» Where can I find the sound of a foghorn? [11.16.09]
Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries includes hundreds of sounds, including the sound of a foghorn.
Smithsonian Global Sound is a virtual encyclopedia of the world's musical and aural traditions. There are 35,000 tracks of American Folk, Jazz, Blues, World (from 150+ countries), children's, and other musical genres, plus readings by major literary figures, political speeches, and drumbeats and other sounds.
» Why is allspice so named? [11.09.09]
According to Access Science, allspice, the dried, unripe fruits of a small, tropical, evergreen tree, is so named because its flavor resembles that of a combination of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Access Science has over 8,500 online articles from the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology 10th edition, Research Updates from the McGraw-Hill Yearbooks of Science & Technology, 110,000+ definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 15,000 illustrations and graphics, and bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations.
» Who said, Tosca, you make me forget God (or Tosca, mi fai dimenticare Iddio!")? [11.02.09]
That would be Scarpia, the chief of police, in Puccini's opera Tosca. Use Oxford Music Online for a variety of music questions, including opera summaries! It contains Grove Music Online, The Oxford Companion to Music, and The Oxford Dictionary of Music.
» I am interested in active rest. What is it? [10.26.09]
According to Food and Fitness: a Dictionary of Diet and Exercise active rest is "a common and effective treatment for many overuse injuries. Active rest involves performing light exercises (often swimming or cycling) that stimulate the recovery process without imposing undue stress on the injured body part."
Food and Fitness "enables users to evaluate the claims made about different diets and types of exercise. It covers all matters relating to diet and exercise including
diet methods, food supplements, sex and exercise, sports injuries, anatomy, energy-related terms, exercises for improving strength, flexibility, stamina, weight control, training methods and principles, calorie requirements of different activities, and much more."
» Who were the wild geese? [10.19.09]
This was the term applied to those leaving Ireland to serve in foreign armies during the 18th century.
The Oxford Companion to Irish History includes "1,800 A-Z entries from the earliest times to the early 21st century. Entries range from horse racing to Home Rule, bogs to boxing, and Parnell to parliaments. Traditional topics such as the rebellion of 1798 and the Irish Civil War can be found alongside entries on newly developing areas such as women's history and popular
culture."
» Where can I find some early maps of road trips for national parks? [10.13.09]
U.S. Congressional Serial Set has a map component with "more than 50,000 maps, from the great atlases to small individual maps clarifying very specific land questions, to the great triangulation surveys, to the repetitive but for the meteorologist important weekly weather maps, to the maps that made history ..." The years covered to date are 1872-1959.
About the U.S. Congressional Serial Set: this is an incomparably rich selection of primary source material detailing all aspects of American history, covering 1817-1980. Upon completion, the U.S. Congressional Serial Set will contain nearly 14,000 volumes and more than 12 million pages from the original 350,000 publications, along with 52,000 maps and thousands of illustrations and statistical tables. It covers U.S. political, social, cultural, military and ethnic history, as well as international relations, explorations, genealogy, commerce, industrial development and much more.
» How can I recognize Façadism? [10.05.09]
According to the Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Façadism is the "Retention of the front or exterior of a building even though the interior is completely gutted and replaced: this may be thought necessary because of the contribution the exterior or the façade makes to a street or to the townscape."
The second edition of this reference title has over 6,000 entries on architects, terms, periods, and styles, covering all periods of Western architectural history. Biographies range from Brunelleschi and Imhotep to Le Corbusier and Richard Rogers. New entries include definitions of landscape terms, and biographies of modern architects. Each entry is followed by a mini-bibliography, with suggestions for further reading.
This is a hotly debated issue and according to Oxford Art Online the "difference between adaptive reuse and the careful preservation of every stone in a cathedral or castle has been frequently debated. Façadism, in which only the street frontage is preserved in the belief that only the façade is in the public domain, has allowed much of value to be demolished through misattribution."
» What is tulipmania? [9.28.09]
According to the New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics Online, "The Netherlands of 1634-7 was the scene of a curious speculation in tulip bulbs that has come to be known as the Dutch tulipmania. Single bulbs of rare and prized varieties such as Semper Augustus or Viceroy became worth a middle-sized fortune. In its most extreme final phase in January-February 1637, prices of even common varieties such as Switsers or Witte Kroone soared twentyfold within a month and then crashed back to their original values. That these were prices of easily reproducible horticultural products has added to the bemusement of generations of historians and economists.
"In the succeeding 370 years, the historical tulipmania became, in itself, an obscure footnote to the conceptual tulipmania of economics and finance, a word warning of the obvious, delusional speculative excess that human behaviour in financial markets can create...."
