Tuesday, May 29, 2007
S
The letter S is really hard for me. So hard I want to change my name to Jeica. Anybody else practicing?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wrong-minded northpaws?
My mom (who is left-handed) used to have a T-shirt that said, "The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. Therefore, left-handed people are the only ones in their right minds!"
Acceptable prize?
Would a $10 gift certificate to Moon River Brewing Company be an acceptable prize submission?
'stine
Saturday, May 12, 2007
My Sinister Grandpa
When I was learnin' the fine art of penmanship as a child, I distinctly remember having an odd conversation with my grandfather.
You see, I was learning the then-challenging concept of how to hold a pencil (resting on my middle finger, supported by the web between thumb and forefinger) in my right hand -- of course. I noticed that my grandpa held a pencil quit similar to the way you would hold a knife if you were about to kill an ex-lover. This stabbing-style of holding a writing utensil did not in turn produce quality handwriting -- instead, his penmanship was on par with that of Michael J. Fox during one of his "spells".
Grandpa explained that he was born left-handed, but it was drilled out of him in elementary school. The teacher would swat him when he tried to write southpaw-style. The reason for this was two-fold. Firstly, back then they only manufactured desks for right-handed people. It was mostly a right-handed world, so the teacher believed that being left-handed would severely set Grandpa back.
Secondly, even in the early twentieth century, it was still believed that left-handed was on par with being evil. In the bible the sinners are always on the left hand of God, whereas good 'ole Jesus sat on his right hand.
But where does this come from? In Latin, the word for left is 'sinistral'... which is where we get the word 'sinister' from. Poor Grandpa was a victim of short-sighted etymology.
It's not just in the English language where right means both the opposite of left and correct. In German "recht" carries the same double-edged sword of meaning. The same goes for French, Slavic languages, and many other tongues.
Things are no-doubt better now for lefties. Sure, they more or less have the same rights -- err, I mean privileges as right-handed folk. But I can't help but wonder: How many lefties have been denied equality over the centuries?
You see, I was learning the then-challenging concept of how to hold a pencil (resting on my middle finger, supported by the web between thumb and forefinger) in my right hand -- of course. I noticed that my grandpa held a pencil quit similar to the way you would hold a knife if you were about to kill an ex-lover. This stabbing-style of holding a writing utensil did not in turn produce quality handwriting -- instead, his penmanship was on par with that of Michael J. Fox during one of his "spells".
Grandpa explained that he was born left-handed, but it was drilled out of him in elementary school. The teacher would swat him when he tried to write southpaw-style. The reason for this was two-fold. Firstly, back then they only manufactured desks for right-handed people. It was mostly a right-handed world, so the teacher believed that being left-handed would severely set Grandpa back.
Secondly, even in the early twentieth century, it was still believed that left-handed was on par with being evil. In the bible the sinners are always on the left hand of God, whereas good 'ole Jesus sat on his right hand.
But where does this come from? In Latin, the word for left is 'sinistral'... which is where we get the word 'sinister' from. Poor Grandpa was a victim of short-sighted etymology.
It's not just in the English language where right means both the opposite of left and correct. In German "recht" carries the same double-edged sword of meaning. The same goes for French, Slavic languages, and many other tongues.
Things are no-doubt better now for lefties. Sure, they more or less have the same rights -- err, I mean privileges as right-handed folk. But I can't help but wonder: How many lefties have been denied equality over the centuries?
Friday, May 11, 2007
Cow-pawed?
Stuff I read on the InterWeb:
- Historically, "left-handed" was interchangeable with "cack-handed," "cow-pawed" and even "gibble-fisted."
- In Japan, finding a woman to be left-handed was grounds for divorce
New Rule in effect!
In an impromptu meeting (members Timby, Bennett, Crowd Pleaser, Clary and Terrell present), members decided that each entrant must submit their own prize, approximately $8-10 value, and the winner will take all prizes. It has to be a real prize, not food, services or homemade items.
Once you have selected your prize entry, post a photo to the blog. When three other members post a comment of approval, your prize is ratified. Prizes must also be "cool." Think of something you'd like to have yourself, only cooler.
Entrants must bring ratified prizes to the closing ceremony on September 14 and the announcement ceremony on September 21.
Once you have selected your prize entry, post a photo to the blog. When three other members post a comment of approval, your prize is ratified. Prizes must also be "cool." Think of something you'd like to have yourself, only cooler.
Entrants must bring ratified prizes to the closing ceremony on September 14 and the announcement ceremony on September 21.
NOTICE: rule change
In a 4-2 vote in the Committee for Left-handed Summers meeting this morning, the Committe decided to change the closing ceremony of Left-handed Summer to 11:45 a.m. on Friday, September 14. The winners will now be announced on Friday, September 21.
