RE: OT Things to ponder

Matrix Games Forums

Forums Register Login Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ

My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums Log Out

RE: OT Things to ponder

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> RE: OT Things to ponder

Page: << < prev 1 2 [3] 4 5 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 1:45:12 AM

AW1Steve

Posts: 14507
Joined: 3/10/2007
From: Mordor Illlinois
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 61

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 3:46:27 AM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

They weren't fast enough, were they? Battle was pretty much over when they arrived, and the Boche didn't want to have any battle at all, really. Still, they got the better of it.

I love the QEIs, they were almost WWII ready. Fabulous ships.

< Message edited by geofflambert -- 4/21/2016 3:49:23 AM >

_____________________________

(in reply to AW1Steve)

Post #: 62

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:15:35 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bomccarthy

Growing up in the Whittier hills with a whole string of outdoor cats (we would lose them to coyotes on a fairly regular basis), mockingbirds were pests. They would dive-bomb our cats while we were standing a foot away. A couple of our cats were decent hunters and could occasionally catch a mockingbird as s/he pulled out of the dive, but most tried to run and hide.

Coyotes have pretty much overrun most of Southern California in the past 15 years, even heavily populated areas. I nearly ran one over in the middle of the day on a residential street in San Marino. Tired of trash strewn all over the yard, my brother-in-law nailed one with an arrow in Whittier on a recent night; my sister made him clean up the blood (which trailed to a neighbors front yard) before anyone noticed. They couldn't find the body and it hasn't deterred any other coyotes.

Sounds like you have lived in my old neck of the woods most of your life. I grew up in Monterey Park. When I was a teenager I used to take drives around San Marino when I wanted to get away from my crazy mother.

We used to go out to Whittier to go to the Kodak warehouse all the time. My father was a professional photographer and sold supplies as a side business to other professional photographers. Kodak would deliver, but when he had a rush order we would have to go out to the warehouse and pick it up.

I didn't realize coyotes had become such a problem. They were rare when I was growing up. There was a flock of wild parrots in the neighborhood (escaped from an overturned exotic animals truck on the Pomona Freeway) and some massive lizards (up to three feet long), but the rest of the wildlife was pretty small.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to bomccarthy)

Post #: 63

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 6:08:40 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

They weren't fast enough, were they? Battle was pretty much over when they arrived, and the Boche didn't want to have any battle at all, really. Still, they got the better of it.

I love the QEIs, they were almost WWII ready. Fabulous ships.

Sorry guys, but the books I have read on Jutland all say that the Fifth Battle Squadron (QE BBs) arrived from the northwest just as Beatty's BCs ran into the main High Seas fleet and had to turn around and retreat toward the Grand Fleet to the north. Then Admiral Hood's BC squadron leading the Grand Fleet came down from the north to join the battle whilst Jellicoe deployed the Grand Fleet in a great arc, crossing the "T" on the High Seas Fleet. So the QEs and Hood's BCs were NOT part of Beatty's squadron of BCs.
Of course none of this helps identify the fresh-faced officer cornered by the mad dog ...

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 64

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:14:29 PM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Bill, are you telling us you inherited your moderator talents from your mother?

_____________________________

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 65

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:16:48 PM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

BBfanboy, that would be the future king Edward VIII.

_____________________________

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 66

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:22:25 PM

Orm

Posts: 22154
Joined: 5/3/2008
From: Sweden
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichMunn

Wales had a very good Baseball team, which often beat England (as it happens) in front of big crowds. Possibly an omen for the European Championships!

Not a patch on cricket, of course.....

warspite1

What!? Baseball! In the UK! Whatever next? Fetch me my angry trousers - I'm madder than I've ever been

Re the football, I lay good money that Wales will beat England - especially if Rooney starts....

It would be great to see both qualify (and Northern Ireland) and for Gareth Bale to have a fantastic tournament.

Was this a late April fools'? Rooney can not possibly be considered to play for the National Team?!

