Things that go boom, sort of

[jay]

Yesterday... hour-long conversation with a panicky co-worker (AR) about whether a student intern would be clapped in leg irons in a Canadian prison if said intern tried to bring 3 12ga. shotguns with him across the border (as a favor to the SETI Institute, since the Arctic base camp is short of bear-defense firearms). Said intern has a permit, and has taken his personal weapons with him into Canada several times on hunting trips with his friends. And the intern doesn't really work for NASA, anyway, so it isn't as though the US government is invading Edmonton... sigh.

Besides, I'm disappointed because SETI couldn't get any .45-70 Marlins... my bear-defense firearm of choice. (grin)

Otherwise, I cleaned our BBQ with oven cleaner, spilled some on myself (ouch), and then we went to Pescadero and the beach. Then back home for fireworks... adjacent to work at a park.

Then back to work today (not a Federal holiday), mostly doing back-reading and generating review material and a 2003 proposal for our current remote science evaluations. AR reappeared, stressed about packing lists. But hopeforyou and I took another marsh walk and saw a 1 m snake, and some interesting pink finches. Tonight... we're all probably going to Campbell for a monthly poly board-gaming party.

Comments

[geekchick]

Two words: "tranquilizer gun" ;)

[hopeforyou.livejournal.com]

Actually, I recommended transdermal valium. He can see us coming with the gun. We don't want any warning, and this way there's less, um, accountability.

Yeah. That's it.

Close enough, anyway...

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I wonder if it would work mixed in Tang? (favorite drink of HMP...)

[geekchick]

But you have to admit that the dart gun approach would be ever-so-slightly more satisfying. ;)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

More like "phttt..." than "boom", but close enough.

What next?

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

But what do you do with a couple of tons of sleeping polar bear?

Re: What next?

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Context-tomy... the dart gun and/or Valium application referred to the panicky-overcontrolling colleague, not the bears. Actually, in any case a tranquillized polar bear is useful in the sense that I can then be far away when it wakens ;-).

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

House finch:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i5190id.html
http://www.imperial.cc.ca.us/birds/h-finch.htm
http://www.assateague.com/data-bird/finch-house.jpg


Purple finch:
http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/wildlife/purplefinch.htm
http://www.aristotle.net/~asca/purple.gif
http://www.thebirder.com/photos/purple_finch.jpg
http://www.birdwatching.com/birdgalleries/firstpictures/images/30%20Purple%20Finch%20male.jpg

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I believe that we saw purple finches, given the short tails and apparent lack of noticeable belly streaking. Initially one male, who flew 50 feet back to a group of about 10-15, diving and hopping and feeding at the base of the Stevens Creek levee.

[snickerpuss.livejournal.com]

Um, you could just bring sticks of dynamite - that seems more American, to me. ;)

In terms of bringing things into Canada, don't you know that our border crossing guards are sweet little old purple-haired ladies who just ask you how your shopping went and send you on your merry way?! *heh* (I speak truth!!)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(chuckle) brute force, I suppose... maybe the sound would frighten away a polar bear.

I don't doubt your truth... last year, I was interviewed by an Immigration officer in Edmonton that was in her late 20s with pink-frosted hair. They asked me lots of questions about my project, as much because (I suspect) they were bored as because I posed any real concern. The Mars-analog bit seems to grab them...