Ask!

Farewell for now

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:55:58 -0700

For a curious mind and a nitpicker, doing this column has been, with apologies to Charles Dickens, the best of times. Thanks to everyone who read and asked and cared. And bless you for being curious, too. This has been a true labor of love for me, as I know it was for my predecessor, Rebecca Jones. I'm hoping to continue in some online incarnation; check iwantmyrocky.com or google Mike Rudeen. In the meantime, see ya in the funny papers.

Rise to the occasion

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:56 -0700

What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Some recipes call for both, some just one or the other. -- Jean

Paying the freight

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:00:19 -0700

Freight trains I see have cars with different company or railroad names on them. How do owners keep track of their cars? How do they make money on them? -- Richard

Expensive proposition

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:15 -0700

In an era of belt-tightening, why is President Obama using expensive Montblanc pens to sign bills into law and then giving them away? -- Donna

Be my valentine, s'il vous plait -- UPDATE

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:00:12 -0700

Is Valentine's Day celebrated in other countries, or is it an American holiday? -- Paula

Driver's license education

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:00:38 -0700

My Colorado driver's license has categories like End and Rest in addition to Ht (height) and Wt (weight). What do all those things mean? -- Mari

Keeping the birds out

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:40 -0700

Why can't they put a screen or grill over the front of aircraft engines so they won't suck birds into the engines? -- Andy, Arvada

The sidewalks of Hilltop

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:00:39 -0700

Why are there almost no sidewalks in the Hilltop neighborhood and the streets north of East Sixth Avenue Parkway? Congress Park was built earlier, and there are sidewalks on each street. -- Jim

To tip or not to tip -- UPDATE

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:00:33 -0700

Are you expected to leave a tip when you pick up a to-go order? I always thought the tip was for the server, not the kitchen. -- Claire

It's a doozy! UPDATE

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:00:49 -0700

Where did the word doozy, for something outstanding, come from? -- Alex

What attracts geese?

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:00:24 -0700

What attracts Canada geese, which are plentiful right now, to a specific field or lawn? One day they're in one part of a park, the next day they're in another or gone. -- Donell

The lane less traveled

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:00:19 -0700

Years ago the highway department widened I-225 to three lanes in each direction, yet huge sections are still two lanes. There's stop-and-go traffic at rush hour with an empty lane next to you. Why is this? -- Joe

Representative of what? -- UPDATE

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:00:34 -0700

Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. When, why and how did representatives become known as congressmen rather than representatives? -- DS

Shredded waste -- UPDATE

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:00:08 -0700

We were told at work never to put shredded paper in the recycle bin. Can shredded paper be recycled? If not, why not? -- Teri

Getting clearance -- UPDATE

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:00:24 -0700

It's not uncommon to see signs on the highway announcing the clearance of an immediately upcoming overpass. What does a truck driver whose rig exceeds that height do at the last second? -- David