_____________________________

Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb -- they're often students, for heaven's sake. - Terry Pratchett

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 67

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:23:26 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

Well I came close, naming his brother Albert ("Bertie") instead of Eddie. Didn't know Eddie #8 did time in the navy, but I guess George V would have insisted on it!

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 68

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:24:48 PM

BBfanboy

Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010
From: Winnipeg, MB
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichMunn

Wales had a very good Baseball team, which often beat England (as it happens) in front of big crowds. Possibly an omen for the European Championships!

Not a patch on cricket, of course.....

warspite1

What!? Baseball! In the UK! Whatever next? Fetch me my angry trousers - I'm madder than I've ever been

Re the football, I lay good money that Wales will beat England - especially if Rooney starts....

It would be great to see both qualify (and Northern Ireland) and for Gareth Bale to have a fantastic tournament.

Was this a late April fools'? Rooney can not possibly be considered to play for the National Team?!

What does Mickey Rooney have to do with football?
Or Mara Rooney for that matter?

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by BBfanboy -- 4/21/2016 7:30:35 PM >

_____________________________

No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth

(in reply to Orm)

Post #: 69

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:32:38 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

The House of Hanover.

No � the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha � Edit: ah I see Zorch beat me to it

quote:

Beatty had all the BCs.

No he didn�t. The 3rd BCS was with Jellicoe and the 5th BS was with Beatty - therein lies a whole can of worms....

quote:

They weren't fast enough, were they? Battle was pretty much over when they arrived, and the Boche didn't want to have any battle at all, really.

No they were not as fast as designed and not as fast as the BC�s - but they were not designed to be as fast as the BC's.

No the battle was far from over when they arrived

No also not true � the Germans most definitely wanted a battle - that is why they were at sea. They didn't want a battle with the whole Grand Fleet - but during the opening phase they weren't aware the GF was in the vicinity.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 4/21/2016 7:55:18 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 70

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:45:01 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

warspite1

That wasn't the reason they were attached. It was a temporary expedient because the BC's were in dire need of gunnery practice (which they could not get in Rosyth). The 3rd BCS thus transferred to the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow to allow this and Beatty got the 5th BS to fill the gap.

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to AW1Steve)

Post #: 71

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 7:49:28 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichMunn

Wales had a very good Baseball team, which often beat England (as it happens) in front of big crowds. Possibly an omen for the European Championships!

Not a patch on cricket, of course.....

warspite1

What!? Baseball! In the UK! Whatever next? Fetch me my angry trousers - I'm madder than I've ever been

Re the football, I lay good money that Wales will beat England - especially if Rooney starts....

It would be great to see both qualify (and Northern Ireland) and for Gareth Bale to have a fantastic tournament.

Was this a late April fools'? Rooney can not possibly be considered to play for the National Team?!

warspite1

Hodgson has said he is still his main man....

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to Orm)

Post #: 72

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:04:27 PM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Are you saying he's Hodgson's choice?

_____________________________

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 73

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:13:48 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Are you saying he's Hodgson's choice?

warspite1

No not at all. Roy Hodgson's missus calls the shots and she's called Sophie. So its kind of Sophie's Choice.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 4/21/2016 8:18:27 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 74

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:19:28 PM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Who gets killed?

_____________________________

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 75

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:22:24 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

They weren't fast enough, were they? Battle was pretty much over when they arrived, and the Boche didn't want to have any battle at all, really. Still, they got the better of it.

I love the QEIs, they were almost WWII ready. Fabulous ships.

