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If this is the New Answerbag, I will leave. How about you? Must say Jim, I feel the the same. Don't know who or what's to blame. Let's all sign off till 2010 And see if it's improved by then,

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Is it just me or do you think 'ClothesHangerBag' when you look at our new logo? Let's call version 4: “Answerhanger”. (dropped on us all like a clanger.!) Were it now up to me, I'd change 4 back to 3.

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Should the U.S. Legalize Marijuana? I've just been allowed to vote YES twice!!! Who designed this voting system/

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Should the U.S. Legalize Marijuana? Read Misha Glenny's 2008 paperback: "McMafia".

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Thailand's coast disappears as sea level rises. How did the conspirators behind the Global Warming 'hoax' trick the ocean into doing this? Jim - when I tried the original link this morning (10 DEC 2009) it showed other news and ads; but needed a search to locate what you cited: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091207/sc_afp/unclimatewarmingasiaseaerosion_20091207083734 Here is a quote: "She is one of 25 million people under threat in Thailand's vast Chao Phraya river delta, which is sinking because of river...

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Why do I have to edit my question 5 times before it remembers the link or doesn't it remember the link at all sometimes? Good question. The Answerbag server seems particularly reluctant to accept linkage URLs if they are entered with the first submission of a new question. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I usually have to edit any new question for which a link is needed before it gets recognized. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I am guessing...

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I have a mild cold. Not the flu or anything serious. Any remedies? Take more Vitamin C - this works for me :) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On regular days (no sign of a cold) you need about 1,500 mg. (e.g. say three 500 mg chewable tablets with breakfast) If you feel a cold coming on, take this with every meal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The nice thing is it boosts your immune...

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Stories of 'immaculate conceptions' in various forms abound in two religions I know of. What are your thoughts on the concept of 'immaculate conception'? The idea probably arose as a way of trying to protect unmarried pregnant daughters from the wrath of society.

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Swiss leader calls for Jewish cemetery ban. How far should the Christian majority go in stripping the rights of other religions? What the Christian Democratic People's Party is asking for is a ban on separate Muslim and Jewish cemeteries. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This all seems unnecessarily confrontational to me, but apparently it's being done to attract right wing voters. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - How far should they go?...

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Breaking news: Tiger and Elan are working things out. Are you glad to see this? Please click on link to get a photo of them! Please have a sense of humor before opening this link!!!!! Elin Maria Pernilla Could never be a Tiger killer. She's simply the kind of a spouse Who likes to look after her house.

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In view of the (sometimes overlooked) roles played in Afghanistan by international organized crime cartels operating in both the opium and arms trades, is any US troop surge to combat religious extremists (Taliban) an unwise expenditure of life and money? Please flag this question as a duplicate!

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What was the last song that you kept repeating in your mind over and over? Right now it's the background song to the video in this question about dolphins: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8434338

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Can anyone help me translate a spanish paragraph to english? need help asap Go to: http://www.translate.google.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - You can translate into and out of dozens of languages on this website and it's all for free.

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Gosh, do you think Tiger will be able to afford a $164 fine? Just think: One hundred, sixty four! Could this make Tiger sad and poor? Will Mr. Woods go out and beg? Or sign and sell off one tee peg?

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Do men succumb to temptation more than women where beer is concerned? (See the Ad in the Link) First Class Suby! You have a way of . . . . (how should we put this?) sniffing out, putting your finger on, and brilliantly illustrating life's most fundamental questions.

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Can anyone make up a poem about the problem of judgement and justice Judgments about homicide Might well be less screwed up today. Since juries can at last decide To base their say on DNA.

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Do you know any good poems about Trains?..Or Nursery Rhymes? There was a man who fancied that By driving good and fast He'd get his car across the line Before the train came past. He'd miss the engine by an inch And make the driver sore. There was a man who fancied that. There isn't any more . . . . . . . . http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7879319.stm

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What do science and music have in common? Both require detailed measurement. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Science advances as its findings are quantified. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Musical harmony is a complexity of mathematical ratios, and musical rhythm a complexity of sequential counting.

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The Swiss are voting on whether to ban the building of minarets, against a background of criticism from rights groups. Switzerland (population 7.5 million) has 400,000 Muslims and just 4 minarets across the country. Your thoughts? It seems I was wrong to think the Swiss had enough sense to reject this piece of religious discrimination. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The latest news is that the results are in and that the vote is in favour of the ban on minarets. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8385069.stm "More than 57% of voters and 22 out of 26 cantons voted in...

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What did the cow say to the alien? Moo! mooo! mooooo! mooooooo? (= Was that good for you too?)

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Would you kill for money if you know you could get away with it You mean could I be persuaded to sign up voluntarily for any section of the armed forces? Probably not.

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A question For who has read the Old Testment, New testament and quran....When I read them, i feel that they all came from the same source...Almost the same way of telling a story..the same parables are usually used ....etc... thoughts? At the root of the Quran and the Bible is the story of Moses, who acquired unquestionable authority by preaching: “There is only one God. He speaks only to me. Kill anyone who disagrees.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By means of this uncompromising dogma Moses succeeded in uniting the tribes he commanded; but we suffer the...

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How do you un-indocrinate yourself? Spend a few evenings enjoying the DVD "The Story of India" by Michael Wood. http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/ This gives a pleasant mind-broadening perspective on many of the world's oldest cultural legacies.

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What makes us tired when we eat large amounts? Blood gets diverted to your digestive system to absorb nutrients from the food you consumed. This leaves much less blood available to supply energy to other parts of your body (including your brain).

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How World War II wasn’t won. Were you aware of the actual history of the push into Germany? See LINK: Lieutenant General Devers Was very very clever. So Ike should have said: Fine! Go to it. Cross the Rhine.” Had that been done in 44, We might have seen a shorter war, And none would have had to indulge In that damned Battle of the Bulge. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/opinion/23colley.html?_r=1

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Why should we beware of low-flying butterflies? All low-flying creatures can crash. And bang! - into me they might smash. Who knows what pain might be felt? If a crash happened below my belt.

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Palestine would like the occupied eastern side of Jerusalem as its capital; but Israel claims all of this territory for itself, despite disapproval by the USA, EU & Britain. What realistic practical move might President Obama make to try to resolve this? Have just located an interesting website: http://ramallahonline.com/ ("news from occupied Palestine") - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One suggestion mentioned here is the idea of a threefold federation – Israel, Palestine and Jordan. "And perhaps Lebanon, too. Why not?" - like the Benelux pact between Belgium, the...

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What is the longest you've gone on a Vegan diet? The method I used to quite smoking was described in an answer posted in June 2008 to this question: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/293289 It certainly works - all you need is a small pair of scissors!

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Did people ever live at the Tower of London? The tower's primary function was a fortress, royal palace, and prison - particularly for high status and royal prisoners, many of whom didn't usually live there for very long! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The tower was also used as a prison for German prisoners of war throughout WW2. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...

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Is religion used to control people? One of the most chilling examples is the way in which Moses (Torah, Old Testament & Quran) exerted absolute control over the tribes of Israel by convincing them that there was only one God, and that the only person this Deity spoke to was Moses. Anyone who disagreed with this was to be put to death. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indeed killing...

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Our incredibly helpful and wise friend Galeanda is now an "Illuminati" on AB. Would you like to join me in congratulating her? Definitely deserved, well done! Congratulations Galeanda! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - What better day for a fireworks display! * * * * * * * * %%%%%%%%%%%%% ^^^^^^^^ *************

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Brooksley Born, former Chair of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, warned Congress of the need to regulate over-the-counter derivatives 10 years before the 2008 financial meltdown. Isn't it about time (2009) to regulate as she suggested? Yes, such regulation is now (NOV 2009) still dangerously overdue! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan admits he was wrong about the need for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market transpency and regulation. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Warren Buffett has called OTC derivatives ...

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What is the origin of the phrase "Luke-warm?" The word lukewarm has a long and respectable history, going right back to the 14th century. The adjective luke sems to be an alternative form of lew, Old English hleow, which meant 'tepid'. http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/lukewarm

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If all the purebred dog breeds were allowed to hybridize freely would they eventually evolve back into wolves? It is possible that breeds of large dogs (e.g. Wolfhound, Irish Setter) would not choose to mate much with very small dogs (e.g. Chihuahua, Pekingese). The result in the wild could be divergence by size which could be further accelerated by any environmental change that favoured large dogs over small dogs, or vice versa (say if resources were in short supply). Ultimately such...

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If you brush your teeth well immediately after eating anything, will plaque still build up? Brushing your teeth well after eating anything is an excellent way of reducing or practically eliminating dental cavities. You should still get your teeth cleaned professionally about once every two years if you can keep this up. Otherwise get your teeth cleaned annually. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The bottom line is that if you spend more on...

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Its a pleasure to ride a Motorcycle all out in the open? Helmets do interfere with the enjoyment of the activity! Why Can't we cancel the law that makes wearing of helmets by motorcyclists compulsory? Just take that noisy old motor off the bike, Suby. Grownups can usually ride push-bikes helmet-free.

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Our incredibly helpful and wise friend Galeanda is now an "Illuminati" on AB. Would you like to join me in congratulating her? Definitely deserved, well done! Absolutely awesome Galeanda! Your patient attention to detail is truly appreciated. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Level 100 in just 31 months! Wow! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Move over Marge Simpson. Galeanda is soon going to make it onto the cover of Playboy Magazine!

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Goldman Sachs Chairman defends handing out $24 billion in bonuses to top bank bureaucrats. Says his firm is "Doing God's work." Did you realize God paid that well? Take a look at this 5 month old comment from the Observer's "For the record" column, dated Sunday June 28 2009, when Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Vince Cable, said: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The investment banks more than any other institutions created the culture of excessive leverage, excessive risk and excessive ...

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Would you have lunch with Osam Bin Laden? You had me worried there for a minute. I thought you meant "Osama" Bin Laden. Now I read the question more carefully and I can see that this fellow "Osam" must be another member of the same family. So maybe, O.K., but only if he-or-she's paying, and if that includes my round trip to Dubai. Please add a week or two's full board as well.

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20th anniversary of "The Simpsons". Any thoughts? Although they weren't initially conceived exactly as the characters we know today, even the earliest 1987 drawings of Maggie, Lisa, Marge, Homer and Bart are recognizable. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Simpson family first appeared as shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987. Matt Groening submitted only basic sketches to the...

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If looking at a woman lustfully is committing adultery, does that mean that unmarried men are free to look at a woman or does Matthew 5:28 also apply to them? Am very sorry but the instructions are pretty specific: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should...

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AB user, Major Tom, lost his wife Megan to an accident involving a bus, just 8 hours ago. Would you join me in expressing our condolences to him on the loss of his life partner just when he was planning his retirement with her in 2 years time? Major Tom - Please accept my deepest sympathy on your tragic loss.

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How content are you to see humanity continue to live in a walled world? Thanks for your damned good answer! :]

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1) Think of the dumbest person you know... 2) Tell me, do you believe in "survival of the fittest"? Animal breeding demonstrates how quickly human selection generates distinct species of cats, dogs, horses, etc., so how can anyone doubt that natural selection generates distinct species of all living things? http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8205993

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I have a test on the Gospels tomorrow for my New Testament class. Do you have any nifty facts about the Gospels you'd like to share to help me on my test? (keep in mind that my class approaches the Bible as literature). Although too late for the test in question, this website looks at the plausibility and morality of both the New and the Old Testaments and is well worth visiting: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/ It also notes many absurdities and contradictions.

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Canada has got the best what? Geese!

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What are three things you look for when find a place to live? My three things would be: (1) Location, which would include orientation if it involved an existing building design (e.g. it's nice to see the sunset) (2) Environment (Climate, Neighbours, Flora, Fauna & Roads), and (3) Price.

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What's the best way to eat chicken? Make sure it's dead. Remove its head. Carefully pluck it. Put the feathers in a bucket. Chop off its feet. Expose it to heat. Carve it up nice. And save me a slice.

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How could anyone alive today possibly believe that a Divine Being told Moses the laws found in Deuteronomy? It seems this question has been plaguing the Christian Church for centuries. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Marcion (ca. 85-160) was the son of the bishop of Sinope (modern Sinop, Turkey), and excommunicated by Rome as a heretic because he rejected the entire Hebrew Bible, and argued for the existence of two Gods: (1) “Yahweh”, who created...

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How did John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet? John Lennon (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) started The Quarrymen (an English skiffle band) in March 1957. On 6 July 1957, he met Paul McCartney at the Quarrymen's second gig at the St. Peter's Church Woolton Garden fête. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon

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Do you ever worry that you worry too much? Let's be clever and not worry too much about that bus we ain't never gonna catch. And let's not be in a hurry to make a fuss about paint we know don't match.

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I am a Christian but would love to read the Koran (not sure of spelling), is there an online version in English or a training site for English speakers to get to grips with it? English versions of both the Quran and the Bible can be seen online at this detailed but highly critical website: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.htm But be warned it draws specific attention to injustice, intolerance, cruelty & violence.

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God gave Moses the commandment "thou shalt not kill." Didn't he order Moses to do a lot of killing? Many exceptions are recorded to the "thou shalt not kill/muder" command: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Deuteronomy 13:6-10) contains some of God's most controversial Laws, including the command to kill (stone to death) anyone with religious beliefs that are different from yours. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

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"If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things." - Rene Descartes. Have you sought truth to that level? Yes, doubt makes for good testing. And yes, I like the advice: trust but verify. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nonetheless in all things we need working hypotheses, expectations, interpretations and/or explanations that make so much sense to us that we accept them as true even as far as putting our lives at stake were we wrong. - - - - - - - - - -...

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If i go"trick or treating" tomorrow night, what will you give me when i come to your home? A whole 5-pack of Answerbag points!

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Could 'Lithium Orotate' used as a dietary supplement help our body stimulate healthy brain chemistry and protect our brain against the negative effects of refined sugar and food additives such as MSG? You raise an interesting question. A little bit of web-searching exposes quite a lot of uncertainty on this. For example: http://www.bipolar-lives.com/lithium-orotate.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A study involving humans found some effectiveness in the treatment of alcoholism. Three studies based on rats has results as follows: One rat study found no...

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Do you think there would be fewer men with ponytails if we started referring to them as "girly-queues?" :) Probably not. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - But the question might make someone pause and declare: Just what is so odd about men with long hair?

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What text(s) have you found published in religious books (e.g. Torah, Bible or Quran) that you consider to be morally wrong, uncivilized or inhumane? Deuteronomy 13:6-10) contains some of God's most controversial Laws, including the command to kill anyone with religious beliefs that are different from yours. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (Deuteronomy 22: 13-21) Believe it or not, this section explains that if you hate your wife, you can try getting rid of her by saying that she...

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If you hate your wife, you can say she wasn't a virgin when you married her. If her father cannot produce her “tokens of virginity” (e.g. bloody bedsheets) she can then be stoned to death on her father's doorstep. (Deuteronomy 22: 13-21) The question was simply: "Your thoughts?" but when I tried (at least 3 times) to edit this missed line into the original question, I was returned to the edit page to start all over again. Weird.

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I am starting an AB chain of humanity...we dont care about colour,religion or creed, we are who we are...no points....are you prepared to join the chain? I'm not on anybody's team. Wherever the truth lies, I'm for that. - Bill Maher.

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Are you in to superstitions, black cats and voodoo dolls? It's unlucky to be superstitious.

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If monkeys evolved into people, then why are there still monkeys? Both species share a common genetic ancestral root. In other words both humans and apes evolved (and are still slowly evolving) from the same earlier family of animals.

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Earth's population has more than doubled in my lifetime. What should we do to stop overpopulation? Two factors are known to lower birth rates: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (A) Higher income levels (and associated education) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (B) Increased environmental pollution (e.g. from pesticides and toxic waste) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Without any doubt A is the preferred...

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Are you are serious person or more of a clown? A serious person or more of a clown? What could be worse'n a scowl and a frown? To admit that I'm flippant I'd really be loath, So like everyone else, let's just say that I'm both.

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Former Marine Captain Matthew Hoh resigned his US Civilan Adviser post in Afghanistan saying he could no longer support the strategy there. What do you think of his decision? See LINK: The conflict in Afghanistan is inextricably connected with the growing of poppies and the opium trade, upon which many Afghans depend for their livelihood. Rather than waste lives, time, money and effort fighting drug cartels, a much healthier approach is to legalize, regulate and tax the resulting drugs, and to begin implementing this policy at home.

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How many scientists are actually surprised that chimps and humans share a common biological ancestor? Perhaps since the most logical answer is all of the educated ones, you might have meant to ask how many Scientologists are surprised.

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Is it criminal discrimination not to hire a blind person, because you feel a person who can see is better qualified? Because it is not such a good idea to hire a blind person as a hit man, most criminal organizations practice this sort of discrimination.

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It stopped raining, anyone for golf today? Golf is a good walk, spoiled. Mark Twain (1835 1910).

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Work or procrastination? Work or procrastination? You've got me there. Oh Dear. What sort of explanation would you really like to hear? I think I might get indigestion, Pondering about this question. But don't go 'way, I'm gonna try To answer it before I die.

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Earth's population has more than doubled in my lifetime. How much population can Earth support? Richard Leakey recommends a sustainable population of about 3 Billion (less than half its present size). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By 2050, the world will host nine billion people—and that's if population growth slows in much of the developing world. Today, at least one billion people are chronically malnourished or starving. Simply to...

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Why do cats keep their eyes closed when drinking milk from a saucer? This would indeed appear to be traditional cat behavior. Cats can then more easily concentrate on the flavor!

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In Leviticus 1, Moses is told how to make ritual animal sacrifices: Take a male animal, kill it, sprinkle the blood about, cut up the remains and burn them for a "sweet savor unto the Lord." How does this make you feel, knowing that God loves barbecues? It seems they have very high standards of cuisine on high, for Moses was even reminded not to forget the salt: Leviticus 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

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Do you want to know how to repair your freezer, stove, refrigerator, etc.? Check this site out, it is AWESOME! The parts search facility looks useful http://www.appliancepartspros.com/parts Thanks for the site.

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What is the biggest threat to our planet? Traditional Economics! The belief that GROWTH is the goal, the purpose of our existence, that if the economy isn't growing then we are all in trouble. So how do you make the economy grow? Make more babies. Build more houses. Catch more fish. Grow more food.

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It is my understanding that with the right environment and teaching, any human could believe in anything, no matter how absurd and this is the foundation or many religions. What do YOU think? Have you a view or just an anonymous negative scorer? Because the young can be beguiled Religion's best taught to a child. It's legal right across the nation, To practice such indoctrination.

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Why would a God who loved mankind so much that he gave his only begotten son to be a sacrifice for man's sins, commit the majority of his creation to a fiery, eternal tormenting Auschwitz' of a Hell for ever and ever? It doesn't any make sense. You are right about it making no sense, especially since mass murderers are awarded the same fate as non-believers or people of the 'wrong' faith. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Equally baffling is the concept of torturing the son just long enough (3 days) to account for all that sin. After all who is supposed to be doing the accounting? ...

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What childhood experiences and personality traits go into making someone decide to become a cult leader? You would be well on your way if: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (a) You always believed everything your mother told you and (b) Your mother told you that you were divinely conceived. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Dont you hate it when people dont get what you are trying to ask on asnwerbag and they give you the completely wrong answer? Yes, . . . er . . , well you see, a lot of us . . er . . "Asnwerbaggers" are . . er . . . dyslexic.

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Czech President Vaclav Klaus has agreed to sign the Lisbon Treaty and join the EU, waiving Czech anxieties over possible property claims from Germans expelled (e.g. from the Sudetenland) after WW2. Most Czechs welcome this move. Your thoughts? Was unable to correct this question in time. Sorry about that! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Czech Republic is of course already a member of the EU. By signing the Lisbon Treaty, Czechs would be agreeing to the latest European Union Constitution.

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What was the last thing you duct taped? The cardboard box on the back of my bike (to stop it falling apart if it gets wet). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duct tape also works very well to hold together rectangles of styrofoam insulation to make a cover for an air-conditioner in the winter.

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The alleged terrorist that was tortured into giving false answers which directly lead to the Iraq war has committed suicide in Libya. Is this the kind of success pro-torture advocates speak about when they say torture works? http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WO Since none of the existing links given for this question seemed to work as of today (15 OCT 2009), here (followed by an extract) is one that does: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/14/iraq.torture/index.html Al-Libi's claim that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's government had trained al Qaeda operatives in producing chemical and biological weapons appeared in the October...

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When did China discover America? (suggestion: Google the works of Gavin Menzies) The controversial works of Gavin Mezies http://www.gavinmenzies.net/media.asp suggest that, even before setting sail, Columbus already had a chart showing the Americas. Menzies credits the Chinese with discovering America in 1421.

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Was the post WW2 dream of “retirement” limited to just one generation? Workers in North America were promised: work for 30 years more or less, then you can retire securely for the rest of your life. Oh yes? Can you hope to do that now? Your thoughts? The comments below are from the Centre for Research on Globalization: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "The second generation is having a devastating reality check. 2008 was supposed to be a watershed year for retirement: it was the first year that the baby-boomers turned 62, and the retirement frenzy was to begin (since people could begin to draw ...

