Dog bites man

Paul Boyd said:

I pass a regular fly-tipping and car-dumping and gypsy-camping spot on
my commute, and the council are always good at clearing it up (all
three!). The local tip is actually visible from this particular spot...

The most frequent fly-tipping location I know of is the passing-place
at the entrance to the local 'recycling reclamation centre'. I've
always assumed that what happens is that some numpty rolls up with a
car-load when it's shut, thinks 'cba to take it all home again, and I
need the car tomorrow' so just unloads it at the next convenient
spot.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Nick Kew said:

Never found that effective. Even tried buying a water pistol and adding
chillies, without any useful effect on two dogs that were a regular
nuisance (painful noise mostly).

Insufficient Scoville heat units.

Try using Dorset nagas instead of what you get in the supermarkets. One
has tested at 1.5M SHU. The typical nondescript chili you find in the
supermarket is probably only around 500-2000 SHU.

I've been bit by a dog once, leaving a junction. I think I was about 15
at the time. This gigantic dog was normally securely behind the farm
gate (although when it ran up to the farm gate, it looked alarmingly
close to clearing it).

One day I was approaching the junction. I heard the usual
"woofwoofwoofwoofwoofwoof" and thundering of feet from this dog from
behind the hedge. As I drew up to the gate, with horror, I realised it
was wide open. This wolf-like beast was already going at full tilt, and
I had slowed to turn off the junction to the right.

It's likely that this dog weighed more than me, too. It emerged, homing
like an Exocet missile, and bit me on the ass hard.

I was so angry that I shouted at the dog and gave it a wallop. It backed
off, put its tail between its legs, and slunk back to the farm.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

Danny Colyer said:

raisethe said:

The dreadful Josie Dew ...

Now that's certainly not an adjective I ever expected to see used to
describe the delightful Josie Dew.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down.
Daddy, why did you put that down?" - Charlie Colyer, age 2

You have probably not read her dire books then.

On 17/05/2007 14:06, raisethe said,

Quoted message said:

You have probably not read her dire books then.

I've read some - she seems great fun!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd said:

On 17/05/2007 14:06, raisethe said,

Quoted message said:

You have probably not read her dire books then.

I've read some - she seems great fun!

--
Paul Boydhttp://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Now come on Paul.

Her prose is dull, in fact it seems like the books are only published
because they are bankrolled by charity. She pompously expects (spl.
inf.?) the reader to be impressed with her adventures when in fact
they are routine and nothing out of the ordinary. She has no
interesting insights into the people she meets, in fact, every man she
comes across is either a bumbling idiot or wants to rape her.

Anyone who travels independtly appreciates that these journeys are
generally a mixture of numerous minor discomforts interspersed with
farce. They also provide plenty of time for reflection and the authors
of the best books in this genre manage to comminicate it to the
reader. Have a look at anything by Dervla Murphy for example and
you'll find that Dew's books are suitable for nothing more than toilet
paper (which is in fact how they ended their days last time I was
camping in the hills).

raisethe wrote (of the delightful Josie Dew):

Quoted message said:

You have probably not read her dire books then.

Which are the dire ones? I've read:
The Wind in My Wheels
Travels in a Strange State
A Ride in the Neon Sun
The Sun in My Eyes
Slow Coast Home

and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them.

I have yet to read "Saddled at Sea" and "Long Cloud Ride". I'm not
aware of any others, so are they the dire ones? Based on the quality of
her previous books, I think I'll read them myself and make my own
judgement anyway.

Dew has a chatty style of writing that I'd probably find irritating when
applied to other subjects, but in her cycling travelogues it works
remarkably well. The books are friendly and accessible, and paint a
vivid picture of her experiences. I always feel like I'm touring along
with her, and I derive a great deal of vicarious pleasure from
accompanying her in this way on tours that I'm never likely to do myself.

YMMV, natch.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down.
Daddy, why did you put that down?" - Charlie Colyer, age 2

On 17/05/2007 20:48, raisethe said,

Quoted message said:

Now come on Paul.
Her prose is dull,

Each to their own, I guess :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Danny Colyer wrote (of the dire Josie Dew):

Quoted message said:

Which are the dire ones? I've read:
The Wind in My Wheels
Travels in a Strange State
A Ride in the Neon Sun
The Sun in My Eyes
Slow Coast Home

and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them.

I have yet to read "Saddled at Sea" and "Long Cloud Ride".

