Category: Fourre-tout

Once upon a time there was a small tribe that dwelled in a little hamlet called Petanquium.

Its inhabitants were hunters/gatherers and usually got along well with each other. They were noted “bon-vivants » who ate heartily and guzzled with abandon a local brew called mead.
The local druid once declared, “When I drink, I think; and when I think, I drink” and this encouraged the village philosophers to drink generously to stimulate their thinking.
In their spare time they practiced for war by throwing rocks at a small target on the ground. Some were very accurate and were called Tiroflans.

Sometimes the villagers drank too much of the sacred concoction and became ornery and bellicose.
One day two villagers respectively called Alambix and Tournedix got into a heated argument over a local custom… and even reached for their battle-axes.
Fortunately reason prevailed and both sides walked away unharmed.

But after this foolish incident, they studiously avoided each other.

Some time later, at a yearly banquet honoring the gods, Alambix and Tournedix started drinking… and thinking.
The more they drank, the more they thought… and the more they thought, the more they drank. After a while, incapable of any kind of thinking, they forgot their past quarrel and shook hands… and drank some more to celebrate.

Now, Toutatis and Taranis be praised, peace has returned (at least temporally) to the little village and all seems to be well in Petanquium.

But a small community is always ripe with gossips. It might not be long before another incident erupts and sends everybody reaching for their daggers.
Ultimately a goat or virgin (of either sex) may have to be sacrificed to appease the gods.

May everybody drink more hydromel to encourage independent thinking and develop a more understanding way to play the popular “tosstherock” game.

Toutatis, Taranis and Esus be praised!

Alain

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“No matter what name we give it or how we judge it, a candidate’s character is central to political reporting because it is central to a citizen’s decision in voting.” Roger Mudd

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We will soon go to the polls. We will have to pick the person who for the next four/eight years is going to be the standard bearer of America and for the values for which it stands.

Such vote should be based on the candidates’ character, the mental and moral compass of an individual, not on demagoguery.

We will have to choose between the two main contenders, a Republican and a Democrat. Abstaining or voting for a minor candidate (one who does not have a chance to win) would be a disservice to the nation for “Bad officials are selected by good citizens who do not vote.”

It is an important choice and every citizen ought to be involved. Basically as I see it, it is a choice between authoritarianism (repression) and democracy.

Beware of demagogues. Once in power they have a tendency to drift into force or violence. And once a choice is made, it is quasi impossible to backtrack.
Show me a “macho man” and I will show a potential dictator.

Even if you don’t read newspapers or magazines, you still can form a basic opinion by watching news clips.
Watch for the candidate who insults or denigrates any specific group; we all belong to such a group, be it socialist, Christian, Freemason, homosexual or the press corps.

When the man in charge takes on any such group, he is very likely to soon take on another group that displeased him.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller

In California, employees can take as much time as they need in order to vote, but only a maximum of two hours is paid.

On Tuesday, November 8, forget anything else, vote! Your life depends on it.

Alain

 “I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary. I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.” — John F. Kennedy

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So how was it?
It was, excuse my French, f***ing hot. Ninety-four degrees in the shade. Too hot to allow my superbly tuned machine to function properly.
I think that I overheated and blew a gasket, maybe two. I subsequently failed as a photographer and as a player.
We thoroughbred need decent conditions to perform optimally. Sorry about that.

I also realize by the way that I took a lot of pictures of young Julien Bourgade, but I am partial to kids… so sue me.

But enough with the confounded meteorological conditions.

A respectable bunch of people showed up for the picnic and the tournament.
A picnic for about 60 people is not a walk in the park. It takes a lot of hard work to bring this to fruition.
I don’t have all the facts but I know that Verena, Claudie, Liv and Helga, Alain Marchand, Antoine and Jean-Claude Etallaz worked very hard to make this event a success.
Don’t forget to show your appreciation, or even kiss them (yes) next time you see them.

40 people signed up to play in the tournament. Based on a random pairing the teams were as follows:

1. Bleys Rose & Tamara Efron
2. Damian Jonathan & Sandra Shirkey
3. Brigitte Moran & Nancy Jencks
4. Marc Di Maio & Liliane Sebban
5. Francois Moser & Gilbert Sonet
6. John Johnson & David Lindsey
7. Charlie Davantes & Evan Falcone
8. Philippe Arnaud & Verena Rytter
9. Mark Shirkey & Harry Helms
10. Ed Porto & J-M Poulnot
11. Teri Sirico & Mireille Di Maio
12. Alain Efron & Ellen Leznik
13. J-C Etallaz & Sabine Mattei
14. Albert Wood bury & Calvert Baron
15. Gustave Foucher & Logan Ginsberg
16. Noel Marcovecchio & William La Velle
17. Louis Toulon & Caitlin Woodbury
18. Joe La Torre & Helga Facchini
19. Julien Bourgade & Alain Bourgade
20. Christine Cragg & Claudie Chourre

Three games were played in afternoon and at the end of the day the results were as shown below:

1^st place: Ed Porto & J-M Poulnot $35.00 ea
2^nd place: Damian Jonathan & Sandra Shirkey $30.00 ea
3^rd place: Joe La Torre & Helga Facchini: $25.00 ea
4^th place: Brigitte Moran & Nancy Jencks: $20.00 ea
5^th place: Bleys Rose & Tamara Efron: $15.00 ea
6^th place: Julien Bourgade & Alain Bourgade $10.00 ea

After taking the usual celebratory pictures, I ran away like a thief to take a much-needed shower and to cool off in the sanctuary of my air-conditioned abode.
Don’t be offended if I did not say goodbye. It was “un cas de force majeure”.

I still love you.

Alain

1. To look at photos of this event and listen to the accompanying background music, turn your computer’s sound on, and click on the link “My Photos” located on the right side of this page. For best viewing, go Full Screen.

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