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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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In reading a history of East Lansing, I learned a new term. A wye is a triangular-shaped track used to turn around a train or streetcar. There was a streetcar wye at the intersection of Ann Street, Albert Avenue and MAC Avenue.
Bonus points for whoever knows who MAC was.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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would that be Macadam? the road guy?
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Don't know about MAC, but wye is what Mr. Fudd ordered with pastwami and cheese.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Here's a good illustration, she said after heavy sighs over maps of the Wye River: http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/~Heritage/streetcars/Images/Wye.jpgI had wondered whether they named it after the letter, but questioned it since the top would have to have been closed. Uh...was Mac whom they named Mackinac Island after?
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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"letter 'y'"
Actually, I think you got it, Jackie: from your map, I'd say the three diverging tracks were the tail track and the two branches. The main line, which "closes the 'y'" is not part of the wye. My guess.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Sounds right, insel. lol at pastwami, btww!
Since MAC is capitalised, my guess is it must be an initialism... Michigan and...?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Oh heck, that's easy for someone who knows about Michigan Agricultural College, Moo Ewe. Isn't there a smokestack still there with MAC painted on it?
TEd
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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We have WInner!
"MAC" does indeed stand for "Michigan Agricultural College," the original name of MSU. After that, it became Michigan State College, and then Michigan State University. There are still power plant stacks bearing the designations "MAC" and "MSC" on them.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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In reply to:
Bonus points for whoever knows who MAC was.
Ah, Sparteye, you little devil, you! You fed us a red herring with the use of who rather than what in your challenge!
Not that what would have helped me at all...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> who rather than what
thank you, WW, I feel better now.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> who rather than what <ahem> "Since MAC is capitalised..." Listening to lawyers lessens legitimacy ;)
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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James Alistair Donald was the first president of Michigan Agricultural College, and it was he who started the dairy industry that survives to this day. Even though the college has moved on to bigger and better (well except for being unable to beat UM) all kids learn about the old school and its beloved president:
Old MAC's Donald had a farm
TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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<ahem> "Since MAC is capitalised..."
So, if it were MLK Blvd and we were asked who MLK was we would start looking for Michigan Lakes Kollege?
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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thank you, Faldage, I feel better now.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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> MLK Blvd
Is that a common kind of abbreviation over there then? Man, you guys are weird! :)
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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formerly known as etaoin...
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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well except for being unable to beat UM
What? We're 12 out of the last 13 in men's hoops, which is all that really counts, anyway.
March Madness is almost here. WOOT!
Mav: MLK is the abbreviation for Martin Luther King (Jr), a civil rights leader who was assassinated in the 60s. There are many schools, streets and parks named after him now, and the abbreviation is pretty common.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yep, I dreamed up who it must be - it's the passion for abbreviation I guess I find, er, different!
Did I do OK there, Steven? :)
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member
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Here’s a link to a picture of a wye not: http://tinyurl.com/6bbta
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Well, I see an 'o', and perhaps a backwards 'z', and a broken 'v', but I do na' see a 'y.'
Cute little photo, however.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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picture of a wye not Dgeigh, come here a minute, will you? I have something for you...
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