Italian-American

Gaga's voice is solid and, when she played the piano and sang on Saturday Night Live, she gave off a whiff of Laura Nyro, another Italian-American singer-songwriter, one who had genuine talent but lacked the exhibitionistic chutzpah and media-manipulation skills that Gaga has.

Marshall Fine: Annals of the Overrated: Lady Gaga and The Tree of Life Marshall Fine 2011

"Mr Flynt will speak to you upstairs, in a conference room," says the huge Italian-American man with a tiny pencil moustache who is pushing his wheelchair.

Johann Hari: Larry Flynt -- Freedom Fighter, Pornographer, Monster? Johann Hari 2011

And now, my Italian-American father - who never attended church unless somebody died - had left me with four equally memorable words, without ever actually speaking them: Things can go wrong.

Charlie Carillo: A Morning to Remember Charlie Carillo 2011

Alaska, who's proud to tell you he's American Indian, Alaska native and half Italian-American, took up pool when he was 16.

Nancy Ruhling: Astoria Characters: The On-the-Ball Pool Player Nancy Ruhling 2011

And now, my Italian-American father - who never attended church unless somebody died - had left me with four equally memorable words, without ever actually speaking them: Things can go wrong.

Charlie Carillo: A Morning to Remember Charlie Carillo 2011

But the Naperville, Ill. university is suddenly facing pressure over the decision, from -- oddly enough -- an Italian-American advocacy group.

Italian-American Group: Spike Lee Dishonors MLK Will Guzzardi 2011

But the Naperville, Ill. university is suddenly facing pressure over the decision, from -- oddly enough -- an Italian-American advocacy group.

Italian-American Group: Spike Lee Dishonors MLK Will Guzzardi 2011

Prejudice against Italians resulted in the lynchings of several Italian-American immigrants.

Amy Novick: On Immigration, the Past Is Prologue Amy Novick 2011

And now, my Italian-American father - who never attended church unless somebody died - had left me with four equally memorable words, without ever actually speaking them: Things can go wrong.

Charlie Carillo: A Morning to Remember Charlie Carillo 2011

And now, my Italian-American father - who never attended church unless somebody died - had left me with four equally memorable words, without ever actually speaking them: Things can go wrong.

Charlie Carillo: A Morning to Remember Charlie Carillo 2011