Derail this Topic Challenge!

Derailing of topics is a constant nuisance on this site.

I hereby invite all derailing experts to this thread. Unleash it!

Derail this very topic and get :cookie: points!

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Cats

:cookie: :cookie:

but in America

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They’re eating the cat, they’re eating the dog. These people, they come in and eat our pets…

Airplanes fly off course all the time

Bretton Woods

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Iguana on a stick :lizard:

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My balcony railing needs to be fixed

They eat the cats, they eat the dogs, they eat the iguanas on a stick. Those people, they come here and they eat our pets.

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Speaking of rails…

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Oh no, I re-railed the thread :nerd_face:

First we need to discuss derailment before it can be derailed.

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Nah, that’s just conspiracy

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That’s what they would have you believe

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Talking about rails, did you know that the standard gauge for railroads is 4 feet 8.5 inches? :thinking::steam_locomotive::+1:
Coincidentally, the Space Shuttle’s rocket boosters were designed to fit this width because they had to be transported by train. :rocket::bullettrain_side::us:
Why this oddly specific measurement, you may ask? :thinking::question::exploding_head:
It matches the width of old British wagons. :uk: :steam_locomotive: :uk:
This gauge was chosen because early trains were built by the same craftsmen who built wagons, using the same tools and design principles. :hammer_and_wrench::steam_locomotive::man_mechanic:
And why were wagons that size? :face_with_monocle::thinking::question:
Because they were built to fit the ruts in ancient Roman roads made by Roman chariots, and those were designed to fit two horses’ butts side by side. :racehorse::racehorse::joy:
So, next time you marvel at a space launch, remember: the size of a horse’s ass once dictated the design of one of humanity’s greatest technological achievements. :horse::rocket::joy:

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Speaking of horses

A 1000-pound horse will defecate from 4 to 13 times each day and produce 35 to 50 pounds of wet manure (feces plus urine) daily, or approximately 9.1 tons per year .

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It’s because the space shuttle is designed by a committee who must have jobs in various parts of the country. You will note Starship/SpaceX doesn’t have this handicap and as such aren’t subject to railroad gauge limitations, meaning it can be as large as practical.

It’s also why the shuttle was so damn expensive to “reuse” as their design required basically a complete rebuild of the thing, as well as endless testing, shuffling of papers, etc.

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Start a new thread

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You really shouldn’t complain, rather you should feel included.
After all, the term “van” originally referred to a covered wagon used to transport goods, similar to railway wagons. Both served the purpose of moving cargo efficiently.

As roads improved and internal combustion engines replaced horses, vans evolved into motorized vehicles, but they retained a similar width to their predecessors, influenced by road dimensions that were shaped by railway and wagon standards.

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Everyone is wrong about derailment, you will only truly appreciate this topic if you first naturalise then renounce your original citizenship.

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