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Sunday Open Thread

by In Wales
Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:15:33 AM EST

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Sunday Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

It's been a gorgeous day here. I spent a few hours just wandering around with the camera.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:17:56 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Yes, really nice here too. We're just about to have a barbie. Plenty of meat, but I'm especially looking forward to Jerk ribs.

Is it me or have the papers decided that Brown is dead and politically gone to meet his Maker ? Earlier this week there were a lot of articles saying what he should do to retrieve the situation, but now it's all "bye bye Gordie".

Whilst I agree he should go, I really can't think of anybody who could replace him who'd make any difference whatsoever.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:23:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

It does seem to be the narrative of the moment that Brown is dead. But they also say that the Crewe and Nantwich byelection will resolve the matter. I guess it's just a case of the media talking.

I think if the New Labour posse had a sense of humour - or cruelty - they would do a write in and elect Frank Field as PM.

Member of the Anti-Fabulousness League since 1987.

by Ephemera on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:28:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

The latest poll in the Observer says that the tories are leading in Crewe, which given that it's the 197th target seat would scare the bejeezus out of most Labour MPs.

These aren't people who have experience in the world like old time labourites; this lot went from private school to Oxbridge debating club to Westminster private secretary to parachuted MP. They've never worked in their lives. So the prospect of unemployment with massive competition for cosy boltholes will cause a lot of them significant distress. And it couldn't happen to a more deserving buch of arse-licking tossers.

Frank Field is a bit of a one trick pony, he's happy to do what he's good at. There are several people on the left I'd rather see cos even if they ballsed it up at least they'd go down on labour policies.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:42:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Well, personally I think the hallmark of these next two years will be Labour MPs publically doing and saying whatever will save their seats, regardless of party line. There is no point keeping to the whip if your party is doomed, and so expect greater rebellions against vote losers such as 42 day detention and ID cards.

I really don't know if the polling for C&N should be taken as a literal example of a general election, as all the normal caveats of by-elections apply, plus a few more concerning who exactly is running. I don't know if Labour's attempt to paint Timpson as priveleged will work well, especially as seen as their own candidate is 'blood' and not necessarily talent. Nor would a big swing to Conservatives be simply read as a vote against Labour, simply just a loss of votes which attends the loss of any charismatic MP such as Gwyneth Dunwoody. I mean, I'm sure she herself attracted more votes than some of those faceless Blairites we don't know and don't love.

Anyways, watch this space for the new narrative if Labour hang on to the seat. Alternatively, watch those London bridges for a middle-aged Scot if they lose (according to ceebs, anyhow).

Member of the Anti-Fabulousness League since 1987.

by Ephemera on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:56:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Even with all of the caveats it should be a safe seat. If it's not a safe seat, whatever's left of the party should be looking at a decapitation and a replacement of the top 'blood' with some real people.

Cameron is about to convince everyone that the Tories are running to the left of Labour, which is just that little bit too surreal to live with comfortably.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:10:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

It was great here too. We left very early this morning for an over 20km hike, now I am tired. And there are plans to repeat the same thing tomorrow, though a different route.

Lovely picture - as usual. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:41:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Sounds nice. Tho' I think I'd be a real mess after a 20Km walk.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:43:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Well, I have been walking more regularely lately and also been increasing the distance, so I could do it, but I am tired - but it is a good way of being tired.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:01:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Btw. about European Culture (4.00 / 7)

For those who would like to know more about European culture - that was my idea for doing the headers of the Salon, learning more about Europe. Last year it was European history and this year it is musicians/composers, writers, and artists. I am learning a lot looking for the links to put into the headers.

It is not always easy to find interesting stuff, for example, in February there was an interesting Spanish writer (can't remember his name right now), whose books have been translated into German but not into English. Most Almanacs are Anglo focused. So, I am trying to look out for the serious to the silly stuff, about Europe.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:00:01 PM EST

Re: Btw. about European Culture (4.00 / 5)

The headers have introduced me to loads of names I was not familiar with. I have thought of trying similar for the OTs but the time it takes to think about what to look for and then to look for it is too much for me! So you all get ad hoc comments and photos instead!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:10:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Btw. about European Culture (4.00 / 4)

Good to hear. I am sometimes wondering if anyone is reading them at all. :-)

I started out with quotes. We even used the quotes for a while on the OT. However, I feel your pictures are such a nice contrast to the left brained features and they are so lovely. So I see no reason why you should change them.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:30:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Btw. about European Culture (4.00 / 4)

I've read all your headers and often followed the links. Thanks a thousand times for your salon, Fran!

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 02:11:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Btw. about European Culture (4.00 / 2)

Thanks, Melanchton!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 03:48:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

gioele and his wife, Amity (4.00 / 8)

visiting in Paris for a week. We lunched today at Chez Pradel and went to the top of Monmartre and walked back down.

