- NEW!
Answer to:
vanilla icecream goes really well with ___________!
Watermelon.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
How many people will drop out of AB because of the annoying surveys?
Those without ad-blocking software are seeing an ad module powered by Google in the form of a survey beneath the first answer to every question. Right now some folks are unable to view answers beneath the module, but that's not how it's supposed to work. A fix should be pushed tomorrow morning. Apologies for the trouble, but it's nice to see how passionate people are about AB working...
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Will some body tell me if they see my question or their answer to my question actually going through the home page? (STAFF NOTE: Do Not Delete)
This is a known issue, I replied to Bornabrit individually just now but if this is more widespread, any info or details you can provide about the browser you're using will help us troubleshoot--please feel free to post them here. Thanks!
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
In Scrabble, how is it possible to score 617 points in a single move?
What if you added all 7 letters onto an existing letter or word such that it covered two triple word scores? Then you'd get 9 times the value of the letters, plus the bonus--maybe 617 is achievable that way?
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
I am a horrible singer, but I would like to be the lead singer of a Christian band. How can I improve my voice in less than a year?
Auto-Tune?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/auto-tune.html
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Anyone, esp longtime ABers, have any idea why this question was removed? Anyone else getting really annoyed at the "Offense Police"?
This was our error, but not from a wrongly-accepted flag. The person who asked this question had their account mistakenly nuked, thus deleting all their content. I restored the question, and we're working to restore the account.
Answer to:
What is in your opinion the most beautifull language to sing in?
Can't believe no one's said Portuguese... ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
To the beer drinkers on AB, if you could only drink one brand of beer for the rest of your life which would you choose?
If I get a whole brand, I'd have to go with the Green Flash lineup:
http://www.greenflashbrew.com/
Anything Chuck brews it's an honor to drink... ;)
Answer to:
Anyone get pranked yet today?
Yes. A lunch cart had a cardboard box nearby with holes in it and the lid closed, with a sign saying "Free kittens! Please open quietly, they're sleeping."
I opened the box quietly.
It wasn't free kittens.
It was...wait, I might use that idea myself next year ;).
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Do you think that the SETI program could be dangerous to the human race?
No. SETI listens for signals, it doesn't send them. Except for once in 1974 (the Arecibo message http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecibo_message , Earth has never sent a message specifically intended for aliens.
However, we have been sending signals into space in the form of radio and TV broadcasts for around 100 years that might be detectable by aliens. So blame the media, not SETI ;).
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
What kind of fuel is burned by jet engines?
This question has been asked and answered here, with sources cited:
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/10146628
but the short answer is kerosene.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
What's the best book about the Borgia family?
Assuming you'd like something nonfiction and relatively recent, I'd suggest The Borgias and their Enemies 1431-1519, by Christopher Hibbert, published in 2008. Here's a link to the Worldcat database so you can find it in your local library:
http://www.worldcat.org/title/borgias-and-their-enemies-1431-1519/oclc/191090485
Answer to:
Who wants to join me to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAY to all AB’s Staff and Members?
Thanks everyone--merry merry to you and yours too!
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Why do so many comments and replies just vanish off AB - some to return and others not too?
We're aware of this. And I've never played Warcraft ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Can you explain the lyrics: "moved down to Scarsdale... where the hell am I?"
This is from Hey Nineteen, a Steely Dan song about a guy, the 'sole survivor' of his long-ago college crew, dating a much younger girl. This particular line seems to imply the people his own age moved to the suburbs and he's the last one left.
More (and better) analysis can be found here:
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/140482/
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Is getting a frisbee stuck on the roof a necessary echelon we climb toward maturity...? How often have you done this?
I think so. For better or worse, the experience teaches (forces?) us to be mindful of limits and conditions when playing. My friends and I put several frisbees on rooftops or in tall trees or unfriendly backyards when we were kids. Untangling the problem of how to get the frisbee back, and who in the group would do what, was probably good practice for adulthood too.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Cats or dogs?
Share your answer here...
Answer to:
What's the most disturbing film you've seen?
Share your answer here...
Answer to:
I once drank a full soda bottle
Share your answer here...
Answer to:
Have we lost out Adult section? There seem to be a LOT of sexually explicit questions appearing on the general list
This is a system problem, not a policy decision. Adult content will be routed to its own place and not on the main AB page.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Will somebody please explain to me , what is a Bad Tag?
Now when you post a question, along with choosing a category you can now add tags as well. Some tags are automatically generated from the text of the question, but you can enter new ones too. If a question has inappropriate or misleading tags, use the bad tag flag and we'll review it.
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Does a Ph.D thesis have to be a completely original idea? If a Ph.D final thesis has to be an original contribution to what you're studying, how is it possible for every student to come up with new original ideas without their being in duplicates?
An original idea and an original contribution to a field are very different. Part of graduate work is to systematically review the current state of the field via published literature, to explore in ridiculous depth the specific area you're interested in. You will very quickly find that there are very few truly original ideas. Nearly every academic paper concludes with suggestions for...
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Is there a bug with asking questions right now?
Let's see ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
What is the hardest AB level to achieve,in your opinion?
Statistically, that would be level 2.
Roughly 92% of registered users never make it that far ;).
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
What up AB RICH can you say hello to the ANSWERBAG?
Yo ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Have you ever been to a junkyard? what were you looking for?
I found a radiator for a 1979 MGB.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Does/should Popularity transcend Talent?
The easy answer is no, talent should trump popularity. It gets more complicated when you consider who has to judge someone's relative talent level, and by what standards.
Both talent and popularity give you the ability to get certain things done, just in different ways. Both can be used for good...or evil ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Would you scream if you saw a giant bug?
Maybe if I saw this one ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Mr. RIch, or anyone out there that can help. How many users does AB have as of March 2009?
Over 900,000 accounts have been registered as of today. And many more people view the site without being registered--that number is around 12 million unique visitors per month these days.
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Do you listen to jazz music?
Very much so, recorded and live.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Are we now getting a penalty of -10 points for every flag we do that is not accepted? This just happened to a friend of mine.
Moderators have always had the ability to penalize for repeated frivolous flags, but we very, very rarely do so. That policy has not changed.
If you feel you've received an unwarranted moderation penalty, feel free to submit a link via feedback and we'll review it.
| 12 people like this
Answer to:
Do you think AB-Rich drives a Pinto?
No ;).
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/32480
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
How many answers did you have on 911?
Okay, I can confirm as some of you have that the tab-clicking workaround no longer works, but thanks for the documentation, which should help the devs figure it out. Re the group category, feel free to submit a request through the regular channels, but locking out other users is counter to what we're about, so...no ;).
Answer to:
When you encounter a loon on Answerbag, is it worth pointing out to him or her that he or she is, in fact, a loon? Please, only non-loons to answer this question
No. Don't feed the loons ;).
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
If you could say anything to your mother what would it be?
I'm happier than I ever imagined, and I wouldn't be where I am today without you. Thanks, and I love you.
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
What is your favorite demotivational poster?
I like this one...
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
I just tried to change my nickname to include the word flight in it, and it said "your nickname can not contain the word flight in it." What is that all about? Does anyone know? Any theories? :)
You may now include the word "flight" in a username. I have no idea why it was on our ban list.
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Has anyone noticed, that since Joel left, AB seems to be going further and further down hill - and that nothing likes to work any more?
The holiday has definitely put us behind, but our devs will be attacking the bug queue when they return.
Update--the pagination bug is fixed, and we're working on site performance issues.
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Who would win: AB Rich or Scubabob in a breath hold event?:) Back your answer up or Rich gets a Rhino added to his burden
Well, sitting in my recliner I just held my breath for 1:15--how much do I lose by? ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
The site has recently stopped me from leaving comments, is anyone else having this glitch?
Apologies, we are aware of this one. It's been reported, but I don't know yet the cause or ETA for a fix...stay tuned.
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Who would like to join me in thanking Answerbag staff and community leaders for all the work they have done in 2008?
On behalf of the rest of the staff and our most awesome CLs, you're welcome ;).
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Who thinks AB-Rich should be wearing a Christmas hat in his photo on the main page?
