Re: 14th

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:
>>>>>>> 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.
Oh, they have your recordings. Portable device microphones are getting
pretty good these days.

>>>> 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.
Sure, everywhere else is cheaper that at the pharmacy. You pay extra to
have stuff sold to you by a person employed by an actual pharmacist.
Don't they have Ricola in your local shop?

>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
'Fun' in a scientific sense... Like when the geneticists mix up dinosaur
genes with frog genes late on a friday after a few beers and giggles
about the fun new species they make.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
Especially if it is tax-deductible.

>>>>>>>>>> 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.
What is thousands of books if not 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!

Quite. And the Tesla guy has more money than the Amazon guy (or vice
versa)... *shrug*


-- 
BeH

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