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Has anybody finished reading "McMafia" by Misha Glenny? What did you think of it? Am only on page 36 of 250; but this looks like a book I'm going to finish; and very interesting if you want to learn about the recent history of the Balkans, since the break up of Yugoslavia.

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I operate on Vista, I have a CD-ROM that is made for XP, 2000, and 98. I've already tried Control Panel→Open w/ older system. But I always get an error message. I understand that a software patch might be in order. Is there one, and where to find??? thx If you get the chance to add a second computer, you could try running an open-source (free) operating system such as Linux Ubuntu. This can open the door to a variety of solutions to the sort of hardware problem you describe. But it's not a bad idea to keep one computer running on your old Microsoft operating system, at least until you are quite satisfied you can do all...

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If when Columbus made it to the U.S. he found Native Americans here then why do we have a holiday for him? What did he do to deserve it? He woke and peered at the sky. He heard the masthead lookout cry: Land ho shipmates! Rise and shine! He thought: I've found it, and it's mine! The year was 1492, October 12. The sky was blue. Columbus, still in his pajamas, Had just discovered the Bahamas. But should this be a holiday Right across the U.S.A.? Or should we now confine the ball To where...

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How does one discern between God speaking to you, and your subconscious telling you what you wanted to hear? Many religious revelations are the results of a dream. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And it seems that dreaming is just the brain's way of sifting through the contents of our short-term memory in an attempt to correlate significant (scary or pleasant) events with other memories in longer-term storage. That way the short-term memory can be safely...

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Michael Moore has a new movie out called "Capitalism: A Love Story", and called Capitalism ""Organized Greed" on Leno. Isn't he being hypocritical, considering the amount of money he will be making from the film? Michael Moore can make money and make sense at the same time. Sub-prime mortgage financing is one of his recent targets.

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Why exactly are there areas of higher or lower pressure? Is it the air masses? I know what accompanies them, but why does pressure drop and rise in one spot? The answer is heat from the sun, which warms darkish land masses more quickly than it warms shiny water masses. When air gets hot from contact with these warm mases it expands and rises. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A second effect is the evaporation of water again caused by heat. Oddly enough water vapour is lighter than dry air at the same...

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President Clinton lifted the ban on gays serving in the military, but accepted the compromise that they cannot reveal their sexual preferences. But this seems to mean that gay soldiers must be discharged as soon as they admit the fact. Your thoughts? President Obama is dealing with this issue in his own straightforward way http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8301120.stm and promises to end the ban on gay people serving openly in the military. This approach seems to solve the problem of "what do we do if somebody asks and somebody tells".

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What are you planning to do to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of TV's most dysfunctional family? To preserve some semblance of family decency I was thinking of asking Hugh Hefner to reconsider his plan to feature Patty and Selmer in a 2010 centrefold.

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Good morning America! Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize. What are your initial thoughts? "The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 to US President Barak Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons." http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/22602/1/ This...

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A family in South Wales has found Jesus -- he showed up in sprinkles of Marmite on the inside of a jar lid (photo provided for proof). Could this be considered a divine endorsement of "the Devil's food"? There's nothing like a bit of good proof. To show us skeptics that's it's no spoof. Ask yourself would your Dad think it right? Maybe yes. Maybe no. But perhaps your Ma might?

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Yikes, I just saw a house mouse climb the wall, is that normal? It must have been something you said.

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My car was totalled this week. I have roughly 13,000 to spend on a new car. I prefer Toyota or Nissan. Any good car recommendations within the price range? I just need something safe and to have some character. With $13,000 in hand, you could explore Craig List http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites for something in your location that you could test-drive. Ideally you should be buying from the original owner, and the car should have no more than 100,000 km on it. Examples from both ends of the size scale might be a Toyota Echo or Honda CRV.

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Why do people named Richard call themselves Dick? Can someone please explain how you get Dick out of Richard? Richard -> Ricky -> Dicky -> Dick Richard Nixon new the trick :)

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What effect is obesity having on life expectancy in the United States? Will obesity increase or decrease health care costs? Some predict that due to obesity, US life expectancies may drop from 2 to 5 years in the next fifty years. http://seniorhealth.about.com/od/prevention/a/obese_ife_ex.htm The only mitigating financial factor could be that patients with medical problems induced by obesity (e.g. type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke) will be spending less time as senior citizens.

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Do you think it is right for President Obama to forget the past and engage in talks between the United States and Cuba? Why or why not? You don't have to forget the past to engage in talks. Both sides have something to gain from exchanging ideas. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Don't forget that despite everything Cubans enjoy a more efficient health care system than the US. Their life expectancies are comparable, They even survived the US financial meltdown.

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It seems a lot of information is skewed everywhere we go. What is the best way to find the facts when it comes to politics, history, news stories etc. One reliable source is BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/ And to round things out a bit, look at the English version of al jazeera. http://english.aljazeera.net/

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What do you think Michael Moore's best video is?? I would have to pick Sicko, I loved it. Have encountered some argument over the claim made by Michael Moore in "Sicko" that Cubans enjoy a longer life expectancy than do citizens of the United States. http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7916005 Nonetheless I really liked "Sicko" especially the section dealing with the French health care system, and its way of compensating doctors in part at least based...

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Do you often ruminate or are you not a ponderer? Until the weather warms up a bit, You paddle in the pond, I'll read in my room. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In the meantime just for you, is a photo of (yes, really!) an actual live growing Ponderosa.

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Are gift cards unoriginal, unpersonal and an easy way out? Gift cards can be O.K. They might even be rash. But if you're like me, you'd prefer to get cash. :]

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Holy______! Fill in the blank, please? Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds!

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I saw the full moon with a large curving light circling around it a few weeks ago. Why did Einstein use the eclipse test to prove that space was curved instead of observing the radiating circle of light around a full moon? Albert Einstein (1879-1955) encouraged others to test his predictions regarding the bending of light beams by intense gravitational fields. The first real (post WW1) opportunity to do this came with the solar eclipse of 29 May1919 with the sun blacked-out by the moon against the star-filled backdrop of the Hyades in the constellation Taurus. This solar eclipse was only visible...

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What are your thoughts on the claim by Vancouver Liberal MP Hedy Fry that the "C" on the new Canadian Olympic team uniform looks a bit too much like the logo for the federal Conservative Party? From the photos below, the two logos seem quite alike.

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Which park was designated the first National Park in the USA? In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established as arguably the world's first truly national park. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_park

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RIght handed people: what tasks do you do well with your left hand? Well let's see . . . . cut my right hand nails play bass piano clef, and put on my right glove.

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There are never any good questions to answer in dance, so if you have any questions about the ballet or contemporary dance, ask away. I will be happy to answer. :) The other day I asked this question: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1724809 and found it got downrated almost immediately.

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Is anyone worried about Iran having nuclear missiles pointed at Israel? Do you think this could lead to another Cold War? Worse still would be the start of another Hot War (i.e. WW3).

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Anybody here beta testing Google Wave? If you are, what's your conclusions? If not, are you interested? See LINK: Thanks for drawing attention to this development by Google. It would probably take up a considerable amount of time to be really cooperative and test run this sort of multi-tasking application, so maybe it's not for me; but am prepared to take a closer look before opting out.

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When you support your friends do you expect them to be supportive of you? Take AB for example...would you continue to answer your friends' questions if they rarely/never bother to answer yours or do you care? In real life there's a reasonable chance that they will, and that's going to be good enough for most of us. On Answerbag, it probably depends a lot on the question.

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Where has the fun on AB gone? Maybe everybody's gone back to school :)

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Is distracted driving due to texting reaching epidemic proportions? (see link) It is if you were driving when you posted this question.

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Are there any countries that do NOT accept asylum seekers? If you are applying from an insane asylum, you might even find have a bit of a problem getting accepted into the United States.

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Do you consider "golf" as a sport? Well yes, it' a sport of sorts, just like other games in which some sort of ball gets knocked around. But mind you it's not for everyone. As Mark Twain so aptly put it: "Golf is a good walk - spoiled."

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GOP says President Obama is 'dithering' on Afghanistan. If George W. Bush had done a little dithering before bravely riding in with 4,000 men to surrpound Bin Ladden and 50,000 Taliban, might we not be still dithering 9 years later? See LINK: Yes, and it didn't help to not speak their language, to forget what happened when Russia invaded, to have no clue how to find OBL, and to not realize their first priority was their economy.

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Spanish question: There are two sides of an argument. Que es la palabra para los dos "sides." El reverso también tiene un reverso. The reverse side also has a reverse side. (Japanese proverb)

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Hubby wants a meat slicer - will it end up in the unused appliance closet with the food processor and breadmaker? If all else fails, you can always show him how to use a sharpener stick and a carving knife instead.

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What would be a funny business name for a dental office? Donald Keith Spooner might get his degree in dentistry and stick up a sign with this design: D.K. Spooner - Better visit me sooner!

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How did automobiles get to be known as 'cars'? Marky Mark got it right. At first they called them "motor carriages", but then "motorcars", and finally just "cars" as their popularity grew.

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Global Fund CEO Kavita Ramdas was a featured guest on Bill Moyers Journal (25 Sep 2009). What did you think of her down-to-earth discussion of women's human rights? To quote Kavita Ramdas: "Why is it that you have statistics like a woman being raped every six minutes? In this country, in the United States!"

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Rory Stewart was a guest on Bill Moyers Journal (25 Sep 2009). What did you think of his views on the current situation in Afghanistan? In Stewart's opinion, the McChrystal report is the military's answer to the wrong question: what would it take to defeat the Taliban? He explains, "I think the President has defined a very, very narrow objective. He's said that we're there to do counter-terrorism. That's what he's been saying since January. But then he said in order to get there, we need this...

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President J.F.Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy both were assassinated by shooting. Did their brother Edward Kennedy ever get shot? He was smart enough never to agree to go on any quail hunts in Kenedy County, Texas. with former VP Dick Cheney.

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What's the most interesting biography you've read? Although I am only about half way through (and that's not bad for me in one week), the 2007 biography of Albert Einstein "EINSTEIN - His Life and Universe" by Walter Isaacson looks as if it would take the prize.

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What are some of your favorite Albert Einstein quotes? “A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth.” "It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education." Albert Einstein (1879-1955).

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How do you think you could persuade your local municipality to improve its toxic waste collection and disposal facilities? Remember waste disposal is a lucrative business and can attract great interest from organized crime. How about by making a "Red Box" labeled "HAZARDOUS WASTE" for used batteries, old paint cans, etc., and placing it at some spot (agreed on by your neighbours) for collection by the municipality.

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Can you recommend a good restaurant (any food style) in city centre Glasgow, moderately priced? Take a look at: http://www.urbanspoon.com/pr/340/2/Glasgow/Moderately-Priced-Restaurants.html

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I've tried and tried anyone ever successfully quit smoking and can give some advice or tips on how to beat it please please? After smoking cigarettes for more than a decade, breaking the habit was a matter of questioning the way smokers are expected to behave. Why should smokers go along with the tobacco companies' idea that they have to consume one whole cigarette every time they feel a bit like a nicotine hit? Here's the secret: PART A - Cutting Down (1) Always carry a small pair...

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Why is America falling so far behind Japan now in edible underwear technology? Yes, where is Bart ("Eat my shorts") Simpson when you need him?

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For my performance I am giving on Thursday I need to sound like a old wise women speaking. I am having trouble with doing that vocally because I'm 32. Do you know of any videos I could look at to get an idea? You should listen to the speech given in 1992 by David Susuki's talented daughter Severn Cullis-Suzuki: http://www.youtube.com/watch "The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The most important thing is to have good content. After that it's a question of speaking confidently and unhurriedly, and...

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Do you notice an appreciable increase in the number of mosquitoes? What must be the reason? When it's been a wet summer mosquitoes find it easier to breed, as their larvae can develop easily in stagnant puddles of rainwater.

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If you watched Jay Leno's show in its new time slot last night, what did you think of it? See this answer to almost the same question: http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7740927

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Did you see the new Leno show last night on NBC? Does anybody else think that its kinda sad for him to keep clinging on instead of bowing out gracefully??? and i'm looking at you too, Brett Favre ... Yes, I watched quite a bit of it, and thought it was pretty tame. Jay Leno is capable of establishing a good contact with an audience; but he needs better script writers, which he still clearly hasn't got, can't afford, or refuses to afford. And yes, he needs his desk back.

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What are some creative way to present a report on David Suzuki? Include a reference to the speech given in 1992 by David's talented daughter Severn Cullis-Suzuki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g8cmWZOX8Q "The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes" She was (born November 30, 1979 in Vancouver, Canada) an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author. She has spoken around the world about environmental issues, ...

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I don't know whether this young lady researched and wrote all her own material; but she is one awe-inspiring orator, and a future world leader. What do you think? Here's a better link for this question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0 It's a speech given in 1992 by David's daughter "The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes" Severn Cullis-Suzuki was born in 1979 in Vancouver, Canada. She is an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author. and has spoken around the world about...

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How much discrimination against short men can you detect in everyday life? Do they get a fair chance at most job opportunities? Do women rank height as much more important than most other male attributes? Not until seeing a documentary about Chinese legislation against "heightism" did I realize that such a word existed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heightism

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In Israel military rabbis are trained in warfare as well as religion. They graduate from officer's school and operate closely with military commanders to boost soldiers' morale and drive, even on the front line. Your comments? This BBC NEWS report provides a reference for this question: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8232340.stm

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At least two super-volcanic explosions (Lake Taupo ~26,500 years ago, and Lake Toba ~75,000 years ago) have devastated the human race since its migration from Africa. How come these gigantic events get no mention whatsoever in religious texts? The Lake Toba eruption plunged the Earth into a volcanic winter, eradicating an estimated 60% of the human population (although some humans seem to have survived, even in the vicinity of the volcano). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supervolcano Any account of the origin and history of humankind that is prepared to omit any reference this event is to say the least a little lacking in...

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If Adam and Eve were the 1st and ONLY humans at the garden of Eden. Doesn't that mean incest had to go on for quite some time in order to populate the world (as it was known at that time)? Maybe it was incest Or more girls made from ribs. Then again perhaps it's all Just pre-Darwinian fibs.

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Have you ever cried when a celebrity died? Am told I used to do that regularly in my first year.

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Why would someone not have any religion in life? Some people like to take the whole weekend off :)

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The link below this question shows the "No Smoking" signs that are unique to Alaska. I assume you "get" them, right? (Cute and clever, dontcha think?) One might imagine Sarah herself saying: "You betcha!".

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Why does morality exist? Considerate behaviour amongst members of a group can have a strong binding influence, creating dedication at all levels. The resulting allegiance by members to a family, sect, tribe or nation reinforces the group's infuence, and can be critical in determing its survival.

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Do you think peace is finally on the cards for the Middle East? Today's (7 SEP 2009) announcement by Israel to build more than 450 new homes in the occupied West Bank doesn't help.

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Do you know that the ants think winter all summer and quite Interestingly the ant thinks of summer all winter.? The abilities of the "hive mind" are staggering. http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/H/hiveintel.html And of course it's not just insects. Other creatures (humans included) can display "hive mind' intelligence.

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Why did Libya want the Lockerbie bomber back? Libya welcomed al-Megrahi home as an innocent man. (http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/7574701) But it is perceptive to ask why did Libya agree to have al-Megrahi released from prison. The answer appears to be that Libya wanted to continue improving trade relations with the international community, None-the-less this explanation makes sense only if both the U.K. and the U.S. were...

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What's so special about Swiss banks? What makes them different from any other bank? Why are mainly they used in movies? Traditionally Swiss banks have offered their depositors the benefits (legal and otherwise) of “secret” numbered accounts. Money deposited in these accounts could be used to generate a source of income illegally free from certain income taxation should the account owner chose not to disclose it. Movie villains (e.g. Mafia bosses) sometimes use Swiss bank accounts to...

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Was al-Megrahi welcomed back to Libya as a successful bomber, or as the wrongly accused man he has always claimed to be? Googling "al-Megrahi defence evidence" gives informative links such as: # Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Withholding of evidence from the Defence was one of the reasons why the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission referred Mr. Al-Megrahi's case back to ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdelbaset_Ali_Mohmed_Al_Megrahi # Woolly Days:...

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Why has there been so little outcry from Washington on the release of the Lockerbie bomber? Perhaps both Washington and London are happy to have had the threat of a successful appeal removed.

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Why do sometimes good people suffer and bad people don't? Because no Judgmental Divine Being is running the show.

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Mr. Tern and Mrs. Tern have 2 children...what are their names? I don't know but I guess one good Tern deserves another.

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Many advocates of democracy hope sincerely to spend their entire afterlife in an ideal dictatorship. How do you explain the logic of this? Maybe no logical answer can be found for this question. But belief in a subservient afterlife could explain why some earthly regimes attempt to copy what they imagine to be the rules of conduct of a heavenly autocracy.

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Was al-Megrahi welcomed back to Libya as a successful bomber, or as the wrongly accused man he has always claimed to be? For statements about what al-Megrahi has always claimed was a wrongful conviction, see link below: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208432/A-2m-witness-payment-bogus-forensic-evidence-Pentagon-memo-blaming-Iran-How-Lockerbie-bomber-threatened-Scottish-justice.html In the circumstances it is easy to imagine how he might have decided to accept the Scottish Government's...

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Here is a beautiful piece of orchestral music and the soloist is. . . Nora, The Piano Cat. Seriously, Is this not amazing? Pretty amazing – even if this were an edited series of connected clips of the cat's piano playing rather than a continuous live performance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - One way of making this sort of thing would be to first collect the best clips of the cat's playing, then string them together in a video, then write the orchestration, then...

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How do you learn a song by listening to it say on the radio? How do you tell what key it's in? Whistle the tune to yourself over and over until you can get to a keyboard. Then it's easy enough to locate the right notes for the melody, and see what key it's in. The same approach will work with other tuned instruments.

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Should the leader of the Scottish National Party be made to resign over allowing this convicted mass murderer to be freed? Take a look at this news release concerning $2m witness payment and bogus forensic evidence: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208432/A-2m-witness-payment-bogus-forensic-evidence-Pentagon-memo-blaming-Iran-How-Lockerbie-bomber-threatened-Scottish-justice.html The Scottish National Party played it safe by ensuring there could be no further appeal.

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Scotland just released Al-Megrahi (Lockerbie crash). Do you think this had anything to do with his pending appeal and recent findings that cast doubts on his original conviction? Imagine if an appeals court overturned his conviction. For statements about what al-Megrahi has always claimed was a wrongful conviction, see link below: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../...tish-justice.html In the circumstances it is easy to imagine how he might have decided to accept the Scottish Government's offer even though this would mean no further chance to appeal. An overturned conviction would have had far-reaching ...

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Will Barack Hussein Obama turn his back on Israel completely? If so what can we as Americans do to let Israel know the American people still support them? Barack Obama has simply asked the Israelis to stop expanding settlements in the occupied territories. A straightforward legitimate and reasonable request. Many Israeli Jews have no problem with this. They see it as a step in the right direction. Americans need to show the world how to get on with both sides and that the only worthwhile objective is peace in the Middle East.

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Is it feasible to try to scan 35mm film negatives on a standard flatbed scanner, or is a specialized film-scanner an absolute necessity for digitizing 35mm negs at home? I have tried using the screen of an old (3:4 aspect ratio) laptop as the backlighting for an array of slides placed on the surface of a similarly sized flatbed scanner. The laptop was made to display an all white screen; but it was just not bright enough to produce good results. Am still looking for a better backlighting source.

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Certainly we enjoy spending time here at Answerbag - the sincere motivation to help people as well as the chance to have your opinions heard in public is the draw for many - but are there other reasons why so many "hang out" here each day? Checking out what others find interesting is always interesting, as is seeing how many (if any) agree with our own conceptions and misconceptions!

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Have you ever considered more plausible rational explanations for some of the specific miracles described in renowned religious texts? Two examples: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Setting a good example by sharing your food with others can start a lot of people doing the same. Do this at a crowded gathering and it could be retold as the miracle of feeding the five thousand. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Discovering an opened tomb with a recently buried body of an executed person missing might seem like a...

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What changes when we die? You stop worrying about not having made a backup copy :)

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Who's to blame for the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan? According to Tim Weiner’s recent book "Legacy of Ashes - The History of the CIA", it began under Jimmy Carter’s Administration in January 1980: “The CIA’s biggest gunrunning mission was its global pipeline to the mujahideen, the holy warriors of Afghanistan, who were fighting the 110,000-man Soviet army of occupation.”

