# Trick Questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2005, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851 "2005-01-21T02:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![iwakura43](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de0a6/32.png) [@iwakura43](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iwakura43)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/221 "2005-01-28T13:46:53Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Why do (ordinary flat) mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? Because the concepts “up” and “down” are defined relative to a fixed surface, namely, the ground. Whereas left and right are always relative to where you are–there is no universal “left” or “right.” ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/222 "2005-01-28T14:22:34Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > So if you tilt your head to the left or right while looking in a mirror, you find up and down are reversed, do you? So if I write a word backwards and then find I can read it correctly in the mirror (“red rum…red rum…”) if i then turn it then turn it sideways I can’t read it anymore?? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/223 "2005-01-28T14:30:49Z")
This year has been the shortest year, of course. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/224 "2005-01-28T15:31:13Z")
The only thing a mirror changes is your perspective. You are _viewing the image from its “back side”_. Consider a sign painted on a window. Viewed as intended, from the outside, you see the normal perspective. Viewed from behind, you see its “mirror image.” So, when you stare at your mug in the mirror, what you are seeing is the back side of the image hitting the mirror. Could you freeze that image, walk around to the other side of the mirror and look at the image, it would appear normal. So, no one gonna venture the state in which the Wichita Mountains are located? I feel so neglected. . . . ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LucyInDisguise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucyindisguise/32/18064_2.png) [@LucyInDisguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LucyInDisguise)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/225 "2005-01-28T15:36:03Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > ::sigh:: These things are never simple. > > … In which state are the Wichita Mountains located? Oklahoma (For someone born at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, they ain’t much to look at, though …) Okay – Here we go … Florence Henderson portrayed the mother of ‘3 very lovely girls’ who all became a part of TV’s _The Brady Bunch_. What did she do for a living? ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/226 "2005-01-28T16:18:56Z")
> [@LucyInDisguise](#): > > (For someone born at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, they ain’t much to look at, though …) True. But they beat the heck out of the highest point in Kansas, Mount Sunflower, which is just a high spot in some guys’ pasture. Mrs. Brady worked?? ---
**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:** [January 28, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/227 "2005-01-28T17:21:13Z")
> [@klintypooh](#): > > I’m gonna go for the obvious and say they have all been the same? > > Excluding leap years. 😕 Once upon a time New Year’s Day was, erm March 1st (I think.) So, when they decided to move it to Jan 1st, that year only had 10 months. Dunno which year that was, though. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/228 "2005-01-28T18:33:30Z")
March 25. England and her colonies made the change about 1752. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/229 "2005-01-28T18:39:44Z")
> [@LucyInDisguise](#): > > Florence Henderson portrayed the mother of ‘3 very lovely girls’ who all became a part of TV’s _The Brady Bunch_. What did she do for a living? Why, Ms. Henderson was an actress, of course. You just told us. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![klintypooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@klintypooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klintypooh)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/230 "2005-01-28T18:47:08Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > Once upon a time New Year’s Day was, erm March 1st (I think.) So, when they decided to move it to Jan 1st, that year only had 10 months. Dunno which year that was, though. Considering New Year’s Day is my b’day, I should have known that. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LucyInDisguise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucyindisguise/32/18064_2.png) [@LucyInDisguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LucyInDisguise)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/231 "2005-01-28T19:11:29Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Why, Ms. Henderson was an actress, of course. You just told us. 😛 For most of her career, actually … Okay, so some people do pay attention … 😃 :: 😉 at **BJMoose** :: Now that we’ve done the warm up, try this one: From the 1997 movie, _The Fifth Element_, give Leeloo’s full name [spelling counts] – and give the name of the actress that portrayed her. (Extra credit if you don’t have to peek … ) ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/232 "2005-01-28T23:29:44Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Why do (ordinary flat) mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? Look in a mirror. Your right eye, is still on the right, your left eye is still on the left. You are expecting it to reverse, but it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/233 "2005-01-28T23:55:58Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > Why do (ordinary flat) mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? It doesn’t do either. It reverses front to back ie perpendicular to the mirrors surface. The fact that left and right are derived relative to the front-back direction leads to the illusion of left and right being reversed but if you were to point at an object to your left on a plane with the mirror, your mirror immage would also be pointing towards the same object, it is pointing in the same direction. If a plane flying from France to England crashes over the english channel, and all the recovered dead bodies are mangled beyond recognition, where do they bury the survivors? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/234 "2005-01-29T00:09:50Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > If a plane flying from France to England crashes over the english channel, and all the recovered dead bodies are mangled beyond recognition, where do they bury the survivors? The \*survivors \* may object somewhat to their being buried. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/235 "2005-01-29T00:18:42Z")
> [@BJMoose](#): > > England and her colonies made the change about 1752. When 11 days were removed from the calendar, leaving a year of 355 days. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/236 "2005-01-29T02:06:40Z")
Using a privilege granted in 1964, both members of a married couple rise, one after the other, to address the U.S. Senate. Who are they, and why can they? ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/237 "2005-01-29T03:41:49Z")
> [@Iceland\_Blue](#): > > Which has been the shortest year in England since the birth of Christ? The year he was born, I would assume. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/238 "2005-01-29T10:52:02Z")
It was 1752…Not only did we lose 11 days carelessly down the back of the sofa, New Year’s Day altered from March 25 to January 1. Now… What is the maximum possible break in snooker? In which season is A Midsummer Night’s Dream set? How many cities is Budapest made up of? Why did Adolf Hitler not greet certain athletes during the Berlin Olympics? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/239 "2005-01-29T11:24:52Z")
> [@Iceland\_Blue](#): > > Now… > What is the maximum possible break in snooker? 147 if you don’t factor in the possibility of fouls. 155 if you do. ---
**Author:** ![Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71c47a/32.png) [@Torgo\_ate\_my\_hamster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo_ate_my_hamster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851/240 "2005-01-29T11:28:06Z")
> [@Iceland\_Blue](#): > > How many cities is Budapest made up of? Two. Budim and Pesta. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trick-questions/285851.md?page=13)