Word History 101... SHIT!

Here is an interesting fact you should know. I was once told that this was a word of nautical origin, but never knew the story behind it. Thought you might like to expand your field of general knowledge.

Authoritative sources rarely agree on the origin of most words. Sometimes, it can be as simple as the following explanation:

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 weighed 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, a by-product of which 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, there was a significant BOOOOM! ...and lots of floating wood shards..

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 Transit' 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 Transit), which has gained official "word" status, and has come down through the centuries and is still in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I had just always thought it was adapted as a golf term!

Yeah, I know... Sounds like so much bullshit!

Happy Valentine's Day

Here are my three valentine's

US Soldiers using "Jesus rifles"

ABC News reports that US soldiers are being issued Trijicon sights for their weapons. Trijicon, who makes some of the best weapon sights in the world has been called out for placing biblical passages on their product. Tom Munson, director of sales and marketing for Trijicon, says that the inscriptions have always been there.

The article quotes one of the complainants "It's wrong, it violates the Constitution, it violates a number of federal laws," said Michael "Mikey" Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group that seeks to preserve the separation of church and state in the military.

"It allows the Mujahedeen, the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles," he said.

Thought the story was interesting and kind of ironic, given our enemy's reason for fighting. The entire story can be read here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-mil...ory?id=9575794

DMV - Excuse for a ride...

I needed to take care of some paper work at the Department of Motor Vehicles. Since it was 62 degrees I decided to ride.

The hill's are turning green. Looking east toward the lower Sierra mountains.

As the map shows, the route I took around the county took me through a lot of orange orchards, grape vineyards and farm land.

Is there any other?

The hills are green now, but wait for a couple of months and they will be brown and ugly.

The road up though the hills.

Is there any other, really?

This shot is looking over the San Joaquin Valley in the direction of Arvin and Lamont

And some of the farm land. As usual always hazy.

There is a saying in the valley, "where the water flows the food grows" Water is very critical in the valley and it seems like the farmers are always having to fight for water. Seems like the Delta Smelt is more important than human life.

This is the way water was pumped in years gone by.
This is the way water is pumped today.

Eighty miles later, I got my DMV taken care of including a great ride

Do you feel lucky? Well do ya...

I know what you're thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum - the most powerful hand gun in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question--Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk!
Dirty Harry

The Pueblo Incident

A few days ago at work a song came on the radio, my work buddy Tim asked me if I knew the words to this particular song. After listening to the tune for a few moments I knew I had heard the song before but admitted not knowing the words. The song was performed by the one hit wonder "Blues Image"

An international incident 42 years ago remains shrouded in mystery.

On the bitterly cold morning of Jan. 23, 1968, an American intelligence vessel, USS Pueblo, was operating in international waters off the coast of North Korea. It was surrounded by four North Korean patrol boats, with two MiG aircraft flying overhead. The boats ordered the Pueblo to stop and let the North Koreans board. The order was refused. The Pueblo headed further out to sea. The North Korean boats immediately opened fire. Armed with only a 50-caliber gun secured from the freezing temperatures by a tarp, the Pueblo was unable to fight back.

With more North Korean boats appearing on radar and heading its way, the Pueblo had no choice but surrender -- the first U.S. Navy ship since 1807 to be captured by a foreign power.

One Pueblo crew member was killed in the attack; the remaining 82 spent 11 months in a prison camp before being released. The Pueblo remains in North Korea.

The Pueblo was immortalized in song; 'Ride, Captain Ride' and is played to this day on radio stations across the USA, yet few Americans realize the true meaning of the popular 70's song.

Some people think the song was written in response to the "Pueblo Incident"

Listen to the song