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    Rodney

    A puzzle about French publishing

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11:21 AM GMT [General]

    I was recently given a very handsome 1885 translation of Zola's L'Assommoir. Among many curious features, the title page claimed that the novel had been through 90-something editions by this date, though it only came out in French in 1877. Baffled at this, I did a bit of light googling and discovered this earlier title page, purportedly from the book's very year of publication:


    Vingt-septieme my eye

    That's twenty-seven editions in under 12 months. Can this be right?

    Were there very tiny print runs? Did publishers faff with the statistics to make it look like their titles were flying off the shelves? Did L'Assommoir perhaps have an especially fateful publication history, with several print runs fetching up in a watery grave?

    Enquiring minds want to know.


    • By the bye, here's a brief parish notice: we'll be discussing At Lady Molly's, the fourth volume in A Dance to the Music of Time, starting on September 1. Do join us then.
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    I am the real Jonathan

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11:21 AM GMT [General]

    html_removed html_removed html_removed html_removed

    Since blatant commercial advertising now seems acceptable on MyT, may I beg your indulgence for a moment

    I have invented a new board game with the above title.

    The game can be played by any number of players and goes like this.

    Each player draws a card from the specially printed pack. On each one there is an indefensible statement, such as “ Since this Government came to power more people are happier with the NHS than ever before” or “I sold the countries gold reserves at the top of the market” or “Taxing pensions will make more people want to save” Some of them will be harder of course “We need another Labour Government to be elected next to ensure a freer and fairer society” and “The current incumbent is the greatest Prime Minister this country has ever had”

    Each question card has a number on it (only a single digit of course, in order that the current level of A* mathematics students can still grasp it) indicating a the degree of difficulty.

     

    Each player also has a playing piece, which is placed on the game board. The board

    is made up of a number of coloured squares representing a typical road. To prevent terrorist threats to the playing pieces each square will have cctv cameras on each corner and double yellow lines will make it an offence to stop on the square.

    Game play

    Each player then has to explain to all the others why their statement is true. When they have finished the explanation, they are awarded points by the other players and they move their playing piece along the board the number squares equivalent to the score achieved until one finally reaches the end.

    The good thing about this game is that there are NO LOSERS! The player that comes in last becomes the Commissioner to the EU. Those who offer large enough back handers go to the Upper House and the winner (The Jonathan) goes to live in cloud cuckoo land

    To establish our green credentials all the playing card will be made from recycled police corruption files (there’s lots), the playing pieces will be manufactured from ex government John Lewis furniture and the board will be made from genuine imitation real tree wood or recycled ministerial brains although there are some concerns that the latter may be too dense to machine economically

     

    So there you have it.

    Any new ideas, variations warmly accepted

     

    Oh by the way, due to the economic downturn I am currently experiencing due to everyone else in the world and nothing to do with me of course, can anyone lend me a fiver?

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    Bycatch & discards: Treating our marine life like trash

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11:20 AM GMT [General]

    The objective of commercial fisherman is to catch fish that can be sold. The higher the price that these fish fetch at market, the more money the fishermen will make. The fishermen has limited time and space in which to maximise their income, so in order to do so their main objective must be to be as selective as possible.



    However most fisheries are at least partially non-selective and catch fish and other animals that are not targeted. This non-targeted catch is known as bycatch. This bycatch is usually discarded (thrown over the side of the boat either dead or dying).

    In the North Sea nearly one million tonnes of marine life is discarded in this way every year, and unbelievably, seventy percent is comprised of commercially important fish species. This equates to nearly one-third of the total fish landed by fishermen, and one-tenth of the estimated total biomass of fish in the North Sea. These fish are discarded because they are either undersized, over quota or not of sufficiently high value to the fisherman.

    In EU Community waters the practice of discarding fish is not illegal and it speaks volumes on EU fisheries policy that when in a time of worldwide food and fuel shortages and rapidly declining fish stocks the practice of discarding is not only tolerated, but is in many cases a legally binding requirement.

