In case you're wondering what all the Italian gibberish is about, here's a quick summary.
I'm Paolo Attivissimo. But I guess you'd already figured that out. I'm an IT writer: I write books and articles on Internet- and information technology-related subjects for Italian-speaking readers.
I started out as a technical translator and interpreter, specialized in English-Italian patents and manuals, which is a nicely-paid but atrociously boring job; so in 1993, when I went online and one of the companies I was translating for suggested that I try my hand at writing an IT book instead of just translating somebody else's work, I eagerly accepted. Thus began a series of over twelve IT books and a stream of articles.
My books include a beginner's guide to the Internet entitled Internet per tutti, a no-nonsense manual on migrating from Windows to Linux entitled (perhaps unsurprisingly) Da Windows a Linux, and L'Acchiappavirus, a basic guide to computer security for the average Windows user. The text of many of my books is freely available online.
I've written weekly columns for Websites and IT magazines such as Apogeonline.com, PC Magazine, Linux Magazine, Zeus News and Computer Idea. For four years, the nice people at Gazzetta dello sportwere also reckless enough to have me write a weekly article explaining how the Internet works to their readers.
However, my main claims to immortal fame are that I was the first Italian to get a refund for Windows (in 1999) and that I run a popular "hoax busting" service (Servizio Antibufala), through my advert-free, donation-supported Website, my blog and newsletter, in which I investigate and often debunk the many chain letters and scams that pester Italian Internet users.
I also work for RAI (the Italian TV and radio network) and acted as moderator of one of their forums from 2001 to 2005.
All this has led to quite a few conferences,interviews and to some reporting for Swiss and Italian nationwide TV and radio, which is understandably a lot less boring than my other job. I get to talk to fascinating people and eat fantastic Italian food.
I have strong and sometimes controversial views
on the future of culture and citizens' rights in the digital age and on technological attempts to control them. I have nothing against making money; but I prefer when it's earned through respect, reputation and quality, rather than through lobbying and market control. That's why I get paid to publish stuff that's available for free.
As you'll have gathered, my writing is mainly targeted at Italian-speaking Netizens. That's why the rest of my Website is in Italian, except for a few bits here and there that might also be interesting for non-Italians and are therefore also available in English.
And that's why all you English-speaking folks get is this lousy summary.