Help choose the name of CE and Silur's baby! (spam on subject)

[fable]

Okay, let me see if I understand this correctly.

In Sweden, the federal laws do not allow you to give a child of one sex a name commonly associated with the other sex.

In Norway, it is a practice in some rural areas to name children after favorite furniture.

Okay.

Do you have any idea how utterly insane this sounds?

[Tricky]

These are the same people that put rotting fish in a can and then call it a delicacy. What did you expect?

[Moonbiter]

Yes, we do. At least some of us. Johnny Cash wrote a song about "A Boy Named Sue" and the lyrics says it all. As I've previously said I grew up with a very uncommon name, and there was times during my childhood when I hated my parents with all my heart for sticking me with a tag that gave other kids a free pass to pick on me. Don't call it insane, as it is only common sense. Parents are morons on this issue, and don't get me started on names over in the "land of the free".... Oh, and Tricky, rotten fish in a can? I think I'm gonna bump the "Misconceptions" thread again if you can't explain that one pretty well....

[Tricky]

I also seem to remember Swedes eat earth . At least, some Swedish friends of my mom and dad once brought over something that he chewed on. It looked like earth or soil and he.. well, chewed on it. I never figured out what that was. I can't remember if it was wrapped in something or came in cans like the 'fermented' herring.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Moonbiter

Yes, we do. At least some of us. Johnny Cash wrote a song about "A Boy Named Sue" and the lyrics says it all.

But that little gem, written by the late Shel Silverstein, was all about toughening up a kid to be able to deal with the real world. His followup song had to do with the kid and his dad crossdressing, as I recall. Haven't heard the silly thing in years, but Silverstein was a wonderful character.

As I've previously said I grew up with a very uncommon name, and there was times during my childhood when I hated my parents with all my heart for sticking me with a tag that gave other kids a free pass to pick on me. Don't call it insane, as it is only common sense.

But how does this justify the government telling your parents what they can and cannot name you? When my mother was growing up, one of her friends was a girl named "Rita Book." That's a terrible thing to do to a kid, but does it require a law to stop it? And what if parents want to raise a child with a name outside the norm, in a religion that isn't the majority religion (or no religion at all), in a household that has two mothers and no father, or a three-parent relatiionship? Should the government be able to stop this to prevent the child from being picked on in early life?

Parents are morons on this issue, and don't get me started on names over in the "land of the free"....

Oh, we have some amazing ones.

Oh, and Tricky, rotten fish in a can? I think I'm gonna bump the "Misconceptions" thread again if you can't explain that one pretty well....

If he means lutefisk, I've tried it several times and liked it. And anybody who eats fast food shouldn't cast stones at it, either. Rotten, indeed!

[Tricky]

Actually, I meant Surströmming. But there are other types of fish used. I've seen Norwegians do something similar with a species of shark. Don't know what that's called though.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Tricky

Actually, I meant Surströmming. But there are other types of fish used. I've seen Norwegians do something similar with a species of shark. Don't know what that's called though.

Each to their own. Until relatively recently, it was quite common in Europe to leave food preparation of some animals until after they had turned slightly gamey by being left out in the sun. It was considered an aid to flavor. This really didn't change dramatically until the invention of iceboxes and their promotion which involved the denigration of "off" food. Mind, there are very good reasons for not eating most spoiled foods.

And of course, the Japanese love to eat a species of blowfish that is poisonous, and regularly kills a very small percentage of consumers each year. Honi soit qui mal y pense--which might not be a bad name for CE and Silur's girl, if the Swedish government, in all its miraculous wisdom, should allow it.

[Tricky]

Originally Posted by fable

And of course, the Japanese love to eat a species of blowfish that is poisonous, and regularly kills a very small percentage of consumers each year.

My god. So that wasn't just a The Simpsons fabrication.

I learn something new on GameBanshee every day.

[dragon wench]

Originally Posted by Tricky

My god. So that wasn't just a The Simpsons fabrication.

Nope it wasn't!
In fact "fugu," as it's known in Japan, is considered a delicacy by many gourmets.
Wikipedia's entry on it is actually quite informative, and from what I can tell, pretty accurate.

Hmm.... would the Swedish government accept "Fugu" as a girl's name?

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Tricky

Actually, I meant Surströmming. But there are other types of fish used. I've seen Norwegians do something similar with a species of shark. Don't know what that's called though.

I've heard about people on Iceland letting sharks lie in the earth for a long time, and then eat it.

Now, there's always the Rakfisk (or was that Rakefisk?)

Originally Posted by Tricky

I also seem to remember Swedes eat earth . At least, some Swedish friends of my mom and dad once brought over something that he chewed on. It looked like earth or soil and he.. well, chewed on it. I never figured out what that was. I can't remember if it was wrapped in something or came in cans like the 'fermented' herring.

For a second here I thought you meant snuff

[Tricky]

Snuff? You mean that stuff that you can't get on Cinemax?

I think I need my own 'explain it to Tricky' forum.

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Tricky

Snuff? You mean that stuff that you can't get on Cinemax?

I think I need my own 'explain it to Tricky' forum.

That's why we got the ever reliable Wikiepdia

Snuff - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Snuff/snus looks like earth, so when it was said that swedes eat earth, I thought you meant snuff

[Moonbiter]

It's good to be a Scandinavian gourmand because I'm having this strange Joijsey hardcase agreeing with me... Tricky: Look up the word "SNUS" in Wikipedia...

OH, and FUGU, fermented soy beans looking like alien lifeforms and reacting to air? That's the only disgusting food I've eaten which is actually.... disgusting. Oh, and it tastes like manure....

Edit: I meant Natto. Fugu is the fish thing, and is actually quite good and horribly expensive.

[Tricky]

Oh wow. I don't remember the snus being in teabags though. But as I understand it, this is not a Swedish thing? Heh, it kinda reminds me of nicotine gum now. I wonder if it tastes better than the gum. But wow, I never would have imagined they were chewing tobacco. All these years.. it seems more strange to me that you might imagine. The guy was part of this Buddhist community somewhere in Sweden. They don't exactly strike me as the type to 'use' nicotine.

Weird.

Oh, and it tastes like manure....

Don't tell me you tried manure.. freaky people!

[Maharlika]

While I find all this talk about rotten fish (reminds me a wee bit of the legendary fish-slapper, Cruiser ) and sea delicacies quite amusing, I think we should direct our attention to spamming on topic.

Feel free to start a thread on this recent talk if you want.

Thanks.