DrW

However, for the benefit of our young forum members who might still be looking for an occupation to pay their bills, we should point our that very few drug dealers can afford $600,000 in jewelry.

Let me guess: You got a kid in 2022.

They Might Be Giants - XTC vs. Adam Ant

Two for the price of one... Neko Case - Margaret vs. Pauline

There can be difference between individuals. These here look more "blueish" and virtually spotless. Furthermore, the blue in bird feathers is not a pigment. It is an effect caused by light scattering. Thus, especially if the bird is not bright blue, the blue tint often depends on lighting and viewing angle.

Now I am really going out on a limb here. Did it look like a black American robin with a yellow beak? This is a common (or Eurasian) blackbird, a thrush like the American robin. Occasionally, stragglers have been found in the NE US, but they were usually single individuals, not four at a time.

As to the new "black" birds, I do not know where in the US you are located and how familiar you are with bird species in your region, so please do not be offended if I suggest a European Starling. Usually, they look more black than in this pic.

Usually not, with one exception. One of my hobbies is model railroading, specifically the Santa Fe between 1945 and 1959. Many of the locomotives of that time frame are only available in brass, and of some models only 25 - 100 were produced. Consequently, the prices are high, even for previously owned stuff (I intentionally did not call it "used", as in most cases the previous owner never took it out of the box or the display case). I have a long-standing relationship with one of the smaller dealers in this field, and he usually gives me 10-20% discount if I ask for it.

But now do this with a 2.2 liter diesel (turbocharged). I did it once - legally. On one of my trips back to Germany Hertz gave me as rental a "compact executive" Mercedes Diesel. Beautiful car, you did not notice that it was a diesel, except at the gas pump (more than 40 mpg). On the last day at 5 in the morning back to the Frankfurt airport, the Autobahn was virtually empty, and I gave it a try. I reached 200 km/h (~ 125 mph) for 10 seconds or so...

Sure, if East German women pumped full of steroids is your kind of thing. 🙂

Ever heard of the Eurovision Song Contest? This is a competition of European countries (well, broadly defined; there are entries from Azerbaijan, which actually is in Europe, but also from Israel and Australia, which clearly are not) in commercial pop, starting in 1956. For sheer hilarity, here is the 2022 entry of Norway, by a group called "Subwoolfer", admittedly a very clever word play. If I get the lyrics right, it questions why the wolf did not eat a banana instead of Grandma. One positive thing I noticed, the A/V quality is extraordinary.

The current one. I expect the Bills to win the Lombardi Trophy with Josh Allen in his prime, the Sabres will continue their rise, and both of Germany's soccer teams, men and women, will win a World Cup. My best odds for all of this happening: 1. Bills Super Bowl 2. Germany Women's Soccer World Cup 3. Germany Men's Soccer World Cup 4. Sabres Stanley Cup (well, we are all allowed to dream)

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - "Mr. Apollo" For all you youngsters, the Bonzos were the sort-of-musical-equivalent of Monty Python's Flying Circus. The Bonzos' Neil Innes actually wrote some songs for Monty Python and the Holy Grail and appeared in that movie and in The Life of Brian.

As we have currently several threads addressing the history of the message board members, I thought it would be interesting to see how their preference in cars would develop over time. To go first (the years given are when I bought the car, not the production year; all cars were bought used): (in Germany) 1980 Volkswagen Beetle - the 50HP version with a semi-automatic, a good beginner's car 1983 Opel Kadett station wagon (in US) 1990 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser station wagon - probably the car I loved most; it took us from Rochester to far-away places like California, Florida, and Newfoundland 1996 Pontiac Safari station wagon 2003 Ford Windstar 1 - In a new place (TX), with two kids, a minivan seemed the smart choice 2008 Ford Windstar 2 2014 (and current) Honda Odyssey - the most reliable car I ever owned In addition, back in Germany I had a motorcycle 1981 Honda CM400T

Cortez the Killer - written by Neil Young, here in an intriguing live version by "Built To Spill". IMHO, it was the highlight of their career; everything else was "meh".

Courtney Barnett - Kim's Caravan The original is from an album with a title included in my list of Best Album Titles Ever: "Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit".

What's the time, Mr. Wolf - The Scaramanga Six

Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music, 801) - Miss Shapiro

I joined nearly 20 years ago, for a long time only lurking. In March 2023 we had moved from Rochester to Lubbock, both my wife and I looking for a tenure-track position. Well, we managed that, and are now still teaching and doing research. We will have our Silver Anniversary in October. The kids were 3 and 4 when we moved here. One has just graduated from UT and is working as mechanical engineer in Germany for a couple of years, the other will get her B.S. in geology in December. The son is an avid Bills fan and even flew up to the game against the Jets last season. We have been living in the same house since we moved to Lubbock. For more than 15 years I had been mowing the 1 acre lot with the same John Deere lawn tractor. Two years ago, I finally upgraded to a JD zero-turn mower, which cuts the mowing time in half. As an avid birdwatcher, my life list increased from about 400 to 550 during the last 20 years.

Les Claypool - David Mackalaster A weird instrumental set-up: Les on "lead bass", a cello, and two percussionists...

I do not want to side-track this thread, but your post reminded me of the brilliance of Charles Laughton. While his accomplishments as actor are well-known, he also worked as director in theater, and in a single movie, "The Night of the Hunter", starring Robert Mitchum and featuring silent movie star Lilian Gish. It is one of the most imaginative movies I have ever seen (especially the kids' boat ride pursued by the Mitchum character), and it is a shame that Laughton did not direct any more movies because of bad contemporary reception the movie received.

The Black Angels, Austin's best, in their home turf...

Although she is not really trying to seduce anybody in this movie, I nominate Marlene Dietrich in "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957).

This is incorrect. The EU was officially established in 1992 with the Maastricht Treaty. Finland joined in 1995.

In an ideal world, you were certainly correct. However, the world is not perfect. We have already a dramatic shortage of doctors and nurses in rural areas, especially here in the wide and dry expanses of West Texas. Here I prefer a doctor who has learned some math after finishing high school to no doctor at all.