Forward From Behind

--

The following was sent to me by an office mate. I don't send forwards b/c I think they are in poor taste and no one is really going to read it no matter how much you beg, threaten years of their luck or begin the forward by saying, "I normally don't forward emails, but..."

That being said, this is worth a read. Enjoy to whatever extent!

-

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.

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.

Therefore the United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches is derived from the original specifications for an Imperial Roman war chariot. Bureaucracies live forever.

So the next time you a re handed a Specification/ Procedure/ Process and wonder "What horse's ass came up with it?" you may be exactly right. Imperial Roman army chariots were made just wide enough to accommodate the rear ends of two war horses. (Two horses' asses.) 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 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, and 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?

Ancient horse's asses control almost everything....and CURRENT Horses Asses are controlling everything else!!

-

Ah politics!

Now, I do my best to keep my facts straight and attempt to filter truth from lies. I know many men of God who forward like it's hot and don't realize they are promoting falsities. I always check Snopes.com for the verity of any email information and/or story told by any storyteller. This is where I ask a rhetorical question: Does that mean one should trust all internet content?

This article provides some answers to the previous story. Short of the long is, while entertaining, it's only somewhat true.

Overarching theme? Always test your "facts." Always!

--

a few thoughts...

--

Question: How many blogs have you abandoned? This is the beginning of number five for myself. One was more political ranting in hopes of educating the masses and yet I found that the "masses" I was educating numbered in single digits. The other four were personal in nature, though I can only locate two.

I frequently go back to read them in hopes of remembering what the deuce I was stammering on about. They are embarrassing for the most part. Who really enjoys their own poetry anyway right? The sheer naivety at times can cause one to rougee, though I find it refreshing to see how somethings change and somethings remain. My poetry is still rubbish.

-

I'm a former sticker junkie. I had one vehicle w/ at least 20 stickers on windows, bumpers and trunk lids. I've recovered to a state of normalcy upon realization that even billboards have a word limit and no one should be straining to read your car whilst driving. This is just one issue.

I removed my Mike Huckabee 2008 bumper sticker on Sunday. I was termed a fair-weather supporter. Tisk, tisk. I have my personal convictions people. There are still people driving around displaying their Kerry/Edwards or the local GOP senate loser. Does this lack of removal display a general soreness about the loss of their candidate or just sheer laziness on the part of the driver? There has to be order in the bumper sticker community.

Also, if you are still sporting bumper wear of W'04 or Sportsman for Bush '04, I'm speaking to you too. No one likes a braggart. Anyone interested in a Bush '08 sticker?

--

Watching Life

--

Jaclyn Derreberry - David  Derreberry

This was originally a story about how these two and their family survived a tornado lashing. This blogpost was written well before these two ignorant savages committed a most horrible, egregious crime. When I originally wrote this post, I had hope that this event would shock them back into reality. We all know now this is far from the truth.

I no longer blog here, however, I kept recieving email alerts that people were posting comments here. I have removed the post because the kind words spoken so long ago are bitter swords to those most effected. I left this here to serve as a placeholder of my "official" comment on this matter.

There is nothing I can say to the family who lost their father, grandfather, brother, friend. I can only express my deepest sympathy for their loss.

--

The donation, its effect and being fearless.

-

"Jesus is fearless!" My mom singed that in her email to me yesterday. It can mean a lot of things to different folk but one thing never changes and that's the truth of it.

I have two friends in surgery as we speak for a kidney transplant. Husband giving to the wife.

I have a co-worker under the knife at this very moment for a hip replacement.

Yet another co-worker was diagnosed with ALS late last year. She has a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old triplets. One of her friends read her this quote "...the donation of your life matters more than the duration of your life."

Jesus is fearless! I know people who take great comfort in that this very moment.

--

...or to look at it another way.

--

"If you're a sinner, then God hates you!"

How great it is that statement is false. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Mankind has been a problem from day one. That's the all-inclusive "man" I speak of, if any ladies ever read this and think too highly of themselves.

This thought ran through my mind today. God hates no one. God hates not one member of the human race. So do people sit and ponder this point when faced w/ the guilt of their sin? When they realize, 'God doesn't hate me,' do they start living as if God grades sin on a scale or degree? Is it, God doesn't hate me, therefore he doesn't hate my sin? Am I even sinning? Does sin become acceptable at that point for that person?

A homosexual or an alcoholic, do they feel fully accepted and not condemned in God's eyes b/c of his love for them? Does the "un-churched" sinner view God by the actions of his believers?

