Weekly Chat, Sunday September 13, 2009

Hullo Everyone!

Just thought I'd fly by to say hi. Currently I'm writing this and flipping back and forth watching the Lincoln Nebraska Peregrine on the webcam. She (?) has been preening, cleaning the nest box and watching her 4 youngsters perhaps flying around. I'm not familiar enough with the particular nesting pair to possibly differentiate one from the other. Anyway, the same bird was on the nestbox last night for quite some time as well and definitely watching something overhead and calling, again, perhaps to any of the 4 kids flying about.

I hate to think soon this bird will be migrating away just as our Loch Garten lovelies and the Osprey in Minnesota already have. It is nice to have the Peregrine hanging about the nest now, the better to admire before they move on.

Diane: I've checked on the Indy Falcons but no one was home, I'll keep trying though. You wouldn't happen to know about the falcons up at the Black Dog Plant in Burnsville MN would you? I know there have been deaths and injuries up there when the birds either fall in to the stack or the flame shoots out of it; I'm not sure which or both. Someone had posted on another forum that no juvie birds had been seen there recently and concern was expressed about it but that was on Sept 8th and there's been no further information since. Would you have any information or possibly know where to find out if the birds are doing okay?

Caerann

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Teresa : I was just going to suggest the Telephone Preference Service to Lindybird but you beat me to it. We are registered and rarely get a dodgy phone call.

Gary : Thunderdog Hamish does not come on shopping missions with us because he has to guard the base.

Its been a warm and slightly humid day today. More like summer than autumn. Lets hope it continues.  

Maybe not the right place for this but a new thread is starting tomorrow so here goes

Ten Ways To Terrorize A Telemarketer:

10. When they ask "How are you today?" Tell them! "I'm so glad you asked because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my dog just died..."

9. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.

8. Cry out in surprise, "Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of pause as she tries to figure out where she could know you from.

7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends... would you be my friend?"

6. If they want to loan you money, tell them you are just about to file for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.

5. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you a case of beer and some chips.

4. After the telemarketer gives their spiel, ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.

3. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number so you can call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know how I feel!"

2. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"

And first and foremost:

1. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write EVERY WORD down.

I hope one of the above helps   lol

Teresa that's purely funny and I love it! Btw, Lincolnshire is also a suburb of Chicago.   =O)

Teresa:  Thank you so much for your list it gave me the best laugh I have had all week!  I'll keep a print of it near the 'phone, ready for my first victim.  I once asked a mobile 'phone seller if he was using the product he was trying to sell to me.  Oh yes.  Told him he kept breaking up, faint sound and I thought he should buy a new one because it was c**p.  Also told a double glazing firm that I would absolutely love to have a conservatory, but there may be a problem fitting it on a second floor flat. (Forgot to mention that I love my wee bungalow).

Alan: I too  have registered with TPS and it does seem to work, but. when  a "surveyor person" calls me I usually interrupt to remind them that this number is TPS registered. More often than not they just disappear so obviously they don't know what I'm on about.

What distresses me the most is that I still get occasional calls asking to speak to my late husband (and it's been four years now).  I cope with this by merely saying he no longer lives at this address. 

Thanks everyone for your input.  Paranoia gone and am smiling again :-)

Hi Margaret J ......I have friends on their way, coming to watch a movie......I shall reply tomorrow.....promise. JSB.

jsb:         Thankyou.   No rush to reply.

                Have a pleasant evening with your friends.

Lindybird: I absolutely agree with your post of 5:59, 19 September. It is indefensible that so many people --even in the developed countries -- often are forced to do without basic necessities for life, such as food, heating, health care (in the U.S.), and adequate, maintained homes. Ok, that's all I'll say. Once I climb up on that soapbox, I won't come down.

Caerann - Neighbor: To answer your question to me: I'm afraid that I know very little about the falcons at the Black Dog Plant in Burnsville. I followed the Indianapolis nest, because I used to work in that area and I would walk by the nest site every day. And I briefly followed the nest at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Indy adults raised four healthy chicks this year, but one disappeared after fledging. No one is certain what happened to her.

Have to say, though, that the conditions at Burnsville sound pretty rough for the birds. It's my understanding that the falcons were chasing swifts and other small birds into the smoke stacks and perishing. I believe that the company tried some sort of "spike" guard, but the idea failed, according to the banding report, and falcons died. I think that the power company is going to remove the nestbox there. Here's a forum with some info, but this is about all I know: http://raptorresource.org/forum/index.php/topic,105.525.html