Open Book

I've paid back all my sleep debt and things are back to "normal" after last week's trip to Italy. Before my 2005 Italian adventure becomes just another travel memory, I'd like to point out something that's going on at this year's Venice Biennale; especially because as far as the Maltese media scene (including the blogosphere) is concerned, it almost feels like this is happening in private.

Maltese poets Maria Grech Ganado and Immanuel Mifsud are among 250 poets whose work (on page 21) makes part of Isola della Poesia (English title: The Poets of the Virtual Island), curated by Achille Bonito Oliva and Caterina Davinio, along with an installation by Marco Nereo Rotelli, at the 51st Biennale di Venezia. It's not a project for the masses, even though it's still open to all. Still, it's really good to see Maltese poets mingle with others from abroad in such an environment. I believe others may still join them.

And speaking of privacy, I was thrilled to read the following in today's Washington Post:

"The House handed President Bush the first defeat in his effort to preserve the broad powers of the USA Patriot Act, voting yesterday to curtail the FBI's ability to seize library and bookstore records for terrorism investigations. Bush has threatened to veto any measure that weakens those powers. The surprise 238 to 187 rebuke to the White House was produced when a handful of conservative Republicans, worried about government intrusion, joined with Democrats who are concerned about personal privacy."

Why do I (often) give democracy a bad rep? I'm really tickled to bits whenever I see American democracy working its magic. Perhaps the system works (sometimes) after all. Then again, this is how conspiracy theories are born.