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[ 001 ] Tedaldo, being in disfavour with his lady, departs from Florence. He returns thither after a while in the guise of a pilgrim, has speech of his lady, and makes her sensible of her fault. Her husband, convicted of slaying him, he delivers from peril of death, reconciles him with his brothers, and thereafter discreetly enjoys his lady.
[ 002 ] So ceased Fiammetta; and, when all had bestowed on her their meed of praise, the queen--to lose no time--forthwith bade Emilia resume the narration. So thus Emilia began:
[ 003 ] I am minded to return to our city, whence my two last predecessors saw fit to depart, and to shew you how one of our citizens recovered the lady he had lost.
[ 004 ] Know then that there was in Florence a young noble, his name Tedaldo Elisei, who being beyond measure enamoured of a lady hight Monna Ermellina, wife of one Aldobrandino Palermini, and by reason of his admirable qualities richly deserving to have his desire, [ 005 ] found Fortune nevertheless adverse, as she is wont to be to the prosperous. Inasmuch as, for some reason or another, the lady, having shewn herself gracious towards Tedaldo for a while, completely altered her mien, and not only shewed him no further favour, but would not so much as receive a message from him or suffer him to see her face; whereby he fell a prey to a grievous and distressful melancholy; but so well had he concealed his love that the cause of his melancholy was surmised by none. [ 006 ] He tried hard in divers ways to recover the love which he deemed himself to have lost for no fault of his, and finding all his efforts unavailing, he resolved to bid the world adieu, that he might not afford her who was the cause of his distress the satisfaction of seeing him languish. So he got together as much money as he might, and secretly, no word said to friend or kinsman except only a familiar gossip, who knew all, he took his departure for Ancona. Arrived there, he assumed the name of Filippo Santodeccio, and having forgathered with a rich merchant, entered his service. The merchant took him with him to Cyprus aboard one of his ships, [ 007 ] and was so well pleased with his bearing and behaviour that he not only gave him a handsome salary but made him in a sort his companion, and entrusted him with the management of no small part of his affairs: wherein he proved himself so apt and assiduous, that in the course of a few years he was himself established in credit and wealth and great repute as a merchant. Seven years thus passed, during which, albeit his thoughts frequently reverted to his cruel mistress, and sorely love smote him, and much he yearned to see her again, yet such was his firmness that he came off conqueror, [ 008 ] until one day in Cyprus it so befell that there was sung in his hearing a song that he had himself composed, and of which the theme was the mutual love that was between his lady and him, and the delight that he had of her; which as he heard, he found it incredible that she should have forgotten him, and burned with such a desire to see her once more, that, being able to hold out no longer, he made up his mind to return to Florence. [ 009 ] So, having set all his affairs in order, he betook him, attended only by a single servant, to Ancona; whence he sent all his effects, as they arrived, forward to Florence, consigning them to a friend of his Ancontan partner, and followed with his servant in the disguise of a pilgrim returned from the Holy Sepulchre. Arrived at Florence, he put up at a little hostelry kept by two brothers hard by his lady's house, [ 010 ] whither he forthwith hied him, hoping that, perchance, he might have sight of her from the street; but, finding all barred and bolted, doors, windows and all else, he doubted much, she must be dead, or have removed thence. So, with a very heavy heart, he returned to the house of the two brothers, and to his great surprise found his own four brothers standing in front of it, all in black. He knew that he was so changed from his former semblance, both in dress and in person, that he might not readily be recognized, and he had therefore no hesitation in going up to a shoemaker and asking him why these men were all dressed in black. [ 011 ] The shoemaker answered: " 'Tis because 'tis not fifteen days since a brother of theirs, Tedaldo by name, that had been long abroad, was slain; and I understand that they have proved in court that one Aldobrandino Palermini, who is under arrest, did the deed, because Tedaldo, who loved his wife, was come back to Florence incognito to forgather with her. " [ 012 ] Tedaldo found it passing strange that there should be any one so like him as to be mistaken for him, and deplored Aldobrandino's evil plight. He had learned, however, that the lady was alive and well. So, as 'twas now night, he hied him, much perplexed in mind, into the inn, and supped with his servant. The bedroom assigned him was almost at the top of the house, [ 013 ] and the bed was none of the best. Thoughts many and disquieting haunted his mind, and his supper had been but light. Whereby it befell that midnight came and went, and Tedaldo was still awake. As thus he watched, he heard shortly after midnight, a noise as of persons descending from the roof into the house, and then through the chinks of the door of his room he caught the flicker of an ascending light. [ 014 ] Wherefore he stole softly to the door, and peeping through a chink to make out what was afoot, he saw a very fine young woman bearing a light, and three men making towards her, being evidently those that had descended from the roof. The men exchanged friendly greetings with the young woman, and then one said to her: [ 015 ] " Now, God be praised, we may make our minds easy, for we are well assured that judgment for the death of Tedaldo Elisei is gotten by his brothers against Aldobrandino Palermini, and he has confessed, and the sentence is already drawn up; but still it behoves us to hold our peace; for, should it ever get abroad that we were guilty, we shall stand in the like jeopardy as Aldobrandino. " So saying, they took leave of the woman, who seemed much cheered, and went to bed. [ 016 ] What he had heard set Tedaldo musing on the number and variety of the errors to which men are liable: as, first, how his brothers had mourned and interred a stranger in his stead, and then charged an innocent man upon false suspicion, and by false witness brought him into imminent peril of death: from which he passed to ponder the blind severity of laws and magistrates, who from misguided zeal to elicit the truth not unfrequently become ruthless, and, adjudging that which is false, forfeit the title which they claim of ministers of God and justice, and do but execute the mandates of iniquity and the Evil One. And so he came at last to consider the possibility of saving Aldobrandino, and formed a plan for the purpose. [ 017 ] Accordingly, on the morrow, when he was risen, he left his servant at the inn, and hied him alone, at what he deemed a convenient time, to his lady's house, where, finding, by chance, the door open, he entered, and saw his lady sitting, all tears and lamentations, in a little parlour on the ground-floor. Whereat he all but wept for sympathy; and drawing near her, he said: " Madam, be not troubled in spirit: your peace is nigh you. " [ 018 ] Whereupon the lady raised her head, and said between her sobs: " Good man, what dost thou, a pilgrim, if I mistake not, from distant parts, know either of my peace or of my affliction? " [ 019 ] " Madam, " returned the pilgrim, " I am of Constantinople, and am but now come hither, at God's behest, that I may give you laughter for tears, and deliver your husband from death. " [ 020 ] " But, " said the lady, " if thou art of Constantinople, and but now arrived, how is 't that thou knowest either who my husband is, or who I am? " [ 021 ] Whereupon the pilgrim gave her the whole narrative, from the very beginning, of Aldobrandino's sufferings; he also told her, who she was, how long she had been married, and much besides that was known to him of her affairs: whereat the lady was lost in wonder, and, taking him to be a prophet, threw herself on her knees at his feet, and besought him for God's sake, if he were come to save Aldobrandino, to lose no time, for the matter brooked no delay. [ 022 ] Thus adjured, the pilgrim assumed an air of great sanctity, as he said: " Arise, Madam, weep not, but hearken diligently to what I shall say to you, and look to it that you impart it to none. I have it by revelation of God that the tribulation wherein you stand is come upon you in requital of a sin which you did once commit, of which God is minded that this suffering be a partial purgation, and that you make reparation in full, if you would not find yourself in a far more grievous plight. " [ 023 ] " Sir, " replied the lady, " many sins have I committed, nor know I how among them all to single out that whereof, more than another, God requires reparation at my hands: wherefore, if you know it, tell it me, and what by way of reparation I may do, that will I do. " [ 024 ] " Madam, " returned the pilgrim, " well wot I what it is, nor shall I question you thereof for my better instruction, but that the rehearsal may give you increase of remorse therefor. But pass we now to fact. Tell me, mind you ever to have had a lover? " [ 025 ] Whereat the lady heaved a deep sigh; then, marvelling not a little, for she had thought 'twas known to none, albeit on the day when the man was slain, who was afterwards buried as Tedaldo, there had been some buzz about it, occasioned by some indiscreet words dropped by Tedaldo's gossip and confidant, she made answer: [ 026 ] " I see that there is nought that men keep