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Do you think it is necessary that we should always be well prepared for a war? Yes, unless you want to end up living peacefully like Costa Rica and about 20 other like-minded countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_without_armed_forces

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How do little babies survive car crashes in which adults get fatally injured? The same way spiders survive getting thrown off the top of tall buildings :)

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Do poverty levels actually fall during a recession? You can manipulate the chart on this website to find out more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8177864.stm Your comments? The correct website for the poverty chart is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8177864.stm

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Indigenous people in Niyamgiri, India are threatened by a mining project financed by the Church of England. The project is accused of damaging the environment and destroying wildlife. "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8167223.stm" Your comments? To learn more about protest group perspectives on this mining controversy see: Action Aid International (http://www.actionaid.org/) and Survival International (http://www.survival-international.org/)

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Who started chrismas? The Sun’s motion in the sky has been supremely important to the daily life of human beings and other living creatures for hundreds of millennia. In latitudes outside of the equatorial belt, the Winter Solstice has long been celebrated by ancient societies because it marks the end of a frightening annual period of shortening days, which many feared might never end. So...

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Is it true that mixed breed dogs don't live as long as pure breeds? Does it also matter how many breeds are in the mixed? Since prehistoric times humans have intentionally fed dogs they considered useful, while killing others, to establish special relationships between humans and specific types of dogs over thousands of years. In this way domesticated dogs developed into different types, or groups (e.g. livestock guardian dogs, hunting dogs, and sight hounds). In order to maintain these differences,...

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How do you win a war on terrorism? (your enemy can be anyone) Rein in the brigades. Forget detonation. A long-term solution demands education.

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How does the colour of the iris help us Anything that helps group affiliation could be said to have a positive effect on the course of a species' evolution. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Since eye colour is inherited, it helps identify family members, and larger related groups.

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There was someone selling plots of land on the Moon. Is he still in business? Would you consider buying a plot for yourself on the Moon? Ownership of extraterrestrial real estate is not recognised by any authority. Nevertheless, some private individuals and organizations have claimed ownership of celestial bodies, such as the Moon, and are actively involved in "selling" parts of them through certificates of ownership termed "Lunar deeds", "Martian deeds" or similar. These...

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India, China and Russia have publicly stated that they have no intention of trying to limit their carbon emissions. What good would it do the U.S. to be the only major (based on population) country tackling this one? Imagine a room that is large but airtight. Pack it with people who aren’t too bright. Some of them start to light up and smoke. But you are a much more intelligent bloke. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - They need a lead from someone like you. So what do you do? Do you light up too?

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Well, who are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who? ) I really wanna know (who are you? who, who, who, who? ) Tell me, who are you? (who are you? who, who, who, who? ) cause I really wanna know (who are you? who, who, who, who? ) Normally I don’t reveal Just who I am, or how I feel. But just this once, and just for you: May real name is: Doctor Hu.

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Why have permanent tattoos when tattoo stickers in a variety of designs are available? Because people don't wince mentally when they realize that you are wearing a stick-on tattoo.

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Imagine you were Bernie Madoff with billions of dollars of stolen funds at your disposal, and friends in high places. What sort of clever contingency plan might you devise to save the day in the (unlikely) event that your scam ever landed you in jail? Madoff might, for example, have asked a friend (i.e. a friend in a high place) to tap into a secret source of funds and procure the costly services of an expert team of jail breakers. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Failure to comply within a certain time period could have serious consequences for this friend, who could be implicated in the...

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Madoff got 150 years. Your thoughts? Madoff is about to pay the price for giving zilch away. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = But still he might expect (in some movie-worthy plot), a dramatic rescue financed by the billions he got.

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Where did the concept of God really originate? Most probably in an attempt to explain human concerns, such as natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes & floods), death and the recognition of human mortality. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Divine Entity intervention was a comforting explanation, as it suggested something could be done, both after and before the event(s) took place. Appeasing the Divine...

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According to a recent BBC report, Australian wallabies are getting stoned and making "crop circles" in medical opium fields. Is Australia's becoming the "underworld's" new drug centre? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8118257.stm For anyone having difficulty seeing wallabies. This link really works: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8118257.stm (there was a gap between the dot and the "stm" in the original question)

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At least 45 people attending a funeral are reported killed by a US drone aircraft in the South Waziristan region of Pakistan. What do you think of this tactic of using of killer drone aircraft? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8115814.stm The problem is that this can increase terrorist ("resistance fighter") recruitment which in turn can increase not decrease the threat to U.S. lives. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At the core of the problem is bad publicity due to the nature of the target (a funeral) and the means of killing (an unmanned drone).

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French photographer/wallpaperer "JR" amazed Rio de Janeiro in 2008 when giant posters of staring eyes started appearing on buildings in the city's oldest favela. Your opinion of his work? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8091890.stm Sometimes an artist like JR can have a real and healthy impact on the world around and on its society. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Click on the link below to see JR's work, which has now made its way onto some of Rio's grander structures. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Take a tour of the city with the artist himself, ...

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Where is Big Ben located? He's usually found waiting in line for another Big Mac.

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Are you looking forward to a Futurama revival? Am uncertain about surviving on reruns until mid 2010; but at least there is now some hope for the Futurama :)

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We all would like to have 100% of everything we want...but would you be willing to compromise to get some of what you want, or would you hold fast, not compromise and be willing to gamble on not getting anything that you want? This will come as no surprise: Life is a game of compromise. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- :) Now come on, you know that this answer is worth 6 points - and no compromise!

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Does having fish in a fish tank constitute 'having pets'? Only if some of them are alive.

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What is your favorite anti religion website? Links would be nice. Thanks. Maybe the best is the Skeptic's Annotated Bible: http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It has a nice detailed classification of texts from the Bible, Quran and Book of Mormon. See list below: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Absurdity Injustice Cruelty and Violence Intolerance Contradictions Science...

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What are your thoughts on the Owl? They make very good poker players :]

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Bertrand Russel said: "What the world needs is not dogma but an attitude of scientific inquiry combined with a belief that the torture of millions is not desirable, whether inflicted by Stalin or by a Deity imagined in the likeness of the believer." Agree Republicans might have to blush Comparing Russell with George Bush. Russell (not one L, but two) Could have shown Bush what to do. Bertrand knew we end as dust; But he remained humane and just. Never would he cry: “I’ve caught ya!” And send a captive off for torture.

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I find poker on TV as interesting as watching the grass grow,what do you think of TV poker? Poker is a game of nerves and lots of patience. Television can show you just the more interesting bits and can cut out the boring waiting periods in between.

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Why don't people appreciate the fact that God sent Jesus to die for their sins? Probably for several good reasons: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1) Because we all seem to die eventually. (2) Because God's Son was supposedly immortal. (3) Because it was preached that suffering not death was the price of sin (supposedly past and future). (4) Because in any case whatever was traded for sin was supposedly mercilessly measured for...

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Is there a giant, intergalactic space agency watching and evaluating the Earth - deciding whether we are stupid or wise? Fortunately there is no sign of extra-terrestrial intelligent life close enough to Earth to stand a chance of receiving our revealing TV transmissions. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - By the time our 6-decades-or-so-of embarrassing news stories, soap operas, fantasy movies and cartoons reach far enough out into space for there to be a remote possibility of...

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Which distribution of Linux is easiest to install? My first and only try at installing Linux was made by buying an unknown (to me) British distro's package off a magazine rack in a shopping mall. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The package contained a glossy 130 page magazine titled: "LINUX MADE EASY" and a CD for installing Ubuntu 8.04 with the logo: "Future - media with passion"....

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What is the harder concept to grasp... that the universe has always been here or that something started it? It's the sort of thought that loops back on itself, for whatever "started it" has to be part of the universe.

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Ubuntu 9.04 has been released. Did anyone install it? Would you recommend me going to 9.04 from 8.10? One of my friend who installed the beta a few days back had sever issues. Is the 9.04 stable enough now? Would you recommend this upgrade for a newbie? The update from Ubuntu 8.10 to 9.04 finished on my older computer about an hour ago (the newer one is running Windows Vista). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Am a newbie myself to Linux Ubuntu (as of this month), but so far so good. So yes, I would download it.

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Would you rather make cigarettes illegal or make pot legal? Legalizing marijuana would make more sense (and could also make more tax money). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Presently, only four EU nations - Finland, France, Greece and Sweden - maintain criminal penalties for marijuana consumption. http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4314

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War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left. What are your thoughts on this quote? Yes, fighting is our oldest and most primitive way of resolving a dispute. Right has little to do with the outcome. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Imagine what would happen if the legal system allowed contesting parties to fight it out physically. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Even so prolonged court battles using teams of lawyers...

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When will the $69 billion-a-year War on Drugs be declared a failure? It will probably be realized very slowly, in a step-bystep process as many (if not most) of these substances get legalized and taxed.

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What good open source audiovisual software will run with the latest Ubuntu Linux operating system? Finally it dawned on me that a version of Abobe's Flash Player can be downloaded to run under Linux Ubuntu. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - No more problems!

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With Ubuntu 8.04 (or later) as your operating system, what is the best screen resolution you can get for a 16:9 widescreen monitor - and please tell me how (the @#$%$#) you do it? A friend from Norway sorted this out for me: * First make sure your current Ubuntu is totally up-to-date. * Install update-manager or verify that you already have it. * Press <ALT><F2>and enter update-manager -d<ENTER> * The program should now inform you that there is a new version of Ubuntu available and ask if you want to upgrade. * Go for it. Unlike alternative...

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Why do people insist on bringing small, crying children into movie theaters? Because if they leave them outside the theater, they could get arrested for child abandonment.

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Albert Einstein said, "The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe." Do you agree or disagree, and why? Albert was indeed concerned. When something's hot, Kids can get burned. He understood it just takes one Lunatic to spoil the fun. So now we’ve made the bombs much bigger, But how d’you keep fools off the trigger?

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What would you say if a state or province banned the use of pesticides as a precautionary measure, even if no definitive quantitative evidence were available to support the claim that pesticides are harmful to humans and/or to the environment? "Excessive pesticide use if North America has led to a decline of up to 50% of managed colonies of honeybees." http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=3450 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees. No more pollination . . . no more...

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What's your impression of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his presentations in N.Y.? When I read this question I thought it was about his speech to the UN in Geneva in April 2009. The Iranian President clearly still enjoys confrontation. But that doesn't mean all he says is unfounded slander. Ahmadinejad condemned the establishment of the state of Israel after World War II, and called its government a “most cruel and repressive racist regime.” ...

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Scoring up to 100 points for: (a) Activity and Information Release (b) Bailout Strategy (c) Campaign Promise Keeping (d) Diplomacy & Relations Abroad (e) Effective Decision Making How would you rate President Obama’s first 100 days in office? For your reference, in the link below the BBC's Washington team covers the first 100 days of the Obama presidency: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7994368.stm

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What credible estimate can you find for the amount of toxic waste added to the world’s oceans since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in (say) 1760? If you can come up with a figure, then how much more is now being added annually? Here for example are some data from http://marinebio.org/Oceans/OceanDumping.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Industrial Waste In the 1970s, 17 million tons of industrial waste was legally dumped into the ocean. In the 1980's, 8 million tons were dumped including acids, alkaline waste, scrap metals, waste from fish processing, flue desulphurization,...

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Do you think that every time you/somebody down-rates something, they should also comment on it explaining why they think it is a bad answer? Down-rating is sometimes used to suppress the appearance of an (unwelcome) question on any AB point-ranked question list. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This down-rating technique has been used with reasonable but perhaps "politically sensitive" questions such as: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1406838 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...

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What is your favorite chord? On the piano it's got to be C Major 7th (CEGB) which to me suggests the opening of David Raksin's hit theme song to Otto Preminger's 1944 drama "Laura".

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What is the general OPINION on AB about downrates: Is it okay to downrate on opinion questions, especially when they specifically ask for opinions? Ok do downrate for disagreement, or a faux pas? In the case of AB Opinion Questions, down-rating might sometimes make sense if (say) the Question contains very offensive statements, or if the wording is absolutely nonsensical. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here's an example of one of my own Opinion Questions: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1400813 down-rated at least twice for no known reason.

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It is said that piracy off the coast of Somalia can be traced to worldwide over-fishing of its tuna-rich waters following the 1991 collapse of the country’s government. (http://www.grist.org/article/ArrrFishin/) Your opinion? Background to piracy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pirates#Background_to_piracy The huge waves which battered northern Somalia after the December 2004 tsunami are believed to have stirred up tons of nuclear and toxic waste that was illegally dumped in the country by several European firms. The European Green Party gave the European Parliament in Strasbourg copies of contracts signed...

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What are some things that a beginner should know before going to a casino for the first time? It's not just what you do in Vegas that stays in Vegas. (It's as likely to be every last cent you take to Vegas.)

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CIA director Leon Panetta says the US has now (mid April 2009) stopped running its network of secret prisons (in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa) which President Obama vowed to shut down. Your views on this? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7993087. That news link should read: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7993087.stm Mr Panetta said the CIA no longer employed controversial "harsh interrogation techniques", like "waterboarding", or simulated drowning, which have been widely condemned. He also announced that the CIA was no longer allowing outside "contractors" to carry out interrogations. ...

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Bearing in mind the real danger of earthquake aftershocks, did the Pope make a wise decision to stay away from L'Aquila, Onna and Castelnuovo until after Easter 2009? Pope Benedict XVI's decision meant that he did not disappoint the faithful who came to celebrate Easter Mass in St Peter's Square in the Vatican. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7995456.stm The Pope offered a special prayer for the people of the Abruzzo region and sent chocolate Easter eggs to victims of the earthquake.

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What is the titanic made of? A little bit of Titanium and an awful lot of rust. http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=titanic&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=bPbfScCaA4jaswOCkNysCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=1&ct=title

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What do you think of Pirates? “Where there is a sea there are pirates” Greek proverb http://thinkexist.com/quotation/where_there_is_a_sea_there_are/182146.html

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International Law permits seizure of a pirate ship, but stipulates that, in order to establish that a ship is indeed a pirate vessel, the "warship" has to send a boat to the suspected ship first and ask for its papers. Your opinion on this procedure? For complete documentation on this visit: http://www.globelaw.com/LawSea/ls82_2.htm and take a look at Articles 105 and 110. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This convention, in article 105, does permit the seizure of a pirate ship, but article 110 lays down that, in order to establish that a ship is indeed a pirate vessel, the warship - and it may only be a...

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What is a good website for German translations? For a quick phrase translation between German and practically any other language you might need, try: http://www.tranexp.com:2000/Translate/result.shtml

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Do you want to chat with an intelligent robot online? Click on the link in my answer. Splotchy and I got on like a house on fire. you ==> Are you good at mathematics? splotchy ==> I was never very good at math you ==> Have you got an enormous memory? splotchy ==> are you just babbling? you ==> Are you just babbling? splotchy ==> why, are you? you ==> Why are you? splotchy ==> that's just the way I am you ==> When you reply, do you...

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"It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others". Your comment please! That really is one great bumper sticker to put on the back of someone's car :]

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I want to buy a piano, what should i look out for? Consider the advantages of a full-sized electronic keyboard or electronic piano, over the alternative of a classical stringed upright or grand piano. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The ability to change the volume and voice of the electronic instrument is one definite advantage. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Another big advantage is...

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There is now an Arab owned global news network aimed at English speakers in all countries. No cable operator in the US has agreed to put in on. ...>Would you be interested in watching it? ...> http://english.aljazeera.net/English Yes, that would be a bold step in the right direction. From what I can gather, Aljazeera has a reputation for well researched and unbiased news reporting. A different perspective on world events would be both interesting and probably helpful at a time when our more familiar TV stations are finding it so hard to make ends meet that they are loaded with reruns.

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Why do some windmills stand still, while others next to them spin? Windmill sails will not revolve unless they are trimmed appropriately (like the sails on a reaching sail-boat), and unless the axle of the sails is oriented appropriately with respect to the wind direction. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Windmill design varies widely, and the sails on the arms of some windmills can be adjusted without stopping the...

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If we all lived on earth like Americans live, we would need 3 planets. How can we learn to live big with a small environmental footprint? The most effective approach would be to reduce, then limit the size of the human population.

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Would you kill for money, if your family was desperately relying on you for financial support to survive? Although that is not the sort of choice I would like to make, I could understand someone in this situation enlisting for a paying job in the Armed Forces.

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How can I repair a hairline crack on concrete garage floor? Try using some grey tile grout.

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Hamid Karzai is reported to have signed a law that includes clauses stipulating that Afghan women cannot refuse to have sex with their husbands, and can only seek work, education or visit a doctor with their husbands' permission. Your comments? Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has urged the Afgahn government to honor its international human rights treaty obligations, including respect for women's equality. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/090402/canada/canada_afghanistan_politics_women_rights - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - It seems Afghanistan needs new...

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BBC News (3 MAR 2009) reports that two ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspapers have altered a photo of Israel's new cabinet, removing two female ministers. Your comments? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7982146.stm Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver were grouped with the rest of the 30-member cabinet for their inaugural photo. But Yated Neeman newspaper digitally changed the picture by replacing them with two men. The Shaa Tova newspaper blacked the women out. Publishing pictures of women is viewed by many ultra-orthodox Jews as a violation of female modesty. Other Israeli papers reprinted...

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Researchers at Ulster University have found that, if you grow up with sisters in your family, you are more likely to be happy and balanced. Brothers have the opposite effect! What do you make of this? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7977454.stm The link posted in the question should be: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7977454.stm (i.e. without the space in the ".stm" suffix)

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Who do you think were the best looking female and male leaders representing their countries at the April 2009 G20 Summit in London, England? Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (President of Argentina) would get one of my votes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (front row, white dress)

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How exactly would you define the difference between "Terrorism" and any other, more "Conventional" millitary assault? When you get down to basics, War = Terror, and Terror = War. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Innocent civilians are the usual victims, and power-over-others the usual objective. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Some often cited differences are trivial legal niceties such as whether the...

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How exactly would you define the difference between "Terrorism" and any other, more "Conventional" millitary assault? My original answer appeared twice. (so have edited it out).

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Are girls the ' earthly butterflies' ? (I mean that they make this world beautiful !) If no, then what? Sadly these lovely butterflies are also members of the sex that comprises 70% of the world's poor, and owns only 1% of the world's titled land: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7331813.stm

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It was reported that President Obama was instrumental in providing conciliation between the French and Chinese Presidents so negotiations could continue. So far his intellect and temperament are most useful, and not just to us. What do you think? According to reporter Christi Parsons, the last obstacle to a deal at this economic summit was a small detail about how to crack down on tax havens. "Then President Obama pushed back his chair and walked around the table, inviting first France's Nicolas Sarkozy and then China's Hu Jintao into a corner for a series of chats. The three ended up shaking hands. Soon...

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A UN-commissioned report claims that 70 percent of the world's poor are women. http://www.citizensugar.com/1532822 Your comments? The U.N. report goes on to say that in addition to the fact that 70 percent of the world's poor are women, women also own only 1 percent of the world's titled land; and 53 countries still allow rape within marriage. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7331813.stm

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Do you have Bed & Breakfast's in your town/city? Well there is a place down the road with a sign outside that says "Bed & Breakfast"; but I'm not at all sure you would like it. When I knocked on the door, an angry woman stuck her head out the window and asked: "What do you want?" I smiled and said: "I wondered if I could stay here?" She said: "You're damn right! You can just...

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What do you think about the Obama administration asserting unprecedented government control over the auto industry yesterday? Is this one step closer to socialism? When an industry careers off the road into a ditch, those responsible for the steering need to be sobered up, made to walk the line, and asked what sort of road map they thought they were following. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If and when they come up with a rational plan, maybe then they can expect some (taxpayer) help.

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Anyone know any good jokes? I'm in desperate need of some good humor right now. So I knocked on the door at this Bed & Breakfast, and an angry woman stuck her head out the window and asked: "What do you want?" I smiled at her and said: "I just want to stay here." She said: "Well stay there then!" and shut the window.

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Do you know how to sail a sailboat? Yes, it's just a question of working out what you do with a stick in one hand and a string in the other :]

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What words would you like to see used in a completely new rewrite of your national anthem? Oh Canada, You’ve really got it all. From coast to coast, You’re not exactly small. You got great big lakes, Not a lot of quakes, And an ocean either side. And your people too And so kind and true You can hold your head with pride. Oh Canada. Oh Canada. Oh Canada, your charms will never fade. Oh Canada, you’ve really got it made.

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What do you think about flyers under your windshield wiper? I wish someone would remove them. They keep obscuring my vision when I turn my wipers on. http://stupidityinsociety.com/2009/01/08/flyers-on-windshields/

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Would you buy a Nano, the Tata Motors $2,500 ( world's cheapest ) car? It might not be the strongest car. It might not be the cleanest. But some of us just can't afford the safest and the greenest. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Mumbai and New Delhi, We know they're going to sell, I'd likely buy one too if I lived there as well. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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What do you think is a better method for combating the spread of AIDS in Africa, abstinence or condoms? Pope Benedict XVI, on his first papal visit to Africa, has said that handing out condoms is not the answer in the fight against HIV/Aids. Instead the Catholic Church recommends abstinence. Such advice is obviously based on wishful thinking rather than empirical clinical evidence. When attention was drawn to this papal misdirection (as an Answerbag question in March 2009) the...

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It's been said your right brain hemisphere experiences day-to-day stimuli (sights, sounds, etc.) while your left side thinks, chats, stores memories and gives you a sense of self. If so, would you like to turn your left side off for a bit, and why? Experiencing (right-hemisphere) perception without (left-hemisphere) self-awareness and memory is probably what Buddhists mean by being "at one with the universe."

