The Stranger, Seattle's Only Newspaper: Slog: Questionland

Come to the Questionland Party at the Lookout Tonight!

Megan Seling — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:26:28 -0700

You know all those smart people over in Questionland, who have all the answers to whatever question you throw at them? Well you can meet them tonight during the Questionland happy hour at the Lookout! The meet up goes from 6:30-8:30 pm, and hopefully the clouds will burn off because the Lookout has an amazing view.

Come hang out with the smartest people in Seattle!

The Economy's in the Shitter, but That Doesn't Mean You Can't Take a Vacation!

Megan Seling — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:02:57 -0700

Okay, since the economy is all fucked up again (still?), jet-setting halfway across the world to spoil yourself with an extravagant vacation on some glorious tropical island is probably out of the question. But that doesn't mean you can't afford to take some time off. You just have to make the most of the beautiful surroundings we have right here at home!

Let Questionland be your travel guide—this week we have experts from Northwest Tripfinder and Clipper Vacations standing by to help you plan a great vacation right here in the Northwest.

Head over to Questionland now and ask them anything you need to know about where to go, what to see, and how to get there.

(If you go to Victoria, which I highly recommend you do, don't forget to go to the Miniature World. It's amazing!)

It's Meat Week in Questionland

Bethany Jean Clement — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:53:53 -0700

Hey, meat people! It's Meat Week in Questionland.

Tamara Murphy, Wayne Johnson, and assorted other meat experts are standing by to answer all your meat questions (and you can chime in on the answering, too). Here's a good one:

What will those in the know say? Tune in and find out.

Learn How to Defend Yourself!

Megan Seling — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:38:55 -0700

Whether you want to learn about Karate, Taekwon-do, or just learn some basic self-defense moves that might come in handy when walking down Third Ave late at night, Quetionland is here to help!

All week long self-defense experts are on hand, answering your questions. Experts include Joanne Factor from Strategic LIving (personal safety and self-defense classes for women, teen girls, and children) and Jae H. Kim from the Taekwon-do Institute.

Here a couple questions they've already answered:

So where is good place to take self-defense for female empowerment?

Is it really a good idea to carry pepper-spray?

Ask them your questions now! And prepare to defend yourself!

Teenagers Are Scary—Questionland's Here to Help!

Megan Seling — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:15:26 -0700

Are you raising a teen or tween? Terrifying! But you don't have to do it alone. Questionland has a bunch of parenting experts on hand all week, who'll help answer any questions you have about raising your young adults. They can cover just about anything that might come up—from discipline and communication to your child's safety and how to best approach the sex talk.

Want to know a good age to get your kid a cell phone? They'll tell you that and so much more.

Just head over to Questionland and ask your questions now. If your kid is anything like I was as a teen, they're being a jerk on purpose, so learn the best way to handle them without going completely insane.

Vroom Vroom! It's Car Week!

Megan Seling — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:11:53 -0700

Are you thinking of buying a car and hoping for some good, unbiased advice? Or maybe you already have a car, and now you have some questions about maintenance? Well, hey! It's Car Week in Questionland! Car experts are standing by to help you with any car-related questions. We've got Jim Peters from Hilltop Service Station, experts from Daisywagen Volvo Service, and Kevin, the head of The Stranger's distro team, who happens to know a shitload about automobiles!

Here are some questions that've already been discussed:

Where is the best place to sell my used car in Seattle?

How good an idea is a Prius/hybrid car these days?

Where do I file a car accident report in Seattle?

Find the answers to all these questions and more (and ask your own!) in Questionland! Vroom vroom! Sorry. Making car noises is kind of fun.

It's Bike Week in Questionland!

Megan Seling — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:40:34 -0700

This week Questionland is all about bikes! A panel of bike GENIUSES are on hand to answer your questions and give great advice about everything from getting around the city and caring for your bike to your rights on the road as a rider.

We've got Qamuuqin Maxwell from Bike Works, Davey Oil of Bike Works and the Bikery, Serena Lehman from Cascade Bicycle Club, Juliette from Hub and Bespoke, and more! They're all real smart, and they're here to help you.

Here are some questions that've already been asked:

How often should I replace my helmet?

What is the Bikery?

InStep Quick N EZ Double Bicycle Trailer: Is this a good bike trailer for hauling a kid?

Get in there and ask your own questions, or if you consider yourself a bike expert, share your knowledge!

Frou Frou's Are Delicious: This Is a Frou Frou

Megan Seling — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:55:56 -0700

Frou Frou: Yum yum.

