http://www.answerbag.com/profile/15347 New Answerbag answers from Encyclopedia_John Tue, 29 May 2012 11:37:18 -0700 Tue, 29 May 2012 11:37:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/107660 What website is better over all for news coverage: cnn.com or foxnews.com?<br /><br />Actually the best news site in the internet is the Drudge Report, www.drudgereport.com. As for cnn.com or foxnews.com, they are about equal. Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:05:31 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/107660 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91260 Does anyone think that it is possible that there are different species alive and living at the center of the Earth that we have no idea about?<br /><br />Only if you&#039;re a total crackpot. The center of the earth, the inner core, is a solid ball of iron surrounded by molten iron. Nothing could live there. Sat, 09 Sep 2006 09:56:47 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91260 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91257 What did the universe look like before ''the big bang''<br /><br />There was no universe before the big bang. All of the present universe was created in the big bang. Sat, 09 Sep 2006 09:32:36 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91257 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91254 Are wolves and dogs related?<br /><br />Dogs are a subspecies of wolf. The Wolf is &quot;Canis lupus&quot; and the dog is &quot;Canis lupus familiaris&quot;. Sat, 09 Sep 2006 09:28:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91254 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91243 What advice would you give to someone from the North East who is moving to southern Florida who knows very little about the area?<br /><br />Don&#039;t come. I know this sounds like a silly answer, but that is how people in Florida feel about northerners moving down here. You will have to deal with that. Sat, 09 Sep 2006 09:08:08 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91243 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91239 What is friction?<br /><br />This answer will address friction between solid objects sliding across each other, since that is what most people think of when they think of friction. This kind of friction is caused by two things: (1) Roughness of the surfaces (even the smoothest, mirror-like surfaces are rough on a microscopic... Sat, 09 Sep 2006 09:03:08 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/91239 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88981 If anyone has, or knows someone who has a medical background... What makes a baby have red hair? I DO NOT want my children to have red hair. so, i want to know what color hair on a man to stay away from. i have brown hair, with auburn-ish undertones <br /><br />You need to marry a man who belongs to an ethnic group in which red hair is rare. That would be Italian, Greek, or similar mediterranean types. Avoid anyone with Celtic ancestry (i.e. Irish). Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:51:51 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88981 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88980 I split with my ex girlfriend 2 years ago after 3 happy years together- she's a dancer and works abroad and split due to the distance. I saw her lastnight and she tried it on with me saying me she still thinks about me. She's seeing someone abro<br /><br />She&#039;s &quot;a dancer who works abroad&quot;. Yeah, right. Wake up, dude -- she&#039;s a hooker. Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:34:48 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88980 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88978 Why doesn't the US adopt the metric system?<br /><br />The simple answer is -- the American people don&#039;t want to change. And nobody can force the American people to do something they don&#039;t want to do. That&#039;s the whole idea of &quot;government by the people&quot;. Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:29:07 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/88978 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/87022 What was the first sport in the world?<br /><br />Running. Sat, 26 Aug 2006 12:01:43 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/87022 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/87021 What are the rules for breaking the rules?<br /><br />Stan Lee, the comic book artist, wrote, &quot;You can only break the rules sucessfully after you&#039;ve learned them perfectly&quot;. In other words, you have to have a deep understanding of the rules so that you know when they do or don&#039;t apply. Sat, 26 Aug 2006 11:51:52 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/87021 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/86519 I have decided to punch a kid who has always made fun of me. The only times I see him are at football and in school but I am afraid i would get in trouble if I did it at those places. What should I do?<br /><br />Go ahead and punch him. If you are normally a good kid, you will not get into that much trouble. Besides, it&#039;s OK to get into trouble once in a while when you&#039;re a kid. When I look back on my life, I wish I had punched the bullies instead of letting myself get picked on. It&#039;s one... Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:17:19 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/86519 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/85457 How can I make my high school experience one that is less reminiscent of hell? <br /><br />Perhaps you could ask your parents if you could be home schooled. If they say they have no time to supervise you (like if they both work), you could promise to be responsible enough to do it on your own. But you will really have to show them that you can do it. Also if you are being bullied or... Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:15:15 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/85457 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/85453 Are there any good sites (a bit like this one) where I can argue about controversial issues?