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Weekly TLS
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What are we reading? 23/10/2023
For whitetail fans, here's a picture from last June of my mother-in-law watching two fawns in the backyard.
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Bill wrote: "For whitetail fans, here's a picture from last June of my mother-in-law watching two fawns in the backyard."
your backyard needs Sir David Attenborough flown in for a documentary on deer!
I am a recorder of what i read, mainly to look back on the stats and see which regions of the world i am neglectingin last 3-4 years i have made a concerted effort to read more in English, rather than translated into english. this hasnt been a return to the great classics but a mix of british, aussie, canadian and USA reading
Currently for 2023, i stand at 64% english language original books out of the 53 read so far, the highest since i started recording this in 2007. I love translated reads and for most of my 20s it was probably only 25% english original.
(to avoid confusion, as obviously when i read translated books it is in english, english language original denotes a novel written in english originally) lol
AB76 wrote: "Bill wrote: "For whitetail fans, here's a picture from last June of my mother-in-law watching two fawns in the backyard."
your backyard needs Sir David Attenborough flown in for a documentary on ..."
Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?
MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobiles.
I take daily walks around my neighborhood, which is mostly suburban-residential, but includes some open fields and wooded areas. I rarely finish my roughly 2 mile round trip without at least one deer sighting - in the evening often seeing groups of 3-10, occasionally more, grazing in some open space.
I also encounter a number of people walking dogs and am surprised that most of the dogs seem indifferent to the deer, that are sometimes within 20 feet or so. I've only seen one or two dogs straining at the leash with the desire to give chase - and once a dog in a passing pick-up truck almost broke the passenger side window leaping and barking at some deer standing near the side of the road.
The deer, however, are always wary of any dogs and people passing close to them and seem to go into a panic when a bicycle passes nearby.
(I should add that, as I typed this message, I could look out my front window and see a doe lying under some trees in my neighbor's yard across the street.)
MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."Thinking more about predators. We do have foxes which may be a threat to the youngest fawns. A few years ago, there was a fox dragging a fawn carcass through a neighbor's yard, a difficult operation which it was unable to carry out, its earth probably being too distant for the effort. But I don't know whether the fawn was actually killed by the fox or died from other causes and was merely appropriated post mortem. Within my observation, vulpine prey is limited to creatures no larger than squirrel and rabbit.
Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobiles.
I take ..."
I seem to remember that long ago when I lived in Northern Virginia there was a problem with deer over population because of the lack of predators. Perhaps there was also disease among them. Anyway, some level of government allowed the most lethal predator, man, a special hunting season to thin the herd. I have no idea what the situation there is now.
We all know I have a 'shelf problem'*; therefore, it will come as no surprise that I picked a fat mystery off them to read. It was Stephen Booth's Black Dog, the first in a series.Now finished, I've put the second Dancing with the Virgins in my basket at two online bookstores (always waiting for a sale). Black Dog was a tad long (514 pages) for me. I did wonder about edits (cuts), but there was a larger story to tell, and I'll give the author a pass. I did like the locale (Peak District) as I have visited there.
*I'm thinking that even e-reader folks can end up with space issues - if they save a book just in case they might want a re-read in the future.
I am re-reading at the moment, having picked a Cadfael, The Virgin in the Ice, off the shelves for my bedtime paperback.
I did buy that expensive book that I mentioned here. While at the bookshop, I noticed this book -
The Globemakers: The Curious Story of an Ancient Craft. I know there is at least one more map lover here. (I'm great on concepts, but lousy on names.) Luckily, the book is On Order at the library, so I've put it on hold.And here's the map/globe story that reminded me today - https://www.latimes.com/california/st....
If you want to look at it, click on 'view details' here - https://www.raremaps.com/inventory/se.... You can even zoom in!
Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobiles.
I take ..."
where my parents live and where i grew up a few miles SW from where i am now, deer are common all year round, mostly Roe, in the fields and woods. none of our family dogs ever gave much thought to a chase and were usually far too slow for the light footed deer
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Giving up for now, on my laptop at any rate.
