Why I love Italy

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Thursday, December 16, 2010 - 11:10 AM Share

An Italian astronaut preparing to launch into space from Kazakhstan is already complaining about the food. Wait until he actually gets into orbit: "Che succede? There is only one woman in space?"

Alaskan Dude/flickr

EXPLORE:EUROPE, CULTURE
 

CEOUNICOM

6:51 PM ET

December 16, 2010

""An Italian astronaut preparing to launch into space..."

... from Kazakhstan""

Why does this sound like the beginning of a joke also involving a Polish guy and a Jew?

Is this the one with the punchline, "FIRE!!"?

If I were being launched into space, I think I'd be worried about being launched from Kazakhstan. I think Space would be like, 'thanks, but no thanks. We can see where you came from. We don't think you're ready to be spreading yourself out into the universe quite yet.'

 

TOM RICKS

2:40 AM ET

December 18, 2010

Thanks, Pasaxe!

This sounds wonderful. I've never been to La Coruna, but I wish I had. Your note reminds me of a wonderful staff ride I went on a couple of years ago studying the Spanish Civil War. At the end of it, I was wandering in the market in Barcelona and found original Republican military maps from the war on sale for 5 Euros each. It was a little like finding Confederate maps of Gettysburg for $7. And then a wonderful seafood lunch on the waterfront.
Best,
Tom

 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military for the Washington Post from 2000 through 2008.

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