Re: 14th

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

> 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.
Oh no!

> 
>>>>>>> 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.
> 
I have Amazon Prime :)

>> 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. 
> 
One of the large pharmacy chains is owned by a grocery chain, so they 
sell groceries, electronics, cleaning supplies etc.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
It might be entertaining to watch.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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 dunno.
I just ate the free food and tried not to over-think it.

> 
>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
Exactly!
> 
>>>>>>>>>>>> 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...

You're a poor loser.