2004 Previous Reference Questions of the Week

Previous Reference Questions - 2004

Q. Who was the first female printer in Rhode Island?
A. "Ann Smith Franklin of Newport, Rhode Island, was New England's first female printer." Married to Benjamin Franklin's brother, James, Ann became a prominent figure in the history of printing in the state of Rhode Island. Together, the couple was responsible for bringing the first operating printing press to the colony and for establishing the Rhode Island Gazette, the colony's first newspaper, on Sept. 27, 1732. After her husband's death three years later, however, Ann Smith Franklin continued the printing shop with the assistance of her children and wrote, edited and printed the Rhode Island Almanack from 1736-1741. She continued her print career publishing the newspaper, the Newport Mercury until 1763.
Source: A History of Women in the United States: State-by-State Reference, edited by Doris Weatherford
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q: What is the name of the second Mars rover slated to land this evening on Mars to join it's "twin," Spirit?
A: Both Mars rovers are identical, but will cover different regions of Mars. These robotic explorers are searching for the evidence of liquid water among other things. They are destined to be on the planet until at least April and will forward information on a regular basis, (seeing that Spirit feels up to it).
Source:NASA'S Mars Exploration Program website
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q. What is desalination and where is the largest desalination plant?
A: "Desalination is the process by which dissolved salts are removed from salt water or brackish water to produce water that can be used for human consumption." Many regions of the world must use this process to obtain adequate supplies of freshwater. As of 2001, there were over 7,500 desalination plants operating worldwide, with the largest plant in Saudi Arabia. It is the world's largest producer of desalinated water, approximately 128 million gallons of water per day. The United States is the second largest producer after Saudi Arabia.
Source:Encyclopedia of Water by David E. Newton
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q. Where is Haiti and what kind of government system does it have?
A. Haiti is located in the center of the Caribbean Sea in the West Indies and is situated on the western side of the island, Hispaniola. The Dominican Republic occupies eastern side of the island. Haiti attained its independence from the French in 1804, making the nation of Haiti the second-oldest independent nation in the western hemisphere (after the U.S.). The political history of Haiti has been tenuous and violent over the years with U.S. occupation from 1915-1934, a 28-year dictatorship, and many coups along the way. Today a Republic governs the country with supreme power lying in the body of its citizens.
Source: The World Almanac and Book of Facts - 2004 edited by William A. McGeveran, Jr. Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q:Who was Margaret Sanger?
A:Margaret Sanger was an American Obstetric Nurse who in the early 1900's fought tirelessly to make contraception information available to women in a pamphlet called, "Family Limitation." She also coined the phrase, "birth control."
Source:Pioneer of the Future: Margaret Sanger by Emily Taft. Submitted by: Lauren Clark, Reference Assistant

Q:Who was Susan B. Anthony?
A: Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906), was one of the nineteenth century's most famous women's rights leaders. The 19th Amendment of, guaranteeing women's suffrage, or right to vote, is sometimes called the "Susan B. Anthony Amendment." In 1979, Anthony's likeness appeared on the dollar coin; it was the first time a woman's likeness appeared on any U.S. currency.
Source:Encyclopedia of Women's History in America by Kathryn Cullen Dupont
Submitted by: Lauren Clark, Reference Assistant

