Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:30:55 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: > > As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) > I like it. What about trackballs? A trackball is an oversixed, upside down[1] mouse, so I'd call it a dead rat... except that sounds too much like a Linux distro :) [1] Yes, yes, I know it's the other way round; the mouse was invented as an upside down trackball. -- Neil Bothwick Don't forget that MS-Windows is just a temporary workaround until you can switch to a GNU system. signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Wed, 13 Dec 2006, Bira wrote: On 12/13/06, Jorge Almeida <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: > On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) > > I like it. What about trackballs? > Gremlins? Tribbles? Yes, much better. (Didn't know the critters, had to look in Wikipedia...) -- Jorge Almeida -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/13/06, Jorge Almeida <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: > On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) > > I like it. What about trackballs? > Gremlins? Tribbles? -- Bira http://compexplicita.blogspot.com http://sinfoniaferida.blogspot.com -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006, Ryan Sims wrote: On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? Gremlins? -- Jorge Almeida -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 2006-12-12 at 13:05 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: > Might this also be related to the use of "mouse" as a verb? I.e. > "mouse over the image to see it change," > > I mouse > You mouse > He mouses? > We all.mice? Well, that had me laughing quite a bit. However, are you really sure that the verb would be "to mouse over", rather than "to mouseover"? I would suspect that the usage of that term as a verb has been grabbed from maybe JavaScript or some GUI builder tool, and thus should be verbified as the entire word that it is in its original usage. Of course, one might consider it normal to seperate prepositions from verb stems. Fredrik Tolf -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 2006-12-12 at 20:12 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: > On 12 December 2006 18:41, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: > > > While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard > > *anyone* use the word "mouses" for *anything* and if I had I would have > > corrected them by telling them "mice" is the proper plural of "mouse", > > even when talking about a pointing device. > > Taking into account what others said, I guess we have to agree on > disagreeing. ;-) Actually, that is fine with me. Best thing humanity > achieved - ever. I am just happy I can continue to call those pointing > devices mice. > > BTW, I am rather surprised by the high number of replies to my OTOTOT post - > suggesting you all have way too much time on your hands. ;-) > > Uwe The semester's over. All I have is time. -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/12/06, Neil Bothwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: > In Argentina we do not say "raton" (spanish translation for "mouse") As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I like it. What about trackballs? -- Ryan W Sims -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
Selon Neil Bothwick <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: > > > In Argentina we do not say "raton" (spanish translation for "mouse") > > As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) I propose we rename that thread: "Of mice (mouses ?) and men" -- ~adj~ -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:20:43 -0300, Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman wrote: > In Argentina we do not say "raton" (spanish translation for "mouse") As a cordless mouse has no tail, should we call it a hamster? ;-) -- Neil Bothwick Jimmy Hoffa is buried here --> X signature.asc Description: PGP signature
RE: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
-Original Message-
From: Arturo 'Buanzo' Busleiman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 1:21 PM
To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
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Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
> While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard
> *anyone* use the word "mouses" for *anything* and if I had I would
> have corrected them by telling them "mice" is the proper plural of
> "mouse", even when talking about a pointing device.
In Argentina we do not say "raton" (spanish translation for "mouse"),
but we say "mouse", so, the plural for that is... "mouses" like in "che,
anda a buscar unos mouses" ("hey, got get some mouses"). :)
Anyway, mouses sounds just fine for me :P
- --
Arturo "Buanzo" Busleiman - Consultor Independiente en Seguridad
Informatica LISTA DE CASAMIENTO: Cualquier Fravega a nombre de Busleiman
(37520).
http://www.buanzo.com.ar | http://www.vivamoslavida.com.ar : Portal
no-comercial del buen vivir!
You guys have no clue how BADLY I needed the entertainment break this
thread has brought - THANK YOU!!
TIM
Tim Holmes
IT Manager / Webmaster / Teacher
Medina Christian Academy
A Higher Standard...
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Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12 December 2006 18:41, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote: > While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard > *anyone* use the word "mouses" for *anything* and if I had I would have > corrected them by telling them "mice" is the proper plural of "mouse", > even when talking about a pointing device. Taking into account what others said, I guess we have to agree on disagreeing. ;-) Actually, that is fine with me. Best thing humanity achieved - ever. I am just happy I can continue to call those pointing devices mice. BTW, I am rather surprised by the high number of replies to my OTOTOT post - suggesting you all have way too much time on your hands. ;-) Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1
Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
> While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard
> *anyone* use the word "mouses" for *anything* and if I had I would have
> corrected them by telling them "mice" is the proper plural of "mouse",
> even when talking about a pointing device.
In Argentina we do not say "raton" (spanish translation for "mouse"), but we
say "mouse", so, the
plural for that is... "mouses" like in "che, anda a buscar unos mouses" ("hey,
got get some mouses"). :)
Anyway, mouses sounds just fine for me :P
- --
Arturo "Buanzo" Busleiman - Consultor Independiente en Seguridad Informatica
LISTA DE CASAMIENTO: Cualquier Fravega a nombre de Busleiman (37520).
http://www.buanzo.com.ar | http://www.vivamoslavida.com.ar : Portal
no-comercial del buen vivir!
