What you reading today?

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:15 pm

Bruce Rioja wrote:
Montreal Wanderer wrote:That is a problem with common law jurisdictions like England and the US - once a statute is passed it remains in force until it is repealed so you have some astonishingly silly ones on the books because parliaments never have time to repeal obsolete laws. In civil law jurisdictions like Quebec and Scotland we have a concept of desuetude - this means once a law becomes obsolete through disuse, it is invalid and cannot be enforced. A sort of de facto repeal.
Understood, Monty. Our 'Black Cabs' are still governed by the laws that surrounded the original Hackney drawn carriages (inner height sufficient for a gentlemans top hat, the boot being the size of a bale of hay etc.) but I'd love to know what happened so that somebody felt it necessary to pass these more bizarre laws in the first place. For instance, did you know that in Florida it is illegal for divorced women to parachute jump on a Sunday? Why? And why specifically on a Sunday? Do you see what I mean about the book that I'm reading had it been done more thoroughly? It could've been a fascinating read rather than two guys having a bit of fun.

I'm beginning to wonder about whether some of these things are actually statutes or simply urban legends. Regarding Florida a lawyer's blog notes:

I came across a website today that lists states and their respective laws. Here's what the site had to say about Florida:

"In Miami, it is illegal for a man to wear any kind of strapless gown. Unmarried women who parachute on
Sundays may be jailed. In Sarasota, it is illegal to sing while wearing a bathing suit. In Florida, it is illegal
for single, divorced, or widowed women to parachute on Sunday afternoons."

I'm gonna do my homework on where exactly in the Fla Stat these laws are located....more on this later. Until then, I may try to take a parachuting trip this weekend...

That site also suggests there is a statute against having sex with a porcupine.
This lawyers is still trying to find whether the Florida statute actually exists. I'll have a butcher's myself.

The same site http://www.md.lp.org/weird_laws.php says this:

Alabama

In Jasper, it is illegal for a husband to beat his wife with a stick larger in diameter than his thumb. It is illegal to play Dominos on Sunday. It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church. Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death.

Alaska

In Fairbanks, it is illegal to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose. While it is legal to shoot bears, waking sleeping bears for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited. A law in Fairbanks, does not allow moose to have sex on city streets.

Arizona

In Tucson, it is illegal for women to wear pants. In Globe, it is illegal to play cards in the street with a Native American. In Glendale, it is illegal to drive a car in reverse. In Nogales, it is illegal to wear suspenders.

Arkansas

A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month. In Fayetteville, it is illegal to kill "any living creature." Schoolteachers who bob their hair may forfeit their pay raises. Flirtation between men and women on the streets of Little Rock may result in a 30-day jail term.

etc. etc.

thebish · Post by **thebish** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:32 pm

Montreal Wanderer wrote:It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church.

Blimey - that's me stuffed then

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:52 pm

TANGODANCER wrote:
Raven wrote:"Bernard Cornwell's three Grail novels. About an English bowman."

Any good, have always been tempted but not quite
Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.

Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:44 pm

Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Raven wrote:"Bernard Cornwell's three Grail novels. About an English bowman."

Any good, have always been tempted but not quite
Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is

A better read is Kate Mosse's "Labrinth". The Grail quest from a Cathar angle.

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:44 pm

Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Raven wrote:"Bernard Cornwell's three Grail novels. About an English bowman."

Any good, have always been tempted but not quite
Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is

I enjoyed them though I prefer some of his other stuff.

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:57 pm

Montreal Wanderer wrote:
Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Raven wrote:"Bernard Cornwell's three Grail novels. About an English bowman."

Any good, have always been tempted but not quite
Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is
I enjoyed them though I prefer some of his other stuff.

And of course, when you get round to it.......

americantrotter · Post by **americantrotter** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:38 pm

Pirate-Ted Bell

A bit predictable, but I like the scoundrel that is Alexander Hawke.

Soldier_Of_The_White_Army · Post by **Soldier_Of_The_White_Army** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:50 pm

TANGODANCER wrote:
Montreal Wanderer wrote:
Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Raven wrote:"Bernard Cornwell's three Grail novels. About an English bowman."

Any good, have always been tempted but not quite
Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is
I enjoyed them though I prefer some of his other stuff.
And of course, when you get round to it.......

Bugger! I missed this subject. I'm a huge Bernard Cornwell fan (got the whole Sharpe collection) I'm currently reading 'The Viking King' by him. SUPERB!!

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 11:27 pm

Sam Bourne's "The Righteous Men". Jewish slant on the end of the world.

