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Stump
Me Questions Answered in September 2002
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Q.: Do you know which was the first animal to be domesticated?
- The Redfern Family
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A.:
While there's no way to be sure, the evidence suggests that dogs were the first to be domesticated with
some estimates going back as far as 12,000 years ago.
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Q.: Do fish have memories, and if so, how is this proven?
Do you know anything about the memory span of a Betta?
- No Name Given
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A.: Yes, and there have been tests performed on several species of fish that
prove it. For instance, tests with goldfish have shown that when a person wiggles their fingers in front of the fish before feeding them, they will associate the act to feeding time (similar to Pavlov's dog).
I didn't come across any tests that specifically focused on
Bettas.
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Q.: 1)
Why is a pregnant goldfish called a twit?
2) Why does cats pee glow under a black light?
- No Name Given
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A.: 1)
Well, first off, they're not called twits at all. Goldfish don't get pregnant - they lay
eggs. But pregnant fish, according to fish breeders, are referred to as being ripe.
Thanks to Cecil Adams for the help.
2) Black light technology makes use of special ultra-violet rays which are on the same wavelength as
some forms of biological waste, including cat urine.
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Q.:
Why do spiders have 8 legs?
- Zach A.
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A.: Hate to say this, but they just do.
There doesn't always have to be an answer for why things are the way they are.
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Q.: What's the next line in the following sequence:
1
11
21
1211
111221
312211
13112221
1113213211
- Taneal B.
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A.: This is known as the 'look-say' sequence. Here's how it works:
First, you have 1. That's one 1.
So, 1 1.
That's *two* ones. 2 1.
That's one two, one one. 1 2 1 1.
That's one one, one two, two ones. 1 1 1 2 2 1.
That's three ones, two twos, one one. 3 1 2 2 1 1.
And so on. Thanks to Danny S. for sending in the
answer.
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Q.: This
is a genuine question that I would like you to answer for
me. My wife and I have entered a general knowledge quiz,
but we are stuck on a question. I hope you can help.
The question is as follow...When was Pegasus - The Oxford and
Cambridge University Football Club - disbanded? Hope you
can help or you know someone who can.
- Pat & Deb
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A.: This
is from Kevin Costello, the team's current captain:
"Dear glenn,
I am the current captain of Oxford uni football club and the support guys for our website passed your query about when
Pegasus was disbanded, on to me. in the official book of our club's history it reads
"Pegasus had withdrawn from the amateur cup competition in the early 1960s".
If you want to know more detailed information you may search the book
itself - ISBN - 1874427828 or contact its author Colin Weir via Yore
Publications, 12 The Furrows, Harefield, Middx. UB9 6AT."
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Q.: What song has the lyrics in it “And then something flies by the window” and who was the artist?
I bet you can’t figure this on out. I’ll narrow it down for you.
Not Country. Not Rap. Not Hip Hop. I’ll will tell you it’s Classical Rock in a sense and was made in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s.
- No Name Given
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A.: The
song is called Hypnotized by Fleetwood Mac. Thanks
to Mark L. for the help.
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Q.: I'd like to know what the names are of all the boxers that
Homer Simpson boxes in the episode when he becomes a boxer, and the nicknames he is given in his introduction in his fight against
Drederick Tatum.
- No Name Given
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A.: You
only see Homer fight Boxcar Bob, Boxcar Fred and Drederick
Tatum, but it's
assumed he also beat Boxcar Ira and Switchyard Sullivan because
he passed them in the rankings of the Association of Springfield
Semi-Pro Boxers (ASSBOX). Michael Buffer introduces Homer
as The Brick Hit-house and The Southern Dandy.
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