It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The best storage method devised was to stack them as 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/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called a Monkey. But 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 shrinks 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. And all this time, you thought that was a vulgar expression, didn't you?
__________________ I haven't decided how much longer to tease you.
Ever wonder where the word "sh!t" comes from. Well here it is:
Certain types of manure used to be transported (as everything was back then) by ship. In dry form it weighs a lot less, 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 discovered what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure where always stamped with the term "S.H.I.T" on them which meant to the sailors to "Ship High In Transit." In other words, 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.
Bet you didn't know that one.
Here I always thought it was a golf term.
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'08 Black Diamond 4x4 AT, FJCruiserForums.com sticker, All the bells and whistles, just installed my flux capacitor!
A google search using the keywords monkey water stairs will prove that there are always 5 monkeys in the beginning.
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Follow the yellow brick.
Sun Fusion AT, bunch of factory options, protective door sills, multivex mirrors, reflective tape, BudBuilt front skid, Bandi mount
Among Apes (not really monkeys...), Male humans have larger testicles 1.5 ounces on average than even gorillas and orangutans. However, in this ball competition, chimpanzees win, having testicles that weigh an average of 4 ounces.
There is also research that links testicle size in apes to fidelity. The bigger the balls, the increased likely hood of males being promiscuous.... Funny, despite the implication, I've never cheated on my wife...
__________________
An FJ rolls on
hills muted by mountains pass
a true adventure
6 spd MT Voodoo Blue
Rear diff and e-locker scuba mod
CB w/ custom CB antenna mount on uppper rear door hinge
A-Trac switch installed
Custom tube bumper in the works...
Among Apes (not really monkeys...), Male humans have larger testicles 1.5 ounces on average than even gorillas and orangutans. However, in this ball competition, chimpanzees win, having testicles that weigh an average of 4 ounces.
There is also research that links testicle size in apes to fidelity. The bigger the balls, the increased likely hood of males being promiscuous.... Funny, despite the implication, I've never cheated on my wife...
I'm picturing you in your tighty whities right now
I'm picturing you in your tighty whities right now
Who says I'm wearing underwear...
__________________
An FJ rolls on
hills muted by mountains pass
a true adventure
6 spd MT Voodoo Blue
Rear diff and e-locker scuba mod
CB w/ custom CB antenna mount on uppper rear door hinge
A-Trac switch installed
Custom tube bumper in the works...
I'm a pretty straightforward guy as long as I'm not BS'n ya
Linear Mode
