Posts for Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | The 100 Hour Board

Question #25594 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

This question is in reference to question # Board Question #22433. Out of curiousity, for those of you who felt like female roommates napping next to each other was okay, would you have said the same thing had the questioner been a guy? I'm not saying I would advocate it, or that I'm condemning girls taking naps together/next to each other (man, this question is getting kind of weird)...I'm just curious to know your opinions regarding these apparently inconsistent social norms.
- Doesn't like to nap with anybody. At all.

A: Dear Lone Napper,

I used to take naps with my female roommates all the time. We were so close...it was more like a sisterly relationship than a roommate one. We were excellent nappers together.

I can't see guys napping together very easily unless they're under the age of 5 or so...but I certainly wouldn't say they shouldn't. A nap is a wonderful thing pretty much however you do it.

Nike

A: Dear Naps can be good,

Alright, so I will admit that the whole taking a nap with a guy is weird. I have often wondered this: why can girls sleep together and it be okay? For me, the idea of sleeping with another guy is just down right disgusting; never in a million years would I do that. Maybe it is okay for girls because there isn't such a fear of being homosexual. I think for guys, sleeping with another guy would give a homosexual idea and, when considering most guys are "homophobes," that just won't happen.

So, with that in mind, I don't know. I don't know why it is okay for girls and not guys. Mainly it is just a social perspective.

Resilient

Question #25592 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Movies

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I noticed that on the movies Fletch and Fletch Lives, Chevy Chase uses a number of different aliases such as "Billie Jean King" and "Ted Nugent." It occured to me that many of these aliases were real people. I mean, Billie Jean King was a tennis player and Ted Nugent is a hard rocker.

I was wondering if there was a comprehensive list of all of the aliases he uses in the two movies, and, if so, which ones are the names of actual other people/characters and what those other people/characters were famous for.

Can you help me out on this one?

- The Former 786

A: Dear The Former,

This website has a comprehensive list, plus photos of some of the real life people, plus a sound file of Chevy Chase saying he's all of those people. Normally I'd tell you to go to the site and be done with it, but just for you, I'll compile the information here, with links to the corresponding Wikipedia articles:

Name	Real Person?	Why famous
Baba au Rum	No	Popular French pastry
Arnold Babar	No	Cartoon elephant, appeared in children's books and films
Eldridge Cleaver	Yes	Prominent civil rights leader, Black Panther
John C---tolstoy*	No	n/a
Don (Vito) Corleone	No	Fictional "Godfather" of Mario Puzo's eponymous novel, played by Marlon Brando in the films adaptated from the novel
Jane Doe	Yes and no	Standard name for an anonymous female in a legal setting (can be a fictitious name for a real person or simply a fictitious name)
Fletch F. Fletch	No	n/a
Geometry Fletch	No	n/a
Elmer Fudd Gantry	No; No	Elmur Fudd is a Warner Brothers cartoon character, famous for his unsuccessful attempts to kill Bugs Bunny. Elmer Gantry is a con man in Sinclair Lewis' novel by the same name. Burt Lancaster played him in the film adaptation.
Ed Harley	No	n/a
Hank (Heinrich) Himmler	Yes	One of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany, commander of the SS and the Gestapo
Victor Hugo	Yes	French poet and novelist, wrote Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Billy Jean King	Yes	Tennis player
Peter Lemonjello	No	n/a
(G.) Gordon Liddy	Yes	Worked on Richard Nixon's campaign, one of the "White House Plumbers" involved in the break-in that led to the Watergate scandal
Nostradamus	Yes	French physician and astrologer, noted for (supposedly) highly accurate prophecies
Ted Nugent	Yes	Hard rock guitarist, former member of the Amboy Dukes
Mattress Police	No	n/a
Mr. P---*	No	n/a
Mary Poppins	No	Fictional English nanny, major character in a series of children's book, played by Julie Andrews in the film adaptation
Dr. Rosen	No	n/a
Dr. Rosenp----*	No	n/a
Dr. Rosenrosen	No	n/a
Bobby Lee Schwartz	No	n/a
Claud Henry Smoot	No	n/a
Alan Stanwyk	No	Character in the move "Fletch," impersonated by Chevy Chase's character
Igor Stravinsky	Yes	Russian composer and musician
Harry S. Truman	Yes	34th President of the United States
Peggy Lee Zorba	Yes; No	Peggy Lee was an American Jazz singer; "Zorba" may refer to the main character in Nikos Kazantzakis' novel "Zorba the Greek."

*name edited

There's an hour I'm not getting back.

- Katya

Editor's Choice

Question #25588 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

LDS - Doctrine

Q:

Deer thu won hundread bword,

I read part of an article from the November 2001 New Era, page 13, by President Gordon Hinckley. Here's the part I wonder about.
"Keep your hands to yourself. It may not be easy, but it is possible".
The prophet is speaking of casual dating, before you are looking for a spouse.
So is President Hinckley saying not to hold hands? Does he mean "hands" in a literal sense, do you think, or just as in the phrase "keep your hands to yourself", sort of meaning mind your own business. Stay out of other people's personal space. I don't know. I was wondering what your input is. Thanks-

Principalo Jurgenawachi Modrianahl

A: Dear Principalo,

I'm pretty sure the prophet isn't restricting hand-holding, but inappropriate touching and such before marriage. Of course, to some people, it might mean to stay out of their business or to give them space, but I think President Hinckley means to not touch inappropriately.

Nike

Question #25587 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Animals

Fashion/Style - Clothing

Hypotheticals

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Boar

So, if you wanted to knit a scarf for your average-sized giraffe, how much yarn would it take?

A: Dear Nameless Reader,

There are several different ways to measure yarn, including by the skein, by the yard, or by the gram. Also, the amount of yarn it takes to knit a scarf can vary greatly, depending on the weight of the yarn and the size of the needles. A scarf knitted from super bulky yarn on size 15 needles would take far fewer yards than a scarf knitted from laceweight yarn on size 0 needles. (Of course, the former scarf would probably take more grams of yarn than the latter. It all depends on how you measure.)

