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"Water, water, everywhere/ Nor any drop to drink." That's how an old sea salt lamented his fate in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. (Okay, that's the culture lesson over for this week.) He couldn't drink the water, of course, because it was salty. Which brings us to our first inquiry.
THE QUESTION: Why isn't desalination a greater priority for countries that find themselves with diminishing sources of fresh water, asked Jim Whitney of Toronto.
THE ANSWER: "There are a number of reasons," writes Eduardo Sousa of Toronto.
First, "it is an extremely expensive process — and it is interesting that countries with desalination technology are fairly well-off, many being in the Middle East."
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Second, he points out that a lot of energy is needed to operate desalination plants, which would lead to an increase in greenhouse gases.
Finally, he says desalination generates toxic waste that often ends up being dumped back into the ocean and is extremely harmful to marine life.
THE QUESTION: Writing from Prince George, B.C., Scot Affleck asked: "Can one collect Old Age Security and/or Canada Pension while incarcerated?"
THE ANSWER: Well, none of you slackers, er, sorry, readers out there came up with an answer to this one, but several of you e-mailed expressing curiosity about the answer. (And we're sure you aren't all senior citizens facing jail time.)
So CW contacted Human Resources and Social Development Canada in Ottawa, whence a very helpful spokesman e-mailed us the following succinct reply.
"Since October, 1979, a person who is incarcerated has the right to receive Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits."
Although what they'd spend them on is, of course, another matter.
THE QUESTION: Oversize loads have a panel with the letter "D" in the middle. This is used worldwide, but what does the letter "D" represent, asked John Francis of Charlottetown.
THE ANSWER: "The panel is mounted on the front and back of the vehicle to indicate to other drivers that the load is "dimensional" (D) and to be cautious," writes retired transport manager Bill Burns of London, Ont. "Any shipment that exceeds the legal dimensions for transport — that's wider or longer than the truck — must display the banner and is usually accompanied by red flags on all corners."ƒo
FURTHER NOTICE
Further to our item on what hotels do with all those partly used bars of soap, Audrey Woodward of Victoria writes that on Vancouver Island they have for years been able to purchase Buffalo Recycled Laundry Soap, "a fine product containing only used hotel-room soaps, borax and washing soda."
HELP WANTED
Is there any reason why gourds have such odd shapes and colours? Ivan Dowling of Charlottetown wants to know.
Dale Graham of Owen Sound, Ont., asks: "How long can I safely store a package of road flares in my trunk?"
"We keep hearing about toys being recalled for problems with lead paint," says Robin Barfoot of Toronto. "Why does (or did) paint need lead in it?"
Send answers (and questions) to wisdom@globeandmail.com. Include your name, location and a daytime phone number.
