Transcription of the Rules of Civility

Transcription of the Rules of Civility
School Exercises: Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation
Ferry Farm, c. 1744

1. Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present.
2. When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body, not usually discovered.
3. Show nothing to your friend that may affright him.
4. In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet.
5. If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it not loud but privately; and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.
6. Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop.
7. Put not off your clothes in the presence of others, nor go out your chamber half dressed.
8. At Play and at Fire its Good manners to Give Place to the last Commer, and affect not to Speak Louder than Ordinary.
9. Spit not in the fire, nor stoop low before it neither put your hands into the flames to warm them, nor set your feet upon the fire especially if there be meat before it.
10. When you sit down, keep your feet firm and even, without putting one on the other or crossing them.

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Writing in Gender-Neutral Language

Why Gender-Neutral?

I used to have an on-the-fence attitude about gender neutral language, wondering what the fuss was all about, and questioning whether it was worth having to work out how to incorporate “them” and “their” or “him/her” and “his/hers.” It all seemed so tedious.





Then, I stumbled upon As a Women Thinketh, (originally titled As a Man Thinketh, now available from Newt List as As We Think), James Allen’s classic re-edited in feminine dominant language. I was spellbound by the edition and couldn’t put it down, because as I read it, I realized that it was not addressing me! I was excluded from the text. I was not part of the intended audience. And that was when I toppled over onto the gender-neutral side of the fence with a passion.

I remember hearing a clergyman say that people who insisted on gender-neutral language were spiritually immature. I wanted to look him up and send him a copy of As A Women Thinketh with an invitation to consider what it might be like to read his Bible in female dominant language.

I shared my plan with a colleague who introduced me to The Inclusive New Testament, by Priests for

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I Don't Have An E-mail Address

About five years ago I was organizing a team to work on a presentation, and the first item was to organize our communication by setting up a group email system.  There was a cold and frightened hush in the room when one of the key participants announced that she didn't have an e-mail address.  "I don't have an e-mail address," she confirmed when it was clear that no one in the room understood the plain English she had spoken.

What followed was comical and revealed a lot about our e-culture even five years ago.  The remaining members of the team began to troubleshoot the situation.  They inquired where her PC was, was it broken, could she access her account on her phone, was she changing subscribers until it was clear that this high functioning, very desirable teammate, had neither e-mail address, nor cell phone, nor PC.  Not even a Mac, for that matter.

Nothing.

Today, the PC isn't the primary way to get to the Internet anymore.  I read in WSErverNews Weekly that the ratio of mobile devices to PCs is no longer even 1-to-1.  Everyone has a mobile device.  Everyone?  Not everyone.  No.  My prized team member of five-years-ago still does not.  And, she remains highly sought after.  And, continues to cause blank stares when she says her words again slowly for those, who like I did back then, cannot take in the full meaning of her words "I don't have an e-mail address."

I went with a different friend, also light on web connections, to get a cell phone.  He explained to the customer service representative that he wanted a phone that only made telephone calls and had no other functions.

No camera?   

No.

Nothing?

Just a phone, please.

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Updated New Thought Authors Gender Neutral On Newt List

Here is something I just love.  Newt List -  e-books by Ernest Holmes and other New Thought authors, updated to be more accessible to contemporary readers, and also made gender neutral.    I just am thrilled about it.  So for you e-book readers, have a look here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=newt+list

Here is the Philosophy of Jesus featured on the right.  I have this one in hard copy and thought it had gone out of print.  Apparently it is now in public domain and Newt List is re-editing and re-releasing books like this one.

Did I say I was thrilled?

I am

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What’s On My iPhone: Skype for iPhone and iPad

Skype for iPhone is great, just great. It works so beautifully and it has been a welcome solution to telephone connectivity while travelling internationally. Forget your local cellular company and their over priced international calling plans. Forget buying a local sim card in the country you are visiting, especially if you’re a Verizon customer, and even if your iPhone is an unlocked AT&T version. Just forget it all and get Skype for your iPhone or iPad.
For iPhone users there is something very special and fancy you can do: purchase a telephone number from Skype and when you’re travelling overseas, just before you get on the flight, forward the calls going to your iPhone to your new Skype phone number. Then, when you get to wherever it is you’re going, chances are you’ll find a Wi-Fi spot sooner or later and when you do, launch Skype on your iPhone and any messages that were left will be waiting for you without any international phone charges.  As I write this, I’m guessing I could do that from my iPand too, huh? Will try.

To forward your incoming calls on your iPhone to your Skype number, select Settings and then Phone where you will see a screen like the image to the right. Once you select Call Forwarding, you will be able to enter your Skype phone number to receive the forwarded calls.

You can set your Skype account to be refilled in increments. I have mine set to add $10 at a time when I’m reaching the lower end of my credits. That way I am assured uninterrupted calling. Skype rates are incredibly affordable and when I’m back home in the United States, I turn off my call forwarding, but continue to use my Skype account to call family in South Africa and friends in other countries.

Sad fact: It’s sometimes clearer to call on Skype on my Wi-Fi connection at home than it is to use my AT&T cellular connection. I sometimes turn off my cell phone radio, turn on my Wi-Fi and make a call if I don’t want to sound like I’m at the bottom of a pond.

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