Zebras
models and
horseflies
SCIENTISTS believe that the black and white stripes on a zebra are a deterrent to horseflies.
Indigenous communities in Africa, Australia and Papua-New Guinea are known to paint stripes on their bodies for decorative. purposes and as markers of group identity. But does this also protect them against horseflies?
Scientists in Hungary decided to find out, according to Sky News. They smeared some models with glue and placed them in a horsefly-infested meadow.
Now these were not the gorgeous models you find on the fashion catwalks. Such models do not take kindly to being smeared with glue and placed in a horsefly-infested meadow. The models used by the Hungarian scientists were plastic mannequins of the human form.
They were coloured brown or beige, to mimic dark and fair skin. Some had white stripes
The brown model attracted 10 times as many horseflies as the white-striped brown one. The beige model got twice as many horseflies as the striped brown model.
The researchers said: "The results of our field experiment support the theory that the use of striped body painting may be related to protection against dangerous parasitic pests."
Next scientific project: "Striped football jerseys and parasitic pests in the stands."
WHICH recalls a dialogue between Reub and Josh in America's Deep South.
"Josh, what's these things buzzin' 'bout mah face?.
"Them's hossflies, Reub."
"What's hossflies, Josh?"
"Hossflies, Reub, is them things what goes buzzin' 'bout the rear end of a hoss."
"Is youse insinuatin', Josh, that I gotta face like the rear end of a hoss?"
"Ise insinuatin' nuttin', Reub. But you cain't fool them hossflies!"
A GAL in Ventura, California, was alarmed when the house she shared with her mother suddenly filled with black smoke. Maddison Ridgik rushed to her mum, who dialled the emergency services.
Next thing a group of firefighters burst in, wearing full kit, according to Huffington Post. Then one of them went down on one knee in front of Maddison and whipped off his oxygen mask. It was her boyfriend, Zach Steele – indeed a firefighter by profession. He asked her to marry him.
Background violins.
At which Maddison burst into tears, almost sufficient to douse the flames. Except there were no flames. Zach had set off a few smoke bombs in the house and hidden round the corner with some firefighting buddies. Mum was also in on the lark. She had only pretended to phone emergency services.
And Maddison accepted. This is going to be an interesting marriage.
OVERHEARD in the Street Shelter for the Over-Forties: "The only way to make a man love you and nobody else is to become his secretary."
MORE from Rosemarie Jarski's Great British Wit. Topic: Radio.
· The plot of The Archers is squelchy and the dialogue compost … but Shula Archer is trimly stacked, with eyelashes like long grass, and any man would climb a loft ladder for her. – Jean Rook.
· I have always characterised the relationship between my producer and I as that of a man and his dog, each believing the other to be the dog. – John Peel
· I am amazed at radio DJs today. I am firmly convinced that AM on my radio stands for Absolute Moron. I will not begin to tell you what FM stands for. – Jasper Carrot
Tailpiece
THEY'VE formed a self-help group for compulsive talkers
It's called On and on Anon.
Last word
The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. - Lily Tomlin
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