E-Book Overview
Ponder, if you will ... Where do you find fascinating explanations for a multitude of mysteries? Why do pianos have 88 keys? How does the hole get in the needle of a syringe? Why is peanut butter sticky?
Pop culture guru David Feldman demystifies these questions and much more in Do Elephants Jump? One of the ImponderablesВ® series -- the unchallenged source of answers to civilization's everyday mysteries -- and charmingly illustrated by Kassie Schwan, this book provides you with small mysteries that puzzle and amaze us.
E-Book Content
Do Elephants Jump? An Imponderables® Book
David Feldman Illustrated by Kassie Schwan
For James Gleick
CONTENTS
Preface
xv
Why Was He Called the Lone Ranger When Tonto Was Always Hanging Around?
When Does a Bill Become a Beak on a Bird? What Does “Legitimate” Theater Mean? Where Can You Find “Illegitimate” Theater?
Why Do Pianos Have 88 Keys? Why Do Rice Cakes Hold Together? Why Doesn’t the Water in Fire Hydrants Freeze During the Winter?
1 3 5 7 9 11
Why Do So Many Bars Feature Televisions with the Sound Turned off?
12
Why Do So Many Taverns Put Mirrors in Back of the Liquor Bottles Behind the Bar?
14
Why Does the Pope Change His Name upon Assuming His Office?
17
Do Identical Twins Have Identical Fingerprints? Identical DNA?
Why Does Monopoly Have Such Unusual Playing Tokens? What Are Those Black Specks on Corn Chips, Tortillas, and Tortilla Chips? And Why Are the Specks on Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips Less Dark?
18 21
23 VII
Why Do We Say “P.U.” When Something Smells Awful? Do Elephants Jump? What Is the Purpose of the Recessed Notch on the Bottom of Most Round Shampoo Bottles? Why Are There Two Notches on Some?
26 27<