Giant Dead Eel Tossing Contest Canceled
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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07-31-2006 08:46
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060730/D8J631O00.htmlFrom: someone LONDON (AP) - For more than 30 years, crowds have flocked to the small English fishing village of Lyme Regis to watch an annual tradition - two teams of fishermen standing on wooden platforms as human bowling pins, hurling a dead giant eel at each other. But the ritual was abruptly abandoned after an animal rights activist threatened to draw negative publicity to the latest tournament, organizers said Saturday.
The practice, known as conger cuddling, is the annual highlight in the small coastal town about 155 miles southwest of London. The object of the game is to knock the opposing team off the platform by swinging a 25-pound eel at them.
Crowds have flocked to Lyme Regis since 1974 to watch rival teams of nine men swing the giant conger eel - suspended in the harbor by a rope - and local residents said they are dismayed at the demise of their historic event.
Andrew Kaye, a resident and spokesman for the Lyme Regis lifeboat crews who raise money through the tournament, said an anonymous e-mailer had called the practice disrespectful to the dead eel.... (italics added) As oppossed to cutting him up into sashimi? Or making him into a jumbo jellied eel? Maybe I'm biased because an eel bit me once, but that's another story 
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Lou Dobbs
Registered User
Join date: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 57
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07-31-2006 08:47
Damn.
DON'T BE DISRESPECTFUL TO DEAD EELS!
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Zuzu Fassbinder
Little Miss No Tomorrow
Join date: 17 Sep 2004
Posts: 2,048
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07-31-2006 09:40
It doesn't suprise me at someone complained about it. Look around, and you'll find someone to complain about anything. What I find shocking is that they actually stopped the event because of it.
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From: Bud I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either.
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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07-31-2006 10:13
From: Zuzu Fassbinder It doesn't suprise me at someone complained about it. Look around, and you'll find someone to complain about anything. What I find shocking is that they actually stopped the event because of it. I thought that was kinda odd too. I wonder if it's part of a larger scheme for publicity? They "quit" the contest over the l email knowing it could be reported all over the place and bring them fame and attention? |
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Sally Rosebud
the girl next door
Join date: 3 May 2005
Posts: 2,505
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07-31-2006 11:20
Dead eels have feelings too  Right? 
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Billybob Goodliffe
NINJA WIZARDS!
Join date: 22 Dec 2005
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07-31-2006 11:22
crap now what am I gonna do saturday? 
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If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade and try and find someone who's life has given them vodka and have a party! From: Corvus Drake I asked God directly, and he says you're a douchebag.  Commander of the Militant Wing of the Salvation Army http://e-pec.info/forum/blog/billybob_goodliffe
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Ordinal Malaprop
really very ordinary
Join date: 9 Sep 2005
Posts: 4,607
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07-31-2006 11:35
Wonderful what this says about Lyme Regis - "the place where the most exciting thing is hitting people with a big dead eel once a year".
Why, Lyme Regis is far more interesting that that! You can see some fossils, and, um, have seagulls steal your chips, and, er....
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Shockwave Plasma
Mad Scientists Daughter
Join date: 28 Jan 2006
Posts: 34
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07-31-2006 11:49
From: Zuzu Fassbinder It doesn't suprise me at someone complained about it. Look around, and you'll find someone to complain about anything. What I find shocking is that they actually stopped the event because of it. This is a country where the government debated Fox hunting for over 700 hours, where Animal Liberationists are as fanatical as anti-abortionists in the USA. Even working for a business that supplies Huntingdon life sciences with anything, eg. banking, food, cold water, Broadband can get you theats. No wonder they stopped it.
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Dennis Bertone
Whitewater Nutcase
Join date: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 164
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07-31-2006 12:47
The tossing of the Eel has been moved to my house.. Please feel free to stop by...we'll be tossing alot of other dead things as well, It's bound to be a hoot!
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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07-31-2006 13:14
From: Shockwave Plasma This is a country where the government debated Fox hunting for over 700 hours, where Animal Liberationists are as fanatical as anti-abortionists in the USA.
Even working for a business that supplies Huntingdon life sciences with anything, eg. banking, food, cold water, Broadband can get you theats.
