My friend
is always trying to get one over on me. This is he of the "Gravity is caused by earth spinning" and "Tides not affected by the moon" arguments. I think he sees me as some sort of big brain, and any occasion when he can get one over on me is a celebrated victory.

Like the time he asked "What does DVD stand for?". I replied digital video disk, to an immediate "HA! NOOOOO! Digital versatile disk. It's versatile VERSATILE not video HAH!"

And he was right too. One nil.

He works as an MOT tester in a local garage, a responsible and highly skilled job , but at this time he was only just starting out on the road to attaining his lofty position. One night, over a kebab, the fateful question came. "Do you know what M.O.T. stands for?"

At the time, I genuinely didn't as anything more than what colour a car is and does it go is beyond where I lose interest.

"HAH! Test of motoring!"

Now, I'm no Clarkson, but you don't have to be an expert to spot the flaw in that explanation. But no! I was again wrong!

"It's test of motoring. They changed it from T.O.M. because that sounds like Tom, and they didn't want it to be someone's name."

One-all. Tie break situation. I reckon the guys at his work were doing a bit of leg pulling. I'm sure he knows now that it's Ministry of Transport, but I won't dredge it up unless the DVD thing resurfaces.
( baw__bag contains traces of nuts on, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:06, 12 replies)

It's Motor Ordnance Test
Isn't it?
(dozers, do fuck off ur a nob m8, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:11, closed)

If it is
my googling to make sure before posting this was completely pointless :P
( baw__bag contains traces of nuts on, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:17, closed)

nope...
it's Ministry of Transport - It's an "MoT Test", not an "MOT".

/pedantry
(Chad, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:27, closed)

I had another google just out of interest
and found that it can stand for, among other things:

Mug of Tea
Mother of Twins
Member of Tribe
Microwave Oven Transformer (!)
Moment of Truth.

I suggest "Massive Obscene Tits" should also be in there, what with the continued popularity of Jordan and Kerry Katona.
( baw__bag contains traces of nuts on, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:36, closed)

Re KK & J "massive obscene tits"
They definitely ARE massive obscene tits, but can the ones they possess ever be described as obscene when massive?
( Snappyuk gets BIGGER with free sample., Mon 22 Mar 2010, 17:37, closed)

That system is used though:
UTC and GSM* are good examples of deliberately rearranged initials.
*well, kind-of
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:04, closed)

I always thought
it was More 'Orrible Trouble!
( Vambo, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 16:34, closed)

Actually...
It's a Digital Versatile Disc.

Spelled with a c - just like CD = Compact Disc.

Disk spelled with a k was commonly used as abbreviation for "diskette" (floppy disk) - and because of the magnetic data storage linkage, thus "hard disk" is spelled with a k also.

However, when talking about a generic "flat, round thing" - the word disc is spelled with a c - and both CDs, and DVDs use the word in this manner.

(Of course, if you're 'merkin then the flat round thing is also spelled with a k. But even they spell CD and DVD with a c, because they're trademarked that way)

/überpedantry
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:00, closed)

so it is!
I come from the land of the commodore amiga so it's burned into my head that it's spelt with a K, I'd never actually noticed it was a c in CDs! I'm getting old.
( baw__bag contains traces of nuts on, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 18:46, closed)

Ahhh, the Amiga!
I'm a proud owner of an A500 - and later an A1200.

Fantastic machines. The games back then were better than what we have today...
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Tue 23 Mar 2010, 10:57, closed)

Actually...
Officially, DVD doesn't stand for anything. It was for Digital Video Disc, then Versatile, then they said fuck it.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Mon 22 Mar 2010, 23:07, closed)

I lost a point in a pub quiz once
By having the answer "Digital Versatile Disc" marked wrong :(
(WillI'mNot logs in twice a year, every year, Thu 25 Mar 2010, 1:35, closed)