A question for the ages…
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A: Hmm. I recall at least one cartoon episode in which Sylvester used a fake female canary to lure Tweety in order to catch him. Granny always referred to Sylvester, Tweety and Hector the Bulldog as boys. I asked Laura Schwanof, president of the American Singers Club. She believes Tweety is an American singer canary and, in that species, only the male birds sing. Tweety does sing.
Q: Many years ago, I visited the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt in Hyde Park, N.Y. What is the name of the home? When did FDR purchase the estate? ‘ F.W.M., Pocomoke City, Md.
A: FDR’s father, James Roosevelt, bought the Springwood estate in 1866 and set out to make major changes and improvements. Franklin was born in the home on Jan. 30, 1882. After he married Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905, the couple moved in with his mother. During his presidency, the estate functioned as a ‘Summer White House.’ FDR died in 1945 and is buried near the Rose Garden. After her death in 1962, Eleanor was placed at her husband’s side. Administered by the National Park Service, the estate is open to the public.
Q: I love the animated sitcom ‘The Simpsons.’ The show takes place in Springfield. On more than one occasion, episodes have featured the founder of Springfield, but I have never been able to get his full name. Can you help me out? Also, who is the lady that speaks gibberish and throws cats at people? ‘ J.G., Middleboro, Mass.
A: Jebediah Obadiah Zachariah Jedediah Springfield was the founder of Bart Simpson’s hometown. Jebediah Springfield and his partner, Shelbyville Manhattan, were heading west in wagons, but the two parted company and each founded a new town ‘ Springfield and neighboring Shelbyville. The ‘Crazy Cat Lady’ is Eleanor Abernathy. She always has cats with her and, as you mentioned, she often throws them at people.
Q: I am curious: How did Angelina Jolie get her last name? Her father is Jon Voight, and her mother is Marcheline Bertrand? I have asked everyone I know. They can’t figure it out either. ‘ K.B., Klamath Falls, Ore.
A: Jolie is her middle name.
Q: Is there a Mrs. Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies? ‘ F.M.N., Great Bend, Kan.
A: There is. In 1977, Debbi Fields opened her first cookie store, Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chippery, in Palo Alto, Calif. There were many naysayers telling her she would never make a success of selling just cookies. She proved them wrong. The cookie store quickly caught on so well that, by 1990, Mrs. Fields began franchising. Today, there are nearly 400 locations in the United States and more than 80 locations internationally.
Q: During the process of registering a vehicle, I was asked for the VIN number. That would be the Vehicle Identification Number number. That is strange. I have another, an ATM machine: Automatic Teller Machine machine. Is there a term for this? ‘ G.H., Kingston, R.I.
A: How about RAS syndrome, Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome. There are many examples of repeating the last letter as a word. Here are a few from my list: ICBM missile, ISBN number, IT technology, LCD display or a VIP person. This can also apply to a name. Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, is an example. Jeb stands for John Ellis Bush. The irony of RAS syndrome is that it, too, is a RAS syndrome. If you have a favorite RAS syndrome, why not share it with me? I’ll send you my list in return.
(Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at [email protected] or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016)