I did not know that yesterday!

A google Search on "piano+pedal+uses" resulted in another spot-on explanation from the indefatigable Cecil Adams of the Straight Dope. Pianist Jeffrey Chappell also offers a lengthier explanation of the ups and downs of pedal-pushing.
In a nutshell, here's how they work:

Right pedal - The loud one. Also known as the "forte" or sustain pedal, it prevents dampers from descending on the piano strings, resulting in a rich, sustained chord peal.

Left pedal - The soft one or " una corda." A single piano note is normally created from two or three piano strings tuned in unison. This pedal shifts the hammer so that it hits only one or two strings, resulting in a more muted sound. Hence, "una corda" or "one string."

Middle pedal - The "sostenuto." This pedal selectively sustains notes, so that certain notes can ring out while others fade normally. It is usually found only on grand pianos.

Mr. Chappell reminds you that when pushing pedals, the heels of your feet should remain touching the floor at all times. So have fun, but play safe

Strangely enough bulls are colorblind. To a bull's eye, a red cape is a gray cape. The red cape, which inspired the phrase "seeing red," is purely a theatrical tradition.

However, to a bull bred exclusively for aggressiveness, that flapping cape can prove very irritating. A nimals bred for bullfighting are tested around the age of three for aggressiveness before they go into the ring. The orneriest ones make the cut.

It's also worth pointing out that the animal in question has already been stabbed several times at the base of the neck. This happens early in the bullfight, and is performed by a gentleman known as a "picador."

And as we discovered on the Bullfighting FAQ website, two kinds of capes are used in bullfighting. The capote is a large, flowing cape which is magenta and yellow. The muleta, a smaller red cape, is used exclusively by the matador for the faena, or the final, fatal segment of the bullfight.

The most recent estimate of China's population puts the figure at
1,313,973,713 by July 2006. That's a lotta folks. A January press release from The China Population Information and Research Center states that the country "will work to limit its mainland population below 1.37 billion by 2010."

China famously set a limit of one child per couple in 1979. In 1986, the limit was increased to two children for non-Han ethnic minorities. Currently, most rural families can have two or more children if the first is female and the children weren't born too close together. The one-child policy has been liberalized over the years because the declining birth rate has created, among other problems, a
"one-two-four" dilemma: one child taking care of two parents and four grandparents.

Couples who adhere to the one-child limit have been rewarded with better housing and services, as well as money. China has also used marketing campaigns ("One is good, two is ok and three is too many"), fines, and more coercive methods to reduce birth rates.

In 1982, the government instituted mandatory sterilization of one member of a couple that have two or more children. In the higher-birth rural areas, government workers monitored individual households and encouraged couples to comply with family planning policy. Both forced and sex-selective abortion, as well as infanticide of females, have also been alleged. China has acknowledged that "isolated, uncondoned abuses" have occurred.

It was a slow day at the detective agency. We were about to catch some Z's when a question glided across our desks like an angel on cloud nine. A client wanted us to find the oldest cold case ever solved. He said it was dangerous work. "Dead links everywhere," he whispered. "What else is new?" we grumbled. Then, quicker than a
Brooklyn bookie collecting a debt, we donned our trench coats and began our investigation.

Google, our most reliable source, gave us results. All the cases were mustier than a grandmother's attic, but two stood out. The first involved a boy who police believed was murdered in 1933. Not so. According to current forensic investigators, the boy drowned. The original autopsy missed the mark -- and badly.

The second case took us back to 1930. Judge Joseph Crater went missing in the Big Apple and was never seen again. Investigators now believe they may have finally tracked him down -- buried at Coney Island, murdered by a corrupt cop and his cabbie brother.

So, are these the absolute oldest cases ever solved? Maybe, maybe not. In this business, nothing's a sure thing except danger, dames, and doubt.

It stinks when that happens, doesn't it? The fruit that Cezanne's still lifes lifted out of the mundane; the fruit that, upon daily consumption, keeps the doctor or the dentist away depending where in the world you are -- marred by mean old Mr. Oxidation. There's your culprit.

Breaking the skin damages some of the apple's millions of cell walls, exposing their insides to the air. Oxygen then mixes with "phenols," a type of chemical compound. An enzyme called polyphenol oxidase (PPO) accelerates the process, creating what is called enzymatic browning. The color results from the creation of pigments called melanins. While apple-eaters may not like sinking their teeth into the mushy bruised
spots, enzymatic browning does serve a purpose, protecting fruit from insects, bacteria, and fungi.

Even just dropping an apple can break its cell walls, triggering oxidation. One way to prevent browning is to keep the PPO enzyme from mixing with oxygen by placing exposed apples in water. You can also slow the process by immersing the fruit in lemon, orange, or pineapple juice, as the vitamin C they contain is an antioxidant. Cooking the fruit will also stave off browning awhile, but using a rusty knife or
copper bowl will quicken it. Don't forget: Pears, bananas, peaches,and potatoes also bruise easily. So be gentle.

