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Mystery Hour Archive: Why Do We Say "Fill Your Boots"
Thursdays 12-1pm
Every week, James O'Brien enlists the help of LBC listeners to solve the questions you've always wondered the answer to.
It's all about shared human knowledge. Call up with a question and then another listener around the country will know the answer.
There's one thing that's sure - you will know more by Thursday at one o'clock than you do now.
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Top Ten Most Read Questions
1) What is the small pocket on jeans?
2) Why do pub TVs have a pint glass in the corner?
3) Why do all crisps expire on a Saturday?
4) Why do we wear our wedding ring on our left 4th finger?
5) Why are we happy as Larry and who is Larry?
6) Why do planes have their blinds up on landing?
7) How many cows' milk makes a pint?
8) How can mobiles always make emergency calls?
9) Can the Queen be arrested?
10) How many gigabytes does a brain hold?
Do We Learn "Bad" Smells Or Is It Innate?
Do we learn good and bad smells or is it innate?
Did Humans Invent Or Discover Maths?
Did humans invent or discover maths?
Why Are The Fourth And Seventh Waves The Biggest?
Why are the fourth and seventh waves the biggest?
Why's It Rude To Lean Elbows On Tables?
Why is it rude to lean your elbows on the table?
What Are The Seaside Boards With Cut Out Heads Called?
What do you call the boards with cut-out faces at the seaside?
Why Do We Have Two Nostrils?
Why do we have two nostrils?
Why Doesn't A Tattoo Grow Out Of The Skin?
Why doesn't a tattoo grow out of the skin?
Why Do Jets To The US Fly Horseshoe Routes?
Why does a flight to the United States take an unnecessary horseshoe route?
Why Does Scratching A Coin Get It In Vending Machine?
Why does scratching a coin allow it to go into the vending machine?
Why Are In-Laws Called In-Laws?
Why do you refer to an in-law as an "in-law"?
Why Do We Get Hungry At Swimming Pools?
Why do we get hungry when we go to the swimming pool?
Why Is Sea Air Better For You?
Is sea air really better for you - and if so, why?
How Did Refs Decide Whistle Tone?
How did referees decide upon the whistle tone they would use to denote the end of the match?
How Much Cash Do Street Sweepers Find?
How much cash do street sweepers find on a typical day of cleaning the streets?
Can I Leave Tattooed Skin In Will?
Can I legally leave my tattooed skin to friends or family in my will?
Why Do Americans Say "Erb" Not "Herb"?
Why do Americans drop the letter �h�, only on the word �herb�?
Why Does It Rain "Cats And Dogs"?
Why does it rain "cats and dogs"?
Why Is There A Two Second Rule?
Why is there a two-second rule, when it comes to picking up food on the floor?
Which Recycle Bin Does My Pringles Tube Go In?
The top is plastic, the middle is cardboard, and bottom is metal...
Why Can We Say Badly But Not Goodly?
Why is it that we can say badly, but not bigly or goodly?
Why Can Petrol Stations Charge Decimals?
Why at petrol stations are they allowed to charge decimals of pence?
Do You End Up Smaller If Puberty Starts Early?
Is it true that the sooner you start puberty, the smaller you end up?
Where Does "Going Commando" Come From?
Where did the term �going commando� come from?
Why Isn't Toilet Roll One Thick Sheet Instead Of Two?
Why is toilet paper made up of two thinner parts instead of one thick piece?
Why Do We Never See Baby Pigeons?
Why do we never see baby pigeons?
Why Do Clothes Go Dark When They�re Wet?
Why do clothes go dark when they�re wet, even though water is clear?
What's The Difference Between A Psychopath And Sociopath?
What is the clinical difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?
Would A Nuclear Missile Destroy A Meteorite In Space?
Would a nuclear missile destroy a meteorite in the vacuum of space? Yes it would.
Where Does �The Real McCoy� Come From?
Where does the phrase �The Real McCoy� come from?
Why Is The Shark In Jaws Named "Bruce"?
Why did they name the mechanical shark from �Jaws� Bruce?
How do we test how hot chillies are?
How do we test how hot chillies are? The Scoville Organoleptic Test
Why do we clap to show appreciation?
Why do we clap to show appreciation? It dates back to the time of the Roman Senate.
Are Polar Bears The Only Mammals That Don�t Drink Water?
Are Polar Bears are the only mammals that don�t drink water?
How do we decide how many guns there are in a gun salute?
How do we decide how many guns there are in a gun salute? The number depends on the rank of the person.
How did �X� become a signal for a kiss?
How did �X� become a signal for a kiss? The Saxon alphabet, from the rune meaning 'gift'.
Why Is It Bad Manners To Put Your Elbows On The Dinner Table?
Why Do Blowing And Breathing Have Different Temperatures?
You can blow on something to cool it down but you can also breathe on your hands to warm them up, why the temperature change?
Can babies break bones in the womb?
What happens to valuables that get lost down the drain?
What happens if you accidentally drop your wedding ring down the drain? Where does it go and do you stand any chance of getting it back?
What is the husband of a female President of the United States called?
If the wife of a male US President is the First Lady? What would we call the husband of a female POTUS?
Why Do Snails Climb Up Windows To Die?
Why do snails and other insects climb up to the top of windows in order to die?
What is the real difference between first and second class post?
Does a 2nd Class letter just sit in the sorting office for an extra day?
Why did they bring Easter back by a week this year?
Why did they bring Easter back by a week this year?
Why do they announce Scottish football results before English ones?
Why do Scottish clubs give their results first on Saturdays?
Why do drummers and dancers count in differently?
Why does the drummer count in �1234�, but a dancer counts in with �5678�?
Does the �terms and conditions� guy actually speak that fast?
Does the �terms and conditions� guy actually speak that fast?
How much snow makes an avalanche?
How much snow has to fall to make an avalanche?
When does a religion become a religion?
At what point does a belief system become a religion?
How Can Neptune Orbit If It Is Made Of Gas?
How can Neptune orbit if it is made of gas?
Why Do Flammable & Inflammable Mean The Same?
Why do we say both 'inflammable' and 'flammable' meaning the same thing?
What Is The Strongest Substance Made By Animals?
Which creature makes the strongest substance? Is it spider silk?
Can You Be Cremated In A Bag?
Is there a law saying you have to be cremated in a coffin? Can you be cremated in a bag to save money?
How Much Change Is Lost In A Year?
How much money do we drop on the streets every year?
Should You Keep Vinyls Vertically or Horizontally?
Should you keep your vinyls horizontally or vertically to keep them safe?
Why Do You Tap The Top Of A Coke Can?
When we drop a fizzy can, why do we tap the top to stop it from exploding?
Why Do People Say 'Lukewarm'?
Why "lukewarm"? Why not Markwarm, Matthewwarm or Johnwarm?
Are London Postcodes Alphabetical?
How do London postcodes operate? Why is SE1 not next to SE2?
Why Is A Recorder Called A Recorder If It Doesn�t Record?
Why is the musical instrument, recorder called a recorder? It doesn't record!
Has Medicine Slowed Down Human Evolution?
Has the invention of modern medicine had an impact on human evolution?
What Do Blind People See In Their Dreams?
If someone's born blind, do they dream in colour? Can they see people in dreams?
Can A Fish Sneeze?
Can these aquatic creatures sneeze? Do they sneeze water?
Why Is A Green Room Called A "Green Room"?
The room where performers change and prepare is called a green room, but why?
How Cold Does It Have To Be For The Thames To Freeze Over?
Can the Thames freeze over? If so, just how cold does it have to be?
Why Do You Go Bald On The Top Of Your Head?
Why do some people only go bald on the top of their head? Is that hair different?
Why Do We Laugh?
Why do we laugh? Where did the strange noises we make begin?
Why Do They Serve Ice Cream At The Theatre?
When you go to a West End show, why do they sell Ice Cream?
Where Does The Word �Lap� Come From?
Where did the word "lap" and all of it's meanings begin?
Where Does The Phrase �Life of Riley� Come From?
Why do people say "living the life of Riley"? Who is Riley and why is his life so easy?
Why Do You Shiver When Urinating?
Why do you shiver when you urinate? What does it mean and is it just happening to you?
Is The Sea On Maps At High Or Low Tide?
When maps are being drawn is the boundary between land and sea taken at high or low tide?
Why Do Puppies Fall Forward When Eating?
Why do puppies fall forward when they're eating off of a plate?
What Country Does Tim Peake Pay Taxes In?
What country does Tim Peake pay taxes to now that he's in space?
Does A Spoon in Prosecco Keep It Fizzy?
Does putting a spoon in Prosecco keep it fizzy? And if so, why?
Will Humans As A Species Continue To Grow?
Will humans as a species continue to grow indefinitely?
Why Do Sky Boxes Fast Forward At Certain Speeds?
Why do Sky boxes fast forward at certain speeds (2x, 6x, 30x)?
What�s The Difference Between Duvet And Eiderdown?
What's the difference between a duvet and an eiderdown?
Do You Still Stammer When Speaking A Foreign Language?
Do you still stammer when speaking a foreign language?
What Is The Difference Between A Robbery And A Heist?
What is the difference between a robbery and a heist?
Why Do People Kiss Underneath Mistletoe?
Why do people kiss underneath mistletoe at Christmas?
What's The Difference Between A Pond And A Lake?
When does a pond become a lake?
What does horsepower mean?
What does horsepower mean?
Do Animals Have Rhythm?
My daughter wants to know whether her cat has rhythm?
Why Does A Wooden Spoon Over Water Stop It From Boiling Over?
Why does a wooden spoon over your pan of boiling pasta water stop it from boiling?
What Are The Warm Pockets Of Water In The Sea?
What are the warm pockets of sea water when you go swimming, specifically in Margate in Kent?
How Does Brain Decide What Memories To Keep?
How does the brain judge which memories to hold on to?
How Do They Get The Gas Into Ping Pong Balls?
How do they get the gas into ping pong balls?
Where Does The Pub Name "The Red Lion" Come From?
It's a very common name but what's the origin of The Red Lion as the name for a pub?
Why Don't Ladybirds Get Stuck On Spiders' Webs?
Why don't ladybirds get stuck when they land on a spider's web?
Why Do We Say "Somebody Walked Over My Grave"?
Where does the phrase �someone�s just walked over my grave� come from?
Why Doesn't The Moon Rotate?
Why do some planetary bodies rotate on their axis while others, like the moon, don�t?
What Two Months Were Added To The Calendar?
If most months are named after numbers and December (meaning 10) comes last, what are the two months that have been added?
Why Are French Words Masculine And Feminine?
Why in the French language, are nouns either masculine and feminine ?
Why Is Mystery Hour Always On A Thursday?
It's one of the most unique hours of the week, but why does it happen on a Thursday?
Do Trees Live Forever Or Die Of Old Age?
Do trees live forever?
How Do You Navigate In Space?
How do astronauts find their way in space?
Why Is Giving Birth So Painful?
It might be the most natural thing in the world, but just why does childbirth hurt so much?
