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–Kevin Keen, Wausau, Wash.

This is one old wives’ tale that’s actually true. Gum is indigestible. Still, swallowing it is totally harmless. Chewing gum has five main kinds of ingredients–sweeteners, softeners, corn syrup, flavorings and gum base. The first four are easily broken down by the body. But the gum base is indigestible. It’s also what makes gum sticky in your mouth and on your shoes. Don’t worry, though–it doesn’t stick to the stomach walls and build up (so no, kids, no matter what your mother says, you won’t explode). That gum base is a fiber; it passes through the system in a day or two.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-26” author: “David Howell”

–Erica Hedlund, Palm Springs, Calif.

The FDA defines these flavors as any kind of extract or oil derived from naturally occurring substances–spices, fruits, herbs or even bark and yeast. They’re added to enhance taste, not to provide nutrition. For instance, the orange flavor in your soft drink may come from the actual fruit, but it won’t give you vitamin C. Many companies already specify which natural flavors they include in packaged food, but they’re not required to by law. People with serious food allergies should contact manufacturers with specific concerns.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-24” author: “Tiffany Nixon”

The broader market lost 32 percent. Most bond mutual funds are up. It’s fine to keep some of your money in one of your growth-stock funds. Shift the rest into funds that call themselves “balanced” (stocks and bonds), “index” or “value.” –Jane Bryant Quinn

If you won’t need the money for five years, you might put half in stocks and half in bonds, using index mutual funds. You’ll reap the benefit whenever either market does well. But read up a little first–try a book like “Investing for Dummies” (John Wiley & Sons) or browse aaii.com–and make sure you’re comfortable with the risks. –Temma Ehrenfeld

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-19” author: “Melody Seaberry”

Anyone can give organs or tissue as long as the donated parts are healthy. Older organs are often suitable for senior patients, and they can be used for medical research. Last year doctors transplanted a 92-year-old liver, and several live kidney donors have been 78 or older. Most eye banks have a cutoff of 65, but older corneas have been used before. “People should never rule themselves out,” says Anne Paschke, of the United Network for Organ Sharing. “Doctors can make that decision when the time comes.”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Mary Vaden”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-22” author: “Tiffany Barnes”

LCD-projection televisions are a welcome improvement over the traditional CRT-projection TVs, which are quite bulky. As for picture quality, it’s comparable, but the contrast on the LCD is a bit lower. Also, the more cheaply made models may produce a “screen door” effect, where the scan lines are noticeable. There’s another type of projection-TV technology called digital light projection, or DLP; it costs a bit more and the contrast is somewhere between LCD and CRT. Check out some sets at the store and see which ones you like.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Eunice Anderson”

You’re smart enough to ask questions before investing, so that college education paid off. How to be secure? Keep emergency cash (three months of expenses) in a money-market bank account or mutual fund. With any money left over, financial planner Ginger Applegarth suggests buying a one-year CD in an IRA. You can find a rate close to 3 percent by shopping online at bankrate.com. Over the year, track the performance of a stock index fund and a bond index fund. When the CD comes due, you may be ready to take on more risk.

To submit a question, go to Newsweek.MSNBC.com and click on Tip Sheet

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Francisco Kruse”

-ALEX SHEFTIC, JR., DADEVILLE, ALA.

The elephant with a head cold is a staple of kiddle lit, featured in at least three children’s books (" ‘Stand Back,’ Said the Elephant, ‘I’m Going to Sneeze!’ “). Unfortunately, elephants don’t sneeze at all. But they do sometimes blow their noses, which looks even sillier. According to Marie Galloway, elephant manager at the National Zoo, “they flatten the end of their trunk shut, twist it back and forth several times and then expel air out loudly and forcefully, sending mucus flying.” So if you ever see an elephant with a twitchy trunk, you’d be wise to stand back.

To submit a question, go to Newsweek.MSNBC.com and click on Tip Sheet.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-18” author: “Eric Shea”

If a brain cell dies, death is indeed permanent. New research from the University of California, San Diego, suggests marijuana doesn’t destroy neurons, though it can still cause a host of short-term problems, including impaired memory, inability to perform complex tasks and a depressed immune system. THC, marijuana’s active ingredient, produces its high by latching on to brain receptors. After it detaches, the feeling fades, and so does the fuzzy thinking. But that’s not true for other drugs like ecstasy and crystal meth, which do kill brain cells.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-19” author: “Darryl Watson”

