I have a question about Harry Potter/England

[conuly]

In book 5, it says that Sirius' house (number 12) is in between numbers 11 and 13. Is this normal for England? In the US, streets are all even on one side, and all odd on the other, so number 12 would be in between 10 and 14, not 11 and 13.

Comments

[stejcruetekie.livejournal.com]

Just to nit-pick... While it's common to have odd/even numbered sides in the US, it's by no means a sure thing. I can't think of any specific instances, but I know there have been plenty of times where the houses are just numbered more or less sequentially.

But then, that beats say Hong Kong, where number 12 might be next to number 327...

[literalgirl.livejournal.com]

Wow. I have never seen that in the States. I live on a cul-de-sac, but it still follows the conventions.

BTW, Japan also has maddeningly disjointed and utterly illogical addressing policies! :-)

Also, the neighbourhood in Los Angeles where I live is actually an incorporated city of its own, and it is 46% Chinese. You would be amazed at how many people petition to get their house numbers changed, in order to have numerologically-beneficial house numbers. 8 is VERY popular, and the city will allow that, so there are houses with interesting 8-related numbers. But I have never NOTICED an even being on the odd side, That of course doesn't mean it's impossible. :-)

Also, the area is loaded with customized license plates with multiple 8s. :-)

[kynn.livejournal.com]

Where do you live? Monterey Park?

It's interesting, BTW, that 8s mean one thing to the cultural Chinese...and another thing entirely to white supremacists. You can never tell if one of those "88" license plates is the good guys (but superstitious) or the bad guys...

--Kynn

[literalgirl.livejournal.com]

Hehehe. Why do you know where I live? :-D

NO ONE knows where I live. I spend my life saying "Near Pasadena". They should change the name of the city to "Near Pasadena"...

[kynn.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Alhambra, on Hellman Avenue, half a block from Cal State LA. (That's across the freeway from Monterey Park.) I went to Alhambra High, graduated in 86.

--Kynn

[literalgirl.livejournal.com]

OMG.

That is so weird. :-)

At least people kind of know where Alhambra is!

You ever go back? The new hotspot area over on Main is pretty cool. Nice new theatre, Coldstone, Johnny Rockets, lots of restaurants blossoming up over there...

But the people talk during the movies, so as much as I like the new theatre, I don't go there often. It makes me crazy and when I ask people to be quiet they tend to be threatening in return. So, I stick to the Arclight, where talking isn't tolerated and seats are assigned. :-)

[kynn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, every now and then. My folks live in Alhambra (but are moving to my late grandmother's house in South Pas) and I checked out the new Main street a while ago.

It's certainly a nicer place than when I was in high school.

It sucks that people talk during the movies.

I saw from your LJ info that you're an Aspie (so is my wife) and so because of that and the Monterey Park/Alhambra connection, I added you as a friend.

--Kynn

[literalgirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

[conuly]

But then, that beats say Hong Kong, where number 12 might be next to number 327...

THat could happen in the US too. At least, in NY the numbers aren't completely sequential, they have something to do with lots. So if your house is on the space of TWO lots, there'll be a null between you and the next house (so 12 would be between 10 and 16, maybe), so that if the house is torn down later they can build two new houses there without having to turn to phrases like "12.5" or 12 B"

[ladytalon.livejournal.com]

I know that in small towns they won't bother with the even-odd rule. So a town of 200 people might have houses numbered 1-100 and all in whatever order they like.. small towns are often an exception, I find. ^_^