Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 19, 1993 TAG: 9312190235
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: D-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A. When the project was planned in 1979, NASA intended to return the telescope to Earth for refurbishing every five years, while servicing it in orbit every intervening 2 1/2 years. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration decided in 1985 that returning it to Earth would pose too great a risk of contaminating its mirrors and damaging its sensitive instruments.
NASA decided a cycle of in-orbit servicing about every three years would be adequate to maintain the telescope for its planned life of 15 years. The next servicing missions are planned for 1997, 1999 and 2002.
Q. Which cancer kills the most people in the United States?
A. Lung cancer will take more American lives in 1993 than any other form of cancer. Here are the American Cancer Society's estimates for 1993 U.S. cancer deaths:
Lung: 149,000; Colon/Rectal: 57,000; Breast: 46,000; Prostate: 35,000; Pancreatic: 25,000; Leukemia: 18,600; Uterine: 10,100
Q. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders suggested that the U.S. government look into legalizing illegal drugs. Were illicit drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, ever legal in this country?
A. Yes, until Congress passed the Harrison Narcotic Act in 1914, which made it illegal to possess, transport or sell cocaine and opiates, and limited their use to legitimate medical needs.
Problems with cocaine drug abuse use developed during the mid-1880s, and heroin later around the turn of the century. Consequently, this country found itself in the midst of its first real drug epidemic. With drug abuse spreading, and with more information about the dangers and addictive qualities of both narcotics becoming available, Congress acted to restrict the use of each. Marijuana later came under similar restrictions, as more and more states began to add it to their lists of controlled substances.
Q. How many people in the United States use illegal drugs?
A. According to preliminary estimates from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 11.4 million Americans used illicit drugs in 1992. This is a decline from the 12.8 million users in 1991, and less than half of the 24 million total in 1979, when illegal drug use was at its all time high. SAMHSA found in its survey that two thirds of illicit drug users (7.5 million) fell between the ages of 18-34, 11 percent (2.2 million) were between 12-17 years old, and 23 percent (2.6 million) were over 35 in 1992. SAMHSA is a public health services division of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Q. When was Christmas first celebrated on Dec. 25, and what is that date's background?
A. The first recorded Christmas celebration took place on Dec. 25, 336 A.D. The date probably was selected because it was one that had been used by the ancient Romans to celebrate the feast of Saturn, the Roman god of fertility and planting. Christianity took hold in Europe during the twilight years of the Roman empire, and by the late fourth century had supplanted Roman paganistic beliefs and rituals.
The word "Christmas" comes from "Cristes Maesse," an Old English phrase meaning "Christ's Mass."
Q: President Clinton was shown wearing a yarmulke while talking to children in the White House to mark the beginning of Hanukkah although he is a Baptist. What are the rules about wearing one? Would any Jewish group object for any reason?
A: There are no concrete rules for wearing the yarmulke. It is most commonly worn at Jewish religious services or during prayer or study; otherwise it is worn as a sign of respect or reverence. And it can be worn at all times.
Q: Has the European Community officially become the European Union? When did this change happen, and why?
A: Yes. The Treaty on European Union, popularly called the Maastrict Treaty, took effect Nov. 1, and the European Community became the European Union. A European Union spokeswoman said most member nations - but not Britain - wanted it changed. Britain is sticking with the old name, which the spokeswoman said "continues to exist as a legal entity."
Q: Are the U.S. Supreme Court justices' robes furnished?
A: No, justices bring their own robes to the court, usually from their previous courts. The robes must be black, but there are several makers, and the designs differ somewhat.
Q: Now that the 1993 hurricane season is over, will you give a complete list of the season's storms and the damage from them?
A: These are the storms of '93, according to the National Hurricane Center, which named them:
Arlene, June 18-21. Tropical storm formed in Gulf of Mexico brought rain and flooding from Mexico into Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. 40-mph winds. Six people killed.
Bret, Aug. 4-11. Tropical storm formed in the North Atlantic. 50-mph winds and rains caused mudslides and flooding near Caracas, Venezuela. 184 people killed.
Cindy, Aug. 14-16. Tropical storm formed near Martinique. Rains and 40-mph winds; dissipated over Hispaniola. Four people killed.
Dennis, Aug. 23-28. Tropical storm formed west of Cape Verde in North Atlantic. 50-mph winds, but no impact on land.
Emily, Aug. 21-Sept. 6. First major hurricane of the season formed northeast of the Leeward Islands. Struck the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Aug. 31. Three people killed.
Floyd, Sept. 7-10. North Atlantic hurricane remained at sea. 75-mph winds.
Gert, Sept. 14-21. As a tropical storm, it caused flash flooding and mudslides in the Caribbean. As a hurricane, it struck Mexico. 100-mph winds. 76 people dead.
Harvey, Sept. 18-21. Hurricane with 75-mph winds. No impact on land.
Q: How many U.S. service personnel are in South Korea, and how big are the North and South Korean armies?
A: About 36,000 U.S. troops are in South Korea. South Korea's army has about 700,000 men. North Korea, with half the population of the South, is estimated to have an army of 1.3 million.
Q: How many Communist governments are there left in the world?
A: Those that are solidly Communist are China, Vietnam, North Korea and Cuba.
Q: Regarding Jordan's recent election, television showed only men voting. Are there any Middle Eastern countries besides Israel where women have the right to vote?
A: As a matter of fact, women can vote in Jordan. The list of Middle Eastern countries where women can vote is longer than for those where they can't. But there are some Middle Eastern monarchies where neither men nor women can vote, some countries where only men can vote, and some where both sexes can vote but their votes are of dubious value. Iran, Iraq and Syria have given women the vote, but elections in Iraq are so questionable that few bother. In some places, the men decide when and how the women in their families will vote. The State Department classifies 19 states, from Morocco to Iran, as Middle Eastern.
Q: Will George Bush now be Sir George to the British?
A: No. Americans such as Bush and other foreigners who are awarded knighthoods are not known as "Sir," as are Britons who are knighted. However, after their names, Americans can put the official abbreviation of the award: KGCB (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath) or KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of Bath).
Q: How and when did a type of golf round come to be called a "skins game"? Every pro I've asked doesn't seem to know.
A: The Professional Golf Association's World Hall of Fame, the National Golfers Association and the PGA Tour office didn't know, either. The public relations firm that handles the Skins Games for the PGA gave us this: "In Scotland years ago, people played a round of golf for the skin or pelt of an animal."
by CNB