Answerbag: Evan Becker's answers

Answer to I get a burning smell from my Xbox that seems to be coming from the fan, although it seems to work fine. What could cause this?

Fri, 10 Dec 2004 13:54:33 -0800

I get a burning smell from my Xbox that seems to be coming from the fan, although it seems to work fine. What could cause this?

It most likely is overheating. It probably is fixable, but I don't know off hand, so you should try going to a repair shop near you. If you cant find one, use the internet (Google.com, Dogpile.com, Yahoomaps.com, ect...).

Answer to What are the basic rules of football?

Fri, 29 Oct 2004 16:37:27 -0700

What are the basic rules of football?

There are what follows: I. DO NOT start before the ball is hiked (if QB, false start; defender, offsides). Yardage may be gained (defender), or lost (QB). II. NO grabing or holding. Yardage may be gained (defender), or lost (QB). III. Plays MAY be challenged (throws, FG, TD, fumble...). If...

Answer to How was modern-day NFL football invented?

Fri, 29 Oct 2004 16:21:49 -0700

How was modern-day NFL football invented?

If you mean American-type football, it was probably stolen from Europe's soccer, which is quite simuler. Only they use a soccer ball and no padding what so ever. But they do carry it, have end zones, and I maybe goal posts. And marked yards on a one-hundred yard field.

Answer to When I put a GB Color game in my GBA and turn it on, there is a black line underneath the word Game Boy. Does that mean that my GBA is defective?

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 07:29:24 -0700

When I put a GB Color game in my GBA and turn it on, there is a black line underneath the word Game Boy. Does that mean that my GBA is defective?

Depends. If your GBC is old (most likely) than no. It's natural. If it's not old or used a lot, than yes, it is defective. Most likely the video card that's defective.

Answer to My Xbox powers up and the green light turns on, but there is no audio or video and the disc tray will not open. What could be wrong?

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 07:16:28 -0700

My Xbox powers up and the green light turns on, but there is no audio or video and the disc tray will not open. What could be wrong?

Simple. Your xbox is either defective or old. How old is your xbox? Because this happens to people to even non defective xboxs when they get old(er).

Answer to Sometimes when my Xbox loads games, it makes a loud static-y sound. What could be wrong?

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 07:13:37 -0700

Sometimes when my Xbox loads games, it makes a loud static-y sound. What could be wrong?

It's most likely your sound card. It's defective somewhat. Not totally, but somewhat defective. You need to get it fixed/repaired.

Answer to My Xbox only plays in black and white. What could be wrong?

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 07:11:32 -0700

My Xbox only plays in black and white. What could be wrong?

Your video card is probably defective. You need to get it fixed or repaired.

Answer to Does the Xbox require memory cards?

Sat, 10 Jul 2004 07:03:48 -0700

Does the Xbox require memory cards?

No. Everything can be saved onto the hard drive, but you can also save onto memory cards connected into the controller. Take a look at the back of a controller. You'll see the slots for it.

Answer to What does it take to become a farmer?

Sat, 05 Jun 2004 18:04:03 -0700

What does it take to become a farmer?

Lots of money. You need acres of land, hundreds of seeds, hundreds of gallons of water, poltry (chicken, turkey, possibly fish {depends on type of farm}), cows, and pigs/hogs. Once you have all of this, you can start a sucessful farm. You also may want to take up a couple more answers before...

Answer to What are good ways for a beginner to learn about boats?

Sat, 05 Jun 2004 17:53:58 -0700

What are good ways for a beginner to learn about boats?

I. Always stay inside the boat. Wear a life jacket incase you fall out. II. If sailing, keep an engine on board incase theres no wind. III. Keep up with keeping barnicles off the bottom; they cause drag, which in turn, slows you down (and possibly wastes gasoline too). IV. Always keep a...

Answer to What type of ships are the largest?

Sat, 05 Jun 2004 17:46:39 -0700

What type of ships are the largest?

Barges are huge. Passenger ships can be giant too. Look at the Queen Mary! It's over 1,000 feet long! Barges can be over 1,000 feet long as well.. There are others, but those are the main two.

Answer to While playing Super Mario Advance 4, I get a screen that says "Your saved data is corrupted." What can I do?

Sat, 05 Jun 2004 17:37:24 -0700

While playing Super Mario Advance 4, I get a screen that says "Your saved data is corrupted." What can I do?

If it was like this all the time, it's probably defective. If it just started a while back, it's still defective.

