Randomness

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Astronauts May Evacuate Space Station in November, NASA Says

Yeah, it was a real good idea to completely rely on the Russians to get men to and from space... NOT!

[Cogito]

So I'm wondering whether the laws of salvage would apply to an abandoned space station. Suppose the Chinese manage to sneak somebody aboard while it's deserted, does that leave them defacto owners of a shiny new-ish space station?

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

^ I was actually thinking the same thing!

[Grrr]

Something for all you cat loving Trekkies out there:

Star Trek cat trees

I don't believe I'm just now seeing this! We need a new scratching post too. The only downside is that one has carpet. The fur from my long haired cat becomes embedded in carpet.

Grrr

[justTripn]

Astronauts May Evacuate Space Station in November, NASA Says

Yeah, it was a real good idea to completely rely on the Russians to get men to and from space... NOT!

WHATT!!!!! **shakes head** The whole International Space Station thing was poorly thought out. It can't be used as a base to build and launch spacecraft to Mars because of it's crooked orbit designed for easy access by both U.S. and Russian space agencies. The science isn't banning out.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

The whole International Space Station thing was poorly thought out. It can't be used as a base to build and launch spacecraft to Mars because of it's crooked orbit designed for easy access by both U.S. and Russian space agencies. The science isn't banning out.

I didn't know that! Not that I'm really surprised...

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Lauren Bush, niece of George W. Bush, will marry David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren.

So, will she then be known as Lauren Lauren?

[WarpGirl]

That's old news here in the States. But I will say for anyone remotely interested in fashion (I admit I am) she is the epitomy of the type of woman her future father-in-law designs for. It doesn't surprise me that the future groom shares the asthetic sensibilities of his father. Although Lauren as a surname is pronounced slightly differently that Lauren as a given name.

So it would probably sound more like Lauren Lau-ren. Slight pause, you see. That and she'll probably hyphanate her last names. And truthfully, I find that less feministic than just taking your husband's last name.

After all a last name is a father's not a chosen name. At least when you get married nowdays you pick the guy, so you pick the name.

[Distracted]

Most feminists would disagree with you, since in most cultures taking the husband's name once denoted a change in ownership and was not a free choice on the part of the woman. Ie: when a girl is born she's her father's property/responsibility and after she marries the "title" transfers to the husband, thus the name change. Of course, in western culture this is no longer the case, but that's where the tradition of the name change came from. The woman was joining a new family whose titular head, her husband, was now responsible for her. The only reason I bear my husband's name is that if I had decided not to do so it would have hurt his feelings, and I love him more than I value my independence.

[WarpGirl]

And if it was the 19th century or earlier I'd understand where die-hard feminists are coming from, HOWEVER the idea of hyphanating last names and keeping maiden names is mainly a 20th 21st century development. And for the most part in the 20th and 21st century women in the western world can choose their own husbands. So why is it an act of feminism to keep a father's name that you did not choose?

You can't choose your father, you're born and 99.9% of the time your stuck with his name. God knows I'm stuck with a last name that people usually can't be bothered to spell right. At least if I ever find a guy I can choose a new last name.

If someone really doesn't want to bear a name a man gave you, I'd say the feminist thing to do is make up your own name. Hanging on to your father's never made sense to me as a statement of feminism.

[Distracted]

Ah, but the name one is born with also denotes lineage. I am my father's daughter. His genes are in me. So his name is also mine. And when I become an adult and am no longer his responsibility (I was never his property) should I not choose whether I wish to continue to identify with my genetic heritage? Why should I be forced to give that up?

[Cogito]

I approve of the idea that people who marry adopt a common last name so that they and their children are recognisably a family. Keeping separate names seems to me to imply a lack of commitment to the family.

I don't feel strongly that the family surname should be the father's surname, although in practice it almost always is in our culture for historical reasons. But if the mother and father have different surnames, what do they name their children?

[Silverbullet]

Doesn't some of this get in to the legal area? Our crdit cards are in my last name so the bill is what both of us purchase and is joined. Same for the Bank accounts, mortgage, etc. Easier.

I know one can legaly change his/her name. Go in front of a judge (I believe) pay some money and you have a new name. Often thought of it. Have been convinced for years that ones name had a great deal to do with ones success in life.

SB

[Distracted]

I approve of the idea that people who marry adopt a common last name so that they and their children are recognisably a family. Keeping separate names seems to me to imply a lack of commitment to the family.

I don't feel strongly that the family surname should be the father's surname, although in practice it almost always is in our culture for historical reasons. But if the mother and father have different surnames, what do they name their children?

Good point. One option is for them to take the father's name to acknowledge his paternity. Another option is hyphenation, although that could get ridiculous for subsequent generations. I went the easy way and just gave in. : )

[panyasan]

I don't know if it only applies to my country, but in mine your official name is always your maiden name. On my passport it says: my surnames plus maiden name e/v husbands name. E/v stands for wife of...
On plain tickets I always have to make sure they use surnames plus maiden name. Otherwise I can't travel.

I has chosen to have my maiden name plus my husbands name. So in for example in my work file my name is : husbands name-maiden name.