Posts for Monday, September 15, 2008

Question #47458 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Transportation

Q:

Re: Board Question #47318

I recently requested adding a stop via UTA's online comment form, and I received the following response:

Stops . . . are determined by a number of factors including ridership levels, time and spacing between stops.

We recommend that you get as many people as possible to either call our customer comment line at 801-287-2667 or post a comment on our website to express their desire or need for this stop. More feedback available increases the likelihood of the stop being implemented.

- Citizen

Question #47455 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Dining

Q:

In response to Board Question #47355,

Here's a little-known secret:

If your meal plan works at the Creamery on Ninth East (i.e. is not Dining Plus), you can buy Creamery gift cards (good for anything in the store) with your meal plan. These gift cards are good for a year and also reusable. So if you find yourself with too much money on your meal plan, you can save it for later by dumping it onto a gift card. It'll still only work at the Creamery on Ninth, but it's better than losing it all, right?

- Lorenji Jusu, who works at the Creamery and has seen many desperate students with too much on their meal plans.

Question #47416 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

World - Country Info

Legal (law)

Strange Things People Do

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I read recently in the rules of a $1000 sweepstakes offer the following:

If a Canadian resident is selected as a potential winner, he/she must correctly answer a time based, mathematical skill-testing question administered by phone to be eligible for a prize.

Here's the link: https://www.destinationmaternity.com/SweepstakeBody.asp?Page=Rules

Why? Why do they have to pass a math test of all things? And why only Canadians?

-not a Canadian

A: Dear thank your lucky stars-

I googled that sentence, and got a whole bunch of results. Competitions from all over, and from all kinds of companies, all had the same rule; even ones based in Canada. Thus, it became clear very quickly: this is definitely a widespread Canadian thing.

This article explains why:

In reality, the test is a hack of Canada's legal code by the promotions business. Canadian anti-gambling law makes it illegal to sell chances to win a prize, so promoters always offer a free method of entering each contest, and task every winner with a skill-testing question. By doing the latter, they argue, the game is no longer one merely of chance but a contest requiring some skill.

In decades past, the tests of skill were designed to be interesting. Challenges approved by the courts include estimating the number of beans in a jar and calculating the time it takes for a barrel to float downriver. Not all tests have received a legal passing grade, however. Canadian courts have shot down skill tests consisting of shooting a turkey at 50 yards, or quickly peeling a potato, on the grounds that they're too easy.

So, as that explains... Canadians aren't allowed by their laws to just win things, they have to earn it. Unless, of course, it's health care.

-Foreman

Question #47410 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Board - Writers

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I've been reading the 100 Hour Board ever since I started coming to BYU, and while I've dabbled on and off with the idea of applying to become a writer, I never really felt I had the time to devote to such an endeavor. (You guys are awesome, by the way, for doing such an incredible thing.) Only now that I'm about to graduate do I feel I've got enough time. Figures. ;P

Anyway, I've always been intrigued by the "search the archives" answer for how to apply to the board. I've been spending some time going through the archives, and I found Board Question #XXXXX. I was just curious if this happened to be the mystical answer I was supposed to find? BTW, feel free to edit out the question number if you so please. [Thanks, we did. —Ed.]

Again, you guys are awesome. I plan on continuing to read long after I graduate, so keep up the good work.

- Seoman

A: Dear Seoman,

You did, indeed, find a question that tells how to apply to the Board. There are actually several in the archives. Good work! (Note to other searchers: the information really is in there!)

—Laser Jock

A: Dear Laser Jock,

Are you really going to give it away that easily?!

- steen

A: Dear Seoman~

It would have been nice to have you on Board.

Nonetheless, life has far grander callings than that of a Board writer. Всего хорошего.

