Si par une nuit d'hiver un voyageur... (Italo Calvino)

Titre : Si par une nuit d’hiver un voyageur…

Auteur : Italo Calvino

Edition : Seuil

Collection: Points

Année : 1995

Résumé : Ce livre est carrément impossible à résumer…enfin, j’essaie.
C’est ton histoire, Lecteur, toi qui viens d’acheter le nouveau livre d’Italo Calvino. Mais voilà, tu réalises bientôt qu’il y a eu un problème d’impression…et tu cours à la bibliothèque.
L’histoire de ta lecture du roman dévie bientôt en une course poursuite après les livres

Extrait :
Le quatrième de couverture :

Citation :

Vous êtes un lecteur. Comment vous installer pour lire ce roman d’Italo Calvino ? Dans un rocking-chair ? Les pieds en l’air ? Au fait, ne remarquez-vous pas, à le feuilleter, que ce roman-ci, si l’on y reconnaît bien tous les traits du style de Calvino, diffère cependant en mille et trois façons de tous les autres ?
Vous aimez les romans. Tous les romans : italiens, belges, cimmériens, japonais, sud-américains… ; réalistes, métaphysiques, engagés, érotiques, fantastiques, phénoménologiques… Au fait, n’avez-vous pas remarqué que le moment le plus attachant, c’est celui où l’histoire à pris corps, où vous vous passionnez pour savoir comment elle va se développer et où vous avez encore la liberté d’imaginer – d’inventer ?
Vous êtes un lecteur. Il vous faut évidemment, à vos côtés, une Lectrice. Et puis tout ce monde qui grouille autour des livres : libraires, professeurs, traducteurs, éditeurs, faussaires, ordinateurs, policiers et censeurs. Au fait, n’avez-vous pas remarqué que, dans le monde d’aujourd’hui, tout ce petit univers est en proie à la confusion, au point qu’on ne sait plus comment reconnaître l’authentique de l’apocryphe ?

Mon avis : C’est, je crois, le livre le plus fantastique que je n’aie jamais lu. Aussi frustrant qu’excitant, drôle qu’intelligent, original que bien pensé. J’ai terminé le livre en ayant l’impression de n’avoir jamais lu « Si par une nuit d’hiver un voyageur… ». C’est assez fort, non ? En sus de l’histoire, de la forme, ce livre réfléchit et fait réfléchir sur la lecture, l’écriture, les lecteurs et les auteurs, leurs rôles et leurs pouvoirs.
Attention toutefois, c’est un livre assez compliqué, parfois difficile à suivre, et qui demande une lecture active. C’est pour ça que je l’aime, mais ça demande tout de même de l’énergie. Je le conseille vraiment aux grands lecteurs.

 

Sabres laser

 

En vacances chez ses grands-parents, mon petit frère (5 ans) regardait un tournoi d'escrime à la télévision, passionné. Soudain le voilà qui se retourne et demande:

 

Mais...ils font ça sur une autre planète?

Cold War Project

Ces textes sont le résultat d'un travail qu'une amie et moi avons effectué pour le cours d'histoire, il y a de cela presque une année...

Il fallait faire un projet sur la guerre froide, nous avons créé un site internet (en anglais) où nous avons écrit une correspondance fictive entre les représentants de l'URSS et des USA.

Je poste notre travail sur le blog, parce que je ne sais pas si freewebs risque un jour de supprimer le site parce que nous ne le mettons plus à jour, et puis aussi simplement parce que j'ai envie de poster quelque chose mais je ne sais pas quoi (c'est grave docteur?), alors je fais du réchauffé...

 

U-2 Incident 

 

Moscow, May the 2nd, 1960

To the President of the United States of America,

At the end of Second World War, throughout which our two nations had fought side by side, the leaders of our great nations had managed good relationships. We had hoped for peace and confidence.

However, we now have the proof that you betrayed this hope using perfidious means of spying on us. We have been suspecting you for a long time, but this time is over. Your disloyal methods have been discovered. I must admit we are very disappointed by that.

Indeed, the proof is undeniable.
We shot down one of your U-2 planes yesterday. The pilot is still alive. We have got him.
Gary Powers, the pilot, has been arrested and will be judged for spying.

