what is the topic for this paragraph ? ZOT!

me

[Ms. Petite]

Weird stuff seems to go with major comets. When a comet appeared in A.D. 60, the people of Rome assumed it meant the impending death of their still new emperor, Nero. He responded by exiling a potential rival. When another comet turned up just 4 years later, ancient historians say he ordered the execution of dozens of nobles. It is said that Moctezuma II saw a comet in 1517 that foreshadowed the downfall of Aztec empire. In 1910, a wave of hysteria swept over the United States amid reports that Earth was about to pass through Halley's tail.

[fanfan]

38.889974,-77.009017

I'm just sayin’...

I'm agreeing. ;-)

[fanfan]

Sorry I’m late. Did you get your rain?

What is virga?

[fanfan]

Thanks for the Seaman Anoreth ping!

Fascinating stuff. Please keep it coming. :-)

[fanfan]

Here is my big and hairy guy, and his ...... cat.

[Tax-chick]

I’m interested, too, but who knows when we’ll hear more.

[NicknamedBob]

"Sorry I’m late. Did you get your rain? What is virga?"

Virga is rain that evaporates again on the way to the ground. Think "virtual rain".

It shows on radar, but pedestrians stay dry.

The same phenomenon occurs on Venus, in case you're interested, but what's falling there isn't water.

[Tax-chick]

So on Venus, it would dissolve your hair but you’d still have to water the eggplant.

Oh, FReep, Frank’s up the stairs again.

[NicknamedBob]

"It’s almost the only way I can stand canned mackerel. Which is “so good for you.” Do you ever fix canned mackerel?"

Mom used to make mackerel cakes, which we called, with great imagination, "fish cakes". Although Dad frequently called them "fish heads".

They were made rather like potato cakes, and fried. It was often the ostensible meat course of our family meal.

Oddly, they were tasty as well, stone cold from the refrigerator the next morning, when they survived that long.

[NicknamedBob]

"So on Venus, it would dissolve your hair but you’d still have to water the eggplant."

Exactly why I'm recommending window material that is closely related to Teflon. Self-cleaning, you see.

Because on Venus, cleaning windows is hazardous duty.

Actually, I'm thinking of installing window flower boxes. They'll have artificial flowers of course, probably ceramic. Their purpose will be to collect sulfuric acid so that water can be extracted from it.

Besides, they'll look good with the white picket fences.

[Tax-chick]

That’s quite a portrait!

[Tax-chick]

I bought a can, and will report when I cook it. My mom made crab cakes, shells and all.

[Tax-chick]

You can buy wooden tulips in Holland, but I suppose they wouldn’t serve.

[fanfan]

Well. if the cat looks evil, it’s because she is.

She makes Rush cuddle with her.

[fanfan]

It shouldn't bother the pedestrians on Venus if it doesn't reach the ground.

[NicknamedBob]

The pedestrians on Venus don’t reach the ground either.

“Mr. Lincoln, just how long should a man’s legs be?”

“Well, Mr. Douglas, I always reckoned that they ought to reach the ground.”

[sionnsar]

Hi, all. More prep work done for tomorrow’s test, but it doesn’t really mean anything because the test results go nowhere, count for nothing etc. But just stopping by. Back tomorrow, likely.

[NicknamedBob]

They count, because you’ll know.

You know?

[sionnsar]

Yes, I know. It will tell me something.

But regardless of the results I still have to take a class prior to the certification test. It could be that the two-day class + test would do it, but I'm leaning to the 4-1/2-day class + test. Slower pace, better coverage and so on. There is SO much to learn!

I need to become practiced again at engineering tests. I lost SO much time just doing dimensional analysis to be sure I was setting up the equations properly. OTOH, the instructor was making mistakes and I caught several that the rest of the class missed.

But in the end, this is fun stuff. Not the kind of engineering I studied in school but undeniably engineering.

[sionnsar]

So how is Maryland these days?

[NicknamedBob]

"So how is Maryland these days?"

The weather has been sunny and warm, with pleasant breezes and sweet aromas from flowering plants. No hint of rain for the next several days.

You would hate it.