oily rags and spontaneous combustion

[lph]

I don't really know, since by the time I saw it it was just a misshapen lump... but I think not. A lid would probably have contained the flames or maybe stopped it from igniting in the first place.

[Becky]

A lid would probably have contained the flames or maybe stopped it from igniting in the first place.

That's what I always thought (re: covering the bucket), but I've never had a chance to test that theory (thankfully!).

[OakLeaf]

I did a little googling, and the state and federal OSHA sites all say that an oily rag container should have both a lid and a ventilated bottom to allow the heat to dissipate.

[GLC1968]

Holy cow, LPH! What a bummer - sorry to hear it (but somewhat fascinated, nonetheless).

I agree about your English being great, by the way. In fact, I would venture a guess that it seems even better to us precisely because you don't have the latest 'slang' which to me, sounds more and more like poor English!

[malkin]

When my brother was in law school there was a case they read about--this was years ago, so I probably have gotten the details mixed up--

There is some damage to a residential street-(bumpy surface or pothole or whatever)--a guy crashes his motorcycle in the street in front of his house because of the damage. He is not seriously injured from the crash. His girlfriend cleans up gasoline from the crash and puts the gasoline soaked rags in the toilet. The fellow sits to use the toilet, lights a cigarette, and drops the match into the toilet, thus igniting the gasoline soaked rags and causing serious burns to his backside.

The legal question was if the city was responsible for the burns to this fellow's bum because of failure to maintain the surface of the street.

The other thing we used to discuss quite a lot in those days was how they got the stripes into the toothpaste tube so that they would come out right on your toothbrush.

[lph]

The legal question was if the city was responsible for the burns to this fellow's bum because of failure to maintain the surface of the street.

The other thing we used to discuss quite a lot in those days was how they got the stripes into the toothpaste tube so that they would come out right on your toothbrush.

Malkin, you crack me up. On a regular basis :-D