secret but God reveals it to you; wherefore I shall not endeavour to hide my secrets from you. True it is that in my youth I was beyond measure enamoured of the unfortunate young man whose death is imputed to my husband; whom I mourned with grief unfeigned, for, albeit I shewed myself harsh and cruel towards him before his departure, yet neither thereby, nor by his long absence, nor yet by his calamitous death was my heart estranged from him. " [ 027 ] Then said the pilgrim: " 'Twas not the unfortunate young man now dead that you did love, but Tedaldo Elisei. But let that pass; now tell me: wherefore lost he your good graces? Did he ever offend you? " [ 028 ] " Nay verily, " answered the lady, " he never offended me at all. My harshness was prompted by an accursed friar, to whom I once confessed, and who, when I told him of the love I bore Tedaldo, and my intimacy with him, made my ears so tingle and sing that I still shudder to think of it, warning me that, if I gave it not up, I should fall into the jaws of the Devil in the abyss of hell, and be cast into the avenging fire. [ 029 ] Whereby I was so terrified that I quite made my mind up to discontinue my intimacy with him, and, to trench the matter, I would thenceforth have none of his letters or messages; and so, I suppose, he went away in despair, though I doubt not, had he persevered a while longer, I should not have seen him wasting away like snow in sunshine without relenting of my harsh resolve; for in sooth there was nothing in the world I would so gladly have done. " [ 030 ] Then said the pilgrim: " Madam, 'tis this sin, and this only, that has brought upon you your present tribulation. I know positively that Tedaldo did never put force upon you: 'twas of your own free will, and for that he pleased you, that you became enamoured of him: your constant visitor, your intimate friend he became, because you yourself would have it so; and in the course of your intimacy you shewed him such favour by word and deed that, if he loved you first, you multiplied his love full a thousandfold. [ 031 ] And if so it was, and well yourself from him? You should have considered the whole matter before the die was cast, and not have entered upon it, if you deemed you might have cause to repent you of it as a sin. As soon as he became yours, you became his. [ 032 ] Had he not been yours, you might have acted as you had thought fit, at your own unfettered discretion; but, as you were his, 'twas robbery, 'twas conduct most disgraceful, to sever yourself from him against his will. [ 033 ] Now you must know that I am a friar; and therefore all the ways of friars are familiar to me; nor does it misbecome me, as it might another, to speak for your behoof somewhat freely of them; as I am minded to do that you may have better understanding of them in the future than you would seem to have had in the past. [ 034 ] Time was when the friars were most holy and worthy men, but those who to-day take the name and claim the reputation of friars have nought of the friar save only the habit: nay, they have not even that: for, whereas their founders ordained that their habits should be strait, of a sorry sort, and of coarse stuff, apt symbols of a soul that in arraying the body in so mean a garb did despite to all things temporal, our modern friars will have them full, and double, and resplendent, and of the finest stuff, and of a fashion goodly and pontifical, wherein without shame they flaunt it like peacocks in the church, in the piazza, even as do the laity in their robes. [ 035 ] And as the fisherman casts his net into the stream with intent to take many fish at one throw: so 'tis the main solicitude and study, art and craft of these friars to embrace and entangle within the ample folds of their vast swelling skirts beguines, widows and other foolish women, ay, and men likewise in great number. Wherefore, to speak with more exactitude, the friars of to-day have nought of the habit of the friar save only the colour thereof. [ 036 ] And, whereas the friars of old time sought to win men to their salvation, those of to-day seek to win their women and their wealth; wherefore they have made it and make it their sole concern by declamation and imagery to strike terror into the souls of fools, and to make believe that sins are purged by alms and masses; to the end that they, base wretches that have fled to friarage not to ensue holiness but to escape hardship, may receive from this man bread, from that man wine, and from the other man a donation for masses for the souls of his dead. [ 037 ] True indeed it is that sins are purged by almsgiving and prayer; but, did they who give the alms know, did they but understand to whom or throw them to so many pigs. And, knowing that the fewer be they that share great riches, the greater their ease, 'tis the study of each how best by declamation and intimidation to oust others from that whereof he would fain be the sole owner. [ 038 ] They censure lust in men, that, they turning therefrom, the sole use of their women may remain to the censors: they condemn usury and unlawful gains, that, being entrusted with the restitution thereof, they may be able to enlarge their habits, and to purchase bishoprics and other great preferments with the very money which they have made believe must bring its possessor to perdition. [ 039 ] And when they are taxed with these and many other discreditable practices, they deem that there is no censure, however grave, of which they may not be quit by their glib formula: 'Follow our precepts, not our practice:' as if'twere possible that the sheep should be of a more austere and rigid virtue than the shepherds. And how many of these, whom they put off with this formula, understand it not in the way in which they enunciate it, not a few of them know. [ 040 ] The friars of to-day would have you follow their precepts, that is to say, they would have you fill their purses with coin, confide to them your secrets, practise continence, be long-suffering, forgive those that trespass against you, keep yourselves from evil speaking; all which things are good, seemly, holy. But to what end? To the end that they may be able to do that which, if the laity do it, they will not be able to do. [ 041 ] Who knows not that idleness cannot subsist without money? Spend thy money on thy pleasures, and the friar will not be able to live in sloth in his order. Go after women, and there will be no place for the friar. Be not long-suffering, pardon not the wrong-doer, and the friar will not dare to cross thy threshold to corrupt thy family. But wherefore pursue I the topic through every detail? [ 042 ] They accuse themselves as often as they so excuse themselves in the hearing of all that have understanding. Why seclude they not themselves, if they misdoubt their power to lead continent and holy lives? Or if they must needs not live as recluses, why follow they not that other holy text of the Gospel: Christ began to do and to teach?[ 043 ] Let them practise first, and school us with their precepts afterwards. A thousand such have I seen in my day, admirers, lovers, philanderers, not of ladies of the world alone, but of nuns; ay, and they too such as made the most noise in the pulpits. Is it such as they that we are to follow? He that does so, pleases himself; but God knows if he do wisely. [ 044 ] But assume that herein we must allow that your censor, the friar, spoke truth, to wit, that none may break the marriage-vow without very grave sin. What then? to rob a man, to slay him, to make of him an exile and a wanderer on the face of the earth, are not these yet greater sins? [ 045 ] None will deny that so they are. A woman that indulges herself in the intimate use with a man commits but a sin of nature; but if she rob him, or slay him, or drive him out into exile, her sin proceeds from depravity of spirit. That you did rob Tedaldo, I have already shewn you, in that, having of your own free will become his, you reft you from him. [ 046 ] I now go further and say that, so far as in you lay, you slew him, seeing that, shewing yourself ever more and more cruel, you did your utmost to drive him to take his own life; and in the law's intent he that is the cause that wrong is done is as culpable as he that does it. [ 047 ] Nor is it deniable that you were the cause that for seven years he has been an exile and a wanderer upon the face of the earth. Wherefore upon each of the said three articles you are found guilty of a greater crime than you committed by your intimacy with him. But consider we the matter more closely: perchance Tedaldo merited such treatment: nay, but assuredly 'twas not so. You have yourself so confessed: besides which I know that he loves you more dearly than himself. [ 048 ] He would laud, he would extol, he would magnify you above all other ladies so as never was heard the like, wheresoever 'twas seemly for him to speak of you, and it might be done without exciting suspicion. All his bliss, all his honour, all his liberty he avowed was entirely in your disposal. [ 049 ] Was he not of noble birth? And for beauty might he not compare with the rest of his townsfolk? Did he not excel in all the exercises and accomplishments proper to youth? Was he not beloved, held dear, well seen of all men? [ 050 ] You will not deny it. How then could you at the behest of a paltry friar, silly, brutish and envious, bring yourself to deal with him in any harsh sort? [ 051 ] I cannot estimate the error of those ladies who look askance on men and hold them cheap; whereas, bethinking them of what they are themselves, and what and how great is the nobility with which God has endowed man above all the other animals, they ought rather to glory in the love which men give them, and hold them most dear, and with all zeal study to please them, that so their love may never fail. [ 052 ] In what sort you did so, instigated by the chatter of a friar, some broth-guzzling, pastry-gorging knave without a doubt, you know; and peradventure his purpose was but to instal himself in the place whence he sought to oust another. [ 053 ] This then is the sin which the Divine justice, which, ever operative, suffers no perturbation of its even balance, or arrest of judgment, has decreed not to leave unpunished: wherefore, as without due cause you devised how you might despoil Tedaldo of yourself, so without due cause your husband has been placed and is in jeopardy of his life on Tedaldo's account, and to your sore affliction. [ 054 ] Wherefrom if you would be delivered, there is that which you must promise, ay, and (much more) which you must perform: to wit, that, should it ever betide that Tedaldo return hither from his long exile, you will restore to him your favour, your love, your tender regard, your intimacy, and reinstate him in the position which he held before you foolishly hearkened to the half-witted friar. "