Finally, a site upgrade request I can handle myself ;)
| 13 people like this
Answer to:
What food products that are no longer made do you miss? I miss "Buc Wheats" cereal and "Choc-O-Lite" candy bars.
Steve's Ice Cream, especially the Monster Cookies variety.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Why does my Avatar keep disapearing?
This has been fixed, but if it recurs please send a message via the feedback link at the bottom of every page. Thanks!
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Is there somebody smart enough among the Answerbag staff to recategorize and understand that evolution applies to all of biology, not just human
Done, but in the future please submit these requests via feedback. Thanks.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Are the AB staff on answerbag everyday
Yes. Happy Thanksgiving ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Some of my questions marked duplicate, were asked before the suggested question, does anyone look at this before they pull the trigger on making the change?
This is a known glitch; the question asked earliest should be the one preserved. It's on our list ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
What do you want to do to a pencil that breaks in the middle of writing a word?
One word: kindling ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Do you know a Fulbright scholar personally?
Yes, a friend of mine got a Fulbright to study people's everyday information seeking practices in Finland.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
If AB joel and AB rich got into a fight, who would win?
I'm a lover, not a fighter ;).
I'm pretty sure I could outdrink him, though ;)
| 20 people like this
Answer to:
What was the last thing you repaired yourself?
The taillight of my pickup truck.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
I'm about to go on a run. That last time you actually "ran", how far did you go?
94 feet, the length of a basketball court
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
If AB started a baseball team, what position would you play?
Umpire ;)
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
What's with this big sign, Welcome to Answerbag, sign up now?
It's a glitch, thanks to all who've reported it.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
How many songs have the lyrics "Na na na..." in them? (Eg, Hey Jude and the "Hey hey hey, good-bye" song)
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' by Journey has an all-time na na na na na outro.
Great, now this song will be going through my head all day ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Has anyone else noticed the bug that causes you to search through questions, even when you have selected "search for members" ? I have noticed this for a couple of months now.
We're aware of this. Thanks for the reports.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Are you scared of future employers finding stuff you said on AB?
If you are, just send a message via Feedback with a link to what you'd like removed. We do this all the time ;).
| 9 people like this
Answer to:
Do you think AB should remove the Most Inquisitive leaderboard? (Please)
We're considering it.
| 12 people like this
Answer to:
Does anyone know what Hawaiian island would be the best for hiking to waterfalls and honeymooning? Can someone give me the break down on what each island is sort of known for?
For hiking, waterfalls and honeymooning, I'd say the north shore of Kauai or the east side of Maui by Hana. Both get amazing amounts of rain, and have haunt-your-dreams-forever greenery and scenery.
Generally, the windward (east) side and the interior mountains of every island tend to be greener and wetter here. Oahu has by far the most people and buildings, but the east and north...
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Anyone know if AB has plans to implement an "ignore" feature to free members from the comments of obnoxious AB members?
We've considered it, and there are some excellent points here about the finer details of how it's been implemented on other sites, and how it might be implemented here. What we wouldn't want to do is introduce a feature that could be abused, or that would work against the spirit of AB.
For example, if the ignore feature only blocked your view of content from users you...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Why can we no longer sort our own questions and answers by category or number of points received? I've asked via feedback, but no answer yet:(
I've noticed this too; I'll ask ;)
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Anybody want to join me in wishing the AB staff and the CL's a Happy Labor Day?
Thanks all...Happy Labor Day back atcha!
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Do some of you think that some other AB users and not staff are evil geniuses?
Why can't I be an evil genius too? ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
When was the last time the bag got washed?
Never. We dry clean regularly, though ;)
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Why doesnt the AB staff use the AB newsletter to inform everyone about new categories, and category experts?
When Joel comes back from his newlywed vacation we'll discuss the future of the newsletter...stay tuned.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How long does it take to get a Confirmation in your Email from Answerbag?
AOL frequently filters our registration emails, but I just manually confirmed you, so you should be all set.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Do categories self generate on AB? I have been wondering for a long time. I mean, there's a category called "singing in the shower" and another called "salt"?? The "salt" category has only one question (shocking!). Are there too many sub-categories on AB?
Maybe. I thought the Singing in the shower category was ridiculous too--until I saw how many questions on exactly that subject people have submitted. Now I like it.
When evaluating new category suggestions, our moderators are instructed to take into account how many questions might reasonably be placed within the new category.
Part of the reason new subcategories are proliferating are...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
How, exactly, does SPAM (no site, but asking the same question numerous times, numerous profiles, and ages listed, with, say 10 flagged as dupes) get rated on the "most answers" leaderboard (see 1st answer for the question asked, and ranking)?
Good catch--though it would be hard to discount legitimate answers to duplicate questions in the leaderboards. Thanks for the feedback.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Is this my whole life ? Sitting on this God Damned computer on these Q&A sites . I cant even go away from the house without thinking about being on these sites . I ignore my family and wait to the last minute to do what I need to do . WHY?
On Q&A sites you receive positive feedback when you've helped and/or entertained someone else. In real life, sometimes you can put in a lot more effort, and get a lot less appreciation. If that's true for you, find a way to let the people around you know it. Answerbag will be here when you come back ;).
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Can anyone who has been PB’d still become Community Leaders or is being PB’d one-strike-and-you’re-out as far as becoming a CL is concerned?
Like Andy said, many folks who have spent time in the PB have gone on to forge CL-worthy careers.
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Do you have any ideas that will make the AB newsletter more interesting? ( Sorry Rich...)
I'm waiting to read everyone's responses to this question before sending out the next one ;).
| 10 people like this
Answer to:
Is it worth paying all that money for an ipod?
It was to me. I travel a lot, and an iPod plus noise-canceling headphones has made many, many airport and airplane hours pass much more pleasantly.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
How far from school (elementary, Jr High/Middle School, or High School) did you live? How'd you get there and back? Did you walk? Ride a bike? Ride a bus? Parents drive you? Some other way? (What?)
Elementary, 1/3 mile, walked
Jr. high, 2 miles downhill, skateboarded
High school, across the street, hopped the fence
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
My family and I are going to Hawaii soon and we are going to the islands O'ahu and Maui. What are some of your suggestions on things to do while in Hawaii. (We are open to traveling anywhere in said islands.)
Drive the road to Hana on Maui. Unforgettable ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
AB just emailed me:
Um, we batch approved 10-20 flags, out of thousands submitted per day, during a recent test. The test occurred because the moderation system was bottlenecked, and has now been upgraded.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How do you become an AB employee? and can I fill out an application :)
Actually, the number of full-time employees working exclusively on AB is...zero.
Joel, Jon, Sunny and Adam work for Demand Media, and split their time between AB and other projects. The rest of us are part-time contractors with day jobs.
So I guess no one really works here...no wonder it's so much fun ;).
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
I was involved in a motorcycle accident. The accident was caused by a mechanical problem. So here is the problem. I want to ride but am scared out of my pants to get back on the bike. How do I get over this?
The main reason we ride motorcycles is because they're so much fun, but even riders who've never had an accident get a scare sometimes. If fear is outweighing the fun for you, due to an accident or anything else, it's pretty natural not to ride for a while.
If you do want to work your way back, get on a bicycle or moped first. Then sit on a motorcycle, start it up and rev...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Have you ever noticed that AB-Rich's eyes follow you as you walk across the room, no matter where you are?
Do you guys know how many programming hours went into that? ;)
| 9 people like this
Answer to:
If you created your own Martial Art/Fighting System,What would you name it?
I'd go to the kung fu style generator here:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~pound/kungfu.html
Insane Mantis Fist?
Deadly Wolf Lunge?
Unfathomable Gecko Assault?
Hours of fun ;)
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Where is my AB newsletter, that I signed up for? The one with the latest wacky, wild, and thought provoking questions?
One was sent out today--hope you enjoy it.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
What is the earliest TV program you can remember watching?
Wonderama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderama
Kids are people too!
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Can you name some "average joe" celebrities?
John Goodman
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
True or false - if you buy something through AB you will get points?
False ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Is there an emotion you would like to get rid of?
Fear. Imagine a world where no one had any ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
A winner is not one who never fails, but one who never quits! What do you think?
