The trouble we have here, you see, is that you and I have no way of knowing whether I've got my facts straight.
I can only hope that I remember it correctly after so many years, and that the caller I heard on the radio had her information right. The closest thing I can find to a formal dictionary definition is this {and you will have to either use the "find" function on your toolbar or scroll through the whole darn page to get to it}. The irritating thing is that someday this link may no longer exist and you'll just have to take my word for it that such a thing existed.
Oh, well... I remember hearing about it on CBC Radio, so it must be true...
CBC Radio has a number you can call to leave a voice message containing your two cents on the articles they air; they always play a few clips of these messages the next day. For some reason, way back when, there was an article about opening jars using elastic bands.
And a nice little old lady called in to say that when she was a youngster, there used to be a disc of thin rubber that was sold specifically as a grip for opening jars. In fact, she said, it was in such common use that companies used to put their logos on them and give them away free, much like pens or cereal~box prizes are given away nowadays.
And do you know what we used to call it? she said. We used to call it a Rubber Husband.
I find it tremendously significant that a Rubber Husband opens jars, whereas a Rubber Woman serves quite a different purpose entirely. Pretty much sums up traditional gender roles, don't you think?
Oh, that inflatable sex toy in the kitchen? That's for the jars I can't open by myself...
Posted by edgar at September 3, 2003 09:27 AM