Gastronomy
Gastronomy
Eating is paramount.
First and most obviously, because it is highly likely that one dies if one doesn't eat, of course, but what I mean is --
eating well is paramount.
I believe you can tell who a person really is by observing what he or she
eats, how, and with whom.
We Italians like eating together Mumma's good
house cooking, in famiglia. It is especially important
not to be in a rush, because that would spoil the pleasure. Colours are
also very important, and abundance.
What I prefer is a good antipasto misto with plenty of grilled or dried
vegetables and some crostini al patè di funghi. Some affettati may
also be welcome, but it is not compulsory.
Next I want some pastasciutta, minestra or risotto. Again, I prefer something
with a basis of good, raw vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and garlic,
because then I just have to close my eyes and I feel like I'm seeing the
Mediterranean sea.
Contrary to what some people pretend, I'm not a heavy eater, and this should do,
but on Saturdays or Sundays, when there's plenty of time, we can also
have some meat or fish with -- again -- good, fresh vegetables cooked in a
tomato and garlic sauce or a fresh salad with a lemon dressing.
Then it's time to chat and relax while coffee gets going... by 'coffee' a mean
the real thing, a short black, and not the brownish brew you get in some
uncivilised countries.
This is it, the real Italian meal... 3,000 years of Mediterranean civilisation
summed up in 90 minutes of bliss!
I truly believe that you can spot evil people by looking at what they
eat... (like hamburgers!)
Sometimes, though, I do meet friends and eat with other people than close relatives!
Ideally, we would meet at a good, ethnic restaurant in the 11th or the 20th arrondissement, and have l'apéro while we wait for the usual late comer. My favourite combination is mauresque and kémia.
Role Playing
I started in 1982 with the basic D&D set and the very first
Munchkin adventures in Casus
Belli.
In the beginning, Role Playing was a kind of side hobby with
regard to War Gaming, my main hobby at the time, but then it
quickly became my favourite hobby.
A few links about my role playing stuff available on the internet
War gaming is also a long-time favourite; I started this hobby in 1981, and I still manage to play about once or twice a year (war gaming is time and room consuming!).
I shall give only two links:
Role playing and war gaming have obviously led me to History -- though it might have been the other way round :-)
Here are some useful mythology links:
Vexillology is the study of flags, both ancient and modern.
Music has always been a prime interest of mine.
Well, a real Italian like myself can only love playing cards. My all-time
fav, of course, is the
scopa (a.k.a. scopone), the quintessential Italian card game,
involving wits, humour, bluffing skills, and a good memory. Checking what
your opponents are trying to tell each other might also help ;-)
I prefer reading books, but sometimes I fancy a good graphic
novel or comic strip. I like almost everything: French and
Belgian bandes dessinées, American comic strips, Japanese
manga... the only thing I don't like are super-hero comics (except Spider-Man).
Rugby is the best sport one could conceive.
More hobbies soon...
Over the years I collected an impressive amount of rolegames.
Here's the whole list (it would be too long
for this page!)
Lo Temps dels Trobadors, a story-telling role playing game set in mediaeval Occitania at the time of the Albigensian Crusade.
Atrilia - Le jeu de rôle, a fantasy role playing game set in the
World of Holobar
and whose rules are based upon the BRPS (the system used in Call of Cthulu, RuneQuest, and other Chaosium rolegames)
BaSIC Chine impériale, yet another fantasy role playing game; this one is set in Imperial China and also uses the BRPS 'engine'.
The Scripta Planorum, a set of gaming aids for the Planescape setting
War Gaming
I have tried countless games, and own a few ones, but my favourite tend to
be simple, fast-to-learn generic systems.
WW II war games used to be hot in the 80's, but to-day's trend has shifted toward Ancient and Mediaeval battles,
which is all the better IMHO. Such games tend to stress game mechanics over sheer luck, and are really a pleasure to play.
I've also started wondering whether hexes are really necessary... so I might be trying miniature war gaming one day.
Here's a list of all the war games (and board games) that I own:
I also own many games from war gaming magazines like Vae Victis,
S&T and Casus Belli.
History and Religion
I love history and spend way too much money on history books that I might as well get at the
local library. My interest is at its highest when
Ancient Egypt is involved, but I am also interested in the history of Imperial China, Ancient Greece, Italy (the Etruscans and the Romans), Central Europe, Occitania and Eastern Africa.
I'm also into mythology and the history of the
major world religions. I'm especially interested in the way religions portray the afterlife.
Encyclopædia Mythica -- the best!
Myths and Legends, a mythology site
A site about Chinese religions.
Vexillology
I can't think of anybody interested in history who isn't also
interested in flags. After all, flags have accompanied man through history (the first flag, from Persia, being 5,000 years old).
Moreover, flags are colourful and most of them can be associated with important events: victories, hope, despair, gloom.
You can find some flags, both common and uncommun, on my
index page.
Music
At the moment, thanks to MetalPunk Sweden, I am re-discovering old punk favourites.
Cards
The coinche is also interesting, especially after a few glasses of
pastis.
As you see, I prefer traditional games over the newest trendy CCG's. As a
PlaneScape fan, however, I do play Blood Wars. It's quite enjoyable, and
it is sometimes reminescent of war gaming, so it's OK.
Comics, Manga, Fumetti, Bandes dessinées
At the moment, there is a kind of nouvelle vague of talented, young French authors: Trondheim, Blutch, Sfar... check 'em out!
Rugby Union
It is fast-paced yet leaves plenty of space to strategy and tactics, and a good rugby side needs unity much more than brilliant individuals (to the contrary of footie, where a brilliant striker may save a poor side).
I wish rugby were more present on tellie, but then it might get spoiled by money, as so many other sports have been. So maybe the present situation is ok after all.
My favourite sides are Italy (of course!), France (which should really be named Occitania!) and Stade Toulousain.
