Italian Girls

The Italian Girl
1st edition cover
Author	Iris Murdoch
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Chatto and Windus
Publication date	1964
Media type	Print (Hardback &Paperback)
Pages	224 pp (hardback edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0-7011-0977-7(hardback edition)
OCLC Number	2206219

Italian Girls,

The Italian Girl is a novel by Iris Murdoch, first published in 1964.

Plot introduction

Edmund has escaped from his family into a lonely life. Returning for his mother's funeral he finds himself involved in the same awful problems, together with some new ones. He also rediscovers the eternal family servant, the ever-changing "Italian girl".

Plot summary

Edmund Narraway returns to his family home, an old rectory in the north of England, for the cremation of his mother, Lydia. His brother, Otto, probably drunk, starts giggling during the service, and has to be taken outside. Edmund is disgusted rather than scandalised, yet he immediately finds himself fascinated by Otto's daughter, his own niece, who is now a teenager and, for the first time since Edmund last saw her, sexually mature. After the service Isabel, Otto's apparently neurotic wife, attempts to involve Edmund in her small and frustrated life. He at first refuses. When Edmund later talks to his self-pitying brother, he detects evidence of a sexual tension between Otto and his apprentice David Levkin. Isabel, Otto and Flora all implore Edmund to stay and help them, each for a different reason. In each case, Edmund seems at first untempted, reluctant to get involved, and aware of his own impotence against their troubles. It is finally Flora who gives Edmund a real reason, or excuse, to stay. She confides in him that she is pregnant by another student, and has only him to rely on for assistance. One by one, each character in the house manages to enveigle Edmund in a series of confessions, exposés and almost farcical in flagrante delicto discoveries. Edmund, though sexually aloof and anodyne now seems, somewhat contradictorily, highly prone to getting involved and seeing himself as an integral part of everyone else's problem, if not the means to a solution. He cuts a slightly preposterous and contemptible figure, ever more so as each character, led by David Levkin and Flora, respectively devilish and vituperative, make evident their disgust for him.

Midway through the story we have learnt that Otto is having an affair with Elsa, David's sister; Isabel and her daughter Flora have both had affairs with David, and it is he who made Flora pregnant; 'Maggie', the Italian girl, whose actual name is Maria Magistretti and who was nursemaid to Otto and Edmund, had been having a lesbian affair with Lydia, their recently deceased mother and, it transpires, she is the sole beneficiary of Lydia's will.

After all these 'secret' relationships have been revealed, Otto's response is to send David and Elsa Levkin packing. Elsa, in despair, reacts by setting fire to herself and the house. She dies, the house survives. At this surprising turn of events Otto and Edmund now seem reconciled, perhaps in misery, perhaps in astonishment. Similarly, Otto and David act civilised towards each other, and Edmund and David begin to talk honestly and respectfully to each other for the first time. David departs, leaving instructions for Elsa's funeral.

The fire and Elsa's death seem to have had a cathartic effect on everyone. Isabel finds her independence and leaves Otto. She joyfully announces that she too is pregnant by David. Flora, who ran away from home at the climax now returns to look after her rather helpless father Otto. Maggie generously agrees to split the inheritance equally with Edmund and Otto, and allows Otto to keep the house. The fire damage, incidentally, is all covered by insurance.

To crest this unexpected wave of redemption Edmund discovers that he has always actually been in love with Maria and she, conveniently, has always been in love with him. The book closes with them preparing to travel by car to Rome.

Characters in "The Italian Girl"

Edmund Narraway – (the narrator) abstemious, puritan, fastidious and bloodless. Edmund is an engraver who lives alone in a flat somewhere in the south of England. He has had moderate success in his career, but has not come close to rivalling his more famous and more talented father, John Narraway, who has been dead for several years when the story begins. At the end of the book he awakens to long-concealed emotions.

Otto Narraway – (Edmund's brother) self-pitying, dissolute, desolate and addictive. Otto is a sculptor and stonemason whose self-destructive tendencies have probably helped to ruin his career. He is now dependent on the income he derives from carving gravestones for the local village, though even this is not enough to sustain him. He lives in tense counterpoise with his mother, wife and daughter in the family home.

