A language instructor was explaining to her class that in French, nouns, unlike their English counterparts, are grammatically designated as masculine or feminine.
"House," in French, is feminine = "la maison."
"Pencil," in French, is masculine = "le crayon."
One puzzled student asked, "What gender is 'computer'?"
The teacher did not know, and the word wasn't in her French dictionary. So for fun she split the class into two groups, appropriately enough by gender, and asked them to decide whether "computer" should be a masculine or feminine noun.
Both groups were required to give four reasons for their recommendation.
The men's group decided that computers should definitely be of the feminine gender ("la computer"), because:
No one but their creator understands their internal logic;
The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;
Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long-term memory for possible later retrieval; and
As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.
The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine ("le computer"), because:
In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on;
They have a lot of data but they are still clueless;
They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you'd waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.
(Sociologically, this seems like a good example of a pervasive technology serving as a mirror to spoof cultural attitudes.)
Angie:What brought you to Blogstream, and what did you hope to get out of it?
Tina:I originally started my blog to document my journey of adoption as I could not find any support groups for ppl going through the process. I was hoping to start a support group for people who were in or going into the adoption process as it is a very emotional process to go through without support.
Angie:What is the best thing about being a Mom?
Tina:Seeing my little ones faces light up when I get home after a rough day at work.
Angie:What is the hardest thing about being a Mom?
Tina:The hardest is letting the kids make & sort out there own mistakes; I keep trying to protect them from failing even though I know they need the experience to grow into stable adults.
Angie:What 5 CD's are currently in your player?
Tina:Oh dear...*sob* its pathetic..wheels on the bus…
Angie:What is your nationality or Ethnic background?
Tina:White South African
Angie:Last book you read?
Tina:The Take by Martina Cole
Angie:Most embarrassing moment you remember?
Tina:Hmmmmmm I guess it was the first time I got drunk on cocktails It was the first time I met my ex in-laws, & they had made a huge jug of Pimms No1 complete with all the fruit & stuff. It tasted like juice after my second glass I tried to get up to go to the loo & collapsed under the table, I just lifted my glass plonked it on the table & asked for a refill… the rest of the afternoon is a blur..
Angie:Your middle name?
Tina:Louise
Angie:What is your favorite word?
Tina:“for flowers sake”… can’t swear in front of the kids
Angie:What is your least favorite word?
Tina:It’s more of a phrase.“I have been thinking” this usually means the bosses have found a way to give more work.
Angie:What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Tina:I love the outdoors being with nature & love doing anything that involves helping kids in need.
Angie:What turns you off?
Tina:Idiots, people who hurt kids in anyway, & selfishness
Angie:What is your favorite curse word?
Tina:Crap
Angie:What sound or noise do you love?
Tina:A waterfall, love the power of the sound it makes.
Angie:What sound or noise do you hate?
Tina:The sound of the ice cream truck
Angie:What do you get from blogging?
Tina:It helps me deal with issues I would normally bottle up & I have met some wonderful people here.
Angie:Have you ever thought of leaving Blogstream?If so why was that?
Tina:I did when there was a lot of unpleasantness going on but them decided that that the people involved in making things unpleasant were really not worth the effort & best ignored.
Angie:What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Tina:A social worker-one who really cares about the best interest of the kids involved & not about the power rush they get from destroying families. (Sorry it’s a sore point)
Angie:What profession would you not like to do?
Tina:Be a house keeper I am hopeless keeping my own house clean...*blush*
Angie:If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you when you arrive?
Tina:“You must be lost”
Angie:How long have you been married for?
Tina:9 years (second time around)
Angie:Are boys really easier to raise then girls?
Tina:Hmmm this is a tough one as I have 2 of each, VJ was a nightmare baby where as Daniel is so easy going, then we have Keira who at times I think is the ruler of the underworld & then there is Steffy who swings between easy going & stubborn so often in a day I loose track...personally I think it depends on the child’s personality & not so much the sex but I might rethink this when the girls become teenagers.
Angie:What made you want to adopt?
Tina:I have always wanted to have stacks of kids but because of medical reasons was only blessed with the boys. When Steve & I got married we did the IVF thing to find out that there was not hope in hell it would work for us so after a few years of soul searching & fostering 2 little girls we decided that adoption was for us. My foster daughters have been adopted & are with their forever family I still miss them but am grateful that they came into my life & taught me so much.
Angie:Will you adopt more children in the future?
Tina:I would but I think Steve would leave home. But I am working on him I normally get what I want in the end.
Angie:When you’re at the end of your life as you look back what is the best thing you have done?
Tina:Wow not sure really I hope that it would be being a mom & a friend to my kids current & future.
Saturday Night Blog Fever Featuring: Sly and the Family Stone
Dance to the Music
Everyday People
Hot Fun in the Summertime (Medley)
Monday, December 08, 1969
Top News Headlines This Week:
Dec 8 - Greek DC-6B crashes in storm at Athens, 93 killed Dec 8 - Police surprise attack on Black-Panthers in Los Angeles Dec 11 - Libya adopts constitution Dec 12 - "Hello Dolly" with Barbra Streisand premieres Dec 12 - Bill Toomey (track and field) achieves world record-score (8417 points) Dec 12 - Bomb attack on bank in Milan, 14 killed
Top Songs for 1969
Everyday People by Sly & the Family Stone
In the Year 2525 by Zager & Evans
Honky Tonk Women by Rolling Stones
Wedding Bell Blues by Fifth Dimension
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In by Fifth Dimension
I Can't Get Next to You by Temptations
Get Back by Beatles (with Billy Preston)
Sugar, Sugar by Archies
Dizzy by Tommy Roe
Crimson & Clover by Tommy James & the Shondells
1969 Prices
US President
Bread:
$0.23/loaf
Richard M. Nixon
Milk:
$1.26/gal
US Vice President
Eggs:
$1.14/doz
Spiro T. Agnew
Car:
$3,400
Academy Award Winners
Gas:
$0.35/gal
Best Picture:
Midnight Cowboy
Directed By John Schlesinger
Best Actor:
John Wayne
in True Grit
Best Actress:
Maggie Smith
in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie
House:
$27,900
Stamp:
$0.06/ea
Avg Income:
$10,577/yr
Min Wage:
$1.60/hr
DOW Avg:
800
People born on December 8
1933 - Flip Wilson [Clerow] Jersey City NJ, comedian (Flip Wilson Show)
1936 - David Carradine Hollywood CA, actor (Kung Fu, Mean Streets)
1953 - Kim Basinger Athens GA, actress (9˝ Weeks, Batman)
Many Blogstream members are there
already! Quotes from members: "It's like blog lite!" -- "I like the instant
gratification!" -- "Stop spectating, get in the game!"
If you have not joined in, you are really missing out!
Is a computer male or female?