If commercials make you insane, get Sirius. Its 60 music channels are all ad-free, compared with just 30 on XM. But you have other criteria, right? XM has more music channels, 71 overall (see satradio.weblogger.com for listings and info). Sirius is $12.95 a month; XM is $9.95. XM claims better sound, but in a few years its satellites may have power problems. Also, check your new car; it might already be equipped for one or the other. Can’t make up your mind? Hey, either one’s better than local radio.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-31” author: “Arturo Ramos”

You can book your loss right now. All you have to do is sell the shares, says accountant Aaron Eidelman, a managing director of American Express Tax and Business Services. Enron may be bankrupt, but somebody still wants the stock (to wallpaper the bathroom, perhaps?). It trades on the “pink sheets,” where brokers list offers to buy and sell unlisted companies (ticker symbol: ENRNQ.PK). Prices last week hovered around 14 cents a share. So pick up the pennies and nail that tax loss while you can.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-02” author: “James Albert”

John Song, Los Angeles, Calif.

Data storage is like closet space–you can never have enough. For removable storage there are two popular choices, CD-RWs and Zips. CDs hold more data, but they’re harder to write and rewrite. Luckily, Iomega just released a 750MB version of its Zip disk–that’s triple the space of an old Zip. Of course, you’ll need to buy the new, superfast USB 2.0 Zip drive just to use the new disks ($39.99 for a three-pack), but for the convenience and speed, it might be worth the $179.99.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-08” author: “Dolores Moran”

Don’t count on it. Creditors like banks, suppliers and bondholders are entitled to be paid in full before shareholders see a dime. “I’d be absolutely amazed if shareholders get anything,” says top New York bankruptcy lawyer Albert Togut. “We frequently see shareholders get wiped out.” WorldCom declined to comment for this item.

In the likeliest scenario, today’s stock would be canceled. The company would then issue new shares and hand them out among its stiffed creditors to help cover its debts.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Steven Larkin”

Yes, scientists are pursuing three promising paths–but it’ll be years before a vaccine is perfected. One potential vaccine builds up the body’s immunity to West Nile by injecting patients with viral nucleic acids, while another uses modified synthetic proteins. But the front runner is Dr. Thomas Monath of Acambis, a biotech firm in Cambridge, Mass. His West Nile-yellow fever live virus seems to work as a vaccine. But it’ll take at least five or six years to pass the necessary FDA tests. In the meantime, bug spray’s your best bet.

To submit a question, go to Newsweek.MSNBC.com and click on Tip Sheet.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-31” author: “Nelson Walters”

Believe it or not, “that’s OK,” says Susan Winckler, an American Pharmaceutical Association official. But be cautious. First, make sure the drugs are perfectly identical, right down to how fast the tablets dissolve. Second, tell your doctor and pharmacist–they might unwittingly give you drugs that would interact with the OTC medicine. And if it takes a lot of medicine for you to feel OK, you really should see a doctor. You may have a more serious problem than you realize.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-24” author: “David Liedke”

-JESS KINSER, CORRALITOS, CALIF.

Not all of them can–most whales don’t go farther than 500 feet. But some, like sperm whales, use an unusual strategy to dive deeper: collapsing under pressure. The weight of deep water can crush a human’s rib cage, puncturing lungs with the splintered bones. Whales have ribs made of flexible cartilage that doesn’t break as easily as human bones. When the pressure’s on, a whale’s rib cage will partially collapse, compressing the air in the lungs into a smaller space to equalize the pressure of the water above.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-08” author: “Gonzalo Craig”

Yes. In fact, the Pill contains more estrogens and progestins than HRT drugs, but studies show it’s safe. That’s because it’s aimed at younger women who aren’t prone to breast cancer and cardiovascular trouble–the risks with HRT. (Older women who used to take the Pill aren’t at greater risk, either, says Dr. Nananda Col: “It seems when they stop taking it, they go back to normal.”) Unless you smoke or have a family history of breast cancer, pregnancy poses more health risks than hormone-based birth control. -Mary Carmichael

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-04” author: “Joetta Knight”

Getting back on Uncle Sam’s good side is pretty easy. Go www.irs.gov to download forms and instruction booklets for the missing years. (Call 800-829-1040 for help filling them out.) If you’re due a refund, you can still collect for the past three years. But if you owe money, you’ll have to pay interest. And, if your reason for not filing isn’t compelling, the IRS could slap you with a pair of penalties, each up to 25 percent of the balance owed. The good news, says an IRS rep, is you probably don’t face any criminal penalties.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Roger Vogel”

