As I write this it is a beautiful September afternoon. My hummingbirds are gone, but the butterflies are still here. They love my lantana.
I have a feeling there will be challenges to this week’s answer…so let’s get to last week’s Mystery Question.
Below are four statements. ONE IS TRUE. Three are false. Which one is true?
- Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot.
- A dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one.
- Ostriches stick their heads in the sand when they are afraid.
- You are more likely to be bitten by a New Yorker than a shark.
And the answer is…#4! Here’s a link to the statistics I used.
I know, almost everyone said #2, BUT let’s look at the question realistically. Of the two knives shown, how 
many of you have cut yourself using a knife like the one on the left? I’ll bet not many. While I agree that a dull knife will cause you to put more pressure and if your hand slips, yeah, you’ll get hurt…
But any time I use the knife on the right, I cut myself. Every time. One time I needed stitches, but I glued the cut with super glue. I’ve never cut myself with a dull knife. Never. So, to me, a sharp knife is much more dangerous than a dull one.
Check out this link for someone who agrees with me. 😉
Now onto this week’s Mystery Question. Four statements; three are false. One is true. Can you guess the true statement?
- The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space.
- A penny dropped from the Empire State Building will kill you.
- A typical cumulus cloud weighs over a million pounds.
- Cooking wine in food removes the alcohol content.
Okay, Super Sleuths, which statement is true? Leave your answer in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library.
September’s winner is Trixi!
Comments 33
I’ll say #4 is true if cooked long enough.
Author
Love your logic, Lucy! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m thinking number four. I’m sure I learned about it in Chemistry… or I have a horrible memory!
Author
Boy, do I know what you mean, Monique! We’ll see next week if your chemistry memory is correct.
I’ll choose #1 but I’ve also heard that a dime (not a penny?) dropped from the Empire State Bldg. could kill a person if it’s a direct hit . . .
Author
We’ll see, Delores, we’ll see. Thanks for stopping by.
For today’s question, #3 is true. For last week’s question, I think you got into some really subjective territory. A lot depended on how people understood the statements. There was a lot of wiggle room with #2 and #4.
On a really positive note, thank you very much for introducing me to the writings of Robin Patchen! I just finished “Legacy Rejected” last night. Wow, it was everything you said, and more! I’ve already preordered “Legacy Restored”.
Oh, and lantana is my go to bush here in Tucson. That and bougainvillea.
Author
You are absolutely right, Tim…there was a lot of wiggle room in those two so, those who guessed #2 were right, too. lol And I love Robin’s books! Thanks for stopping by.
I doubt very many of us who said a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one were comparing a cutting knife (one on the right) with a butter knife. After making my choice last week, I did some research; not in great detail but still did some. From what I found, the knife on the right will do more damage if it is dull than if it is sharp. Seriously, who would pick up the butter knife to cut up a raw chicken, fillet a fish, cut up vegetables, etc.? The one on the right is the normal choice and it will cause more damage if dull than sharp. As for #4, the article I read said more people are bitten by New York rats (not people) than by sharks. Most of us think people when you say New Yorker. I think we may need a Philadelphia lawyer to interpret these. LOL! I am choosing #4 for one reason alone: every time I comment that I don’t want anything that is cooked in any alcoholic beverage (wine, beer, or whatever), the standard answer is that the alcohol evaporates when you cook it. I always want to know why use it in cooking then, and I’m told it’s for the flavor. Frankly, I’ve never smelled any alcoholic beverage that I wanted my food to taste like. I have also heard that #1 is true but never went into space to check it out. Tim said he already pre-ordered Legacy Restored. I was a pre-reader. It is as good or better than Legacy Rejected.
Author
Edward, I knew I’d get flak on the dull vs sharp knife, but seriously, I have dull knives like the one on the right and I’ve never gotten cut or hurt using it. But whenever I pick up one of my sharp knives…get cut every time! Maybe it’s the user and not the knife… lol. And I probably cheated a little not showing the butter knife last week…lol Thanks for joining the discussion.
Edward, I’ve just finished “Legacy Restored”. I concur. This book is right there with “Legacy Rejected”. Well written, and the characters are very complex. And the plot? Well, somewhat straight forward, still interesting, but with an unexpected twist at the end. Yeah, I’m going to be reading more from Ms Patchen.
#4 is true. Don’t remember if I read this or saw it on a cooking show.
Author
We’ll see, Ann…and it’s so good to ‘see’ you here. 🙂
#4 is true.
Congratulations to Trixi!
Author
We’ll see, Paula. This week’s question seems to have a divide consensus. 😉
I will say #1 is true.
Author
We’ll see, Alicia! Thanks for stopping by.
I think #4 is true.
Author
Another one for #4, Gloria. We’ll see next week. Thanks for stopping by.
#4 is true!
Author
Wow! Another one or #4. We’ll see, Shelia. Thanks for dorpping by.
#4 is true! Thanks for the chance to win!
Author
I see another trend, Faith, with #4. We’ll see. Thanks for dropping it.
I’m going to be different and go with #3. 🙂
Author
We’ll see, Rosalyn. Thanks for dropping by and being different! 😉
I’ve always been told that # 4 is true.
Author
I had never heard that before doing my research, Mary. We’ll see on Tuesday if it’s correct. Thanks for stopping by.
#1
Author
We’ll see, MS Barb. Always good to ‘see’ you here.
#4 is true.
Congratulations, Trixi!
We’ll see, Caryl. Thanks for joining the conversation!
#3 is my answer for this week…a typical culmulus cloud weighs over a million pounds! Can you imagine if that dropped on your head? Yikes!
And I do have to agree with the majority and say a dull knife is much more dangerous than a sharp one. While you can get cut with both, a dull one leaves a jagged edge which is harder to stitch together than a clean edge with a sharp knife. I will agree to disagree with you and still call you friend, Patricia…lol! 😉
Talking about butterflies, I have what I would call a lilac bush or plant outside my window that I have noticed orange, black & white butterflies happily sipping nectar from. They are so fasinating for me to watch! My little grand-girl gets a kick out of seeing them too.
Lastly…I am SO surprised to see my name as September’s winner! Whoohooo!! Thank you so very much 🙂 I love participating on this blog, you never fail to bring me mystery questions that are hard to figure out most of the time & some great books to read. I’m so glad to connect with you and other readers here 🙂
Author
And your email with books to choose from has been sent, Trixi. Thanks so much for dropping by each week! And I love that you agree to disagree. 😉