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How did our modern languages evolve? Since this is a general question, I'll give a general answer. Many of my examples will come from English, because the history of English is one with which I am familiar. General answer: Modern lanuages evolved due to interaction with other languages, development of dialect, standardization of spelling and grammar, and changes in use over time. Explanation: Languages evolve...

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Do some women think that if a man cries, or expresses his emotions, that he is weak and unattractive? I'm sure there are some women that feel that way, but, if they do, then they are demonstrating themselves to be so emotionally stunted and crippled by unrealistic stereotypes that the man should count himself lucky to have escaped her. Men cry. Men get happy, angry, sad, and depressed just like women, and they cry. And that's good. Crying is a natural part of a healing process....

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Why do some men buy flowers and gifts, but some don't do that at all? Every person has a unique way of expressing love to their partner. According to Gary Chapman, in his book "The Five Love Languages," people have 5 basic ways of expressing love. One of these ways is through Gift Giving--such as flowers, small gifts, etc. A man who feels loved when given gifts is more likely to give gifts to his partner. A man who expresses his love in a...

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How long is the average engagement? I have an old issue of Modern Bride which mentions in an article that an "average engagement" lasts one or two years. (That's a pretty wide scale for an average!) The Knot.com suggests in several places that one year is pretty standard (such as here: http://www.theknot.com/ch_article.html?Object=AI990614152834&keywordID=167&keywordType=2&parentID=533). As a...

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How do companies make money selling items with full price mail-in rebates? They're making a wager. The companies are betting that a significant number of people will purchase the "free" product, and then either forget or decide it's not worth it to fill out the rebate information. That way, it's like they sold it to you for full price. They're also betting that a certain (probably high) percentage of customers will fail to fill out the...

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How can a person find a relationship if s/he only works and does house work? Unless the perfect person for you happens to transfer into your workplace, and neither of you or your employer have any qualms against employees dating... it isn't going to happen. I know--I was in your situation not that long ago. I had just moved back to the US from a long stint overseas, had few friends locally, couldn't afford to go out much, don't care for clubbing and...

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What home remedies are there for vomitting and nausea? As one prone to a middle-of-the-night upset stomach, I think I can help. Besides the ever popular saltines and ginger ale (the saltines help neutralize stomach acid, and the ginger ale helps re-hydrate you while settling your stomach), there are a few. Personally, I find that mint does wonders. The smell of peppermint or spearmint instantly soothes me, and for that reason, I keep a bottle...

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If an anti-gravity machine was invented, what practical uses could it be put to? I can imagine lots of benefits. Besides the already-stated frictionless vehicles--which would make travel a lot easier--how about medical uses? Imagine if instead of being confined to a hot, sweaty bed when sick, you could recoup in a comfy anti-grav pod? No more uncomfortable beds after surgery, either! Chronic back pain is relieved by sleeping on the Grav-less Mattress. Float your way to...

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My parents and my sister are drug addicts. They disrespect me and my parents have disowned me. Should I leave them and get on with my life? Sad as it is, yes. Your family is obviously causing you pain. They disrespect you because you don't fit into their world with drugs, and, so lomg as you avoid such self-destructive behavior, you never will. So long as you are suffering from this relationship, it will be impossible for you to live the rich, full life you deserve. If your parents have disowned you, they have already...

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My very good looking boyfriend constantly asks me about where we are in our relationship, how I feel about him, etc. Why would a hot guy want to be reassured all the time? Hmm. I notice that you pointed out how attractive this guy is twice... and refered to him as a "hot guy" rather than just a guy. I'm getting a strong vibe that the #1 reason you like this guy is for his heart-throb looks, and if so, that's your problem. Perhaps he's figured out that you only think of him as a "hot guy" and are ignoring all of his other good...

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What is a pastor? While the etymological answer is interesting, I thought you might want to know what the word means in a modern context. Some Protestant denominations use the word Pastor to indicate members of the clergy (used by United Methodists, for example). The term is gaining favor over other traditional terms because it is more reflective of their role as "shepherd of the flock" or leader...

