You Know, As In -
"What do you call a group of <insert wildly exotic animal species here>? I am currently typing this up at work on Floor Eighteen of the Dark Tower - still no sign of Mighty Team Leader Rob in person* - so I don't have recourse to my "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase And Fable" because I'm pretty Dog Buns! certain it has a collective nouns section. The punchline to all this is a photograph I took last evening at Exchange Square tram stop, which we'll get to in good time BE PATIENT.
Well well what the raving pell-mell? Conrad has dim memories of this cinematic offering because of the title, which you have to admit is pretty compelling. "A murder of crows". Who on earth comes up with these collective nouns and is it a paying gig, because Conrad is interested. Plus, if we were dealing with the Killer Kows from the Mutilation Meadow, you could describe them as a 'murder of cows' when you think about it.
I also have memories of "An Unkindness Of Ravens", which, if Art can get off his waffle-patterned posterior -
With a title like that you can guarantee that it's going to be dark and dismal and depressing (Great! enthused Conrad) because nobody associates ravens with rainbows and confetti.
What else can we find in this noun-hunting without bunting? Hmmmm, well there are foxes. 'A skulk of foxes'. That sounds apt. Foxes are notably sly and slinky, even if fox kits are adorable. Art!
"Look at us! We're adorable - even Conrad admits it!"
What's that? More exotic critters? O go on then. How about the <thinks> ECHIDNA! You're probably not familiar with these, so here's a picture <prods Art with a bamboo skewer>.
Unusual, if not even close to adorable. Not built for cuddling.
If seen in company, then it's a 'parade of echidnas'. Since they are native to the land of the Ockers I doubt I shall see any such soon.
Finally, because Conrad strongly suspects that he'll come back to this topic, let's not wear out our welcome and finish with Prairie Dogs. Art!
This little confabulation is a 'Coterie of prairie dogs', which made Conrad sit up and pay attention because of the Cryptic crossword solutions this morning was 'Coteries'. The Coincidence Hydra strikes again - I wonder what the collective noun for a group of hydras is?
ANYWAY this whole Intro was sparked by my observing a group of bicycle couriers who had been delivering meals, as I waited for the Rochdale tram. Art!
So, gentle reader, what collective noun are we going to create for a collection of bicycle food-delivery couriers? 'A gluttony'? 'A speed'? 'A pedal'?
Motleys only come in singles, so there's no collective noun for them, in case you were wondering.
Conrad Has Found Another Font Of Pictures
The BBC Arts page with all those dozens of links doesn't look like it's ever coming back <checks diligently>. Art!
There was an article about Magnum and it's 75th anniversary, which has vanished with no re
ANYWAY yes, the BBC has an article about six unusual bridges across the world, and here's the first. Art!
This is the Umshiang 'Living root bridge', which is about as sustainable as it's possible to get. The bridge originally used a truss of bamboo struts for the rubber tree roots to grow along. Over time - and we're talking 180 years - they intertwine and entangle, resulting in an immensely strong bridge that only grows stronger by the year. Verrrrrrrrrry ingenious! Art!
Traveller's-eye view. Courtesy 'Tale of 2 Backpackers'
Back To Our Musical Critique
I think Pete's all snivelled-out. Time for Roger to take one for The Who! Bring on both dancing horses and lyrics:
"Oi! I'll 'ave you, Conrad!"
Meanwhile Back In Tunisia
Not contemporaneous with Pete et al; rather thirty years earlier. If you're fed up of Conrad pontificating about the 'Special' Military Operation in North Africa TOUGH LUCK IT'S MY BLOG. We shall continue featuring photographs and the odd sketch from "The War Illustrated", though you may console yourself with the fact that we're nearing the end of this collection of TWI. But worry not, for Conrad has an acquisitive eye and the help of Abebooks! Art?
This, the cover of Edition 154, features Nelly out in the Far East, and is a reminder that this was a global 'Special' Military Operation. Yes yes yes we'll get to Tunisia, all in good time. Sheesh. Patience the virtue you know.
Finally -
We are now into Day 85 of Puffy Petrol Pimp's invasion of Ukraine, with the Kremlin bot-trolls all sitting and chorusing 'It's all going according to plan, it's all going according to plan' <derisive snort> as if there was ever a plan. Trust me on this, Dimya's panel of military experts and advisors got it badly wrong. Referring to the unpleasantness of the real-life blood and thunder operations, Conrad recounts that the Ruffians got perhaps 5 or 6 things right - they hit actual military targets with missiles instead of civilian apartment blocks. That's about it.
"Dimya was sad. Conrad did not love him."
Some of the high-level ineptness comes directly from Dimya's underground bunker, where, cut off from the real world, he gives orders as if he's a military genius, interfering and micromanaging his generals, who dare not defy him or face a Novichok cocktail.
This is suspiciously akin to a couple of other authoritarian bumbletucks and how they interfered with and conducted operations. To no very good end. Art!
And with that we are all done!
* Someone claiming to be him spoke to Josh. But you know how it is with shape-shifting alien mimics.
** If you even hint at The Brotherhood Of Man I will Nuclear Detonate you
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