Hi, All!

In a textbook "Short stories", by Olly Richards I read the story "Daring Diabolo" where a criminal boss says to his wife that this town is not needed for the law.

"There is no law for me. And there ain't no law needed for this town either!"

In his comment the teacher (Olly Richards) tells that "ain't" is a slang, an informal way to say and write "am not", "are not", "is not", "has not" or "have not".

Well, let's get the full version, without the slang:

"There is no law for me. And there is not no law needed for this town either!"

I can't see the sense, although I think I know what he means. ;)

Bye, All!
Alexander Koryagin

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Alexander Koryagin:

In a textbook "Short stories", by Olly Richards I read
the story "Daring Diabolo" where a criminal boss says to
his wife that this town is not needed for the law.

This town is not needed for the law -- makes no sense to me.

"There is no law for me. And there ain't no law needed
for this town either!"

In his comment the teacher (Olly Richards) tells that
"ain't" is a slang, an informal way to say and write
"am not", "are not", "is not", "has not" or "have not".

Yes. The liner notes for my Pat Boone anthology say it is
the word of proletarian negation, whence Boone's proposal to
sing "Isn't it a shame" instead of "Ain't that a shame" in
his watered-down cover to Fats Domino's hit.

Well, let's get the full version, without the slang:

"There is no law for me. And there is not no law needed
for this town either!"

I can't see the sense, although I think I know what he
means. ;)

"Ain't" likes a double negative. Clarence "Frogman" Henry
sang "I ain't got no home." Lula Reed sang "I ain't no
cotton-picking chicken," and she sure is not!

Good old American music, exterminated by the Brithish
invasion of the age the transistor, with multiminking,
mixing consoles, and artifical reverberators?

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I wrote:

in his watered-down cover to Fats Domino's hit.

*of* Fats Domino's hit, of course.

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Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to All:

In a textbook "Short stories", by Olly Richards I
read the story "Daring Diabolo"

Hmm. "Diablo" is a Spanish word meaning "devil", often used in tales involving frontier settlements near the US/Mexican border.

I guess you haven't watched a lot of movies in which the bad guy says "This town ain't big enough for both of us!" while the good guy wins because he can reach for his guns more quickly & shoot with both hands at a time.... :-))

In his comment the teacher (Olly Richards) tells that
"ain't" is a slang,

My usual sources classify it as informal or nonstandard... but not as slang. In my experience slang tends to be fairly short-lived while "ain't" has been in use for over 200 years. Slang also tends to be more limited WRT to how &/or by whom it is used than words like this one.

an informal way to say and write "am not", "are not",
"is not", "has not" or "have not".

AFAIK it's widely accepted in many regional dialects, and I have been known to say "ain't nobody here but us chickens" when somebody asks whether any other people are still reading an echo which hasn't had much recent traffic. I can get away with it in a jocular/informal context. For those who must pass an exam to demonstrate their proficiency in English, I wouldn't recommend it. ;-)

"There is no law for me. And there ain't no law needed
for this town either!"

I must confess I have to wonder about Olly Richards. I imagine he is churning out "high interest, low difficulty" reading material. Tales about the wild & woolly west do have a certain popular appeal, in North America at least, although the content may be formulaic &/or stereotypical &/or exaggerated. But tales about gangsters & businessmen who think they're above the law &/or who've found ways to get others to do their dirty work for them have a certain popular appeal too. I guess they're the updated version of ye olde cowboy movies. I'm not saying you shouldn't read literature I'd take with a grain of salt, because I know you read widely & in these uncertain times you may want a break.... :-Q

I can't see the sense, although I think I know what
he means. ;)

I & others have noticed that as the population density grows within a certain area the number of rules & regulations grows along with it. I think it is reasonable to imagine that in a sparsely populated area, over a century ago, some folks liked to believe they could do as they wished &/or take the law into their own hands. While I'm not sure when or where this story takes place I can see how their modernized/citified counterparts might feel the same way.... :-)




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Hi, Ardith Hinton!
I read your message from 08.04.2022 20:24

AK>> an informal way to say and write "am not", "are not", "is
AK>> not", "has not" or "have not".

