What is the best way to spend a million dollars?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Establish an endowed chair for Answer Person.

Why do Romania and Chad have the same flag? Was it intentional? It seems like it is too confusing to allow that kind of thing to happen, so why hasn’t some one stepped in to flip a coin or make one of them change to a different flag?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There is no international treaty or convention granting rights of exclusivity for national flags. Chad and Romania are hardly unique in lacking cabinet ministers of advertising /design. The French flag seems to be all over the place–that imaginative three vertical blue-white-red stripes was adopted by virtually every former colony (perhaps they bought the line that you can’t top French culture and taste). The same is true for several former British Empire Pacific Ocean colonies. So, no, there was no plan that they be the same, and although there may be some confusion as they parade at the Olympics, they are not likely to change either flag.

What is the best way to prepare a black bean and cheese (no meat, that is)? I think a burrito is a good place to start, eh? What should be in it?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There are a lot of good cookbooks out there, including plenty of recipe websites. One of Answer Person’s favorites is http://eat.epicurious.com/ (once you get past the annoying, optional ads and pop-ups). Just searching “black beans” meatless and cheese as limiters brought up an intriguing group of possibilities, including Tortillas in Black Bean Sauce, a Mexican Lasagna, and the staple veggie nachos. They also have a bunch of burrito recipes.

Why do other countries allow Russia to be apart of the Israel/Palestine peace process? Isn’t having the UN, US and EU involved enough? Does Russia matter or do they offer any valuable insight to the matter?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Russia does have a history with these countries, relationships which, though they may based on Cold War confrontations, still carry some weight in the region. And in case you haven’t noticed, the UN, US and EU have not been able to solve this one. Adding Russia to the mix may not help, but we need to be open to anything. It is too important.

Is having one house in congress better than having two? If two is better, should they both be elected or should they both have the same duties? It seems like two houses with the same responsibilities in the 21st century is just too inefficient. Would you agree?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Answer Person has always been uncomfortable leaving one group or person in charge of anything. Mob mentalities are difficult to deal with–it is reassuring that there are two mobs considering the same issues, perhaps with the same basic responsibilities but different perspectives.

Are ghosts real? If not, what is all the fuss about?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Is Santa Claus real? Is the Easter Bunny real? At least Answer Person has seen them. Ghosts? Well except for kids in white sheets, not much to them. Except for those who wear the funny hats at burn crosses. Now, THEY are scary!

I have a complaint about the online catalog. The option to search by date is flawed. On good card catalogs, one can enter the dates between which books can be filtered in a search; on Duke’s catalog, one has to choose between preselected options. For instance, I cannot limit a search to “after 1983”. I have to choose, 1980-1990, and then do two more seperate searches for 1990-2000 and 2000-2003. When will the online catagory catch up with more sophisticated libraries like Durham County??

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: It isn’t flawed–just marginally functional. It still is a lot more powerful than the DPL version–and just wait until we have the new system up next summer! (See the ILS Transition page for more info: http://www.lib.duke.edu/its/diglib/ilstrans/)

Can you be brought to the honor council for fouling in basketball? What if it is a basketball class?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Fouling in basketball is not necessary a criminal act; it is at times done as a non-threatening or harmless defensive maneuver–hence the “touch foul.” Furthermore, when appropriately witnessed the judgment is swift and the prescribed penalties are applied. The Honor Code does not, as such, address matters other than academic (“I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors”), but your question of potential violations in a basketball class is interesting–but not really difficult. If you misbehave within the realm of the sport and its rules, the sport rules. If you exceed those boundaries (e.g., cheating on a basketball written test or in a skills test), Duke’s honor may, indeed, be at stake.

If you were a student, what professor would you be sure to take a class with before you left Duke?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Sorry, the answer to that question is too dependent on subject interest, teaching style preferences, how far one has to travel between classes, and whether or not food is served as part of the educational experience. Besides, how can you expect Answer Person to break the hearts (yes, they do have them) of so many faculty hoping they will be the chosen one.

Why did the Christian Church only feel the need to define the Holy Trinity after almost 300 years instead of relying on the one God concept as was fitting with Judaism?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The Roman Catholic Church developed this doctrine, as it did many others, over a long period of time. As evidenced by the fact that popes still issue doctrine, this process will probably go on and on. As to the specifics of this doctrine, see “Trinity,” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, October 21, 2003, (access available to the Duke community).