How Do You Get Fizzy Drinks Into Ring Pull Cans?
How do you get fizzy drinks into ring pull cans?
How Do They Put The Cork In Champagne Bottles?
How do you get the cork into a Champagne bottle while keeping it pressurized?
Where Does The Term "Jukebox" Come From?
Where does the term "jukebox" come from?
Why Do We Call Mountain Lions' Offspring "Kittens"?
Why do we call a mountain lion's litter 'kittens', when other infant lions are called cubs?
Where Does The @ Symbol Come From?
Where does the @ symbol in emails come from?
Why Does Grapefruit Make Your Nose Run?
Why does eating grapefruit make my wife's nose run?
What's The Small Cemetery By Hyde Park?
What's the plot of land with hundreds of small gravestones on it by Hyde Park?
Why Does Foil Have A Shiny And A Dull Side?
Why does foil have a shiny and a dull side and which one should food go on?
Why Does Light Bend?
If light has no mass, why is it that mass can bend light?
Why Is There No Post On Sundays?
Why do we not get post on Sundays, even though most people are home?
Why Do Humans Have Different Blood Types?
Why do humans have different bloodtypes? Is there an evolutionary reason?
Why Do New Planes Still Have Ashtrays?
You haven't been allowed to smoke on a plane for 20 years. So why are they making new planes with ashtrays in the seats?
Why Don't Glasses Burn People's Eyeballs?
Why don't people who wear glasses get their eyes burnt through the lenses on a sunny day?
Where Does The Phrase 'Cut The Mustard' Come From?
What is the origin of the phrase 'cut the mustard'?
Why Is The Wind Slow At Night?
Why does the wind die down at night time?
Why Do I Go Deaf When I Yawn?
Why do I go deaf when I yawn?
Why Is The Beach Half Sand, Half Pebbles?
What causes the beach to have one half sand and the other half pebbles?
Why don't people with Tourette's say nice things?
Why are people with Tourette's Syndrome not compelled to say something nice?
How does my sat-nav predict traffic?
How does my sat-nav know there is a traffic jam 25 miles ahead
Why Do We Give Pork Meat Names Like Gammon, Bacon And Ham?
Why do we give pork meat names like gammon, bacon and ham?
Why Does A Circle Have 360 Degrees?
Why is a circle made up of 360 degrees?
Why Is Cutlery Weighted At The Handle?
Why are knifes and forks weighted at the handles?
If Gravity's So Powerful, Why Aren't Plants Pulled To The Ground?
If gravity is such a powerful force, why aren�t things like plants pulled to the ground?
Why Do I Get White Flashes Before I Sleep?
Why do I get white flashes in front of my eyes just before I sleep?
Can Dogs Really Smell Fear?
Can dogs really smell when humans are afraid of them?
Why Do Golfers Shout "Fore!"?
When you drive a golf ball onto another fairway, why do you shout "fore!"?
Who Or What Is Seven Sisters Named After?
Who are the seven sisters that Seven Sisters Road in London is named after?
Why Are Book Spines Written Top To Bottom?
Why are the titles of English books written from the top to the bottom of the spine, but from the bottom to the top on foreign books?
Do Olive Stones Have Another Use?
Are olive stones used for anything apart from planting more olive trees?
Why don�t bus drivers have to wear seat belts?
Why don�t bus drivers have to wear seat belts?
Why does broadband never work when it�s raining?
Why does broadband never work when it�s raining?
Why is a runless over in cricket called a �maiden'?
Why is a runless over in cricket called a �maiden over�?
How do we know when a meteor shower is coming?
How do we know when a meteor shower is coming?
Emotional pain: Heart or brain?
Why do we attribute emotional pain to our hearts rather than our brains?
Can you feed bees in the garden?
Can you feed bees in the garden like you can feed birds? (Apparently they�re hungry at this time of year!)
Why is the British national anthem about the monarch?
Why is the British national anthem about the monarch rather than the country?
What are multiple water cannon called?
Why do we say �water cannon� rather than �water cannons� when there are more than one?
Why does air feel cold when it goes past your body at speed?
Why does air feel cold when it goes past your body at speed?
Has Robert De Niro Ever Died In A Film?
Has Robert De Niro ever died in a film?
Why Is Red Wine Kept In Green Bottles?
Why is red wine kept in green bottles?
How Do You Get Fish In A Pond Without Human Intervention?
How do you get fish in a pond without human intervention?
Why Can I Grow A Beard But Not Hair On My Head?
I have a lovely bushy beard but I am bald, why does my hair not grow everywhere?
How Or When Did Punctuation First Originate?
How or when did punctuation first originate?
Why Do We Talk To Ourselves?
Why do we talk to ourselves?
Why Do We Dance?
Why Do We Dance? Is there a scientific explanation for it?
If I Am Not Using My Appliances But They Are On At The Wall Socket Are You Using Electricity?
If i am not using my appliances, like a kettle, but they are on at the wall socket are you using electricity?
How Do Crane Operators Go To The Toilet At The Top?
How do crane operators go to the toilet when they�re at the top?
How much money is in a just-filled ATM?
What value of cash is stored in a cash machine when it's just been topped up?
Why Do Hare Krishnas Wear Orange?
Why do Hare Krishna devotees wear orange?
Why does Prince Edward wear military uniform?
Does it represent anything?
Where Does The Phrase �Fill Your Boots� Come From?
Where does the phrase �fill your boots� come from?
Why Do We Feel Like We're Falling When We're Asleep?
What causes the falling sensation we get when we�re sleeping?
Can We Control Our Emotions?
Can we control our emotional reactions?
Where Did The First Passport Come From?
When was the first passport used?
Where Do They Measure The Speed Of The Serve From In Tennis?
Where do they measure the speed of the serve from in tennis?
Why Are Lie Detectors Not Used On Criminals?
Why are lie detectors not used on criminals?
What Does The Letter 'O' Mean In Surnames?
What is the origin of the letter �O� in surnames? Like James O'Brien for example...
Why Is The Big Bang Called The Big Bang?
Was the Big Bang so named because it was physically big, or because it was a big event?
Why Is The Periodic Table Called The Periodic Table?
Why do we call the table of the elements the 'Periodic' Table?
How Do Lottery Winners Collect Their Money?
Can you pay in a lottery cheque into your bank as normal, or is it too large an amount?
How Does Suction Work On A Vacuum Cleaner?
If the bag is covering the nozzle, how does the suction work in a vacuum cleaner?
What�s The Difference Between Ginger Ale And Ginger Beer?
What�s the difference between ginger ale and ginger beer?
Why Do Cartoon Characters Only Have Three Fingers?
Why do cartoon characters have three fingers and a thumb instead of four?
What Is The Music An Ice Cream Van Plays?
What's the tune ice cream vans always play?
Do Seagulls Have More Than One Home?
Do seagulls have homes in more than one country, or always return to the same place?
Why do we have our own names for foreign places?
Why do we pronounce some cities in a foreign way?
Why is a bath hotter with bubble bath?
When you have a bubble bath, why does it seem hotter? Is there an exothermic reaction when you use bubbles?
Is A Chicken Pregnant Before It Lays An Egg?
Before a chicken lays an egg, is the chicken pregnant?
Why does it get warmer when it rains in winter?
Why does it get warmer in the winter when it rains, but in the summer, it gets colder?
Why don't we get thunder during snowfall?
Why don't we get thunder or lightning during snowfall?
Would a slinky on an escalator go on forever?
Would a slinky keep going forever if you put it on an escalator?
What happens when astronauts cry in space?
Is it true that astronauts can't cry in space, due to the zero gravity?
Why don't you wear glasses when using binoculars?
Why don't you need glasses on when you look through binoculars?
How many cows' milk is used for one pint?
Is a pint of milk all from one cow, or from more than one?
Where does the word barbeque come from?
Where does the term "barbecue" come from and what does it mean?
Would a plane tip forward if everyone ran to the front?
I read that passengers of a small plane tipped it forward by all running to the front. Would the same thing happen on a big plane like a Dreamliner?
How many Kit-Kats are made every day?
How many Kit-Kats are made every day?
How do they measure electricity used by street lights?
Who pays the electricity bills for street lights, traffic lights and other publicly-used items? Is it metered?
How do scientists measure exact time?
Why is it called a raspberry?
When you blow on a stomach, why is that called a raspberry?
How does our dog wake up when we turn down our road?
When we're in the car, my dog always wakes up when we turn into our road. How does she do that?
Where does talcum powder come from?
Where does talcum powder come from? How do they make it?
Why are men's hairdressers called Barbers?
Women's hairdressers are called salons, so why are men's hairdressers called barbers?
Why does the UK have such small waves?
Why are waves in Hawaii and Australia bigger than the waves in Cornwall?
Why are south-facing gardens better?
Why is a south-facing garden more desirable than any other type of garden?
How many words do satnav voices have to record?
How do the voices on sat navs work? Surely they can't record every word.
Which way is Nelson looking?
Why is Lord Nelson facing the way he's facing on the top of Nelson's Column?
Why does honeysuckle smell stronger at night?
Why does honeysuckle smell so strong at night, but not during the day?
Would I weigh more at centre of the Earth?
Would I weigh more at the centre of the earth than in Sunbury?
Why do words have silent letters?
Why do words have silent letters in front of them - like knife or gnat? What is the point of them?
Why aren't aeroplanes getting faster?
Why aren't aeroplanes flying faster now than they were 50 years ago? In every other area of life, things are getting faster.
Why do pigeons nod when they walk?
Why do pigeons nod their head when they walk around?
Why are leaves green?
Why are tree leaves and grass coloured green? Is that the optimum colour for photosynthesis?
Why are outdoor pools called 'lidos'?
Why are outdoor swimming pools called a 'lido'?
What's the best way to demist your windscreen?
When you get into a cold car and your breath makes condensation, what's the best thing to do to get rid of it?
Have we ever had a Roman-Catholic Prime Minister?
I read there has been no Roman-Catholic Prime Minister in this country. Is this true?
What bubble gum ingredient causes inattention?
On Bubble Gum Crazy Rolls, on the ingredients, it says it may cause an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Which ingredients could cause that?
Do animals have accents?
Do animals have accents? Does a dog in Scotland bark differently to a dog in London?
Why do we say 'It's not over til the fat lady sings'?
"It's not over until the fat lady sings" - who is the fat lady?
How far does daylight stretch?
From how far can daylight be seen? If it was in a tunnel, how far would it go?
Why do pirates say 'ahoy'?
One from my three-year-old girl: Why do pirates say "ahoy"?
How do they remove Banskys from the wall?
How do they remove Banksy's graffiti from buildings in order to sell them?
Can you play the violin left-handed?
I've never seen a left-handed violinist in an orchestra? Do any exist?
Why are corned beef tins shaped like that?
Why are they not the same shape as most cans?
Why don't you get coloured car tyres?
Why are all vehicle tyres black? Why don't they use different coloured rubber?
Why do police escorts use whistles not sirens?
The Special Escort Group of police who escort the Queen - why do they use whistles to move people and not sirens?
At what age could girls' eggs be fertilised?