Q: In 1919, 21 people were killed and more than 50 people were injured as a result of what substance flooding the city of Boston?
A: On January 15, 1919, a fifty-foot high iron tank owned by the Purity Distilling Company exploded and poured forth a 2.2 million gallon tidal wave of molasses. Situated in the commercial district of Boston, the molasses was used for the making of rum. The sticky surge swamped several small homes as well as a fire station resulting in 21 deaths and numerous injuries.
Source:Chronicle of America: From Prehistory to Today by Clifton Daniel
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: What is the largest living organism on earth?
A: Although the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or a grove of aspen trees known as Pando in located in Utah have both been considered the largest living organism on earth, it is believed that a fungus living three feet underground, estimated to cover 2,200 acres, currently holds the distinction of the largest organism. Discovered in the Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon, this honey mushroom, known as Armillaria ostoyae is three miles across and takes up 1,665 football fields. It is also believed that this "giant" organism is at least 2,400 years old to possibly 7,200 years old. Source:Formidable Fungus is World's Largest Organism from the Infoplease Website, http://www.infoplease.com/spot/fungus1.html
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q: What is a Palindrome?
A: According to Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, a palindrome is "a word, line, verse, number, or sentence that reads the same backward as forward," for examples; eye, level, radar, madam, and racecar. Various phrases have been created that are palindromes, such as "A man, a plan, a canal: Panama." "Able was I ere I saw Elba" is considered the perfect palindrome for it is a complete sentence.
The term palindrome is also used to denote a region of DNA "in which the region of nucleotides is identical with an inverted sequence in the complementary strands."
Source:Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 2nd Edition
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q: There is a new book out on Alexander Hamilton, who was he and why was he significant?
A: Alexander Hamilton, born in 1757, was a US statesman and political thinker. Originally from the British West Indies, he was sent to America in 1772 by his aunts to pursue an education. Hamilton joined the army in 1776 and fought in the American Revolution under George Washington's command. With a gifted talent for writing and a drive to help get the Constitution ratified, Hamilton wrote a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers. Between October 1787 and May 1788, Hamilton, along with John Jay and James Madison wrote 85 essays that urged New York delegates to ratify the Constitution. Also fearing that this could centralize and empower government too much, the three designed the system of checks and balances to divide power between the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches.
Source: Biography.com and Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q. Which insect will be responsible for one of the largest insect emergence on Earth happening this spring?
A. The harmless, winged bug that will wake from a seventeen-year slumber and invade the eastern US is the Cicada. These periodical cicadas were hatched in 1987, entered the ground as nymphs, and lived underground feeding on tree roots over the past 17 years. During May and June of this year these bugs will emerge as adults and mate to start the cycle all over again.
Groups of cicadas that share the same emergence years are called broods. The trillions of cicadas that are expected belong to Brood X and will be the largest. These insects are known for their loud buzzing mating calls, which attract the females. Once the insects mate, each female cicada will deposit up to 600 eggs into the branches of the trees and then the adults die. Although the cicadas are not harmful to humans, they can destroy young trees and shrubs when they deposit their eggs, and when they die, they rot and smell.
Source: Cicada Watch 2004 and BBC News
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Assistant

Q. What kind of fruit is a hosui?
A. Hosui, meaning "copious juice", is a variety of Asian pears. They are sometimes referred to as apple pears since they have a crisp skin and a juicy center. The skin is golden brown and has a slightly rough texture. The flesh of the fruit is very sweet. The fruit typically ripens in mid-September.
Source: www.garden.org
Submitted by: Anne McLaughlin, Head of Children's Services

Q:What are the constitutional requirements for the Vice Presidential Candidates?
A. "To hold the office, the Vice President must satisfy the same constitutional qualifications as the President; that is, the Vice President must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least thirty-five years of age, and a resident of the United States for 14 years."
Source:www.wikipedia.org
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q:What do the colors of the United States flag mean?
A:Our national flag was designed to signify loyality, respect, and admiration for our country. The original 13 colonies are represented by thirteen red and white stripes, while each of the fifty states are denoted by a white star against a blue background. The original meaning behind the colors are as follows:
White signifies Purity and Innocence,
Red signifies Hardiness and Valor,
Blue signifies Vigilance, Perseverance and Justice.
Source:The American Flag by Vera Rollo
Submitted by: Sue LaPorte, Administrative Assistant

Q:How did Block Island get its name?
A:One of Rhode Island's greatest treasures, with its sandy beaches and thundering surf, Is Block Island. Block Island is located in the Atlantic, between Point Judith, Rhode Island, and Mantauk Point, New York. Originally called Manisse's ( little God's) Island by the Narragansett Indians, the colonial settlers called it New Shoreham. In 1614, a Dutch navigator, Adrian Block, landed his ship Unrest, on the shores of the island that would later bear his name. When Block Island became a town in 1692,the Charter read; "the town of New Shoreham, otherwise Block Island."
Source:Images Of America, Block Island by Donald A. D'Amato and Henry A. L. Brown
Submitted by: Laurie Dumas, Reference Assistant

