In theory there's no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is.
this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2025
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Showerthoughts
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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The most popular seem to be lighthearted clever little truths, hidden in daily life.
Here are some examples to inspire your own showerthoughts:
- Both “200” and “160” are 2 minutes in microwave math
- When you’re a kid, you don’t realize you’re also watching your mom and dad grow up.
- More dreams have been destroyed by alarm clocks than anything else
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Is been an hour and no one yet has quoted:
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice, it isn't.
In theory, theory is the same as practice. In practice, it isn’t.
The earliest strong match located by QI appeared in “The Yale Literary Magazine” of February 1882 which was written and edited by students. Benjamin Brewster who was a member of the class of 1882 wrote about an argument he had engaged in with a philosophical friend about theory versus practice.
Thank you! I've heard the quote a few times, but never known the source. And I've always been pretty sure I was misquoting it.
True but I wanted a literal shower thought
It's all pipes, Jerry!
Don't they lead to the same system? If there was a leak in your roof over your shower, your shower drain will also be a storm drain
Usually not. When they do it means a big storm overwhelms the sewage system and raw sewage is released someplace. Most places get a storm this big several times a year.
For people on septic systems it isn't unheard of for shows to bypass the septic system and go directly to the drain field - only water from your toilets and kitchens needs treatment (as a parent I can inform you kids sometimes poop in the tub so this is a bad idea). I've also heard of people diverting their shower to a tank that is then reused for flushing toilets - if you live where water is scarce this might be a good idea, but for most of us it isn't worth the costs.
Storm drains usually lead straight to creeks, rivers, or other bodies of water, whereas your sewage goes to a water treatment facility first. Totally separate systems (in most places)
They used to, in many places, lead to a sewage treatment facility. That has been changing.
Unless you mean the ocean. Then yes, same place.
Depends on where you live. In central New Jersey a lot of storm water from the streets is a separate system that heads back into the rivers or whatever whatershed. Where as sewage from your home or business drain goes to sewage treatment processing.
I believe in Northern Ireland it's the same system. I may be wrong, though. Our sewage system has a lot of issues, unfortunately.
Everything is a hole with enough force