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Strange questions that sometimes need answering (or not asking in the first place really).

Matt N said:
We also tell them that said old man “can see them when they’re sleeping”, “knows when they’re awake”, and “knows if they’ve been bad or good”… through a certain lens, isn’t that basically stalking
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My take on this would be that "said old man" is the parents. . .and its just a play on words.

I don't know the origins of the song. .

But that last phrase is a parents trump card come nov/dec haha.
 
Here's one that @GooseOnTheLoose might be able to answer: Do birds feel the cold?
You often see waterfowl merrily paddling away on ponds that by all rights should be frozen solid, yet somehow aren't. I'm looking at a crow right now, perched barefoot on an iced up lamp post. Will someone knit these poor critters some booties already‽
 
Fat Balls...if you want to help.
Lengthy cold weather can simply wear them out, or dehydrate them.
My local wildlife gets a warmed bath...tealight under a terracotta dish.
They form an orderly queue, but the bleeding pigeon always craps in the water.
No manners some avians.
 
DiogoJ42 said:
Here's one that @GooseOnTheLoose might be able to answer: Do birds feel the cold?
You often see waterfowl merrily paddling away on ponds that by all rights should be frozen solid, yet somehow aren't. I'm looking at a crow right now, perched barefoot on an iced up lamp post. Will someone knit these poor critters some booties already‽
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I can't speak for crows, but we geese do emigrate south for warmer climates and have a vascular system in our legs and feet to warm our blood quickly.

Fat balls are most helpful.
 
I noticed how the woodpigeons puff up their feathers to keep warm. You can tell it's cold as they look much bigger than normal.

That said you also see them sitting out in the rain wondering why they're getting wet. They aren't the brightest.
 
Alsty said:
That said you also see them sitting out in the rain wondering why they're getting wet. They aren't the brightest.
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Most birds maintain water resistance so it’s irrelevant to them. Hence the saying “like water off a ducks back”.
 
Just put the fat balls and seeds out all over the yard...WW3 in this weather.
The blackbird and robin scrap like hell over territory, while the sparrows and tiny wren get a shot at the full buffet.
Bit like world politics only prettier in the snow.
Feathers literally flying.
 
Apologies for a slightly strange question this evening (although then again, I guess that’s what this thread is for!), but there are some people on here who seem very knowledgeable about all things transport and I have a random one about London-related transport.

I was just wondering; is it me, or do the London rail termini and the principal routes into them seem to almost perfectly parallel motorway corridors/routes into London? Obviously it’s a bit more nuanced than this, but to me, a few examples of this would include:
  • The main route into London Paddington closely parallels the M4.
  • The main route into London Marylebone closely parallels the M40.
  • The main route into London Waterloo closely parallels the M3.
  • The main route into London St Pancra’s closely parallels the M1.
  • The main route into London Euston closely parallels the M1 up to about Rugby or wherever the M1/M6 interchange is and then closely parallels the M6.
  • The main route into London King’s Cross closely parallels the A1/the Great North Road.
  • The main route into London Liverpool Street closely parallels the M11.
It could be a complete coincidence or I could be miles off the mark, but it’s just something weird I noticed. Is it only me who noticed this?
 
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Matt N said:
Apologies for a slightly strange question this evening (although then again, I guess that’s what this thread is for!), but there are some people on here who seem very knowledgeable about all things transport and I have a random one about London-related transport.

I was just wondering; is it me, or do the London rail termini and the principal routes out of them seem to almost perfectly parallel motorway corridors/routes into London? Obviously it’s a bit more nuanced than this, but to me, a few examples of this would include:
  • The main route into London Paddington closely parallels the M4.
  • The main route into London Marylebone closely parallels the M40.
  • The main route into London Waterloo closely parallels the M3.
  • The main route into London St Pancra’s closely parallels the M1.
  • The main route into London Euston closely parallels the M1 up to about Rugby or wherever the M1/M6 interchange is and then closely parallels the M6.
  • The main route into London King’s Cross closely parallels the A1/the Great North Road.
  • The main route into London Liverpool Street closely parallels the M11.
It could be a complete coincidence or I could be miles off the mark, but it’s just something weird I noticed. Is it only me who noticed this?
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It is not the railways which mimic the motorways, but the motorways which mimic the railways.

Look even closer and you'll see that the railways mimic existing canal routes. The canals mimic historical tracks. These will have followed the most geographically convenient and efficient routes, which have been in place since the Roman invasion.

Throw in the necessity to connect existing settlements, the demand and land availability and you have your rather dull answer!
 
There are roughly 400 pubs in the country called the Royal Oak, in tribute to King Charles II, because he hid in a tree for a bit.

My question is: how many pubs will honour Charles III through his reign and beyond, and what will become the standard name?
 
All the pubs that used to be called "The Prince of Wales" should be renamed "The Jugears".
Don't worry, I'm sure when Crossrail 2 finally opens in fifty years, they'll name it the Charlie Line. (And disappoint a lot of people).
 
Why do minicab / rideshare drivers always fit those stupid tinted covers to the top of the door windows?
 
In my experience, the slipstream of moving air blocks the small gap, meaning you just have to open the window much further to get any ventilation.
 
Precisely, the venturi effect sucks the fart out, not dragging fresh air in.
I'm so full of ********, but probably true.
 
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