Remembering the poetry of erstwhile poster Van Bagnol - Page 2

01-08-2007, 02:41 PM

On Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:07:29 GMT, "nash"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

>
>"Tom Keats" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
>news:2j2une.sbt.ln@bud.garden.local...
>> In article <XEuoh.350731$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net>,
>> "Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> writes:
>>>
>>> "Tom Keats" wrote: (clip) That's the work
>>>> of the Ratchet Owl[*]. They grasp the top of the tree
>>>> in their beak, and fly around in tight little circles
>>>> until the tree is irrecoverably mangled. (clip)
>>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>> That's a commonly held belief among those who don't know much about owls.
>>> In actuality, since an owl is able to turn its head completely around an
>>> unlimited number of times, they are able to twist young trees without
>>> flying
>>> in circles. This is why they are called "ratchet owls." If they had to
>>> fly
>>> in circles, they would probably be called "box wrench owls."
>>
>> That's so reasonable, it's gotta be true ;-)
>> Thanks for the edification.
>>
>>
>> cheers,
>> Tom
>>
>
>Why do they twist the top of trees?
>
To make fancy walking sticks.
--
zk

01-08-2007, 02:46 PM

"nash" Why do they twist the top of trees?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1.) Because the bottom is rooted to the ground.
2.) Because that is the part that is most accesible to a bird in flight.
3.) Owls don't need a reason. It's people who are always looking for
reasons. You must be a person.

01-08-2007, 05:23 PM

In article <0JAoh.352326$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].worldnet.att.net>,
"Leo Lichtman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].net> writes:
>
> "nash" Why do they twist the top of trees?
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> 1.) Because the bottom is rooted to the ground.
> 2.) Because that is the part that is most accesible to a bird in flight.
> 3.) Owls don't need a reason. It's people who are always looking for
> reasons. You must be a person.

Birds do all kinds of weird stuff.
They're inscrewtable.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

01-08-2007, 06:49 PM

> 1.) Because the bottom is rooted to the ground.
<<<<<<

I guess you have not seen Stanley Park lately.
You must be an owl.

01-08-2007, 07:21 PM

In article <ohEoh.582877$1T2.289947@pd7urf2no>,
"nash" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
>> 1.) Because the bottom is rooted to the ground.
> <<<<<<
>
> I guess you have not seen Stanley Park lately.
> You must be an owl.

I got used to working graveyard shift
(currently temporarily laid-off due to
seasonal slowdown.)

When the park isn't devastated by Mother Nature,
there can be some fairly pleasant riding in there.
Except for being stuck behind tour buses on the
Drive, in their diesel exhaust.

I sometimes enjoy climbing under the Lions Gate bridge
from the seawall up to the Prospect Point restaurant.
The last stretch at the top is strewn with babyhead rocks,
so I've gotta dismount and walk it. Then re-mount and
emerge into the restaurant parking lot as if I rode it
the whole way, to the amazement of onlookers ;-)

Then the Drive goes downhill toward Beach Ave, and
maintaining the 40 KmH speed limit is easy. Signage
admonishes drivers to not hassle cyclists.

On a stormy day with the tide coming in, the spray
shooting up at Siwash Rock is quite dramatic.

I am quite disgusted with how the Pauline Johnson
memorial above Third Beach has been treated. It's
now pretty much a traffic island.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

01-08-2007, 08:26 PM

I got used to working graveyard shift
(currently temporarily laid-off due to
seasonal slowdown.)
<<<<<
at the post office?

01-08-2007, 09:42 PM

"nash" wrote: (clip) You must be an owl.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Whooooo, me?

01-09-2007, 06:00 PM

In article <mIFoh.583172$1T2.65635@pd7urf2no>,
"nash" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> I got used to working graveyard shift
> (currently temporarily laid-off due to
> seasonal slowdown.)
> <<<<<
> at the post office?

No, HBC Logistics, in Richmond.
They're a wonderful organization to work for, BTW.

And the nighttime commute to there is Utopian --
coast down Vancouver's South Hill, cross the bridge,
and some flatland pedalling on quiet roads (mostly
Jacombs Rd) and the Westminster Hwy's parallel bike
path, where herons, owls, rats, bats, raccoons,
coyoots, muskrats and a couple of yappy li'l
ankle-biter dogs reside.

It's especially beautiful when there's a clear, indigo
night sky with a full moon smilin' down on ya.

The morning commute home on No 6 road in the rain
splashed up at ya by passing semis ain't quite as
pleasant. And the grind /up/ the South Hill, on
Argyle St -> (61st([?] the one with the push-button
light across Knight St) -> Inverness -> 45th.

Pay-off/trade-off.

It can get pretty foggy down there in Richmond
in the morning, too. And icy.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

01-09-2007, 08:36 PM

Tom Keats wrote:
> No, HBC Logistics, in Richmond.

I'm picturing big canoes and spare parts for DHC Beavers.