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Feb 6, 2009 10:58 pm US/Central
Good Question: 'Reply All' To Your Good Questions
(WCCO)
From spicy food to loud commercials, Jason DeRusha reads all your Good Questions and hits reply all.
Why do Minnesota's license plates look different? -- Jenny; Prior Lake, Minn.
The Minnesota Division of Motor Services changed from an older printing system to a Digital Printing System. Under the old way, a plate would be printed, and then the letters were embossed. It took multiple steps and the letters appear blue.
The new system prints in one shot, the license plate number and the plate background at the same time. It's faster to print, and easier to read. The new letters are black, and according to DVS, the contrast between the black letters and white backdrop makes it easier to read.
Prisoners in Rush City still pump out the plates -- about 1 million per year.
Are there First World and Second World countries?
We've all heard about the Third World, a term for non-industrialized countries in Africa. It emerged in the 1950s.
The First World originally referred to democratic countries, like those in America and Western Europe.
The Second World described Communist nations like Russia, Poland and China.
Some now talk about the Fourth World, referring to tribal societies without a formal government.
Why does eating spicy food make your nose run? -- Jalen and Jordyn Jansen; Pierz, Minn.
Most spicy foods have some form of peppers as an ingredient. There's a chemical in peppers called capsaicin.
"Capsaicin can irritate your nose, and it works like a decongestant," said Bill Fairbanks, Executive Chef of Barrio Restaurant in Minneapolis.
Fairbanks uses several types of peppers in his kitchen, and said that different peppers have different amounts of Capsaicin. That's why some peppers are hotter than others, and some peppers are more of an irritant to your nose than others.
When your nose is irritated, it produces more mucus, and that's why your nose runs.
Why are TV commercials so loud? -- Sandy; St. Paul, Minn.
Ad agencies compress and produce commercials to be always loud. There are no ups and downs in volume, rather it's fully produced. Regular programming has quiet moments and loud moments, just like regular conversation.
WCCO-TV has added a new piece of equipment to its digital transmission that raises the volume of regular programming, in an effort to make the audio levels match. That should help the situation.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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