Got a question? We will try to get an answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.

Q: After all the rain we have had over the last several weeks, how long will it take our saturated ground to return to a normal state? — David Stone, Powder SpringsA: We are now in the cool season recharge period when evaporation and plant water use is at a minimum, said state climatologist David Emory Stooksbury.

Q: As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a COBRA subsidy plan was enacted to reduce the COBRA premiums for up to nine months for unemployed workers laid off between September 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009. Has this subsidy plan been extended, or is there any discussion in Congress to do so?— Susan Wilkes, AtlantaA: A few bills introduced this fall propose an extension of the COBRA subsidy.

Q: In a recent AJC, there was a blurb that said a Civil War shipwreck was identified as the CSS Appomattox. What fame did it have prior to being the location where Grant and Lee met to end the Civil War to have a ship named after it?— Bob Sullivan, CantonA: The ship is probably named for the Appomattox River, a commercially important tributary of the James, well known to Virginians of the day, said Stephen Berry, an associate professor in the history department at the University of Georgia.

Q: What is the status of “cash for appliances” money for Georgia residents?— Karen Fuerst, AtlantaA: The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority applied in mid-October to the U.S. Department of Energy for the residential Energy Star appliance rebate program (Georgia will receive up to $9.

Q: Did police ever find the woman who was kidnapped from a MARTA bus last year?— Leah Young, East PointA: The incident happened in May 2008 near Snapfinger Woods Drive and Wesley Chapel Road in DeKalb County. A man drove his car in front of a bus, forced it to the side of the road and pulled a woman off at gunpoint.

Q: Why was the Washington sniper John Allen Muhammad executed so quickly, when it takes some prisoners many more years before being executed?— Carolyn Sanders,
AtlantaA: The Christian Science Monitor reported that Muhammad’s 68 months between sentencing and execution was about half the typical duration for death-penalty cases.

Q: I believe I saw that there are 237 millionaire congressmen in office today. Is this true?— Martin Vaeth Sr.,
Walnut GroveA: The information was from the Center for Responsive Politics, which recently updated its report from 237 millionaires to 238 millionaires in Congress.

Q: How did Georgia members of the House of Representatives vote on the health care bill that passed the House?— Ben Shapiro, AtlantaA: Democratic Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, John Lewis, Hank Johnson and David Scott voted yes to the bill, which passed the House last week in a 220-215 vote.

Q: I thought companies could repossess property, like cars, without court orders only if it did not cause a breach of the peace. Wasn’t the owner’s initial protest when two men attempted to repossess a Mustang recently a breach of the peace? I am not excusing the use of excessive force, but aren’t there standards for repo men to follow?— Tom McFarland,
AmericusA: Creditors are allowed to repossess a vehicle at any time and without notice and are allowed to come onto your property, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Q: Who is the last military draftee still serving? 
—Ray Christian, LoganvilleA: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Mellinger, who was drafted on April 18, 1972, is believed to be the last active-duty draftee serving in the Army. “I’m a relic,” Mellinger told Time magazine earlier this year.

Q: Is it true that the world gains 250,000 people every day? If not, what is the net gain?— Don G. White, AtlantaA: It’s typically more than 200,000 a day. The International Program Center, part of the U.S. Census Bureau, estimated the world population to be 6,787,570,618 on Oct.

Q: There are Afghanistan, Pakistan and other "stans" in the area. What is the meaning or significance of "stan" in a country’s name?— Roy Graham,
 Sandy SpringsA: The suffix “Stan” is an ancient Persian word meaning country, nation or domain, said Islamic law expert Jack F.

Q: Why is there such a long delay of the closed captioning during live TV broadcasts? Surely voice recognition software or someone typing could keep up better than what we see. During the Falcons game, the delay was an average of 10 seconds.—Tom Cotton, SenoiaA: With pre-produced programs, closed captioning can be imbedded early.

Q: The mayor of Boston has been the mayor for 16 years and won another term Tuesday. In Atlanta and other cities, a person can only serve two terms. Why the huge differences in the states?— Robert Brooks, East PointA: Cities have charters, which are similar to constitutions and identify the structure of the municipal government, establish terms of office, define the distribution of power and name elected positions, said Michael Leo Owens, an associate professor in the Emory University department of political science.

