clubman 

Intelligence may be defenceless pitted against mans true irrational nature. Desire, ego, peer pressure, style, film media, Kurt Vonnegut and a century of effective marketing of this additive drug often wins the day.

"Just an old fart with his Pall Malls"

or

42.

jimmuller 

Das easy. No bellybutton.

Velocivixen

I have a serious question that I've been wondering about. I'm a birder and I note that when a pigeon or group of them take off in flight, their wings make a squeaking sound. I was speaking to the naturalist at a bird sanctuary, who didn't know the answer, but named off other birds whose wings make that sound, yet other "cousin" birds don't make it.

It it begs the question, "Why?"
I want to know, mechanically, what action is making that sound - specifically what feather or structures are rubbing together to make that sound? Does the bird's oil "formula" make a difference? Like maybe one bird produces oiler oil and the other bird produces more waxy oil. Does that contribute?

So that's what I really want to know.


#2 . Why do some fellas refer to their bike as "her"? Please don't say things related to "riding", etc. That's too obvious.

J T CUNNINGHAM

"Just an old fart with his Pall Malls"
clubman.

Actually, I smoked Camel (plain) since the mid 60's and was quite perturbed when
The Government of Canada banned their sale here, (2005) I now having switched to
a domestic brand known a Export (plain).

People knowing my preference, would ask, "Are you Smoking Less and Enjoying it More?"
My retort being, No! I am Smoking More and Enjoying it Less!

......................................................................................
"Das easy. No bellybutton."
jimmuller

Bingo!

Regards,
J T

seedsbelize 

On number one, I would lean more toward air passing through/around the wings than friction. Birds need to be pretty efficient machines and i don't think they could afford that extra friction.
Number two might be related to ships and other machines being referred to in the feminine. In other words, anything that appears to be better than we are. Or maybe something that we feel we can control.

seedsbelize 

What's the difference between a duck?

Jadesfire 

There are three layers of feathers that make up the wings on birds. Lengths and thicknesses of the shafts and barbs of the feathers depend on the species. Pigeons are more suited to short flights and flap their wings to gain height rapidly for short bursts of flight. I think what we hear when they are flying is in fact friction between the barbs of each feather. If you've heard geese flying overhead, they also are audible but it's a "cleaner" or smoother sound as they are adapted for long migratory flights. I've trimmed wings on hunting hawks a couple of times, and they have a similar structure adapted for long flights with longer secondary and primary shafts. Cockatiels and macaws also make louder sounds when they fly for the same reason as pigeons.
Sorry, no sources other than practical experience. My textbooks on the subject are packed away .

Wildwood 

easy-peasy = I used to ride a blue one!

erig007

Both, mostly on the left side.

rhm

Barry Mann did that.

erig007

Why don't we eat sunlight (instead of chicken....without soap)?

Wildwood 

It doesn't. The saddle is attached to a SEATpin which goes into the SEATtube.

Shimagnolo

"What is the speed of dark?"
-- Steven Wright

erig007

As if knowing the speed of dark.....matter

Wildwood 

What does the expression 'Do wa diddy diddy bump diddy bump' mean?

erig007

Easy. Someone riding a bicycle on a bumpy road while singing...do wa diddy diddy....diddy...

The hardest part is to figure out which song fit into... do wa diddy diddy ... diddy...

Wildwood 

It was just a 'teeny bumper' song.

clubman 

I don't name bikes but I did name my first (adult) motorcycle "Gunther". Not that there's anything wrong with that!

squirtdad

I don't, so i don't know.

related but not: My son is driving a Volvo station wagon for his high school car. He named the car Suzanne. I had to ask why. the reply: 2 kid, soccer mom car.

SloButWide 

Is this cool or what? Birds produce the whistling via airflow through the tips of their feathers. In some species, that sound signals when a threat approaches:



When I was a wee tyke, first grade or so, I asked my Dad why ships were "she". He told me straight faced, "Because they can't grow whiskers". Since I still thought Dad knew everything (and could beat up Superman), I accepted that answer for years. I haven't heard a better one.

Velocivixen

@Jadesfire & @SloButWide - FANTASTIC! Thanks so much for this. I'll use this info. as a base for further research. Outstanding. I understand certain hunting birds, esp. forest hunting birds are often very quiet with their wing sounds.

non-fixie 

It takes paint to make her look decent?

obrentharris 

Every year a flock of big wild pigeons spends a week or so gorging on the berries in our Madrone trees. Their wings make a loud flapping noise when they take off or fly from branch to branch. Perhaps this is normal anytime they take off. Perhaps the extra payload of berries in their bellies requires them to flap extra hard in order to take off. Perhaps they are just sloppy fliers when drunk on partially fermented Madrone berries. I have asked them this question but they do not deign to speak with mere earthbound creatures.

My question: How much wood would a Woodchuck chuck?
We have no woodchucks here in coastal Northern California so I must rely on the expertise of those of you who live in close proximity to Woodchucks.
Brent

MoAlpha

non-fixie 

Thank you! Loved to hear it again.