Gpfr wrote: "Very frustrating trying to read The G. Blocked when click on an article: "Register or Sign in". Click on "sign in" — "you are signed in". Click on "continue", nothing happens. Go out and back in, "..."i have been getting very short versions of this, about a second and then it stops, mostly in early October
On the subject of deer in danger, a couple of years ago I was on holiday driving back from Salisbury to Devizes when a deer suddenly burst out of a hedgerow and across the road only about 10 feet in front of the car. It frightened the life out of me. Not sure about the deer, who obviously had not been taught to look both ways before crossing the road!
MK wrote: "We all know I have a 'shelf problem'*; therefore, it will come as no surprise that I picked a fat mystery off them to read. It was Stephen Booth's Black Dog, the firs..."I decided I need to add a trivia PS - There's a store ID on the back of Black Dog. It must have been originally purchased at the Munich Airport - long way from Seattle. I wonder about its journey.
giveusaclue wrote: "On the subject of deer in danger, a couple of years ago I was on holiday driving back from Salisbury to Devizes when a deer suddenly burst out of a hedgerow and across the road only about 10 feet i..."Ick! You reminded me of the time that I had the same experience but with tragic consequences for the fawn that followed the Mom. I don't remember now who I called about its removal from the side of the road. This happened at night in Virginia.
Mod
i have been getting very short versions of this, about a second and then it stops..."
It's Ok on my phone, but I've just tried again on my laptop. When I go in "My account" is showing but if I click on an article, it starts over again.
Gpfr wrote: "AB76 wrote: "Gpfr wrote: "Very frustrating trying to read The G. Blocked when click on an article: "Register or Sign in". Click on "sign in" — "you are signed in". Click on "continue", nothing happ..."how annoying....did you just delete loads of cookies or something? that reset can cause issues but only with the G oddly
i only access the G on my PC....so never get into the phone issues....i have a mobile but rarely use it. my old one which was ok broke in the summer, the new one is slow as hell...to do anything!
Mod
Nope, nothing like that.
Tried again, it seems OK now ...
Gpfr wrote: "AB76 wrote: "did you just delete loads of cookies or something,..."Nope, nothing like that.
Tried again, it seems OK now ..."
good, lets hope it doesnt happen again!
AB76 wrote: "none of our family dogs ever gave much thought to a chase and were usually far too slow for the light footed deer"Well, at least you never feared suffering the fate of Actaeon.
giveusaclue wrote: "On the subject of deer in danger, a couple of years ago I was on holiday driving back from Salisbury to Devizes when a deer suddenly burst out of a hedgerow and across the road only about 10 feet i..."I had a similar experience decades ago, when my father was driving my sister, our cousin, and I on a two-lane road through dark woods,
It was like a slide show. Click, Empty road. Click. Deer staring into headlights. Click. Collision. Hood of car popped up.
We did a 180 degree turn. Dad managed to keep us on the road. I emerged to see that our right fender was hanging over a ditch. The deer was nowhere in sight.
Our grille was caved in, and the right headlight was dangling from a wire. With the help of a deputy, we were able to wire the headlight back into place.
Life in the piney woods.
Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobiles.
I take ..."
I used to regularly have white-tailed deer wander through my yard when I lived in PA. Raccoons, snapping turtles laying eggs, foxes, all different sorts of owls, herons..... Colorado even more so with elk and bears and mountain lions, coyotes and groundhogs, bald eagles and peregrine falcons. I always notice how little nature is left in Europe, Italy in particular, and how beaten and anthropomorphized it has become. I miss waking up to squirrels and blue jays
Mod
https://safe-return-doubtful.com/
Gpfr wrote: "Andy is setting up his own website. It's still a work in progress, but it's live. He's posted the link and says comments are welcome.https://safe-return-doubtful.com/"
Thanks G
Paul wrote: "Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobi..."
My neighbor has a fence with a flat board on top. She also has an oak tree with a squirrel family. Yesterday, one of the squirrels was sunning itself on the top of the fence. At other times they use the flat top as a runway.
But don't talk to me about raccoons as one family has been known to designate a portion of my backyard their potty box! If seen crossing the street in the daytime, they look at you as if to say, 'I would certainly give you the finger, if I were able!'
Finally, our newest member of the wildlife family are coyotes. We have a really big (for a metropolis) natural park in my neighborhood (on a peninsula jutting into Puget Sound). I think coyotes took advantage of 'lockdown' and several set up shop in the park. A number of indoor/outdoor cats have disappeared since their arrival. And since Seattle had more pets - dogs and cats - than children, you can imagine the hue and cry on our local blog - Nextdoor.