A Frou Frou is (according to Wikipedia) a "thin Wafer Cookie (sandwich-like) filled with Vanilla Creme. Of Dutch origin; also produced in Germany..."

I had one for the first time this weekend and it was delicious! It was similar to a French macaron but with different textures. The cookie was crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and full of bits of toasted almond. The filling, in this case, was a light chocolate buttercream-type mixture. So good!

Now I need to know: Where can I find Frou Frous in Seattle? Tell me in Questionland and I'll love you forever!

Babies Can Be Brats, Learn How to Discipline Them Without Making the Problem Worse

Megan Seling — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:04:10 -0700

This week Questionland is helping out all the parents in the world who have the unfun job of disciplining their children. It's a very difficult to find a good balance—you want to be strict, but you don't want to make the problem worse or scare the poor kid. So need a little help finding the most effective ways to discipline bad behavior? Just look at all the smart people waiting give you great advice:

There's Roslyn Duffy, one of the co-authors of the much lauded Positive Discipline; her husband, Vinnie Duffy, the director of Learning Tree—a Montessori Preschool; Lenore Rubin, a child psychologist; and Barry Wright, an elementary school principal.

These folks have tons of tricks up their sleeves that can help you set rules and boundaries without being a jerk or a pushover. So ask your questions now and turn your little brat into a well-behaved angel today!

Learn Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Feeding Your Kid!

Megan Seling — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:12:06 -0700

Children can be so goddamn picky when it comes to food. Vegetables are gross! Spaghetti looks like worms! Ewwww!

But Questionland is here to help! Emily from Vesta Nutrition is an expert in pediatric and family nutrition, and she can help you make meals even the pickiest eaters will appreciate. She can also answer questions about food allergies, celiac disease, and childhood obesity.

Here are some of the topics already discussed:

"Can babies drink pop?"

"Should We Be Avoiding Genetically-Modified (GM) Foods?"

"Is there a tangible benefit to sitting down as a family for dinner?"

Want to learn more? Go to Questionland now! And never hear your kid whine about what's for dinner ever again.

Questionland's SIFF Blurb-Writing Contest! Week Two!

Lindy West — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:24:43 -0700

Hey, people!

This was fun last week. Let's do it again!

If you've seen a SIFF movie recently, we want to know what you think! Write up a short review (100 words or less) and post it here in the answers. Then I'll choose a winner based on up-votes and my own whims. The winning reviews will be published in next week's print edition of the Stranger!

Click HERE to submit your blurbs.

Have Questions About Noise for the Needy 2011?

Grant Brissey — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:18:10 -0700

Or the bands playing it? Shoot on over to Questionland and start shooting!

Hockey Fans! I Need Your Help!

Megan Seling — Tue, 31 May 2011 14:53:05 -0700

Which bars will be showing the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals?

I usually watch the games at home, but I want to watch the finals with fellow Canucks revelers! Big Mario's is said to be showing all games of the series. Know any other places that would be good for watching/cheering/swearing/eating/drinking/crying (if they lose)/hugging (if they win)?

TELL ME!

Noise for the Needy Artists on Questionland!

Grant Brissey — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:20:27 -0700

Ask them almost whatever you want! Ask Kerry Zettle about his thousands of tattoos! Ask P Smoov what his sign is! Ask everybody else how they got so dang good!

UPDATE: Now with actual working link!

All that and more right here!

SIFF Review Contest on Questionland!

Lindy West — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:39:57 -0700

Droopy SIFF Ticket & Questionland Dwarf: BEST FRIENDZ AT LAST

Hey, folks! Fancy yourself a film critic? We're doing a little contest in Questionland this week where you can submit 100-word capsule reviews of SIFF movies you've seen. Just post your reviews in the answers section of my post here. Then I'll choose a winner based on up-votes and my own whims. The winning reviews will be published in next week's print edition of the Stranger! Fun, right?

For examples of what a 100-word movie review might look like, you can browse the Stranger staff's SIFF guide here.

You can also ask me, Charles Mudede, and sparkling SIFF programmer Clinton McClung (also of Central Cinema) for personalized SIFF recommendations here.

DJ Riz on Questionland!

Grant Brissey — Mon, 16 May 2011 09:41:31 -0700

Ask the venerable DJ Riz how he got to be such a great human being! Example questions: "DJ Riz, does it hurt your brain to have knowledge of that much music inside it?" or "Riz, what is your most prized crate-digging find?" OR! "Riz, how long is your longest dreadlock?" Get to it here!

Learn Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Buying and Selling a House

Megan Seling — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:27:24 -0700

It's Real Estate Week in Questionland! Now's a great time to learn everything you ever wanted to know about buying and selling a house, mortgages, and foreclosures. Here are just some of the questions and discussions currently happening:

What are the options for buying or selling houses these days?

