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| Post Number: 31
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jimhanson 
Group: Moderator
Posts: 8491
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: May 04 2004,3:39 pm |
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I never realized how many nautical expressions are found in our language. Here are some examples from THE NAVY LEAGUE.
Over the Barrel
The most common method of punishment aboard ship was flogging. The unfortunate sailor was tied to a grating, mast or over the barrel of a deck cannon.
To Know the Ropes
There was miles and miles of cordage in the rigging of a square rigged ship. The only way of keeping track of and knowing the function of all of these lines was to know where they were located. It took an experienced seaman to know the ropes.
Dressing Down
Thin and worn sails were often treated with oil or wax to renew their effectiveness. This was called "dressing down". An officer or sailor who was reprimanded or scolded received a dressing down.
Footloose
The bottom portion of a sail is called the foot. If it is not secured, it is footloose and it dances randomly in the wind.
Booby Hatch
Aboard ship, a booby hatch is a sliding cover or hatch that must be pushed away to allow access or passage.
First Rate
Implies excellence. From the 16th century on until steam powered ships took over, british naval ships were rated as to the number of heavy cannon they carried. A ship of 100 or more guns was a First Rate line-of-battle ship. Second rates carried 90 to 98 guns; Third Rates, 64 to 89 guns; Fourth Rates, 50 to 60 guns. Frigates carrying 20 to 48 guns were fifth and sixth rated.
Pipe Down
Means stop talking and be quiet. The Pipe Down was the last signal from the Bosun's pipe each day which meant "lights out" and "silence".
Chock-a-block
Meaning something is filled to capacity or over loaded. If two blocks of rigging tackle were so hard together they couldn't be tightened further, it was said they were "Chock-a-Block".
Leeway
The weather side of a ship is the side from which the wind is blowing. The Lee side is the side of the ship sheltered from the wind. A lee shore is a shore that is downwind of a ship. If a ship does not have enough "leeway" it is in danger of being driven onto the shore.
Windfall
A sudden unexected rush of wind from a mountainous shore which allowed a ship more leeway.
Groggy
In 1740, British Admiral Vernon (whose nickname was "Old Grogram" for the cloak of grogram which he wore) ordered that the sailors' daily ration of rum be diluted with water. The men called the mixture "grog". A sailor who drank too much grog was "groggy".
Three Sheets to the Wind
A sheet is a rope line which controls the tension on the downwind side of a square sail. If, on a three masted fully rigged ship, the sheets of the three lower course sails are loose, the sails will flap and flutter and are said to be "in the wind". A ship in this condition would stagger and wander aimlessly downwind.
Pooped
The poop is the stern section of a ship. To be pooped is to be swamped by a high, following sea.
As the Crow Flies
When lost or unsure of their position in coastal waters, ships would release a caged crow. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land thus giving the vessel some sort of a navigational fix. The tallest lookout platform on a ship came to be know as the crow's nest.
Buoyed Up
Using a buoy to raise the bight of an anchor cable to prevent it from chafing on a rough bottom.
By and Large
Currently means in all cases or in any case. From the nautical: by meaning into the wind and large meaning with the wind: as in, "By and Large the ship handled very well."
Cut and Run
If a captain of a smaller ship encountered a larger enemy vessel, he might decide that discretion is the better part of valor, and so he would order the crew to cut the lashings on all the sails and run away before the wind. Other sources indicate "Cut and Run" meant to cut the anchor cable and sail off in a hurry.
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"If you want to anger a Conservative, tell him a lie. If you want to anger a LIBERAL, tell him the TRUTH!"
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| Post Number: 32
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GEOKARJO
Google This!!!
Group: Members
Posts: 7799
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: May 07 2004,3:41 pm |
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How To Tell If You're A
HIGH-TECH REDNECK!
You take your net connected cell phone
to the outhouse to read your email.
Your email address ends in ".over.yonder.com."
Your computer is worth more than all
of your cars combined.
You ever refer to your computer as "Old Bessie."
You start all of your emails with the word "Howdy."
You can fix a trolling motor with a set
of PC tools.
You've ever used a CD-Rom as a coaster to
sit your beer can on.
Your screen saver is a bitmap image of your
favorite tractor.
You think re-booting is getting new soles
on your boots.
You connect to the World Wide Web via a
"Down Home Page."
If the bumper sticker on your truck says
"My other computer is a laptop."
Your laptop has a sticker that says
"Protected by Smith and Wesson."
You've ever doubled the value of your truck
by installing a cellularphone.
Your baseball cap read "DEC" instead of "CAT."
.