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What does it feel like to have a stroke? For a truly amazing answer to this question, take a look at this presentation by Jill Bolte Taylor: www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html

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The Oasis Hotel on Llandudno seaside promenade in Wales must be redecorated, because its bright pink window frames and door pillars contravene Conwy council's strict pastel exterior criteria. What is your opinion after you Google this great news story? Here's a bit more about it: The Oasis Hotel on Llandudno promenade appealed against Conwy council's decision that the shade of parts of the exterior did not meet guidelines. But planning inspectors said it was "unduly prominent" compared to others. However, Ann Blanchard who owns the Oasis with husband David, said: "No matter what, we will always be...

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Former CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, who built AIG into today's over-leveraged monstrosity on risky assets, is suing AIG because the stock in his retirement bonus collapsed. Isn't that comical? See LINK: LOL - as it's the very same Hank Greenberg who was in charge during the formation of the AIG's infamous "Financial Products Unit", whose pathetic derivatives trading lost the company over $30 billion.

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What do you think of when you see a girl with balck nail polish on? I think she should take spelling lessons :]

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E-cigarettes look real, but are battery-powered and typically made of stainless steel. Inside is a cartridge of liquid nicotine. When it is heated, the user inhales and breathes a mist rather than smoke. What do you think of this invention? "First developed in China, the cigarettes were mainly bought online but are now appearing more often in street markets and retailers as consumers try to get around the smoking ban." "Last October, some retailers were reporting sales of over 1,000 of the £40 starter-packs a month." "But tests by trading standards officers found the concentration of nicotine...

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Things to do to give up smoking? Cut off the lit end with a scissors. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Save the unused stub to re-light later. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Do this as often as you can. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Examine the cut end of each stub carefully. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The tarry...

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Does anybody know how many people have suffered from amputations due to landmines in cambodia since 1979, or where i could find the answer? And of course it's not just people who get their limbs blown off: Thailand's borders with Burma and Cambodia are littered with unexploded landmines, the result of decades of conflict. The FAE say many elephants, often domesticated ones used in the logging trade, are injured by mines every year as they work in remote forests close to the borders. ...

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What are your thoughts on Obama allowing federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research? The President has done the right thing, as promised. Yes, human life is precious; but miscarriages and discarded human embryos result from between 10 to 25% of all clinically recognized US pregnancies. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/miscarriage.html Making the most of life's plentiful opportunities is what really matters.

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Is the guitar the best musical ins trument? One of the best, if it's not br oken :]

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If driving on the road, do you ever wonder where the other drivers destinations are? No but I sometimes wonder what the chances are that they might have a heart attack :|

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Can faster than light travel ever become a reality? Step 1 - Make two huge quantum computers. Step 2 - Transport one computer to a distant location. Step 3 - "Copy" your conscious self onto one computer. Step 4 - Use quantum entanglement to make a second exact copy appear instantly on the distant machine. O.K. maybe it's not really you making the trip - but still! :]

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"The human race has one really effective weapon,and that is laughter"...Mark Twain.Would you agree that laughter is important in life? Mark Twain knew how to hit a nail on the head :]

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Quote "Laughter is part of the human survival kit" What do you think? Spontaneous laughter appears to be a reaction to a suddenly realized and surprising correlation. It also communicates this shared appreciation to all within earshot. So yes, laughter has a role to play in bonding people together; and such bonding could be a practical survival strategy.

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Do you remember to brush your teeth before you go to bed? Yes, but more important is to brush them as soon as possible after eating anything, or after drinking anything sugary. Money spent on toothpaste is money well spent, and can save you a bundle on dentists.

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How long can a raw beef roast be left out of the refrigerator? As long as you like (at least in Antarctica) :]

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In 50 years from now, do you think todays televisions will become collectors items? Unfortunately no. They will more likely end up as land-fill.

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What country has the most centurions? Italy used to :]

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I was trying to tell someone a website address over the phone. I could't because the address had a ~ in it. What is a ~ called? Thanks The squiggle (tilde) is also used in Spanish, where it can be placed over the letter "n" to give it a "ny" sound. The Spanish pronounce tilde "tilday".

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What's in the news today? Corduroy pillows are making headlines!

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Since Answerbag already has Electronics as a major category, why do we need Electronics listed again as a sub-category under Hobbies? The major category "Life and Society" has a sub-category "Politics and Modern Events". So also does the major category "Social Sciences" have a sub-category "Politics and Modern Events". And these two sub-categories are one and the same. But in the case of "Electronics" the two categories mentioned in the question are not one and...

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Is playing the lottery worth it? A lottery is "worth it" financially for the organization(s) running it, and for that reason those who buy lottery tickets must lose as a group if the lottery as a business is to make a profit. Lottery players should beware of unscrupulous "insiders" (i.e. some lottery operators and ticket sellers) who have been known to use dishonest tactics to defraud trusting...

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What company makes the best vacuum cleaner? The Electrolux "ergorapido" is an absolutely incredible device that costs about $125. It is both lightweight and cordless! Not only that, you can detach an even smaller lighter weight section of it to do stuff like vacuum crumbs from off a sofa.

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Why does the presence of a handicapped person profane an offering to Yahweh, and why does Yahweh not want offerings from the handicapped? What does Yahweh have against the handicapped? (Leviticus 21:17-23) Clearly the Lord had a thing about priests who couldn't see properly, had flat noses, or (heaven forbid!) broken stones, and well He just didn't feel obliged to explain Himself: 21:16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 21:17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God....

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International law demands that a distinction be made between combatants and non-combatants, and that civilian casualties be considered when assessing military gains resulting from attack strategies. Your comments? Wikipedia explores these issues and others in its section on the Laws of War. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_war

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What quote do you try to live by? Or at least the most memorable and interesting one you've ever heard? "Trust but verify." "Education beats indoctrination, incarceration and detonation."

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Would it be at all practical or realistic to install air-conditioning and/or heating on a plug-in (non-hybrid) electric vehicle? While heating can be simply provided with an electric resistance heater, higher efficiency and integral cooling can be obtained with a reversible heat pump (this is currently implemented in the hybrid Toyota Prius). Positive Temperature Constant (PTC) junction cooling[39] is also attractive for its simplicity - this kind of system is used for example in Tesla Roadster. However some...

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GM destroyed all of the EV1 battery operated cars it had made and Exxon/Mobil bought the patent for the battery. Why should GM get a bail-out? You can't really blame GM for thinking more about its own bottom line than the global environment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The legislation that President Obama signed on February 17th 2009 invests more than $5 billion in plug-in vehicles. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - With any luck this will re-focus attention on the...

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Why did GM never respond to the ($1.9 million) offer from drivers of the EV1 to pay the residual lease value on the remaining 78 electric cars in Burbank before they were crushed in 2005? http://www.pluginamerica.org/saveev1.htm Remember that the California Air Resources Board was forced to reversed its clean air mandate in response to law suits from automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, and the George W. Bush administration. With that victory in the bag, it seems GM didn't want any reminders of the days when it had complied with the clean air mandate and manufactured operational plug-in...

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How should Ronald Reagan be remembered? He was the president who removed all of the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter installed on the roof of the White House :]

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Should the majority of the auto bailout money be used to put the electric car back on the road? Absolutely, yes. The legislation signed by President Obama (17 FEb 2009) invests more than $5 billion in plug-in vehicles. Take a look at this website: http://www.pluginamerica.org/saveev1.htm and ask yourself if you would like to own one of these vehicles.

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Who Killed the Electric Car? "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is a 2006 documentary film that explores the creation, limited commercialization, and subsequent destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, the US government, the Californian government, batteries,...

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Okay I am sick of regular salad. PLEASE give me some ideas for healthy salads with some fresh ideas of what to throw in there Spinach Salad Take a jug and add to it: 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, the juice of half a squeezed lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of curry powder, a handful of chopped peanuts, and a handful of washed raisins. Stir and let soak for a few hours. Chop up the following: Baby spinach (e.g. a full bag), Bunch of shallots, One...

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So does it make any difference to anyone that Obama spent the day in Canada? Was it worth the $3,000,000+ it cost the US and Canadian taxpayers for this jaunt? Just remember that the US population exceeds 300 million. So if the US shouldered this entire expenditure, it would work out as less than 1 cent each. Does this sound like a big deal to you?

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Would anyone support my request to have "War" made into a major discussion category on Answerbag? No one has really answered this question. Maybe a lot of us prefer not to talk about it. But this does seem to be a shame, as there are probably some Answerbaggers out there who could come up with something constructive on the subject. Like, for example, how to stop it.

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How do you quit smoking!!!! Ya there is the obvious just stop but, anyone know any tricks. The secret is never to stub out your cigarette. Instead use a small pair of scissors to cut off the lit end when you have had enough. Sometimes one good long drag is plenty to give you a hit; but the tobacco companies want you to continue smoking right to the end. Refuse! Take control. Cut off the lit end A.S.A.P. and put the remains back in your pack. Re-light that stub next time....

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It has been said: "Ethanol is a ghost of what could have been had the Prohibition movement not killed alcohol fuel in its infancy." Your comments? "Most people are not aware that Henry Ford's Model T came in a variation that allowed the driver to switch the carburetor to run the engine on farm-made ethyl acohol [sic]. This allowed the operator to stop at local farms (equipped with stills) to refuel his/her car during long trips through the backcountry. After all - the gas station wasn't exactly as ubiquitous in those days,...

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Why do doctors not like patients who are proactive about their health care? Can a doctor refuse to see a proactive patient? Many doctors are very much obedient to Big Pharma, And some are averse to using the internet. The result is that some patients who are willing to do their own online research can be better informed in some areas. Can or would a doctor refuse to see such a patient? I don't think so. The worst doctors are really not that bad.

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Do you think there are flies in heaven? If not the heavenly spiders are going to get very bored.

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Avacado and __________? a knife to cut it in half, and a spoon :]

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Reverend Gerhard Wagner wrote of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: "This was not the sinking of just any city but that of a people's dream city with the 'best brothels and prettiest prostitutes'." Your comments on his point of view? A 2005 report by Kath.Net, a Catholic Austrian news agency, said Wagner described Katrina as divine retribution. If so this should raise eyebrows amongst the more rationally disposed of Planet Earth's human population.

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Apparently god wears clothes (Isaiah 63:3). What type of clothes do you think he wears? Presumably extra large, and machine-washable: Isaiah 63:3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."

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"LEGACY of ASHES - The History of the CIA" by Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Weiner is billed as a must read for anyone interested in American intelligence since World War 2. Have you read it? Have you any comments on its contents? I'm a slow reader. Right now am on page 14 of 605, and this book also has 207 pages of notes. Pretty interesting stuff so far.

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Gandhi once said "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. Do you agree? Gandhi wanted two things: (1) for the British to leave (2) for a united India to rule itself. Gandhi did not like the caste system, and he did not want partition with its separation of people by religious affiliation. Violent solutions are the breeding grounds for revenge. Gandhi's values are as relevant today as ever.

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Breaking a mirror is supposed to give you 7 years of bad luck. I break about one mirror every 4 years and last broke one 3 years ago. We all break mirrors all the time. Who here breaks mirrors? lol Garbage collectors for example, break mirrors every day in their trash compactors.

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In what way might energy saving light-bulbs be bad for your health? This announcement dated: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 Energy-saving bulbs to be tested for UV radiation ref: Jen Skerritt, Winnipeg Free Press The United Kingdom's Health Protection Agency now recommends people should not be closer than 30 centimetres from an energy-saving light bulb for more than one hour per day, since it is like exposing bare skin to direct sunlight. The...

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Do you agree with President Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center? Yes. President Obama promised to close "Gitmo", explained why, and is keeping his word. In effect the detention camp is a stain on the reputation of the White House, and makes a mockery of US concepts of justice and human rights. Perhaps one day Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will show some interest in this matter too.

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According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics over half of brand-name lipsticks tested in 2007 contained detectable levels of lead , though none listed lead as an ingredient. How chemically dangerous is lipstick? This website asks some interesting questions: http://www.safecosmetics.org/ Campaign for Safe Cosmetics co-founder, the Environmental Working Group, analyzed cosmetics and personal care product ingredients against definitive government, industry and academic databases of hazardous chemicals and found that more than 1 in 5 personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer, 80 percent...

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I'm currently listening to a song with the lyric "I'll radiate love like Three Mile Island". What is this a reference to, if anything? The 1979 partial core meltdown in the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, seriously undermined public confidence, effectively bringing nuclear power development to a standstill in the US.

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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this ---> ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶ ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶ ٩(-̮̮̃ -̃)۶ Tahoma font! ๏ๅ๏ ..Ỏ.. And very inventive use of it!

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Any ambidextrous people out there have any tips for writing left-handed? Due to a wrist fracture, I have to write left-handed, and it's hard! Writing left-to-right languages like English is a skill that definitely favours right-handed people. Holding a pen or pencil in the left hand makes it easy to write mirror-image English. If you write a letter to someone this way; they just have to flip it over to read it. Such a flip-over might be done by reversing the paper, or by using a mirror, or most easily by manipulating a...

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Which do you think earns more AB points, serious questions, serious answers, goofy questions, goofy answers? Chose one. Now of course I don't want to sound imperious; but most ABers are goofy not serious :]

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Can you stop after just one potato chip? Have been known to parallel park and bring my vehicle to a complete stop after eating a whole bag of potato chips :]

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I keep falling asleep at work at the computer. what shall i do? Change professions - Air traffic control is obviously not the job for you!

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What are your thoughts about cameras being put up at intersections with signal lights? It's really not a bad idea; but maybe for the first year it would be considerate to warn motorists of the installation. Yes, you could say this defeats the purpose of the cameras; but it also suggests that the new system is going to try to be fair and reasonable.

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Whats the longest time you have gone without food or water? 9 months! . . . . . . . . . yes - really! . . . . . . . . . (just before I was born)

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Which Concentration camp was opened last? The Gaza Strip?

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What is the most confusing instruction manual you have ever had the misfortune to come across? High on my list of confusing instruction manuals was one for a portable water treatment system that explained in a convoluted manner how to set up the electrically operated system, and how to run 4 cycles of water through it to clean out the carbon filter. Finally it explained how to get that first great tasting jug of filtered water by filling the input reservoir one more time...

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Why isn't the west coast of Canada referred to as "Pacific Canada"? Because all of Canada likes to be called pacific?

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Would you consider water to be 'delicious'? Yes, most certainly. and as a water connoisseur, I will hold up a glass to the light to inspect its purity, sense its temperature with my finger tips, pass it under my nose to detect any unwanted bouquet, and finally take a sip and hold it in my mouth to determine its vintage.

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Is a machine that can read human thoughts scientifically feasible? 60 Minutes had a report that seems like science fiction: Mind reading for real. Neuroscientists at Carnegie Mellon University used a computer and a functional MRI to read the mind of a CBS producer. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/30/60-minutes-mind-reading-f_n_154370.html The subject was shown ten images (e.g. screwdriver, window, apartment building, etc.) while a computer...

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What is "Truth"? Truth like beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Nonetheless, when it comes to theory, truth may be said to be the simplest explanation that accounts for all of the known facts.

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Will you ever trust a Standard & Poor AAA rating again? Collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) are a type of asset-backed security and structured credit product. CDOs are constructed from a portfolio of fixed-income assets. CDOs are divided by the issuer into different tranches: senior tranches (rated AAA), mezzanine tranches (AA to BB), and equity tranches (unrated). Losses are applied in reverse order of seniority and so junior tranches offer...

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Have you made a website using "Google Sites" yet? Was it easy? Many thanks for pointing this out. Have been looking for a new host for a band website. This looks worth a try. Happy New year.

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What do you think of this slide show presentation about electric vehicles? http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.org/weblog/images/electric_vehicles.pps This unlikely titled link (given to me by a friend) no longer seems to respond. A Google search for "electric_vehicles.pps" did however bring up the same Power-Point presentation. Does anyone know the author of "electric_vehicles.pps"?

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How can I have my handwriting analyzed by a professional? Go to your bank and try to cash a check for $1,000,000.

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How do you feel about what's going on in Gaza? I would like to see both sides agree to seek international arbitration. The problem is that the Gaza Strip is not recognized internationally as part of any sovereign country. Gaza is claimed by the Palestinian National Authority as part of the Palestinian territories, though actual control of the area is in the hands of the de facto government dominated by Hamas. Israel controls...

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Starting a new eating plan, 3 meals a day + 2 small snacks in between, what are good times to eat and should I not eat after a specific time in the evening? Forget the small snacks in between! Breakfast (about 7am): toast + juice + hot drink Lunch (at noon): salad + toast + fruit + hot drink Dinner (about 6pm): anything reasonable - then that's it 'til tomorrow morning!

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If the schools do not improve on the quality of teaching how would that affect the future of that country? Unfortunately, if nothing improves, it will continue on its downwards spiral, economically and in terms of global influence. :|

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Did I ever tell you why I fired my secretary? ROFLOL! :) Do you know any more like that?

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Would it make more sense to start a new year in the spring when things start to grow,instead of the dead of winter? The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, was probably selected as the start of the year long before such celestial festival dates were usurped by the calendars of competing bureaucracies. Both spring and fall equinoxes are possible alternatives; but lack the sense of climax attributed to the beginning of longer days.

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Is there anyone out there good at setting up wireless networks or sharing internet services? Once you've got your wireless hub working, and the network adapters installed, the final step involves carrying setup data from one computer to another on a portable USB flash memory stick. Easy enough once you find the friendly setup Wizard. It's a good idea to check if any of your cordless phones operates in the same frequency band (e.g. 2.4 GHz) as your wireless...

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What was the rationale behind the U.S. vote (24 NOV 2008) against the "right to food" draft resolution in U.N. General Assembly? Am still searching for an answer to this question. Here's a statement from "abovetopsecret": "Draft resolution XX on the right to food, approved on 24 November by a recorded vote of 180 in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions, would have the Assembly reaffirm that hunger constitutes an outrage and a violation of human dignity, requiring the adoption of...

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How come the officially estimated 30,879+ troops that have been wounded in Iraq are never mentioned in the news,just the few thousand that have lost their lives? For the same reason you don't hear much about the 90,000 (plus) documented civilian deaths. http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ It just makes this trillion dollar (plus) war look even more questionable.

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What would you buy with $700 Billion? I would use the money to finance an implementation team to design and construct the first sections of a MAGLEV RAIL SYSTEM to offer more fuel efficient transportation for people who would otherwise use domestic flights within the United States.

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What interesting electronic developments can we expect from the creation of the the 4th passive electrical circuit element, called the MEMRISTOR? (The other three passive electrical circuit elements are the resistor, the capacitor and the inductor). A memristor matrix might be set up to resemble the neural interconnections found within the brains of living creatures. Memristors might soon be used to duplicate the workings of the brain of (say) a housefly, and later perhaps something more complex such as some functions copied from the brain of (say) a mouse.

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Will you join me in wishing all of our Pagan Answerbaggers a joyous Yule tonight the Winter Solstice? A Super Solstice to everyone in both hemispheres! :]

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Do you think maglev will be an accessible train to build all around the world? Definitely - and the US economy would be given a much needed boost if the design and construction of a nation-wide Maglev system were started immediately. Using the Shanghai Maglev Train System as an approximate cost base ($1.33 Billion for 30 Km), gives an average Maglev system construction cost of $70 Million per mile. A similar system built in the US could differ substantially (e.g....

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China's Maglev Train from downtown Shanghai to Pudong International Airport is the world's first operational maglev transit system. When might the US start replacing domestic flights with this type of fuel-saving alternative? The US economy would be given a much needed boost if the design and construction of a nation-wide Maglev system were started immediately. Using the Shanghai Maglev Train System as an approximate cost base ($1.33 Billion for 30 Km), gives an average Maglev system construction cost of $70 Million per mile. A similar system built in the US could differ substantially (e.g. less...

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What age is more accurately "over the hill" -- 30 or 31, and why ( and as a side-note what age are you?) You might get a bit out of breath after repeating this anniversary a few times; but hey there are still records waiting to be broken! :]

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How do I stop feeling guilty for taking the day off? Get a job as a tax collector?

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What is your one-word description of someone who threatens you and tells you that they have "friends in high places"? religious?

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Korea has developed a Lunar lander. What is the name of it, and when do they plan on launching it? No date appears to have been set yet for this compact (16 inch long) unmanned space vehicle. As for a name - maybe "Mini Vee"? "The lunar module can be carried on a rocket into the earth's orbit and propel itself on into lunar orbit from there with its own engine several times. It measures 40 cm by 40 cm and consists of a propulsion engine and a control system. ...

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Would a coast to coast maglev mass transit train be possible in usa, would it really affect use of fossil fuels? Transrapid, in Germany, constructed the first operational high-speed conventional maglev railway in the world, the Shanghai Maglev Train from downtown Shanghai (Shanghai Metro) to the Pudong International Airport. It was inaugurated in 2002. The highest speed achieved on the Shanghai track has been 501 km/h (311 mph), over a track length of 30 km. The plan for the Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train...

