World’s critical issues in a snap! Crackle! And meow?

From July 24, 2006:

War in the Middle East. Iraq. Afghanistan. Children without health care insurance. Natural disasters. Immigration reform. The housing market. Serial killers. North Korea.

These are all pressing matters that touch us all in one way or another. They need analysis, discussion and informed action.

So which one shall we start with today? How about this one: What makes Rice Krispies snap, crackle, pop?

Good question. You people are, like, deep.

For the official answer I went straight to a Kellogg’s Web site and found this:

“When Kellogg’s Rice Krispies are toasted, the cooked and dried rice ‘berries’ expand their size (puff) to many times their normal size. Since the weight of the rice berry and its material mass remains nearly the same, the rice material is stretched to form very thin walls of the Rice Krispies structure. This is much like a very thin glass crystal. When subjected to a change in heat, a severe “stress” is set up and the thin wall fractures — creating a Snap, Crackle and Pop!

“This happens in the cereal bowl when cold milk (i.e. heat stress) is poured in the Rice Krispies and presto SNAP! CRACKLE! POP! The sounds are made by the uneven absorption of milk by the cereal bubbles.”

Now let’s get really serious. I have several cats and they are pack

rats. In the last few months they have been bringing home objects. They may leave it in the backyard for us to find, or they will bring it into the house. What causes this?

You’re lucky. My cat never brings me anything.

As far as I can tell, your cats are “gifting.” They’re bringing you presents. They like you.

Or it could be that they are trying to impress you with their skill as hunters. Or they might be trying to teach you to hunt, like a mother cat bringing her kittens a live mouse to practice on.