~Hobbes

Question #47407 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Campus (physical) - Buildings

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

This semester I moved into an apartment south of campus, which means that I walk up 500 North and then all the way up the huge hill to get to class every day. About halfway up the hill, near the motorcycle/scooter parking lot, are a couple of very cute houses. One has a sign out in front with what looks like Hieroglyphics on it. I believe it's called the Neil A. Maxwell Center, or something like that. My question is: what are these buildings? Are classes held in them, or are they just places for professors to live? I apologize in advance if this is already common knowledge and I've been living under a rock!

- Liberty Girl

A: Dear Liberty ~

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute is the home of FARMS, Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Explains the hieroglyphics on the front, doesn't it? It's the home of offices, etc. that assist in the publication of various serials, such as FARMS Review and Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.

~ Dragon Lady

Question #47401 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

LDS - Doctrine

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Let's say two gay men are married and living together in some location where it's legal, like The Netherlands. Can they join the Church in such a case because they are legally and lawfully wedded?
Could they hold the priesthood?

-A confused Bishop

A: Dear Bishop,

The short answer: No and no.

The Church has long upheld the idea that marriage is not a piece of paper from the government, but is a holy institution created and approved by our Heavenly Father to join for eternity a man and a woman. Even if the men you're speaking of have the sanction of the government, they do not have the sanction of God, to whom homosexuality is an abomination.

Because they are not living the commandments of the Lord (in fact, the subject of homosexuality is one of the "big ones" in the baptismal interview, others including murder, criminal past, and abortion), they are not eligible at this time to receive the blessings of baptism and of the priesthood. Such blessings are reserved for those who keep his commandments, or at least try with all their hearts to do so.

Those who are interested in the Church while practicing a homosexual lifestyle should be lovingly encouraged, but they cannot become members of the church so long as they are giving into their temptations to same-sex attraction.

-Claudio

A: Dear Ethel,

Claudio is absolutely correct; there are quite a few ways you can break the laws of God and still uphold the laws of the land.

In case you wanted a more official answer, though, you can check the General Church Handbook of Instructions in section 19: Church Policies, subtitled Policies on Moral Issues:

The Lord’s law of moral conduct is abstinence from sexual relations outside of lawful marriage and fidelity within marriage. Sexual relations are proper only between husband and wife, expressed within the bonds of marriage. Adultery, fornication, homosexual or lesbian relations, and every other unholy, unnatural, or impure practice are sinful. Members who violate the Lord’s law of moral conduct or who influence others to do so are subject to Church discipline (see First Presidency letter, Nov. 14, 1991).

Homosexual behavior violates the commandments of God, is contrary to the purposes of human sexuality, distorts loving relationships, and deprives people of the blessings that can be found in family life and in the saving ordinances of the gospel. Those who persist in such behavior or who influence others to do so are subject to Church discipline. Homosexual behavior can be forgiven through sincere repentance.

-Polly Esther

Question #47400 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Dating

Q:

Dear men,

How much do guys plan in advance in dating situations? I'm not talking about planning the activity for a date or anything like that, I'm thinking more along the lines on "making the move" on a girl or saying something cute to her. If a guy holds my hand on a date (or tells me how much he likes me or whatever), am I safe in assuming he went into the date planning to do that, or was it spur of the moment? I guess a third possibility is that the action was somewhat premeditated but dependent upon the quality of that date. I'm sure this differs from person to person, but I am interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

- hmmmmm

A: Dear hmmmmm-

In my apartment last year, we actually created a dating democracy. Whenever someone had a date lined up, we would all gather together and propose an activity and gameplan for the date which would then be voted on. And, most importantly, we determined what level of affection they should show; e.g. - go for the hand holding, a kiss, or perhaps the Modified Elevator Shimmy. (Note that this is how the process began in the first place.
"Well, guys... what should I do about this girl?"
"I think you should grab her butt."
"Second."
"Shall we put it to a vote?"
"I can see that on the date: 'sorry... they voted...'"
"It was three to one in favor... personally, I voted 'aye.'")

So, that's how we did it. For myself, since those days are over, I usually have a conditional plan in mind -- when it's getting to that point, I'll mentally decide that if tonight's date is going well, I'll hold her hand. Chalk one up to Premeditated.