Sulfites have been used as a preservative for wine (and food) for thousands of years. The sulfur-based compounds are a natural byproduct of fermentation, but most wine makers add more sulfites to ensure the stability of their wines. Today most wines contain less than 100 parts per million of total sulfites–and any bottle with more than 10 ppm has “Contains Sulfites” on its label. But unless you’re allergic or asthmatic, you don’t need to worry. Some people blame sulfites for hangovers, but alcohol is probably the real culprit.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-31” author: “Margit Harris”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-25” author: “Mamie Shropshire”

As NEWSWEEK reported last week, wild salmon is better for you than farmed fish. But determining a fillet’s origins can be tricky, since Congress’ recently passed seafood labeling laws won’t go into effect for two years. (Then retailers will be required to post country of origin and “wild” or “farmed.”) In the meantime, remember that Alaskan salmon–which includes king, coho, sockeye, pink and keta–is always wild. Or you can order wild salmon online. Some of the best: www.takusmokeries.com, alaskafoods.com, copperriverseafood.com or ilovesalmon.com.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-15” author: “Michael Bowling”

All right!! Carbon dating lets archeologists accurately estimate the age of ancient items that were once alive–or even made of living things–as many as 50,000 years ago. The trick is calculating the presence of carbon-14, a substance made in the atmosphere and absorbed by plants (where it’s then eaten by humans and animals). Scientists measure the amount of carbon-14 left and, by knowing the steady rate at which it decays, they can establish–within 30 years–when the thing died. Animal bones, human remains, cloth and wood have all been dated using the technique.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Robert Dare”

That’s one of the most widely accepted myths out there. But that doesn’t make it true. The fact is, the common cold is a virus carried in the mucus of cold sufferers–it’s got nothing to do with temperature, or going outside without a hat, or even getting caught in the rain. You catch a cold when you come into contact with someone who already has it (or with the germs they’ve left behind). To keep a cold at bay, your mom may tell you to bundle up. But it’s actually another motherly mantra that works best: wash your hands.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Jennie Milliken”

Of course it’s the conclusion to Ronald Reagan’s powerful speech on the Challenger disaster, delivered on Jan. 28, 1986 (the State of the Union address, planned for that night, was postponed for the first time in history). But Reagan is actually paraphrasing a sonnet, “High Flight,” written on Sept. 3, 1941, by WWII pilot John Gillespie Magee, a 19-year-old American serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He died in a plane crash just three months later. But in the wake of the Columbia tragedy, his words still bring us peace.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-02-01” author: “Jason Saadd”

Yes, but how much you can write off depends on how much you rake in. If you’re single and your adjusted gross income–plus foreign income–is $50,000 or less, you can write off up to $2,500 of the interest you paid last year on a qualified loan. (Your loan is “qualified’’ if you were enrolled at least half time toward a degree at an eligible school.) If you file with a spouse, you two must make under $100,000 total. If you just miss those cutoffs, don’t fret. As long as you make under $65,000 ($130,000 for couples), you’re eligible for a smaller deduction. You’ll find a worksheet with your tax forms.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-29” author: “Henry Davis”

-MARI THORNTON, HILTON HEAD, S.C.

Well, there’s no clothes heaven for last season’s turtlenecks and scarves. Many big stores just keep marking down merchandise to get rid of it in-house. Stock that doesn’t sell often goes to an outlet store, where it’s meticulously picked over by bargain hunters. Some midpriced retailers, like Ross and Jones New York outlets, donate overstock to charities. But most discount stores, like Prime Outlets, insist they just keep cutting prices until nearly everything moves. In a few desperate cases, however, fabric is reused.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-24” author: “Arthur Sims”

In 1868 a revolving lantern with red and green signals controlled the flow of horse-drawn buggies and pedestrian crowds at one London intersection. In the United States in the early 20th century, a variety of traffic-control devices appeared, often with red and green signals. In 1924 the National Conference on Street and Highway Safety recommended we use red and green (with yellow indicating “caution”) for uniformity. But it wasn’t till the ’30s that the first Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices officially standardized the colors.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “William Nork”

Yes! Now you can relax. (But don’t think this means I don’t expect a proper proposal–with ring in hand.) Anyway, I know resistance is futile. I was working as a bookstore clerk when I met you, and though I tried to ignore you on that first day, you were unrelenting. You hung around and tried to strike up a conversation. When that didn’t work, you asked for an application. You took a job just to talk to me! But we were a perfect match right from the start. Now I won’t ever be able to ignore you again. I love you enormous!