<br /><br />Try the message boards at The Straight Dope, it is the best message board on the net. http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/ Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:52:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/85453 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/59098 Is it possible for a biracial child (Caucasian and African-American) to have a skin tone darker than his or her darkest parent?<br /><br />If one parent is 100% white and the other is 100% black, it&#039;s not possible. The kids will be a shade of brown, and be obviously biracial. If one parent is 100% white and the other is biracial, it&#039;s possible to have a child that&#039;s slightly darker than the biracial parent, but not... Sun, 14 May 2006 21:04:37 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/59098 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/48557 How many ancestors does King Henry II have?<br /><br />A genealogy of the kings and queens of England after the Norman conquest can be seen here: http://img84.exs.cx/img84/6682/Genealogy.gif I hesitate to answer this questions because the structure of your sentence suggests that you really meant to say &quot;descendants&quot; instead of... Sun, 19 Mar 2006 11:25:41 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/48557 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/47336 Why was King Tut not buried in a pyramid?<br /><br />The age of Egyptian pyramid-building ended over 1000 years before the time of King Tut. Pyramids were too easy to rob and too expensive to build. In King Tut&#039;s day the kings were buried in secret tombs in the Valley of the Kings. Still, that didn&#039;t stop a lot of tombs from being robbed.... Sat, 11 Mar 2006 19:48:05 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/47336 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/47334 At the height of the Roman Empire, what percentage of the world's population was under Roman rule?<br /><br />At its height, the Roman Empire ruled about 10% of the world&#039;s population. Sat, 11 Mar 2006 19:37:43 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/47334 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46451 Has anyone discovered what Joseph's "coat of many colors" actually looked like?<br /><br />Yes, we know what the coat of many colors looked like because there are Egyptian wall paintings from that time showing semitic merchants wearing such coats. They had various geometric designs in colors of red, blue, green, yellow and white, were sleeveless and reached to just below the knee.... Sat, 04 Mar 2006 17:02:39 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46451 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46448 What was happening in other parts of the world, during the times that the focal point was the Middle East?<br /><br />The earliest person who is mentioned both in the Bible and in secular history is &quot;Nimrod&quot;, who was Sargon I of Akkad (&quot;the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Akkad... in the land of Shinar.&quot; Gen. 10:10). Sargon founded the Akkadian empire in the 24th century... Sat, 04 Mar 2006 16:37:50 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46448 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46240 Is it okay for a Christian to eat shrimp, lobsters, crabs or oysters if Deuteronomy 14 says they're unclean?<br /><br />You have to remember that the word &quot;unclean&quot; is an english word that stands in the place of the original Hebrew word tame&#039; (Strong&#039;s Number 02931). The translators of the Bible chose this english word as being the closest thing to the Hebrew word, but it is not an exact match.... Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:02:42 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46240 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46239 Is there a permanent waterproof, smearproof black ink that can be used in a fountain pen for sketching?<br /><br />I would not recommend a waterproof ink for a fountain pen because it will be very hard to unclog the pen if the ink happens to dry in the pen. According to this website : http://www.marcuslink.com/pens/ink/index.htm &quot;Fountain pen ink is water-based with dyes and other chemicals required for... Thu, 02 Mar 2006 18:33:19 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46239 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46188 Can you retrieve someone's password after they've used your personal computer?<br /><br />You could use keystroke logger software. Some are available free from www.download.com . Thu, 02 Mar 2006 11:38:19 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46188 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46180 Why was the Tower of Babel demolished?<br /><br />The Bible says nothing about the Tower of Babel being demolished. It just says that after God made the builders unable to understand each other&#039;s speech, they &quot;stopped building&quot; and &quot;scattered in all directions.&quot; Genesis 11:7-9. If the site of the Tower of Babel later... Thu, 02 Mar 2006 11:05:53 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46180 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46174 Where is the "Overlook Hotel" from The Shining, and is it still operational?<br /><br />This answer applies to the original 1980 Stanley Kubrick film. According to the International Movie Data Base, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/trivia , &quot;The Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood in Oregon was used for the exteriors, but all the interiors were specially built on a soundstage in... Thu, 02 Mar 2006 10:28:01 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/46174 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30367 What is the largest animal to have ever lived?<br /><br />The Blue Whale, weighing 150 tons (140 metric tons), is the largest animal to have ever lived. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_whale . Sat, 24 Sep 2005 08:47:35 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30367 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30366 What US document grants us the "freedom to speak anything we want to, freedom for anyone to possess and use guns, the right to keep our government and religion apart"?<br /><br />These rights are granted in the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. Amendment 1 - &quot;Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right... Sat, 24 Sep 2005 08:41:41 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30366 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30227 Why are humans unmatched in intelligence by other species on Earth?<br /><br />Simply because of luck, we are the first species to have evolved this level of intelligence. There&#039;s always a first time for everything, and we just happened to be it. Give evolution some time, like a few million years, and other intelligent species may evolve. There are also some species... Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:07:09 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30227 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30173 Is it possible for a stilted house be built with a basement and has this ever been done?<br /><br />Instead of stilts you are allowed to build an above-ground basement/garage as the ground floor, subject to the following conditions: 1 - The lowest structural element of the living area or habitable space must be above the flood elevation. 2 - The ground floor must have... Tue, 20 Sep 2005 14:37:50 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/30173 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29162 What types of buildings are most vulnerable to earthquake damage?<br /><br />Multi-storied buildings built of unreinforced masonry are the most vulnerable. Beginning in the 1930&#039;s, building codes began to address the issue of earthquake design, and the process has continued to the present day, with new regulations being issued about every 10 years as our... Mon, 05 Sep 2005 08:37:15 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29162 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29161 Why don't flood prone areas in the US build homes on stilts?<br /><br />The latest laws and insurance regulations that were passed since the mid-1990&#039;s require new homes to be raised above the expected flood elevation. It&#039;s only older homes now that are at risk from flood damage. As old homes are torn down or destroyed, new raised homes will be built in... Mon, 05 Sep 2005 08:18:04 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29161 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29154 What is main cause of Russia's issues with Chechnya and why?<br /><br />Chechnya is a region in the Northern Caucasus which has constantly fought against foreign rule, beginning with the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. In the late 18th century (1785) Russia began trying to conquer Chechnya, and finally succeeded by 1859. However, the Chechens always took the... Mon, 05 Sep 2005 06:35:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29154 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29021 Do people who are obese feel the effects of cold less?<br /><br />Yes. How hot you feel is based on two things: 1 - How much heat your body mass is generating (since you are warm-blooded, so your body produces heat to keep your internal temperature constant). 2 - How much heat you lose through your skin into the atmosphere (by sweat and convection). ... Fri, 02 Sep 2005 07:35:25 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29021 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29020 My TV displays a large black square in the middle of the picture. It disppears if I turn it off and on again, or if change channels but sometimes comes back. What is wrong with it?<br /><br />It could be the &quot;picture-in-a-picture&quot; (PIP) feature turning on. Does it happen when you are holding the remote? Perhaps you are pressing the PIP button without knowing it, or it may be getting pressed some other way. Also, if you are not using the original remote, but a generic... Fri, 02 Sep 2005 07:22:30 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/29020 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28985 In a dogfight between an Me-262 and a Mustang, which one would win?<br /><br />I agree with deacon&#039;s answer but I would like to add that there would be no reason for an Me-262 to engage a Mustang in a dogfight. The &quot;real&quot; job of a Me-262 was to shoot down Allied bombers, not to engage other fighters. The 262 was 100 mph faster than the Mustang, hence a... Thu, 01 Sep 2005 15:14:29 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28985 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28984 Could Russia have subjugated the Third Reich on itīs own?<br /><br />It depends on what you mean by &quot;on its own&quot;. If you mean &quot;could the Soviet army of 1940-1941 have stopped the German invasion and launched a successful counteroffensive and invasion of western Europe without any Allied help whatsoever&quot;, I would say No. The Allies,... Thu, 01 Sep 2005 14:50:09 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28984 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28936 Which meaning originated first, "sperm" as in what is in semen, or the "sperm" in "sperm whale?"<br /><br />Sperm as in semen came first, from Greek &quot;sperma&quot; = &quot;seed&quot;. The whale was named after the milky-white substance spermaceti (Lat. &quot;whale sperm&quot;) found in its head which was originally mistaken for sperm. Wed, 31 Aug 2005 22:17:55 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28936 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28867 Were extraterrestrials not called aliens until the movie Alien came out?