Re: Crossed the threshhold

On 04.10.2023 16.13, Merlyne wrote:
> 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:
>>>>
>>>>>>>> [*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-
> overlook
>> ed-colors-of-classical-sculptures-180980321/ 
>>
> 
> Cool! I like the gold torso.
> See. Colour enhances them.

The point was that 'important cultural people' for years have lauded the
pure aesthetics of the unadorned marble of neoclassicism - supposedly
emulating the ancient greek and roman art - and _then_ they found out it
was supposed to be painted in bright colours.

>>> I am, however, familiar with how well received Ted Turner was when he
>>> colourized old movies.
>> Everybody clapped and cheered?
>>
> Exactly!
> 
>>> 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.
>>
> No one will know if it's genuine or not.
The people to whom it belonged before it was stolen will know. And
possibly some museum nerds too.

> Anyways, I didn't have you pegged as a rule follower.
I'm a firm adherent to the principle of not getting caught breaking rules.

>>>>>>> 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.
>>
> I get that. I didn't plan on getting caught. It was a side-effect of you 
> farting around with the bike.
If the bike is moving while you apply the tarp you are doing it wrong.
Also nobody is likely to suspect someone on a bike, which is why the
tarp is important to keep the stele out of sight.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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?
>>
> That's just oatmeal. I like oatmeal.
Then I'm sure you will be quite content as a slave...

>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>
> But there should be.
There really shouldn't.

>>>>> 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 can cut and paste with scissors and glue.
That will mess up your monitor something awful.

>>> I bet you could roll a joint. 
>> I can make unsettling sounds with my (left) shoulder joint, if that's
>> what you mean.
>>
> It isn't but noted.
It's kind of a wet, clicking sound.

>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>
> It's just plain rude then.
How is having well trimmed nails rude? I think you mean 'practical'.

>>>>>>>>> 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'.
>>
> Now that's just sad.

It's probably a function of me not having access to any of the many,
many streaming channels.

-- 
BeH

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