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Is it possible to never use curse words? Yes, it is possible. In many cultures swearing is considered a sign that one is too thick to make oneself understood in any other way, and therefore almost unheard of. Swearing usually doesn't become a habit until around puberty (when it becomes cool to use those words, instead of reason for someone to tell teacher). If you're a kid and you don't want to swear, just...

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I'm repeatedly being rejected by girls left and right. What am I doing wrong? You might be looking at the wrong type of girls. A lot of guys--and especially teenagers--are unable to grasp the concept that they aren't innately entitled to date supermodels. They fantasize and chase after girls with perfect bodies, beautiful faces, and terrible personalities, and can't understand why they are constantly rejected. Or your approach may be bad. Lots of girls...

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What would you need to do in order to change your legal first, middle, and last name (if you're male)? The process isn't much different for males or females, friend. In the USA, in most states you can change your name just by common usage. That is, just use the new name all the time, and it's yours! But you want to do it legally. In that case, you'll need to go through a lengthier process. Start by contacting a lawyer or your local county court to find out what paperwork...

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The Imjin and one other river flows into South Korea. What keeps North Koreans from escaping the country by just jumping in and swimming downstream? I saw a documentary recently ("North Korean Crisis" was the name, I think) where they discussed this very thing. As a matter of fact, a few people have done it. But you ask what stops most of them? The answer is armed guards. The border around these rivers is often patrolled, and anyone seen jumping in, swimming, or floating is shot at. In order to jump in out of view of the...

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I attend a public high school but I wish to attend the school in the next district. Is there anyway I could get transfered to another public school in a different district? States have different rules about this, so you'll need to find out how things work in yours. I switched Junior High Schools in the state of Texas, moving to a district in a different city, and here's some of what worked. It helps if you know someone at the other district. A teacher who is a family friend might be able to help; better still if you know someone on the school...

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Why do some churches not recognize Justice of the Peace marriages? Some religions and churches (Catholicism, most famously) consider marriage a sacrament--that is, something sacred to God. Therefore, where marriage is a sacrament of the church, in order to be done properly, it must be done by an official of the church in order to maintain its holiness. Since JPs are secular authorities, marriages they officiate are not proper sacraments, and therefore, not...

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Whenever I move a user made family into a house in SIMS 2, the house gets all choppy with its graphics. What can be done to avoid this? It would help if we knew more about your system, but I'll hazard a guess. It's probably your graphics card. I had a similar problem with user-created families until I upgraded mine. A few questions: Are you seeing all the cinematic scenes and transitions? Can you see reflections in mirrors? Do you sims cast shadows outside? If not, I'd wager a graphics card fault is the...

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What is a foodie? A foodie is someone who is passionate and knowledgeable about food. A foodie demands the best quality food in their diet, and enjoys new and unusual taste sensations. A foodie probably relishes different dishes and cuisines, enjoys shopping at specialty grocery stores and fresh produce markets, reads recipe books as if they were novels, and considers the Food Network a must-have TV...

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What's the difference between a duck and a goose? Both birds belong to the family Anatidae, but are have distinct characteristics. The goose (male--gander) is a medium to large bird and makes a honking call. ("True geese" belong to the subfamily Anserinae.) Non-domesticated geese are very migratory, flying from far north to far south. Geese eat a vegetarian diet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose ...

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Since the SNES is out of date now, how can I obtain a new controller for it these days? If you're not fond of ebay shopping--as I'm not--try game shops. They often have SNES and even NES controllers at my local Game Stop. You might call ahead--if they don't have them, they might be able to tell you where you can get one.

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How do I get to the Tower of Hera? It's at the top of the mountain. Go in through the caves west of the sanctuary. Before you leave, you'll meet an old man--let him follow you. When you exit the cave, he'll thank you with the gift of an old mirror. Be careful of the rocks--climb the ladders to the top of the mountain. You should see an oddly shaped rock with a piece of heart on top. There is a cave door,...

