On With The Motley!

(Motley Being A Theatrical Costume)
     Once again Conrad refers to his Dictionary of Phrase and Fable for a title.  Not a bad one, really.

They ought to be fined for un-necessary use of umlauts!

BOOK SECTION (KINDLE AFFICIONADOES MIGHT SUFFER HERE)

If Chins Could Kill
     Conrad has, just this very day, come into a small but tasteful collection of books, including the titular one named above.

There's a tale behind this

A very amusing and instructive look at the life of a "B" actor.  I got it in Edinburgh and can only remember that it was a choice of having lunch - or getting Bruce's autobiography.  He once responded to an e-mail I sent him in 2006, which is my one and only Bruce anecdote.

A Whole Heap Of Books
     Excuse me, got to go refill with Russian Caravan Tea - ah just enough in the pot to fill one last cup, most gratifying.
     

Ah yes, "Akira".  Seen it ten times, still can't follow it.

Soldaten
     Did you know that the perfidious British, when they captured German PoW's in WW2, used to bug their cells and record conversations?  Me neither.  A pair of German authors came across the transcriptions in 2001 - 48,000 of them - and created the "Soldaten" of the title.

Oops.  Rotate your neck through 900

Interesting but very grim!  Also quite heavy on the sociological explanations.

BOOK SECTION OVER NOW YOU CAN COME OUT KINDLERS

Barratry
     Remember the "Mary Celeste"?  That ship found drifting in the Atlantic, crewless and with no signs of violence or struggle?  Don't confuse it with the "Marie Celeste" - a fictional take on the story by Conan-Doyle.  Nor with "The Wreck Of The Mary Deare", either the book or the fillum.
     The "Mary Celeste" was an unlucky ship.  Three of her captains died aboard her.  She ran aground.  Finally she ended up being deliberately run onto rocks in order for her owner to carry out insurance fraud ("Barratry").
     The ship didn't sink.  I told you she was unlucky - this not-sinking rather destroyed the planned insurance fraud, so the captain set her on fire.  That didn't work either.  He then ended up being prosecuted for Barratry, which at the time carried a death sentence.  The jury found him not guilty since they rather jibbed at the death sentence.
     There you go.  Barratry.  A term you'd never heard before today - BOOJUM! didacting like the devil!

Barret, Syd.  Close enough.  Apologies for the bare behind

Once More Conrad Picks On Simon And Garfunkel
     Heh heh!  Such an easy target!  Next week it'll be, oh I dunno - Lemonjelly.
     So.  Let us examine a lyric from "Bridge Over Troubled Waters".

When you're weary 
Feeling small 
When tears are in your eyes 
I will dry them all 

     Be very careful!  Eyes are very delicate and it would be easy to remove excess moisture and so cause painful chafing of the sclerotic membrane.
     Okay, let's look at a bit more.

Like a bridge over troubled water 

I will lay me down 

No!  I won't have sloppy grammar!  That should be "myself" NOT "me".  I'm warning you, Simon.  Let's try a bit more.

When you're down and out 

When you're on the street 

When evening falls so hard 

I will comfort you 

What?  This homeless person needs a bed for the night and some food!  Less platitudes and more referral to Shelter!  <sigh>  Go on, go on.

If you need a friend 

I'm sailing right behind 

No!  Exactly what yachting qualifications do you possess, Mr. Simon?  Hang on - this person can afford a boat?  A moment ago they were penniless and homeless!
     Away with you!

And FInally
     The usual repulsive emotional blackmail by posting pictures of PUPPEH!

Appealing little tinker, isn't she?  Be sure to tell all your friends!