We hope you are conscious of what is implied in such an act.
We are waiting for your answer,

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

 

Washington DC, May the 8th, 1960

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

We are absolutely outraged by such an accusation. You know as well as we do that U-2 planes do not exist and what you are trying to do is to maintain this legend to increase your despotic power on the people’s fears. It is evident that the whole thing is a big lie. We had no knowledge and never permitted such kind of flights.

Moreover, it is mostly inconvenient of you to accuse us of spying. I must remember you of a certain Rudolph Abel, arrested while spying on the United States of America for the Soviet Union three years ago.

According to what was said before, we are sure you will revise your accusation.

With the hope peace will come back.

Dwight Eisenhower, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, May the 10th, 1960

To the President of the United States of America,

How can you deny such obvious evidence as the one we gave you? Our experts found the evidence that the plane belonged to the United States of America and has been sent from Turkey through Pakistan with hostile purposes against the Soviet Union.

Thus, your declaration in which you say that flights were conducted without your knowledge or permission is incontestably false.

Your unjustified obstinacy endangers the world peace. If you persist in these acts and assertions, we will be obliged to take measures to protect our country.

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Washington DC, June the 13th, 1960

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

An attack would be useless. We possess the power necessary to destroy your country before your missiles land on our nation. This means that even if your dishonest accusation is true, it does not change much the situation.

Indeed, spies are used since we discovered that the Soviet Union was using them as well. We were obliged to apply your practices in order to protect the safety of our country. Gary Powers may be one of those practices.

All the United States hope that these circumstances will help to make things clear on both sides and to protect the little dream of peace we still have for the world.

Dwight Eisenhower, President of the United States of America

 

Washington DC, February the 22nd, 1962

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

It has been a while since we have not heard about spies on both sides. The situation is now clear for both of our nations. Of course, everybody is now hoping that this is past now. This is why I propose a bargain.

We all know that Gary Powers has been sentenced to ten years of prison in the Soviet Union. And we all know too that William Fischer, alias Rudolph Abel, has been sentenced to thirty years of prison here in America. Both of them for the same reason: spying.

That is why I propose an exchange. We let Rudolph Abel go back to the USSR free while you let Gary Powers go back to the USA free. This will be a proof of our two great nations’ honesty to the whole world.

Everybody is looking forward to your reply.

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, February the 1st, 1962

To the President of the United States of America,

After all our negotiations, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics decides that our agreement will be done on February the 16th of this year, in Berlin, where our two nations stand the closest one to the other, at the western end of Glienicker Brücke.

At 8:00 AM GMT+1, Gary Powers will be exchanged for Rudolph Abel in presence of the representatives of our two countries.

We hope everything will go well and that the whole world will appreciate our common efforts to maintain peace.

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

 

Cuban Missile Crisis

 

Washington DC, October the 20th, 1962

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

From the beginning you have supported the new leader of Cuba, who shares your political and economic point of view. It is not unknown that you are supplying this island with weapons. Today however, your country has gone too far.

We now have the proof that you are bringing nuclear weapons into Cuba. Considering its location, we see this fact as a big threat on us and we feel obliged to protect ourselves “by whatever means might be necessary”, as I already wrote you in my letter of September, the 11th.

That is why the United States of America have decided to blockade Cuba.

With the hope this decision will help you reconsidering Cuba’s support.

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, October the 23rd, 1962

To the President of the United States of America,

Your letter really astonished us. My government doesn’t understand where nuclear weapons could have been seen. We never allowed the sending of any nuclear missiles on the island of Cuba.

Therefore, we will not observe the blockade you have decided. Your reaction is absolutely disproportionate and shakes our relationships.

We hope you understand our position.

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Moscow, October the 26th, 1962

To the President of the United States of America,

After reflexion, we might be ready to consider the matter in a different point of view. However, the blockade is still obstructing. Indeed it does not allow us to communicate supplies to Cuba. If your government would be ready to do a step toward us, it would lift its blockade. Then, the Soviet Union would like to be sure that no attack will be led on Cuba by the United States of America.

If these conditions are respected, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics would be ready to consider the question of removing and destroying the missiles on Cuba in a totally different way.

