Reference Homepage
Back to Question

Previous Reference Questions - 2003



Q: Why are small places called "jerkwater" towns?

A: Jerkwater is a term used to indicate a small, insignificant, out of the way town or station. In the early days of railroads, when an engine stopped to replenish their water supply, it was called jerking water. In time, jerkwater was applied to any town noted for nothing in particular except that the train stopped there only to obtain water.

Source: A Book About a Thousand Things by George Stimpson.
Submitted by Lauren Clark, Reference Department
Q: Which bird species is considered to be the fastest flying bird?

A: Using Doppler radar to track the speed of birds, most birds travel at speeds between 20 and 30 miles and hour. Typically, waterfowl and racing pigeons can fly twice as fast. The bird that holds the record for being the fastest is the peregrine falcon. The falcon cruises at about 100 miles per hour as it dive's to catch it's prey. Don't forget that this weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count. To find out more information and how to participate, go to Great Backyard Bird Count.
Source:Earth and Sky Radio Show
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: When and where was the first national park established in the United States?

A: On March 1, 1872, 131 years ago, Ulysses S. Grant signed the law that created the world's first national park, Yellowstone. The area surrounding the Yellowstone River in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, was declared to be protected and preserved forever, "dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasuring ground fro the benefit and enjoyment of the people."
Source: National Park Service / Yellowstone-History
Submitted by Jennifer Quinn, Reference Department
Q: Where are the Islands (islets) of Langerhans located?

A: They are located in the human body, in the Pancreas. Islets of Langerhans are "cellular masses varying from a few to hundreds of cells lying in the interstitial tissue of the pancreas." They are the source of insulin and glucagons.
Source: PDR Medical Dictionary, First Edition copyright 1995
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: Who chooses the names of Navy ships?

A: According to the Federation of American Scientists, the Secretary of the Navy personally decides the names of new ships. There are many factors that will influence the Secretary's decision. The naming system focuses on the ship type. For example, battleships are typically named after states and destroyers are usually named for American naval heroes. Some ships are named after other famous people, including the USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300).
Source: Federation of American Scientists
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: What is the hobby called "letterboxing"? How did it originate?

A: Letterboxing has been described as "the outdoor treasure-hunting pastime". Letterboxing had its origin in England when a Victorian gentleman walker put his calling card in a bottle and then hid the bottle at Cranmere Pool, Dartmoor. Basically this is how it works. Someone hides in a waterproof container a logbook, carved rubber tamp and a pencil. The hider then writes directions to the box, either direct or cryptic. The hunters use the clues to find the box. The hunter has his own logbook and stamp. When he finds the box he uses his stamp to stamp the hidden logbook, then uses the letterbox stamp to stamp his own. This is a great way to enjoy and explore new locales. To get started in the Rhode Island area access the Internet on a search engine for Letterboxing North America. Follow the trail to the map of RI.
Source: http://letterboxing.wesgarrison.us/faq.html
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: What is the meaning of Cum Laude? And how high a grade point average does one need to graduate Cum Laude?

A: Cum Laude means with distinction, Magna Cum Laude with great distinction, and Summa Cum Laude with highest distinction.

The GPA for an honor's degree varies from one institution of learning to another. A quick Internet search has the range for Cum Laude to Summa 3.30-4.00. But most colleges award Cum Laude to students with a GPA of 3.5 or above.
Source: Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary.
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: Why do we call a cab, a "taxi"?

A: According to the Dictionary of Word Origins, the term "taxi" originally referred to the "meter" located in cabs. When cabs started carrying meters that measured the fare or "tax" of each journey, they painted the word "taximeter" on the outside of the cab so people would know. As time went by, the word was shortened to "taxi," creating another term for cab.
Source: Dictionary of Word Origins by Jordan Almond, 1997
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Department
Q: Who originally advised men to "turn the other cheek"?

A: According to the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus says, "Whoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." Many individuals, including Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi, adopted this notion that "violence should not be met with violence".
Source: Test Your Cultural Literacy by Diane and Kathy Zahler
Submitted by Lauren Clark, Reference Department
Q: When and how was Bisquick Mix developed?