That philosophy only works if your goals are never wrong, conditions never change, and your cumulative time and effort couldn't be better spent elsewhere.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
When was the last time you were able to upload graphics on Answerbag?
We've had five or six reports of this. It's on our list.
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
I know of a couplr of people who are totally afraid to speak their minds because of fear of retribution by D/R, whatever--This is beginning to smell like a very censored and controlled site-I think I might just say BYE-
This is a moderated site...if you think that equates to censored and controlled and you're not comfortable with that, well, thanks for giving Answerbag a chance.
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
NOW CASTING for a new AB Horror Flick called "The Hazing". Would you like to be part of it?
See http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/2983604 and my answer here, for the starting scenarios. We need actors, actresses, and production people, including writers.
Maybe Joel, myself and the rest of the staff can play some random pile of corpses ;).
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
For someone who has never really drank tea before, what could be considered a good tea to try first?
Bigelow's 'Constant Comment' is a good blend if you like a hint of orange with your tea
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
What is a hooding ceremony?
When you get a PhD, you also get an obscure piece of academic regalia called a doctoral hood. The ceremony at which you receive that is called the hooding ceremony, which is different from regular commencement. Usually the chair of your dissertation committee puts the hood around your neck, and ever after when you wear a cap and gown, you wear the doctoral hood too. Most hoods contain colors...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Man, I'm having the worst time with AB glitches today. How about we try and get the powers that be to do something about it! I mean what are we paying those guys for? Whose with me?
We've had some system slowness and email notification glitches today--but anytime you experience that, it usually means we're doing some testing, maintenance or upgrades to make your Answerbag experience that much more awesome ;). Thanks for your patience!
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Do you believe that citation helps reenforce an argument point?
Only if the arguers are open to modifying their positions. Otherwise, citation only gives them more attack points (the author of the citation, its perceived validity and/or applicability to the current discussion etc.).
Of course, if arguers were open to modifying their positions, they'd be talking, not arguing ;).
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Do you really believe that any one group of ABers holds sway over the AB staff? or is it just paranoia?
It's true, and it's time for the truth to be revealed.
AB-Joel and I are that group ;).
| 9 people like this
Answer to:
Do you ABers think the AB staff or owners of the website sell our personal information provided when we joined and what we have revealed through our answers to scammers and merchants? Why?
Section 4 of our Privacy policy (linked at the bottom of every page) gives you the full legalese if you're interested ;).
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
What happens after you report a troll?
We look at the link provided and the histories of both users. If the complaint is "hey, someone downrated me," we'll only intervene if it's a pattern of consistent downrates against a particular user. If the complaint is about profanity or other bad behavior we'll either remove it, issue warnings or p-box, depending on the infraction and history of the people...
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Am I the only one that finds it suspicious, and extremely over the top that AB has put a couple of our well known users in the PB until 2035? Don't you find that to be quite excessive?
It's a system thing. Nuking an account removes all the Q&A; accounts that are suspended indefinitely default to a p-box of 9999 days, hence the 2035.
| 17 people like this
Answer to:
When you look back at old relationships...don't you think it would have never workout anyway and wished you got out of it sooner?
No. Relationships are about enjoying getting to know each other and hopefully growing in the process, not finding the speediest path to deciding you're incompatible--that's online dating ;).
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
What is your favourite album by the Police?
Zenyatta Mondatta. Driven To Tears/When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around is the classic Police one-two punch ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
What is Answerbag's policy about fill in the blank questions?
We're reviewing this. Initially, all fill-in-the-blank questions were deemed nonsense, but then there were many being rejected that were otherwise in the form of a question and more understandable than some other questions we were accepting, so we softened that stance.
Since then, we've been looking at the content more than the format to determine what should be kept, but...
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Can any CL or AB staffer answer me this question, why was 'Momma Bear' given a life sentence in the Penalty Box... 2035 seems WAY over the top and for what?, this so called fair desision has Peed of many many other ABers besides my self
No CL or AB staffer can answer that question, since we don't share details about individual users' activity with other users, let alone air them publicly on the site.
| 25 people like this
Answer to:
Where can one find a line-graph of Answerbag's recent traffic history?
http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/answerbag.com
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
On this day in 1964, the first BASIC program was run ... do you even care? http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0501
I care. My first programs were written in BASIC!
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Besides "wait"... Good things come to those who?
...risk ;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
"Silent" contains the same letters as "listen" - any philosophical interpretations?
Every problem contains its own solution.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Do you think that you can watch television, play video games, and partake in a society flooded with mass-media and all that comes with it and still remain a free-thinker and philosophically minded?
You not only can, you must. All media offer ready-made images, and sometimes it's fun to accept and experience them for a while--the danger is if you never come up for air, and other people's images become your primary reality. But if they provide you interaction with others and/or fuel your own free thought, no worries ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
I got accepted to UCLA, but I'm having trouble deciding between UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. If you have any knowledge of these two schools, which would you choose to attend and why?
I attended UCLA for grad school, and had friends who went to both UCLA and Santa Barbara for undergrad. I'm sure you already know that UCLA has a better academic reputation overall, but that's more dependent on which major you choose, and at the undergrad level there's not really enough difference to make a difference. You can challenge yourself intellectually pretty much...
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
I think that the new color for 'Help Someone' which is right under questions is a perfect shade of dark orange; what do you think about the change of color away from the Roman Red that used to be there?
I agree, good change ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Is it against the Answerbag Terms of Use to post a link to the scene of a past conflict? Does this qualify as "perpetuating conflict"?
We review these case by case. Submit a Feedback request with a link to the q/a/comment and we'll review it in turn.
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Do you have any item in your home that is over 20 years old? people and pets do not count.
I have a 1975 Rickenbacker 483 electric guitar, that I've been promising myself I'd learn how to play since I bought it in 1985. Still can't, though ;).
| 17 people like this
Answer to:
What does an AB-Marriage entail?
A staff member officiating--and our Junes are booked through 2025 ;)
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Do you enjoy poi?
Poi is sort of a starchy paste made from the taro root--I'm not a fan of straight poi, but here in Hawaii it's sometimes added to bread dough or made into chips, and it can actually be quite tasty--if you can convince yourself to try purple-colored bread ;):
http://www.polynesia.com/recipes/taro-rolls.html
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
How long to you think it would take for you to erase every one of your answers?
A lot longer than it would take us to restore all your answers from our backups after you'd done so ;).
Mass-deleting answers messes up the community, particularly for the people who've invested time in rating, commenting etc., so in those rare cases where people have attempted to commit 'Bagicide' by mass deleting their answers, we've resurrected them ;).
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Should I dupe a question for the hell of it?
We overlook the occasional flagging 'error,' just as we hope people overlook our occasional flag moderation snafus, but a pattern of frivolous flagging wastes the time of our moderators, and will get you sent to the penalty box. Well, you asked ;).
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
How do you send letter bombs (or at least stinky insult cards) to Answerbag? Tens of thousands of words that I and others have written in passionate response to people's comments WILL NOT POST and I've been complaining about this for almost a year.
We know about this, it's one of those intermittent problems that only happens to some people some of the time, so it's very hard to isolate, but we are aware of it--no letter bombs required ;).
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How do you feel when you read a question or answer on AB that either challenges or offends yours or a loved one's profession?
I feel happy that people care enough about Answerbag to take the time to critique me or our fine moderators ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Why wont answer bag send me a confirmation email so i can verify my account! It means I cant leave comments or points! :(
aol accounts often reject our automated emails (grr). I confirmed you manually, so you should be all set now.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
OK folks, in my answer there is a link to a Random Beer Name Generator. What is your random beer generator name? Screenshots are most welcome. Cheers! (clink)
Insane Epiphany Brown Gueuze ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
I thought Rich lived in Denver. Why has he moved to Honolulu?
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/32481
;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
How many people use answer bag?
Registered users are just part of the story--lots of people 'use' Answerbag by viewing pages here without having to be registered. Over three million unique visitors per month, last time Joel mentioned it ;)
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
I keep requesting I confirmation email to be sent to me so i can be registered as a user but the email never comes. I have checked the email address to be sent to and it's correct. So now what?