I read that baby girls are born with all their eggs. When do they become viable for fertilisation?
How does music have colour?
After listening to music, I often hear commentators talking about the "colour" of a performance - what does that mean?
Why do plates get hot in the microwave?
Why do microwave ovens warm up a plate if they work on water molecules?
Why is the Isle of Dogs so called?
Why is the Isle of Dogs so called? I'm a cab driver, but don't know the answer.
Why do we say "a bit of how's ya father"?
Why do we say "a bit of how's ya father"? Where does the phrase come from?
How did they make World War 2 In Colour?
I was watching "World War 2 In Colour" on TV and wondered how they knew what the colours were?
What's the number before infinity?
If there is a number before infinity, what is it?
What would happen if you didn't milk a cow?
If you never milked a cow, what would happen to her udders?
What are the blocks of colour on newspapers?
In newspapers, they print test blocks of each colour. But they can't check each paper, so why are they there?
What language do Swiss speak in schools?
In Switzerland, they speak four languages - French, Italian, German and Romandish. What is the mainstream language?
Why do we 'fly off the handle'?
Why do we fly off the handle? What is it the handle of?
Cow is beef - so why doesn't horsemeat have another name?
Why is horsemeat just called horsemeat? Why doesn't it have another name - like cow/beef and pig/pork?
What are KFC's 11 Secret Spices?
What are the 11 secret herbs and spices in the KFC chicken coating?
Why do you get electric shocks when you touch someone?
When you touch someone, you sometimes get a static electric shock. What causes that?
Why is it easier to get to sleep on your side?
Why is it easier to get to sleep on your side? For me and my wife at least.
Why does soap make your eyes sting?
Why does soap sting your eyes, but nothing else. What is it that makes them sting?
Why does hot water make a high-pitched whistle?
When the water coming out of my mixer tap is cold, it makes a low-pitched whistle, but when it's hot, it's high-pitchedf. Why?
What makes small babies smile?
What makes small babies smile? I met my eight-week old cousin last week and he smiled at me.
Why is a tank top called a tank top?
Why is a tank top called a tank top? The name doesn't make sense.
Why is a Club Sandwich so called?
Why is a club sandwich called a club sandwich?
Why do things go 'pear-shaped'?
Why do we say something has gone pear-shaped?
Why are apartments so called when they're not apart?
Why are apartments called apartments when they're not apart? They're all squashed together.
Why does Eastern Europe use different alphabet?
Most European countries use the same alphabet, but in Bulgaria and Greece, it's completely different. Why?
How high can a bird fly?
What's the highest a bird can fly? And which bird can fly the highest?
What is a Monkey Island on a boat?
On a boat, the roof of the wheelhouse is called a Monkey Island. Why?
Why aren't catseyes in the road as bright?
What happened to cats eyes in roads? They used to be really bright, but now they don't light up any more.
Are pancakes considered cakes?
I have given up cakes and chocolates for lent. But I missed pancake day on Tuesday - are pancakes considered cakes?
Why is a pelican crossing so called?
Pelican crossing, puffin, crossing, toucan crossing... why are they named after sea birds?
Why do Americans spell words differently to us?
Why do the British spell certain words differently from the Americans, when the Americans kept the original spellings?
Why do we only use 25% of our brains?
Why have we evolved to have such big brains, if we only use 25% of them?
Why are asparagus held by purple rubber bands?
Why are the rubber bands around bunches of asparagus always purple?
Why does the school year start in September?
Why does the academic year start in September, rather than in January?
Did dinosaurs have genitals?
Did dinosaurs have genitalia? They must have had some sort of reproductive organs, but they are never shown in pictures.
What's the highest a bird can fly?
What's the highest a bird can fly? And which bird can fly the highest?
Why do boxers get belts not trophies?
Almost all sports winners get trophies. So why do boxers get belts when they win?
Could the PM change the front door colour of 10 Downing St?
If the Prime Minister decided he didn't like the colour of the front door of 10 Downing Street, is he allowed to change it?
Would a claustrophobic get special treatment in prison?
What would happen if they got sent to jail? Would they get special treatment or counselling?
What happens to titanium joints when people die?
My father-in-law had a titanium knee replacement. What will happen to it when he dies?
What is the most economical speed to drive at?
What is the most economical speed to drive at? What speed uses the least petrol?
Why does my central locking not work in my driveway?
The central locking on my car works everywhere except in my driveway. Why is that?
Why don't I need anti-virus software on my iPhone?
My iPhone does almost all the same things my laptop does, so why don't I need anti-virus software on it?
Why does baby formula milk cost the same in every shop?
Why does baby milk cost exactly the same price in every supermarket. Why doesn't it vary at all?
What is a Widow's Peak?
Why do we call a shape of a receding hairstyle the "widow's peak"?
Why are machinery hire shops called 'Plant Hire'?
Why is a place you can buy machinery called "Plant Hire"? Why do we use the word plant?
Why do Mexicans call westerners "Gringo"?
Why do Latino people call westerners "Gringo"?
Why is someone mealy-mouthed?
What is the origin of the phrase 'mealy-mouthed'?
What is a dry riser?
I saw a fire hydrant-style thing by a road saying "dry riser" - what was it?
How Did This Ice Spike Happen?
Patch called LBC 97.3's Mystery Hour with a fascinating question: How did this happen?
Why do we have Christmas trees?
Why do we have Christmas trees in our living room?
Why is a Military Tattoo so called?
Why is the Edinburgh Tattoo called a tattoo?
Why are there 60 seconds in a minute?
Why are there 60 seconds in a minute? Wouldn't it make more sense to have 100 seconds in a minute?
Why do people 'tie the knot' at a wedding?
I just got married - why do people say we tied the knot?
How do iPhone touchscreens work?
How does the touchscreen on my iPhone work? It works even with a plastic cover over it.
Why can I not remember things before an accident?
If you're in a car accident, why do you remember the moments leading up to the crash, but not during or after it?
Do you feel the benefit if you wear your coat inside?
If you wear a coat inside, is it true that you won't feel the benefit when you go outside?
Could We See In Slow Motion?
Would it be possible for us to see things in slow motion? What conditions would need to be in place for us to see in slow motion?
Could The Internet Be Turned Off?
Can the internet ever be turned off? Could we wake up one morning and find it had been switched off?
Could You Combine A Human and a Goat?
Can an animal procreate with another animal of another species? In a laboratory could you combine a human and a goat for example?
Could An Animal Hair Accidently Implant In A Human?
Could a hair from somewhere else - like a dog - somehow get stuck in your skin and carry on growing?
Why Do We Learn Up to 12 In Our Times Tables?
Why do we only do up to 12 when we are learning our times tables in school?
Why Is it Called Mince 'Meat' in Mince Pies?
Why do We Call Mince Meat 'meat' when there is no meat in it?
What unit is your shoe size measured in?
When you buy a pair of shoes, you get a size 12. What unit is that measured in?
Why do girls curtsy, but boys bow?
One from my daughter Pip: Why do girls curtsy, but boys bow?
What's the most cost-effective speed to drive at?
What is the most economical speed to drive at?
Why do moths come out at night, but butterflies don't?
Why do moths come out at night, but butterflies don't?
How does a doctor go to the toilet mid-operation?
What does a surgeon do mid-operation if he needs to go to the toilet?
Has all fruit and veg always existed?
All the fruit and vegetables we have in the world - has it always been here?
Why are you 'mealy-mouthed'?
What is the origin of the phrase 'mealy-mouthed'?What is the origin of the phrase 'mealy-mouthed'?
What is a dry riser?
What is a dry riser? I saw a fire hydrant-style thing by a road saying "dry riser"?
Which salsa came first: sauce or dancing?
Salsa - what came first, the music, the dancing or the sauce?
Why are loose women called tarts?
Why is a woman with dubious morals known as a tart?
Why are golf courses 18 holes?
Why are golf courses 18 holes long? Why not a more round number?
Where does Goody Two-Shoes come from?
Something my daughter asked me: what is the origin of the term 'goody two-shoes'?
Why do you 'take' tea?
Why do you "take soup" or "take tea", not drink it or eat it?
Why don't landline calls cut off when you hang up?
If you call a mobile, when someone hangs up, the line goes dead. But if you call a landline, the line stays connected when they hang up. Why?
What was Crystal Palace called before the building?
What was Crystal Palace called before the building was built for the exhibition?
Why does golf have birdies and bogeys?
Where does the golf terminology come from - birdies, eagles, albatrosses, bogeys etc?
Why is a shark's tail vertical, but a dolphon horizontal?
A shark's tale is vertical in the water, but a dolphin is horizontal. Which is the faster swimmer because of this?
Why do we have spring tides in autumn?
The weather forecast said we could expect Spring Tides. Why are they called that in autumn?
Does the Bermuda Triangle still exist?
Does the Bermuda Triangle still exist and if so, why hasn't anything gone missing from it recently?
How do they count the millions in animal migrations?
When there is a big animal migration and experts say "27million wildebeest make the migration"� how do they count them?
Why is the cast on a movie poster always squashed up?
The cast and crew writing on movie posters - why is it in a tall, squashed up font? Why not in a usual font like all the other text in the poster?
What does Arms mean in pub names?
Pub names that end with Arms, like the Blacksmith Arms. What is the meaning of the word Arms in the name?
What makes sour sweets sour?
What makes sour sweets sour? It's not sugar around the outside, so what is it?
Why is the sea salty but rivers aren't?
Why is the sea salty, but rivers are fresh and run into the sea?
How does your body know it's full up of blood in a transfusion?
If you need a blood transfusion, how do they know when the body is full up of blood?
Can you pick up radio in space?
My 11-year-old daughter asked: radio signals go up into space, so do radio signals degrade, or would they continue?
Can you make water?
My five-year-old daughter asked me: Can you make water? And I didn't know the answer. But I know you can help.
How does a guide dog know where to go?
How does a guide dog know where to go when it directs a blind person? How do they find their way? Are they like sat-navs?
Why does it rain cats and dogs?
Why do people say "it's raining cats and dogs"?
What is the oldest company in the world?
What is the oldest established business in the world?
Why does beer only freeze when you open it?
I like really cold bottled beer. But when I put it in the freezer, why is it liquid until I take the cap off and then freezes?
Why can't you store light energy?
You can store various forms of energy - electrical, chemical etc. So why can't you store light?
Does sound rise from underwater in bubbles?
Does a scream underwater rise in bubbles and can then be heard on the surface?
Who is Bob and whose uncle is he?
"Bob's your uncle": Who is Bob and whose uncle is he?
Why do geese fly in a V-formation?
Why do geese fly in a V-formation? Who decides who's going up front?
Do other countries go out for an English meal?
In foreign countries, do they go out for an English meal, like we go out for a Chinese?
Where did Hadron Collider get particles from?
The Hadron Collider - where do they get the particles from? Do they get them from the air?
How much further is outside of M25 to inside?
If two people drive around the M25 in opposite directions in the inside lane, what is the difference in the distance they will have travelled?
Do fluorescent lights use more power when turned on?