Q: With all the rain we’ve had recently, why have North Georgia lakes Nottely and Blue Ridge remained so far below normal? — Jim Dillon, Atlanta

A: The Tennessee Valley Authority is currently drawing down the water on its reservoirs, including Nottely in North Georgia near the North Carolina border, and Blue Ridge, on the Toccoa River in the Chattahoochee National Forest of North Georgia, to winter flood control levels by Jan.

Q: I just read an article about chickens being one of the largest exports in Georgia.Why can’t the countries these chickens are sent to grow their own chickens instead of exporting so many from the United States? — Bob Markert, Roswell

A: The U.S. exports chickens mainly because we produce more than we consume, said Scott Hansohn, manager of technical communications for the Stone Mountain-based USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.

Q: Was Omar Ismael (who died at the Habitat for Humanity construction site) from the Atlanta area, did he have family here, and has any fund been set up to help with expenses his family incurred? What is the status of the investigation? — Marian Lee, Senoia

A: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is continuing its investigation and has up to six months to complete it.

Q: When the Northwest Airline pilots overshot their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles, how many minutes did that take? —Fran Jordan, NorcrossA: Flight 188 overflew Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 7:58 p.m. and landed at 9:05 p.

Q: The United States has hosted a fair share (no pun intended) of World’s Fairs (Expos), but I don’t think we’ve done so for many years. Do we have any plans to host any and, if not, why? — Dan Cowles, CummingA: The United States has hosted 17 World’s Fairs, with its last one in 1984 in New Orleans, according to the International Trade Administration.

Q: Did the Atlanta police officers get their health care services reinstated?— Robert Pittman,
CarrolltonA: The city has approved the workers’ compensation claims filed by the five officers who complained earlier this year of not receiving medical care or payments from the city after on-the-job injuries, said Sgt.

Q: I served in the U.S. Army Med Corps in the mid-70s at Fort McPherson. Will the (National Register of Historic Places) protection on the hospital and other buildings have any affect on the buildings?
— Dae Thompson, Marietta
A: The Georgia Historic Preservation Division, in its role as the State Historic Preservation Office, has been consulting for two years with the U.

Q: The photo caption at the bottom of A13 in the Oct. 21 AJC says that Beijing has the world’s largest airport. Is it bigger than the Atlanta airport?— George L. Kelly,
DunwoodyA: Beijing Capital International Airport’s new Terminal 3, which opened before the Olympic Games in 2008, is the world’s largest airport in size.

Q: There is legislation before Congress to protect older workers from discrimination. How many elected representatives have sponsored and co-sponsored this bill and how do their numbers line up according to political party? When is it expected to be brought to the floor for a vote? —Rose Trujillo, College ParkA: The three sponsors are Sen.

Q: What are the plans for the Fort McPherson property? Are there any plans to relocate any wildlife there? — Deborah Griffin, 
HiramA: The plans for the base, which is scheduled to close in 2011, include creating a bioscience park that will anchor economic development of the 487-acre facility, according to the McPherson Implementing Local Redevelopment Authority.

Q: I read somewhere that the AARP was subsidized by the federal government. Is this true?—Bill Nabers, KennesawA: The AARP Foundation, the group’s charitable arm, receives federal funds. The largest: $87 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grant, which has been awarded for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Q: I read somewhere that the AARP was subsidized by the federal government. Is this true?
—Bill Nabers, Kennesaw
A: The AARP Foundation, the group's charitable arm, receives federal funds. The largest: $87 million for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grant, which has been awarded for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Q: Did Home Depot or Lowe’s retail stores sell any of the Chinese drywall now causing health, corrosion and insurance concerns?— Mary Jones, NorcrossA: Both home improvement stores have said their companies did not buy or sell drywall manufactured in China.

