Re: 14th

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

> 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:
>>>>>> 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.
>>> That'll learn you to speak nicely to the mindless piece of software.
>> 
>> Unlikely!
> Have you even tried?
No. I don't want the Mega tech Corporation to have my recordings.
> 
>>> You do know that [Mega tech Corporation] has records of all your
>>> shouting now, right? You probably get served a lot of ads for
>>> lozenges and such.
>>>
>> 
>> If I see ads for lozenges, how will I be able to tell if from the 
>> shouting at Google or because I viewed and/or purchased them online?
> You won't. That's the insidious part. Also who even buys lozenges
> online? 
> 
I have contemplated it. The bag of Ricola is cheaper on Amazon than at 
the phramacy.

>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> Don't think so... He was a sickly kid born with all sorts of
>>> defects. Perhaps not too surprising, given the family tradition of
>>> selecting spouses from within the family.
>>>
>> It keeps the blood lines pure.
> And promotes all the 'fun' genetics...
> 
Must be some definition of the word 'fun' that I was previously unaware 
of.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> When I was there it was usually because of some (major) changes in
>>> organisation and/or workflow. Gotta hold meetings about that sort of
>>> thing. 
>>>
>> 
>> When I worked in the private sector, they had a huge all staff
>> meeting in the ballroom of a super-posh hotel to annouce the company
>> was changing it's name. One woman in the middle of the crowd jumped
>> up and screamed 'I love it!' after the new name was revealed. I was
>> just there for the free food.
> Yeah, they do that sometimes - for publicity. And probably with
> invited 'news-media' persons, who are also just there for the free
> food. 
> 
Nothing wrong with free food.

>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> I thought the phone was for public transport and zoom-meetings...
>> It's for any times when I am bored.
> How can you be bored when you have all those thousands of books to
> read? 
> 
I like having options.

>>>>>>>> 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.
>>> Okay then. Don't read about the dragons...
>> Okay. I won't.
>> 
>>>
>>>>>>> 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?
>>>
>>> From an admittedly small sample size paperbacks weigh ~50g/100pages.
>>> Assuming an average length of 350 pages that's 175g * 12000 or about
>>> 2.1 metric tons. However you aren't going to read nearly that many
>>> books in one sitting/vacation/year(/lifetime).
>>> One cargo bike full is about 1200 books, which will do me quite well
>>> for a while.
>>>
>> 
>> I think the point is that I can carry more books than you can.
> 
> I think the point is that even a cargo bike can hold more books than
> it is reasonable to have on one's immediate to-read list at any one
> time... 
> 

Still. I can carry more books.
So there!