eirias: (Default)
eirias ([personal profile] eirias) wrote2008-06-25 02:38 pm

things one does not expect to see in a field guide

From The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America:
"Observers should beware of using jizz as a substitute for careful study and thought."

Well, there's a sentiment for the ages.

[identity profile] sam16.livejournal.com 2008-06-25 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
That word must have another meaning that I'm not aware of, but I won't be searching for it here at work...
groovesinorbit: (buffy grin)

[personal profile] groovesinorbit 2008-06-25 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
*giggle* You made me have to google jizz at work. Oh my. According to Wikipedia (which you get to after scrolling down a bit), "Jizz is the term used by birders to describe the immediate recognition of a bird from the briefest of glimpses. This perception of the essential characteristics of a bird, whether colour, size, shape, sound or likeness, is only something that can be demonstrated after much experience."

Never heard of such a thing.

things one does not expect to hear during frisbee

[identity profile] cognative.livejournal.com 2008-06-25 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
We played a team called the squirrels (or something like that). When thinking of a cheer our captain said we were going to try and make a squirrel noise. Which he thought might sound like this: skeet skeet skeet.

Several knowledgeable team members quickly vetoed that idea.

[identity profile] eirias.livejournal.com 2008-06-25 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Bingo!

I hadn't heard of it either, hence the amusement. I think it's a pronunciation of G.I.S., which stands for General Impression and Shape. At least, that's how Sibley tells it.

Re: things one does not expect to hear during frisbee

[identity profile] eirias.livejournal.com 2008-06-25 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Now it's my turn to use google. Yeah, I'm thinking that veto was a good call.
groovesinorbit: (fred making toast)

[personal profile] groovesinorbit 2008-06-25 10:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Serious amusement, and well, quite a bit of bafflement. G.I.S. could as easily be mispronounced as 'guess', perhaps?