View from the top.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:10:34 PM EST

Re: gioele and his wife, Amity (4.00 / 3)

Nice to meet you, both! Brings back nice memories, LEP!

_Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena._

by metavision on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 01:32:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: gioele and his wife, Amity (4.00 / 3)

:-)

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 02:05:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: gioele and his wife, Amity (4.00 / 4)

Say hello to Amity and Gioele, LEP! And tell them they should come to Lyon...;-)

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 02:14:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Long week-end in the South ending (4.00 / 5)

We're about to start the long drive back to Paris (and to one more day of rest tomorrow); we had a bit of rain and thunder this afternoon, but we still had time to enjoy the pool just now.

6 people in the (25-30mpg) car, so the gasoline-burning will be mostly guilt-free!

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 12:25:16 PM EST

Just arrived back (4.00 / 2)

Very crowded in the south up to Lyons, then fine. Better to do that at night, wiht the kids mostly sleeping, than to take the day to do the same trip.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 08:33:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Attn : Poemless (4.00 / 3)

Russia: A Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby

there's a trailer of it here

It should be avialble on BBC iPlayer. If you can't get it I'm sure somebody clever could burn it onto a DVD.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 03:15:28 PM EST

Re: Attn : Poemless (4.00 / 3)

As it happens, a guy who was one of my students for a while, but has kept in touch, did some of the filming for this series, and sent the message below. I encouraged students to go into news and documentary; it's great to know that some ex-students are doing stuff like this and getting so much satisfaction from it:

Beginning tomorrow night, Sunday May 11th, just after 10pm on BBC2, and running for five weeks is the series I have spent the past year and a half working on, on and off. It is called Russia: A Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby, and it really is very good.
Of the five films I shot two, films two and three, and also the end of film one - from Moscow onwards.
It was an amazing experience - at times more painful than imaginable, but more often revelatory and exhilarating.
Immodestly, I am proud of my contribution - I was lucky to be working with gifted directors, Hugh and Jamie, an extraordinarily talented executive producer, George, and a very, very special presenter, Jonathan. All of them made my life hell, which gave me the strength to push beyond my previous limits, and all of them supported me to the hilt and allowed me the space to create images I am proud of. I thank them for that. Sincerely. I wish we could do it all again.
I hope you enjoy the series. Unfortunately I shall miss it, as I am off to Liberia and Guinea, followed by Afghanistan.
David Niblock

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice. Blog - Nice Experience

by Ted Welch (tedwelch-at-mac-dot-com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 04:02:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Attn : Poemless (none / 0)

I'm mostly not around on the weekends, so I don't understand why that's the time people always choose to address me or promote my diaries... Uhg.

Well, I know it is wrong to judge something before seeing it, but given the shockingly large amount of crap I've seen about Russia coming from the BBC (Rupert!) I can't say I'm terribly interested. Unless I suddenly fall ill with food poisoning and need to expedite some vomiting.

Happy Monday Morning.

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 11:01:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Attn : Poemless (4.00 / 2)

Ah, please accept my humble apolgies for bothering. I shan't in future.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 11:32:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Attn : Poemless (none / 0)

Oh, no worries, it's not a bother. Small frustration, but no bother. :)

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon May 12th, 2008 at 11:41:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Lovely here as well, though it feels like there's a storm in the air now.

We spent the day gardening, dragging out weeds and doing some light building work with wire and bamboo. Tired now. I might try to develop some of the film from last weekend before I fall over sideways.

Oh, yes. I set-up my enlarger and bought some paper developer yesterday. It seems as if I'm going to do some old fashioned prints despite my best intentions ...

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 03:59:00 PM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Nasty day here. Raining non-stop all afternoon. But it gives me a chance to clean (desperately needed), so I guess it could be worse.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 04:30:38 PM EST

Links to interesting sources (4.00 / 2)

Here is a list with dozens of links to primary resources (archives, universities, research institutes, foundations...) from all over the world, which might not be easy to find through Google. It might be useful for research or fact-checking:

University of Idaho Repositories of Primary Resources

Hat tip to Brainsfeed

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 04:41:23 PM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Watching the basketball game, among the barrage of commercials (there's something to do about analysing the difference in advertising between Europe and the US...), I notice a Dodge commercial : the motto is Let's Refuel America, and they are guaranteeing gas price under $2.99 a gallon... Ugh.

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 10:10:03 PM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

beautiful shot, in wales!

i had a nice get together last night with a guitar-playing compadre, who brought a cello-playing friend, and another friend who's a multi-instrumentalist. we had fresh made pizza and played our asses off.

hearing my songs with violin, cello, mandolin and piano was a blast, and we jammed on some old neapolitan songs too, a lovely vein to explore.

so today was pretty chilled...

tomorrow is a busy one, time to erect the new pergola posts, should be fun.

There are no blank spots on the map any more, anywhere on earth. You want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind. Jon Krakauer

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sun May 11th, 2008 at 11:34:03 PM EST

Sunday Open Thread | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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