Re: 14th

On 25.10.2023 16.26, Merlyne wrote:
> 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!
And if that doesn't work there's always blackmail.

>>>>>>>> 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 :)
I didn't doubt it for a minute. And you pay for that one way or another.
Have I mentioned that Amazon doesn't have a presence in my country, in
real world of on the web, save for a redirect to the German site.

>>> 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.
But surely it's a separate counter for prescription medicine? With a
trained staff?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.
It's all fun and games until some lawyer gets eaten.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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 wouldn't speak about it so freely in front of the tax-man if I were you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 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.

I've had so very little practice.

-- 
BeH

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