No wonder they stopped it. Maybe they should bring it to the United States as a sports-reality TV show. "Extreme! Eel Smackdown 2006" or something |
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Sally Rosebud
the girl next door
Join date: 3 May 2005
Posts: 2,505
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07-31-2006 13:46
From: Olympia Rebus Maybe they should bring it to the United States as a sports-reality TV show. "Extreme! Eel Smackdown 2006" or something Or even better, Japan... Have you SEEN their game shows? 
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Alex Fitzsimmons
Resu Deretsiger
Join date: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 1,605
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07-31-2006 13:52
The very concept of this leaves me speechless.
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Gabe Lippmann
"Phone's ringing, Dude."
Join date: 14 Jun 2004
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07-31-2006 13:58
Look at that poor eel 
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go to Nocturnal Threads 
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Billybob Goodliffe
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07-31-2006 14:21
From: Sally Rosebud Or even better, Japan... Have you SEEN their game shows? seriously watch MXC
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If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade and try and find someone who's life has given them vodka and have a party! From: Corvus Drake I asked God directly, and he says you're a douchebag. Commander of the Militant Wing of the Salvation Army http://e-pec.info/forum/blog/billybob_goodliffe
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Alex Fitzsimmons
Resu Deretsiger
Join date: 28 Dec 2004
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07-31-2006 14:38
From: Gabe Lippmann Look at that poor eel I think the eel may be beyond complaining at this point ...
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Sally Rosebud
the girl next door
Join date: 3 May 2005
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07-31-2006 14:40
From: Billybob Goodliffe seriously watch MXC I think I have, which is why I think this may be right up their alley!
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Billybob Goodliffe
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07-31-2006 14:48
From: Sally Rosebud I think I have, which is why I think this may be right up their alley! I love MXC the commentary is electrifing, seriously just this side of curling for getting me going. "can people be quieter I'd like to hear the grass grow" *SPLAT* "and that deserves our MXC action replay" I had some spare time this weekend
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If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade and try and find someone who's life has given them vodka and have a party! From: Corvus Drake I asked God directly, and he says you're a douchebag. Commander of the Militant Wing of the Salvation Army http://e-pec.info/forum/blog/billybob_goodliffe
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Sally Rosebud
the girl next door
Join date: 3 May 2005
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07-31-2006 14:52
From: Billybob Goodliffe I love MXC the commentary is electrifing, seriously just this side of curling for getting me going. "can people be quieter I'd like to hear the grass grow" *SPLAT* "and that deserves our MXC action replay" I had some spare time this weekend So THAT's what happened to you? 
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~Ernest Hemingway
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Billybob Goodliffe
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07-31-2006 14:52
From: Sally Rosebud So THAT's what happened to you? maaaayyybbbeeeee <whistles innocently>
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If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade and try and find someone who's life has given them vodka and have a party! From: Corvus Drake I asked God directly, and he says you're a douchebag. Commander of the Militant Wing of the Salvation Army http://e-pec.info/forum/blog/billybob_goodliffe
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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07-31-2006 15:19
From: Alex Fitzsimmons I think the eel may be beyond complaining at this point ... From what I understand the eels are deceased before the festivities begin. |
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Alex Fitzsimmons
Resu Deretsiger
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07-31-2006 16:13
From: Olympia Rebus From what I understand the eels are deceased before the festivities begin. That was what I was getting at, yes.
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"Whatever the astronomers finally decide, I think Xena should be considered the enemy planet." - io Kukalcan
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Teeny Leviathan
Never started World War 3
Join date: 20 May 2003
Posts: 2,716
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07-31-2006 16:17
(Seen on a sign just outside Lyme Regis) Eel Toss Cancelled Next week: Dolphin Flogging |
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Cottonteil Muromachi
Abominable
Join date: 2 Mar 2005
Posts: 1,071
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08-01-2006 07:12
Lyme Regis has the nicest chippy.
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Olympia Rebus
Muse of Chaos
Join date: 22 Feb 2004
Posts: 1,831
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08-01-2006 08:26
From: Alex Fitzsimmons That was what I was getting at, yes. D'oh! My bad.  Slap me with an eel. |
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Lewis Nerd
Nerd by name and nature!
Join date: 9 Oct 2005
Posts: 3,431
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08-01-2006 08:43
I used to live about 15 miles from Lyme Regis, and have been to watch the "conger cuddling" on many an occasion.
It's a pity when people try and destroy unique traditions associated with places, simply because someone somewhere thinks it's "wrong". It's these strange quirky traditions that make places special, and much of our history has already been destroyed.
Lewis
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