[ 055 ] Thus ended the pilgrim; and the lady, who had followed him with the closest attention, deeming all that he advanced very sound, and doubting not that her tribulation was, as he said, in requital of her sin, spoke thus: [ 056 ] " Friend of God, well I wot that the matters which you discourse are true, and, thanks to your delineation, I now in great measure know what manner of men are the friars, whom I have hitherto regarded as all alike holy; nor doubt I that great was my fault in the course which I pursued towards Tedaldo; and gladly, were it in my power, would I make reparation in the manner which you have indicated. But how is this feasible? Tedaldo can never return to us. He is dead. Wherefore I know not why I must needs give you a promise which cannot be performed. " [ 057 ] " Madam, " returned the pilgrim, " 'tis revealed to me by God that Tedaldo is by no means dead, but alive and well and happy, so only he enjoyed your favour. " [ 058 ] " Nay, but, " said the lady, " speak advisedly; I saw his body done to death by more than one knife-wound; I folded it in these arms, and drenched the dead face with many a tear; whereby, perchance, I gave occasion for the bruit that has been made to my disadvantage. " [ 059 ] " Say what you may, Madam, " rejoined the pilgrim, " I assure you that Tedaldo lives, and if you will but give the promise, then, for its fulfilment, I have good hope that you will soon see him. " [ 060 ] Whereupon: " I give the promise, " said the lady, " and right gladly will I make it good; nor is there aught that might happen that would yield me such delight as to see my husband free and scatheless, and Tedaldo alive. " [ 061 ] Tedaldo now deemed it wise to make himself known, and establish the lady in a more sure hope of her husband's safety. Wherefore he said: " Madam, to set your mind at ease in regard of your husband, I must first impart to you a secret, which be mindful to disclose to none so long as you live. " [ 062 ] Then--for such was the confidence which the lady reposed in the pilgrim's apparent sanctity that they were by themselves in a place remote from observation--Tedaldo drew forth a ring which he had guarded with the most jealous care, since it had been given him by the lady on the last night when they were together, and said, as he shewed it to her: " Madam, know you this? " [ 063 ] The lady recognized it forthwith, and answered: " I do, Sir; I gave it long ago to Tedaldo. " [ 064 ] Then the pilgrim, rising and throwing off his sclavine and hat, said with the Florentine accent: " And know you me? " [ 065 ] The lady recognizing forthwith the form and semblance of Tedaldo, was struck dumb with wonder and fear as of a corpse that is seen to go about as if alive, and was much rather disposed to turn and flee from Tedaldo returned from the tomb than to come forward and welcome Tedaldo arrived from Cyprus. [ 066 ] But when Tedaldo said to her: " Fear not, Madam, your Tedaldo am I, alive and well, nor was I ever dead, whatever you and my brothers may think, " [ 067 ] the lady, partly awed, partly reassured by his voice, regarded him with rather more attention, and inly affirming that 'twas in very truth Tedaldo, threw herself upon his neck, and wept, and kissed him, saying: " Sweet my Tedaldo, welcome home. " [ 068 ] " Madam, " replied Tedaldo after he had kissed and embraced her, " time serves not now for greetings more intimate. 'Tis for me to be up and doing, that Aldobrandino may be restored to you safe and sound; touching which matter you will, I trust, before to-morrow at even hear tidings that will gladden your heart; indeed I expect to have good news to-night, and, if so, will come and tell it you, when I shall be less straitened than I am at present. " [ 069 ] He then resumed his sclavine and that, and having kissed the lady again, and bade her be of good cheer, took his leave, and hied him to the prison, where Aldobrandino lay more occupied with apprehension of imminent death than hope of deliverance to come. As ministrant of consolation, he gained ready admittance of the warders, and, seating himself by Aldobrandino's side, he said: [ 070 ] " Aldobrandino, in me thou seest a friend sent thee by God, who is touched with pity of thee by reason of thy innocence; wherefore, if in reverent submission to Him thou wilt grant me a slight favour that I shall ask of thee, without fail, before to-morrow at even, thou shalt, in lieu of the doom of death that thou awaitest, hear thy acquittal pronounced. " [ 071 ] " Worthy man, " replied Aldobrandino, " I know thee not, nor mind I ever to have seen thee; wherefore, as thou shewest thyself solicitous for my safety, my friend indeed thou must needs be, even as thou sayst. And in sooth the crime, for which they say I ought to be doomed to death, I never committed, though others enough I have committed, which perchance have brought me to this extremity. However, if so be that God has now pity on me, this I tell thee in reverent submission to Him, that, whereas 'tis but a little thing that thou cravest of me, there is nought, however great, but I would not only promise but gladly do it; wherefore, even ask what thou wilt, and, if so be that I escape, I will without fail keep my word to the letter. " [ 072 ] " Nay, " returned the pilgrim, " I ask but this of thee, that thou pardon Tedaldo's four brothers, that in the belief that thou wast guilty of their brother's death they brought thee to this strait, and, so they ask thy forgiveness, account them as thy brothers and friends. " [ 073 ] " How sweet, " replied Aldobrandino, " is the savour, how ardent the desire, of vengeance, none knows but he that is wronged; but yet, so God may take thought for my deliverance, I will gladly pardon, nay, I do now pardon them, and if I go hence alive and free, I will thenceforth have them in such regard as shall content thee. " [ 074 ] Satisfied with this answer, the pilgrim, without further parley, heartily exhorted Aldobrandino to be of good cheer; assuring him that, before the next day was done, he should be certified beyond all manner of doubt of his deliverance; [ 075 ] and so he left him.
On quitting the prison the pilgrim hied him forthwith to the signory, and being closeted with a knight that was in charge, thus spoke: " My lord, 'tis the duty of all, and most especially of those who hold your place, zealously to bestir themselves that the truth be brought to light, in order as well that those bear not the penalty who have not committed the crime, as that the guilty be punished. And that this may come to pass to your honour and the undoing of the delinquent, I am come hither to you. [ 076 ] You wot that you have dealt rigorously with Aldobrandino Palermini, and have found, as you think, that 'twas he that slew Tedaldo Elisei, and you are about to condemn him; wherein you are most certainly in error, as I doubt not before midnight to prove to you, delivering the murderers into your hands. " [ 077 ] The worthy knight, who was not without pity for Aldobrandino, readily gave ear to the pilgrim's words. He conversed at large with him, and availing himself of his guidance, made an easy capture of the two brothers that kept the inn and their servant in their first sleep. He was about to put them the torture, to elicit the true state of the case, when, their courage failing, they confessed without the least reserve, severally at first, and then jointly, that 'twas they that had slain Tedaldo Elisei, not knowing who he was. Asked for why, they answered that 'twas because he had sorely harassed the wife of one of them, and would have constrained her to do his pleasure, while they were out of doors. [ 078 ] Whereof the pilgrim was no sooner apprised, than by leave of the knight he withdrew, and hied him privily to the house of Madonna Ermellina, whom (the rest of the household being gone to bed) he found awaiting him alone, and equally anxious for good news of her husband and a complete reconciliation with her Tedaldo. On entering, he blithely exclaimed: " Rejoice, dearest my lady, for thou mayst rest assured that to-morrow thou shalt have thy Aldobrandino back here safe and sound; " and to confirm her faith in his words, he told her all that he had done. [ 079 ] Greater joy was never woman's than hers of two such glad surprises; to wit, to have Tedaldo with her alive again, whom she had wailed for verily dead, and to know Aldobrandino, whom she had thought in no long time to wail for dead, now out of jeopardy. Wherefore, when she had affectionately embraced and kissed her Tedaldo, they hied them to bed together, and with hearty goodwill made gracious and gladsome consummation of their peace by interchange of sweet solace.
