# Another "how could anyone not know that?" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056 "2003-11-08T07:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/101 "2003-11-12T13:30:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sugaree \* > \*\*I had a huge argument with my mom. She thought that since French is spoken in France, Italian in Italy, and Spanish in Spain, Luxumbourgian must be spoken in Luxumbourg \*\* Umm… I have news for you. The language spoken in Luxemburg _actually is_ called Luxemburgish. It’s a dialect of German. Score one for Mom! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/102 "2003-11-12T14:36:12Z")
> [@](#): > > The surfaces of the ears inside is a different story You obviously haven’t been looking at mine. (shocked silence) Seriously – it gets so long that my wife tells me when it needs to be cut. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/103 "2003-11-12T14:40:58Z")
I heard 2 radio DJs discussing Stephen King movies. One of them didn’t know SK had written The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, or Stand By Me. Of course, he knew about Firestarter, Children of the Corn, etc.:rolleyes: Hopefully, he was just pretending ignorance to make for a more interesting radio show… ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/104 "2003-11-13T00:14:52Z")
I didn’t know King had written the Shawshank Redeption until a few weeks ago, and it’s one of my favorite movies. Earlier this year I found out that my mom thought that jaywalking was when you crossed a street diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/105 "2003-11-13T00:28:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*You obviously haven’t been looking at mine. > > (shocked silence) > > Seriously – it gets so long that my wife tells me when it needs to be cut. \*\* Well, that’s what he meant: that hair (the “down” that some people are claiming may not qualify) does **not** grow on the outsides of the ears, but that there’s no such restriction on the insides. And here’s where I quote Cecil’s “ear hair” column for the nth time: > [@](#): > > Having further reviewed the medical literature, I can add the following to the above: > > (1) Even less is known about hairy noses than hairy ears. > > (2) In men hairy ears are probably pretty common. In the Mineola study 74 percent of the men had them. Unfortunately you can’t tell how old they were because the only average age provided applied to a group of men and women mixed together. Obviously a little more time needs to be spent on statistics in the medical schools serving Mineola. > > (3) It sure is hard to figure out what medical authors are talking about when they use words like “tragus” and “pinna” without telling you what they mean. > > (4) The tragus is the pointy projection on the front side of your ear opening. Interestingly, tragus can also mean any of the hairs growing at the entrance to the ear. So I guess what you’ve got there, Ernest, is a bad case of tragus on the tragus. > > (5) The pinna, according to the dictionary, is the “external part of the ear,” but some medical authors figure it really means the external part of the ear except the tragus. > > (6) I bet hair on the tragus is what’s really important, but maybe that’s just because I have it. > > (7) Some people think men in certain ethnic groups, such as those found in parts of India and Sri Lanka, have hairier ears than usual. However, you couldn’t prove it by me, inasmuch as the admittedly sparse literature on the subject suggests that hairy ears are pretty common all over. In any case, the Indian researchers think if you’ve got them you might have diabetes too. > > (8) You can get hairy ears as a result of using minoxidil and, boy, does it look gross. > > (9) While not having hairy, creased ears doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t prone to heart attacks, if you do have them–and if in other respects you seem like the heart-attack-prone type–you’re in trouble. Ninety percent of the guys with hairy, creased ears in the Mineola study had coronary-artery disease. > > (10) I sure wish the people who published the relatively small number of ear-hair papers had had their acts a little more together, because it’s just about impossible to determine from their work whether ear hair becomes more common in men as they age and if so, where on the ear and with what indications for your health. But it’s not like counting ear hairs is a job that’s going to attract the great minds of our times. > > (11) Some great mind is going to have to do a lot of this work over if we’re going to come to any firm conclusions about ear and nose hair. > > (12) But it’s not going to be me. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/106 "2003-11-13T12:20:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, that’s what he meant: that hair (the “down” that some people are claiming may not qualify) does not grow on the outsides of the ears, but that there’s no such restriction on the insides. I’m afraid that yopu’re the one who doesn’t understand – I’m talking about hair growing on the _outside_ of my ears. I don’y have hair growing on the inside. And I know exactly where it’s growing, since it’s a pain to cut. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/107 "2003-11-13T13:10:26Z")
**Calmeacham** , you have those linx ear puffs? I know someone with those! **Rilchiam** , Cal is referring to the fine, fine, _fine_ peachfuzz (hell, peachfuzz is coarser!) that covers the ears in the areas that are favoured for piercing. He’s not referring to the pubic like kinky hairs coming from the inside. You need a really good magnifying glass, but there are teensy weeny mini fuzzies on ear lobes and up on the top edge of your ear (another common piercing spot). There are also miniscule hairs that line the _eyelids_ (my optomertrist showed me a super-magnified picutre). In my case, one of those itty bitty follicles had become blocked producing a sty. Think of it this way, _most_ (not all, but most) pimples are caused by blockages of sebaceous hair follicles. Anywhere you can get a pimple, you can probably bet there is hair, even if it’s too fine for you to see it without magnification. For the ear down, as some men get older they can get these bizarro, thick, long. mutant hairs on the top rim – look like linx tufts! For some reason, I always think guys with the links tufts should be able to wiggle their ears. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/108 "2003-11-13T13:11:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*I’m afraid that yopu’re the one who doesn’t understand – I’m talking about hair growing on the _outside_ of my ears. I don’y have hair growing on the inside. And I know exactly where it’s growing, since it’s a pain to cut. \*\* My hubman has hair growing on the outside of his ears too. I cut them for him. Not on the tragus, either…all along the outer rim of his whole ear. Its outline, if you will. It’s only been noticeable for the last three or four years…but it’s there. So I know what you mean, anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/109 "2003-11-13T14:10:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*I’m afraid that yopu’re the one who doesn’t understand – I’m talking about hair growing on the _outside_ of my ears. I don’y have hair growing on the inside. And I know exactly where it’s growing, since it’s a pain to cut. \*\* :eek: I stand corrected, then. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/110 "2003-11-13T14:12:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Rilchiam, Cal is referring to the fine, fine, fine peachfuzz (hell, peachfuzz is coarser!) that covers the ears in the areas that are favoured for piercing. He’s not referring to the pubic like kinky hairs coming from the inside. > > You need a really good magnifying glass, but there are teensy weeny mini fuzzies on ear lobes and up on the top edge of your ear (another common piercing spot). If _only_ they were “teensy weensy” and “mini”. **PepperMill** can grab them and pull! ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/111 "2003-11-13T14:23:21Z")
Yep, one of my wifely duties is to pluck Hubby’s ear hairs - on the rim, the outer edge and the lobe. Thick wiry insect whiskers - definately not peach fuzz. In fact, I have a friend whose ear hair, on the outer curve of his ear, grows thick and sticks straight out. Like fringe, but none growing in the bell. You guys are sure in for a rude awakening as you get older!! ---
**Author:** ![jon\_pi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jon\_pi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jon_pi)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/112 "2003-11-13T14:42:41Z")
When my sister was younger she would pitch fits about going to school. She was about 12-13 and had gotten into an arguement with my mother that caused her to miss the bus. After being grounded and taken to school by my mother, they sat in the car for a moment before she went in. mom: Now today while you’re in school I want you to ponder over what you did this morning. sis: Um… what does ponder mean? mom: Think about it. At this my sister takes a long pause. sis: I could think about it all day and I still won’t know what ponder means! ---
**Author:** ![NFlanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@NFlanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NFlanders)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/113 "2003-11-13T15:01:01Z")
When Beck’s song “Loser” came out, I had no idea the chorus was in Spanish. I thought he was singing incomprehensibly. I lived in Argentina for at least a year before I suddenly realized… ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/114 "2003-11-14T01:37:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hubajube \* > \*\*… Are there really places on your ears that hair can’t grow? Hair accounts for hearing, so it’s grows inside them too. \*\* FYI the [hair cells](http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/research/cochlea/Hearing/) that are involved in hearing have nothing to do with the type of hair that grows from your skin. ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/115 "2003-11-14T02:14:54Z")
Sorry to go back to this, but what was with the bit about seventy-six trombones on the ceiling of a house in Iowa? I have no idea what this refers to. ---
**Author:** ![Wikkit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c0e974/32.png) [@Wikkit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wikkit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/116 "2003-11-14T02:44:23Z")
[76 trombones iowa](http://www.google.com/search?q=76+trombones+iowa&ie=ISO-8859-1&hl=eo&btnG=Google-Ser%26%23265%3Bo) ---
**Author:** ![finette6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@finette6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/finette6)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/117 "2003-11-14T03:17:31Z")
Here are 3, all from the same person, who considers herself witty, urbane and really smart… -Where Rennet comes from (after 10 years of being a vegetarian) -What a “reacharound” is (although she is constantly blathering about what a “faghag” she was at art school) -that an easy way to keep someone on the other end of the phone from hearing a nasty comment is to COVER THE DAMN MOUTHPIECE! ---
**Author:** ![Super\_Gnat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Super\_Gnat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Super_Gnat)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/118 "2003-11-14T22:07:00Z")
Thanks, **Wikkit**. Guess I should go see _The Music Man_ sometime. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/119 "2003-11-15T00:03:43Z")
I have been reading, “Helter Skelter” lately. It’s a book about the Manson Family murders in 1969. (It’s not the murders that are scary, but the incompetence of the police that is truly frightening!) Anyway, one of the lawyers questioning prospective jurors asked several of them, “Have you or anyone in your family been the victim of Homocide?” “Yes, I have… I got better.” ---
**Author:** ![lt180ml](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lt180ml](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lt180ml)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056/120 "2003-11-15T00:17:43Z")
**Part 1: Moose Fences** A friend (17? at the time) along with other friends and some of my family were driving through New Hampshire to hike Mt Washington.Living in a fairly developed area, and not having been to New Hampshire, the friend was startled by the ‘moose crossing’ signs by the road. Somehow, he connected this with the workers laying some sort of cable by the side of the road. My father is not the type to miss this sort of opportunity. He promptly explained that the cable was part of a giant ‘invisible fence’ for moose, just like people have around their yards for dogs, and gave bogus info an voltage etc involved with these fences. A year later, on a similar trip, this kid turns to a friend he brought that year and explains, after seeing the moose crossing signs, about the invisible fence. He remembered every detail and had added a few of his own. **Part Two: The Cairns** Encouraged by this recitation, dad mentioned casually while hiking to the Appalachian trail hut that the kid should ask the caretakers what they did with the cairns in the winter. For those of you unfamiliar with the AT and Mt Washington: 1. The weather is the worst in the world as measured by wind speed and precipitation (scientific fact.) 2. The cairns are there so that, in inclement weather, such as there often is in winter, hikers will not get lost. The upper slopes are completely barren rock with no trail markings except the cairns. Also, the cairns are 5-foot piles of big rocks with emergency supplies inside. To continue: After dinner, at a Q/A session, this kid pipes up and asks, “How do you get all the cairns put away for the winter?” Dead silence ensued. Had the subject not been changed, the whole lodge would still be sitting there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-how-could-anyone-not-know-that-thread/212056.md?page=7)