Nomological Net

Stray thoughts from here and there. The occasional concern for construct validity. No more logic. Fish.

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faults in the clouds of delusion

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

One knows how American news is full of local bullcrap, but it takes something special to make the Brits start talking about localized *American* events. Which is why the following story fills me with pleasure.

Chicago residents have been sharing tips about how to avoid coming under attack by dive-bombing blackbirds.

More radical suggestions aimed at fending off the swooping attackers have included mimicking the sound of a barking dog or even imitating a larger bird.

Another correspondent suggested cyclists should install baskets on their bikes with a cat inside. "Or better yet, wear an oversized helmet with a trap-door with a stealth cat inside."

Into the light of the dark black night.

From the Beeb.

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dive bombing blackbirds? Sounds pretty scary. When birds start getting ideas out of horror movies..

6/25/2008 12:21 AM  
Blogger MockTurtle said...

Hey Prof, did you see the new Night Shyamalan movie?
Maybe bird attacks are just the beginning.
Nature is on the warpath my friend, I'd keep an eye on those potted plants if I were you.

6/25/2008 3:32 AM  
Blogger ??! said...

The Brits are only interested because of this intense paranoia they have that there is a secret revolution in the offing, being plotted by the Parliament of Flying Feathered Thingies. Which is why Maurier wrote 'The Birds'.

6/25/2008 3:04 PM  
Blogger gaddeswarup said...

Australian magpies attack too. Here is some advice from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Magpie
"Magpies prefer to swoop at the back of the head; therefore, keeping the magpie in sight at all times can discourage the bird. Using a basic disguise to fool the magpie as to where a person is looking (such as painting eyes on a hat, or wearing sunglasses on the back of the head) can also prove effective, as can holding an object above one's head. In some cases, magpies may become extremely aggressive and attack people's faces; it may become very difficult to deter these birds from swooping. Once attacked, shouting aggressively and waving one's arms at the bird should deter a second attack."

6/25/2008 6:09 PM  
Blogger Tabula Rasa said...

lekhni:
yeah, watch out for the emu in the shower.

mt:
i always keep an eye on potted plants. unfortunately they usually contain stuff that's no fun to smoke.
(haven't seen the movie of which you speak -- it is a principle of mine to not watch movies made by people called both night and shyamalan, after a single experience long years ago.)

??!:
parliament of flying feathered thingies? are you sure you're not confusing it with the ministry of silly flocks?

swarup:
magpies! that brings back the magenpies after *years*!

6/25/2008 7:44 PM  
Blogger Falstaff said...

"the ministry of silly flocks"

You mean Harold?

I suppose if a parliament of birds goes astray you can blame it on a left-wing conspiracy.

6/25/2008 8:46 PM  
Blogger ??! said...

blame it on a left-wing conspiracy
Uh-oh. I'm sensing a whole bunch of lame puns involving 'bird-brains', 'flocks' and the like.

TR:
Feathered Flying Flocks? Alliterative also.

6/25/2008 11:52 PM  
Blogger km said...

Next, I would like to read an article about manic-depressive, violent pigs. (Because "Piggies" is the next song on the album...)

6/26/2008 2:43 AM  
Blogger Tabula Rasa said...

falsie:
yes, harold! thanks :-)

??!:
all you need is a Friday.

km:
the headlines of the nyt should suffice.

6/26/2008 8:49 PM  
Blogger Falstaff said...

I'm sensing a whole bunch of lame puns involving 'bird-brains', 'flocks' and the like.

Nah. I think we've hit the glass onion on this one.

6/27/2008 9:49 PM  
Blogger Tabula Rasa said...

falsie:
oh yeah.

6/30/2008 9:45 AM  
Blogger CrazyDiamond said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

7/01/2008 2:36 AM  
Blogger CrazyDiamond said...

heh - Not Shyamalan, this is more like a beatles meet hitchcock take.
Nature's sense of humour?

7/01/2008 2:38 AM  
Blogger Tabula Rasa said...

more like the columnist's :-D

7/01/2008 7:38 PM  

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