why isolate certain subjects...........

[mainegal]

Thank you, Kevin, for your list of wonderful films.
I remember many (but not all) fondly.

We show wisdom and maturity of our years.
Nikki is still in her youth.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

All of the movies listed are "talkies".

Your word....not mine.

Once again your ability to comprehend text fails you...

I said BLACK AND WHITE.

That list is not all movies that are in black and white.

 

[KathyTX]

That's it, I'm banning anyone on this thread who posted with the word Llama!

What about Alpaca? Check out how they hum!!! Humming Alpacas

 

[KathyTX]

Oh- and Sunset Blvd is GREATNESS!!!!

 

[FireDancer]

Is llama vs. alpaca the new cake vs. pie?

Discuss.

 

[BriarRosie]

Bagels and lox and the classic movies like Sunset Blvd and To Kill a Mockingbird are outdated....but Rainbow Brite is some sort of cultural icon?



Stop...yer killing me.

Geez, I think we'd all be dead by now if we had to go by Nikki's litmus test o' cultural references.

 

[NC Belle]

So, how much does it cost to have an alpaca or 2? Do they get along with other critters like goats, chickens, dogs, and cats or are they like zebras and don't play well with others?

 

[KathyTX]

You don't want a single alpaca, they're herd animals and very social.

Breeding quality animals run around $10,000 - 15,000 each. "Pet" quality (neutered) animals are a whole lot cheaper. Seems like buying pregnant females is a popular start-up strategy.

They have about one cria (baby) per year.

They seem to play very well with most other animals.

WHAT IS AN ALPACA? An alpaca is a member of the camelid family, though alpacas are much smaller than a camel and approximately one-half the size of a llama. Their weight can vary from 90 to 200 pounds and they measure 30 - 36 inches tall at the withers. Alpacas are prized for their thick, lustrous fiber which is considered one of the finest in the world. Alpacas come in many colors, but the eight basic colors are: black, white, caramel, fawn, coffee, silver, red, piebald. There are two types of alpaca; huacaya and suri. The huacaya has thick, crimpy fiber, while the suri has penciled locks with a wonderful luster.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE FIBER? An alpaca is sheared once annually. The fiber can be used in many different ways to make sweaters, dresses, all types of outerwear, rugs, wall hangings. Currently in the United States there is only a cottage industry for the fiber. Many breeders market their fleeces to local spinners. A fiber co-op has recently been developed to manage the pooling and processing of fleeces to manufacture end products for sale.

HOW HARD IS IT TO RAISE ALPACAS? Compared to most types of livestock, alpacas are very easy to raise and maintain. They require small acreage for grazing and are very easy keepers. Alpacas are ruminants with three stomachs and very efficiently convert hay and grass to energy. Their basic care includes shearing, worming and vaccinations. They do require basic shelter to protect them from intense heat or extreme cold however these animals originate from the Andean Mountain ranges and are very hardy.

HOW MUCH LAND DO I NEED TO RAISE ALPACAS? One acre of land can easily accommodate 6-10 animals. This makes alpacas the livestock of choice for individuals or families who have only a few acres and still want the pleasure and investment potential of raising alpacas.

WHAT ABOUT THE MANURE? Alpacas manure is relatively easy to clean up. The herd will utilize one or two spots in the pasture as their waste area. Because alpacas digest their food efficiently the waste is small, but very rich in nutrients and can be used for lawn and garden fertilizer.

ARE ALPACAS HARD TO TRAIN? No. They are easily trained to halter and lead. Many people enjoy training alpacas for competition in agility classes where the alpaca and the handler face many obstacles such as water hazards, hurdles, backing up a path and free hand loading into mini vans.

DO ALPACAS SPIT? Alpacas will spit at one another in defense of their babies and food, or to negate the advances of a breeding male. They will rarely spit on people.

WHAT KIND OF TRANSPORT DO YOU NEED FOR ALPACAS? Alpacas are easy to load and travel calmly. They can be transported in mini vans, station wagons, four wheel drive vehicles and vans or trailers. Typically an alpaca will "kush" (lie down) and enjoy the ride.

DO ALPACAS MAKE ANY NOISES? Yes, when an alpaca is upset or unsure about its’ surroundings it may emit a soft humming sound. Sometimes if an alpaca is alarmed either by a predator or a strange animal it will emit a shrill alarm bugle to warn the herd of the stranger.

WHAT KIND OF FENCING IS REQUIRED FOR ALPACAS? There are many different types of fencing you can use for alpacas. Many breeders use a 4’ wire mesh with posts placed every 15 to 20 feet. Other breeders prefer wood board fencing. The importance of good fencing is ensure that predators, (dogs, coyotes) cannot enter the pasture to chase or harm herd members.

