# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Surok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@Surok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surok)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/41 "2006-10-04T19:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] 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. [/QUOTE] \ I read, in Joe Queenan’s books, among other places, that 555 is not a valid prefix. Which is why authors and movie script writers always use it, to prevent some nut-job from dialling the number that they see on the page/ on screen, and bugging a real person. Maybe your advertiser, in addition to being illiterate, has some private reasons for posting these ads? \ ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/42 "2006-10-04T21:14:32Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] 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. [/QUOTE] Either way, he should stop using those fake telephone numbers. ---
**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, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/43 "2006-10-04T21:37:04Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] Either way, he should stop using those fake telephone numbers. [/QUOTE] No doubt, huh. :dubious: I’ll call him after work and let him know. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/44 "2006-10-05T01:50:15Z")
There’s this restaurant in Glendale, right across from the Galleria parking lot. I usually see them grilling stuff out back, and it smells pretty good, but _every time I’ve been there_ there’s been a sign saying the entire restaurant is reserved that night for a private party. Is it ever open to the public? Can restaurants really stay in business doing nothing but private parties? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/45 "2006-10-05T02:11:05Z")
[QUOTE=Surok] \ I read, in Joe Queenan’s books, among other places, that 555 is not a valid prefix. Which is why authors and movie script writers always use it, to prevent some nut-job from dialling the number that they see on the page/ on screen, and bugging a real person. Maybe your advertiser, in addition to being illiterate, has some private reasons for posting these ads? \ [/QUOTE] I think they used the 555 prefix to avoid giving out the actual number, for the same reasons you just outlined. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/46 "2006-10-05T02:27:43Z")
**CalMeacham,** I not only remember your thread but passed by a similar house not long after reading it. This wall was in front of the house, however, solidly encompassing the small yard to the height of 8 or 9 feet. However, the craftsmanship was excellent! I was alternately impressed with how well it was built and repelled by the ominous dark grey of both the rocks and the mortar. The house itself was an unimposing middle-class white-clapboard jobbie. I didn’t note any cameras about. I hope I can go by it again this weekend to get another look at it. What could they possibly do behind that wall? ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/47 "2006-10-05T08:21:24Z")
Only a very minor mystery at the moment, but [with pretentions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388278) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/48 "2006-10-05T08:49:30Z")
[QUOTE=grimpixie] Only a very minor mystery at the moment, but [with pretentions](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=388278) 😉 [/QUOTE] Mwuhahaha! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/49 "2006-10-05T08:52:44Z")
BTW, I have a (different) minor mystery; I drove past a smallish private lake the other day; it has been stocked for leisure fishing and there were all sorts of notices up about how to obtain permits, but also a sign saying “nets to be dipped before and after fishing” I presume this is talking about keep nets or landing nets, and I can imagine that wetting them at the start of a session might make them better at safely handling the fish, but I still don’t really get it. What does it mean? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/50 "2006-10-05T09:15:50Z")
I’m working 2nd shift right now, get off work at midnight. It’s a 32 mile commute. (I know what you’re thinking, how can **I** get a dream job like that? :rolleyes: ) Why do people, at 12:30ish in the morning, on a straight stretch of highway, very remote, very unpatrolled, very speedilicious, STILL insist on doing 2 miles under the speed limit? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/51 "2006-10-05T10:07:26Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] I’m working 2nd shift right now, get off work at midnight. It’s a 32 mile commute. (I know what you’re thinking, how can **I** get a dream job like that? :rolleyes: ) Why do people, at 12:30ish in the morning, on a straight stretch of highway, very remote, very unpatrolled, very speedilicious, STILL insist on doing 2 miles under the speed limit? [/QUOTE] Because they’re all alone on the road and if they get caught in a speed trap (which might be there, despite the remote location and unearthly hour), there is no chance of them blending in with the crowd, and there is no possibility of pleading that they were matching speed with the flow of traffic. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/52 "2006-10-05T12:49:44Z")
Don’t be silly, **Mangetout** – it’s because they’re trying to _piss him off_. Went by my book warehouse and saw the orange car again this morning – it’s a much less interesting experience now that I know there’s a simple explanation for its presence. ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/53 "2006-10-05T12:59:16Z")
I drive a lot during the day since I’m a dog walker. There is a stretch of road connecting the two main towns where I service customers that is sort of a side road – not a main highway. Nearly EVERY single time I’m going down this back route, there is an older Asian man with a white mohawk dressed in a very nice gray suit walking very purposefully down the road. I’ve seen him in both directions, whether the weather is dripping hot or freezing, he’s always in the same gray suit on this road. Where is he going? Why the gray suit? This blows my mind. ---
**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 5, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/54 "2006-10-05T13:16:33Z")
**Tikki** writes: > [@](#): > > CalMeacham, I not only remember your thread but passed by a similar house not long after reading it. This wall was in front of the house, however, solidly encompassing the small yard to the height of 8 or 9 feet. However, the craftsmanship was excellent! I was alternately impressed with how well it was built and repelled by the ominous dark grey of both the rocks and the mortar. The house itself was an unimposing middle-class white-clapboard jobbie. I didn’t note any cameras about. > > I hope I can go by it again this weekend to get another look at it. What could they possibly do behind that wall? The house I pass has also built a wal in front, but it’s not encompassing. The wall in back is, and even wraps around the house a bit before trailing off in an unlovely ragged edge. The house itself isn’t merely unimposing, it’s _tiny_. But they put all that effort into the wall. What gives? And the cameras are very visible, looming above the walls. But they’re above the back walls (which are nonetheless eaasily visible. The house isn’t merely on a corner, it’s on a sharp-angled corner of less that 90 degrees), so you won’;t see thenm if you only look at the front. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/55 "2006-10-05T13:17:33Z")
Androids are unaffected by heat or cold. ---
**Author:** ![AmbushBug](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ambushbug/32/4600_2.png) [@AmbushBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmbushBug)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/56 "2006-10-05T14:58:53Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] there were all sorts of notices up about how to obtain permits, but also a sign saying “nets to be dipped before and after fishing” [/QUOTE] Google sez that this refers to putting the net in a disinfectant for ten minutes or so before and after “to guard against disease transmission”. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=fishing+%22nets+must+be+dipped%22)** ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/57 "2006-10-05T15:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=AmbushBug] Google sez that this refers to putting the net in a disinfectant for ten minutes or so before and after “to guard against disease transmission”. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=fishing+%22nets+must+be+dipped%22)** [/QUOTE] Ah… Thanks for that; I do faintly recall there being a large plastic bucket near the sign. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/58 "2006-10-05T15:07:39Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] I’m working 2nd shift right now, get off work at midnight. It’s a 32 mile commute. (I know what you’re thinking, how can **I** get a dream job like that? :rolleyes: ) Why do people, at 12:30ish in the morning, on a straight stretch of highway, very remote, very unpatrolled, very speedilicious, STILL insist on doing 2 miles under the speed limit? [/QUOTE] Deer? ---
**Author:** ![snorlax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@snorlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snorlax)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/59 "2006-10-05T15:21:28Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] Why do people, at 12:30ish in the morning, on a straight stretch of highway, very remote, very unpatrolled, very speedilicious, STILL insist on doing 2 miles under the speed limit? [/QUOTE] Drunk? Trying not to look suspicious? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241/60 "2006-10-05T17:16:06Z")
[QUOTE=snorlax] Drunk? Trying not to look suspicious? [/QUOTE] That has occurred to me. Lots of weaving going on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-very-minor-mysteries/375241.md?page=4)