[ 080 ] With the approach of day Tedaldo rose, and having first apprised the lady of his purpose and enjoined her, as before, to keep it most secret, resumed his pilgrim's habit, and sallied forth of her house, to be ready, as occasion should serve, to act in Aldobrandino's interest. [ 081 ] As soon as 'twas day, the signory, deeming themselves amply conversant with the affair, set Aldobrandino at large; and a few days later they caused the malefactors to be beheaded in the place where they had done the murder.
[ 082 ] Great was Aldobrandino's joy to find himself free, nor less great was that of his lady and all his friends and kinsfolk; and as 'twas through the pilgrim that it had come about, they brought him to their house, there to reside as long as he cared to tarry in the city; nor could they do him honour and cheer enough, and most of all the lady, who knew her man. [ 083 ] But after a while, seeing that his brothers were not only become a common laughing-stock by reason of Aldobrandino's acquittal, but had armed themselves for very fear, he felt that their reconciliation with him brooked no delay, and accordingly craved of him performance of his promise. [ 084 ] Aldobrandino replied handsomely that it should be had at once. The pilgrim then bade him arrange for the following day a grand banquet, at which he and his kinsfolk and their ladies were to entertain the four brothers and their ladies, adding that he would himself go forthwith as Aldobrandino's envoy, and bid them welcome to his peace and banquet. [ 085 ] All which being approved by Aldobrandino, the pilgrim hied him with all speed to the four brothers, whom by ample, apt and unanswerable argument he readily induced to reinstate themselves in Aldobrandino's friendship by suing for his forgiveness: which done, he bade them and their ladies to breakfast with Aldobrandino on the morrow, and they, being assured of his good faith, were consenting to come. [ 086 ] So, on the morrow, at the breakfast hour, Tedaldo's four brothers, still wearing their black, came with certain of their friends to Aldobrandino's house, where he awaited them; and, in presence of the company that had been bidden to meet them, laid down their arms, and made surrender to Aldobrandino, asking his pardon of that which they had done against him. [ 087 ] Aldobrandino received them compassionately, wept, kissed each on the mouth, and let few words suffice to remit each offence. After them came their sisters and their wives, all habited sadly, and were graciously received by Madonna Ermellina and the other ladies. [ 088 ] The guests, men and women alike, found all things ordered at the banquet with magnificence, nor aught unmeet for commendation save the restraint which the yet recent grief, betokened by the sombre garb of Tedaldo's kinsfolk, laid upon speech (wherein some had found matter to except against the banquet and the pilgrim for devising it, as he well knew), but, as he had premeditated, in due time, he stood up, the others being occupied with their dessert, and spoke thus: [ 089 ] " Nothing is wanting to complete the gaiety of this banquet except the presence of Tedaldo; whom, as you have been long time with him and have not known him, I will point out to you. " [ 090 ] So, having divested himself of his sclavine and whatever else in his garb denoted the pilgrim, he remained habited in a tunic of green taffeta, in which guise, so great was the wonder with which all regarded him that, though they recognized him, 'twas long before any dared to believe that 'twas actually Tedaldo. [ 091 ] Marking their surprise, Tedaldo told them not a little about themselves, their family connexions, their recent history, and his own adventures. Whereat his brothers and the rest of the men, all weeping for joy, hasted to embrace him, followed by the women, as well those that were not, as those that were, of kin to him, save only Madonna Ermellina. [ 092 ] Which Aldobrandino observing, said: " What is this, Ermellina? How comes it that, unlike the other ladies, thou alone dost Tedaldo no cheer? " [ 093 ] " Cheer, " replied the lady in the hearing of all, " would I gladly do him such as no other woman has done or could do, seeing that I am more beholden to him than any other woman, in that to him I owe it that I have thee with me again; 'tis but the words spoken to my disadvantage, while we mourned him that we deemed Tedaldo, that give me pause. " [ 094 ] " Now out upon thee, " said Aldobrandino, " thinkest thou that I heed the yelping of these curs? His zeal for my deliverance has abundantly disproved it, besides which I never believed it. Quick, get thee up, and go and embrace him. " [ 095 ] The lady, who desired nothing better, was in this not slow to obey her husband; she rose forthwith, and embraced Tedaldo as the other ladies had done, and did him gladsome cheer. Tedaldo's brothers and all the company, men and women alike, heartily approved Aldobrandino's handsomeness; and so whatever of despite the rumour had engendered in the minds of any was done away. [ 096 ] And, now that all had done him cheer, Tedaldo with his own hands rent his brothers' suits of black upon their backs, as also the sad-hued garments which his sisters and sisters-in-law wore, and bade bring other apparel. Which when they had donned, there was no lack of singing, dancing and other sorts of merry-making; whereby the banquet, for all its subdued beginning, had a sonorous close. Then, just as they were, in the blithest of spirits, they hied them all to Tedaldo's house, where in the evening they supped; and in this manner they held festival for several days.
[ 097 ] 'Twas some time before the Florentines ceased to look on Tedaldo as a portent, as if he were risen from the dead; and a shadow of doubt whether he were really Tedaldo or no continued to lurk in the minds of not a few, including even his brothers: they had no assured belief; and in that frame had perchance long continued, but for a casual occurrence that shewed them who the murdered man was. [ 098 ] It so befell that one day some men-at-arms from Lunigiana passed by their house, and seeing Tedaldo accosted him, saying: " Good-morrow to thee, Faziuolo. " [ 099 ] To whom Tedaldo, in the presence of his brothers, answered: " You take me for another. " Whereat they were abashed, and asked his pardon, saying: " Sooth to tell, you are liker than we ever knew any man like to another to a comrade of ours, Faziuolo da Pontremoli by name, who came hither a fortnight ago, or perhaps a little more, since when we have not been able to learn what became of him. Most true it is that your dress surprised us, because he, like ourselves, was a soldier. " [ 100 ] Whereupon Tedaldo's eldest brother came forward, and asked how their comrade had been accoutred. They told him, and 'twas found to have been exactly as they said: by which and other evidence 'twas established that 'twas Faziuolo that had been murdered, and not Tedaldo; of whom thenceforth no suspicion lurked in the minds of his brothers or any one else.
[ 101 ] So, then, Tedaldo returned home very rich, and remained constant in his love; nor did the lady again treat him harshly; but, using discretion, they long had mutual solace of their love. God grant us solace of ours.
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Pier One Theatre continues its 41st season this weekend with the opening of "Up."
Performances are planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week and June 6, 7, 8 and 9. All performances are at 7:30 p.m.
"In 'Up,' playwright Bridget Carpenter walks a veritable tightrope between fiction and reality. The character of Walter Griffin is fictional. He is, however, inspired by the real- life Larry Walters, a Vietnam veteran and truck driver from southern California," the Syracuse Stage noted in its 2008 audience guide. Walters made headlines in 1982 when he tied four dozen weather balloons to a lawn chair and took flight.
"Soon, he was 16,000 feet (3 miles) in the air, at an elevation that put him smack dab in the flight path of commercial airliners heading to the Long Beach Airport and LAX. Spotted by two pilots, Walters' flight was quickly reported to bewildered officials at air traffic control and the Federal Aviation Administration," writes the Syracuse Stage.
"Up" checks in on the fictional Walter Griffin 16 years after his historic flight, focusing on the question: What do you do with your life after you go up in a lawn chair about three miles?
The Pier One production is directed by Lance Petersen.
