On 2023-10-17 19:40:15 +0000, J. J. Lodder said:

> Athel Cornish-Bowden <athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-10-17 16:27:16 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>>
>>> On 2023-10-17 03:30, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>> Dingbat <ranjit_mathews@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:54:25?AM UTC+5:30, Anders D. Nygaard:
>>>>>> Den 12-10-2023 kl. 14:19 skrev Bertel Lund Hansen:
>>>>>>> Peter Moylan wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As I understand it, the main complaints about light pollution come from
>>>>>>>> astronomers.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I once read an article by an astronomer. He was excited because he had
>>>>>>> discovered a new star (or soemthing else). He decided to celebrate it by
>>>>>>> going to the cinema and watch a movie - knowing that it would make work
>>>>>>> impossible for a week.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> But it's not just astronomers as you also point out. If you live in a
>>>>>>> world of constant background noise (like most people do), you don't know
>>>>>>> what silence is. And if you live in the sea of light that city people
>>>>>>> do, you don't know what darkness is.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> When we were on Svalbard, we took a guided tour into one of the now
>>>>>> disused coal mines. At some point, the guide asked us all to hold our
>>>>>> breath, and he'd switch off the lights.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've tried dark before, but not the absolute quiet we got out of that.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Why would it be quieter than before the light was turned off?
>>>>>
>>>>> What do the Norwegians call the large island? Svalbard is the
>>>>> archipelago. AFAIK, the Dutch call both the large island and
>>>>> the archipelago Spitsbergen.
>>>>
>>>> From 'Spitse Bergen', so pointy mountains,
>>>
>>> I like descriptive mountain range names.
>>> My favourite is in the US, the 'Grand Tetons'.
>>
>> Very apt. I thought, when I went past them: the Big Tits.
>
> But it took a Frenchman to see them,

Yes, and by retaining the name in a language that few Americans
understand they spared them the embarassment of knowing what they mean.

The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:

> On 2023-10-17 19:40:15 +0000, J. J. Lodder said:
>
>> Athel Cornish-Bowden <athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-10-17 16:27:16 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>>>
>>>> On 2023-10-17 03:30, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>>> Dingbat <ranjit_mathews@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:54:25?AM UTC+5:30, Anders D. Nygaard:
>>>>>>> Den 12-10-2023 kl. 14:19 skrev Bertel Lund Hansen:
>>>>>>>> Peter Moylan wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> As I understand it, the main complaints about light pollution come from
>>>>>>>>> astronomers.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I once read an article by an astronomer. He was excited because he had
>>>>>>>> discovered a new star (or soemthing else). He decided to celebrate it by
>>>>>>>> going to the cinema and watch a movie - knowing that it would make work
>>>>>>>> impossible for a week.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> But it's not just astronomers as you also point out. If you live in a
>>>>>>>> world of constant background noise (like most people do), you don't know
>>>>>>>> what silence is. And if you live in the sea of light that city people
>>>>>>>> do, you don't know what darkness is.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When we were on Svalbard, we took a guided tour into one of the now
>>>>>>> disused coal mines. At some point, the guide asked us all to hold our
>>>>>>> breath, and he'd switch off the lights.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've tried dark before, but not the absolute quiet we got out of that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why would it be quieter than before the light was turned off?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What do the Norwegians call the large island? Svalbard is the
>>>>>> archipelago. AFAIK, the Dutch call both the large island and
>>>>>> the archipelago Spitsbergen.
>>>>>
>>>>> From 'Spitse Bergen', so pointy mountains,
>>>>
>>>> I like descriptive mountain range names.
>>>> My favourite is in the US, the 'Grand Tetons'.
>>>
>>> Very apt. I thought, when I went past them: the Big Tits.
>>
>> But it took a Frenchman to see them,

Mais oui!

> Yes, and by retaining the name in a language that few Americans
> understand they spared them the embarassment of knowing what they mean.
>
> The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
> were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.

What's "chola"?

--
We take the music far more seriously than we take the lyrics, which
are just throwaway lines. ---Malcolm Young

On 2023-10-18 09:26:07 +0000, Adam Funk said:

> On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>
>> On 2023-10-17 19:40:15 +0000, J. J. Lodder said:
>>
>>> Athel Cornish-Bowden <athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2023-10-17 16:27:16 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2023-10-17 03:30, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>>>> Dingbat <ranjit_mathews@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:54:25?AM UTC+5:30, Anders D. Nygaard:
>>>>>>>> Den 12-10-2023 kl. 14:19 skrev Bertel Lund Hansen:
>>>>>>>>> Peter Moylan wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> As I understand it, the main complaints about light pollution come from
>>>>>>>>>> astronomers.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I once read an article by an astronomer. He was excited because he had
>>>>>>>>> discovered a new star (or soemthing else). He decided to celebrate it by
>>>>>>>>> going to the cinema and watch a movie - knowing that it would make work
>>>>>>>>> impossible for a week.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> But it's not just astronomers as you also point out. If you live in a
>>>>>>>>> world of constant background noise (like most people do), you don't know
>>>>>>>>> what silence is. And if you live in the sea of light that city people
>>>>>>>>> do, you don't know what darkness is.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> When we were on Svalbard, we took a guided tour into one of the now
>>>>>>>> disused coal mines. At some point, the guide asked us all to hold our
>>>>>>>> breath, and he'd switch off the lights.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've tried dark before, but not the absolute quiet we got out of that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why would it be quieter than before the light was turned off?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What do the Norwegians call the large island? Svalbard is the
>>>>>>> archipelago. AFAIK, the Dutch call both the large island and
>>>>>>> the archipelago Spitsbergen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From 'Spitse Bergen', so pointy mountains,
>>>>>
>>>>> I like descriptive mountain range names.
>>>>> My favourite is in the US, the 'Grand Tetons'.
>>>>
>>>> Very apt. I thought, when I went past them: the Big Tits.
>>>
>>> But it took a Frenchman to see them,
>
> Mais oui!
>
>
>> Yes, and by retaining the name in a language that few Americans
>> understand they spared them the embarassment of knowing what they mean.
>>
>> The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
>> were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.
>
> What's "chola"?

It seems to refer to the native population that used to live there.

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 18/10/2023 10:26 am, Adam Funk wrote:
> On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:

<snip>
>>
>> The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
>> were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.
>
> What's "chola"?

An infectious disee. What's "glauca"?

--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>
> What's "chola"?

An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.

What's a beretta?

--
Wishing you a Happy <whatever doesn't offend you>.

On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>
>> What's "chola"?
>
> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>
> What's a beretta?

Frank Spencer's hatta.

--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

Remember Wednesday, when Adam Funk asked plaintively:
> On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>
>> On 2023-10-17 19:40:15 +0000, J. J. Lodder said:
>>
>>> Athel Cornish-Bowden <athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2023-10-17 16:27:16 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2023-10-17 03:30, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>>>> Dingbat <ranjit_mathews@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:54:25?AM UTC+5:30, Anders D. Nygaard:
>>>>>>>> Den 12-10-2023 kl. 14:19 skrev Bertel Lund Hansen:
>>>>>>>>> Peter Moylan wrote:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> As I understand it, the main complaints about light pollution come
>>>>>>>>>> from astronomers.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I once read an article by an astronomer. He was excited because he
>>>>>>>>> had discovered a new star (or soemthing else). He decided to
>>>>>>>>> celebrate it by going to the cinema and watch a movie - knowing that
>>>>>>>>> it would make work impossible for a week.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> But it's not just astronomers as you also point out. If you live in a
>>>>>>>>> world of constant background noise (like most people do), you don't
>>>>>>>>> know what silence is. And if you live in the sea of light that city
>>>>>>>>> people do, you don't know what darkness is.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> When we were on Svalbard, we took a guided tour into one of the now
>>>>>>>> disused coal mines. At some point, the guide asked us all to hold our
>>>>>>>> breath, and he'd switch off the lights.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I've tried dark before, but not the absolute quiet we got out of that.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Why would it be quieter than before the light was turned off?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What do the Norwegians call the large island? Svalbard is the
>>>>>>> archipelago. AFAIK, the Dutch call both the large island and
>>>>>>> the archipelago Spitsbergen.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> From 'Spitse Bergen', so pointy mountains,
>>>>>
>>>>> I like descriptive mountain range names.
>>>>> My favourite is in the US, the 'Grand Tetons'.
>>>>
>>>> Very apt. I thought, when I went past them: the Big Tits.
>>>
>>> But it took a Frenchman to see them,
>
> Mais oui!

Fur can bring out that side of a man.

>> Yes, and by retaining the name in a language that few Americans
>> understand they spared them the embarassment of knowing what they mean.
>>
>> The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
>> were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.
>
> What's "chola"?

The one with breasts.

/dps

--
"Inviting people to laugh with you while you are laughing at yourself
is a good thing to do, You may be a fool but you're the fool in
charge." -- Carl Reiner

With a quizzical look, lar3ryca observed:
> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>
>> What's "chola"?
>
> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>
> What's a beretta?

Parisian headwear.

What's ahead of the helm?

/dps

--
"It wasn't just a splash in the pan"
-- lectricbikes.com

Just this Wednesday, Richard Heathfield explained that ...
> On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>
>>> What's "chola"?
>>
>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>>
>> What's a beretta?
>
> Frank Spencer's hatta.

You didn't provide the serve.

/dps

--
Rule #0: Don't be on fire.
In case of fire, exit the building before tweeting about it.
(Sighting reported by Adam F)

On 18/10/2023 22:32, Snidely wrote:
> Just this Wednesday, Richard Heathfield explained that ...
>> On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
>>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>>
>>>> What's "chola"?
>>>
>>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>>>
>>> What's a beretta?
>>
>> Frank Spencer's hatta.
>
> You didn't provide the serve.
>

Ooh Betty, that was a woopsie! What's a Spencer?

