Inquiring Minds...

This isn't a secret or anything, I just stumbled upon it thanks to my tailored gmail links (yes, the same thing that exposes me to the wonder of Spam recipes).

Anyway, it's called Ask Yahoo!. They answer the questions that everyone's always wondered, such as why people say "a pair of pants" when there's only one, or who invented sliced bread.

As a sampler, I've culled together some of my favorites.

Dear Yahoo!:

What's the point of making pasta in different shapes if it's all made from the same stuff?

Arielle
Miami, Florida

Dear Arielle:

The variety of pastas is dizzying -- you'll get no argument from us. And, yes, for those unschooled in the differences between vermicelli and linguine, the choices can be overwhelming. However, learning what to ingest with what is definitely worth your while, and can have a positive effect on your palate.

As we learned from the National Pasta Association (really), pasta shapes tend to be classified by the type of sauce they best complement. Light sauces taste best with thin noodles like angel hair. Heavier sauces go with thicker pasta shapes like fettuccine. And meaty or chunky sauces go best with pastas that can "hold" them, like penne rigate or conchiglie.

So, the wide variety of sauces are at least partially to blame for the plethora of pasta shapes. However, different kinds of flour can also affect how pasta tastes. Semolina flour, for instance, is often used for flat pastas, and potato flour is a key ingredient in gnocchi, a sort of pasta dumpling.

While we try our best to avoid clichés, variety really is the spice of life. With so many pastas to choose from, why embarrass yourself by ordering "whatever tastes most like spaghetti"? Next time, try a big plate of strozzapretti and tell the waiter to keep it comin'.

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Dear Yahoo!:

What's the story behind R.E.M.'s song "What's the Frequency, Kenneth"?

Dana
Nashua, New Hampshire

Dear Dana:
CBS News anchor Dan Rather, renowned for his unusual expressions and sayings, has led a colorful life. However, one bizarre event really takes the cake.

One night in October 1986, Rather was walking down a Manhattan street when he was punched from behind and thrown to the ground. His assailant kicked and beat him while repeating, "Kenneth, what is the frequency?"

No one could explain the event, and the rumors flew fast and wide. Some speculated the assailant was a KGB agent, while others claimed the attack was the work of a jealous husband. Rather himself couldn't shed any light on the subject. His explanation at the time?

I got mugged. Who understands these things? I didn't and I don't now. I didn't make a lot of it at the time and I don't now. I wish I knew who did it and why, but I have no idea.

Apparently the strange event moved R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, who said of the incident:

It remains the premier unsolved American surrealist act of the 20th century. It's a misunderstanding that was scarily random, media hyped and just plain bizarre.

The attack inspired the 1994 R.E.M. hit "What's the Frequency, Kenneth." Being a good sport, Dan Rather even accompanied the band when they performed the song on a Late Show with David Letterman appearance.

In 1997, based on a tip from a psychiatrist, Rather's attacker was identified as William Tager. According to the psychiatrist, Tager, who was currently serving time for killing an NBC stagehand, blamed news media for beaming signals into his head, and thought if he could just find out the correct frequency, he could block those signals that were constantly assailing him. Hence the enigmatic inquiry.

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Dear Yahoo!:

What is the Pope's salary?

Josh
El Paso, Texas

Dear Josh:

A search on "Pope salary" lead us to a thread from a message board, where someone had posed just that question. According to one reply, the Pope's compensation consists of, "a place to stay and something to eat. I'm sure he does not receive a salary as you or I would think of a paycheck."

We searched for confirmation and uncovered another site, belief.net. There we found another answer to your question: "The Pope does not receive any pay, nor does he have a bank account."

Try and try as we might, we could find no other mention of compensation for the Pope. We did learn that he is an elected official who, according to the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia, is "the Bishop of Rome, who, in virtue of his position as successor of St. Peter, is the chief pastor of the whole Church, the Vicar of Christ upon earth."

While the Pope may not draw a formal salary, we are fairly certain the benefits and honor of such a position make up for the lack of paydays. And he does get to live in the Vatican Palace.

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You can access all this stuff yourself at ask.yahoo.com. Enjoy!