For an hour or so, I've been watching a star zigzagging quite erratically in the sky outside my house. Is this normal behaviour for stars?
Sternschwanken caused by the eye's own physical limitation? Entirely possible.I believe this may explain the zigzagging.
Any visual signs of structural problems? May be worth checking it out.Our apartment buildnig is suffering from Unexplained bangs.
We have a FB group for residents and more and more are reporting super loud bangs in the bulding. They can happen during the day or night. They seem local so one apartment hears something so loudly but their neighbours do not. For example, one happened last week and a persons cats jumped up and ran for cover they were so scared by the noise. They said that it seemed to come from all around them. But no-one else heard that one.
I experienced one a few weeks ago in the dead of night. It was a massive bang and I was awake and up out of bed instantly. (We had a window smashed a few years ago and I immediately thought of that). I ran through and checked on the kids but they were asleep. I checked the whole apartment and nothing was amiss.
My explanation was that huge chunks of snow from the roof are falling and hitting the metal window sills on their way down. But others have heard that noise too and say these bangs are different. It may be that changes in temperature are causing something to expand and/or contract on the roof but the noises aparently come from the walls.
Which leaves a question about structural integrity I suppose. The building is 7 years old and structurally sound, built on pillars anchored to the bedrock. It may be shifting or settling. Who knows? But for the time being, we have a mystery.
Very interesting. Thanks!
Any visual signs of structural problems? May be worth checking it out.
A great-grandfather on my dad's side apparently took pride in being the opposite. He'd moved up from Leicester to a small town just outside Leeds, and lived there happily for decades. But any time anyone asked him for directions, he would demur and apologise, remarking in his defence that he was a stranger there himself. The culmination of this habit was him being asked for directions to Thornhill Street, to which unwittingly ambitious request he gave his stock reply. Once the vignette had played out, he was accosted by another passer-by, this time a local who knew him, so could say to him "You daft bugger, that's your street!".My oddity is that no matter where I'm at, I often have people who stop me to ask for directions, and surprisingly I can usually tell them. I thought it was just in my mind until I was discussing it with a friend and she agreed.
You can get an app for that! I've got the Star Gazer app and it's wonderful.Speaking of stars, I've noticed a very bright couple hanging low in the southeast for about a week just before dawn (I'm in England) and I'd guess that the brightest one is Venus and the slighter fainter one to its right is Mercury?
...interrupted sleep and a bit of an ASC creeping in at the edges.
Only slightly odd, but here goes.
Today I walked into my usual cafe. just in front of me as I entered was a woman who part turned and said 'Hello INT21'.
(actually she used my proper name)
But I didn't recognise her. I said hello: nodding as one does.
Anyway, she went out of the building and I asked the counter staff 'Who was that ?'.
'You should know' said the girl behind the counter, 'she is related to you. Her name is Karen, No, Carol'.
And then I realised who it was. A relation from my wife's side who I only met once at a funeral two years ago.
She came back in and I apologised for not recognising her. We exchange a few bits of news and she left.
What I find strange is how the girl behind the counter knew I was related. She isn't related and we only ever exchange a few of the usual courtesies when I go in there. Why does everyone appear to know more about me than I do ?
INT21.
Yet I "knew" the old lady had been shoplifting. Totally odd. nothing i could do about it and I asked if there was anything I should do; it was between her, ASDA, and her conscience. Did what i hope was the best thing, just observed, and let her get on with it.
NEVER underestimate what is known about people by those who work behind the till. I work in a little local Co Op and the things customers tell me (and the detail in which they tell it) tend to stay with me. I could tell you which of my customers are related, who used to go out with who, who beat who up in primary school etc etc. Other customers wouldn't know they'd been discussed by the person two people before them in the queue, but I'd practically know their life history!
Also, when you go up to a till to be served, don't flip your wallet open. Several customers do and I now know their blood group, their addresses, any serious illness they might be being treated for and where, how many children/grandchildren they have, their NI number...etc etc. Lots of them also write their PIN down and keep the slip in the transparent front of their wallet. I am of good intent, but can read very quickly and there will be others like me who are not so well inclined...
You didn't know though, you could only suspect. Even a police officer or store detective couldn't act on such weak evidence as her looking a bit nervous at the till!
You're wasted there. Wasted.
That gallery has one of my favourite ever paintings in it.Teapot synchronicity!
A friend sent me a random photo of a teapot belonging to a friend she was visiting today. No reason. Just random teapot photo.
But it turned out to be the same teapot I used for my peppermint tea whilst having lunch at the Edwardian Tearooms in the Birmingham museum and art gallery today. I recognised it because I had admired the teapot and thought how I'd like to own one.
It's beautiful.That gallery has one of my favourite ever paintings in it.
That gallery has one of my favourite ever paintings in it.
You morbid bugger.
That's one of many Victorian art works inspired by poetry; in this case Tennyson's In Memoriam, about the death of his close friend Arthur Hallam. (As I'm sure you know.)
Why do you like that painting so much?
Morbid bugger!
Because of the raw emotion and utter despair it projects. It's one of the most powerful paintings I've ever seen in the flesh, as it were. It actually made me stop dead in my tracks to look up at it.
NEVER underestimate what is known about people by those who work behind the till. I work in a little local Co Op and the things customers tell me (and the detail in which they tell it) tend to stay with me. I could tell you which of my customers are related, who used to go out with who, who beat who up in primary school etc etc. Other customers wouldn't know they'd been discussed by the person two people before them in the queue, but I'd practically know their life history!
Knowing "Martha", I'm inclined to wonder if she was fully aware this old lady might slip something inside her coat now and again, and provided she wasn't blatant about it, didn't take the piss by doing it under the direct observation of staff, and didn't do it too often, then she, "Martha" on the till, might choose not to notice...
Theft is theft. There is no Magic Money Tree.
Most supermarkets operate a bonus scheme that even covers shop floor staff and 'shrinkage' (the stock for which there is no account), is part of it. Nick from Tesco and you're nicking from the regular shelf-stackers and till operators.Because it’s not like the firm would identify the losses, then pass them on to you and me in price rises, is it? Or simply go bust?
Theft is theft. There is no Magic Money Tree.
maximus otter