    There is no way of knowing what damage discarding has on the marine ecosystem as amazingly very little scientific research has been carried out to determine its detrimental affects on the marine ecosystem, but it is worth mentioning that no other industry gets close to the practice of discarding in terms of sheer waste and destructiveness.

    Norway obviously feels strongly enough about the matter to have banned the discarding of commercial fish in its waters as early as 1990, requiring all boats to land the fish for processing into fishmeal. Measures have also been introduced whereby fisheries can be closed very quickly if an area is found to contain a large number of juvenile fish.

    So what are the solutions? Personally I would completely ban the discarding of bycatch full stop, but since I see absolutely no hope of this happening, perhaps a ban could be put in place for a long enough period for there to be a proper scientific audit of the scale of the problem?

    Almost half of all know discards are caused the various types of trawling, and it may be time to call and end to this particularly destructive method of fishing. If the Marine Stewardship Council's fishery certification program and seafood eco-label gain widespread acceptance within the EU member countries this may in itself help to end the indiscriminate methods employed by trawling.

    Bycatch and discards are an aberration. We are in the 21st century and yet the wholesale slaughter of our marine life still continues in our oceans, with no protected areas from which marine life can recover from this onslaught, and where the fishermen, once their catch is dead, can pick and choose which animals are worth keeping and which can dumped back into the ocean. This cannot be right.

    www.blueplanetsociety.org

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    RIP Leroi Moore*~

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:17 AM [General]

    WOW sad news again, this great sax player has passed away at only 46 years old due to injuries (complications after release from hospital)  from an ATV accident.  Condolences to his family and the Dave Matthews Band*~

     

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    My Myspace Pages

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 06:14 AM EST [General]

    Hey all you WWE ers if any of you out there have a myspace account and would like to add me I have a few of them.

    Edgeheads add me here:

    http://www.myspace.com/edgehead23

    Wrestling fans add me here:

    http://www.myspace.com/fan_of_wrestling_for_life

    For my personal page add me here:

    http://www.myspace.com/crude_lewd_tattooed_23

    Hope to see you there soon.

    Thanks for reading.

     

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Strawberry Letter - My Sister is Not Right

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 06:04 AM EST [Strawberry Letters]

    Date: 08/20/2008
    Subject: My Sister is Not Right

    I am a divorced woman and have been for sometime now mostly by choice or lack of....a few weeks ago my sister introduced me to another member of church...I was very polite and exchanged pleasantries....thought nothing of it. One day my sister told me that he wanted to take me to dinner or something....my sister must have lost her eyesight when she got married, or her damn mind...this brother is all of four feet tall, fat, bald, and nasty. When I go to church I have to run away from him...you would think he would get the message....I asked my sister to let him know that i am not interested and to get him before I let lucifer out in church....sunday I run through at least three rows of people trying to get away....and I almost started to climb over the bench to get away.....I am not a ugly woman, men and women always tell how pretty I am...and I would like to think that I got a lot to offer the right man....I was married for almost 16 years and I don't feel like I lost my taste for a good looking man. so why in the heck would my sister tell Magilla the Gorilla he can date me....I spent this Sunday in the ladies bathroom...hiding out....she said I told her I like bald men....I told her I like tall, bald, facial hair, fine, good smelling brothers.....not short fat and bald...she just laughed...even my Mom has told me to date this guy...I am one step from acting a fool in church and I have always conducted myself as a lady no matter what....I can't take another Sunday like this....I am so mad I am ready to stop talking to her...especially if she don't get Chester. This thing is messing up my Spirtual Walk...Why is it, the ugly ones always want to holler at a sister.....I am single not blind or desperate. Don't get me started about being a single sister in denver..... Please help me before I lose it in Church.....I could say a whole lot more but I will wait and pray for your reply....please don't tell me to date him...

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Papi no me pegues.....

