Computer gender
A Spanish teacher was explaining to the class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.
“House” for instance, is feminine: “la casa.”
“Pencil,” however, is masculine: “el lapiz.”
A student asked, “What gender is computer?”
Instead of giving the answer the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.
The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the feminine gender (la computadora) because: Read more…
Ron Mueck hyperrealistic sculptures
As creative director on the Australian children program Shirl’s Neighbourhood – televised from 1979 to 1984 – Ron Mueck not only made the puppets for the show but did the voices of a number of them. He also operated some of the puppets. He must have been an absolute natural because his parents were toy makers.
Ron Mueck (born 1958) moved to London where he made models for advertising at first and then, in 1996, moved on to fine art, working with his mother-in-law, the famous artist Paula Rego. Since, Mueck has created the hyperrealistic sculptures that made him world famous. Read more…
For Auld Lang Syne
“For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”
These words Scottish poet Robert Burns collected from old folk tales to pen Auld Lang Syne in 1788 bids the old year farewell. It is traditionally sang at the strike of the new year but is also sung at other farewells. And to 2010 we say good riddance. May 2011 bring peace, fairness, and prosperity. May it be a Rave to the Nth degree.
The only constant
“The only constant is change.” Thankfully. And no more so than in American elections, known for its wide swings between the left and right. It is, of course, a common trend in almost any two-party system.
When Greek philosopher Heraclitus wrote – at around 500 BC – that famous line about change he could not have had the 2010 US Mid Term elections in mind but explaining change as “cold things warm up, hot things cool down” certainly sums up political moods. You are guaranteed to hear “We’ve come to take our government back!” every two years. And that would have pleased Thomas Jefferson, who insisted that “Every generation needs a new revolution.” A revolution every two years should be even better, one presumes. Read more…
Harajuku Gothic Lolita Fashion
Elegant, Geisha, Victorian, mad, modern – or a combination of it all. Gothic Lolita fashion from the Harajuku region in Japan made a lasting impression in the fashion world. Harajuku style has been around for a decade but continues to remain popular as the number of GothLolis – people who dress in Gothic Lolita fashion – grow internationally.
Harajuku draws from Geisha, Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei and other styles but has stuck as a separate image not only because of it’s unique style but also because of media coverage and, no doubt, the famous Harajuku Girls song by Gwen Stefani (pop’s most fashionable lady?). It got a further international push when Nicki Minaj started referring to Harajuku Barbies. Read more…
Now that they have your money they will keep it
Your banker loves you. Especially since the latest accord of Basil III was sneaked into being by the BIS (Bank of International Settlements). The bankers agree to hold more capital in reserve, rising from the current 4% to 4.5% by 2013 and 6% by 2019, plus an emergency reserve of 2.5%, totaling some 8.5%. In short, it means that banks have 9 years (before the agreement comes into full effect – if it does) to capitalize on your money.
The banks will obviously use Basil III as an excuse NOT to lend while, at the same time, increasing their profits and – no guessing needed – bonus payouts. Basically, now that they have your money they will keep it. Read more…
She makes even bad news sound good
Andrea Catherwood is an anchor presenter on Bloomberg TV. She enlightens looking at the numbing numbers during bear markets. She makes even bad news sound good. Her husky Irish accent smooths any stock shock. Just watching her makes any man more bullish. And the big plus is that she is a professional; she knows what she is talking about.
Andrea has a honors degree in law (yack, a la Shakespeare) but she fortunately came to her senses and focused on media, sharing her lovely presentation style on ITV, Five News and, since October 2009, on Bloomberg TV.
The stunning Andrea Catherwood is the August 2010 Woman of the month.
Latest Jennifer Aniston pictures
Was browsing Huffington Post over a glass (disclosure: a bottle, actually) of Tenuta Belguardo when I came across pics of the topless Jennifer Aniston posing for her new Lovalie perfume. Almost swallowed the wine glass. Oh my goodness, Miss Aniston looks absolutely gorgeous! Started comparing the two:
Tenuta Belguardo is made from the Sangiovese varietal, the latter name which derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, the blood of Jove, according to Wikipedia. Jove is the other name for Jupiter, the king of the mythological gods. Not much to compare there with sweet Jennifer. Sangiovese is also a much cloned wine variety. Also no comparison since sweet Jen is rather unique. Read more…
Mandela: a man amongst men
Once in a lifetime the world is made a better place because of vision of a single man. Nelson Mandela is such a man. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom.
Throughout his career – in fact, throughout his lifetime – two themes drove Mandela’s vision: Freedom and Education. Freedom, not because he longed for it so much himself during his 27 years in prison but because – so true to himself – he wishes it for everyone. Upon his release from prison in 1990 he stunned the world with his generosity by ignoring his own imprisonment and immediately setting to work on the freedom of all; political and personal freedom. And he insisted that much of freedom can be attained though education: Read more…
The face of modern terrorism
Clean shaven, immaculately dressed, manicured, arrogant. Looking at the Goldman Sachs executives during the Senate hearing on mortgages one cannot help but realize that these are the faces of modern terrorism.
The grilling Senator Carl Levin’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations gave the seven bankers – including Lloyd Blankfein, the most hated man in the world – will not reverse the damage done, will not bring back the properties lost and lives destroyed. It only reminds one that not all terrorists are armed with guns. Read more…