You can also send a message to Feedback at the bottom of every page with your request, but no need in your case as I've just manually confirmed your account ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Can you please finish this quote with the first thing that comes to mind? "The only thing to fear is . . ."
a fearmongerer
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
What is the lamest superpower you can think of?
Laundromat Boy, who can cover his enemies in a thin layer of dryer lint.
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
How many miles are on your vehicle? What year is it?
1989 Toyota longbed truck, 179K and still purring...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Is it wrong to come on here just to be rude and surly to other answerbaggers and ask questions designed to be inflammatory. Or is it all just entertainment?
Only if you find the penalty box entertaining ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Are there any famous or celebrity users of Answerbag?
I'm not supposed to say ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
I am sixteen and am extrmemly shy, and don't know how to even attempt to ask a girl out. Do you have any advice?
Know that she's probably just as shy and scared as you are, even if outwardly it doesn't seem like it. If you need more motivation, know that the pain of rejection if you do ask is nothing compared to the pain of regret if you don't.
Smile and say hello. Live!
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Will I wake up and find out that AB was the entry quiz for Heaven?
If so, what does that make Joel? ;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Do librarians really need a four year degree to do the job? Why?
If you want to annoy a current or prospective librarian, ask them why they need a degree to shelve books ;).
Actually, there are a wide range of library jobs, some of which don't require a degree and are done by paraprofessionals. But the title of librarian is usually reserved for someone who has a masters degree in library and information science from an American Library Association...
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Anybody else seen this message: "ENGINE UPGRADE IN PROGRESS"? See screenshot.
I'd never seen it before--nice catch!
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
What is the name of the new motorcycle that has 2 wheels in front and 1 in the rear. It starts with a "S". I can't remeber, but i seen it on the road.
There's a scooter called the Piaggio MP3 that fits your description
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
To long-time Baggers - How often does AB Staff revamp Answerbag? If any of the suggestions that AB Staff has asked for in their Blog are implicated, how long between now and the time we see results, would you say it will take?
There's no way to generalize. We often ask for people's opinions about new or existing policies or functions, and then we work through the implications (in terms of developer hours, system load, user experience, etc.). For example, adding or deleting a category is easy, and we can do that the same day. But if we're talking about altering the points structure or adding...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Can you give me an example of spin?
It's not a bug, it's a feature ;)
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
If a talking (insert your name here) doll were made, what phrases would it say?
Apologies for the delay in responding
Agreed, I've restored your question
Everything on the syllabus is important
Surf looks great today!
Why yes, I would like another beer
Thanks for using Answerbag ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Why are economical cars so ugly?! Why can't they make a Prius look like a Corvette?
Then they wouldn't be able to charge as much for a Corvette ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How come I never get any responses back after I send an email to admin@answerbag.com?
In short, volume and priority. admin@answerbag works in parallel with the Feedback link, the blog, emails and IMs from CLs, and direct emails from users to staff. Bugs and other issues that affect the whole site get dealt with first, then registration and other account or access issues, then review of individual requests for content review. Within the latter category, we deal with reports of...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
I have amassed over 2 million dollars. Who would like to help me spend it and what would you like to do?
Build a playground or a park ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Has anyone had a MacGyver-type improvised repair or event where you had to make something work out of stuff that you had handy at the time? Please explain.
I had an old VW Super Beetle, and one night on a dark highway the throttle cable broke, so the engine couldn't get any gas. This was in pre-cell phone days, so no way to call for help. My friend and I pulled the broken cable out through the engine in the back, and rigged up a handle using duct tape and a pen, so we could pull on the cable manually and give the engine gas.
Trouble...
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
If people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones, what should they throw?
Nerf balls ;)
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Does Answerbag have a secret nuclear arsenal?
I'm not supposed to tell ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
This doesn't seem fair,AB-Rich is back on the Answerbag Blog so quickly.he just recently blogged for 3 months.has anyone else noticed that?
I took a few weeks off over the holidays--hope I didn't overwrite Joel's blog too soon ;).
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
How can I get a Picture of Manoa Valley
Here's one
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Answer to:
So say there was an East Coast AB convention in the works (In NYC)... Would you come? ( And possibly leave your email in your answer haha)
I'm on the east coast every now and then--keep me posted on the dates (unless the presence of an admin would in any way detract from the revelry ;)).
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Would you want to be a part of a free-form jazz odyssey?
Very much so--though I'm free of musical talent ;).
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Can the Answerbag staff reject a friend request?
Yes we can. I've only done it twice, both times for new users who did nothing but post spam. Though I guess spammers need friends too ;)
| 19 people like this
Answer to:
What is the biggest challenge today's teenagers have to face during those teen years?
That the line between childhood and adulthood is being redrawn, eroded, or completely erased, depending on your point of view. Neil Postman's book The Disappearance of Childhood makes an interesting argument for the latter.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How can you mend a broken soul?
By helping someone else mend theirs.
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
I really dont like my school and want to go to another school that all of my friends are at but my parents won't let me, what can i do to convince them to let me move?
I was in this situation. My first year of high school, I moved 30 miles away from my friends and I didn't know anyone. I was really unhappy there. Being an only child didn't help.
Luckily, the family of one of my friends offered to let me live with them, and even though I was 14, my mom agreed and let me go. I was much happier, and 6 months later, my mom moved back too. Some...
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
What are you rich in?
Name only ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How can we deal with the incompetence of the Answerbag staff without having to leave?
Well, since the buck stops with me on that one, guess I'll field it ;).
If incompetence means individual flag review mistakes or other easily correctable errors, send a report via feedback, preferably with a link to the content. We review every one, though the queue can get quite long.
Sometimes though, accusations of incompetence are indistinguishable from "you didn't do...
| 22 people like this
Answer to:
Has anyone heard how Marlene Moon is doing since her surgery?
I just got off the phone with Marlene, and she's coming home this afternoon--a day ahead of schedule!
She's been overwhelmed by everyone's cards, letters and good wishes, and she says she can't wait til she feels well enough to get back online and rejoin us--probably still a while yet. But she did want me to say that there are no words in the English language to...
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
Are there some important laws, that time travellers should follow?
Bring extra batteries ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
What is the oddest thing that someone you know collects?
Rubber ducks:
http://www.duckplanet.com/
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Of all your AB 'stats', which one makes you the proudest, if any?
Member since Nov 24, 2004 ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
It appears that Anita Dorothy..Dr Doris, Ann C and maybe aka kkk jew hater.1 of Y/A most notorious trolls has had her questions flagged as offensive. I would like to thank the moderators for their fast work. Anybody with me?
You're welcome--but I'm going to take your question down in a bit so as not to give troll usernames any more attention or exposure, which is all they want.
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Do you think it is morally right for a prof to use their own books they've written for a class. Example, in college I had a class that had only 1 text. It was $800 (no joke) and it was going out of print and you were unable to resell it. Extra $$ for him
The upside is that if a professor has written a book on the topic of the class, it usually means that they've done a great deal of research and synthesis, and it is their job to share their knowledge with students. Plus editors, colleagues etc. found it worthwhile enough to publish. I think you'd be less likely to have a professor who was disengaged with the material that way.
But $800 is...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Have you ever sung to someone?
When I was 16 or 17, I had strangers lining up out the door to have me sing to them day and night...I was a waiter at Farrell's ice cream parlor, where wait staff sang Happy Birthday to guests of all ages, accompanied by sirens, bells and a big bass drum, all necessary to drown out my voice ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
When AB tell you this: "Thanks! Your flag will be reviewed by an administrator shortly." How short is "shortly"?
We try to review flags within several days, often sooner. But when we get inundated with flags, it can take longer.
So ours is longer than a fast-food shortly, but much quicker than a geological shortly ;).
| 9 people like this
Answer to:
If you woke up and were the only person left on earth, what would you do all day, every day?
Read and surf--that's pretty much my life now!
Not having the Internet would be a big adjustment, though ;).
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
In any website, what's worse than censorship?
Anarchy ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
How do I get confirmed here on AnswerBag? I've requested the email numerous times and have not recieved it. I do recieve emails from AnswerbagAdmin notifying me of responses to my answers. Thanks for the help.
