Re: Crossed the threshhold

On 26.09.2023 14.11, Merlyne wrote:
> 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:
>>
>>>>>> [*munch* Mmmm crunchy usenet post]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Right. Never mind. So obelisks. The egyptians made a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lot of those back in the day. And then the English
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (and the french) stole some of them. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Fascinating. Also very phallic.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Stealing obelisks? That's more of an imperialistic
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> thing, I would say. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Obelisk envy. Definitely a guy thing ...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I wouldn't know... I don't feel deprived. Also I have no
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> good place to put an obelisk.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It definitely needs to go out by the road where passersby
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> can admire and/or steal it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I could put it where my tower used to be, I suppose. ('My
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tower' being an old power distribution hut they took down
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a couple of years ago.) Also we don't get a lot of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> englishers (or frenchers) around here so unlikely anyone
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will steal an obelisk. A stele on the other hand... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Who would steal a stele over an obelisk?
>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm sure the englishers (and the frenchers) have done some
>>>>>>>>>>>> stele stealing as well over time - when there were no
>>>>>>>>>>>> obelisks around. Ultimately it's going to be a stelistic
>>>>>>>>>>>> choice, innit? Also an obelisk is pretty unhandy to lug
>>>>>>>>>>>> about unobtrusively. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> They would put it lying down in the back of wagon, no?
>>>>>>>>>> If they happen to have a wagon. Many of the foreign types
>>>>>>>>>> coming by here are biking... I can't imagine it will be easy
>>>>>>>>>> to take away a stele on a bike without being noticed.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I guess it depends on how big it is.
>>>>>>>>> Size matters.
>>>>>>>> There are practical limits to how big a bike can be... not least
>>>>>>>> if it is to be powered the proper way: with people muscles.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I thought you meant the size of the stele.
>>>>>> I did, but the idea of a (cargo-)bike big enough to carry a stele
>>>>>> - or an obelisk - appealed to me. It would probably have to be
>>>>>> made of steel... for sturdyness. Quite a job to get something like
>>>>>> that up the hills. Especially laden with a stele.
>>>>> What is the minimum stele size? Maybe we should focus on stealing
>>>>> small steles.
>>>> I imagine there is a practical minimal size for steles - a tiny rock
>>>> isn't going to be very impressive, and also it would likely be
>>>> difficult to still make out the inscriptions for old steles. Also
>>>> stumpy stolen steles aren't as attractive in a tourist-trap sense as
>>>> the bigger ones. 
>>>>
>>> I dunno.
>>> In 2020, people were really into those rocks that kids were painting
>>> and leaving in parks. Maybe we could colourize a small one to make it
>>> more attractive?
>> In 2020 people were really into going to parks in general.
>> Also painting a stele would compromise the sense of historical impact
>> and thus the monetary benefit. See how people reacted when museums
>> started displaying greek and roman sculpture with the original paint
>> scheme. 
>>
> 
> I am unfamiliar with that, not being part of the 'museum' set.
I have been to a museum or two in my time. Not recently - they are all
far away, except the local tractor-museum. But anyway:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-vibrant-long-overlooked-colors-of-classical-sculptures-180980321/

> I am, however, familiar with how well received Ted Turner was when he 
> colourized old movies.
Everybody clapped and cheered?

> He was trying to bring them to life and make them real.
> Same thing applies to the steles.
I'm pretty sure there are rules against smearing paint on genuine
archaeoligical artifacts.

>>>>> Make sure you bring a tarp so that the stolen stele is stealth.
>>>> I think that is stipulated in the stele-stealing subject...
>>>>
>>> It wasn't.
>> It is my understanding that stealthily stealing large objects involves
>> covering it up en route. Similar to using carpets for moving bodies.
>>
> 
> I thought the objective was to take the thing and get away as fast as 
> possible. 
> I can see the headline: 'The theives were captured as they stood there 
> fastening the tarp to the get-away bike'
If you plan to be apprehended while still on the site a tarp probably
isn't going to make any difference one way or the other. The first
principle of stele-stealing is to do it without being seen.

>>>>>>>>>>>>> You need to put up a signage on a busy road. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Come and see the obelisk 2 km ---> "
>>>>>>>>>>>> I would be nervous someone might accuse me of having stolen
>>>>>>>>>>>> the obelisk. 
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> That seems like a Viking kinda thing to do...
>>>>>>>>>> Nah... If it ain't gold or silver (or wimmen) it ain't worth
>>>>>>>>>> the space. 
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I pity the fool who steals me.
>>>>>>>> Oh, I'm sure I could get a decent price for you in the
>>>>>>>> Mediterranean market...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But why would you want to?
>>>>>>> I has a sad now :(
>>>>>> It's what the Vikings did, mostly. In Ireland at least. Sometimes
>>>>>> they took the wimmen to Iceland instead - to work in the service
>>>>>> industy. 
>>>>>
>>>>> Freshen your drink, Govner?
>>>> That too, I suppose - but mostly milk the cows and churn the butter
>>>> kind of stuff. Also a considerable amount of Irish-origin DNA is
>>>> still present in the Icelandic population.
>>>>
>>> Uh-huh
>>>
>>>>> My colouring is more from the Scottish ancestors. Your might get
>>>>> charged with fraud or beaten up for trying to pawn me off as Irish.
>>>> I rather think it would make little difference, as long as you are
>>>> good at thrashing grain and herding sheep and such...
>>>
>>>
>>> I see. By 'service industry' you meant slavery. I thought you meant 
>>> prostitution. 
>>> Slop your hog, gov'ner?
>> I don't know if they brought pigs along to Iceland.
>> And they were definitely going out of fashion in the mediterranean
>> market. 
>>
> Good. I don't like pork.
As a thrall the menu choices may be somewhat limited in any case. How do
you feel about gruel?