AH> AFAIK it's widely accepted in many regional dialects, and I have
AH> been known to say "ain't nobody here but us chickens" when somebody
AH> asks whether any other people are still reading an echo which
AH> hasn't had much recent traffic. I can get away with it in a jocular
AH> /informal context. For those who must pass an exam to demonstrate
AH> their proficiency in English, I wouldn't recommend it. ;-)

Olly Richards obviously tried to make his pupils to see in their
imagination some bright images. I was given this textbook by a man who
studied English in California when he was a boy. As for me I read any
book got in my hands. :)

AK>> "There is no law for me. And there ain't no law needed for this
AK>> town either!"

AH> I must confess I have to wonder about Olly Richards. I imagine he
AH> is churning out "high interest, low difficulty" reading material.
AH> Tales about the wild & woolly west do have a certain popular
AH> appeal, in North America at least, although the content may be
AH> formulaic &/or stereotypical &/or exaggerated. But tales about
AH> gangsters & businessmen who think they're above the law &/or who've
AH> found ways to get others to do their dirty work for them have a
AH> certain popular appeal too. I guess they're the updated version of
AH> ye olde cowboy movies. I'm not saying you shouldn't read literature
AH> I'd take with a grain of salt, because I know you read widely & in
AH> these uncertain times you may want a break....: - Q

In this book there are many stories, for instance the one about annual
meeting of monsters, where Invisible Man (Griffin) tried to persuade
them to catch the world and choose him their leader. Another fun I
notice was the way the Americans use the word "shorts". Until now I was
sure that shorts are a kind of short trousers. But here I read:

-----Beginning of the citation-----
'OK,' Griffin continued. 'You all have allowed me to be
part of the monster team. Even though I am a human, you
let me act like a monster. I thank you for that.' The
Invisible Man paused to smile, although no one could
see. The monsters only saw his shorts moving back and
forth at the front of the room.
----- The end of the citation -----

But it seems were underpants - an American comics heroes like to put
them atop, especially red ones. ;-)

AK>> I can't see the sense, although I think I know what he means. ;)

AH> I & others have noticed that as the population density grows within
AH> a certain area the number of rules & regulations grows along with
AH> it. I think it is reasonable to imagine that in a sparsely
AH> populated area, over a century ago, some folks liked to believe
AH> they could do as they wished &/or take the law into their own
AH> hands. While I'm not sure when or where this story takes place I
AH> can see how their modernized/citified counterparts might feel the
AH> same way.... :-)

Yes, the story was about the times you told.

Bye, Ardith!
Alexander Koryagin
fido.english_tutor,local.cc.ak 2022
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Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

Olly Richards obviously tried to make his pupils to see
in their imagination some bright images.

Plenty of action... no long descriptions & no polysyllabic linguistic terms such as "colloquial", "jocular", or "regional dialect"?

I was given this textbook by a man who studied English
in California when he was a boy.

That might explain a lot. Although the language is fairly simple the content isn't (as our daughter would say) "too little kiddy", and I see how the latter probably appeals to various students of various ages. :-)

As for me I read any book got in my hands. :)

Uh-huh. IMHO it's all grist for the mill, and I'm quite sure that if you don't understand something you'll look it up &/or make enquiries here. :-)

Another fun I notice was the way the Americans use the
word "shorts". Until now I was sure that shorts are a
kind of short trousers.

That would be my initial reaction.... :-)

But it seems were underpants -

Yes, there is a style of male underpants known as "boxer shorts"... I think that's what the author was referring to.

I also presume that while this guy was invisible his clothing may not have been, and he felt rather uncertain as to what the monsters could see. :-Q




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

Alexander Koryagin:

AK: As for me I read any book got in my hands. :)

(but I am rather scrupulous as to what I lay my hands on)

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Ardith Hinton:

Yes, there is a style of male underpants known as "boxer
shorts"... I think that's what the author was referring
to.

Did not the million-dollar girl wear them (a good movie, if
you ask me)?

