Does the statement, "We've always done it like that" ring any bells? Read this to the end
The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used?
Because that's the way they built them in England , and English expatriates built the US Railroads.
Why did the English build them like that?
Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.
Why did "they" use that gauge then?
Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing.
Okay! Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing?
Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England , because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts.
So who built those old rutted roads?
Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe (and England ) for their legions. The roads have been used ever since.
And the ruts in the roads?
Roman war chariots formed the initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since the chariots were made for Imperial Rome, they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.
The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. And bureaucracies live forever.
So the next time you are handed a specification and wonder what horse's ass came up with it, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman army chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the back ends of two war horses.
Now, the twist to the story.....
When you see a Space Shuttle sitting on its launch pad, there are two big booster rockets attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These are solid
rocket boosters, or SRBs. The SRBs are made by Thiokol at their factory at Utah . The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit fatter, but the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the factory to the launch site.
The railroad line from the factory happens to run through a tunnel in the mountains.
The SRBs had to fit through that tunnel.
The tunnel is slightly wider than the railroad track, and the railroad track, as you now know, is about as wide as two horses' behinds.
So, a major Space Shuttle design feature of what is arguably the world's most advanced transportation system was determined over two thousand years ago by the width of a horse's ass.
And - You thought being a HORSE'S ASS wasn't important!
The moral of why i think this is a relevant story? Even though people who come to this site and have grown for some reason or other all of that progress (I think) is hindered/ blocked/ threatened by someone like indy or the 'post deleter' or the 'post meddler' so they are in essence the throw back or in other words HAs!
I liked this!
Posted by: Charles the Bald at August 10, 2006 8:59 PMAwww, your last paragraph makes no sense! Flaccid penis tee hee hee
Despite your lengthy "post meddler" apologia, I still think you're a butt-fucking microencephalic retard who posts incessantly to this backwater site whilst stroking your tiny vienna sausage under a single, naked light bulb in mommy's basement. Then a hobo in a bear suit rapes your mouth at the truck stop, and you say confession into his rectum (just like at the "Church of your Dad")
Posted by: at August 10, 2006 11:27 PMOOOH
you are such a potty mouth
Did not your mother teach you better? I know she did.
You told me you would not kiss and tell, so you also have lost honor by talking about things that only you knew.
You disappoint me.
I thought you had wit.
Your riposte is as unmuscular as your son's chafed labia. Why not ask me if I was 12 while you're at it, your Feminence? Maybe you're saving your "A material" for another backwater website you obsess over in the early (post wanking) hours...
Where's the next 2500 word installment of completely original brilliance already? How about a new doll with another hilarious backstory? So hilarious, these dolls. Each time funnier and funnier!!
Posted by: at August 11, 2006 8:57 AMNow that we are talking
I must tell you:
You have guessed wrong!
This is why:
I have told you before mortal. I am happy being invisible (so-to-speak). I do not like coming down to play with you in your silly games.
I am wondering in bigger circles than you can begin to imagine (judging by the scope of your language and interests, and let us not forget your sophisticated insults).
But since we are here... I wonder if you mind me reaching out my metaphorical arms through the screen and slapping your silly face for the impertinent fool that you are?
I read all the above and couldn't quite make heads or tails of it. You are still the douchebag who claims to be paid to post here, correct? Then allow me to be the first to expel my metaphorical bowels on your ludicrous existence and laugh at your childish claims.
For such a fool I've really gotten your goat, erm, Bear, haven't I? Aww, I understand you need to slap me; that's how every mental invalid responds to superior intellects. If it makes you feel better about your textual impotence, slap away choad.
Tell me, do the geniuses in the stellar circles you "wonder" also get paid to post online? If so you may want to consider asking them for help right about now.
Posted by: at August 11, 2006 2:08 PMAhh
Wrong again.
Do not pass go do not collect 200$.
SLAP
Muhahhahahahha