Isabel Narraway – (Otto's wife) desperate, neurotic, depressed and manipulative. Isabel was resented and psychologically tortured by Lydia Narraway, her mother-in-law, and appears to have been beaten senseless by the punishment. She eventually overcomes this, regains independence and is infused by optimism.

Flora Narraway – (Otto's daughter) tempetuous, erotic, haughty and vicious. Flora has recently started attending a local technical college, studying textile design, for which she has 'a small talent'. She matures and learns to accept responsibility for both herself and others.

Maria Magistretti 'Maggie' – watchful, cagy, removed and circumspect. Maggie is the last in a long line of interchangeable and unrecognised Italian nursemaids who were tasked with bringing up Otto and Edmund. She has stayed on, apparently sacrificing herself to the family. She harbours a secret yearning, sublimated for years, but which is finally satisfied.

David Levkin – (Otto's apprentice) puckish, devious, amoral and provocateur. David, like Maggie, is the last in a line, in his case of thieving and untalented apprentices to Otto. He has first seduced Isabel and then, to torture her, done the same to her daughter Flora. He deceives for his own perverse sense of pleasure, but finally is shocked into maturity.

Elsa Levkin – (David's sister) promiscuous, earthy, and apparently insane and delusional. Elsa appears to be an irrational being driven by sensuous appetites and curiously intense and imaginative self-delusions. Much of this is David's manipulation of others' perceptions of her. We never quite know what drives Elsa, other than a profound despair at the loss of Otto.

[edit]Major themes

The major theme of The Italian Girl is that of resolution and redemption. The final chapters of the book are so heavily steeped in this theme that they have the flavour of a morality play. Good replaces evil. Solutions appear to be problems, and characters develop extra dimensions that enable them to cope, perhaps even to thrive. Secrets are revealed, honesty pervades. A claustrophobic convergence is replaced by divergence and optimism. Characters even set off to romantic or familiar destinations.

(source:wikipedia)

Searchers look for lost boy at park near Florence

A search for a 5-year-old boy missing at a state park along the Oregon coast expanded Thursday with teams from two counties working to find him.

Isaak Glenn of Veneta was last seen playing on a wooded hillside with other children behind a campsite early Wednesday evening in view of adults when they noticed he had disappeared.

Lane County sheriff's Deputy Wade Martin was coordinating the search efforts in and around the campground with assistance from Lincoln County.

Oregon State Police detectives and troopers were interviewing everyone who stayed overnight at the Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park campground, which had no vacancies for the 70 recreational vehicle, trailer and tent sites.

Officials said the ocean shore was only about a quarter mile west of the campground but they did not believe the boy traveled in that direction.

About 30 police officers, Lane County deputies, firefighters, state parks employees and volunteers searched for the boy Wednesday night as temperatures dropped into the 50s.

Isaak was described as white, about 3-foot-6 and 45 pounds, with bright red hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue T-shirt, gray shorts and flip-flop sandals.

His parents described him as outgoing, smart, friendly and energetic. They told police he enjoys the outdoors but is not considered a risk taker.

KCST-FM reported that officials were waiting for morning clouds to burn off to add a helicopter to the search.

(source:democratherald)

BREAKING NEWS: 5 year old boy from Veneta missing north of Florence has been found

Florence (KMTR) Isaak Glenn was found safe at approximately 1:10 p.m. by two men driving on a dirt road near Big Creek north of the campground.

He has been reunited with his family and medical personnel are being dispatched to evaluate Isaak. Other than some obvious scratches, Isaak quickly ate a sandwich and drank some water after being brought to the campground by the people who found him.

_____________________________

Florence (KMTR) The search for 5-year old Isaak Benjamin Glenn is continuing Thursday afternoon under the direction of the Lane County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Unit. Glenn was reported missing Wednesday afternoon after he was last seen playing with other kids on a wooded hill behind a campsite at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park about 12 miles north of Florence. A TIP line has been established to help locate the missing child. Anyone with information is asked to call 888-780-5678.