I also presume that while this guy was invisible his
clothing may not have been, and he felt rather uncertain
as to what the monsters could see. :-Q

I presume you have seen James Whale's masterpiece, but not
its sequels, which were more primitive but with better
effects: Invisible Spy, Invisible Woman... Mmmm! --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iho9FD99nu4

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Hi, Anton Shepelev!
I read your message from 15.04.2022 12:24

AS> AK: As for me I read any book got in my hands. :)
AS> (but I am rather scrupulous as to what I lay my hands on)

Probably it depends on the number of books. And I especially mean a real
paper books. I feel more pleasure reading them, marking words, phrases etc.

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
fido.english_tutor,local.cc.ak 2022
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alexander koryagin to Anton Shepelev:

As for me I read any book got in my hands. :)

(but I am rather scrupulous as to what I lay my hands on)

Probably it depends on the number of books.

I failed to make a joke. It was inspired by one about
Windows:

-- They say Windows is user-friendly.
-- But it is very picky about whom it calls a friend!

And I especially mean a real paper books. I feel more
pleasure reading them, marking words, phrases etc.

I too prefer paper books, but anti-Russia sactions have made
them very hard to buy abroad.

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Hi, Anton Shepelev! -> Alexander Koryagin
I read your message from 15.04.2022 13:36

As for me I read any book got in my hands.

(but I am rather scrupulous as to what I lay my hands on)

Probably it depends on the number of books.

I failed to make a joke. It was inspired by one about Windows:
-- They say Windows is user-friendly. -- But it is very picky about
whom it calls a friend!

You probably didn't meet system where a user should type type commands manually. ;)

And I especially mean a real paper books. I feel more pleasure
reading them, marking words, phrases etc.

I too prefer paper books, but anti-Russia sactions have made them
very hard to buy abroad.

Have been to Moscow sometimes? There are shops with English literature there.

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
english_tutor 2022

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Alexander Koryagin to Anton Shepelev:

-- They say Windows is user-friendly. -- But it is
very picky about whom it calls a friend!

You probably didn't meet system where a user should type
type commands manually. ;)

No, I have had (asexual) intercourse with such systems: MS-
DOS and Linux.

Have been to Moscow sometimes? There are shops with
English literature there.

They have neither the literature not the publishers that I
crave. Nothing from Centipede press, Hippocampus press, or
Library of America. No Lord Dunsany, Arthur Machen, or
Clark Ashton Smith. By the way, the latter writer has been
published in Russian, with excellent illustrations:

https://fantlab.ru/blogarticle35891
(there are three volumes in total)

But I read a lot from Project Gutemberg on my Pocketbook
Education!

P.S.: Congratulations upon capitalisation of your name :-)

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Hi, Anton Shepelev!
I read your message from 16.04.2022 18:13

AS>>> -- They say Windows is user-friendly. -- But it is very picky
AS>>> about whom it calls a friend!

AK>> You probably didn't meet system where a user should type type
AK>> commands manually. ;)

AS> No, I have had (asexual) intercourse with such systems: MS-DOS and
AS> Linux.

So you should know what is more friendly for a user. ;)

AK>> Have been to Moscow sometimes? There are shops with English
AK>> literature there.

AS> They have neither the literature not the publishers that I crave.
AS> Nothing from Centipede press, Hippocampus press, or Library of
AS> America. No Lord Dunsany, Arthur Machen, or Clark Ashton Smith. By
AS> the way, the latter writer has been published in Russian, with
AS> excellent illustrations:

AS> https://fantlab.ru/blogarticle35891
AS> (there are three volumes in total)

I have been to the shop in Kuznecky Most street -- there are a lot a
books there. Although, it was quite a while ago.

AS> But I read a lot from Project Gutemberg on my Pocketbook Education!

I also read some books in e-form. Fro instance, now I am reading Jule
Verne "Round the moon". I like it. ;)

AS> P.S.: Congratulations upon capitalisation of your name :-)

It was the initiative of Tommi's gate, not mine. Long ago when fidonet
was a quiet populous place there were many people with initials AK, and
it was confusing to have discussions with them. So I modestly had made
my initials small. ;)

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
fido.english_tutor,local.cc.ak 2022
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Alexander Koryagin to Anton Shepelev:

No, I have had (asexual) intercourse with such systems:
MS-DOS and Linux.

So you should know what is more friendly for a user. ;)

I am undecided. The last sane version of Windows is XP,
which I am using, but I will have to install a more modern
OS on my new PC, and it shall not be Windows. I hear the
FreeDOS does not suport UEFI...