<br /><br />According to the Online Etymology Dictionary ( http://www.etymonline.com/ ) Adjective &quot;alien&quot; meaning &quot;of another planet&quot; was first recorded in 1944 in science fiction writing; the noun in this sense is from 1953. . Wed, 31 Aug 2005 11:20:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28867 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28795 What is the origin and meaning of the word 'moron'?<br /><br />Moron was originally a scientific term, coined around 1912 by psychologist Henry Goddard from a Greek word meaning &quot;dull&quot; or &quot;foolish&quot;, and used on the English version of the &quot;Binet Scale&quot; of human intelligence. The Binet Scale was developed in the early 1900&#039;s... Tue, 30 Aug 2005 16:55:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28795 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28435 What does the prefix CVN mean on aircraft carriers?<br /><br />Naval ship designations are not necessarily abbreviations, and may not &quot;mean&quot; anything. The designation for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is CVN. CV = Aircraft carrier, N = nuclear powered. As far as where CV comes from, many of the first aircraft carriers in the 1920&#039;s... Fri, 26 Aug 2005 17:35:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28435 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28386 Why do Israelites call themselves Jews?<br /><br />The Hebrew name Yehudi (Jew) came into being when the Kingdom of Israel was split between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah in 920 BC. The term originally referred to the people of the southern kingdom, although the term Bnei Yisrael (Israelites) was still used for... Thu, 25 Aug 2005 20:06:51 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28386 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28368 Does the US Air Force still fly the Valkyrie jet?<br /><br />I assume you are referring to the North American XB-70 &quot;Valkyrie&quot; supersonic high-altitude bomber. It is not flown today. Only two were ever built. No. 1 is at the U.S. Air Force Museum near Dayton, Ohio. No. 2 crashed on 8 June 1966 north of Barstow, California. &quot;The North... Thu, 25 Aug 2005 14:38:49 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28368 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28346 Why is it that in Western culture women with long hair are considered attractive?<br /><br />It&#039;s not just Western culture; in most world cultures the women have long hair. The only place I can think of where most women have short hair is in sub-saharan Africa. Women like long hair because they can style it in many more ways than short hair. People&#039;s brains are wired to be... Thu, 25 Aug 2005 07:18:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28346 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28341 Why do men usually have short hair and women have long hair?<br /><br />For much of human history, both men and women had long hair, and men usually had long beards as well. In the 4th century BC Alexander the Great of Macedonia had his soldiers wear short hair and shave off their beards, so that their ememies couldn&#039;t grab their hair or beards in battle. The... Thu, 25 Aug 2005 06:34:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28341 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28318 Why didn't Europe import marijuana or cocaine from the New World, if it imported tea and coffee?<br /><br />Marijuana already existed throughout the Old World, so there was no need to import it. Cocaine was only extracted from the coca plant in 1860, and only became popular in the late 19th century. Also, tea was imported from China, not from the New World. Wed, 24 Aug 2005 17:12:37 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28318 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28185 Why wasn't Bohemian Rhapsody included on Queen's Greatest Hits CD?<br /><br />It is. Here is the listing from the 2-Volume CD set: http://tinyurl.com/7ommv Tue, 23 Aug 2005 07:18:12 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28185 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28183 Which Queen member wrote the most number 1 hits?<br /><br />Freddie Mercury Tue, 23 Aug 2005 05:45:36 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28183 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28182 Was Freddie Mercury gay?<br /><br />He was bisexual, but never came out publicly. Freddie had a girlfriend, Mary Austin, whom he was in a relationship with for six years until he told her about his sexuality. After the relationship was over they still remained close friends. Mary Austin often fronted as his girlfriend to the press.... Tue, 23 Aug 2005 05:41:41 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28182 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28143 What is marketing?<br /><br />Traditionally, Marketing has been a term applied to the process or act of bringing together buyers and sellers. Despite the common misconception, marketing is more than advertising and promotion. In the past, companies were product-focused, and employed a team of salespersons to push their... Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:57:32 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28143 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28142 When television advertisers say that thier product is better than the leading brand, why is their product not the leading brand?<br /><br />There are many reasons why the best brand may not be the leading brand. The leading brand may be an old, established brand and have more &quot;brand loyalty&quot; among consumers, being used by their parents and even grandparents before them. The leading brand may have more effective advertising.... Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:53:10 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28142 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28140 Is there some historical basis for a couple to name their son John Smith?<br /><br />Yes, several famous people have been named John Smith. Probably the most famous was Captain John Smith, one of the leaders of the 1607 Jamestown colony, whose life was saved by the indian princess Pocahontas. John Smith is thought to be the most common name in the UK. ... Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:41:13 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28140 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28138 Where does the name Peter come from?<br /><br />Peter comes from the Greek name Petros, which means a stone or a rock. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/4/1124745914-8791.html . Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:30:48 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28138 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28090 What is a quick, easy way to calculate the standard amount of tip to pay in a restaurant?<br /><br />Calculate it based on the sales tax. For instance, where I live the sales tax is 7%. So a 15% tip is about twice the sales tax (7% x 2 = 14%), and a 20% tip is about 3 times the sales tax (7% x 3 = 21%). If you want to leave a 10% tip, just take the final bill and move the decimal point one... Sun, 21 Aug 2005 15:53:52 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28090 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28086 Why don't private, commercial armies exist?<br /><br />They do exist, they used to be called mercenaries but today are called Private Military Companies (PMC). A very famous PMC was Exectutive Outcomes, a South African firm that existed from 1989 to 1999. Most of EO&#039;s employees were former South African Defense Force soldiers with special... Sun, 21 Aug 2005 15:39:42 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/28086 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27982 Where can I find images of variations of the black widow?<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/cmplq Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:24:24 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27982 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27981 When was St. Basil's Cathedral built and who ordered its construction?<br /><br />The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible and built between 1555 and 1561 in Moscow to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. In 1588 Tsar Fedor Ivanovich had a chapel added on the eastern side above the grave of Basil, a Russian Orthodox saint after whom the cathedral was... Fri, 19 Aug 2005 03:14:58 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27981 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27948 How much money does the Army annually and what percent of the GNP is this amount?<br /><br />According to the CIA World Factbook ( http://tinyurl.com/9d5y8 ) military expenditures in 2004 were $370.7 billion which is 3.3% of GDP (the term GNP is obsolete). Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:51:28 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27948 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27946 How did eating horse meat in European culture start?<br /><br />In pre-Christian times, horse meat was eaten in northern Europe as part of Teutonic religious ceremonies, particularly those associated with the worship of Odin. Europe was also periodically invaded by horse-eating Asian nomads like the Huns and Mongols, whose descendants continued the diet. ... Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:39:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27946 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27940 What is the use of a hydrogen fuel cell car if we have to burn oil to generate the electricity necessary to create hydrogen?<br /><br />Burning oil in an electric power plant is a lot more efficient than burning it as fuel in individual cars. Thu, 18 Aug 2005 10:14:03 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27940 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27543 What is the best way to find the centre of a circle, using only the simplest tools?<br /><br />To answer this question, I am going to assume that the circle is printed on paper. I am going to use a compass* and a straightedge to find the center of the circle. If you wanted to go really primitive you could use just a pencil and string instead of a compass. Please refer to this picture:... Fri, 12 Aug 2005 10:39:41 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27543 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27491 How did the word "stomach" originate?<br /><br />From Middle English stomak, from Old French estomac, from Latin stomachus &quot;stomach, throat,&quot; also &quot;pride, indignation&quot; (because these emotions were thought to reside in the stomach), from Greek stomachos &quot;throat, gullet, esophagus,&quot; lit. &quot;mouth, opening,&quot;... Thu, 11 Aug 2005 17:55:45 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27491 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27297 Why do we blow on our hands to warm them up but blow on our tea to cool it down?<br /><br />Try the following experiment: 1 - Blow with your mouth wide open. Your breath will come out hot and slow. That&#039;s how you blow on your hands to warm them up. 2 - Blow with your mouth barely open, as if you were whistling. Your breath will come out cold and fast. That&#039;s how you blow... Tue, 09 Aug 2005 14:45:03 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27297 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27227 If a vessel was filled with water, and the water had 30 pounds of pressure exerted on it, at what temperature would the water become steam?<br /><br />In order to answer this question, I need more specific information than is given in the question. Also, there is no such thing as &quot;pounds of pressure&quot;. The pound is a unit of force. Pressure is force divided by area. Pressure is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or pounds per... Mon, 08 Aug 2005 17:01:01 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27227 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27225 Where online can I find a good, reliable, and thorough life expectancy calculator?