Fire hazard?

[altivo]

Well, in over a decade of living here, this is the first time I've heard the weather service warn us of the potential for wildfires "due to dry wind and weather conditions." Four years ago we had a two month drought in the middle of the summer and they never issued that warning. Now we get a week without rain and they are telling us that there is a risk of wildfires. This makes no sense.

The weather seemed to be keeping people away from the library today. It was slow and quiet all afternoon and evening. Then, 45 minutes before closing, the floodgates opened and everyone wanted things all at once, the phone was ringing faster than two of us could answer it (two people, three lines...guess what?) Then, at ten minutes to closing, the public computers shut down as usual. Instant quiet. They all left. I'm really glad we instituted that policy. No more trying to pry people off the computer so we can lock the doors and go home to dinner. At the appointed time, things just shut down, like it or not. There are signs of course, and they do get a flashing red warning on their screen starting ten minutes before the shutdown. It took several months, but no one throws a tantrum any more.

Tomorrow the sheep get sheared. That's always traumatic, even though our shearer is fast, efficient, and good. No one gets nicked as a rule, everyone cooperates once he gets hold of them, but catching them for him is always rough. Once we get started, he's usually done with the lot in 30 minutes or less. Still, I'll be glad when it's over. I always feel so ineffectual if a sheep gets away from me during the process.

Comments

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I thought it had been raining a lot there lately?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Almost every day until just a week ago. Rain, rain, rain. Pasture is knee high grass now because it has been too muddy to mow down.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

I know this is a little off topic but;

Isn't Uvine the technical name for sheep as a species?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Close but not exact.

Bovine = Cattle, cows, buffalo, etc.
Equine = Horses, donkeys, zebras
Ovine = Sheep and their ancestors
Caprine = Goats and their ancestors
Cervine = Antlered kin, deer, elk, moose, etc.

The Giraffidae are the odd ones out, with only two living groups, the giraffe and the okapi.

Sheep and goats are differentiated by their teeth, I think, rather than just appearance. Some sheep are very hard to tell from goats. Some "goats" such as the "mountain goat" are actually sheep.

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Okay, I got that one wrong.

*poots out his tounge but doesn't erase that
bit in the crossword puzzle*

Yes, I was looking for an answer in a puzzle.

XD

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I forgot a couple of hooved groups:

Camelidae: Camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuña

Porcine: Swine both wild and domesticated

Intelligent rats still crave cheese.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

There are signs of course, and they do get a flashing red warning on their screen starting ten minutes before the shutdown. It took several months, but no one throws a tantrum any more.

Just goes to show you, people can be trained ^_^

Re: Intelligent rats still crave cheese.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Clearly so, you can train them but you can't always educate them.

Re: Intelligent rats still crave cheese.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*reads* Oh, God no! Why would you want to educate them in the first place??

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Out out you time wasting parasites! :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Actually, after yesterday's fun, I think we need a border collie to herd the users out of the library at 8 pm.