-

We've got a lot of snow today. I did not grow up shoveling snow and I enjoy it. I had lots of outdoor chores, i.e., chopping wood, hauling "mis-placed" rock, etc.. These days I've gotten lazy what with the central air/heat system and the sod. Shoveling seems to be my greatest outdoor exercise event in the winter. Still, I think the novelty is wearing off.

--

...served on a port roll.

--

I 'm not sure where the names of bread derive. When I hear the words "port roll," I first think of fish. Salty fish. When I'm doing my best to enjoy beef brisket, the thought of salty fish is the last thing I want swimming through the mind. Perhaps it could be called "oblong roll" or even "belly bun." Yet one more thing to add to my wiki list for today. P.s., the brisket is awesome!

-

I have nothing witty to write. I should be working on my novel; at least a little research. Yet I only talk about it and write down ideas on odd occasions. Still it sits in my document folder awaiting addition.

-

Common rule dictates the proper flow of sidewalk traffic should follow the same rule as traffic flow. Drive on the right, walk on the right. Do folk in English or older English territories obey different sidewalk rules than others? Circulation being different and all.

--

Ethnic Air

--

I enjoy ethnic food as much as the next guy, nay more. Indian, Lebanese and Thai food is a special treat for me and I will take it when I can get it. Anyone who has ever been served these dishes are aware of the associated smell. Great when in a restaurant, not so much in the work place.

How does one go about asking certain people to not eat their strong, ethnic food in such a common area w/o offending those who bring it in everyday? I don't want to seem like the token, "I have a black friend" type of guy, but I'm not really sure what else to tell my fellow co-workers w/o seeming a bit harsh or uncaring.

One can only take the smell of curry on one's clothes for so long. It stays in the trash all day. Today it was fish-y. I'm trying to take the high road, but I'm afraid other co-workers aren't so cautious.

--

The Church is made of people

-
I was deep in thought last night at Bible study when the question about The Church was aired. 'When we do not attend church, how are we effected?' I was more struck by the usage of the work 'church' than the question itself.

Old news but Church is people, not a building. Church is not a place where people gather to sing songs and listen to someone tell them about Christ or how they should be living. Christ did not die for specific times during the week we consider holy. The Holy One did not bring about salvation for brick and mortar. It may seem like simple semantics but I believe it's a simple step in correcting the way we think about worship and our relationship w/ God.

I know numerous missionaries who have the most amazing experiences in the field and humbly produce great fruit in the name of Christ, b/c of Christ and for Christ. They come back to the States to relax. Relax? That's the type of "Christian Nation" we are? A rest stop for the weary who are doing the LORD's work? These same missionaries share stories w/ their supporting congregations and everyone in the building leaves feeling refreshed and renewed w/ new hope and resolve. Is the message different? Can the missionaries be preaching a different gospel than what we are hearing on Sunday?

-

By any other name

My blogs come and go, only the titles change. This isn't a New Year resolution by any means but it's nice that it starts on such an occasion.

I've been asked about resolutions or what I hope to accomplish this year and though I'm sure it's a great trait, I've never been much of a goal setter. There are a few things I'm going to do my best at this year.

I will finish Tolstoy's War and Peace. I plan on reading other books but have no aspirations outside of that great work.

I recently started dating the most wonderful gal in the world. There is plenty of quality time ahead of us. Kristy has been such a blessing!

I will become more familiar w/ certain sections of the Cities this year as well, being that Kristy lives there. I've been saying how much I would like to travel and see more of Minnesota but have yet to make it much farther north than the MetroDome to see the Twins or south of Lanesboro for my annual biking/kayaking trip. I hear the North Shore area is a site to see for the outdoors sort.

Working w/ the youth group and establishing closer relationships w/ the youth leaders will be a top priority this year. We have the greatest group of kids and adult volunteers. Not many churches are able to make that statement when it comes to middle schoolers.

Other "to do list" items for this year:

• Perform in at least one play
• Learn one classical song on the guitar
• Learn one gospel favorite on the mandolin
• Learn one jazz piece on clarinet
• Save time off for trip to Seattle
  
• Keep a constant 20 mph for 20 miles by end of my cycling summer
• Attend BeanFest
• Get five chapters nailed down on the novel

I also have to fit in a week-long trip to Austin, Tx for a film festival, birthdays, holidays and write here as often as possible. When do I ever say I'm bored?