THINGS YOU LEARN BY ACCIDENT
You should try to learn something everyday . . . here's today's lesson..
Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure were common.
It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighted a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a byproduct 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 determined just what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term 'Ship High In Transport' on them, which meant for the sailors to stow it 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.
Thus evolved the term 'S.H.I.T.' (Ship High In Transport) which has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word.
Neither did I.
I recently read about Smart Energy. Biogas is the methane released from cow manure and can be used as a renewable energy source. Sh** has gone green. I wonder if there will be mass production of air fresheners. Maybe the natural gas co. will send us free ones in our bills. I'd really prefer a monthly credit on my bill. Thanks for letting us know about the history of Sh**. Of course my version is different.
I love word study...I have an etymological dictionary (word origins) and love to discover where words originate (I am a linguist by training and a teacher by choice). Our town dump has a methane release hole and all day and night a tall blue flame - about 10 or 12 feet - burns. At night it's really cool to see this tall skinny blue flame just burning away. Thanks for sharing.
Gidday Kat
The DVD Kenny tells that story and if you want a great laugh and also a human nature lesson get the DVD Kenny (Australian made dvd)
light and love Zac
The DVD Kenny tells that story and if you want a great laugh and also a human nature lesson get the DVD Kenny (Australian made dvd)
light and love Zac
