Questions of a weird mind

[Dr.Epic]

Do doughnuts ever wish they could eat people?

[Xiander]

Except that it can't. The "gh" that makes a "f" sound is always at the end of words, and there are similar objections for the other parts. Position within a word and relative to other letters is a very important part of pronunciation -- no one would ever consider reading "ghoti" as "fish".

This "trick" bugs me.

GH is only pronounced F after an OU and at the end of words (mostly, though adding a suffix, like roughage) and even then not always (dough, bough etc). Then TI is only really pronounced SH when part of the -tion ending.

Take a bunch of things out of context and you can make them do whatever you want.

All this is perfectly correct, and I agree with all of it. The point is not that we can spell stuff however we want by taking stuff out of context. The point is that "GH" is sometimes pronounced "F" and "T" does not always make a T-sound. These simple facts leads straight to the conclusion that spelling does not dictate pronunciation.

In short: Of course no one thinks fish when they see the constellation kghotip. But some words, like Chameleon, defy the normal rules of pronunciation.

[pffh]

Why are bats called bats? They look nothing like bats.

[Siosilvar]

Why are bats called bats? They look nothing like bats.

Because of verbs. Bat: to hit. Bat: to flutter.

More importantly, why are homonyms? Crazy people, you don't need to use the same words over and over again, there are plenty of letter combinations that look like words that aren't in use.

[Traab]

Because of verbs. Bat: to hit. Bat: to flutter.

More importantly, why are homonyms? Crazy people, you don't need to use the same words over and over again, there are plenty of letter combinations that look like words that aren't in use.

What about palindromes? Why create words like racecar? is it intentional? Or did they just happen to work out that way? Phrases are different, I dont count things like,

"Do nine men interpret?" "Nine men," I nod.

as odd because thats intentionally setup to be a palindrome, to me its all about the single words.

[Lord Raziere]

You men Ask That Guy?

Yes, and to accompany him…..the Ebon Dragon.

hehehe….. Ask The Ebon Dragon….

Yes.

[Frozen_Feet]

Do doughnuts ever wish they could eat people?

No, because they don't think.

Though I guess a doughnut could become a tsukumogami if it lasted for a century, those have a habit of wishing to eat people. But it would take some mighty preservatives.

[Elemental]

The preservatives required exist.
I just have one question... Does the doughnut have to be in good shape?

[Grinner]

If a person must train with a skydiver before becoming a skydiver himself, who first invented the practice?

Militaries are the first to come to mind. But, really, what soldier would actually leap from a plane, even on orders?

[Kobold-Bard]

If a person must train with a skydiver before becoming a skydiver himself, who first invented the practice?

Militaries are the first to come to mind. But, really, what soldier would actually leap from a plane, even on orders?

Some sort of deranged adrenaline junkie in the age before health & safety?

[Karoht]

From wiki:

The history of skydiving starts with Andre-Jacques Garnerin who made successful parachute jumps from a hot-air balloon in 1797. The military developed parachuting technology as a way to save aircrews from emergencies aboard balloons and aircraft in flight, later as a way of delivering soldiers to the battlefield. Early competitions date back to the 1930s, and it became an international sport in 1952.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydiving
Note that the entry says 'successful' jumps.

[Ravens_cry]

Why do inflammable and flammable mean the same thing, while sane and insane are opposites?
Also, completely unrelated, if you hear a lot of a person talking, say watching a TV show or a comedian,does your head voice, the one you hear when you think in-loud* sound like that person? I know mine does, my brain goes all Alton Brown after a 'Good Eats' binge.
*as opposed to out-loud

[TheThan]

Related to your last question. How long did it take for early man to figure out what was safe to eat and what wasnt? Did someone pick up say, a carrot, and eat the leaves, then after that was terrible, eat the root? I know there are some edible plants that have poisonous parts, who convinced their buddies to try the rest after the first guy died or got horribly ill?

Caveman 1: “bet you can eat that.”
Caveman 2: “dunno, it doesn’t look too good.”
Caveman 1: “go on give it a try, whats the worst that can happen?”

Now I’ve got one.
In space, where there’s no gravity, do women need bras for support?
If I ever get the chance to meet a (Female) astronaut, I am totally asking this.

[Ravens_cry]

Now I’ve got one.
In space, where there’s no gravity, do women need bras for support?
If I ever get the chance to meet a (Female) astronaut, I am totally asking this.

