I have another question for you. I know you will have the answer — you have always come through before.

During the Super Bowl last week, the announcer referred to the Super Bowl as the most watched sporting event in the world. As "football" as North Americas know it is only played in North America, but soccer or "football" as the rest of the world knows it is played over almost the whole world I am sure the final World Cup football match must be watched by more people than the Super Bowl. A co-worker disagrees with me and agrees with the Super Bowl announcer. Who is right?

- Cecile T.

You are absolutely correct. That factoid about the Super Bowl being "the world's most-watched sporting event" is nothing more than Super Bull.

When the NFL refers to a "worldwide audience of 2 billion" (or whatever number they use), this is not the result of careful Nielsen-esque sampling and extrapolating. Instead, it simply refers to the potential worldwide TV audience, based on how many TV stations around the globe are carrying the game. So if the Super Bowl is shown on China's national sports network — bingo! — that's a billion "viewers"... even if only a couple thousand Chinese actually watch the game.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Super Bowl XL was watched by an average of 45.85 million U.S. households. (The word "average" is used because Nielsen measures the average number of households watching at any given moment. At kickoff, 70 million households might have been watching; during halftime, that number might have dropped to 30 million.) In terms of actual U.S. audience — one "household" could contain one person or hundreds — Nielsen estimates an average of 90.7 million American viewers were watching the game at any given time, and a total of 141.4 million watched at least part of the game.

In Canada, probably the NFL's second biggest TV market, an average of 4 million people watched the game, with about 10 million watching at least part of it. So in the parts of the world where "football" refers to what the NFL plays, about 150 million people (but an average of only 95 million) could arguably be considered part of the Super Bowl audience. This is a reasonably accurate number.

TV ratings for the rest of the world aren't as easy to come by, but considering the Super Bowl starts very late on a Sunday night in Europe, and early on a Monday morning in Asia, it's almost certainly not a ratings giant. Plus, despite what the NFL tells you, American football really doesn't have much of a following outside of Americans, Canadians, and Americans abroad. Let's be generous and say that 50 million "foreigners" watched, giving us a total of 200 million people in the world who tuned in for at least part of Super Bowl XL.

The World Cup, on the other hand, is watched by over 30 billion cumulative viewers from the opening game to the Final. (This, of course, counts many viewers multiple times since they watch multiple games — the Earth's population is only 6 or 7 billion.) FIFA claims that the 2002 Final alone, between perennial powers Germany and Brazil, had an estimated worldwide audience of 1.3 billion.

We should take these numbers with a grain of salt, too, but even if the 1.3 billion is a gross overestimate, the reality is certainly higher than anything the Super Bowl could muster. In Europe and South America, it is common for 80% of a country's TVs to be tuned to the World Cup when a game is on — regardless of who's playing. And now that Asia, Africa, and even the United States have become soccer-crazy, the audience is only growing.

As far as hard numbers, Nielsen Media Research reported that 63 million people watched the 2002 World Cup Final. Unimpressive, you say? Well, check this out: Nielsen only measures TV viewing in 18 countries. Countries not monitored by Nielsen include the U.K., Italy, France, Spain, Argentina... not to mention Germany and Brazil! In other words, most of the world's soccer-craziest countries are not included in that "63 million" total.

Even if we assume that only 25% of the populations of Brazil and Germany watched the World Cup Final, that's an additional 70 million pairs of eyeballs. Toss in viewers from France, Japan, the U.K. , etc. and you might not get 1.3 billion, but you'll certainly be ahead of even the most generous estimates for the Super Bowl.

The World Cup, the Olympics, the Euro Cup and probably even the Oscars outrank the Super Bowl in worldwide TV audience. Don't believe the hype. The Super Bowl's big, but it ain't all that.

Sources: Google Answers, Nielsen Media Research, San Jose Mercury News, Canoe, Wall Street Journal, Oscarbeat

Hey Answer Man. My question is about eggs. I wanted to know if there is a way to tell the difference between the different grades of eggs? Other than their size (and the brown ones and the boxes they come in) they pretty much look the same.

I was just wondering if there is supposed to be some difference in appearance, taste or benefit between the different "grades."

- Chris L.

Eggs are graded on interior and exterior appearance, which is independent of size or colour. According to Alberta Egg Producers, Canada's eggs are categorized according to the following criteria:

Grade A:
Thick white; round, well-centered yolk. Small air cell (less than 5 mm deep).
Clean, uncracked shell with normal shape.

