I know shit about acronyms!

I promise to never (or very very rarely ever do this), but I have to share a forwarded email that I have recieved today from my wife. It recounts the history behind one of my favoritest vernacular words. Shit!


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 holds leaked and once water (at
sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the process of its
fermentation began again. As you know, a byproduct of fermentation is
methane gas.

Since the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what
could (and did) happen. Methane would begin 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 Transit". This 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 potentially 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 many centuries and is still in use to this very day.

You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I.