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Personally I tend to leave my head at home -- then there's less chance of losing it!
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Marc said,
>You might think so.....
>But it is really funny to see.....
>and believe it or not.... when the cows arise they reform into their ranks as before....
>Either they are very very very stupid or they like the game....
Hmm. Well, I would be interested to see it, but only on the provision that it doesn't hurt the cows at all.
Speaking of which, why is it that ski schools made up of dozens of little gamins always line up in a great big row whenever they stop on a slope? They are just asking for some idiot to come down at high speed, hit the person on the end, and knock them all over in turn like dominoes. Then they get up, move on for a little while and then reform into a great big line all over again. In that case, I think they're just very stupid...
I hadn't thought of small French children as cows before. I must remember that.
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... because I don't know the answer. But, since I'm here ...
Being descended from generations of farming stock, I know that cows, and many other animals, react to music. It can (usefully!) be a calming influence, or can (annoyingly!) act as a stimulant. The interesting thing is the music humans would find calming isn't necessarily effective in calming animals. Most of the 'research' has been conducted by stock farmers; anything which induces docility in a large group of animals makes life much easier. I don't pretend to know WHY music has an effect, but I think it would be reasonable to assume that musical appreciation is not a factor! My guess, therefore, is that cows may be more susceptible to wave motion than we think. I have no idea whether cows can detect frequencies outside the human audio range but, if they can, and if the experience is pleasurable, it seems reasonable to assume that they would align themselves in order to maximise the sensation. Why the rest of the herd follow suit is less clear. If they line up under the electricity cables, the chances are that all of them are experiencing the same sensation. If they line up on some other orientation, it might be instinctive - though I doubt it. In certain circumstances, probably triggered by weather consitions, cows or bullocks may stand facing in the same direction. Otherwise, they don't intinctively fall in line, as sheep often do - hence the expression 'following like sheep'. They WILL follow each other, but never in an reliable and orderly way, which is why a dog is almost always used when cows or bullocks are led from one location to another.
So, on balance, my guess is that the cows are reacting to some form of electromagnetic stimulus. Regrettably, the direction in which a cow is pointing has negligible political impact, so it seems unlikely that resources will ever be made available to resolve the question!
Which brings me to Magic Spots! Well, we Scots had a headstart on the Americans! The Electric Brae, on the A719 near Dunure in Ayrshire, has been a tourist attraction since the 19th Century. It's a quarter-mile stretch, with a downhill gradient of 1 in 86, but the surrounding topography creates a very strong visual impression that the gradient is uphill. I have to agree with Deeej on this topic. Our brains respond to stimuli received from all five senses, but visual stimuli are particularly powerful. In a 'Magic Spot' we are deliberately disorientated. Even if we have seen from outside that a building is not horizontally-founded, once we enter the stimuli from the immediate environmemt overpower our senses. There's no doubt that this disorientation can generate physical symptoms - in fact, the site operators are probably adept at ensuring that this happens. I suspect that the spirit-level phenomenon is an out-and-out deception; in terms of physics it wouldn't be too hard to arrange.
The human brain is fairly easily deceived - that's how hypnotism works. Some academics still have trouble with hypnotism, but the fact that it can be used for painless tooth extraction without anaesthetic seems pretty convincing to me. My considered guess is that the site operators exploit the concept of group hypnosis to convince visitors that they have seen what, in fact, they have not seen - and, believe me, group hypnosis works - even Wal-Mart uses the concept! But hey, it's fun, and I'd never pass a 'Magic Spot' without checking it out!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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Hi if the toties tingle they must be aroused. )
life is to enjoy.
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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They learn it from the cows.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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Cossie said,
>I know that cows, and many other animals, react to music.
>I have no idea whether cows can detect frequencies outside the human audio range but, if they can, and if the experience is pleasurable, it seems reasonable to assume that they would align themselves in order to maximise the sensation.
