	Michael Rudeen Wacky Questions Examiner \| Bio My Bio Subscribe RSS Feed Favorites

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Ever wonder why? Mike does, and he actually finds out what's going on. After 35 years in journalism, the last six answering readers’ questions at the Rocky Mountain News, he’ll put those talents to work for you.

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Wacky Questions Examiner's Articles

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Men's, women's button positions based on tradition

Thursday, November 19th, 2009 · 1 comment

Why are the buttons on women's clothing on the left side of the closure and men's are on the right? -- Harriet, Erie, Colo. Before buttons were...
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Radio stations' 'K' and 'W' call letters part of international plan

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 · 1 comment

Why do radio station call letters start with "K" in the west and "W" in the east? -- Claire By 1912 every country in the world...
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Town honors comic-strip hero Steve Canyon

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

In Idaho Springs, Colo., there is a statue of Steve Canyon, a comic-strip hero. Why was it placed in Idaho Springs? -- K. Doran, Arvada Shortly...
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Answer should make you "happy as a clam"

Monday, November 16th, 2009 · 1 comment

Why do we say "happy as a clam"? Are clams happy? -- Paula, Denver There are a handful of expressions of which we usually hear just a part,...
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Making new soap bars from old slivers

Thursday, November 12th, 2009 · 1 comment

I have heard that there's a way to make new bars of soap from old soap chips so you don't waste them. How can I do this? -- Chris, Denver I...
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Writing with 'tongue in cheek'

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

What is the origin of the expression tongue in cheek and what exactly does it mean? -- Chris To speak with tongue in cheek means to be humorously...
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Keyboard letter pattern helped stop jamming

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

How did the letters on the keyboard come to be in the odd pattern they are? Who did it and why? -- JK Initially, when printer, newspaperman, engineer...
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Spiders' own webs not a threat

Monday, November 9th, 2009

Why don't spiders get caught in webs the way other insects do? -- JC, Lakewood Spiders can spin two different kids of threads for their webs, one...
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Half-moon on outhouse meant 'ladies'

Why do outhouses always have half-moons carved in the doors? -- Paul Trust Cecil Adams' wacky, wonderful The Straight Dope site to have an answer for...
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An expression you could shake a stick at