Re: Polar vortex

On 09.09.2023 22.51, Merlyne wrote:
> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]: 
> 
>> 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]
> [?]
[Same thing but in klingon... or so goooogele claims]
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [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...
> 
> You have to make it sound exciting. Somehow.
I could have a poster explaining how terrorists use it to blow up stuff,
I suppose.

>>> 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.
> D'oh!
You'll never make billions if you don't think of these things...

>>>>>>>>>>> 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...
>>
> I see you poached some yolk-tastic egg puns.
Yeah - my humour is really getting air under its wings. Soaring you
might say.

>>>>>>>>>> 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...
> I got tweetment for it.
Must have been a trill for you. Did you get coffee and magpie after?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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...
> 
> It must have somewhere to buy tobacco.
That's in the bizarrely places suburban neighbourhood down the road. And
anyway they don't always have what I need, and I have to go all the way
into bigtown.

>>> 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