Q: FROM TIME TO TIME, I RECEIVE AN E-MAIL TELLING A STORY ABOUT FUTURE ASTRONAUT NEIL ARMSTRONG AS A YOUNG BOY AND HIS ARGUMENTATIVE NEIGHBORS.
Q: From time to time, I receive an e-mail telling a story about future astronaut Neil Armstrong as a young boy and his argumentative neighbors. The wife tells her husband that a certain event will only happen when the boy next door walks on the moon. Supposedly, while on the moon, in a garbled message, Armstrong said, “Good luck, Mr. Gorsky.” Is this true? – C.F., Modesto, Calif.
A: The rumor has been circulating for many years. I once read that NASA released a transcript of the conversations between the command center and astronauts. There was no mention of Mr. Gorsky or any other neighbor of Neil Armstrong.
Q: Charlotte Church is known as the “Voice of an Angel”? What’s she up to these days? – W.K.W., St. Michaels, Md.
A: A Welsh-born singer, songwriter, actress and television personality, Charlotte Church rose to fame as a classical singer but switched to pop music in 2005. She is said to have sold more than 11 million albums worldwide. Her latest record, “Back to Scratch,” came out in October 2010, but it has not been an overwhelming success. She has fallen into disfavor with many because of her outspoken nature. Highly critical of Americans who showed their passion after the 9/11 terror attacks, she has also offered harsh comments about the pope and the queen of England.
Q: My friend grew up in Houston, Texas, in the 1950s and remembers a candy bar called Seven Up. It was seven different pieces of candy. No one else remembers it. Can you provide any information about this confection? – E.S, Godfrey, Ill.
A: I have heard of the Seven Up candy bar, but I’ve never tried one. Introduced in the 1930s by Trudeau Candy Company, it had nothing to do with the beverage of the same name. As you said, the candy was so named because of its seven separate filled sections, all connected by an outer shell of milk chocolate. The seven fillings were orange jelly, maple, caramel, Brazil nut, fudge, coconut and white cream; the fillings changed from time to time. There was also a dark-chocolate Seven Up candy bar. Pearson’s Candy Company bought Trudeau in 1951; the confection was discontinued in the 1970s.
Q: My husband served in the Navy in the 1960s. He talked about his ARI/GCT on more than one occasion. I suppose I didn’t listen because I had no idea what it was. He’s gone now, and I’m curious about what it means. – J.L., Naples, Fla.
A: Recruits learn to do a lot of things in boot camp – and taking tests is one of them. The most important ones are ARI (arithmetic) and GCT (general classification test). The combined scores are required for a career in the Navy. For instance, if you want to be an aerographer’s mate (weatherman), the minimum score must be 115; for a quartermaster, you need a minimum of 110; for an aviation electrician’s mate, you need a 95. If those scores top 120, you can choose almost any career you want in the Navy.
Send your questions to Mr. Know-It-All at AskMrKIA@gmail.com or c/o United Feature Syndicate, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016.
Copyright 2011, Gary Clothier
Distributed by United Feature Syndicate, Inc.