Michael Dukelsky to Ardith Hinton:   
      
   AH>> "Miss Stickler, may I please go to the lavatory?" one   
   AH>> would be completely ignored or be forced to sit through   
   AH>> a lecture on the difference between "can" & "may" or   
   AH>> wait until recess.   
      
   MD> Hm-m-m... For me it is a strange joke, it is not funny   
   MD> at all.   
      
   But "may" is the right word to ask permission.  I remeber   
   these anecdotes:   
      
     -- Miss Stickler, can I open the window?   
     -- You certainly can, but you may not.   
      
     -- Can you pass the salt?   
     -- Yes.   
     -- Can you pass the salt?   
     -- Yes.   
     -- Can you pass the salt?   
     -- Yes.   
      
   MD> In Russian a governess is rather a governor's wife.   
      
   In Russian:   
   £ã¡¥à­ â®àè  (gubernatorsha) -- governor's wife   
   £ã¢¥à­ ­âª   (guvernantka)   -- governess   
   -- of which neither is a Russian word :-)   
      
   ---   
    * Origin: *** nntp://fidonews.mine.nu *** Finland *** (2:221/6.0)