-Foreman

PS- I attribute the successful marriage of one of my roommates to an especially thorough first-date planning session one afternoon. But maybe that's just me.

A: Dear wondering,

I think I come closest to the third category you listed. I tend to be fairly aware of how well things are going with a girl, especially if we go on several dates. If we start to get serious, I'll start considering the chance that we'll hold hands or kiss. Once I feel like we're both to that point, I'll wait until an opportunity seems right and then go for it.

—Laser Jock

A: Dear Onomatopoeic,

I hope you weren't wanting an overwhelming majority that would help to form an expectation for future dates. I am so far into the second camp that I didn't realize that the first one existed. (Foreman: Really? I would consider myself as close to my roommates as possible without being related, but dang man.) I am purely impromptu in my dating "moves". I was well aware that there were others that went into a date with a rough idea of what they would like to do/say, (good to see you over there in camp #3, Laser Jock), but it really isn't my style. I am prone to be as surprised as anyone when while on a midnight swim I hear Jack Sparrow's voice in my head saying: "If you were waiting for the opportune moment...". Of course I am more drawn to women who are willing to take the initiative, and this mindset reflects that fully. Come to think of it, my first kiss was immediately preceded by the question "why haven't you kissed me yet?". If I had been the type to plan ahead, who knows how much {aherm} fun I may have missed out on?

Anyway my dear nasal stop, if the event ever should occur that we are on a date, be assured that any and all comments, complements, posturing, poetry, and prose are all as extemporaneous as can be.

Know the male
But keep to the role of the female(XXVIII,1-2)

-Tao

PS Foreman: Really?

A: Tao-

Kind of.

While we did actually have some meetings like this, I think it should be pretty apparent from the sample dialog that it was all in good, facetious fun. Don't freak out too hard.

Though that roommate really did get married to that girl. If the system works...

-Foreman

PS- note that my answer technically puts me also in this so-called "camp #3."

Question #47399 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Social Science - Psychology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Especially after living in a couple states in totally different regions, I know I'm sheltered from certain ways of life, like rural or farm life or the alleged differences between groups of people. But coming to BYU, I've met plenty of people who seem even more sheltered than me. To me small town people tend to be sheltered from life in a big city or recognize what they are. I've met people in and out of BYU who have never left the US and don't know anything about the outside world.

I can't decide on who are the most sheltered, but I would like to know what groups or types of people you would consider the most and least sheltered.

Still sheltered

A: Dear sheltered,

I suppose I would consider the most stereotypically sheltered person to be someone who lived in a safe area, came from a family where their basic wants and needs were met, didn't interact much with people from other races or religions, and never traveled to visit any place that was significantly different from their home.

That said, in an age where so much information is so readily available to most Americans, I think that being sheltered is largely a matter of choice. If you choose to engage the world and become informed and observant, you don't have to be sheltered, no matter where you live and what your opportunities are.

- Katya

Question #47398 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Board - Writers

Q:

Omniscient ones,

After searching through hours of mindless queries, I have come to the conclusion that the answer to the ultimate question (how to become a writer) just doesn't exist. I feel as though I could write a discourse on any other topic covered by the mighty ones, and yet I find my memory entirely absent of any direct means by which to join the board of writers. I haven't yet served my mission yet, so it's not a matter of me just really wanting to write up answers to random questions; it's all a matter of curiosity for me. And so, at last, and with some disgrace, to the actual question portion of my pitiful inquiry:

Does the answer actually exist in a direct form? As in, is there a post in the archive that documents explicitly how to apply, or is it some long chain of obscure references to alphabet soup and the grammatical niceties of werf?

Thoroughly befuddled,
-Nicodemus

A: Dear Ethel,

I not-so-secretly love questions like this because they come up in the search and make it even harder to find out how to become a writer. Delicious irony.

Yes, the answer is there. You have a lot of current writers as proof that there is a way and that way is in the archives.

