n2skdvn

Subject: Roman Chariots 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 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 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 and so 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. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again click me

One Smart Kid It was the first day of school and a new student named Martinez, the son of a Mexican restaurateur, entered the fourth grade. The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American history. Who said 'Give me 'Liberty, or give me Death?'" She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Martinez, who had his hand up. "Patrick Henry, 1775." He said. "Very good! Who said 'Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth'"? Again, no response except from Martinez: "Abraham Lincoln, 1863.", said Martinez. The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed. Martinez, who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do." She heard a loud whisper: "Screw the Mexicans." "Who said that?" she demanded. Martinez put his hand up. "Jim Bowie, 1836." At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke." The teacher glares and asks "All right! Now, who said that?" Again, Martinez says, "George Bush to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991." Now furious, another student yells, "Oh yeah? Suck this!" Martinez jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to the teacher,"Bill Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997!" Now with almost a mob hysteria someone said, "You little shit. If you say anything else, I'll kill you." Martinez frantically yells at the top of his voice, "Gary Condit to Chandra Levy 2001." The teacher fainted. And as the class gathered around the teacher on the floor, someone said, "Oh shit, we're in BIG trouble!" Martinez said, "The Taliban! 2001." Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again click me

wingy too bad i cant visit with ya maby next time take care dont get in too much trouble. it was nice getting to meet you at gc and ec hope we meet some other time! ps take good care of the dz.com mascot...sheepy! and log any cool experiences!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

its work safe unlike other posts!(almost got busted checking out the other thread!) if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

chech out the attachment after you read this story A Dark and Stormy Night They were together in the house. Just the two of them. It was a cold, dark, stormy night. The storm had come quickly and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump.. She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance...and wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.. She wanted that...more than anything. Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out.. She screamed. He raced to the sofa where she was cowering. He didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms. He knew this was a forbidden union and expected her to pull back. He was surprised when she didn't resist but instead clung to him. The storm raged on...as did their growing passion. And there came a moment when each knew that they had to be together. They knew it was wrong. Their families would never understand. So consumed were they in their passion that they heard no opening of doors...just the faint click of a camera...... if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

The emerald coast gathering, This gathering was a little smaller than eloy’s but we had a ton of fun. Started out Saturday afternoon I called wingnut to see if he was at emerald coast yet . He was still at home! Told him to get off his sore butt and id meet him there he complied. About 15 miles from the dz I get a call. Wingnut is there and has found clay. Cool I get there finally get to meet clay. He shows me his new jumpsuit from Michigan suits and his swoop on the beach(sweet!!!). we B.S the rest of the afternoon.That evening we head to the flora-bama bar. directions were simple at every tom thumb take a right turn found it with no problems even got a close parking spot! We spent the night drinking beer and eating crawfish then mingled around a bit. I suggested we get some pictures at the state line. We head up to the deck and look for some girls to pose with us. Five seconds later whe had our victims er I mean our new friends! We take the pictures talk for a bit no score though oh well. Time to head back. We stopped at a tom thumb for munchies and drinks. While making my way down an isle I spot this stuffed sheep snag it and walk up behind clay holding the sheep behind my back. Wingnut walks by I get his attention and show him the sheep .I thought he was going to loose it! we get back to the dz and clay crashes out . me and wingnut wait about fifteen minuets go back in to the clubhouse sit the sheep next to him. Snap!! Take the pic and run out. He never knew!(he does now) The next morning I wake up clay and wingnut are already awake. Wingnut is packing his monster chute for a slow opening he has decided to jump. So me clay and wingnut are sitting at a bench when a woman walks by see me wingnut and clay. Ans says to clay”you have man boobs” its lindsy. The gathering is complete.while lindsy was packing clay and wingnut do a cross country from 5 mi away. During that time I show lindsy the sheep she thought it was hilarious! Clay and wingnut get down and talk about their legs going to sleep on the ride back under canopy. clay decides to go get some food leaves for about 30 min comes back saying”we have to go down the road!”. I ask why and all he says is “theres some sheep about a mile down the road” I bust out laughing. So he eats his food I grab my digital and wingnut’s disposable camara and head down to the farm. We arrive at the farm and the sheep are about 40 yards from us. We were wondering how to get the sheep over to us. No problem! They came to us! Im surprised we even got pictures with all the laughing me and clay did! We got back and lindsy was up doing some Rw. When she got down we took the group photo and clay, lindsy her friend (for got her name sorry!)and wing nut went for a 4 way rw jump. Witch didn’t happen .after that thing were settling down.we broke out the beer. Sat on the packing tarp chit chating . lindsy was the first to leave around 9 pm Me ,clay and wingnut b.s. the rest of the night till the owner told us to go to bed or go some where else”the dropzones closed” now that’s a first! Next morning I wake up to my truck shaking it was clay waking me up we chit chat for a few min then we all headed home not bad for three days if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN Between 18 and 20 a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful with fertile deltas. Between 21 and 30 a woman is like America, well developed and open to trade especially for someone with cash. Between 31 and 35 she is like India, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty. Between 36 and 40 a woman is like France. Gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit. Between 41 and 50 she is like Yugoslavia, lost the war - haunted by past mistakes. Massive reconstruction is now necessary. Between 51 and 60, she is like Russia, very wide and borders that are unpatrolled. The frigid climate keeps people away. Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Mongolia, with a glorious and all conquering past but alas, no future. After 70, they become Afghanistan. Most everyone knows where it is, but no one wants to go there. THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN Between 15 and 70 a man is like Iraq - ruled by a dick. if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

wingnut i told you to keep sheepy off the computer!!!!! shes stalking now!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

wingnut has the camra with the flora bama pics soon to be devloped and put on a cd story comming soon (still typing it)

blue skies dude and my condoliencees to the family..... if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

45(pictures):0:2 first time meeting clay and lindsy had fun enjoyed my weekend cant wait till my doc lets me jump!!! oh and a third beer for the dzo saying the drop zone was closed!!!it was only 3 am!!!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

comming soon if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

sheepy is the new dz.com mascot and is comming to a dz near you!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

oh for got sheepy being held by clay if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

heres the pic if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

got to emrald coast sat afternoon saw wingnut and clay sitting on a bench talked for a few i just hung out all weekend(not able to jump right now) that night went to the flora-bama partied there until 3 am got up the next morning and took photos ill tell all the good stories when i get to my computer until then heres a pick of wingnut,lindsy,clay and me if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

Got to meet clay and his girlfriend this weekend check out the photo

just remrmbered uspa sticker on left side of truck(thanks ann!) if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

ill be there tommorow evening some time as for clay he's probbly playing with the local sheep(baaaaa)!!!!!!!!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

2 wffc stickers(00'&01) still need to put the 99' on 1 that says "skydivers- good to the last drop 1 cypres sticker 1 javlin sticker plus a couple of others that have funny sayings if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

usualy starts with a really long climb!!!!!!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

ya mean 50 mi west of gainesville i grew up in lake city and know where cross city is nice area though!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

i wanna go like my grandpa did in his sleep .......not like the three passengers screaming in the car with him if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

you can always sleep at work!!!!!!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me

98 dodge dokata extended cab w/a new front end!! if ya can't dodge it RAM IT !!!!!! click me