I nevertheless hope you are conscious that the Cuban missiles are purely defensive.

With the hope you are ready to cooperate.

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Moscow, October the 27th, 1962

To the President of the United States of America,

We have perfectly understood your concerns about the safety of your country. However, you might also take in consideration our concerns about the safety of our country. You are complaining because Cuba is located 90 miles away from your coasts. How then shall we sleep well when we know that our neighbour Turkey is full of your missiles? For this reason, we will not remove our missiles from Cuba unless you remove yours from Turkey.

I hope you understand this point of view as we are all looking for the same thing: the safety of our nations.

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Washington DC, October the 27th, 1962

To the Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

I have received and carefully read your letter of October, the 26th. We are all very happy that you are looking for a quick solution to this worrying matter. Of course, we are ready to cooperate and the conditions you proposed seem fair to me and to my government.

However, and I am sure you will understand this, if you do not withdraw the missiles from Cuba, we will be forced, in order to protect our country and its population, to launch an attack.

With the happiness that we have found a common agreement,

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, October the 28th, 1962

To the President of the United States of America

In order to avoid a worldwide conflict, the government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has eventually decided to withdraw the weapons. In this way, the arms which you considered as threatening will not bother you any more.

According to the huge preparative implied in the removal of all the weapons, we will be ready for November, the 20th. We are expecting you to stop the blockade on the same day.

Looking forward to the end of this disagreement,

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Berlin Wall

 

Moscow, January the 30th, 1961

To the new elected President of the United States of America,

I would like to congratulate you for your recent election. I am sure that your population will be proud of its choice and that you are the perfect man for the situation. Nowadays, the world needs strong and charismatic leaders.

In order to begin your mandate with a highly new policy, my government and myself have a suggestion.
As Berlin is now a difficulty and an unsolvable problem for us both because of the mix of two opposed political wills on the same territory, why should you bother about it any longer? You could simply leave this big deal to us, as we are accustomed to such situations.

That is why we encourage you to call your troops back, in order for you to focus on your new responsibility.

With regards and hopes for peace,

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Washington DC, February the 20th, 1961

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

I am greatly thankful to you for your best wishes concerning my mandate. I will try to do the best for my country during my presidency.

Indeed, I must tell you I am mostly convinced that I am perfectly able to cope with Berlin.

I think that the strength of our two nations’ relationship relies on cooperation. That is why I am forced to refuse your kind proposal and will leave my troops in Berlin.

With the hope you understand my position,

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, August the 12th, 1961

To the President of the United States of America,

I have been very disappointed by your refusal. It only worsens the matter.

You are surely conscious that the present situation is not ideal. The economy of both East and West Germany is weakened by the impossibility of cohabitation between two opposed systems.

For this reason, the Soviet government has decided to erect a barbed-wire barrier separating the two parts of Berlin. This will help the recovery of Germany, creating two distinct economies. This is a step towards international peace.

With the certainty you will understand,

Nikita Khrushchev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

Washington DC, January the 13th, 1962

To the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics,

Several months ago, you decided to construct what is now known as the Berlin Wall. At that time, we did not have time to react, as you begun this project the day after having sent us the letter announcing it. Furthermore, we did not want to get involved in a major conflict against you. 

It is not a very nice solution but a wall is a hell of a lot better than a war*. I suppose we must admit it as a fact of international life**. Now that it is done, we do not have many possibilities of action if we do not want to be responsible of the fall of the whole Germany. 

I hope you understood that we accept this wall, this restriction of freedom of movement for Berliners as well as for us, only because we did not have the choice and now it is too late. We do not appreciate much this way to be left with the result.

I also hope that it is only a transitional phase that will finally led to a reunified Germany for the future generations. That is indeed the goal we must all tend to. This country must regain its independence after the damages it got during the last war. And we should not forget that.
 
With the hope peace will make things better,

 

John F. Kennedy, President of the United States of America

* John F. Kennedy, quoted in WALSH Ben, GCSE Modern World History (Second Edition), Hodder Murray, 2001, p. 409

** John F. Kennedy, quoted in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_wall#Construction_beg...

 

 

Vietnam War

 

Washington DC, February the 28th, 1969

To the leader of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics,

 

For nine years, we have been involved, as you must know it, in the Vietnam War. We have lost in it our population’s trust and many soldiers, young men that were supposed to be the future of our nation, the hopes for their families to an improvement of the situation. The United States of America are now crying their deaths as well as those of the innocent Vietnam population, killed by this terrible war. Yes, the United States of America are now singing for peace, seeking for love and understanding. 

