Word on the Street

The greatest unsolved mystery is what genius came up with shrink-wrap and why did he or she think that this was the way to seal packages?

The greatest unsolved mystery of all was the building of the pyramids in Egypt. People have theorized that it was the Egyptian slaves who built them; however, there are so many theories. Some even say that aliens made the pyramids! The Great Sphinx is possibly the most baffling pyramid. This lion with a human head was built over 4,500 years ago. It is huge; according to PBS, it is 66 feet! I cannot imagine how the ancient Egyptians could have built this pyramid without the use of modern tools. I doubt we will ever have a completely clear answer to how they pryamids came to be, which makes their existence even more meaningful and symbolic. Morissa Schwartz Woodbridge Have you ever tried to open a CD or DVD package that has been shrinkwrapped? You probably need an ice pick to do it.

You can't slit the wrapping open with your fingers (even if you have long nails) because you can't get your finger under the folds where they make those nice (?) sealed corners.

The greatest "unsolved" mystery of all is the Isness we call God. The Rev. Diane Cuesta Brick You certainly can't pierce through the front or back because the plastic is just too tight to gain any traction. And plastic doesn't tear nicely like paper does.

If you try to use your teeth to rip the packaging, well, that $15.99 CD may land up costing close to $300 after a visit to the dentist to have your tooth fixed.

So that leaves you using our friend the ice pick or stabbing it with a knife a la Norman Bates.

With apologies to Bon Jovi, shrinkwrap, you give packaging a bad name.

Stuart Goldstein Freehold Township The existence of God! I think I solved it by looking out my window, for to disprove me, one would have to travel to the end of the universe. Anyway, at least I'll have something to look forward to when I pass away.

George La Marca Freehold Township How we came to be.

Joseph D'Ambrosio, Freehold Township

Aug. 26-27 editions: What do you think of N.J.'s new 25%

How many more times will Michael Rosenberg's photo and responses appear in the Word on the Street column before he wins a restaurant gift certificate? He happens to be a great guy, and since you have published his writings more than Hemingway ever got published, I think the easy way to solve the greatest mystery of all is to give it to him in this issue. Michael J Rosenberg (Happy, and still hungry) Manalapan liquor and wine tax, which is expected to raise $22 million

in this fiscal year? Deadline: Monday, Aug. 24, 2 p.m. Winner of this week's

restaurant gift

certificate is:

Morissa Schwartz

Woodbridge Winners are picked at random.

Word on the Street responses may be sent via e-mail to wordonthestreet@gmnews.com or submitted online at www.gmnews.com/wordonthestreet.html. Please include a daytime telephone number where

the winner may be reached for prize notification. For more information, call 732-833-5118.