checkered history

20:15 Jul 6, 2011 

Yes, "... checkered history that included... " would be the thing to translate.

19:19 Jul 6, 2011 

These were obviously the 'downs', the rest were the 'ups', though they don't list them. My only real quibble would be that it might have read better as "...checkered history that included..."

17:49 Jul 6, 2011 

I think this is an incorrect use of the expression "checkered history"; piracy, bootlegging and smuggling are all illegal and also are all related activities; there's no contrast there. When someone is accused of having a "checkered history" what is usually understood is that part of their life was on the up and up,rt wasn't. In terms of those three activities, none of them are on the up and up.

15:58 Jul 6, 2011 

15:18 Jul 6, 2011 

Comme le jeu d'échec (noir et blanc). Si vous ne voyez pas le contraste....

15:11 Jul 6, 2011 

Is that well-written? Presumably the three activities were successful?!
Checkered usually infers varied fortunes - ups and downs.
Does it really mean; A checkered history of piracy, smuggling and bootlegging. i.e. sometimes successful, sometimes not.?