Your Identity & Credentials: Let me see your papers, please.

Thank God for modern textile design! I'd hate to be tying my legs together. I was never good at Yoga!

 

Very well then, Mr. Smarty Pants, please be so kind as to explain why we do not call them “a pair” of bras?

Gus Sainz

 

Because the bra as we know it was not developed untill rather recently. The middle of the last century (1930-1950 era). And designed as a single piece item.

(Isn't the History channel a wonderful invention and change ).

 

Cursed be those people who invented the bra!!!

 

Don't curse the bra. It helped develop the problem solving skills and manual dexterity of millions during their formative teen years.

 

I guess the "bra" was invented in Ireland. Hence the phrase "Erin go bra" ?

A paradox--a medical team in the operating room?-- or a couple of steers pulling a plow?

 

Please don't go too far because women read all the posts on this forum. They could sue this forum for sexual harassment.

 

Actually, I believe that the brassiere is alleged to have been invented by one Otto Titslinger, who wanted to call the thing a Titsling... but he had his idea stolen by archrival Monsieur le Brassiere.

And, in a related story, many people have seen the plaque that hangs in the bathrooms of the History of Technology Smithsonian building in Washington, DC, honoring the inventor of the modern flush toilet, Thomas Crapper. (Totally true... and "Crapper" is a registered trademark... learn more at thomas-crapper.com)

 

I'm not sure that Chip's story is true. But it was immortalized in a Bette Midler song:

• 
  OTTO TITSLING
  by Bette Midler, Jerry Blatt, Charlene Seeger and Marc Shaiman
  from the album "Mud Will Be Flung Tonight!"
  
  "This next story is a true story. It concerns to of my favorite
  subjects: industrial theft . . . and-a tits! Mmm, what a combo! This is
  the story . . . The inventor of the modern foundation garment that we
  women wear today was a German scientist and opera lover by the name of
  Otto Titsling! This is a true story. His name was Otto Titsling. What
  happened to Otto Titsling shouldn't happen to a schnauzer. It's a very
  sad story. I feel i have to share it with you."
  
  Otto Titsling, inventor and kraut,
  Had nothing to get very worked up about.
  His inventions were failures, his future seemed bleak.
  He fled to the opera at least twice a week.
  
  One night at the opera he saw an aida
  Whose tits were so big they would often impede her.
  Bug-eyed he watched her fall into the pit,
  done in by the weight of those terrible tits.
  
  Oh, my god! There she blows!
  Aerodynamically this bitch was a mess.
  Otto eye-balled the diva lying comatose amongst the reeds,
  and he suddenly felt the fire or inspiration flood his soul.
  He knew what he had to do!
  He ran back to his workshop
  Where he futzed and futzed and futzed.
  
  For Otto Titsling had found his quest:
  to lift and mold the female breast;
  to point the small ones to the sky;
  to keep the big ones high and dry!
  
  Every night he'd sweat and snort
  searching for the right support.
  He tried some string and paper clips.
  Hey! He even tried his own two lips!
  
  Well, he stitched and he slaved
  and he slaved and he stitched
  Until finally one night, in the wee hours of morning,
  Otto arose from his workbench triumphant.
  Yes! He had invented the world's first
  over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. Hooray!
  
  Exhausted, but ecstatic he ran
  down the street to the diva's house
  bearing the prototype in his hot little hand.
  Now, the diva did not want to try the darn thing on.
  But, after many initial misgivings, she finally did.
  And the sigh of relief that issued forth
  from the diva's mouth
  was so loud that it was mistaken by some
  to be the early onset of the Scirrocon (sp?) winds
  which would often roll through the Schwarzwald with a vengeance!
  Ahhhhh-i!
  
  But little did Otto know,
  at the moment of his greatest triumph,
  lurking under the diva's bed
  was none other than the very worst
  of the french patent thieves,
  Phillip DeBrassiere.
  And Phil was watching the scene
  with a great deal of interest!
  
  Later that night, while our Brunhilde slept,
  into the wardrobe Phillip softly crept.
  He fumbled through knickers and corsets galore,
  'til he found Otto's titsling and he ran out the door.
  
  Crying, "Oh, my god! What joy! What bliss!
  I'm gonna make me a million from this!
  Every woman in the world will wanna buy one.
  I can have all the goods manufactured in Taiwan."
  
  "Oh, thank you!"
  
  The result of this swindle is pointedly clear:
  Do you buy a titsling or do you buy a brassiere?
  
  "Ohhh! Thank you!"

This article repeats the Titzlinger story: http://www.funhouse.com/babs/BraFAQ5.txt

Here's a more reasonable history: http://www.uselessknowledge.com/explain/bra.shtml

Another reasonable one: http://www.discovery.com/stories/deadinventors/dead980910/deadinventors.html

Yet another reasonable one (YARO): http://inventors.tqn.com/library/weekly/aa042597.htm


Are we off-topic or wot?

 

On re-reading my post, it's obvious that I should have posted a linked to the Bette Midler lyrics rather than quoting them. My apologies to any offended by the Divine Miss M. I have sent a note to moderators suggesting that they edit if they deem the post inappropriate.

Here's a link anyway: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=35DE22CA.2874%40earthlink.net&output=gplain

 

Would somebody please flush this thread?

 

[/QUOTE]Would somebody please flush this thread?
[/B][/QUOTE]

As I recall, you were the first one on the throne.

Bill H

 

Yes Bill, you’re right: I was the first on the throne. But, if you look at how this thread has changed from the original topic, it clearly becomes evident that my authority has been usurped and I’ve been dethroned.

Here we had a wonderful opportunity to learn about each others biography, but it went down the crapper (thank you Chip for this excellent choice of words!).

The scepter has been yanked from my hands!

 

Yes, well...

Welcome to the wacky world of distance learning enthusiasts and the shift to off-topics. This tradition has a long and rich history at a.e.d., and I'm somewhat amused and pleased to see that tradition being continued here.

Don't worry though... I think the new software will permit us to have much more complete member profiles for those that choose to participate... so the idea itself (of having people share their background) will definitely find a place when we switch to the new forum if not before.

 

Chip,

Since this is an educational forum, it would be nice if there was a place (in the profile section of the new forum) for what the members degrees are in and from where, ect.... I don't know if the software would allow it though, as I've never seen anything like that. But it would be cool...

 

I would be more interested in a person's activities or interests in distance education (rather than where his/her existing degrees are from, particularly if they are from traditional residential schools).