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Forum: Questions and Answers

A place for factual questions and Ask the Expert threads.

  1. Brits, dumb question: what are beach huts FOR?

    So British beaches are all covered with these cute little stripy beach huts, which AFAIK are descended from the old bathing machines. Then after a while it became more acceptable to actually walk across the beach in your bathing attire, and so the...

    Started by dangermom‎, 16 Mar 2009 10:35 PM
    • Replies: 13
    • Views: 1,613
    18 Mar 2009 02:10 PM Go to last post
  2. Plumbing question

    Sometimes when I am letting water drain out of my bathtub, the water will suddenly stop draining, and the toilet will start bubbling. This goes on for 2-3 seconds, and then the bath starts draining again. What is going on? It is not really a...

    Started by don't call me shirley‎, 17 Mar 2009 09:15 AM
    • Replies: 9
    • Views: 2,645
    18 Mar 2009 01:10 PM Go to last post
  3. Sure Toothpaste; or, Backyard Archeology

    From the edge of my backyard, the ground slopes down into a railroad right-of-way, and some previous inhabitants of my house (built 1938) used that slope as their private garbage dump. Now I'm clearing brush from it and becoming closely acquainted...

    Started by Nuthatch‎, 18 Mar 2009 08:34 AM
    • Replies: 8
    • Views: 2,504
    18 Mar 2009 12:48 PM Go to last post
  4. Dual wielding

    Fighting with a weapon in each hand is common in fantasy games and fiction. Was it ever done in real life? I don't mean using a weapon designed for off-hand use like a maingauche, jitte or sai but using two roughly equal weapons at the same time. If...

    Started by Harlequin‎, 14 Mar 2009 07:54 AM
    • Replies: 11
    • Views: 7,705
    18 Mar 2009 11:59 AM Go to last post
  5. What precisely is a "writeup"?

    I've read about people being "written up" at work in the US. It seems not to be tied to particular workplaces but be a generic formal thing. What exactly is it? What are the requirements and consequences? Is it regulated by law or is it a local...

    Started by Harlequin‎, 13 Mar 2009 05:11 PM
    • Replies: 25
    • Views: 2,838
    18 Mar 2009 10:50 AM Go to last post
  6. How Long Will Cola Keep For?

    A shop around the corner for me is selling off cans of Red Bull Cola for less than half price, because the sell-by date on the bottom of the can is 21st of March, and they have a lot of stock. What happens to the cola after the 21st of March? Can...

    Started by TheFlame‎, 15 Mar 2009 06:17 AM
    • Replies: 16
    • Views: 1,549
    18 Mar 2009 12:45 AM Go to last post
  7. Proper way to deal with cell phone telemarketing

    In the past 24 hours I've gotten 2 calls on my cell from a telemarketer. It was the sort where they say "Your auto warranty may have expired, there's still time to renew it, press 1 to be connected with an operator!" I want to file a complaint. ...

    Started by Alien Crouton‎, 14 Mar 2009 08:49 AM
    • Replies: 17
    • Views: 3,370
    17 Mar 2009 10:52 PM Go to last post
  8. Why Middle Names?

    A coworker, who grew up in Russia and Israel, just asked me this. I have to say, I have no idea. Why do we have middle names? Why do some cultures have none, and others have multiple? Why do we look at people funny if they have either no or more...

    Started by Morgyn‎, 13 Mar 2009 10:24 AM
    • Replies: 17
    • Views: 3,718
    17 Mar 2009 03:22 AM Go to last post
  9. How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Elf Hunter in Iceland?

    So, according to today's edition of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, if you're going to build something like a factory, you have to hire someone to check the area out to make sure there's no elves in the area before you can build. (And I thought we...

    Started by Tuckerfan‎, 14 Mar 2009 12:39 PM
    • Replies: 8
    • Views: 2,266
    17 Mar 2009 01:16 AM Go to last post
  10. Ground glass in food

    Watching an Oz episode reminded me of something I've wondered about. A supposedly classic murder method is to put finely ground glass in someone's food. Does this work, or do the pieces have to be big enough that they'll be noticed by the victim? If...

