Do Elephants Jump? (40 page)

Toads, warts and

“Toady”

“Toast [salute]”

Toasters, one slice slot on

Toenails, growth of

Toffee, versus caramels

Toilet paper, folding over in hotel bathrooms

Toilet seats in public restrooms

Toilets

flush handles on, location of

loud flushes of, in public restrooms

seat covers for

“Tom Collins [drink]”

“Tommy gun”

Tongues, sticking out of

Tonsils, function of

Toothpaste

expiration dates on

taste of, with orange juice

Toothpicks

flat versus round

mint flavoring on

Tootsie Roll Pops, Indian and star on wrappers of

Toques, purpose of

Tornadoes

lull before

trailer parks and

Tortilla chips

black specks on

price of, versus potato chips

Tortillas

black specks on

size of, versus corn

Touch tone telephones, keypad configuration for

Towels

number of, in hotel rooms

smell of used

textures of

Traffic control

55 mph speed limit

traffic lights

Traffic flow, clumping of, on highways

Traffic jams, clearing of, on highways

Traffic lights

colors on

timing of, in New York and Washington D.C.

Traffic noise in U.S., versus other countries

Traffic signal light bulbs, lifespan of

Traffic signs

DONT WALK
, lack of apostrophe on

FALLING ROCK
, purpose of

placement of “Dangerous Curve”

Trailer parks

tires atop mobile homes in

tornadoes and

Train stations, ceilings of

Trains

backwards locomotives in

EXEMPT
signs at railroad crossings

Tread, tire, disappearance of

Treasurer, U.S., gender of

Treasury, printing of new bills by

Treble clefs, dots on

Trees

bark, color of

growth in cities

growth on slopes of

Triton, orbit pattern of

Tropical fish, oxygen in

Trucks

idling of engines of

license plates on

origins of term “semi” and

“Tsk-Tsk,” stroking of index fingers and

Tuba bells, orientation of

Tuesday

release of CDs

U.S. elections and

Tumbleweed, tumbling of

Tuna, cat food, cans of

Tunnels, ceramic tiles in

Tupperware and home parties

“Turkey,” in bowling, origin of term

Turkeys

beards on

white versus dark meat

Turn signals in automobiles, clicking sounds of

TV Guide
, order of listings in

Twenty-four second clock in NBA basketball

Twenty-one as age of majority

Twenty-one gun salute, origins of

“Twenty-three skidoo”

Twins, identical, DNA and

Twitches during sleep

TWIX cookie bars, holes in

“Two bits,” origins of term

Two by fours, measurement of

Two-minute warning, football and

Typewriter keys, location of

“U” in University of Miami football helmets

Ultraviolet and attraction of insects

Umpires and home plate sweeping

“Uncouth”

Underarm hair, purpose of

Underwear, labels on

Uniforms

painters’ whites

surgeons’, color of

United States Mint and shipment of coin sets

United States Postal System (USPS)

CAR-RT SORT on envelopes

Post office, translation of foreign mail and

undeliverable mail

University of Miami

football helmets

“Hurricanes” nickname

University of North Carolina and Tar Heels

University of South Florida, location of

Unleaded gasoline, cost of

Unlisted telephone numbers, charges for

Unscented hair spray, smell of

“Upper crust”

Upper lips, groove on

UPS

shipment of coin sets

used trucks, nonexistence of

Urinals, ice in

Urination, running water and

Uvula, purpose of

Vaccination marks, hair growth and

Valve stems on fire hydrants, shape of

VCRs, counter numbers on

Vegetable oil, vegetables in

Vegetable oils, vegetables in

Vending machines

bill counting and

freezing of soft drinks in

half dollars and

pennies and

placement of snacks in

“Use Correct Change” light on

Vent windows, side, in automobiles

Vestments

color of Catholic priests’

color of popes’

Videocassette boxes, configuration of

Videocassette recorders

counters on

power surges and

Videotape recorders

“play” and “record” switches on

storms and

Videotape versus audiotape, two sides of

Videotapes, rental, two-tone signals on

Violin bows, white dots on frogs of

Virgin acrylic

Virgin olive oil

Vision

Vitamins, measurement of, in foods

Voices

causes of high and low

elderly versus younger

perception of, own versus others

Volkswagen Beetles, elimination of

Vomiting and horses

“Waffling”