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:58 AM EST [General]

    Papa:
    No me pegues. Tus golpes no solo hieren mi cuerpo, ¡golpean mi corazón!
    Me hacen duro y rebelde, terco torpe y agresivo.

    Tus golpes me hacen sentir miserable, pequeño e indigno de ti… mi héroe, me llenan amargura, bloquean mi capacidad de amar, crecen mis temores y nace en mí el odio.

    Papi tus golpes me alejan de ti, me enseñan a mentir, cortan mi iniciativa, mi creatividad y mi alegría.
    No me des más golpes.
    Soy débil e indefenso ante tu fuerza, tus golpes enlutan mi camino y sobre todo, endurecen mi alma.


    La fuerza de tu razón es superior a la fuerza de tus golpes, si crees que no te entiendo aun, te prometo que ¡Pronto lo haré!

    Más poderosos que tus golpes, más efectivos y grandiosos son: tu afecto, tus caricias, tus palabras y tus besos.

    Papito, tu grandeza no esta en el poder de tu fuerza física.
    Eres mucho más cuando no necesitas de ella para guiarme.
    Solo abrázame y permítete seguir siendo mi héroe para toda la vida.

    Fin.

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    Bow Wow Issues Challenge to The Game

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:55 AM EST [General]

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Carta de un bebe....

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:54 AM EST [General]

    Hola mami, mami, como estas?, Yo, yo estoy muy bien gracias a Dios, hace a penas unos días me concebiste en tu pancita, la verdad, no te puedo explicar lo contento que estoy de saber que tu vas a ser mi mama.

    Otra cosa que también me llena mucho de orgullo es ver el amor con el que fui concebido, todo parece indicar que voy a ser el niño mas feliz del mundo.

    Mami, mami ya ha pasado 1 mes desde mi concepción y ya estoy viendo como mi cuerpecito se empieza a formar, digo, no estoy tan bonito como tu, pero con el tiempo ya veras como me voy a parecer a ti..

    Yo estoy muy feliz, sin embargo mami, hay algo que me tiene un poquito preocupado, últimamente me he dado cuenta que hay algo en tu cabecita que no te deja dormir.. pero, pero bueno ya se te va a pasar. Verdad?. No te apures mami, yo te quiero mucho..

    Mami, mami, ya pasaron 2 meses y medio y la verdad, estoy muy feliz con mis nuevas manitas, míralas, mis manitas, míralas, ay, tengo muchas ganas ya de utilizarlas para jugar..

    Mami, mamita, dime que te pasa, porque lloras tanto por las noches, porque cuando papi y tu se ven se gritan tanto.. ya no me quieren? Oh que!

    Han pasado ya 3 meses mami y te noto muy deprimida, no entiendo que pasa, estoy confundido mami, hoy en la mañana fuimos con el doctor y te hizo una cita que.. para mañana, no entiendo mami, yo me siento muy bien, te lo juro..

    Mami, mami ya es de día, eh a donde vamos, Epale mami, porque estas llorando otra vez, mami no llores, no va a pasar nada, mami, mami, no te acuestes, mami a penas son las 2 de la tarde es muy temprano para irse a la cama, yo no tengo nada de sueno, solo quiero seguir jugando con mis manitas..

    Epale, que es ese tubito que esta en mi casita mami, a poco es un juguete nuevo, oigan, oigan porque están succionando mi casa, mami, mami, esperen, esa es mi manita, porque me la están arrancando, nooo, no ven que me duele mucho, mami ayúdame mami, que no vez que todavía estoy muy chiquito y no me puedo defender..

    Mami, mami, esa es mi piernita mami, me la arrancan, por favor, diles que ya no sigan, te lo juro que ya me voy a portar bien y no te vuelvo a patear en las noches...

    Como es posible que un ser humano me pueda hacer esto, va a ver cuando sea grande y fuerte, mami, mami ya no puedo mas mami, mami ayúdame...

