January 23, 2008: Italian ball pit!

[Flint]

Originally Posted by morie

calling it a political protest is understandable; calling it art is bullshit. like most modern art is.

Right, because art is only art if it's an oil painting, and it's of something specific, and it looks exactly like the thing it's supposed to be. Art isn't supposed to make you think. Art isn't to make you feel a certain way. Any so-called "artist" who manages to arouse a reaction in a person's mind in a non-traditional manner should be refered to by their real name: a terrorist. They need to go back to art school and learn how to paint pictures of bowls of fruit that look just like real bowls of fruit. Because that has real value.

[lumberjim]

I don't know why people have to be so goddamned sarcastic every time they talk about bowls of fruit. I mean, what the fuck did bowls of fruit ever do to you people? what the fuck is wrong with painting their portrait? And calling it a Still Life is such a crime? Get all excited and go to a Yawning festival.

[Flint]

The only bowl of fruit around here is your cranium!

[deadbeater]

You should have a picture or video two depicting the balls rolling down the Spanish Steps.
Here it is.

[Sundae]

Interesting.
But for me, neither art nor protest should disaccommodate people who haven't caused the problem. I'd be quite irritated if I were a street sweeper cleaning that up - yeah thanks mate, more work for those of us at the bottom of the pile.

Now releasing them into the Senate - yes, that would be fun. But they provide their own entertainment in there:

Nuccio Cusumano was one of three senators who had defected to the opposition earlier in the week. So convinced was he by Mr Prodi's last stand that he stood to announce he was breaking with his party and returning to the prime minister's side.

His colleagues in the Udeur party set upon him with calls of "traitor" resounding around the chamber.

He was even spat upon and, after collapsing in his seat with the tears welling in his eyes, he was carried out of the hall on a stretcher.

And a similar fate was awaiting the government. While the votes were being counted it looked increasingly bad - in the end they were five short. The final result was 161 votes to the opposition's 156.

Those who support opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi could hardly subdue their glee.

There were cheers around the Senate as some pulled out bottles of champagne, popping corks, much to the disgust of the Senate Speaker and no doubt a good part of the country.