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Do you believe in public transport? If no, why not? Although some buses go on strike And some folk have to hitch a hike, Public transpo should be fine By the year 3009.

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Do you take you luck for granted? No, but remember it's unlucky to be superstitious.

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What is Answers.com? Do you use that site? Thanks very much for pointing out this website. The homepage certainly looks interesting, and the site seems a good source for biographies. Shall explore it a bit more, (and should be able to add to this answer).

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Just heard from reliable source that the United States is about 20th position in math, science and reading, and Canada is about 4th worldwide. What are some reasons for this discrepancy? Because the U.S. spends more on incarceration than it spends on education. A recent study released by the Pew Center on the States examines the rapid growth of the U.S. prison population, which has tripled over the past 20 years. The United States now holds the distinction of imprisoning more of its own citizens, both in total number and share of the adult population, than any other country...

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How do plants communicate with each other? Salesmen from the bottling plant down the road often send text messages to their counterparts in the food-processing plant across the river. In the old days they used to phone each other.

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When you're watching a movie, if humans and other animals are in peril. Do you feel worse if the other animals get killed than if the humans get killed? Why or why not? When an animal gets killed in a movie I always wonder if the producers really killed it.

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You're driving too fast and as you turn left, two wheels of your car rise up off the ground. Is it the passenger's side that goes up or the driver's side that goes up. It depends in which country you're going to ride. In the U.K. it's always the passenger's side. But in Canada and in the old USA The drivers get higher, (At least so they say).

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Is there anyone that got some jokes? Tell me some An Answerbagger was invited to say something negative about Barack Obama, and replied: "Using the latest digital technology . . . it is quite easy . . . to portray . . . President Elect Barack Obama . . . without resorting . . . to the use of . . . (wait for it!) . . . a negative!" (and yes - the answering Answerbagger got flagged :)

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Are ideas of morality and immorality out dated in today's society? Cooperative survival strategy will never be outdated :]

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Where did spanish people orginally come from? Iwnit's references from Wikipedia (top answer) seems to cover the complex history pretty thoroughly. Another story I've heard is that as the Roman Empire disintegrated, those who could afford to left Italy for Spain. The poorer families stayed behind and today speak Italian. Descendants of the wealthier ones who escaped speak a more "upper class" form of Latin (Spanish).

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Why does "deja vu" happen? Some believe déjà vu is the memory of dreams. Though the majority of dreams are never remembered, a dreaming person can display activity in the areas of the brain that process long-term memory. In this case, déjà vu might be a memory of a forgotten dream with elements in common with the current waking experience. This may be similar to another phenomenon known as...

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For waht reason did you visit your local library last time? To ask them to look for a unstamped letter that I'd "posted" by mistake in one of their Return Slots along with a few DVDs - none of which was really any good. And, yes, I did get my letter back! :]

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Which is more important, facts or opinions? Why? Michael Shermer has written a good article in the December 2008 Scientific American titled "Patternicity" - fascinating insight on our ability to misconstrue. In brief: coming up with the interpretations of what is happening around us (even when these ideas are absolutely incorrect) could still be a huge evolutionary advantage.

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Is there anyone that got some jokes? Tell me some An old man gets a ride with a friend to a nearby fish market, where they each order a crate of mackerel. A local fisherman loads their van, and they drive off. Next day the old man cooks some of the fish, and finds it’s cod not mackerel. When he goes round to tell his friend, he sees an ambulance outside the house. “What happened?” he asks. "Food...

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Does anyone have anything negative to say about Obama? Using the latest digital technology ......... it is quite easy ......... to portray ......... President Elect ......... Barack Obama ......... without resorting ........ to the use of a ........ (wait for it!) ........ negative :]

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A woman in America has been jailed for 2 years after allowing her son to drink a small amount of alcohol at home on his 16th birthday with some of his friends, under her supervision. Do you think this punishment is fair? Opinions please. If this is the story, the sentencing is ridiculous: Party Host Mom Set for Va. Jail Term Alcohol at Son's 16th Gets 27-Month Sentence By Daniela Deane Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, June 9, 2007; Page A01 CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Ryan Kenty, 20, and his brother Brandon, still a sophomore in high school, plan to drive their mother to jail Monday morning before heading back to...

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It looks like Answerbag leaderboard is not working anymore. Is it a glitch or is it intended, What do you think? (see also my own answer) For the record here are today's (30 NOV 2008) top 3: 1 - Chief Wanbli-Ninja 85 Swami 9828 9828 2 - Firebrand 97 Genius 7587 7587 3 - Chris 84 Swami 7235 7235 The last two columns show that this week's points and last week's points are identical.

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Does anyone out there not own a cell phone? People look at me as if I'm from another planet when I tell them I don't have a cell phone#. I still haven't got one, and still don't want one. But it's been 16 months since you asked this question, so maybe you've changed your mind and gone and got one?

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What are at least two reasons why the Founding Fathers were opposed to limiting the number of times a President of the U.S. could be reelected? Maybe because the Founding Fathers: (a) believed in maximum freedom of choice, or (b) thought old age would take care of the situation.

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Do you like getting gift cards or not? It's not that I'm saying that gift cards are rash; But like everyone else I'd much prefer cash! :]

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Do you like dreaming? Why or why not. My dreams seem to be a way of sifting through the contents of yesterday's short-term memory. Anything significant seems to get randomly compared with the contents of my longer-term memory and (if a match is made) associated with it. It may be the mind's way of extending a bit of thinking and of filing stuff away. So yes that's O.K. by me! :)

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How can you tell if you're being rational? Trust but verify.

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In the Qu'ran it says the universe is expanding among other things that were not discovered until recently. Are there any similar scientific facts have have come true in the Bible? Neither of these books tries to be scientific. Surah 13 (for example) appears to talk about a flat earth: 13:3 And He it is Who spread out the earth and placed therein firm hills and flowing streams, and of all fruits He placed therein two spouses (male and female). He covereth the night with the day. Lo! herein verily are portents for people who take thought.

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Who said, " the time will come"? Perhaps the closest famous quotation was by Lewis Caroll: "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax-- Of cabbages--and kings-- And why the sea is boiling hot http://www.jabberwocky.com/carroll/walrus.html

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The world would be a happier place if everybody had a ... what? a bit more room :]

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Do you give peas a chance? Peas, like all fruits and vegetables are low in calories, high in complex carbohydrates, contain no cholesterol and almost no fat. Along with the minerals and vitamins, many antioxidants add the nutritional value of peas. Fresh peas are an excellent source of fibre, vitamin K, magnesium and manganese. They are a good source of Vitamin A, vitamin B6, folate and thiamin. Peas are a source of...

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Does anyone know anything about collusion? If you're trying to make money a bit too fast and you collude with someone, you'll end up in a collusion. The problem is it's very difficult to get good collusion insurance.

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Can terrorism ever be considered a legitimate means of warfare? Yes, because terrorism and war are intertwined philosophies, and civilians have been victims of war for countless generations. Starvation, water deprivation and more aggressive tactics like fire-bombing and the tossing of decaying animal remains into besieged towns might well be regarded as acts of terrorism. Unfortunately the list of atrocities committed in times of war is as endless as...

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Can parents in the US give up children (not babies) for adoption? Until quite recently, that was relatively easy to do under Nebraska's "Safe Haven" Law. Now Nebraska has approved a 30-day age limit to the state's "Safe Haven" law to protect unwanted newborns from being abandoned in potentially dangerous situations. The absence of an age limit in the Nebraska law had sparked controversy over parental responsibility, as the...

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Why is everybody undermining the importance of the war on terror? Those who wage a "War on Terror" (or maybe wage a "War on War") sometimes make a basic error and think: "We are above the Law".

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I live in Miami and I like Chess. I'm not rated and I don't have the time or $ for a teacher. Where do I go to play chess? You might like: www.letsplaychess.com

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Should Geneva Convention rules be applied to the war on terrorism? Those who wage a "War on Terror" (or maybe wage a "War on War") should not make a basic error and think: "We are above the Law".

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Is there a business opportunity (or a role for the UN or for a military alliance) in protecting oil tankers from piracy? If so, which makes most sense to you? The following comments are by By Kim Sengupta Wednesday, 19 November 2008: "The American security company Blackwater is planning to cash in on the rising threat of piracy on the high seas by launching a flotilla of gunboats for hire by the shipping companies. The firm, which gained international notoriety when its staff killed civilians in Iraq, has already equipped one vessel,...

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Do you listen to loud music? If so, do you fear that you'll cause damage to your hearing, and then while thinking about this a great song comes on and you just crank the volume back up? I play in a couple of bands; but don't like loud music. Here's an October 2008 news report on the subject: Music lovers risk permanent hearing loss from blasting their MP3 players too loud for too long, according to a European report, and authorities are considering a reduced limit on sound volumes. The European Commission requested the study on the risks of "leisure...

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Are Democrats more intelligent than Republicans? Are they more tolerant? Who spends more time at work? Who spends more time watching TV? Are Republicans happier? Who are the real "Fat cats" (judged by Body Mass Index)? If this question interests you, you might want to read: Democrats and Republicans - Rhetoric and Reality Comparing the Voters in Statistics and Anecdotes by Joseph Fried Who are the real voters? Drawing on authoritative nationwide surveys and a wide range of quips and quotes, the author outlines the profiles of the average Republican and Democrat, and details their lifestyles,...

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The side that wins a war is almost always the side whose armed forces kill more civilians. Any comments? Can you think of any exceptions? Over 72 million people were killed during World War II. ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties A narrow bilateral (USA versus Japan) viewpoint could support the idea that the winning side killed more civilians: Japanese Civilians 580,000 dead United States Civilians 1,700 dead But if one looks at things from a broader perspective, the overall total for all...

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How often do you see a band play live? I don't think I've ever seen a band play dead :]

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When involved in war, which group has suffered the more fatalities: members of the armed forces (combatants) or civilians (non-combatants)? Can you estimate any quantitative casualty figures for specific conflicts? Not including Jewish Holocaust deaths, World War II figures are reportedly: MILITARY DEATHS: 25,273,700 CIVILIAN DEATHS: 42,743,400 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties

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Today is "Remembrance Day" .Do you wear a poppy on this day? For once I did buy one this year. But we also need a Remembrance Day for civilian war victims.

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What is the earliest evidence of both sexual and a-sexual life? Dr. Cavalier-Smith, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, University of Oxford, U.K. has proposed that the first signs of neomurans (a factor in his theory of sexual reproduction) emerged 850 million years ago. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This is admittedly not a complete answer to your question; but the website...

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Do you like Blackadder? Although British humour can be a little hard to take, Rowan Atkinson is such a great comedian that any show he's in gets an O.K. from me.

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In which country is collecting mushrooms a major national hobby? Does this hobby grow on you like a fungus? Mushrooming certainly is popular in the Czech Republic. And after tasting some of the great things they can do with boletes, I know it can grow on you! :]

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Should the governments stop indoctrination of children? It would of course be political suicide, however much we like the open-minded approach. Rather like trying to get computer manufacturers to sell their hardware without an operating system, even when we know there are better open-source solutions.

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Have you ever tried to learn the Morse Code? Yes - and here are some of my old memory aids: Ahoy .- Beautifully -... Correspondent -.-. Dreadfully -.. For as much as ..-. Good gracious --. He he he he .... Japan black juice .--- Kingdom come -.- Legitimate .-.. May day -- Nicely -. Preposterous .--. here comes the Queen --.- Reduction .-. SOS ... --- ... Understood ..- victory V...

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To me education enables people to see a different side of life, a side of life that is more tolerant, open to and accepting of new ideas. Does anyone else find the same thing? Couldn't agree with you more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Education beats indoctrination, incarceration and detonation! :]

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Is it "poetry" to simply write disconnected words in a big circle? I saw a lesson for children that said this is poetry. They meant "pottery" not "poetry" :)

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A 13-year-old girl who had been raped was recently stoned to death in Somalia. (news.bbc.co.uk) She first pleaded for her life: "Don't kill me! Don't kill me!" A few minutes later, more than 50 men threw stones. Your comments? Sadly we still distribute stories of legendary community leaders (e.g. Moses) who believed that a higher authority sanctions stoning certain people to death. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The men who committed this atrocity were once innocent children. They grew up to believe that their religion demands acts like this. - -...

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Do you, like me, know how to play Go. I think I like you (after all we are "friends"!) and yes I also enjoy playing Go :]

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Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? Three common examples: Growing marijuana, prostitution & committing suicide. (suicide-bombers excepted)

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Ever since I can remember it seems like watches die on me within a couple of months. I've tried both wind-up and battery watches and they all stop and can't be repaired. Why? Don't really know how to put this diplomatically, but you might be buying rather cheap watches! :[

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Should authority be questioned? Mentally, yes. Unfortunately some situations (e.g. military engagements) demand obedience without hesitation. Nonetheless one should indeed question authority. Just be prepared to think twice before rebelling.

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What is your favorite thing about gravity? I like watching clouds and (wait for it) Gravity is the mother of Convection :]

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Is there a special "scale" and/or method to vocally creating soulful, "bluesy" sounds? Wikipedia is (as usual) pretty helpful on this one: The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes. It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression in African-American communities of the United States from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. The use of blue notes and the prominence of...

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Is it true they're marketing a Sarah Palin doll for Christmas? You wind it up and it doesn't say anything? :o) They're marketing a nice big cuddly one too for supporters asking if she has plans for the future. When you squeeze it, it whispers: "You betcha!"

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What is evolution? For a well-written article on human evolution, try: http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2008/10/how_we_evolve_1.php

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Will it be Obama or McCain? BARACK OBAMA :) As of Tuesday morning 4th November 2008 the latest Gallup Poll shows Barack Obama 53% (was 52% on November 1st) John Mccain 40% (was 41% on November 1st) (margin of error: +/-2%) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7360265.stm

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Has Sarah Palin become a liability for John McCain? You betcha! "Palin is making it clear that she is not going to go away if McCain loses and it is clear she will try to run in 2012 for the nomination. That is a calamity for her party. She has proved herself in recent months not fit to be Vice President, never mind President, confusing stubbornness with principles . Palin appears to have a very limited capacity for growth or even basic...

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Did you watch Obama's 30-minute television spot? What did you think of what he said? Meaningful interviews with potential supporters. Well thought out policy summaries on: Health Care, Education, Energy Sources, Taxation, Government Spending, & the Iraq War. A few kind words from Joe Biden and Michelle Obama. No attack on John McCain or Sarah Palin. A final brilliant live request to come out and vote. What more do you want?

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Do you think the USA should lift its embargo on Cuba? Why or whynot? Building walls is not the way to make friends and influence people. Lifting the U.S. trade embargo would improve the life of the every Cuban family. It would also re-open communication channels between Cuba and the United States. If there is anything worth teaching and anything worth learning, this is the way to do it.

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How do herbicides work? A herbicide is used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant hormones. Herbicides used to clear waste ground, industrial sites, railways and railway embankments are non-selective and kill all plant...

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What are the top ten, most serious earthquakes In history? Here are six really bad ones in order of decreasing fatalities taken from an old (1992) World Almanac: (1) 24 JAN 1556 - Shaanxi, China - 830,000 dead (2) 11 OCT 1737 - Calcutta, India - 300,000 dead (3) 20 MAY 526 - Antioch, Syria - 250,000 dead (4) 28 JUL 1976 - Tangshan, China - 242,000 dead (5) 1 SEP 1923 - Yokohama, Japan - 200,000 dead (6) 22 MAY 1927 - Nan-Shan, China -...

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When I wed and change my name, does that prohibit me from being buried in my family cemetery? What about my husband - is he allowed to be buried there too? You are supposed to wait until you have expired.

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How many palaces do the Danish royal family have? G'day Keitholds :] Last time they invited me over I lost count. HM The Queen and HRH The Prince Consort reside at various royal palaces. In winter, the Royal Couple reside at Amalienborg, whereas their residence in spring and autumn is Fredensborg Palace. In summer, the Queen and the Prince Consort reside at Marselisborg Palace, Graasten Palace or on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog. ...

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What was the name of the characters played by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind? I can't remember details like that. But the plot was good. Because (wait for it!) the Butler did it :0

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What would happen if 230 Volts ENERGY SAVING light bulb is fitted in a 110 Volt circuit - with proper wiring and bulb holder? WOULD IT ONLY LIGHT WITH LOW INTENCITY? ANY MAJOR PROBLEM EXPECTED? To make the math a bit easier, let's call it 115 rather than 110 volts. A purely resistive 230 Volt light bulb in a 115 volt socket would glow at only one quarter its intended power. Power (Watts) = Volts x Volts / Resistance In the case of a fluorescent lamp, you might have a thing called a "ballast" in series with the lamp itself. The ballast controls the...

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What idea have you had that might have been (or still might be!) a business franchise opportunity? How about a fresh salad specialty counter amongst the fast-food counters in your local shopping mall? It would also offer a freshly made blend of juice made from apples, beets, carrots, celery, and ginger root. And how about a franchise name: "Good4u2" :]

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Am pretty good at Googling, but still searching for an annual high-low-close (candlestick) chart of the U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar for the last 100 years. Can you help? Here's the most helpful link I've found to date: (23 OCT 2008) http://tacticalinvestor.com/contrarian1.html

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What's the exchange rate between the American dollar and the Canadian dollar? Today (22 OCT 2008) for the first time in years the Canadian dollar has fallen below 80 cents US. http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/converter.html The rapid decline in the value of the Canadian dollar in the last few weeks could be mainly the result of increasing demand for the US dollar following escalating selling of US securities by investment companies. Other probable causes are...

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How old does a baby have to be before you can hit it in the head when it cries? My little brother is 2 months now and I don't really want him to die or anything but I just want to hit him hard enough that he stops crying how old should I wait to do this Wait until you are both thirty years older.

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What do you think is the most misleading impression you get from watching poker on TV? TV networks like to include a bit of excitement, be it from table conversation, or from the play of the cards. But elimination competitions require endless patience on the part of the winning players - patience to endure long spells of bad cards. Although some of these hands will be (and should be) bluffed; the majority of bad hands will be (and should be) folded. In other words, along...

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Does anybody truly win from gambling? Yes, money can be made if you have: (a) enough stake (starting money) (b) patience, and (c) the ability to assess the odds correctly. Assessing the odds means working out: (1) your chances of winning, (2) your profit ratio (winnings/stake). Let's say, for example, Your chances of winning are 1 in 5, your stake is $100, and your winnings would be $300. Should you do...

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Did Burt Bacharach stop making music after the golden era, or was he just not in the public eye as much? He is in Australia at the moment. For many of us, the most recent sightings of Burt Bacharach (born 12 May 1928) have been in his cameo roles in all three Austin Powers spy spoof movies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Bacharach During subsequent Burt Bacharach concert tours, each show would open with a very brief video clip from the movie Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, with Mike Myers (as Austin Powers)...

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What do I do to make my baked potatoes light brown and crispy on the outside but fluffy on the inside? Put some fist-size potatoes in the oven for 80 minutes at a temperature of 350C (180C). The potatoes should be clean; but necessarily peeled. Remove any dark spots with the tip of a potato-peeler. Serve by splitting open and adding either butter or flaxseed oil. A sprinkling of salt to taste.

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Is Colin Powell much more likely to endorse a Democrat than a Republican? Your question has proved perceptive, considering it was posted almost 7 months ahead of Colin Powell's actual endorsement of Senator Barack Obama as the next U.S. President. Colin Powell admits he was wrong about the decision to invade Iraq; but when he realized the extent of the Administration's mistake, he became a voice for reason. He still is.

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What are the core beliefs of Buddhism? Buddhism as based on the meditations of Siddhārtha Gautama (the Buddha) is more of a philosophy than a religion. Siddhārtha was born circum 560 BC, son of a Shakya tribal chief on the borders of Nepal. Dissatisfied with the aristocratic life, he left home (at about age 29) and joined a band of ascetics seeking a solution to the suffering they observed around them - especially the...

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"Welcome to Answerbag, a community of people sharing what they know. Sign up now to ask a question or help someone else by giving an answer!". Do you also get this message sometimes *although* you have already signed up lately? I thought it had been removed earlier this morning. (Saturday 18 OCT 2008). But just now another sign-up message re-appeared.

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Scientists who watched young women savor milkshakes inside a brain scanner concluded that when the brain doesn't sense enough gratification from food, people may overeat to compensate. What are your thoughts on this? I wouldn't mind a job like those scientists had.

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I have no insurance and am umemployed. I just broke a tooth. where do i go to get dental care for free? i live in riverside, ca. While you are waiting for a permanent solution, you might like to try using a temporary filling kit. Here is an online example: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100699&id=prod357247 I bought something like this once at a pharmacy when I lost a molar filling. It was easy to use, and stayed in place until I could get to a dentist for a permanent replacement filling.

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Besides brushing, what dental care do you practice regularly? Have learned to be careful when chewing whole almonds! The pressure can break a filled but uncapped molar.

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What "walk into a bar" jokes do you know? A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

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Can you give me a clever use for duct tape? Take a close look at what was once a perfectly good cardboard box on the back of this Canadian Bike.

