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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 21:26:34 GMT
The pit and the pendulum - a boaters tale. The unnamed boater is brought to trial before sinister judges of the C&RT, Parry provides no explanation of why he is there or of the charges on which he is being tried. Before him are seven tall white candles on a table, and, as they burn down, his hopes of survival also diminish. He is condemned to death, whereupon he faints and later awakens to find himself in a totally dark room. At first the boater thinks that he is locked in a hold, but then he discovers that he is in a cell. He decides to explore the cell by placing a scrap of his robe against the wall so that he can count the paces around the room, but he faints before he can measure the whole perimeter. When he reawakens, he discovers food and water nearby. He tries to measure the cell again, and finds that the perimeter measures one hundred steps. While crossing the room, he trips on the hem of his robe and falls, his chin landing at the edge of a deep pit. He realizes that had he not tripped, he would have fallen into this pit. After losing consciousness again, the boater discovers that the prison is slightly illuminated and that he is strapped to a lock beam on his back, facing the ceiling. Above him is a picture of Shoosmiths, with a razor-sharp pendulum measuring "one foot from horn to horn" suspended from it. The pendulum is swinging back and forth and slowly descending, designed to kill the boater eventually. However, he is able to attract rats to him by smearing his bonds with the meat left for him to eat. The rats chew through the straps, and he slips free just before the pendulum can begin to slice into his chest. The pendulum is withdrawn into the ceiling, and the walls become red-hot and start to move inwards, forcing him slowly toward the center of the room and the pit. As he loses his last foothold and begins to topple in, he hears a roar of voices and trumpets, the walls retract, and an arm pulls him to safety. The National Bargee Travelers Association has captured the cities of London & Bath and the C&RT has fallen into its enemies' hands. Ha ha Gazza. I don't read much, so Poo. Sorry...Poe is lost on me old chap. I should point out my reference to the pendulum is entirely different to his. Mine is much slower and had killed far more. Your post jogged the dormant English literature student in me - we had an excellent teacher for GCSE English, absolute fruit cake - but boy could she fire the imagination and inspire a love of reading and the desire to explore the meaning of a piece.
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Post by tadworth on Mar 8, 2017 21:27:49 GMT
I would never get tired of punching Richard Parry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 21:29:46 GMT
. . . . . Pretty soon, the only option crt will have, is to apply for new legislation. I really can't agree that the possibility of C&RT having to try and extend and add to it's powers through the proper channels, ie. a Parliamentary Bill instead of crapping on boaters by way of imaginary, self-conferred and made up 'on the hoof' powers, can be seen as anything other than a positive gain. They may try for new and more draconian powers, but there's no guarantee they'll succeed, and at the very least it would result in an opportunity for their piss-poor performance and catalogue of excesses and blunders to be put under public scrutiny. At any other time, I would agree with you 100%, but with this government, and the IWA regularly putting on a "do" for MP'S each year, I am full of scepticism.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 21:32:19 GMT
I would never get tired of punching Richard Parry. Are you sure about that? He's the same as all of us. It's just that some reach the hard knock school before others. Last time I saw him he was like a rabbit in headlights but I really do believe there is a part of everyone who isn't a c%#t.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 21:36:56 GMT
I really can't agree that the possibility of C&RT having to try and extend and add to it's powers through the proper channels, ie. a Parliamentary Bill instead of crapping on boaters by way of imaginary, self-conferred and made up 'on the hoof' powers, can be seen as anything other than a positive gain. They may try for new and more draconian powers, but there's no guarantee they'll succeed, and at the very least it would result in an opportunity for their piss-poor performance and catalogue of excesses and blunders to be put under public scrutiny. At any other time, I would agree with you 100%, but with this government, and the IWA regularly putting on a "do" for MP'S each year, I am full of scepticism. The old boys network still have to sleep in peace and feel a sense of right.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Mar 8, 2017 22:27:21 GMT
I really can't agree that the possibility of C&RT having to try and extend and add to it's powers through the proper channels, ie. a Parliamentary Bill instead of crapping on boaters by way of imaginary, self-conferred and made up 'on the hoof' powers, can be seen as anything other than a positive gain. They may try for new and more draconian powers, but there's no guarantee they'll succeed, and at the very least it would result in an opportunity for their piss-poor performance and catalogue of excesses and blunders to be put under public scrutiny. At any other time, I would agree with you 100%, but with this government, and the IWA regularly putting on a "do" for MP'S each year, I am full of scepticism. I can understand your concerns, but thinking back to some of what Nigel M has said about the long, drawn out process of actually getting fresh legislation onto the statute books, I think he rated their chances as pretty slim, and I'm inclined to think so too.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 22:30:05 GMT
At any other time, I would agree with you 100%, but with this government, and the IWA regularly putting on a "do" for MP'S each year, I am full of scepticism. I can understand your concerns, but thinking back to some of what Nigel M has said about the long, drawn out process of actually getting fresh legislation onto the statute books, I think he rated their chances as pretty slim, and I'm inclined to think so too.Β I work on the principle that there are some nice people in high places.