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-03” author: “Melissa Mayes”

–Ronald Duffy, Santa Fe, N.M.

There is no nutritional difference between warm and cold cow’s milk–and both contain the amino acid tryptophan, which is known to have sedative effects. (That’s why doctors often suggest dietary changes, including the consumption of cow’s milk, to their insomniac patients.) Warm milk just has the added psychological benefit of being a comfort food. That being said, there’s no sound scientific evidence that drinking milk–at any temperature–helps people fall asleep faster.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Laura Levy”

Contact your local attorney general–more than half the states now have their own registries. Then add your name to the Direct Marketing Association’s do-not-call list (dmaconsumers.org). Its members will honor your request. Finally, read up on your rights by clickingon the National Consumers League’s Web site (nclnet.org/privacy/stop calling2.htm). Its advice: think twice before you give your phone number to anyone–except maybe Mom.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-13” author: “Anthony Byrd”

If you’ve just got a head cold, exercise is a fine idea. It may not be pleasant at first, but it’ll restore your energy. If it’s the flu that’s troubling you, though–especially if you have muscle aches, fever or a phlegm-producing cough–skip workouts that leave you short of breath and stick to gentle stretches only. (Or just lie on the couch. Hey, you’ve got an excuse.) Whatever you do, drink plenty of water, since exercise and sickness can both leave you dehydrated.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-02” author: “Silvia Briggs”

If you think having an unpublished number will protect you from telemarketers, think again, says the National Consumers League. Every time you register to vote or sign up for a contest or even give to charities, you increase the chance that your info will end up on a telemarketer’s list. The same is true whenever you call an 800 number, register with a Web site or fill in a warranty card. If you don’t want groups to share or sell your info, say so–it’s your right. For more information, check out nclnet.org.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-21” author: “Tommy Goodwin”

It’s no myth. Laws vary by state, but in general you can make an arrest if you see a felony take place or have a reasonable belief that one has been committed. Just make the collar, explain the crime and then take your suspect to a magistrate or police officer. (Do it quickly or you could be charged with false imprisonment. And be careful: in Massachusetts and other states you can be sued for false arrest if there’s no conviction.) You’re allowed to forcibly restrain your suspect. But go too far and you’ll be the one behind bars.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-28” author: “Wendy Kluesner”

You’re in luck. Myst, the most famous of the old pacifist adventure games, returns to PCs later this year with Uru: Ages Beyond Myst (Ubi Soft). Expect stunning 3-D worlds with a variety of mind-challenging puzzles. Or try Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda for Gamecube’s and Twilight’s independently developed The Sydney Mystery for PCs. This fall, look for the first-person, PC puzzler Chameleon: Mysterious Journey II and brand-new PC and console versions of Prince of Persia, where you restore peace and balance to the fabric of time. No killing required.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “June Weakland”

At what point does a pond become a lake? Is there an actual designated size requirement separating the two? -RAY G. THALL, HARPERS FERRY, W.VA.

Obviously lakes tend to be bigger and deeper, but there are no specific size requirements for lake status. Generally speaking, ponds have fairly even water temperature and can support rooted plant life throughout. Lakes, on the other hand, have water that varies by depth and by season. Lakes can even produce waves on a windy day and affect the local climate. Ultimately, the distinction between pond and lake is a subjective one: an Arizona lake is a Minnesota pond.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Oscar Brown”

There are actually two ways to see in the dark: image enhancement and thermal imaging. Most night-vision goggles use the former technology, collecting and amplifying tiny bits of light (including some from the lower portion of the infrared spectrum). Although this lets you “see” in extremely dark conditions, these goggles do require some light to function. Thermal-imaging goggles, on the other hand, can work in pitch-black conditions. They pick up on infrared light emitted as heat–so the hotter an object, the brighter it reads.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-20” author: “Patricia Martin”

That depends on which kind you’re using. Basic sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb the energy in ultraviolet rays, then emit it back as lower-frequency heat waves. The higher its SPF, the more UV rays it can absorb and re-emit–but even an SPF of 30 will let a few rays by. (SPFs higher than 30 aren’t substantially more effective, so save your money.) For total protection, there’s zinc oxide or titanium oxide, the opaque white goo lifeguards smear on their noses. It physically blocks the sunlight, rather than absorbing it. But unless you’re going for that full-body-paint look, you’re better off with the SPF 30 and a wide-brim hat.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Belinda Dagostino”

