This Is No Bull

[R. Richard]

This might be of interest to animal rights people here in Literotica.

Spain's Catalonia bids farewell to bullfighting

Three of Spain's top bullfighters, including No. 1 Jose Tomas, starred in the sold-out show at Barcelona's 20,000-seat Monumental ring. Catalan bullfighter Serafin Marin closed the fight killing the last of six bulls to great applause.

Many fans then invaded the ring to grab handfuls of sand to keep as souvenirs.

The bullfighters were later carried shoulder high from the ring into the streets outside the bullring while the crowd chanted slogans in favor of freedom and against the prohibition. A brief bout of scuffling broke out as fans confronted about 20 animal welfare activists, but there were no reports of injuries or arrests.

The fight was also preceded by moments of tension as pro- and anti-bullfighting activists exchanged insults.

Catalonia's Parliament banned bullfighting in July 2010 following a signature-collection campaign by animal rights activists. The ban does not take effect until Jan. 1, but Sunday's fight was the last scheduled this season.

Critics say the prohibition is less about animal welfare and more a snub to Spain by independence-minded Catalans.

Bullfighting's popularity in Catalonia has plunged in recent decades and the Monumental was its last functioning ring, although the city once boasted three.

Hours before the fight, a small group of anti-bullfight activists gathered outside the arena, celebrating with sparkling wine.

"Obviously a lot of political parties have tried to politicize this, but we mustn't forget that this popular proposal sprouted from a pure pro-animal rights standpoint aimed at eradicating animal cruelty," campaigner Soraya Gaston said.

Others hoped the prohibition might only be temporary.

"It looks like this may be the last day (of bullfights in Catalonia). But the last word hasn't been said yet," fan Eduardo Edurna said. "I think we will have bullfighting back in Catalonia."

The prohibition caused a furor and triggered a nationwide debate over the centuries-old spectacle that inspired such artists and writers as Goya, Picasso and Hemingway.

"Banning bullfighting in Catalonia is nothing more than an attack on liberty," said Carlos Nunez, president of Spain's Mesa del Toro pro-bullfighting umbrella group. "It's the fruit of policies in Catalonia against bullfighting and all that is seen to represent Spain."

 

[D_Lynn]

The end of an era.

Makes you wonder if Pamplona will follow suit and ban the running of the bulls.

 

[TE999]

'Papa' Hemingway must be doing 33 1/3 RPM's in his grave right about now.

 

[R. Richard]

'Papa' Hemingway must be doing 33 1/3 RPM's in his grave right about now.

I don't mean to be picky, but the standard records during Hemingway's prime years were 78 RPM, 10 inch records. (my theme song, in my early days was an old rock 'n' roll song by Bullmoose Jackson that used the size of the record as a main part of the song.) By the mid 50s, 45 RPM records had slowly begun to replace the 78s in the big cities. However, country folks still had the old 78 RPM equipment. So, more likely, 78 RPM or 45 RPM.

(I collect 50's, 60s RNR and I'm very sensitive as to the songs and the recording media.)

 

[TE999]

I don't mean to be picky, but the standard records during Hemingway's prime years were 78 RPM, 10 inch records. (my theme song, in my early days was an old rock 'n' roll song by Bullmoose Jackson that used the size of the record as a main part of the song.) By the mid 50s, 45 RPM records had slowly begun to replace the 78s in the big cities. However, country folks still had the old 78 RPM equipment. So, more likely, 78 RPM or 45 RPM.

(I collect 50's, 60s RNR and I'm very sensitive as to the songs and the recording media.)

You're just being picky.

 

[oggbashan]

When Og was young, I lived in Gibraltar. Most of the time I was there, we were able to travel into Spain by car. (Not all the time - When Generalissmo Franco had a hissy fit the border would be closed.)

We went to several bull fights including some in the historic arena at Ronda. Even at that age I was able to tell the difference between the great bullfighters and the tyros. Watching a great bullfighter showed the artistry and passion of the interaction between the matador and the bull.

Watching a beginner - it looked more like incompetent butchery as the picadors had to work hard to reduce the bull to a bloody shambling wreck before it was killed.

But bull fighting at its best was a fascinating spectacle up there with the best sports events in the world for atmosphere and excitement. Think about the great event of your favourite sport - the FA Cup final, the Superbowl - and the classic bullfighters produced that sort of emotion.

At the time I wasn't concerned about the morality of bullfighting. I just accepted it as part of Spain, along with the Nazi-style Guarda Civil and the grinding poverty of many of the towns and villages.

There were other sights just as unpleasant as killing bulls. There was a whaling station a few miles from Gibraltar which I toured with my parents. The blood and guts flowed down the slipway into the sea where it was met by shoals of fish and flocks of seabirds, some of whom would tear at the carcass as it was being dismembered.

Sixty years ago, Spain, and the world were different.

 

[mynameisben]

I don't mean to be picky, but the standard records during Hemingway's prime years were 78 RPM, 10 inch records. (my theme song, in my early days was an old rock 'n' roll song by Bullmoose Jackson that used the size of the record as a main part of the song.) By the mid 50s, 45 RPM records had slowly begun to replace the 78s in the big cities. However, country folks still had the old 78 RPM equipment. So, more likely, 78 RPM or 45 RPM.

(I collect 50's, 60s RNR and I'm very sensitive as to the songs and the recording media.)

Hemingway was a minimalist. He would chose 33 and toss the 1/3 into the sea.

 

[oggbashan]

...

By the mid 50s, 45 RPM records had slowly begun to replace the 78s in the big cities. However, country folks still had the old 78 RPM equipment. So, more likely, 78 RPM or 45 RPM.

(I collect 50's, 60s RNR and I'm very sensitive as to the songs and the recording media.)

In many underdeveloped countries, 78s continued to be popular well into the 1970s because wind-up gramophones would work in power cuts or in locations that had no electricity.

However, western pop music such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys etc. was only sold in major towns where electricity was available and electric record players were normal.

I had a Brazilian 78 from 1972. I couldn't understand a word because it was sung by a rural group in their local patois. It sounded as if it had been recorded acoustically on a clockwork-driven recorder because there was significant Wow and Flutter that shouldn't have occurred with an electrically-driven turntable. It was smashed when we moved house - not a great loss.

 

[R. Richard]

In many underdeveloped countries, 78s continued to be popular well into the 1970s because wind-up gramophones would work in power cuts or in locations that had no electricity.

However, western pop music such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys etc. was only sold in major towns where electricity was available and electric record players were normal.

Most of the old 78s, 45s and even 33s were converted to digital audio CDs, pretty much as fast as the technology became available in the 1980s. Even with a very good turntable and cartridge, a record only lasts so long. A CD lasts a lot longer.

 

[oggbashan]

Most of the old 78s, 45s and even 33s were converted to digital audio CDs, pretty much as fast as the technology became available in the 1980s. Even with a very good turntable and cartridge, a record only lasts so long. A CD lasts a lot longer.

Some of my 78s were made before 1900. They still play.

I don't play the older and rarer 78s on my wind-up gramophone, but on an 80s recordplayer with a sapphire needle. On the wind-up I only play 78s that were produced in large quantities, change to a new needle every four sides, and clean the records frequently with a soft brush under running cold water.

I have a 78 bought in Spain in 1954. The music on both sides was used for the entry marches of the bullfighters. The standard of the band playing at the start of a bullfight gave spectators some idea of the quality of bullfighting to expect. Some of the bands (and bullfighters) were appalling.