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rhythmaningMy wife had a nightmare about a paternoster lift. These are lifts which are open (no doors) and move continually: you simply step in as it goes by your floor, and step out as it reaches the floor you want.
There used to be one in the biochemistry department when I was a student. (I didn't do biochemistry, but they did good sandwiches in the canteen, so we'd go up there sometimes, play on the lift, enjoy the view, and eat lunch.)
As my wife was taliking about her dream, I was wondering why they were called "paternoster" lifts.
So of course I looked it up on wikipedia. And of course wikipedia was able to tell me!
Apparently it is because people find these lifts quite intimidating and scary - nightmarish, even. So people used to say prayers before getting into the lift. And Pater noster are the first two words of "the Lord's Prayer" in Latin...
There used to be one in the biochemistry department when I was a student. (I didn't do biochemistry, but they did good sandwiches in the canteen, so we'd go up there sometimes, play on the lift, enjoy the view, and eat lunch.)
As my wife was taliking about her dream, I was wondering why they were called "paternoster" lifts.
So of course I looked it up on wikipedia. And of course wikipedia was able to tell me!
Apparently it is because people find these lifts quite intimidating and scary - nightmarish, even. So people used to say prayers before getting into the lift. And Pater noster are the first two words of "the Lord's Prayer" in Latin...
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Date: 2006-10-10 09:57 am (UTC)I dreamed the other night that lots of people had strep throat, and then I got it. I was very relieved, when I woke up and remembered, not to have it for real.