I was told not to turn my fluorescent strip light off, as the electricity it uses to switch on is as much as leaving it on. Is that true?
Would diet coke and menthos make your stomach explode?
If I drink a can of coke and swallow a menthos mint, will the same thing happen as when it happens in a bottle - when it explodes?
What does the policeman outside 10 Downing St do?
What is the role of the policeman outside 10 Downing Street? He's surrounded by armed police, so what's his role?
Why is the UK the 'Motherland'?
Why is the UK and Russia regarded as the Motherland, but other countries like Germany are known as the Fatherland? Who decides the gender of a country?
Why do dogs walk in a circle before lying down?
When my dog jumps on my bed, he circles several times before he lies down. Why does he do that?
Why is north put at the top of a map?
Why is north shown at the top of maps? As the universe has no top or bottom, who decided where north would be?
Why do white rooms echo more than dark ones?
Why is my living room more echoey when painted white than when painted brown?
Why are macaroons made on rice paper?
Why do macaroons have rice paper on the bottom?
Why does Essex badge have scimitar swords on?
The county badge of Essex is three scimitar swords. Why? They are Middle-Eastern origin.
How do plants grow on the roof of houses?
Sometimes you see plants growing out of the grouting on roofs. How do they grow without soil?
Is oil the Earth's natural lubricant?
Is the increase in earthquakes around the world due to us extracting the oil? Is it Earth's natural lubricant?
Is there a female equivalent of a misogynist?
A misogynist is a man who hates women. Is there an equivalent for women who hate men?
Why are police 999 when 9 took ages to dial on a rotary phone?
On a rotary dial phone, the 9 and 0 take the longest to dial. So why is the emergency services number 999?
Why do royal statements come from St James's Palace?
Why do royal pronouncements come from St James's Palace, not Buckingham Palace?
Why does paper curl when you write on it?
If you write a lot on one side of paper, it will curl noticeably. Why does that happen?
What are the 'orbs' in photos?
I took some pictures during the summer and when I looked at them, they came out with lots of "orbs" in the pictures. What are they?
Why Do So Many US States End With A?
Why do so many American state names end in an A - 21 of the 50 - California, Nebraska, Arizona to name three.
Why are there no Queendoms?
Why are there no Queendoms? Why are they all kingdoms?
How does Wii Fit know what we've eaten?
Wii Fit knew my wife had a light dinner the night before. How did it know?
Why do fingers go wrinkly in the bath?
Why do fingers go wrinkly in the bath? Nothing else goes wrinkly.
Why do people say "Well I never"?
A question from a four-year-old girl: Why do people say "Well I never"?
Why do people 'go bananas'?
Why are people who go mad said to be "going bananas"?
Why do more women like me when I'm not single?
When you are in a relationship, why are you beating off women with a stick, but when you are single there's no interest?
What's the difference between single and double cream?
What's the difference between single cream and double cream? I thought it was thickness, but you can buy extra thick single cream.
Would bread go rotten in space?
If you sent a loaf of bread or piece of fruit into the vacuum of space, would it still rot?
Where does rain go when it goes in my chimney?
Where does the rain that comes into the chimney go? We don't have damp or any water coming into the living room.
Why aren't hoover hoses longer so you can do the stairs?
Why aren't hoover hoses long enough to go all the way down the stairs? It would be much easier to hoover stairs?
Why are effeminate men 'camp'?
Why are effeminate men described as "camp"? Is it related to camping?
Why are major tournaments known as Grand Slams?
What is a booby in booby-trap?
Booby-trap - what is a booby and why is it so-called?
What is the hook on a McDonald's ice-cream spoon?
In McDonalds, what is the little hook on the end of the ice-cream spoon?
What happens if you put your car in reverse at 70mph?
What would happen if you were driving at 70mph then put the car in reverse? I like to imagine the engine would explode!
Why can't you flush a train toilet while in a station?
Why do train toilets have a sign saying "Please don't flush toilet while train is in station"? Why not?
Why do spiral staircases go anti-clockwise?
Why do spiral staircases always go clockwise when you're going up and anti-clockwise when you're going down?
Do vegetarians give their pets meat?
What do vegetarians feed their pets? Do they give them a vegetarian diet?
Why do people get puffy eyes after a deep sleep?
When people have a heavy night's sleep, why do they feel more tired and get puffy eyes?
Why is front crawl called freestyle?
In swimming, there are freestyle races. But they all use front crawl. Has anyone ever used any stroke other than front crawl?
Why do all sports go anti-clockwise?
Why do we run, iceskate and rollerskate in an anti-clockwise direction?
Why Are There Five Olympic Rings?
What do the Olympic Rings represent? Why are there five of them and why are they intertwined?
Why can't you cook a frozen chicken?
Why can you cook ready meal chicken straight from the freezer, but have to defrost a just chicken before cooking?
How long would it take to fill an empty glass with dust?
How long would it take to fill an empty glass with dust if I just left it in the kitchen?
Why are number plates covered when cars are transported?
When second-hand cars are transported, why are the last three characters on their number plate blacked out?
Why do we say parboiled, not part-boiled?
The word part has four letters - why do we drop the T when we call something par-boiled or par-baked?
Why do they check boxers' gloves before a fight?
Before boxing fights, why do they give the boxers a full body check before the fight?
Why do dogs like sticking their heads out of car windows?
Dogs love sticking their heads out the car window, but hate it when you blow in their face. Why?
How do rechargable toothbrushes charge?
I have a rechargeable toothbrush and when you put it in the charging station, how does it charge?
Why are tennis balls always bright green?
In Wimbledon, tennis balls are a light green colour. Why aren't they white?
Why are logos always on the left on t-shirts?
On corporate clothing, why is the company logo always on the left-hand side?
Why are watches in adverts always at 1:50?
Watches in all adverts are at 10:10 or 1:50. Why?
How would we stop a meteorite hitting Earth?
If a meteorite was heading towards Earth, what could we do to stop it? Are there official measures in place?
Why do pets have annual injections, but we don't?
We take cats and dogs to have annual inoculations. Why don�t humans have annual injections?
Can you wear a toupee in a passport photo?
In your passport photo, you can wear glasses, so can you wear a toupee?
Can you go grey with worry?
Can you actually �go grey with worry�? Can stress make your hair white?
Do horses answer to their name?
Do horses answer to their names like dogs do?
Why does drinking alcohol make you dehydrated?
How much alcohol can you drink without getting dehydrated? If I diluted by beer, would I still get dehydrated?
Why don�t taxi drivers wear seatbelts?
Why don�t taxi drivers have to wear seatbelts? Surely they drive more than anyone.
Does rings on a branch show the age of the branch or tree?
You can tell the age of a tree by counting the number of rings. But if you cut off a branch, would it show how old the tree or branch is?
How do they make sun cream with different factors?
When the sun comes out, how do they work out the factors on sun cream?
Why is shortcrust pastry so called?
Why is shortcrust pastry called shortcrust? It doesn�t make any sense.
Would life exist if Earth didn�t have a magnetic field?
The world has a magnetic field which is created when the Earth reflects radiation from the sun. Would life be possible if we didn�t have a magnetic field?
Where Did Tennis Scoring Come From?
Where did the tennis scoring system come from? Is there a logical reason for it?
What is Faster A Thought or a Lightening Bolt?
Which one is faster? A thought is a electronic pulse and lightening is also electricity. Which is faster?
Do Any Other Animals Commit Suicide?
Do any other organisms other than humans commit suicide? Is it just us?
Is The Word Jubilee Just Used for Royal Anniversaries?
The word Jubilee - is it only associated with the royal family? Is it used in any other sense other than the anniversary of a coronation?
Where Does 'Fanny Fanackapan' Come From?
Where does the expression 'fanny fanackapan' come from? Some people from an older generation seem to use it.
Why Does The Head on a Pint Taste So Much Worse?
Why does the head on a pint taste so much worse than the rest of it... whereas it doesn't in pop?
Why Do You Say 'Roger' on Radio Systems?
Why do you say 'Roger' on radio systems? Why nor Lionel or Derek? Why Roger?
Why is a Try Called a Try?
In rugby why is a try called a try?
Can Dogs Get Stuck by Nettles?
Can dogs get stung by nettles? Fur would provide insulation but what about the nose?
Does the Olympic flame ever go out?
Does the Olympic flame ever go out? How do they transport it from Greece to Britain?
What happens football kit after the game?
What happens to all the football kits after the game? Do they keep them? Re-use them? Sell them?
Why don't cafes sell spaghetti on toast?
Why can�t you ever get tinned spaghetti on toast at greasy spoon cafes? It�s delicious, but you can�t get it anywhere.
Why is pink for girls and blue for boys?
Who decided that pink is a girl�s colour and blue is a boy�s colour?
Why do we laugh at funny things?
Why do we laugh when we hear something funny?
Why is the letter Z associcated with sleep?
Why do cartoons with people sleeping have "Zzzzzzzzzz" coming from their heads?
When did Boadicea become Boudica?
When did Boadicea become Boudica? Why has her name changed?
Why do car key fobs work better if they're by your head?
If you're out of range, your car key fob button won�t work, but if you put it to your head, it does work. Why?
Do businesses have 'brother' companies?
Businesses have sister companies and parent companies. Do they have a parent company?
Why do we call police 'rozzers'?
Where does the term �Rozzers� come from, meaning police?
Why do tube trains have unused door buttons?
On the London Underground, why do they have buttons to open the doors, as they open automatically?
Why do fingernails grow faster than toenails?
Why do your fingernails grow faster than your toenails? I have to cut my baby's fingernails every two days, but never his toenails.
What is chewing gum made of?
Is chewing gum actually made of plastic, or is it organic gum?
Why is a 'jerry can' so called?
Why is a �jerry can� so called? Am asking for Francis Maude.
Why does is my house colder in winter when thermostat is the same?
In the winter, our thermostat says 17 and it feels freezing, but in the summer, it says 17 and it feels warm. Why is it different?
Why does my car only get frosty on one side?
Why does frost only appear on one side of my car and not the other? It's always only on one side.
Why do we think Humpty Dumpty is an egg?
Why do we think Humpty is an egg? It doesn't say anywhere in the rhyme that he is.
Why do we call teachers "Miss"?
At school, why do we call the teachers Mrs O�Brien, but when we call them, we say �Miss, Miss, Miss�?
Where does the expression 'Shanks's Pony' come from?
'Shanks's Pony' is slang for walking - but why?
Why is the hairstyle known as a mullet?
Why is a hairstyle which is short on top and long at the back called a mullet?
What�s the difference between a hash brown and a rosti?
What�s the difference between a hash brown and a potato rosti? They taste exactly the same.
When does a lamb become a sheep?
When does a lamb become a sheep? Is there a certain age?
How long could you survive in a coffin?
After watching Kill Bill 2 last night, I want to know: How long would you survive buried underground in a coffin?
Why don't you see kangaroos in zoos?
Why don�t you ever see Kangaroos in zoos in the UK? I�ve never seen one there.
What is the difference between shower gel and shampoo?
What is the difference between shower gel, bubble bath, soap or shampoo? Surely they�re all just detergents?
Does toothpaste actually clean?
Is toothpaste just a pleasant-tasting lubricant, or does it actually have cleaning properties?
How quickly could a virus kill everyone?
How long would it take an airborne virus to wipe out everyone on the planet?
Why can�t we say tongue-twisters?
Why can�t we say tongue-twisters? What happens in our brain that means we can�t say them?
Why can�t we remember being babies?
Why can�t we remember being babies? I�ve got an eight-month-old baby and I wonder what�s going on in her head!
What are the green lights above South Ealing?
In the sky above South Ealing, I�ve seen three straight lines of green lights above the clouds for two hours. What is it and why is it there?
Why doesn't it hurt when adult teeth arrive?
When babies teeth and they go through a lot of pain, why when you lose your teeth at seven, do you not get pain?
Why does our leg jerk just as we're going to sleep?
I hurt my knee yesterday and it hurts when I am just getting to sleep and then my leg spasms. Why does that happen?
Why does the milometre on my Vespa not move when I'm spinning wheels?
When I rev the wheels of my Vespa scooter when it's on its stand, the speedometer doesn�t move. How does it know?
Why do we say "I couldn't give a monkeys"?
�I couldn�t give a monkeys� � where does that phrase come from?
Do insects sleep?
Do insects sleep? All animals do, but we never see a fly asleep.
Why can�t you write with both hands?
Why can�t you write with both hands? I can only write with my right hand.
Do 100m Olympic tickets entitle you to stay for only 10secs?
When you have Olympic tickets for the 100m final, do you only stay for 10 seconds?
How much does a pound coin cost to make?
How much does it cost to make a pound coin?
Why Do People Get A 41-Gun Salute?
Barack Obama had a 41-gun salute in his honour. Who decides how many guns a dignitary gets and what do the number of guns mean?
Why is reflection upside down in a spoon?
Why am I the right way up when I look on one side of the spoon, but upside down on the other side?
Why is it bright when snowing at night?
When it was snowing, I went out at midnight and it was very bright. Does that mean that snow clouds are brighter than normal clouds?
Why do they call it a murder of crows?
Why do they call it a murder of crows? Who invents the collective nouns?
Why is a vent called a 'hit and miss' vent?
British Gas told me I had a �hit and miss� vent, a brass vents with the sliding switch. Why is it called a hit and miss?
How do blood cells know to let go of oxygen in the right place?
Blood cells pick up oxygen then let it go in the muscles. How does the blood cell know when let go of the oxygen?
Why are we hot at 27 degrees when our body temp is 37?
Why do we feel hot when the room is 27 degrees, when our body temperature is 37?
Why do we say "having a beano"?
Where does the phrase �having a beano� come from � as a synonym for knees-up?
Why do you have a handicap in golf?
Why in golf do they have a handicap system? Why does it only happen in golf?
Why do Americans have different pronounciation to Brits?
Why does British English and American English pronounce the letter A so differently?
Do you need gravity to digest food?
Do you need gravity to aid digestion? If you hung upside down, would the food be digested?
Why do we say 'Donkey's Years'?
What is the origin of the phrase �donkey�s years�?
Where have London's bendy buses gone?
What happened to all the London bendy buses? You can�t buy them, so where are they?
Why are TV screens measured in inches?
With everything being metric, why are TV and computer screens still measured in inches?
Why can you play the lottery at 16, but not gamble until 18?
Why at 16 can you play the lottery, but you can�t gamble until you�re 18?
Why are sideburns so called?
One from my five-year-old daughter: Why are sideburns called sideburns?
Why do you "boot up" a computer?
Whenever you start a computer it is 'booting' up. Why do you 'boot' it?
When beef is hung for 28 days, why doesn't it go off?
When you go to a butcher�s shop, it says the meat is hung for 14 or 28 days. Why doesn�t it go off?
Why does The Bible not mention dinosaurs?
Why in all religious scriptures is there no mention of prehistoric animals? If the bible is true why are dinosaurs not mentioned?
Why can't chickens fly?
Why can't chickens fly? Ducks and pheasants are the same size and they can fly.
Why do inflated tyres weigh more than non-inflated?
If air doesn't weigh anything, why are inflated tyres heavier than empty ones?
Why do we say "an historic"?
In language why do put an 'an' before 'historic' not 'a'?
Why do ambulances have to go to all calls?
Why do ambulances have to go to all callouts, even the obvious time-wasters?
Why are giant pandas called 'giant'?
Giant Pandas, why are they called 'giant'?
When you pull out a grey hair, will two grow back?
If you have a grey hair and you pick it out, everyone says two will grow in its place. Is it true?
Why do people say "early doors"?
Where does the phrase "early doors" come from?
Do birds recognise human faces?
Can garden birds distinguish between human faces? Can they recognise people?
Why do two types of screw exist?
Why do we have two types of screw - a flathead and a Philips screw?
Where does the phrase "grass up" come from?
In The Long Good Friday this week and they talked about "grass" a lot. Where does the term "grassing up" come from?
How do you know when you're at the North Pole?
If I decided to travel to the North Pole, how would I know that I'm there? Is there a pole, or a border?
How long to texts stay on phones?
My parents don�t turn their phone on more than once a year, so if I send them a text message, will it still be there in six months' time?
On roads, what are the people with yellow tripods doing?
When you're driving, you often see a person with a camera on a yellow tripod and another one further up the road. What are they up to?
How do you measure how much oil a country has?
How do you measure how much oil a country has? How do they know how big the oil reserves are?
What is pain? Why does my finger hurt?
What is a pain? My little finger has hurt for two weeks, so what is the pain I am feeling?
Does holding your nose make curry taste less spicy?
If you hold your nose and eat hot curry, do you still feel the spiciness?
Why doesn't hair go mouldy?
Why do clothes get cold and mouldy if you leave them wet in a pile, but your hair doesn't go mouldy if it stays wet under a hat?
Why did skin disappear from our lemons?
We used to have a lemon tree and one day, the skin was gone from all of them, as if they were peeled. What happened to the skin?
What happens if you break something in a museum?
What happens if you go into a museum and you knock over a priceless antique?
What did the actress say to the bishop?
I want to know what the actress said to the bishop. I use that phrase myself as an euphemism.
Why do we say "white rabbits" on the first of a month?
On the first of every month, my wife says "white rabbits". Why?
In cartoons, what does ACME mean?
I was watching an old episode of the Road Runner cartoon and the coyote had some dynamite from Acme Explosives. What does Acme mean?
Why does black paint dry quicker than white?
Why does black paint dry much quicker than white paint does?
Why is breath hot, but blowing cold?
If you hold your hand three inches from your face and breath on it, it feels hot. But if you blow on it as if you were whistling, it's cold. How come?
How did fountains work before electricity?
How did they operate fountains in Roman times? How did they work before electricity?
How much is 30 pieces of silver in modern times?
In the Bible, Judas sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver. How much does that equate to in modern times?
Why do we have toenails?
What purpose do toenails serve? I never use mine for anything.
Has the Queen ever opened a door?
Has the Queen ever unlocked her own front door to get into a property?
What happens to exploded tanks after battles?
After battles, they cleared bodies, but did they go back into the desert to clear up the remainder of the tanks?
Can Bad Breath Come Out of Your Nose?
When you get morning breath, if you were to breath through your nose rather than your mouth would it still smell of morning breath?
Could You Really Shoot Off a Padlock?
On films you often see people shooting chains and padlocks off of doors and things. Can it be done in real life?
Why Do Some People Salute Palms Forward, Others Palm Down?
Is there a reason for this? Is it significant?
Why Is The Welsh Flag Not Part Of the Union Jack?
How comes the Welsh flag is not incorporated into the Union Jack?
Why Are Scaffolding Poles Circular?
Why is scaffolding round not square? Everything else - bricks etc - have square edges, why not scaffolding?
Are Actors Less Likely to Get Alzheimer's?
Actors spend their lives rehearsing lines. Are they more or less susceptible to Alzheimer's as they use their memories a lot?
Why Do Big Lorries Make A 'Pssssssh' Noise When They Stop?
When big lorries stop they make a 'pssssssh' noise - what is this noise? Why do they make it?
Why Are Dogs' Noses Sometimes Wet?
I have a dog: when she is asleep her nose is dry but when she is awake it is wet - why?
Why is a Pound in Weight Lbs?
A pound in weight is abbreviated to lbs - when kilograms is kg, centimetres is cm - why?
Why Are Main Roads Called High Streets?
Why is a High Street called a High Street? In America it is a Main Street - which makes more sense.
Why Don't All Remembrance Poppies Have Leaves?
Why do some Remembrance Day poppies not have leaves on? Is there a significance?
What Are Tennis Players Looking For When Inspecting Balls?
When professional tennis players go to a ball boy/girl they get given some, look at them, take two and give two back - is this an affectation or is there a reason for it?
Why Do Doors Open Inwards?
Why do doors open inwards in the UK but outwards in other countries?
Why Is There No M7?
Why do we not have an M7?
What Happens to Old Olympic Torches?
What do they do with the old Olympic torch at the end of each Olympics? Where are they now?
Can You Citizens' Arrest A Police Officer?
Is it possible for a person to commit a citizen's arrest against a police officer?
Why Are More People Righthanded Than Left?
Why are most people right-handed? Why isn't it 50-50?
Why do we say "the gravy train"?
Why do we say "the gravy train"? What does that mean and where did it come from?
How Do They Do The Safety Buttons In Jars?
When you buy a jar of sauce, it has a safety button on the top showing if a jar's been opened. How do they make the jar with the button in the down position?
How Long Does it Take For Blood To Flow Round The Body?
How long would it take for the blood in a 30 year old man weighing 180lbs to go all the way round the body?
How Much Does A Skeleton Weigh?
What is the average weight of a male skeleton?
How do they count calories in food?
How do they work out how many calories are in food?
How do you steer a hot-air balloon?
How do you steer a hot-air balloon? They always go over my house, so how do they control them?
Why are Monkey Puzzle Trees so called?
Why are they called Monkey Puzzle Trees and why do they puzzle monkeys?
Why are rainbows curved?
Why are rainbows curved when the rain falls down straight?
How long do stars take to burn out?
The light we see from stars is from planets which have burnt up. So when does the light from a star run out?
Why don't airport scanners pick up glasses or zips?
When you go through the metal detector at airports, you have to take your belt off, but not my glasses, or any zips. Why is that?
Why do pigeons sit on dangerous roads?
Why do pigeons sit on roads instead of in fields where there are safe?
Why does running slower burn more fat?
My personal trainer told me to exercise slowly in order to lose more fat. Why? Surely running faster would help me lose more fat?
Does a human taste test dog food?
When dog food says it has an improved recipe, who tests the improvement and do the animals notice?
Why don't women go bald?
Why don't women go bald like men do?
How do geese fly in a perfect V-formation?
How do geese fly in such a perfect V-formation? They look like the red arrows. How come there aren�t any stragglers?
Why do we sit backwards when rowing?
Why are rowing boats designed in a way that the person who rows can't see where he's going?
How do they make smokeless coal?
How do they take the smoke out of smokeless coal?
Why do 10p coins have different thicknesses?
Why do 10p pieces have a different thickness? Aren't all coins exactly the same?
What period are we currently living in?
We have the Georgian, Elizabethan and Victorian periods. What would this period be known as?
Why are football pitches different sizes?
Why are football pitches different sizes? Can they be any size?
How small would we have to be to see an atom?
How small would you have to be to see an atom? Would being small help?
Why do we wear wedding rings on the left 4th finger?
Why do we have to wear our wedding rings on the fourth finger of your left hand?
Does tightening cola bottle lid help keep it fizzy?
Does screwing the top of a bottle of fizzy drink really tight stop it from going flat?
Why was ancient man rubbish at drawing?
Why was ancient man rubbish at drawing? In those days, they could map the skies, but all cave paintings were terrible!
Why is the seat of a bus stop sloped forwards?
Why is the seat of a bus stop sloped forwards? You can't sit on it without sliding off. You may as well not have a seat at all.
Is it possible to make water?
Is it possible to make water? It's only made of hydrogen and oxygen isn�t it?
Why is Jesus depicted as a white man when he is Palestinian?
Why is Jesus Christ always visualised as a Caucasian, whereas obviously he is of an Arabic hue?
Why do Dutch sports teams wear orange?
Why do Dutch sports teams wear orange? There's no orange on their flag.
Why are brothers and sisters called siblings?
Why are brothers and sisters called siblings? Where does that word come from?
Why do we make a tutting noise to call a dog?
When we call cats of dogs over, why do we make that strange tutting noise. Why do we make that noise?
Why does tapping a coke can stop it exploding?
When you shake a coke can and then tap the top three times, why doesn�t it explode everywhere?
Why are lobsters always cooked alive?
At a restaurant, why do they cook lobsters live? Why does it have to be boiled alive?
Why do you get more drunk in a bar than at home?
When you have a drink in a bar, why do you feel more drunk than when you�re drinking at home?
Can you take logs from a park?
Am I allowed to collect logs from the local park if they are lying around?
Do you get wetter if you run in the rain?
If you get caught in a rainstorm, do you stay drier if you walk slowly or run for cover?
Why do women like hotter showers than men?
Why do women want hotter showers and baths than men? Why do they enjoy hotter water?
How can we enjoy a 100C sauna, but not boiling water?
I enjoy a sauna set at 100C degrees. How can I enjoy that, but not put my hand in a pan of 100C water?
Why do robbers escape "scot free"?
My son asked me: Where does the phrase "scot free" come from?
How do those mini-calculators for online banking work?
How do those mini calculators for online banking know what code to use?
Why does phone signal cut out only one way down a road?
When I drive down a hill near my house, I lose my phone signal, but going up the hill, the call stays connected? How does that happen?
How do spiders webs travel 10 feet through the air?
In our garden we have a single strand of spiders web 10 feet horizontally. How does a spider get from one to the other?
Why do we get on planes from the left?
Why do we always board aircraft from the left-hand side?
Why do spiders hate conkers?
I was told if you leave conkers in your house, it scares spiders off. So what is it about conkers that spiders don't like?
Why do the Tories always have the last party conference?
Why do the Conservative Party always have the last conference? Surely, that�s an advantage.
On old buildings, why is U is written as a V?
In old public buildings, the letter U is written as a V. So Euston Fire Station is written as EVSTON. Why?
What is the longest-lasting flower ever?
In May, I bought my wife an orchid and the original flowers are still on there. So what is the longest lasting flower?
How are saucepans made non-stick?
How do they make the non-stick surface of a saucepan stick on the pan?
Where does the term "Indian summer" come from?
Where does the term "Indian summer" come from? Are we in one now?
Why do funeral processions go so slow?
Why do funeral processions go so slow? I've just been trapped behind one for 15 minutes.
Does a bee know it will die if it stings you?
Does a bumble bee know it will die if it stings you?
How do they date rocks using carbon dating?
Carbon dating � how do they do it? How do they tell that something is a hundred million years old?
What's the origin of "going Dutch"?
Where does the phrase "going Dutch" come from, when you split a restaurant bill?
Why do we have hair in our armpits?
One from my daughter, who's just reaching puberty: why do we have such long hair under our arms?
Why do jockeys never have any facial hair?
Why do jockeys never have any facial hair? I've been watching for 30 years and I've never seen one.
Do spiders rear their young?
Do spiders rear their young? I'm sure I saw a bigger spider showing a smaller spider what to do and where to go in my living room.
How long can you stay in a plastic bubble?
The plastic bubbles that you enter in funfairs to walk on water � how long can you stay in one before suffocating?
Do astronauts need a passport?
Do astronauts have to carry passports when they travel in space? Or some sort of ID?
Why does the sun set in different places?
Last year, we noticed that the sun is setting on a different part of the horizon than it used to. Why?
Why is one Kensington Gardens gate a different colour?
All the gates in Kensington gardens are black but the southern gate is a rusty colour. Why?
Can You Create A Gravity Free Environment on Earth?
Is it possible to recreate the gravity free environment you experience in Space on Earth?
Do Pictures and Videos Make Your Phone Heavier?
Does downloading videos or pictures or receiving texts make you phone heavier?
Was There A London Bridge That Actually Fell Down?
There is a London Bridge now. Was there one that collapsed?
What is the Difference Between the Ground and the Floor?
Can't be floors are inside as you have the sea floor and the forest floor?
Can Insects Hear Us?
Can insects hear us? Or do they detect us in another way?
What's the Difference Between Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras?
Is one better than the other?
Does The Number of Curls in Barrister's Wig Mean Anything?
Do you have more curls the more cases you win?
Do Bacteria and Viruses Sleep?
Do lifeforms like bacteria and viruses sleep?
Does Your Weight Change if You Are Closer to the Equator?
How much does centrifugal force - if at all - affect your weight depending on it you are at a Pole of the equator?
Does Pupil Shape Affect Vision?
Some animals - like cats - have different shaped pupils. Does this affect their vision?
Why is There No Salt in Inland Waters?
Why is there salt in the sea but not in rivers or lakes?
How Do They Know What Colour Dinosaurs Were?
How do archaeologists use the bones and fossils and work out the colour the original dinosaur would have been?
Who Controls the M25 Variable Speed Limits?
Who Controls the M25 Variable Speed Limits? Is it done by a person or is it automated?
Why is the Lounge Called the Drawing Room?
Why do some people call the lounge or front room the "drawing room".
Can Starfish Swim?
They live in the sea but you only see them attached to rocks. Can they swim?
Can Anyone Attend A Celebrity's Wedding?
The Church has to be open for everybody for weddings - so anyone with objections can raise them - How does that work for celebrities/royals?
Why Do Lobsters Turn Red When Cooked?
They start off black or grey or other shades - so why do they turn red in the heat?
Why is Antarctica a Continent But Not the Arctic Circle?
What is the difference between them that makes only one of the icy masses a continent?
Can You Tell The Sex of a Pigeon From Its Appearance
Is there anyway of telling just from looking at it if a pigeon is male or female?
How Long Does It Take For A Body To Become a Skeleton
How long does it take for a body to decompose and become a skeleton?
How Much Do Vicars Get Paid?
How much do vicars get paid? There are quite a lot of anti-social hours. Is there a rising scale?
Why is Colonel Gaddafi still only a Colonel?
Why is Colonel Gaddafi, the leader of Libya, still a colonel? Why hasn't he promoted himself to a general?
Why does stubble grow faster if you go out drinking at night?
Why does stubble grow faster if you go out drinking at night?
Which cools you down more: hot or cold drinks?
In hot weather, what cools the body more, a cold drink or a hot drink?
When does a building become a skyscraper?
How tall does a building have to be before it becomes a skyscraper?
Why do some clouds rain more than others?
We know that rain comes because water is sucked into the air as clouds. But what makes some clouds rain more than others?
Where do files go when you put them in the Recycling Bin?
On your computer, when you put things in the Recycling Bin, what happens to them? Where does it go?
Why don't £50 notes have ultraviolet strips?
As a shopkeeper, if you put a £5, £10 and £20 note under ultraviolet light, you get a hologram. But that doesn�t happen with a £50 note. Why?
Where does the word barbeque come from?
What is the origin of the word barbeque? Where does it come from?
How many trees create enough oxygen for one person?
How many trees would it take to provide one human enough oxygen to survive?
Why aren't things upside down on a mirror?
When you look in a mirror, the left becomes the right and vice versa. But the top never becomes the bottom. Why is that?
Why does the letter X signify a kiss?
Why do we send a kiss by writing the letter X?
Why is our 21st birthday so big?
Among all the birthdays, why is the 21st considered such a huge one. Why not the 20th?
Why do we "tap" phones?
Where does the phrase "phone tapping" come from?
Why do we "toast" a bride and groom?
At a wedding, why do we make a "toast" to the bride and groom?
Why are you more tired after a good night's sleep?
If you sleep for a long time, why do you feel more tired than if you've had a bad night's sleep?
Why doesn't animal hair go grey?
Human's hair all goes grey, so why don't animals go grey? You never see a grey gorilla!
Why do wedding cars have white ribbons on?
Why do we have white ribbons on wedding cars?
What does "bon" mean in bonfire?
What is the significance of the word bon in bonfire? How is it different to a normal fire?
Why is the hall at the top of the stairs called "a landing"?
The passage at the top of the stairs - why is it called the landing?
Why does illness feel worse at night?
When you're not feeling well, why is it worse during the night than during the day?
Why are lions "King of the Jungle" if they don't live there?
Why is the lion known as the King of the Jungle, when lions don't live in the jungle?
Where does "break a duck" come from?
Where does the phrase "break my duck" come from?
Would the world explode if we all jump at the same time?
What would happen to the planet if every human jumped and landed at the same time?
Why are journalists called "hacks"?
Why are journalists called "hacks"?
How do maggots get inside food?
I found a maggot in a potato, but there was no hole, so how did it get in?
What do the yellow H signs mean?
By roads, there are yellow signs with an H on with two numbers on, marking out a fire hydrant. What do those numbers mean?
Is rainwater safe to drink?
If I left a cup outside my house, would it be safe to drink rainwater?
What are Olympic medals made of?
What metals are Olympic medals made of? Are gold medals really made of solid gold?
Why do we shake a stick at things?
Why do we shake a stick at things? Where does the phrase come from?
What is the difference between a cottage and a house?
What is the difference between a cottage and a house?
Why are blondes and redheads only in Europe?
Why are blonde and red hair largely native to Europe and no other countries?
Why do you get change note first then coins?
When you buy something with a note and get change, why do they always give you change with the note first, then the change, which then slips off?
Has laughter been used for medicine?
Has laughter ever been used instead of medicine? Is it really the best medicine?
Why don't mosquitos bite me since I gave birth?
I used to get bitten by mosquitos, but then I had a child and they don't bite me any more. Why not?
How can mobiles always make emergency calls?
When your mobile phone has no reception and you're unable to make any calls, how come you're still able to make Emergency Calls Only?
Why are we "happy as Larry"? Who was Larry?
Where does the expression "happy as Larry" come from? Who was Larry?
What is a "jackpot"?
What is the origin of the gambling term "jackpot"?
Are dogs ticklish?
Are animals ticklish like we are? My dog loves having his tummy rubbed.
How much do cigarettes cost to make?
What is the manufacturing costs of a packet of cigarettes, including all the packaging?
Why does body hair stop growing but head hair doesn't?
Body hair - how does your body know how long your hair should grow? My eyebrows aren't growing any more.
Why do pregnant women's noses change shape?
Why does the shape of a lady's nose change when she's pregnant? I've seen newsreaders' nostrils flare slightly.
Why are private schools known as public schools?
Why do they refer to private schools like Eton as a public school?
Where does grass seed come from?
Where does grass seed come from? I never see it on lawns.
What would you call 75 years of marriage?
What would you call 75 years of marriage? Gold is 50, diamond is 60, so what is 75?
Why is cold and hot water nice, but tepid water horrible?
Why is warm water so unpalatable, when cold and hot water isn't?
How do birds fly in flocks? Is there a leader?
Flocks of birds tend to move in unison. So do they have a leader which they all follow as they are flying?
Has Mr. Opodopolous appeared in EastEnders?
The character Mr. Opodopolous who owns the launderette in EastEnders � has he ever appeared on the show?
What is William's title in Canada?
In England, Prince William is the Duke of Cambridge. So what is Prince William's official title in Canada?
I can't sing, so how can I whistle in tune?
How can you whistle any tune note-perfectly, even though you can't sing in tune?
Who was Simon in "Simon Says"?
"Simon Says put your hands on your head." Who was Simon?
What is exactly opposite London on the globe?
If you push a pencil through an apple it will come out directly at the opposite point. If you did the same with Trafalgar Square through the Earth, where would it come out?
Why is your zip called 'flies'?
One from my two-year-old daughter: why is the zip on your trousers called your "flies"?
Why are US dollars called bucks?
I heard someone say something cost twenty bucks. Why do they call dollars "bucks"?
Why is blue humour so called?
Why is the colour blue used to describe a certain type of humour and film? Why is it a synonym for rude?
Why can't a saltwater fish survive in freshwater?
Why can't a saltwater fish survive in freshwater? I can't understand why they wouldn't cope with freshwater.
Why do Walkers crisp packets weigh 34.5g?
Walker's crisp packets weigh 34.5grams. Why didn�t they round it up to 35g?
Who Is The Bearded Steward At Wimbledon?
Every year at Wimbledon, there is a man with a white beard who sits in the same corner. Who is he and why is he there?
Where Did Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta Come From?
The police alphabet � alpha, bravo, Charlie, delta etc. Why is it those words? Why not apple, banana, Clementine etc?
Why are old golf trousers known as "plus fours"?
Years ago, when men play golf, their trousers were known as plus fours. Why?
How low can a worm go?
How low can a worm go? How far down can he dig?
What happens to planes when air traffic control goes down?
Last week, the control tower of Gatwick closed after being hit by lightning. What happened to the planes circling over the airport?
Babies don't know language, so how do they think?
When you think, you think in a language, so how does a baby think?
Mercury is a liquid, so how is it mined?
Metals are usually mined. But where does mercury come from? Is it mined as a liquid?
How many gigabytes of memory does your brain hold?
If your brain was like a computer hard drive, how much capacity would it have in gigabytes?
How far would I move if I stood still for an hour?
How far would I travel if I stood still for one hour � due to the rotation and orbit of the Earth?
How do you towels very fluffy?
When you go to a nice hotel, you always get nice fluffy towels. But I can't get them fluffy. What is their secret?
Are boxers' fists classed as lethal weapons?
If a boxer gets into a street fight, would his sentence would be worse because his fists are classed as lethal weapons?
Why is there no BB bra size?
With bra sizes, there are AA, DD and EE, but there is no BB or CC. Why not?
Does petrol have a use-by date?
Does petrol have a use-by date? If I leave my car for five years, would the petrol still be good after all that time?
What's the difference between steps and stairs?
Why do you call them stairs inside and steps outside? They�re all the same aren't they?
Why doesn't blood sink to your feet?
When you do a handstand, all the blood rushes to your head, but when you stand up, it doesn't sink to your feet. Why?
Why do you get dizzy stepping on to a broken escalator?
Why do you feel dizzy when you get on an escalator, even when it's broken?
How are a pilot's flying hours calculated?
How are a pilot's flying hours calculated? Is it simply time in the air, or time in the cockpit?
How high can wasps fly?
How high can a wasp fly? Can they get as high as birds?
Why does soap stop a mirror steaming up?
if I put a coating of soap on a mirror, it doesn't steam up. Why?
Why does your bottom lip spasm when you drop something?
If you drop something, your bottom lip has a single spasm. Why does that happen?
Why do we swing our arms when we walk?
Why do we swing our arms when we walk? Does it help with balance?
What does "I promise to pay the bearer" mean on money?
On five pound notes, it says "I promise to pay the bearer of this note five pounds". So is that not actually money?
Where did the name Bubble and Squeak come from?
A meal full of leftovers - where did the name Bubble and Squeak come from?
Can lip-readers detect accents?
I have a foreign accent, but if someone was lip-reading me, could they detect my foreign accent?
Why are there 12 people on a jury?
Why is there 12 people on a jury? Surely if you wanted a majority verdict, an odd number would make more sense.
What is the "nap" in betting?
Every newspaper has a racing tipster, who recommends horses of the day and the top horse is the "nap". What does "nap" mean?
Where did the symbols for male and female originate?
Where did the universal symbols for male and female come from? Who invented them?
Why do bins have a decibel rating?
Moulded into our wheelie-bins, there is a decibel-rating moulded in. What does that have to do with bins?
Do eyelashes grow back?
Do eyelashes grow back? Some of mine have fallen out, but don't seem to be growing back.
How do anti-static cloths work?
I got an anti-static cloth with my TV. So how does an anti-static cloth work and does it keep on going forever?
Do babies dream in the womb?
Can the baby dream in the womb? And if it does, what does it dream about?
Why are film stars called 'Stars of the Silver Screen'?
In Hollywood, why do they talk about "stars of the silver screen"?
Why do you hear your stomach rumbling, but nothing else?
Why can you hear your stomach rumbling out loud, but you can't hear any other rumblings from your body?
Do amputees still have eight pints of blood?
If you lose a leg or an arm, do you still have eight pints of blood? Surely you wouldn't have the room!
Why do arms itch when you cycle on cobbles?
When we were cycling along a cobbled street, our arms got really itchy. Why does that happen?
Why are places called 'Cross'?
There's Banbury Cross, Gerrard's Cross, King's Cross, New Cross � why are they called Cross?
How to seabirds drink if seawater makes us ill?
How to seabirds drink? If we drink salty water, we feel really ill, so can they drink from the sea?
If all ice melted, how high would sea level be?
If all the ice in the world melted, how much higher would the sea level be?
Why do nails get stronger as we get older?
When we get older, our hair gets thinner and our bones get thinner, but our nails get stronger and tougher. Why?
Why do pigeons leave it late to get out the way of cars?
When you drive towards pigeons, why do they leave it to the last minute before they fly away? It's like they're teasing you.
Why do carpenter's pencils have oval leads?
Normal pencils are have round lead, but carpenters pencils have oval leads. Why?
Why do doctors work in a Practice?
Why do doctors and vets work in a Practice?
Why are they called "spare ribs"?
Why do we call the ribs we put on the barbeque "spare ribs"? Why not just ribs?
Why are spaghetti westerns so called?
I like spaghetti westerns, but not normal westerns - ones with more comedy. But why are they so called?
Why are there stones around train tracks?
On a train track, there are rocks and stones around the tracks. Why are they there?
Where were the Battle of Waterloo dead buried?
I often go to military burial grounds. What happened to the hundreds of dead at the Battle of Waterloo?
What's the difference between jungle and rainforest?
I'm going to the jungle in Borneo, then the rainforest in Peru. So what's the difference between a jungle and a rainforest?
Why is the knot in soft wood hard?
Why is the knot in soft wood hard? It's all from the same tree.
Why don't breadcrumbs ever get mouldy?
I give breadcrumbs to birds, but was wondering: Why do slices of bread get mouldy but breadcrumbs don't?
Would the weather be different if Earth span the other way?
What would the world's climate be like if the world span the other way? Would it be sunnier in England?
Where does the word 'Ninny' come from?
When I was silly as a boy, my dad called me a "ninny" � probably short for nincompoop. Where do those two words come from?
We use french scoring for tennis, so why don't they?
Watching the French Open tennis, they don't use the love and deuce we use, which are French in origin anyway. Why not?
Why don't we have double decker cars?
Why don't we have double decker cars? They would be able to hold up to 8 or 10 people.
Why don't black people get goosebumps?
Why do white people get goosebumps, when black people don't?
What speed do a bee's wings go?
When a bumble bee flies, what speed does his wings go? They say it breaks the laws of physics for a bee to fly.
Would the Titanic have sunk if it didn't try to avoid the iceberg?
If the Titanic had gone straight into the iceberg instead of trying to go around it, would it still have sunk?
Why do amps make guitar notes go on forever?
A guitar string with no amp stops vibrating quickly, but with an amp, it continues forever. Why?
If you commit a crime in space, would you get arrested?
Can you commit an offence in space? If you do, who would prosecute you?
Why do runners get a second wind?
When someone has run a lot, people say they get a second wind. Is the second wind something physical?
Why don't chocolate chips melt in cookies?
Why don't chocolate chips melt when they're put in chocolate chip cookies? They stay as a solid form.
What are beauty spots?
Why do you get beauty spots? They look different to moles.
Do you weigh the same holding food as after eating it?
If you hold a sandwich and weigh yourself, then eat the sandwich and weigh yourself, would you weigh the same?
What is the number on the end of sugar packets?
In paper tubes of sugar, on the ridged piece of paper, there is a number from 1-20 . What does the number mean?
What are the bulletholes on Kew Bridge?
On the side of Kew Bridge, I noticed what appeared to be a row of about 12 bulletholes. What are they?
Why are cowards referred to as 'chickens'?
Why is it that we call someone 'chicken' if they are being cowardly?
Why do pubs have silly names?
Why do pubs have silly names, like the Bull and Bush, Rat and Parrot etc?
How are memories stored in the brain?
How are memories stored in the brain? How does an organ store data like that?
Why do we get ON a bus, but IN a car?
Why do we get ON a bus, but IN a car? Why don't we get on a car like everything else?
What's the difference between a flower and a weed?
What's the difference between a flower and a weed? Surely they both flower.
What Happens When You Bang Your Funny Bone?
What happens when you bang your elbow and your funny bone 'activates' and what is that tingling sensation?


text:
To begin with, I am almost fifty, have raised three sons to maturity, have three granddaughters, have been a musician all of my life, write music of my own, and have been a rock and roll fan since the day I first heard, as a child, some of that rockabilly stuff playing on WMPS and WHBQ in Memphis. My life span has been parallel with that of rock and roll, and the music has influenced me profoundly. I have been through obsessions with Elvis, Gene Pitney, the Beatles (that was a big one), Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night, Billy Joel, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, and more recently Pink Floyd (another big one), and now Phish. Now, I've gotta tell you, I was bulldozed into the Phish thing. My son John (twenty-one) wouldn't let it rest! He kept shoving it down my throat.
When I first started listening to the Phish music he played for me, I was not very interested. It sounded like repetitive nonsense to me. It was a time when I had lost rock and roll. I just couldn't follow it. It was really fragmenting into a hundred different categories, because rock bands were so determined to be "unique" and original, most of them being neither. It seemed that everything had been done by the end of the `70s, and the Green Day genre of careless, unemotional, I-don't-care-whether-this-does-anything-for-you rock and roll was making a big entrance. I was jaded and unreceptive. But Phish (and John) won out! Given no real choice, I began to listen and receive.
But it was my first Phish concert that really convinced me. I bravely took four students from my music appreciation class (at the private school where I teach) to the Charlotte concert in fall of `96. I was in awe of Trey's incredible skill on the guitar. His playing revealed a very unique and quixotic personality that smacks of delayed development in the most pleasant and creative way. I was mesmerized by Page's keyboard work. It was on one hand naive and clumsy, and on the other, focused and heart-driven, sometimes revealing measures and measures of hypnotic momentum. Fishman's punky, Animal House style seemed the opposite intellectual extreme and gave a rounding-out effect which saved the group from being too "ozone-layer." And Mikestable, unflappable Mikeplugging away on the harmonies and the basic beat, never giving us a hint of the man behind the bass line. They seemed the perfect ensemble musically and spiritually.
After that I went to the Boston `96 New Year's concert, four concerts in the `97 Summer Tour (that's another story!), the shows in Hampton, VA, in November `97, and the show in Lyon, summer `97. It is this last night to which I hitherto refer.
John, Marie (a German seventeen-year-old whose family relocated to Spartanburg with their business when she was twelve), and I left our dorm in Lyon to head out for the unknown enclave of Americans and a small-venue Phish show in Lyon. We were really psyched! It was Marie's first Phish show. But John and I were coming from huge Phish shows in the U.S. where the individuals on the stage were somewhat impersonal little dots through a haze of smoke and noisy fans.
We came early as all Phish fans know to do.The summer daylight fades very late in France (9:30 PM in July), so we had lots of visual time in the lot. We were not surprised to see people there in the casual organization that Phish fans usually take before a show, but we were somewhat surprised to see that there were so few there. They were clustered under some trees there doing their usual stuff, and being friendly if approached, but not intrusive to others' personal space.
We could hear the soundcheck, but when John, unable to contain his amazement that he was this close to an open door where the elusive four were actually playing something that he might otherwise be barred from hearing, took his place alone by the door to listen, the few authorities there officiously closed the access! So, we decided to find the entrance and camp out there. There were five guys at the entrance from various parts of the Northeast U.S., drinking a little wine and talking about Phish and life in general. That was one of the best parts of the experience. We had time and something in common. They were a little put off by having a mom there at first, I think. I didn't try to assert myself, but as time went on, sitting on the asphalt together, they offered me a swig du vin, and they relaxed about my presence. That was such a special gift to me of which they were probably unaware.
Finally, the doors opened and the excitement built as it always does. Random cheering and unnecessary but habitual hustling for a place in the relatively small line at the unimpressive entrance to this Transbordeur place proceeded in good order: a sort of microcosm of the bigger venues.
Inside, we found to our delight that this was a stand-where-you-please bar place. People learned of each other and the circumstances of being in such a strange place in the summertime. There was lots of smoking and tossing of the hackey-sack. We were almost first in, delayed by queuing up at the wrong door inside, but we found that we could stand right up under the stage. John was ballistic at the prospect of actually being spat upon by Trey in concert! We struck up a conversation with a "granola-type" male of early age who instantly started making protest about the smoking of tobacco in the club. I decided that I would go to the grandstands in back and smoke my one cigarette that I allowed myself. I began feeling out-of-place and decided to stay there for a while and observe. Often, people at Phish concerts think I am "event staff" or a journalist or review writer, so I just go with that. I enjoyed watching the various individuals and their pets and personae parading by me. That is always a spectacle that I enjoy about Phish concerts.
They came out with no fanfare. The concert began with some random reference to "Pierre" of Haagen-Dazs. I was bewildered from the beginning with that, but before the concert was over, Trey revealed the mystery of Pierre. I'm still not sure what it was, but everyone else seemed satisfied that Pierre was cool and it was part of the enigma of many Phish references: random, ironic, humorous nonsense that is fun to figure out.
They began with a low-key version of "PYITE". The familiar music was accessible to all and instantly united us all. Cheers rose as a short, happy jam began. The Latin beat and tinkling piano ended the song quickly, and the band and softly segued into "Prince Caspian". Phish has an uncanny knowledge of "programming." The concerts are often like a long story line, which is followed intuitively by those who know their style. Listening experience is required for the full experience. The melancholy, thoughtful idea of "floating on the waves" was a gentle invitation to join in the fantasy. It was a particularly sweet version. We settled in.
"Ginseng Sullivan" shows the penchant for their eclectic style, never wanting to be pigeonholed. Nashville, step back! It was short and probably threw the uninitiated totally off. Then a funky drum beat introduced "Split Open and Melt". The introduction defied a tonality until the lyrics began. It began normally enough, but as the music progressed past the traditional nontonality of the song, it became evident that the jam had begun. I hear John's delighted "whoo-hoo-hoo!" It's right there on the tape! This pulled me back to standing under the stage. It is wonderful how the coming together of a few elements of organized joy in the music can bring one to such a state of well-being. That jam made tears roll down my face. I don't know why. The immersion of the entire essence of one's being in the communal experience of music and fantasy is a powerful thing that Phish can elicit better than any group I've known. They are not media gods. They are ageless, classless fellows in nonreality. We rocked!
Keeping things slow and relaxed with "Dirt", Phish delayed the real excitement. Trey's sweet, epic guitar plays the lead line of the break while he intersperses little soft vocals underneath. A very short version, it could almost be considered a prelude to "Taste", which crescendos in with that running guitar and dampened cymbal pattern. What good musicians these people are! Their often-apologetic vocals put us all in their league, but never obscure their musicality and heart! In this jam, with its soft, fast underpinnings in the bass and percussion, you can hear the excitement of the entire concert begin to build. Masterful in his guitar solo, Trey takes us to the first level. And Page, alternating between duple and triple meters in the background, adds to the ascent. Good golly, we're off and it feels good! The crowd roars and whistles as the jam comes to its inevitable climax.
Then as Phish does so well, it goes from the sublime to the almost, but not quite ridiculous. The crowd was adoringly polite and receptive as the group broke ranks to come way downstage. I heard myself on the tape laughing aloud as they began an a cappella version of "Sweet Adeline". Now, here is where we have bragging rights at this concert! We were looking up their noses as they sang. Wow! Fishman's dramatic solo brought supportive laughter and applause.
Quickly, the boys manned their former positions and began a bumpy, unphrased, non-continual intro to "Harry Hood". Humorous unpredictability is a definite trademark of Phish programming. Where are we going now? Seemingly, nowhere! Then as we think they have wandered into discombobulated indecision, sounding somewhat like an exhibition of styles and meters, and no one can convincingly boogie, the non-sequitur "Thank you Mr. Minor" makes the conundrum more intense. The experience descends into a very chilled-out guitar and bass duet with a bit of celeste-type diddling on the keyboard. But then you hear it, a gradual perception of building intensity, and you know the jam has begun. It's a code from them to us. There was another mention of Pierre and a corny reference to "AC/DC Baguette" as the little crowd roared!
At the beginning of the second set, they mentioned Pierre again to some surreal synthesizer noises. This gave way to the first watery blurbs of "Down with Disease". This is one of John's favorites, so I was glad to hear it begin. It's a classic, full of "hooks" to grab your memory and keep you wanting more. I love to sing along with this one. But not at this particular concert
The twelve-bar blues shows up with "My Soul". An unusually fast blues song, this one rocked along almost like a ragtime number with its fast-paced piano breaks. And what was that maniacal laugh near the end?
Next, with no break, comes "Cars Trucks and Buses" to give us a bit of jazz-rock. I love it when Phish cools down and plays in a jazzy style. Page's improv alternated between genius and klutz. I love that about his playing, it's always human enough to make him believable. He really revs up at the end playing chord clusters and thickening the texture. This piece is always a bit of ear-hormone to listen totoo fine.
Now when Bè©la Fleck and the others came into things, it got a bit complex to gather up. We didn't know for sure that they were coming. We heard rumors going around of all kinds of guests. Bè©la has played around our parts a lot (the Carolinas), so I recognized his group immediately as they came out, and I was really glad to see them. I can't remember the sequence of things as Fleck and the `Tones appeared. I know Future Man played with Fishman first. This strange-looking gadget that he plays on is past my comprehension. He presents a really good synthesized percussion performance on it. It seems that he can do a thing or two that a primitive trap-set drummer can't do, but I miss the visual, visceral backdrop power of the drummer. And I have never seen anyone who entertains me more than that incredible bass player, Victor Wooten.
In the "You Enjoy Myself" jam, things get much cooler and thicker in texture with this ensemble. The whole thing spins and spins with little bits of competitive, tandem repetition of ideas with variation according to the artist.
"Ghost" was an awesome collaboration for me. The octave-apart vocal harmony in the slow, funky tempo, combined with those "blatty" low-note interjections by the tenor sax and the insistent, popping and slipping bass part by Wooten made for constant just-short-of-hypnosis involvement. The end of this one is a random, noisy "train wreck" of atonal "spastisism" tripping into the first strains of "Poor Heart". Very fast and ultra-traditional, this song simplifies things for everyone, dispelling any mysticism. Jeff Coffin (special guest of the Flecktones) went wild on tenor sax in this one! He was right in front of me freaking out! It broke the mood, for sure! But Phish never lets you rest, do they?
The finale at the end of "Poor Heart" included several themes and endings from other songs, drawing from snippets of Gershwin to an Irish jig, radio jingles to stripper closers, rock and roll knock-off riffs, and ended on a grand vaudevillian final chord. This went on for quite a while as each of the musicians on stage tried to one-up the others. The crowd wouldn't let them get off easy. They continued to insist as long as there was any hope for more music.
Trey called up Pierre to the stage. There were the ubiquitous calls for "Freebird" from the audience, who didn't really know what to expect at this point. They brought this Pierre person out on the stage and sang "Hello My Baby" to him and to us all. That was some hot barbershop stuff! We participated with laughing, whooping support. What a celebration! It was an American island in the middle of France, and we were all acting very American!

subset: commoncrawl