excuse me for the poor formatting

[gusl]

If you needed any convincing that you should choose the best peers for your kids:

Woman on edge.org who believes parents play no role in shaping personality outside the home says that kids acquire possibly 100% of their social behavior from their peers, and that teenagers are the driving force of cultural change.

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Tons of interesting links at betterhumans.com, under neuro- (science?)

Paul Allen's project to build science tutors
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/publicfeature/jan05/0105ldigi.html

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Why is it that when foreigners learn the English word "bitch" they think it means "whore"?

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tracking people
nndb.com

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D Batens - On the Logic of Induction
http://logica.rug.ac.be/%7Edirk/induct.pdf

Comments

[inhortte.livejournal.com]

The word 'bitch' can be used to mean 'whore' (or 'slut') in certain contexts. There is, for example, the English expression 'a bitch in heat'. I just looked in an online czech dictionary for 'bitch'. Two of the given translations (děvka and kurva) mean 'whore' or 'slut'. The literal translation is also there, however (fena), but it is pretty low on the list. Perhaps it is the fault of dictionary writers?

People learning English, in my experience, especially youngish (under 30) ones, generally latch on to the 'dirty words' quickly. This may be one reason. However, it has always been beyond me that no one (in this country, at least) knows one of the most used meanings of the word -- an aggrivating or evil woman.

[qamar.livejournal.com]

one of the most used meanings of the word -- an aggrivating or evil woman.

i.e. an assertive woman with an opinion

[inhortte.livejournal.com]

Do you call assertive women with opinions 'bitches'?
I certainly don't.

[qamar.livejournal.com]

In my experience, where men feel threatened by a dominant woman, she is described as a bitch. Where as an assertive man in the same scenario is treated with respect. E.g. When Judy Dench played 'M' in James Bond, lots of people were uncomfortable with James being subserveant to an aggressive woman in that way.

[inhortte.livejournal.com]

Sadly, your first statement is generally true. It is even worse so in the Czech Republic, where women are exceedingly rarely seen in positions where they can be 'dominant' (at least in the workplace).
I was not so very bothered by James's subservience.

[qamar.livejournal.com]

I was not so very bothered by James's subservience.

No, neither was I. The more strong, intelligent female roles for experienced actresses the better. Helen Mirim is my hero.

[ataltane.livejournal.com]

In the expression a bitch in heat the meaning of "bitch" isn't "whore" at all. It just means "a female dog in oestrus". "Heat" is the non-technical expression for "oestrus". Of course, it becomes offensive when applied to a human female...

[inhortte.livejournal.com]

Yes, obviously, but it has been used as a metaphor for women who are promiscuous.