Re: 14th

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:
>>>>>>>>> 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.
The more they know... the more they can sell you stuff.

>>>>>> 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.
But there will be a delivery charge, surely. Unless one has Amazon
prime, which I gather is being paid for in some way.

> The pharmacies here are like department stores.
The pharmacies here are in principle only allowed to sell medicine
(prescription, non-prescription and with a special permit medicine for
production animals) and "such goods as naturally and conveniently relate
to pharmacy business as determined by the Health Department". Also they
need a licence.
They all sell stuff like toothpicks and plasters and vitamins and such.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
See: Fun!

> I guess it's a side effect of not inviting scientists to parties.
If one does it's probably prudent to mention that the invitation does
not include any reconstituted raptors they may have around. Not even as
a present for the host.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
If (and it is) the food is served as part of a promotional initiative it
will be a business expense for the company, thus reducing the taxable
profit.
On the other hand it may be a taxable material good for whoever eat from
it... hmmm.

>>>>>>>>>>>> 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
I see... Anything to not be thinking about stuff? Or interact with your
fellow humans.

>>>>>>>>>>> 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?
At some point 'more' becomes pointless...

-- 
BeH

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