What are the best methods for researching a neighborhood to move to?

Neighbor's sale price - effect on my home's value?

How much for a down payment?

Weigh in on these topics or ask your own question now!

There Are So Many Ways You Could Fuck Up When Buying or Selling a House

Megan Seling — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:07:52 -0700

Buying or selling a house? There are a lot of ways you can fuck it up, so you shouldn't do it without getting some great advice first. Thankfully, Questionland has some real estate experts on hand to answer any questions you have about buying or selling, mortgages, and foreclosures.

Want to know how to increase re-sale value? Or looking for opinions on Seattle's current market?

Ask your questions NOW!

It's Weed Week in Questionland!

Cienna Madrid — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:33:07 -0700

We have a passel of experts—from backyard and indoor growers, to ex-cop and current city council member Tim Burgess, to ACLU powerhouse Alison Holcomb—itching to answer all your marijuana-related questions right now in Questionland. Current questions include:

lwolfe26 via Flickr
Hempfest 2009

What would you recommend should be done to encourage the feds to take cannabis off schedule one?

What do you think about cooking with vaporizer remains?

Will police help keep my home safe from medical marijuana thieves?

Our experts will be answering questions through the end of the week. Or get in there and answer 'em yourself.

Dina Martina Refuses to Answer the Question!

Brendan Kiley — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:51:57 -0700

Dina Martina is in Questionland for a few days, answering all kinds of questions from the polis, including "Should I learn to whittle?" and "What is the best way to take out an unsightly stain from one's undergarments?" and "Is it better to eat atomic fish from the Pacific Ocean or the farmed ones with mercury in them from the Atlantic?"

But so far Dina Martina HAS REFUSED TO ANSWER the most pertinent, piercing question in the bunch:

Ms. Martina, As a longtime fan I have been worried about you since I heard of the passing of comedy legend Mr. Soupy Sales. I know of your past romantic involvement and I've wondered how his passing has changed you and the landscape of American entertainment and fine art. Best wishes, Michael K. Wells.

What is Dina trying to hide? We demand an answer.

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Now in Questionland: Dina Martina!

David Schmader — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:45:15 -0700

The brain of Dina Martina—chanteuse, raconteur, psychodrag superstar (and Bryman College spokesmodel!)—is a place no other, and for the next three days, this place is open to the public.

Today, tomorrow, and Thursday, Dina Martina will be answering your queries in Questionland. Ask her anything! How can you mend a broken heart? What's up with Israel? Have you any bridge tips? Do it now!

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Vote For Your Favorite Question For Susan Enfield ...

Riya Bhattacharjee — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:11:54 -0700

HERE. Seattle Public Schools interim supe Susan Enfield will be answering your burning, itching questions all day Wednesday, April 13 on Questionland. We have already received 55 questions, now it's time for you to vote for your favorite one.

Enfield has only committed to answering 10—so the votes are really important. Questionland hopes that she answers more, but we'll see. You could also request her to answer more.

Ask me

Some of the questions with the highest votes so far:

Will you cut Central Administration costs from 9% down to 6%, like every other district in the state?

Will you put Teach for America teachers (who have 5 weeks of training) in front of students, or will you rehire riffed teachers with experience?

Will you spend even more money on standardized testing, or will you rehire career counselors, and paraprofessionals to work with students?

Will you lay off elementary counselors?

A group of people showed up at the school board meeting Wednesday asking the district to protect the jobs of Seattle Public School counselors. The district is currently facing a $35 million budget deficit and is considering cuts in a lot of areas, including counselors, central office staff and even teachers.

The district doesn't know the extent of how many teachers will be laid off, but SPS spokesperson Teresa Wippel said "it is expected to be minimal given that we are projecting significant enrollment growth." While determining layoffs, the district also takes into account projected attrition through resignations and retirements.

Have You Asked Susan Enfield A Question Yet?

Riya Bhattacharjee — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:46:35 -0700

You should. She's the new interim superintendent for Seattle Public Schools after former superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson got the boot for failing to provide sufficient oversight over a district small business contractual program.

Enfield has promised to usher in a new era of accountability and transparency and has established office hours every Thursday to meet with the community and listen to their concerns. She's already booked until June, but don't worry, that's where Questionland comes in. Enfield has promised to answer your questions all day April 13.

We've already received a tremendous response: 35 questions in just a couple of days. Now it's time for you to vote for your favorite question. Enfield will take this into account when choosing questions to answer. She has committed to respond to at least 10 questions.