To lower interest rates, the Fed buys U.S. Treasury securities from banks and private investors. The money used to pay for the securities is deposited in banks. That increases the amount of cash available to lend. More cash on hand puts downward pressure on interest rates. That encourages businesses and individuals to borrow, and ultimately to spend, which stimulates the economy. To boost rates and deter borrowing, the Fed sells Treasury securities and drains money from the financial system.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-12” author: “Charles Lee”

Peterson said he last saw his wife at 9:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve, as she was preparing to walk McKenzie. A neighbor later found the golden retriever wandering loose and returned him to the Petersons’ yard. Police now say they don’t believe the dog was walked that day. (Police have dismissed initial sightings of Laci in the park.) Since Scott Peterson left Modesto, Calif.–and was subsequently arrested –the dog’s been in San Diego with Scott’s family. As for the couple’s two cats, they’re being adopted by one of Laci’s friends.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Betty Thompson”

It’s not rain that has a big influence on Mother Nature’s annual color show–it’s the temperature. Wait for the first winter frost, then begin your leaf peeping, says Paul Schaberg, a plant physiologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Freezing weather kills the leaf’s green chlorophyll and exposes its more resilient yellow or red pigments. So the more cold weather early in the season, the faster and more dramatically the color changes. Says Schaberg: “It always gets good, but you just don’t know exactly when.”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Catherine Johnson”

The fourth Atlantic hurricane next year will be Danielle. The ninth one in 2006? Isaac. Since 1953, tropical storms have been named based on separate, standardized lists for each ocean. (The six lists rotate each year, so the 2003 lists will be used again in 2009.) Can a name be used again? That depends on how bad the storm turns out to be, says NOAA’s Jordan St. John. When a hurricane has had a major impact, an affected country can request that the name of the hurricane be retired for at least 10 years.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-25” author: “Frances Bishop”

When shopping online, look for the icon of a closed lock or an unbroken key at the bottom of your browser window. This indicates that the Web site is handling transactions securely. However, a rep for MasterCard International has some more tips. Check out the vendor with the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Be sure to note the refund policy and a phone number for reaching the seller during the day. And use a credit or debit card if you have one. That’ll give you recourse in the event of fraud or undelivered orders.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-24” author: “Jack Finley”

There are two essential works on the assassination. The first is William Manchester’s 1967 narrative “The Death of a President,” which movingly chronicles JFK’s murder moment by moment; the second is Gerald Posner’s 1993 “Case Closed,” a convincing assessment of the conspiracy theories surrounding Dallas. Posner’s conclusion: Lee Harvey Oswald almost certainly acted alone.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-20” author: “Ashlyn Hamilton”

–Margie Goddard, Matawan, N.J.

“Bomb calorimetry” is the standard method for measuring calories. A cup containing pure oxygen and a carefully weighed sample gets placed in an insulated container filled with water. The food and oxygen are then combusted (burned), and the corresponding change in water temperature is recorded. A calorie is simply the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of water one degree centigrade. So, if the temperature rises 100 degrees centigrade, the food has 100 calories.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-01” author: “Alvin Truax”

–Veronica Gill, Budd Lake, N.J.

If you could see the sun at night, it would be–well, day. At night, the sun is way over on the other side of the Earth.

However, you can see the moon when it is closer to the sun than the Earth is in its monthly orbit, and its surface is brighter than the sky. The moon and stars are always in the sky, you just can’t see them most of the time because the sun is too bright. And, if you know exactly where to look, it’s even possible to see planets like Venus and Mars during the day.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Richard Edwards”

–Cherie Singer, Reno, Nev.

There actually is a method to the madness. Thanks to a system devised in 1957 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Bureau of Public Roads, major interstate routes have one- or two-digit numbers, while connecting routes and city beltways have three digits. North-south routes have odd numbers, which generally rise from west to east. All east-west routes have even numbers, and the numbers increase sequentially (for the most part) from south to north.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-28” author: “Lisa Triplett”

–Philip G. Romeo, Wollaston, Mass.