Answer to Did the Titanic have any sister ships?

Sat, 29 May 2004 16:28:00 -0700

Did the Titanic have any sister ships?

Believe it or not, the Titanic has three sister ships. They're called the Queen Mary, Olympic, and Britannic. None are exactly the same, but the Olympic and the Britannic look like the Titanic. The Queen Mary looks very little like the Titanic.

Answer to What would likely happen to the Titanic if it were raised from the ocean?

Sat, 29 May 2004 16:25:23 -0700

What would likely happen to the Titanic if it were raised from the ocean?

Considering it split in two and has been in the water for about ninty years, if it were to be taken out, the Titanic would probably break even more due to rust, weak joints, and water damage. And if you want more information on the Titanic, just post it and I can most likely answer it. Not trying...

Answer to I tried using a GBA link cable on my GBA SP, but it didn't fit. Are these cables different? Do I need to buy a new one for my GBA SP?

Sat, 29 May 2004 16:12:52 -0700

I tried using a GBA link cable on my GBA SP, but it didn't fit. Are these cables different? Do I need to buy a new one for my GBA SP?

It depends. Are you using a link cable made ONLY for GBA, or one made for GBA and GBA SP to use? If it's supposed to work on both, you're putting it in wrong. And becides, the GBA and GBA SP link slots are exactly the same.

Answer to What is the fastest car in the world?

Sat, 29 May 2004 06:42:34 -0700

What is the fastest car in the world?

I'm not sure if this is a car, but the Jet Threat (yes, a Hot Wheels car) has jets that make it move. Indie 500 cars are incredibly fast (over 300 mph). The fastest available street cars are (I think) Cobras. Those can probably move an easy 150-200 mph.

Answer to Which fruit has the most nutritious peel?

Sat, 29 May 2004 06:32:49 -0700

Which fruit has the most nutritious peel?

A lot of fruits have nutritious peels. Pears, apples, potatos (doesn't taste good, but edible), etc. The most nutritious I'd say is the apple peel, because it holds over 90% of its nutrients. The flesh has very few nutrients, but tastes better.

Answer to Can cream cheese soften faster than by simply letting it sit at room temperature?

Sat, 29 May 2004 06:27:12 -0700

Can cream cheese soften faster than by simply letting it sit at room temperature?

It's soft no matter what (enless you put it into the frezzer), but it can become softer than it's regular softness by just leaving it out in the open at room temp (with a covering to keep bacteria and other illnesses out).

Answer to Is barbeque sauce generally considered a mild sauce?

Sat, 29 May 2004 06:21:46 -0700

Is barbeque sauce generally considered a mild sauce?

Usually, but there are exceptions. One exception is the company that makes tobasco sause. That stuff is HOT! Toco Bell offers those packets of hot sause, right? Well, they offer more hot sause than mild or fire. Other than that, most barbeque and hot sauses are considered mild.

Answer to Now that Jello took "Sparkling Jello" off the market, can I still make it on my own? How?

Sat, 29 May 2004 06:13:43 -0700

Now that Jello took "Sparkling Jello" off the market, can I still make it on my own? How?

I've never tried this, but instead of using water, try using liquids that "sparkle." For example, sparkling cider. It might not taste good, but it puts that "sparkling" into sparkling jello. Or, you could just use foods that sparkle instead of others. You could always...

Answer to How does someone get their radio station broadcast on satellite radio?

Mon, 24 May 2004 05:15:52 -0700

How does someone get their radio station broadcast on satellite radio?

Well, first, the radio station sends off signals from a satallite dish, which a satallite picks up, and sends that signal to everyone who wants it. The signals are then picked up by attenas and satallite dishes. That's what happens.

Answer to While playing games or watching movies, my one year-old Xbox will randomly shut off. What could cause this?

Mon, 24 May 2004 05:02:53 -0700

While playing games or watching movies, my one year-old Xbox will randomly shut off. What could cause this?

Your video card may be defective. Or, a fuse may be shaking or moving, causing the power to be thrown.

Answer to The tray on my X-Box does not open and the game inside does not load. What could be the problem?

Mon, 24 May 2004 04:56:50 -0700

The tray on my X-Box does not open and the game inside does not load. What could be the problem?

Defective. If it turns on still, it's defective.You need to get that X-Box repaired/fixed/replaced.

Answer to When I try to play a game, it says "You can't play DVDs without a playback kit, please insert your playback kit." Why does it say this?

