The usless knowledge thread:

[mcbit]

Originally Posted by joshman

The RCD (or safety switch) in an electrical installation works by the detection of an imbalance in current between the active and neutral conductors. This imbalance is detected through the phenomenon of mutual induction, whereby the pulsating nature of AC creates a magnetic field, which due its fluctuating nature, can induce a voltage in nearby conductive materials. This imbalance is caused (usually) by an earth fault, where current is 'leaking' through to earth.

at least, that's the way it is in australia.

That's much too useful to be in here.

[joshman]

sorry, my bad

hows this:

the flag on the top of the australian parliament house in canberra, is the size of a double decker bus.

[mcbit]

much better

[SureFire]

I just pooted.

[Inked Photography]

It's widely known that Alexander Graham Bell beat Elisha Gray to the patent office by a mere two hours with his application to patent the telephone. However, ten years after Bell's patent was issued, patent examiner Zenas Wilber admitted in a sworn affadavit that he had taken a $100 bribe from Bell, had taken a loan from Bell's patent attorney, and had given Bell the complete details of Gray's caveat. Hmmmm....

[highbarger]

After reading this thread in its entirety, I feel no more (and no less) prepared to be a contestant on 'Cash Cab'.

[crybabe]

Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what could (and did) happen.

Methane began to build up below decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term 'Ship High In Transit' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off of the lower decks so that any water that came into th e hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start the production of methane. Thus evolved the term ' S.H.I.T ' , (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.

[highbarger]

I thought you were going to reference the Poop Deck...

[mcbit]

Sounds like BS to me!

see "shit" is not an acronym

So, the acronym theory for the origin of "****" breaks down because:

• the word itself is a good 1,000 years older than the common use of acronyms;
• the original form of the word (Anglo-Saxon sc-, which regularly evolved into M.E. sh-) does not correspond to the supposed acronym;
• the verb is the original form, the noun derives from it; the acronym supposes the noun came first;
• no one has produced a single instance of this supposed acronym from any old mercantile record or ship's manifest;
• in fact, no one has ever established that there was a custom of shipping manure;
• the word has cognates in many other languages, including ones outside Germanic, for which no acronym theory of origin makes sense;

[crybabe]

Well C.R.A.P.! That's what I get for believing everything I read. Thanks for setting me straight.

[mcbit]

I trust you took it in the spirit in which it was intended.

[00silvergt]

You know what sucks?

To join a car forum and be one of the "elders", while everyone else is 15 or so years younger than you are. I was there once and I can understand their ways, but it is no longer my ways, so it just sucks! LOL

[crybabe]

Yes Mcbit. I kinda like being told I'm wrong once in a while. It happens so rarely that it's rather refreshing lol.

[Morgan Starr]

Originally Posted by crybabe

Well C.R.A.P.!

That's an auto parts store in Lacey, Wa.
C.R.A.P. - Cut Rate Auto Parts

[JDArt]

Boring, Maryland is a real place.

Highlights of the town:

• Boring Methodist Church
• Boring Volunteer Fire Company
• Boring Post Office