Why do some people say "tuna fish" when they don't say "chicken bird" or "beef mammal"?
Random Thoughts...or...What's on Your Mind?
- Thread starter Sibyl
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^one of the eternal mysteries of language. I've always been wondering why there are hives of bees but swarms of mosquitos, flocks of birds but paddlings of ducks, packs of wolves but bands of coyotes, herds of deer but a mob of kangaroohs? Couldn't there simply be groups of insects/birds/fish/mammals?
And if fish in general come in schools, why don't large fish form a university or at least a college? And wouldn't a bed of clams be rather uncomfortable?
And if fish in general come in schools, why don't large fish form a university or at least a college? And wouldn't a bed of clams be rather uncomfortable?
^ The best one is a murder of crows. I’ve always wondered how someone came up with that one! 
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Captain pl1ngpl0ng
Guest
^That must have been Alfred Hitchcock, that's the only thing that make sense..
actually no. Hitchcock was very wrong. Crows don't kill anything larger than mice. They usually stick to insects, worms, very small rodents and carrion. And many of them have learned to search waste bins for treats.
It seems that crows - at lest the European species - refrain from hunting because they are a bit cowardish. I've seen magpies trying to kill a young crow and the rest of the crow clan stood by and didn't dare to interfere even though they outnumbered and outsized the magpies considerably. (I interfered, of course, and apart from a few bruises and minor cuts the little chap was unhurt, just very shaken. Interestingly, his clan didn't rant against me - either they feared me even more than the magpies or they understood that I was trying to help.)
Oh this is gold! https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/battle-of-palmdale.html
I consider myself a military history aficionado, but I never heard of this until today! Awesome read!
I consider myself a military history aficionado, but I never heard of this until today! Awesome read!
They very likely understood you were trying to help. There has been a lot of behavioral research with crows suggesting that they are very capable of telling the difference between people interested in helping them and people intent on harming them.
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Captain pl1ngpl0ng
Guest
I'm not sure about them being cowards. If food are laying around... it makes perfect sense to quit hunting.
And about "they didn't dear to interfere"...
I can only guess but if you think about it, if we break an arm or a leg
we can go to the doctor. A crow would most likely die as a result of a broken wing.
Same thing if a crow got an eye poked out, or even small scratches can cause infections that are potentially deadly.
So maybe the question for a crow are; should i intervene and face a possible slow death?.... i guess they think No.
The only thing that would overpower that instinct is another one, protect the children at any cost.
i would guess a crow would fight anyone who threaten their eggs/baby-birds. :-)
^in that case they didn't. That was what surprised me so. Particularly since they were some 20 crows vs 5 magpies. They reminded me a bit of the Eloy at the sight of Morloks
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Captain pl1ngpl0ng
Guest
Damn Crows!! 
If it wasn't that scary it'd be hilarious. The number of lucky coincidences on the side of the involuntary targets is amazing and statistically almost impossible. Some might use that case as a valid profe for the existence of deities.
Contrary to the author I can't see that the military has learned much from that incdent. Statistics say that of modern US-made rockets still 1/3 explodes diring the launch, 1/3 hits allies or own troups and only 1/3 enters hostile territory (of which only a fraction hit the intended target).
In case of an American attack, right in front of the respective weapon might indeed prove the safest place.
I only have one day at Zion where I will be hiking in a group not including older people. I did not think about permits far enough in advance to get one.
What’s my best bet for trails? I was thinking Angel’s Landing in the morning and then bottom-up Narrows in the afternoon.
What’s my best bet for trails? I was thinking Angel’s Landing in the morning and then bottom-up Narrows in the afternoon.
So tired.
What's going on up there... did Trump decide it was finally time to annex us, and this is the first wave?
No, wait, I forgot; it's just the local air show this weekend.
No, wait, I forgot; it's just the local air show this weekend.
SO glad I don't have to fly for a few months.
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Does anyone ever spiral into control?
Ice skaters?
I've been decluttering around the home for the past few weeks. It's scary how much stuff I've managed to 'let go' of (five shoppings bags and counting thus far) but at the same time it's barely punched a hole. At least, in terms of where I need to be.
The aim is to make some real lifestyle changes. Call it streamlining or moving onto better things. The process won't be finished in a week or a month either. It's going to take some time on both an internal and external level to make that transition.
Now, I'm at a difficult stage. The real test is letting go of things that I don't want to. Although, if I don't do it then it's not really making way for the positive changes that I want to see.
The aim is to make some real lifestyle changes. Call it streamlining or moving onto better things. The process won't be finished in a week or a month either. It's going to take some time on both an internal and external level to make that transition.
Now, I'm at a difficult stage. The real test is letting go of things that I don't want to. Although, if I don't do it then it's not really making way for the positive changes that I want to see.
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i purge my bookshelves at least once a year*, and what i haven't worn for a year ...
there are of course exeptions to both rules
---
* paperbacks go the moment i get an ebook
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