How do you say "pig" in Italian?

Italy has delectable food, inspirational artwork, a romantic language ... and a prime minister who is embarrassing a country which should have oodles of national pride.

Silvio Berlusconi has been in some trouble before, but he's really outdone himself this time! He's not just a womanizer, that's for amateurs. Nope, he's now going to trial in the spring, accused of paying nightclub dancer Karima el-Mahroug, who was under the age of 18 at the time, for sex.

In case you're wondering, he's almost 75.

Her stage name? Ruby Heart-Stealer. Yah, she stole Silvio's heart AND his mind, and turned them into spaghetti! What, if anything, was he thinking!? Oh, and she doesn't just steal hearts and minds of addled old perverted men ... Berlusconi is also accused of using his political power to help free her when she'd been charged with real theft.

Now, ol' Silvio has spent a fair share of his life in courtrooms, but never for anything quite this sordid. Tax evasion and bribing judges kind of pales by comparison to the sleaze factor going on now!

So how DO you say "pig" in Italian? Il maiale. Funny how closely that phrase resembles "ill male," huh??? ;)

'Till next time, 'cause sadly there's always another one ........

Taffy