Q: With all the rain in metro Atlanta, I read several times about 100- and 500-year floods. How do meteorologists determine how often a major flood is likely to happen?— Frank Manfre,
GraysonA: The term 100-year flood does not mean that a flood should be expected only once in a lifetime or once every 100 years, said WSB Radio meteorologist Kirk Mellish.

Q: What is United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice’s background, education and ties to President Obama?— Marlise Landeck,
Sandy SpringsA: Rice served from February 2007 to November 2008 as senior adviser for national security affairs on the Obama for America Campaign.

Q: What was the cost to the American taxpayers for the Obamas’ trip to Copenhagen for Chicago’s appeal to the International Olympic Committee?—Maiburn Coffee, WoodstockA: The 14-hour trip to Copenhagen and back to the U.

Q: How does the church attendance of President Barack Obama compare to that of his immediate predecessor?— John Walker, DoravilleA: Obama has attended church twice in Washington since his inauguration — on Easter and on Oct.

Q: My question has to do with the tennis complex that hosted the 1996 Olympics. Who owns the stadium and what are the future plans for it? — Jim Crenshaw, AtlantaA: The Stone Mountain Tennis Center is owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.

Q: Why do I have to go through full security when I’m just going back home after an international flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport? It seems completely unnecessary to screen me when I’m only going home. The Delta video before landing also says (I think) that they only do this in Atlanta and Memphis, so if it’s really necessary, why is it only necessary in two airports? If it has to do with Terminal E being poorly designed, then please tell me that when the new international terminal is built they will be clever enough to figure out a way to fix it.

Q: Why have the lights on the “king” and “queen” buildings been green? They are usually pink for [the fight against] breast cancer and then go to white most of the time. Why green and why for so long?— Anita Mullins, MiltonA: The green lights on the Perimeter area towers are part of an effort to reduce unnecessary waste, said David Shope with Cousins Properties, which manages the Concourse Corporate Center.

Q: Who pays the expenses, including salaries, for the Georgia State Patrol officers and GBI agents at University of Georgia football games?— Sid Haggard, CovingtonA: The UGA Athletic Association pays all expenses, including salaries, for security at the games, which includes the Georgia State Patrol officers who accompany coach Mark Richt and GBI agents who provide additional police force needs.

Q: On I-85 between Atlanta and LaGrange, there is road construction both east and west for approximately 25 miles. Traffic is horrendous. In traveling in each direction, you might count a total of 20 or 25 construction workers on the westbound portion with a similar number on the east.

Q: Is the Sforza horse that will be on display at the High Museum as part of the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit the Nina Akamu casting that is on display at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Mich., and the Ippodromo (horse racing stadium) in Milan, Italy?—Theresa Zeman, CantonA: The concept for the 26-foot statue depicting Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, on horseback, at the High is by Andrea Bernardoni.

Q: What is the actual percentage of annual U.S. healthcare costs that tort reform would address?— Jean Reber, DuluthA: The percentages vary, depending on the source, but the highest reported percentage is from a PricewaterhouseCoopers study that looked at wasteful spending in the health care system and found 10 percent of health costs are “attributed to too much care in the form of defensive medicine and associated legal costs.

Q: Concerning the tall tower steel poles along Dallas Highway, since they’ve been erected, why are pine poles still standing? Why can’t all the wiring be put on those poles? 
— Rosalie Smith, 
Powder SpringsA: The Georgia Department of Transportation usually requires a “single pole line” when Georgia Transmission Corp.

A: According to the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Faith in Action is taking items such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, sofas, dressers, microwaves, TVs, kitchen tables and chairs, mattresses and box springs that are gently used and in good working order.

Q: What’s the story behind the multicolored lights on the beautiful new 14th Street bridge?— Lawson Young,
 NorcrossA: The multicolored lights are required by the manufacturers for warranty purposes to run in that pattern for at least 30 days from the early September re-opening of the Atlanta bridge, says Brian Smith, project manager of economic development for the Midtown Alliance.

Q: What is the Georgia State Patrol policy on issuing tickets to the person at fault in an accident? Is a ticket automatic or at the investigating officers’ discretion?— E.D. Payton Jr., MariettaA: It is up to the discretion of the officer, said Lt.