Long ago when fidonet was a quiet populous place

"quiet populous" is quite oxymoronious :-)

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Hi, Anton Shepelev!
I read your message from 18.04.2022 11:35

AS>>> No, I have had (asexual) intercourse with such systems:
AS>>> MS-DOS and Linux.
AK>> So you should know what is more friendly for a user. ;)
AS> I am undecided. The last sane version of Windows is XP,
AS> which I am using, but I will have to install a more modern
AS> OS on my new PC, and it shall not be Windows. I hear the
AS> FreeDOS does not suport UEFI...

For old MSDOS games I use DosBox -- works on new computers well. If I
need old Windows versions for some reason I use VMWare. I have some soft
that works on Windows 98 only. ;)

AK>> Long ago when fidonet was a quiet populous place
AS> "quiet populous" is quite oxymoronious :-)

"Quite" is IMHO a very often used English word-parasite. ;-) https://tinyurl.com/y5fnbnyw

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
fido.english_tutor,local.cc.ak 2022
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Alexander Koryagin:

For old MSDOS games I use DosBox -- works on new
computers well.

Except that it cannot display those games properly without
my pixel-perfect patch:

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=49160

If I need old Windows versions for some reason I use
VMWare. I have some soft that works on Windows 98 only.
;)

The last time I saw it, VMWare did not support integer
scaling without interpolation...

"Quite" is IMHO a very often used English word-parasite.
;-)
https://tinyurl.com/y5fnbnyw

It should seem so, but I recommend that you use a real
dicitonaly complied by real people, instead of Google's AI-
stuff:

EN<->EN: http://dict.org/
EN<->EN: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/
RU<->EN: https://wooordhunt.ru/
RU<->EN: https://dic.academic.ru/

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Hi, Anton Shepelev!
I read your message from 18.04.2022 16:21

AK>> For old MSDOS games I use DosBox -- works on new
AK>> computers well.
AS> Except that it cannot display those games properly without
AS> my pixel-perfect patch:
AS> https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=49160
AK>> If I need old Windows versions for some reason I use
AK>> VMWare. I have some soft that works on Windows 98 only.
AK>> ;)
AS> The last time I saw it, VMWare did not support integer
AS> scaling without interpolation...

It is not perfect, I know. Not long ago I installed Ubuntu on VmWare --
it shows split letters. Shame! :)

AK>> "Quite" is IMHO a very often used English word-parasite.
AK>> ;-)
AK>> https://tinyurl.com/y5fnbnyw
AS> It should seem so, but I recommend that you use a real
AS> dicitonaly complied by real people, instead of Google's AI-
AS> stuff:
AS> EN<->EN: http://dict.org/
AS> EN<->EN: https://www.thefreedictionary.com/
AS> RU<->EN: https://wooordhunt.ru/
AS> RU<->EN: https://dic.academic.ru/

OK

Bye, Anton!
Alexander Koryagin
fido.english_tutor,local.cc.ak 2022
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Alexander Koryagin to Anton Shepelev:

The last time I saw it, VMWare did not support integer
scaling without interpolation...

It is not perfect, I know.

"Not perfect" is what Edgar Poe calls praise by faint damn!

Not long ago I installed Ubuntu on VmWare -- it shows
split letters. Shame! :)

Split letters are new to me, but agree that poor display in
professional emulation and virtualisation software is low-
down dirty shame.

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Hi, Alexander! Recently you wrote in a message to Anton Shepelev:

Congratulations upon capitalisation of your name :-)

It was the initiative of Tommi's gate, not mine.

Ah. I'd noticed it seemed to happen at some times but not others... maybe depending on where you were posting from. While I've grown accustomed to seeing your name without capitalization, either or both serve the purpose. :-)

Long ago when fidonet was a quiet populous place
there were many people with initials AK, and it
was confusing to have discussions with them. So
I modestly had made my initials small. ;)

Thank you. That made it a lot easier to keep track of who said what ... especially when multiple quotes were used.

In those days we also had two or three people here with the initials "AS", one of whom helped clarify such things by adding his middle initial. And even now there are at least three Fidonet Syops with the initials "ML".... :-Q




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)