Strange But True

[emerita]

OK...This is a Strange but true thread. Put here any thing weird ....but it has to be thought true....


Subject: Word Definition


Exciting Historical information you need to know about shipping Manure:

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by
ship. 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 the
lower decks
so that any water that came into the hold would not touch this volatile
cargo
and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T," which has come down through the
centuries and
is in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I.

I always thought it was a golf term.

[Senmut]

No, actually golf is called golf because all the other four-letter words were taken.
Now, try this one on:

back in the old Colonial days, when rules were a tad...strickter, people who had sex outside of marriage were often pilloried in the public square, i.e. put into the stocks. When this punishment was inflicted, a sign was hung on their necks stating the nature of their crime. For those who didn't adhere to to the thou shalt nots of libidoland, they were accused of being punished

For

Unlawful

Carnal

Knowledge.

Yup. Everyone got that, now?

[emerita]

LOL...
I heard that it was Fornication Under the Command of the King. I read an article about that somewhere..... I'll see if I can find it.
Back in the 1600s over population was becoming a concern and the King of England stated that people could only have sex in order to have children and only then, they could do it with a signed letter saying so. If you wanted kids, you had to go in front of the King and state your case. Adultry was banned and after that when woman was caught pregnant out of wedlock without the signed paper, she had a big 'A' put on her chest that she had to wear until the child became an adult....Of course the men got off easy because they only had to deny the action, since there was no proof the child was his and he participated in the act. Many times the husband would scream adultry in order to keep from being put in the stocks.
I imagine both go hand in hand and both are correct......
:D

[Dawg]

I have heard that neither story is accurate, actually. I can't point to the source, though.

My thought (based on what I've heard over the years) is that this particular word is a result of visiting Norsemen trying to "date" Saxon girls. The term caught on, and has survived to this day because of its simplicity. As have many Anglo-Saxon words survived in modern English.

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[emerita]

I wonder why it is considered a "dirty" word..... S***, I can understand because it is conjoined with the act of reliving one's self, but F*** is related to something that causes pleasure, but everyone uses it in a derogatory manner.....:wtf: ...lol like this smilie..which is labeled WTF.... :eek: :laugh:

[Dawg]

Simple - because that subject is never discussed in polite society. You certainly never see society matrons at a fancy dress ball discussing the best Kama Sutra positions, do you?

So, the "common" synonym, used by the masses, is considered a no-no. It has become an expletive, in other words.

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[Senmut]

Really? No s**t?

[Dawg]

Just MHO, Senmut!

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[shiningstar]

LOL EMERITA! I love YOUR POSTS!:sunshi: :sunshi: :sunshi:

[emerita]

lol...strange...but true.....:D :D :D

[Scooter2000]

They say everyday I learn something new.

Unfortunatly this is what I learned today.

[emerita]

LOL...well, sweetpea, stick around it will get better, I promise.....there is alot of intresting stuff out there...alot of it useless, granted...but never the less intresting...lol

[emerita]

A DECK OF CARDS....OR....A SET OF DATES???


Unknowingly the person who invented the Deck of Cards (Playing Cards as referred to often) had no clue that it would be that popular....Oh, don't get me wrong...popular it was meant to be...but not by playing with it....but by going by it....it was invented to be used as a Calendar....Surprised Right.....well let me explain in a little more detail.....

The so-called Calendar, which we shall refer to as the Deck of Cards so to avoid any confusion....

The Deck of Cards is divided into two colours: Red and Black...to represent the two major seasons of the year, ie: Summer and Winter....For example:

Ace of Spades is bigger in denomination and therefore represents 1st January, and the Black Colour represents: Winter.

Hearts represents Summer

Diamonds represents Autumn

Clubs represents Spring.

okay, now that we've got all the seasons out of the way...you're probably asking what's next??

Well, the next step is to figure out how the cards add up to the days of the year!!! So....

There are twelve picture cards to represent twelve months of the year. Fifty-two cards represent fifty-two weeks of the year. A pack of cards has four sets of thirteen cards each ranging from Ace to Kings. So now you take one set of cards be it Hearts or Clubs, and start doing the math...add in the following manner...1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10+11 (which is known as Jack)+12 (which is known as Queen) and +13(which is known as King). This all gives you a total of 91. Now you multiply 91 x 4(representing the four different seasons) this gives you a grand total of: 364. Now we have 365 days in our calendar, so this is where the Joker comes in...and voila....364 + Joker makes that 365 days of the year!!

Who would have ever thought that something created to help guide us through the year has become a device to cash in on that extra money at the CASINOs!!!! VIVA LAS VEGAS!!!