A:In 1930 an executive of General Mills asked for a meal on the dining car of a train well after the dinner hour. " He had little hope of getting a decent, hot meal at the late hour… but much to his surprise, within minutes he was served a palatable meal, along with a plate of piping hot biscuits! Tentatively, he sampled one of the biscuits. It was delicious." Later Carl approached the chef to find out how he had managed to serve such delicious biscuits so quickly. The chef said, "For just such emergencies…he always kept blended lard, flour, baking powder and salt in an ice chest. Then when an order came in, he could serve piping hot biscuits in five minutes with no measuring, mixing or sifting necessary." Carl was intrigued by the idea and turned the concept over to the research department of General Mills. However, the product needed to be developed in such a way that it would not go rancid on the grocer's shelf. In 1931 the product was sold under the brand name Bisquick, the named coined by the company's president, D.D. Davis.
Source:Why Did They Name it…? By Hannah Campbell
Submitted: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: What star, of the TV show "The Munsters", is an award winning author and illustrator of children's books?

A: Fred Gwynne, alias Herman Munster, has written and illustrated some two dozen children's books including, Chocolate Moose for Dinner and The King Who Rained. Gwynne brought his wacky sense of humor into his books, along with an incredible artistic talent.
Source:The Complete Directory to Prime Time TV Stars 1946- Present by Tim Brooks, 1987
Submitted: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: What is the difference between the Nuremberg Laws and the Nuremberg Code?

A: The Nuremberg Laws were two laws that were issued on September 15, 1935 into Germany's constitution. The first of the Nuremberg Laws was the "Reich Citizenship Law" which took away the rights of German jews by allowing only "Aryan" Germans or people with related blood to be citizens of the Reich. Since the jews lost their political rights, they became state subjects. The second Nuremberg Law, the Protection of German Blood and Honor, prohibited jews from raising a German flag, hiring a German maid under the age of forty-five, and marrying a German. These laws helped severe the jews position in German society.

The Nuremberg Code is a ten-point outline that defines legitimate and permissible medical experiments on humans. It was born as a result of the American military tribunal in Nuremberg, Germany in 1947, which tried several German doctors for war crimes during the Holocaust. The code has been influential in medical ethics around the globe.
Source:Encyclopedia of the Holocaust edited by Israel Gutman, 1990
Submitted: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant
Q: What is "Dry Ice" and how is it produced?

A: "Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide, a normal part of our earth's atmosphere." The same gas that we exhale when we breathe is very useful for keeping things chilled when frozen. Dry Ice is the result of taking liquid carbon dioxide, allowing it to expand to atmospheric pressure, creating carbon dioxide gas and causing a drastic drop in temperature. It is during this process from liquid to gas that 46% of the carbon dioxide gas freezes and then is compressed to form dry ice blocks or pellets.
Source: dryiceinfo.com
Submitted: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: Is West Warwick considered a metropolitan area?

A: According to the United States Census Bureau, a metropolitan area is defined as "a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of social and economic integration with that core." They typically comprise of one or more entire counties. West Warwick is part of the Providence-Fall River-Warwick metropolitan area.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Submitted: Diane Carney, Reference Assistant
Q: How do they classify hurricanes and which Atlantic hurricanes have hit the U.S. at the highest classification?