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Do you believe U.S. prisons can effectively rehabilitate inmates? Not as long as more funds are committed annually to incarceration than to education.

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What is the first point of land on the globe to receive sunlight each day? Depending on the time of year, you should try hanging out around one of the poles where the sun never sets.

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How on earth did the number 2 end up being spelled "two"? How did it get a "w" in it? The word "two" is said to have its origins in the old English word "twa" and the Scottish word "twae", from which we get the words "twain" and "twin".

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The global economy is losing more money from forest disappearance than from the 2008 banking crisis, according to an EU-commissioned study putting the cost of forest loss at between $2 trillion and $5 trillion annually. Do you agree? The idea behind the study is that as forests disappear, the natural world no longer provides services which it used to provide for free. So, the human economic system must step in and find a way to provide these same services, for example through building reservoirs or building infrastructure to catch carbon dioxide. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1018598#add_answer_box

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How are mutation, adaptation, and variation related? When the data storage system in any self-replicating body gets randomly altered (i.e. suffers mutation), this can result in a difference of capability in the next generation (i.e. a variation). Later changes in the support environment may favor the survival of one of these variants over another. Surviving variants can be regarded as successful adaptations.

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What are you opinions on the market meltdown? In times of financial panic, not everyone jumps off the bridge.

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What do you consider a victimless-crime? Attempted suicide. Suicide bombers excepted!

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What do you know about the Depression in 1929 ??? Is it happening again? The initial crash occurred on Black Thursday (24 OCT 1929), followed by the nosedives of Black Monday and Tuesday (28 & 29 OCT 1929). That was just the start of an unnerving three year decline that took the DJIA from its 3 SEP 1929 high of 381.7 to its 8 JUL 1932 low of 41.22. ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_Crash_of_1929 See chart ref:...

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I wear hearing aids. Do you? No - but once I thought I had a problem and went to see an audiologist. He recommended a $5,000 in-ear hearing aid, got me to agree to give his office a deposit, and had his assistant take impressions of both ears. I noticed signs of ear wax on the impression molds when they were removed, and asked the assistant who had done the job if she thought this was at all significant. She said...

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What can i put on a sore tooth for pain If an aching tooth has been filled recently, you will probably be about to go back to your dentist. But try this first: Brush the aching tooth with toothpaste, and repeat the process day and night if necessary. This worked for me a few months ago, even though the toothache was severe, and lasted for about 12 hours. Each time I brushed the tooth, it quietened down a bit. Eventually it...

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How do you get rid of toothache? If an aching tooth has been filled recently, you will probably be about to go back to your dentist. But try this first: Brush the aching tooth with toothpaste, and repeat the process day and night if necessary. This worked for me a few months ago, even though the toothache was severe, and lasted for about 12 hours. Each time I brushed the tooth, it quietened down a bit. ...

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Will China ever overtake the US as a super power? China has a much older history. Some 3,500 years ago the Shang Dynasty seems to have invented writing. China's already been a superpower. So it's no surprise to see them do it again.

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What is the best way to control high blood pressure? (1) Avoid salt or go VERY easy on it. NB: Most restaurant meals have high salt levels, and so do processed meats like salami. (2) Stop consuming dairy products. i.e. No cheese and no cream, with VERY few exceptions. (3) Cut out coffee and alcohol. If this is too hard, limit coffee to one very small cup per day, and drink beer instead of hard liquor or wine.

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How does waste removal dispose toxic waste responsibly Unfortunately the majority of toxic waste (e.g. old paint cans, solvents and lubicants, used batteries, unused medication, herbicides, etc.) ends up as undifferentiated landfill.

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If you really need to control something, legalize it, regulate it, and tax it. Don't you agree? Legalization, regulation and taxation is better than (say) incarceration in the case of "victimless crimes". The question should exclude crimes with obvious victims, such as (for example): murder, rape, theft, fraud and coercion.

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Are you going to miss Jay Leno when he retires? Jay Leno's 10-minute monologues can be brilliant, and Kevin Eubanks often adds great impromptu quips. Jay's interview guests can be self-centered and dull; But some are exceptions and worth staying tuned-in for. On balance? Yes, Shall miss the Late Night Show with James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno.

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Bill Maher: Comic genius and/or presidential material? Both. But it might take the US a few hundred years to appreciate him.

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What is your evaluation of the Hoover Administration? It's simply amazing that it's still around after 72 years !

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I am about to eat a fortune cookie, can you guess what it will say? Whatever you do, Do not eat this fortune cookie!

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Which will bounce higher: a ball of glass or a ball of rubber? That depends on just what the floor is made of!

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If Bunny Greenhouse and other whistle-blowers are correct, and about $23 Billion of U.S. taxpayers' money has been lost or stolen in the Iraq ("Trillion Dollar") war, that is only 2.3%. so maybe we can all relax. Do you agree? In other words: is $23 Billion TOO LITTLE to lose any sleep over? (being ONLY about 2.3% of the cost of the war).

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Have you ever completely forgotten a really good question that you thought of when you were away from your computer?" I can't remember :[

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What is the difference between administration and facilities management? The Bush Facilities Management team keeps the washrooms clean.

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What kind of cordless house phone would you recommend? As of 27 SEP 2008, have just ditched my old vtech 900MHz (interference prone and too restricted in range), and replaced it with a GE 2.4 GHz Model 27906. Both range and volume are excellent, and the large keypad (promoted as suitable for children!) is a bonus that I like.

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Do you think that the recent financial shakeups (e.g., Fannie/Freddie, AIG, Bear Sterns, et al.) are part of something much more sinister? Unlike businesses, governments use "cash" instead of "accrual" accounting. This means that the government does not report future spending promises like Medicare and Social Security, or even future spending guarantees like veterans' benefits and federal employee pensions. ref: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/105 Factor this in and you add another $50 trillion...

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When i take my staffy for a walk he tuns his head and nudges my hand with his nose and he does this every few minutes, when i tell him that he is a good boy he starts to walk quicker: Is there a reason for this? Wash your hands next time you get something he likes out of the fridge :]

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What is laughter? Good question. Probably a reaction to a suddenly realized correlation. Laughter could be triggered by the brain's suddenly recognizing a correlation between two quite different scenarios. The act of laughing could communicate this recognition, and either reassure the listener that the laugher has "got it", or warn the listener that something can be looked at in two completely...

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Do coalition media report adequately on casualties suffered by and caused by private security companies operating in Iraq? BAGHDAD -- Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department contracts, are fighting insurgents on a widening scale in Iraq, enduring daily attacks, returning fire and taking hundreds of casualties that have been underreported and sometimes concealed, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials and company representatives. While the military has built...

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If you could have any one you want as the next president of the U.S. Who would it be? (living,dead or fictional) Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910) otherwise known as: Mark Twain. or William "Bill" Maher, Jr., (January 20, 1956)

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If the problem is debt and the Fed's $85b bail-out of AIG has interest attached to it, thus creating more debt, is this solving or contributing to the problem? Unlike businesses, governments use "cash" instead of "accrual" accounting. This means that the government does not report future spending promises like Medicare and Social Security, or even future spending guarantees like veterans' benefits and federal employee pensions. ref: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/105 Factor this in and you add another $50...

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Does anyone own a fly swatter? Do you want to borrow one?

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What industries are the greatest environmental polluters; and what can be done about it? Ahead of coal mining, hazardous waste treatment, electric utilities, and manufacturing, the EPA ranked the metal mining industry as the nation's worst toxic polluter in 2004, when it disposed of 1.07 billion pounds of chemical waste. Often, when a mine closes (which they often do before changing hands from one company, which frequently files for bankruptcy, to another) the state is left...

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Do stock market crashes expose the underlying weakness in the market system? Cheer up Wall Street. Don't worry my friend. Everything mortal Must pass in the end.

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What is your preferred method to bring your computer back to a basic stable configuration? Unplug it. Plug it back in. Turn it on, and wait for it to reboot.

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Is war good or bad? For the munitions and armaments business, War is what makes the world go around! :|

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What should i call my new black female kitten? CARMEN. And if you get a male kitten, you can call it TOOT. You will then have: (wait for it!) TOOT and CARMEN!

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What are some good names for pets, whether a cat, a dog, a parrot, etc? Since cats seem to have been domesticated first in ancient Egypt, two good names for a pair of kittens (one male, one female) would be: (wait for it!) TOOT and CARMEN :]

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You may or may not have heard, knife crime is on the rise in the UK. Why do you think this is? This article about knife crime is dated 8 APR 2007: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article1626691.ece This website could be expected to throw some light on the subject, but I cannot find a specific reference to knife crime: http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/sta_index.htm

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Do you think it is a good or bad idea that the Church of England is apologising to Charles Darwin, 126 years after his death? The church finally concedes that they misunderstood the theory proposed by Charles Darwin and offer an apology. It might slow declining congregations. The apology, which has been written by the Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, the Church's director of mission and public affairs, says that Christians, in their response to Darwin's theory of natural selection, repeated the mistakes they made in doubting Galileo's astronomy in the 17th century. "The statement will read: Charles Darwin: 200...

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Is the war in Iraq "God's plan" as Palin states in this clip? Holy Shiites! Sunnis and Kurds! Sarah's a scarer with some of her words!

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Which desserts go best when served with ice cream? frozen raspberries!

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What are good cat names? Since cats seem to have been domesticated first in ancient Egypt, two good names for a pair of kittens (one male, one female) would be: (wait for it!) TOOT and CARMEN :]

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Can health food become as addictive as junk food? Without a doubt! You can get addicted to: fresh apple, carrot, beets and ginger juice from a blender, to black red and green grapes, to spinach salad, rye toast, humus and raw tomatoes. You can even get addicted to brushing your teeth! :)

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What other categories could you come up with for answerbag "Gun Control" is perhaps the most obvious. Have also asked: Why not have a category: Science / Biology / Human / Intelligence? Come to think of it, these issues might be related! :]

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Are traffic lights a risk from the point of electricity failures? The stop lines at the intersection should still be there, even after a power failure. Motorists may pass through an undirected cross-road less efficiently; but they will usually have enough of a sense of self-preservation to survive. :]

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Is the Federal Debt ($31K per US resident) too big? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Are no longer in the black. The debt we spoke of yesterday Is $46K each today. The obligations of those two mortgage giants amount to at least $5 trillion. (i.e. as of 9 SEP 2008, add another $15K per US resident).

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Does the 2nd Amendment (the right to bear arms) only apply to "a well regulated Militia"? Thursday, June 26th, 2008 11:45 am | Lyle Denniston | Answering a 217-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession. Although times have changed since 1791, Justice Antonin Scalia...

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Why do some people think that the world revolves around them? Yes, if you live in a rather hot place at its core! :]

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Are you going to eat breakfast today? If so, what will it be? Rye toast with blackcurrant jam - no butter, a glass of grapefruit juice, and a cup of tea - no sugar :]

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What is the evolutionary advantage of dreaming? Dreams often contain elements of unusual events recently experienced. In a dream, such recalled events may be juxtaposed somewhat at random with older memories and with new but unusual ones. In this way the short-term memory may prepare itself for the erasure of these recently experienced events. According to this theory, the dream is in effect randomly comparing short term memories with...

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What color fall leaves do you like best? These are hard to beat:

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As a bomb-delivery vehicles, are energy-efficient robot submarine gliders a more problematic future threat than airborne rockets? Some background: These devices have no external moving parts. They move through the water by shifting ballast and squeezing water into and out of a forward hold. This lets them dive, rise and turn like a fish. Today they are typically 2 meters long, sell for $100,000, and stay active underwater for about 6 months. ref: IEEE Spectrum September 2008.

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Did John McCain deliver the goods at his acceptance speech tonight? Senator John McCain is a good man, and he presented himself as best he could as a presidential candidate who would try very hard to return the country to prosperity. He was especially well received when he introduced his family, referred to his popular running mate Sarah Palin, and recalled his harrowing days as a prisoner in Vietnam.

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If you could get all the people on this planet to obey one completely unambiguous gender rule, what would that rule be? Here's an example: "Only women are allowed to be politicians."

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What did you think of Sarah Palin's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention? (only constructive comments please) She was impressive, and the audience clearly loved her. To use Sarah's own words: a pit bull with lipstick. And I'm not even a Republican :]

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If before you were born you had to choose to born as giant or a little person (dwarf) Which 1 would you choose!! & Why? Certainly not a giant. They get such awful seats on public transportation systems.

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Any tips to help remember people's names after being introduced? Make an association linking their name with some quality you imagine about them. Like for example: You are introduced to "Michael". Ask yourself - Does Michael looks like a Mafia Boss? If so, associate his name with (you got it!) Corleone. Another example: You are introduced to "Josephine". Imagine Napoleon dating her - in period costume. Take care now. ...

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I am going to the dentist tomorrow. I want to get my last wisdom tooth extracted because it has a small cavity in it. My teeth are healthy otherwise. Would antibiotics be "in the picture" before the extraction is done? I suppose it's too late to save that wisdom tooth! For the record: I find the more you spend on toothpaste the less you spend on dentists. Brushing your teeth A.S.A.P. after eating anything can save unnecessary drilling. Some toothpaste can even help quiet down and repair an aching tooth.

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How important is it to you that a movie has a plot that is logical and consistent? For thrillers and mysteries, an earthy credible plot cuts more ice with me than the invocation of fantasy.

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On a bus or train, do you feel uncomfortable in a backward-facing seat? On a train, if the seat directly in front is empty, a backward-facing seat can be good in the event of a crash! For this reason I sometimes choose it. Don't recall too many backwards-facing bus seats.

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An 84-year-old Nigerian man with 86 wives and 170 children has accepted a decree issued by Islamic authorities that he must divorce 82 of them. Is it fair to make him dovirce them? What will they do for financial support now? I don't really know. What do people normally do when they get "dovirced"?

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Which act of kindness, like slipping your credit card into the pump of a stranger and buying his gas, do you do the most? Have been known to help total strangers search for their credit cards. Now tell me - exactly which truck stop are you thinking of pulling into next, and when?

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What does the German sentence "Ich bin laden" mean? Literally: "I am to load", which I suppose could be a sign on a shopping cart (in a politically dangerous supermarket).

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Which way does the earth rotate? If you can find a globe with its North Pole uppermost, touch the surface around the equator with your fingers, then move your hand from left to right. The globe should spin appropriately, though no doubt faster than the one you are standing on.

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Is it better to criticize the wording of a question, or just try to answer it the best you can? This question would sound better if it ended: "or just try to answer as best you can?"

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Why did the US govt let the Iraqi National Library get destroyed? Civil law and order were sadly missing from the priority list of the occupying forces.

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Which is better to use: cold or room temperature water? Best of all prefer cold distilled water :]

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I had a child ask me this once; "Is Mother Nature God's wife?" What do you think about this question? Beautifully expressed. And if you answer yes, the next logical question: "Does God have any control over Mother Nature?" is going to sail way over the heads of most adults.

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Is trust earned or just given? As Ronald Reagan put it: "Trust but verify."

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Do you think that the massive amount of money being spent on the war in Iraq would be better spent rebuilding New Orleans? The Iraq debacle (also called the trillion dollar war) has sucked funds from the economy that could have been used more wisely at home in the U.S. The slow and inadequate repair of the levees in New Orleans is one glaring example of the resulting neglect. If the Dutch can do it, America can do it.

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Are you looking for a long term relationship or just something casual? As the actress said to the bishop :]

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What website do you prefer for tracking opinion poll results on the expected outcome of the 2008 US Presidential Election Race? This one isn't bad: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7360265.stm or this one: http://www.pollster.com/

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Who want to join me in celebrating the nomination of Barack Obama for Democratic President? Well he's certainly nominated now :) Cheers!

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Is it illegal to leave a 12 year old in a parked car in the state of virginia? This sort of thing is really frowned upon if the parents live in Anchorage, Alalska.

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How do you make a cold go away as fast as possible? A bit of preparation helps: (1) Take 1.5 grams of Vitamin C every day (e.g. three 500 mg tablets with breakfast) (2) Wash your hands A.S.A.P. after touching anything that a stranger might have touched recently (i.e. today). If you feel the beginnings of a cold coming on (e.g. a bit of a sore throat) then triple your Vitamin C intake by taking another 1.5 grams with lunch and again...

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What's a good way to get rid of a cold quickly (without taking drugs)? (1) Take 1.5 grams of Vitamin C every day (e.g. three 500 mg tablets with breakfast) (2) Wash your hands A.S.A.P. after touching anything that a stranger might have touched recently (i.e. today). If you feel the beginnings of a cold coming on (e.g. a bit of a sore throat) then triple your Vitamin C intake by taking another 1.5 grams with lunch and again with dinner every day until you...

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How do you lessen your chances of catching a common cold? (1) Take 1.5 grams of Vitamin C every day (e.g. three 500 mg tablets with breakfast) (2) Wash your hands A.S.A.P. after touching anything that a stranger might have touched recently (i.e. today). If you feel the beginnings of a cold coming on (e.g. a bit of a sore throat) then triple your Vitamin C intake by taking another 1.5 grams with lunch and again with dinner every day until...

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What was the first thing adam said after he was made? What am I supposed to do with this thing between my legs?

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Who here owns a bicycle? Bicycles are good fun, good for you, the environment, and your bank account :]

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What is the best part of Obama's plan for change? (1) Ending the trillion dollar debacle in Iraq. (2) Equal pay for equal work. (3) Fairer taxation. (4) No big breaks for companies who send work overseas. (5) Recognition of need to restore U.S. image abroad. (6) Restoration of U.S. lead in Science & Technology. (7) Promise of education for all.

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Should there be a limit on the number of answers you can give for each question? How many? Maybe not. But if the total number of answers from all responding ABers exceeds (say) 100 answers, then perhaps something should be done to make the file easier to read. This is because some questions accumulate so many answers that it is unrealistic to expect newcomers to read them all. So when the total reaches (say) 100 answers, perhaps no new answers should be accepted for what...

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Do you think the majority of AB-ers are liberal/democrat or conservative/republican? Do you think there is a distinct bias one way or the other, or do you think it's fairly evenly balanced between them? My impression to date is that liberal/democrats are a minority on AB. Am now going to take a look at Yahoo Answers to see if this is also how things appear there.

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Give me your feedback on Barack Obama's acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention? (all serious and fair responses will be given positive points) Probably the best speech by a presidential nominee since J.F. Kennedy. Quantitative commitments are rare gems to find on a political podium.

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Have you ever "invented" a word? I like using the word "quossibly" in conversations sometimes. What is your word and what do you think quossibly means? Yes - the word was "incasting" (the opposite of broadcasting) :]

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What is the evolutionary benefit of self awareness? If a living organism is aware of its own existence, it can make decisions which are of benefit to it. For example, it may decide to relocate itself to a safer environment, or to move itself to a place where there is a more abundant supply of food. In the struggle for survival, such benefits can be learned and passed on to successive generations. Random gene mutation makes some descendants...

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Do you believe Hillary when she speaks well of Obama and shows her support for him? Hilary didn't wish to be held responsible for splitting the Democratic Party in two. (an act that would risk another 4 years of Republican administration.)

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Have you borrowed any good DVDs from your local library recently? Just came across an old but unexpectedly good one: "Dean Martin - the one and only".

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Do you think life is too short to be taken seriously? Heh heh heh heh heh! Oh my goodness - please forgive me! Heh heh heh! Heh heh heh! No.

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Would you consider yourself to be "technologically advanced" or "technologically challenged? Doh! - tecknowhatnickly what?

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Could you write a poem right off the top of your head right now? O.K. Sit back – and off we go. Or am I writing much too slow? Must try to make this damned thing rhyme. Wow! Look! I’ve done it one more time!

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What are some theories on the purpose of dreams? Dreaming might well have given humans an evolutionary advantage: Dreams often contain elements of unusual events recently experienced. In a dream, such recalled events may be juxtaposed somewhat at random with older memories and with new but unusual ones. In this way the short-term memory may prepare itself for the erasure of these recently experienced events. According to this theory,...

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So were the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games the best ever? Here's my rating (5 stars max): Opening ceremony - * * * * * Facilities for athletes - * * * * * Facilities for audience - * * * * * Friendliness - * * * * * Competition fairness - * * * * * Security - * * * * * TV coverage - * * * * * Closing ceremony - * * * * * What more could you ask for?

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Will the Beijing Olympics be a hard act for London to follow? China is estimated to have spent about $44 billion on the 2008 Beijing Olypmics. London might be able to raise about half that; but they'll do the best they can.

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What do you think about Brazil's new anti-gun attitude? What's new here? Brazil's been cracking down on unnecessary gun ownership for years.

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Why are religious persons proud of believing something without factual basis or rational explanations? In daily life, blind belief is unwise and frowned upon. It probably has more to do with being proud to be a member of social or family group than of being proud to be irrational.

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What is the difference between War and Terror? Perhaps the key differences between war and terror (as implied in the expression "the war on terror") are: (a) the number of civilian casualties involved, and (b) the problem of identifying the perpetrator.