DO ALPACAS GET ALONG WITH OTHER ANIMALS? Yes, they are quite curious and will usually approach any animal or person that comes near the fence or enters the paddock/pasture. Most breeders will tend not to graze their alpacas with other livestock mainly due to their value.

WHAT IS THE GESTATION PERIOD FOR AN ALPACA? The gestation period for an alpacas is 11 months.

 

[catycatcat4]

My mistake...

A Texan accent!

Yeehaw!

ms nicole has a JERSY ACCENT!

 

[k5jm]

Geez, I think we'd all be dead by now if we had to go by Nikki's litmus test o' cultural references.

Lori, I could not have said it better myself!

 

[k5jm]

Nice George!!

 

[jeanigor]

I can't believe y'all are making fun of the sweet alpacas. When DH and I start our alpaca farm, we were going to invite you all to visit.

As long as I don't have pooper scooper duty.....

Bagels and lox....

I was born in 1980 and you expect me to have seen your black and white pictures and talkies?

Cultural icons of the 80s and 90s...

Rainbow Brite
Debbie Gibson and Electric Youth (including the perfume)
Lite Bright
My Little Ponies
Alf
New Kids on the Block
Ducktales

Oh, there's more...

Um...I'm younger than you and I know about bagels and lox. I love Kevin's "black and white pictures and talkies". And you forgot ET, Back to the Future, and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Now I want an alpaca herd of my own. Alpaca....DVC....Alpaca....DVC

 

[bannermouse]

This thread is too funny. Nikki, you remind me a little of my neice who is in college. She refuses to watch any movie that is only in dreaded "black and white".
She has missed out on some wonderful classic movies.

Bannermouse

 

[BriarRosie]

Lori, I could not have said it better myself!

Let's celebrate by making obscure Hitchcock movie references.
Or better still, "The Poseidon Adventure" like we did in chat. Heheheh.

 

[dalt01]

That's it, I'm banning anyone on this thread who posted with the word Llama!

i guess this is goodby then

 

[dgthree]

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE FIBER? An alpaca is sheared once annually. The fiber can be used in many different ways to make sweaters, dresses, all types of outerwear, rugs, wall hangings. Currently in the United States there is only a cottage industry for the fiber. Many breeders market their fleeces to local spinners. A fiber co-op has recently been developed to manage the pooling and processing of fleeces to manufacture end products for sale.

and once it's spun into really yummy yarn, you pet it often & hope to find just the right project to do it justice. =)

I once felted (fulled) a purse knit from alpaca for a friend who's wool-sensitive (wouldn't normally felt something so lovely), and it was almost persian lamb-like in texture. Really fun.

In other words, if anyone who has an alpaca wants to find a loving home for its fur, I'd be more than happy to oblige.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm starting to wonder!

Now he's sending me links so I can learn about them... does he think I'm going to be an alpaca farmer, too? Wouldn't that involve things like mucking the stables? I don't think so...

Okay...that sight will get me to Texas!!!!! You know waaaaay too much about these adorable critters Kathy!!!! But, I do love their humming.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

-smirk!!!!!!!!-




to you is what I say.

 

[kaligal]

I often stop for pop at a little store owned by a family who works there. They all came from one of those Russian bloc countries. The old guy, about 70, is always talking to me about all kinds of stuff. Very friendly.

One day, I open the door and he YELLS at me - almost accusingly - "Do you know what they charge for an alpaca?!?!"

Feeling a bit like I'm in the Twilight Zone and wondering why on Earth anyone would know - or even want to - and why he's pricing alpacas, of all things, I answer. "No."

Of course I don't know what "they" are asking for alpacas. Soap, hamburger, the occasional garden hose and ipod, yeah. Alpacas, no.

I didn't get so far as to actually wonder what "they" were charging, so lost in astonishment was I that anyone would care, much less think I knew...but had I wondered about Alpaca Cost, it wouldn't have been for long.

"THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! (*&#%@*&!! Can you believe that?!"

Still couldn't believe I was in the middle of this conversation. And being yelled at for what "they" were charging for an alpaca.

"No. That's a lot."

After a few more expletives, I was able to get my Diet Pepsi, pay and go...he was still cursing and I never asked why he'd have been alpaca shopping.

This really has little to do with this thread, but I thought I'd share. It was an odd, but memorable stop at the store.

I keep wishing someone would now ask me in front of others what "they" charge for alpacas. I could say, "I hear it's around $30,000" and sound like a damn genius.

 

[sjsjbrook]

-smirk- It's not my fault you two are in cahoots and reference outdated material.

Did you order these yet?

Welcome to the fun!!

Hey I need these shirts, this is what I named my kids. Seriously anyone know where I can get them, they would find this hillarious.

My fav black and white movie is Holiday INN. I made my teen watch it with me this year.

Her favourite old movie is Gone with the wind ( until the last half hour where everyone dies), We named our son after Ashley Wilkes. I am finding out how many people have no idea Ashley was a boys name.