Q: We’ve had a lot of rain during the spring and summer. What effect will this have on autumn foliage in North Georgia?— Scott MacLean,
Forest ParkA: Wetter weather conditions, compared to past dry years, could result in the leaves remaining on the trees anywhere from a few days to a week longer, said Mitch Cohen, information specialist with the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

Q: Why isn’t Lake Lanier rising faster after all this rain?— David Magee, AtlantaA: Several readers sent in questions about Lake Lanier’s water levels, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Lisa Coghlan explained how the recent heavy rain affects the lake.

Q: Does Georgia require drivers to turn on their lights when it is raining and visibility is really low?—Pavittar Safir, RoswellA: State law requires every vehicle on public roads to display lights, including headlights, when it is raining and when there isn’t sufficient visibility to see people and vehicles at least 500 feet ahead.

Q: Why do weather forecasts no longer include current and predicted relative humidity? It makes such a difference in how we perceive heat.— Karen LaBarr,
Johns CreekA: Discussing current humidity used to be common in weather reports, said meteorologist Kirk Mellish.

Q: Why is there a long delay in the broadcast of sporting events (including Georgia Tech’s season opener), meaning that the live action precedes the broadcast by 20 to 30 seconds?— Mark Lancaster, DecaturA: In normal circumstances, a true radio signal is fairly immediate, but things change with satellite, said Athens’ Christopher Byrne, publisher of eyeonsportsmedia.

Q: When a criminal is sentenced to two life sentences, why is one life sentence not enough?— Jack Findlan, DecaturA: In general, people are sentenced on every count for which the court has lawful authority to sentence them, said Kay Levine, associate professor at Emory Law School.

Q: In Fulton County a judge is deciding whether a developer can move the graves in a cemetery he bought after a lien was placed on the cemetery for nonpayment of taxes. Are cemeteries taxed?— Betty Stephens, 
MonroeA: Places of human burial are exempt from property taxes, according to Georgia law.

Q: The AJC recently reported that the unemployment rate in Georgia had reached 10.3 percent. Which county has the highest percent of unemployment?— Ann MacLean, Ball GroundA: Jenkins County in southeast Georgia posted the highest unemployment rate in July, at 21.

Q: When a football game is not sold out, the game is blacked out in the home team’s viewing area. But when a baseball game is not sold out, it is still televised. Why the double standard?— Andy Sims,
DouglasvilleA: It is a matter of simple economics and should not be viewed as a double standard, said Athens’ Christopher Byrne, publisher of eyeonsportsmedia.

Q: Who checks the water at Lake Lanier for contamination?— Barbara Turner, 
NewnanA: The Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Branch monitors Lake Lanier and five other lakes once a month from April through October, said Kevin Chambers, a spokesman for the Georgia EPD.

Q: Is there a law against our prisoners working? Our highways and secondary roads are horrible with trash and high grass. What’s the problem? 
— Bob Collins, East PointA: Prison work details, which include trash collection, are arranged between each facility and the local county, city or departments of transportation.

Q: Is it legal for a policeman to run your tag for no reason?— Tamara Plummer,
AtlantaA: Yes. License plates are not covered by the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, said Caren Morrison, a former federal prosecutor and assistant professor in Georgia State University’s School of Law.

Q: What accommodations are made for the days of schooling missed by the participants of the Little League World Series?— Paul White,
Stone MountainA: The players on Warner Robins’ girls and boys teams who attend Houston County schools chose not to enroll until they returned from the competition, said Beth McLaughlin, director of community and school affairs for the school system.

Q: I have noticed that the last couple months the Weather Channel puts the rainfall amount, and then a day or two later, subtracts the monthly totals. Why are they doing this?— Kris Holt, CummingA: The Weather Channel makes an immediate estimate of hourly, daily, monthly and yearly rainfall, which is updated every 20 minutes, for about 2 million points in the U.

Q: A recent article about dogfighting in Talbot County made me wonder: Why would an investigative firm in Atlanta be staking out a dogfighting operation in Talbot County? Who paid the firm for their effort?— Jay Brower, AtlantaA: The investigation by Atlanta-based Norred & Associates was paid by the privately held firm owned by Greg Norred.