All this sadness, this difficult time we have been through and are still experiencing are due to a unique reason: the will of Soviet Government to extend Communism to all Asia.

 

Because of this, we lost the very soul of our nation. Our soldiers got completely mad in Vietnam, fighting against invisible enemies, getting caught in unforeseeable traps, firing the wind. They kill innocent because they have to do something with their hands. And even with our highly new weapons they manage to get us by surprise! 

We will now call our troops back from Vietnam and soon, we will stop air attacks. But I sincerely hope you are perfectly conscious that your very will has caused this! But I must tell you that now that we have lost so many things in Vietnam, we will not let your political system go any further.

 

With the hope peace will now be permanent,

 

Richard M. Nixon, President of the United States of America

 

Moscow, March the 20th,1969

To the President of the United States of America

I have been really moved by your previous letter. The Vietnam war has been a very harsh experience for your nation’s honor and reputation. You also mention the Viet Cong’s fighting techniques, which suprised you and finally overcame your troops, despite of all your modern weapons. I sincerely understand your despair, and I sympathize.

However, does it excuses all the murders of innocent people committed by your soldiers? I was very disappointed to see that you put the fault on us, saying that the cause of all this is our will to extend Communism. I have to remember you that Ho Chi Min’s rise to power was his own will and not ours.

Moreover, the so-named "Domino Theory", which you take as the reason of the war, is, as its name indicates it, only a theory. Is a theory a sufficient reason to start such a terrible war, to kill innocent women and children, and to disfigure others with chemical weapons? Even if I don’t want to revive your country’s wound, I am obliged to remind you of the Tet offensive and the My Lai massacre. Is it really relevant to accuse the Soviet Union of these? Allow me to doubt it.

I understand your frustration, and that is why I will not pay attention to your reproaches and threats.

Joining your hopes for peace,

Leonid Brezhnev, Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

 

 

 

Solidarhino

Attention

RHINO MENACÉ D'ÉVACUATION SAUVAGE LE 16 JUILLET

Rassemblement devant RHINO jeudi 12 juillet à 18h00

<click sur l'image pour la voir en grand...> 

ATTENTION!!!

RHINO MENACÉ D'ÉVACUATION SAUVAGE LE 16 JUILLET(?)

Nous avons reçu des informations confirmant la menace sérieuse d'évacuation sauvage des habitant-e-s de RHINO _*le lundi 16 juillet*_.
Vous trouverez en annexe le communiqué de presse de ce jour décrivant la situation, la décision du Tribunal de première instance suspendant le jugement d'évacuation, ainsi que, pour information, un document daté de 2005 décrivant le déroulement de l'évacuation qui devait avoir lieu à ce moment-là.
Les habitant-e-s de RHINO demandent instamment à tous les destinataires de transmettre ce messsage d'alarme à toutes les personnes concernées de près ou de loin par l'exécution illégale de cette évacuation planifiée, afin d'éviter qu'elle se produise.

En particulier, les habitant-e-s de RHINO vous invitent

- à manifester votre désaccord avec les manoeuvres du Procureur Général en matière d'évacuation

- à contacter les autorités de la Ville et du canton de Genève pour éviter que des habitant-e-s soient privés de leur logement sans jugement et sans préavis.

- à envoyer un SMS au 078 842 09 73 ou un email à
[e-mail] pour fournir toute information utile aux habitant-e-s dans leur démarches légales.

En vous remerciant de l'attention que vous porterez à la présente, nous vous adressons nos meilleures salutations.
Le collectif RHINO


Communiqué de presse RHINO - 5 juillet 2007

Juillet-août 2007 : menace d'évacuation sauvage de RHINO

Selon des informations reçues en début de semaine, le Procureur général Daniel ZAPPELLI préparerait, en complicité avec le propriétaire Monsieur Michael SCHROEDER, une évacuation sauvage des habitantes et des habitants de RHINO pour la mi-juillet. Le propriétaire n'est au bénéfice d'aucun titre ou jugement qui lui permettrait d'obtenir l'évacuation de manière licite. Au contraire, une procédure en constatation de l'existence de contrats de baux est pendante par-devant le Tribunal des Baux et loyers, ce qui prévient toute évacuation légales tant qu'une décision à ce sujet n'aura pas été prise.