The cast includes Peter Norton, Christy Russ, Hannah Heimbuch, Matthew Meyer, Audrey Russell, Joanna Tornes and Megan DeCino.
Other Pier One Theatre shows planned for this summer are:
•June 14, 15, 16: "The Clean House," by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Peter Sheppard;
•June 21, 22, 23: "Raven Returns," a one-man show by Jack Dalton;
•June 28, 29: "Youth Theatre Skills Camp Production," by students in the skills camp.

subset: commoncrawl


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SS2020 Sunnei White Thick Summer Shirt (S)
SS2020 Sunnei White Thick Summer Shirt (S)
SS2020 Sunnei White Thick Summer Shirt
The SS2020 Sunnei White Thick Shirt exemplifies the brand's dedication to innovative design and high-quality craftsmanship. Made from robust, thick fabric, this shirt combines durability with a modern, clean aesthetic.
Still in a great overall condition
Length - 69,5cm / Sleeves - 65cm / Pit to pit - 47cm
All orders will be shipped within 48 hours from France (Paris & Orléans) via the French local transporter. During busy periods processing periods can take up to 72 hours.
With our transporter (Colissimo):
- If you live in France, it takes 2 working days.
- If you live in Europe, it takes 4 to 5 working days.
- If you live outside Europe, it takes 5 to 8 working days.
Please note that these delivery times are estimates and may be affected by factors beyond our control, such as customs delays or shipping carrier issues.
For information on returns, see our Refund Policy page.
Care Instructions
Care Instructions
General care instructions to extend the life of your garments:
- Read care labels before washing
- Wash with similar colours
- Use cold or warm water depending on the fabric
- Avoid tumble drying, prefer air drying
- Iron at low temperature or use a protective cloth
- Store clothes properly
- Be careful of overexposure to the sun


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Further constraints of models of new physics with WIMP candidates
Scientists from the XENON collaboration announced a new result from their search for dark matter. The analysis of data taken with the XENON100 detector during 13 months of operation at the Gran Sasso Laboratory (Italy) provided no evidence for the existence of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), the leading dark matter candidates. Two events being observed are statistically consistent with one expected event from background radiation. Compared to their previous 2011 result the world-leading sensitivity has again been improved by a factor of 3.5. This constrains models of new physics with WIMP candidates even further and it helps to target future WIMP searches. A paper with the results is going to be submitted to Physical Review Letters and arXiv.
Cosmological observations consistently point to a picture of our Universe where ordinary matter as we know it makes up only about 4%, while new, yet unobserved forms of so-called dark matter and dark energy make up the rest. This fits to expectations from subatomic physics where extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics suggest that new particles must exist, which have properties making them perfect dark matter candidates. Both cosmology and particle physics provide consistent hints on the existence of dark matter. A search for WIMP particles is therefore well motivated and a direct detection of such particles is the central missing piece of information to confirm this new picture of our Universe.
In 2011, the XENON100 collaboration published results from 100 days of data taking. The achieved sensitivity pushed the limits for WIMPs already by a factor 5 to 10 compared to the previous XENON10 results. During the new run a total of 225 live days of data were accumulated in 2011 and 2012 with lower background and hence improved sensitivity. Again no signal was found. The two observed events are statistically consistent with the expected background of one event. The new data improve the bounds to 2.0×10-45 cm2 for elastic interaction of a WIMP mass of 50 GeV, which is another factor of 3.5, cutting already significantly into the expected WIMP parameter region. Continued measurements with XENON100 and the new experiment XENON1T, currently under construction, should either find evidence for WIMPs or other forms of dark matter would have to be considered.
XENON100 is an ultra-sensitive device using 62 kg of liquid, ultra-pure xenon as a WIMP target, and measures the tiny charge and light signals that are expected from rare collisions between WIMPs and the nuclei of xenon atoms. The detector is operated deep underground at the Gran Sasso National Laboratory of the INFN, in Italy, in order to shield it from cosmic rays which constantly bombard the Earth. To avoid false events due to residual radiation from the detector's surroundings, only data from the inner 34 kg of liquid xenon are taken as candidate events. The detector is in addition shielded by specially designed layers of copper, polyethylene, lead and water, to reduce the background noise even further.
The XENON collaboration consists of scientists from 15 institutions in the USA (Columbia University New York, University of California Los Angeles, Rice University Houston, Purdue University), France (Subatech Nantes), Germany (Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik Heidelberg, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster), Israel (Weizmann Institute of Science), Italy (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Università di Bologna), Netherlands (Nikhef Amsterdam), Portugal (Universidade de Coimbra), Switzerland (Universität Zürich), and China (Shanghai Jiao Tong University).
XENON100 is supported by the collaborating institutions and by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy in the USA, by the Swiss National Foundation in Switzerland, by l'Institut National de Physique des Particules et de Physique Nucléaire and La Région des Pays de la Loire in France, by the Max Planck Society and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft in Germany, by the Weizmann Institute of Science, by the German-Israeli Minerva Gesellschaft and GIF in Israel, by FOM in the Netherlands, by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia in Portugal, by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare in Italy and by STCSM in China.


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It's About Time! OpenShot 1.2.2 Released!
Escrito por
on .Before I give you a run down of the new features, I want to take a moment to thank all the great and talented people who stay up late with me working on this project. Andy Finch has been helping me since the very first days of OpenShot, and without his help, OpenShot would probably not be here today. Olivier Girard is one of the biggest promoters of OpenShot, writing articles, assisting new users, and was the primary contributor to the awesome OpenShot help manual. Maël Lavault has been a huge help on LaunchPad, answering questions, submitting patches, and was a huge help on this latest version. To all the people who have helped me, THANK YOU SO MUCH for making OpenShot the great application it is today!
Now, let's talk a bit about version 1.2.2. Where did 1.2.0 & 1.2.1 go? Why did we skip straight to 1.2.2. Well my friends, that is an interesting story, but one for another day. Just know that 1.2.2 is the official release, and it's awesome! I might be a little biased, but seriously, this is a really great release.
Video Highlights
As is tradition, I have used OpenShot to create a short video showcasing some of the new features. I mixed in some great overly dramatic music, and a few screen-casts to create a true masterpiece. Okay, I admit, the video is not quite a masterpiece, but if I said that, nobody would watch it.
OpenShot 1.2 Highlights from Jonathan Thomas on Vimeo.
New Features:- Improved Stability
- 3D Animated Titles (powered by Blender 2.5)
- Custom Transitions
- New Audio & Video Effects
- Time-line Improvements / Animations
- Improved Effects User Interface
- Improved Theme Engine (New netbook friendly theme)
- Razor Improvements (now supports snapping to play-head)
- Improved Language Support (Rotate effect now works in all locales)
- New DVD Export (Create compliant DVD images)
- Improved Preferences Dialog
- Improved Exporting of different frame-rates
- Numerous Bug Fixes
3D Animated Titles
Timeline Improvements & Animations
We have added lots of polish and some subtle animations to all clip and transition movement, which is easier for the eye to follow. For example, clips that are not placed in a valid spot, smoothly (but quickly) animate back to their correct location. Clips that are removed animate into a dot and disappear. Same for transitions.
Improved Theme Engine (Netbook friendly theme)
The code that draws the time-line and buttons (our theme engine) has been drastically improved. Now theme artists can not only change the images, but the height, width, offset, position, alpha, and color of items. In theory, almost any video editor interface can now be created... assuming some artists want to jump in and help out. Also, a new theme was designed for netbook screens, taking advantage of the new theme engine.
GTK 2.18 Required
Okay, so what does this mean? In Ubuntu terminology, you must have Ubuntu 9.10 or greater to run this version of OpenShot. The glade library (which we previously used to display our interface) has been depreciated, and so we moved onto just using the GTK library. Many of the GTK features we are now using only work on GTK 2.18+, so with the assumption that most users are on 9.10 of Ubuntu (or greater), we decided it was not worth the effort to back-port to previous version of Ubuntu. However, it is possible (in theory) to adapt OpenShot to Ubuntu 9.04, but that's about as far back as possible, without recompiling GTK... and who wants to do that. =)
Download Today
The OpenShot PPA is the easiest way to install (and stay updated). It works on Ubuntu 9.10 and greater. Just follow the easy instructions, and enjoy! However, if you would rather download the DEB installers, you can do that as well.