I knitted a scarf for myself over Christmas. I used worsted weight yarn, size 10 needles, and I knit on two strands. I used 3 skeins of yarn for the project (1.5 skeins of each color). At 200 yards per skein, I used 600 yards of yarn. (The scarf is very long and bulky, for any of you knitters who are thinking that is a lot of yarn for a scarf.)

My scarf is about 60" long, and my neck is about 11" in circumference. I can't find exact information on the circumference of a giraffe's neck (most people are more interested in its length than its width), but I estimate it to be about 8' in diameter, or 8.7 times the circumference of my own.

My scarf is about 6" wide, and I am 63" tall. A giraffe can be over 18' tall, or 3.4 times as tall. (I recognize that a giraffe has a proportionately longer neck than I do, but I think that a scarf that was as wide as a giraffe's neck would be too heavy for the giraffe to wear.)

Based on the height and circumference of the giraffe's neck, I estimate that it would take 30 times as much yarn to make a scarf for a giraffe as it did for me. That's equal to 90 skeins, over 3 miles, or almost 200 lbs of yarn.

Happy knitting.

- Katya

Question #25580 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Campus (physical) - Buildings

Comments

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Re: Board Question #25395

The building is actually B-67, not B-66.

- Employee @ B-67

A: Dear Employee,

Oops, my mistake, all of those "B" buildings get confusing.

-Phoenix

Question #25579 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Campus (physical)

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Is there a map of all the vending machines on campus? I know where most of them are, but what if I'm missing out on some vending machine goodness?!

- I'm a master at the art of hip-checking vending machines until they give me what I rightfully paid for.

A: Dear master,

While there's no map available that I'm aware of, this link is as good as one. Better, in my opinion, as it also tells you exactly what you'll find at each location. It's served me well on many a Saturday night vending machine raid.

Personally, my favourites machines are the ones in the depths of the HFAC. They're never out of the good stuff, even at the end of the day. I suppose not very many people find their way down there.

Happy Snacking!

-Tangerine, vending machine connoisseur

Question #25578 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Culture

BYU - Student Life

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

My sister is coming here to school next year and I'm making her a list of helpful hints for BYU life, including a list of BYU-isms. I know there are a ton, but I can't think of very many... Things I have: NCMO, DTR, RM, Premie, fill the canteen, etc. Also I'm making a list of things to do before you graduate (hike the Y, visit the Bean Museum, etc.) If you have ideas for that one too I'd appreciate it.
Thanks!
Good big sister

A: Dear Goodie,

YWiki has a pretty good list of BYU Terminology such as "sweet spirit" http://ywiki.maccabe.org/index.php/BYU_Terminology. You could also check out YWiki's acronyms page, but there's not much there.

Besides all the acronyms for campus buildings, here are some other basic BYU lingo:
"The box the [Salt Lake] temple came in" - aka the Tanner Building
"The fishbowl" - the curved, glassed-in part of the BNSN
"The Lord's University"
"The Daily Unifarce"
"BYUSSR"

Also don't forget the recently discussed Ward Stare Board Question #25341, and other BYU LDS culture such as Break the Fast Board Question #24973 and Linger Longer Board Question #25073.

Also EQ (Elder's Quorum or Elder's Quorum President), RS (Relief Society), and HT and VT (Home and Visiting Teaching). Sure it's pretty basic, but I was thrown off when people said "I gotta go VT." Which reminds me, don't forget VL (virgin lips). And the ward directory is often referred to as the Menu. And similar to NCMO, CWIC Board Question #6578, although, I've never heard this used other than on the Board. One more related to relationships, the tradition of giving roommates M&Ms, ice cream, and so forth Board Question #4871.

As for things to do before you graduate:
go to a Divine Comedy show
read the entire archives of the Board.

-Wilhelmina Wafflewitz

Question #25577 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What class runs the Pendulum Court in the ESC? I know NDFS 251 is a lab, but I don't think that is the class that does the Pendulum Court.
Thanks
- An aspiring chef

A: Dear Aspiring Chef:

The class that runs the PenCourt is actually a Dietetics lab, and so you're required to be in the major to take it. It's listed under NDFS 374, and is called Food Production Management Lab. Basically there's four jobs you perform, which include a Salad position, a Baker, a Main Cook position, and a manager. The students rotate through all four of these to get a feel for each--and this is helpful when learning to manage foodservice institutions.

If you're really adament about taking the class and not a dietetics student, you could always contact Nora Nyland at nora_nyland@byu.edu and ask if you can take it.

Hooray for good food at PenCourt!

Mojoschmoe

Question #25574 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Campus (physical) - Buildings

Science

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Has anyone ever bothered to check what the actual resistance of the ESC pendulum is? 10K ohms doesn't seem that far-fetched of a number. What is the actual resistance?

- Young Reader

A: Dear Young Reader,

You mean, physically? With an Ohmmeter? Not that I know of.

I made a back-of-the envelope calculation of the resistance in Board Question #9343. If you see any glaring errors in my methodology, I'd be happy to know about them.

As for 10K Ohms not being a "far-fetched number," I have to point out that the pendulum is made of metal and that metals are well known for their low resistance (and Ohms are a measure of resistance). Also, resistance is inversely proportional to the width of an object (of any material), so the bulge in a circular object is going to make its resistance much lower than a cylindrical object of the same length and material.

As an illustration, in order for a wire made of Nichrome (a metal alloy with a fairly high resistivity) to have a resistance as high as 10K Ohms, its lengths would have to be 6 billion times its cross sectional area. Any shorter or fatter, and its resistance would be lower than 10K Ohms.

- the physics chick

Question #25572 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

College/University

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

In Spring 2007, I'll be taking 5 distance learning college classes (15 credits total), two AP classes and a rigorous choir class. My mom says that's too much for a high school senior, but I say that's what college is going to be like, and if not under grad school, I bet law school would be at least that hard. What say you?