Grade B:
Yolk is slightly flattened; white is thinner.
Shell is uncracked and may have a rough texture; and/or be slightly soiled and stained.

Grade C:
Yolk is flattened and may be oblong in shape; white is thin and watery.
Shell may be cracked and/or stained.

Generally, only Grade A eggs are sold to consumers in grocery stores. Grade B eggs are used in commercial baking and in processed egg products. Grade C eggs probably go to public schools and fast-food restaurants. (They're only used in processed egg products.)

In the United States, eggs are sold under a slightly different grading system. Instead of A, B and C, the U.S. uses AA, A and B. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service explains:

U.S. Grade AA eggs have whites that are thick and firm; yolks that are high, round, and practically free from defects; and clean, unbroken shells. Grade AA and Grade A eggs are best for frying and poaching where appearance is important, and for any other purpose.

U.S. Grade A eggs have characteristics of Grade AA eggs except that the whites are "reasonably" firm. This is the quality most often sold in stores.

U.S. Grade B eggs have whites that may be thinner and yolks that may be wider and flatter than eggs of higher grades. The shells must be unbroken, but may show slight stains. This quality is seldom found in retail stores because they are usually used to make liquid, frozen, and dried egg products.

It should be noted that even the lowest-grade eggs are completely edible, and probably taste the same as high-grade eggs. And regardless of grade, eggs have the same nutritive value.

Sources: Alberta Egg Producers, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

When I was 13, I used to sing the rhyme below while doing exercises that pushed out my chest.

"We must, we must, we must increase our bust. The bigger the better, the tighter the sweater the boys are depending on us."

This was a common thing done at slumber parties as well where several girls did this. My husband doesn't believe that this is true. He asked me to tell him where it came from but I really don't know. Can you help me out on this one?

- A Fan

This mantra was famously featured in Judy Blume's young adult novel Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, an ode to suburban puberty that was first published in 1970. Almost every pre-teen girl since 1970 has read that book, and quite a few boys, too.

I'm quite sure the chant is older than that, and was not invented by Blume, but I can't pin down an actual date or place of origin. This article from the University of Wisconsin's University Health Services suggests that the rhyme dates back to the '50s:

In the 1950s, bras began to be mass-produced, and large, lifted, pointy breasts were all the rage. Exercises to increase bust size were widely published in teen magazines. "We must, we must, we must increase our bust" was the mantra for a generation of girls.

Assuming you're in your 40s or younger, there's a good chance you and your friends got the chant and the exercises from reading Judy Blume. But it's just as likely it was passed down from an older sister or mother.

Anyway, there's no doubt that this was and probably still is a widespread phenomenon among pubescent girls.

Sources: UW-Madison University Health Services, The Boston Phoenix: Judy Blume for President

On the radio during the [New York City] MTA strike at the end of last year, it was stated that the term "gridlock" originated during a previous strike in New York City in the '80s. At that time, the trains and buses weren't running so people were driving cars. The numbered streets and avenues, known as the "grid" because of their layout, became completely congested or "locked." Is this a true story for the etymology of this term?

- J Dubs

I thought this story seemed unlikely when I first heard it, since "gridlock" seems like such an old word, but research shows that the term did in fact enter the popular lexicon in 1980, coinciding with the previous NYC transit strike.

I doubt the term arose as a direct result of the strike — it likely existed already — but without the strike it's very possible only a few hundred people would be familiar with the word.

The term was once the sole property of traffic engineers, and may have been coined by NYC transportation engineer Sam Schwartz in the '70s. The New York Times Magazine introduced it to the rest of us in 1980.

Sources: Gotham Center, Answers.com

Why does Bob Barker use a microphone with a wire attached? It seems to be a nuisance to both himself and the contestants.

- Betty S.

According to CBS's The Price Is Right FAQ, "It's his personal choice to keep using the one with the cord." No specific reason is given.

This anachronism sort of makes sense when you consider that Barker is 82 years old, and has been on TV almost longer than TV has been on TV. When he first started hosting TV shows, wireless mikes were not used for anything as trivial as television (and might not have even existed). And after working with a wired mike for dozens of years, he probably just grew accustomed to it.

Some authors still write with typewriters or — God forbid! — pencil and paper, even though word processors are much less of a "nuisance." To each his own. (Heck, once in a while I actually look at books to do this job.)