Some Web-based email services (hotmail especially) have been bouncing auto-generated Answerbag emails--we send them, but they don't get through, not even to your spam folder. We're working on a solution which should be ready soon, but if you haven't received a confirmation email, please report it through feedback and we'll get you set up manually.
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Why is it new user's who ask practically all the questions in the Autos and Games categories?
It's a pretty common way of being introduced to the site--Google a problem, see an Answerbag question page in the results, and enter the site from there.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
What songs would you vote for Led Zeppelin to play in their upcoming tribute concert?
Something Robert Plant can still sing--he's not screaming from the depths of his soul in concert like he used to, and some Zep songs just can't be understated.
That said:
The Song Remains the Same
The Rain Song
The Battle of Evermore
That's the Way
Going to California
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
AB ALERT- I just found out that some users have made a petition to get rid of the Congratulating Answerbaggers category. How do you feel about this and where do you stand? (Links are in my answer)
Viewed in its best light, it's gratifying that one or more people feel strongly enough about Answerbag to create petitions at all. When I joined AB we were trying to be more of a just-the-facts Q&A site, but pretty much right away you folks made it a much more vibrant place than we ever imagined, and Congratulating Answerbaggers is part of that. It might be stretching the analogy,...
| 17 people like this
Answer to:
What do you think of Bernese Mountain Dogs? I know that there's information about this breed in almost every dog book, but it seems like no one I've talked to outside of dog show circles has heard of Berners.
Hate to bring this up, but a friend of mine is a longtime vet tech, and she says Bernese Mountain Dogs are "cancer magnets."
Here's some more info on health issues specific to the breed:
http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/bernese/bernesehealth.htm
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Where were you when you first saw the TV video of the aircraft ramming into the twin towers on 911?
Walking the streets of Paris on a beautiful day, complete with a baguette in my hand. People were crowding around a TV at an outdoor pub and I figured there was a football (soccer) match going on, then I saw the screen and thought it was a movie at first, then quickly realized not.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
What would you do for a $80,000,000 that you wouldnt do for 1,000,000?
Sell a 2 million dollar house ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
So what have you learned about life so far?
Seize the day...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
What was your all time favorite television show theme somg?
Barney Miller had that smooth bass and wailing jazz guitar.
Sanford and Son was great too, just some all-time filthy funk ;)
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
Is it ethical to collect anonymous data about people for research purposes without informing the subjects of the research?
The short answer is yes, but with several important caveats. If the data is public, such as sitting in a public park and counting the people who walk by, the informed consent of subjects need not be obtained. In settings where there is the expectation of privacy, and with special groups of people like children, or people who could suffer harm as a result of the research, the rules change,...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
What social benefit does Answerbag have?
From a paper I wrote recently ;):
Those who have strong experience or interest in a topic have a forum in which to share it, in an environment where value is determined on the strength of content—not a job title or formal credentials—and expressions of approval and appreciation are central to the function of the site. Some users have commented that the positive answer ratings...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Im 17 and very depressed what should i do?
Talk to someone you trust. If someone like that isn't around right now, write down what you're depressed about. Just pour it all onto the page or the computer screen. Sometimes that helps you look at things from a new perspective, either when you're writing it out, or when you read it later.
That worked for me when I was your age. Good luck, and hang in there.
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
How did Answerbag come up with the dfferent names for different levels?
I may not have the whole story, but I think it was pretty much all Joel. I remember he sent me a list of candidate level names and we had a few discussions about some alternative names and what should be higher than what, but as with most AB-related stuff, credit/blame goes to Joel ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Woah, is it just me or does AB-Rich have crazy eyes?
That's in the eye of the beholder ;), but they do change color depending on what I'm wearing...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
I'm fairly picky about the women that I date, however this seems to limit the "pool" that I'm able to draw from. Should I lower my standards?
Standards are, by definition, prejudgments. Sure, we all have certain non-negotiables, but why not give yourself more chances to be pleasantly surprised?
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
You meet a bear halfway up a hill, he starts to run at you, which way do you go and why?
I've just been camping in bear country, and the posted warning said running (like prey) is the last thing you want to do. And the second to last is climb a tree!
They recommend backing away slowly--maybe to the side if a bear is already running in your direction--standing tall and gathering up some rocks to throw at it if it keeps advancing. They also said that even if a bear gets...
| 9 people like this
Answer to:
Do new users get the same consideration from staff as the old timers or is that something you only get if they are on your "friends" list?
Actually, most of my work involves contact with brand new users!
It's a valid question, though. The answer is that we see all, we know all, we love all ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Who is excited I am the new Pork category expert?
I can think of no one more deserving ;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Is this a full-time job for the AB staff? Or do they work on the side as well?
It's full-time for Joel, Sunny, Adam, Jon and Alex, the guys who develop the site, keep it running and create all the cool new toys.
Deirdre, Amanda, James and me, who maintain the taxonomy and review flags and feedback, are part-time contractors.
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
What does Google say you look like? (Google "(your name) looks like")
Rich looks like a mortal lock to pass out before midnight
Rich looks like a drugged out leprechaun grah-ing everyone with his shenanigans.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Is a PhD worth all the struggle you go through?
It was for me. Four plus years of relative poverty while accumulating astounding levels of student loan debt still beat the cubicle job I had before. I enjoyed the process--I think that's the key to any assessment of worth. Once you're done, it opens some doors but closes others (think "overqualified"), and some folks may treat you differently, but if you add the degree...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
Would anyone like to join me in thanking all the Answerbaggers who consistently ask the good, thought-provoking, and/or funny questions that keep Answerbag going?
Absolutely...you all rock!
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Will someone please stop REMOVEMYACCOUNT from posting already?
Just did it ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
If I made a facebook group for AB would you join?
I did too ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Would you like to come to an AB convention in Los Angeles, CA, October 2007? If so, sign up here.
I'll be passing through LA in October, and if the dates work, try and stop me from attending ;).
| 8 people like this
Answer to:
What is meant by being "in ones prime of life" and how do you know when you are in it?
You could take a different view and say that the most prime part of life is the part you can live and experience, which is always the present moment. By that standard, past successes and future hopes can't measure up, though both can help guide choices you make in the present. Okay, zen guru mode off ;).
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Which is your favorite Outer Limits episode?
Original Outer Limits: "The Forms of Things Unknown," where two women poison a guy then take refuge in a mansion in a rainstorm, where a guy has created a "time-tilter", a room filled with clocks and strings. Weird and atmospheric and really well done.
Modern Outer Limits: "Tempests," a ship has crashed into a planet with these spider-like aliens, and the...
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
What's the worst thing that ever landed on your head?
Two bumblebees. I was riding my bike through their airspace and they got tangled in my hair. This was 30 years ago, and I still have an intensely vivid memory of instinctively running my hand through my hair and feeling them angrily buzzing, and later the two big black stingers my mom extracted from my scalp.
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
When is the best time to take that "grand adventure"? Youth, retirement, before/after children, when?
Now.
| 7 people like this
Answer to:
Let's pretend I am selling ice cream cones from a cart on a very hot day. What flavor do you want?
Banana
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
What's the wierdest thing you've ever melted cheese on before eating?
Apple pie. It seemed weird to me at the time, but it's surprisingly tasty, and I later discovered that lots of folks are apple-pie-and-cheese-ophiles.
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
How do you define trust?
I'd say confidence in a person's authenticity. That they are what they purport to be, will do what they say they'll do, etc. Same thing applies to trust in documents, institutions and so on. That's how I see it, anyway ;).
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
In England, where I went to uni, the professors asked that we use their first names, as opposed to titles and their surnames. In the U.S., where I work at a uni, the staff uses titles, whereas from one prof to another first names. Respect or class divide?
I've been lucky--I prefer to be called by my first name (by students and staff alike), and that's been the culture at the three universities I've been affiliated with. However, it's absolutely true that some degreed folks seem to enforce the use of their titles for no apparent reason, even though it creates the impression of a class divide whether one exists or not.
I should add, however,...
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
What have you tried in life, and simply were not good at?
Rollerblading, chess, drawing/drafting. Real jobs ;)
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
I'm a graduate student who has lost the will to study. How can I pull myself out of this rut?