- Hated House Bill 151

A: Dear Hated House Bill 151,

So, 15 college credits plus two AP classes (figure 3 credits each) plus a rigorous choir class (figure another 3 credits) makes the equivalent of . . . 24 college credits. That's a lot. To illustrate, BYU requires 12 credits a semester to be considered full time, 14 to carry a scholarship, 15 to graduate in 8 semesters (with the minimum 120 credits) and a maximum of 18 without getting special permission.

I agree with your Mom. Besides, if it turns out that you can handle that much, you can always finish your undegrad in two years or something, without much time lost.

- Katya

A: Dear Hated House,
Classes in high school, even AP classes, aren't necessarily equal to college classes. And law school classes are completely different. So no real comparrison can be made. Although if you are planning on attending law school, it would probably be safe to say that it will be much harder than anything you have previously encountered. Don't forget to enjoy your education.

- de novo -

Question #25571 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Dating

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Do you think I would have had a chance with that one girl that one time?

- Too late now anyway

A: Dear too late,

It's irrelevant, really. You had your chance, and you didn't take advantage of it. All that matters now is that you seize the next chance you get. Stop being such a wimp and go up and talk to her. Tell it like it is. Believe it or not, it actually does work to be assertive. Trust me on this one.

- Optimistic.

Question #25569 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Employment

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What's the boringest job you've ever had? I'm on my lunch break right now at a data entry job that's killing me.

- Boredom loves company

A: Dear Boredom,

Data entry is absolutely repulsive to me, so I hear you.

I worked for a commercial cleaning company one time and had to fold floor mats and put them in a truck. Pretty dull.

-Rafe

A: Dear ever so bored,

I think I can trump anyone with my boring jobs. I had to spend eight hours wiping down aluminum bats with acetone once. I also spent hours stuffing transistors into circuit boards at another job. I dust at my current job.

I pass the time by creating wild conspiracy theories about the people whose offices I'm cleaning, in case you were wondering.

- Optimistic.

A: Dear Boredom:

Well, it's pretty boring to work in the library at night. It's dead. But my MOST boring job would definately be when I weeded for my hometown. For six hours a day.

At least I got tan!

Mojoschmoe

A: Dear Boredom,

I'm currently Admin Clerk #1 at our city planning/development office, and I spend all afternoon filing papers, with an occasional opportunity to answer the phone. It's definitely the most boring job I've ever had. But I love to daydream, so that's how I usually pass the time. It also pays better than any job I've ever had.

-Tangerine

Question #25568 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Computers - Hardware

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Why'd they get rid of me and replace me with the "Enter" key? I can't remember.

- The "Return" key that used to be on your keyboard

A: Dear the Return key,

Your place is on a typewriter. I know that sounds harsh, but let me explain. Your purpose was to signify to the typewriter that the carriage needed to return to its original position at the left margin of the page. Pressing return did so. However, with the advent of computers, there wasn't a need for a carriage return function anymore. Sure, sometimes you need to skip a line and return to the left margin in a word processor, but the Enter key does so much more than that. By and large, the Enter key enters data. The return function just simply isn't needed anymore.

It's not you, it's me, honest. You'll always have a place in my heart. I just think it's best that we went our seperate ways. I'll always remember you when I think of typewriters.

- Optimistic.

Question #25563 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I am currently living in Yemen and am bored out of my mind. I've been here for 6 months and seen all the major tourist attractions and have now resigned myself to watching the Tyra Banks Show on Dubai TV. I have the Idiot by Dostoevsky but never could get into it and I am bored of reading Arabic magazines and books. Any suggestions on how to kill the next two months?

- Mumluul fil Yemen

A: Dear Mum,

Try some of the ideas in Board Question #15637. I use these when I'm bored at work.

Have fun in Yemen!

Nike

A: Dear Bored,

I'd give up on Dubai TV and switch over to MBC 2 for some decent movies. I mean... they're edited for nudity, just not for language.

That is all.

Horatio the Qatari

Question #25561 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Medical/Body

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

So I am well-known among my roommates for the amazingness of my massages. However, I want to be even better and more effective at knot-elimination. Any good tips for working out knots? I'm great at finding them, I just wish I could get them out sooner.

- Soprano

A: Dear Soprano,

I did some searching and found that the best method of removing knots is through friction. The website I found says this:

Friction

This is the most penetrating of the strokes, and consists of deep circular or transverse movements made with the thumb pads or fingertips. The therapist applies deep, circular movement near joints and other bony areas (such as the sides of the spine). Friction breaks down adhesions, which are knots that result when muscle fibers bind together during the healing process, thus contributing to more flexible muscles and joints.

Basically, it sounds like just applying plenty of friction to the knot will help it. Enjoy massaging!

Resilient

Question #25560 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Dating

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

so i'm super stressed out about this and i hope you guys can help me even a little. so i'm 17 and my boyfriends 16 and we've been going out for almost eight months. and for some reason that natural high you have when you're infatuated with someone has subsided majorly, and i don't know why. my boyfriend said that the same thing happened to him a few weeks before and that he was worried like i am now, but that he got that high back... i still love him dearly, and i don't want to hurt him, and i still really enjoy being around him, and i don't want anything to end, he hasn't done anything...so i'm not sure if this happens to married couples from time to time...i've fasted and prayed about it and i haven't gotten any answers like "break up with him" or anything... i'm thinking about just continuing the same as i am now and seeing what happens...

any advice on the situation would be very much appreciated.
THANK YOU
- short blonde one (wondering about phish)

A: Dear Short Blonde Phish Wonderer,

Sure, married people go through droughts occasionally. I've only been through a couple extremely short ones myself, but I know most couples experience it to some degree.

However, as much fun as that infatuation stage is (and it can be a lot of fun), for me, anyway, it doesn't take the place of what comes after it: real love and security. Most people aren't still "infatuated" with each other as the relationship progresses because the feelings change from that hyperexcited craziness to a secure, deep love. Now, as you're only a sweet 17, I don't know if we're talking about true love or not here, but just because you aren't necessarily infatuated anymore, that doesn't have to mean you no longer like this boy. It could mean you've just stepped into a more advanced stage of your relationship. If you're no longer attracted to him, that's one thing, but if you still want to be with him and still find him to be a good person, maybe the crazy head-over-heels stage has just subsided into the deeper stuff. I'd talk it over with him and see what you both think.

