18 and I like it

Starting this past  month every 18 year old (about 575,000) in Italy, including foreigners, is entitled to a bonus of 500 euros, about $550 US dollars. It's the idea of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who wanted to match the billion euro increased defense and security spending with another billion designated to be spent on culture since "culture beats ignorance." Take that, rock paper scissors lizard Spock. The teens have until the end of next year to spend the entire bonus. After they register, which can be done online, they can choose from museums and galleries, theatre, ballet, concerts, movies, books, archaeological and heritage sites. Says Renzi about this unique way to fight terrorism, “They imagine terror, we answer with culture. They destroy statues, we love art. They destroy books, we are the country of libraries.”