My mom knitted me a hat that is too big. Is there a way to shrink it? It is only slightly too big, but enough so that I cannot wear it comfortably.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: AP checked with a local knitting expert, who said definitely don’t throw a wet wool item in a hot dryer [...]

I am moving to Washington DC next year, where is the coolest place I can live?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Like beauty, coolness is in the eyes of the beholder. Are you going to be a congressional intern, work for the World Bank, or work for a K-Street law firm? Georgetown is a little staid. The [...]

Which album has sold more copies, Jay-Z’s “The Black Album” or Lincoln Park’s “Meteora”?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified both of these as “multi-platinum,” but Meteora seems to be more multi-platinum than The Black Album.

The Black Album was giving an M(2) certification, which AP assumes means at least [...]

Is one zoo commonly accepted as the best in the world? What makes it outshine its counterparts. What are some other great zoos? I was recently at the Ashboro zoo and they had the Savannah animals in for the winter (elephants and rhinos among others)? Is this an every-year thing or were they just renovating [...]

What is a nom de guerre? How does one get one? Are there rules? What are the rules? How can I get one?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: It’s often used almost synonymously with “pseudonym,” although technically is more specific. I’ve never heard of any rules, but I think the idea is to choose something that sounds [...]

Why are inspirations non-existant when seeked, yet they sneak out unexpectedly when unrequested?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: You wouldn’t call it an inspiration if you knew how you could get it, if it were a mechanical process, if you were staying inside the box. True inspirations must be serendipitous. Unexpected things can be the most satisfying.

What is the difference between pay roll and income tax. Is the former just the weekly form of the latter or are there differing rates, measurements, etc? Which is least regressive?

Cheers!

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: This looks familiar. In fact, I’d recommend that you look back to a question submitted on September 20, 2004, which [...]

What is the coolest thing to see in Japan, the absolute don’t-miss-it sight in the country? While you are at it, aside from Perkins Library, what is the absolute, don’t-miss-it sight in the United States? In North Carolina? At Duke?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The Ramen Museum in Yokohama.
The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, [...]