# It frightens me that people don't know these things **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207 "2003-06-25T03:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/341 "2003-07-18T18:35:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Baker \* > \*\*I can do that, and in alphabetical order too, thanks to a stupid song I had to learn in junior high, “The Fifty Nifty United States.” \*\* A fellower sufferer. Fifty Nifty United States, from thirteen original colonies… ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/342 "2003-07-18T20:23:03Z")
My father STILL thinks that if your car has electric windows, and if they’re down with the engine off, you have to start the engine again to raise them back up… ---
**Author:** ![LauraLittlePony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LauraLittlePony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LauraLittlePony)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/343 "2003-07-18T20:54:17Z")
I think we need a “Fifty Nifty” support group. I learned it; my brother learned it 7 years later. We sang it sometimes when we were bored and/or obnoxious. Once vacation my mom decided to learn it so she’d know the states in order, but she barely got to Hawaii before she heard us sing the whole thing for fun and decided it was too long. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/344 "2003-07-18T21:16:15Z")
I never learned the Fifty Nifty. But both my kids did, and they can still repeat it now (as college students). Score one for the public school system! Me? I learned this at Boy Scout camp, and have never forgotten it. Repeat after me… One duck. One duck. Two hens. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. Five corpulent porpoises. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. Five corpulent porpoises. Six pairs of John Alverzo’s tweezers. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. Five corpulent porpoises. Six pairs of John Alverzo’s tweezers. Seven thousand Macedonians in full battle array. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. Five corpulent porpoises. Six pairs of John Alverzo’s tweezers. Seven thousand Macedonians in full battle array. Eight brass monkeys from the ancient sacred crypts of Egypt. One duck. Two hens. Three squawking geese. Four limerick oysters. Five corpulent porpoises. Six pairs of John Alverzo’s tweezers. Seven thousand Macedonians in full battle array. Eight brass monkeys from the ancient sacred crypts of Egypt. Nine sympathetic, diabetic old men on roller skates with a marked propensity toward procrastination and sloth. Hmmmm. Forgot ten. Something about quays… (… if this isn’t a thread-killer post, I don’t know what is…) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/345 "2003-07-18T23:12:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nichol\_storm \* > \*\*. > > I hate cursive on principle, and in the many years since elementary school have managed to forget all of it except what letters I need to write my name. > > \*\* Yes, and this is one of the stupidest thing we teach. Right after the kids learn to print, the teachers get onto “real writing”, which has been shown to impede reading & writing skills & comprehension. All cursive is is CALLIGRAPHY dammit, an dit sould be an elective in High School. Useless. Algernon- what does “one duck” help one remember? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/346 "2003-07-18T23:45:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minor7flat5 \* > \*\*Cut the poor girl some slack, why don’t you? > > I grew up in Ann Arbor and never saw a single lightning bug throughout my childhood. I grew up looking at those cute storybook illustrations of gangs of little boys running after big fat glowing lightning bugs, jar poised, but I never actually saw one. I grew up in Houston and I never saw one either. > [@](#): > > They are definitely cool insects. The only time I don’t like them is when I run into one that is not lit – their body weight is similar to wasps and other icky things, so there is a moment of panic before the silly thing lights up and identifies itself as a harmless lightning bug. \*\* Little do you know… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/347 "2003-07-18T23:58:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iaboy12 \* > \*\* > > I had to find cites once to prove to a piano player that his instrument is often considered a percussion instrument. > > \*\* I have to take issue with this… there may be some technical classifications in which a piano is considered a percussion instrument, but in general usage, someone who is a percussionist for, say, an orchestra, will not play the piano as part of their general percussionizing. The piano is generally referred to as a “keyboard” instrument. (It is true, however, that many percussionists play chimes, glockenspiel, xylophone, and other instruments which have a keyboard-like layout but which involve hitting things with mallets or sticks…) ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/348 "2003-07-19T00:00:39Z")
IIRC from my music classes, a percussion instrument is struck (as opposed to blown). A piano would certainly qualify, since you have to strike its keys to make a note. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/349 "2003-07-19T00:09:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FisherQueen \* > \*\*IIRC from my music classes, a percussion instrument is struck (as opposed to blown). A piano would certainly qualify, since you have to strike its keys to make a note. \*\* Not only that, but striking the keys causes the strings inside the piano to be struck–that’s what makes them sound. So it is a percussion instrument, operated by a keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/350 "2003-07-19T01:17:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > \*\*Algernon- what does “one duck” help one remember? 😕 \*\* Ummm . . . how to count to ten? ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/351 "2003-07-19T02:18:06Z")