Lane County Sheriff's Deputy Wade Martin is coordinating the search efforts that started in and around the campground. The search is now extending outside of the campground involving search and rescue personnel from Lane County and Lincoln County. Approximately 25 searchers are in the area assisted by two canines. Weather conditions have improved allowing a US Coast Guard helicopter to assist with the search.

Deputy Martin appreciates the concern of local citizens asking if they can help, but at this time they have adequate, trained personnel searching in the area.

Oregon State Police detectives and troopers have completed interviewing campers in the campground which had no vacancies for the 70 recreational vehicle, trailer and tent sites. The camp is closed temporarily for new campers interesting in staying at this campground. Questions regarding camping availability at the Washburne campground should be directed to State Parks & Recreation.

A Missing Person bulletin has been prepared and is being distributed and posted at various locations during the day.

Isaak Benjamin Glenn is described as a white male, 3 ft. 6 in. tall, weighing 40 – 45 pounds. He has red hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, gray shorts with possible white stripe down each side, and flip-flop style sandals. ISAAK's parents described him as outgoing, smart, friendly and energetic. He enjoys the outdoors but is not considered a risk taker. With his bright red hair, they said he "sticks out in a crowd like a sore thumb."

_____________________

Florence (KMTR) - Approximately 30 police officers, fire personnel, state parks employees and citizens are searching for a 5-year-old boy last seen late Wednesday afternoon playing with other kids at Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park north of Florence.

According to Oregon State Police Sergeant Andy Kenyon, Isaac Benjamin Glenn from Veneta arrived at the state park with family friends earlier in the day and was reportedly playing with several other children near their campsite when one of the children noticed he was not around.

Family friends assisted by several other campers and the park camp hosts immediately started searching around the park but were unable to find the boy. Oregon State Police was notified about 30 minutes later and four troopers responded. Siuslaw Fire Department personnel also responded to help coordinate the search efforts. Lane County Search & Rescue personnel arrived at the park late Wednesday. Thursday morning, search dogs joined in the effort.

Isaac Benjamin Glenn is described as a white male, 3 ft. 6 in. tall, weighing 40 – 45 pounds. He has red hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, gray shorts and flip-flop style sandals. His parents were notified and drove from their home to the state park to help.

Conditions in the area Wednesday night were described as foggy with temperatures in the 50's.

Isaak’s family has turned to Facebook as a resource, urging people to spread the word and post Isaak's picture. The Facebook page is simply called "Find Lost Child: Isaak Glenn." It features his picture, recent news reports and emergency contact information. There is also a plea posted from the family, for people to post Isaak's disappearance as their own Facebook status updates, and to post his picture as much as possible.

Since it appeared Thursday morning, the number of friends on the Facebook page has been growing.

(Source:kmtr.com)

Ilary Blasi

Ilary Blasi profile,

Ilary Blasi (born 28 April 1981) is an Italian showgirl and model.

Born in Rome, she started her career at the age of three in an Italian commercial. When she was five years old she got her first part in the film David and David; then, at the age of six, she starred in Da grande by Franco Amurri and in Vizio di vivere by Dino Risi. Afterwards she worked in Fiori di zucca (1988) by Stefano Pomicia and La dolce casa degli orrori (1989) by Lucio Fulci.

After some other television programmes, she became a soubrette of Passaparola (Password). Then she started to work for RAI in programs such as Top of the pops, CD live and Che tempo che fa.

In 2006 she was the co-host of Festival di Sanremo, then worked again for Mediaset in the program Festivalbar with Cristina Chiabotto.

From 2007 to 2010, she was working on Italia 1's hit show Le Iene with Luca Bizzarri and Paolo Kessisoglu. She also featured in Italian television commercials, advertising telecommunications.

Personal life

She is the second of three sisters; her older sister's name is Silvia and her younger sister's Melory. She married Italian football star Francesco Totti on June 19, 2005; they have a son, Cristian (born on November 6, 2005), and a daughter, Chanel (born on May 13, 2007).

(source:wikipedia)

Miss America

Miss America,

The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The winner of the national pageant is awarded the title of "Miss America" for one year.

The pageant originated as a beauty contest in 1921, but now prefers to avoid this term since Swimsuit and Evening Wear comprise 35 percent of the overall score used to judge contestants. The pageant began in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was held there each year in September through 2004 (except for the year 2001, when it was held on October 14).