On another note, I wanted to say something about how you have fasted and prayed and not gotten any answers about breaking up. In my experience, it seems like most of the time when I didn't get any clear-cut answers like the one you're describing, I always felt it was as if Heavenly Father was saying, "Why don't you make a choice? Let's see how you do when you decide and do your best." It would make a lot of sense to me that He would want to let you grow by having the opportunity to work this out in your mind and heart and make a choice. Now that's certainly not to say that you shouldn't pray and fast because of COURSE you should, but I'd advise you to use what He has given you and make an intelligent decision and then go to Him and ask if it's right. (Kind of the Oliver Cowdery thing in the early D&C). Trust in your own judgment.

Good luck! I hope things work out.

Nike

A: Dear short blonde one-

16 or 17 is too early to have a long-term exclusive relationship--and eight months sounds fairly lengthy to me. I know that it is popular convention for teenagers to date exclusively, but it's not worth the trouble. See other people.

-The Franchise

Question #25559 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Comments

Social Science - Government/Politics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

In further response to Board Question #25439 regarding the Board's top picks for 2008 presidential candidates, there's been talk since the 2004 election encouraging Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama to run on the Democrat ticket. The nominees the Board mentioned may perhaps be stronger political figures, but Obama is a sleeper favorite.

Keep up the great work, 100 Hour Team.

- The Eraser

A: Dear Eraser,

Personally, I think the Democratic Party would be stupid to put up Obama right now. Of coruse, I could easily imagine him as a Vice Presidential candidate.

Right now, he is too young and fresh. I don't really imagine him doing any better than John Edwards did.

That said, Obama would do much better at convincing me that Democrats can field a legitimate candidate than anybody else on the prospect list. I think he is a really intelligent, articulate guy. He was even Funny on Conan O'Brien a few weeks ago.

Even so, I will be surprised if anybody can unseat Hilary in the 2008 elections. Under those circumstances... hopefully the Democrats are heading for another White House loss. I would put Obama on the ticket in 2012.

That is all.

Horatio

Question #25557 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Advertising

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

My favorite commercial ever is "Bounce in NYC," the diet coke commercial with Adrien Brody (who is, in short, the essence of cool). My dilema is that I cannot find it anywhere on the web for my viewing pleasure...can you? Many thanks.

- Bucket

A: Dear Bucket,

Try searching "Brody" and "Coke" on YouTube.

- Katya

Question #25554 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Food & Drink

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

How do you make banana juice? I mean, you can't exactly squeeze a banana, that would just give you banana mush.

*Bellatrix*

A: Dear *Bellatrix*,

Well, this Indian company http://www.barc.ernet.in/webpages/technologies/banana/bananabr.html gives a brief description of how they make banana juice. "The BARC process achieves separation and extraction of juice through a series of operations like blending, churning, autoclaving and centrifuging."

So you do want banana mush, because with that mush, you squeeze and churn it even more to extract the juice. At first I didn't find anything about how to make homemade banana juice, but I did find websites describing how to make banana beer*. And really, to make banana beer, you need banana juice. To make banana juice, you need really ripe bananas. You peel them, then knead and churn them really well--one website said to add a little water too. Then press it and let the juice run out. Sure, you won't get a lot of juice from just one banana. This site http://www.xs4all.nl/~westher/recepten/BANANA%20BEER.htm said to take 5 or 6 bunches of bananas to make 30-40 litres of juice. But you really can "squeeze" the juice out of them.

-Wilhelmina Wafflewitz

*I am not condoning the production or consumption of banana beer.

Question #25552 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Appliances

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I was recently wondering how smoke detectors work. I thought it involved some sort of decay and a magnetic field, but if it is decay what kind and how is that safe and how is the decaying substance replenished?

- Curious

A: Dear Curious,

First of all, to make sure we're on the same page, you are referring to an ionization smoke detector (as opposed to a photoelectric smoke detector).

Ionization detectors contain a small ammount of americium-241. This small ammount is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/5000th of a gram, or 0.9 microcurie.

First we'll talk about safety. The ammount of americium in smoke detectors is very small, and couldn't hurt you unless you inhale it. Also, it produces alpha particles, which have virtually no ability to pass through objects. So, as long as you don't disect your smoke detectors, you're safe.

Now we'll return to how your detector actually works. The alpha particles from the americium hit oxygen and nitrogen atoms and create ions. The movement of these ions creates a magnetic field and an electrical charge, which the smoke detector detects. When even a small ammount of smoke enters the detector, the smoke particles attach to the ions, thus canceling out the magnetic field that should be detected, and setting off the alarm.

As far as replenishment of the americium goes, it isn't. The americium has a half life of 432 years, meaning that after 432 years, only half of the americium has decayed. You can find all of this out and more by visiting my source at http://home.howstuffworks.com/smoke2.htm

-Phoenix

Question #25551 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Science

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I remember learning in my physics 123 class about Lasers and how laser is a acronim. But what does it stand for and how are lasers different from a beam of light traveling through a tube?

-Curious George

A: Dear Curious George,

LASER is an acronym for "Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation." Lasers are different from other light sources in several ways. Lasers consist of monochromatic light (i.e. light that is all the same wavelength), whereas other light sources typically produce light over a spectrum of wavelengths. The light emitted from a laser is more focused (the light rays are more parallel) than the light from other sources. Laser light is also highly "coherent," meaning that the individual photons match each other in polarization and phase.

For more information see related articles in Wikipedia or How Stuff Works.

- the physics chick

Question #25549 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Medical/Body - Anatomy/Physiology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Where does the umbilical cord attach inside the babies body (like the other side of the belly button)? After the cord is cut and dries up what happens to the cord on the inside of the baby?

-Innie

A: Dear Innie,

Once through the abdominal wall, the cord splits up into several different sections. There are two arteries that link up with iliac arteries in the baby. There is a vein that comes down through the liver. And lastly, there is a section of it that hooks up with the small intestine.

