Thumb Rules

Here's some Rules of Thumbs I got from the book, Rules of Thumb compield by Tom Parker

ANNOUNCING THE NEWS It takes about one minute to read fifteen double-spaced typewritten lines on the air, or about four seconds per line. Charles Osgood, CBS news commentator

SPELUNKING You should have at least four people for any caving expedition. If someone is injured, two people can go for help while one stays with the injured caver. That way, no one is in the cave alone. David McClurg, speleologist

SELLING THINGS DOOR TO DOOR After knocking, stand at least four feet from the door.

TALKING TO FOREIGNERS When you are conversing in a native language with people who don’t speak it fluently, assume that they understand about half as much as they look like they understand. Stephen Cudhea, English instructor in Japan

BUYING BATTERIES In most cases a lithium battery will last as long as four alkaline batteries and an alkaline battery will last as long as ten carbon-zinc batteries. W. Price


CRACKING KNUCKLES After cracking your knuckles, it takes thirty minutes for the vaporized joint fluid to go back into position, which it must do before you can crack them again. Jim Crissman, veterinary pathologist

MAINTAINING YOUR WEIGHT You can estimate the approximate number of calories it takes to maintain your weight by multiplying your current weight by fifteen. To lose or gain weight, alter your calorie intake by 20 percent in the desired direction F. Jill Charboneau, editor

SHOOTING AT HELICOPTERS North Vietnamese ground troops use their thumbs to determine whether they could reach enemy aircraft with hand held weapons. If an airplane or helicopter was bigger than a thumb held at arms length, they could bring it down with ground fire. D. Tanner, Fort Wayne