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Ask Mr. Know-It-All By Gary Lee Clothier
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: What does the distress signal "SOS" stand for? When did a U.S. ship first use it? -- M.L., Santa Rosa, Calif.
A: The popular interpretations of "SOS" meaning "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls" are not valid. The three letters were chosen because they were easy to read and convert into Morse code -- three dots, three dashes and three dots. After international approval of the code, all other distress signals were discontinued on July 1, 1908. An American vessel first issued an SOS call in August 1909, when the SS Arapahoe became disabled near Diamond Shoals off Cape Hatteras, sometimes called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic."
Q: I was looking at a picture of an exquisite English mansion with an orangery. I assume that orangery is a fancy name for greenhouse. What can you tell me about this structure? -- L.W., Fort Dodge, Iowa
A: Originating in Italy as early as 1545, the orangery is a place where orange trees or other citrus trees were grown during the cold winter months in Europe. They became quite fashionable from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Orangeries became the most elaborate architectural feature of princely gardens. Many famous orangeries survive today in Europe.
Did you know ... comedienne/actress Whoopi Goldberg's real name is Caryn Elaine Johnson?
Q: Which came first, Chartreuse the liqueur or chartreuse the color? -- K.F., Sedona, Ariz.
A: The French liqueur came first. However, the mountains of the same name came before the drink. Monks first made Chartreuse using distilled alcohol and more than 100 herbal extracts in the 1740s. They lived in a monastery in the Chartreuse Mountains, near Grenoble, France. The color chartreuse is halfway between green and yellow, and resembles the green beverage. There is also a liqueur called yellow Chartreuse, introduced in the 1830s. From that liqueur comes the color yellow chartreuse, which is yellow with a hint of green. I am told that Chartreuse is one of the few liqueurs that improves with age in the bottle.
Did you know ... Lady Gaga's stage name is a reference to the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga"?
Q: Every year, I read about the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and I think how exciting it would be to participate in the experience. How did the event begin? -- G.D., Brooklyn, N.Y.
A: The Fiesta of San Fermin and the Running of the Bulls are held from July 6 to July 14. The Pamplona-born Fermin, believed to be the son of a high-ranking Roman official, converted to Christianity in the third century. Many historians believe that he was beheaded in Amiens, France, in 303 while performing missionary work. However, some say he was martyred when bulls dragged him through the streets of Pamplona. His feast day is July 7.
Q: Can you tell me how many years Dallas Raines has been working at ABC Channel 7 in Southern California as a meteorologist? He has been around a long time. -- I.S., Pasadena, Calif.
A: According to ABC7, Dallas Raines is the chief meteorologist for ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles, and provides weekday evening weather reports. He joined the TV station in 1984.
Q: I recently watched an episode of "Gunsmoke" that featured an actor named Carl Reindel. He seemed to have acting talent, but I have never seen or heard of him since. -- G.S., Raynham, Mass.
A: Born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Jan. 20, 1935, Carl Reindel appeared in more than 40 television series and movies. Apart from "Gunsmoke," some of the better-known TV shows include "Ironside," "Bonanza," "Quincy, M.E." and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century." He also appeared in the 1970 film "Tora! Tora! Tora!" He died in 2009, at the age of 74.
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© 2011, Gary Clothier DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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Arnold Ahlert | ||||||||||||