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Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:05:56 -0500, Ryan Sims wrote: > > > 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device "(pl also > > > mouses)" so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. > > > > Might this also be related to the use of "mouse" as a verb? I.e. > "mouse over the image to see it change," Verbs don't have plurals. The OED does list mouse as a verb, but only as an activity of cats. I'd never use it like you just did except in JavaScript :) -- Neil Bothwick "Mr. Worf, scan that ship." "Aye Captain. 300 dpi?" signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12/12/06, Uwe Thiem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: On 12 December 2006 18:24, Neil Bothwick wrote: > > I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use > > mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford > > dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? > > 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) Well, I had to look up the other thing. ;-) > > 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device "(pl also mouses)" >so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. Might this also be related to the use of "mouse" as a verb? I.e. "mouse over the image to see it change," I mouse You mouse He mouses? We all.mice? -- Ryan W Sims -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:20:48 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: > I always thought of the Oxford dictionary as extremely conservative, > i.e. it reflects a language in use 30 years ago. I used to think the same, but it is not so, for example the 2002 edition lists "text" as a verb. -- Neil Bothwick Top Oxymorons Number 15: Extinct Life signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:54:20 -0500, Philip Webb wrote: > > 3) a dictionary documents the language as used, > > This may be difficult for German & French natives to grasp, > as their languages have strict rules laid down by authorities Which everyone ignores... You can't enforce rules of language... unless you are my editor :) -- Neil Bothwick WinErr 009: Horrible bug encountered - God knows what has happened signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On 12 December 2006 18:24, Neil Bothwick wrote: > > I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use > > mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford > > dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? > > 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) Well, I had to look up the other thing. ;-) > > 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device "(pl also mouses)" >so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. Uh, yours is newer than mine (1994). So I am allowed to call them mice. What a relief. > > 3) Bear in mind that a dictionary documents the language as used, not a >set of rule for using it, so if both plurals are accepted usage, both >should be included (you are not alone Alan :) I always thought of the Oxford dictionary as extremely conservative, i.e. it reflects a language in use 30 years ago. BTW, my spellchecker accepts mouses - of course it can't distinguish what I am referring to. Anyway, thanks for answering (to Alan as well). Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
061212 Neil Bothwick wrote: > On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:38:07 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: >> I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. >> 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device >> for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. > 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) It's ok to have a bit of light entertainment during the day (smile). > 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device "(pl also mouses)" >so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. I don't know where they got 'mouses' from, but when a native speaker hears the word 'mice', s/he tends to picture an infestation, ie many more than a countable few, so there mb grounds for inventing a different plural for the gadgets. > 3) a dictionary documents the language as used, This may be difficult for German & French natives to grasp, as their languages have strict rules laid down by authorities -- leading to bitter disputes re German punctuation in recent years -- , but the OED, which is an authority, simply reports how people use English, incl how they have used it in the past back to its Dark Ages predecessors. -- ,, SUPPORT ___//___, Philip Webb : [EMAIL PROTECTED] ELECTRIC /] [] [] [] [] []| Centre for Urban & Community Studies TRANSIT`-O--O---' University of Toronto -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:38:07 +0300, Uwe Thiem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi folks, this is for English native speakers (British English, American English and colonial English alike). I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal and 2. a timid person: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? Uwe Not being a native speaker, I tried "mouses" in MS Word, and it insisted on "mice". However, http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxmouses.html insists that MS thinks "mouses" are correct. Another example of undecided MS, right? -- Andrei Gerasimenko -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tuesday 12 December 2006 09:38, Uwe Thiem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote about '[gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses': > I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use > mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford > dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? While language evolution is not a democratic process, I've never heard *anyone* use the word "mouses" for *anything* and if I had I would have corrected them by telling them "mice" is the proper plural of "mouse", even when talking about a pointing device. I'm a native speaker of "Southern English", and fairly fluent in "American English" -- heavy "British English" "accents" can throw me, but only when they are particularly dense w/ "British-isms". -- "If there's one thing we've established over the years, it's that the vast majority of our users don't have the slightest clue what's best for them in terms of package stability." -- Gentoo Developer Ciaran McCreesh pgpxJyPFPqSIY.pgp Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:38:07 +0200, Uwe Thiem wrote: > I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to > make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came > to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal > and 2. a timid person: > > 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on > a VDU screen. > > I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use > mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford > dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? 1) You have waaay too much time on your hands :) 2) My OED (2002 edition) says of the computer device "(pl also mouses)" so they consider both mice and mouses to be correct. 3) Bear in mind that a dictionary documents the language as used, not a set of rule for using it, so if both plurals are accepted usage, both should be included (you are not alone Alan :) 4) One of the main cultural references of my youth called them meeces, but the OED doesn't like that one... -- Neil Bothwick Top Oxymorons Number 38: Government organization signature.asc Description: PGP signature
Re: [gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
On Tuesday 12 December 2006 17:38, Uwe Thiem wrote: > 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor > on a VDU screen. > > I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use > mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the > Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in > this case? I have always called them mouses since a friend once found the same reference in the Oxford. Mice are two or more furry rodents that eat cheese and make ladies squeal. But I'm considered extremely odd in most things so I wouldn't be surprised if I was just bucking the trend on this as well :-) alan -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
[gentoo-user] almost completely OT: mouses
Hi folks, this is for English native speakers (British English, American English and colonial English alike). I was looking up something in my Oxford dictionary. First, I had to make sure how they indicate irregular plurals. The first word that came to mind was mouse. Look what they write there apart from 1. the animal and 2. a timid person: 3. (plural mouses) a small hand-held device for controlling a cursor on a VDU screen. I have never seen anyone (except non-native speakers by mistake) use mouses as the plural for a computer mouse. Are the people of the Oxford dictionary nuts, or is this really correct and mice wrong in this case? Uwe -- Mark Twain: I rather decline two drinks than a German adjective. http://www.SysEx.com.na -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
