Re: 14th

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

> 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.
> 
I don't know why anybody would want those.

>>>>> 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?
>
They are cheaper on Amazon than at Wal-Mart even.
The pharmacies here are like department stores.
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
> 
I'm giggling right now.
I guess it's a side effect of not inviting scientists to parties.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
Deductions from net income:
Free food: $0

It's certainly not a deduction for the consumers of the food.
And it might be for the purchaser if the purchaser was a registered 
charity.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>> 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?
It's about variety, you know, the spice of life.
Reading = 1 option.
Other options = listening to music/podcast
Snoozing
Playing Candy Crush

> 
>>>>>>>>>> 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*
> 
> 
What's that to do with the price of eggs in China?