|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#411
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Sun, 29 May 2016 14:17:11 +0700, John B.
wrote: What is a "Newspaper sleeve"? It sounds like some sort of paper bag? On rainy days, the paper boy delivers our paper in a long, narrow plastic bag. I've become accustomed to referring to plastic bags of this shape as "sleeves", as in "we have twelve sleeves of paper cups". That meaning of "sleeve" would be a good topic to post on alt.usage.english, but that group has too much traffic already. A newspaper sleeve makes a good bootie for riding in bitterly-cold weather, but we've moved a few miles south of where we used to live, so I no longer need shoe covers. I haven't shaken the habit of not throwing them out, and I don't need many for snack organizers and map covers, so I've collected a grocery bag full. But now that I have given up wearing shoes, I might need the bread-bag trick next winter. (The traditional shoe cover was a bread bag.) For walking to the church on a slushy day a few years ago, I pulled newspaper sleeves over my heavy socks, then held the bags in place with black nylon knee socks, the cheap, thin kind that won't hold much water. Then sandals over that. It kept my feet warmer than my snow boots. For cycling, one puts them on over the shoes -- and carries spares for the trip back. Slot cleats cut a hole in the plastic in exactly the right place; I don't know whether the trick would work with clipless cleats. -- Joy Beeson joy beeson at comcast dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/ |
Ads |
#412
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Sun, 29 May 2016 23:53:57 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote: On Sun, 29 May 2016 14:17:11 +0700, John B. wrote: What is a "Newspaper sleeve"? It sounds like some sort of paper bag? On rainy days, the paper boy delivers our paper in a long, narrow plastic bag. O.K. I understand. Over here we have "umbrella bags, to store your wet umbrella in when you enter a store. Perhaps a little longer though :-) I've become accustomed to referring to plastic bags of this shape as "sleeves", as in "we have twelve sleeves of paper cups". That meaning of "sleeve" would be a good topic to post on alt.usage.english, but that group has too much traffic already. I see. I've always refereed to them as "tubes" of paper cups. A newspaper sleeve makes a good bootie for riding in bitterly-cold weather, but we've moved a few miles south of where we used to live, so I no longer need shoe covers. I haven't shaken the habit of not throwing them out, and I don't need many for snack organizers and map covers, so I've collected a grocery bag full. But now that I have given up wearing shoes, I might need the bread-bag trick next winter. (The traditional shoe cover was a bread bag.) For walking to the church on a slushy day a few years ago, I pulled newspaper sleeves over my heavy socks, then held the bags in place with black nylon knee socks, the cheap, thin kind that won't hold much water. Then sandals over that. It kept my feet warmer than my snow boots. Give up wearing shoes? Goodness, it must get a bit nippy wading through the snow back there. Christmas time, sleigh bells in the air and yuletide by the fireside (and cold toes :-) For cycling, one puts them on over the shoes -- and carries spares for the trip back. Slot cleats cut a hole in the plastic in exactly the right place; I don't know whether the trick would work with clipless cleats. -- cheers, John B. |
#413
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Mon, 30 May 2016 13:17:37 +0700, John B.
wrote: I see. I've always refereed to them as "tubes" of paper cups. Pretty much the same idea. I wonder whether "sleeve" is unique to me .. . . but I picked it up from a fellow who worked in the kitchen when he was in college. Maybe I *will* post the topic in A.U.E.; it would make a pleasant change from folks wasting their time (and my post-skipping energy) responding to our resident troll. I couldn't have said a "newspaper tube"; that's the open-ended box bolted to a mailbox post or, in our case, the side of the house beside the north door. Well, we call ours a "newspaper box" but I've seen newspaper receptacles that I wouldn't hesitate to call "tubes". -- Joy Beeson joy beeson at comcast dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/ |
#414
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Mon, 30 May 2016 13:17:37 +0700, John B.