“Ten lyrical, spherical, diabolic denizens of the deep who all swim around the quo of the quay of the quivy at same time.” Oh – and it’s Don Alphonso’s tweezers, not John Alverzo (at least, that’s how it was in the version I learned). This wasn’t a menemonic – just a silly memory exercise. Barry ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/352 "2003-07-19T08:18:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bren\_Cameron \* > \*\*Not only that, but striking the keys causes the strings inside the piano to be struck–that’s what makes them sound. So it is a percussion instrument, operated by a keyboard. \*\* While perfectly true, that is not at all the point. One could also argue that a piano is a string instrument, because it has strings. That doesn’t put it in the same category as a violin. Similarly, one could attempt to classify an organ as a wind instrument, because the sound that comes from it comes out of pipes. But that doesn’t mean that the wind section consists of brass, single reeds, double reeds, and organs. In real life, in practical situations, the piano is a keyboard instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/353 "2003-07-19T11:14:58Z")
A previous thread on the piano debate can be read [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=178491), but under the current ([Hornbostel-Sachs](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornbostel-Sachs)) classification system the piano is a _chordophone_, in the same category as zithers and dulcimers (which are also struck). ---
**Author:** ![Eli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Eli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eli)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/354 "2003-07-19T12:17:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by labtrash \* > \*\*My father STILL thinks that if your car has electric windows, and if they’re down with the engine off, you have to start the engine again to raise them back up… \*\* Ummm. That’s how it works in my car. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/355 "2003-07-19T12:42:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MaxTheVool \* > \*\*While perfectly true, that is not at all the point. One could also argue that a piano is a string instrument, because it has strings. That doesn’t put it in the same category as a violin. \*\* It does if you bow it. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000R48/qid%3D1058618973/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr\_11\_1/002-9417531-3552803](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000R48/qid%3D1058618973/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-9417531-3552803) As jr8’s links point out, classifying the piano isn’t as simple as saying, “Well, it’s a keyboard instrument.” It is, indeed a percussion instrument, and it’s certainly a string instrument, and it’s certainly operated by a keyboard. It’s all of those things, and no one of them is the “right” answer. None of them is “wrong” either. > [@](#): > > \*\*Similarly, one could attempt to classify an organ as a wind instrument, because the sound that comes from it comes out of pipes. But that doesn’t mean that the wind section consists of brass, single reeds, double reeds, and organs. > \*\* It makes perfect sense to classify the organ as a wind instrument. The reason organs aren’t in the orchestra’s wind section are historical, and don’t mean the organ isn’t actually a wind. In real life, practical situations there isn’t only one way to approach the question. If you’re looking at the skills needed to play an instrument–keyboard skills vs. a wind embrasure and fingering, say–“keyboard” makes a very practical category. If you’re looking at the way the instrument produces the sound, it’s not helpful at all. Both approaches have a practical use. ---
**Author:** ![fd10801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e5b9ba/32.png) [@fd10801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fd10801)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/356 "2003-07-19T17:10:41Z")
There is a way to simply turn the key in the “ON” position… This allows electricity to flow… Everything will run: A/C, Radio. and window… ---
**Author:** ![dal\_timgar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@dal\_timgar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dal_timgar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/357 "2003-07-19T20:35:59Z")
That planned obsolescence is going on in the automobile industry. That our economists are ignoring the depreciation of all those automobiles. That the US killed 1,000,000+ Vietnamese defending capitalist economists that can’t do grammar school algebra. Dal Timgar ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/358 "2003-07-19T20:45:45Z")
Hey! I can do grammar school algebra! I can’t do middle school algebra, but I can do grammar school algebra… ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/359 "2003-07-19T22:40:48Z")
From last night’s dinner at the Cactus Club: Melia turns to everyone and says: “Did you guys know hot dogs are made of _pork_?!?” We all looked at her strangely and said yes. Turns out she thought they were made of beef… at least, until the discussion they were somehow having on the subject in Bible Study last night. (yes, there ARE chicken dogs and veggie dogs… she was talking about the general kind of hor dogs) F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207/360 "2003-07-19T22:43:54Z")
And of course, I meant “ **hot** dogs” there. Not trying to say that there’s a special kind called a “whore dog” or anything. :eek: (oh sure… I can catch the coding error, but not the misspelling… :smack: ) F\_X [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-frightens-me-that-people-dont-know-these-things/184207.md?page=19)