Today I animated a vector image of a woman singing for an educational flash animation illustrating the difference between the larynx (humans) and the syrinx (birds).
What did you do at work today?
In my travels, I discovered that WikiCommons has a nice-if-random collection of GNU public licenced images, which led to a debate with Cow-Orker Rafe on the proper pronunciation of the word “Gnu”. Turns out we were both right. Geeks pronounce the operating system “G-noo”, and English majors pronounce the wildebeesty “Noo”.
Noo! Noo!
As somebody who speaks English English, rather than American English, it is pronounced g-noo on our side of the pond.
I love you guys.
As a former English major, I’m sad to say that I don’t believe “The Gnu Song” is standard course content for English majors at most major American universities. I propose we found a grassroots movement dedicated to correcting this situation immediately!
I don’t have an English major handy to check, but I hope they’re all familiar with “The Gnu Song” by Flanders and Swann. An excerpt:
‘I’m a G-nu, I’m a G-nu
The g-nicest work of g-nature in the zoo
I’m a G-nu, How do you do
You really ought to k-now w-ho’s w-ho’s
I’m a G-nu, Spelt G-N-U
I’m g-not a Camel or a Kangaroo
So let me introduce,
I’m g-neither man nor moose
Oh g-no g-no g-no I’m a G-nu’
You can hear it on Amazon under “At the Drop of a Hat” / (Michael) Flanders & (Donald) Swann.