Re: Polar vortex

On 06.09.2023 14.22, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> 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:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [attributions]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [arbitrations]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [artifacts]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [artifactory]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [artichoke factory]
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [olfactory]
>>>>>>>>>>>> [oligarchy]
>>>>>>>>>>> [obfuscate]
>>>>>>>>>> [operate]
>>>>>>>>> [oaklike]
>>>>>>>> [Oakley]
>>>>>>> [offramp]
>>>>>> [osprey]
>>>>> [ookpik]
>>>> [awww... olympic]
>>> [ouched]
>> [outré]
> [outrém]
[latlh]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [gone but not forgotten]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I've already forgotten]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Doesn't bode well for your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> end >> of >>>>>> term > exams. You
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> want >> me to >> paste >> it >>>> back
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in?] >>>>>>>>>> [exams?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Yes. At the end of the year.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [So I still have some time
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> then] >>>>>>> [That's not the right
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> attitude. If 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you >>> don't keep up during the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> year >>>> you'll >>> never be able to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> get >> through 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it all in 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> revision.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I'll copy off your test]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I shall be giving the test.]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Then you'll give me a good mark
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> we know each other] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [That is not how it works. That is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not >>> how anything works. Also it may
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be >>> someone 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> else doing the marking.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [You'll tell me the answers so I get
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a >> good mark] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [That would be cheating]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [So? do you want me to fail?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I want you to study, apply yourself,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> make the effort, stuff like that] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Why? What's in it for you?]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I want you to do well, is all]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [I'm destined to fail since I don't even
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> know what I'm being tested about]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [It's about all the vital and interesting
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> information being presented in this very
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> newsgroup. I though that was clear.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Nope. Was as clear as mud. I think I will be
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> away that day.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [You are going to make me look bad when no-one
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> passes my test.] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Looks good on you since you refused to help me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> out] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [So my options are to look like an incompetent
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> test-giver or behave unethically? Why do you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> hate me?] 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [Deflect!]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What?! Squirrel? Where...?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apparerntly you've mistaken me for a dog.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So the squirrel wasn't the deflection? What was it,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> then? Surely it can't be the pair of swallows that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> has built their nest on the door to my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> garage/storage shed/workshop.... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You have a workshop?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have a long table with a lamp and a couple of vises
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and a lot of stuff on it in the garage. That ought to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> count. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Not that I can easily get to it at the moment, with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the nest on the door. The eggs have hatched so it's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> now a nest of baby birds constantly being fed by two
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very busy swallows. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It appears I was wrong. The increased activity I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> observed must have been a final effort to finish the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nest before laying. Probably something to do with a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mortgage maturing or some such. So we are all still
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> waiting for the hatching (and the gender reveal party). 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hopefully it won't start a fire.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Swallows have more sense than that.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> There'll be 2 of each.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> We shall see. All in good time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> [waits]
>>>>>>>>>>>> Nothing further to report yet.
>>>>>>>>>>> [waits some more]
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> THEY LIVE. I hear them when the parent-birds bring food (and
>>>>>>>>>> remove droppings). So far I've only seen three wide-open
>>>>>>>>>> beaklets at a time. 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Do birds clean the nest?
>>>>>>>> Some do. Mostly (including swallows, sadly) the young'uns just
>>>>>>>> excrete over the edge of the nest once they a big enough to move
>>>>>>>> around a bit. 
>>>>>>> Watch out below!
>>>>>> I don't use that door at the moment anyway. I will probably be
>>>>>> available soon, though. The new birds have taken to fly about...
>>>>>> Which hopefully means the pile of shit below the nest won't grow
>>>>>> any further. 
>>>>>>
>>>>> You can clean it up.
>>>>
>>>> I'll probably have to. It's not like the birds are gonna do it.
>>>> After all I've done for them...
>>>>
>>>
>>> You can add it to the obelisk tour -- come and see the amazing guano.
>> I could, I suppose. Only I don't have an obelisk (yet). a guano tour
>> might not be as compelling to the touristy masses.
>>
> This reminds me of the P.T. Barnum thing about how someone could put a 
> sign that says 'Come and see the egress --$5' and people would queue up.
> People don't know what that it, but they know if they have to pay, it's 
> worth seeing.
Most people know what bird-poop is, though...

