Re: 14th

BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]: 

> On 22.07.2023 17.21, Merlyne wrote:
>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]: 
>> 
>>> On 18.07.2023 13.24, Merlyne wrote:
>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>
>>>>> On 12.07.2023 13.22, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 08.07.2023 17.01, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 05.07.2023 14.14, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 02.07.2023 16.29, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 28.06.2023 13.31, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 23.06.2023 18.06, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 19.06.2023 14.40, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 16.06.2023 17.54, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 14.06.2023 17.01, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 12.06.2023 22.15, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 09.06.2023 14.58, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 05.06.2023 00.58, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 02.06.2023 13.19, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 31.05.2023 15.41, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Snippage accomplished]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Bravo!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Thank you. couldn't have done it without my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> trusty mouse. And quanities of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> no-longer-relevant text] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [An acceptance speech!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I'll probably have to embellish it a bit if I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> win an award] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Great! Something to look forward to]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I'm not aware of being in the running for any
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> post-snipping awards anytime soon, though]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Waits]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I suspect one has to be nominated for such an
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> award] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Keeps waiting]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I meant:"I suspect one has to be nominated
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _by_someone_else_ for such an award.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Send me the paperwork and I'll get started on it]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I don't have the form. I don't even know who issues
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the form.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Whenever you get all that stuff coordinated, I can
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> submit the paperwork]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I don't think it befalls me to do the coordination. For
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> one thing it will be hard to be properly surprised and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> self-deprecating when the winner is announced.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [The Grammy winners know in advance that they've been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nominated. Who do I contact to get the forms?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [The Grammy winners are all famous actors, I'm just an
>>>>>>>>>>>>> usenet snipper. I have no idea who the governing body of
>>>>>>>>>>>>> usnet snipping awards are.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>> [Google? I mean the company, not to google for an answer]
>>>>>>>>>>> [Oh great - then my speech will be cut up into little
>>>>>>>>>>> segments in between all the ads].
>>>>>>>>>> [It will give you time to compose yourself]
>>>>>>>>> [It will break up my flow. Also I'm not sure I can keep a
>>>>>>>>> single tear in the corner of my eye for that long.]
>>>>>>>> [You can pretend to wipe it away when they come back from the
>>>>>>>> break] 
>>>>>>> [I don't know. It may appear staged if I leave it all through
>>>>>>> the break. Maybe I'll just sob quietly into my hands for a bit.
>>>>>>> No one will be able to tell how much sobbing I do during the
>>>>>>> break.] 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> [Sure. Except for the live studio audience]
>>>>>
>>>>> [they will all be too busy taking selfies...They'll never notice]
>>>> [But if they have their backs to the stage, you will be in the
>>>> picture and then someone on social media will zapruder it.]
>>> [They won't. They will want to get the famous person in the next row
>>> in the picture. And even if they did I'll be out of focus.]
>> [What famous person will be at the usenet snipping awards?]
> [There are always famous people at award shows. Previous winners, and
> potential future winners, and current losers, and a couple of
> Kardasians, and that one guy who is about to get cancelled...]
> 

Who were the previous winners of the prestigious usenet snipping award?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Planting potatoes is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> back-breaking 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> work  and not worth the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>effort] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [It's like magic. You plop a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> potato >>>> into > the ground and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> later >> you dig 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it >> back up 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and there are *more* potatoes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Also >>>> you > have many
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>potatoes.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Potatoes are cheap to buy]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [In your shops, maybe... Not as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cheap >> as > digging them up for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> free.] >>>> [I used to grow potatoes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Fancy ones. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's not worth throwing my back
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>out >>>>>> over] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Hardly anything is worth that, to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be >>> fair. It doesn't really
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>quantify 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an >>> upper limit on the price of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> potatoes. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The very 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> first new potatoes can easily go
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>for >>>>> DKK30/kg or more 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> around here. Comparable to how the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> french act about new Bordeaux.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Egads! I can get 10kg for that]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Quite. It is completely ridiculous.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I >>> think they might be farmed in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>doors >>> under artifical light - just
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>to be the 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> first.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Or on Mars]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Not likely. A)the logistics cost
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>would > be quite absurd, quite apart
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>from there 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not being a commercial route to that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> planet currently; B) I don't think
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>it's > possible 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to grow potatoes on Mars (Hollywood
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fantasms notwithstanding)] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I was going to say. It could work. I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have never tried to grow potatoes in my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> own shit] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [And you are probably well advised not
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to. It's illegal here to use human
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> faeces as 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fertiliser even in private gardens -
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because of the e-coli, probably.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Although 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I think it was made legal some years
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> back to use urine... (for the leek which
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> people did anyway; don't ask) ] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I have heard of master gardeners peeing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in their composter. The urea rich compost
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is good for the plants] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [They don't advertise that much though:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Giant marrows - now with extra pee.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [The produce growers spray uncomposted
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> animal waste on the fields which is why
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there are always recalls due to e. coli]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [fun fact: there are thousands of different
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> kinds of e. coli but only 1 is toxic to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> humans] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [It's a hell of a job sorting them, though.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Might be why regulations just try to limit
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all of them. Governments, eh?] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Yep. It's the 'all go without for the sake
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of one' mentality] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [It doesn't take many rotten apples to spoil
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the barrel] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I feel a song coming on]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [A country song?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Jackson 5?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [That's not a country, is it?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [No, but they do a song about bad apples and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> spoiling] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Oh. Okay then. But that was a long time ago wasn't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Does that matter? Or am I only supposed to quote
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> recent songs?] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [No, you can quote Händel's  Messias if you want. But
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there aren't 5 Jacksons left, was my thinking.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [So I only quote music where all original members are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> alive. Ok. Take it Easy. I saw the Eagles last year on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tour. They had Vince Gill and Glenn Frey's son replace
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> him.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [To the best of my knowledge Händel has been dead for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> quite some time, so no. Also I don't know who any of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> those people are.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Google is your friend]
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Google is part of the privacy-invading,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> information-stealing cabal. That's not very friendly.]
>>>>>>>>>>>> [And you doubt your kook abilities :)]
>>>>>>>>>>> [True facts about the privacy-invading information-stealing
>>>>>>>>>>> cabel isn't kookery. Only the branewashed masses would think
>>>>>>>>>>> such a thing. WAKE UP SHEEPLE and smell the conspiracy.]
>>>>>>>>>> [that's very good!]
>>>>>>>>> [True FACTS!]
>>>>>>>> [Fake NEWS!]
>>>>>>> [That's what they all say about FACTS they don't like.]
>>>>>> [And they say that about facts that someone made up i.e.
>>>>>> legitimate fake news]
>>>>> [They also say it about real true facts that a provable.
>>>>> Also: "Legitimate fake news" is akin to "natural artificial
>>>>> flavouring"] 
>>>> [No, legimate fake news is akin to sucking a lemon]
>>> [Negative. I sometimes suck a (piece of) lemon, but never engage in
>>> fake news; legitimate or not.]
>> [It's all perspective. You wouldn't know if you engaged in fake news]
> [Sure I would. I "do my own research". The only fake news I engage in
> is the news I fake myself.]
> 
[Uh-huh. So you admit you make stuff up]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> **
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> And here I was interrupted by a scraping
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sound from outside. Turned out it was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the deer contemplating the open door to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the garden. It ran off when I got up;
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> just as 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> well, I don't have any deer snacks... **
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The deer never come close to the house
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> here. I'm pretty sure the deer would like
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to snack on whatever's in the garden.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It does. Meandering about sampling the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> various leaves and 'wild nature plants'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> unless I disturb it... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank gawd you didn't plant a garden yet.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, that would have been so tragic. I might
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have not got any yield from it. Much like
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> last year. I understand people with many
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fruit trees complain about the deer eating
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the bark and kill the young trees. I suppose
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that is a valid concern. What they do to a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> few leaves off the hedge or a perennials or
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> two is no concern of mine... They always
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> seem to survive. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They eat fleshy plants here. Like my tulips.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't think they have ever eaten any tulips
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> from me. They mostly go for the green stuff.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tulip leaves are green. It's like lettuce for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> deer. Of course now there are a couple of bears
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in the neighbourhood. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They mostly go for the petals, don't they?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Is this another bizarre Danish joke?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> No. It's not bizarre. Also lots of flowers have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> edible petals. They a sometimes used in salads and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> such. Bears like salad, I'm sure. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maybe. Right now they seem to be going for the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> birdfeeders. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Easy food is the best food.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Stay out of my birdfeeder!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tell that to the bears.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *opens window*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *yells 'Hey bears, stay out of my birdfeeder*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The birdfeeders are in the garage.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Do you get many garage birds? Mine is too but that's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because I only feed the birds in the winter. This time
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of year they steal all my cherries - ripe or not.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Putting the birdfeeder in the garage is an interim (and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> temporary) measure to dissuade the bears.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I don't know how resistant your garage is, but I've heard
>>>>>>>>>>>>> of bears ripping out doors if the reward (or need) is high
>>>>>>>>>>>>> enough. Good luck with that.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I haven't seen any bears sightings in the area for a while.
>>>>>>>>>>>> It worked. 
>>>>>>>>>>> That's good then. Unless the bears are having a tactical
>>>>>>>>>>> pause while they wait for the birdfeeder to re-appear...
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Maybe they've hacked my wifi and have ordered their own
>>>>>>>>>> seeds. 
>>>>>>>>> That would be alright though, wouldn't it? Unless they used
>>>>>>>>> your credit card to pay for it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Which could happen if they get into my Amazon account.
>>>>>>>> Oh deer!
>>>>>>> Not deer, bears. I doubt deer are good haxors, what with the
>>>>>>> hooves instead .of hands. Also the antlers tend to knock over
>>>>>>> the screen when they look down on the keyboard.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> They need to get cellphones so they can say 'Alexa, buy me some
>>>>>> birdseed and a mink coat'
>>>>> I don't know who Alexa is, but they still need to be able to dial
>>>>> the number first...
>>>>>
>>>> No they don't. That's how Alexa works. You talk to the phone and it
>>>> does stuff.
>>> That's Siri, innit? Or GoOoOogle, maybe. Anyway they need to unlock
>>> the phone first, and I don't think face-recognition works very well
>>> with bear-faced seed-stealers.
> [
>> I don't use face recognition on my phone. It would be hard for them
>> to guess and then type my pin. they'd have to use a twig which I
>> imagine would be hard to hold onto without opposable thumbs]
> Bears could use a claw possibly. If they were careful. Bearclaws are
> very pointy and sharp. The kind attached to bear arms; not the pastry
> kind. 
> 
Now I want a pastry :(

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maybe if you fed the birds in the summer, they wouldn't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> take your cherries. They tend to steal berries like
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> raspberries and blueberries. There is bird netting that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> can be purchased to keep them away from the fruit.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://duckduckgo.com/?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> q=bird+netting&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Birds, insect larva or mildew - the result is the same:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> not very many cherries for me. At least with the birds I
>>>>>>>>>>>>> have the pleasure of being woken up very, very early by
>>>>>>>>>>>>> their maniacal chirping... And bird poop on the windows.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> There are worse ways to be woken up.
>>>>>>>>>>> Certainly. Like the neighbour speaking to her mother - at
>>>>>>>>>>> festival volume. 
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Or snoring.
>>>>>>>>>> Or the cat barfing.
>>>>>>>>>> I could go on and on...
>>>>>>>>> I don't have a barfing cat.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> You should definitely get one.
>>>>>>> No need. I already have the birds and the neighbour. And also
>>>>>>> the neighbours hysterical smushy faced mutt...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Behold! The pugliest dog in the world!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> For sleeping soundlessly through the night, I'm a huge fan
>>>>>>>>>>>> of ear plugs. 
>>>>>>>>>>> Then you are missing all the birdsong.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> Great!
>>>>>>>>>> Given that the windows haven't been open at night for some
>>>>>>>>>> time due to air quality warnings and/or hot, humid weather,
>>>>>>>>>> I'm probably missing a lot of outdoor sounds. Not that I'd
>>>>>>>>>> hear them. 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> That global climate change has a lot to answer for.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I won't hear the answer because of the ear plugs.
>>>>>>> You can read about it in the paper later...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> No one reads newspapers anymore.
>>>>> There are on-line versions. On the internet.
>>>> As I said, no reads newspapers anymore. They get their news from
>>>> social media. Except in Canada where Meta had a big fight with the
>>>> government. 
>>>>>
>>>>>> Get with the Times...
>>>>> No thanks, that's a Murdock paper now... I don't read stuff like
>>>>> that. 
>>>>>
>>>> Remember Bat boy?
>>> Ehh, no?
>>>
>> Oh dear!
> 
> What!!?! Who is bat boy?
> 

It was a tabloid thing back in the day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Boy_(character)