Q:What is the Tour de France and how long is it?
A:The Tour de France, a men's bicycle race, was first held in France in 1903. The race is almost 2,400 miles around France and is ridden over the course of 23 days. The Tour is extremely grueling with stretches climbing the Pyrenees and Alps mountains. The race consists of 21 individual races or stages that begin and end on a given day. The winner of the Tour de France is the cyclist with the lowest total time after all stages are completed. Lance Armstrong is the winner the 91st Tour de France this year. This is 6th consecutive win of the race.
Source: The World Book Encyclopedia 2003
Submitted by: Kate Carroll

Q:Who is considered father of the modern Olympic Games?
A:The man responsible for making the global games come true was the French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Although he was not really good at sports, he loved them and saw how important they were to the community. In 1892, de Coubertin envisioned the idea of the modern Olympics, which would be based on the ancient Greek Olympics. He wanted the youth of the world to come together "in peaceful, character-building competition, while obtaining the glory of being an Olympian." Baron de Coubertin's dream did not come to fruition until 1896 when athletes from fourteen nations came together and competed in the first modern Olympic Games.
Source:Modern Olympic Games by Hayden Middleton
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Librarian

Q:What is the origin of the saying, "money is the root of all evil"?
A:This proverb goes back to biblical times when Paul the Apostle wrote that people's passion for being rich led them away from their faith. He believed that "the love of money is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10.
Source:The New American Bible
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Librarian

Q:With the movie "Vanity Fair" in the theatres now, I was wondering what the titles means?
A:The movie is based on the novel of the same name by William Thackeray. Thackeray very pointedly chose the title, borrowing it from John Bunyan's A Pilgrim's Progress in which there is fair (in a town named Vanity) operated by three demons Beelezebub, Apollyon and Legion. Bunyan describes "at this fair are all such merchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honours, ….lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts….wives, husbands, children, masters, servants…souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not." In his novel Thackeray further develops this allegorical theme as all the items Bunyan mentions are bought and sold as if merchandise.
Source:Modern Critical Interpretations: William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair; The Oxford Companion to English Literature ,4th Ed. and The Reader's Encyclopedia 2nd Ed. by William Rose Benet.
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q:Is there a source to find out the meaning of Indian names in R.I.? We came across a place called Canonchet in Hopkinton and I wondered what it meant.
A:Yes, there is a wonderful book, American Indian Place Names in Rhode Island: Past & Present by Frank Waabu O'Brien, Ph.D.(copyright 2003). His reference work lists the name, historical & geographical information and the translation of each place name. Canonchet means: He is ruler, overseer, and protector. Canonchet was a Narragansett Sachem and the warrior son of Miantonomi. There are two places with the name. One is a brook in Carolina and the second is a mill site S.W. of Fenner's Hill (Farm Park and Memorial, Narragansett.)
Source:American Indian Place Names in Rhode Island: Past & Present by Frank Waabu O'Brien, Ph.D.(copyright 2003).
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q:What is jet lag?
A:Jet lag, or desynchronosis, is a "disruption of the body's internal biological clock that occurs when people cross time zones." For most individuals, their circadian rhythms are set for the time zone in which they live. By crossing several time zones in a short period of time, the traveler's internal clock becomes out of sync with the external environment. In the body's attempt to counteract this dilemma, the symptoms of jet lag typically occur. In essence, jet lag is a sleep disorder for it causes insomnia, daytime fatigue, irritability, and decreased awareness. Other factors of plane travel contribute to the intensity of jet lag, such as cramped seating, dehydration, and lower air pressure.
Source:Human Diseases and Conditions by Neil Izenberg(copyright 2000) & www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/jetlag/.
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Librarian

Q:Is a muskrat a rat?
A:The dictionary defines the muskrat as an aquatic rodent of the U.S. and Canada with a long scaly tail, webbed hind feet , and dark glossy brown fur. The muskrat is classified in the suborder Myomorpha: mouse-like rodent; and further classified in the family Muridae: rats and mice. So given that definition, yes, a muskrat is a rat.
Source:Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Wildlife : Mammals/ Volume 2 (1991)
Submitted by: Kevin McKay, Literacy Coordinator

