> CP wrote --
>> (sure; you can have any colour you want, so long as it's black)
> Early on cars (even Ford's) came in a variety of colours.
> Ford settled on black only since the paint he was using dried quicker
>than any other colour and he was able to pump out more cars to meet the demand
>> Yeah; but the standard now (I know--can't fairly judge the past by the
>filters of today) is to give the inventor credit, but to own(& license or sell
> by your own choice) the patents.
> Yep, common practice now.
> I think it started when the inventor didn't have the means or ability to
> mass produce whatever he invented and sold the patent rights to someone who
> could, but he retained a certain percentage of the profits of whatever.

Now, the sharks on Shark Tank advocate licensing use of a patented product.

I've seesn the same advice for other IP, like copywrited materials. (now the trend is for NFTs)

> In the South we were taught call others Mr and Mrs/Miss, until they gave
> permission to call them by their first name.
> And the same goes for sir/ma'am.
> Sir/ma'am rolls off my tongue easily and naturally.

I've hung out with enough Southerners I've picked up on it, too, & I like it,  as it's an equality thing -- everyone uses the honorific, same as in Japan --  they had -san suffix to anyone's name, front lasdt, or even a nickname.

Gaijin means "round-eye" is refers to us westerners -- it can be pejorative,  but they'll even call you Gaijin-san (basically, 'You ain't from here, but I'll still call you 'sir')

> I have met young folks, usually Yankee's, who refuse to call someone with
> that respect and call the others by their first names, whether they know
> them or not.  Sadly many Southerners are this way now.

As to the Yankees -- they need to pay attention to the ways of the Romans, if  they wish to visit Rome. . . :)

I used to talk to several men & women in the South, as par t of my job, & I  liked being greeted as "sir" by men & women, young & old, CEOs & CSRs all the  same. . . that helped me pick up on it, too -- it's automatic now, if I hear a  southern accent, I call them Sir or Ma'am.

Sucks that some women are taking attitude at being called "Maam, or Mrs."

"Calling me Ma'am makes it sound like I'm old!" "Do NOT define me by my marital status!"

I use Ms. in formal settings -- to me Ms. is like Mr. -- an abbreviation  encapsulating both the minor(unmarried) & the adult (Master/Mister,  Miss/Missus)

I write Ms. with the period, even though the Femdoms demand it not have one.

Too bad, she-dog, you said you wanted equality with "Mr."; well, you've got it!

> And then, being a Southern gentleman, there is the honouric Mr/Miss with
> a first name, Mr Jack/Miss Mary.  Those are used for superiors of some sort.
> And when Miss evolved to MS that was easy since Miss was often slurred
> as Miz.  :)

I see this in old movies with the house Negro using such addresses.

I prefer being just "George" but I understand parents wanting to teach their  minor children to use Mr., so I ask to be called "Mr. George" so they get the  right practice & I know I'm being addressed, too.

>> He also promised an ear in every home & a camera on every corner -- with the
> newer Windows that's been done, too.
> Like Big Brother in "1984".

Bingo! It's like Georgie had a vision of today -- except he, not unreasonably,  mistook computer monitors as televisions, as being the means BB kept tabs on  all.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5