The Dreaded Open Thread

Even Fanny?

Oh…and as long as we all are talking about Australian wildlife , can I mention how much more intense, impressive and intimidating salt water crocodiles are up close and in person than on TV?? We had a number of (safe) close encounters with them up north around Darwin and gee whiz! gulp. (I’ll probably get some pics of them up on the site soon and could link them hear if folks want)

And siobhan..? I was thinking of you frequently as we saw the most amazing variety of birds in Kakadu National Park. Between that experience, hearing all the gorgeous song birds in New Zealand, and falling in love with paradise ducks (NZ), pukekos (NZ), and jabirus (AUS), I’m thinking about becoming a birder

Becca

Siobhan-

Did I mention that we saw two kiwis in the wild (during a night walk through ancient Kauri forests in northern NZ)? That was a feather in our cap (groan…pun) that few new zealanders (also kiwis, though not to be confused with the bird) achieve.

Man…this birding thing just sucks you in, doesn’t it?

Becca

Becca, I was tempted to wait until I could make an even numbered comment so that it would be tinted green. Kiwis - not just cool, but incredibly cool.

Yes, it sucks you in. a) Because there’s always something new to learn, and b) you can do it anywhere. Oh, and c) because it gives you a good excuse to go many wonderful places.

Dee - I have a broadcast microphone autographed by Ernie Harwell (a voice that takes me back to sitting under my grandpa’s apple tree, listening to those very same ‘68 Tigers…) A friend of ours worked for the Oakland A’s on their broadcasts and would always score tickets for me when the Tigers were in town. One night, one of their mics broke and our friend swapped it out with a new one, then - on a whim - got Ernie to sign it for me. A treasured possession to this day!

I’m not so sure about that.

I love my lap top!

I’m in the backyard watching the usual chickadees and sparrows (although there are a couple of savanah sparrows) and for the first time this year the Scrub Jays are back! This one’s a youngster, a bit scruffy as his baby fluff molts. He can’t figure out how to land on the feeder and aborts the landing at the last moment.

We need to start a Foundation, maybe do a Telethon.

It’s an American Male Tragedy and Something Needs to be Done. Especially in the Summer when the effects seem to be most acute.

I’m talking about the “My Stuff’s Too Big” Syndrome. First seen in Major League Baseball Players, it has now become epidemic among the general public.

Many nights on the Metro Bus home, I have to stand because two of the guys in the back are suffering from “My Stuff’s Too Big” and have both legs spread wide open across two seats and it is physically impossible for them to cross their legs and let a poor bookseller who has stood all day have place on the bench.

Walking on the public sidewalk, normal everyday men suddenly grab their crotches and adjust things because “Their Stuff’s Too Big”. And what about the saggers who just wanta look cool and end up having to pinch up the zipper placket to cross the street? It looks to me as if they are doing the Pee-Pee dance.

I feel sorry for the poor boys, I do! They can’t help it. “Their Stuff’s Too Big”. For many of the afflicted, surgical reduction is beyond their financial means. The fast “ice-water to the crotch” is only a temporary therapy for guaranteed shrinkage. But then I can’t sit next to them on the bus, either.

And for the telethon, it can’t be Jerry, we all know his stuff’s not too big. I’m thinkin’ Mr.T. That man’s stuff was always too big! Please think about contributing to ease this malaise. There wil be a sign-up sheet on the clipboard at the front desk. Remember the Children!

If massage therapy is deemed to have curative benefits, I also volunteer.

Ummm…my last post was typed by my superego (actually, I think it was someone else’s superego, probably a guy) while my id was temporarily indisposed. It is very hot here. Fanny, if you would find it in your heart to eat that one, I would be much obliged.

SeattleTammy,

Oi, don’t talk to me about TSTB syndrome. My bf suffers from it extensively, and I can attest to this dreadful malaise being a bane to normal social interaction. I was thinking that spraying the area with Vick’s Vapor Rub might reduce the inflamation. Anyone have any thoughts?

A spray of Icy-Hot or other menthol-conaining product to the affected area whenever said area is presented by the sufferer will produce immediate results in any other MSTB sufferers in the vicinity. Similar results can be achieved by the “accidental” application of a full container of hot coffee.

Too much Testosterone? As Steven Colbert says, “that’s because Americans have balls, they should get a prize for just riding on a bike.”

As someone who watched virtually every minute of the tour and spent last week in tour withdrawl, it was a blow to hear the allegation. We will have to see how it plays out. They can tell if it is natural or synthetic, if it is the latter, the game is over, the former and it is probably nothing to worry about.

Birding is contagious. I have a close friend who is an Ornithologist (He’ll be at Felberpalooza) (4 1/2 weeks off) and will be converting lots of folks.

Ahh, the 68 Tigers. High School and my first team to win it big. Ahh, the 97 Wolverines.

I think that if NPR did a study of their listeners, they would find a remarkably high number of birders. Here in the Bay Area, I think the “Birder” subset of the population is entirely contained within the “NPR Listener” subset. When you’re carpooling on a birding trip, you can rest assured that the radio in the car you’re joining will be tuned to the show you were listening to before you hopped in.

(Maybe WWDTM could exploit this demographic quirk by having David Sibley on for “Not My Job”.)

Well, the Michi-ganders left the ‘89 Basketball Wolverines (NCAA champs) off the list of greats. Got to sit on the bench once, when none of the real team docs wanted to go. Years before the disgraced Fab Five.

Murray, women do complain about MBATB. Seems to cause upper back pain (as opposed to low back pain, which is so common it’s nearly universal–blame the intelligent designer lobster). Often gets better after reduction mammoplasty (might be a good name for a rock band)

Go Tigers

Becca,

When I was in South Australia 12 years ago, the cockatoos and galahs were overpopulating and being culled. It amazed me that such beautiful birds could be killed by the hundreds.

Hey, be careful of those stingy things in the reefs! Several news stories lately about fatal stings… be sure to wear your stockings!

The MSITB syndrome drives me nuts when my bf adjusts himself every 15 seconds when he’s concentrating and forgets where he is, and if someone were to casually look over at him he’d be the poster boy for Victorian anti-touching devices.

No, this problem necessitates the use of a telethon and awareness campaigns.

So I’m surfing through the dials yesterday and I hear Bush talking to Faux News about the new increase to minimum wage, $2.15 I believe, and how the plane in the Senate is to attach a clause about increasing the exclusions to the estate tax. He said that this would help smaller families. I’m just curious…There is not a chance under heaven that I could leave 5+million to my children so they would have to pay the tax. Am I really that poor? Is everyone else in the country just waiting to get rid of this repressive tax so they can leave their millions to their children?

SeattleDan- as a small businessman, if you wanted to leave your business to your children would the “death tax” really hit your family that hard? Any other self employed people out there that this is hurting? Wouldn’t it be better to repeal the self-employment tax if we are trying to help small business?

Becca (and Brian) - ’round these parts old-timers refer to green Bell peppers as “mangos”. No one knows why. It turns out this term is also used in some other parts of the country. There’s a Linguistics thesis there somewhere.

No, Stephen, the so-called “death tax” would not impact my family at all. We dont have that many assets. What I’d like to be able to do is not to leave my family any debt and have some financial security.