The other day at work we were sitting around (on our coffee break, of course) telling stories about our middle school days. We discovered that although we grew up in different parts of the country (Atlanta and Dallas), the students in both our middle schools believed you could tell the quality of a necktie by the number of golden threads running through the lining inside.

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Is there any basis for the belief that gold threads mean quality? Or have we been prying open perfectly good ties all these years for nothing? –Paul White, Wally Ingram, Austin, Texas

Gold stripes indicate the lining (1) was made by the Ack-Ti Lining company of New York City, the world’s largest maker of interlinings and holder of the gold stripe trademark, and (2) contains some wool. Wool’s resiliency helps the tie hold its shape and shed wrinkles hanging in the closet overnight.

Why is it that when traveling in a car with the air conditioning on, with the vent blowing directly on you, the “breeze” goes off you for a few seconds when you turn the corner? Is air subject to inertia? –T. Cichock, Arlington, Texas