Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 6]

[Austin Prefect]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

mickythefish said:

Loads of animals can speak. Parrots for example.

Parrots cannot speak; they can merely mimic sounds.

They can no more speak than a tape recorder can.

mickythefish said:

Dolphins and whales

[...]

Speech is just communicating, and again animals can do this.

Yes, there is evidence of communication and commicated behavior in dophins and whales. And in some other social animals.

This hardly constitues "loads" though. Or, indeed, "speaking" to the same level as humans.

The Parrot is an example of a creature that isn't prevented from speaking due to physical limitations. They have the hardware though not the software. Also some can do very slightly more than mimic sounds. A friend had one that said 'hello' every time someone came into the room, it also said it when they left, but at least it associated the sound with a context.

[Huzzah]

98elise said:

Huzzah said:

I've been watching 1883, a prequal 0f 1923 and Yellowstone.

Our heroes are leading a wagon train of immigrants north west, a dangerous journey with great loss of life, time and possessions entails.

Why didn't they just take the rattler in the 1st place? (plenty of references of hired hands coming home by train)

I've not seen the show, but maybe they couldn't get all their worldly goods on a train, and when they got to their destination they wouldn't have transport or shelter.

Hired hands are transient rather than setting up a new life.

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 18th March 17:05

Yes occurred to me, but they'd arrived by boat from Europe so presumably hadn't made the trip with wagons and horses, must have purchased them in the land of the free. Plus most possessions were dumped for the 1st river crossing & trains take passengers and freight (the chef had a chuck wagon which they said they'd send back by railroad)

[stemll]

Huzzah said:

98elise said:

Huzzah said:

I've been watching 1883, a prequal 0f 1923 and Yellowstone.

Our heroes are leading a wagon train of immigrants north west, a dangerous journey with great loss of life, time and possessions entails.

Why didn't they just take the rattler in the 1st place? (plenty of references of hired hands coming home by train)

I've not seen the show, but maybe they couldn't get all their worldly goods on a train, and when they got to their destination they wouldn't have transport or shelter.

Hired hands are transient rather than setting up a new life.

Edited by 98elise on Tuesday 18th March 17:05

Yes occurred to me, but they'd arrived by boat from Europe so presumably hadn't made the trip with wagons and horses, must have purchased them in the land of the free. Plus most possessions were dumped for the 1st river crossing & trains take passengers and freight (the chef had a chuck wagon which they said they'd send back by railroad)

Money probably. Doubt the early American railroads were cheap to use compared to the money people had. The trains may also not go where the settlers wanted to go (something they still haven't and never will fix).

[Clockwork Cupcake]

stemll said:

Money probably. Doubt the early American railroads were cheap to use compared to the money people had. The trains may also not go where the settlers wanted to go (something they still haven't and never will fix).

As the "latest, greatest, and fastest" I would imagine trains at the time might have carried a hefty price premium.

Similar to the early age of jet aircraft when most people were still taking ocean liners. It's where we get "The Jetset" from (as in people able to afford to fly)

[Johnspex]

I saw an Escort Cosworth today.
The number was N999COP.
I'm sure I've seen it in magazines or on TV or something.
Does anybody else recognise it?

[Roofless Toothless]

Huzzah said:

I've been watching 1883, a prequal 0f 1923 and Yellowstone.

Our heroes are leading a wagon train of immigrants north west, a dangerous journey with great loss of life, time and possessions entails.

Why didn't they just take the rattler in the 1st place? (plenty of references of hired hands coming home by train)

You can't pull trains into a circle when the Indians attack.

[hidetheelephants]

Trains are quite stable firing platforms compared to a saddle on a horse and unlike horses trains don't complain if you have some boilerplate as improvised armour to hide behind.

[hidetheelephants]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Chauffard said:

Or you could just ignore the post, and spare us your unpleasant and needless carping.

Take your own advice.

When a poster circumvents the rules about posting political topics outside NP&E it's reasonable to point that out and complain about it when they repeatedly crayon over what is supposed to be a fun thread.

[Huzzah]

Roofless Toothless said:

Huzzah said:

I've been watching 1883, a prequal 0f 1923 and Yellowstone.

Our heroes are leading a wagon train of immigrants north west, a dangerous journey with great loss of life, time and possessions entails.

Why didn't they just take the rattler in the 1st place? (plenty of references of hired hands coming home by train)

You can't pull trains into a circle when the Indians attack.

This must be it, along with tales to tell the grandkids and a daring do pioneering spirit.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Did a load of stuff get deleted last night, woke up to an email saying my post answering the question where does all the money go broke posting rules.

We not allowed to post stuff from the ONS now?

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Sheets Tabuer said:

Did a load of stuff get deleted last night, woke up to an email saying my post answering the question where does all the money go broke posting rules.

We not allowed to post stuff from the ONS now?

There appears to have been a big pruning, yes. But I suspect your post was removed for replying to a post / subject that has been pruned rather than breaking rules per se.

[audi321]

If you got that email, micky probably serving a weeks ban

[Baldchap]

Why do nuns live in a nunnery but monks don't live in a monkery?

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Baldchap said:

Why do nuns live in a nunnery but monks don't live in a monkery?

Because the English language is full of fun inconsistencies.

[Austin Prefect]

Why is it better to be a jailer in a prison that a prisoner in a jail?

Presumably something to do with jail being a verb as well as a noun, but prison for some reason not.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Austin Prefect said:

Why is it better to be a jailer in a prison that a prisoner in a jail?

Presumably something to do with jail being a verb as well as a noun, but prison for some reason not.

I assume you mean linguistially, rather than asking why it is better to be not incarcerated than incarcerated?

[audi321]

If you got that email, micky probably serving a weeks ban

[Austin Prefect]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Austin Prefect said:

Why is it better to be a jailer in a prison that a prisoner in a jail?

Presumably something to do with jail being a verb as well as a noun, but prison for some reason not.

I assume you mean linguistially, rather than asking why it is better to be not incarcerated than incarcerated?

Exactly. 'Jail' can mean the same as 'prison', but 'jailer' means the opposite of 'prisoner'.

[trackdemon]

mickythefish said:

trackdemon said:

Yeah, badly worded as clearly most animals can't develop speech like we have due to physical limitations. But some could, possibly, were they intelligent enough. My post was deliberately exaggerated as a response to the silly OP

Loads of animals can speak. Parrots for example. Dolphins and whales. There is definitely a thing about humans being totally unique, we aren't, animals and even plants can do some of what we do. Some plants have memories for example and can potentially communicate with each other at a quantum level via bio photons. Some birds mat use quantum information to navigate, something humans can't.

Speech is just communicating, and again animals can do this.

I don't know if you're being obtuse or really believe this. Parrots can make a noise which mimics human speech. They don't 'speak' to each other (or us) as a method of communication. Dolphins and whales can speak. Really? They make a noise and are able to communicate with each other, as many animals do, but it's hardly comparable to the level of sophistication behind human speech. Humans are unique. You site that animals and plants can do 'some' of what we can do - yes, that's the point, only humans can do 'all' pf what we do. Your posited argument is faintly absurd tbh.

[Gladers01]

Why do we have to pay NI contributions after accruing the maximum 35 years and therefore eligible for the state pension of £220 per week? If you started work at 18 and worked until 67 you'd have paid another 14 years over and above the 35 years worth of contributions.

My mate asked this question and I replied ' I have absolutely no idea'