undefined | Better HN

0 pointsgorgoiler5y ago0 comments

By the way, I was referring to a common English aphorism about punctuality on 20th century Italian railways:

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/11/03/...

0 comments

It seems I have to "register" with the Economist to read that.

It's a reference to "Say what you like about Mussolini, he made the trains run on time."

This quip is generally used sarcastically or wryly. "Say what you like about [something that's seriously bad], at least [frivolous matter] has improved."

jolux5y ago

As far as I know it’s not even true of Mussolini though.

1 more reply

pacifika5y ago

Actually it’s a joke about concentration camps and it’s in bad taste and offensive.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsgorgoiler5y ago0 comments

By the way, I was referring to a common English aphorism about punctuality on 20th century Italian railways:

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/11/03/...

0 comments

yesenadam5y ago

It seems I have to "register" with the Economist to read that.

catalogia5y ago

It's a reference to "Say what you like about Mussolini, he made the trains run on time."

This quip is generally used sarcastically or wryly. "Say what you like about [something that's seriously bad], at least [frivolous matter] has improved."

jolux5y ago

As far as I know it’s not even true of Mussolini though.

1 more reply

pacifika5y ago

Actually it’s a joke about concentration camps and it’s in bad taste and offensive.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse