Re: 14th

On 30.08.2023 14.42, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> On 24.08.2023 16.55, Merlyne wrote:
>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>
>>>> On 18.08.2023 14.51, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 13.08.2023 23.28, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 09.08.2023 14.19, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 01.08.2023 13.32, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>>>>>>>>> news:[email protected]: 
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On 27.07.2023 15.32, Merlyne wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> [Snippage achieved]
>>>>>>>>> [Huzzah!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> **
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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 :(
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> There you go. I'm sure it's all very healthy:
>>>>>>>>>>>> https://duckduckgo.com/?q=wienerbr%C3%
>>>>>>>>>>> B8d&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&
>>>>>>>>>>>> ia=images 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> A lot of good a picture will do me.
>>>>>>>>>>> Anyways, I bought some 2-bite apple turnover thingees at the
>>>>>>>>>>> store. 
>>>>>>>>>> I'm sure they were good too, for what they were.
>>>>>>>>>> 2-bite? As in tiny ones?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> They are small.
>>>>>>>>> Perfect for when you need something sweet but don't want to eat
>>>>>>>>> a big slab of pie.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Isn't that what fruit is for?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What if your not in the mood for fruit?
>>>>>>> What if you want caek or pie?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What if eating cake or pie is highly discouraged?
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm sure it's on no country's food pyramid.
>>>> The baker's guild begs to differ.
>>>
>>> They can beg all they want. Cake and pie will never get on the
>>> pyramid. 
>> But I'm certain there was plenty of delicious baked goods *in* the
>> pyramids. 
> 
> Like what?
> Something their Mummy made?
A chicken wrap maybe...

> Ramen noodles?
> Fruit of the Tomb?
Tut y fruity Ice cream...

Whatever an ancient dead pharaoh/demi-god liked to eat with their
coffee, I guess.

>>>>>> What if you need all the vitamin C you can get?
>>>>>
>>>>> I eat lots of fruit during the day. And broccoli.
>>>>> If you get too much vitamin C, you pee it out.
>>>> If only the broccoli poison were that easy to get rid of as well.
>>>
>>> Ugh! Not this again!
>> Right. Abolish broccoli.
> Just accept it's existence and move on.
Does that sound like something a rabid cult leader would do? Banish the
abomination!

>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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=image
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> s 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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)
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm shocked - shocked I tell you - to learn that a newspaper
>>>>>>>>>>>> would just make up a story, with no regard for the integrity
>>>>>>>>>>>> of the press. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> No, you aren't.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> That may or may not have been sarcastic...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I thought it was fake outrage.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The outrage is real. The shock maybe not so much.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I see. Batboy enrages you. Noted.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Not Batboy as such - the lack of clarity about the fact that
>>>>>> Batboy was wholly fictional.
>>>>>>
>>>>> It's pretty obvious, no?
>>>>> Although, I'm sure there are a few kooks who believe he is real.
>>>>> *shrug*
>>>> I refer you to the case of the radio dramatisation of H.G. Wells'
>>>> "The War of the Worlds".
>>>>
>>> Yes, yes...
>>>
>>>> There is also the ancient dictum (about writing manuals): Don't
>>>> write to be understood - write to not be *mis*understood.
>>>>
>>> I always write user guide like the audience is a 6 year old.
>>> Even then (with screenshots) people mess things up.
>>> I had a math professor that told me: it's not that people can't do
>>> math, they just can't read.
>>> Ah...the lost art of reading...
>>
>> Speaking of... I just finished The Clan of the Cave Bear. All 587
>> pages of it. That's a lot of words. Not all of them strictly necessary
>> in my opinion...
>>
> 
> I'm on book 3 of the Wheel of Time series. The average size is 826 
> pages. There are 13 books plus a prequel.
> So there!

Not that it's a competition or anything but I did finish the next book
in the series and am 2/3 through the third.
Before that I (re)read the 13 volumes of the chronicles of Pern that I
have. It's mostly about dragons - science fiction dragons.

-- 
BeH

" We are trapped by language to such a degree that every attempt to
formulate insight is a play on words." - Niels Bohr