    Started by Harlequin‎, 14 Mar 2009 07:56 AM
    • Replies: 14
    • Views: 16,480
    17 Mar 2009 12:37 AM Go to last post
  11. Where Does the LHC Get the Lead Nuclei?

    According to the Wiki article on the LHC, one of the things the collider will do, is smash lead nuclei into one another. Given that atomic nuclei are generally not found rolling around in nature, these have to be created somehow. How's it done?

    Started by Tuckerfan‎, 15 Mar 2009 12:11 PM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 1,727
    17 Mar 2009 12:28 AM Go to last post
  12. What happened to white dog muck?

    As a kid, dog muck that had been outside for a couple of weeks turned a white colour. However, I've not seen a white dog log for years. First, why did the dog muck turn white in the first place, and second, why has it totally disappeared? ...

    Started by CRSP‎, 16 Mar 2009 06:48 AM
    • Replies: 6
    • Views: 2,394
    16 Mar 2009 10:36 PM Go to last post
  13. Why delta wings?

    What are the advantages/disadvantages of planes with delta wings? Why were so few planes built with them (Vulcan, Concorde, F106, etc.), compared to other wing types?

    Started by CRSP‎, 16 Mar 2009 07:23 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 59,009
    16 Mar 2009 05:19 PM Go to last post
  14. Ohio DUI plate nearly identical to regular New Mexico plate: intentional?

    Here's a photo of the license plate Ohio gives to those convicted of driving under the influence. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/18921 ... e3.jpg?v=0 Here's a standard issue New Mexico license plate. ...

    Started by elmwood‎, 07 Mar 2009 01:53 PM
    • Replies: 22
    • Views: 16,485
    16 Mar 2009 12:09 PM Go to last post
  15. How Are the Automation Companies Doing?

    I don't know, but I'd suspect that with the economy in a nosedive, companies which sell automation gear for businesses would be booming right now. It would certainly enable them to cut a bunch more employees from the payrolls. So, anybody know? ...

    Started by Tuckerfan‎, 12 Mar 2009 01:23 PM
    • Replies: 7
    • Views: 4,275
    16 Mar 2009 11:55 AM Go to last post
  16. Links, mouseovers, and Macs

    You know how on a PC, when you mouse over a ink, you can see where the link goes? Can Safari be made to do that?

    Started by Johnny‎, 16 Mar 2009 07:43 AM
    • Replies: 2
    • Views: 1,245
    16 Mar 2009 10:54 AM Go to last post
  17. Has anyone kept corned beef for over a year?

    In celebration of St. Paddy's Day, the local supermarkets are just about giving packages of corned beef away (1.69. lb), so I'm buying a refrigeratorful of the stuff. I was planning to cook it all this week, and then when I get sick of eating it, to...

    Started by prr‎, 14 Mar 2009 06:25 PM
    • Replies: 7
    • Views: 2,708
    16 Mar 2009 02:05 AM Go to last post
  18. Kids who skip a grade

    Some kids skip a grade in school. What research has been done that looks at the effect this has on the kids, both in the short term (i.e., while they're still in grade school) and the long term (i.e., after they've graduate grade school)?

    Started by Speusippus‎, 05 Mar 2009 09:22 AM
    • Replies: 9
    • Views: 1,428
    15 Mar 2009 10:11 PM Go to last post
  19. Why do gums bleed when you stop brushing your teeth?

    Just a question that occured to me - if you go without brushing for a little while, then brush your teeth, why do your gums bleed? Not that this happens to me anymore - but as a kid, I was a terrible brusher.

    Started by AllWalker‎, 13 Mar 2009 09:39 PM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 2,536
    15 Mar 2009 10:23 AM Go to last post
  20. Message board ads and revenue

    On another message board, one hot topic is membership fees versus ads and the revenue potential of each. It seems the powers that be there have determined that the latter is more profitable than the former. I don't dispute that, but my question...

    Started by Liberal‎, 09 Mar 2009 10:17 AM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 1,320
    14 Mar 2009 06:07 PM Go to last post
  21. How to swap caps lock and enter key on Windows?