Q: With all the voting problems in Afghanistan, what has been the role of the Carter Peace Program? Has it been involved at all and, if so, in what way?— Renee VanderBoom, NorcrossA: The Carter Center has not been involved in the Afghanistan elections in any way, said David Carroll, director of the Carter Center’s Democracy Program.

Q: Are there any plans to modify/alter/change/fix/help the I-285 west exit onto Ga. 400 and the entrance ramp to 400? The interchange is one of the worst in the city and only continues to worsen. — Blair Craig, AtlantaA: The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to present several alternatives for modifications to the Ga.

Q: With all of the construction at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, will a cellphone waiting lot finally be built?— Merrie Edelston, Sandy SpringsA: There are no plans to build a cellphone waiting lot at this time, said John Kennedy, an airport spokesman.

Q: One of your recent answers said the Gwinnett Braves had the second-
lowest average attendance in the league. Where do their ticket prices rank in the league?— Grady K. Dukes, ConyersA: Gwinnett Braves individual game adult tickets start at $6, lower than the $7.

Q: I always enjoyed Andy Griffith in his role as Atlanta-based defense attorney Ben Matlock. How is he doing these days?— Vince Castle, AlpharettaA: Griffith, 83, is starring in “Play the Game,” which opens Friday in select U.

Q: How did “Dog Days of Summer” originate, and how is the weather affected by it?— Rick Brewer, SmyrnaA: The term is associated with late summer, when it is traditionally hazy, hot and humid, said state climatologist David Stooksbury with the University of Georgia.

Q: What is the seating capacity and average attendance for the Gwinnett Braves stadium?— Norm Staehling, LilburnA: The stadium, which opened in April, seats 10,427. Average attendance is 5,825 through 64 games, according to International League data.

Q: Regarding the man (Frank Hatley) who went to jail for a year for nonpayment of child support even though he had a paternity test that proved he was not the father. Will he get back the money that he had paid to Child Services in lieu of child support directly to the mother?— Ann Leftwich, 
AtlantaA: Attorney Sarah Geraghty with the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta said she is assessing Hatley’s legal options regarding the reimbursement of the support he paid and being compensated for the time he spent in jail.

Q: The U.S. Postal Service is having to consider options for reducing expenses, one of which is cutting weekend (Saturday) mail delivery. How many countries, other than the U.S., offer Monday-Saturday home delivery?— Joyce Alarcón, AtlantaA: The U.S.

Q: Why have lawn fertilizers in the lawn and garden stores doubled, and some tripled, in price from a year ago?— Jimmy Kovacs, East PointA: The reason fertilizer has increased in price over the past year is the cost of fuel, said Clint Waltz, Extension turfgrass specialist with the University of Georgia’s Department of Crop & Soil Sciences.

Q: The old DOT building next to the Capitol and the Archives building in Atlanta is being torn down. What will happen to all the marble?— Lisa Williams, JonesboroA: The company chosen to perform the work will decide to recycle or salvage the marble, according to the Georgia Building Authority.

Q. Is there an estimate of the economic impact in Georgia of the “Cash for Clunkers” program, such as sales tax, tag tax? 
— Fred Smith, TuckerA. The state has not estimated the impact from taxes, and economists with Georgia State University and the University of Georgia have no hard numbers.

Q. Several years ago, a high-rise bridge was constructed over the Brunswick River on U.S. 17 to provide access for cargo ships to the port of Brunswick. The contractor was being fined for every day past the deadline. How much was the accumulated fine? — Al Tate, AtlantaA.

Q. In a recent column, I saw that there was tuition-free education offered to seniors 62 and older. Can you confirm that? — Sheila Pryor, JonesboroA. Georgia law allows Georgians 62 years or older to attend public colleges and universities for free.

Q: Sandy Springs recently enacted an ordinance prohibiting contractors from stopping vehicles in the roadway to pick up day laborers. Does Atlanta have a similar ordinance and, if so, does it also apply to pedestrians selling goods and soliciting for charities in the roadway?— Steve Kilbride, AtlantaA: It is illegal for an operator of a motor vehicle that is in traffic on a city street to commercially solicit for workers or money, according to Atlanta ordinances.

