Question. What Kind of Bear Is Best?

You know those questions kids ask that you have never really contemplated? The ones they expect you to know the answer to? I am just very thankful for the internet. I am ill prepared to answer most of them myself - I just recently discovered that Egypt is on the African continent (it looks like a different location on those Middle Eastern maps!) and that pickles are actually cucumbers (no pickle trees?). I am very disappointed in the quality of my education - or perhaps just my lack of curiosity.

Curiosity is something Chad has plenty of, and here's a few of his questions, along with the answers (just in case your kids ask them - you can look much smarter than I):

Why is the moon following us? Because it is so far away, our view of it changes very little while we drive. The distance makes it impossible for us to pass it. Make sense? Kind of?

How do phones work? I read all this http://communication.howstuffworks.com/telephone.htm (okay I skimmed it) and I still have no clue. Anyone want to simplify it for me?

What is the biggest number? Googolplex (1 followed by a googol of zeroes) - we love that word now, use it all the time. Apparently James knew this without having to look it up, I am now referring all questions to him. According to physicist Carl Sagan, it's impossible to write out all the zeroes since "doing so would require more space than the known universe occupies."

What is the largest bill? This is a shocker - the largest still being printed is $100! Now I understand why the robbers and kidnappers in the movies are always asking for $100 bills. There are a few $10,000 bills circulating and at one time there was a $100,000 bill used by banks, but no longer necessary.

If you have any Q & A's for me, send them my way. I could use a little prep. As for the answer to my blog title: black bear.