In January 2006 the pageant moved to its new home and time in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pageant presents itself as a "scholarship pageant," and the primary prizes for the winner and her runners-up are scholarships to the institution of her choice. The Miss America Scholarship program, along with its local and state affiliates, is the largest provider of scholarship money to young women in the world, and in 2006 made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. Since most of the contestants are college graduates already, or on the verge of graduating, most of their prize money is devoted to graduate school or professional school, or to pay off student loans for courses already taken. The Miss America Scholarship Program, along with its State and Local affiliates, is the largest provider of college scholarships for women in the United States.

History

Margaret Gorman was the very first Miss America Pageant winner in 1921.

The Miss America competition originated on September 8, 1921, as a two-day beauty contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event that year was still called the Atlantic City Pageant, and the winner of the grand prize, the 3-foot Golden Mermaid trophy, wasn't even called "Miss America" until 1922, when she re-entered the pageant. The pageant was initiated in an attempt to keep tourists in Atlantic City after the Labor Day weekend.

In 1935, Talent was added to the competition. At the time, non-white women were barred from competing, a restriction that was codified in the pageant's "Rule number seven," which stated that "contestants must be of good health and of the white race." No African American women participated until 1970, although African Americans did appear in musical numbers as far back as 1923, when they were cast as slaves. Until at least 1940, contestants were required to complete a biological questionnaire tracing their ancestry.

In the early years of the pageant, a beauty competition of the women wearing bathing suits was the main event. Yolande Betbeze, Miss America 1951, refused to pose for publicity pictures while wearing a swimsuit, citing that she wanted to be recognized as a serious opera singer. Catalina swimwear, one of the Miss America sponsors, withdrew and created the Miss USA/Universe pageants.

The 1955 pageant was the first to be televised; the winner was Lee Meriwether. In 1959, Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon, Mississippi won the Miss Mississippi title and then went on to win the Miss America pageant. The next year, her successor as Miss Mississippi (Lynda Lee Mead of Natchez) also went on to win the Miss America title. The only states to have produced Miss Americas in consecutive years are Pennsylvania (1935 and 1936), Mississippi (1959 and 1960), and Oklahoma (2006 and 2007). Mary Katherine Campbell, Miss Columbus, Ohio, won in both 1922 and 1923 before the rules were changed to limit an entrant to participating in only one year.

The pageant has been nationally televised since 1954. It peaked in the early 1960s, when it was repeatedly the highest-rated program on American television. It was seen as a symbol of the United States, with Miss America often being referred to as the female equivalent of the President. The pageant stressed conservative values; contestants were not expected to have ambitions beyond being a good wife (there is also a Mrs. America pageant). For decades it was, practically speaking, a pageant for young white women, though by the 1980s black women were winning the crown. Since the 1980s seven black women have been crowned Miss America.

With the rise of feminism and the civil rights movement the pageant became a target of protests, and its audience began to fade. The 1968 protest, in which a group of feminists on the Atlantic City boardwalk crowned a live sheep Miss America and threw various beauty accoutrements, such as bras, into a trash can, shocked many people. They planned to burn the beauty accoutrements, but police warned them that it would be dangerous, because they were standing on a wooden boardwalk. People who knew about the plans, but did not know that the bras were not burned, started the story that feminists "burned bras." The brochure distributed at the protest, "No More Miss America," was later canonized in feminist scholarship. In the 1970s it began to change, admitting blacks and encouraging a new type of professional woman. This was symbolized by the 1974 victory of Rebecca Ann King, a law student who publicly supported legalization of abortion in the United States while Miss America.

Still, ratings flagged. In an attempt to create a younger image, Bert Parks, the pageant's famous emcee from 1955 to 1979, was dismissed. Parks had virtually become an American icon, singing the show's signature song, "There She Is, Miss America" as the newly-crowned Miss America took her walk down the ramp at the end of each year's pageant. His dismissal prompted public criticism; in protest, Johnny Carson organized a letter-writing campaign to reinstate Parks, but it was unsuccessful. Former TV Tarzan and host of "Face The Music", Ron Ely, hosted the pageant that year but was gone the next. Since Parks' departure, many have taken on the role of Miss America TV host. Since Ely, pageant hosts have included Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford, Gary Collins and Mary Ann Mobley (herself a former Miss America), Meredith Vieira, Boomer Esiason, Wayne Brady, Mario Lopez and James Denton. Mario Lopez hosted the 2009 pageant.