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What is the difference between a lingo, cant, ergot, pidgin, and slang? While all of them refer to methods of communication, they are each unique and not interchangeable. Lingo: the way a certain speech community speaks. A speech community is a group of people who use language the same way among themselves. So, for example, there could be a sort of lingo used by a group of high school students, members of a certain profession, or even members of an internet...

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Why is Uranus the only planet in our solar system that's named after a Greek god and not a Roman god? Sir William Herschel, who discovered the planet, wanted to call it the Georgium Sidis (the Georgian Planet), after King George III who was his patron. The name never really took off with the astronomical community. Most called it Herschel, or Herschel's planet. Later, another German astronomer, Johann Elert Bode, proposed the name Uranus. The idea was that since Saturn was the father...

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When was Uranus discovered and by whom? Uranus was discovered on March 13, 1781 by Sir William Herschel. Herschel was born in Hanover, Germany in 1738. He was one of the most noted astronomers of the 18th century. Besides discovering Uranus, he also built the largest telescope of his era, discovered the 6th and 7th satellites of Saturn (Oberon and Titania), cataloged thousands of nebulae, described the shape of our galaxy, and...

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Can I use my microwave oven to dry my clothes? Yes, you can. You SHOULDN'T, but you can. I've done it... but I don't recommend it. (It was an hour of desperation--cold winter and me without any warm dry socks!) It's really just a bad, bad idea. I set one sock on fire. Another one warped into an interesting, decidedly non-foot shape. I noticed that all the socks I microwaved wore out and developed holes quicker...

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Is it true that a hospital won't try as hard to save someone who has signed up to be an organ donor? Putting aside opinions and television shows, let's look at the reality of the situation. Firstly, if you are injured or suddenly critically ill, there's a strong chance the doctors working on you won't even know if you're an organ donor. They'll be too busy devoting their time and energy to stopping the bleeding to root through your pockets looking for donor cards....

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What would it take to build a lightsaber, as seen in the Star Wars movies? It would take a few advances in technology. A lightsaber is essentially a laser. While we can make lasers--without too much difficulty--we can't make them do the things that lightsabers do. For one, we can't make them abruptly stop at sword-length. In a few years, though, who knows? Technology is truly an amazing thing. For a detailed look at light-sabers, how they work,...

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I recently dyed my hair from blonde to medium brown and it is too dark is there anything I can do to lighten it? At your local beauty supply shop (Sally's, Ulta, etc.) there should be a dye remover product, which you can use to get a lot of the pigment out of your hair. Be very careful when using these. Alternatively, you could try using a hair dye similar in color to your natural hair color. Be sure that after using either of these products you use a good conditioner to keep your hair from drying...

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Will making cookies with melted butter make my cookies turn out different than using room temperature butter? Yes. My dad (award winning chocolate-chip cookie master) advocates using room-temperature, soft but not melted butter because cookies made with melted butter tend to be less moist and are more runny while baking, which makes them lose their round shape. Also, melted butter cookies seem to burn faster. He advises that you set your butter out a few hours before baking. If you're really...

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Why is it considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors? Open an umbrella indoors and bad luck will "rain" on you. But why? There are two schools of thought: The most common stems from the days when umbrellas were used mainly as protection against the sun. To open one indoors would be to insult the local sun god (especially Ra) and invite his wrath on everyone in your household. Another theory borrows from the idea of an umbrella...

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Why is it considered bad luck to bring peacock feathers indoors? It has to do with the beautiful, eye-shaped markings on the peacock feathers. Many cultures associate them with the evil eye, and to bring the evil eye into your home is to invite trouble and sorrow. The association between peacocks and the evil eye is illustrated by the Greek myth of Argus, the monster whose body was covered with 100 eyes. He was turned into a peacock, with his eyes all...

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Why are horseshoes considered to be lucky? In many places throughout the world, horseshoes are nailed above the doorway or carried about as a lucky charm. There are a number of their supposed properties: -The horseshoe invokes the crescent moon or 'sacred vulva' shape of pagan moon goddesses (Artemis, Diana, etc.), and so invites their protection. -The (usually) seven nail holes in a horseshoe invoke the traditionally...