wrote: Give up wearing shoes? To be more precise, I've given up trying to find shoes in my size. I didn't find any adjustable-toe sandals at this spring's clearance, but I have at least four pairs of sandals, so I should manage until it's sandal-buying season again. I should have taken a look at the men's shoes while I was in the shoe stores. Seldom very many sandals in that department, though. The Lace mailing list reported that Walmart had lace espadrilles, and I'll be able to ride that far soon, but I imagine that they are already gone. Goodness, it must get a bit nippy wading through the snow back there. Christmas time, sleigh bells in the air and yuletide by the fireside (and cold toes :-) I do have a pair of insulated hiking boots I bought in the sixties, when we passed near R.E.I. on our way back from Hawaii. I said they pinched, I was going to have to try on men's shoes, the clerk said "wait" and went into the back room and brought out another pair of the same brand, model, and size -- and this pair fit. I wear them only once or twice per winter; the "ankle support" makes steps awkward. -- Joy Beeson joy beeson at comcast dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/ |
#415
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Tue, 31 May 2016 21:10:08 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote: On Mon, 30 May 2016 13:17:37 +0700, John B. wrote: I see. I've always refereed to them as "tubes" of paper cups. Pretty much the same idea. I wonder whether "sleeve" is unique to me . . . but I picked it up from a fellow who worked in the kitchen when he was in college. Maybe I *will* post the topic in A.U.E.; it would make a pleasant change from folks wasting their time (and my post-skipping energy) responding to our resident troll. I couldn't have said a "newspaper tube"; that's the open-ended box bolted to a mailbox post or, in our case, the side of the house beside the north door. Well, we call ours a "newspaper box" but I've seen newspaper receptacles that I wouldn't hesitate to call "tubes". Well, one definition of "tube" is " small case into which an object fits" so it seems to be a reasonable description :-) We have those sections of "drain pipe" with a newspaper's name on them here. As the Sunday paper is so large it won't fit in the "tube" I've always wondered what the "paper boy" did then? Throw it over the fence I suppose :-) -- cheers, John B. |
#416
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Squirrel!
On Tue, 31 May 2016 23:12:13 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote: On Mon, 30 May 2016 13:17:37 +0700, John B. wrote: Give up wearing shoes? To be more precise, I've given up trying to find shoes in my size. I didn't find any adjustable-toe sandals at this spring's clearance, but I have at least four pairs of sandals, so I should manage until it's sandal-buying season again. Here I would guess that the majority wear some form of sandal, ranging from rubber flip-flops to very elegant "shoes" that are essentially a sole with a few tiny straps to hold the foot on top. Flip-flops are, of course, considered down market apparel and worn only by the "lowly" and of course by "tourists". I should have taken a look at the men's shoes while I was in the shoe stores. Seldom very many sandals in that department, though. The Lace mailing list reported that Walmart had lace espadrilles, and I'll be able to ride that far soon, but I imagine that they are already gone. Goodness, it must get a bit nippy wading through the snow back there. Christmas time, sleigh bells in the air and yuletide by the fireside (and cold toes :-) I do have a pair of insulated hiking boots I bought in the sixties, when we passed near R.E.I. on our way back from Hawaii. I said they pinched, I was going to have to try on men's shoes, the clerk said "wait" and went into the back room and brought out another pair of the same brand, model, and size -- and this pair fit. When I was in the Air Force I wore "brogans", ankle high work shoes, and so did the WAF's (Women in the Air Force). Of course, most WAF's were office workers or other jobs where a "dress" uniform was worn, but occasionally you would see one in her "fatigues" clomping along with her brogans so apparently sturdy work shoes are made for smaller feet. I wear them only once or twice per winter; the "ankle support" makes steps awkward. -- cheers, John B. |
#417
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Seize the day, not the lane