-Polly Esther

A: Dear Nic,

I'll give you two hints:

(1) The first step (which is all that we expect you to find in the archives, because we take over from there) is very simple. So you may have seen it and dismissed it as too obvious.

(2) The questions (and yes, that is plural) which contain the information about the first step tend to be in the older section of the archives. We haven't needed to repeat the information in past years because it was already there.

- Katya

Question #47394 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Language & Linguistics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

The script for The Music Man has Winthrop (the lisper) sing the following:

"If you'd like to have a logical ekthplanathyion
How I happened on this elegant thyncopathyion"

This got me thinking about the phonetics of lisping. In the latter part of those words, most of us would make the /sj/ sound a /ʃ/ sound (a form of palatalization, if I remember correctly). So, in a lisping person, which filter would come first: the lisp, or the palatalization? Because I don't think Winthrop would have any problem saying /ʃ/ -- would it actually come out "ekthplanathyion" or "ekthplanashun"?

---Portia

A: Dear Porthia,

I can't think of any reason why Winthrop (or any L1 learner of Standard American English) would have a mental conception of "explanation" as /eks pla na sjon/. It's not a common pronunciation in the U.S. and it's not derived from a word which has an /s/ in that position. A good way of testing this would be to look at spelling errors in young children, to see if they replaced "-tion" with "-shun" or "-sun." (Of course, this assumes that they know what the digraph {sh} stands for, because otherwise they could write {s} for both /s/ and /ʃ/!)

However, this article on lisping states that it's possible for lispers to have trouble saying /ʃ/, though it's much rarer than having trouble with /s/.

So, either young Winthrop was the rare lisper who had trouble with palatals as well as dental fricatives, or the writers of The Music Man went overboard in giving him a cute lisp.

- Katya, a.k.a. Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn

Question #47393 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Campus (physical)

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Where will the large "Y" that hung on the Tanner building go now that the building's extension has been completed?

- Musing Student

A: Dear Musing,

Check the archives: Comment 44032.

Short answer: nothing.

~Hermia

Question #47392 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Music - Lyrics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What are the background lyrics in Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" after the lead singer sings 'Uninterrupted Prosperity"

- Lyrically bugged

A: Dear Buggy,

It's "uninterrupted!"

As seen here and personally confirmed.

-Claudio

Question #47389 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Computers - Software

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have only moderate computer skills but I really really want to participate in the new "make McCain young and vital" green screen challenge put on by the Colbert Report. Are there any cheap/free programs that would allow me to alter the McCain video without having a lot of background knowledge?

- One of "Those" People

A: Dear Ethel,

You can download the GIMP. It's free and quite powerful, yet the layout and tools are similar to MS paint. To use the more advanced features of the application you might have to play with it, but just google "gimp tutorials" and you'll have many, many results.

You could also use MS paint, but this would be difficult and annoying (at least for me, since I do know how to use the GIMP and it makes things easier).

You could also try Serif PhotoPlus, Paint.Net, Pixia, or one of the other free image manipulation programs listed here. Though the less popular ones don't have any tutorials for them and I've never used them either.

-Polly Esther

A: Dear One of the Heroes:

You have my full endorsement in this quest.

---Portia

Question #47386 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Admissions

Q:

Hello,

As I am starting to apply for jobs, many companies are asking what my ACT/SAT scores are. I haven't seen them since I left high school many years ago. Does BYU have them on record that I can access (route Y?) and if so how do I find them?

A: Dear Anony,

If you used them to apply to BYU, your ACT scores will be listed on your grade report. Just go to Route Y, then to School, then AIM, then click on Grades. You should be able to find them in that report.