This question remind me of that ancient proverb, as recited by Bart Simpson: "Beans, beans, the musical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot." Bart speaks the truth, for few foods inspire as much gastrointestinal activity as a plate full of beans. Hold your breath as we sniff out the science behind the smells.

Kidz World explains that beans contain sugars the human body simply cannot digest. Once these sugars (called oligosaccharides) reach a person's lower intestines, "the bacteria go berserk, start feasting, and make loads of gas." Before you know it -- toxic fumes.

This rather amusing list of "fart facts" states the most "offensive sugars" are raffinose, stachiose, and verbascose, all of which are found in beans. The site goes on to explain that while it's possible to ignite a fart, it's definitely not recommended, as severe injury and a potentially humiliating trip to the emergency room can result.

Bon appetit.

You know that old saying that "home" is wherever you hang your hat (or fold your wings)? Same deal for flies. As far as I can tell, they take a load off in any number of places.

Adult flies are diurnal. They buzz about when the day is nice and warm, and the garbage (one of their main sources of food) is especially stinky. They spend their time at the usual seedy spots -- on the bodies of dead animals, around piles of feces, or with some nice, decaying vegetation.

Flies slow down at night, and though it's been the subject of some debate, it seems they do indeed sleep -- anywhere from 9 to 15 hours a night. Where is anybody's guess. Most likely, they grab 40 winks in any dark, quiet spot they can.

Flies lay their eggs in food-rich sources like the inside of trash cans or on pieces of rotting meat. Their young require a lot of sustenance -- those insatiable little maggots feed day and night. But don't be too hard on them. They're pretty much on their own without much parental supervision.

Unlike many insects, flies don't have much need for permanent abodes. Perhaps it's because the little buggers have such short life spans. On average, the lives of flies can be measured in weeks, so maybe they prefer to spend their precious time scavenging for food and living for the moment.

In the same way that we can only dimly grasp how airplanes fly and boats float, cell phones baffle us. Of course, our ignorance doesn't stop us from shouting into them each and every day. And since most of us use cell phones, the least we can do is set them to vibrate rather than subject folks to obnoxious ringtones.

To explain how the vibrations happen, How Stuff Works performed an autopsy on one ill-fated Tickle Me Elmo. The doll uses a shaking technology that's exactly the same as a cell phone's, though considerably larger. (Those queasy about Muppet innards should stop reading here.)

Here's what they found: A flywheel motor with a weight is attached to one side. When the motor turns, the weight throws it off balance and creates a wobble. That wobble causes the whole device, be it a friendly plush monster or a sleek cell phone, to jiggle.

Now, ask yourself something: Have you ever tried to answer your phone when it vibrates, only to find it's not actually moving (or even on)? If so, you may have had close encounters with a new phenomenon -- the phantom cell phone vibration. Perhaps you're hoping for a call just a little too fervently. Perhaps your muscles are twitching. To be honest, we're not sure. But to be on the
safe side, maybe it's time you call an exorcist (on a landline, of course).

I always assumed it was "50 First Dates" starring Adam Sandler, but
even more torturous films do exist. A search on "longest film ever made" gave me a refreshingly brief list of candidates. According to anecdotage.com, the aptly titled "Cure for Insomnia" is the longest film ever. It runs about 87 hours and features L.D. Groban reading a really looooong poem. Just in case you find that kind of boring, according to IMDb, the film slices in pornography and music video footage. Probably not the best "date movie," but I'd still take it over Sandler.

"Cure for Insomnia" is best described as an experimental film (i.e., pretentious and without a point). Of all the films with actual storylines, the 1928 Chinese movie "The Burning of the Red Lotus Temple" is the longest, clocking in at 27 hours. As for the longest documentary, "Grandmother Martha" wins with a 24-hour running time.

Should you come across any of these epics at the video store, I recommend you watch them in stages. Many, many stages

Homer and family live in the town of Springfield. But, according to The Simpsons Archive, there are at least 71 nonfictional Springfields in 36 states around the country. This has left fans scouring the 350-plus episodes for clues to the town's exact location. Considering the enormous number of place names and geographical features referenced, this requires Ph.D.-level research. Many believe
the show is set in Oregon, as creator Matt Groening grew up in Portland and many of the characters share names with that city's streets.

Tantalizingly, in the "Behind the Laughter" episode, the Simpsons are referred to as "a northern Kentucky family." The Simpsons Archive, however, explains that this episode treats the family as sitcom actors playing the parts of characters living outside the Springfield universe, and "really shouldn't be taken seriously." Plus, the location was actually changed in reruns. Other popular guesses include Ohio and Illinois. Former Simpsons director David Silverman once said the show was set in the fictional state of North Takoma.

In a 2004 Austin Chronicle article, a publicist for the show comments: "Matt had the Simpsons live in Springfield because it was the most common city name in the U.S. The writers 'toy' with the state location constantly, (thus) there is no specified state...."