Naked Science Forum

General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2008 23:36:03

Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 01/07/2008 23:36:03
Do you know that rhyme about magpies?

Earlier today as I was driving along in my little beaver car I saw what appeared to be a fat magpie in the road ahead. As I approached, it resolved into being 2 magpies very close together. As I got closer, a 3rd flew down from a tree and joined them.

A few minutes later I came back down the same road and the 3 magpies were still there. Lo & behold, it was like time reversal. 1 flew away, leaving 2. As I passed them & looked in the rearview mirror I could only see 1.

So, does that count as 1, 2, or 3 magpies? Sorrow, joy, or girl?
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: neilep on 02/07/2008 00:08:19
I reckon they were sizing you up as instant dish of beaver lunch !

Clearly, at the speed you're capable of they decided it was time for another worm instead !
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Carolyn on 02/07/2008 00:11:33
I reckon they were sizing you up as instant dish of beaver lunch !

Clearly, at the speed you're capable of they decided it was time for another worm instead !

Yep, it sounds like they wanted to peck you to death!!  I told you all....BIRDS ARE EVIL!!!
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: JimBob on 02/07/2008 03:38:55
NOT SO! NOT the ones that eat beavers.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 02/07/2008 07:48:01
Thank you all for your very helpful replies  [::)]
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: rosalind dna on 02/07/2008 11:54:59
Magpie

One for sorrow.
Two for joy.
Three for a girl.
Four for a boy.
Five for silver.
Six for gold.
Seven for a secret never to be told.
Eight's a wish.
Nine's a kiss.
Ten is a bird you must not miss,
MAGPIE


Dr Beaver, I guess that the three magpies you saw in your car might have been
the parent birds of the 3rd one, that's if it was smaller
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: neilep on 02/07/2008 12:09:20
I used to watch ..' Magpie'. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magpie_%28TV_series%29).anybody remember that ?...some days it was Blue Peter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_peter)..


Ma-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaagpie !!!
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: paul.fr on 02/07/2008 14:15:31
Yes i did, i seem to remember thsat they had a pretty female presenter...could be wrong though.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: neilep on 02/07/2008 16:48:52
Yes i did, i seem to remember thsat they had a pretty female presenter...could be wrong though.

Yes..yes..they indeed had a rather fetching girlie !!..

I think it was on either directly before or after The Tomorrow People (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tomorrow_People#Original_series)
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: rosalind dna on 02/07/2008 17:32:02
http://www.donbrockway.com/Dinah's%20Daughter%20Jenny%20Hanley.jpg


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Hanley

Is this the woman, whom you were thinking of.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Make it Lady on 02/07/2008 18:23:35
Yes that is she, I liked Mick, the one with the trendy Marc Bolan perm.

I just loved the Tomorrow People. Me and my brother used to lie in our bunk beds trying to talk to each other by telepathy. We sadly didn't succeed but it didn't stop us trying. I loved the episode with the blue and red badges. 
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Make it Lady on 02/07/2008 18:25:58
Doc, to answer your question it is the maximum number you see at one time. So I guess you are getting a girl. My neighbour used to get obsessed if she saw just one Magpie and would hunt around to see the second one.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 02/07/2008 21:18:47
Doc, to answer your question it is the maximum number you see at one time. So I guess you are getting a girl. My neighbour used to get obsessed if she saw just one Magpie and would hunt around to see the second one.

Thank you, Shazbat.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Make it Lady on 02/07/2008 21:32:19
Who are you calling a bat?
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: RD on 03/07/2008 02:53:13
Those with anthropomorphic tendencies would describe a magpie as a nasty piece of work..
Quote
Like most members of its family, the Black-billed Magpie is known as a predator on nests of other birds.
Although it will take eggs and nestlings
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-billed_Magpie_dtl.html
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: JimBob on 03/07/2008 03:08:34
Those with anthropomorphic tendencies would describe a magpie as a nasty piece of work..
Quote
Like most members of its family, the Black-billed Magpie is known as a predator on nests of other birds.
Although it will take eggs and nestlings
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-billed_Magpie_dtl.html


Oh, like Dr. Beaver and Make It Lady? Thanks for the info, RD.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 03/07/2008 07:59:45
Those with anthropomorphic tendencies would describe a magpie as a nasty piece of work..
Quote
Like most members of its family, the Black-billed Magpie is known as a predator on nests of other birds.
Although it will take eggs and nestlings
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-billed_Magpie_dtl.html


Oh, like Dr. Beaver and Make It Lady?

 [:(!]
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Make it Lady on 03/07/2008 19:49:51
Those with anthropomorphic tendencies would describe a magpie as a nasty piece of work..
Quote
Like most members of its family, the Black-billed Magpie is known as a predator on nests of other birds.
Although it will take eggs and nestlings
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-billed_Magpie_dtl.html

So my young cat is a magpie. Her favorite trick is to bring nests into the house, sometimes with eggs in and once with a baby in. It is the one thing I dislike about her.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: RD on 03/07/2008 22:13:06
So my young cat is a magpie. Her favorite trick is to bring nests into the house,
sometimes with eggs in and once with a baby in. It is the one thing I dislike about her.


Quote
when a cat hunts down a bird or a mouse in the garden or on the street, sometimes it brings it home for its owner as a gift!...If your cat brings home it's victim, it is trying to show you that it considers you part of its family. This is a gesture of friendship and it is sharing the food it hunted with you.
http://www.seefido.com/cats/html/why_cats_bring_home_dead_anima.htm

Your cat obviously thinks you are in need of a feed.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: rosalind dna on 03/07/2008 22:38:05
Those with anthropomorphic tendencies would describe a magpie as a nasty piece of work..
Quote
Like most members of its family, the Black-billed Magpie is known as a predator on nests of other birds.
Although it will take eggs and nestlings
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Black-billed_Magpie_dtl.html

So my young cat is a magpie. Her favorite trick is to bring nests into the house, sometimes with eggs in and once with a baby in. It is the one thing I dislike about her.

Sharon no the stuff that the others have mentioned but your cat is bringing magpies and nests etc, home as tokens because it gets TLC
Mine used to until I shut the catflap one way, the reason is a  long story.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: Make it Lady on 03/07/2008 23:06:19
I know all this but it doesn't make me feel better.
Title: 1 for sorrow, 2 for joy etc
Post by: paul.fr on 04/07/2008 23:09:15
4 and 20 make a pie....oh, magpies...move along, nothing to see...