Three Dog Night took its name from magazine story
Q: Three Dog Night was the name of a popular rock group in the ’70s. Do you have any idea what the name means? — P.D., via e-mail.
A: The group took its name from a magazine story claiming that Australian aborigines described a really cold night as one that required three dogs in bed in order to keep warm. The story has been discredited, but the band rocks on.
Q: Actress Mae West said she liked only two kinds of men. What were they? — T.S., Mays Landing, N.J.
A: Domestic and foreign.
Q: I saw an old steam-driven calliope on display and was impressed with how loud it was. Is there any way to measure the sound and compare it to something more recognizable? — U.W., Willard, Ohio
A: There sure is. Sound engineers use decibels to measure sound; a home clothes dryer puts out around 50 decibels, and continued exposure to noise above 85 decibels causes hearing loss. The calliope you heard may have had a reading of 140 decibels or more, while a jet plane during takeoff records a mere 100 decibels.
Q. What was the first coin to bear the motto “In God We Trust”? — T.W., Steubenville, Ohio
A. The two-cent coin, which was first minted in 1864, was the first coin to bear the motto “In God We Trust.” In 1955, legislation was passed making it mandatory for the motto to appear on all coins and paper currency of the United States.
Q: Did the Professor and the Skipper on “Gilligan’s Island” have names? — N.V., Carbondale, Ill.
A: The Professor was named Roy Hinkley, while the Skipper was named Jonas Grumby. One source I read said the names were used only one time, in the series’ first episode.
Q: What was Rembrandt’s first name? — H.S., Reading, Pa.
A: Rembrandt. The Dutch painter’s last name was Van Rijn (or Van Ryn).
Q: I was a big fan of tennis great Jimmy Connors. I know he won 109 titles. How many times did he win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open? When and where was he born? — R.W.W., Beeville, Texas
A: The left-handed tennis star was born James Scott Connors on Sept. 2, 1952, in Belleville, Ill. Connors turned pro in 1972, and went on to win Wimbledon twice (1974 and 1982), the Australian Open (1974) and the U.S. Open five times (1974, 1976, 1978 and 1982-83). On July 11, 1998, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Q: What is the name of people who collect teddy bears? — F.G., Barboursville, W.Va.
A: Teddy bear collectors are known as arctophilists.
Q: What does “BASF” stand for? I have several cassette tapes made by this company. — K.H., Richmond, R.I.
A: It stands for Badische Anilin and Soda-Fabrik. Badische, Germany, is where Friedrich Engelhorn founded the company in 1865. Anilin and Soda are two of the company’s original products, and Fabrik means “manufacturing.”
Q: As a youngster, my grandfather used to call me “wheeple.” Now, in my adult life, I often wonder what he might have been calling me. Grandfather is long gone, so I can’t ask him. — N.M., Knob Noster, Mo.
A: One source says the definition of “wheeple” is a poor attempt at whistling, while another says it is a poor attempt at whistling loudly. You will have to make the connection as to why your grandfather gave you the nickname.
Q: When were roller skates first introduced? — L.H., Redding Ridge, Conn.
A: Roller skates were first introduced in 1760. The story goes that Belgian Joseph Merlin, an instrument maker and inventor based in London, showed off his new idea at a masquerade party in that city. During his demonstration, he lost control and smashed into a mirror and critically, but not fatally, injured himself. For obvious reasons, enthusiasm for his wheeled boot did not catch on. Roller skates finally become popular in the early 1800s.
Q: My all-time favorite movie is “Fiddler on the Roof.” My understanding is that the fiddle music was dubbed in. By whom? — G.W.R., Ashburn, Ga.
A: Legendary violinist Isaac Stern.
Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at [email protected] or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.