In 1984, Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America, but resigned from her duties in scandal. The job was subsequently filled by first runner-up Suzette Charles who carried out the remaining seven weeks as Miss America 1984. Both women are now included on the canonical list of Miss America laureates; Williams is officially designated Miss America 1984 and Charles is officially designated Miss America 1984b. She was also as such the first African-American woman to win the crown.

Many Miss America winners live on in relative obscurity, but Vanessa Williams has made an internationally prominent career as a singer selling millions of albums worldwide and achieving critical acclaim as an actress on stage, in film and on television. Others who have had prominent careers in show business include Bess Myerson, Mary Ann Mobley, Lee Meriwether, and Phyllis George. 1989 winner Gretchen Carlson went on to have a career in television journalism. 1973 winner Terry Meeuwsen went on to co-host the Christian talk show The 700 Club. Myerson, who was the first (and to date only) Jewish Miss America, was selected in 1945, in the face of official antisemitism, including a request by pageant director Lenora Slaughter that she change her name to one less Jewish-sounding.

In the 1990s, the pageant was reformed into The Miss America Organization, a not-for-profit corporation with three divisions: the Miss America Pageant, a scholarship fund, and the Miss America foundation.

In 1991, for the 70th anniversary of the Miss America pagaent, Parks was brought on by host Gary Collins to sing "There She Is." It was the last time Parks performed this song live before his death the following year.

Since the pageant's peak in the early 1960s, its audience has eroded significantly. In 2004, when its audience fell to fewer than 10 million viewers, its broadcaster, ABC, decided to drop the pageant. "Broadcasters show data proving that the talent show and the interviews, the pageant's answers to feminist criticism, were the least popular portions of the pageant, while the swimsuit part still had the power to bring viewers back from the kitchen," said New York Times reporter Iver Peterson. "So pageant officials - who still require chaperons for contestants when they are in Atlantic City - are thinking about showing a little more."

In 2005 the pageant announced a new television agreement with MTV Networks' Country Music Television. In addition to the move to CMT, there was a switch in the pageant's schedule from September to January 21, 2006, and a move away from Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall after 85 years to the Las Vegas Strip and the Theatre for the Performing Arts at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The show was hosted by James Denton, a star of the television show Desperate Housewives. The pageant remained in Las Vegas for 2007 and was again broadcast on CMT. In March 2007, it was announced that CMT no longer chose to broadcast the pageant from 2008.Discovery Networks then picked up the pageant a few months after to air in January on TLC, along with an associated show, Countdown to the Crown which aired on Friday nights leading up to the actual 2009 pageant. On January 30, 2010, the pageant was again staged at Las Vegas's Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. On January 29, 2010 TLC aired a one hour preview show at 10:00pm titled Miss America: Behind the Curtain, which featured some of the contestants and some of the preliminary round competition. This show was hosted by Clinton Kelly and former Miss America Susan Powell and was rebroadcast at 7:00pm, one hour before the live (EST) pageant coverage on January 30th.

Due to the altered schedule, Miss America 2005, Alabama's Deidre Downs, reigned for 16 months instead of the usual 12. She was only the second longest-reigning Miss America: in the early days of the pageant, Mary Katherine Campbell from Ohio won the pageant twice, in 1922 and again in 1923. Campbell was also first-runner-up in the 1924 pageant, and when the judge's scores revealed that she had almost won the crown a third time, the pageant created a new rule that a contestant may only win the title of Miss America once (but still allowed a contestant to compete more than once.) Later on, the rule was changed so that a contestant may only compete in the Miss America pageant once, whether or not she wins the title.

In the last 51 years of Miss America (through 2008), 27 winners have been blonde, 12 were brown-haired, 9 were black-haired, and 3 were red-haired. The average number of steps that a contestant takes during a pageant day is 8939, according to organizers. Several Miss Americas travel in excess of 20,000 miles a month making personal appearances. Many have earned over $100,000 in personal appearance fees during their reign.

