Some my know this...

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

...Why are fire trucks red?

[csziggy]

1. Sympathetic magic

By making the trucks red, they take power from the fire.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. keep trying...

[NightWatcher]

2. if someone pulled your hose all day long....

you'd be red too

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. I'm not touching that...

...with anything.

[In_The_Wind]

13. I don't have a hose.

[Rosco T.]

4. Then aGAIN

Fire trucks are red because newspapers are red. Newspapers originally cost 25 cents. Half of 25 is about 12. 12 inches are in a foot. A foot is a ruler. Queen Elizabeth was a ruler. Queen Elizabeth was also a ship. Ships are in the ocean. Fishes are also in the ocean. Fish have fins. Fins fought the Russians. Russians are red and that's why fire trucks are red. They are always rushing.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. Oh you're close

maybe an alternative derivation...

[cliffordu]

7. I think you might have won the innernets today.

[OriginalGeek]

12. I won the innernets once

Then I went too far and MFM took them back.


DON'T GO TOO FAR ROSCO T! INNERNETS CAN BE RECALLED!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. lol

[Bucky]

8. As Tevye sang: "Traditionnnn... TRADITION!!" But also because red's sposedly easier to see.

This is what a firefighter once told me: For a long time, people assumed red was the color that most caught the attention of the human eye. Therefor red became the smartest color to paint the emergency vehicles that were rushing through busy intersections trying to get to an emergency. Red was, supposedly, one of the few colors that horses could see, so they would aware of these flying hazards and avoid them.

Years later, in the 20s and 30s, as optics became a better studied science, it was discovered that humans actually see yellow better than red. In response, a lot of localities started painting their fire engines bright yellow. There are small municipalities around the country that still have those yellow firetrucks (I know from personal experience Sapulpa OK is one of those towns). But in most of the country the introduction of traffic lights and the improvement in siren acoustics meant that running into a firetruck was far less of a hazard. So most placed elected to stay with tradition and keep their fire engines red.

Again, this comes from an old codger who spent thousands of hours in his adult life sitting around a firehouse and thinking up shit to talk about with his colleagues. I can't vouch for his veracity, but I think it make for a nice story.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

11. Well

You're probably right. I'm told the dark green part of the spectrum is the most difficult to see.

[cliffordu]

20. I read a study once that claimed the best camo in a north American forest

was simple blue jean material.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

10. Here's my version

Fire trucks have 4 wheels and 8 firefighters.
4 plus 8 is 12.
12 inches is a foot.
A ruler is 1 foot long.
and then we're back to Rosco T: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018366529#post4
Queen Elizabeth was a ruler.
The Queen Elizabeth was a ship.
Ships sail in the ocean.
Fish are in the ocean.
Fish have fins.
The Fins fought the Russians.
Russians are red.
Fire trucks are always rushin', therefore...


Thanks everyone

[In_The_Wind]

14. Cause pink won't move anyone outta the way.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

15. and...

...yellow is mellow,
but today is so gray
and the water so blue,
Happy Tuesday to you.

[In_The_Wind]

16. Since I was born on Tuesday ... that works for me.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL] [img][/img]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018296025

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

17. That's just sunny

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[In_The_Wind]

18. I was asleep. I think maybe I need a midnight snack.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

19. Me too.

I getting pineapple and grapes.

goodnight