Q: In the Cash for Clunkers program, will the clunkers be destroyed by the government or will they end up back on the road polluting the air? — Ann Lee Bussey, Stone MountainA: Some parts of the trade-in vehicle, excluding the engine or drive train, can be sold before it is crushed or shredded.

Q: Are any of the nuclear power plants in Georgia or elsewhere in the U.S. using nuclear material derived from dismantled weapons in the U.S. or the former Soviet Union states?— Mel Liles, StockbridgeA: Highly enriched uranium from more than 14,700 Russian nuclear weapons uranium has been converted to fuel for use in American nuclear power plants, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy.

Q. Will those of us who got swine flu vaccinations during the last big scare (late ’70s) still have increased immunity to the present strain?— Theda Davis, LilburnA. Some of the people who received the swine influenza vaccine in the ’70s might have developed antibodies to the current virus, said Dr.

Q. What has happened to 
the 911 operator who was 
fired after sending the 911 response to the wrong address? She had applied for reinstatement.— Linn Matthews, AtlantaA. The Fulton County Personnel Board, which heard Gina Conteh’s case in March, affirmed in April the 911 center director’s 
decision to fire Conteh.

Q: Does a retired senator have to pay taxes? — Robert Brooks, East Point A: Senators who are retired from U.S., state positions or currently in office are required to pay taxes. Members of Congress did not pay taxes to Social Security prior to 1984, when they were not eligible for Social Security benefits but covered by the Civil Service Retirement System, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service, a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress that provides non-partisan policy and legal analysis to U.

Q: With the possibility of Lake Lanier becoming off limits for a metro water source, what is happening with the effort to relocate the northern border of Georgia to include a portion of the Tennessee River as called for in the original survey documents?— Jerry Titshaw, HamptonA: A Senate resolution signed by Gov.

Q: I’ve been watching the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing on TV. There are two astronauts frolicking on the moon. I thought there were only two astronauts on the space shuttle. Who was taking the pictures?— Bob Harrison, MabletonA: Astronaut Michael Collins joined Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on Apollo II, as its command module pilot.

Q. Are there any accurate figures as to how many Canadians come into the United States for medical service?— Lorraine Vinson, RomeA. Canadian citizens are not required to hold a visa to enter the U.S., so no government agency tracks Canadians entering the country for medical reasons, said Devon Herrick, a senior fellow with the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis, which researches medical tourism.

Q: Now that all TV broadcasts are digital, are there plans and a timetable for them all to be in HD?— David Nugent, CantonA: There is no requirement for TV broadcasts to be in high-definition television, or HDTV, or for a percentage of a station’s programming to be in HDTV, said David Fiske, spokesman for the Federal Communications Commission.

Q: Did the city of Atlanta ever own Lincoln Cemetery on Simpson Road?— Darryl Pitts, AtlantaA: The cemetery, where notable Atlantans such as the Revs. Ralph David Abernathy and Hosea Williams are buried, always has been under family ownership, said Mike Helmase, chief financial officer of Lincoln Cemetery.

Q: There hasn’t been any news recently about the Somali pirates. Do they still hold any hostages or ships?—Linda Jones, NewnanA: Yes, Somali pirates continue to hold hostages, despite the resolution of the headline-making case of Capt.

Q: Who was the Soviet Union fighting in Afghanistan in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and who is the United States fighting there now? — Randy Cauthen, HartwellA. Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979 to support President Babrak Karmal, who seized control in a coup within the Afghan Communist leadership, according to a New York Times overview of the country’s history.

Q: Who paid for the Michael Jackson memorial service? I heard they were looking for donations.— Judy Wooten, Canton

A: The city of Los Angeles initially set up a Web site urging Jackson’s fans to make tax-deductible donations to help defray the $1.

Q: It is challenging for me to understand how (people in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan) are able to repeatedly assemble the materials for suicide bombings. Surely, someone has to be behind the funding, purchase and transportation of bomb-making materials.

