Random questions you've always wanted to ask?

[Leon]

Are there any completely random questions you've always wondered about?  Throw them out to the collective intellect of the Pendraken Forum!

Here's mine:

- Why does America have such large street numbers, surely there aren't 3040 houses on a single street?  Does the number relate to the block, or area, or something like that?

- With our new influx of Spanish members, I'm curious as to why Spanish folk tend to have (and use) several middle names?  Is it a tradition?  Are all the names used in everyday life?

[lentulus]

- Why does America have such large street numbers, surely there aren't 3040 houses on a single street?  Does the number relate to the block, or area, or something like that?

Some streets in North America are in fact very long, 20 or 30 km withing a single municipality is not odd.  There are other features about numbering systems that can lead to not every number being used; and with only 4 digits 3040 is not remarkable.  I recall 5 digit numbers up Younge street in Toronto.

Update: and while I expect it varies a lot by jurisdiction, here's an example from Manitoba.

http://www.amm.mb.ca/PDF/Resources/CivicAddressingStandard.PDF

[Nosher]

"Why does America have such large street numbers?"

There has to be a joke there somewhere... Chad! Any ideas?

[lentulus]

surely there aren't 3040 houses on a single street? 

An American: A person who believes a hundred years is a long time.

A European:  A person who believes a hundred miles is a long way.

Or in this case, a long street.

[Leon]

http://www.amm.mb.ca/PDF/Resources/CivicAddressingStandard.PDF

This is the kind of thing I wondered might be in use in the US:

Specific Example:
10080 Road 95NW Unit A
Southlands

Reading the address location:
The Civic Address is located on the south side (even number) of Road 95 NW (95 miles north of the International Border). The residence is between the 10th and 11th mile block west of the Principal Meridian 800 metres west of the 10th mile block. The number 080 within the mile block, indicates the actual distance in 10's of metres (800m) from the beginning of the block.
The Unit Identifier is Unit A, specifying which one of the significant buildings or dwellings at that site is being sought. The address is completed with an official Community Name. If Canada Post uses the address as an official mailing address the Postal Code can be added and it becomes part of the Standard Provincial Civic Address.

...which makes sense and would be a lot easier to use than some of the numbering I've seen in the UK.

The thing with the US big numbers is that I can't remember seeing one less than 4 digits, every street can't be 30km long!

An American: A person who believes a hundred years is a long time.

A European:  A person who believes a hundred miles is a long way.

[Luddite]

Why aren't PC screens A4 shaped (portrait or landscape)?

Why is there a 'sport' section at the end of the news programmes?

Why don't we insist on our place of work being run democratically?

Why do people think its funny when they don't know things?

Why do road planners put traffic lights on roundabouts (thereby invalidating the point of the roundabout)?

Why do all the bad things taste good?

If we landed there in 1969, why haven't we returned to the Moon?

If many hands make light work, how come too many cooks spoil the broth?

Why is TV so full of relentless, negative crap?

Why do we all speak different languages?

Why do the doors (and sometimes the stall walls) in toilets not reach the floor/ceiling?

Why is Scotland so small on the BBC weather maps?

Why do we use Centigrade when the temperature is cold, and Fahrenheit when its hot?

Why are the TV adverts so LOUD?

[Leon]

Why aren't PC screens A4 shaped (portrait or landscape)?

My old laptop wasn't far off, but if you're using Word you need the space for toolbars, etc.?  I suppose the original computer monitors were the same ratio/size as TV screens.

Why do road planners put traffic lights on roundabouts (thereby invalidating the point of the roundabout)?

I hate this!  They've been doing it at every roundabout in Boro for years now, and in the past 6 months, they've taken two roundabouts out and replaced them completely with lights.  It's slowed down 90% of the traffic to make it better for the 10%.

If we landed there in 1969, why haven't we returned to the Moon?

Well... there's a couple of theories...  

Why do the doors (and sometimes the stall walls) in toilets not reach the floor/ceiling?

From my time in pubs/clubs, it was to make sure a) no-one had passed out drunk, b) weren't doing drugs, c) weren't participating in any 'stall-sports', etc.

Why are the TV adverts so LOUD?

