Re: 14th

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

> On 17.09.2023 19.50, Merlyne wrote:
>> BeH <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]: 
>> 
>>> 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:
>>>>> [unreadable stuff snipped]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ancient Egyptian puns are hard :(
>>>>>> I'll end making an asp of myself.
>>>>> You can probably ask your smart phone... that O'Siris thing.
>>>>
>>>> That didn't land.
>>> Did your eye-phone die?
>> As if I can afford or want one of those.
> 
> I'm confident your [brand] smart phone has a similar Oracle-like
> functionality by whatever name.

I never use it since if I shout a question at it, it shouts back the 
answer.

>>>
>>>>>>> Whatever an ancient dead pharaoh/demi-god liked to eat with
>>>>>>> their coffee, I guess.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Did they have coffee? 
>>>>> What good would being an ancient pharaoh if it didn't include
>>>>> coffee? 
>>>>
>>>> I'm wondering when coffee was introduced to Egypt.
>>> Now I am too. Are you going to look it up?
>> *sigh*
>> According to the National Coffee Association (who knew?):
>> "By the 15th century, coffee was being grown in the Yemeni district
>> of Arabia and by the 16th century it was known in Persia, Egypt,
>> Syria, and Turkey. Coffee was not only enjoyed in homes, but also in
>> the many public coffee houses — called qahveh khaneh — which
>> began to appear in cities across the Near East."
>> 
>> Not in King Tut's time.
> 
> No wonder he died young, then.

I thought he was murdered.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well..
>>>>>> When you're snoring in your yurt in your spiderman pajamas, I
>>>>>> will sneak out and eat brocolli.
>>>>> HAH. And Hah again. I don't even have any spiderman pyjamas... So
>>>>> there! {and I'm not going to comment on your spelling}
>>>>
>>>> I'm pretty sure that's how 'yurt' is spelt.
>>> Sure. And broccoli is no less evil no matter how it's spelled.
>> 
>> I thought we agreed that you would stop saying negative things about 
>> broccoli if I agreed not to serve it to you?
> You brought i up and I couldn't help myself.

uh-huh.
> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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. 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I used to read those when I was a teenager. My dad took them to
>>>>>> work for a book sale and all the computer nerds lost their minds.
>>>>> That can't have been good for productivity...
>>>>
>>>> They were government jobs.
>>> Government jobs have productivity measurements too. They are just...
>>> different.
>> 
>> People who don't work in the government seem to think we don't any
>> work. 
> I have been working a lot alongside public employees of various kinds.
> To avoid annoying you I shall refrain from commenting on this. They do
> hold a lot of meetings, though. Long meetings.
> 
When I worked for Census, we did have a lot of meetings.
Not so much where I am now.
Depends on who's in charge. 

>>>>> I never knew about them before I inherited them, and I didn't
>>>>> consider them for reading for a long time, thinking they were
>>>>> 'Fantasy'. Because of the dragons.
>>>>
>>>> I liek dragons!
>>>> The books are more about how civilization can devolve.
>>> And the importance of preserving knowledge.
>>> And how some people are just shitty humans, through malice or
>>> ignorance. And dragons.
>> 
>> YAY! Dragons!
> Yes. Science-fictionally believable dragons.
> 
>>>>>> I haven't been reading as much as I normally do in the summer.
>>>>>> Usually, I go outside and lounge and read but this summer has
>>>>>> been either super hot or raining, making the mosquitoes quite
>>>>>> fierce. Also my Kobo broke. 
>>>>>
>>>>> Assuming a Kobo is some kind of e-reader and not your favourite
>>>>> lounge-chair, let me point out that books also come as
>>>>> self-contained stacks of printed paper...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes. I can put several on a Kobo which weighs a few ounces. This
>>>> comes in handy when you finish a book when you are away from home.
>>> Unless you run out of battery and forget the charger.
>> Yep that could happen.
> And that would be bad.
I can play with my phone instead.
> 
>>>> Also, with paper books, you have to procure more and then rid
>>>> yourself of them once finished.
>>> Get Rid Of Books!!?? What is this madness. What if you want to read
>>> them again at some point?
>> 
>> The number of books that I keep is very small.
> Which for instance prohibits you from now re-reading the chronicles of
> Pern.
> 
Which I don't want to reread.

>>> Also a Kobo has infinite storage, I take it?
>> I forget how many books it can hold. More that you can carry even
>> with a cargo bike.
>> So there!
> Hard-cover or paperback? My cargo bike is rated for 200Kg. How many
> books is that?
> 

My new one can hold 12,000 books. How much does that weigh?