Sorry guys, but the books I have read on Jutland all say that the Fifth Battle Squadron (QE BBs) arrived from the northwest just as Beatty's BCs ran into the main High Seas fleet and had to turn around and retreat toward the Grand Fleet to the north. Then Admiral Hood's BC squadron leading the Grand Fleet came down from the north to join the battle whilst Jellicoe deployed the Grand Fleet in a great arc, crossing the "T" on the High Seas Fleet. So the QEs and Hood's BCs were NOT part of Beatty's squadron of BCs.
Of course none of this helps identify the fresh-faced officer cornered by the mad dog ...

warspite1

Sorry, not true. Hood's 3rd BCS was attached to the Grand Fleet (GF). Evan-Thomas's 5th Battle Squadron was attached to the Battlecruiser Fleet (BCF). The plan was that they would swap places when the two fleets rendezvoused,until then, the 3rd BS and the 5th BS were part of the GF and the BCF respectively. Of course the planned rendezvous didn't happen......and by the time the two fleets were re-united, three of the battlecruisers were at the bottom of the North Sea and one of the Queen Elizabeth's had taken 29 large calibre hits on her "death ride".

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 4/21/2016 8:32:27 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 76

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 8:27:39 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Who gets killed?

warspite1

England. Not so much killed as mullered on the football pitch.

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 77

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 9:02:34 PM

Zorch

Posts: 7087
Joined: 3/7/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: AW1Steve

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

HMS Hindustan
King Edward VII-class pre-dreadnought

I have never been much interested in pre-dreadnoughts so I would never have gotten the ship. But is that young officer Winston or Albert of Windsor - the future King George VI (I forget what the family's Germanic name was before it was changed to Windsor during WWI). The face also reminds me of Beatty, the commander of the largest group of British battlecruisers at Jutland.

The House of Hanover. Beatty had all the BCs. If you're referring to the Queen Elizabeths, they were BBs.

The Queen Elizabeth's were FAST battleships. So fast that they were attached to the Battle cruisers.

They weren't fast enough, were they? Battle was pretty much over when they arrived, and the Boche didn't want to have any battle at all, really. Still, they got the better of it.

I love the QEIs, they were almost WWII ready. Fabulous ships.

Sorry guys, but the books I have read on Jutland all say that the Fifth Battle Squadron (QE BBs) arrived from the northwest just as Beatty's BCs ran into the main High Seas fleet and had to turn around and retreat toward the Grand Fleet to the north. Then Admiral Hood's BC squadron leading the Grand Fleet came down from the north to join the battle whilst Jellicoe deployed the Grand Fleet in a great arc, crossing the "T" on the High Seas Fleet. So the QEs and Hood's BCs were NOT part of Beatty's squadron of BCs.
Of course none of this helps identify the fresh-faced officer cornered by the mad dog ...

warspite1

Sorry, not true. Hood's 3rd BCS was attached to the Grand Fleet (GF). Evan-Thomas's 5th Battle Squadron was attached to the Battlecruiser Fleet (BCF). The plan was that they would swap places when the two fleets rendezvoused,until then, the 3rd BS and the 5th BS were part of the GF and the BCF respectively. Of course the planned rendezvous didn't happen......and by the time the two fleets were re-united, three of the battlecruisers were at the bottom of the North Sea and one of the Queen Elizabeth's had taken 29 large calibre hits on her "death ride".

Beatty did lobby to have the QEs permanently attached to his force...suppose he had the 5 QEs instead of 6 BCs when he fought Hipper?

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 78

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 9:05:12 PM

Zorch

Posts: 7087
Joined: 3/7/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Orm

quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: RichMunn

Wales had a very good Baseball team, which often beat England (as it happens) in front of big crowds. Possibly an omen for the European Championships!

Not a patch on cricket, of course.....

warspite1

What!? Baseball! In the UK! Whatever next? Fetch me my angry trousers - I'm madder than I've ever been

Re the football, I lay good money that Wales will beat England - especially if Rooney starts....

It would be great to see both qualify (and Northern Ireland) and for Gareth Bale to have a fantastic tournament.

Was this a late April fools'? Rooney can not possibly be considered to play for the National Team?!

What does Mickey Rooney have to do with football?
Or Mara Rooney for that matter?

I'll have you know that Ms. Mara (and her sister Kate) are the worthy descendants of the owners of 2 of the NFL's finest franchises - the New York Giants (Mara) and Pittsburgh Steelers (Rooney).

