Ask Harley

I love to learn and I love to explain, so I guess it will make sense to you that one of my favorite pastimes is to think up interesting questions, do some research, figure out the answers, and then teach what I know to someone else.

Here is a list of such questions and answers that I hope you will enjoy reading.

I chose the questions so that each topic is related to one of the categories in my book, Harley Hahn's Internet Yellow Pages. At the end of each answer, I have put a link to the appropriate place in the book, in case you want to explore further.

In addition, a few of the questions relate to sections in one of my other books. In such cases, I have also included a link to these books as well.

Animals and Pets

Do animals need to brush their teeth?

Astronomy

How many stars can you see?

Botany

Why do leaves change color in the fall?

Cars and Trucks

Why do car salesmen have such bad reputations?

Chemistry

What happens to fish in the winter when the water freezes?

Comics

What are Superman's powers?
What is the "Superman Family"?

Cooking and Recipes

I have a bunch of eggs in my refrigerator. Some of the eggs are hard-boiled and some are raw. How can I tell which are which?

Dance

How do ballerina dancers stay up on their toes?

Diet and Nutrition

Why do we need minerals in our diet?

Earth Sciences

What is quicksand?

Economics

What is the Gross Domestic Product?

Emergency and Disaster

Where is the safest place to be in an earthquake?

Families and Parenting

Should I worry about my kids using the Internet?

Fashion and Clothing

How does a perm work?

Folklore, Myths and Legends

What causes thunder?

Food and Drink

What is the most expensive cheese in the world?

Freedom

Why is freedom important?

Gardening

What is a companion plant?

Genealogy

What does it mean when cousins are described using numbers or as being "removed"? For example, who is my sixth cousin once removed?

Government: United States

Why do governments take a census?

History

Why study history?

Holidays and Celebrations

What should I get my best friend for her birthday?

Jobs: Finding a Job

What should I look for in a job?

Languages: Specific

What is the most widely spoken language in the world?

Law

How do you get a patent?

Literature Online: Books

Will electronic books ever replace books on paper?

Medicine

What are tonsils for?

Men

What do men need to understand about women who were born after 1960?

Mischief

Why are prank phone calls funny?

Money: Personal Finance

What do I need to do to invest money successfully for my retirement?

Movies

Why is Hollywood the center of the film world?

People

I just got married and received a lot of gifts, and I am very busy. Is it okay to send thank-you notes via email?

Politics

The United States has two main political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans. It is customary to represent the Democrats by a donkey and the Republicans by an elephant. How did these customs originate?

Psychology

Why do some people seem to know everything?

Quotations

Who said "It's not the men in my life that count, it's the life in my men"?

Religion: Mainstream

What is the most popular religion in the world?

Romance

Is there such a thing as true love?

Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror

I love science fiction movies. Of all the old, classic movies which are the ones that I must see for sure?

Space Exploration

What were the first animals to be sent into space?