It's natural, especially toward the end of an academic year. I tell my students that a big part of graduate school is simply to increase your capacity to work. We give you more and harder work than you think you can do, and a structure in which to do it, but in the end it's all on you. Exhaustion and dreams of abandoning the process are common--but for most people, the best way out...
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Have any of you been to www.Questionbag.com
Looks like a site limited to religious Q&A. And if the 2002 copyright date is any indication, they were live before we were ;)
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Are you there Answerbag Gods?
We're always with you ;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
HOW MANY WORDS CAN YOU MAKE OUT OF MAYO CLINIC ( more than 3 letters)?
In addition to those already posted:
lion
cilia
cynic
cynical
You will be sharing the prize with all of us, right? ;)
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Why is there no category for 'Architecture' on Answerbag? I can't find it under Arts nor under 'Businesses - Construction.'
Just created one. It's in Arts >> Design >> Architecture
http://www.answerbag.com/c_view/4289
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
What would your porn star name be? (It's the name of your first pet + the street you grew up on.)
Tiger Bermuda
Answer to:
What shall I do in San Francisco today?
Go to Boudin's bakery (the main one is near Fisherman's wharf, but there are others), get some fresh baked sourdough bread, and eat it with some Ghirardelli milk chocolate. Bliss.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
Who else thinks AB staff should post a new blog everyday?
Thanks for the implicit compliment--when we post a blog we like to give it a week or so on the main page so more people can read it and comment if they like, since so few folks venture into the older blogs. Once comments reach the "hey, take a look at this question/answer/user..." stage, we know it's time for a new blog, but in cases like AB 5.0, the blog can serve as public q/a and bug report...
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
What's your list of desert island kung fu movies?
My kung fu movie knowledge is only at the young grasshopper level, but I'd have to have:
Master of the Flying Guillotine
Shogun Assassin
Death Mask of the Ninja
Five Deadly Venoms
5 Fingers of Death
| 3 people like this
Answer to:
Who is the most annoying broadcaster in sports?
Bill Walton is hooorrrrrrrible ;)
Answer to:
Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4, What does it say?
...lager worth a trek up the hill...
| 11 people like this
Answer to:
I hate the green underlined links recently added to answerbag answers that sport advertisements from Microsoft Live. Anyone agree?
Hate's a pretty strong word ;). Just wanted you all to know that we are reading these answers, and we thank you for your opinions. As always, we do take them into account.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
How many points can AB-Joel give or take?
Those of us with admin privileges could theoretically go into the database and add or subtract any amount of points, but we don't. As others here have answered, we are very happy to let the AB community be the sole determiner of who gets how many points.
| 10 people like this
Answer to:
What is the turning point of your life?
Two overlapping ones stick out:
In 1996 I was working in a cubicle and had $3000 to spend. I'd heard of this new Internet thing and thought it might be a good time to buy a computer and check it out, but I also really wanted to buy a classic Mustang convertible and restore it. I bought the computer, and those skills got me promoted, but to a position that was even more deeply immersed...
| 1 person likes this
Answer to:
Why isn't there a category for Sociology?
Just created it, by popular demand. Apologies in advance if someone comes along and flags this question nonsense now ;)
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
Who would like to sign my petition to get more moderators on Answerbag? If so, just answer with an affirmative. I want 24/7 moderation!
Potentially, we have as many moderators as there are Answerbaggers...but if you mean admins, talk to Joel ;)
| 6 people like this
Answer to:
I am impressed with the speed of the admin today. Are you?
Thanks ;)
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
If you had to take on a Sith name, what would you choose? Darth what?
Darth Tater! ;)
| 20 people like this
Answer to:
When a PhD application requires you to submit a writing sample, is it better to submit a chapter from your MA, or submit one of your MA qualifying papers that scored a perfect mark?
I'm not sure of your field, or if traditions vary by university/department, but the main point of a PhD application is to express yourself in a positive light, and make the case that both you and the program you're applying to would benefit if you became part of the community. Whichever paper supports those goals best is the one you should submit.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
What is your favorite band that you think I have never heard of?
If defunct bands count, The Huntington Cads. Old-school instrumental surf from a late 90s band, doubles as lounge/chillout. Hard to find their CDs now, but so worth the effort...
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
What do you look like?
Late to the party, but since I got an invite from Jodie...
I'm 6'2" 225, with turn-sideways-walking through-doorways shoulders and ridiculously long arms.
| 93 people like this
Answer to:
What is the difference between 'flagging' a question or answer and 'rating' it?
Flagging a question or answer helps us keep the site organized and it helps us find and remove spam and offensive material. If you flag a question or answer, it does not affect the point total of the user who posted the question or answer. Rating a question or answer, on the other hand, is directly related to the user's point total. For more information on levels and ratings, see the...
| 4 people like this
Answer to:
If I flag a question or answer, is it automatically removed/changed on Answerbag?
No. AB Staff look at flagged questions and answers and either approve or reject the flags, and only then do we reject or modify the question or answer that was flagged. If your flag is approved, you will receive your moderation points. If a flag is rejected, your point values stay the same, but if we feel you are abusing the flagging system, we may deduct points from your total.
| 5 people like this
Answer to:
If a duplicate question is deleted, are answers from the deleted duplicate switched to the original question?
Yes. This is another reason why we try to standardize and clarify the questions when they're asked, so that answers to a duplicate question don't seem totally out of whack when matched up with an original question.
| 2 people like this
Answer to:
When should I flag a question as a duplicate?
Since duplicate questions are sometimes hard to define, we have a rather lenient policy on duplicates. Questions that deal with purely factual information are often duplicated and easy to spot. More difficult are those questions that are subjective, and that require context to understand the questioner's situation.
For example, if one person asks, "Where can I find a fuse system...
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Answer to:
How do I flag a question as a duplicate?
Under the drop-down menu for flagging a question, 'duplicate' is an option. After you select 'duplicate,' a screen will pop up and Answerbag's system will search for similar questions. If you don't see the duplicate question right off the bat, you can change the keywords used in the search. To complete the flagging process, you will need to choose a duplicate...
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Answer to:
Can a question be placed in more than one category?
No. If a question is asked in more than one category, moderators will eventually deem one of the questions a duplicate, and will choose the best-fit category only. When you ask a question or moderate a question that is in the wrong category, think about where you would look for information on the topic and make an informed choice. This is important because categories help provide context for...
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Answer to:
How do I flag a question as 'wrong category'?
Select 'wrong category' from the 'flag this question' drop-down menu located near the question. The system will then prompt you to select a better category for the question. If you aren't sure what category the question should go in, make the best selection you can and AB staff will review it.
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Answer to:
When should I flag a question as 'wrong category'?
If you believe that a question is in the wrong category, please feel free to flag it. To complete the flagging process, you will be asked to choose a new category for the question.
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Answer to:
When should I flag an answer or question as 'spam/offensive'?
If a user references a business with a link or with unsolicited information about a product, it should be flagged as spam. If the post is verbally abusive or uses curse words, it may also be flagged as spam/offensive. If an answer or question directly attacks another user it will also be considered abusive. However, please also consider that Answerbag does have several 'Adult' categories....
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Answer to:
When should I flag an answer or question as 'nonsense'?
Careful with this one. Just because you can't immediately understand a question or answer doesn't necessarily mean it's nonsense (we longtime moderators have gotten many omelettes' worth of egg on our faces for misinterpreting questions and answers, and many of you Answerbaggers have had to calmly educate us). Often the category in which a question or answer has been...
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Answer to:
Why does Answerbag control spelling in questions but not answers?
In addition to the fact that the number of answers submitted by users far outweighs the number of questions submitted, the standardization of questions is more important because people browse questions rather than answers. We want the questions listed in each category to be as readable and searchable as possible. Also, the style, tone and abbreviations used in an answer may help other users...
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Answer to:
Are abbreviations allowed in questions?
Most abbreviations are not allowed when asking a question, in addition to wanting to keep terminology consistent to get the best results from the search engine, some folks may not be familiar with the abbreviation! However, there are some exceptions. For example, you may refer to the United States as US if the category itself uses that abbreviation. You can also refer to DVDs and CDs in an...
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Answer to:
What is Answerbag's policy on question style?
