Culture Bonus

If you're turning eighteen and you live in Italy, you've got a bonus coming to you. I know. Right? Sheesh! As if living in pasta heaven with all those Italian hunks of men and, oh yeah, let's not forget all the wine, isn't bonus enough, eh? But yes indeedy, as of September 15th Italian citizens will get a "culture bonus" on their eighteenth birthday.

Seriously.

The money, about 500 euros, is supposed to be spent on books, concerts, theaters, museums, movies and trips to national parks. I'd probably blow it all on tiramisu and prosecco, but hey, that's just me. The rational behind this government program is that terrorism and extremism need to be fought not only by police and guards and intelligence, but by a strong affirmation of Europe's cultural values.

What an interesting idea. Not that I'm for the government doling out cash for something like this, but what if company's chose to fund a love of reading? Or writing? Or music, for that matter? In the current Pokemon Go culture, what a revolutionary idea.

If it were me, I'd visit independent bookstores in the area and clean out the Regency and Victorian era shelves. Then I'd move on to young adult and maybe peruse the cookbook and gardening sections.

What about you? Pretend you've just been given $1000 to spend on books. Where do you go? What do you buy? Ready . . . Set . . . Dream!