Fun Fact
Did you know that in Kerala, India, a high-school textbook is including a chapter on OpenShot to be taught at all the schools in their city? How cool is that!
Thanks again to all the blog readers, users, supporters, translators, programmers, artists, directors, packagers, donors, and of course to my wife, Cindy, who allows me the time to work on this project.
Download OpenShot today and create some amazing videos... just be sure to tag your videos on YouTube as "Created with OpenShot, Yo!". Okay, you can leave off that last part, and just include "Created with OpenShot".


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I started 2016 with a post called Computer Science Education Things to Watch in 2016. It's time to look back and write about what I think I saw over the year. My next post will be about what I will be looking at over 2017.
Very Inexpensive Computers – I think I called this one right. I didn't expect to see a large uptake in these small, simple, and inexpensive computers. There is potential in them. I think maybe we'll see more of them in after school, weekend, and summer programs.
BBC:Micro:Bit – I blogged about a lot of resources for these devices over the last year. They are still not generally available in the US though. I'm a bit far away to really judge the impact they may have had in the UK. So I'm still watching.
MOOCs and other Online CS Teaching tools – Yep, still not a huge impact. I have seen some of the online AP Computer Science MOOCs have some impact though. These seem to work where students have some local support of some kind even is that is support though providing time, space, computers, and someone to track that they are working. As a completely independent learning tool they still seem to work best with heavily motivated students.
Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles – This really seems to have taken off. Lots of people attended summer workshops including me. According to what I hear this has been one of the best new AP course introductions ever. Lots and lots of interest around the country. There are still some open questions about which programming languages will be most popular or which of the highly promoted curricula will be a) most adopted and b) have the best results. This is something to look at over 2017.
Python vs Java vs drag vs drop programming – I haven't seen a determination on this. With the AP CS A exam still in Java I think that slows Python adoption at the high school level. At the middle school level, a fast growing level, I see a lot more Python than Java. But a lot of drag/drop programming as well. I don't think we'll see a single language being "the thing to use" in the near future. And that is ok.
Computer Science for Everyone - This went better than I expected. A lot happened. A comprehensive K–12 Computer Science Framework was developed and released. The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) announced Revised Interim Standards. several states released state wide standards as well. Ruthe Farmer, Senior Policy Advisor for Tech Inclusion for the White House office of Science and Technology Policy, recently blogged about a lot of what the White House was involved in this year (A Year of Milestones for Computer Science for All). All in all a lot of progress. It remains to be seen what sort of support the new administration in the White House will bring but there is a lot of momentum in the states and that is a hopeful thing. In my home state of New Hampshire, CS4NHis a new public/private partnership that is starting to make some positive moves. Some work on a real certification for CS teachers is in the works for example. Many other states have similar things going on. I'm optimistic in a way I wasn't a few years ago.
So that is what I was watching over the last year. Some new and some old things to watch for 2017. More on that very soon. In the mean time, what were you watching last year? And how did it go?


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I'm doing some capacity planning and I was wondering if there is a formula that I could use to predict (from a memory standpoint) how many TCP connections I could handle on my server. At the moment, I'm only concerned about memory requirements.
Some variables that I think will show up in the formula are:
- sysctl's
(min or default value) - sysctl's
(min or default value) - the size of the sock, sock_common, proto and other per-socket data structures.
I'm not sure how much of the tcp_wmem and tcp_rmem are actually allocated and when that memory is allocated. At socket creation time? On demand?


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Peloton, the company known for its stationary bikes, has told customers to stop using its treadmills immediately. The company first resisted pressure from the Consumer Product Safety Commission for a few weeks despite reports of injuries and, in one instance, the death of a 6-year-old child. Bethany Biron has been reporting on this story for Insider. Good morning, Bethany.
BETHANY BIRON: Good morning. Thanks for having me.
KING: We're happy to have you. What is happening with Peloton treadmills, exactly? How are people being injured and killed?
BIRON: Yeah. So these treadmills and, you know, now, at least 38 reported incidents have, essentially, sucked in small children, pets using the sheer force and size of this machine. There are a few reasons that it's different than the traditional treadmill - that it's just extremely large. The distance from the ground to the base of the treadmill is a little bit higher than average. And the way the track is actually laid is different. So the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that there were several issues with the treadmill that needed to be reviewed.
KING: Do you have an understanding of why, knowing that these - knowing that this was going on, Peloton wouldn't just immediately say stop using them? Why did they wait for weeks?
BIRON: Yeah, that's - I think that's a great question and the question that everyone's wondering. You know, I spoke with an analyst yesterday who said there were several reasons why companies drag their feet with this type of recall. You know, it could be company culture that, you know, isn't prone to admit failure, you know, not being willing to swallow the costs. Though, in this case, you know, Peloton had a huge year, huge 2020 during the pandemic. Their total revenue was $1.8 billion. They're projected to hit 4 million in 2021. So yeah, it's - you know, it's a great question. I'm not totally sure. I think most people and experts would say that they should have immediately recalled the machine and worked with the CPSC. But, yeah, we'll find out more of that to come.
KING: Peloton has marketed itself as more than just a fitness company. I've seen the commercials. It's a lot. But their customers are very loyal. What does this mean for the company's image, do you think?
BIRON: Yeah. Peloton has a really intense, devoted following. I think that's something that's really continued to almost surprise me during the reporting process - even talking to people who've been injured by the treadmill...
KING: Really?
BIRON: You know, a few of - yeah. One of the women I spoke with who was, actually, severely injured, at the end of the day, was like, I still - you know, I love my treadmill. I don't want it to be recalled. When I spoke with her yesterday, she told me she was disappointed. So - you know, she's obviously not every case here. But they do have a very, very devoted and loyal fan following. With the case of the treadmill, the treadmill really only constitutes about 2% of their total sales. Most of their sales still come from the stationary bike, which I believe is around 78%. So in the long run, the treadmill issue is not - analysts say it's probably not going to be a huge hit to their business. But the reputational impact of this, I think, is definitely going to be, at least in the short term, quite large.
KING: Bethany Biron, a reporter for Insider. Thank you, Bethany, for joining us. We appreciate it.
BIRON: Thank you so much.
(SOUNDBITE OF FRAMEWORKS' "ALL DAY") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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A World War I-era warhead and a dead blacktip shark attached to a metal hook are just some of the things magnet fishers have retrieved around the U.S. since the hobby spiked in popularity following the advent of the coronavirus pandemic.
The hobby, which involves people throwing powerful magnets into waterways in search of treasure and trash, became an excuse for some to get fresh air and for others to start businesses catering to these hobbyists.
Joshua Dunlap, of northern California, is one such entrepreneur who started Centurion Magnetics in January 2020.
"Little did we know that COVID was starting a few months after [we launched] and it actually kind of worked out perfectly," Dunlap told NPR over the phone. "It became a really popular hobby with people looking for ways to get outside to do something that was different. And magnet fishing happened to be one of those things. It's all over the world, but very specifically, definitely here in the U.S."
But the growth of these small businesses and the popularity of magnet fishing have become murky lately. They're running up against two problems: China's stranglehold on the rare-earth element used to make these magnets and the high demand these materials garner from electric vehicle makers and other green technology companies.
The element attracting all this attention is neodymium, a difficult-to-produce rare-earth metal mostly mined in China, said David Merriman, a research director who leads the rare earth market research at Wood Mackenzie, an energy research consultancy.
"The main growth areas for the use of the [magnets] is within the motors for electric vehicles. So any electric motor, which uses a permanent magnet, and also the generators for, say, wind turbines, as well," Merriman told NPR over the phone from the United Kingdom.
"So as these markets have been really growing quite significantly, there's a huge kind of transition towards green technologies, electric vehicles, renewable energy generation. The demand for these products is increasing quite significantly," he added.
How China developed its grip on neodymium mining
To understand why China has come to dominate the global production of neodymium you have to travel back to the 1980s and 1990s, Merriman said.