-Claudio

Question #47384 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Science - Biology

Social Science - Psychology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Hopefully you won't think this question is excessively disgusting, because I really am curious. Why do we not mind our own odors, but think other people's smells are so nasty? Like, if Sue makes a little toot, or burps, or has serious BO, or stank breath, she'll recognize it smells bad, but in all likelihood it probably won't bother her that much. But if Sue is hanging out with Mary, who has stank breath or another of those issues listed above, she'll think it's way gross and maybe even feel sick to her stomach to smell Mary's odors. Why is that? I was thinking about it the other day and initially thought that it must just be that we're used to the way we smell, but I'm talking about abnormal smells here. Not your normal everyday musk, but an out of the ordinary, really bad smell. Why does it bother us more if it comes from somebody else?

- Open a window

A: Dear Open-

These two comics may have something to do with it, albeit unconsciously. Or maybe I just think they're funny. Whichever.

-Foreman, recent Wondermark addict.

A: Dear Open,

We're used to our own smells. Also, some people are more sensitive to different smells. This blog cites a study that looked at how different people could smell androstenone. Some found the odor extremely unpleasant, while others found it "sweet" or "musky."

Subjects repeatedly exposed to androstenone become more sensitive to it, thanks to feedback from the brain. This feedback causes the stem cells in our nasal passages to create more androstenone sensitive odor receptors. The new abundance of cells alters the sensory experience. What was once a perfume becomes piss.

I realize this doesn't quite answer your question, but I think it's mostly habituation (although I'm not sure how that works with the increase in sensitivity after repeated exposure).

-The Supershrink

Question #47383 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Social Science - Psychology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have a job interview tomorrow for a Senior Project Manager position at a domain registrar company. I have to take the Thurstone test for mental alertness. Does anyone know where I can see sample questions from test, its on the marketing side. Are there different version of the test ie different test related to specific areas of business

Wyatt

A: Dear Ethel,

You can read an overview of the test here and Kicks and Giggles already posted some links to sample questions here and here.

The test covers 4 specific areas, as explained on the first link. Of course, tests like these can only be trusted so far and any company who bases their hiring solely on the results of a psych test is probably not a company you want to work for anyway.

Good luck on being deemed psychologically sound!

-Polly Esther

Question #47382 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Statistics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

If you do something three times that has a 10% chance of occurring each time, does that mean you have a 30% chance of it occurring overall, or something different? If I have surgery on my eye (hyphothetical) and it has a 10% chance of curing my eye disease, then I do it three times, does my chance of a cure increase to 30%? Thanks.

- Pirate Pants

A: Dear Pirate Pants,

First, let's switch from talking about eye surgery to rolling dice. If you roll a die, you have a 1/6 chance of rolling a 3. By your logic, you should have a 6/6 chance of rolling a 3 if you roll 6 dice. However, you should realize, by common sense, that it's entirely possible to roll 6 dice (or one die 6 times) and not get a 3 at all. Therefore, you can conclude that you can't just add probabilities in that way.

The way to look at it is to break apart each incident and identify which combinations of events will give you the desired outcome. So, to determine the odds of rolling, say, two dice and getting at least one 3, we have two possibilities:

(1) You roll the first die and get a 3. (It doesn't matter what shows up on the second die, because you've already got the desired outcome from the first die.)

(2) You don't get a 3 on the first die, but you do get a 3 on the second die.

The probability of outcome (1) is 1/6.

The probability of outcome (2) is 5/6 (= the probability of rolling any number but 3) times 1/6, which equals 5/36. (If you're calculating the odds of successive events, you multiply the probabilities of each event. The final probability will be smaller than either of the first two probabilities, which makes sense, since the odds of two events both happening is smaller than the odds of either event happening separately. Assuming, of course, that the two events are completely independent of each other.)

Now we add the probabilities of the two outcomes together to get 11/36. (In this situation, we add the probabilities together because outcome (1) and outcome (2) represent two different "universes" — one where the first die showed a 3 and one where it didn't — and not successive events. This is when it's correct to add.)

There's also a fun trick where you can calculate the probability of something not happening (which can be easier to calculate) and then use that to figure out the probability that something will happen.

So, instead of going through a bunch of different outcomes, we look at one outcome, where the desired event doesn't happen, and then subtract that probability from 1.

