Question: I've been told that it's unwise to reuse plastic containers, such as those holding cottage cheese, for storing other foods or for microwaving. What do the experts say?
Answer: Such containers are considered one-time-use packages, said Chris Rosenbloom, member of the faculty of the College of Health and Human Sciences at Georgia State University.
So they're not made to withstand multiple uses.
That said, it's generally harmless to use a plastic margarine tub, for example, to store leftovers in the refrigerator. But Rosenbloom advises washing the container thoroughly before using it again.
She warned against using such items as cottage cheese containers, takeout food boxes or frozen dessert topping containers to reheat food in a microwave. The high heat produced in a microwave can melt the plastic, causing the chemicals to get into your food.
Cookware made specifically for microwaving should be used instead, Rosenbloom said.
Question: I no longer see any news about the so-called "genius awards" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. What can you tell me about them?
Answer:The awards are still being made. The most recent group of fellows, numbering 23, was announced in September. Each will receive $500,000 in "no strings attached" support during the next five years.
The MacArthur Fellows Program began in 1981. Including the 2004 group, 682 people, ranging in age from 18 to 82, have received grants.
Recipients don't apply for the grants, and instead are tapped by "nominators" who assist the foundation in identifying people who should be considered. Nominators are appointed each year and serve anonymously.
The 2004 group includes a health care advocate for Native Alaskans, a glass sculptor, a pianist/composer interested in preserving ragtime music, an archaeological illustrator, a doctor, a molecular biologist, a folk artist/storyteller and a high school debate coach.
MacArthur (1897-1978) owned Bankers Life and Casualty Co. and other businesses. His wife, Catherine (1909-1981), held positions in many of these companies.
Information: http://www.macfdn.org/programs/fel/fel_overview.htm. All 2004 recipients are listed on the site.
Question: The media reported that the Senate voted 85 to 13 to confirm Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state, but I never saw a list of those who voted against her. Who were they?
Answer: Those voting no: Democrats Daniel Akaka of Hawaii; Evan Bayh, Indiana; Barbara Boxer, California; Robert Byrd, West Virginia; Mark Dayton, Minnesota; Dick Durbin, Illinois; Tom Harkin, Iowa; Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts; John Kerry, Massachusetts; Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey; Carl Levin, Michigan; and Jack Reed, Rhode Island.
Also voting no: Independent James Jeffords of Vermont.
The Senate roll call showed that two Republicans didn't vote: Conrad Burns of Montana and Judd Gregg of New Hampshire.
Question: Who were all the presidents who served two terms?
Answer:There are different ways to count, depending on whether you mean two complete terms (and no more than two terms), and whether the terms were consecutive. For example, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson each completed their predecessor's term and served one further term.
Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms, being elected in 1884 but being defeated in 1888 before being elected again in 1892.
Franklin Roosevelt served three full terms, followed by part of one term.
After that, Congress passed the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms or a maximum of 10 years.
After Andrew Jackson's second term ended in 1837, no president was elected to a second term until 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was sworn in for a second term he didn't live to complete.
Those serving two or more complete terms were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
George W. Bush isn't included on this list because he hasn't yet served two full terms.
Question: What's the latest on the Mars rovers, Opportunity and Spirit? How are they powered? They've been up there a year.
Answer: Opportunity's latest find, reported Jan. 19 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is a basketball-size iron meteorite, said to be the first meteorite of any type ever identified on another planet.
Spirit is making "slow progress" uphill toward a ridge on a hill inside a crater, NASA reported.