Well, one thing is for sure, if your hair is long enough, everyone gets eighties hair.

[Grinner]

Now I’ve got one.
In space, where there’s no gravity, do women need bras for support?
If I ever get the chance to meet a (Female) astronaut, I am totally asking this.

Here's a question: Why do women even wear bras? It seems odd that biology would require them.

[H Birchgrove]

Here's a question: Why do women even wear bras? It seems odd that biology would require them.

Imagine women without them doing sports or other physical activities.

It's not that much different from men "having" to wear underpants.

[razark]

In space, where there’s no gravity, do women need bras for support?
If I ever get the chance to meet a (Female) astronaut, I am totally asking this.

I'm not sure if they need them, but yes, they do wear them. They are considered "space flight hardware", just like a spacesuit, the space station, legos, or anything else that is taken into orbit. NASA keeps detailed engineering drawings of them on file.

[Grinner]

Imagine women without them doing sports or other physical activities.

It's not that much different from men "having" to wear underpants.

I dunno. African tribesmen seem to get along just fine.

You know what. I've a martial arts class tomorrow, so I'll try it out and report back.

[Ravens_cry]

I dunno. African tribesmen seem to get along just fine.

You know what. I've a martial arts class tomorrow, so I'll try it out and report back.

Let's just say a mass swinging on a fleshy pendulum tends to cause imbalances.
Also, bruising of said masses, which are tender as is.

[TheThan]

I'm not sure if they need them, but yes, they do wear them. They are considered "space flight hardware", just like a spacesuit, the space station, legos, or anything else that is taken into orbit. NASA keeps detailed engineering drawings of them on file.

Well I'm more wondering if the lack of gravity would provide sufficient "lift" and "support" to render the bra redundant.

[razark]

Well I'm more wondering if the lack of gravity would provide sufficient "lift" and "support" to render the bra redundant.

I imagine that without gravity to provide guidance, things would get a bit uncomfortably bouncy, so the sports bra is probably very useful. It can also be good if a t-shirt floats up.

[Savannah]

Here's a question: Why do women even wear bras? It seems odd that biology would require them.

Culture. Really, that's the main reason. Now, depending on how you're built, bras can make you more comfortable by preventing your breasts from bouncing all around (really not fun), but they aren't necessary for survival (and, in fact, can be really annoying, even when properly fitted).

[TheThan]

the sports bra is probably very useful. It can also be good if a t-shirt floats up.

You know, I never considered that little bit of the idea. Must ponder it some more...

*wanders off pondering*

[Ravens_cry]

Culture. Really, that's the main reason. Now, depending on how you're built, bras can make you more comfortable by preventing your breasts from bouncing all around (really not fun), but they aren't necessary for survival (and, in fact, can be really annoying, even when properly fitted).

Also aesthetics. Even if it is debatable if they prevent sagging, they do lift what is sagging, creating at least an illusion of a more youthful appearance.

[Eldan]

As for why Tribesmen don't wear them, I'd think diet plays a role in that. On a more scarce diet with less fat and probably generally fewer calories and more physical activity, I'd imagine the assets in question would be less pronounced.

After all, humans are built to be walking pretty much perpetually all day.

[The Succubus]

Arthur C Clarke once pondered this very question in Rendevous with Rama. Apparently, while generously endowed women are distraction enough, weightless apparently causes certain sympathetic movements and vibrations. At least one serious space accident is thought to have been caused due to "crew distraction" in this manner. Wish I had the actual quote here in front of me....

[Dogmantra]

Why do inflammable and flammable mean the same thing, while sane and insane are opposites?

Because insane has added the "in" prefix to make it the opposite of sane, whereas flammable and inflammable are from to different words. Flammable from "flame", meaning fire, and inflammable from "inflame", meaning to catch fire.

[GolemsVoice]

Why does the German language have a word for insane, but not for sane? On the other hand, why do the English have no word for Schadenfreude? I'm sure the English aren't less schadenfreudig than the Germans, why didn't they invent a word for it?

[Dogmantra]

Why does the German language have a word for insane, but not for sane? On the other hand, why do the English have no word for Schadenfreude? I'm sure the English aren't less schadenfreudig than the Germans, why didn't they invent a word for it?

We do have a word for it, we call it schadenfreude. We are not an inventive language :P

[Elemental]

Well, we have words for it...
It means something about joyful harm, right?
My apologies, I used Google Translate, the German dictionary is upstairs, and I've got a laptop on my lap and it's getting late.