# Very, very minor mysteries **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241 "2006-10-04T14:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/21 "2006-10-04T16:43:12Z")
For many years (long after the airline went bankrupt and folded), and hangar building at Boston’s Logan Airport had a big lit PANAM sign. The sign was always lit at night-God knows why. Now, the PANAM name belongs to a small regioanl airline (headquartered in Manchester, NH). But i have no idea why the sign remained on the building (and lit at night) for all those years. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/22 "2006-10-04T16:50:37Z")
[QUOTE=hajario] Could the other two Es have come from the other side of the sign? [/QUOTE] I hadn’t considered that, but it’s possible. It still doesn’t explain why the joker didn’t just remove the W, A and T letters so that both sides had the same amusing headline. Does the amusement value of being “beer smart” increase with each additional vowel? ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/23 "2006-10-04T16:59:05Z")
[QUOTE=cher3] There’s a woman I often see around our neighborhood who is something of a mystery to me. She is in her upper 50’s at least, but dresses like a hooker—mini skirt, skimpy top, ultra high heels. Okay, it’s a fashion choice, but the mysterious part is what she is doing around here. It’s a residential neighborhood, middle class shading into upper middle. There are a few businesses (veterinarian, gas station mini mart, old-lady type beauty salons) but nowhere that would likely allow her to work there dressed that way. I’ve seen her arriving and leaving by bus, so I don’t think she lives here. I see her walking around at least once a week, though. Where does she go and what does she do? [/QUOTE] Are you sure that she’s _not_ a hooker? We had one of those “mystery businesses” near the University of Detroit when I went to college there. It appeared to be a clothing shop that sold African-style clothing – the type of thing you might wear to a Bob Marley concert. In four years of going to school there, I saw exactly _one_ person go into that shop. You never saw anyone wearing their clothing, either. I seriously think it was a front for drug dealers. There’s no way they could have sold enough clothing to pay the rent on their (rather large) store. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/24 "2006-10-04T16:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] Does the amusement value of being “beer smart” increase with each additional vowel? [/QUOTE] Sure, if you think hearing Homer Simpson say, “Beeeer” is funny! ---
**Author:** ![Emilio\_Lizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/25 "2006-10-04T17:00:10Z")
The cafeteria in Childrens Medical Center in Washington DC has an ATM from the Maryland State Employees Credit Union, one of only 3 of 4 I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine anyone working at a hospital in DC is an employee of the state of Maryland. I live a block from a high school, so my street has zoned parking to keep the kids from parking there. All up and down the street, at 100 foot intervals, are signs saying “permit required 8AM to 6PM.” Except for the one sign right in front of my house, which says “permit required 6AM to 6PM.” Always wondered if that was a typo or what? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/26 "2006-10-04T17:08:53Z")
Damn. The Hamsters ate my post. And the story of a mysterious appearance of an Eastern Box Turtle the size of a softball in my garage will now forever be a mystery. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/27 "2006-10-04T17:08:54Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] Are you sure that she’s _not_ a hooker? [/QUOTE] Well, not _absolutely_. I did entertain the idea that maybe she was some old guy’s paid companion or something. If she is a hooker, though, she’s picked a pretty unpromising neighborhood. If I saw her standing around on a street corner in a different sort of neighborhood I might buy it, but she never is just standing around. She walks around–in the sort of area where the only daytime traffic she’s likely to meet are moms on the way to soccer practice. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/28 "2006-10-04T17:10:29Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] I hadn’t considered that, but it’s possible. It still doesn’t explain why the joker didn’t just remove the W, A and T letters so that both sides had the same amusing headline. Does the amusement value of being “beer smart” increase with each additional vowel? [/QUOTE] The other side now says “Brat warms twat”. They used the extra Es because they are nice vandals and didn’t want to throw away letters. And thanks for the compliment, **The King of Soup**. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/29 "2006-10-04T17:13:09Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] For many years (long after the airline went bankrupt and folded), and hangar building at Boston’s Logan Airport had a big lit PANAM sign. The sign was always lit at night-God knows why. Now, the PANAM name belongs to a small regioanl airline (headquartered in Manchester, NH). But i have no idea why the sign remained on the building (and lit at night) for all those years. [/QUOTE] Probably because a)The light was either on a timer, or on all the time, and b)After PamAm went bankrupt they didn’t bother to call and pay someone to take the sign down. If the hangar was owned by the airport, they would continue to pay the electrical bills until a new tenant came along. ---
**Author:** ![934spe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90db22/32.png) [@934spe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/934spe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/30 "2006-10-04T17:16:37Z")
I just want to know where the fuck my dryer keeps putting the socks?.. I mean, in the last year, I have lost probably close to 5 pairs of socks… That is 10 fucking socks!!! I put them in, but then they don’t make it back out… Really now… Does the clothes dryer companies have a thing with the sock manufactures in order to sell more socks?.. WTF??? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/31 "2006-10-04T17:39:24Z")