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Post by JohnV on Mar 9, 2017 7:32:52 GMT
I can understand your concerns, but thinking back to some of what Nigel M has said about the long, drawn out process of actually getting fresh legislation onto the statute books, I think he rated their chances as pretty slim, and I'm inclined to think so too. I work on the principle that there are some nice people in high places. I believe you are correct ................... but they are very thin on the ground
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 10:26:41 GMT
I work on the principle that there are some nice people in high places. I believe you are correct ................... but they are very thin on the ground I'm afraid it's that paradox that you won't find many nice, sensitive shy types fighting for 'high' positions. Also it seems that power and control is more about how much money you have rather than a desire to improve the world for everyone. Lets hope the few gooduns we have left continue to influence the outcome of things like this.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 10:44:25 GMT
What the fuck are you on about gazza? Have you been watching Indiana Jones too much? You're not familiar with Edgar Allan Poe then? Few choice changes in the plot synopsis and it all fits π± I tried reading Poe years ago but found it too prosaic. I don't really like books other than technical data or dictionaries. Apologies for the strong language outbreak btw
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 10:47:57 GMT
You're not familiar with Edgar Allan Poe then? Few choice changes in the plot synopsis and it all fits π± I tried reading Poe years ago but found it too prosaic. I don't really like books other than technical data or dictionaries. Apologies for the strong language outbreak btw Cuss away, I'm not easily offended besides, there are times when swearing is absolutely worthwhile, particularly if you felt much better for it π As you say, Poe is a bit hard work but it gave me the chance to have a play with BP'S post
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 18:12:21 GMT
I've been reading Tale of Two Cities, by Dickens, but have abandoned it two thirds of the way through.
I really wanted to enjoy it, but the style of writing is very of it's time.......1800's, as is Poe's works.
I think that's my problem (I'm a little ashamed to say).
I'm so used to a more direct narrative, where as obviously nothing was rushed back then, and the story wanders aimlessly .
Rog
PS Having written this, I've just realised which thread I'm responding to. Sorry that this is so far off topic. It's obviously Gazza's and Magnetman's fault. Nothing to do with me being a gob shite. Sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 18:17:45 GMT
I tried reading Poe years ago but found it too prosaic. I don't really like books other than technical data or dictionaries. Apologies for the strong language outbreak btw Cuss away, I'm not easily offended besides, there are times when swearing is absolutely worthwhile, particularly if you felt much better for it Shit !! Ahh. Thats better
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 18:21:37 GMT
I've been reading Tale of Two Cities, by Dickens, but have abandoned it two thirds of the way through. I really wanted to enjoy it, but the style of writing is very of it's time.......1800's, as is Poe's works. I think that's my problem (I'm a little ashamed to say). I'm so used to a more direct narrative, where as obviously nothing was rushed back then, and the story wanders aimlessly . Rog PS Β Β Having written this, I've just realised which thread I'm responding to. Sorry that this is so far off topic. It's obviously Gazza's and Magnetman's fault. Nothing to do with me being a gob shite. Sorry. I tried to read David Copperfield. I know its a classic work of literature but I just thought it was a load of complete bollocks. Fortunately there are all sorts of different types of people. One mans bollocks is another mans fascination. Imagine how boring it would be if everyone was the same !!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2017 18:25:50 GMT
My missus listens to audio books when she goes running, and says that Dickens books are great to listen to. I think it's just reading them that's the problem. Maybe I should buy audio books instead.
Rog
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