After the baby is born, just like the exterior umbilical cord, the everything inside shrivels up and become unused with the veins and arteries becoming ligaments.

At least that is what my surgeon told me.

-Pa Grape, recently sans umbilical hernia

Question #25547 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What is the best way to extinguish obsessive thoughts about my limerent object?

- Infatuated

A: Dear Infatuated,

Maybe accepting the fact that it is okay to have obsessive thoughts of this nature would be helpful. I know that I struggle with thoughts like that which never seem to go away. I have found, in those cases, that accepting the fact that it is okay to have obsessive thoughts helps. It is okay to have obsessive thoughts. In fact, who doesn't have them?

Another thing you can do is when you are having these thoughts, have some alone time with them. When I would find myself having obsessive thoughts I would feel the need to get out and do something. That is a good option to try. However, why not try looking at them and investigate why you are having them. Find the root cause. Once you find it, learn to accept that reality, that tid-bit of your life.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

Resilient

Question #25542 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Theater

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What do you know about the Center Street Musical Theatre? My family is coming up in a few weeks and I would like to take them to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat but I can't find much on the theatre's reputation. Have any of you ever seen one of their productions or had a friend go?

- Bored Engineer

A: Dear Bored Engineer:

I've gone and found it quite delightful. If you want more information, be sure to check out their website at http://www.csmtc.com/index.php.

Wahoo!

Mojoschmoe

Question #25541 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Health

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

So I recently found out that a person I had come in close contact with had gotten sick. I am SURE that I was exposed to the illness if it is contagious. About how long do I have to wait before I know if I am going to get it as well?

- Drinking Lots of Orange Juice

A: Dear Drinking,

What you're wondering about is commonly referred to as the incubation period. It's the amount of time between contact with a virus or bacteria and the start of symptoms. The incubation period varies quite a bit based on the sickness you think you've been in contact with. For the common cold, it's only about 2 - 5 days but for chicken pox, it's 14 - 16 days.

Try Googling whatever sickness it is and the words "incubation period."

- Lavish

Question #25539 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Transportation - Airlines/Aircraft

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Why do planes occaisionally make white streaks in the sky, and why doesn't it happen all the time?

- the pope

A: My Dearest Fellow Practitioner of Priestcraft,

These streaks are called contrails. A simple search on Wikipedia will answer all your questions.

-The Right Reverend Rusky Roo

Question #25538 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

College/University

Q:

Regarding Board Question #25447, my Physics teacher last semester, Dr. Allred, told us near the beginning of class that SLANT stood for
Sit up
Lean forward
Ask Questions
Nod your head and...
...

I don't remember the last one, but it was some sort of punchy punch-line... rats...

(Wow, that was a fizzle)

- Be a Lert

A: Dear hurray and Be a Lert,

Ah...that SLANT. Courtesy of the the University of Indianapolis:

S.L.A.N.T.

SLANT refers to how students must relate to the classroom, the professor, and other students during class. It means learning how to play by the rules of the game. It is the kinesthetic tie to information.

S - Sit Up Straight

Sit up straight to get the benefit of the doubt from the professor. Act involved. Be engaged. Be attentive. Above all, sit with confidence.

L - Lean Forward

Lean forward and act like you are really excited. Sit as if you were at a basketball or football game and your team was winning. Leaning forward makes the mind-body link to make education exciting. If you believe the class is, `so incredibly boring,` your approach and attitude AND your grade will reflect that attitude.

A - Ask Questions

Ask questions because 1.) you get information and 2.) you show you care about the course. Professors like to know you care. Jump up and down. Raise your hand as in wanting to answer a question in class!

N - Nod Your Head

Nod your head because you want to establish a personal relationship with your professor. You have to work harder to do this. The professor sees that you are studying, paying attention, understanding what they are saying. This completes the student-professor loop.

T - Sit in the T-Zone

Sit in the T-Zone, across the front and down the middle of the classroom. Be sure the professor knows you BY NAME. The T-Zone insures that you will pay attention; you`ll be seen. Back in the corner, it is too easy to get distracted, fall asleep, let your mind wander. Better to be up front when you are tired.

"Sit in the T-Zone" isn't much of a punchy punch-line but maybe Dr. Allred had some other funny ending to it.

-Rafe

A: Dear Be a Lert,

Dr. Allred is the bomb. I just wanted to share that.

- the physics chick

Question #25537 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Movies

Q:

Hi!
I am anxiously awaiting the DVD release of THE TESTAMENTS. Have any of you heard any fairly reliable 'rumors' of when it will be released.

I've heard May--- well that didn't happen, and someone else said at Christmas... but who knows? Have you heard anything?

Bev

A: Dear Bev,

The only thing I have heard is from the distribution center. They said that it will be "quite a while" possibly "as long as six months from now" before it will be available.

So it should be available by Thanksgiving at the latest.

-Pa Grape

A: Dear Bev,

I love that movie, too. I don't think I ever watched it without crying at the end.

Nike

Question #25535 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Language & Linguistics - English Usage/Grammar

Q:

Dear Katya et. al.,

Should other punctuation marks go inside or outside quotation marks? Does it ever depend on the nature of the quotation, or is it strictly one way or the other? I've been told that keeping commas, periods, etc. inside the quotes is an American way of doing things and outside is a more British style, but I see things marked outside all over the place (in presumably American writing). Are they just typos?

- likes it best the British way

A: Dear likes it best the British way,

Ambrosia did an excellent job of explaining punctuation and quote marks in Board Question #1703 and Board Question #3092. (Some punctuation always goes inside, some always goes outside, some can vary. Commas and periods go inside in most American style guides.)

I consulted various other friends (whose copy I am not worthy to edit), and they inform me that British style guides generally call for putting commas and periods outside the quote marks, except where they are actually part of the quotation.

