The broken violin

We all know that a violin is used to make sounds; at least since the great lutist in Cremona Stradivari and great genoan player Paganini have showed the world how enjoyble is to hear its music. They must be tossing and turning in their graves, knowing the way British Airways treats musicians and their instruments. 
As matter of fact, like reported by her friend Sara Avery,  B.A. forced a violin player flying for concerts with the above named flying company,  to check her violin. (Their policy doesn't allow instruments over 56 cm/22 in in length on board. Her only choices were to check it, leave it behind despite needing it for practicing + getting routine maintenance in the US, or forfeit a $3,000 plane ticket and perhaps her last chance to visit her elderly mother.)
2. They smashed it to bits.
3. They are paying her less than 1/4 of the appraised replacement value.
Until #BritishAirways changes their policy, it is not safe for musicians to fly BA with their instruments.
As a lawyer I'm not so sure that the way B.A. has behaved is utterly correct!
At least, according to italian law, the story shows a negligent and faulty behaviour to be blamed on charge of the international flying vector, though is reported that British Airways employees have made up their decisions against the safety of the Sara's friend's violin, obeyng, it's reported,  to their own regulation.
Nevertheless I would listen to a specialized lawyer, in order to find out if such rules, as those applied by B.A.,  are in line with good faith and right care which are required to any contractor all over in the world.

Berlin today

I've recently gone  to Berlin. Just a couple of days to break on the daily routine and take a breath outside the ordinary affairs.
It must sound evident, even lapalissian, that when you go somewhere, abroad or anywherelse, you are still yourself.
Nevertheless there is something new and different on you, when you are somewhwerelse from your ordinary space life.
I can't exactly say what this difference consists of,  but anyway you can feel it.
Every place, as matter of fact, has got its own imprint, a sort of sensitive character or personality.
May be is the astral conjunction or simply the geographic location; it might be the sorrounding's effect or, if you believe on it, the spirits of the good and  evil people already gone, but previously living there.
The ancient used to call it "The genius loci" which can be translated as "The character of the place" or something like that.
In Berlin that particular genius is made of open spaces, discretion, courtesy, a german spirit of efficient and steady intelligence and open sympathy.
I also felt the shadow of a wall, hanging somewhere, like a vagabond phantom searching for answers still to be given.
The same answers the poet searchs when he asks why people very often make their own way out of peaceful brotherhood.
Germans are now our brother in the name of Europe, in the name of Christianity, in the name of the common belonging to this place called  Earth Planet; but yesterday there were even two different kinds of Germans: eastern and western Germans!
The genius of Berlin is young, fresh, enjoyable!
Yes, you can enjoy Berlin!!!

What life is for - IV and V

Scene IV

(Soon after a clock beats up five o’clock, someone knocks at the entrance door)

 

Francesco (detaching himself)

            - Someone has knocked at the door! May be  Max is back.

Brenda (going  to open the door)

-  He often forgets his own  keys when I’m at home, though I’m  waiting for someone at five o’clock!

Jonathan(Enters with a bag on his shoulder)

-Hello Brenda! Where’s old Max! I got a present for him in this bag!!!

Brenda (with surprise)

-It’s you, Jon?!? Welcome!! Max is coming back soon! Leave your present in your bag, please!  I want to introduce to you a good italian friend of ours…….

Scene V

After they hear knocking at the door, Brenda goes to open it

(Enter  Inspector Green and his two policemen)

Insp. Green (while entering, showing his badge)

-Everybody keep steady, please! That’s a legal search! (to Jonathan) And you Norman or Vincent or  whatever   you have been named in your fucking Jamaica,  give us that bag!!! 

Jonathan ( still with his hand in the bag)

-I don’t think there is nothing interesting a legal search in my bag!!!

Insp. Green ( with sarcastic smile)

-Don’t worry about that, maroon! It’s up to us  the valuation, isn’t it boys???

First PM

-Come on , young boy! Don’t make the Inspector been upset…

Second PM

            - And I’m also very nervous indeed!!!

Jonathan

-I’m telling you that there is only a present for my friend’s Max birthday!!!!

Insp. Green(still sarcastic)

-Well! Why not? A very good present from Jamaica…

First PM (getting closer and grabbing Jon’s bag)

-Let’s see your present…

Second PM (drawing the pack out )

-I’ll try a guess! It weighs  a pound…more and less

Insp. Green (tearing off the paper)

-Bloody Hell! Someone is kidding up!!! What does this book here mean  ?

Jonathan (catching the paper from the floor in a very nervous voice)

-I believe I’ve told you a few times before, haven’t I? I hope you have some good paper to wrap it up again!!!!

First PM (grabbing the book)

-The Trilogy of Don Juan!!

Second PM (sneering)

-Who is going to read such a boring thing?!?

Jonathan (grabbing violently the book from his hands)

-I doubt you would be  able to understand an only word of it!!!

Insp. Green (emptying the bag’s content on the floor)

-Well ! OK! Let’s stop messing around! You give us the stuff and we all be all right? Where is that pound of grass from Jamaica?

Jonathan (always  angrier collecting his things from the floor)

-Listen to me now! My name is Jonathan Close! J, o, n, ‘you know? Without any h! My father is Jew ‘ you know? Though I can reasonably suppose that my ancestor’s bones rest in the English ground much  before than yours’s! When in life they were famous for other pounds of different stuff….now  if you’re looking for any grass either you go in to my house’s lawn or you catch a plane right to your beloved Jamaica, all right???

Insp. Green

            - All right! You have well played your role, young boy! Just collect your things and let’s work out our business!! Who is the landlord here?