Part One:

Recently, during a conversation that sprouted from a game of Guitar Hero II, my brother and I realized that when drumming our fingers on a table, we go in opposite directions. I start with my index finger and go towards my pinky. Joe, however, starts with his pinky and drums inward. Curious about what this habit looked like in other friends and family, I started asking around. Most of the people I asked are pinky-first finger-drummers, which left me surprised to be in the minority.

Part Two:

Today, the woman in front of me in the check-out line at Target bought, among other things, a belt. She had an employee cut off the plastic tag thing so she could put on the belt right away, and as the rest of her items were being scanned, she put on the belt. I noticed that she put the belt on starting with her front right belt loop, then pulling it around her body clockwise. This is the opposite of how I wear belts; I always start with my front left belt loop and go counterclockwise. I began wondering how other people do this mundane task of putting on belts.

Part Three:

Why do I notice? Why do I care? Um… I don’t know. But I thought I’d poll the audience anyway. Feel free to comment with your answers to the following questions, gentle readers.

1. Finger drumming – index finger first or pinky first?
2. Belt donning – clockwise or counterclockwise?
3. Hand folding – right thumb or left thumb on top?
4. Arm crossing – right arm or left arm on top?
5. Purse/backpack holding – right shoulder or left shoulder?