Number 286 is a bumper midwinter double issue, and even has penguins and a block of ice on the cover to keep the temperature down. In truth this is an issue of ideas, and has plenty to stimulate and provoke over the season of festive overkill.
The issue commences with an analysis by Antonio Cardella of the problems currently besetting the centre-left in Italy, followed by a short piece by Bunny on the surprise non-sacking of Florence by anti-globalisation protesters.
Carlo Oliva laments the fact that traditions – such as Halloween – can be created ex novo with the sole purpose of separating a fool from his or her money. Another article that highlights the sign of the times is by Francesco Codello, on the ironic situation whereby global communication is increasing exponentially, yet almost no one is able to communicate any more.
This issue again looks at the troubled region that is Israel/Palestine, with an article by Peppe Sini entitled “Alongside the Palestinian people. And the Israeli people”.
In his article, Piero Brunello exposes the worryingly racist connotations of the initiatives for the recovery of Veneto identity by the Regional Department for Veneto Culture and Identity.
A number of topics in the Libertarian Review: Roberto Magaraggia discusses “La disgrazia di saper leggere” by Rinaldo Boggiani, Raoul Vaneigem reviews “Ladri d’infanzia” by Philippe Godard and Monica Giorgi looks at “Etty Hillesum - L’intelligenza del cuore” by Wanda Tommasi.
Another review, this time by Gianpiero Landi, of the book Guy Debord called “the most unknown book of the century”: “La burocratizzazione del mondo” by Bruno Rizzi, first published in 1939, and now re-issued edited by Paolo Sensini.
In Fatti & Misfatti Fulvio Abbate looks at the curious use of the circled “A” in an advert for woman’s magazine “Amica”, a subject also touched on by Felice Accame in his column.
Another excellent special “pull-out” dossier by Adriano Paolella and Zelinda Carloni is available in this issue, on the subject of transport and mobility, or the lack of it. Obliquely associated with the same theme is an article by Wolfgang Sachs, reproduced from Insurgence magazine, on the lack of time available to us in the modern age.
From the series ... e compagnia cantante, an appreciation by Alessio Lega of Aristide Bruant, who is perhaps most famous for having been depicted by Lautrec in his famous poster.
In his Smoke Signals column, Carlo E. Menga makes the sadly missed Pietro Valpreda, Marco Pannella, Emilio Fede and Nanni Moretti dwell under the same journalistic roof.
Speaking of journalists, Cristiano Draghi reveals a few tricks of the hacks’ trade in his article, to enable us humble mortals to defend ourselves from them.
Inspired and inspiring, the travelling mail-art exhibition commemorating Horst Fantazzini and his errant bicycle.
Another commemoration, by Antonio Tellez, to mark the 40th anniversary of the kidnapping of the Spanish vice-consul in Milan to draw attention to the death sentence handed out to an anarchist in Franco’s Spain.
To close the issue, in his Ritratti in piedi series, Massimo Ortalli considers the writings of the French Illegalists of the early 20th century.

by Leslie Ray