ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601300015
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COX NEWS SERVICE
Q. What happened to Willard Scott, weatherman on ``The Today Show''?
A. He's on vacation all of January. He will return to the show in ``some capacity'' in February, an NBC spokeswoman said. ``He remains in the `Today' family and will still do birthdays,'' said Alex Constantinople. Al Roker, who has subbed for Scott as weatherman, has the job full time.
Q. A recent article reported on the revival of interest in accordion music. Where can I get information about companies selling accordion tapes and CDs?
A. The American Accordionists' Association says a good source is Ernest Deffner Publications (P.O. Box 608, Mineola, N.Y. 11501; 516-746-3100). A spokeswoman said the company sells a variety of accordion-related material such as CDs, records, tapes, sheet music, instruction books, and learning and teaching aids. Literature will be sent on request. Several organizations promote accordion music: American Accordion Musicological Society (334 S. Broadway, Pitman, N.J. 08071; 609-854-6628); Accordion Federation of North America (11438 Elmcrest St., El Monte, Calif. 91732; 213-686-1769); and the American Accordionists' Association (P.O. Box 616, Mineola, N.Y. 11501; 516-746-3101).
Q. Do you have any information about the Thomas Wolfe Society? How can I contact it?
A. The society has 700 members internationally, both academicians and ``lay people who are devoted fans,'' said Aldo Magi, editor of the Thomas Wolfe Review and a society founder. Members meet once a year in places associated with the author's life, including Asheville, N.C., his birthplace and site of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial (located at his mother's home, the boardinghouse of ``Look Homeward, Angel''); New York, where he lived and wrote; and Chapel Hill, N.C., where he was a student at the University of North Carolina. The $20 annual membership includes spring and fall issues of the Thomas Wolfe Review and a literary publication described by Magi as ``a collectors' item because only 750 are published.'' To join, write the society's membership clerk: David Strange, P.O. Box 1146, Bloomington, Ind. 47402- 1146.
Q: What government individuals are entitled to free postage? How much does it add up to?
A: It's called ``franking.'' Franking privileges allow members of Congress to communicate directly with their constituents at government expense. Each member's facsimile signature, or frank, is used in place of a postage stamp. A franked envelope may contain a legislator's response to a question or request, a survey, voter information, government publications or other printed matter that in some way relates to the legislator's official duties. It isn't supposed to be used to solicit money or votes, and letters related to political campaigns, political parties or personal business or friendships are ineligible. Postal Service spokeswoman Sandra Harding said franked mail from the House and Senate added up to about $28 million in fiscal year 1995: Oct. 1, 1994, through Sept. 30, 1995.
Q: Some homeowners say humidifers make them feel better. Can you explain?
A: It's just the opposite of summer, when increased moisture in the air (humidity) plus high outdoor temperatures spell discomfort. In winter, when heat is added indoors for comfort, the air becomes drier (humidity is lowered). Prolonged exposure to such dry air can aggravate respiratory ailments and cause general dehydration, skin irritation and static electricity, which causes mild shocks. Hardware, department and discount stores sell stand- alone humidifers, to which you add water; heating and air-conditioning contractors can attach devices to your furnace with connections to your water supply for automatic humidifying.
Q: Do you have any information about the educational foundation established by Michael Milken, the former junk bond king?
A: The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards, established in 1985, are the most extensive education program within the Milken Families, the umbrella for four foundations. The first awards went to 12 educators in California in 1987, and since then have expanded to 30 states. Through 1994, unrestricted individual awards of $25,000 have gone to 732 kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers, counselors and librarians, principals and other administrators. Information: Milken Family Foundation, 1250 4th St., 6th Floor, Santa Monica, Calif. 90401; 310-998- 2800.
Q: Was Capt. Scott O'Grady ever awarded any medals or decorations?
A: An Air Force spokesman said recently that he couldn't comment on any ``pending medals,'' but hinted that such honors are in the works. Anyone who attains the rank of captain is likely to have received some medals, he said, listing these that preceded O`Grady's rescue in Bosnia last June: the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Combat Readiness Medal with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal; and Southwest Asia Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster. A Marine Corps spokesman said various commendations went to the 61 members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit involved in O'Grady's rescue, and all pilots involved received Air Medals. O'Grady left active duty last fall, transferring to the Air Force Reserve.
Q: An article about Barbara Jordan's death mentioned that Hillary Clinton played a role in the Watergate matter. How was she involved?
A: She was on the House Judiciary Committee Watergate impeachment inquiry staff.
Q: What word defines words or sentences spelled the same forward and backward? What is the longest series of letters ever published?
A: A palindrome is a word, phrase or sentence reading the same backward or forward, such as eve or madam. When considering the longest printed word, you might be tempted to hum ``Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,'' one of the songs from ``Mary Poppins.'' But don't. The record-holder in the Oxford English Dictionary is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. And the longest printed word is even longer. Appearing in a 16th-century work, it has 195 Sanskrit characters (which transliterates into 428 letters in the Roman alphabet). We won't try to duplicate it.
Q: How can I contact Ralph Nader?
A: To reach him personally or his staff, write: Ralph Nader, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, D.C. 20036-0367. His consumer advocacy organization is Public Citizen, 1600 20th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009; 202-588-1000.
Q: Announcers on the recent broadcast of the basketball game between Louisville and the University of Alabama-Birmingham talked about their new conference, the USA Conference. What schools are in it?
A: It's Conference USA, composed of 11 teams formerly in the Metropolitan, or Metro, and the Great Midwest conferences. Conference USA teams are in three divisions: Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Miss, Tulane and South Florida (Red Division); Louisville, Memphis and UNC-Charlotte (White); and Cincinnati, Marquette, St. Louis and DePaul (Blue).
LENGTH: Long : 124 linesby CNB