The Bird/Flower Mystery: Sandy Lawrence of El Sobrante, Calif., points out the Spanish word “alcatraz” can mean “calla lily” as well as “pelican” (as mentioned in a recent column). Sandy remembers calla lilies once being plentiful on Alcatraz Island, and wonders if the island might have been named for the flower instead of the bird. If you can shed any light on this, please let us know.

According to an indisputably authoritative source (the company’s own Web site), what was the first item ever auctioned off on eBay, in 1995?

A) A ham sandwich

B) A broken laser pointer

C) A typewriter

D) A comic book

Wednesday’s answer: Since “Time” magazine instituted its Man/Person of the Year Award in 1927, it has gone to all but three, U.S. presidents: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Gerald Ford.