<br /><br />Here: http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/calcs/n_expect/main.asp Mon, 08 Aug 2005 16:38:15 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27225 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27180 What were "the riches of the East" that everyone was trying to obtain during the Age of Exploration?<br /><br />Spices from Asia were some of the most valuable items of trade in the ancient and medieval world. This was primarily because of no refrigeration and a poor standard of hygiene that meant that food often spoiled quickly. Spices help to preserve food. Many common kitchen spices have also been shown... Mon, 08 Aug 2005 10:50:11 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27180 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27116 Is anyone still trying to find out what happened to the Roanoke settlement (archaeologists, etc.)?<br /><br />The Roanoke Colonies Research Office was created in 1993 as a clearinghouse for information related to all aspects of study regarding the Roanoke Colonies. Fields of study include areas such as anthropology, American studies, archaeology, biology, history, geography, literature, and Native... Sat, 06 Aug 2005 20:16:02 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27116 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27099 What does the phrase "not yet uhuru" mean?<br /><br />&quot;Not Yet Uhuru&quot; was the title of a book written in the late 1960&#039;s by Kenyan socialist politician Oginga Odinga. it is a documentation of Kenyan pre- and post-independence political history. &quot;Uhuru&quot; means &quot;freedom&quot;. In 1958 Odinga fiercely campaigned for the... Sat, 06 Aug 2005 13:33:09 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27099 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27079 Are steam-engines for transport still being produced today and are they more powerful/efficient than before?<br /><br />Yes, they are, for locomotives and ships. In Switzerland (Brienz Rothhorn) and Austria (Schafberg Bahn) new rack steam locomotives have proved very successful. They were designed based a 1930s design of Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) but with all of today&#039;s possible improvements... Fri, 05 Aug 2005 17:26:33 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27079 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27039 Where did the phrase "Davey Jones locker" come from?<br /><br />Davy Jones&#039; Locker is an idiom for the bottom of the sea — the resting place of drowned seamen.The first clear reference comes from Tobias Smollett, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle in 1751: &quot;This same Davy Jones, according to the mythology of sailors, is the fiend that presides... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:20:07 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27039 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27038 Is there actualy biological/anatomical support to when people claim someone has "criminal eyes" [i.e do their eyes look different]?<br /><br />It doesn&#039;t have anything to do with the shape or appearance of the eyes, but how the person uses his eyes. People who can&#039;t look others in the eye are refered to as &quot;shifty&quot; or &quot;shady&quot; and are not to be trusted. Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:11:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27038 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27037 Is there a way to naturally increase the amount of phermones produced by the body to attract members of the opposite sex?<br /><br />Pheremones are produced by the Apocrine sweat glands, which are mainly present in the armpits and around the genital area. Emotional stress will increase the production of sweat from these glands. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pheromone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweating You could... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:04:37 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27037 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27036 How many calories does the human body burn through only its vital functions (e.g. heart beat, breathing, etc.)?<br /><br />That would be the same as calories used while sleeping -- about 60 calories per hour, according to this chart: http://www.tooelehealth.org/Community_Health/CVD/Fitness/Calories_Burned.html Thu, 04 Aug 2005 19:50:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27036 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27035 What is the major religion practiced by Greeks?<br /><br />According to the CIA World Fact Book, 98% of Greeks are Greek Orthodox Christians. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gr.html Thu, 04 Aug 2005 19:34:43 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27035 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27034 Over 13 million bison were slaughtered for their hides and shipped to the East coast and Europe. Why do we not see any sign of the finished hats and garments today?<br /><br />Because those things would be at least 120 years old. Most garments and fashion accessories don&#039;t last that long. They wear out, go out of style, etc. and get thrown away. The only way any item might still exist today would be if it was deliberately preserved. Thu, 04 Aug 2005 19:24:05 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27034 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27033 In the 21st century, we consider ourselves vastly advanced technologically compared to 200 years ago. How would the people of 200 years ago compare themselves with 200 years before that?<br /><br />People living in 1800 were not all that much more technically advanced than people in 1600. Let&#039;s look at a few examples: Transportation by land: 1600 - horse carriage or ox cart 1800 - same Transportation by sea: 1600 - sailing ship 1800 - same Transportation by air: 1600 -... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 18:55:34 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27033 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27028 What does it mean when a pair of shoes is hanging from power lines or telephone wires?<br /><br />There are all kinds of explanations for it, but the most obvious one is that somebody threw them up there for fun. Here is an article about it: http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/sneakers.htm Some explanations: It&#039;s gang activity, bullies, crack dealers advertising, a memorial to a... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 18:00:51 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27028 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27020 What was the first provence the Roman Empire conquered? And the last?<br /><br />First: Sicilia (the island of Sicily) - 241 BC http://www.roman-empire.net/maps/empire/extent/218bc.html Last: Mesopotamia - AD 198 http://www.roman-empire.net/maps/empire/extent/severus.html Other good info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_province Thu, 04 Aug 2005 16:18:35 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27020 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27014 What was the easthernmost city of the Roman Empire?<br /><br />According to this historical map of Asia Minor, it looks like Artaxata in Armenia. It has also been spelled Artashat. The modern name is Yerevan. This city was the political and cultural capital of Armenia at that time. ... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:47:32 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27014 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27011 What was the northernmost city of the Roman Empire?<br /><br />According to this historical map of Roman Britain, it looks like Pons Aelii (modern Newcastle). http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/roman_britain.jpg Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:31:18 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27011 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27009 What was the southernmost city of the Roman Empire?<br /><br />The southernmost city of Egypt was Syene, site of the present-day Aswan Dam. This would have been the southernmost city of the Roman Empire after it acquired Egypt as a province. Here is a historical map showing the region: ... Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:25:21 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/27009 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26935 What were the first armies like and how did they originate?<br /><br />Sumer in Mesopotamia, 3000 BC, had the first professional army. From the Air War College website: http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/gabrmetz/gabr0004.htm &quot;The area of present-day Iraq is the site of ancient Sumer... Sumerian civilization was among the oldest urban civilizations on... Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:41:15 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26935 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26934 What military heroes did Napoleon admire?<br /><br />Napoleon wrote this: &quot;Read and reread the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustaphus Adolphus, Turenne and Frederick; take them as your model; that is the only way of becoming a Great Captain, to obtain the secrets of the art of war.&quot; ... Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:28:03 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26934 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26880 What was the first country to have Christianity as the official religion of the country?<br /><br />Tiridates III, king of Armenia (c. 287 AD) was converted by St. Gregory the Illuminator. Armenia adopted Christianity as the state religion in either 301 or 314 according to different sources. Ezana, a king of Ethiopia (c.330-c.356) was converted by saint Frumentius sometime in the middle of... Tue, 02 Aug 2005 21:29:39 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26880 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26868 Im Europe, when did it stop being important what people one belongs to (Celt, Teuton, etc)?<br /><br />I would vote for the time of Charlemagne, about 800 AD. Religion had a lot to do with it. Many of the germanic tribes who overran the Roman empire were converts to a heretical sect of Christianity called Arianism; the rest were pagan. Half of Spain belonged to the Muslims. The native italians,... Tue, 02 Aug 2005 20:22:03 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26868 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26838 If virtual environments of the future get so good that they're indistinguishable from reality, what would be some psychological implications?<br /><br />There would be a breakdown in society. People would lose track of which &quot;world&quot; they were in. Things that they would do in the virtual, fantasy world -- murder, rape, etc. -- would become much more common because people would forget which &quot;world&quot; they were in. Let&#039;s be... Tue, 02 Aug 2005 17:04:52 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26838 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26835 In case of a future land shortage, what inventions would be required to reclaim usable land by building up from the ocean floor?<br /><br />Dikes, like they have in Holland, could surround land that was just offshore. At deeper depths, the ocean floor could be enclosed in domes or half-cylinders. Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:47:22 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26835 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26833 It disheartens me to know that brain cells are never replaced when they die. What can we do to make brain cells regenerate?<br /><br />Support stem-cell research. Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:35:44 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26833 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26832 If a device were created that could make an object go through solid matter, how would such a device work?