Going back to the probability of rolling two dice and getting at least one 3, we can say that the odds of not getting a 3 are 5/6 for the first die and 5/6 for the second die. Since we want both of these events to happen, we multiply them together to get 25/36 odds that we won't get a 3. 1 - 25/36 is 11/36, the odds that we will get at least one 3.

So, if we go back to your original example of the 10% chance three times, the total probability would be about 27%. However, this calculation assumes that each event is completely independent of the other events. When it comes to situations like the probability of a type of surgery being effective, it's not a matter of the physicians rolling the dice everytime you get an operation, but a complex matter of the way your particular body is likely to respond to a particular set of events. Because each surgical event would not be independent of the others (you do, after all, have the same body and disease from surgery to surgery), it's possible that multiple surgeries would be no more effective than one surgery.

- Katya

Question #47381 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Movies

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

There was a classic music video from the '80s that I'm trying to recall. It's been parodied multiple times, but I can't recall the actual origin of it. It's where there's a guysomeone dancing, he spins around, pulls on a chain, lands in a chair,throws back his head in silhouette, and is doused with water. Do any of you remember where exactly the first use of this was?

- Baggins, the Reflective Videophile

A: Dear videophile,

The reference is to a famous scene in Flashdance. Though I liked Groundskeeper Willie's version better.

-Cognoscente

Question #47380 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Science - Meteorology/Climatology

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Why do hurricanes/tropical storms get names, but snow storms don't?

- Snowstorm Steve sounds way better than "that big one back in February"

A: Dear Snowstorm Steve,

According to the World Meteorology Organization (the organization that names the hurricanes),

The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began years ago in order to help in the quick identification of storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be far easier to remember that numbers and technical terms. Many agree that appending names to storms makes it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones, heightens interest in warnings and increases community preparedness.

I imagine that the highly unpredictable nature of hurricanes, coupled with their potential for greater destruction, is why meteorologists would want an easier way of referring to them. Snowstorms, while dangerous and powerful, just aren't quite up there with hurricanes, and are so common that I expect it would be necessary to either use unusual names or repeat names frequently, which could get confusing. Besides, it's so much more fun to hear the old timers talk about "the big one of '42."

~Hermia

Question #47379 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Music - Lyrics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Do any of you have any of your own interpretations of Viva la Vida or parts of the song? The line "revolutionaries wait for my head on a silver plate" reminds me of John the Baptist, and "I know Saint Peter won't call my name" seems to be alluding to Peter denying Christ three times. So I'd like to think that this song might be about Christ or various prophets in the Bible, but I can't be sure. I would appreciate your opinions. (I've already read others opinions found online so don't bother repeating those. I'm looking for some fresh stuff.) Thanks!

- Life

A: Dear Long Live You,

Well, Yellow and I already handed out our two cents on this matter in this question.

As to it being about Christ...well, I can't see that working at all. While there is some biblical imagery in there (head on a platter, for instance), I can't see anyone referring to the castle of Christ standing on pillars of salt and pillars of sand. Or to him using "never an honest word." Or to him being a puppet on a lonely string (though this could be cynically applied to people who claim to do God's will, I'm pretty sure that's not the point here). As to the Saint Peter thing, I can virtually guarantee that this in reference to Peter being the guardian of the gates of heaven, not at all to his denial.

A good attempt, but I don't think it's right. I stand by my secular interpretation.

-Claudio

Question #47377 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Literature - Classics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

'Catch 22' chapter 17 - the soldier in white.

After the man in the cast dies and Nurse Cramer cries, there's a line that says "...eyes flooded with leviathan tears..."

Upon looking in the dictionary I found that leviathan, in fact, whilst meaning great and large, had a defition of "a water animal; apparently a crocodile"

Does this mean that Nurse Cramer's tears were in fact crocodile tears? I'm inclined to think otherwise but it is very interesting..

- Major Major Major Major

A: Dear Four Majors Don't Make a Minor:

I asked a friend who has read Catch-22, and he believes that it just means "large," and that this author is merely inclined to use that sort of a style.