I had a couple with me, and they were the only reading material I had
so I was forced to read them cover to cover which only increased my
irritation. One was the first one 'the wind in my wheels' I think,
with several minor trips in Europe. The other one was in the US,
including Hawaii (travels in a strange state?).

I didn't like the general female whinging that seemed to be a constant
undercurrent in her work. Typically, recent reviews I have read of the
Long Cloud Ride have focussed on her slagging off New Zealand car
drivers. Having spent a considerable time travelling in NZ, on both 2
wheels and 4, I just cannot understand how she can have got that
impression. Drivers are very unstressed and the roads are extremely
quiet. In the south island, the NZ eqivalent of our M6, down the west
coast it is so quiet that the railway line actually runs in the middle
of the single track road when crossing bridges over wide rivers. In
short, it is a cycling mecca. Mind you I haven't read the book.

If you enjoyed reading them obviously thats all that matters, but
maybe next time try a Dervla Murphy to see how good humble
intelligent travel writing can be done.

raisethe said:

If you enjoyed reading them obviously thats all that matters, but
maybe next time try a Dervla Murphy to see how good humble
intelligent travel writing can be done.

They look like I might enjoy them. Full Tilt seems to be her first
book, so I've added it to my birthday/Christmas present list. Unless
there's any one book that you'd particularly recommend?

I read Anne Mustoe's first book last year. I enjoyed it, but didn't
find the writing style anywhere near as engaging as that of Josie Dew.

--
Danny Colyer <URL:http://www.colyer.plus.com/danny/>
Reply address is valid, but that on my website is checked more often
"Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down. Daddy, put that down.
Daddy, why did you put that down?" - Charlie Colyer, age 2

In article <[email hidden]>,
raisethe
[email hidden] says...
<snip>

Quoted message said:

She pompously expects (spl. inf.?)

There's no infinitive there to split. :-)

Rob Morley wrote on 18/05/2007 10:20 +0100:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
raisethe
[email hidden] says...
<snip>

Quoted message said:

She pompously expects (spl. inf.?)

There's no infinitive there to split. :-)

Even so to knowingly split an infinitive is not a grammatical faux pas:

"The 'split' infinitive has taken such hold upon the consciences of
journalists that, instead of warning the novice against splitting his
infinitives, we must warn him against the curious superstition that the
splitting or not splitting makes the difference between a good and a bad
writer."
HW Fowler, The King's English

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

In article <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Rob Morley wrote on 18/05/2007 10:20 +0100:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
raisethe
[email hidden] says...
<snip>

Quoted message said:

She pompously expects (spl. inf.?)

There's no infinitive there to split. :-)

Even so to knowingly split an infinitive is not a grammatical faux pas:

I know, but to me "knowingly to split" sounds better anyway. I also
prefer not to end a phrase with a preposition, except in cases where the
alternative construction is clumsy.

Quoted message said:

"The 'split' infinitive has taken such hold upon the consciences of
journalists that, instead of warning the novice against splitting his
infinitives, we must warn him against the curious superstition that the
splitting or not splitting makes the difference between a good and a bad
writer."
HW Fowler, The King's English

No need to quote Fowler to me - I usually have his Modern English Usage
nearby (and occasionally ignore its advice). :-)

in message <[email hidden]>, Rob Morley

(') said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Rob Morley wrote on 18/05/2007 10:20 +0100:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
raisethe
[email hidden] says...
<snip>
> She pompously expects (spl. inf.?)

There's no infinitive there to split. :-)

Even so to knowingly split an infinitive is not a grammatical faux pas:

I know, but to me "knowingly to split" sounds better anyway.

'knowingly to split' isn't English and probably doesn't mean anything. The
idea of splittable infinitives in English is a Victorian invention,
imported from Latin; it didn't bother Shakespeare one little bit. What you
meant to write was 'to knowingly split'.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken, and we had run out of gas for the welding torch.

raisethe said:

Anyone who travels independtly appreciates that these journeys are
generally a mixture of numerous minor discomforts interspersed with
farce. They also provide plenty of time for reflection and the authors
of the best books in this genre manage to comminicate it to the
reader. Have a look at anything by Dervla Murphy for example and
you'll find that Dew's books are suitable for nothing more than toilet
paper (which is in fact how they ended their days last time I was
camping in the hills).

Also, try anything by Anne Mustoe. An exceedingly good read.

Simon Brooke wrote on 18/05/2007 13:41 +0100:

Quoted message said:

'knowingly to split' isn't English and probably doesn't mean anything.