Sources: CBS.com, Wikipedia: Bob Barker

Do I need a specific power adapter to charge my iPod in China?

- Steven T.

The two most significant electrical obstacles when travelling are: (i) voltage and (ii) the physical shape of the sockets. (There's also frequency — 50Hz vs. 60Hz — but that's not a big problem unless you're plugging in something like a clock.)

In Canada and the U.S., 120V is standard; in the rest of the world it's more common to see voltages ranging from 220-240V. Voltage in China is 220V.

These days, most portable electronic devices come with power adapters that will automatically convert a range of voltages from 100V to 240V. Assuming you are using the Apple-brand charger that came with your iPod or was purchased from Apple, you should be able to handle this voltage without any additional adapter. (Check on the bottom of the white brick. It should say "Input: AC 100-240V, 50-60 Hz.")

The shape of the sockets in China is more of a problem. In Canada and the U.S. we use Type A plugs with two flat, parallel prongs, or Type B plugs that include a round grounding pin. China, on the other hand, has no such uniformity. Type A sockets are supposedly the standard, but U.K.-style Type G sockets (three thick, rectangular prongs, one perpendicular to the other two) can be found, along with Australian-style Type I sockets (three flat blades, with the top two slanted toward each other). Newer buildings in China may offer "combo" sockets which allow you to use several kinds of plugs, including Type A. If your plug has a grounding pin (Type B) you will probably have difficulty.

(Here are pictures of the various plugs and sockets if you're interested.)

The short answer is, your iPod power adapter should work in China without any additional accessories. A voltage converter will not be necessary (make sure you check your power adapter first!). However, if you're staying in a remote region, or in an older hotel or house, you may have trouble cramming the plug into the wall socket. To be perfectly prepared, you might want to buy some generic Type G and Type I plug adapters (Apple sells a World Travel Adapter Kit but you can probably find cheaper ones).

Sources: World Electric Guide: China, World Standards

Where does the phrase "that's all she wrote" come from?

- Joey

The most likely explanation is that this comes from soldiers reading letters in World War II. When a letter from a wife or sweetheart arrived, it was a big deal. The soldiers would gather and read these letters aloud to each other. At the end of a letter, the reader might say "That's all she wrote!" to signify that the letter was over, especially if the listeners were expecting more.

In particular, this may have been a punchline to a joke in which a soldier received a letter that started with "Dear John" (the stereotypical "breakup letter") but contained no other words. The soldier reads "Dear John," his buddies listen eagerly for the next line, and he informs them "That's all she wrote," meaning that the relationship is over. So "That's all she wrote" became a way to say "It's all over" (not necessarily a relationship).

It's possible that the words come from a song, but that particular song has not been tracked down. (There are some songs called "That's All She Wrote," but these post-date the presumed origin of the phrase.)

Sources: The Word Detective, The Phrase Finder

I know there are Robertson and Phillips screw heads. What are the names of all the different screwdrivers and where did those names originate?

- Karen

Here's a sampling...

1. Phillips: This distinctive cross-shaped screwdriver and its accompanying screw head were invented by Oregon businessman Henry F. Phillips in 1934. He patented a second version in 1936. Phillips screwdriver heads are self-centering and were particularly useful in the power screwdrivers used on assembly lines.

2. Robertson: This square-socket screw was the invention of Canadian Peter L. Robertson, who received a patent in 1909. Though these are common in Canada, they are rare in the rest of the world. Their primary benefit is that the screwdriver stays in the screw even when you're not holding it.

3. PoziDriv: This is a slight variation on the Phillips head, featuring two crosses, one large one like the Phillips, and another smaller cross set at 45 degrees to the larger one. The result looks something like an 8-pointed asterisk. The PoziDriv was invented by the Phillips Screw Company and the name was a corporate invention designed to sound cool.

4. TORX: This six-pointed star shape was invented by Textron Fastening Systems. The name is a trademark and presumably comes from the word "torque."

5. Allen: Usually in the form of an "Allen key" or "Allen wrench," this type of screwdriver features a hexagonal head. No one actually knows how it got its name, but it might have been invented by a man named Heublein. (Yeah, go figure.)

6. Tri-Wing: This screw head has a socket shaped like a triangle with wings, hence the name.

Sources: Invention & Technology, About.com, Answers.com, Wikipedia

Why are all my clothes shrinking?

- Norman

I've had the same problem in recent weeks. I think it has to do with eating too much.