    Can anyone advise me how to swap the behavior of the caps lock and enter key under Windows? I want my caps lock key to execute the enter function, and the physical enter key to toggle caps lock. Why, you ask? I am a hard typist and I think I'm...

    Started by Alien Crouton‎, 13 Mar 2009 09:33 AM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 8,613
    14 Mar 2009 05:08 PM Go to last post
  22. Resolved: A plane on a treadmilll will take off.

    As long as the friction of the wheels turning does not exceed the thrust of the propeller, eventually, the plane will reach takeoff speed. Your thoughts?

    Started by chacoguy‎, 14 Mar 2009 12:16 AM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 1,693
    14 Mar 2009 02:16 AM Go to last post
  23. Browser won't connect after idle....

    I play on the computer. I close the browser and go away for an hour with the computer up and running and when I come back, my browser cannot connect to the net. FireFox, AOHell when launched will not connect. Opera, IE, nada.... I can reboot...

    Started by Dragon‎, 11 Mar 2009 07:04 PM
    • Replies: 14
    • Views: 2,026
    13 Mar 2009 11:24 PM Go to last post
  24. Obama - Taxes, Energy Policy, and Americansforprosperity.org

    Can anyone help me clarify the (likely) impact of Obama's energy tax policies? A friend is quoting www.americansforprosperity.org, who says age 21 of the Obama budget proposal highlights his cap-and-trade proposal: After enactment of the...

    Started by fessie‎, 03 Mar 2009 11:25 AM
    • Replies: 2
    • Views: 1,986
    13 Mar 2009 06:29 PM Go to last post
  25. How does testosterone affect problem solving ability?

    I was reading that testosterone concentration in the womb correlates quite closely with mathematical, and general problem solving, ability (an indirect marker being the lengths of the second and fourth digits). First, is this accurate? Second,...

    Started by CRSP‎, 12 Mar 2009 05:39 AM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 2,321
    13 Mar 2009 03:15 PM Go to last post
  26. Any tilers out there that could answer a question?

    Hi all, I was hoping to get an answer for a floor tiling question. I've had a tiler in my house laying some floor tiles for the last...4...5...6.... seems like forever...days. He has been very slow, turning up late almost every day, and not...

    Started by Splat!‎, 10 Mar 2009 05:40 AM
    • Replies: 13
    • Views: 44,047
    13 Mar 2009 11:56 AM Go to last post
  27. Why are passenger window shades opened for takeoff/landing?

    In an airliner, the sliding shades for passenger windows have to be opened for takeoff and landing. Why is that?

    Started by garygnu‎, 09 Mar 2009 11:41 PM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 9,588
    13 Mar 2009 10:25 AM Go to last post
  28. Whats It Mean When Your PC Sounds Like a British Police Siren?

    Nothing good, obviously, because the machine fails to finish booting properly. I did a security update for Windows (XP), it required the machine to be rebooted, and when it did, instead of booting up, I got the sound of a British police siren. ...

    Started by Tuckerfan‎, 11 Mar 2009 02:44 PM
    • Replies: 12
    • Views: 3,244
    13 Mar 2009 02:10 AM Go to last post
  29. Relative size of eyes and body

    I haven't done any deep studies of this or anything, but it seems like the bigger an animal is, the smaller its eyes are relative to its body. Elephants have beady little eyes compared to their lumbering frames and tiny critters have huge eyes. Is...

    Started by Harlequin‎, 12 Mar 2009 10:12 AM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 3,707
    12 Mar 2009 05:04 PM Go to last post
  30. Is there some legitimate reason all TV is not on Hulu?

    For those who aren't aware, Hulu is a streaming, ad-supported online TV service that carries quite a few TV shows, but typically only has the last 5 or so episodes of any one show, and perhaps a few earlier episodes. It works pretty well, fairly...

    Started by Exy‎, 11 Mar 2009 03:49 PM
    • Replies: 4
    • Views: 2,413
    12 Mar 2009 03:21 PM Go to last post
  31. Actual amount of storage space may be less than advertised

    Ok, I guess I can understand why my 32 gig ipod is only 29.56 gigs.. A couple gigs for the system and such. Quite a bit for what it does, what? Some nifty left right slide graphics? Meh, but I've heard its bloatware anyway so whatever. But why...

