QI (quite interesting) (1 Viewer)

[oumahexi]

Is there another thread like this? When I started typing the title it "auto completed" but then I searched and couldn't find one. So, apologies if this is a duplicate. I love trivia like this:

Bet you didn't know this! 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 to 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 inden tations. 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 cannon
balls 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.)

 

[Minkey]

QI (quite interesting)

One of my favorite shows so yes I did know that

There was a thread which I blatantly hijacked into a Qi quiz so a couple especially for our US cousin's:

Did you know there are 46 US states not 50?

Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have the formal title of commonwealths (though this has no baring in law) - I know it's a technicality but still I like this one.

Pronunciation (and spelling of) of aluminium

We know there are lots of words spelt and pronounced different between US and UK English (which imo should be simply English but we won't go there oh wait I already have ) and it's commonly known that the US versions are 'altered' for want of a better word from the UK version however aluminium is one that the US actually have right.

It was originally named aluminum by the chemist who discovered it as he was extracting it from the mineral alumina, however it was an anonymous contributor to a review of the inventors book that suggested they use the word aluminium instead as it had a more classic sound.

It got picked up from there and hence aluminum is technically the correct spelling and of course pronunciation.

 

[Fifty2One]

Here is an interesting search engine http://www.wolframalpha.com/screencast/introducingwolframalpha.html

 

[Vassago]

Is there another thread like this? When I started typing the title it "auto completed" but then I searched and couldn't find one. So, apologies if this is a duplicate. I love trivia like this:

Bet you didn't know this! 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 to 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 inden tations. 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 cannon
balls 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.)

That sounds almost as far fetched as the origins of the word F**K that spread around (as an acronym, etc...). There's also strong evidence disproving it here, as no documents use the term in that fashion, but it is used in other fashions dating back to 1672.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_monkey_(colloquial_expression)

 

[ajetrumpet]

for the longest time i thought you were in europe jan. then i looked up your city on wiki.

 

[Vassago]

Why would her location indicate she isn't?

Isn't that in Scotland? The last time I checked, Scotland was part of Europe...

 

[ConneXionLost]

The story is entertaining, but the physics and the history don't support it:

Brass Monkey

Cheers,

 

[Vassago]

The story is entertaining, but the physics and the history don't support it:

Brass Monkey

Cheers,

That's already been established with the link I posted hours ago.

 

[GaryPanic]

SHIT

or S.H.I.T

manure used to be transported from x to y and as we all know methane happens and was combustable - so SHIT means store high in transit


oops just found out

A popular belief is that the word shit originated as an acronym for "Ship High In Transit", referring to the apparent need to stow manure well above the water line when transporting it by ship. This has been shown to be a myth.[3][4]

 

[PNGBill]

did you know one the most dangerous cargoes a ship can carry is Onions

 

[dkinley]

And here I was thinking it was my ex-mother-in-law.

 

[Kryst51]

That's already been established with the link I posted hours ago.

Your link is mispelled, you have to click on a link from your link.... so ConneXionLost's link is faster.

 

[ConneXionLost]

My apologies Vassago. When I glanced at your post, I thought the link had something to do with "the origins of the word F**K", as per your first sentence.

I will endeavour to examine all your posts with greater scrutiny in the future.

Cheers,

 

[Vassago]

Your link is mispelled, you have to click on a link from your link.... so ConneXionLost's link is faster.

...nu uh...no it's not...

 

[oumahexi]

for the longest time i thought you were in europe jan. then i looked up your city on wiki.

That's a hard one Adam. The city itself lies somewhere in the ether, (or is it either? maybe it's neither ), however, if you are fortunate enough to cross the bridge at the right time of the century, you may well find it there. A fitting place for a Nannie to hide, do you not think

 

[jamesmor]

did you know one the most dangerous cargoes a ship can carry is Onions

ok, now i need to know why...

 

[MSAccessRookie]

ok, now i need to know why...

It might have something to do with the release of CO2 gasses from the Onions. I am unable to confirm the total veracity of the source, but here is an excerpt from an article on the subject:

...When a ship containing 5000 bags of onions was to be unloaded, the first dock worker climbed 
down into the hatch and immediately collapsed unconscious. Exactly the same happened to the 
second dock worker, when he came to the aid of the first. The ship's doctor and an officer 
then climbed into the hold and the ship's doctor also collapsed unconscious. The officer was 
able with his last ounce of strength to carry the first unconscious man out. Another member of 
the crew climbed into the hold and also collapsed unconscious. Only then did someone put on 
a breathing apparatus, rescue the unconscious men and take them to a hospital, where two people 
were confirmed dead. An investigation gave as the cause of the accident an excessively high CO2 
concentration in the hold...

The entire story can be found at the following URL:

http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/gemuese/zwiebeln/zwiebeln.htm

 

[boblarson]

...When a ship containing 5000 bags of onions was to be unloaded, the first dock worker climbed down 
into the hatch and immediately collapsed unconscious. Exactly the same happened to the second dock 
worker, when he came to the aid of the first...[/QUOTE]
Boy, that is a bit of stupidity.  Someone should have had a clue AT LEAST when the 2nd collapsed.

 

[MSAccessRookie]

Boy, that is a bit of stupidity. Someone should have had a clue AT LEAST when the 2nd collapsed.

I agree, and if that story IS true, then hopefully they have new rules protecting the sailors and dock workers.

 

[boblarson]

I agree, and if that story IS true, then hopefully they have new rules protecting the sailors and dock workers.

I don't know why but that example just brought this back to my mind.