"Leviathan" has become an adjective that just means "very large;" I would say to be referring to the mythical beast it would have to be capitalized also

says he.

Interesting hypothesis, though.

---Portia

Question #47373 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Products

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have a purse with a leather/suede-ish type lining on the inside and it smells really bad. First it just had that strong "new leather" smell. But now it has that smell combined with the smell of all the random stuff I have ever carried in my purse. Recently the purse got damp on the inside, and it has become even more pungent. Is there any way I can clean the purse lining and make it smell fresh?

- that girl

A: Dear Girlie,

I've heard good things about what the Environmental Air Sponge can do! Yes, it sounds weird and may look weirder- but I actually have a number of friends who swear that this product gets rid of smells.

You might also try Febreze. I'm a fan of using Febreze! I like the way it makes my clothes smell...

~Krishna

A: Dear Ann Marie,

Word has it that a tea bag placed in the purse for a day or so will draw the odor out. This Yahoo! Answers thread had some more ideas, so I'd give that a quick perusal as well.

-Buttercup

Question #47366 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Health

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Are there any real health risks from drinking water that has been de-chlorinated using sodium thiosulfate?

- Fredjikrang

A: Dear Ethel,

In the course of my research, I found that 99.9% of people who drink water end up dying. It's very risky stuff. I suggest you find an alternative.

I also found that sodium thiosulfate has a health hazard rating of 1, which means it would cause irritation with mild residual injury. If the water has trace amounts, then it's probably safe to drink. If you think that it has more than just trace amounts, I wouldn't suggest drinking the water.

-Polly Esther

Editor's Choice

Question #47353 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Food & Drink

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Do the Potato Pearls, or Instant Potatoes, that come from the the Cannery have trans fat? I noticed they had partially hydrogenated oil, so I'm guess they do. If so, how much? It doesn't mention trans fat on the label.

- Elfie

A: Dear Elfie,

Potato Pearls contain partially hydrogenated canola oil, which means that they do indeed contain trans fat. As for how much, I can't find any definitive answers, just lots of speculation. Sadly, it would appear that they're being discontinued.

-habiba

Question #47317 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

This sounds terribly morbid, but its a valid question. Is there a death or dying class or something close to it at BYU? I watched a movie recently and 2 ppl went to a psychology class about death and dying. Thanks

- Ethel M.

A: Dear m,

It doesn't look like there's a death or dying class at BYU. They probably cover the topic in several classes in the MFHD, HFL, and Psychology lines of study.

If you find a professor that's into that, you might be able to find a special topic class. They're the ones that end in "R."

-Cognoscente

A: Dear Ethel,

(You're making me feel like Polly Esther here!)

You may want to look at Board Question #36020. We didn't find any classes directly about death or dying there either, but we did find a few classes that have the term in their course description.

-Yellow

A: Dear Toffelmier:

Did you know you can minor in Gerontology? Surely death would come up in classes like "Health and Aging," "Aging in the Family," or "Sociology of Aging."

---Portia

Question #47258 posted on 09/15/2008 3:01 a.m.

Transportation

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I drive home about midnight from work from 600 S in SLC to Midvale. Many times there is about a mile stretch of lights turned off on I-15 (the really high ones that line the freeway). The rows of lights that are turned off alternate every night. It drives me nuts driving virtually in the dark on I-15! Why is this done?
- Mom of Monkeys

A: Dear Rosie Devant-Molei,

UDOT is sometimes hard to figure out and there were a lot of emails sending me on to different people. But, I did finally get an answer for you!

"When the lighting technicians perform maintenance work on the high mast lighting they turn off the power to that light pole. The light pole is typically on a circuit that includes adjacent light poles. Maintenance work is performed at night when the traffic volumes are lower. The typical work involves lowering the light fixture assembly, changing the lamps, cleaning the fixture, making repairs or adjustments.

-Larry Montoya of the UDOT Traffic and Safety Division

-Azriel