    Started by Clayton_e‎, 10 Mar 2009 12:46 PM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 1,555
    12 Mar 2009 01:29 AM Go to last post
  32. Filling in the large gaps in our new hardwood floor

    We're just in the process of putting down a new bamboo hardwood floor in our living room, and we're finding that we have some largish cracks between the boards. Is there a way to fill these cracks so they aren't so conspicuous?

    Started by featherlou‎, 03 Mar 2009 12:05 PM
    • Replies: 11
    • Views: 2,955
    12 Mar 2009 12:42 AM Go to last post
  33. Rather detailed question about california divorce filing...

    So I filed long ago, and I helped her respond, so I can't file default. She has since stated that she won't sign the uncontested divorce, and I don't want her to anyway, as she solidly deserves half of the debt we are in. She has now, as of...

    Started by gurujulp‎, 10 Mar 2009 08:32 PM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 2,070
    12 Mar 2009 12:35 AM Go to last post
  34. Fix my Firefox fonts!

    I started my computer up today and opened Firefox, only to find that the fonts on most web pages look strange, as if they have been emboldened. Here is picture of what it looks like. I tried decreasing my zoom and my font size just to see if that...

    Started by Vox Imperatoris‎, 10 Mar 2009 06:59 PM
    • Replies: 2
    • Views: 2,025
    11 Mar 2009 09:21 PM Go to last post
  35. Why the fuck does Excel move somewhere else when I double-click a cell?

    Jesus Christ, this is annoying. Everyone I know is annoyed to death by this shitty "feature." What in God's name is this for, and how can I disable it?

    Started by fsghjvdhkjschks‎, 05 Mar 2009 09:45 PM
    • Replies: 14
    • Views: 29,820
    11 Mar 2009 03:12 PM Go to last post
  36. Do some ethnic/national groups use their hands more when they speak?

    ...or do we just think that they do? My wife's ancestors came mostly from Italy. It is a common thing in her family to joke about how Italians and their descendants commonly wave their hands a lot when they speak. I have to say I have noticed...

    Started by Laughing Lagomorph‎, 10 Mar 2009 05:01 AM
    • Replies: 18
    • Views: 52,529
    11 Mar 2009 03:11 PM Go to last post
  37. How widespread is the "guido" subculture in USA?

    Are young Italian American males like this an oddity, or is this a widespread subculture?

    Started by CRSP‎, 07 Mar 2009 03:02 PM
    • Replies: 21
    • Views: 14,422
    11 Mar 2009 02:41 AM Go to last post
  38. Internet Explorer options question

    I've upgraded recently to Internet Explorer 8 recently. One thing I've noticed that I've finally had enough of is that the bottom of the window doesn't have that toolbar thing that IE 7 had. I'm talking about where it displays the link address when...

    Started by Bear_Nenno‎, 10 Mar 2009 11:50 AM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 1,174
    10 Mar 2009 08:38 PM Go to last post
  39. Showing movie credits

    I've always heard that it's wrong to screen a movie without showing credits, some sort of licensing issue. Even when they chop the hell out of movies to show them on tv, they don't skip the credits. They do speed them up quite a bit, particularly on...

    Started by Queen Tonya‎, 08 Mar 2009 12:33 AM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 1,590
    10 Mar 2009 08:06 PM Go to last post
  40. Spreading of AIDS (offshoot from CH)

    I didn't want to hijack the Reagan thread in CH, so I'll start this instead. Rock Hudson, for one, probably did not get AIDS from anal sex. From what I have read, he was a top (I'll explain that if the term is new to you), which means he's not...

    Started by Claptree‎, 10 Mar 2009 12:37 PM
    • Replies: 6
    • Views: 4,014
    10 Mar 2009 06:24 PM Go to last post
  41. Learning Russian

    Has anyone successfully learned Russian as a second language? I am attempting to do so using the Rosetta Stone software, and whilst I am making decent progress it's not proving much use for me at work. I have gotten all the Cyrillic characters...