Bill wrote: "AB76 wrote: "none of our family dogs ever gave much thought to a chase and were usually far too slow for the light footed deer"Well, at least you never feared suffering the fate of Actaeon."
good reference bill!
Paul wrote: "Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area are automobi..."
when my neices/nephews visit from singapore i find it reassuring to tell them the only wild beasties that are moderately dangerous in the uk are adders. Then i think, where has all this life gone on the island of Britain, so little of the big predators or the animals that wandered these shores maybe 700-800 yrs ago.. Hunted and driven to extiniction
Any crossworders (is that the correct word?) here? https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainm...
I sometimes do the US kind, but I've never figured out how to do a UK one.
@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my favourite crossword of the day - it’s a little indulgence.
Incidentally the Telegraph was my main source for examples of dodgy, misleading statistics when lecturing. I had quite a collection.
CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my favourite crossword..."
How does it compare to the Guardian Cryptic? I give that one a try quite often, though it's rare I ever finish it. And the once-weekly Everyman.
Regarding less welcome garden visitors, the other day I saw a rat eating stuff on my bird feeder. To make me even more annoyed it had been chewing the actual feeder itself!
Berkley wrote: "CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my fa..."
I have tried the G one but don’t find it as inventive as the T.
Think it’s the puzzling out which meaning of a particular word in a clue that makes the T excel for me. I will find an example and come back and add it here. Sometimes I do the G’s quick crossword.
Here’s one;
16. She's writer looking run down (7)
I will leave you to guess the answer
CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my favourite crossword..."
i've never been a puzzle person but i think as i get closer to my very late 40s, i should start, as it can ward off dementia apparently
my parents do a crossword every evening and have done for a good 15 years, i think they do the Times crossword
Paul wrote: "I used to regularly have white-tailed deer wander through my yard when I lived in PA. Raccoons, snapping turtles laying eggs, foxes, all different sorts of owls, herons......"This being Hallowe'en, I should mention another of the local fauna, bats, which I occasionally see when walking after sunset.
CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my favourite crossword..."
I looked at something like 15 minutes of the video and decided I am a babe in the woods. US puzzles are so different, straight-forward, and easier. Even then, i have been known to say something unworthy and toss an unfinished one in the recycle.
More power to those of you who can do cryptics.😯
MK wrote: "CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it remains my fa..."
The US crosswords are like the ones that appeared in Britain in the 1920s. (Based on crossword references in Dorothy Sayers and PG Wodehouse.)
Robert wrote: "MK wrote: "CCCubbon wrote: "@MKCrossworder here.
I do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every morning. Have been doing it on and off since a teenager. Dislike the newspaper and don’t read that but it re..."
It’s only playing with word definitions, anagrams, homophones and a smattering of general knowledge.
MK wrote: "Paul wrote: "Bill wrote: "MK wrote: "Attenborough's Note to Self should include 'where are the predators'?' Any of those - like wolves in PA?."The only predators threatening the deer in this area..."
Yeah, Raccoons and coyotes are both mean, raccoons gleefully so. I've been charged at by raccoons, no idea why. I once had to fight off a coyote who decided he wanted to make off with my dog as I was walking her. Surprisingly enough, neither one of was hurt (and it's doubtful whether I much to the coyote). The only wild beast you're likely to fight off in Italy is the manchild slipping a roofie in your drink
Bill wrote: "Paul wrote: "I used to regularly have white-tailed deer wander through my yard when I lived in PA. Raccoons, snapping turtles laying eggs, foxes, all different sorts of owls, herons......"This be..."
Haha, I have another PA experience with bats and kitchens. We learned to make sure to close the screen doors and I lost a Dairy Queen Blizzard in the ensuing terror.
I really do miss nature. It's all been cutdown and hunted to extinction on this continent
Mod
I do The Guardian Quick, Weekend and Speedy, and sometimes have a go at the more difficult ones (I'm not very good at those). The great thing about doing crosswords on line is that you can check if answers are correct 😉
Sometimes indecision over what to read and the fact i'm 20 years into enjoyment of reading, leads me to think the non-sensical words "what if i run out of books to read?"the simple reality was revealed just now, as i browsed the 60th anniversary NYRB edition and found another of the recent flow of German language histories of the interwar period translated into english, of which i have only read one. Plenty to read!