(in reply to BBfanboy)

Post #: 79

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 9:08:30 PM

warspite1

Posts: 41353
Joined: 2/2/2008
From: England
Status: offline

But he DID have four of the battleships (HMS Queen Elizabeth was in the dockyard as usual). Having lobbied hard for the 5th BS, Beatty was given command of the Squadron (albeit temporarily). But that is just the start of the controversy: where did he place the squadron originally? why did he not concentrate force when the Germans were first spotted? Why did Evan-Thomas not turn the 5th BS around quicker?

Is anyone interested in a separate Jutland thread to air some of the many, many points and controversies that surround the battle?

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 4/22/2016 6:05:31 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to Zorch)

Post #: 80

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 9:18:05 PM

bomccarthy

Posts: 414
Joined: 9/6/2013
From: L.A.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

I didn't realize coyotes had become such a problem. They were rare when I was growing up. There was a flock of wild parrots in the neighborhood (escaped from an overturned exotic animals truck on the Pomona Freeway) and some massive lizards (up to three feet long), but the rest of the wildlife was pretty small.

Bill

The flock of parrots has grown and multiplied into several flocks, which now range all over southern California. Sometimes a flock will contain more than 30 birds, wandering within a square half-mile for 15 minutes, making a godawful racket. Local zoologists can't settle on a single hypothesis for their origin, only that they are not indigenous to California ... or didn't used to be.

I haven't seen the three-foot lizards, but all of the urban areas are now inhabited by possum, raccoons, and skunks. And the bears seem to be extending their foraging further south into urban neighborhoods. Plus, cougars (the four-legged kind) have been spotted in Whittier within the last 10 years.

Fun times.

(in reply to wdolson)

Post #: 81

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 9:47:01 PM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

But are there any two legged cougars prowling? Do you have the neighborhoods where they can be found?

_____________________________

(in reply to bomccarthy)

Post #: 82

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 10:07:35 PM

HansBolter

Posts: 7704
Joined: 7/6/2006
From: United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bomccarthy

quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

I didn't realize coyotes had become such a problem. They were rare when I was growing up. There was a flock of wild parrots in the neighborhood (escaped from an overturned exotic animals truck on the Pomona Freeway) and some massive lizards (up to three feet long), but the rest of the wildlife was pretty small.

Bill

The flock of parrots has grown and multiplied into several flocks, which now range all over southern California. Sometimes a flock will contain more than 30 birds, wandering within a square half-mile for 15 minutes, making a godawful racket. Local zoologists can't settle on a single hypothesis for their origin, only that they are not indigenous to California ... or didn't used to be.

I haven't seen the three-foot lizards, but all of the urban areas are now inhabited by possum, raccoons, and skunks. And the bears seem to be extending their foraging further south into urban neighborhoods. Plus, cougars (the four-legged kind) have been spotted in Whittier within the last 10 years.

Fun times.

St. Petersburg, which is at the tip of the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay, is home to many flocks of escaped pet parrots.

I once lived near a lake with a large water tower a couple of hundred yards from my house and would see large flocks of 20-30 sitting on the tower every day.

There is a small flock of 4 pairs that visit my neighbors bird bath every week.

Having a subtropical climate we get quite a few birds here the tourists find to be exotic but are everyday species to us such as egrets and herons.

_____________________________

Hans

(in reply to bomccarthy)

Post #: 83

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/21/2016 10:37:07 PM

bomccarthy

Posts: 414
Joined: 9/6/2013
From: L.A.
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

But are there any two legged cougars prowling? Do you have the neighborhoods where they can be found?

Of course - you can find them in most of our neighborhoods. But be careful - some are not what they seem ...

Attachment (1)

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 84

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 1:17:59 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Bill, are you telling us you inherited your moderator talents from your mother?