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Are there any books or otherwise fictional literary works about what would happen if all adults 13 and over disappeared, leaving kids 12 and under to run the world themselves? This is also the premise of the graphic novel and television series Jeremiah. Everyone above the age of innocence (puberty) was wiped out by a plague, leaving just children behind. The story takes place ten years later and follows a young man named Jermiah and his friend Kurdy as they travel and meet different groups of young people, all of whom are warring since they've been left...

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Which book has these words, "Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself"? It's from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone, Chapter 17. It is said by Dumbledore, and the full and correct quote is "Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." I believe in the movies, it was said by Hermione in Chamber of Secrets (to Lucius Malfoy, if I'm not...

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Why don't human beings have tails? Since we are in the Evolution FAQ, let's take this from a purely evolutionary point of view. Evolution is a process of mutation over generation. Useful mutations become common; non-useful mutations vanish over time. If a trait is not useful to us as a species, we lose it. Therefore, it's simplest to say that we don't have tails because we don't have any useful need for...

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I have a lot of hair and my hair is wavy, so whenever I leave it down, it gets really puffy. My hair is natural right now, with no coloring or anything. I want to get it straightened by a perm, is it a good idea? Or will it damage my hair? Any kind of chemical treatment on your hair can (and probably will) damage it, but you should be able to manage it. Since your hair is not currently color treated, you should be able to minimize the amount of damage done to your hair. You can probably do it without any lasting ill-effect on your hair. For something like this, you'll want to go to a good salon, not just a corner...

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The University of Oklahoma's mascot is the "Sooner". What is a Sooner? Before Oklahoma was a state, it was considered Indian Territory, and was occupied by a number of tribes who had been pushed west. However, the expansionist white folks pressured the government to open the area to settlement, which they did in 1889. Land was claimed via the famous Land Runs that you so often see in westerns (or re-enacted if you happen to be in Oklahoma or Kansas). There was...

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How can I be certain that the universe isn't merely a figment of my imagination? You can't. This is the very question that led to Descartes' famous pronouncement: Cogito Ergo Sum. I think, therefore I am. The logic is this, much simplified: I am aware of the universe because I perceive it with my senses. However, my senses could be deceived. If I cannot trust my senses to be true, then I cannot be sure that the universe that I perceive is real. If the...

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Can you be arrested for cursing at a police officer? Yes, you can! In most states, there are still laws on the books forbidding the use of foul language in public. Although these laws are seldom enforced, if you've irritated an officer enough, it would give him an excuse for the satisfaction of hauling your dirty mouth downtown. If you were to punctuate your comments with a gesture, for example, you might even be charged with disorderly...

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My cat goes nuts whenever I put on vicks vapo rub or carmex. She goes all wacky on me. She's even tried to bite me. Why does the smell of those things do that to her? A cat's nose is much more sensitive than yours or mine. My cat used to have a similar reaction to Vicks Vapo Rub, and our vet said that it was probably because the strong odor hurt her nose (in the same way a particularly loud sound hurts your ears). She "goes wacky" because she is uncomfortable and confused by the strange odor. While carmex does not have an exceptionally...

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Which is correct, "this is a TV" or "it is a TV"? Both are grammatically correct. When you would use them depends on context. "This" implies that you have the specific appliance in front of you. ("What is this strange box you are standing on?" "This? This is a TV.") "It" does not imply any specific item. It could be one that is not near you. ("What's that thing in the other room?"...

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I'm moving to a new town and a new high school next September, how do I go about making new friends and making a good impression? As one who moved extensively growing up, I think I can help you. The trick to making new friends is finding people who are the kind of people you want to be friends with. (Shared interests and values are a good thing!) A good way to do this is by joining clubs at school, at your place of worship, or in your community. An even better way is by getting involved in activities like sports,...

