How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
06-14-2011, 05:41 PM
#8402
Boost Pope
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An oldie but a goodie:
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 spec and told we have always done it that way and wonder what horse's *** came up with that, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war 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 in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit larger in diameter, 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 bout as wide as two horses' behinds.
So, a major 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 ***.
And you thought being a horse's *** wasn't important.
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 spec and told we have always done it that way and wonder what horse's *** came up with that, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war 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 in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit larger in diameter, 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 bout as wide as two horses' behinds.
So, a major 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 ***.
And you thought being a horse's *** wasn't important.
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06-14-2011, 05:52 PM
#8404
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Jax Fl
Posts: 459
Total Cats: 31
An oldie but a goodie:
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 spec and told we have always done it that way and wonder what horse's *** came up with that, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war 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 in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit larger in diameter, 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 bout as wide as two horses' behinds.
So, a major 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 ***.
And you thought being a horse's *** wasn't important.
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 spec and told we have always done it that way and wonder what horse's *** came up with that, you may be exactly right, because the Imperial Roman war 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 in Utah. The engineers who designed the SRBs would have preferred to make them a bit larger in diameter, 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 bout as wide as two horses' behinds.
So, a major 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 ***.
And you thought being a horse's *** wasn't important.
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06-14-2011, 06:27 PM
#8408
Actually, this is the Word:
Quote:
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 ESV
Quote:
6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 ESV
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06-14-2011, 10:12 PM
#8409
You're confusing personal ethics with economic systems. You show me where the Bible says the government ought to be involved in redistributing wealth. And you're not allowed to quote passages directed at the church, which does have the responsibility of caring for orphans and widows.
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06-14-2011, 10:22 PM
#8410
Elite Member
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Location: Chesterfield, NJ
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Impromptu 35mph roll-on race out of the toll booth between me and the CEO & his wife (head of HR) in their new 335i sedan = them walking me. Boo hoo.
I went from 2nd to 5th. Once back in boost in 5th they stayed at 2 lengths. I initially though I broke something when the revs went that low and the car didn't pull. haha.
205k/19 year old motor mounts & loose ebay short shfter FTL. I'll demand a redo tomorrow.
I went from 2nd to 5th. Once back in boost in 5th they stayed at 2 lengths. I initially though I broke something when the revs went that low and the car didn't pull. haha.
205k/19 year old motor mounts & loose ebay short shfter FTL. I'll demand a redo tomorrow.
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06-14-2011, 10:35 PM
#8412
You're confusing personal ethics with economic systems. You show me where the Bible says the government ought to be involved in redistributing wealth. And you're not allowed to quote passages directed at the church, which does have the responsibility of caring for orphans and widows.
It's really ironic that those who claim to be Christians support policies that make life harder on the masses who make less (and work more) and easier on the wealthy. (Ex. raise taxes for the poor/working class and lower taxes on the rich.)
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06-15-2011, 10:06 AM
#8415
Conflating all the categories of ethical and moral behavior into one just so you can play the "gotcha" game is dumb.
If somebodies really religious, they should want an economic system that helps people and doesn't reward being an ******* and having people work at minimum wage as much as possible but not to the point where they'd have to pay an employees health insurance (Walmart).
1. That welfare or communitarian economic systems actually do help the poor more than a free market system does, and
2. That "religious" people ought to make charity the job of the state, rather than the duty of the church.
It's really ironic that those who claim to be Christians support policies that make life harder on the masses who make less (and work more) and easier on the wealthy. (Ex. raise taxes for the poor/working class and lower taxes on the rich.)
If you are actually interested in learning what the Bible has to say about economics, and not simply looking for "gotchas" that you can toss at any religious people you come across, the best work in this area (in my opinion) has been done by Gary North. I don't agree with him in all areas of biblical exegesis, but on this particular issue he has done the most complete and most nuanced work.
You can download most of his work on this subject for free here:
http://www.garynorth.com/public/department57.cfm
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06-15-2011, 10:17 AM
#8416
Boost Czar
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The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live. (i.e. a moral code; principles). Ethics, deals with defining such a code. (e.g. what is good or evil? eye for an eye or turing the other cheek).
no, it is not ironic. It just represents your skewed/narrow view. Example: With every increase of minimum wage, there is an increase in unemployement, most affected are disavantaged blacks, all under the guise of being defenders of miniorites.
The meaning of the term duty is: the moral necessity to perform certain actions for no reason other than obedience to some higher authority, without regard to any personal goal, motive, desire or interest.
If one accepts that, then “duty” destroys morality.
It is the teachings of Kant, not the bible, that hold thats that the devotion to duty for duty’s sake is moral.
However at the same time, to state that man is born a sinner as a fact and not open to his own choice, is a mockery of morality.
It's really ironic that those who claim to be Christians support policies that make life harder on the masses who make less (and work more) and easier on the wealthy. (Ex. raise taxes for the poor/working class and lower taxes on the rich.)
The meaning of the term duty is: the moral necessity to perform certain actions for no reason other than obedience to some higher authority, without regard to any personal goal, motive, desire or interest.
If one accepts that, then “duty” destroys morality.
It is the teachings of Kant, not the bible, that hold thats that the devotion to duty for duty’s sake is moral.
However at the same time, to state that man is born a sinner as a fact and not open to his own choice, is a mockery of morality.
Last edited by Braineack; 06-15-2011 at 10:42 AM.
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06-15-2011, 10:20 AM
#8417
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Religion is man's rationalization of man's instinctual urges to form functional and mutually beneficial social groups. Religious morals are all about people not treating each other and their society in a detrimental manner.
IMO it's a weak *** rationalization but w/ever.
IMO it's a weak *** rationalization but w/ever.
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06-15-2011, 10:41 AM
#8418
Boost Pope
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I don't see this as being the case. If anything, one could summarize the Christian bible as saying that "man is born a sinner, and does have a choice," where the choice is whether to repent and follow the example of Christ (eg: Luke takes Kenobi's / Yoda's teachings to heart and resists the temptation to yield to the Emperor), or to reject Christ and live an amoral life, which does not necessarily imply doing "evil" (eg: building a giant laser on the moon.)
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06-15-2011, 10:51 AM
#8419
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If anything, one could summarize the Christian bible as saying that "man is born a sinner, and does have a choice," where the choice is whether to repent and follow the example of Christ (eg: Luke takes Kenobi's / Yoda's teachings to heart and resists the temptation to yield to the Emperor), or to reject Christ and live an amoral life, which does not necessarily imply doing "evil" (eg: building a giant laser on the moon.)
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