Since I'm making all this ruckus about the 'hood, I'll be the first to introduce myself here. I've written elsewhere how I've had an obsession for the figure of Theodoric the Great since I was a child. As a learning adult, I discovered a lot of him that goes beyond the sagas and legends: ruthless and enlightened, struggling with problems such as integration, tolerance, culture, and with the added pathos of ultimately failing, he can be very meaningful in our troubled times. Ravenna was his capital, situated just a few hours from my home, and recently I had the occasion to take a short trip there. It's one of the most utterly beautiful places I've ever seen: you bump into history at every step - only places like Rome or Paris made this effect on me. Well, you see, I just can't stop talking about it. :D