On 19/10/2023 7:15 am, occam wrote:
> On 18/10/2023 22:32, Snidely wrote:
>> Just this Wednesday, Richard Heathfield explained that ...
>>> On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
>>>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> What's "chola"?
>>>>
>>>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>>>>
>>>> What's a beretta?
>>>
>>> Frank Spencer's hatta.
>>
>> You didn't provide the serve.
>>
>
> Ooh Betty, that was a woopsie! What's a Spencer?

FAULT!

What's a Dotrice?

--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> wrote:

> With a quizzical look, lar3ryca observed:
> > On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> >>
> >> What's "chola"?
> >
> > An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
> >
> > What's a beretta?
>
> Parisian headwear.
>
> What's ahead of the helm?

The rudder. What's a mixed-up bowsprit?

In article <kpbvr8Fabe7U1@mid.individual.net>,
occam@nowhere.nix says...
>
> On 18/10/2023 22:32, Snidely wrote:
> > Just this Wednesday, Richard Heathfield explained that ...
> >> On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
> >>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> What's "chola"?
> >>>
> >>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
> >>>
> >>> What's a beretta?
> >>
> >> Frank Spencer's hatta.
> >
> > You didn't provide the serve.
> >
>
> Ooh Betty, that was a woopsie! What's a Spencer?

A type of investment. What's a Dutch cap?

Janet

On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:

> On 2023-10-18 09:26:07 +0000, Adam Funk said:
>
>> On 2023-10-18, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>
>>> On 2023-10-17 19:40:15 +0000, J. J. Lodder said:
>>>
>>>> Athel Cornish-Bowden <athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2023-10-17 16:27:16 +0000, lar3ryca said:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2023-10-17 03:30, J. J. Lodder wrote:
>>>>>>> Dingbat <ranjit_mathews@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 1:54:25?AM UTC+5:30, Anders D. Nygaard:
>>>>>>>>> Den 12-10-2023 kl. 14:19 skrev Bertel Lund Hansen:
>>>>>>>>>> Peter Moylan wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> As I understand it, the main complaints about light pollution come from
>>>>>>>>>>> astronomers.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> I once read an article by an astronomer. He was excited because he had
>>>>>>>>>> discovered a new star (or soemthing else). He decided to celebrate it by
>>>>>>>>>> going to the cinema and watch a movie - knowing that it would make work
>>>>>>>>>> impossible for a week.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> But it's not just astronomers as you also point out. If you live in a
>>>>>>>>>> world of constant background noise (like most people do), you don't know
>>>>>>>>>> what silence is. And if you live in the sea of light that city people
>>>>>>>>>> do, you don't know what darkness is.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> When we were on Svalbard, we took a guided tour into one of the now
>>>>>>>>> disused coal mines. At some point, the guide asked us all to hold our
>>>>>>>>> breath, and he'd switch off the lights.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I've tried dark before, but not the absolute quiet we got out of that.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Why would it be quieter than before the light was turned off?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What do the Norwegians call the large island? Svalbard is the
>>>>>>>> archipelago. AFAIK, the Dutch call both the large island and
>>>>>>>> the archipelago Spitsbergen.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> From 'Spitse Bergen', so pointy mountains,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I like descriptive mountain range names.
>>>>>> My favourite is in the US, the 'Grand Tetons'.
>>>>>
>>>>> Very apt. I thought, when I went past them: the Big Tits.
>>>>
>>>> But it took a Frenchman to see them,
>>
>> Mais oui!
>>
>>
>>> Yes, and by retaining the name in a language that few Americans
>>> understand they spared them the embarassment of knowing what they mean.
>>>
>>> The pair of hills in San Francisco that are now called the Twin Peaks
>>> were earlier called Los pechos de la chola.
>>
>> What's "chola"?
>
> It seems to refer to the native population that used to live there.

OK, that's something to look forward to if I ever get to San
Francisco.

--
I don't quite understand this worship of objectivity in
journalism. Now, just flat-out lying is different from being
subjective. ---Hunter S Thompson

On 19-Oct-23 8:25, J. J. Lodder wrote:
> Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> With a quizzical look, lar3ryca observed:
>>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
>>>>
>>>> What's "chola"?
>>>
>>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
>>>
>>> What's a beretta?
>>
>> Parisian headwear.
>>
>> What's ahead of the helm?
>
> The rudder. What's a mixed-up bowsprit?

A swizzle stick. What's a cocktail?

--
Sam Plusnet

Janet <nobody@home.com> wrote:

> In article <kpbvr8Fabe7U1@mid.individual.net>,
> occam@nowhere.nix says...
> >
> > On 18/10/2023 22:32, Snidely wrote:
> > > Just this Wednesday, Richard Heathfield explained that ...
> > >> On 18/10/2023 6:50 pm, lar3ryca wrote:
> > >>> On 2023-10-18 08:23, Richard Heathfield wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> What's "chola"?
> > >>>
> > >>> An Italian copy of an Austrian pistol.
> > >>>
> > >>> What's a beretta?
> > >>
> > >> Frank Spencer's hatta.
> > >
> > > You didn't provide the serve.
> > >
> >
> > Ooh Betty, that was a woopsie! What's a Spencer?
>
> A type of investment. What's a Dutch cap?

Something you throw with. Who is Jantje van Leiden?