    Mami, han pasado ya 17 años desde, desde aquel día, y aun veo como todavía te duele esa decisión que tomaste.. Por favor, ya no sufras, acuérdate que te quiero mucho y que aqui te estoy esperando con muchos abrazos y muchos besos,
    para demostrarte,
    cuanto te amo...
    0 (0 Ratings)

    Swizz Beats New Track "That Oprah"

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:51 AM EST [General]

    Only Swizz Beatz would have the b**ls to sample a track from 2008! This song is titled "That Oprah" and I LOVE IT! 

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    .................................Si muero antes que tu.....................................

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:46 AM EST [General]

    ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

    Si muero antes que tú hazme un favor

    Llora cuanto quieras pero no te enojes con dios por haberme llevado

    Si no quieres llorar no llores, si no logras llorar no te preocupes

    Si quieres reír, ríe

    Si algunos amigos te cuentan algo de mi, óyelos y cree lo que te digan

    Si me elogian demasiado corrige la exageración

    Si me critican demasiado defiéndeme

    Si quieren hacerme un santo solo por que me morí

    Di que yo tenía algo de santo, pero que estaba lejos de ser el santo que dicen

    Si quieren hacerme un terrible perverso

    Muestra que tal vez yo tuve algo de malo pero que toda la vida procure ser bueno y sobre todo que toda la vida trate de ser mejor


    Si sientes tristeza y deseas rezar por mi, puedes hacerlo

    Pues tal vez necesite de tu oración

    Si quieres hablar conmigo habla con dios y yo te escuchare

    Espero estar con el lo suficiente para continuar siendo util para ti

    Donde quiera que me encuentre

    Y si quieres escribir algo de mí

    Ojalaras decir solo una frase

    Fue mi todo, creyó en mí y me adoro

    Ahí entonces derrama una lágrima

    Yo no estaré presente para enjugarla pero no hace falta

    Pues tal vez alguien lo hará en mi lugar

    Y viéndome bien sustituido

    Iré a atender mi nueva tarea en el cielo

    Pero de vez en cuando, da una escapadita hacia dios

    Seguramente no me veras pero yo estaré muy feliz viéndote a ti

    Mirando hacia el

    Crees en estas cosas,

    Entonces reza para que los dos vivamos como quien sabe que va a morir un dia

    Y que podamos morir como quien supo vivir bien

    Si muero antes que tu creo que nada vos a extrañar

    Por que sabes algo

    Tenerte a ti ya era como tener un pedacito de cielo.

    Fin 

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    The Soap Opera Continues !!!

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 05:44 AM EST [General]

    Mike is the boss !

    Marvin is no different than Coslett or Lebeau or Shula.  He is just like you, an employee. 

    Power ?  No, he is powerless.  He can suggest, but has no final say.

    In the end, it's Mike's team.  Always has been.  Always will be.

    The clock is now ticking.  In reality, it was the day he was hired.  If he stays in Cincy too long, will it be tougher for him to get a job somewhere else as a head coach ?

    You can blame the owner if you get fired after 2 or 3 years and it looks like you have it together.  But, after 6 ?

    He was so angry having to talk to the media and trying to explain that he didn't want Henry back, and that in the end it's all Mike's call.

    Chris Henry is a lucky man.  Where else in America would you get any more chances than you do in sports ?

    You hope he has learned his lesson.  If he hasn't, he's the dumbest man in Ohio.

    Remember, Mike WANTS TO WIN.   But he wants to win his way.  Or, you have to take the highway.

    7:30 this morning we will play the press conferences of Marvin and his dear friend Chris Henry.  Listen to the tone of their voices.

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    Olympic Overload

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 10:42 AM GMT [General]

     

    In 2005 I had already made the decision to get the hell out of the city during the Olympics. In the event, I managed to do it two years early and hopped on a train and went south to start a new life. In the final lead up to the opening ceremony I had contemplated taking a train back to the capital for the day to observe the chaos, but when it came down to it, I really couldn’t be bothered.