These changes affect official rules No. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Please make a note of it.
These changes affect official rules No. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Please make a note of it.
Rules and Regulations
Left-handed Summer Rules and Regulations
Presented by the Committee for Left-Handed Summers
1. Left-handed Summer will officially begin on Friday, May 25, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room and end on Friday, September 7, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room.
2. Entrants must sign up before 11:44:59 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007 on the official sign up sheet on the door of Keys Hall Room 105.
3. All entrants must be present at the opening and closing ceremonies to be eligible.
4. On Friday, May 25, 2007 at 10:45 a.m., all entrants will write, in one minute or less, the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” on a plain sheet of 8.5”x11” paper. The sentence must be written with that person’s non-dominant hand. (For the purposes of these rules and regulations, we will assume this is the person’s left hand.)
5. The entries will be numbered, to prevent identification of the writer of each sentence by the judging panel.
6. The left-handed baseline sentences will be sealed in an envelope and stored in the Keys Hall safe until Friday, September 7, 2007.
7. On Friday, September 7, 2007, at 10:45 a.m., the envelope will be unsealed, and participants will write the same sentence again, directly under the May 25 sentence, again with the non-dominant hand.
8. Entries will be judged by a 3-person neutral party panel. Judges are looking for improvement and overall good penmanship. The winner will be announced Friday, September 14 at 11:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room.
9. Any entrant may withdraw at any time between May 25 and September 7, however, once final entries are submitted, entrants may not withdraw.
10. Entrants are encouraged to chronicle their experiences in a group blog located at http://thecommitteeforlefthandedsummers.blogspot.com.
11. The information contained in these rules is intended for informational purposes and does not imply a contract with The Committee for Left-Handed Summers. All information is subject to change and every effort has been made to provide accurate and current information. TCFLHS and its subcontractors cannot be held liable for the misuse of information contained herein.
TCFLHS has made every effort to give credit to contractors where possible. TCFLHS maintains these rules, and will, upon request and when necessary, add information and update information.
In no event will TCFLHS or its contractors be liable for any indirect, special, consequential, or incidental damages including, without limitation, lost profits, or loss or damage to data arising out of the use or inability to use these rules even if TCFLHS has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Participants in TCFLHS site agree to indemnify and hold harmless TCFLHS from and against any and all claims, actions, causes of actions, administrative or government action, losses or damages (including legal fees and expenses) arising from the usage.
Presented by the Committee for Left-Handed Summers
1. Left-handed Summer will officially begin on Friday, May 25, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room and end on Friday, September 7, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room.
2. Entrants must sign up before 11:44:59 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007 on the official sign up sheet on the door of Keys Hall Room 105.
3. All entrants must be present at the opening and closing ceremonies to be eligible.
4. On Friday, May 25, 2007 at 10:45 a.m., all entrants will write, in one minute or less, the sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” on a plain sheet of 8.5”x11” paper. The sentence must be written with that person’s non-dominant hand. (For the purposes of these rules and regulations, we will assume this is the person’s left hand.)
5. The entries will be numbered, to prevent identification of the writer of each sentence by the judging panel.
6. The left-handed baseline sentences will be sealed in an envelope and stored in the Keys Hall safe until Friday, September 7, 2007.
7. On Friday, September 7, 2007, at 10:45 a.m., the envelope will be unsealed, and participants will write the same sentence again, directly under the May 25 sentence, again with the non-dominant hand.
8. Entries will be judged by a 3-person neutral party panel. Judges are looking for improvement and overall good penmanship. The winner will be announced Friday, September 14 at 11:45 a.m. in the Keys Hall First Floor Conference Room.
9. Any entrant may withdraw at any time between May 25 and September 7, however, once final entries are submitted, entrants may not withdraw.
10. Entrants are encouraged to chronicle their experiences in a group blog located at http://thecommitteeforlefthandedsummers.blogspot.com.
11. The information contained in these rules is intended for informational purposes and does not imply a contract with The Committee for Left-Handed Summers. All information is subject to change and every effort has been made to provide accurate and current information. TCFLHS and its subcontractors cannot be held liable for the misuse of information contained herein.
TCFLHS has made every effort to give credit to contractors where possible. TCFLHS maintains these rules, and will, upon request and when necessary, add information and update information.
In no event will TCFLHS or its contractors be liable for any indirect, special, consequential, or incidental damages including, without limitation, lost profits, or loss or damage to data arising out of the use or inability to use these rules even if TCFLHS has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Participants in TCFLHS site agree to indemnify and hold harmless TCFLHS from and against any and all claims, actions, causes of actions, administrative or government action, losses or damages (including legal fees and expenses) arising from the usage.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)