Trivia

Q. In the gaslight years of the century past, some cities, such as Detroit, only lighted their streetlamps three weeks out of four. Why did they leave the lights off every fourth week?

A. The full moon would serve, they figured.

Researchers still insist they know, but don’t say how they know, that one out of every nine single women in America will make love tonight.

Great Britain was part of the Roman Empire for 360 years - far longer than the United States has been a nation.

Q. How long have the Hawaiians believed it angers the Volcano Goddess Pele when somebody takes lava rocks off the Islands?

A. Ever since a couple of park rangers in the 1940s decided something had to be done to stop visitors from stripping their state parks of souvenir stones.

“Birching” at last report was still an official punishment for some offenses on the Isle of Man. It’s public whipping. But the term is a relic. The latterday stick is hazelwood.