Mon Nov 16, 2009

2009’s Word of the Year


The New Oxford American Dictionary has declared “unfriend,” meaning “to remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social-networking site such as Facebook,” as the word of the year. “It has both currency and potential longevity,” says Christine Lindberg, senior lexicographer for Oxford’s U.S. dictionary program. “Unfriend has real lex-appeal.” The word is unique because it assumes a verb sense of “friend” that has not been used since the 17th century.Read it at OUP Blog

Plastic Toxins 'Feminize' Boys


Real men drink their water straight from the faucet, perhaps? Scientists at the University of Rochester say that chemicals in plastic, called phthalates, have the ability to disrupt hormones and alter brain chemistry, causing boys to be less likely to play in a masculine way. The study found that boys exposed to two types of phthalates in the womb—DEHP and DBP—were less likely to play with cars, trains, and guns and were less likely to roughhouse. Certain phthalates, which are found in a wide variety of household items, including plastic furniture and packaging, are known to mimic estrogen, but for the first time, the study suggests that some phthalates also block testosterone.Read it at BBC

CNN Gave Dobbs the Boot


It must feel good to be this unwanted: Lou Dobbs’ former employer, CNN, paid him an $8 million severance package for giving up his show. “They wanted him out,” a source tells the New York Post. Dobbs had a year and a half left on his $12 million contract. He will give his first post-CNN interview to Bill O’Reilly on Fox News on Monday night.Read it at New York Post

$8 million severance? CNN can fire me anyday.

Rose wrote:

2009’s Word of the Year



The New Oxford American Dictionary has declared “unfriend,” meaning “to remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social-networking site such as Facebook,” as the word of the year. “It has both currency and potential longevity,” says Christine Lindberg, senior lexicographer for Oxford’s U.S. dictionary program. “Unfriend has real lex-appeal.” The word is unique because it assumes a verb sense of “friend” that has not been used since the 17th century.
Read it at OUP Blog

At first I thought that was "unifriend", which has all kinds of connotations. Perhaps that should be a word too....for example, instead of "boyfriend" or "girlfriend", you could just call "it" a unifriend, much like unisex is used. That way, whatever your persuasion may be, no one would know. Kinda like the "don't ask, don't tell" for gays in the military. This could also be extended to uniwife or unihusband.

Rose wrote:

Plastic Toxins 'Feminize' Boys



Real men drink their water straight from the faucet, perhaps? Scientists at the University of Rochester say that chemicals in plastic, called phthalates, have the ability to disrupt hormones and alter brain chemistry, causing boys to be less likely to play in a masculine way. The study found that boys exposed to two types of phthalates in the womb—DEHP and DBP—were less likely to play with cars, trains, and guns and were less likely to roughhouse. Certain phthalates, which are found in a wide variety of household items, including plastic furniture and packaging, are known to mimic estrogen, but for the first time, the study suggests that some phthalates also block testosterone.
Read it at BBC

I always thought that drinking bottled water looked kinda gay. I drink my water from a creek or ditch. Knees bent, cupped hand reaching in the water, bringing it up to your mouth, horse pissing behind me running into said stream or ditch......I ask you, what could be more macho?

That brings up a point I've pondered - gays in the military. Now, I'm all for gays serving but it does bring up a few logistical questions. Housing, for instance. We wouldn't house women and men together (at least, I don't think we would outside of emergency situations). Housing all the gays together doesn't seem to be a good solution nor does giving them all private dwellings (unless everyone has them).

Mayhap unihousing is the only answer.

Rose wrote:

CNN Gave Dobbs the Boot



It must feel good to be this unwanted: Lou Dobbs’ former employer, CNN, paid him an $8 million severance package for giving up his show. “They wanted him out,” a source tells the New York Post. Dobbs had a year and a half left on his $12 million contract. He will give his first post-CNN interview to Bill O’Reilly on Fox News on Monday night.
Read it at New York Post

Damn, Dobbs got screwed.....They paid Billy Gillispie (UK basketball coach) that much to get the hell outta town.

baldar77 wrote:

Rose wrote:

Plastic Toxins 'Feminize' Boys



Real men drink their water straight from the faucet, perhaps? Scientists at the University of Rochester say that chemicals in plastic, called phthalates, have the ability to disrupt hormones and alter brain chemistry, causing boys to be less likely to play in a masculine way. The study found that boys exposed to two types of phthalates in the womb—DEHP and DBP—were less likely to play with cars, trains, and guns and were less likely to roughhouse. Certain phthalates, which are found in a wide variety of household items, including plastic furniture and packaging, are known to mimic estrogen, but for the first time, the study suggests that some phthalates also block testosterone.
Read it at BBC

I always thought that drinking bottled water looked kinda gay. I drink my water from a creek or ditch. Knees bent, cupped hand reaching in the water, bringing it up to your mouth, horse pissing behind me running into said stream or ditch......I ask you, what could be more macho?

Sounds like boys really are made of snips, and snails and puppy dog tails.

Rose wrote:

That brings up a point I've pondered - gays in the military. Now, I'm all for gays serving but it does bring up a few logistical questions. Housing, for instance. We wouldn't house women and men together (at least, I don't think we would outside of emergency situations). Housing all the gays together doesn't seem to be a good solution nor does giving them all private dwellings (unless everyone has them).

Mayhap unihousing is the only answer.

Well, usually, after basic training, you live in a dorm situation, where you have your own room.....or at least one where there's only a "roomie". Barracks are way outta style.