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[Dave.Touretzky@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU]

Jim, have you heard George Lakoff's story about the origin of the Japanese
phrase "bellybutton makes tea"?

In the Japanese tea ceremony, the water must be heated to a precise
temperature just short of boiling.  If done correctly, instead of seeing
the bubbles and turbulence associated with true boiling, the surface of the
water merely rises and falls quickly while remaining smooth.

In Japanese society it is impolite to laugh openly at someone, even when
they're making a fool of themself.  Instead one laughs inwardly while
maintaining a calm exterior.  Since the Japanese see the belly as the
metaphorical center of the self, when one is laughing inside while trying
to keep a straight face it is the belly that shows one's true feelings.
They say the belly gently shakes with suppressed laughter.  Hence,
"bellybutton makes tea."

I just wanted to share this little story with you in case you were
wondering why no one else bothers to respond to certain posts.

-- Dave