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 2:57 pm

Soldier_Of_The_White_Army wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Montreal Wanderer wrote:
Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote: Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is
I enjoyed them though I prefer some of his other stuff.
And of course, when you get round to it.......
Bugger! I missed this subject. I'm a huge Bernard Cornwell fan (got the whole Sharpe collection) I'm currently reading 'The Viking King' by him. SUPERB!!

We (younger son and I) have the whole Sharpe collection in book and DVD - I have also got through two volumes of the Viking King trilogy - viol 3 still only in hardcover. I think I prefered the Winter King trilogy about Arthur to Alfred (who is not much of a hero to Cornwell).

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:13 am

started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far

Bench · Post by **Bench** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 11:19 am

Soldier_Of_The_White_Army wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
Montreal Wanderer wrote:
Raven wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote: Readable in the historical sense as Cornwell is good on detail. Found them passable without being riveting.
Might give them a go then, will look for cheapies on ebay and the local book barn....when I am allowed to buy books again that is
I enjoyed them though I prefer some of his other stuff.
And of course, when you get round to it.......
Bugger! I missed this subject. I'm a huge Bernard Cornwell fan (got the whole Sharpe collection) I'm currently reading 'The Viking King' by him. SUPERB!!

If you like Cornwell, check out his Arthur trilogy. Un-put-downable.

And you like that try Colin Iggulden (think that's the spelling) and the Emperor series. It chronicles the rise and fall of one Julius Ceasar. Bloody amazing.

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:01 pm

boltonboris wrote:started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far

Harris's "Enigma" was a fantastic book.

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:10 pm

TANGODANCER wrote:
boltonboris wrote:started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far
Harris's "Enigma" was a fantastic book.

Glad you said that!! I bought that one too! my Dad has Pompeii and Fatherland knocking around his gaff so I may read those when i've finished

David Lee's Hair · Post by **David Lee's Hair** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:13 pm

boltonboris wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
boltonboris wrote:started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far
Harris's "Enigma" was a fantastic book.
Glad you said that!! I bought that one too! my Dad has Pompeii and Fatherland knocking around his gaff so I may read those when i've finished

Fatherland is a good book. Read 1984 before though if you haven't already

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:21 pm

David Lee's Hair wrote:
boltonboris wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
boltonboris wrote:started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far
Harris's "Enigma" was a fantastic book.
Glad you said that!! I bought that one too! my Dad has Pompeii and Fatherland knocking around his gaff so I may read those when i've finished
Fatherland is a good book. Read 1984 before though if you haven't already

By Robert Harris?

David Lee's Hair · Post by **David Lee's Hair** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:22 pm

boltonboris wrote:
David Lee's Hair wrote:
boltonboris wrote:
TANGODANCER wrote:
boltonboris wrote:started reading 'Archangel' by Robert Harris about the search for some of Stalins lost documents and a brief insight into communist USSR, good so far
Harris's "Enigma" was a fantastic book.
Glad you said that!! I bought that one too! my Dad has Pompeii and Fatherland knocking around his gaff so I may read those when i've finished
Fatherland is a good book. Read 1984 before though if you haven't already
By Robert Harris?

George Orwell. Similar books (1984 and Fatherland) in a round about way, 1984 is better, but Fatherland is good.

boltonboris · Post by **boltonboris** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 4:24 pm

THanks for the tip lad! I think that'll be my next literary purchase

On another note, I recently read The Historian by some bird who's name escapes me, enjoyed that very mmuch, its about a Vampire hunt, very entertaining and paints an excellent picture of the scenery and superstition of Eastern and southern europe

Bench · Post by **Bench** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:06 pm

1984 is a cracking read and well before its time. The impact of it now is obviously far less than when it was first published as we are, for all intents and purposes, living in a society ruled / governed / dictated / watched by 'Big Brother'.

While we're on the subject of 'classics'.....anyone ever read Catch 22? I believe its one for the purists in a Marmite kind of way. You either love it or hate it.

I thought it was unadulterated wank. Honest.

hisroyalgingerness · Post by **hisroyalgingerness** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 6:10 pm

Bench wrote:1984 is a cracking read and well before its time. The impact of it now is obviously far less than when it was first published as we are, for all intents and purposes, living in a society ruled / governed / dictated / watched by 'Big Brother'.

While we're on the subject of 'classics'.....anyone ever read Catch 22? I believe its one for the purists in a Marmite kind of way. You either love it or hate it.

I thought it was unadulterated wank. Honest.

enjoyed 1984, its pretty relevant for my workplace at the minute to tell you the truth

i'm struggling with Chuck Palahnuiks' Haunted at the mo. Guts was quality but it's a tough read. Latest short story though involves a firing squad in a WW2 death camp getting gypsy women to suck his cock then slits their throat. this one time she's got him so far down that he nicks half his knob off as well. fecking horrible, my face must have been a picture on the train

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