Forever Mamma’s Boy: New York graphic designer Danielle Oteri recalls meeting a striking 28-year-old adonis at an eatery in Sicily and lingering over a romantic glass of wine. But just when sweet poetry began to flow from his lips, a cell phone erupted into song. “Ehm… just a minute,” he whispered. “It’s Mamma. She wants to know when I’ll be home.” For Oteri, the Italian stereotype of mammismo—the exaggerated bond between Italian men and their mothers—was confirmed. A whopping 37 percent of Italian men aged 30 to 34 still live with their parents. [Psychology Today]
Racial Shift in a Progressive City Spurs Talks: It has been true across the country: gentrification, which increases housing prices and tension, sometimes has racial overtones and can seem like a dirty word. Now Portland is encouraging black and white residents to talk about it, but even here in Sincere City, the conversation has been difficult. [NYT]
Singing their way to stardom: Auditions (and just goofing around) on MySpace and YouTube vault amateur rockers into gigs with storied bands. [CSM]
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