National Sweetheart

Though not officially connected with the Miss America pageant, since the 1940s, first runners-up from Miss America's state pageants have been invited to the National Sweetheart pageant in Hoopeston, Illinoins

1) Personal Interview In the Personal Interview portion of the competition each contestant converses with the judges on a variety of topics, from frivolous trivia to serious political and social issues. The contestant is awarded points for being well spoken, polite, articulate, and confident. This competition is less known by the general public than other aspects of the pageant, since unlike the other three, it does not take place on a theater stage, nor is it usually televised. The Personal Interview counts for 25 percent of the contestant's overall score.

2) Talent In the Talent portion of the competition the contestant performs on stage before the judges and an audience. The most common talents are singing or dancing, but a variety of other talents may be exhibited at the contestant's choosing; some have demonstrated juggling, playing musical instruments, ventriloquism, quick-draw painting. The Talent portion of the competition counts for 35% of the contestant's overall score.

3) Lifestyle & Fitness in Swimsuit In the Swimsuit portion of the competition contestants walk on the stage in swimsuits and high-heeled shoes. The Miss America pageant regulates certain minimum standards of modesty the swimwear must comply with. Judging for this portion of the competition focuses on overall physical fitness, poise and posture. Until recently, the contestants were required to wear identical, somewhat dated, one-piece suits. Recently, the organization has allowed contestants to choose their own more revealing two-piece suits, bikinis, or more modern one-piece suits. In 1996 the pageant held a phone-in poll asking the public to weigh in on whether or not the Swimsuit competition should be continued. A staggering 87% voted to retain the swimsuit portion. The Swimsuit competition counts for 15% of the contestant's overall score.

4) Evening Wear In the Evening Wear portion of the competition, the contestants are judged on poise and bearing as they walk across the stage. The Evening Wear portion of the competition counts for 20% of the contestant's overall score.

5) Onstage Question During the Evening Wear competition the contestants are asked a random question from a pre-determined list that they must then answer onstage with no preparation. Questions are topical and usually involve current events. The questions require the contestant to have knowledge of the event and provide an opinion. The Onstage Question counts for 5% of the contestant's total score

A casual wear section was added to the Miss America competition in 2003, and was filtering down to state and local competitions; however, the "casual wear" section was canceled in 2006 and is no longer in use at any level of the Miss America Program.

Winners

List of Miss America titleholders

Kirsten Haglund, Miss America 2008

Year Miss America State Represented

2010 Caressa Cameron Virginia

2009 Katie Stam Indiana

2008 Kirsten Haglund Michigan

2007 Lauren Nelson Oklahoma

2006 Jennifer Berry Oklahoma

2005 Deidre Downs Alabama

2004 Ericka Dunlap Florida

2003 Erika Harold Illinois

2002 Katie Harman Oregon

2001 Angela Perez Baraquio Hawaii

2000 Heather French Kentucky

Hosts

Bob Russell: 1940-1946, 1948-1950, 1954

Bert Parks: 1955-1979

~ and Bess Myerson: 1964-1967

~ and Phyllis George: 1975-1978

~ and Mary Ann Mobley: 1979

Ron Ely and Dorothy Benham: 1980-1981

Gary Collins: 1982-1991

~ and Mary Ann Mobley: 1985-1988

~ and Phyllis George: 1989-1991

Regis Philbin: 1992-1996

~ and Kathie Lee Gifford: 1992-1995

Eva LaRue and John Callahan: 1997

Boomer Esiason and Meredith Vieira: 1998

Donny and Marie Osmond: 1999-2000

Tony Danza: 2001

Wayne Brady: 2002

Tom Bergeron: 2003-2004

Chris Harrison: 2005

James Denton: 2006

Mark Steines: 2008

Mario Lopez 2007, 2009-2010

Television broadcasters

ABC: 1954-1956

CBS: 1957-1965

NBC: 1966-1996

ABC: 1997-2005

CMT: 2006-2007

TLC: 2008-2010

(source:wikipedia)