Your wife said "either she or the computer had
to go", and you still don't miss her.
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| Post Number: 33
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fresno
Group: Members
Posts: 220
Joined: Sep. 2003
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Posted on: May 09 2004,7:46 pm |
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a.k.a. "huey,slick,chickenhawk? for you geo metro! "how can you kill innocent women and children? 'you just don't lead them as much? full metal jacket.
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| Post Number: 34
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fresno
Group: Members
Posts: 220
Joined: Sep. 2003
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Posted on: May 09 2004,7:48 pm |
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hey geo, what is auto rotation mean for a helicopter pilot? especially in a huey?
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| Post Number: 35
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GEOKARJO
Google This!!!
Group: Members
Posts: 7799
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: May 10 2004,10:51 am |
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KISS MY FREAKING ASS FRESNO
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| Post Number: 36
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Daisy Duke
Group: Members
Posts: 147
Joined: Mar. 2004
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Posted on: May 18 2004,12:41 am |
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Did you know the word F.U.C.K. came from the english.............
Fornication Under theConsent of the King
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Life is too short, SO play naked 
The supreme reality of our time is the extreme vulnerability of our planet.......JFK
Naughty, Naughty Kool-Aid............comedian Dane Cook!!
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| Post Number: 37
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Daisy Duke
Group: Members
Posts: 147
Joined: Mar. 2004
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Posted on: May 18 2004,1:39 am |
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DUMB LAWS:
Dogs may not molest cars in Fort Thomas, Kentucky!!
Persons in Derby, Kansas may not screech their tires while driving!! HMMMMM
In Mount Vernon, Iowa, one must obtain permission from the city counsel before throwing bricks onto a highway!! That explains it all about Iowa
In Dublin, Georgia, cars can not be driven in playgrounds. Why Not??
In Washighton, it is illegal to destroy a person's beer bottle!! Now thats my kind of state!!
In Prince William County, Virginia, it is illegal to park a car on railroad tracks. Iwonder who came up with this one!!
It is illegal to cause a catastrophe in Utah! Any questions??
In Alamosa, Colorado, it is illegal to throw missiles at vehicles! I guess I won't go there to get rid of mine!!
In Alabama it is illegal to operate a vehicle while driving? WHAT!!!!
!In Pacific Grove, California, it is illegal to molest butterflies!! Sad thing is someone probably tried this?
In Alabama, it is a felony for you to cut off your arm in order to make people feel sorry for you and give you money!! Only in Alabama will you see this!!
In Cottage Grove, Minnesota it is against the law to land an airplane in a public park. Now Jim I know this will be hard to follow but try!!! J/K
Any person who persuades another to enter a massage therapy business after 11:00 p.m. is guilty of a misdomeanor in Minnetonka, Minnesota! DUMB
In Oklahoma, it is illegal to promote horse-tripping!! Excuse me.......
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Life is too short, SO play naked
The supreme reality of our time is the extreme vulnerability of our planet.......JFK
Naughty, Naughty Kool-Aid............comedian Dane Cook!!
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| Post Number: 38
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Liberal
Group: Moderator
Posts: 11451
Joined: Aug. 2003
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Posted on: May 18 2004,8:02 am |
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Horse-tripping is a brutal event and it should be illegal in every state just like bullfighting. It's strange that the law in Oklahoma says it's illegal to promote it, but, it doesn't actually say it's illegal to do it.
http://michnews.com/artman/publish/article_3012.shtml
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The people are masters of both Congress and courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it!
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| Post Number: 39
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Newbie
Group: Members
Posts: 716
Joined: Mar. 2004
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Posted on: May 18 2004,8:16 am |
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In Albert Lea MN
It is a petty misdemeanor for any owner of an animal to permit animal waste to accumulate on his premises for more than 24 hours.
Who checks this?
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People who don't like cats must have been mice in a previous life.
Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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| Post Number: 40
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truckwriter94
Group: Members
Posts: 133
Joined: Apr. 2004
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Posted on: May 18 2004,8:54 am |
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| Quote (MADDOG @ April 12 2004,5:08:pm) | If you are an average American, in your whole life, you will spend an average of 6 months waiting at red lights.
Turtles can breathe through their butts. |
If that's the case, I must have 5-6 years in by now. 
LMAO!!!!!!!! 
 OOPS! I was looking at the first page of this strand and forgot to keep going rather than respond.
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PLAZE UZE YUR SPEL CHEK B4 POZTNG!
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, than open it and remove all doubt. Mark Twain/ Well, excuse me while I pull my boot out of my mouth! Tw94 Hang up and Drive! I brake for tailgators.
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