>>>>>>>>>>> And so what if they think it's stolen? It's not like they can
>>>>>>>>>>> prove anything. 
>>>>>>>>>> They could if the obelisk is signed. A lot of obelisk have
>>>>>>>>>> inscriptions on them.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> But not signatures, surely.
>>>>>>>> I think they do have the name of whoever carved the inscription
>>>>>>>> - or at least who ordered it.
>>>>>>>> Runic inscription almost always is mostly just that, in spite of
>>>>>>>> how modest and self-effacing scandinavians are.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Oh you and your sarcasm!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You noticed... :-)
>>>>>
>>>>> I usually notice and then ignore it.
>>>>> {Oooo! I think that's the first time I noticed you using a smiley}
>>>>
>>>> I have been known to use the odd ascii combinations at times. As
>>>> long as they don't get autotranslated into graphic emoticons...
>>>
>>> Why's that?
>> I don't like when what is displayed is not what I put. Also I'm not a
>> fan of picture texting.
>>
> 
> *crosses 'Get dick pics from BeH' off my bucket list*
A prudent and wise decision. There are no BeH-pics - of any kind.

>>> This Usenet client is so old that it doesn't do graphics or
>>> hyperlinks or even utf-8 encoding.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> (*' `* - two hairyballs having knife fight.)
>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A Danish very easy crossword, I meant.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They have picture clues which solves as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> horrible puns... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _____  = I over ate
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 8
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A cartoon of two young witched trying to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ride brooms with an older witch looking
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> unamused. Solution: Kostskole. Kost =
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> broom or meal(s) (different pronunciation)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Skole = school Kostskole = boarding school
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Very punny.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I would never get any right since I don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> speak the language. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's really easy:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?
> v=gHlEOsM5jtA
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> *bookmark for later*
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Good luck with that later.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I'll probably forget or get distracted by a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> squirrel or something... 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Squirrels aren't distractions - they are a joy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of nature. Unless you have a walnut tree of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> course. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Which I don't.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Neither do I, but still I have "hidden" walnuts
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all over every year. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Anyway the other day I had one rather small
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> squirrel being chased off the cherry tree and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all the way to the treeline - by sparrows. Turns
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> out sparrows don't think squirrels are a joy of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nature. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They aren't, really.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Soemtimes they get in my garden and take 1 bite
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> out of every single ripe tomato.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Quality control.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Death wish, more like.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You wouldn't...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I would if I didn't think another squirrel would take
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> its place. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You can never have too many squirrels...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It's at times like this, I wish I could send you some.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Me too. I suspect the gray squirrels would be considered
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an invasive species, and not allowed for import. It
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> didn't go too well for the brits when they did it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I would send the red squirrels. They really are little
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> shits. 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> But pretty. And also cute the way they flitter about in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the trees in between stealing produce.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Must be some odd definition of the word 'cute' that I was
>>>>>>>>>>>>> previously unaware of.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Clearly you are biased against the cute little critters... I
>>>>>>>>>>>> wouldn't be chocked to learn that you don't find a baby
>>>>>>>>>>>> skunk cute either. Unharden your heart, girl.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Sure. Baby animals are cute.
>>>>>>>>>>> There's video making the rounds of a baby elephant chasing
>>>>>>>>>>> ducks. Very cute!
>>>>>>>>>>> Squirrels - not so cute.
>>>>>>>>>> Baby squirrels! QED
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *eye roll*
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> How do you even do that?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'll show you when I go over to see your water feature.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> That could be a while. Can't you just tell me now?
>>>>>
>>>>> Too much typing. Anyways it's more of a visual thing.
>>>> It would be - invo0lving the eyes as it does. But there have to be
>>>> some technique involved. Or violence...
>>>>
>>> It's 100% an underrated mad skill.
>> Which you should teach me. Then I would have one mad skill.
> 
> I thought you could Photoshop. That's a mad skill.
I don't even have access to that program. But anyone can cut and paste
stuff. Nothing mad about that.

> I bet you could roll a joint. 
I can make unsettling sounds with my (left) shoulder joint, if that's
what you mean.

>>>>>>>> I'm glad you finally relent in the face of my crushing logic.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I wouldn't refer to twisting my words as crushing logic.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, anyway I win.
>>>>>
>>>>> Sure. If you say so.
>>>> {point}
>>>>
>>> Don't point that at me, it has a nail in it.
>> But it's a well trimmed nail...
>>
> It's still dangerous.
Not in the least - the length is optimised for not getting stuff caught
under it.

>>>>>>> But whatever floats your boat.
>>>>>> Water displacement?
>>>>>>
>>>>> If that's what does it for you, who am I to judge?
>>>> Not just me - that's how everyone's boat float. Physics!
>>>>
>>>
>>> Stience!
>> Or something that's spelled much like that...
>>
> It's from a cartoon called 'DisEnchantment' about a drunken princess and 
> her band of friends.
I'm not familiar. I'm not part of the 'cartoon set'.

-- 
BeH

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