The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics Online has more than 1,750 articles, 5.8 million words, 1,500 contributors, and 7,680 pages from the print edition. Updated quarterly, the dictionary is a key reference work in economics. The content has doubled and goes beyond the previous historical scope to reflect the significant empirical advances in the microeconomic fields in particular.
» What is the Silk Route or Silk Road? [9.21.09]
According to Oxford Art Online, it was the "System of trade routes linking East Asia with Europe that operated from c. the 2nd century BC to the 15th century."
Oxford Art Online is a new gateway the Grove Art Online and Oxford art reference. There are more than 23,000 subject entries, 21,000 biographies, 500,000 bibliographic citations, 40,000 image links and 5,000 images contained within Grove Art Online.
» What are the characteristics of Factitious Disorder? [9.14.09]
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, A) Intentional production or feigning of physical or psychological signs or symptoms; B) The motivation for the behavior is to assume the sick role; and C) External incentives for the behavior (such as economic gain, avoiding legal responsibility, or improving physical well-being, as in Malingering) are absent.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR® the most widely used psychiatric reference in the world) is one of many titles in PsychiatryOnline which also features The American Journal of Psychiatry, DSM-IV-TR® Handbook of Differential Diagnosis, DSM-IV-TR® Casebook and its Treatment Companion, several scholarly journals, textbooks, he American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders (quick reference [subscribers only] and comprehensive, Self-assessment tools for study, board certification and recertification review, and Clinical & research news from Psychiatric News.
» OK, Sesquicentennial Class of 2013, what other major events occurred in 1863? [9.09.09]
Check out the website This Day In History and type 1863 in the search box for some answers. This is one of many library-recommended websites that you may find useful in your research or to verify information. See the complete list on the Libraries' Reference page.
» What do Cyberspeak, Mary Jane, Slap Stix, Sweethearts, and Necco Wafers have in common? [8.31.09]
These candies are all made by the same company, the New England Confectionery Company, Inc., founded in Boston in 1847. Check out its entry in Corporate Affiliations. Check out the history of NECCO, including the role Necco Wafers played in WWII.
Corporate Affiliations provides current information on nearly 200,000 of the most prominent public and private parent companies and their affiliates, subsidiaries and divisions. Searching is possible by company name, product category, SIC/NAICS Codes, geographical location, size of business or name of executive. Updated weekly.
» What is a rogue wave? [8.17.09]
According the the Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences "the terms 'rogue' or 'freak' waves have long been used in the maritime community for waves that are much higher than expected, given the surrounding sea conditions. There are many accounts of such waves hitting passenger and container ships, oil tankers, fishing boats, and offshore and coastal structures, sometimes with catastrophic consequences. It is believed that more than 22 supercarriers were lost to rogue waves between 1969 and 1994..."
The Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences "Presents 402 original articles covering all the physical, chemical and biological aspects of ocean science. It brings together classic scientific theories with the newest discoveries, technologies, and applications. It is illustrated with more than 1900 figures and full color throughout"
» What were the aims of the Essex junto? [8.14.09]
According to the Dictionary of American History, "This term refers to a clique of leaders of the Federalist party, primarily from Essex County, Mass., that formed about 1803 under Timothy Pickering's influence. Appalled that their party seemed unlikely to regain control of Congress or the presidency, and that New England's political influence was diminishing as the west was settled, they formed highly speculative plans for New England to leave the Union."
The Dictionary of American History is one of the more than 350 reference titles in over 20 disciplines in Blackwell Reference Online.
» What was the Magic Carpet Operation? [8.3.09]
According to the Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World, "Following the establishment of Israel in 1948, the Jews of Yemen were airlifted en masse to Israel by the operation popularly known by the name Magic Carpet, a name that alludes to the flying carpets that, according to old Arabian folktales, transported their riders to their desired destinations... This gigantic operation involved hundreds of flights, carrying a total of more than fifty thousand Yemenite Jews! (almost the entire Jewish population) to Israel in just two years (1949-1950). They were flown to Israel from the British airport in Aden."
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World provides over 2,000 entries on major world developments from 1750 to the present, with close attention to social, economic, cultural, and political topics. The Encyclopedia contains articles on world events; countries; organizations; regions; ethnic groups; and themes such as social history, demography, family life, politics, economics, religion, thought, education, science and technology, and culture.
» What are cabinet pictures? [7.27.09]
According to Oxford Art Online they "are small paintings that are intended to be viewed from a short distance. The term originally referred to the cabinets, or small rooms, that wealthy 16th-century connoisseurs throughout Europe would cram with paintings and other art objects. It is, however, used more broadly to denote any small painting intended for domestic display. The smaller 17th-century Dutch genre scenes and flower pieces are typical cabinet paintings."