[Laura Elizabeth]

I never read that before emerita ~ amazing! Thanks!

[emerita]

It is amazing what is out there on the web!


Silly Putty was "discovered" as the residue left behind after the first latex condoms were produced. It's not widely publicized for obvious reasons.

[shiningstar]

LOL SCOOTER

[emerita]

The increased electricity used by modern appliances is causing a shift in the Earth's magnetic field. By the year 2327, the North Pole will be located in mid-Kansas, while the South Pole will be just off the coast of East Africa.

[Kai]

....eh?
the modern playing card deck is dirived from the Tarot Deck.. each suit is the arcana, the figure cards the major's...

historical fact that..

but never play poker with a tarot deck. I did once, got a royal flush and six ppl at the next table died....

[emerita]

I don't make these up. I get them from the internet. Everyone has a different way to interpret them. It is supposed to be for fun......

[Dawg]

Well, I was amused at Kai's anecdote.

:laugh:

See?

But that magnetic field thing really is interesting, Em. Did you see any science to back that up?

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[emerita]

No, I just found it on-line in an amazing but true site. I'll go look and see if they give references.....

OK, these come from Top 5.com from a Chris White, but he doesn't say where he found them.....

oh well, I thought this would be fun....

[Muffit]

Em, I love your word histories! Crazy enough to be true.

Hey, if we remove something from history, is it called a historectomy? :D

:muffit:

[emerita]

LOL :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[shiningstar]

Yep Muffit I Learn so much when I read Emerita's stuff

[emerita]

The idea for "tribbles" in "Star Trek" came from gerbils, since some gerbils are actually born pregnant.

OK, this one I had heard but don't know the validity of it...LOL

[Laura Elizabeth]

Originally posted by Kai
....eh?
the modern playing card deck is dirived from the Tarot Deck.. each suit is the arcana, the figure cards the major's...

historical fact that..

but never play poker with a tarot deck. I did once, got a royal flush and six ppl at the next table died....

LMAO! Good one Kai!

Muffit - :D

Emerita, this is fun! And I always wondered where the tribbles idea came from. One of my top ten favorite TOS episodes.

[The 14th Colony]

The idea for "tribbles" in "Star Trek" came from gerbils, since some gerbils are actually born pregnant.

"Born pregnant"? That had to have been some powerful sperm the poppa gerbils were packing prior to conception!

[shiningstar]

That is Amazing Emerita! I really liked the
Tribbles episode in ST!

[emerita]

In the weightlessness of space a frozen pea will explode if it comes in contact with Pepsi.

[Flamingo Girl]

Because Pepsi is one mean drink!

*goes into vanilla Pepsi shock*

[shiningstar]

I "HEARD" that one myself Emerita.

[Senmut]

Upon returning to Earth, Apollo 12 brought back a TV camera salvaged from an earlier Surveyor probe which had landed nearby, to replace their own burned out camera. When examined back on Earth, it was found that bacteria had survived inside the wiring insulation of the camera for over 4 years on the lunar surface, in spite of heat, cold, and radiation.

[repcisg]

Coke is good for cleaning porcelain toilets.

[emerita]

That was cool Senmut....
There are more plastic flamingos in the U.S, than real ones!

[emerita]

LOL I just saw you post repcsig! Man if it will clean toliets what is it doing to our stomachs???

[Senmut]

Preventing constipation?

[Muffit]

:laugh:

[Rayvn]

Strange but true, and not an urban legend like the F-word stuff :D

The drink name, punch, is derived from Sanskrit meaning five. This represents the ingrediants. :D Also, the state of Punjab (punch-ab?) means five rivers.

I speculate that the five digits on the hand held tightly together and forced forward is called a punch for that reason.

[Rayvn]

*plug plug plug*

Oh yes, and for more great strange-but-true facts, check out Mental_floss magazine at your local bookstore!

[amberstar]

Thanks for all the great posts EM. I love them!!

Amberstar

[thomas7g]

Ravyn btw is a Mental Floss intern.

:D

I think Mental Floss should sell their own G-strings with their logo on it. For some reason when I hear the name Mental Floss it makes me think of a G-string. :D

[shiningstar]

LOL SENMUT :D

[Senmut]

In 1942, the U.S. Navy observation blimp, Akron, suddenly went beserk while on sub patrol over the California coast, in full sun and calm weather. It rose, dove, looped, and rolled. There was no distress call from the crew, nor answer to hails from the ground. When it finally came to earth, it was empty. No one saw anyone jump or fall, and the Akron was never out of sight. No sign of the crewmen was ever found.