Am not sure what has prompted a good half dozen of these works but translation of modern history works from the continent into english is a superb trend and long may it continue. Brexit has weakened the UK and diluted our strong connections over the channel, we need more translated works from the continent on history and i look foward to some on the disaster of Brexit maybe
Here’s one;16. She's writer looking run down (7)
Sure you guessed the answer was HAGGARD -
The book entitled She was written by Rider Haggard and someone sure doesn’t look well if they are haggard.
Mod
16. She's writer looking run down (7)
Sure you guessed the answer was HAGGARD -
The book entitled She was written by Rider Haggard and someone sure doesn’t look well if they are hagg..."
It's really easy — now that you've said it!
CCCubbon wrote: " Here’s one;16. She's writer looking run down (7)
Sure you guessed the answer was HAGGARD -
The book entitled She was written by Rider Haggard and someone sure doesn’t look well if they are hagg..."
I am absolutely useless at cryptic crosswords, and admire anyone who can do them.
Back to nature, added the the rat nibbling my bird feeder, I discovered a pile of feathers and the headless corpse of a pigeon in my garden today!
Here’s another typical crossword clue19. Develop gun taken out of its sheath (6)
MK wrote: "Any crossworders (is that the correct word?) here? ... I sometimes do the US kind, but I've never figured out how to do a UK one."
I used to like the UK style (managed, once only, to complete The Times crossword) but now seem to have lost all ability in that department. I couldn’t get the first of CC’s clues, and have no idea on the second. I find I now prefer the US style crosswords. The only problem with US style is that it expects you to have a close knowledge of US popular culture – TV, sport, music, movies. The one in the LA Times is particularly demanding in this respect.
I do enjoy the newish logic puzzle called Two Not Touch or Star Battle. It starts out simple and gets really difficult, like Sudoku. I like to do it on paper. Others prefer it on line.
I used to like the UK style (managed, once only, to complete The Times crossword) but now seem to have lost all ability in that department. I couldn’t get the first of CC’s clues, and have no idea on the second. I find I now prefer the US style crosswords. The only problem with US style is that it expects you to have a close knowledge of US popular culture – TV, sport, music, movies. The one in the LA Times is particularly demanding in this respect.
I do enjoy the newish logic puzzle called Two Not Touch or Star Battle. It starts out simple and gets really difficult, like Sudoku. I like to do it on paper. Others prefer it on line.
Wildlife. We also see lovely wild turkey, They walk about in the open spaces, a couple of large adults followed by 15-20 little ones. When alarmed they can fly but mainly they prefer to run. The second they’re in the brush you lose them completely.
Bill – That stag is a beauty.
….
When the nights draw in and there’s frost in the air, it’s time to sit in front of a fire and read again the old stories. I’ve been enjoying The Death of King Arthur in the excellent re-telling by Peter Ackroyd. He smoothes out Malory’s prose while retaining most of the period language and all of the chivalric tone. The elements of the story seem simple: honourable knights, fair ladies, love, combat, wickedness, sorcery, good faith. Combined, they cast a spell, and the ending is epic.
....
Actually this morning we woke up to snow, less than a week after a late season heatwave (upper 70s, 24-25C).
Bill – That stag is a beauty.
….
When the nights draw in and there’s frost in the air, it’s time to sit in front of a fire and read again the old stories. I’ve been enjoying The Death of King Arthur in the excellent re-telling by Peter Ackroyd. He smoothes out Malory’s prose while retaining most of the period language and all of the chivalric tone. The elements of the story seem simple: honourable knights, fair ladies, love, combat, wickedness, sorcery, good faith. Combined, they cast a spell, and the ending is epic.
....
Actually this morning we woke up to snow, less than a week after a late season heatwave (upper 70s, 24-25C).
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Ersatz TLS
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This fella's been in our backyard two days in a row. Today he saw off a younger rival (sheer intimidation, no head-butting needed) and then chased a doe who he eventually shtupped in the bushes at..."
Great picture. Thanks.