When I was learning to manipulate vulgar fractions, I was taught that if you have the same number in the numerator that you have in the denominator, the two "cancel out" -- if you multiply by five and then divide by five, it's the same as if you'd done nothing, so you might as well do neither and save yourself the effort. When I taught vulgar fractions, the students came in knowing that "cancel" meant "add up to zero" and much confusion resulted -- not least because I tried to switch to "divide out" and my long years of saying "cancel" kept sneaking in. So I drop in here from alt.usage.english to say: LANGUAGE MATTERS!!!! Every time riding style comes up in discussion, the advocates of sensible cycling are sure to say "take the lane" -- in the latest kerfuffle, it's been escalated into "seize the lane". A good rider does nothing of the sort. He doesn't seize the lane or even take it. He simply rides where it's sensible to ride: sometimes that's the right wheel track, sometimes it's the left wheel track, sometimes it's straight down the middle, sometimes it's the next lane over, sometimes it's on the shoulder. And, of course, he always leaves himself room to dodge unexpected obstacles, but I find that I have enough to say about lane position to fill another post, and my buffer *is* scraping the barrel, so I'll save that for another time. Ob A.U.E.: does the metaphor "scrape the barrel" make sense to people who have never seen a barrel? They were extinct when I was born, but for the first twelve years, my library consisted of books Mom had bought at estate sales, and I became familiar with a great many out-of-date customs. (Though it wasn't until I re-read it as an adult that I realized that the Bobbsey Twins were DRINKING water from a (GAAACK) dug well. -- joy beeson at comcast dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/ The above message is a Usenet post. I don't recall having given anyone permission to use it on a Web site. |
#418
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Seize the day, not the lane
On Sun, 05 Jun 2016 01:08:15 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote: When I was learning to manipulate vulgar fractions, I was taught that if you have the same number in the numerator that you have in the denominator, the two "cancel out" -- if you multiply by five and then divide by five, it's the same as if you'd done nothing, so you might as well do neither and save yourself the effort. When I taught vulgar fractions, the students came in knowing that "cancel" meant "add up to zero" and much confusion resulted -- not least because I tried to switch to "divide out" and my long years of saying "cancel" kept sneaking in. Vulgar: lacking refinement or cultivation or taste Does one have "refined" mathematics too :-) So I drop in here from alt.usage.english to say: LANGUAGE MATTERS!!!! Every time riding style comes up in discussion, the advocates of sensible cycling are sure to say "take the lane" -- in the latest kerfuffle, it's been escalated into "seize the lane". A good rider does nothing of the sort. He doesn't seize the lane or even take it. He simply rides where it's sensible to ride: sometimes that's the right wheel track, sometimes it's the left wheel track, sometimes it's straight down the middle, sometimes it's the next lane over, sometimes it's on the shoulder. And, of course, he always leaves himself room to dodge unexpected obstacles, but I find that I have enough to say about lane position to fill another post, and my buffer *is* scraping the barrel, so I'll save that for another time. Ob A.U.E.: does the metaphor "scrape the barrel" make sense to people who have never seen a barrel? They were extinct when I was born, but for the first twelve years, my library consisted of books Mom had bought at estate sales, and I became familiar with a great many out-of-date customs. (Though it wasn't until I re-read it as an adult that I realized that the Bobbsey Twins were DRINKING water from a (GAAACK) dug well. Yes, I think "barrel" is still used, at least in some instances although "drum" seems to have replaced in certain instances. One has a 55 gallon drum of kerosene, for example, but one has a barrel of wine or whiskey., and the standard for measuring crude oil is still the 42 gallon barrel. drinking water :-) I was raised drinking water from a dug well. And, I worked on renovating the Calvin Coolidge homestead one summer. Cal was raised drinking water from a dug well that was piped into the hose through a lead pipe :-) -- cheers, John B. |
#419
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Cleaning bottles
Bottles are popping out all over. A few days after posting, I wanted to walk a mile on a hot day and couldn't find my 250 ml water bottle[1], so I dove into my assorted-container cupboard in search of a substitute. In plain sight, in front of the box of small containers I was after, was a water bottle I'd put away last fall. I moved it to the bottle holder of my Trek Pure, and hope that I don't fill it any time soon. A reasonable hope; my pedal-powered wheelchair is easy on the knees, but stretching up to the high, one-position handlebars aggravates my rotator cuff. Which took me a while to discover, and delayed the healing. Then a few days ago I got fed up with the all-synthetic gloves I wear under warm gloves, threw them into the laundry closet to be washed and put away for the summer, and went