Par ailleurs, le Tribunal fédéral avait clairement indiqué que la voie à suivre pour obtenir l'évacuation des immeubles de RHINO était la procédure civile, que le propriétaire a d'ailleurs engagée, mais qui n'a pas encore aboutie.

L'opération devrait se dérouler de la manière suivante: dans un premier temps, la police arrêtera les habitants, en prétextant du flagrant délit de violation de domicile. Une fois l'immeuble vidé, les représentants des propriétaires, accompagnés d'un huissier de justice et d'une entreprise de déménagement, viendront constater que l'immeuble est vide, qu'en conséquence personne n'y habite, et videront les lieux de toutes les affaires qui appartiennent aux habitants. Les immeubles seront alors rendus inhabitables (vitres brisées, toilettes bouchées, plafonds arrachés, etc.) et ensuite surveillés par une société privée de sécurité, cela afin d’éviter que les habitants ne puissent revenir chez eux.

La complicité entre la police, agissant sur ordre du Procureur général, et le propriétaire, permettra ainsi de contourner les exigences légales en matière d'évacuation. Le prétexte du flagrant délit de violation de domicile est tristement risible, en particulier après dix-neuf ans d'occupation pacifique. Les habitants ont par ailleurs indiqué par écrit à Madame la Cheffe de la police qu'ils étaient prêts à se présenter spontanément à la police ou devant un juge pour répondre des accusations lancées contre eux. Leur arrestation a donc pour seul but de faire procéder à l'évacuation de leurs appartements, et aucunement de faire avancer une procédure pénale.

Ce type d'opération, qui a déjà été utilisé notamment pour l'évacuation de la maison Blardonne, au 11 Bd St-Georges, démontre l'immense capacité de nuisance d'un Procureur général qui se fait l'allié des grands propriétaires fonciers, en toute illégalité.

Les habitants des immeubles utiliseront tous les moyens possibles pour s'opposer à cette opération illicite, menée paradoxalement par le Procureur général, dont la fonction est justement de garantir le respect des lois dans la République et Canton de Genève.

Nous appelons la population genevoise à manifester son désaccord à l’égard des méthodes honteuses planifiées par le Procureur général et de soutenir les habitantes et habitants de RHINO.

 

(Source: http://www.cave12.org/) 

Lu dans le journal...

Je bosse, je bosse, et chaque matin, de 8h15 à 8h20, c'est la pause et nous allons au café boire...un café (ou un thé, pour moi).

L'occasion de feilleter un journal-poubelle.

Je me souviens plus duquel il s'agissait, ce matin, mais ce dont je me rappelle, c'est d'un article où s'exprimait un chef cuisinier:

 

Je suis cuisinier, moi, cuisinier! Je ne suis pas homme d'affaires! Mon métier, c'est de faire des recettes!
 

C'est assez fort, non? 

Test du connard prétentieux

Allez, pour me remettre de ma première journée de boulot (07h-12 / 13h-16h45), pour penser à autre chose qu'au nettoyage, en gros pour faire du lavage de cerveau plutôt que de salles de classe, rien de tel qu'un quizz débile.

 

Cette fois, j'ai fait le test du connard prétentieux...

 

Sur une échelle allant de 0 à 100, votre score de Connard Prétentieux est très exactement de 35.

Vous vous sentez parfois obligé d'afficher votre supériorité, mais dans l'ensemble vous restez quelqu'un d'ouvert capable de prendre en compte l'opinion d'autrui. Lorsqu'il s'agit d'intervenir sur un forum, vous privilégiez le débat d'idée et la discussion à la rhétorique et aux attaques personnelles. Continuez sur cette voie. Ne vous laissez pas entraîner dans des disputes stériles par des imbéciles ou des connards prétentieux. Vous valez mieux que ça !