Was the war with Iraq just? Does it meet the qualifications for a just war?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Justness of wars, as with the assignment of blame for war crimes, usually resides in the hands of the victors. Well, we managed to defeat a poorly equipped army (and air force?) with nothing more than vastly overwhelming arms and technology; we seem to still be looking for those fearsome weapons of mass destruction that were the prime justification for the invasion (and now we hear it may take a year to complete our search for them); we stood by while one of the great centers of western civilization was looted of its heritage (and we could have prevented that); and we have overseen the tragic crippling of Iraq’s infrastructure as the “coalition” struggles to develop a rebuilding plan after the war is over. Need we even mention the damage to US foreign policy throughout the world? Yes, Saddam is gone, probably, but could we have accomplished the goals without the invasion? Could the $80 billion+ spent on the war been used at home to save our struggling economy, educational and health systems, and the homeland security efforts that are seriously under funded at the state and local levels? You be the judge.

Answer Person, who do you think should be the next president of Duke University?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Would you be surprised if Answer Person told you he/she already knows who the next president will be? No decision has been made, but sometimes a clairvoyant AP just knows.

As to the person AP would like to be the next president? It would be unfair for AP to upset the process with personal preferences. Let’s all just hope that the committee does its job well, and that the university community will be well served by its choice.

Why when you turn off the TV, is there sometimes a green dot in the middle, or a green stripe accross the screen?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The dot or line is not always green, but they are always watching you, no matter the color.

Actually, the images on a TV screen are created by an electron beam hitting colored phosphors. The beam (actually, three beams of red, green and blue), obviously, moves very, very fast. When you turn off the TV, what you are seeing is the final discharge from the beam as the system cools down. The dots are so sensitive that they still react to the declining energy.

At least, that is what they want us to think.

What is the best restaurant in Durham/Chapel Hill? And the best for under $10? Extra points if you don’t use Magnolia Grill, just because I already know about that.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Best restaurants, like TV shows, movies, bands, books and salad dressings, are matters of personal preference. Answer Person personally feels several local Mexican restaurants offer great meals at unbelievably reasonable prices. No, AP isn’t going to reveal the favorites–got to watch these subtle attempts to discover my real identity! But there is a website that lets you limit by city/town and price range: http://aol.digitalcity.com/raleigh/eat/. Enjoy–maybe I’ll see you one of these nights!

What should I do this summer? I want to be a sommelier and have no idea how I might get entrance into the field. I speak pretty good Spanish and would love to work abroad, perhaps in vidiculture. The career center has not been helpful. Also, does the term sommelier apply only to the wine guys in restaurants, or would it also be appropriate to refer to the guy from Wellspring, for example, as a sommelier.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: You might want to start sooner in your job search, and perhaps with the Sommelier Society of America (http://sommeliersocietyofamerica.org/), The Court of Master Sommeliers (http://www.mastersommeliers.org/), and the American Sommelier Association (http://www.americansommelier.com/). By the way, a sommelier is an expert in wine and its appreciation, wherever he or she works.

Last year there was this amazingly cool trashcan in front of the Allen building that was shaped like a dolphin, but it was only there for a little while. I’m going to graduate, and I would love to have that guy (or more likely one of his buddies) back in front of the Allen building. Where did Duke get such an item and why? Also, if I get a lot of money some day and donate one, will Duke accept it and put a plaque with my name on it next to the dolphin?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: The dolphin trash can was an attempt to lighten up the trash problem on campus. The result was that someone lightened up our collection of trash cans. It disappeared, and even Duke police have been unable to track it down. As for the possibilities for new installments, you need to talk to Joe Jackson, Assistant Director of Grounds Services (660-4281, joe.jackson@duke.edu).

I’m not quite sure who I should be suggesting this to, but perhaps you could forward it.

In doing research I came across an excellent database on refugee issues/refugee studies. It would be particuarly useful to Humanitarian Challenges FOCUS students as well as PPS or History classes.

I’m not sure how the Library could incorporate it, but you’ll find the site at http://www.forcedmigration.org/

It’s run by, in part, Oxford University and Tufts University. Details at http://www.forcedmigration.org/partners/

Thanks!

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Answer Person is vetting your suggestion. Thanks . . . and stay tuned.

Update (4/21/03):

Check out the library’s “Resources for
International Public Policy” web page (http://www.lib.duke.edu/reference/subjects/pubpol/intlpubpol.htm). This very useful site as been added to the “Topical Resources” section.

Thanks!

Wouldn’t it be great if we got Bruce Springsteen for Springternational this year?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Do you think Bruce would appear on short (24 hours!) notice? It is a great idea, and you might want to suggest it to the organizers; see the website at http://ihouse.studentaffairs.duke.edu/springternational.html. If successful, it might even surpass last year’s live (virtual) appearance by Answer Person!

Dear Answer Person,
Could I borrow some diamonds?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Answer Person, while always wise and occasionally clever, is but a poorly paid librarian. Not many diamonds at this end. Perhaps you could check for recently engaged female classmates?

Don’t you think it is a little odd that we live in such a warm, humid climate and yet there are so few insects on campus?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: Oh, Grasshopper, be patient. They will soon be here. They are only briefly intimidated by the high SAT scores.