Tuesday, January 08, 2013

THUMBS







Photo by Lennart Nilsson




Photo by Lennart Nilsson




Opossum's opposable thumb on rear foot







thumb (n.) Look up thumb at Dictionary.com
O.E. þuma, from W.Gmc. *thumon- (cf. O.Fris. thuma, O.S., O.H.G. thumo, Ger. Daumen, Du. duim "thumb," O.N. þumall "thumb of a glove"), lit. "the stout or thick (finger)," from PIE *tum- "swell" (cf. L. tumere "to swell," tumidus "swollen;" Avestan tuma "fat;" see thigh). For spelling with -b (attested from late 13c.), see limb.

To be under (someone's) thumb "be totally controlled by that person" is recorded from 1580s. Thumbs up (1887) and thumbs down (1906) were said to be from expressions of approval or the opposite in ancient amphitheaters, especially gladiator shows, where the gesture decided whether a defeated combatant was spared or slain. But the Roman gesture was merely one of hiding the thumb in the hand or extending it. Perhaps the modern gesture is from the usual coachmen's way of greeting while the hands are occupied with the reins.

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The thumb.

Where would we be without it?

What could we have done without it?

We would not have been able to build our bridges, make our bombs....or paint our paintings!

(Yes, I know people can paint with their mouths and feet)

Our fingers would not have done as much walking without our thumbs.

(I'm just pulling your thumb on this one)

Jimi Hendrix would not have been able to play his psychedelic licks.

It’s amazing that as embryonic fish we humans became so handsome and beautiful---so wicked or good---and developed our opposable thumbs to boot.

Imagine all of the things that could not be done without thumbs.

I am using my right thumb as I type to hit the space bar.

I could do this with my index finger, but it would be less convenient.

Other things that could not be done without our thumbs:


FLICKING OUR BICS

HOLDING OUR PENCILS

(I ALMOST RHYMED THIS WITH THE FIRST ONE)

CLIPPING OUR TOE AND FINGER NAILS

THROWING A FOOTBALL

HOLDING OUR SPOONS AND FORKS

(WE COULD STILL HOLD THEM BUT IT WOULD BE LESS EASY)

CHANGING CHANNELS ON OUR REMOTES
(IT’S EASIER WITH THUMBS)

HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL ON VEHICLES

GRIPPING THE HANDLEBARS ON MOTORCYCLES AND BIKES

NO GREEN THUMBS!

NO SUCKING THUMBS!

WE COULDN'T BE ALL THUMBS!

AND THE STORY OF TOM
THUMB WOULD NEVER HAVE COME!


Please write me---with or without your thumbs---and tell me more about the goodly uses of our humble thumbs.







IT'S ABOUT RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND THUMBS









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