Curious about what kind of questions people are asking?

Ask and you shall receive

Is summer school currently available for all students working below grade level? If not, why not?

Why doesn't SPS pursue the cheapest and most effective strategies?

What will the new SPS superintendent do to ensure greater equity in schools?

What is Singapore Math and why is only one school using it? That school appears to have the highest Elementary Math MSP scores.

This is your chance to get involved in a conversation about our public schools—seize it!

Man Purses: Pro or Con?

Megan Seling — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:49:00 -0700

Questionland is all about fashion this week! You can get all kinds of advice from what to wear to a semi-casual wedding to whether or not you can pull off those plaid pants with a striped shirt. Also: You can finally get a definitive answer about man purses!

Roger says:

Should I sport a man purse? Answer me honestly. Hot or not?

Sometimes I see a guy wearing a purse and I think it looks super cool. But( no offense to the homos out there,) I'm not gay and don't really want to be perceived as gay. Is it a cool look? Ladies?

Well, ladies? IS IT?

Go to Questionland and help Roger out! And then ask your own stylish question!

Susan Enfield Will Be On Questionland April 13

Riya Bhattacharjee — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:05:42 -0700

Got a question or two for Seattle Public School's interim superintendent Susan Enfield? Ask away here.

Enfield will be on Questionland for one day and one day only. Questionland will be gathering the questions beforehand, and then Enfield will answer as many as she can/cares to on April 13.

Hmmm.....

The new Seattle Public School Superintendent, Dr. Susan Enfield has promised to usher in a new era of transparency to SPS. In this spirit, she has agreed to answer your questions directly. Ask here about the direction Seattle Public Schools will be taking, how they are dealing with the budget crises, plans for opening/closing schools etc.

Tell your friends, neighbors, kids, pets—this opportunity will only come once in a lifetime!

Q: How can I disguise a "Jesus fish" tattoo?

Kelly O — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:26:55 -0700

www.fishingfury.com
Another kind of Jesus fish tattoo

A: Leave the fish, laser out the "Jesus", and replace it with "Sushi".

There's some great questions and answers about fashion over in Questionland. Yes, yes, yes there are!

There's also a neat interview with VAIN's superstar style maker, Victoria over here.

You really should come to Worn Out. Do you have your tickets yet?

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It's Time to Get Dirty!

Megan Seling — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:47 -0700

Spring is officially here (although you wouldn't know it by looking outside), which means it's time to get outside and play in the dirt. Whether you want to grow just a few of your favorite herbs or an entire grocery store's worth of vegetables, Questionland has the experts to help you. Sarah Cassidy is a plant and chicken expert from Oxbow Farm, Juicy is a buyer at City People's Garden Store, and Rich Macdonald works for the P-Patch Gardening Program.

They know their gardening shit!

Folks have already asked about their orchids, what to grow on their low-sun patios, and planting Dahlias.

What do you want to know?

Ask your questions now!

Fashion Advice, Now!

Kelly O — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:13:46 -0700

Dear Questionland: If my date shows up wearing these, do I still go out with him?

Ok, it's Friday, DATE NIGHT. And you're not sure what to wear. Did you know that over in Questionland, right now, we've got ten of Seattle's best designers answering your questions? It's true! These are also some of the same people that will be featured in The Stranger's first-ever, first annual fashion show, WORN OUT. Are you coming? The show is Friday April 8th, at ACT Theatre. Go get your tickets! Get them now.

Let's make Seattle a better looking place.

Click to enlarge photo. Photo from Frisky/Reddit/BuzzFeed.

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Don't End up on an Episode of Hoarders!

Megan Seling — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:05:25 -0700

Spring is here. It's time to clean up that pit you call a home. Wouldn't it be rad if your closets weren't stuffed full and your drawers weren't overflowing with crap? Well if you need a little help de-cluttering re-organizing your space, Questionland has some interior decorators and professional organizers to help you get started. They're taking questions all week.

Here are some things they've already been asked:

What are three easy changes I can make to my house?

How often should I paint?

Where can I donate used art supplies?

Now ask your own damn questions! Your just one more winter away from ending up on an episode of Hoarders. DON'T LET THAT BE YOU.

Have Unanswered Questions on the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster?

Jonathan Golob — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:40:11 -0700

If you have unanswered questions about the Fukushima nuclear diaster, the Earthquake or Disaster preparedness, head over to QuestionLand and ask away. Starting a little bit after 1pm (Pacific time) today, I'll do my best to answer them in an honest and unbiased way, linking to the sources of information that I've been using to struggle my way through this situation.