Q: Can you still register to vote for the 2004 Elections held on November 2nd?
A. In the state of Rhode Island, the last day to register for the 2004 Elections was on October 2nd. Individuals, however, who are not registered may still vote in the Federal Elections and vote for the President and Vice President. On the day of the election, you can go to your Local Board of Canvassers and fill out a special ballot. Non-registered voters are unable to vote for state and local candidates. For West Warwick residents, the Local Board of Canvassers information is a follows:
West Warwick Town Hall
1170 Main St.
West Warwick, RI 02893
Dave Clayton, Town Clerk
822-9200
Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30 pm
Source:West Warwick Town Hall and Rhode Island Board of Elections
Submitted by Kevin McKay, Literacy Coordinator

Q: Lately when I go to the grocery store, I've noticed that there are no pecans. Has something effected the production of pecans?
A. According to the American Phytopathological Society, the recent hurricanes have created a pecan shortage. Smaller productions were already anticipated by the top pecan growers in Georgia and Alabama before the hurricanes occurred. As the hurricanes came late in the growing season, "they caused tremendous damage to pecan crops in these two states." The damage to the pecan trees include "pecans blown prematurely from the limbs, twisted limbs and limb breakage, as well as severe tree leaning and loss of entire trees." As a direct result of Hurricane Ivan, Alabama lost 80% of its pecan crop and 15-20% of its trees. "The stress on damaged trees may affect pecan production for years to come."
Source: The American Phytopathological Society (www.apsnet.org)
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: What are Runes?
A. Runes, an Old Norse word meaning "secret", were a "group of ancient alphabets used by Germanic and Scandinavian peoples as a system of writing for practical purposes." Throughout history, they have also been used as a divinatory tool. The oldest know system of runes is 24 letters dating back as far as 50 C.E. Although many question the origin of the runes, it is strongly suggested that they are connected with Germanic magical traditions.
Source: The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: Where can I purchase spy gadgets similar to the ones I see in the movies?
A. The relatively new International Spy Museum, located in Washington, D.C., has a Spy Museum Store that one can shop online. The shop carries a variety of interesting gadgets from a peanut butter jar safe to a camera disguised as a plant. You can visit the Spy Museum store at http://store.yahoo.net/spymuseumstore/index.html.
Source:International Spy Museum (http://www.spymuseum.org/index.asp)
Submitted by: Jennifer Quinn, Reference Librarian

Q: When and what was the first color TV Program?
A: The first color television show to be telecast daily was "The World is Yours" airing for the first time on CBS June 26, 1951. It sounds like a soap opera but in fact it was more educational showcasing the earth's natural treasures. It was a daily broadcast from 4:30-5 P.M. Since few people owned television sets then, never mind color, probably few people watched it. In 1968 color television sets out-sold black and white for the first time. "Bonanza" was the first prime-time series to be broadcast in color airing on NBC from 1959 to 1973.
Source:Famous First Facts 5th Edition by Joseph Nathan Kane; pages 594-595.
Submitted by: Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: Why does the Jewish calendar cite the year as 5765 instead of 2004?
A: Rabbis during the Middle Ages created the Jewish calendar from the date of creation, using the bible as its source. Though the calendar is complicated, it is believed to be the most accurate since it has never been adjusted. To calculate Jewish dates the following method is suggested: first deduct 1240 from the Common Era date, then add 5000 (for dates falling between Ro'sh ha-Shanah and December 31, add another year).
Source:The Encyclopedia of Religion, Volume 8: MacMillan and Free Press, 1986 & The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, Edited by Werblowsky and Wigoder, 1997.
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant

Q: Where did the poinsettia plant get its name?
A: The plant is named in honor of Robert Joel Pointsett, a U.S. Statesman during the first half of the 19th century. Poinsett became the first U.S. minister to Mexico in 1825 and was considered an accomplished amateur botanist. While in Mexico, Poinsett noticed the red and green plant growing on the hillsides and sent some back to the U.S. Over the years they have been bred and engineered to be the plants we are accustom to seeing today.
Source:The New Encyclopædia Britannica (15th Edition, 2002).
Submitted by Kate Carroll, Reference Assistant