» Who was both the "Little Magician" and the "Sly Fox"? [7.20.09]
According to the entry in American National Biography Online, Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States "....had worked his way to the top so efficiently that his friends referred to him as the "Little Magician" while his enemies called him the "Sly Fox."
The American National Biography Online offers portraits of more than 17,400 men and women -- from all eras and walks of life -- whose lives have shaped the nation. The ANB is updated semi-annually, with hundreds of new entries each year and revisions of previously published entries to enhance their accuracy and currency. It features thousands of illustrations, more than 80,000 hyperlinked cross-references, links to select web sites, and powerful search capabilities.
» How long has the game of pinball been around? [7.13.09]
According to the Encyclopedia of American Studies "Pinball is one of the most enduring of the early electronic games; yet it was not always powered. Games similar to pinball date back to ancient Greece, where a popular outdoor game featured round stones and holes dug in a hillside. In the eighteenth century in France, the game of bagatelle, a mechanical ancestor of the pinball machine, was developed."
The Encyclopedia of American Studies brings together a wide range of disciplines related to the history and cultures of the United States, from pre-colonial days to the present. It features articles covering areas such as history, literature, art, photography, film, architecture, urban studies, ethnicity, race, gender, economics, politics, wars, consumer culture, and global America.
» If I am a luthier, what is my occupation? [7.6.09]
According to Oxford Music Online, a luthier was "Originally the word for a lute maker, it has become a general term for a maker of violins or other string instruments. Though French, the word has gained currency in English and German. Similarly, the derivative â lutherieâ (lute making) has acquired the meaning of instrument making in general."
Oxford Music Online combines the full texts of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd Edition (2001), The New Grove Dictionary of Opera (1992), and The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd Edition (2001), as well as all subsequent updates and emendations. It includes more than 50,000 signed articles and 28,000 biographies.
» What is the connection between a horse stinger and a devil's darning needle? [6.29.09]
These are two of the many names (another is snake doctor) of the dragonfly. According to Access Science they "are wholly beneficial insects, which (in large numbers) can ameliorate outbreaks of aquatic pest species. However, a large dragonfly can look frightening, and Western folklore offers several negative terms for these insects, including horse stinger and devil's darning needle. In China and Japan, dragonflies (including damselflies) are regarded as benign and auspicious insects."
AccessScience includes over 8,500 online articles,Research Updates,110,000+ definitions, 15,000 illustrations and graphics, bibliographies containing more than 28,000 literature citations, biographies of more than 2,000 well-known scientist, the latest news in science and technology from Science News and ScienCentral videos, continuous updates, illustrations, animations, and image galleries. Take advantage of RSS feeds, podocasts, and videos.
» What might one do with a niddy noddy? [6.22.09]
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines it as "A hand-held device used to skein and measure yarn, consisting of a vertical central bar with shorter horizontal bars at either end offset at right-angles to one another, round which yarn is wound in a figure-of-eight movement; a hand reel."
The OED ".... is the accepted authority on the evolution of the English language over the last millennium. It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of over half a million words, both present and past. It traces the usage of words through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of international English language sources, from classic literature and specialist periodicals to film scripts and cookery books."
Wikipedia has a good overview of a niddy noddy.
» Can I interest you in some bubble and squeak? [6.15.09]
According to A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition this English dish is "originally cold boiled beef fried with cooked potatoes and cabbage (the name comes from the sound made as it cooks). More commonly a fried mixture of left-over cabbage and potatoes. Colcannon is a similar Irish dish."
A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition contains over 6,000 entries covering all aspects of food and nutrition, diet and health. From absinthe to zymogens, it covers types of food (including everyday foods and little-known foods, e.g. payusnaya), nutritional information, vitamins, minerals, and key scientific areas including metabolism and genomics.
» In Islamic terms, what are capitulations? [6.08.09]
According to Oxford Islamic Studies Online, "Commercial privileges called 'capitulations' were granted by Muslim states, especially the Ottoman and Persian Empires, to Christian European states desiring to carry on trade in what was technically enemy territory. These capitulations set customs rates, established security of life, property, and religion, and set up channels for dealing with problems and legal disputes."
Oxford Islamic Studies Online features reference content and commentary by renowned scholars in areas such as global Islamic history, concepts, people, practices, politics, and culture. Encompasses over 3,500 A-Z reference entries, chapters from scholarly and introductory works, Qur'anic materials, primary sources, images, maps, and timelines.
» Why is the killdeer so named? [6.1.09]
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the killdeer is an American bird that frequents grassy mud flats, pastures, and fields. Its name is suggestive of its loud insistent whistle. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online includes over 73,000 articles, multimedia, web links, reference tools, and over 200 full-text books.
To hear a killdeer, check out the links at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.