<br /><br />Suppose you wanted to throw a ball through a wall (without damaging the wall, of course!). For that to happen, the bonds between the wall molecules would have to be weakened to the point of the wall becoming liquified, and then re-hardening after the ball had passed through. There would be a... Tue, 02 Aug 2005 16:33:25 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26832 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26798 What is the amount of energy spent by earth by orbiting the sun once?<br /><br />The earth spends no energy in its orbit around the sun. In order to spend or lose energy, an opposing force would have to act parallel to the earth&#039;s direction of travel. There is no such force. The earth posesses kinetic energy by virtue of its mass and speed. It also posesses potential... Tue, 02 Aug 2005 09:59:09 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26798 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26777 Where can I find out the names of all skateboarding trick and their inventors?<br /><br />These Wikipedia articles have good information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skateboarding_trick http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Skateboarders Mon, 01 Aug 2005 21:12:46 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26777 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26775 Why are the australopithecus, neanderthal etc. not regarded as the intermediate human evolutionary forms?<br /><br />Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, and Homo Erectus are all regarded as ancestors to modern man. The following quotes are from the Encyclopedia Britannica Online, August 2, 2005: Australopithecus: &quot;Most paleoanthropologists believe that this genus is ancestral to modern human beings.&quot;... Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:37:26 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26775 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26592 Is the "One Child Per Family" government policy still in place in China?<br /><br />Yes, as of 2005. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:34:43 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26592 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26591 What engineering would be needed in order to make Transoceanic bridges possible (say, a bridge from San Francisco to Tokyo)?<br /><br />Not much new engineering, as far as I know; only a LOT more money than anyone is willing to spend at this time. Actually some kind of underwater tube or tunnel might be more feasible, just to avoid having the really tall support columns that a bridge would require. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:30:04 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26591 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26590 What could we do with cars once teleportation is invented?<br /><br />We will always need vehicles in order to go places where there are no teleporters. As I have said before, a teleporter machine will be required both at your origin point and at your destination point. It won&#039;t be like Star Trek where you can &quot;beam&quot; yourself anywhere. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:22:38 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26590 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26589 Once teleportation arrives, what could keep criminals from beaming their comrade(s) out of prison?<br /><br />It won&#039;t be like Star Trek where you can be &quot;beamed&quot; to or from anywhere. There will have to be a teleporter at both ends. And I guarantee there won&#039;t be teleportation machines in prisons. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:16:53 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26589 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26587 What must happen and/or what conditions must be met in order to make teleportation work?<br /><br />Well, one thing would be the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which says that there is some information about sub-atomic particles that can never be known -- because if you try to find out, you cause changes to the particle. Thus you can never make an exact copy of anything. That wouldn&#039;t... Sat, 30 Jul 2005 10:08:56 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26587 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26586 When Moses first spoke with God on Mt Sinai after the Exodus, did the Jewish people speak Hebrew or did they still speak Egyptian?<br /><br />They spoke the language that they had always spoken, which was Hebrew. Going down to Egypt didn&#039;t change their native tongue. Many of them probably spoke Egyptian also, but only as a second language. Edit: The Bible says that the 12 tribes of Israel descended from the 12 sons of Jacob,... Sat, 30 Jul 2005 09:52:14 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26586 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26585 When did man begin to walk upright?<br /><br />The oldest species of hominid so far discovered is Australopithecus, who appeared 8 to 5 million years ago. This hominid was already bipedal, so the answer to your question can only be &quot;at least 8 million years ago&quot;. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 09:48:36 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26585 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26584 Is each generation of humans becoming taller than the last? If so, why?<br /><br />If humans are becoming taller, it is because of better nutrition and child health care. It is not due to evolution. Sat, 30 Jul 2005 09:39:48 -0700 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/26584 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/484038 What is a CAD?<br /><br />CAD stands for Computer Aided Design or Computer Aided Drafting, depending on whether the software&#039;s main purpose is design or drafting. Thu, 20 Jan 2005 13:51:54 -0800 http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/484038