V2 Day is here! Today is the second Vaffanculo Day across all of Italy and those celebrating it in the rest of the world. V2 Day is Beppe Grillo's social experiment to combat corruption in Italian politics and media. Today, thousands of Italians will join in Piazze across Italy to send a message to Italy's establishment. The message is crude but effective and will continue to serve as a wake-up call that Italians are ready for change.

You too can participate in V2-Day by becoming a virtual participant. After watching a video made specifically for this event on the Modern Italian Blog, join Beppe Grillo's struggle for unbiased journalism and free press in Italy.

"Il 25 aprile si terrà il V2 Day sulla libera informazione in un libero Stato. Il cittadino informato può decidere, il cittadino disinformato "crede" di decidere. Disinformare è il miglior modo per dare ordini. Si raccoglieranno le firme per tre referendum: l'abolizione dell'ordine dei giornalisti di Mussolini, presente solo in Italia, la cancellazione dei contributi pubblici all'editoria, che la rende dipendente dalla politica, e l'eliminazione della legge Gasparri sulla radiotelevisione, per un'informazione libera dal duopolio partiti-Mediaset." Beppe Grillo

Our friend and author Toni Lydecker is writing a cookbook on Sicilian-style fish and other seafood, and is interested in recipes and the stories that go with them-could be a family recipe or a great dish you had in a Sicilian home or restaurant. She's already covered for classics like pasta con le sarde but is still looking for unusual dishes or ones with a regional twist. Toni is also interested in recipes for Sicilian desserts, for a chapter at the end of the book-simple cakes, cooks, fruit desserts.

We would like you to support her efforts to find truly unique, Sicilian or Sicily-inspired dishes for her cookbook. She will provide the lucky people whose recipes are used in her fabulous cookbook with credit for the recipe and a special gift.

Most importantly, however, is for us to share our family secrets with others who are truly passionate about Italian culture!

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It's true- all Italian-Americans love meatballs, or, "polpette", so we thought that we'd share My Mom's recipe - handed down to her from Nani Bondanzia, with you.
Enjoy! - Matt Platania

You are welcome to share your recipes in the Modern Italian Mangiare! Microsite with other members.

Earlier this month, we introduced you to two budding Agriturismo entrepreneurs, Ashley and Jason, in the Marche region of Italy. La Tavola Marche is an agriturismo that offers a great place to stay and so much more. La Tavola Marche is run by a young passionate American couple who will cook for you, take you shopping in the local markets for the night's dinner, direct you to the best wines and cheese of the region, and if you wish, give you cooking lessons.

Since then, Ashley and Jason, have created a Modern Italian Microsite on our community website. Their microsite will provide their clients a place to upload their vacation photos, write about their vacation in Italy, and stay in touch with Ashley and Jason. You, too, will be able to communicate with their guests and directly with Ashley and Jason, to find out if a stay at their agriturismo would be something that you might try.

Ashley was kind enough to write, "Modern Italian Network has helped us connect with many Italians across the world & has become a fantastic networking opportunity! La Tavola Marche posts stories, recipes & day trips to help members of Modern Italian plan their next trip to Italy. It is a great place for our guests to share stories & pictures when they return home as well, helping other Members with recommendations! Modern Italian Network is for like-minded Italian lovers - from olives, politics, vino, cultures & oilio - it keeps me coming back for more!"

Mille grazie Ashley for your kind words. We encourage you to join La Tavola Marche's Microsite on Modern Italian Network!

We are very happy to offer you a place to keep all of your memories- both old and new- about your family. Our Modern Italian Family Microsites offer you the ability to create a website devoted to your family memories. You are welcome to use your own Family Microsite to:

• Create unlimited photo albums
• Upload copies of family documents
• Store and share family recipes
• Store and share family stories
• Invite all family members to participate
• Link to family videos
• Keep in contact with family through our messaging system
• Anything you can think of!!!

Please let us know if you would like to create your own family's microsite by emailing us below.