# Obvious things about real life you realize after the millionth time **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 9, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352 "2016-03-09T00:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/81 "2016-03-10T16:51:33Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > If your GF is Viola you’ve something more in common w/ ThelmaLou. > > … I celebrate the simplicity of my bed sheet arrangement with some scales on the [viola](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mehFI1qtX04). Doesn’t everyone?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/82 "2016-03-10T16:54:24Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > And Social Security Numbers start with any number **except** 9 (those are reserved for ITINs). There are of course some which are excluded within the range, like 666. Also, the first three digits give you a clue about where the person was born/registered. That last part isn’t true anymore. The first two digits used to indicate the state in which you were born, but they changed that somewhere between three and five years ago ( My five year old son has the same first two digits as me, my three year old son does not). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/83 "2016-03-10T19:18:13Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > That last part isn’t true anymore. The first two digits used to indicate the state in which you were born, but they changed that somewhere between three and five years ago ( My five year old son has the same first two digits as me, my three year old son does not). I didn’t say that all SSNs in some state start with 12x. 123 could be Minnesota while 124 is somewhere in New Jersey for all I know. But if someone has the same first 3 as you, odds are that they are from the same general area. For example, it looks like even back in the day (1982), Arizona used 526-527 (among others), while Utah used 528-529. Same first two digits even then. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/84 "2016-03-10T19:30:47Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > If your GF is Viola you’ve something more in common w/ ThelmaLou. > > I realized today, aged nearly 46, that my birthday is always the same day of the week as Xmas. Has always been. I never twigged to it till today and I \*\*look \*\*for coincidences like that so it ought to have been obvious to me well before now. So is mine. It’s also on the same day of the week as New Year’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/85 "2016-03-10T19:46:08Z")
OK, is someone going to tell me what the by-God thing is with the arrow on my fuel gauge already?!?!?! ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/86 "2016-03-10T20:06:37Z")
It points to which side of the car your tank is on, so you know how to pull up to a gas pump. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/87 "2016-03-10T20:14:14Z")
> [@storyteller0910](#): > > OK, is someone going to tell me what the by-God thing is with the arrow on my fuel gauge already?!?!?! Next to the little image of a gas pump on your fuel guage there is a little arrow telling you which side of the car the gas port is on, I presume? ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/88 "2016-03-10T20:47:50Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > It will get to any borough if you address it to New York, NY with the correct area code, but the custom is “New York, NY” for Manhattan, “Bronx” , “Brooklyn” or “Staten Island” NY for those boroughs and the neighborhood/post office name for Queens. Even [USPS](https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input?longitude=-73.860889&state=NY&address2=&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B(800-275-8777)&address1=8642+FOREST+PKWY&locationName=WOODHAVEN&locationTypeQ=all&locationID=1388182&city=WOODHAVEN&radius=20&latitude=40.6923238&zip5=11421&locationType=po&zip4=9997&address=11599) does it that way. Oh my gosh!!! That explains it. I have a family member who has lived in Queens, and every time I sent a thank you card to Flushing I would think to myself, “Huh, I always thought she lived in Queens.” ---
**Author:** ![HipGnosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/76d3ee/32.png) [@HipGnosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HipGnosis)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/89 "2016-03-10T21:03:25Z")
I’m ashamed to say how old I was when I realized that ‘Beatles’ was a play on the word ‘beat’ (as in; he’s got the beat) rather than a generic name of a type of insect. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/90 "2016-03-10T21:41:34Z")
> [@HipGnosis](#): > > I’m ashamed to say how old I was when I realized that ‘Beatles’ was a play on the word ‘beat’ (as in; he’s got the beat) rather than a generic name of a type of insect. Damn, I spent the last 15 minutes reading this thread and was just going to post the exact same thing. Also the Beatles also wanted their name to be similar to Buddy Holly and the Crickets. And the Turtles were some other crawly things. I always thought the Rolling Stones were a variation of the phrase “Rock and Roll” ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/91 "2016-03-10T22:02:47Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I didn’t say that all SSNs in some state start with 12x. 123 could be Minnesota while 124 is somewhere in New Jersey for all I know. But if someone has the same first 3 as you, odds are that they are from the same general area. > > For example, it looks like even back in the day (1982), Arizona used 526-527 (among others), while Utah used 528-529. Same first two digits even then. You were correct, it was the first three digits (not two) that indicated the geographical area. However, as I said, that is no longer true for new SSNs. > [@](#): > > On June 25, 2011, the SSA changed the SSN assignment process to “SSN randomization”.SSN randomization affects the SSN assignment process in the following ways: > > ``` > It eliminates the geographical significance of the first three digits of the SSN, previously referred to as the Area Number, by no longer allocating the Area Numbers for assignment to individuals in specific states." > > ``` Social Security Administration ---
**Author:** ![Saro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Saro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saro)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/92 "2016-03-10T22:38:36Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Growing up along the Pacific Coast I was in college before I realized zip codes can start out with a digit other than 9. Hah! Me too. I had to move to New York State before I figured it out. My new zip code started with a 1! ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/93 "2016-03-11T00:08:22Z")
“I’m turning Japanese, I think I’m turning Japanese, I really think so” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/94 "2016-03-11T01:30:07Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > You were correct, it was the first three digits (not two) that indicated the geographical area. However, as I said, that is no longer true for new SSNs. Social Security Administration Thanks. So then is the rest of the number the same? Last four are sequential (I think?) within the semi-sequential group of the middle 2 digits? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/95 "2016-03-11T02:41:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Thanks for the insight. That’s so beyond stupid it wouldn’t have occurred to me. Sheets are used as a set and therefore are stored together as a set. . . . . In our house, the sheets are stacked with the top and bottom together. We can get 3 or 4 sets in each pile. The pillowcases are stacked separately, but with matching ones together, because the cupboard is only wide enough for two piles of sheets and one pile of pillow cases. It’s nice to have them all on the same shelf. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/96 "2016-03-11T06:04:45Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Lemme guess: your birthday is after Feb 29th. Indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/97 "2016-03-11T11:51:40Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > And they both mean “Adore theo,” or, the deity. You’re probably mis-remembering Amadeus, or “God’s Love”. Same as Gottlieb. And Theophilus. Dore or Dora as a prefix or suffix means “gift”, so Pandora is “all gifts” and Theodore is “God’s gift”. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/98 "2016-03-11T13:59:51Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > You’re probably mis-remembering Amadeus, or “God’s Love”. Same as Gottlieb. And Theophilus. Dore or Dora as a prefix or suffix means “gift”, so Pandora is “all gifts” and Theodore is “God’s gift”. Nope. Just an honest mistake. I had a grandfather named Theodore, and he always thought it came from the Greek word for a deity, “theos,” and the Latin “adorare,” love, from which we get the word “adore.” I never looked it up. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/99 "2016-03-11T14:55:45Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Nope. Just an honest mistake. I had a grandfather named Theodore, and he always thought it came from the Greek word for a deity, “theos,” and the Latin “adorare,” love, from which we get the word “adore.” > > I never looked it up. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Latin \*adorare \*comes from the Greek for gift, to wit: worship involving gifts to God (burnt offerings, etc., not to mix too many cultures…) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352/100 "2016-03-11T15:12:31Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Also, monkeys know how to peel bananas properly… Not according to Kirk Cameron. Then again, monkeys are athiests. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-real-life-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time/748352.md?page=6)