It’s not a mistake or a political statement. Imagine a flag bearer rushing into battle with Old Glory streaming behind him: the stars would always come first. At least since the gulf war, only the patches worn on soldiers’ right arms are reversed, as is stipulated in Army regulations. Symbolically, it’s meant to portray soldiers as always charging forward, not retreating from the challenge. It’s meant to show our soldiers are always ready for battle.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Robert Johnson”

The blue-white mercury-vapor lights are brighter and more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, so they’re a good option in rural areas. But if you’ve got neighbors, brighter isn’t better. A lower-wattage, motion-detecting fixture causes less light pollution, and the sudden glare can spook potential prowlers. (If you’re sold on mercury vapor, buy a separate motion detector and attach it.) Before investing in any lighting system, ask your police department to conduct a complete security survey of your property.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-06” author: “Jan Wyatt”

Yes, extremely. In fact, you could yawn right now just from reading about it. Contagious yawning seems to be an ancient, hard-wired social behavior designed to link members of a community, says Robert Provine, a professor who’s studied yawning at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. For example, when one family member yawns, another often feels compelled to follow. Eventually it spreads to the whole group, signaling that it’s time for bed. We would, however, like to debunk a different myth: yawning has nothing to do with getting your body extra oxygen.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-19” author: “Robert Mcsweeney”

–RUTH ETZEL, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

That depends on what you mean by “mildew.” As a technical term, “mildew” refers to a type of crop disease. But for most people, “it’s just slang for shower grunge,” says environmental microbiologist Linda Stetzenbach. The nasty gray stuff in tile grout is usually a mixture of soap, skin cells, hair, yeast and–yep–some mold, a.k.a. fungi imperfecti. Unlike the toxic house-infesting mold blamed for ailments, shower grunge probably isn’t dangerous to healthy people, since there’s so little actual mold in it. Then again, Lysol isn’t dangerous either, folks.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-11” author: “Trina Haupt”

Like many questions Ask Tip Sheet receives, this one’s been puzzling scientists for years. Not much is known about itching, but it likely evolved as a defense mechanism, alerting the nerves to possible harm. When an irritant touches your skin, nearby nerves send a signal racing to your cerebral cortex. The same nerves transmit pain. By scratching (i.e., causing yourself mild pain), you distract them from the itch. By the time the pain subsides, the irritant is usually gone–unless it’s something like a bug bite, which is why scratching those only works for a minute or two.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-23” author: “Robert Gore”

– Nick Imgrund, St. Louis, Mo.

A lot of what you heard is true. The number of cards you have (whether they have a balance or not) can either help or hurt your score depending on a number of factors. Though credit agencies have no way of telling if you’ve ever been rejected, they do consider the length of your credit history and any outstanding debts. So it had better be a really cool T shirt if you’re applying for a mortgage any time soon.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-13” author: “Michael Walters”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-03” author: “Ola Dhondt”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-25” author: “Scott Fletcher”

–Debbie Butterman, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.

A mixture of different DNA in a blood sample would raise a flag for any experienced forensic scientist, says Dr. Ed Blake of Forensic Science Associates. Because a typical transfusion replaces only one or two pints (out of about 12), it’s “obvious” which DNA belongs to the subject. And if there was any doubt, Blake says, he would simply retest the person in a couple of weeks or use DNA collected from an oral swab.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-11” author: “Frankie Delisi”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Fred Kennedy”

–J. Huebner, Brooklyn, N.Y.

The detergent used in most toothpastes–sodium lauryl sulfate–temporarily modifies the taste system, says Dr. John DeSimone of Virginia Commonwealth University, who helped write a 1980 study on the subject for Chemical Senses journal. It reduces your ability to taste sweetness and saltiness–and makes sour foods intensely bitter. Right after brushing, anything will taste less sweet. Not to worry, though: the reaction won’t harm you. DeSimone’s advice? “Drink first, brush later.”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-13” author: “Esmeralda Eubanks”

The rubber is everywhere, but you can’t see it. The particles that wear off tires are so tiny, you won’t see them accumulate by the road, no matter how many miles are logged. The worn particles can do some damage, however, because they fly through the air and penetrate the soil and even our lungs. Not a pleasant thought. To protect your health and your wallet, keep tire wear to a minimum by maintaining your tire air pressure at the recommended level.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-09” author: “Paul Lawrence”

Yu-Pang Yeow, Hong Kong

This is a question that has troubled assistants and accountants for ages. It’s all about ego, says computer and design guru Don Norman. The calculator format (with 7, 8 and 9 on the top row) existed first. Before phones switched to push buttons in the 1960s, Bell Labs studied several number layouts, and two worked best: the calculator format and one other. Naturally, the designers chose the other one (with 1, 2 and 3 on top) to distinguish themselves (and make life more difficult). “The world has suffered ever since,” says Norman.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-08” author: “Hazel Hammons”

–Monica Ng, San Francisco, Calif.