Q: Regarding these czars that President Barack Obama has been appointing, who pays their salary, who determines how much they make and are tax dollars involved at all?

— Mike Chisolm, Snellville

A: Obama has appointed nearly three dozen “czars” — an unofficial name for special aide — to oversee policy areas.

Q. I'm watching the Sotomayor hearing and I wonder: Since when do they let you know what questions they will ask the day before?

— Bob Harrison, Mableton

A. The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Q. What percentage of the city of Atlanta’s property taxes comes from each of the districts of the council people that voted for the recent property tax increase?— Zeddie Perry II, AtlantaA. The city doesn’t have a breakdown of property taxes from each council district or ZIP code, according to a spokeswoman for Mayor Shirley Franklin.

Q. I have yet to see an article, including Wednesday’s answer to a related question, regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of the New Haven firefighters’ case that clearly explains whether the qualified firefighters received their promotions or if it requires them to be tested all over again.

Q: Air France says it began replacing the Pitot tubes on its Airbus jets after incidents that may be related to the crash of Flight 447. What’s Delta doing with the Airbus planes inherited via the Northwest merger?— Jim Smith, Woodstock

A: After an April advisory bulletin from Airbus, the airline is “installing new Pitot tubes on A330 aircraft and is on track to have the installations completed this summer,” according to Delta spokesman Kent Landers.

Q: In the past election, the two major candidates seemed to have citizenship qualification problems. Is there an independent entity that judges presidential candidates for presidential qualifications?— Jerome Jernigan, Dunwoody

A: “There is no independent entity,” Rick Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said in an e-mail.

Q: What is the approved method of disposing of unwanted medications?— Duncan Cutler,Sandy Springs

A: Consumers were once advised to flush unused meds down the toilet. With a few exceptions, that advice no longer holds.At its 2007 annual meeting in Atlanta, the American Pharmacists Association unveiled a new set of guidelines, developed with the U.

Q: It is starting to feel like the summer doldrums already. What is the record for the highest temperatures in Atlanta?— James Quarles, Atlanta

A: That depends on how you want to quantify discomfort.The record for highest daily temperature was 105 degrees, which occurred on three consecutive days starting on July 17, 1980.

Q. When a member of Congress or his family has a medical problem, is that taken care of through public or private medical insurance, and who handles the paperwork?— Sylvia Teasley, Canton

A. Members of Congress are eligible to receive the same health benefits that are made available to all federal employees, according to the U.

Q. Do baseball umpires receive official feedback on mistakes they make during the course of a game?— Greg Gates, Atlanta

A. Umpiring is monitored on a daily basis by Major League Baseball, which maintains a staff of seven supervisors and a network of field observers to keep tabs on performance.

Q. With the new measures the government is taking to stop teenagers from smoking, is the government is still subsidizing tobacco growers?— Barbara Turner, Newnan

A. After subsidizing the tobacco industry since the Great Depression, the federal government ended financial support in 2004, when the Equitable Tobacco Reform Act offered $10.

Q. I heard that “The Producers” had recently opened in Berlin. Do you have any information as to how well it has done?— Tim Mullis, Roswell

A. Staged at the venerable Admiralspalast Theater, where Hitler himself attended plays during World War II, “The Producers” is in its sixth week, earning strong reviews and a steady box office.

Q. Since Jay Leno retired from “The Tonight Show,” what is he doing now?– Rick Brewer, Smyrna

A. Jay Leno, who ended his 17-year run on “The Tonight Show” May 29, will return to NBC in the fall with a prime-time show broadcast every night at 10.

Q: I read that Chrysler and GM will save money by reducing the number of franchise dealerships. I have not, however, read an explanation of how the money is to be saved. In what ways do the franchises cost the companies more than the income that is produced by the dealerships selling cars and parts? What is the magnitude of this savings? 
— Noojin Walker, Locust Grove


A: Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings brought the closing of 789 dealerships, while General Motors in its bankruptcy filings seeks to close about 1,100 franchises when their contracts end in late 2010, according to an Associated Press report.