Did you know?

[jackdaw]

Did you know........

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations.

However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.

Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)

;D

[Huntyfm]

Very Good, this is one to bring up over Christmas Dinner I think!

[ljonez]

Yep, the term waster also comes from old sailing ship times, I'll explain later, let you all think about it for a while

[jackdaw]

and another one.......

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TVs or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some ale' and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term gossip.'

[timsmini]

you got to much time on your hands
Mind of useless information ;D

[jackdaw]

;D ;D
Probably right there Tim !!!
but here is another.......

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras.
One's image was either sculpted or painted.
Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms.
Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted.
Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.

Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.' (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)

[coedy]

Did you know...

If you had a hand gun with one round loaded in it, held parallel to the ground at arms length.
And in the other hand you had the same sort of round you were about to fire, the same height from the floor as the gun (arms length).

If you fired the gun and dropped the spare bullet at the same time, both bullets would hit the floor at the same time. (in two different places obviously )

QI

[Huntyfm]

Ahh I remember they taught me the bullet one in cadets, or maybe I seen it on QI too, I dunno

[Ainsley]

Surely not? as one is being fired out of the gun?

[ljonez]

Dec 19, 2010 13:37:44 GMT 1 Ainsley said:

Surely not? as one is being fired out of the gun?

Nope it is very true, gravity is a constant.

[ljonez]

Oh almost forgot to explain the term "waster"

In the days of sailing ships there was a small deck that had no real use and was called the waste deck, the sick crew members that where unable to work where put on the waste deck out of the way, those crew members ended up being refered to as "wasters"

[coedy]

Dec 19, 2010 15:08:03 GMT 1 ljonez said:

Dec 19, 2010 13:37:44 GMT 1 Ainsley said:

Surely not? as one is being fired out of the gun?

Nope it is very true, gravity is a constant.

And the one being dropped has a shorter route to the ground than the one being fired from the gun that has to go 200 or so feet horizontally before beginning to drop downwards

[Ainsley]

I got it now I read it wrong lmao. I am a little slow but got there in the end, and thats what counts. now let me go down to the waste deck

[Huntyfm]

Also Dogs cant look up

[sebz]

Dec 20, 2010 19:12:15 GMT 1 Huntyfm said:

Also Dogs cant look up

What???

[Ainsley]

of course they can.

[ljonez]

Dec 20, 2010 19:12:15 GMT 1 Huntyfm said:

Also Dogs cant look up

Oh dear some one has been watching a Simon pegg film

[Huntyfm]

Got it in one Mr Jones!

[coedy]

Did you know that Tonight (Tuesday 21st Dec 2010) is the first time in 372 years that the Winter solstice (Shortest day of the year) is on the same day as a Lunar Eclipse?

The Mayans also foretold that when the moon turns red on the shortest day it would be the end of days....... But they missed the one 372 years ago so we should be fine... also they said that the world will be ending on the 21st of December 2012.... so they weren't very decisive..

EDIT-
It Just clicked ,

the date is right,
the month is right,
the very rare earth and moon orbit is right,
but the year is off....

Just saying, if it all ends today and the Mayans made a typo in the year I know I wont wont be making it into heaven so see you all some place else! ;D lol

[jackdaw]

Attaching "Competition Numbers" to your Mini is classed as a "Performance Modification" by some Insurance Companies and may increase your premiums.