Hosted By Jeff Whittington
Fridays, Noon-1 p.m., KERA 90.1
Call 1-800-933-5372, or send questions and/or answers to anything@kera.org

RECENTLY:Friday, 06.27.08

Topic
This Week - 12 Feet Over Flood Stage, Left Handed Presidents, & More

Description
Anything You Ever Wanted to Know is the forum for your questions and answers. If you've been wondering about something give us a call during the show or drop us an email and we'll see what the audience has to say about it.

1. Q: My workplace is trying to implement a recycling program for cans and bottles, but we have not been able to find a contractor that will pick them up unless they are rinsed. Is there anyone in the DFW area that does not require rinsing?
A: Waste Management will take empty, non-rinsed containers.

2. Q: I've noticed that many US presidents have been left-handed, and that both McCain and Obama are lefties in this election. How many left handed presidents have there been?
A: Left Handed Presidents include: James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.

3. Q: Why do some Laundromats have the word "laundry" displayed upside down?
A: This has been done in the past simply to call attention to the business.

4. Q: Whatever happened to CB radios?
A: In the 1970s, CB radios began to interfere with traffic signals, and people stopped using them. Cell phones have also replaced the original purpose of the CB radio, only cell phones do not include the cacophony of voices over the radio waves that CB radios were famous for.

5. Q: Our TV converter box directions say that an outdoor antenna is necessary for the converter to work. Is that true?
A: The outdoor antennae shouldn't be necessary, but you may have to buy a more advanced indoor antenna, maybe one that can receive a digital signal.

6. Q: Is there a law that states that beer and wine must be carried out of the store in a paper bag?
A: It is a myth that "sipping sacks" are required to hold alcoholic beverages in public. However, Brown bags are used to demonstrate that the alcohol will be consumed off site. For example, it is illegal to consume liquor in a liquor store.

7. Q: Is the man who announces "The Shape of Texas" feature the same man who does the automated recording at Love Field Airport? What is the music used in "The Shape of Texas?"
A: The announcer and producer of "The Shape of Texas" is Bill Clough, and he produces the feature from South Texas Public Broadcasting in Corpus Christi. The music is Perpetuem Mobile, as performed by Penguin Café Orchestra on their Signs of Life album.

8. Q: Why does bleach turn some colors white but some not? For example, it is sometimes okay to bleach sheets or shirts that are white with colored patterns without affecting the color. Why is this?
A: This has to do with the natural and synthetic fibers in the fabric. The dyes in synthetic fibers are difficult to bleach out, because the die is put in as the thread is being made. A cotton/polyester blend, for example, will be difficult to bleach because of this truth.

9. Q: I have heard that some gas stations have better quality gas than others, in effect making your car run better. Is this true? If it is, which stations provide better gas?
A: The additives put in gasoline by certain companies can lend to differing gas prices between stations. The gas itself is the same.

10. Q: If you are pulled over with open non-alcoholic beer, is it still illegal according to the open container law?
A: It is illegal because there is still a very small amount of alcohol in the container.

11. Q: How is the presidential approval rating determined?
A: Polling firms take a random sample of registered voters to determine the presidential approval rating.


Unanswered Questions:

12. Q: I know that I can stream the show online through the internet on my cell phone, but can all smart phones do this?

13. Q: What are mosquito spray trucks spraying? What are the possible long-term effects of this product?

14. Q: Why is it that when you attempt to cut multiple sheets of papers at a time, it is nearly impossible to get a straight line?

15. Q: I have been in the presence of skunks many times, but have never been able to smell its stench. Why can't I smell the skunks? Are there frequencies for scent?

16. Q: Why was such attention given to the summer solstice coming on June 20, 2008 of this year?

17. Q: Is there a product that will rid a lawn of Johnson grass?

18. Q: Is there a place I can buy a simple TV remote that is user-friendly for someone that has had a stroke?

19. Q: Is there a way I can find out if senders of the spam in my e-mail are sending out my e-mail address to other spam senders?

20. Q: I remember a female indie rock vocalist in the1990s in Austin TX, but cannot remember her name. One of her music videos featured a juke box and flipping through the pages of the catalogue of music. Does anyone know the name of this artist?

21. Q: What has happened to Paul Harvey? I haven't heard his voice in months.

22. Q: Do flies have nests or hives? What causes them to gather between windows and blinds, even after they are swept up? How can I get rid of the flies?

23. Q: What is the history of the large holes that drain the water-ways outside of the Exxon headquarters in Dallas?

24. Q: Is there a "caller-ID" for pagers?


Answers for previous weeks' questions:

1. Q: Where was the location of the first Half Priced Books in Dallas? (We received many different answers to this question, but this one was sent to us from an associate at Half Priced Books)
A: The original Half Priced Books was in a converted Laundromat in a small strip mall on Lovers Lane, west of Inwood. More than thirty five years later, there are more than one hundred stores across the country!

2. Q: Why do we say "Uncle!" in surrender?
A: This stems from Ancient Rome. During this time, Uncles were a respected member of the family and held in high regard in Roman hierarchy. Therefore, saying "uncle!" in surrender was a sign of respect to the winner.

3. Q: I have noticed white lights attached to the posts that hold up traffic signs. What is the use of these white lights and how do they sequence with the traffic signals?
A: This is so an unseen police officer who can't see the traffic light can see the white light and know if a car ran a red light. When the white light turns on, it means the traffic light was red. However, the officer must be at a 90 degree angle to the car in order to testify in court. The officer must see the wheels where they touch the ground to give a citation.

4. Q: How is it that mosquitoes can give people West Nile Virus but not HIV?
A: The amount of H IV in an infected person's bloodstream is relatively low compared to that of a West Nile infected bird. Once the HIV blood is ingested by the mosquito, the virus is unable to reproduce, and the virus will die. Diseases that are passed between people via mosquitoes are not passed by injecting one person's blood into the others, it is because the virus is able to reproduce inside of the mosquito and infest its salivary glands. The saliva is penetrated into the person through biting, not through the prior person's blood.

5. Q: Why is earth moving equipment painted yellow?
A: Yellow is the cheapest color of paint and is easy to see.

6. Q: Will raising drink prices and now charging for sodas on airlines really cut costs for the airlines? Are there any statistics or surveys that illustrate the results?
A: The bigger issue is the weight of the drinks and the effect they have on the overall weight of the airplane. With climbing fuel costs, airlines are being especially conscious of the correlation of a plane's weight and the fuel it requires. By carrying fewer beverages, the plane will weigh less.

UPCOMING:

Description:
Anything You Ever Wanted to Know is the forum for your questions and answers. If you've been wondering about something give us a call during the show or drop us an email and we'll see what the audience has to say about it.