Readers Write . . .

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From David B in response to the post about Maine Coon cats:

"Official state cat of Maine". The mind boggles. Or recalls James Thurber's trained seal who was so conceited that he thought that the Great Seal of the United States referred to himself.

Comment:

The Maine coon cat was recognised as the official state cat of Maine in 1985. Cats are also recognised as state symbols in Massachusetts (tabby cat); in Maryland (calico cat); in Colorado (adopted shelter and rescue cats and dogs), in Tennessee (rescued dog or cat), and in New York State (Jellicle cats).

No, that’s not true, I made up the last one.

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In response to my item about the Frequency Illusion, also known as the Baader-Meinhoff Phenomenon, which included a brief summary of the terrorist gang, I received the following email from Leo M:

Otto, 

I arrived in Frankfurt Germany in December 1977. I was dropped off at a service station on the Autobarn outside of Frankfurt by a truck driver that I hitched a ride with from Greece. Whilst waiting for my German friend to drive from Frankfurt city to pick me up, I was surrounded by police cars and vicious looking policeman holding machine pistols yelling at me in German. Of course I had no idea what was going on and started to reach into a little bag I was carrying to show them my Australian passport. That's when things got very interesting. 

Suddenly an English voice said put my hands up and lie on the ground. Now you try lying on the ground with your hands up!
Two police then put their legs on each of my hands and one pushed my bag away with their leg. All this time I had at least eight machine pistols pointed at me. One then carefully looked in my bag and would have got a surprise with my dirty undies as I had been in the truck for three days, and then found my passport. No sorry’s or apologies from that lot!! 

To cut a long story short, I stayed in Frankfurt for seven days and was surrounded by armed police about four times a day. In the end I became known as "Leo from Australia", and when surrounded I would yell out “Leo from Australia”, put my hands up and say hello in German. I came back to Frankfurt in February 1977 and for the first two days it happened again. After that, I think I had met every police officer in Frankfurt and they used to go by, beep their horn and wave to me. 

I will send you a photo that might explain it.

Leo subsequently sent a photo with the following message:

This was my hostel photo in my Hostel Book and pretty close to the photo in my passport which excited the Germans.

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Walter L responded to Leo’s email:

I was in Germany in 1978 and was familiar with the climate you describe Leo. I also had an interesting experience at Koln airport which would match your story. I'll spare you the details but suffice to say that my assailant proved to be gay. Next time over a beer. 

W

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From Wayne, in response to the first colour photographs of Scotland:

Otto  

I loved the heritage photos - keep them coming. The past showed what was achieved with all of our modern technology and show how it was then.  

What about Holland images?  

Wayne

Stay tuned, Wayne . . .

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Sue P sent me a link to a story about parrots that will be a post in the next few days.

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Thanks, all.