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Did God create everything? Did He create himself then? Capital X To the deepest of questions That trouble and vex, Theology answers with: Capital X. That means that X planned it, And X did it all. And don’t ask where X came from, Your brain is too small. But perhaps it’s an answer Of doubtful veracity If the answerer’s brain Has the smaller capacity.

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What do you think of the decision to pick Joe Biden as Barack Obama's running mate? He seems to have chosen someone he can get along with. In 2007 Joe Biden described Barack Obama as "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy".

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Why can't people understand that withdrawing is the same as running away? Imagine you stumbled into someone's house by mistake, then realized you did not belong there.

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Was Iron Man worth seeing? On a recent AIR FRANCE trans-Atlantic flight most passengers took off their headsets well before the Iron Man movie was half-way through. Can't say I blame them.

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Let's invent some new Olympic Sports - anyone for Olympic Tiddly Winks or Olympic Twister? O.K. How about mountaineering, sky-diving, cheese-burger consumption and arm-wrestling?

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Could you live without your cell phone? Never had a cell-phone. Don't need one. Email is the ideal communication mode. The answering machine can take incoming phone calls, most of which are spam or faxes - and haven't had a fax machine since the 20th century.

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What is the most creative/funniest/outrageous thing you have done to deal with unwelcome postal junk mail? Collect the contents and return envelopes for a few days. Then mix them up: e.g. send blank credit card applications to cable-TV companies send free newspaper offers to realty firms etc.

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Have you ever personally (not on TV, etc) seen a tornado? What was it like? A tornado approached me in person and said: "Forgive me for swirling. I just want you dead." I said: "Real tornadoes don't know to to talk." Then it calmed down right there, and we went for a walk.

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Do you think you can teach youself Algebra? Let x(t) = your algebraic ability at time t (0<=x<=1), and A = % of "Algebra" studied B = % of time spent teaching yourself Algebra C = % of studies beneficially remembered Then x(t) = x(0)+ Z*A*B*C where the constant Z depends on personality + I.Q. If x(t)>x(o) the answer is yes!

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Poll: If there was a vote on legalizing marijuana Yes or No Yes - Follow the Dutch lead - (and increase restrictions on tobacco smoking)

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What is the best advice you have ever heard. Uncle George and Auntie Mabel Fainted at the breakfast table. Let this story be a warning: Never do it in the morning!

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Which profession do you think is overworked and underpaid? Suicide bombers (the problem is: they don't agree with me)

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What are some free online games that I can play to reduce my Answerbag addiction? The ancient oriental game of Go can be learned (from scratch) and played (for free) on this fantastic website: http://www.dragongoserver.net/ (and you can chat while you play) The rules of Go are simple: The Go board has 19 x 19 intersections. You place your first (black) stone on one intersection. Your opponent places a (white) stone on an intersection. Any stone (or group of...

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Sometimes when I try uploading a picture in an answer, it says "cannot generate thumbnail of animated picture". The picture isn't animated, so why does it say that? Latest attempt to upload was today (23 JUL 2008). Tried re-sizing image and re-saving it as a new JPG file. Checked that it had only only layer. Nothing seems to help.

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What life skills did your mother teach you? The following fantastic dinner recipe: Roast Beef, Yorkshire Pudding & Gravy Serves six. Preparation time: 3 hours. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roast Beef Ingredients: 3 lb inside round of beef. 2 cloves of fresh garlic. 1 tablespoon of salt. 6 medium-size potatoes. Utensils: Roasting dish with drip rack. ...

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What was the first car you owned, and what do you remember about it? A 1954 Morris Minor Tourer/Convertible. 2 doors, stick shift, 803 cc OHV engine. 8 years old, lots of miles on the clock. Cost £150 (£180 asked). Better in the U.K. rain than my Indian motorcycle and sidecar.

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Have you ever taken a great photo of a tree? As an example, this one's not too badly focussed. A Canadian tree that might well be: a Honey Locust:

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If you had an A-Z map, but you were still lost, would you ask for directions? Well, you have to remember the rules: (1) If you ask a woman, she might be unaware that she doesn't know, and if she does know you might not be able to follow her directions. (2) If you ask a man, he's going to tell you something - anything rather than admit that he doesn't know. So maybe it's about time you decided which side of the map to look at, and...

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Can you give an example in which "less is more" holds true? Less education, more incarceration. P.S. that doesn't mean I approve! :[

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The U.S. has more people incarcerated than any other nation on earth. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? And what does it mean? What really sounds grim is to hear that the US spends more annually on incarceration than education.

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If one of your cars has ever been stolen, did you ever find it again? In one piece?...or in many? Had a Ford Mustang convertible stolen years ago. A credit card left inside the car was used to buy gas. On the receipts I saw that the plate number of the car being filled had been altered by adding an extra stroke turning "1"s into "4"s. I identified the owner of this license plate by contacting the registration authorities. I then called the police, who told me...

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Can a person be lazy and brilliant at the same time? What is it with me? Could it be indigestion? I just can't see Why I should Answer this question.

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What is the best thing to make with a blender? Some ploblems Have happy end. Ah! Some Chinese Make love to Blenda!

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What is your evaluation of the Truman Administration? U.S. President Harry S. Truman was a determined man whose Administration is respected for two great achievements: (1) bringing World War II to an end (1945), and (2) initiating desegregation of the U.S. military (1948). A question remains: whether the end of the war in the Pacific justified the means: killing about 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 80,000 in Nagasaki with atomic bombs.

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What is a soul? Self awareness. Beautifully described by Douglas Hofstadter in his 2007 book: "I Am A Strange Loop" He knew the concept of how conscious animate beings evolve from inanimate matter had not been widely understood in his earlier book: "Gödel, Escher, Bach".

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In multi-cultural communities, what can schools do to encourage racial tolerance and integration? One Canadian high school invited everyone to help paint an outside wall with images of students from families with origins all around the world.

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"who ever said that the pen is mightier than the sword never encoutered automatic weapons." do you think this quote is can be true? The 21st Century equivalent of this old saying could be: "The internet is mightier than the bomb." Or put another way: "Education beats indoctrination, incarceration and detonation." But yes, the spirit of the old saying is true as ever.

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What do you think of the latest cover of the New Yorker magazine, whick portrays the Obamas as terrorists, the and the flag burning, etc.? They should show a copy of the New Yorker magazine in flames in the grate.

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How do I go about getting a cartoon into the New Yorker magazine? Just open the magazine, slip the cartoon inside then close the magazine.

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Is the use of double entendre taboo on AB? Am not getting much of a rating for it; but at least AB lets me post this one: A barman named Slick Once asked this young chick “Do you want anything from the bar?” “Yes, please!” smiled the blonde, “A double entendre.” So he took her outside to his car.

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What is in a screwdriver drink The name of the drink, Screwdriver, is a wordplay. In bar lingo, the two main ingredients are called screw (orange juice) and driver (vodka). P.S. In Canada you can have either a: Phillips or a Robertson Screwdriver.

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What is your favorite blonde joke? A barman named Slick Once asked this young chick “Do you want anything from the bar?” “Yes, please!” smiled the blonde, “A double entendre.” So he took her outside to his car.

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You are trying to decide if you want to see a movie. What are the three most important things on your (a) "must have" list, and (b) "mustn't have" list? Must have: a1 - at least one actor with a good rating a2 - an interesting plot (e.g. mystery, history, romance) a3 - a release date later than 1989 Mustn't have: b1 - an actor who turns me off b2 - a lot of make-believe b3 - a lot of cruelty or violence

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Should all countries agree to ban the production, transportation, storage, and use of land mines? Wikipedia: The Ottawa Treaty (Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction) came into force on March 1, 1999. The treaty was the result of the leadership of the Government of Canada working with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, launched in 1992. The campaign and its leader, Jody Williams, won the...

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Would you like to join Sillyville? You must be joking?

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Do you think I could do your job for one day? Have you had any experience at being retired?

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What is justice? Wikipedia on Justice: Justice concerns the proper ordering of things and persons within a society. As a concept it has been subject to philosophical, legal, and theological reflection and debate throughout history. According to most theories of justice, it is overwhelmingly important: John Rawls, for instance, claims that "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is...

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What is true justice? Wikipedia on Justice: Justice concerns the proper ordering of things and persons within a society. As a concept it has been subject to philosophical, legal, and theological reflection and debate throughout history. According to most theories of justice, it is overwhelmingly important: John Rawls, for instance, claims that "Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is...

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Is there anyone that got some jokes? Tell me some A barman named Slick Once asked this young chick “Do you want anything from the bar?” “Yes, please!” smiled the blonde, “A double entendre.” So he took her outside to his car.

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Under what conditions have you seen your best rainbow? The best for me were the ones seen from the "Maid of the Mist" at Niagara Falls. Am pretty certain there was no alcohol involved.

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Is a dogma that suffering can be an atonement for sin still used to justify torture? “Sins for Suffering” said the Lord, But ask: "Is such Atonement flawed?" Think what Evil this lets in. How Vendettas can begin. When Sadists banish inhibition, It’s the Spanish Inquisition.

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Do you buy white bread? Or if not, what kind? The only white bread I go for is a fresh baguette. Rye bread costs a bit more than white; but it's tastier, healthier and more satisfying.

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Can you make up a (nice) or (funny) poem about a girl named Mary? Mary felt bright And not at all wary. Mary felt quite Extraordinary. Then Mary awoke Quite scared inside her And there was this bloke In bed beside her.

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Are there still any 6-winged creatures guarding God's throne? Many thanks. That scheduled Final Battle was news to me. But in case any bets are to be placed, have just managed to Google this pearl of wisdom: "Caligastia and his deluded followers will surely suffer personality extinction by order of the Ancient of Days, the rulers of our superuniverse."

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Are there dinosaurs in the bible? Or does it skip over that scientific fact and go straight to humans (Adam/Eve)? The big problem is the age of the texts in question. None of the authors of such ancient writings were able to anticipate the deluge of archaeological data and scientific breakthroughs that we now take for granted. Try: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/ The website examines every chapter in the Bible, Quran, and Book of Morman, listing what it sees as: Absurdity,...

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How can we overcome Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle? We probably can't; but this is really not such a bad thing. Heisenberg of course knew how to use his principle to advantage. e.g. One day Heisenberg's BMW is pulled over by a police cruiser. The officer walks up to the BMW, and motions for the driver's window to be wound down. Heisenberg: "Anything wrong Officer?" Policeman: "Do you know what speed you...

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Is concern about death at the root of all religion? A deep and pervading concern about an afterlife does indeed appear to lie at the heart of ancient religions. As a vivid example, go back to the lands of the Pharohs, where to avoid being counted amongst the damned of the afterlife, one had to venerated the Egyptian gods and live one's life by a code of standards, compliance with which would be judged after death. ...

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Where does jealousy come from? Observa has a good article on this subject entitled: "Jealousy? For the Italians it’s the fault of the genes" by Valeria Arzenton http://www.observa.it/view_page.aspx?ID=156&LAN=ENG

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Where can i obtain free world climate data? World Weather Information Service provides OFFICIAL weather observations, weather forecasts and climatological information for selected cities supplied by National Meteorological & Hydrological Services (NMHSs) worldwide. http://www.worldweather.org/

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Is free-will the opposite of determinism? (Read my answer first) Our universe would be a chaotic place were the present not a product of the past. Yet accepting such dependency does not mean that the future can be predicted. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle takes care of that. Locating a particle in space makes the velocity of the particle uncertain; and measuring a particle's velocity makes its position uncertain. Self-aware creatures...

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Doesn't everyone stop smoking sooner or later? Seriously deranged chain-smokers excepted, most tobacco addicts stop smoking for a while when they come to the end of a cigarette. Tobacco companies are delighted with this arrangement. They decide the length of the cigarette. You smoke it until you get to the end. Herein actually lies a technique for smokers to take back control. All they need is a small pair of scissors . . . ....

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How do YOU stop your sweet cravings? By brushing my teeth with cavity protection toothpaste :D

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How can I prevent my cat from eating birds in the garden? Move to Antarctica :]

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What can I substitute for cheese? Peas (green, sweet, fresh & raw) You'll find they rhyme perfectly :D

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"Great thinkers have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds." Agree or disagree? As one great thinker to another, We know the answer. Don't we brother?

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It looks like direct democracy in the age of the internet would be possible (no representatives, all people vote on the individual laws). What are the reasons why we don't realize it? Or are there some projects already running? Web-based feedback will undoubtedly continue to gain in popularity, within both the public and private sectors. One of the more successful examples is Wikipedia, information from which is already helping to shape the minds of many, including hopefully the minds of elected representatives and (let's keep hoping) world leaders.

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If Jesus was born today, would He be accepted by society as a Savior? Few 21st century teenagers could accept a tale of heavenly parenthood, even if a mother solemnly declared this to be true. A more earthly explanation would probably remove any desire to fulfill ancient prophecies.

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How could it be true that God created the Earth and man if science is discovering the origins of the universe, the days of the dinosaurs and the ice age? Capital X To the deepest of questions That trouble and vex, Theology answers with: Capital X. That means that X planned it, And X did it all. And don’t ask where X came from, Your brain is too small. But of course it’s an answer Of doubtful veracity If the answerer’s brain Has the smaller capacity.

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Do you believe in free speech? Do you think any limits should be put on it? Should racism, and other forms of discrimination / prejudice be criminal offenses? A key issue here is fraud. Are your free to make fraudulent claims? Are you free to ask for money for fraudulent reasons? Are your free to give fraudulent reasons for curtailing the freedom of others? Such questions can be difficult to answer, especially where religious faith is involved. The first step should be rational discussion.

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Which of your best questions has been rated negatively? Got another fast -5 points for asking: "If Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) had been the 25th President of the United States _______________" The nice thing was someone upped it +5 soon after. Ref: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/853342 Shortly afterwards AB told me this question was nonsense. I apologized for any ambiguity and reworded it as: "If Mark Twain...

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If Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) had been the 25th President of the United States _______________ The Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896) landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States, upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation even in public accommodations (particularly railroads), under the doctrine of "separate but equal" would never have been passed.

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How are the sub-prime mortgage, world food, and energy crises connected? A connecting factor would appear to be the Iraq invasion (now sometimes called "the trillion dollar war"). Since the not-so-subtly-concealed purpose of the war was to secure oil resources, the resulting screw-up has bumped oil and food prices sky high. The cost of this conflict has saddled the US with a debilitating national debt, and a stagnating economy. Poorly secured...

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Who is Robert Morse and why is his portrait found on compound interest notes? Robert Morse (born May 18, 1931, Newton, Massachusetts) is an American actor. Morse is best known for his appearances in musicals and plays on Broadway, and has also acted in movies and TV shows. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War. Is this the man you mean - or do you mean Robert Morris? http://sentry.rmu.edu/public-relations-and-marketing/content/about-rmu.aspx?&ivisitor=0

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What would Mark Twain say in which AB category? Social sciences - History: "History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme a lot."

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What would Mark Twain say in which AB category? Health & Fitness "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

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What would Mark Twain say in which AB category? Social Sciences - Politics and Modern events: "For in a Republic, who is “the country”? Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant—merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn’t. Its function is to obey orders,...

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What would Mark Twain say in which AB category? Religion: "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." "Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion—several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn’t straight."

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Was Mark Twain right about golf? "Golf is a good walk spoiled" (with due apologies to Tiger Woods) is a great old Mark Twain quote. For more see: http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/1082

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Do you need a book in your hotel room with tales of 6-winged creatures flying around with hot coals? Maybe we'll all sleep better after reading about one of these:

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This is for former smokers: How long did you smoke, and what tips can you give me for quitting? I have smoked for 11 years with a two year break, smoke a little over a pack a day, and I am terrified of stopping. I know that sounds silly, but I am. I smoked for longer than 11 years, although a pack would last me maybe 3 or 4 days. Stopping was quite calculated. I said enough was enough, that there was no reason why I had to consume a whole @#$% cigarette each time I felt like a nicotine hit. How to Quit Smoking – PART A (1) Always carry a small pair of scissors with your packet of cigarettes. (2) Light-up whenever you...

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Are you in debt? Do you consider this debt an investment or a mistake? If the whole country has a National Debt, everyone can be looked on as carrying a share of it. Calculate your share of the carrying charges, compare this with your annual income, then decide whether you think the National Debt is an investment or a mistake.

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Did you know the electrical color code can be used to create your own incredible memory aid? O.K. Here is the code followed (in brackets) by a more material interpretation: 0 = black (night) 1 = brown (wood) 2 = red (fire) 3 = orange (orange fruit) 4 = yellow (gold metal) 5 = green (sea) 6 = blue (sky) 7 = purple (royal) 8 = slate (stone) 9 = white (cat with 9 lives) When you have (say) a list to remember, associate each item with the appropriate material...

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Over the last 250 years, what new ethical concerns have surfaced? Some possibilities: (1) Abolition of slavery (2) Abolition of racial segregation (3) Recognition of women's rights (4) Freedom of information (5) Freedom of speech (6) Ecological considerations (7) Stem cell research (8) Animal rights

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On Answerbag, is there a way to see only unanswered questions in a particular category? Yes there is, though maybe unanswered questions with spelling errors and/or other mistakes should be separated from the rest to brighten up the viewing experience :] Example: http://www.answerbag.com/c_view/32/unanswered

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Which of your best questions has been rated negatively? Got thumped and later restored to zero for asking: "How do new religions get started?" http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/845585

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Why is religious belief inversely related to income? See reference at http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_10/012346.php

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Why don't babies sleep A baby's brain is insufficiently developed for it to dream like an adult, so at least this particular sleep requirement is different. The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby's development. A newborn's brain is about 25 percent of its approximate adult weight. But by age 3, it has grown dramatically by producing billions of cells...

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Atheists make up 10-12% of the US population, but only less than 1% of the US prisoners. Look it up! Why do so many people falsely believe that morals come from religion? One the one hand: poverty is a motivation for theft, although it's debatable whether more in total value is not stolen from the poor by wealthier ranks of society. On the other hand wealth and religion do appear to be closely correlated as indicated in the following article: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_10/012346.php

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How many of your questions have been downrated? Got an immediate -5 rating for: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/849423 "Why are angels such aerodynamic monstrosities?" Got another (almost instant) -5 points for asking: "Should adults terrify children with tales of hell?" http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/828208

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Would you consider sleep deprivation abuse? My ex-husband would continually (sometimes 5-6 times a night) wake me at night to accuse me of crazy things, and would say he dreamed I was doing these things. My attorney doesn't consider this abuse, but I do Sounds like the technique used in Guantanamo. Ref: INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE (10 JULY 2008) TORONTO: A lawyer for a young Canadian detained at Guantanamo Bay said Thursday that he is outraged Canada's prime minister will not seek to bring him home despite documents indicating he was subjected to sleep deprivation and other inhumane measures. Department of Foreign Affairs...

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Did slavery also exist in Canada? Slavery in Canada was practiced for millennia by aboriginal nations, who routinely captured slaves from neighbouring tribes. However, chattel slavery (that form of hereditary slavery in which humans are regarded as the private property of an individual) started with the European settlement of Canada, appearing soon after the colonies were founded in the early 1600s. Most of the slaves were used...

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Which of your best questions has been rated negatively? Got an immediate -5 rating for: http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/849423 "Why are angels such aerodynamic monstrosities?"

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When have you given a negative rating? Never, but just got an fast -5 points rating for asking: "Why are angels such aerodynamic monstrosities?" :]

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Why are angels such aerodynamic monstrosities? This question was awarded an immediate -5 points rating. It seems we might have struck a nerve here.

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How would you describe salvation? Salvation is a carrot in a stick-and-carrot approach to religious recruitment: Salvation is a subtle word of promise. Yes, and yet Beneath this benign promise Lies a veiled but hellish threat.

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Why do we dream in the first person perspective? This makes good sense if you regard dreaming as a means of "defragging" your personal memory storage system. The comments below are from a Wikipedia discussion: Dreams often contain elements of unusual events recently experienced. In a dream, such recalled events may be juxtaposed somewhat at random with older memories and with new but unusual ones. In this way the short-term...

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What is a really healthy food, that you just can't get enough of? Some favorites: (1) Hemp seed hearts (from local health food store) (2) Fresh green peas (eaten raw by the spoonful) (3) Button tomatoes (4) Fresh spinach in a salad mixed with diced apple, raisins, peanuts, shallots, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and curry.

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If God was so wrathful in biblical times, why is he so patient now? For background and answers on this one, visit: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

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Do other living creatures (other than humans) possess self-awareness? Self-awareness, as shown by the ability to recognize oneself in a mirror, is a trait shared by only the most intelligent animals. e.g. women, apes, monkeys, dolphins and elephants. Ref: http://notexactlyrocketscience.wordpress.com/2006/11/27/elephants-can-recognise-themselves-in-a-mirror/ P.S. A few men have been suspected of doing it too :]

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What makes a human self-aware? Douglas Hofstadter is a great contributor on the subject of self-awareness. His 2007 book "I Am a Strange Loop" explains consciousness in terms of an information feedback loop, an approach originally developed in his 1979 book: "Gödel, Escher, Bach."