As for Americans putting periods and commas outside the quote marks, they're either using British style or they're not using a consistent American style. In the former case, I'd expect them to use British spellings and other British typographic conventions (including spaces before and after em dashes, a preference for single quotes over double quotes, and no periods on some abbreviations). Since I don't often see those other British conventions, I'm assuming that those commas outside the quotes are, indeed, style errors. (Of course, my entire point in Board Question #25404 was that such "errors" don't really matter in informal usage. I'm horribly inconsistent, myself. I can never remember all of the rules.)

- Katya

Question #25534 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Computers - Internet (general)

Board - Writers

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Do any of you contribute regularly to Wikipedia? What sorts of articles do you like to work on?

- queenlucy

A: Dear Queeny,

Check out Board Question #24499.

-Phoenix

Question #25533 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I don't have a major, but I am very interested in science, especially biology. I have not yet taken a biology class at BYU, but I took AP biology in high school and did well. But I am confused about which biology class to take first at BYU- Bio 100 or Bio 120. The biology major doesnt require biology 100, but do I need to start with the basics? Or because of my AP class and interest in a biology major should I start with 120?

- biochic

A: Dear biochic,

I'm not a science major, but from what I could tell when I took Biology 100, it was pretty much a review of the basics. If you feel confident in your basic knowledge, you might be able to skip 100. You might ask one of the professors for a syllabus of the class and see if you feel you know the material well enough. Or ask a Bio 120 teacher if they think you should take 100 first. Make use of the resources available to you.

Good luck!

Nike

A: Dear Biochic:

I agree with Mrs. Nike. You should probably take Bio 120. My reasoning is that Bio 100 isn't required for the Biology major, but both Bio 100 and Bio 120 fulfill the General requirement. Plus, depending on how well you did on the AP Biology test, Bio 100 might be not needed because of your score. You could talk with an advisor, but I would skip Bio 100 and go for 120. It's a fun class!

Mojoschmoe

Question #25532 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Housing

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I used to live in Wyview and, as a result, have visited several friends' apartments there as well. While living there, I came to find that the disability-equipped apartments on the ground floors have higher-power flushing toilets (that are notably noisy like a hyper vacuum and probably have the capacity to flush a towel,) whereas all of the other standard apartments come with standard, regular-noise flushing toilets. Why is this? I thought all toilets, whatever user, were designed for the same general purpose.

- Sparkster

A: Dear Sparkster,

I agree, that the basic function of a toilet ought to be the same for both the able bodied and the alternately abled. However, an alternately abled person might have a great deal of difficulty using a plunger or plumber's helper, in terms of lacking sufficient strength or dexterity to operate the tool. A high-power flushing toilet would be less likely to get clogged, thus avoiding that problem.

- Katya

A: Dear Sparky,

Perhaps it's a newer toilet. There's one in the Brimhall that I call the spitting toilet because you have to run away from it after flushing to avoid getting splashed. (Ick, I know.) Most of the Brimhall was overhauled not long ago, most likely including the bathrooms, so maybe newer models are more powerful. I'd imagine the toilets in the disability-equipped apartments are pretty new.

Just an idea.

Nike

Question #25531 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Social Science - Psychology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

How can I tell if my brother is gay? Here are the reasons I think he might be (and I'm not trying to stereotype or be degrading--many of my best friends are homosexuals):

-He dresses well
-He has a distinct sense of style that is actually fashionable
-He graduated in film
-He still works in the film industry (not an actor)
-He is over 30 and unwed
-He never seems to be dating anyone, or even that interested in dating, though he may bring a female friend to a dinner or some other social family event
-He just moved to London
-He jokes about it sometimes, and I'm never sure if he's joking

I know those things do not automatically mean a person is homosexual, but taken altogether, along with the fact that all my other brothers and sisters are married (the youngest still only 21), it makes me wonder. He's not active in the church anymore either, though he'd probably be that way no matter what his sexual orientation is.

Reasons why I would think he's not:

-He has dated girls in the past
-He's an a-type personality who gives his opinions freely, which makes me think he might have told us by now
-No one in my family is homosexual

Again, I know these things don't necessarily mean he is straight, either.

What's your opinion?

-Doesn't change anything, but still wondering

A: Dear wondering,

Your brother is gay if he is attracted to men and not women. You will know your brother is gay if he tells you so. (If he brings home a boyfriend, you may take that as a hint.) Your "evidence" is either circumstantial or based on stereotypes, but is certainly not conclusive.

- Katya

Question #25529 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Money/Finance

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Back in February, my brother and sister-in-law and my niece all moved out to the East Coast (we're all originally from the West). He offered to fly me out to visit so that I could see their new house, spend time with my niece, and see the sights over there, as I'd never been to the East Coast before. At the end of spring term, he flew me out on a free plane ticket he had, and during the time I was there, we visited NYC, Niagara Falls (Canada side), and Palmyra, NY. Since we did so much traveling, there was a lot of eating out, transportation fare, and tourist fees (they charge you for everything up at Niagara, though I must say, it was worth it). My question is this: my brother basically paid for everything...when I went out there, I was just planning on chilling at their house, eating at home with them and not really going anywhere. So it was an awesome trip and we got to see lots of cool stuff, but I feel terrible because I didn't really pay for any of it, and I know that stuff can add up. Now my brother and sister-in-law are financially stable, but by no means rich, and I always felt like I should offer to pay for things...but I hadn't brought money, and I don't really have any anyway. What should I do? I realize now that I should have discussed this with my brother before I went, but I didn't. Should I just write a VERY nice thank you with maybe a gift card in it? Or what? I feel so ungrateful, though I did always say thank-you for everything, and I tried to be a good guest, keeping my room and bathroom stuff clean, helping with my niece and helping by cleaning up the kitchen or picking up. Any advice is much appreciated!

- Poor kid sister

A: Dear PKS,

I had an extremely similar thing happen to me a few years ago. At the risk of revealing who I am, I'm going to be vague, but you'll get the picture:

My brother, who is substantially older than I am, lives in a foreign country. A couple years ago, he flew me over to his home to visit for a couple weeks. The plane ticket cost over $1000. Then we went shopping, some of which he paid for. Then we flew to an island near his home, stayed in a hotel and did a lot of outdoor excursion-type things, none of which I was asked to pay for. We also went out to dinner a lot.

