On Sat, 31 Dec 2016 14:53:14 -0800, mike wrote:

I asked my neighbor to prune the trees that overhang my house.
Was told to go pound sand.
So, the offending branch is about 20 feet up.
I don't have a ladder tall enough to get at it
safely with a chain saw.
I'd rather not try to chop it off at the trunk for fear it
will land on my TV antenna and bust it.

I tried throwing a rope over it last summer to see if I could break it.
I think I can pull at an angle so it falls between the houses.
Didn't break.

It's gonna be 18F here tomorrow. That's about as cold as it ever gets.

What's the dynamic if I pull down on it when it's cold outside?
Likely to break easier? It's about 2" diameter where I'd like it
to break.

No, I don't know what kind of tree it is. Some version of
maple, maybe...no leaves on it now. It's not in particularly
good health. Lots of decay.

Is there anything interesting I can do without hurting myself?

The first thing you need is a video camera. After that all you need is a few beers as was suggested. Once you have
concocted a plan to eliminate that pesky branch, look straight into the camera and say, "Hey, y'all, watch this!" Make
sure you post the video where we can see it!