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Who knows of a really interesting website? You might like: http://www.wordcount.org/ It's easy to use, and tells you how popular any word is in the English language.

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What's the best brand of toaster? Try: http://www.kitchen-appliance-advisor.com/ The best model I've ever owned is the Vitantonio Glass Long Slot Toaster; but I must admit the internal electronic timer chip on mine packed up a few months ago, and I've had to devise a new timing technique for it.

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Life would be so much easier without _________! mortality :]

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Do you think dropping the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945 was justified? Did the end justify the means? Some thought so at the time; but others believed there were better (more humane) ways of demonstrating possession of nuclear technology.

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Is there a home-made natural mosquito repellant? Kim Vasdani recommends crushing beautyberry leaves (Callicarpa Americana) a practice used by Northern Mississippi residents in the early 1900s. Putting these leaves under horse harnesses resulted in the production by friction of a repellent good for a few hours.

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What’s safer sky diving or bungee jumping? According to http://www.dropzone.com/fatalities/ there have been a total of 281 skydiving fatalities world-wide since 1 JAN 2004. The following is taken from http://www.medstudents.com.br/sport/sport7.htm Bungee Jumping is not a new practice. Indians in the South Pacific island of Pentecost used to have a kind of a competition or rite which the males jumped from banyan trees tied to...

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Do you prefer using your own e-mail program or do you go through your local internet service provider? Recommend looking at the titles of email waiting on your ISP's server before your email client downloads it. That way you are your own last-ditch spam filter.

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How do new religions get started? Where scientists might doubt a claim Or change a law a smidgen, Some theologians do the same, And start a new religion.

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Is the law of Moses useful? Yes (2 timothy 3:16) No Hebrews (7:18) Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after...

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What magazines do you no longer buy? National Geographic, Playboy, Sheet Music, Time & Wired.

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What is the secret to good photography? Location, location, location.

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Are you good at drawing cartoons? This is a self portrait :]

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What comic strip did you get hooked on as a kid? Korky the Cat, Desperate Dan & Freddy the Fearless Fly from the Dandy, Big Eggo, Lord Snooty, Ash Can Alley & Skinnie Lizzie from the Beano:

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In the time of interstellar space travel, we will have homepages for each planet. What would Earth's homepage look like? It's up and running already: http://www.google.com/

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Can you trust anyone under 30? Trust but verify.

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Do you use an old-fashioned ink pen? Yes I do - the ones you fill from an ink bottle, or that have an internal ink cartridge which you can top-up or replace. O.K. ballpoint pens have their uses; but real old ink pens write a lot better.

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When was the last time you downrated another AB user? (nb: and what was your reason for doing so) Have never given a negative rating. Am content to rate: +2, +1 or zero.

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Where would you go in your city to find documentation of who has the right of way at a 4-way intersection that is not labeled with traffic control signs, i.e. stop sins or yeild signs? As suggested, you should consult your Drivers Manual. In Canada, this is what you might find: "If two vehicles come to an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at the same time, the driver on the left must let the driver on the right go first. This is called yielding the right-of-way." On a traffic circle, this results in a somewhat hilarious situation where...

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Do you know any good tips for musical improvisation? On a keyboard: Melody in the right hand (plus occasional third, forth or triad). Octave and triad accompaniment in the left hand. (or an arpeggio accompaniment - if you can manage it!)

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What was your all time favorite television show theme somg? Barrington Pheloung's great theme for the Inspector Morse TV series starring the late John Thaw.

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Do you believe in luck? I know it's most unlucky to be superstitious :]

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Who should have the right of way on a roundabout: the vehicle already on, or the one waiting to get on? In Canada, drivers follow this rule: "If two vehicles come to an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at the same time, the driver on the left must let the driver on the right go first. This is called yielding the right-of-way." On a traffic circle, this results in the somewhat ridiculous situation where vehicles wanting to join the circle have right of way over...

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Where is the perfect vacation? Let's imagine someone stumbles upon the: Perfect setting. Comfortable accommodation. Wonderful weather. Nice people. Excellent food. Great price. The problem is: Are they going to tell the rest us about it?

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Does time really fly when your having fun? Or as one frog said to another: "Time is really fun when you're having flies."

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Can you recommend any good safe-driving tips? (1) Leave a safe (emergency braking) distance between you and the driver immediately in front of you. (2) Have the patience to follow behind if the driver in front is maintaining a reasonable speed. (3) Don't overtake just for the hell of it.

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Sudoku players - how many given numbers do you like to see? If a 9 x9 sudoku has no more than 25 given numbers, it's worth doing. More than that and it's too easy. Less than that and you're probably going to need a "what if?" guess part-way through.

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Do you play Suduko? On a clip-board in my bath-tub. Cut them out of a freebie newspaper. Prefer no more than 25 given numbers to start.

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When was the last time you wore a tie? At a band gig: a big red one with a saxophone on it :]

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What sort of spam still gets through to you? Practically nothing gets through because I try to spot and delete any remaining unfiltered spam manually (using browser on sites such as Web Mail and Squirrel Mail) before asking my email client (e.g. Outlook) to receive.

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DANGER! SCAM POSSIBLE. What are the warning signs? I get a bit suspicious when they tell you to expect a tenfold reward - but not until sometime after you are dead :]

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If the Bible is in such bad shape, which verses are wrong, so I won't use them? For critical comments on major religious texts, try: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

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By when do you expect a robot to be doing what? Let's say by 2016: Performing on "Just-for Laughs" as a stand-up comedian.

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Strawberries or Raspberries? Raspberries - with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream! Maybe there's some male-female division of opinion here. Perhaps as a group females tend to prefer strawberries.

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How many times do you REALLY brush your teeth in a day? As soon as possible after eating anything. This usually means 4 or 5 times a day. Prefer spending money on toothpaste than on dentists.

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A killer is running towards you with a knife, what do you do? Tell him who is really responsible for the US Federal Deficit (2008 estimate: $410 trillion).

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The biggest drain on the US economy is _______ The War In Iraq and its effect on US Federal Debt (now about $9.5 trillion). Republican Senator Ted Stevens said that the cost of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the "War on Terror" was close to $15 billion/month (mostly on Iraq). Stevens was speaking in support of additional funding for them.

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To keep insurgents from blowing up the Iraqi oil pipelines, why aren't they relaid underground? It's proved to be very difficult to relay all those insurgents underground.

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Does Answerbag plan to make versions of this site in different languages? Producing meaningful translations of short vernacular (sometimes meaningless!) phrases is a massive task. It would take incredibly good software or dedicated round-the-clock teams of translators. What might make sense would be to restrict usage of the multi-lingual version to: (a) members of the translation teams, and (b) a limited number (e.g. high rated) other users.

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What's the best telescope website? Here are a few: http://www.tmt.org (Thirty Meter Telescope) http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu (Spitzer Space Telescope) http://www.worldwidetelescope.org (Microsoft Worldwide Telescope) http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://hstexhibit.stsci.edu (Hubble Space Telescope)

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Which of your best questions has been rated negatively? I got an immediate -5 points for asking: "Should adults terrify children with tales of hell?" http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/828208

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What's a good website to check flight arrivals and departures? I like this one: www.flightstats.com

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Was Cain a vegetarian? 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. (4:3-5) 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 4:5 But unto...

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Was Cain a vegetarian? Cain made offerings to the Lord Of veges; and the Lord got bored. But Abe knew God preferred red meat, And often offered Him this treat. Then God told Cain what he could do With all his vegetables! Phew! For after that things got real bad, And Cain he just got seething mad.

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What do you think some of Adam and Eve's first sins were after being kicked out of the Garden of Eden? Outside the Garden, Adam said: “Eve Dear, if we had a bed. And paraphernalia bridal, There’d be no need for us to leave Our genitalia idle.” And verily then, so says the fable, Verily then along came Cain. And verily soon along came Able And problems started up again

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In the book of Genesis there’s a story tree of knowledge. God forbade Adam and Eve from eating of it but they did anyway; thus they were cast out of Eden. My question is: Could knowledge be considered a sin? Although assigned the kitchen sink, Eve’s sin was she liked to think. She knew she couldn’t go to college, And nibbled at the tree of knowledge. This didn’t go down well upstairs, A female putting on such airs! The outcome was quite hard on Eve, A learned floozy, asked to leave.

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What do you think some of Adam and Eve's first sins were after being kicked out of the Garden of Eden? Undoubtedly using the pristine genitalia they found themselves both equipped with :D

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Do you think women are bossier than men? Although assigned the kitchen sink, Eve’s sin was she liked to think. She knew she couldn’t go to college, And nibbled at the tree of knowledge. This didn’t go down well upstairs, A female putting on such airs! The outcome was quite hard on Eve, A learned floozy, asked to leave.

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What do you think of when you think of Wales? Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

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Who should or is going to replace Jay Leno? How about George Carlin or Don Rickles? How about George W. Bush? (he'll be looking for a job soon).

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What questions should children ask when told about the Garden of Eden? Like how old was Adam when he was made?

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Does anyone play a type of musical instrument and why did you choose that to play Piano came first (age 9 - a bit late!), Tenor Saxophone (age 36 - really late), Guitar (badly), Trumpet, Alto Sax, Recorder, & Clarinet (the latest). Would like to play violin. But know one should start as a kid.

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Did god put adam and eve in the garden of eden, knowign that they would eat the apple, and be cast out? Although Adam came first, he presumably was already equipped with a full set of hormones and the necessary (under the fig leaf) equipment. A pity he didn't have much of a childhood; but it seems like the poor lad's future had been planned.

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What's your opinion of T.V evangelists? We can respect a teacher But should suspect a preacher. A teacher will award a grade. A preacher’s way is worse. A teacher sets out to persuade; A preacher to coerce!

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Is there any good advice you wish you had been given years ago? Once mounted on tiger it is hard to get down.

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Why do Indians build casinos? Because they saw that if only they had had them back in 1492, they would now own Spain and the rest of Europe.

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Is there any good advice you wish you had been given years ago? Spend more on toothpaste and you will save on dentists :D

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Is incest a bad thing Way back then in Adam’s age, Sibling love was all the rage. And up on high He understood Incest was for the common good. To the deepest of questions That trouble and vex, Theology answers with: Capital X. That means that X planned it, And X did it all. And don’t ask where X came from, Your brain is too small. But perhaps it’s an answer Of doubtful...

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If Cain was his father, and Adam and Eve were his grand-parents, then who was Enoch's mother? Way back then in Adam’s age, Sibling love was all the rage. And up on high He understood Incest was for the common good. To the deepest of questions That trouble and vex, Theology answers with: Capital X. That means that X planned it, And X did it all. And don’t ask where X came from, Your brain is too small. But perhaps it’s an answer Of doubtful...

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Which is the baby boy name starts with E And of course Adam and Eve's grandson: Enoch (son of the mysterious Mrs. Cain) :]

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What is science? Dogma entrances by stifling doubt. Science advances by finding things out.

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What exactly is 'Dogma'? To the deepest of questions That trouble and vex, Theology answers with: Capital X. That means that X planned it, And X did it all. Don’t ask where X came from, Your brain is too small. But perhaps it’s an answer Of doubtful veracity If the answerer’s brain Has the smaller capacity.

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Has anyone read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins? Did it open your eyes about religious dogma? A good book by a brave man. Another: "I Am A Strange Loop" by Douglas Hofstadter. Dogma entrances by stifling doubt. Science advances by finding things out.

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Are you strong in faith yet doubtful in dogma? Dogma entrances by stifling doubt. Science advances by finding things out.

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Is there any scientific merit to the theory of intelligent design? Let’s not make methodical scientists weary. Successful predictions must justify theory.

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Finally and for everyone: Define the word scientific theory. Let’s not make methodical scientists weary. Successful predictions must justify theory.

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God, Evolution or both, and why? Let’s not make methodical scientists weary. Successful predictions must justify theory.

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How can any self-respecting woman teach her daughter that females are secondary creatures added as an after-thought to keep men company? The Garden of Eden’s an ancient solution From men knowing nothing about evolution.

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1-10, how bad does a naval piercing hurt? Admiral Horatio Nelson was a brave man and didn't say.

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Many of the Biblical patriarchs had multiple wives. Does the Bible specifically forbid polygamy? What the Bible says about Polygamy: Genesis 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives. Genesis 16:1-4 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to...

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What's best for couples: one large bed, two separate beds, or two separate bedrooms? O.K. so no-one uses a bed!

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What do you think of when you think of Iraq? Occupation troops standing by while public buildings are looted and burned, museums destroyed, shops plundered, army supplies (weapons and explosives) stolen.

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If God joined Answerbag (as a Level 1 Beginner) He would say ______________________ Trust me - I'm much nicer now than I used to be.

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Do you face all the cash in your wallet the same direction? Yes both of my banknotes are facing the same way.

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Do we really need the penny? Talk amongst yourselves, discuss. When it costs more than a penny to mint, it doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

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Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra (algae bra)? Yes, the one the dyslexic man walked into . . . .

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Do you think you could go for 1 week without spending any money whatsoever? Not even buying food or gasoline... nothing at all. You mean spend a week at an all-inclusive resort?

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What motto, proverb or saying would you like to see on your coins and banknotes? In Debt We Rust

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Why do you think Adam and Eve messed things up in the Garden of Eden? Many people quote it So someone must have wrote it But not all girls believe That Adam predates Eve.

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Do you know any rhyming jokes? Uncle John and Auntie Mabel Fainted at the breakfast table. Let this story be a warning Not to do it in the morning.

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Why do you think Adam and Eve messed things up in the Garden of Eden? The inventors of this tale had a few problems to solve: (1)How to explain human diversity starting with a very limited amount of genetic material. (2)How to start things off with a lot of inbreeding, without sanctioning the necessary incest. (3)How to shoo away anyone questioning this rather silly story.

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What is consciousness? You might have already discovered Douglas Hofstadter's recent book: "I Am A Strange Loop" about his theory of consciousness. I can recommend it. It is more directly focussed on this subject than was his famous earlier book: "Gödel, Escher, Bach".

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What motto, proverb or saying would you like to see on your coins and banknotes? trust but verify?

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Do you approve of any form of indoctrination? Education would seem to be a much better idea :]

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Love is..... the answer

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Pick a card, any card. What is the first card that comes to mind? Jack of Hearts :)

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What is the ("up to") internet modem speed of your ISP, and how close do you get to it? Right now I'm getting 46.7 Kbps through my "56 Kbps" dial-up service from www.295.ca

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Does your Internet speed match your ISP's advertised speed, or is it nowhere near? Right now I'm getting 46.7 Kbps through my "56 Kbps" dial-up service from www.295.ca

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Love is..... like a pineapple - sweet and undefinable. (Piet Hein)

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If gas goes any higher ______________________ I'll put a combination lock on my gas cap.

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Then there's this driver who __________________ ! slowed right down and let me through!

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What is the most effective way to quit smoking? I smoked for longer than 11 years, although a pack would last me maybe 3 or 4 days. Stopping was quite calculated. I said enough was enough, that there was no reason why I had to consume a whole @#$% cigarette each time I felt like a nicotine hit. How to Quit Smoking – PART A (1) Always carry a small pair of scissors with your packet of cigarettes. (2) Light-up whenever you feel...

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I need to know if there is something natural that you can use to help quit smoking? How to Quit Smoking – PART A (1) Always carry a small pair of scissors with your packet of cigarettes. (2) Light-up whenever you feel the need. (3) Inhale deeply until you get the satisfaction you crave. (4) Enough for now? Take the scissors and cut off the lit end of the cigarette. (5) Put the partially smoked butt back in the packet. (6) Next time you need a smoke, choose...

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What is the most effective way to quit smoking? How to Quit Smoking – PART A (1) Always carry a small pair of scissors with your packet of cigarettes. (2) Light-up whenever you feel the need. (3) Inhale deeply until you get the satisfaction you crave. (4) Enough for now? Take the scissors and cut off the lit end of the cigarette. (5) Put the partially smoked butt back in the packet. (6) Next time you need a smoke, choose...

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Can anyone tell me how to quit smoking without buying those expensive patches? How to Quit Smoking – PART A (1) Always carry a small pair of scissors with your packet of cigarettes. (2) Light-up whenever you feel the need. (3) Inhale deeply until you get the satisfaction you crave. (4) Enough for now? Take the scissors and cut off the lit end of the cigarette. (5) Put the partially smoked butt back in the packet. (6) Next time you need a smoke, choose...

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Do you know any rhyming jokes? It isn't easy to be funny unless they pay you lots of money. Then you go and buy your jokes from impecunious funny blokes.

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Do you know any rhyming jokes? Hickory Dickory Dock Three mice ran up the clock. The clock struck one, And the other two got away with minor injuries.......

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Do you know any rhyming jokes? Heard your wife left you. How sad you must be. But don't fret about it, She's moved in with me.

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Have you ever invented a rhyme? Hey, look here, if crime don't pay, why don't it just go away?

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Have you ever invented a rhyme? It isn't easy to be funny unless they pay you lots of money. Then you go and buy your jokes from impecunious funny blokes.

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Have you ever invented a rhyme? There was a man who never could cook potatoes very good. Once a girl-friend came to dinner, but went back home a little thinner.

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Have you taken any photos that you like to use as your computer desktop? An interesting sunset in Mexico (March 2008):

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Is the the god of the old testament a cruel one? Quite a lot of examples can be found here (including many from Exodus): http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/long.html

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Who or what do you believe to be responsible for natural disasters (e.g. meteors, earthquakes, tsunamis, violent storms, floods, mud-slides, lightning) that have from time immemorial killed hundreds of thousand of men, women and children? Isaiah 29:6 "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire."

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Why are natural disasters called "Acts of God"? Isaiah 29:6 "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire." So it sounds like back in those days the LORD sure was in charge.

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Is any supernatural being supposed to have any control over natural disasters (e.g. meteors, earthquakes, tsunamis, violent storms, floods, mud-slides, lightning) that have from time immemorial killed hundreds of thousand of men, women and children? Isaiah 29:6 "Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire."

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If you had total control over the combined overall budget in your country for: (a) EDUCATION and (b) INCARCERATION what % would you devote to education? Did you know the USA spends more on incarceration?

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When you wake up and are able to recall a dream, how often does it seem to contain reference to something unusual that happened recently? This could be the result of the brain "de-fragging" itself overnight: clearing the short-term memory by associating recent unusual events with data already in deeper memory storage. A human survival advantage would evolve from such action: making it easier to anticipate situations that could lead to unusual pleasure or unusual pain (e.g. finding food versus getting eaten).

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Since alcohol and nicotine are drugs that ruin countless lives, why aren't they illegal? These (admittedly harmful) products are heavily taxed. Making them illegal (or taxing them too much) would add to the flow of drug trafficking, and undoubtedly increase yet further the enormous US prison population, which already costs more annually than is spent on education.

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What are the pros and cons of legalizing and taxing most drugs, then dismantling the costly Drug Enforcement Agency? Someone doesn't like this question? :|

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What do you like about riding a bike? O.K. so this question don't impress you much :[

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What is a great internet website which few may know about? If you are sufficiently broad-minded, try: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

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Do you cut your own hair (always, sometimes,never)? Have found a great way of doing it - without making a mess!

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Is it unlucky to be superstitious? It's O.K. to answer this question by the way.

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Have you ever ordered prescription eyeglasses online? I got my first pair online this month.

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What do you look at first when you log onto the internet: email or answerbag? Right now I find myself going to answerbag first :|

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How do you invent an answerbag question that scores lots of points? I can see from the negative point score that if you told me you would have to kill me :[

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Do you think that weed or pot is a drug , and should it be legal legal world wide? No it shouldn't be leagalized (sic). It should be legalized! :]

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Have you invented any good joke(s) recently? A barman named Slick Once asked this young chick “Do you want anything from the bar?” “Yes, please!” smiled the blonde, “A double entendre.” So he took her outside to his car. If you're not too uptight, this is not a bad site: http://eigentaste.berkeley.edu/user/index.php

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What are your favorite quotes? Another good one: Education beats indoctrination, incarceration and detonation.

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Have you invented any good joke(s) recently? An undertaker walks into a bar and asks for a bier :]

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Have you invented any good joke(s) recently? A homeless man walks into a bar and asks for a shanty :]

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Will general artificial intelligence ever be smarter that human minds? Looked at from outer space, planet earth may already seem to be a conscious being, more alert than any human.

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Hell is a place for eternal damnation designed to torture the souls of evil man. The Devil is the ruler of this place and the instigator of all this pain. So, the Devil punishes bad people. Does that make him a good person? Think of it as a supernatural version of Guantanamo. Yes, the staff down there work for that smiling fellow upstairs in the Whitehouse. Likewise with Hades :]

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Who or what do you believe to be responsible for natural disasters (e.g. meteors, earthquakes, tsunamis, violent storms, floods, mud-slides, lightning) that have from time immemorial killed hundreds of thousand of men, women and children? Some options: (a) An all-powerful, benign old fellow with a beard, or (b) An evil deviant who runs “Guantanamo” for Party (a), or (c) Dear old unpredictable Mother Nature, or (d) None of the above?