Re: Polar vortex

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

> On 23.09.2023 23.14, Merlyne wrote:
>> 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:
>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [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]
>>>> [I thought you had a stroke]
>>> [The way my brane has been misfiring lately I might as well have
>>> had. Is chronic fatigue a symptom of a stoke?]
>> [I'm not a medical professional. Anyone I know who had a stroke has 
>> paralysis of some kind i.e. they can't move the left side of their
>> body or have slurred speach. Extreme fatigue can be a symptom of
>> about a million things like a virus/allergies or vitamin deficiency.
>> You should see your doctor]
> [Or take more naps. Naps help so I probably didn't have a stroke.]
[Okay then. Mystery solved]
> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [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.
>>>> Isn't that chemical fertilizer?
>>> It's still mostly nitrogen and phosphates - perfectly viable as base
>>> for a bomb... They used to use guano in gunpowder production in the
>>> olden days. 
>>>
>> Interesting. 
> That's what Timothy McVeigh said too...
> 
And where is he now?
I was thinking that back in the old West, their personal hygiene was of 
low quality, so it might be hard to tell if the guy beside you at the 
Saloon was loaded and ready for a gun fight.

>>>>>>>> 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 guess that's why I'm not a billionaire then.
>>> It's the first billion that's the hardest, wher you really have to
>>> put in the effort (or have ancestors who put in the effort). After
>>> that the billions more or less make themselves. Unless the plebs
>>> decides to eat you. 
>>>
>> 
>> Seems like too much work.
>> I come from a long line of really poor people.
> That's the common mistake people who want to become billionaires often
> make. 
> 
Why aren't you a billionaire, then?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>>>
>>>> Shell-arious! Don't get whisked away...
>>> Not likely - I'm not exactly a featherweight...
>> Dammit! I already used egg-cersise!
>> And I was quilling these puns...
> I'm down to end it here if you wish...
I'm in. As long as it doesn't ruffle any feathers.
> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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? 
>>>> Yes! I gobbled it up!
>>> That must have been quite a large bill. I this economy.
>> It was actually cheep.
> Just a few loonies, then?
[OOOO! Excellent knowledge of local currencies]
Yep! It makes cents that I would have some.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>>> Oh no!
>>> Oh yes! And it's four times the distance...
>>>
>> You need the exercise.
> 
> I need the tobacco products is what I need. The exercise is
> incidental. 
> 
And better than none.