    Started by One and only Wanderers‎, 09 Mar 2009 06:27 AM
    • Replies: 11
    • Views: 2,240
    10 Mar 2009 02:54 PM Go to last post
  42. How can I get my watch strap clean?

    I got this awesome watch last year for my birthday: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PC1RS6/ref=asc_df_B001PC1RS6736763/?tag=yahoo-jewelry-20&creative=380333&creativeASIN=B001PC1RS6&linkCode=asn#moreAboutThisProduct But the strap immediately got a...

    Started by myskepticsight‎, 10 Mar 2009 02:34 PM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 3,355
    10 Mar 2009 02:49 PM Go to last post
  43. My washing machine just broke

    My washing machine just broke I have a upright Kenmore washing machine that’s about 2 years old. It’s one of the lower to middle models they offered at the time. About a month ago it started making a loud screeching noise during the agitate phase...

    Started by delawaresace‎, 09 Mar 2009 11:38 AM
    • Replies: 6
    • Views: 1,590
    10 Mar 2009 11:37 AM Go to last post
  44. Insurance for loss of Ipods or cell phones

    Well I had an ipod touch.. Just bought it a couple months ago, actually. Well one day at work it fell out of my pocket (scrubs have big pockets and I'm always up and down and bending over and moving stuff). F*CK. A coworker, one of at least 20,...

    Started by Clayton_e‎, 09 Mar 2009 10:36 PM
    • Replies: 3
    • Views: 1,148
    10 Mar 2009 05:37 AM Go to last post
  45. How close can speed cameras be?

    (Interested in answers for both the US and UK.) Is there any limit on the proximity of speed cameras? What's to stop the police creating a rat run of 50 speed cameras and hitting a motorist with 50 separate fines for speeding?

    Started by CRSP‎, 08 Mar 2009 05:45 PM
    • Replies: 5
    • Views: 3,836
    09 Mar 2009 09:52 PM Go to last post
  46. stainless steel removing odors

    Can anyone explain how rubbing your hands on stainless steel under running water can get rid of garlic or onion odors? I've tried googling it, but the only hits I've found sound like guesswork. Note: I'm not actually certain it does remove odors...

    Started by McNutty‎, 01 Mar 2009 10:00 PM
    • Replies: 22
    • Views: 2,239
    09 Mar 2009 07:01 PM Go to last post
  47. How do I get Windows XP Pro to reclaim the MBR?

    Basically, I have Win XP Pro on IDE 0 (C:) and Debian Linux on IDE 1 (D:). GRUB, from the Linux install, currently has a hold of my MBR on IDE 0, so that when I boot up, I see GRUB's OS selection screen. I want to boot straight to Windows. Nevermind...

    Started by Hostile Dialect‎, 04 Mar 2009 04:20 AM
    • Replies: 16
    • Views: 3,417
    09 Mar 2009 03:46 PM Go to last post
  48. How do I edit an avatar photo?

    I used to manipulate photos when I had a PC. Since I got the Mac I haven't. I've got iPhoto and HP Photosmart Edit. I don't have many pictures of me, but I found one I like and tried to crop it to fit the 6 Kb limit. It started out as 20 Kb. ...

    Started by Johnny‎, 05 Mar 2009 11:04 PM
    • Replies: 14
    • Views: 1,867
    09 Mar 2009 03:25 PM Go to last post
  49. Why does short term memory fade with age, but not longer term?

    Is there a known reason for this? My great aunt could still remember things from her youth, but not something she did yesterday. Are the memories stored differently in the brain, or is it for some other reason?

    Started by CRSP‎, 05 Mar 2009 05:51 AM
    • Replies: 7
    • Views: 6,875
    09 Mar 2009 03:03 PM Go to last post
  50. Question about comparatitive linguistics

    Does the reconstruction of languages, such as proto-Indo European, serve any practical use, or is it purely academic? Is it possible to work backwards from known related languages, to a protolanguage like PIE, then work forward again to some...

    Started by CRSP‎, 01 Mar 2009 07:48 PM
    • Replies: 10
    • Views: 1,888
    09 Mar 2009 02:54 PM Go to last post

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