[split] Names, pronouns, articles... and gender

[Farseer]

I've heard of a couple who named their baby with letters and digits.

How's THAT for gender-neutral?

As for the questions, I have nothing intelligent to contribute at present!

It did all, however, make me think of inanimate objects (other than the usual ships, cars etc) I assign as having 'genders' in everyday life...such as the male and female thread or parts of hose and pipe fittings and the male and female parts of connective cords such as coax cables. It's much easier to call up someone on the two-way and say something like, "The pipe's busted. Can you bring me down a part with a female thread from the shed?"