Needless to say, when all was said and done, my brother probably spent at least $2000 on me. Now, he is by no means poor (and if you knew the situation, you'd understand why), but I still felt really bad. I tried to give him some money, but he just laughed and said it was a present to me and that he loved me.

So. Back to you. I think if you want, you can send your brother a check or something and a really nice thank-you card, or you can just send the card. I'd ask your parents about it, too - they'll probably know the best thing to do. I think many older siblings really like it when they can do nice things for younger sibs, so maybe this really made your brother happy. Do what you think is best.

Nike the Youngest

Question #25525 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Dating

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Ive read the very trendy little book "Hes just not that into you". And I have found it highly amusing, and even in parts very very true. There are a few points however that I thought were true, but some other people I asked disagreed on.

First this is one of my fave quotes :
If you can find him, then he can find you - if he wants to find you -he will. Which goes hand in hand with - Men dont forget how much they like you - so put down the phone.

How correct would you say is it, that the girl should NOT make herself a constant nuisance and keep calling her boyfriend every hour on the dot, or always be the one initiating things.
I have a friend who does that CONSTANTLY and her man gets really really irritated BUT he is still with her.
And I also have an ex boyfriend with whom I remained good friends and one thing that he told me ( unsolicited by the way- he just decided to share) is that one of his favorite things about dating me was the fact that I never called him and bugged him and always just let him contact me. He liked the fact that WHEN HE wanted to talk to me - he could call, and I never got on his nerves like other girls do. And he called quite a lot by the way.

What do you think about those quotes and my seemingly contradictory life examples?

- Betty

A: Dear Ms. Boop,

I think you've just revealed a very obvious fact about men: they aren't all alike. Some like persistent girls, others prefer the laissez-faire approach. Mr. Nike loved it when I called him, and when I continue to want to be around him all the time - he says it makes him feel loved. However, I also dated guys in the past for whom one phone call every few days was plenty.

Ergo, due to the complex and individual nature of each man, my best advice is to not worry about it. You get a feel from a guy about what he wants and you can try to work with that, but just do what you feel is best. It was obvious to me that Mr. Nike loved it when I called and stuff - we saw each other every day after we met and were married eight months later. But not all are like my Mr. Wonderful - some just need their space. Do what you feel is right and I'm sure you won't go wrong.

Nike

A: Dear Betty,

Well, it sounds like both guys do agree that it's annoying for the girl to be calling all the time. In the first case, though, there must be other things about the relationship that are leading him to stick it out.

As I understand it, the purpose of the book is not to figure out how to make guys like you, but figure out which ones aren't really interested so that you can quit wasting your time on them. In that regard, "don't call all the time" seems like good advice.

- Katya

Question #25524 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Science

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I'm trying to get a ballpark figure for how high a cliff was that I visited. I threw a number of rocks over the edge and the sound took ten seconds to come back. If there's a more scientific way of figuring out how tall the cliff was, I was at needles overlook in Canyonlands National Park. Thanks for any help you can give me.

-Appalled

A: Dear Appalled,

The equations are pretty easy to set up, if not quite so easy to solve. You want to know the height of the cliff, which is equal to the distance that the rock fell and the distance that the sound had to travel.

d = d_rock = d_sound

You know the total time that it took for the sound to reach you, which can be decomposed into the time it took for the rock to hit the bottom and the time it took for the sound to travel back to your ear.

t_total = t_rock + t_sound

Knowing that the average speed of sound in air is 340 m/s give you a way to relate d_sound and t_sound.

v_sound = (d_sound)/(t_sound) = 340 m/s

You can also relate the time it took the rock to fall and the distance that it fell (ignoring air resistance).

d_rock = (1/2)a(t_rock)², where a = 9.8 m/(s²)

A little algebraic sleight of hand gives you an equation with only one unknown variable (d).

[(2d)/a]=[(v_soundt_total - d)/v_sound]²

The equation itself is sort of a pain to solve, as it involves the quadratic theorem. For your situation, where t_total = 10 seconds, the distance that the rock fell is equal to 386 meters, 1266 ft or almost 1/4 mile.

- the physics chick

Question #25521 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Dating

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Well this is sort of a dumb question, but everyone has a different opinion on it, so I want to know yours too =) This is the first time this has happened to me and I have had my share of relationships lol :
How much time is too much time to be spending with a girlfriend/boyfriend?
We see each other every single day for long periods of time ( sometimes 12 to 18 hours a day) , but we have only been dating for about two months... In these two months we may be spent 3-4 days "apart" - as in took a little break from hanging out/going out every single other day and caught up with our own friends.
And If we dont see each other for like 48 hours I am starting to really genuinely miss my significant other.
Where do you think this is leading - 1) a "im gonna get SOO sick of you soon BreakUp, or 2) this is actually good, because we are getting to know each other Extremely well and are still craving to be together A LOT- serious relationship sort of happy ending, or 3) some other option.../ opinion that you guys have...
Which of those would it be?

- dunno wat to make of it

A: Dear interesting spelling,

Well, I can only tell you of my own experience. Mr. Nike and I met, went on a loooong date the next day (yay!) and saw each other every day from then on. I did have some times where I asked for a few hours to just be with myself, but more often than not, I was like you - I wanted to see him! It really depends on the two of you. I couldn't predict what will happen any better than I could tell you what your real name is. ;-) Go with the flow, be sensitive to his needs and do what you think is best. (I think I've written that sentence about six times this morning. I still think it's good advice!)

Nike

A: Dear Just Go with it,

Freak! If you can stand being with the person, on average, 12 to 18 hours a day, you should take that seriously. It says several things: 1) You have things in common, 2) you enjoy each other, and 3) you are getting to know each other! By spending that much time you are getting to know what each person is like and how they carry themselves in certain situations.

I agree with Nike and "go with the flow."