looking for my weight-lifting gloves. (Cotton-back cycling gloves are sometimes available, but don't come small enough for my dainty hands.) When I opened the bike-accessories cupboard, there, front and center, were two black bike bottles. Well one, identifiable by the bottle cage still attached, is a walk-behind lawnmower bottle. I don't know how long it's been since we got rid of the walk-behind. Those bottles will need a thorough cleaning before they are put back into service, which won't be soon because I tend to carry spare water in quart-size square Rubbermaid bottles. Then this evening, while getting ready to roll out two and a half hours before I normally wake up, I decided to freeze some tea in my Sheriff Goshert bottle. (Don't ask me what that's about; I acquired it at a garage sale, and didn't ask for provenance.) I've known all along that it was in the fridge, but what I didn't know was that there was half an inch of some sort of beverage and a bunch of tea leaves in it. I hope they were tea leaves. I guess I didn't know that the last warm day was the last one. One thorough cleaning later, it's in the freezer, tipped on its side so the half-cup of tea won't break it when it expands. I hope I remember to fill it and take it with me in the groggy morning. [1] The pocket-size water bottle was in the fridge in plain sight, and now has a cup of water and a few sprigs of basil in it, ready for my next sweaty walk. -- Joy Beeson joy beeson at comcast dot net http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/ |
#420
|
|||
|
|||
AG: Cleaning bottles
On Wed, 08 Jun 2016 20:35:50 -0300, Joy Beeson
wrote: Bottles are popping out all over. A few days after posting, I wanted to walk a mile on a hot day and couldn't find my 250 ml water bottle[1], so I dove into my assorted-container cupboard in search of a substitute. In plain sight, in front of the box of small containers I was after, was a water bottle I'd put away last fall. I moved it to the bottle holder of my Trek Pure, and hope that I don't fill it any time soon. A reasonable hope; my pedal-powered wheelchair is easy on the knees, but stretching up to the high, one-position handlebars aggravates my rotator cuff. Which took me a while to discover, and delayed the healing. Then a few days ago I got fed up with the all-synthetic gloves I wear under warm gloves, threw them into the laundry closet to be washed and put away for the summer, and went looking for my weight-lifting gloves. (Cotton-back cycling gloves are sometimes available, but don't come small enough for my dainty hands.) When I opened the bike-accessories cupboard, there, front and center, were two black bike bottles. Well one, identifiable by the bottle cage still attached, is a walk-behind lawnmower bottle. I don't know how long it's been since we got rid of the walk-behind. Those bottles will need a thorough cleaning before they are put back into service, which won't be soon because I tend to carry spare water in quart-size square Rubbermaid bottles. Then this evening, while getting ready to roll out two and a half hours before I normally wake up, I decided to freeze some tea in my Sheriff Goshert bottle. (Don't ask me what that's about; I acquired it at a garage sale, and didn't ask for provenance.) I've known all along that it was in the fridge, but what I didn't know was that there was half an inch of some sort of beverage and a bunch of tea leaves in it. I hope they were tea leaves. I guess I didn't know that the last warm day was the last one. One thorough cleaning later, it's in the freezer, tipped on its side so the half-cup of tea won't break it when it expands. I hope I remember to fill it and take it with me in the groggy morning. [1] The pocket-size water bottle was in the fridge in plain sight, and now has a cup of water and a few sprigs of basil in it, ready for my next sweaty walk. I've been freezing a bottle of drink for a year or two now. In the climate here a refrigerated bottle stays "cool", well less than ambient temperature, for no longer than an hour while a frozen bottle will go for maybe two hours, or perhaps a bit shorter time. I tried one of those stainless thermos bottles but wasn't impressed, and will next try to freeze one and see how it lasts. When worse comes to worst nearly every filling station has a small "7-11" type shop so chilled bottled water is nearly always available. -- cheers, John B. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Speeding cyclist mows down elderly jogger | Mrcheerful | UK | 10 | February 13th 14 11:43 PM |
Cyclist:0 Disabled granny:1 | Mrcheerful[_3_] | UK | 1 | June 13th 13 09:15 PM |
Hit & run cyclist injures elderly woman on pavement | John Benn | UK | 25 | August 19th 12 09:33 AM |
cyclist says injured granny should not be on pavement! | Mrcheerful[_2_] | UK | 5 | June 13th 10 07:37 PM |
Cyclist hits granny in pavement crash in Brighton | [email protected] | UK | 167 | February 1st 09 11:44 AM |