We want to make questions as easy to understand and to search for as possible. If you've browsed a list of long questions with 'creative' spelling and abbreviations, you know how much harder it is to read and understand what's being asked. And if you're using our search engine, misspelled words may mean that a relevant question won't be returned in the search...
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Answer to:
What is a "moderation" point?
Moderation points are earned when you flag spam, offensive and nonsensical answers and questions, as well as wrongly categorized or duplicate questions. Your flags are then reviewed by Answerbag staff members, and if they agree with your flag, you'll earn five points toward your overall score. If the staff member does not agree with your flag, don't worry - you don't lose points...
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Answer to:
Why should I read the Answerbag Moderation Style Guide?
If you're interested in helping us keep Answerbag clean, organized, and friendly, you should read the Q&A in this section to learn what standards we follow. To help us identify content that's questionable or incorrectly categorized, you can use the flag tools on questions and answers. Flagging questions is how you can help identify content that's questionable or incorrectly...
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Answer to:
Am I wasting my time when I answer questions that have been posted for months or years and still don't have an answer, or do people actually rate answers to really old questions?
It's absolutely not a waste of time--when you answer a question, regardless of how long it's been posted, it is added to both "New Q&A" on the main page and the New Arrivals list, where many people see (and hopefully rate!) your answer. Also, adding an answer increases the likelihood that the q/a will be retrieved in a search.
Though you'd think the person who...
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Answer to:
Does Answerbag have a mission statement, or anything that describes AB's goals, purpose, use, intent, etc.? If so, is it public domain or can you explain it?
You could try our About Us section:
http://www.answerbag.com/about/
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Answer to:
What is the saddest song you have ever heard?
When She Loved Me by Randy Newman, from Toy Story 2. It's sung by Sarah McLachlan in the movie.
And this bit of Jack Johnson's F-Stop Blues:
Look who's laughing now that you've wasted
How many years and you've barely even tasted
Anything remotely close to
Everything you've boasted about
Look who's crying now...
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Answer to:
Why are autographs worth so much?
I think it's because celebrities, athletes etc. engage our emotions in what they do, often with great intensity. Maybe having a tangible connection via an autograph makes those emotions more real.
Answer to:
What is the greatest lyric of all time?
Greatest of all time who can say, but in the tiny, tiny sample of what I've heard, this is right up there:
Chris Smither -- I am the Ride
Forms are loosely fitting
Juries still are sitting
A sense of duty keeps us all in motion
Prison sirens wailing that security is failing
Do not inspire a lifetime of devotion
No one will sympathize
No one really tries
They need a faith...
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Answer to:
If Answerbag can edit my question, could you also do spell check?
Are you a moderator using an alias ;)?
That's been in our development wish list for a while, along with auto-capitalization, removing multiple consecutive question marks and other tricks that would reduce manual copy editing.
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Answer to:
My 1988 ZX10 starts up in neutral but when I shift into first gear it shuts right off. What could the problem be?
If the sidestand sensor is broken or dirty, the bike may think your stand is down even if it isn't, and kill the engine as a safety feature once you put it into gear. Both bikes I've owned have done this.
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Answer to:
I want to make a trip to California to see the biggest waves you have. When do I need to come and where do I need to go?
Come in winter, and go to Maverick's:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/28/MNG1Q5ALTV1.DTL
Answer to:
What's the most disturbing film you've seen?
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
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Answer to:
Why will moderators sometimes reject a question saying it is a duplicate, and then not leave a link to the duplicate question?
This is hopefully a momentary system hiccup. We have two parallel editing modes right now, one that requires moderators to provide a link to a duplicate question (but only allows you to edit one question at a time), and a batch editing mode that is amazingly useful but doesn't enforce the duplicate ID requirement. Some of the many, many upgrades in the production queue involve better...
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Answer to:
How do you stand up on a surfboard?
There are different pop-up styles depending on wave shape, board length, etc., but here's an interesting technique that keeps your center of gravity low for max control:
http://www.wavelust.com/real/stand101.wmv
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Answer to:
What is the origin and etymology of the surname "Gazan"?
Much as I like Joel's answer, all I knew was that it's a French name--then I went to Paris and saw it inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe (that was a pretty surreal moment). Turns out a general in Napoleon's army had that name, and there's a rue Gazan in Paris to this day. Don't know if I'm any relation, but I guess it's possible...
Gazan, (Honore-Theodore-Maxime)
Born: 29 October 1765...
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Answer to:
Why are the moderators slower to review new submissions now?
Just the effects of transitioning to Answerbag 2.0. We've been very much focused on developing new and improved user tools, but that means less time to develop backend admin tools. Add to that the increased rate of submissions and the less-is-more moderation philosophy, and that's the explanation. But as Joel says, stay tuned...
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Answer to:
What percentage of questions asked on Answerbag, since the recent layout change, use proper punctuation and/or spelling when submitted?
Somewhere between 5% and 10%, which is lower than it used to be. Perhaps now that we provide a view of unmoderated questions on the main page, people have the impression that punctuation and spelling aren't important.
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Answer to:
What is the evolutionary advantage of the capacity to feel bored?
Our brains' information processing capacity has been our primary evolutionary advantage, so maybe boredom just is a symptom of not having enough information to process right then.
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Answer to:
Is InfoSearch Media publicly traded?
Yes. It's traded over-the-counter (OTC) under the ticker symbol ISHM.OB
Answer to:
How can I tell the model year of a used motorcycle?
Most motorcycles sold in the US are required to have a plate or tag that contains model year info as well as VIN, country of manufacture, etc. Often you'll find this plate/tag on the frame or headstock.
Answer to:
My question got changed to something completely unrelated to what I originally asked. What can I do about it?
Several things. First understand that Answerbag is a collection of frequently-asked questions, and our moderators' goal is to edit questions to try to make them more broadly applicable. Sometimes that changes the emphasis of the question away from what the asker intended, but ideally it benefits the community as a whole, and we ask that people keep that in mind when their questions are...
Answer to:
Why hasn't Answer Rabbit answered any questions?
Too busy asking ;)
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Answer to:
Exactly how many questions are there on Answerbag?
To give an exact answer I'd have to update this answer several hundred times a day, but as of April 2006 we have over 38,000 approved questions, and probably a similar number of questions that were submitted but not approved for various reasons (usually they duplicate existing questions).
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Answer to:
What's with the positive and negative rating limits?
To curb both vindictive ratings and ratings inflation, we instituted a limit on the number of positive or negative ratings one user can give to another during a given period of time. We're seeing how this new policy works, and are collecting people's feedback about the change--it's nice to see how many people want to reward great answers and are asking to have the limit lifted....
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Answer to:
Does Answerbag maintain backup files in case a hacker, virus or user manages to delete some content?
Yes we do, and there have been a few instances where we've restored content after someone has asked us to delete recent modifications and revert to their original answers.
Answer to:
What are some of the most memorable question submissions the AB employees have ever come across?
Way too many to pick out just a few, but we tend to feature most of them on the main page, under Selected questions:
http://www.answerbag.com/question_list.php
others might make it into the newsletter...of course, that just covers the submissions we could approve ;)
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Answer to:
Does the AB staff have laptops so they can still operate Answerbag even when they take a vacation, or are otherwise not at home for a while?
Most of us do. I sometimes teach summer courses at the University of Hawaii, and always have my laptop with me to work on Answerbag...I can think of no better blending of work and vacation...;)
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Answer to:
I inadvertently rated the wrong answer. What should I do?
Use the feedback link at the bottom of the page to let us know what your intentions were, and a moderator will review the situation.
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Answer to:
Does Answerbag sell our e-mail addresses to other companies?
Nope. See our Privacy Policy:
http://www.answerbag.com/a_view.php/16
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Answer to:
AB staff, what do you want for Christmas?
More time with friends ;)
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Answer to:
Do accepted questions ever get erased if not answered?
Very occasionally we will combine, edit or remove unanswered questions.
Answer to:
There was a cartoon on television that featured a sports car called the "Jackrabbit Special." What was the name of this cartoon?
This show was called Hot Wheels, one of the earliest attempts of a toy company to create what was essentially a show-length commercial for its products. Ahead of its time, as it turns out.
