Re: Crossed the threshhold

On 18.10.2023 13.55, Merlyne wrote:
> 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:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> [*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.
>>
> It makes them pretty!
But think of the cognitive dissonance. The trauma... Human figures being
skin-coloured. With brown hair and blue eyes. Like people!

>>>>> 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.
>>
> Museum nerds don't go out and I'm not scared of some long-dead viking.
I've been watching old Time Team episodes lately, and museum nerds
absolutely go out sometimes. Also the steles don't belong to vikings -
who are all long dead after all - they belong to museums and foundations
and such.

>>> 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. 
>>
> Noted.Except for grammar rules.
There are grammar 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.
> 
> Obviously trying to affix a tarp on a moving bike in almost impossible 
> and ill-advised.
Exactly.

>> 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...
> I dunno. I don't think I'd look good in a collar plus I'm bossy and 
> opinionated.
I'm sure any competent slave owner will have remedies to correct these
shortcomings.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
> Of course there should be otherwise, it's like you never existed.
There is a considerable production of written material right here on
usenet - forever enshrined on google. Also I would think at least some
of the programming I've done would still be active. Also also the Tax
department knows who I am.

>>>>>>> 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 feel a blonde joke coming on...
Go on then...?

>>>>> 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.
>>
> Gross!
Truly.

>>>>>>>>>>>> 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'.
>>
> It's rude to point.
So the second finger has become utterly useless because of societal
norms? I resent that.

>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
>>
> 
> There are lots of cartoons on regular tv here.

It's mostly just Disney(tm) here, with a sprinkling of Peppa Pig and
possibly SpongeBob. I don't watch much childrens tv.

-- 
BeH

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