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Is it possible for someone who had corneal transplants to remember someone that the corneal donor knew? Some say yes, some say no. According to most medical professionals (and the official US organ donation website's urban legend page at http://www.organdonor.gov/myth.html) the answer is no. They say that memories are stored in the brain, and the brain alone. If you were to have, say, a brain transplant, then you would probably gain all the memories of the donor (and lose all of your...

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Should you do your regular gym workout during your monthly period? Why not? The changes that take place in your body during your monthly aren't sufficient to necessitate stopping your workout. You may feel a little worse than usual, but mild-moderate exercise actually helps alleviate some PMS symptoms. (Running on an elliptical trainer works wonders for cramps--at least in my opinion.) A pretty good and thorough article on this subject is available...

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Why are blondes considered to be stupid by some people? What's the history behind this stereotype? The blonde stereotype has changed dramatically over the centuries, and the latest incarnation is the "stupid" image. The short answer to your question would be that it's a combination of historical stereotype, bad press, and human nature. The long answer is more interesting. Let's start with history. Blonde hair is a recessive trait, and therefore somewhat rarer than...

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In the movie Chicago, Hunyak (the Hungarian murderess) explains why she's in jail in another language. What does she say? She says, "What am I doing here? They say my famous tenant held down my husband and I chopped his head off. But it's not true. I am innocent. I don't know why Uncle Sam says I did it. I tried to explain at the police station but they didn't understand." If you listen carefully while she's speaking Hungarian, you can hear her say "Uncle Sam."

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Why do kids/teens sometimes hide food under their beds? Some young people also like to eat alone because it gives them a sense of control. You may have absolute authority over them all day, they think, but by golly, they're gonna eat this bag of oreos in dark of night! (Particularly in households where healthy eating is strongly emphasized, sometimes clandestine munchies are a small act of rebellion.) Diet is one of the few things children...

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Who or what is the Sandman? What is his origin? The sandman is a fantasy or folk figure associated with sleep and dreaming. The story my mother told me is that the Sandman is a very small man who wears a long nightcap, and if you've been very good, he comes in the night and makes you sleepy by sprinkling sand in your eyes, which will give you very good dreams. I think the actual legend is slightly different. According to various...

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What is psycholinguistics? Psycholinguistics is the study of how psychology and language are related. Wikipedia describes it as "the study of the psychological and neurological factors that enable humans to acquire, use and understand language." It studies, for example, how language skills develop, how we develop and understand grammar, and the relationship between language and thought (do we think in words...

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What is an apronym? Courtesy our friends at Wikipedia: "An apronym is an acronym or backronym which is also a real word - or a homophone for a real word - meaning something relevant to the expanded term it stands for. SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) and SHAG (Sexual Health Awareness Group) is a real-word example and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is a homophone example. The word...

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Why do hard-working students sometimes get lower grades than students who put in less effort? Because most hard-working students don't know how to study, and a lot of "less-effort" students do. Ok, sure, there are differences in natural academic proclivity, intelligence levels, etc. But as a certified study-skills tutor, I can assure you that very few students actually know _how_ to study, and waste most of their time staring vacantly at textbooks, trying to digest...

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Is there something I can spray on furniture to keep cats off, and stop them from scratching it? My veterinarian sells a citrus-scented spray that can be spritzed on a towel and placed on a sofa or chair to keep all our animals away. It works fairly well, repels both dogs and cats, and doesn't stain the upholstery. It also has a strong but harmless bitter taste, so we can spritz a bit on anything that our animals shouldn't be chewing, like shoes, table legs, etc. The only...

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In what ways can anti-semitism negatively affect those who are not Jewish? All hatred begets hatred. That should be enough of an answer. I'll spare you pointing out the obvious things, like that any kind of arbitrary hatred generally stems from insecurity and self-hatred being projected outward, and non-Jews who share anti-semitism are just further cementing their own emotional pain and insecurity, making themselves miserable. If you want something more...

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Has a woman ever been nominated for a directing Oscar? To update, Sofia Coppola, daughter of Francis Ford Coppola, was nominated in 2004 for directing Lost in Translation. Although she didn't win, she did take home the Oscar for Best Screenplay.