Mon, 24 May 2004 04:54:35 -0700

When I try to play a game, it says "You can't play DVDs without a playback kit, please insert your playback kit." Why does it say this?

Your X-Box thinks your game is a DVD (we know that already), but you also need a playback kit to watch a DVD. That's why you need either a playback kit or your X-Box fixed/repaired. It might be defective.

Answer to In the middle of playing, I hear a hissing sound then the sound starts to skip, the game freezes, and I have to reset the system. What could be wrong?

Mon, 24 May 2004 04:51:12 -0700

In the middle of playing, I hear a hissing sound then the sound starts to skip, the game freezes, and I have to reset the system. What could be wrong?

It's the same thing with my computer. Your video card in your X-Box is defective. Not broken (because it still works...somewhat), just defective.

Answer to My Gameboy Advance SP has lines across the screen. What can I do about it?

Sun, 23 May 2004 06:12:40 -0700

My Gameboy Advance SP has lines across the screen. What can I do about it?

Defective. If it still works (you can see the game around the lines), it's video card is in bad condition(defective). If the game is unseeable under the lines, your video card is broken.

Answer to The screen on my SP freezes and makes a crackling sound. What should I do?

Tue, 11 May 2004 15:09:18 -0700

The screen on my SP freezes and makes a crackling sound. What should I do?

It's defective. That's the only reasonable answer.

Answer to What features should I look for when purchasing a telescope?

Fri, 07 May 2004 18:48:58 -0700

What features should I look for when purchasing a telescope?

Try looking for a telescope that has a location device (something that helps you locate cirtain areas, constolations, and other celestial bodies), a telescope with multilenses (may allow for deeper and/or brighter seeing), good quality, cheapness, and a "how to use" booklet. And...

Answer to Is there a proper name for the solid geometric shape that is the opposite of an "hourglass" that is, a body of revolution (or cross section of a parallelepiped) that is narrow at the top, wide at the middle and narrow at the bottom?

Wed, 28 Apr 2004 13:57:17 -0700

Is there a proper name for the solid geometric shape that is the opposite of an "hourglass" that is, a body of revolution (or cross section of a parallelepiped) that is narrow at the top, wide at the middle and narrow at the bottom?

Yes. It's called a hexagon, because it has six sides. Hexa=six. Gon=sides. Hexa + Gon= hexagon= a six sided shape.

Answer to I have a US GBA, but I live in the UK. How can I recharge the batteries?

Sun, 25 Apr 2004 09:34:16 -0700

I have a US GBA, but I live in the UK. How can I recharge the batteries?

You'll need a power converter. That's the only way you can get power from UK measurements to US measurements (DC power to AC power, or AC to DC depending on which contry has what). You can probably by a power converter at a hardware store or some kind of electronics store.

Answer to I'm using two GBAs with Gameboy Color games, connected by the GBA SP game cable, but the cable doesn't seem to be working. Is this supposed to work?

Sun, 25 Apr 2004 09:28:45 -0700

I'm using two GBAs with Gameboy Color games, connected by the GBA SP game cable, but the cable doesn't seem to be working. Is this supposed to work?

You're using the wrong cable. Use GBC cables with GBC games, no matter the gaming system (GBA, GBC...). And, if you didn't know, GBC stands for Gameboy Color.

Answer to What types of grass will withstand harsh, desert-like conditions?

Mon, 19 Apr 2004 13:25:28 -0700

What types of grass will withstand harsh, desert-like conditions?

Crab grass is pretty durable, but grows in clumps. There's not much more, cutting out everything except for grass. Normal, usually 1st pick type of grass might handle, if you water it every day, or every other day, but not any less. Use fertilizer too.

Answer to My GBA's screen keeps going black. I put new Duracells in it and it still goes black. What could be wrong?

Mon, 19 Apr 2004 12:50:29 -0700

My GBA's screen keeps going black. I put new Duracells in it and it still goes black. What could be wrong?

Your gameboy is defective. Either that, or you have a short in it somewhere. Have you been shaking it a lot? Because that'll do it.

Answer to Why does my copy of Cannon Fodder make a buzzing noise when I play it on my GBA SP?

Mon, 19 Apr 2004 12:48:16 -0700

Why does my copy of Cannon Fodder make a buzzing noise when I play it on my GBA SP?

Simple. Your copy is somehow defective. I cant tell you how, because I don't have any details, but somehow, somewhere in it's manufacturing process, something went wrong.