Resilient

Question #25517 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Legal (law)

Telephones

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I registered my cell phone number on the Do Not Call list, but I keep getting sales calls from this automated message. When I filed a complaint on www.donotcall.gov, they asked the date I was called by the number, so I put the most recent time.

Since I couldn't list each time the number had called me, and since it continues to call me, should I file a complaint each time I get a call from the number, or will one complaint be enough to make a difference? How does that work?

- Pam Beesley

A: Dear Pam,
Check out Board Question #25445. And I would file a complaint each time you receive the call, because if you only file it once, the government will think that you haven't received a call and they shouldn't worry about it further. But if you keep placing complaints, they'll see that it is a persisting problem.
-ME

Question #25512 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Board - Writers

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Do any of you regularly set goals? What sorts of goals have you set? Reached? What are you currently working on right now? Do any of you have a crazy long list of life's goals? What are some?

- cheeseball

A: Dear Cheeseball,

I don't set formal goals, but I do tend to have a few things I'm working on at any given moment. Right now, I want to study Russian, finish Kassidy's baby blanket before she has her baby and blog on a consistent basis. I don't have a crazy long list of goals, but I do have a crazy long list of books I'm reading and want to read.

- Katya

A: Dear cheesy,

Right now I'm working on actually getting to work when I intend to: 8 a.m. I don't know why, because I've never been great at getting up in the morning, but I'm trying to get there early. Not working out so well.

Other than that, I, like Katya, have some books I'd like to read, some adventures to embark upon and the decorating of our new condo to finish.

Nike

A: Dear Cheeseball:

I'm a big time goal setter and to-do list person. Some goals I've set and achieved vary, either from loosing a little weight to running a certain distance or cooking dinner four nights in a row. I've laid out a plan to achieve the GPA I'd like to before I graduate, and obviously graduation will be a big goal achieved too when it's over. A goal I'm working on currently is purchasing a house. It's a very interesting process--but kinda fun.

I'll let you know how that one turns out if we find somewhere that works for us. :)

Yipee!

Mojoschmoe

A: Dear CB,

I'm not a convential goal setter. I have tasks that I need to accomplish and dreams that I have in my heart, many of which get written into my journal but not on some formal list or other.

I have the goal of graduating from college. My first goal was getting into college, and I pursued that relentlessly from elementary to high school. Once I got here, after some soul searching and a lot of personal events, it turned into graduating college, with specific hope of under a decade. I've had to take a lot of time off.

Also currently working on the goal of bringing up my GPA by retaking a class Independent Study. My current goal is to get through the GRE as well as possible and to get into a university in Chicago with thereafter hopes at further post-grad work in New York.

Most of my goals are really big ones, and a few I have little control over, such as meeting and marrying the right guy. That's something that I have and am doing my best at... I am a girl who asks out guys, but finding it not really working well. The guys are nice and good guys, and I am trying my best at being someone good in return... just hasn't worked out yet.

So, current goals are to work out consistently at least twice if not at least three times a week, to read every church book I feel inspired to read in the order of reading them, and a life goal... we'll see how long it takes, is to read every Conference Report and other book recommended by a general authority or the prophet including the missionary reference library before I die, hoping to read every book written by a general authority in chronological order. I want to know what's been said by the Prophets on every topic, and there's much more out there than lds.org currently holds.

That, and to finish/study Calculus at 40. I can barely get through BYU's simplest math classes right now.

Other big goals are to a) publish my Mom's book of poetry, b) write and publish my own dissertation and c) no matter what else happens in my life, to be the best wife and mother than I can be and approved in the Lord's eyes. C is the priority, though a and b are good goals, too.

So, I consider the list crazy and long, but that is my list. Big goals that take a long time to accomplish, and have a reward that is lasting. Whatever I acheive in this life, no matter what it is, so long as the Lord approves, I will be happy.

The Last Line

Question #25501 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I'm a Psych major and I am planning on taking Psych 301 from Darhl Pederson and Psych 302 from Patrick Steffen this fall semester. I was wondering if any of you have taken these classes and/or know anything about the class or the professors. I've looked both of them up on ratemyprofessors.com but I couldn't find anything that was too helpful. Thanks!

-that cute girl in the library that you saw last week

A: Dear cute girl,
Darhl Pedersen I have not had as a teacher, but I heard he is boring. While 301 is an important class, I highly recommend taking it from someone else if you can. The TA and the professor matter a lot as 301 is a difficult class. It's harder than Stats 221, and you don't have the same type of support for it.

Dr. Steffen I've not had as a teacher, but I've met him, heard him speak, and I highly recommend him. He's younger, more in touch with the students, has a sense of humor, and is fun to talk to.

-Toasteroven

Question #25482 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Medical/Body

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

If our bodies are 98.6* F, then why are we most comfortable with climatic temperatures in the 70s? Shouldn't anything cooler than our body temperature feel cold, and anything higher feel hot?

- Baked Alaska

A: Dear Baked Alaska,

One of the basic functions of clothing is to conserve body heat. Were you to spend a few hours, um, au naturel in a room at 70 degrees, you would probably feel chilly.

- Katya

Question #25477 posted on 06/06/2006 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Friends

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have lots of great ideas for stuff to do in terms of inviting people and everything. Problem is, it seems like when I invite people, not very many if any show up, even when they've said they would. I want to have lots of cool friends and do fun stuff all the time, but how do I accomplish that when everyone's always flaking out on me? Is it me? Or is it the people I'm asking? Or am I just a bad organizer?

- Coolio

A: Dear brother from another mother(or maybe, sister),

You know, I have had the same problem. I don't understand why people are slow to respond to my invitations. I feel like no one responds because they don't like me or something like that. It just doesn't make sense. However, I do have some ideas to why it occurs.

First, you need to be bold with the invitation. Second, it needs to be fun. Third, the people you invite also matter a lot. You need to invite people that you know will respond, and I am sure you know who they are. Lastly, be willing to accept the fact that it will not always work out the way you planned. That is just the reality of planning activities and trying to carry them out.

So, I hope that answers your questions. Just keep trying and I am sure you will be established as the ward "planner of all things fun and refreshing."

Resilient