Did You Ever Learn Something That Explained a Lot of Other Things?

Over or Under. Directory assistance. Did You Ever Learn Something That Explained a Lot of Other Things?

Toilet Paper Roll in Holder

I was watching tv with my Mom.

In the show, one of the actors reeled off a telephone number that was supposed to belong to one of the other characters in the story.

The telephone number started with “555”. Let’s say the number was 555-3749.

“All phone numbers on tv and in movies start with ‘555’”, I said, a fact I’d learned only recently myself, but has been true since the 60s.

“Really?” my Mom said. “I didn’t know that.”

“Sure. They found out that people call the numbers they hear in a show and if they use real numbers, it bothers the people the number belongs to.

555 numbers don’t belong to anyone.”

Actually, there are a few real 555 numbers, like 555-1212 for directory assistance.

But, it felt good to be able to help explain the world to my Mom.

Click here to learn more about the history of the 555 telephone exchange.

What Else?

It hasn’t been that long since I learned about toilet tissue holders, either.

A few years ago, as I was struggling with trying to put on a new roll, my husband explained,

“Look. All toilet paper holders work the same. They’re spring loaded.

If you push against one end, you will release the other end so you can put the new roll on.”

Really?

When the roll is full, you can’t tell this.

When it is empty, it is loose, so it almost seems to release by itself.

But, if you’ve ever installed a toilet paper holder, you know they are spring-loaded.

Now, it doesn’t matter where I am, if the roll needs changing, and another one is handy, I can change it.

Our church is better for my knowing this.

Click here for results of surveys about the related question – over or under? (Hint: Over by 68%)

Did you ever learn something that not only surprised you, but explained a whole category of things at the same time?

Do your grandchildren know about these simple observations?

To you and helping your grandchildren understand how the world works.

Carol Covin, “Granny-Guru”

Author, Who Gets to Name Grandma? The Wisdom of Mothers and Grandmothers

Click here to nominate my book for Best Grandparenting Book at grandparents.about.com

Click here to nominate this blog for Best Grandparenting Blog at grandparents.about.com

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