Around the office here about 6 months ago, someone put up dozens of corrugated signs on poles reading “RESUME’S - 555-1234”. For a long time I wondered how someone who’s single intended job is to write stuff for people managed to screw up the _one word_ on their ad. (I kept meaning to phone and tell them, but never got around to it). Yesterday I noticed some of the signs were gone, and there’s a different one reading “RÉSUMÉ - 555-4321”. I wonder if it’s the same guy and he wants to avoid any possible problem, or if it’s a new person who wants to distinguish themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/32 "2006-10-04T17:41:45Z")
[QUOTE=Mr Bus Guy] Why does that one house have a mid-70’s light blue Olds Delta Cruiser parked baqcked into it’s driveway, and why does it never move? [/QUOTE] Because my son can’t afford to plate it yet (besides he doesn’t have his license yet) and there’s no where else to park it! We bought it for him as a 16th birthday present! We knew the guy who owned it and we got it for a steal! Jeez. Nosy assed neighbors!! Wait - my son’s is an 85 Lincoln Continental. Sorry. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/33 "2006-10-04T17:44:38Z")
How is it the cat knows exactly WHICH word I am reading when he decides to come and sit on the book/newspaper/magazine I’m interested in at that moment? And while I’m at it, how did cat hair get INSIDE my drawer? It’s the TOP DRAWER. The cats can’t even get up there, much less open it (since they have no opposable thumbs). ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/34 "2006-10-04T17:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=cher3] Well, not _absolutely_ If I saw her standing around on a street corner in a different sort of neighborhood I might buy it [/QUOTE] :eek: 😃 Sorry. My daily mystery was this giant cement block that sat in the middle of our street for 8 months or so. It was hollow, about 7 ft to each side and it just sat in the middle of a road that was blocked off and under construction. I must’ve thought of three hundred things you could do with that concrete square before someone told me that apparently they put them underground and run plumbing or wiring through them for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/35 "2006-10-04T18:04:46Z")
[QUOTE=Improv Geek] On a road I travel quite frequently, there is a laundromat service and without fail they are wishing someone happy birthday every day on the west side of the sign. The name changes but it is always a “happy birthday [blank]” and at first I thought it was cool, then as it went on and on for months on end I began wondering. Are the names up there staff? Friends of staff? Customers? Random names? Secret messages? Nazi propoganda codes? [/QUOTE] They might ‘sell’ the Happy Birthday spot for $25 or so. There’s a business near me that does that - you can rent the sign for a day or two, and put up whatever message you want. Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, I think there’s been a couple of marriage proposals, too. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/36 "2006-10-04T18:09:20Z")
[QUOTE=Shecky] How is it the cat knows exactly WHICH word I am reading when he decides to come and sit on the book/newspaper/magazine I’m interested in at that moment? And while I’m at it, how did cat hair get INSIDE my drawer? It’s the TOP DRAWER. The cats can’t even get up there, much less open it (since they have no opposable thumbs). [/QUOTE] Oooh, I can answer these too. I’m pretty sure cats are good at figuring out _what_ you’re focusing on by watching your eyes. I can even see this being a good skill to have in the wild, if you’re trying to figure out if your prey has seen you. The drawer thing: cats can climb up the back of the drawers. I had a cat that would do this. The drawers didn’t go all the way to the back of the chest and there wasn’t a cover below the bottom drawer. So my cat (when he was young, skinny, and agile) would squeeze up through the back side and find a comfy, closed drawer to snooze in. Which was really annoying because of the cat hair on the clothes issue… ---
**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:** [October 4, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/37 "2006-10-04T18:14:03Z")
I did a thread several weeks back on minor mysteries I pass onm my way to work. One still stands out as overwhelmingly weird – there’s this tiny house on a corner I pass every day. The owner has gone to a great deal of trouble to build a high stone wall completely around the back yard, partially engulfing the house. This is NOT a professional stone wall – it’s a clumsy, ill-looking yet strong piece of work by an obvious amateur. Then, to make things even weirder, he’s stuck cameras on top of this wall. Five of them. All looking inwards at odd angles. What the hell has he got in there? Why is he protecting it so fiercely? Does Jamie Gumm have a place in the suburbs of Boston? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/38 "2006-10-04T18:30:05Z")
**Cal** – yeah, I remember that thread. That’s not “very, very minor,” though – it’s seriously weird. Just sayin’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/39 "2006-10-04T18:38:07Z")
Who is Mahmoud \ and why did thirty or forty nearly-identical official-looking letters to him suddenly appear piled on top of and around the mailbox in the lobby of my apartment building a few months ago? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/40 "2006-10-04T19:10:18Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] What the hell has he got in there? Why is he protecting it so fiercely? Does Jamie Gumm have a place in the suburbs of Boston? [/QUOTE] Don’t know about the other thread, but [Google Earth](http://earth.google.com/) (and even [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Boston,+MA&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=42.358334,-71.060278&spn=0.001159,0.003173&t=k&om=1)) has some seriously good resolution for most large cities in most 1st world countries. An easy way to take a peek! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241.md?page=3)