This is getting more and more common now, so much so that I wonder if it's actually the TV that's gone wonky, or actually my hearing!  Certain channels seem to be worse than others.

[FierceKitty]

1) Why is polygamy fairly common and polyandry almost unknown, when women have a far higher capacity for orgasms than men?
2) Why have commercial music and commercial food been so successful at gaining ground at the expense of the real thing?
3) Why is democracy still praised and defended in the world which saw it give us Hitler?
4) Why does religion still exist among a species which is capable of asking the obvious questions if it tries?
5) Why did Stanley Kubrick never win the best director award at that film club in Los Angeles?
6) Why do the other kids put up with Cartman?

Especially the last one.

[Shecky]

With our new influx of Spanish members, I'm curious as to why Spanish folk tend to have (and use) several middle names?  Is it a tradition?  Are all the names used in everyday life?

From what I understand, at least in Latin America, the names are a combination of the mother and father's last names. Traditionally the father's name comes first in the last name sequence.  For example, if one's name is Juan Antonio Garcia Lopez, Juan Antonio is the first name, the father's family name is Garcia and the mother's family name is Lopez.


EDIT: Quote fixed.

[Leon]

From what I understand, at least in Latin America, the names are a combination of the mother and father's last names. Traditionally the father's name comes first in the last name sequence.  For example, if one's name is Juan Antonio Garcia Lopez, Juan Antonio is the first name, the father's family name is Garcia and the mother's family name is Lopez.

Ahhh, that makes sense!

[capthugeca]

4) Why does religion still exist among a species which is capable of asking the obvious questions if it tries?

Because there are also a lot of people of faith who are asking why don't others realise that God exists when the obvious questions point to him/her as the answer. 

But, with less tongue in my cheek, you have hit on one of the questions that seem to point to a deity. It makes no sense that civilsed humanity should believe in something that they can't see and, for many, seems to have no effect on their lives yet throughout history and across the globe millions of people have done and still do. Perhaps there is something built into our make-up that needs the existance of someone greater than us. And if that is the case, why is it there? How does that fit in with our evolution?

[Chad]

If music be the food of love, why don't rabbits sing? 

Chad

[Orcs]

Why aren't PC screens A4 shaped (portrait or landscape)?

In the Mid 90's I had a Pc Business and at a Trade show one of the companies had an A4 screen that you could revolve
it 90 degrees so it could be "Portrait or Landscape".  It required a special video card and that would not work with
other screens. Its lack of compatability was its downfall I suspect.  It was much easier to read documents on though.

Why is there a 'sport' section at the end of the news programmes?

If it was at the beginning 50% of the poulation would not watch the rest of the news.

Why don't we insist on our place of work being run democratically?

Because society now believes that Democracy is the best way of running everything (which is quite  possibbly may not be the case)

Why do people think its funny when they don't know things?

Because they are too stupid to realise that its not.

Why do road planners put traffic lights on roundabouts (thereby invalidating the point of the roundabout)?

To fulfil the promises they made to the Traffic light company in return for the bribe

Why do all the bad things taste good?

If they tasted bad they would be good ??

If we landed there in 1969, why haven't we returned to the Moon?

Did we actually land on the moon ??

If many hands make light work, how come too many cooks spoil the broth?

Cooks never agree

Why is TV so full of relentless, negative crap?

So that the those that will sit there and watch relentless crap think thier lives are better than they are, Rather then turning of the TV and actually going to do something to improve thier lives

Why do we all speak different languages?

Because some societies have not progressed to English

Why do the doors (and sometimes the stall walls) in toilets not reach the floor/ceiling?

In case people collapse in them/ discourage thier use for knee trembler sex/discourage drug use

Why is Scotland so small on the BBC weather maps?

The BBC don't think Scotland is important

Why do we use Centigrade when the temperature is cold, and Fahrenheit when its hot?

A large part of society are not capable of worlking out that 32F is freezing

Why are the TV adverts so LOUD?

So you can hear them while making a cup of tea.

[Techno]

So you can hear them while making a cup of tea.

Does make you jump tho' !
Especially after you've whacked up the volume 'cos you can't hear the program you're trying to watch.
Cheers - Phil.

[goat major]

Why are the TV adverts so LOUD?

Why are TV programmes so quiet ?