>my guess is that the cows are reacting to some form of electromagnetic stimulus.
I think there is a fallacy here -- music, whether in the hearing range or not, is not an electromagnetic stimulus. It's simply vibrations. So I think it's too large a leap to assume either or both of the following are true without any proper evidence:
i. that cows are susceptible to electromagnetic radiation, which is of course entirely different from sound, on the basis that they respond to sound
ii. that there is either sound or radiation of a frequency that cannot be detected by humans, even with instruments -- because there is no mechanism that I can think of for it to occur
I would not have a problem if you suggested only that they are responding to the 50Hz mains hum (which is audible to humans as well in some circumstances). I'm even prepared to accept the theory that it is music to a cow's ears, even though, obviously, it would take a proper study to verify this and I don't think anyone in the business really cares enough to want to!
David
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The eerie noises I've heard from high-voltage cables in damp weather haven't been 50 Hz (I spent enough time eliminating earth loops from sound systems when I worked as a theatre technician to know what those are like!). And they were not steady notes, more an irregular series of slightly swept sounds.
After spending rather too much time thinking about it, the only mechanism that I can think of is the power cables moving, but not slipping smoothly over / through their supports. This could make the supports vibrate at a much higher frequency - a bit like bowing a violin. Why this should happen in fog or drizzle I have no idea - perhaps condensation somewhere in the system?
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
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Very mysterious.
There are so many possible investigations here that would be worthy of an Ig Nobel if they came up with anything conclusive. I would love to see someone devising and running experiments to establish exactly what it is that the cows are responding to.
I'm still inclined to think that they're just too stupid not to notice that power lines don't actually provide any shelter from the rain...
David
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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Hi David,
I dont think cows are stupid, but just bored,i dont know if these pylons are 11kv or 33kv it could perhaps make a difference when it rains, or as i have said there hearing frequency is different to ours they do look happy though.
I forgot to tell you i have also seen ducks all cuddled up as well.
I think in the future i will walk straight past with my head looking forward and pretend not to see them.;-D ;-D ;-D
Have a great weekend & keep playing.
re Jack!
life is to enjoy.
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Jack,
Whenever you say something I have no idea whether you're mocking me (/us), making a joke or being serious.
Cows are well-known for being stupid. I don't think they can be bored because they're not clever enough to grasp the concept that they could be doing something else at the time.
Voltage has nothing to do with frequency. I don't know how the voltage could affect the pitch of any ultrasonic waves, even if such waves existed.
Anyway, I hope you have a good weekend as well.
David
[Updated on: Fri, 20 October 2006 15:20] |
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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i am being serious, but with a sense of humer, have you ever heard of mains voltage hum?
David dont be so serious laugh and enjoy this day wont come back!
life is to enjoy.
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Deeej wrote:
>Unless you brought the spirit level with you I would be very inclined to mistrust it, yes.<
Ho, ho, ho! Very drole.
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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cossie wrote"
> Most of the 'research' [into music and animals] has been conducted by stock farmers<
Ho, ho, ho! Very drole!
Was it Stockhausen? Or just any moosic?
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Jack said,
>i am being serious, but with a sense of humer, have you ever heard of mains voltage hum?
No, I don't think I've heard of it; well, not since I discussed it earlier in the thread, anyway! Have you ever heard of mains voltage hum?
David
P.S. Did you know that you often get interference in electric circuits from AC connections to the mains? Do you happen to know what this phenomenon is called?
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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emmmmmmmmmm:-()
life is to enjoy.
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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> David said.
>
> P.S. Did you know that you often get interference in electric circuits from AC connections to the mains? Do you happen to know what this phenomenon is called?
david i like your humer i think i will now go and make love, since it is the week end. lol.
re Jack.
life is to enjoy.
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Jedediah
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Likes it here |
Location: Made in NZ
Registered: March 2006
Messages: 170
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One thing that everyone seems to be overlooking is that these cows, usually all facing in the same direction, are standing out in the rain.
