Miss Italia 2011

The winner of Miss Italia does not compete in Miss World or Miss Universe, however, it remains the most celebrated beauty title in Italy, the one which revealed names like Sofia Loren. Stefania Bivone, 18, Miss Calabria, was the winner of Miss Italia 2011, in yesterday’s final event, telecast live by RAI 1 for millions of people in Italy and in over 170 countries.

2011 Miss Italia a confronto – Francesca Testasecca vs Stefania Bivone

Popolo italiano, ricoperto di problemi fino al collo di ogni sorta, preoccupato per la crisi, per il lavoro, per il Pil che non cresce, per lo spread tra i bund tedeschi e i nostri vecchi cari bot caserecci che si impenna ad ogni piè sospinto, dedichiamoci dunque ad una analisi della minima importanza.

In uno slancio di massima futilità, alla fine di una giornata come tante, mettiamo a confronto le due miss italia 2010 e 2011.

Chi è meglio tra la miss italia 2010 Francesca Testasecca e l’appena eletta Stefania Bivone? In seguito a questo post alcune foto delle due miss, a documentare le due italiche bellezze.

2011 Miss Italia Ohio - Christina Selvaggio Stickan

Many young women entered the Miss Italia Ohio pageant hoping to be crowned with this prestigious title. All were beautiful, intelligent young women, but one stood out from the rest. She is Christina (Selvaggio) Stickan, this year's Miss Italia. 

In accepting her honor, Christina acknowledged the other entrants by saying "Everyone wins; we are all Italians!"

Christina is not new to awards. She received the Presidential, American Values and Alumni Scholarships at John Carroll University, the school where she received her B.A. degree. She is also the recipient of the Dorothy Taft Volunteer of the Year Award. This award is given by the Cuyahoga County Republican Party and is the highest volunteer award they give. 

When asked why she wanted to represent Italian-Americans in Cleveland her response was simply "One has only to walk through the Cleveland Italian Cultural Gardens to be reminded of the great contributions Italians have made to our world. It would be my honor to be named Miss Italia of Ohio so that I might proudly serve as an ambassador within my community to represent all things Italian!"

The judges felt the sincerity in her response. That coupled with her engaging personality and brilliant smile made her a natural for the title.

Christina is studying nursing at Cleveland State. Although she studies hard she also has a lot of other interests to keep her busy. She is a wonderful cook (Mom, Lucy Stickan, probably showed her the way to wonderful Italian cooking!) 

She can get physical or philosophical - she plays both the flute and volleyball. Her flute playing is the result of four years of studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Christina is a delightful woman with a charming combination of wit and wisdom. She is proud of being Italian and the Italians are proud of her. A conversation with Christina will quickly show you that faith and family are the center of her life.

Ohio and Italy can both be very proud of the selection of Christina Stickan as Miss Italia Ohio! She is a credit to both.

Alec Baldwin Decries Troy Davis Execution

The execution of Troy Davis last night drew widespread criticism, including from 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin, who did not hold back on Twitter today.

Never one to shy away from controversial subjects, Baldwin made sure that his disgust over the Georgia man's death was heard loud and clear.

Of Davis' execution, which occurred at 11.08 p.m. by lethal injection, despite a plea for clemency, "The anti-justice haters won tonight," Baldwin said.

The 53-year-old actor went on to make a stream of politically passionate comments that attracted both praise and criticism from Twitter followers.

He referred to the family of police officer Mark McPhail, who was gunned down rushing to the aid of a homeless man in a Burger King parking lot in 1989.

"Wonder if the MacPhail family will seek death penalty for US leaders who killed thousands of US soldiers and countless innocent Iraqis," tweeted Alec.

He then went on a Twitter rampage about his disgust in the execution of 42-year-old Davis, which was based on questionable eyewitness evidence.

"Every sensible American is appalled when police officer is killed. But the attendant charges are grave. U don't want 2 kill an innocent man."

"Troy Davis is still dead. The gulf, still contaminated. Fukushima, still radioactive. Iraq, war. #wecraveignorancesowecanshoplikeamericans"

He then went after conservative blogger Michelle Malkin,after she wrote: "Waiting for Hollyweirdo @alecbaldwin's "I am Troy Davis" tweet..."

To which he replied: "Davis is dead Does that make you happier, @michellemalkin?" He wasn't done there, hitting her with this comment:

"I wonder if @michellemalkin will push the needle in herself on a man the former FBI director said might have reasonable doubt on his side."
Baldwin, who has reportedly considered venturing into politics, was far from the only Hollywood star to weigh in on this cause celebre.
Following her messages of support to Daivs on Wednesday, Kim Kardashian was upset to wake up on Thursday and discover he was dead.
"Such an injustice!!!! Troy Davis was executed! My prayers are with the Davis Family! #RIPTroyDavis," the professional celebrity tweeted.

Troy Davis execution

 

The prisoner was put to death by lethal injection after a last-minute appeal to the US supreme court failed

Troy Davis denied clemency

 

One last way to take action to save Troy Davis’ life is to sign this petition from Amnesty International to Chatham County District Attorney, Larry Chisolm, who has the power to withdraw the death warrant and support clemency. Or contact the DA’s office directly at: Telephone: 912-652-7308 Fax: 912-652-7328. Also, call Judge Penny Freesemann at Telephone: 912-652-7252 who has to accept the DA’s withdrawal.

In a rather unsurprising but nonetheless ruthless move, Troy Davis, a man accused of a murder that he most likely did not commit, has been denied clemency from the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles from his sentence to death. Davis will be put to death tomorrow at 7pm thanks to Georgia’s draconian death penalty laws. The parole hearing was the last possible hope.

Christina Hendricks is going to Drive

Mad Men‘s Christina Hendricks has joined the cast of director Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive according to Variety.

Refn, whose last film, Valhalla Rising, has just been released on DVD in the UK, directs from a script adapted from James Sallis’ novel of the same name by Hossein Amini.  The film tells the story of.