the current that sweeps all away...

reading:

'Florentine Histories' by Niccolo Machiavelli.
The Histories are a bit of a trip. A great Italian political soap opera crossbred with Thucydides sort of history that is far more than history. Factions. Amazing view of the divisions of a city, in all the richness of possibility. In politics and war, one must know the realities, the possibilities, and most of all the intended end. Limited war is inherently problematic.

'Selected Poems 1934-1952' by Dylan Thomas.
Hmmm... Words that must be read aloud, as deeply and powerfully as possible. Oh, for more Welsh a voice. A dark, sound dance of mind and guts, nature, sex and the sea. My first real foray into Dylan other than a few chance readings of his more popular poems. So far, being pulled out to sea.

listening to:

'Black Holes and Revelations' by Muse.
It is like tough electronic emo crack. Kip plays it a lot at poker. Can't stop listening to it, really. And tempted to pick up 'Absolution' which is another great album.

'Sleepless Nights' by Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Bros.
Sexy, like GP's solo albums, but a tad more upbeat, a shade less spare and gritty, but a whole lot of goodness. And a little less sort of well... sinful?... than 'Guilded Palace of Sin'. If I skip directly to a track it is 'Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down'. But SN is full of goodness through and through.

'Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

The Blues... Lightnin' Hopkins. Mississippi Fred McDowell. Son House.