The short answer is yes. To prove it, hold your hand over the wound. The heat you feel coming out is caused by energy (calories) being used to build or replenish tissue cells and fight possible infection. The process burns calories, though not enough to make self-induced injury a viable weight-loss technique.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-02” author: “Beverly Porter”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-31” author: “Genevieve Patron”

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but while it was under construction, its builders probably used the libra, an ancient unit of weight. While Latin countries, such as France and Spain, derived measurement terms from the word libra, Anglo-Saxon countries like England and Germany went with the Latin word pondus, meaning weight, but kept lb. as its abbreviation.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Debbie Gonzales”

It depends on whether your weatherman is a “glass is half-empty” or “half-full” kind of guy. Art Kraus, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, says, “In the grand scheme of things, the two terms mean about the same thing.” Officially, both “partly cloudy” and “partly sunny” refer to when clouds cover 31 percent to 69 percent of the sky. While there’s no hard-and-fast rule, meteorologists tend to only use “partly sunny” during the daytime, whereas “partly cloudy” can be used both day and night.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-17” author: “Carmel Foreman”

The 21-gun salute is the nation’s highest honor, fired from big cannonlike guns at the funerals of current and ex-presidents. According to the U.S. Army Military District of Washington (the folks who run Arlington National Cemetery), people often confuse the 21-gun salute with the seven riflemen who fire three volleys at most U.S. military funerals. This tradition started on the battlefield, when armies ceased fire to remove the dead. When they finished, soldiers fired three rounds in the air to indicate the battle could resume.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-09” author: “Stephen Parker”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-09” author: “Ivy Miller”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-30” author: “Hanh Eikleberry”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-10” author: “Tanya Monaco”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-28” author: “Melody Chaney”

We went to the place all words come from (the Oxford English Dictionary) and discovered that “hack” is short for “hackney”: “One who is used to do mean or servile work for hire.” That includes carriage, or taxi, drivers and ladies of the evening–both uses of the word “hack” that date to the 18th century. Somehow, writers were also lumped in with that group–in the sense of “a literary drudge who hires himself out to do any and every kind of literary work.” In journalism, we have another term for people like that: freelancers.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-07” author: “Maria Schuh”

Nancy Pfeffer, Long Beach, Calif.

Sounds like a mind-boggler. We asked Dr. Joseph B. Roberson of the California Ear Institute to hear your question out. “You are not straining anything in the ear,” he says. “But you are stopping other cognitive ability to focus on the sound.” In other words, mental juices are needed to concentrate, so the strain is put on the brain. If you’re a telemarketer–or a star TIP SHEET reporter–trying to hear distant voices on the phone all day, you might get tired faster. Um, boss, here’s another reason we need a nap room.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-30” author: “Alta Shu”

–Dale Taliaferro, Winnemucca, Nev.

We dug up an ancient poem that referred to bagpipes at the funeral of King Donnchadh of Ossory (modern-day Ireland), who reigned in the 10th century–so the tradition is at least that old. Recent performances probably trace their roots to Sir Robert Peel, a 19th-century statesman who helped establish the modern British police. (They were named “bobbies” in his honor.) Bagpipes became the preferred instrument at memorials in England, since many officers had Irish roots. Next came Boston. Soon other mourners caught on.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-19” author: “Ethel Wright”

Dana Saal, Springfield, Ill.

Well, you’re on the right track. High-end stadium mowers are mounted with rollers, a mechanism that pushes grass down. Blades are bent in opposite directions as you move up and back–so light reflects off the grass to show patterns. You can get lawn tractors with full-width rollers at Sears starting at $1,500. One catch: “If you layer the grass,” says Grant Trenbeath, head groundskeeper for the Arizona Diamondbacks, “sometimes the ball has a tendency to snake.”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-23” author: “Terry Crosslin”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-01” author: “Gerardo Weigle”

You nailed it. The costs of production have very little to do with pricing, according to Mike Jackson of CD manufacturer Media Services. Record companies can make a CD for about 55 cents or a DVD for 85 cents (including the packaging and printing costs). Cassettes actually cost a few cents more to manufacture, yet sell for a lot less (often under $10, as opposed to about $15 for a CD). Guess rewinding is cheaper.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-21” author: “Vivian Lopez”

Just three are left–and they’re all women. But since they were babies at the time (the oldest was a mere 9 months old), all they know about the ill-fated journey came from their mothers or other family members, according to Randy Hill of the Titanic Historical Society. In fact, a recent study showed Titanic survivors lived, on average, 1.7 years longer than the rest of the U.S. population born at the time of the sinking in 1912. Who knows? Maybe stress does keep you alive.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-26” author: “Ernest Mcelroy”