    I think the problem isthat if you live in China, then no matter where you turn, there is something to remind you that in 3 days, 13 hours and 23.33s the games will begin. I did catch the final lighting of the torch, but only because I was at a friend’s house and they happened to have the television on. Oh yeah, and I caught the last 30s of the women’s road race, and some rowing event when I was waiting for a flight at Shenzhen. I don’t know what event it was, but China got gold, UK got silver. It was a pity because until the last 50m I was relishing the opportunity to turn and give the Chinese passengers who had gathered there a couple of V signs. As it turned out I was reduced to polite applause and exchanging smiles. Who says I can’t be diplomatic.

    I have really tried to get excited by the UK medal haul, when another bloke in a boat began to blub when he got gold, instead of being moved to tears, I merely found myself wondering whether he was going to forget himself and blow his nose on the Union Jack. And when I read Michael Phelps ate three fried egg sandwiches for breakfast, I looked down at the fried egg sandwich in my hand and tried to seek some inspiration, but instead I returned to the sofa and resumed watching “Casino Royale”

    So yesterday evening, when I went to the DVD store to see what else was on offer I had pretty much resigned myself to Olympic Burnout, a variation on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Repetitive Stress Injury.

    Inside, everyone was crowded around a small TV and animatedly discussing the volleyball match that was taking place between China and Russia. The Russians were muscular, serious and blonde, pausing only to discuss tactics with dour expressions. The Chinese, were (mostly) thin, dark haired, and f uckme, if they weren’t laughing when they won a point. They actually seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was contagious. The Chinese won a point, the players laughed, the crowd in the auditorium cheered and waved those weird foam things they hand out to the audience, and the people in the DVD stored laughed and cheered and punched the air. I found myself getting hooked and stayed until China had won the second set.

    As I rode off down the street and headed home, new releases held tightly in my sweaty little palm, I realized everyone was watching. There were TV sets set out on the street at suitable intervals with small gatherings animatedly discussing the game and cheering or emitting cries of agony according to the outcome of the point. Drivers had pulled up and were leaning against their car and following the event.

    I stopped at the small snack place on my street where a group of people were noisily consuming watermelon and following the game on a beaten up set. I asked the score and suddenly everyone was inviting me to sit down and join them. Someone offered me a beer.

    I think this is something that all these top notch reporters who have been specially flown in to cover the event are missing. They can wander around the Olympic village all they want, comment on the empty seats in the arena and the absence of anyone in the courtesy tents or the protest arena, bitch about the faked fireworks and the ugly kid who sang the anthem. It all makes for great journalism but the truth is that for the everyday person the Olympics is merely a chance to hang out with friends and watch the game, same as Superbowl Sunday or the FA Cup Final.

    Maybe that’s what London needs to do. Just have a small barbeque for the Olympic flame (just don’t forget to periodically top up the charcoal) and pass out free cans of beers at the lighting ceremony. It will cost a lot less money, but I think most people won’t give a shit either way.

    0 (0 Ratings)

    Cbunny
    This give me hope for the Chinese yet. If only they could get of the present crop of rulers

    grumpylarry
    August 20, 2008
    11:08 AM GMT

    Thanks for a most enjoyable blog. You, more than anyone else I read, have altered my perception of the ordinary Chinese people. Maybe one point three billion of them isn't such a fearful thing after all. You made me wish I could have been there, in the street.

    the Badger
    August 20, 2008
    11:10 AM GMT

    I'm interested too.
    A completely differing angle that is a very welcome change from all the crap the BBC force feeds from the talking heads.

    Has HWMNBM had a brain fart?
    He seems to be making the same comment on various blogs, seriously weird!

    Christina Osborne
    August 20, 2008
    11:14 AM GMT

    Christina
    "Has HWMNBM had a brain fart?"
    No, he is one

    grumpylarry
    August 20, 2008
    11:14 AM GMT

    Brenda
    Is it raining in Ireland, or are you on the dole again?

    grumpylarry
    August 20, 2008
    11:15 AM GMT