Re: [Mid] What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

>So, a quiz this day: What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

That's easy. The proper response is, of course, "English sparrow
or African sparrow?"

. . .. There was a two-parter on Theodore Roosevelt and the
Rough Riders on TV a year or two ago, with Tom Berenger playing
TR. There was one scene where he's going through thick
woods, cocks his ears, and hears a birdsong. He says something
to the effect of "That's the Cuban red-winged sapsucker. Or
is it the Spanish red-winged sapsucker? Hmmm. . . " He
continues walking for a few minutes, and hears the same
song, and says to hiimself "No, it's definitely the Spanish
red-winged sapsucker. A bird with a curved beak, that prefers
to dine on young elm and maple trees, and migrates
between England and Spain." And, a beat or two later,
realizes that he's just heard a purely European bird,
in Cuba, where it shouldn't be - and at that moment realizes
he's about to enter a trap laid by those crafty Spaniards.

You gots to know them birds. Such knowledge can be invaluable.

(English sparrow.)

Alban
From: ALBAN@delphi.com
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Received on Fri Oct 20 00:25:03 2000