aries

A well-spent vacation... then, Wyatt's voice fills me with an indescribable melancholy...

@ Primiballi: 4 out of 10 Italians did not vote, and that's a fact. On the left, abstention has grown because, evidently, people do not feel represented by the PD and/or the radical left; on the right, I suppose there are some who do not vote because they can no longer tolerate the showboating of Berlusconi and Bossi or who refuse to identify with the UDC or the far right. These people might be mobilizable in the name of a morality that has no political color. But how do we mobilize all the indifferent ones or those so fed up that they think it's pointless to vote because “everyone steals in the same way,” those who do not vote because they lack the cultural tools to do so, or simply because they couldn’t care less (and one could say that, all things considered, they do not disapprove of this state of affairs)?

Marco Travaglio is one of the few true journalists left in Italy; he comes from the "school" of Montanelli and the tough training ground of judicial reporting, which has allowed him to accumulate an impressive wealth of information and expertise. Over the years, he has also honed his satirical skills, making him one of the best chroniclers of this little operetta country of ours and the "sexy-movie-fart" era of the '70s (and this book truly seems like the script of a film from those years, even though reality surpasses imagination). Moreover, he is someone who shoots at both the right and the "left" (let’s not forget that during the Unipol scandal, he wrote in "Unità" what needed to be written, and D'Alema wanted his head), which enhances his merit. However, I doubt he can move 13 million Italians (though I hope there’s at least someone among them who doubts the sanctity of His Emittenza Silvio Berlusconi).

Very interesting, good review, although a bit telegraphic... unfortunately, with the Zep I stopped at Zoso and a bootleg from '71, but I think I can make room for them as well.

An artist to be rediscovered... Here’s one of the opportunities where Debaser offers chances for enrichment and discussion. Well done!

1.63 and 1.53? Let’s lower the average!

"One should stay away from most of the recent publications from big publishers (big in sales, and often small in content)." I completely agree!

One of the most cacophonous, rotten, and sickly records of rock, filled with macabre tales and wildly abused instruments. The caregiver of the lady from whom I was renting during my early university years found the (untitled) tape on my table, put it in the stereo, and stumbled upon "Sister Ray"!!!!

Never seen it in its entirety... but sooner or later it will happen.

Like Rino Gaetano's brother, I try not to criticize books before I’ve read them, but I've never managed to get through South American authors for more than one book... the best of all is Bolano, whose fake essay dedicated to South American Nazi literature had me in stitches. Great and evocative review, but there are at least another 525 books I’d like to read before this one...