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Q: How and when did the tradition of fireworks on the Fourth of July start?
A: According to James R. Heintze, author of "The Fourth of July Encyclopedia," Congress authorized one of the first fireworks displays in Philadelphia on July 4, 1777, to celebrate the first anniversary of independence. Boston also had a display that year.
In the South, the Fourth was ignored for years following the Civil War, Heintze wrote. The Fourth was declared an official holiday in 1783 and a federal holiday in 1941, though World War II blackouts quieted many fireworks displays the following year.In 1832, a cholera outbreak in New York tempered the festivities as did the assassination attempt of President James Garfield on July 2, 1881. Garfield died in September. In July 1942, blackouts quieted most of the fireworks displays after the bombing of Pearl Harbor the previous December.
Q: How big is the plastic "field" of trash in the Pacific Ocean? Are there any efforts to clean it up? Do ships cross through it?
A: The mass of trash in the Pacific Ocean is more like a "plastic soup," according to Marieta Francis, executive director of Algalita Marine Research Foundation. It is neither an island, nor a field. Made of small pieces of floating plastic, its size is estimated to be larger than the United States, and it is in motion with the currents. It is difficult to put a true boundary on the size of it.
There have been no efforts to clean the plastic from the water. "It would be like trying to sift the sand in the Sahara desert," Francis said. Ships can safely cross through the plastic, and in some cases might not even see it. Estimates of plastic in the world's oceans exceed 100 million tons.
Q: How are horses selected to run in the Kentucky Derby? If a horse wins the Derby, can that horse run in the Derby again?
A: To qualify for the Kentucky Derby, a horse must be a registered Thoroughbred, 3 years old and nominated for the race, which is a process that costs from $600 to $200,000, depending on timing.
The field is limited to 20 starters, with preference given to those hopefuls with the highest earnings in graded stakes races. The race, held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., the first Saturday in May, is restricted to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, so horses only have one opportunity to run.
Q: When is the Miss America Pageant, and who is hosting it?
A: The Miss America Pageant will be held at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip at 8 p.m. EST on Jan. 24, 2009. It will be broadcast on TLC.
When the host is selected, it will be announced at www.missamerica.org.
Q: Are professional tennis players tested for steroids or other drugs at major tournaments such as Wimbledon?
A: Indeed they are. The Tennis Anti-Doping Program maintains rules and procedures that apply across all levels of tennis. Players are tested for banned substances in accordance with the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code.
Drug testing in tennis began in the late 1980s and focused on recreational drugs. In 1990, the governing body of the men's professional tennis circuit extended the testing to include performance-enhancing drugs. The International Tennis Federation and the Women's Tennis Association also had anti-doping programs. In 1993, the three bodies created a joint anti-doping program that covered the whole of tennis.
Urine and blood tests are conducted randomly. Players testing positive have their cases reviewed by the independent Tennis Anti-Doping Tribunal. Sanctions are two years' ineligibility after a first offense and a lifetime ban after a second.
Q: Who was the world's first billionaire and who was America's first billionaire?
A: They are one and the same: John Davison Rockefeller, founder of the now-defunct Standard Oil Co. In addition to making a lot of money, he gave a lot away, about a half-billion dollars. He also lived a long time, dying at the age of 97 in 1937.
Q: What are the best plants and bushes to plant to help the bee population?
A: Bees graze on many different shapes and colors of flowers. Plant blooming salvia, zinnias and marigolds now to attract bees.
Hibiscus, hyacinth, butterfly bush, honeysuckle, garden fruits, vegetables and most herbs also encourage visits from honey bees. About three-quarters of flowering plants rely on birds, bees and other pollinators to help them reproduce.
More than 25 percent of Western honey bees have disappeared in the last few years. Beekeepers have lost 36 percent of their managed colonies this year due to Colony Collapse Disorder. The cause remains unknown. Pesticides, a new parasite or pathogen and stress are being studied as possible causes.