27 How firm is your foundation? (Urban legends)
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This article is from the Urban legends FAQ, by Terry Chan tchan@dante.lbl.gov and Peter van der Linden linden@eng.sun.com with numerous contributions by others.
27 How firm is your foundation? (Urban legends)
F. Building is built backwards. Public criticizes; Architect commits suicide.
Tb.There have been buildings built backwards.
F. Various university libraries sink; books heavier than architect thought!
F. Same as above, but pool not library, weight of water, not books.
Ft.Lots of bldgs (malls, etc.) are sinking into the ground as we post!
[See "Back to the Drawing Board--Some Architectural Legends" in CBA]
T. Some universities, cities are riddled with semi-secret utility tunnels.
T. Clouds and other weather can transpire in the upper parts of high structures
Fb.RC Church building plans reviewed by Pope/Vatican; response was "we are not
angels"; plans had no loos!
Fb.Bldg collapses due to gas explosion from buried dead elephant under it.
T. Soldiers break step when marching over bridges (trivially observed).
U. Bridge falls down if soldiers don't break step when marching over.
Fb.Bridge falls down due to resonance if soldiers don't break step marching
over. Broughton suspension bridge, England, 14 April 1831, fell under
soldiers march, but prob just overloaded, not resonating. Mark Brader
posted Times story!
F. Otherwise sound bridge falls down if soldiers don't break step marching
over. (There have been no documented instances of this)
F. Arizona resorts are prewired for slot machines should gambling be okay'd.
F. Young woman meets beau's family for 1st time. During dinner, she has to
take a leak and asks where the bathroom is. She goes in, but finds it's
a bathroom w/no toilet! She looks around, can't find it. Being desperate
and embarassed, she stands on sink to do it. Family hears loud crash and
run to find that she's unconscious/bleeding/but okay. Sink collapsed!
T. Lotsa university buildings constructed in the 1960s look like prisons.
U. Many manhole covers are round because the holes are.
T.*If you want to find out about the "Oak Island" story, check cathouse.org
for Dick Joltes' excellent piece. Even if you don't it's there.
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