True to form, nothing in this world is free. When you stick a letter in your mailbox, it’s eventually transferred to one of seven international distribution centers here in the United States so it can be sorted and sent to the appropriate country. Once it arrives there, the local mail service takes it the last mile–but it doesn’t come cheap. Fees paid by the U.S. Postal Service to developing countries to deliver mail average about $4 per kilogram, while the industrialized countries charge about $2.90 per kilo plus 15 cents per item.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-24” author: “Elaine Sullivan”

It has more to do with semantics than swine. The Old English word “pygg” referred to a type of orange clay often used to make spare changeholders, called pygg jars. An 18th-century artisan probably misunderstood an order (or thought it would be a squeal) and crafted a pygg jar in the shape of an actual pig. The funny pig shape and easily smashed clay have kept piggy banks popular with penny pinchers right up to today. As Porky would say, “That’s all, folks!”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-05” author: “Linda Jefferson”

The Swedish paper producer Stora claims to be the world’s oldest company, with documents dating it to at least 1288. But on the other side of the world, the Kongo family in Japan claims to have been running a construction firm since the sixth century. They say they’ve been building shrines for more than 40 generations and, remarkably, the company is still turning a profit. To put it into perspective, McDonald’s would need to sell Big Macs until the year 3366 to match the Kongos’ longevity thus far. Now, that’s a scary thought.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-14” author: “Cayla Hall”

Eric Kohler, Lafayette, Ind.

When an amendment is ratified, a ceremonial copy is signed by the national archivist (John W. Carlin) and witnesses, who often include the president (though he doesn’t participate in the amendment process). The signed document is then given to the National Archives and Records Administration for safekeeping. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights, however, are on display in D.C. at the National Archives building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Makes for a great field trip.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-28” author: “James Odell”

Those eerie flashes are possible during snowstorms, but rare. Lightning occurs when warm surface air rises rapidly and mixes with cold air higher up, forming thunderstorm clouds. “It’s those tall clouds with their vigorous upward motions that create the energy for thunder and lightning,” says the Weather Channel’s Greg Forbes. Cold winter air won’t rise as quickly, so there won’t be as much electrical activity. So next time you’re caught in a blizzard, don’t worry; your chances of being struck by lightning are virtually nil.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-20” author: “Elena Konkel”

The terms go back more than two centuries, to when middlemen called bearskin jobbers would sell the skins of bears not yet caught, and then wait for the market price to drop before buying the skins from trappers, pocketing the difference. Thus a bear market has falling prices, and is favorable to bearskin jobbers and modern-day short sellers. Because bull- and bearbaiting were popular sports at the time, bull market came to mean the opposite: a market with rising prices. Now see if your stockbroker knew that.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-07” author: “Emil Schecter”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-04” author: “Joshua Lusane”

When you’re feeling cold or scared, tiny muscles within the skin contract and slightly pull up the hair on your skin. The word “goosebumps” originates from “goosepimples,” which is derived from a European term describing the appearance of goose skin after it has been plucked and exposed to winter weather.

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-03” author: “Candice Seidel”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-29” author: “Joseph Lane”

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-11” author: “Joanna Kendrick”

–Pam Lackey, Albuquerque, N.M.

Of an actor’s $20 million salary, 10 percent goes to his agent. His business manager and lawyer each get 5 percent. About $7 million goes to taxes, unless the money is diverted into tax shelters. So, in general, from a $20 million salary, the star takes home only about $9 million. Some actors have a career manager–separate from the business manager–who lops off another 10 percent, leaving a net income of $7 million. Which is still enough to pay the plastic surgeon.

–Sean Smith

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-31” author: “Frank Schweitzer”

-Linda Booth Kast, Langley, Wash.

Your organs have no expiration date and, like your car, they’ll last a long time when properly cared for. As a result, there is no age limit for organ donors (those younger than 18 need parental consent). According to Dr. Michael Smith, medical editor in chief of WebMD, “As long as an organ is functioning properly it can be donated. There are only certain medical conditions, such as HIV or cancer, that could prevent someone from being an organ donor.” The transplant physician makes the final call. So, even if you’re 95, your liver might still go another 100,000 miles.

–Meghan McCain

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2023-01-30” author: “Carolyn Davis”

–Jeremy Mastrangelo, Liverpool, N.Y.

–Meghan Mccain

title: “Ask Tip Sheet” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Angela Allee”