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Ask Mr. Know-It-All By Gary Lee Clothier
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: Our family has long used the phrase "The sky is falling!" We wonder who is credited with the authorship of the old "Chicken Little" story. -- J.L.
A: "Chicken Little" is a folktale, and it has no known author. The story dates to the 19th century. Over the years, many versions have emerged.
The original story is about Henny Penny -- also known as Chicken Little or Chicken Licken. An acorn falls on her head one day, and she is convinced that the sky is falling. She warns all of the other barnyard animals of the impending doom. In some versions, there is an unscrupulous fox (Foxy Loxy). The moral of the story varies depending on which version you read.
Q: Are the words "blond" and "blonde" interchangeable? I never know which way to spell it. -- E.Q., Medford, Ore.
A: "Blond" and "blonde" are not interchangeable. The word has French origins. When referring to a woman with yellow hair, use the feminine spelling: blonde. When referring to a male with yellow hair, use the masculine spelling: blond. Some consider "blonde" a sexist term and have dropped the "e" in all uses.
The word "brunet" shares the same distinction. The spelling is "brunet" when referring to a man's hair and "brunette" when referring to a woman's hair. However, the masculine is seldom used -- "brown-haired" is a good alternative.
Then there is "fiance" vs. "fiancee." The former is a male engaged to be married; the latter, with the extra "e," is a woman engaged to be married.
Q: I have a silly question for you: My lunch group is wondering why there are holes in saltine crackers. Is there a reason, or is it just decorative? -- S.M., Binghamton, N.Y.
A: This is not a silly question; I found it interesting. There is a definite reason for the holes in the crackers: Without them, crackers wouldn't bake correctly. The holes allow steam to escape during cooking, which keeps the cracker flat instead of rising as the steam tries to escape. The holes also help the cracker stay crisp.
After the dough is rolled flat, a mechanism puts the holes in the dough. If the holes are too large or placed too close together, the cracker will end up extra dry and hard. If the holes are too small or far apart, air bubbles will form on the surface of the cracker.
Q: I watched the movie "The Grey," starring Liam Neeson, recently. It's about a team of oil workers from Alaska who are flying home. They are caught in a storm, and the plane crashes. The survivors are forced to live in the wilderness during a blizzard. Where was the movie filmed? Was this an actual snowstorm, or was it cinematic illusion? -- S.B., Lynn, Mass.
A: The movie was shot in Smithers, British Columbia, where the temperature dropped to as low as minus 40 degrees. The snowstorms were not the result of movie magic -- those were the actual weather conditions. According to Neeson, the cast wore thermal underwear under their costumes for added protection from the elements.
Q: Is R. Lee Ermey, the drill sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket," an actor who played a drill sergeant or a drill sergeant who became an actor? -- N.L, Reading, Pa.
A: Ronald Lee Ermey (born 1944) is a retired U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant and drill instructor. He is now an actor. He is frequently cast in authoritative roles. Ermey hosted two programs on the History Channel -- "Mail Call" and "Lock n' Load With R. Lee Ermey" -- and is a board member for the National Rifle Association.
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© 2011, Gary Clothier DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK
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Arnold Ahlert | ||||||||||||