Not according to the OED people:

Split infinitives are frequently poor style, but they are not strictly
bad grammar. In the example above, to avoid the split infinitive would
result either in weakness (to go boldly) or over-formality (boldly to
go): either would ruin the rhythmic force and rhetorical pattern of the
original. It is probably good practice to avoid split infinitives in
formal writing, but clumsy attempts to avoid them simply by shuffling
adverbs about can create far worse sentences.
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/splitinfinitives?view=uk

If you are going to play a grammar or dictionary pedant, you need to get
it right.

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell

in message <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven

(') said:

Simon Brooke wrote on 18/05/2007 13:41 +0100:

Quoted message said:

'knowingly to split' isn't English and probably doesn't mean anything.

Not according to the OED people:

Split infinitives are frequently poor style, but they are not strictly
bad grammar. In the example above, to avoid the split infinitive would
result either in weakness (to go boldly) or over-formality (boldly to
go): either would ruin the rhythmic force and rhetorical pattern of the
original. It is probably good practice to avoid split infinitives in
formal writing, but clumsy attempts to avoid them simply by shuffling
adverbs about can create far worse sentences.

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutgrammar/splitinfinitives?view=uk

Quoted message said:

If you are going to play a grammar or dictionary pedant, you need to get
it right.

I am right. I'm an English speaker. I don't need academics to tell me how
my own language works. And, as I pointed out, neither did the iconic
writers of the English language. Find me one - just one - unsplit
infinitive in all of Shakespeare.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

:: Wisdom is better than weapons of war ::
:: Ecclesiastes 9:18 ::

Simon Brooke said:

Find me one - just one - unsplit
infinitive in all of Shakespeare.

She doth teach the torches to burn bright
it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
like a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear
beauty to0 rich for something for earth too dear
so shows a snowy dove parading with crows
as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows

"to burn bright" in the first line.

(From memory - Will didn't say 'something' in line four, and tehre may
be other errors. Also, personally I'd prefer 'pearl' in line three, to
parallel the snowy dove, but I think jewel is what he wrote.)

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Danny Colyer said:

Quoted message said:

They look like I might enjoy them. Full Tilt seems to be her first

book, so I've added it to my birthday/Christmas present list. Unless
there's any one book that you'd particularly recommend?

I'd say that was a good choice, particularly as it is a bicycle ride
(overland to India). Reading them chronologically is a good idea as
over time her books have become more about in depth insights into the
societies she is travelling in rather than the travelling itself. I
would suggest that rather than any particularly good ones standing
out, they tend to get better crafted as time goes on.

You have several years of excellent travel reading ahead as you get
through her books - I've still got a handful to go myself.

Ray

In article <[email hidden]>, Simon
Brooke
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Rob Morley

(') said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Rob Morley wrote on 18/05/2007 10:20 +0100:
> In article <[email hidden]>,
> raisethe
> [email hidden] says...
> <snip>
>> She pompously expects (spl. inf.?)
>
> There's no infinitive there to split. :-)

Even so to knowingly split an infinitive is not a grammatical faux pas:

I know, but to me "knowingly to split" sounds better anyway.

'knowingly to split' isn't English and probably doesn't mean anything.

Don't be daft, of course it is.

Quoted message said:

The
idea of splittable infinitives in English is a Victorian invention,
imported from Latin;

ITYM non-splittable infinitives.

Quoted message said:

it didn't bother Shakespeare one little bit.

As I said in the later part of my post, I don't slavishly follow Mr.
Fowler or anyone else.

Quoted message said:

What you
meant to write was 'to knowingly split'.

I wrote what I intended to write. You may write how you like.

Simon Brooke wrote on 18/05/2007 22:04 +0100:

Quoted message said:

I am right. I'm an English speaker. I don't need academics to tell me
how my own language works. And, as I pointed out, neither did the
iconic writers of the English language. Find me one - just one -
unsplit infinitive in all of Shakespeare.

Line seven of Sonnet 78 will do.

I grant thou wert not married to my Muse,
And therefore mayst without attaint o'erlook
The dedicated words which writers use
Of their fair subject, blessing every book.
Thou art as fair in knowledge as in hue,
Finding thy worth a limit past my praise;
And therefore art enforced to seek anew
Some fresher stamp of the time-bettering days.
And do so, love; yet when they have devis'd,
What strained touches rhetoric can lend,
Thou truly fair, wert truly sympathiz'd
In true plain words, by thy true-telling friend;
And their gross painting might be better usd
Where cheeks need blood; in thee it is abusd.

--
Tony

"The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there
is no good evidence either way."
- Bertrand Russell