Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2006

I am looking for a better substitute for the word 'amenable', which I
think is inappropriate, in the sentence below.
Open source software simply is software whose source code is publicly
(mind the US spelling) available, is amenable to change, ...

I know what the expression means. I am interested in knowing how it
came to be. What does the word 'ring' in any of its various meanings
have to do with 'the truth'?

I am reading an online profile of one woman who said " she does not
want the white picket fence" what does she mean by that?? thanks
the profile is this
"I am a fiesty, irish blonde with blue eyes and I like to laugh at life

Can anyone tell me the meaning of this expression: "they're all up in the
air"?
The complete sentence is: "And so all those wind and ocean current patterns
that have formed since the last ice age and have been relatively stable,

With the following sentence:
"Whether or not to persist a change would depend on the robot's belief
state, which should be updated according to the provided guidelines."
Does the relative clause  "which should be updated according to the

Can someone tell me what is the city that never sleeps and where this
comes from?  Some seem to think it's New York, and some say Vegas.

I want to write about something i did in the past, but which one do i
use and why?
i.e.
"i used to go to the park."

Dictionaries define "hobby" more or less like this:
an activity that you do for pleasure when you are not working
But the other day someone told me that hobby is something
that you do at home and that other people usually don't do much

I have to write a cover letter and as I'm not a native, I'd like to
know if they are any mistakes in it. And esp. I don't know if I should
write "I work in a primary school where I am an activity leader" or
"I'm working..."

f.ck me in da arse!

All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite
enough time considering how their online names might appear ... and be
misread.
These are not made up. Check them out yourself!

What does the phrase mean?

Is there any specific meaning associated with the gestures
 that can be seen in the following pictures?
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c1/trustme0021/DSC01418.jpg
http://x94.xanga.com/7a5a921a4163766971978/b44954113.jpg