Isaiah

I'm trying to build a basketball gym and I need to know how high the ceiling needs to be. I've read that the optimal shot should come in at a 45 degree angle.

The shot comes from 24 feet away, the entry angle is 45 degrees, but the ball is moving in a arc, rather than straight lines.

I don't think the height of the shooter should matter, but if it does, say he is 6' tall.

Thank you!

We are in the process of hiring a nanny/caregiver for our kids. If you can tell me how much you pay your nanny and what services they provide (i.e. some do household chores as well), it would be much appreciated.

Also, does it depend on how many kids you have?

Thank you.

Hi,

My family is taking a 2 week vacation to Florida this fall. We currently each have cell phones (all on separate plans with various providers) and were trying to figure out the most economical way to stay in touch with each other while we're down there. Our usage would be minimal, mostly just to text or call each other about where to meet when we split up for the day.

I've heard some people suggesting we just get new pay-as-you-go phones when we arrive there. Others recommend getting temporary travel plans for our current phones.

Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

Hi,

My family is taking a 2 week vacation to Florida this fall. We currently each have cell phones (all on separate plans with various providers) and were trying to figure out the most economical way to stay in touch with each other while we're down there. Our usage would be minimal, mostly just to text or call each other about where to meet when we split up for the day.

I've heard some people suggesting we just get new pay-as-you-go phones when we arrive there. Others recommend getting temporary travel plans for our current phones.

Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

I don't follow golf, so I was hoping someone could explain what happened to Tiger's game. He used to be untouchable - like Jordan, Gretzky, etc. then when all that personal drama came out he started losing. Now he's back on top.

I remember when Kobe Bryant was going through his trial during the season, for example, he was still able to step on the court, forget the drama and play head and shoulders above everyone else like always. Why is Tiger's situation different? Is it something about his mental toughness? Is it that golf is different somehow? I'm just a curious, casual observer.

Thank you in advance.

My wife's 3 cousins are basically our closest family/friends, with whom we spend holidays etc. All of us have kids that are the same age (between age 2 and 8). This year we decided as a group that, rather than exchanging gifts for the kids, we would all go out somewhere for a special Christmas getaway.

However, my wife has gone out and bought small gifts for her cousins' kids in addition. I told her that it's contrary to the arrangement we made as a group and that if she's going to do that, she should at least tell the other parents so they don't feel like they're on the spot (i.e. their kids are getting gifts but not giving any). My wife thinks it's not a big deal, I think we should at least give them a heads up. What do you think?

We have 2 girls (age 6 and 3) and the way their shared room is designed, there's no simple place to put up a mirror. It got me thinking about whether it was actually necessary at all.

In fact, I'm wondering if not having a mirror in their room might deter them from over-scrutinizing their appearance and reduce/avoid some of the problems teens and pre-teens have with self-esteem.

What do you think?

My wife and I have 3 kids (ages 5, 3 and 1) and now my wife wants to have another baby. I'm happy with three and list all the reasons I'd rather stop there (financial, space in our home, having time with each child individually, etc). She acknowledges these issues but wants another baby anyway. The sex of the baby doesn't matter as we already have 2 girls and a boy. I feel like our family is complete, my wife doesn't.

I'd be very interested to hear from people who chose to have a 4th (or more) kid and welcome the opinions of anyone else who wants to weigh in.

Thank you.

I'm not sure how to explain this properly, but here goes...

So I presume that there are 2 types of dolls - baby dolls that kids pretend are real and they are the mothers; and hand-held figurines like Barbie where they hold the doll and act things out talking for the doll and interacting with other dolls.

My 4 and 2 year old daughters only play "mommy" and never play the other way. Is Barbie a different developmental stage that they'll grow into or is it just a preference that they've picked up and they might never get into hand held dolls?

I'm just curious.

A friend's 4 year old daughter heard a reference to Jesus's mother as the Virgin Mary and asked him what "virgin" means.

Assuming 4 is too young to explain sex, how would you answer that question?

During an arguement my wife once said that my mother's day gifts (on behalf of our young children) in the past have all sucked.

This morning I came up with an idea but I was hoping for some opinions on it.

I was thinking of doing an art exhibit. I'd have the kids do some drawings/colouring on mother's day themes as well as printing some photos of them together and posting them all over the livingroom.

But now I'm having second thoughts. Is that corny?

Assuming you could get the adequate funding to support you, what sort of program would you design that would get more people in our society exercising?

I thought it was a joke when I saw that Toy Story 3 was nominated for best picture. I haven't seen it. Is it really THAT good?

Obviously it's not expected to win but how can an animated sequel be among the best movies out of ALL the films made in 2010?

My daugher is enrolled in an extracurricular program and we just found out that the current instructor is leaving and it turns out that one of the candidates to replace him had a casual fling with my wife (before we met, when they were in high school).

Had it been an ex-boyfriend I think it would bother me less, the fact that it was just a casual fling bothers me more.

I know it shouldn't bother me at all but it does. I'm not worried about anything being rekindled or anything like that, and it actually annoys me that I even care, but I can't shake this feeling.

I haven't said anything to my wife because I don't want to come across as petty and jealous.

Any thoughts on how to get over this annoying feeling?

I need to purchase an LCD tv for my boss's office and he needs it to also double as a screen for viewing presentations, etc from a laptop.

The laptops run on Windows XP, are at about 3-5 years old and probably weren't top of the line even when they were new.

So what do I need to look for when purchasing the TV?

Thank you.

Just curious. What's your policy on play-dough? Do you let your kids mix the colors or do they have to use them separately? My wife insists our kids play with one color at a time so that they are kept separate. Is that reasonable or a bit controlling?

Due to a change in job location, I will no longer be driving my 95 Honda Civic every day. In fact I can see it staying in the garage for weeks at a time (it's our second car but I will need it again in the future so I can't get rid of it yet). Is there anything I should be concerned about? any steps I should take to make sure it runs well when I do need to drive it?

Is this a good signing for them? Is it good/bad for short term/long term?

I'm going on a first date with a girl I've been chatting online with for a few weeks. I was in a long-term relationship so I haven't been on a first date in years.

I know she likes me so I know she's open to me kissing her. But we're meeting when we're both on lunch hour so its not going to be the most romantic setting.

We may not have any time alone, in which case I guess I shouldn't bother, but if we do have a moment, should I say something (like ask her if I can kiss her) or just go for it?

I know, I'm a dork, but I'm trying not to let her know that!!! lol

I just read about the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 unmanned probes travelling outside the limits of our solar system. They've been travelling since 1977. What power source do they use? And why can't my car use the same stuff?? (the second question was only half joking!)