jen. (dullDiamond website) Hello we’re Emily and Jen <<<< AKA dullDiamond >>>> Two friends who happen to be mothers ..

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…like all great medieval Italian hilltowns (we are in the Maremma of Southwest Tuscany), provides that brilliant vivid contrast between the feeling of dense urbanism on the inside, and the seemingly infinite expanse of rolling rural cultivated countryside on outside, just on the other side of the fortified walls – reminding me of my romantic ..

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…the ancient burial pyramid of Caius Cestius built circa 8-12BC originally located in the open countryside and later integrated into the expanded Roman fortifications of the Aurelian Walls ensuring is preservation through the ages – is what I was biking around today, taking advantage of the warm sun and blue sky, and what a cool, ..

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…is the hidden public park just around the corner which I have escaped to this morning – with sun shining and flu waning – named for the villa at it’s center, originally established in 1653 by Cardinal Antonio Barberini as a farm estate – which was then ultimately given to Benito Musolini with the proviso ..

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…the limited edition 150 foot long accordion book (with hand silk-screened covers by participating artists) documenting in words and photos the five years of events at my LA geodesic home was released last year by Evil Twin Publications and the publisher, designer, and editor, Stacy Wakefield has also shared PDF’s of the complete book online ..

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…can be watched in it’s entirety on a Youtube playlist featuring all nine seasons in 191 ten minute segments – which has been both the salvation and downfall of my very sick achy delirious day in bed – and at this point I think I am just watching it for the outfits. (..

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…is the 13 year old suburban midwestern fashionista who has taken the style world by storm with her Style Rookie blog – and today (day #2 in bed with the achy Influenza Romana) I am finding out more about her in an old September issue of the New Yorker that was laying around the American ..

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…is just below me, on Gianicolo hill, with a commanding view of the city, made with stone and marble taken from the ancient Forum of Nerva and granite columns from the original St. Peter’s Basilica, commissioned by Pope Paolo V Borghese (1605-1621), marking the terminus of the Roman aqueduct Acqua Traiana and still receiving it’s ..

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