Q. The secretary of state recently mailed everyone a pamphlet entitled "Proposed Call for a Constitutional Convention." On page 3, under the heading "Best Chance for Real Change," it states that "Illinois has over 6,900 units of government, far more than any other state in the nation." What are all of these units of government? Why do we have so many more? What states are second, third, etc., and how many do they have?

Q. I was told someone wrote a book called "Merkle's Curse," which supposedly explains why the Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. I've heard about that billy goat curse that started during the 1945 World Series between Chicago and Detroit, but who is this Merkle?

Q. I keep hearing that Chipper Jones will win the National League batting title. Isn't a player required to have a minimum 502 at bats to qualify? If so, shouldn't the Cardinals' Albert Pujols wear the crown this year?

Q. Why do the Republicans and the Democrats use the elephant and donkey for their symbols?

Q. Do the two Belleville hospitals have the ability to administer tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) to stroke victims?

Q. Why do they call those huge storms in the Atlantic Ocean "hurricanes"?