"Cross"-word puzzle: Anyone who has traveled on a commercial airliner recently has heard the instruction "Prepare for departure and crosscheck," given by the captain to the crew. We understand that certain things need to be checked before departure, but what exactly is a crosscheck? If you can help, please let us know.

Cat doors, a part of many homes around the world, have recently gone high-tech. David Chamberlain, a veterinarian from the British island of Guernsey, has invented the Pet Porte, which works with a pet's microchip implant to prevent stray animals from entering your premises. The device can also be programmed to keep Kitty from leaving your home too late at night.

The world's first city to reach a population of 1 million was:
A) Shanghai
B) New York
C) London
D) Tokyo

Previous answer: The Computer, Time magazine's "Machine of the Year" for 1982, was the first nonhuman to be named its "Person of the Year."

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