Wagon wheels in film, movement of

Waiters’ tips and credit cards

Walking the plank, pirates and

Walking, race, judging of

Wall Street Journal
, lack of photographs in

Warmth and its effect on pain

Warning labels, mattress tag

Warts, frogs and toads and

Washing machine agitators, movement of

Washing machines, top- versus bottom-loading, and detergent

Washington D.C., “J” Street in

Watch, versus clock, distinctions between

“Watch,” origins of term

Watches and placement on left hand

Water

bottled, expiration dates on

chemical manufacture of

clouds in tap water

color of

Water faucets

bathroom versus kitchen

location of, hot versus cold

Water temperature

effect on stain

versus air temperature, perception of

Water towers

height of

winter and

Water, boiling, boiling, during home births

Water, cold, kitchen versus bathroom

Watermelon seeds, white versus black

Wax, whereabouts in dripless candles

“Wear his heart on his sleeve”

“Weasel words”

Weather [see also particular conditions]

clear days following storms

forecasting of, in different regions

partly cloudy versus partly sunny

smell of impending rain

West coast versus East coast

Wedding etiquette, congratulations to bride and groom and

Wedding invitations, tissue paper in

Weigh stations, highway, predictable closure of

Wells, roundness of

Wendy’s hamburgers, square shape of

Western Union telegrams

exclamation marks and

periods

Wet noses, dogs and

Wetness, effect of, on color

Whales, sperm, head oil in

Whiplash, delayed reaction of

Whips, cracking sound of

Whistling at sporting events

White Castle hamburgers, holes in

White chocolate, versus brown chocolate

“White elephant”

White paint on homes

White pepper, source of

White wine, black grapes and

White-wall tires

bluish tinge on

thickness of

Wigwams near highway

Wind on lakes, effect of different times on

Window cleaning, newspapers and

Window envelopes, use by mass mailers

Windows, rear, of automobiles

Windshield wipers, buses versus automobile

Wine

chianti and straw-covered bottles

dryness of

temperature of serving, red versus white

white, black grapes and

Wine glasses, types of

Wine tasters, drunkenness in

Wing-tip shoes, holes in

Winter, first day of

Wisdom teeth, purpose of

Women

dancing ability

fainting

feelings of coldness

group restroom visits

hair length of aging

leg kicking when kissing

remote control usage

spitting

uncomfortable shoes

Wood, popping noise of, in fires

Woodpeckers, headaches and

Wool

shrinkage of, versus wool

smell of, when wet

Worms

appearance on sidewalk after rain

as fish food

birds and

in tequila bottles

larvae and

survival during winter

Wrapping

Burger King sandwiches

chewing gum

gift box chocolate

Wrinkles on extremities

Wrists as perfume target

Wristwatches, placement on left hand

X

as symbol for kiss

as symbol in algebra

“X ray”

“Xmas,” origins of term

X-rated movies, versus XXX-rated movies

“XXX [liquor]”

Yawning, contagiousness of

Yeast in bread, effect of

Yellow, aversion of insects to

Yellow Freight Systems, orange trucks of

Yellow lights, timing of, in traffic lights

Yellow Pages, advertisements in

Yellowing of fingernails, nail polish and

YKK on zippers

Yogurt

fruit on bottom

liquid atop

Zebras and riding by humans

ZIP code, addresses on envelopes and

“Zipper”

Zippers, YKK on

Zodiac, different dates for signs in

Zoo animals, rocking in

If we haven’t done it in nine other books, why should we fantasize that we have conquered Imponderability with this one? Ridding the world of annoying mysteries, raising the bar far higher than any elephant can jump.

So, please, continue to send in your Imponderables, your praise, and, yes, even your complaints. If you’re the first person to send in an Imponderable we use in a book, you’ll receive an acknowledgment and an autographed copy for your contribution.

Although we accept “snail mail,” we strongly encourage you to e-mail us if possible. Because of the volume of mail, we can’t always provide a personal response to every letter, but we’ll try — a self-addressed stamped envelope doesn’t hurt. We’re much better with answering e-mail, although we fall behind sometimes when work beckons.

Come visit us online at the Imponderables Web site, where you can pose Imponderables, read our blog, and find out what’s happening at Imponderables Central. Send your correspondence, along with your name, address, and (optional) phone number to:

[email protected]
http://www.imponderables.com

or

Imponderables
P.O. Box 116
Planetarium Station
New York, NY 10024-0116

DAVID FELDMAN is the author of twelve books, including the Imponderables
^®
series —
Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?
,
When Do Fish Sleep?
,
Do Penguins Have Knees?
, and others — as well as
Who Put the Butter in Butterfly?
And How to Win at Just About Everything
. He has a master’s degree in popular culture from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and consults and lectures on the media. He lives in New York City.

www.imponderables.com

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Also by David Feldman

How Do Astronauts Scratch an Itch?

What Are Hyenas Laughing At, Anyway?

How Does Aspirin Find a Headache?

When Did Wild Poodles Roam the Earth?

Do Penguins Have Knees?

Why Do Dogs Have Wet Noses?

When Do Fish Sleep?

Who Put the Butter in Butterfly?

Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise?

How to Win at Just About Anything

Imponderables
^®