Comments on: The Real Story of Murphy's Law. http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/ The Neat Side of the Web Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:33:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: engine sensors http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1536764 engine sensors Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:27:56 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-1536764 Some fun with quotes and an interesting version of how Murphys' Law came into being!! Some fun with quotes and an interesting version of how Murphys' Law came into being!!

]]> By: Chick-e http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-223321 Chick-e Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:52:06 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-223321 Just about everthing is covered by the proceeding laws, with one exception. As proposed years ago by a friend, so we should probably call it Zev's Law, "You can HAVE anything you don't want." Just about everthing is covered by the proceeding laws, with one exception. As proposed years ago by a friend, so we should probably call it Zev's Law, "You can HAVE anything you don't want."

]]> By: Uncle Rich http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-123128 Uncle Rich Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:56:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-123128 "The chances of someone watching you are directly proportional to the foolishness of your action." "The chances of someone watching you are directly proportional to the foolishness of your action."

]]> By: Widgett Walls http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-119750 Widgett Walls Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:58:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-119750 My own Law of Relative Development states that every book, every comic book, every television show, every magazine article and every video game ever created has a movie adaptation in development hell somewhere in Hollywood. This covers all known films, as they have a remake pending as well. My own Law of Relative Development states that every book, every comic book, every television show, every magazine article and every video game ever created has a movie adaptation in development hell somewhere in Hollywood. This covers all known films, as they have a remake pending as well.

]]> By: Alex http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-109269 Alex Sat, 12 May 2007 06:06:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-109269 Murphy's law in action, Chris. Murphy's law in action, Chris.

]]> By: T Bone http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-109185 T Bone Sat, 12 May 2007 02:43:14 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-109185 Fred's Law In the end,we're just losers. Fred's Law
In the end,we're just losers.

]]> By: Chris http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108947 Chris Fri, 11 May 2007 14:09:09 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108947 Never mind. It showed up after I whined about it. Never mind. It showed up after I whined about it.

]]> By: Chris http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108946 Chris Fri, 11 May 2007 14:06:53 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108946 This posting seems to be missing a header. There's just a blank space between this one and the "Futuristic Hotels" post above it. This posting seems to be missing a header. There's just a blank space between this one and the "Futuristic Hotels" post above it.

]]> By: Cori http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108756 Cori Fri, 11 May 2007 00:14:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108756 Sometimes it is mildly useful that I keep a pocket mirror at my desk. Sometimes it is mildly useful that I keep a pocket mirror at my desk.

]]> By: Tim http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108698 Tim Thu, 10 May 2007 21:59:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108698 Ginsberg’s Theorem is actually a philosophical take on the three basic laws of thermodynamics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_laws_of_thermodynamics#First_law As for the lost sock, check the inside front of your dryer, right behind the lint trap: the place you don't normally see that's just big enough to hide one sock. Ginsberg’s Theorem is actually a philosophical take on the three basic laws of thermodynamics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_laws_of_thermodynamics#First_law

As for the lost sock, check the inside front of your dryer, right behind the lint trap: the place you don't normally see that's just big enough to hide one sock.

]]> By: earl http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108687 earl Thu, 10 May 2007 21:34:53 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108687 Socks only get lost when they are taken out of the drawer to be worn. Since a sock without a mate would never be taken out to wear, it has a 100% chance of not being lost. Socks only get lost when they are taken out of the drawer to be worn. Since a sock without a mate would never be taken out to wear, it has a 100% chance of not being lost.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108672 Bryan Thu, 10 May 2007 20:59:44 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108672 We have an old refrigerator that I plugged in the wrong way and *youch!* did I not ever make that mistake again. It's easy to forget how much power is in house current until it's shooting through your body. We have an old refrigerator that I plugged in the wrong way and *youch!* did I not ever make that mistake again. It's easy to forget how much power is in house current until it's shooting through your body.

]]> By: Jason http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108659 Jason Thu, 10 May 2007 20:39:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108659 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttered_cat_paradox http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buttered_cat_paradox

]]> By: Alex http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108561 Alex Thu, 10 May 2007 17:32:06 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108561 Hahaha chris - it took me a while to figure it out! Hahaha chris - it took me a while to figure it out!

]]> By: Dave http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108506 Dave Thu, 10 May 2007 14:56:46 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108506 <blockquote>Stapp’s body is believed to have endured forces equivalent to 40G, or 40 times the force of gravity. But no one will ever know for sure, because all 16 of the sensors failed, each one giving a zero reading for the test... Because of a simple human error, Stapp’s life had been put at risk in vain.</blockquote> Seems silly that the first run of the test would run at forces that high. Seems that a more logical approach would be to run the sled up to a lower speed & hit the brakes to ensure that all was working as it should. With a newly designed & previously untested set of sensors in place, that's how I would've done it anyway. Then again, as they say, "hindsight is 20/20". <blockquote>Murphy’s Law is why two-pronged electrical plugs are now designed with one prong slightly larger than the other - so they can be plugged in the proper way.</blockquote> Not so. Electrical plugs are designed that way now to avoid the possibility of electrical shock from ungrounded appliances. On any appliance that operates on AC and has a two-pronged plug, one of the conductors attached to the plug is also attached to the frame of the appliance. Likewise, in the house wiring and the receptacle, one of the conductors is tied to ground (the wider of the two slots in a 110VAC receptacle in the US) and the other is tied to one of the 110VAC busses in the breaker box. If not for the difference in size of the prongs, the frame of the appliance could have 110VAC applied to it. The appliance would still work, but it could pose a danger to whomever is using it. The danger is most notable in lamps and devices with standard light sockets on them; if the plug were inserted backwards, the 110VAC would be applied to the metal socket on the outside of the lamp that you'd touch to turn the thing on & off. When properly connected, the 110VAC is only applied to the center contact at the bottom of the socket. Without the different sized prongs in the plug, the user would have no way of knowing which way to plug it in. That was the case in years past, but we've learned from our mistakes. I guess you could argue that Murphy's Law prompted the change, but it'd be a stretch.

Stapp’s body is believed to have endured forces equivalent to 40G, or 40 times the force of gravity. But no one will ever know for sure, because all 16 of the sensors failed, each one giving a zero reading for the test... Because of a simple human error, Stapp’s life had been put at risk in vain.

Seems silly that the first run of the test would run at forces that high. Seems that a more logical approach would be to run the sled up to a lower speed & hit the brakes to ensure that all was working as it should. With a newly designed & previously untested set of sensors in place, that's how I would've done it anyway.

Then again, as they say, "hindsight is 20/20".

Murphy’s Law is why two-pronged electrical plugs are now designed with one prong slightly larger than the other - so they can be plugged in the proper way.

Not so. Electrical plugs are designed that way now to avoid the possibility of electrical shock from ungrounded appliances. On any appliance that operates on AC and has a two-pronged plug, one of the conductors attached to the plug is also attached to the frame of the appliance. Likewise, in the house wiring and the receptacle, one of the conductors is tied to ground (the wider of the two slots in a 110VAC receptacle in the US) and the other is tied to one of the 110VAC busses in the breaker box. If not for the difference in size of the prongs, the frame of the appliance could have 110VAC applied to it. The appliance would still work, but it could pose a danger to whomever is using it.

The danger is most notable in lamps and devices with standard light sockets on them; if the plug were inserted backwards, the 110VAC would be applied to the metal socket on the outside of the lamp that you'd touch to turn the thing on & off. When properly connected, the 110VAC is only applied to the center contact at the bottom of the socket.

Without the different sized prongs in the plug, the user would have no way of knowing which way to plug it in. That was the case in years past, but we've learned from our mistakes. I guess you could argue that Murphy's Law prompted the change, but it'd be a stretch.

]]> By: Chris http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108479 Chris Thu, 10 May 2007 13:42:21 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108479 Cole's Law: thinly slice cabbage Cole's Law: thinly slice cabbage

]]> By: A Grue Not Here http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108446 A Grue Not Here Thu, 10 May 2007 13:04:50 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108446 Finagle's Law: The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum Hanlon's Razer: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity Finagle's Law:
The perversity of the Universe tends towards a maximum

Hanlon's Razer:
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity

]]> By: Eugenio Martínez Sierra http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/comment-page-1/#comment-108395 Eugenio Martínez Sierra Thu, 10 May 2007 10:01:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/05/10/the-real-story-of-murphys-law/#comment-108395 If anything can´t go wrong, it will go wrong. Oh godness.. a paradox! If anything can´t go wrong, it will go wrong.

Oh godness.. a paradox!

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