no.stupid.answers

no.stupid.answers

Enjoy some pi; beware the Ides.

March 15th, 2009 by Liz

Yesterday was Pi Day, or as it is more commonly known: March 14th. In case you didn’t have enough fun with Square Root Day on March 3rd, you had a second chance at some math dating yesterday.

So what is Pi Day? As shared by WikiAnswers.com - in case you didn’t pay attention in math class:

Pi Day is celebrating the mathematical constant π (pi). It is officially observed on March 14, 3/14 being the first three digits of the numerical value pi.

For more on the topic of Pi, read up on Answers.com.

But now, we move on to today - March 15th - the Ides of March. Remember when Shakespeare told us to beware this day? Do you remember exactly why? It has to do with the Roman calendar and what were considered unlucky days of the year…

So what are the Ides of March? As told by WikiAnswers.com:

The ides were the 15th days of long months (including Martius, or March) in the ancient Roman lunar calendar; they were the 13th in other months. The word ides comes from the Latin word idus, which is possibly derived from an Etruscan word meaning “to divide.”

The Ides of March - or March 15th - is known throughout history for being an ill-fated day. Julius Caesar was assassinated on this date in 44 B.C. Historians have noted the likeliness that a soothsayer named Spurinna warned Caesar that danger would occur by the Ides of March.

Are there any poems written about WikiAnswers?

October 8th, 2008 by Liz

Ah, the seasons are changing; we are coming up on changing the clocks in a few. The fall and winter seasons make me feel dark and poetic. Let’s explore that together with Jim for this week’s WikiAnswers Wednesday.

Are there any poems written about WikiAnswers in both trochaic and iambic pentameters?

The great thing about WikiAnswers is its natural versatility. Here’s one unnamed example of both poetic meters in action. I’ve isolated each part of each line so you can clearly tell this way which part belongs to which meter.

׀ Yee-haw ׀ Fight-em ׀ Cow-boys ׀ Give-em ׀ Hell-er ׀

׀ Wi-ki ׀ An-swers ׀ the-Site ׀ with-Two ׀ Op-tions ׀

׀ Shake-speare ׀ Wrote-em ׀ in-Iam ׀ bic pen-Tameter ׀ he-Did ׀

One can clearly see that the first line is written entirely in trochaic pentameter. The second line switches from trochaic to iambic and back to trochaic again at the very end. The last alternates as well.

If Shakespeare were alive today he would have most certainly edited one of his most famous lines from Hamlet “to be or not to be? That is the question”. He would change his work today to read,

“To be or not to be? That is the question and the answer can be found at WikiAnswers.”

That’s a line I can stand up and cheer for.

Yours truly,

Jim

How has courting changed throughout the years?

April 30th, 2008 by Liz

Spring fever, anyone? Before you start running around searching for dates, read this week’s edition of WikiAnswers Wednesday to understand how the courting process has evolved.

How has courting changed throughout the years?

Actually, except for a few minor details, it hasn’t. Note the following:

Exhibit A: Neanderthal Age

Boy meets girl. Boy grunts. Girl rolls her eyes. Boy clubs the girl. Girl wakes up next to boy.

Exhibit B: Bible Age

Boy is hungry. Boy realizes he has a few extra camels. Boy goes to girl’s father and sells him a couple. Girl wakes up next to boy, holding a pot and some lentils.

Exhibit C: Shakespearean Age

Boy falls in love with the beauty of an unattainable girl. Girl falls in love with the words of an unattainable boy. Fighting ensues. Girl wakes up next to dead boy.

Exhibit D: Modern Age

Boy puts on his best silk shirt and gels his hair. Girl wears a lot of makeup and butt-hugging jeans. Dancing ensues. Girl wakes up next to boy, shrugs, and goes to work.