A: During the early 1970's, Herbert Saffir devised a five-category damage scale to measure hurricanes, while Robert Simpson measured a hurricane's expected storm surge. Combined, the scale became known as the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale, which measures both the hurricane's intensity and damage potential. This scale is rated from category 1 to category 5 with one being the weakest at 74-95 mph and five being the strongest with winds greater than 155 mph. Category 5 is considered devastating and typically causes catastrophic damage. According to the National Weather Service Tropical Prediction Center and National Hurricane Center, there have been only three category 5 Atlantic hurricanes that have hit land on U.S. territory. The first one, unnamed, hit the Florida Keys in 1935. Then in 1969, Hurricane Camille hit the Mississippi coastline. Lastly, although originally classified as category 4 and then changed to category 5 in 2002, Hurricane Andrew devastated the southeastern parts of Fl. and LA. in 1998.
Source: Tropical Prediction Center / National Hurricane Center Website
Submitted: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q: This question was posed by the author, Jon Land , to the group that came to hear his presentation at the West Warwick Public Library September 17th: What is the best selling American novel of all time??
A: According to bookThe Top 10 of Everything 2003, The Bible is the best selling book of all time. Quotations from the Works of Mao Tse-tung is second and Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueling Susann ranks 10th tied with In His Steps: "What Would Jesus Do? by Rev. Charles Monroe Sheldon. However, most of these works are nonfiction, making Valley of the Dolls the best selling American novel of all time.
Source: The Top 10 of Everything 2003 By Russell Ash
Submitted by : Kate Carroll
Q: What is the most overdue library book documented?
A. According to the Guinness World Records 2002, Colonel Robert Walpole borrowed a German biography of the Archbishop of Bremen from the Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge UK in 1668. 288 years later, professor Sir John Plumb found the book in the library of the Marquess of Cholmondeley in Norfolk, UK. "He returned the book but was not fined."
Source: Guinness World Records 2002
Submitted by: Kate Carroll
Q: Just curious, who invented crayola crayons and when?
A. It is interesting you should ask because 2003 is the 100th anniversary of "Crayola" ( from the French meaning oily chalk) . Crayola was invented by Binney & Smith to satisfy the need for a child friendly crayon. In 1900 Binney & Smith began manufacturing slate pencils for schools. Shortly afterwards they developed "dustless" chalk which won a gold metal at the St. Louis World Exposition. While representatives from the company were demonstrating these two products in local schools they noticed the need for better quality affordable wax crayons. In 1903 the first box of eight crayons (black, brown, blue, purple, orange, yellow, red, and green) was offered for a nickel.
You can access a fun website created by Crayola at www.crayola.com
Sources:Ask Jeeves, (Crayons: History>Invention Facts and Myths. http://inventions.about.com/library/blcrayon.htm
www.binney-smith.com
Submitted by Kate Carroll
Q: Where can I find transcripts of President Bush's press conferences or press briefings by the White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan?
A: The website of President George W. Bush,www.whitehouse.gov quickly archives all of his speeches and press conferences so that you can read them verbatim. In addition, press briefings, executive orders, proclamations, and radio addresses are easily assessable. These links are located on the left hand side of the website under News. The website offers audio and video versions, as well as transcriptions in Spanish.
Source: The official website of the United States President
Submitted by : Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant
Q: The U.S. Senate just finished a 39-hour session over President Bush's judicial nominations. Senate Democrats used filibusters to block the nominations. How does a filibuster work?
A: According to Congress A-Z: A Ready Reference Encyclopedia, a filibuster is the "use of prolonged debate and delaying tactics to block action supported by a majority of members." With its long tradition of debate, the Senate has used filibusters since 1850. In this current case, the Republicans control the Senate with the majority of 51, all of who agree to the judicial nominations made by President Bush. The Democrats used the filibuster to block the nominations of Janice Rogers Brown of the California Supreme Court, Carolyn B. Kuhl, a trial court judge in California, and Priscilla R. Owen of Texas. The debate, which began November 12, 2003 and lasted till November 14th, has not been broken. To break a filibuster it takes a two-thirds vote of the Senators present, or 60 in agreement. So far the Republicans have 51 plus two democrats making 53. It is one of the longest filibusters on record.
Source:Congress A to Z: A Ready Reference Encyclopedia by the Congressional Quarterly Inc.
and New York Times Website
Submitted by : Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant
Q: Why do fresh turkeys cost more than frozen?
A: According to Trey Anderson of the National Turkey Federation "Fresh turkeys cost more than frozen because fresh turkeys are perishable and require special handling and merchandising."
Erin Desrosiers, the Customer Response Coordinator at Shaw's Supermarket, responded to our inquiry also. She notes that " Fresh turkeys are all processed within a 3-week period prior to Thanksgiving to assure freshness, and frozen turkey can be processed all year. Therefore because there is a limited supply of fresh turkeys, the cost is higher."
Source:National Turkey Federation
Shaw's Supermarkets

Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant
Q: What does the terminology used by the National Weather Service to inform people of impending winter weather mean?
A:The National Weather Service issues warnings and advisories of impending weather and broadcasts them on radio, television, and weather radio.
The different categories of winter storm warnings and advisories are as follows:

1. Winter Weather Advisory - "A warning that the weather is expected to be bad enough to cause inconvenience and poor, possibly dangerous, driving conditions."

2. Winter Storm Watch - "A warning of approaching bad weather that provides one or two days' warning of the arrival of severe weather in a particular area, giving people time to prepare."

3. Winter Storm Warning - "A warning that is issued to alert people in a particular area to the imminent arrival of severe winter weather. The warning means that conditions have already begun to deteriorate or that they will do so within the next few hours."

4. Blizzard Warning - "A warning that is issued to alert people in a particular area to the imminent arrival of strong wind and heavy snow. This is likely to produce deep snowdrifts. Visibility will be poor, possibly close to zero, and the wind will generate dangerously low wind chill temperatures."
Source: The Encyclopedia of Weather and Climate by Michael Allaby
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant
Q. Where can I get more information about the 2004 Presidential election?
A. The 2004 Presidential election will be arriving sooner than you think and in fact, the Primaries will be on held on March 2nd for Rhode Island. If you want to learn more information about the candidates, the Primaries, and all other facts about the upcoming election, visit the Project Vote Smart website at http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president.php.
Source: Project Vote Smart
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant