# Ask a silly question **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 16, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321 "2024-11-16T15:31:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/1 "2024-11-16T15:31:21Z")
From the US Constitution: > [@](#): > > The Congress shall have Power…To establish Post Offices and post Roads Okay, how exactly does Congress post a Road? How many stamps does it require? How long will it take to deliver? Do not need answer fast. What are your silly questions? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/2 "2024-11-16T15:32:19Z")
Why is the sky blue? Why do hot dogs and hot dog buns not have the same number in a package? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/3 "2024-11-16T15:41:46Z")
In the 1980s having newly arrived in the US, I asked why there was a prohibition on posting bills. I thought “Post No Bills” was some kind of prohibition on mailing invoices. In British English “post” = “mail” in American English and “bills” are “invoices”. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/4 "2024-11-16T15:53:57Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Why is the sky blue? “Because it isn’t green!” — Lucy van Pelt BIP: Why does the sun go on shining? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/5 "2024-11-16T15:58:24Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I thought “Post No Bills” was some kind of prohibition on mailing invoices. In British English “post” = “mail” in American English and “bills” are “invoices”. What does it actually mean? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/6 "2024-11-16T16:01:21Z")
It means don’t fasten/glue posters to public areas, i,e, phone poles, sides of buildings, etc. I can’t explain the terminology, before my time. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/7 "2024-11-16T16:13:59Z")
Rush- “Though his mind is not for rent” How would you go about renting a mind? By the hour, the day? The whole mind or are different areas rentable? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/8 "2024-11-16T19:54:41Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > It means don’t fasten/glue posters to public areas, i,e, phone poles, sides of buildings, etc. I can’t explain the terminology, before my time. [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/7155/6446407441_558ba44903_b.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/7155/6446407441_558ba44903_b.jpg) Why, what has Bill done? ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/9 "2024-11-16T20:27:04Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > It means don’t fasten/glue posters to public areas, i,e, phone poles, sides of buildings, etc. I can’t explain the terminology, before my time. Thanks. I was thinking of dollar bills; probably would have assumed it meant you mustn’t mail cash. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/10 "2024-11-16T20:27:42Z")
Why does my pillow(feather) have a zipper? I ain’t opening that. Plus, the zipper bugs me. It has to be correct in the pillow case. Zipper in first. Or I feel it. The raw metal. Middle of the night. Disconcerting. Ok, ok. I know it’s to add down if they get flat. So why do the feathers go away…where do they go? Do they disenigrate into feather powder? Seeping out, I breath. Now I have feather leavings in my lungs. I’ve had these pillows 20+ years. Just think of what’s in my lungs. Am I down-filled? Am I gonna fluff up? Egads. I’m afraid this question may not be silly, after all. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/11 "2024-11-16T20:30:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > So why do the feathers go away…where do they go? What happens is that the spiky ends of the feathers poke out of the pillow, and every so often I pluck all these out. So satisfying! But it does deflate the pillow over time. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/12 "2024-11-16T20:33:50Z")
Ooh. I’d like to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/13 "2024-11-16T20:38:12Z")
How can you be at two places at once when you are not anywhere at all? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/14 "2024-11-16T21:12:54Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Why, what has Bill done? This led to a rash of posters saying “Bill Stickers is innocent.” ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/15 "2024-11-16T21:16:36Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Okay, how exactly does Congress post a Road? The answer is that the roads were for the use of the Postal Service. What will happen if you remove the "do not remove under penalty of law) from bedding? ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/16 "2024-11-16T21:36:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Am I gonna fluff up? Do Not get in the dryer. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/17 "2024-11-16T21:36:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > > > Okay, how exactly does Congress post a Road? > > What will happen if you remove the "do not remove under penalty of law) from bedding? Nothing. Thats a warning for those selling the matress. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/18 "2024-11-16T21:44:44Z")
When I was a child I misread that tag as “do not remove this tag under plenty of law”. I couldn’t quite figure it out, but I thought it must mean that you would need to find a whole lot of laws justifying your action if you were to dare to remove the tag. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/19 "2024-11-16T22:09:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What will happen if you remove the "do not remove under penalty of law) from bedding Note that the full sentence is “Under penalty of law, this tag is not to be removed _except by consumer_” (emphasis mine) if you bought it, there’s no problem, you’re the consumer. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2024, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321/20 "2024-11-16T22:21:48Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > In the 1980s having newly arrived in the US, I asked why there was a prohibition on posting bills. Related: What did Bill Posters do? (“Bill Posters will be prosecuted”). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-silly-question/1010321.md?page=2)