A good (brief) history of the show with some images can be found here:
http://www.toontracker.com/hotwheels/hotwheels.htm
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Answer to:
I was told that Body Mass Index (BMI) charts aren't compatible for children. Why is this, and are there similar charts that are?
Here's an article and interactive BMI calculator developed for kids between the ages of 2 and 20:
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/dieting/weight_height.html
Since adults have stopped growing, their BMI numbers are more directly (though not perfectly) comparable, unlike kids who grow and develop both fat and lean body mass at vastly different rates.
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Answer to:
What is the current occupation, outside of AB, of each member of the AB staff?
I'm an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii, in the Department of Information & Computer Sciences and the Library & Information Science Program:
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~gazan/
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Answer to:
What vehicle does each member of the AB staff drive?
1989 Toyota longbed pickup
2005 Triumph Tiger
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Answer to:
How does freeze-drying work?
Basically by freezing whatever you want to preserve, and removing the water by lowering the pressure to the point where ice turns directly to vapor. That way you avoid the damaging effects of heat and evaporation. There's an excellent (illustrated!) article here:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/freeze-drying.htm/printable
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Answer to:
What is rock fever?
Rock fever, or island fever, is often used to describe the feeling of confinement some island dwellers experience.
I say often, because the term also has a medical meaning, a synonym for brucellosis:
(from http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000597.htm)
Definition:
Brucellosis is a disease caused by contact with animals carrying the Brucella bacteria.
Alternative Names:
Rock fever;...
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Answer to:
What significance do the letters "IHS" have in Catholicism?
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, it's a monogram of the name of Jesus Christ:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07649a.htm
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Answer to:
Where can I go to swim with dolphins for free?
I live in southern California (Santa Monica), and I often see pods of dolphins swimming close to shore in the spring and summer. So if by 'swim with dolphins' you mean that you're in the water and they're maybe 20 to several hundred feet away, then come to southern California. Usually they won't let you get too close to them--petting them is out of the question--but...
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Answer to:
How do regular users become moderators? Is there some sort of qualification or special invitation?
This hasn't happened often enough yet for there to be a consistent policy, but we're definitely thinking about it. Stay tuned...
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Answer to:
Has anyone ever been "banned" from AB for violating the Terms of Use Agreement?
This is extremely rare, but it has happened.
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Answer to:
Is Answerbag ever on vacation?
We do work hard, and though there are so few of us (see: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view.php/14583) we try not to let pending questions, answers and feedback linger too long. If it seems like the Answerbag staff never takes a vacation, we'll take that as a compliment to our collective effort. But rest assured that we do have lives ;).
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Answer to:
I am nervous about attending a camp which includes a ropes course and other challenging activities. What should I expect?
Your nervousness is natural; the main idea behind ropes courses is exactly to put you in uncomfortable situations, then give you the chance to overcome your fear of them, build confidence, work as a team etc. Safety measures are a core part of any such course, and it may help ease your nerves to do some Internet searches for pictures of the courses, and to read people's stories about...
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Answer to:
Do glossary terms get re-categorized by moderators just like questions?
Yes, we can move glossary terms to other categories, but we move questions much more often.
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Answer to:
Is there a list of all Answerbag users, or a search function for user names?
A user list/search is something people have asked us about, and we are considering implementing it. However, there's a philosophical reason it doesn't already exist: we try to keep the focus on the questions. Once you're viewing a question, at that point you can browse the histories of the people who've answered it.
Of course, there are exceptions. In many category...
Answer to:
I know there's a list of all unanswered questions, but is there also a list of all recently answered questions?
Not yet. One of the many enhancements we're working on is an Advanced Search that will allow filtering by update date, whether a question is answered or not, etc. In combination, these functions would allow you to view a list of recently answered questions. Stay tuned...
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Answer to:
Which designers can use the term "Haute Couture"?
Though this particular article is from 1996, this site provides some information: http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/label_france/ENGLISH/DOSSIER/MODE/cou.html
"The term haute couture is a designation protected by law and "only those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves thereof,"...
Answer to:
What happened to Albert Einstein's brain after he died?
According to an Einstein biography by J.J. O'Connor and E.F. Robertson (http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Einstein.html):
Einstein was cremated at Trenton, New Jersey at 4 pm on 18 April 1955 (the day of his death). His ashes were scattered at an undisclosed place.
Answer to:
Do Answerbag moderators check each question personally when the questions are pending?
Yes we do. Every question submitted carries the 'pending' tag until a moderator reviews it.
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Answer to:
Is there a treatment for flesh-eating bacteria?
Flesh-eating bacteria, or Necrotizing Fasciitis, can be treated. From the National Necrotizing Fasciitis Foundation site (http://www.nnff.org/):
NF must be treated in the hospital with antibiotic IV therapy and aggressive debridement (removal) of affected tissue. Other treatments will take place depending upon the level of toxicity or organ failure being experienced by the patient....
Answer to:
Is Bigfoot in the game? What about Leatherface?
According to Wikipedia, neither one is in the game. Both are either myths or cases of mistaken identity:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_San_Andreas#Myths_and_Easter_eggs
Answer to:
What do the initials CVS (the pharmacy company) stand for?
From the CVS website, (http://www.cvs.com/corpInfo/about/history.html),
Consumer
Value
Stores
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Answer to:
In anthropology, what is "Allen's rule"?
From the anthropology glossary maintained by McGraw-Hill at: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072426527/student_view0/glossary.html
Allen's rule: Rule stating that the relative size of protruding body parts (such as ears, tails, bills, fingers, toes, and limbs) tends to increase in warmer climates.
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Answer to:
How big is the Answerbag staff?
Right now, we are but five...
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Answer to:
In psychology, what is ABA design?
From the psychology glossary provided by http://www.alleydog.com:
ABA Design: ABA refers to a specific type of research design in which you have a baseline period where no treatment is given and/or no variable is introduced (A), followed by a period in which the treatment or variable is introduced (B), and then a period in which the treatment is removed so the behavior can be observed a...
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Answer to:
How are "Selected Questions" chosen on Answerbag?
It isn't easy. One of the great things about being an Answerbag moderator is having the chance to read every question submitted--though sometimes the number approaches a hundred new questions a day! Selected Questions are sometimes topical, sometimes representative of a question many users are asking, or in a category that's getting a lot of activity. That's the more formal...
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Answer to:
What is lucid dreaming? Does it really work?
Being aware you're dreaming while doing it. The idea is that with practice, you can control your dreams and experience pretty much anything your mind can dream up (pardon the pun).
Since dreams are so intensely personal and anecdotal evidence is mostly what we have to go on, whether lucid dreaming 'works' or not is an open question.
Lars Foleide has compiled a lucid...
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Answer to:
Who holds the all-time rushing record?
From http://www.greatsportsfacts.com/NFLCareerLeaders.htm
(Emmitt Smith was still active at the time this list was compiled, so his numbers are likely slightly different now).
Rank Player Years Carries Yards Avg TD
1 Emmitt Smith 13 4,052 17,162 4.2 153
2 Walter Payton 13 3,838 16,726 4.4 110
3 Barry Sanders 10 3,062 15,269 5.0 99
4 Eric Dickerson 11...
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Answer to:
What is the small arc inside the key on an NBA basketball court for?
It's known as the "restricted area," and it's designed to help distinguish between charging versus blocking calls underneath the basket. The short version is that if a defensive player is within the restricted area when contact is made, no foul should be called on the offensive player.
The longer version (from http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_c.html?):
An offensive...
Answer to:
Where can I find out about the ages of celebrities?
Despite the eyebrow-raising name, http://www.whosaliveandwhosdead.com/ maintains a good list of celebrity birthdays (2183 as of 6 Jan 2005), intelligently sorted by celebrity type (athlete, musical entertainer etc.).
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Answer to:
How is the Norwalk virus related to winter vomiting disease?
The Norwalk Virus is one of the family of noroviruses which cause a form of gastroenteritis, sometimes called winter vomiting disease. This term seems to be more commonly used in the U.K.
See:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/3/13
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Answer to:
What is the official name of the NBA Most Valuable Player award?
Each year's MVP is awarded the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, named after the first commissioner of the NBA from 1949-1963.
| 1 person likes this
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