ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 25, 1996 TAG: 9608270051
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: 5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: COX NES SERVICE
Q: If a Social Security recipient commits a crime and is sentenced to prison, does he or she continue to receive benefits?
A: If a Social Security recipient is convicted of a felony and is imprisoned, his or her benefits are suspended, said Social Security spokeswoman Patti Patterson. When the person is released, benefits would be reinstated, she added.
Q: I've heard that the Smithsonian Institution is organizing a 10-city tour of some of its exhibits. What is the tour schedule?
A: ``America's Smithsonian'' is visiting 12 cities during 1996 and 1997. After visits to Los Angeles, Kansas City, New York and Providence, R.I. (where it will be through Sept. 21), the exhibition moves to St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 16-Nov. 14; Houston, Dec. 6-Jan. 12, 1997; Dallas, Feb. 3-March 5; Portland, Ore., March 28-May 6; Birmingham, May 29-July 12; San Jose, Calif., July 29-Aug. 26, 1997; Chicago, Sept. 20-Nov. 16, 1997; and Columbus, Ohio, Dec. 9, 1997-Jan. 18, 1998.
With more than 300 objects - including a compass from the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Apollo 14 command module, an Alexander Graham Bell telephone, dinosaur bones, a 170- carat emerald necklace, and works of art by Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper - it's the largest exhibition the Smithsonian has ever put on the road. Information about the tour can be found on the Internet at the Smithsonian's home page: http://www.si.edu
Q: I recall that Atlanta Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger hit two grand slams and a home run in one game. Am I correct?
A: Partly right, partly wrong. There was no third home run in that game, but he did have an additional run batted in. Cloninger accomplished the feat - especially remarkable since he was a pitcher - in the Braves game with San Francisco on July 3, 1966. His two grand slams in one game tied a Major League record. His nine RBIs remains a Braves franchise record, said team spokesman Glen Serra.
Q: The Bible teaches us that Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ararat. Where was it launched?
A: No one knows. James D. Newsome, professor of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., said the Bible is not specific about where the ark was launched.
Q: Why are motorcycles permitted to ride in high occupancy vehicle lanes any time?
A: Federal law states that motorcycles may use HOV lanes at all times because they are considered to be fuel efficient and environmentally sensitive.
Q: A recent article mentioned that the Republican party's slogan, ``Restoring the American Dream,'' was used by Democrats in 1984. But wasn't that the title of a book published by the Libertarians around 1980?
A: You're on the right track. ``Restoring the American Dream'' also was the title of a best-selling 1980 book by Robert J. Ringer, author of ``Looking Out for Number One,'' ``Million Dollar Habits'' and ``Winning Through Intimidation.'' Although it wasn't published by the Libertarian Party, it was (and still is) popular with Libertarians, said party spokesman Bill Winters. ``In terms of philosophy, it's a very libertarian book, with a small `l','' Winters said. ``Ringer explicitly endorsed the Libertarian Party in the book, but it was not published by the Libertarian Party.'' Fawcett published ``Restoring the American Dream.'' . .
Q: Does the NCAA impose any maximum age limits for eligibility in college basketball in Divisions 1, 2 or 3?
A: There are no age limits in Divisions 2 and 3. In Division 1, it isn't actually age, but years played in competitive sports under what the NCAA calls its ``participation after 21st birthday rule.'' It's a bit complicated, said NCAA spokeswoman Catherine Reith. ``Any participation in an organized sport during each 12-month period after your 21st birthday, and before you enroll in college, counts as one year in varsity competition,'' she said. As an example, she said a 30-year-old person enrolling for the first time in college, and who had been involved in organized sports from age 21, would not be able to play in college. But if that same 30-year-old enrolling in college had played two years in organized tennis, he or she still would have two years of eligibility for NCAA Division 1 play.
Q: A lot of old Cary Grant movies are being shown on TV, some from as far back as the 1930s. My co-workers have been debating whether he's alive or dead. Can you help?
A: Cary Grant died of a stroke Nov. 29, 1986. He was 82. Born Archibald Leach on Jan. 18, 1904, in Bristol, England, the seemingly ageless star appeared in 72 films over a span of 34 years. .
Q: What happened to the gold medal Muhammad Ali originally won in the Olympics?
A: When Ali received a replacement gold medal during ceremonies Aug. 3 at the Georgia Dome, NBC commentator Bob Costas said Ali had lost the original. Costas described as a ``myth'' the story that Ali - who, as Cassius Clay, had won the gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics for his light-heavyweight boxing title - had thrown it away in disgust because of racism he encountered on his return to the United States. Ali's autobiography, ``The Greatest,'' backs up the river-tossing story, however. In it, Ali says he threw his medal into the Ohio River after an incident at a Louisville, Ky., restaurant involving a white motorcycle gang leader.
