
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 19, 1994                   TAG: 9404190147
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SIZE, SEASON DISTINGUISH SPRING TREES

Q: What are the wild trees that bloom this time of year? The ones I'm thinking about are finished now, but they have white blossoms. I think the small, slender ones are serviceberry, but some are big like maple. I see them in a clump when I'm traveling north on I-581.

M.D., Roanoke

A: You're right about the serviceberry, which grows to dogwood size, according to John Arbogast of the Virginia Tech Extension Service.

The bigger trees that are first to bloom white probably are wild cherry.

These shouldn't be confused with the bradford pear, a domestic tree that flowers early and has become really popular in Roanoke in the last several years.

All of these bloom before the dogwood, now fully dressed in white or pink around the valley.

The dogwood shares blooming time with the redbud, which has the lavender tint that's brightening roadsides.

Reprise of 'Respect'

A lot of folks challenged the lyrics in a question last week about Aretha Franklin's '60s hit, "Respect."

According to one version of the sheet music for that song, the lyric in question reads: "R-e-s-p-e-c-t, find out what it means to me, r-e-s-p-e-c-t, take out t-c-p, a little respect."

Several callers argued that their sheet music showed the lyric as "take care t-c-b," which would mean "taking care of business." The expression was used by others, including Elvis.

There's obviously more than one version of the song, but t-c-b is better, if only because it makes a little more sense. Logic can be overkill with these impressionistic lyrics.

Thanks to everyone who cared enough to call. It proves a little respect can last 25 years.

Virtually incalculable

Q: Hillary Clinton had $1,000 and parlayed it into $100,000. Five of us have tried to figure the percent of profit, but we don't seem to know what to do with the zeroes.|

|N.N., Roanoke A: Actually, the figures were $1,000 invested and a gain of $98,537. That's a profit of 9,850 percent, which defies comparison.

Don't try this at home.

Clinton purchased commodity futures, which is as risky as picking up a lit firecracker. You have to know when to let go, and she had expert advice from high-roller friends who helped her cash in.

She also had the good fortune to be playing at a time - 1978 and '79 - when the market was kind. Seventy-five to 80 percent of the players (or investors, if you prefer) lose in commodity futures.

Also, Clinton placed only a small part of her portfolio in commodities, keeping enough in reserve, most of the time, to cover any losses.|

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB