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I was restoring a very soft-wood pine coffee table.  Wasn't sure how to finish it after I applied the stain: I knew that I needed SOME kind of top coat to protect the wood from further dings and scratches, but don't like the look of a hard, shiny coat that just sits on the surface; I was trying to get a softer, mellower, more natural-appearing finish.  Got some bad advice from someone who suggested that I apply an epoxy leveler to seal the surface, then finish it with a satin varnish.  I'd never heard of doing anything like this but thought I'd learn something (this individual usually does know what he's doing.)  Long story short: the table looks terrible: DEFINITELY not the look I was going for, and on top of that, the epoxy resin didn't adhere properly to the surface of the wood but actually sort of beaded up and dried that way.  I've tried sanding the crud off as well as using the acetone-based strippers available at the hardware store, but can't get rid of it entirely: there's still a thin, white residue left.  What else can I do?  The table has sentimental value.

For health reasons, my husband has decided to sell his Harley. However, we're planning to take it to the mountains this weekend for one last hurrah. I would like to create a "cruisin' playlist" for him so that we have appropriate music while biking, and I need suggestions. I've already downloaded several obvious ones: "Born to be Wild," "Freebird," "Kick Start My Heart," "Ramblin' Man;" can anyone suggest some others? His tastes run to '60s-'80s classic rock, as well as some country, R&B, and blues. I'm looking for fast-paced, up-beat songs preferably about motorcycles and/or driving.

Remember back in the day when Yahoo was cool? When you could create a user profile of yourself complete with brief bio and photo, customize your "My Yahoo" home page, and chat with other Yahoo users whose interests were similar to yours? When Yahoo offered a photo storage service ("Yahoo Pictures") and similar perks? Best of all, when you clicked on Yahoo's main page, it actually featured REAL headline NEWS rather than celebrity gossip, self-important, inane blogposts, and "clickbait?" I am so sick of Yahoo, and desperately want to go elsewhere. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I have a 16' x 20' backyard patio I would like to use more often for lounging and/or outdoor dining. The trouble is it is downwind from our septic system's exhaust pipe...which means whiffs of unpleasant sewer odors once in a while. The pipe is far enough away that the odors aren't strong or constant, fortunately, but they're still noticeable any time someone runs water in the house. I was hoping to camouflage the odors by planting some intensely aromatic shrubs. I really don't care WHAT kind of plant -- just that it is highly fragrant and that it be perennial. The plant needs to be able to tolerate variable sun/shade conditions as well as somewhat sandy soil, and shouldn't grow too large -- maybe about the size of a Nandina. I live in Zone 7. Any suggestions?

A horse at my barn has contracted EPM. His owner is convinced that he contracted it from one of the barn cats, and really would like to see us get rid of all of them. I've scanned the Internet on articles about EPM and its transmission, and am a little confused by several contradictory articles. Most seem to suggest that cats are a POSSIBLE source, but that opossums still are the most likely vector. The thing is, people have used barn cats for rodent control since, well, forever. I don't think I've ever seen a barn WITHOUT cats. In the case of my barn, most of the cats have been there for a decade; there've been dozens of horses in and out, but this is the first case of EPM on the property. I don't want to be insensitive and argue with this owner; she's spending thousands to nurse her horse back to health, and he may never be right. But I just don't see the evidence that our cats made her horse sick, and I don't know what to say to her. (I really DON'T want to get rid of the cats either.) Somebody with veterinary knowledge, please tell me who's right and advise me on what to do.

Suppose you are the owner of a stable that can accommodate up to 10 horses. You plan to hire someone to perform ALL the care and maintenance (feeding, turnout, stall mucking, pasture mowing, ordering supplies, occasional grooming/minor first aid, etc.) so that you do not have to be involved at all with the daily operations (not even on weekends/holidays.) Would you hire one full-time employee or two part-timers? What do you see as the pros and cons of either situation?

I lost the gas cap for my '02 Cabrio and want to get a replacement from the salvage yard. They don't have any caps for Cabrios, but they do have one for a Jetta, a Golf, and a Passat; would any of those fit?

Some years ago, my husband gave our 1999 Hyundai Accent to a friend who is a mecanic by hobby (not occupation.) He apparently took off the catalytic converter, replaced it with a straight muffler, and the car passed inspection. Is that even legal? Could I do the same thing with my 2002 VW Cabrio? I thought I remember hearing that catalytic converters reduced the gas mileage that one might otherwise get out of each gallon of gas; is that true? If so, would it be worth doing, and would the car pass inspection? I'm in Delaware, if that makes a difference.

I HAD been doing that, as have many of the people I've ridden with, including some of my instructors. I always believed that would prevent hairs from being pulled the wrong way and irritating the horse. But the other day, I happened across the web site of a master saddler/saddle fitter who strongly discouraged the practice. Apparently, the risk is that such stretching before the horse was warmed up could result in tendon sprains and muscle/ligament tears. Opinions?

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb, I've been wondering why those cities, with their high civilian populations, were targeted rather than the capital or important military installations? Also, why is it that there are thousands of photographs and personal accounts of Hiroshima but almost none of Nagasaki?

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb, I've been wondering why those cities, with their high civilian populations, were targeted rather than the capital or important military installations? Also, why is it that there are thousands of photographs and personal accounts of Hiroshima but almost none of Nagasaki?

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb, I've been wondering why those cities, with their high civilian populations, were targeted rather than the capital or important military installations? Also, why is it that there are thousands of photographs and personal accounts of Hiroshima but almost none of Nagasaki?

In most of the older houses where I lived before I got married, I had REAL wood floors that I mopped with Murphy's oil soap. My husband and I installed wood laminate floors in the 1996 modular we bought when we married. I've tried several cleaning products that I apply with a sponge-head mop, but they always come out streaky, or with a dull film. Getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing is NOT an option (arthritic knees), so what techniques and/or products might solve the problem?

I have about 1 lb of butternut squash that I really need to use tonight before it goes bad. I've also got some unsweetened coconut chips in my pantry. I'd like to make some sort of curry with it -- and I need to be able to prepare it in 30-45 minutes or less. Any suggestions?

Like everyone else, I've been seeing ads for this device for the last several years. Does it really work -- and if so, how smooth is your skin afterwards, especially if you (like me) have very coarse hair? How long do the effects last, and is it really painless? (I'm too big of a wuss for waxing or laser removal: is it as painful as either of those?) Oh, and how much does it cost? I've noticed that NONE of the advertizing ever mentions a price!

I don't know anything about football. I am not a fan, and the only time I ever watch a game is when I'm forced to (i.e., my husband wahts to host a Superbowl party.) So maybe that's why the answer isn't apparent to me. But how does deflating a ball benefit one team? How is that supposed to help one team while harming the opponents? After all, BOTH teams have to play with the same ball, don't they?

It doesn't matter whether you're actually planning to put real money on your favorite, or whether you're drawing names out of a hat with your firends: how did you choose your favorite? Did you just like the name, are you a fan of his jocker or trainer, or do you use some complicated scientific system?

And BQ: Have you ever predicted the winner, and was he the favorite, or an upset?