WA

Since the royal family is supported by its citizens, why is there no mandatory DNA testing, later made public, proving that a child is a product of their royal parents?

I understand that smelling cinnamon can boost cognitive functioning, particularly memory. I have put cinnamon powder into a small vial, but, it is not especially aromatic. Could I intensify the smell by adding some liquid, and, if so--what? Thanks.

My dog had a horrific diarrhea episode on my carpet. Unfortunately, it laid on the carpet for about one hour before found. This episode has an especially acrid smell and despite cleaning, the stain remains. I'm looking for best suggestions to remove the smell AND the stain--both of which seem especially challenging.

Is it appropriate to try baking soda on the stain to neutralize the odor? This is also going to be more than one cleaning, how long should I wait for the rug to dry so as not to oversaturate it?

Again, any suggestions for both neutralizing the smell and cleaning the stain? Thanks.

My 8-year-old Maine Coon mix cat has suddenly taken to zipping from one end of the house to the other, making guttoral meowing noises as she goes. Her environment remains the same, no changes, foods OK/eaten--nothing else new or different? What's going on? Thanks.

I have a wild bird feeding station set-up outside my window. It includes a squirrel station with a large glass jar, set on its side, accessed by its hole, containing the same black sunflower seeds as the open gazebo. During spring/summer/fall, every bird/squirrel went into the jar. Now that it's winter, hardly any. Why aren't the birds/squirrels using the jar in winter?

I recently purchased a Fairpoint ISP advertised as a 3Mbps connection. Using Speakeasy.net, the website concluded that I had apx. a 2.8 vs. .70—which, according to Fairpoint, falls within 80% of 3Mbps and is therefore considered acceptable by them.

I have a stand-alone computer, Ethernet connection, no fancy equipment (in other words, no other drains on bandwith). I wish to simply watch TV shows and movies from websites like Netflix, CBS, YOUTUBE, etc. Nothing else is using the lines at any time. Just a simple set-up here.

My video streaming has been poor. Audio breaks--visuals appearing as if viewed frame by frame--a real mess. I also learned that Fairpoint is borrowing my town's line usage from a neighboring town.

The company is telling me that it sold me 3Mbps and 3Mbps is what I'm getting. They are not responsible for sources of video streaming. It's also telling me that my own computer may have issues with viruses or spyware on it, contributing to my present connectivity problems.

What exactly is this 80% rule? Where did it come from? Why is it considered acceptable?

Am I not correct that 3Mbps is generally considered the bare minimum for video streaming?

How is it possible for an ISP to sell ISP services when its connectivity speeds are inadequate? Yet, insists on holding me to its contract even if I am unable to enjoy the simple bells and whistles the Internet provides? Thanks for any insight anyone can provide.

I believe that bad pitbulls are made by bad dog owners. However, I have tired of the back and forth arguments of everyday opinions on the matter--yes, they're naturally aggressive, euthanize them all vs. no, bad pitbulls are made, not born.

Are there no expert, indisputable, authoritative, proven opinions out there? I really object to these poor pitbulls being targeted and saddled by unwarranted discrimination.

My 11-year-old Maine Coon cat is suddenly changing from her usually quiet, complacent behaviors. Nothing else about her environment has changed. Suddenly, she darts from room to room, several times within minutes. Then, I'll hear terrible gutteral sounds. I've checked her, gently pushed and prodded, moved joints, picked her up--no obvious pains or distress. In fact, when I pick her up, she purrs contentedly. Eliminations are clean, correct, good--both feces and urine. What's going on?

Has the quality of threads changed or something? When hand sewing, my threads are constantly knotting or tangling at the wrong times. Does anyone have any tips for preventing this? Someone told me to push the needle and thread through a block of wax. But, what would that do to the fabric? I buy good threads--this even happens to me with embroidery threads. Help?

Also, my sewing machine's top thread breaks as quickly as I'm done sewing the fabric line, coming off the edge. It doesn't break while on the fabric, just as quickly as it leaves the fabric behind. I have cleaned the machine of any collected fuzz, etc. The bobbin tension cannot be adjusted on this machine. I've tried adjusting tension settings that I can change that are located on the top of the machine. Any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong? Thanks!

Since 9/11, we've seen our Constitutional rights, supposedly inviolate rights, taken away. Our politicians are selling out our government to corporations and individuals who seek to control our country. President Abraham Lincoln warned us this would happen. President Dwight Eisenhower almost begged us to stop the growth of the military/industrial complex that he believed was taking control of our government--and, as of today, has.

An upside down flag is considered a national symbol of distress. Why shouldn't citizens, distressed by their very freedoms being taken away illegally, fly their flags upside down in solidarity, telling Washington and our state capitals--you cannot steal our freedoms?

I want to bounce an idea off of this forum.

I would like to create a Christmas destination in Maine, which, brings people together for several days over the holidays, people who do not have families, but, want to go where "people know their name," are prepared to have fun and celebrate. All the typical decorations and tree would be present, gifts exchanged, etc., because the host will make sure that everyone attending is known, included and will feel like part of the group.

However, I don't want this destination to feel like a pity party--because it absolutely would not be. It would just be an excellent way for people without families to come together, celebrate the holidays, have many opportunities for great fun (i.e., dog-sledding, snow-sledding, skiing, caroling, etc.). What we'd be doing is fast-forwarding the need for introductions and just bring everyone together as if they'd known each other for years. This would not be a singles scene either. Just people young and old coming together.

If you heard of this idea, would you be interested? Would you come? What do you think? I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.

Specifically, are blood clots a by-product of a Foley catheter inserted incorrectly, or if a wrong-size catheter is inserted? There is no bladder cancer present. There is prostate cancer.