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#1
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In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. But, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey."
(And all this time, I thought that was an improper expression, did you?)
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![]() Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long. |
#2
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i never knew that ! thanks for the history lesson
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Live life passionately, love unconditionally. Hope for the best, laugh your heart out. Cry when you need to, learn from the past. And remember what is meant to be will find its way. |
#3
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![]() ![]() ![]() Thanks for sharing that bit of information!
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Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. |
#4
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There's a Beastie Boyz song too, Brass Monkey...hmmm. Thanks!
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#5
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#6
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LOL
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#7
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That's a funny story. Thanks for posting it. It brought a smile to my face.
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#8
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kewl!
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#9
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And knowing is half the battle!
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#10
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![]() Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long. |
#11
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I love this site..... who knew?
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#12
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![]() Crying isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of having tried too hard to be strong for too long. |
#13
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I love that song! I need to pack some B-Boys for my roadtrip this weekend!
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