At the time, the U.S. and Australia were major producers of these rare-earth elements due to scientists from both countries developing the technology needed to mine these materials, he said. Unlike gold, which can be found in nature as pieces, neodymium is found within different minerals and thus requires a chemical process to "leach out the rare-earths from the mineral structures," Merriman said.
China soon realized that it had substantial rare-earth deposits "that were a byproduct of iron mining," Merriman said.
"It noticed this as an opportunity," he said of China at the time. "And it's because of more lax environmental [and] social regulation within the Chinese industry during that period, it was able to produce material very cheaply. So China started to undercut production of rare earths, within these other regions, running the price down, and basically taking market share globally."
In the decades that have followed, China has continued to out-compete other countries by extending its reach thanks to state backing and state control of mining operations, Merriman said.
"China now dominates the entire supply chain for rare earths and through to the production of rare-earth permanent magnets and high-quality permanent magnet materials," Merriman said.
"So it's been a long play, I suppose, from the Chinese government to take market share, and then extend its market share over different stages of the supply chain, through to the point where it's now a vital part of the supply chain for many kinds of high-technology applications, including some military applications as well," he said.
As of November 2021, China controlled 87% of the global neodymium market, according to a report from MacroPolo, a Paulson Institute think tank based in Chicago.
These magnets have been called "crucial inputs" for electric vehicle motors, MacroPolo added. The element can also be found in smartphones and guided missiles.
The demand for neodymium "is likely to grow at an estimated 18% per annum through 2030," MacroPolo said. This clamor is already being felt by small magnet fishing businesses in the U.S.
There are plenty of metal "fish" but not enough lures
Jose Torres was fed up sitting in his kayak failing to get any bites on his fishing line in southwest Florida.
The fledgling YouTube channel he launched in 2013 to chronicle his best catches was barely getting any attention due to bigger fishing channels with more resources and larger, more exciting, catches caught on video.
Then, last summer, Torres stumbled upon videos of magnet fishing and "it changed my YouTube channel tremendously," he said.
"I have access to thousands of boat ramps, thousands of fishing piers, thousands of sea walls, where pedestrians walk by or where people throw things in the water, accidentally drop things in the water from their boats," Torres said about why he decided to become a magnet fisher.
Torres' YouTube channel has grown from a few hundred subscribers to more than 3,000 today, he said. This has allowed him to monetize his YouTube channel with advertising.
He's also partnered with Centurion Magnetics as an affiliate, giving him a commission from each fishing magnet sale made using his unique code. This partnership was supposed to net Torres significant money but the reality has been anything but, he said.
"A lot of the issues that we were having, that I've experienced, is that my subscribers were sending me emails left and right saying, 'Hey, I've been trying to buy this magnet for the past month, two months, and it's out of stock, it's out of stock; when are you guys gonna get this stuff in stock?' " Torres said.
He said he's lost "hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in revenue from commission sales because of the lack of availability [and] their inability to get these magnets from China. So the industry has taken a big hit."
Keeping magnets stocked is one of the hardest parts of Dunlap's job as CEO of Centurion Magnetics.
The combination of China's control of the neodymium market, the high demand for these magnets and the global supply chain issues plaguing almost every industry due to the pandemic has caused numerous Centurion products to remain out of stock, Dunlap said.
"You know, just honestly staying in stock is still the hardest thing that's hitting us. ... We would keep building momentum and then we went out of stock," he said. "Even if you look on our website now, we're out of stock with an entire line of magnets. We're trying to get them back in stock; it's quite the feat."
Call the bomb squad
While the growth of magnet fishing as a hobby remains uncertain, fishermen like Jake Cowart, of Georgia, find themselves satisfied with the magnets bought at the start of the pandemic.
When COVID-19 shut down the movie business in Georgia, Cowart said his brother Adam — who are both set dressers — was bored and convinced him to try out magnet fishing after spotting a video of someone in the United Kingdom doing it.
The brothers have since pulled up relics dating back to the 1800s, safes, coins and dozens of weapons, Jake Cowart said. In July, Cowart said he fished out a 37mm World War I-era warhead that still had a fuse attached to it.
"I had to call a EOD [Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialist] and bomb squad out to get them to take that thing and defuse it," Cowart told NPR over the phone. "I was scared, to be honest with you, because it's a warhead, and it can explode with any kind of impact. And it was stuck on my magnet on the explosive side. So I was really, really, really freaked out about it."
Cowart has yet to hear about what happened to the bomb after law enforcement officials and EOD specialists came to pick it up, he said.
Cowart and his brother have also pulled up guns that have helped solve cold cases, he said.
"No murders, but they were all gun store robberies and stuff that was stolen from some elder elderly people, you know, that closed some of the cases that were out in Athens, [Ga.]," he said. "It's just something good to get out there for everyone to see, you know that ... we're cleaning up stuff. We don't want to get a bad, bad reputation that people think and we're trying to try to catch all of these people. But ultimately, if they've done something wrong, they need to be caught."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Founded in 1974, Kelsey Street Press publishes experimental poetry and short fiction by women and collaborations between artists and visual artists. The Press publishes a culturally diverse list and each edition is designed to resonate with the writing and priced to be affordable.
Rena Rosenwasser co-founder of Kelsey Street Press, served as Director of the Press for over two decades. In the eighties she initiated a series of collaborations between writers and artists. Her books of poetry include Elevators, (Kelsey Street Press, 2011) unplace, place (Leave Books, 1993) Isle (Kelsey St. Press, 1992) Aviary, (Limestone Press, 1988) and Simulacra (Kelsey St. Press, 1986).
Patricia Dienstfrey is a co-founder of Kelsey Street Press and an editor there. Her publications include The Grand Permission: New Writings on Poetics and Motherhood (Wesleyan, 2003), co-edited with Brenda Hillman, and several books of poetry, among them Love and Illustration (a+bend press, 2000) and The Woman Without Experiences (Kelsey Street, 1995).
1 – When did kelsey street press first start? How have your original goals as a publisher shifted since you started, if at all? And what have you learned through the process?
The Press began in 1974, inspired by two dynamic forces: the millennial impulse of the feminist movement and the agregious absence of women poets on publisher's book lists and in anthologies.
The situation of women in publishing has changed, but our goals have remained the same – to bring out women poets and short fiction writers; experimental writing; a multicultural list appropriate to US society; and well-designed, affordable books. One goal which we hadn't originally anticipated is to continue to publish collaborative and hybrid works. Another is to explore possibilities for publishing cross-genre works, a rich field for creativity we couldn't have anticipated when we began printing our books on letterpress in the seventies.
2 – What first brought you to publishing?
The group of women that founded the press were all writers. They (we) were part of the Berkeley Poet's Co-op and were dismayed at the lack of response of our male colleagues to our subjects. This lead us to form our own writing group and this in turn lead us to question notions about the "literary canon". One thing lead to another and before we knew it we had installed an old Vandercook letter Press with cases of metal type in Patricia's basement. I set the type and Patricia inked the rollers and Kelsey Street Press commenced.
The group of women that founded the Press, all writers, met in the Berkeley Poets' Cooperative and Press in the early 70s. Feeling impatient with the male members of the group who didn't seem to get what many of us were after in our poetry – we formed our own group to create a more charged and focused critical atmosphere. Then when David Meltzer's anthology entitled San Francisco Bay Area Poets came to our attention and there was not one woman in it, it was clear there was a gap to be filled and that it was only women publishers who would undertake to do it. Patricia bought a Vandercook Proof (Letter) Press and installed it in her basement. Rena and Marina La Palma set the type for the first book, Neurosuite, by Margherita Guidacci, translated from the Italian by Marina. The poetic energy was driven by rage and suffering at being diagnosed as mad by physicians according to masculine norms in a male dominated Italian culture.
3 – What do you consider the role and responsibilities, if any, of small publishing?