Cows in the rain, especially when it's windy, tend to stand facing away from the wind. For the same reason, birds all stand facing into the weather - arse-on their feathers ruffle up and the skin gets wet.
I wouldn't know about the sheep - ask Aussie. Maybe they stand with their bums facing away from Australia?
Cheers
E Te Atua tukuna mai ki au te Mauri tauki te tango i nga mea
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Aha !!! back from the top paddock are we?
In NZ I believe they have learnt to keep their bums to the wall.
Now the question is, do your farmers walk around in welly boots like the Welsh?
Aussie
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Jedediah
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Likes it here |
Location: Made in NZ
Registered: March 2006
Messages: 170
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Yeah, i think they do - except that we don't call them Wellies, they're Gumboots here.
Really sophisticated farmers hose their boots down before they go out on the town.
Cheers
E Te Atua tukuna mai ki au te Mauri tauki te tango i nga mea
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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... I don't know too much about the weather in Ozland or Kiwiland, but up here in the fount of civilisation the rain tends to be pretty vertical. Despite my rural upbringing, I can't remember seeing our cows standing on their front legs with backsides facing the heavens - nor have I seen the local bird population clinging madly to power lines at a 90-degree angle, facing the skies, in order to avoid water penetration of their sensitive rears.
Mind you, I can't say that I've ever seen our cows standing in a line under pylons, either. But then, I grew up in candle-land, so we didn't need pylons!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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Jedediah
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Likes it here |
Location: Made in NZ
Registered: March 2006
Messages: 170
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i think we've been insulted, Aussie.
You're a strange, strange man, Cossie - but i like you.
(I did say especially when it's windy)
Cheers
E Te Atua tukuna mai ki au te Mauri tauki te tango i nga mea
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Lucky we antipodeans are thick skinned.
BTW I was driving in NZ last year and saw a farmer (well I assume he was a farmer) holding a sheep in a strange grip I had never seen before. I stopped the car and asked "are you shearing?" and he replied " no, piss off and find your own"
Aussie
[Updated on: Sat, 21 October 2006 05:41] |
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Yeah, is that what the Welsh do with their wellies?
Aussie
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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thats why the sheep go Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.)
life is to enjoy.
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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I would have thought if they were Welsh sheep they would sing much better than that. Like nah-na nah-na naaah..nah-na-naaah.
Aussie
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jack
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Likes it here |
Location: England
Registered: September 2006
Messages: 304
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nah nah nah.oops oops oops ouch...
life is to enjoy.
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Does this mean it's more offensive with a statue than with a real one?
What was he diverted to?
It seems he only offended the local copper but not the busload of tourists
What would he have cooperated fully in at the police station? Do they hold orgies there?
Crikey!! The mind boggles.
Aussie
ps Sorry for all the questions but I think we should get to the bottom of this now.
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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It seems to be a universal instinct to insult those who live in rural areas - whether or not they are involved in sheep farming.
Newcastle United Football Club is nicknamed 'The Magpies' from their black-and-white strip. Sunderland's nickname is the 'Black Cats'. But 60 miles West, in rural Cumbria, Carlisle United's misfortune is to be known as the 'Sheepshaggers'!
C'est la vie!
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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Assuming this black and white strip is the colour (note English spelling)of their knees (black) and their bums (white)when they drop their footy shorts, is it done on the field or only in the dressing room?
Aussie
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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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You know perfectly well that I meant black-and-white striped shirts. Get your mind out of the gutter - you've probably over-excited yourself by dreaming about all those strip malls in the US of A!
[Updated on: Sun, 22 October 2006 23:51]
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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Aussie
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Really getting into it |
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 475
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From Bruce. I might have got a little bit excited but it was only from thinking about the Newcastle United Football club doing the full monty on the ground at the end of the match.
I have been to some of those malls in the US but I have yet to see the strip.
The Las Vegas strip is much better.
Aussie
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