Q: I heard a reference to a children's bill of rights, some of which sounded good, but some sounded questionable to me. Who came up with it, and where can I get a copy?
A: You may be thinking of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted Nov. 20, 1989, by the General Assembly. It's a treaty intended to protect children worldwide from exploitation and tyranny. The organization Focus on the Family objects to some portions of the treaty's 30 articles, contending that they deny parents jurisdiction over their children. You can get a copy by calling the United Nations Public Inquiry Unit, 212-963-4475. Or you can access it on the UNICEF home page on the Internet: http://www.unicef.org
Q: What is the background music in the IBM commercial showing two boats at sea flashing messages back and forth? It was shown frequently during the Olympics.
A: The commercial featured a traditional Russian folk song titled ``Kalinka.'' IBM spokesman Jeff Cross said the version used in the commercial was an original recording and is not for sale, but another version, performed by the Red Army Chorus, is available at record retailers or can be ordered.
Q: Jimmy Carter has been to Hungary, participating in a house-building project with Habitat for Humanity. Does the U.S. government financially support that organization?
A: Carter was in Hungary as a private citizen volunteer, not a representative of the U.S. government, said Sarah Egan, spokeswoman for Habitat for Humanity International in Americus, Ga. As a matter of policy, she said, Habitat does not accept government money for the construction of new houses or for the renovation or repair of existing houses. The organization does accept government funds for the acquisition of land or homes in need of rehabilitation, and for streets, utilities and administrative expenses, ``so long as no strings are attached that would violate Habitat's principles or limit its ability to proclain its Christian witness.''
Q: If a candidate can receive only $5,000 per election from a political action committee, why are they allowed to take much higher amounts from such organizations as the NRA and the AMA?
A: Politicians talk about two kinds of contributions, ``hard'' money and ``soft'' money. Hard money is limited and may be used by a candidate or party to affect federal elections directly: for example, in ads saying ``vote for'' somebody. Soft money isn't limited, but can be used only for indirect expenses, such as phone banks to identify and turn out sympathetic voters or ads that take stands on policy, but never expressly to advocate the election of a particular candidate. Most big contributions are soft money. In addition, any Americans or groups of Americans have the First Amendment right to spend all they wants on ads or campaigns that aren't coordinated with a candidate or political party.
Q: Haley Barbour, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, has a conspicious Southern accent. Where is he from?
A: You can't get much deeper into the Deep South than Yazoo City, Miss., where Barbour was born Oct. 22, 1947.
Q: I was surprised to hear that former President Jimmy Carter informed President Clinton that he would not attend the Democratic National Convention. Is it divisiveness or some problem of which I'm not aware?
A: There's no Carter-Clinton divisiveness. In fact, as reported previously, Carter talked to Clinton ``and assured him of my full support for his re-election.'' When Carter announced he would miss the Chicago convention, he said he was following the custom of other former Democratic presidents who attended only the first of their party's conventions after leaving office. Also, there is a Democratic incumbent this time.
Q: How can I contact the various leading political parties for information?
A: We don't know how you define ``leading,'' but here's how to contact some of the parties, listed in alphabetical order: Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (202-863-8000); Greens/Green Party USA, P.O. Box 100, Blodgett Mills, N.Y. 13738 (607-756-4211); Libertarian Party, 2600 Virginia Ave. N.W., 100, Washington, D.C. 20037 (202-333-0008); Natural Law Party, 51 W. Washington, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 (515-472-2040); Reform Party, P.O. Box 96, Dallas, Texas 75221 (800-967-2789); Republican National Committee, 310 1st St. S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 (202-863-8500).
Q: Is the French Foreign Legion still in existence? Can you shed some light on its history?
A: The Legion Etrangere, one of the world's most colorful fighting forces, still exists. Formerly headquartered in Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria, it moved to Aubagne, France, near Marseilles, when Algeria became independent in 1962. The legion, a unit of the French government, was founded by King Louis Philippe in 1831 as an all-volunteer military corps consisting entirely of non-French, some of whom were escaping political punishment, others seeking adventure and still others to avoid punishment for crime. Doctors, lawyers, merchants and priests also have served. Although it now includes large numbers of Frenchmen, all volunteers take an oath to support the legion, not France. Over the years its members have fought in Spain, the Crimea, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, Dahomey (now Benin), Syria and Indochina. In 1991, legionnaires stationed in Saudi Arabia joined U.N. troops that defeated Iraq in the Persian Gulf War. Most units now are stationed in France and the Pacific islands controlled by France.
Q: How old was Elizabeth Dole when Bob Dole received his World War II wounds?
A: Elizabeth Hanford, who was born July 20, 1936, was 8 when Dole, 21, was struck by an exploding shell on April 14, 1945.
Q: I'd like to send a card to President Ronald Reagan. Do you have the address?
A: Office of Ronald Reagan, 1100 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90024.
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