341o2
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 Oct 2011
- Messages
- 1,906
on the subject of unfortunate initials, while Gilbert was quite happy to be referred to as WSG, for some reason Arthur Seymour Sullivan was not so keen
Cockatoos impress opposite sex with Phil Collins style drum solosIn the Guardian today "Cockatoos impress opposite sex with Phil Collins style drum solos".
Researchers have captured the first footage of cockatoos bashing out drum solos with little sticks and seedpods in what are believed to be musical displays to impress the opposite sex.
Scientists took the extraordinary footage after stalking the shy and elusive creatures for seven years through the unspoilt wilderness of the Cape York peninsula in far North Queensland.
The recordings show 18 males knocking out more than 130 drum solos which sometimes start with a flourish and nearly always contain a signature pattern distinct to each bird.
Most of the musical outbursts were performed in front of females, apparently to win them over, with males embellishing their drumming efforts with calls, periodic blushing, and raising the feathers on their crests.
I can't support the destruction of what is ostensibly public property, it is worrying that a secular republic like the USA increasingly seems to be dominated by people with theocratic tendencies.A new monument in the US state of Arkansas listing the Ten Commandments has been destroyed less than 24 hours after it was unveiled.
The 6ft (1.8m) granite slab was erected in the grounds of the state capitol.
A suspect is reported to have driven his car into the structure early on Wednesday while filming on his mobile phone and posting footage on Facebook.
Michael Tate Reed is now accused of defacing an object of public interest and criminal trespassing.
He is also accused of first-degree criminal mischief.
A Facebook Live video by an account under the name of Michael Reed shows what appears to be a driver pointing his headlights towards the monument and shouting "Freedom!" as he moves toward it.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted that "some idiot in my home state broke all 10 commandments at the same time. He wasn't Moses and it wasn't Mt Sinai".
Newly erected Arkansas Ten Commandments monument destroyedI can't support the destruction of what is ostensibly public property, it is worrying that a secular republic like the USA increasingly seems to be dominated by people with theocratic tendencies.
Got a chuckle out of this part:
In the Guardian today "Cockatoos impress opposite sex with Phil Collins style drum solos".
I have to mention this. This weeks customers (Brenda and John) have a parrot (it's not a Norwegian Blue) that speaks the odd word.
It says "John" in a Brenda voice and "Brenda" in a John voice. It also mimics the bread maker and the answer phone machine.
It says hello and goodbye and they were telling me that if Brenda walks in with her horse riding gear on it says "did you have a nice ride?"
It's a very clever creature, although I don't think it can play Phil Collins drum solos.
It may be a clever parrot but I'm sure Brenda would prefer a cockatoo. I don't expect John would too pleased though.
I've been thinking about starting up a 'Dale Cooper's innuendo thread'. But it might be quite hard and I don't want to bite off more than I can chew...
Tennis star Andy Murray says he and his wife, Kim Sears, are "very happy" to be expecting their second child.
The couple, who married in 2015, already have a one-year-old daughter, Sophia.
The news come as the 30-year-old prepares for his opening match at Wimbledon on Monday as defending champion.
He told reporters: "We're both obviously very happy and looking forward to it."
The world number one also confirmed he was fit to play following his recent hip injury, saying: "It's felt much better the last few days."
Asked if the news of the baby on the way would put any extra pressure on him going into the tournament, he said: "No, I wouldn't have thought so."
Can be a perilous thing this baby making.
I think you may have been doing it wrong...That's true. I tried it once, got my head stuck.
I think you may have been doing it wrong...
That's a tern up for the books.A woman has been charged with animal cruelty offences after being seen walking a seagull on a lead.
Police found the woman walking the bird in Parliament Street in York on 28 June. The injured bird had to be put down.
The 44-year-old, of no fixed address, has been charged with taking a wild bird and injuring a wild bird.
She is also charged with using abusive and threatening behaviour and is due to appear before magistrates on 14 July.
There was actually no legal precedent for that, so the magistrates may be winging it a bit when this comes to court.
I fear the prosecutor might chicken out and duck the difficult question.