Our role as publishers is to bring out writing we believe in and love . In the beginning the work we loved and believed in was by women and experimental. Both at the time were being overlooked and belitttled. Now, in any group of Press members at any one time, each person has a somewhat individual slant on this common focus. Patricia and Rena continue to believe in the importance of publishing women. After being voiceless as poets for all of recorded history up until the last three decades of the twentieth century, it's going to take many years and changes, with women taking active part in developments in technology, culture and scholarship, before we can be assured that the dynamic balance will not return to the historical norm in which the male was, in effect, sole creator of society's institutions, which continue to shape our daily lives.
4 – What do you see the press doing that no one else is?
Focus on women's innovative writing.
The priority we give to our love of the text and the book as an object.
Choosing to focus and stay with stand by our choice for almost four decades
Maintaining an unflagging commitment to the design of the book.
5 – What do you see as the most effective way to get new books out into the world?
Readings and book parties.
Reviews in whatever media.
Online discussions.
6 – How involved an editor are you? Do you dig deep into line edits, or do you prefer more of a light touch?
Earlier on we did more intense editing than we do now.
Manuscript editing at KSP has changed over the years. With a few exceptions, the early manuscripts required the by-word-and-line editing approach. It was our practice to work with writers to develop what we saw as the manuscript's strength. This changed as the writers who sent us work became more accomplished and as our experience with publishing evolved. We began to look for work we could bring out pretty much as it was. Sometimes now we love a manuscript but have some reservation concerning it: it goes on too long – we prefer our poetry books to be short – or has a strong focus that is weakened by sections not of the same high quality as the rest. In these cases, we'll accept the work for publication if the poet can agree to our cuts.
7 – How do books get distributed? What are your usual print runs?
Our earliest letterpress books (1970's-1987) were produced in limited editions that varied from 200-750. In the eighties we began to do offset runs that were usually 1,000, occasionally 2,000. Recently we are reducing our runs and reprinting with Print on Demand. Our first offering on e-book will be released soon.
We distribute books in three ways: directly through our website; (www.kelseyst.com), through our main distributor; Small Press Distribution, and through Amazon.
8 – How many other people are involved with editing or production? Do you work with other editors, and if so, how effective do you find it? What are the benefits, drawbacks?
Press Members often shift roles. All our editing is done in-house. Usually 1-2 members will work on a particular book. Usually one person in house is in charge of production. Design and printing, since we shifted to offset (in the 1980's) is done outside the Press.
9– How has being an editor/publisher changed the way you think about your own writing?
Rena Rosenwasser-- I have become more aware of the shape of the page and shape of the book. What makes a book or poems work as a manuscript?
Sadly after almost forty years of poetry publishing I have become more reticent to publish my own work because of the difficulties I perceive in distributing poetry.
Patricia Dienstfrey-- Working closely with other poets' writing has helped me become more attuned to nuances in my own.
10– How do you approach the idea of publishing your own writing? Some, such as Gary Geddes when he still ran Cormorant, refused such, yet various Coach House Press' editors had titles during their tenures as editors for the press, including Victor Coleman and bpNichol. What do you think of the arguments for or against, or do you see the whole question as irrelevant?
We do publish our own writing, though this is occasional. All of us volunteer our labor and our time to the Press and all of us have a strong say in what we publish.
We only publish our own writing if we (the group) feels the book represents an excellent example of a Kelsey Street Press book. This year, an unusual one, we released two volumes by press members. Prior to that it had been sixteen years since we published a book by a Press Member. I, Rena, don't think the question is relevant.
11– How do you see kelsey street press evolving?
KSP's membership is made up of women spanning a range of ages. And with this comes a range of views about the past, present and future form of "the book." The new generation is assisting us in moving into realms of exploration of various electronic platforms. We are trying our first e-book. In 2014 we will celebrate our fortieth anniversary. We feel set for continuing at least for another five years.
12– What, as a publisher, are you most proud of accomplishing? What do you think people have overlooked about your publications? What is your biggest frustration?
Remaining a feminist press that publishes innovative writing.
The results of our attention to design and the pleasure it arouses in readers.
Our adaptability & longevity.
Our archives are housed at The Bancroft Library of UC Berkeley.
Several KSP books are in the Spencer Collection in the NYC Public Library.
It is frustrating that some of the fine writers that we have published have been overlooked. With all of us volunteering and working at KSP in the 25th hour of the day-- bright and young people passing through who have moved on quickly--because of the stage they are in in their lives, so we have lost many trained skilled people. Our meetings are often inefficient because of our desire to be inclusive and work by consensus.
13– Who were your early publishing models when starting out?
The early letterpress printers of the twentieth century. Many of whom were ex-pats who lived in Paris in the first part of the century: Contact Editions, The Hours Press (of Nancy Cunard), Black Sun Press (Harry and Caresse Crosby).
Hogarth Press was also an inspiration.
14– How does kelsey street press work to engage with your immediate literary community, and community at large? What journals or presses do you see kelsey street press in dialogue with? How important do you see those dialogues, those conversations?
Read and talk in writing programs, arts centers, publishing classes.
Participate in museums that feature collaborations with writers and visual artists.
Currently branching out into working with landscape artists who work with sound elements.
Early on (in the eighties)we contributed to and were inspired by the journal How(ever) founded by Kathleen Fraser, Frances Jaffer and Beverly Dahlen.
15– Do you hold regular or occasional readings or launches? How important do you see public readings and other events?
Book party launches and readings. Early on we were more regular in having widely attended bashes to launch books.
We see public readings and events as enormously helpful in promoting our titles.
16– How do you utilize the internet, if at all, to further your goals?
Our website has a Listen Section where our poets read and discuss their work. Informations and updates on readings, reviews as well as a Blog are helpful in generating activity around our titles. We are now undertaking a collaboration to set up the Bay Area Correspondence School. The project, conceived by two women who wrote PhD theses on the letters of Emily Dickinson, will track Facebook, Twitter, and hand-made postcard correspondence among poets in the Bay Area in the context of an evolving literary tradition.
17– Do you take submissions? If so, what aren't you looking for?
Our policies have varied over the course of almost 40 years. Some years we had a regular reading period. Some years we actively engaged in soliciting submissions of first books. Now our policies are determined on a year by year basis.
We are not looking for traditional narrative imagistic work.
18– Tell me about three of your most recent titles, and why they're special.
Bhanu Kapil's Humanimal: cross genre prose-poetry
Humanimal is the second book by Bhanu Kapil we've published. It continues Kapil's cross-cultural explorations of the interconnections of mind, body, spirit expressed in an embracing and remarkable poetics.
Bhanu Kapil follows a film crew to the Bengal jungle to re-encounter the true account of two girls found living with wolves in 1921. Taking as its source text the diary of the missionary who strove to rehabilitate these orphans--HUMANIMAL functions as a healing mutation for three bodies and a companion poiesis for future physiologies. . .The humanimal text becomes one in which one in which personal and postcolonial histories cross a wilderness to form supported metabiology.
Kapil was born in the UK to Indian parents, Bhanu lives in Colorado, where she teaches in The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.
Hazel White, Peril As Architectural Enrichment, poetry
Peril tests landscape as the subject of experience. Propelling awareness vertically and horizontally, it questions how limbs want to move in space, when convivial with treetops, views, and pollen. The poems greet danger—lost narratives/crops, a fall, inundation—and the refuge of a familiar curvature: the turning of long lines becoming the same as building shelter in the wild where a peril can be seen and felt, and to write is to know what's near. Like a designed landscape, Hazel White's poetry delivers a new sense of orientation/a long-sought spatial fluency:
Rena Rosenwasser's Elevators, poetry and prose
Rosenwasser's experimental poems seduce us with their verbal architectures as the book transports the reader visually and graphically across the globe, through time to the present, from Perugia to Egypt to Manhattan, where historical details mesh with real time haptic experiences of cathedral architecture, Egyptian monuments, and urban corridors that ignite the "wow" effect of the poet's New York City childhood. "This passionate psalm poem is a labyrinth inside a travelogue inside a dream"— Jane Miller
The books by Hazel White and Rena Rosenwasser have taken Kelsey Street Press into the realms and vocabularies of landscape and urban architecture. In this direction, we can already see possibilities for new collaborations and an extended audience for poetry.