Petrarch on bibliomania

A helpful response in the debate between Petrarch (what’s the difference between a duck? One of its legs is both the same) might go something like this: Petrarch. I have indeed a great quantity of books. Critic. Leave them in a warehouse about 45mins cycle-ride from your house, and get rid of any you haven’t…

Pan-Occitanism

What Catalan imperialists forget: all their dialects are simply dodgy Limousin, and all the territories they claim (Valencia, the Blearies, the gypsy quarter of Perpignan, several hamlets in Albania) are actually part of Greater Occitania. Quite what this adds to GNP is unclear, but ain’t it fun!

Market segmentation

An amply dimensioned gypsy lady is vending six small cacti in pots and two bunches of cut chrysanths outside the municipal market building. An impeccably dressed faux-blonde pija approaches. –Three cactus for five euros! lovely flowers! three lovely cactus for five euros! lovely… –I want three cacti, that one, that one and that one. –That’ll…