So! What can you tell me about flying foxes and their habits and demeanors?

Well, unlike the microchiroptera, they eat only plant matter (fruit, nectar, pollen, flowers). They don't possess echolocation, since fruit isn't known for its evasive maneouvres. Instead they rely on sight and smell. They generally live in trees rather than caves, since they can't navigate in total darkness. They're still commonly nocturnal. Although flying foxes are mostly tropical, in Australia they extend down the east coast; grey-headed flying foxes are found in Melbourne, there's a colony not far from where I live. Some of them (including the spectacled flying fox) can drink seawater, not so much for the water (fruit and nectar gives them plenty of moisture) as for the salt. They're pollinating species for some trees.

You have four species in Australia: grey-headed, spectacled, black and little red. (We also have plenty of microchiroptera, of course.)

Timelies.

Does anyone know about a cheap/free (ummm, it's the internet, isn't it?) international text message service between cell phones? For the rare cases I'd like to text to U.S., and not getting robbed by my cell phone company's fees.

Gracias.

I love how the conversation weaves different topics like that:

Hil R. - Aug 6, 2008 7:52:55 pm PDT #1576 of 1587 Mark Block

I've been trying to write my dissertation. I've gotten to the point where I just really hate it.

Allyson - Aug 6, 2008 7:55:09 pm PDT #1577 of 1587 Mark Block

there's an organic bacterial pesticide

(Me? Identifying with Hil? Unpossible).

So am I the only one who likes the Trixie dress?

If it fits me, it is my kind of dress , but the one I ordered is backordered -- and I am afraid it might be a scooch tight in the waist. But I need to lose something and past experience says waist is where I lose things first. So long story short, I should love it.

So am I the only one who likes the Trixie dress?

I like it. Although I think I would want the aqua and I wonder if the brighter colors will look too bridesmaidy.

(megan is so getting a huge shout-out in my acknowledgments if this book sells!)

As long as you use my real first name. Much more legitimate for the task at hand. Speaking of which:

"You! You ruin everything." (singular you)

"Toi! Tu gâches tout." (ruin in the sense of spoil)

"You've ruined everything that matters to me, so I only do my best to return the favor." (plural you)

That’s a lot of idioms! It would be helpful to know the exact nuance of “ruin” that you are going for. Otherwise, the closest I can come up with is:

"Vous avez ruiné tout ce qui m’est cher, alors je ferai de mon mieux pour vous le revaloir." (revaloir=to pay back)

Hi. I skipped.

Happy Belated Birthday to Scrappy!

I am more gender neutral websurfer than I thought:

Likelihood of you being FEMALE is 58% Likelihood of you being MALE is 42%

Does it matter if I do most of my websurfing left-moused?

A lot of belated birthday wishes. Last week I went with the Boy Scout troop I volunteer with to Assateague Island, camping on the beach and dodging the mooching ponies, and I have been struggling to catch up on things since I have returned...

Every girl who read Misty of Chincoteague just sighed with envy, CaBil.