> An aside - a coworker and I were discussing this in the kitchen one day 
> at work. And the other people there wandered over and asked us what an 
> egress is.
I hope you didn't just tell them for free.

>>>>>>>>> I feel like I'm setting myself up for a bad pun here.
>>>>>>>> When have I ever produced a bad pun?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Puns, by definition, are bad.
>>>>>> Only the puny ones. They are hard to swallow.
>>>>> I'm going cold turkey.
>>>> Chickening out, you mean...
>>> Careful! I have a fowl temper...
>> I'll be sure to duck.
> At least you'll get some egg-cersize.
This is a yoke, right? If I get any more eggcersise I'll be end up a
shell of my former self...

>>>>>>>> Also I don't see a possible pun presenting.
>>>>>>> Phew!
>>>>>>> That would make me stark raven mad!
>>>>>> There's no reason to let your gull rise because of a pun.
>>>>> I'm starling to get annoyed owl-ready.
>>>> Don't go all emu on me...
>>> That one flew over my head.
>> HA! Emus don't even fly. ('Emo's may or may not, but they aren't happy
>> about it either way.)
> Those kids quack me up!
Don't crow about it; I'm sure you hade your phase of being edgy and
different too...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aww...cute!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yep. They'll dive-bomb you.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The last pair I had didn't. They were too busy to worry
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about me at all. At most they made an extra go-around to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> try and confuse me - the giant predator - before
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> landing. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Except you aren't a predator.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They don't know that. Also I could be a fire hazard. No
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> smoke without and such...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maybe you shouldn't smoke around their home.
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm not. I'm smoking around *my' home.
>>>>>>>>>>> I'm sure that's not how the birds see things.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> No, they probably see a giant potential predator.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Get off the lawn!
>>>>>>>> It's my lawn and I'll do what I want. Anyway I'm mostly standing
>>>>>>>> on the doorstep when I observe the nest.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Ooo! A peeper!
>>>>>>> {more of a frog joke}
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I can put in a good word, if you liek.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You speak swallow? These are barn swallows; they may have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> quite a strong accent.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have an app that talks to birds.
>>>>>>>>>>>> As in making bird sounds...?
>>>>>>>>>>> Yeah
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Usually enrages them.
>>>>>>>>>>>> It's usually male birds that make the most noise. Something
>>>>>>>>>>>> about how great they are at the sex and bringing up
>>>>>>>>>>>> young'uns. And they as a rule don't like other male birds
>>>>>>>>>>>> making noise close by. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Some male birds make the nest. I'm sure some the bragging is
>>>>>>>>>>> about that. 
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> That too... pretty important part of bringing up young'uns.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Bragging about making a nest is?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Building a brag-worthy nest is.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's mostly twigs and mud. Low resale value.
>>>>>> And yet they tend to come back to it year after year. Also the
>>>>>> little (staying) birds like to use it in winter.
>>>>>
>>>>> The birds here don't seem to reuse nests. The robins have 2 batches
>>>>> and seem to make a new nest each time.
>>>>> Maybe it's part of the pagentry of laying eggs.
>>>> Or maybe they just have to much time on their hands... Getting their
>>>> food delivered and all.
>>>>
>>> Like Uber eats?
>>
>> I'm not familiar. There is no Uber here. They got mad and closed down
>> when they found out they had to follow the rules for taxi companies
>> (having a licence and paying their drivers and such).
>> Also I live in the county-side. I don't think anyone delivers to
>> here... 
>>
> I don't think UberEats delivers here either :(
> A few places in the Village will.
'My' village is too small to have places...

> The taxis protested about it here, because they buy licenses from the 
> city and then sell them for thousands when they retire. Ride sharing 
> basically ruined that for them. Taxis are ridicously expensive. 
> I think most the taxis have also signed up for Uber now. Sometimes 
> change is good.
> 
> 
> 

-- 
BeH

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