I doubt it, my mother was only able to express one emotion: anger. She toggled between being an emotionless Vulcan and screaming at people for anything and everything. I don't actually take after either of my parents. My sister and I are a lot alike (though she's a lot more yang than me), but neither of us are much like either of our parents.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 85

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 1:28:36 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: wdolson

I didn't realize coyotes had become such a problem. They were rare when I was growing up. There was a flock of wild parrots in the neighborhood (escaped from an overturned exotic animals truck on the Pomona Freeway) and some massive lizards (up to three feet long), but the rest of the wildlife was pretty small.

Bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: bomccarthy
The flock of parrots has grown and multiplied into several flocks, which now range all over southern California. Sometimes a flock will contain more than 30 birds, wandering within a square half-mile for 15 minutes, making a godawful racket. Local zoologists can't settle on a single hypothesis for their origin, only that they are not indigenous to California ... or didn't used to be.

I haven't seen the three-foot lizards, but all of the urban areas are now inhabited by possum, raccoons, and skunks. And the bears seem to be extending their foraging further south into urban neighborhoods. Plus, cougars (the four-legged kind) have been spotted in Whittier within the last 10 years.

Fun times.

I saw a documentary several years ago about a flock of wild parrots that have inhabited a neighborhood in San Francisco for generations, so the LA flock(s) are not unique. The parrots were extremely noisy. I forgot about the possums, I remember seeing them occasionally.

Cougars in town are bad news. They were probably driven down from the mountains by the drought. The Seattle area had a problem about 15 years ago when there was a temporary ban on hunting cougars (the state had allowed limited hunting to keep numbers under control) and a drought forced them down from the Cascade Mountains. There was one story in a town on the edge of the metro area where a woman's dog had been going nuts and when she shown a flashlight around the backyard there was a cougar in her apple tree. A park in Tacoma had an ongoing problem with a couple of cougars that attacked dogs and once a small child. I don't know how the cougars got there, it was a big park, but it was bordered by Puget Sound on one side and the city on the other.

I remember reading the Sunset Garden book many years ago and it listed various garden pests. Among them were deer which I thought funny. I could understand having a deer problem if you lived in a rural area, but not in town. We currently live in a town, but we're on the edge of the Portland metro area. I'm constantly trying to discourage the deer from eating my fruit trees. We also have lots of raccoons as well as rabbits, possums, and coyotes. I'd be fine with the deer if they just left my trees alone.

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to bomccarthy)

Post #: 86

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 2:42:07 AM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bomccarthy

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

But are there any two legged cougars prowling? Do you have the neighborhoods where they can be found?

Of course - you can find them in most of our neighborhoods. But be careful - some are not what they seem ...

Cat people? Beggars can't be choosers.

As long as Joan Crawford is in her cage, I'll not worry.

< Message edited by geofflambert -- 4/22/2016 2:54:07 AM >

_____________________________

(in reply to bomccarthy)

Post #: 87

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 2:50:55 AM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Just want to make sure we're all on the same page. Are any of us talking about Parakeets? There are lots of species of parakeet, some fairly large. Budgerigars are small parakeets and quite common escapees in some areas. Can anyone be more specific?

_____________________________

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 88

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 3:18:59 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Just want to make sure we're all on the same page. Are any of us talking about Parakeets? There are lots of species of parakeet, some fairly large. Budgerigars are small parakeets and quite common escapees in some areas. Can anyone be more specific?

I've been talking about actual parrots, these were the sort of green birds you'd find on a pirate's shoulder. They are a little bigger than a pigeon.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to geofflambert)

Post #: 89

RE: OT Things to ponder - 4/22/2016 3:55:01 AM

geofflambert

Posts: 14863
Joined: 12/23/2010
From: St. Louis
Status: offline

Sounds like Amazons. To try and match Bill or even surpass him, my mother was entirely sane from any point of view. My father was not. Before he was unhinged and violent sounding (but I think it was bluff). It was miserable for myself and my brother. Then he went through electroshock treatment. Afterwards he acted like a normal human being, but every bit as intelligent as he was before, which was substantial. Without direct experience, I'm sure I'd say that electroshock was madness in and of itself. Afterwards, you couldn't ask for a better dad.
A

_____________________________

(in reply to wdolson)

Post #: 90