ASK!

Just 2 weeks ago, i handled an enquiry from a member of the public, which he was asking whether is there a photo contest of some sort currently going in the Libraries.

Yes folks, i’m pleased to announce an affirmative. Details can be found over at NLB Public Libraries website under the Just Share tab. The contest runs from 1 Sep 2008 to 31 Mar 2009. And you guessed it right, there are indeed many attractive prizes to be won as well!!

Oh, there was this user who posted a picture of a lizard and he’s asking whether is this lizard a Komodo Dragon. Wow, a Komodo Dragon in our island??? Anyway, do check out this entry and the various comments made so far.

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Posted by
Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

“Lah” is probably the best-known Singaporean expression or what we call “Singlish”.
Singlish is Singapore English, or colloquial English. It’s typically added to the end of sentences for emphasis. This local variety of the English language is a product of Singapore’s multi-racial society and diversity of languages. There is a natural tendency to mix the various local languages and dialects when communicating in the common language of English. As a result, wittingly or unwittingly, Singlish has become the unofficial badge of identity for many Singaporeans, as a very effective tool of verbal communication.
(Source: http://www.singaporecanlah.com/why_singaporecanlah/)
Should you be interested to know more about “lah” or Singlish, you may wish to refer to the following resources:
Web resource:
[1] A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English

http://www.singlishdictionary.com/

Book resources:
[1] An essential guide to Singlish / illustrations by Miel ; [project editor, Samantha Hanna].
Call No.: SING English 427.95957 ESS
[2] The Coxford Singlish dictionary.
Call No.: SING English 427.95957 COX
[3] Border crossings : moving between languages & cultural frameworks / editors, Lee Su Kim, Thang Siew Ming, Lee King Siong.
Call No.: SING English 306.44 BOR

You can access our online catalogue to check the availability and locations of the above titles.

Originally answered by Ms Ng Kiak Peng, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

 Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

(Ed speaks: I found this an interesting question, since I’m blind as a bat! Sadly, in my case, no amount of carrots will help..) 

1) Source: Website
www.abc.net.au/health/talkinghealth/factbuster
/stories/2008/03/19/2176569.htm

“…While there is some truth to the old wives’ tale regarding carrots and eyesight, Professor Algis Vingrys, from the University of Melbourne’s Department of Optometry and Vision Services, says no amount of carrots will improve your eyesight if you already have a well balanced diet.
A diet with sufficient vitamin A, iron and other provitamins (substances that our bodies can convert into vitamins) is vital for eye health…”

2) Source: Website
www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/docs/carrots?Open

“The short answer is no. Carrots cannot improve your eyesight, however there are many benefits that can be gained from consuming carrots…”

3) Source: Website
www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/health/03real.html

“The facts your mother probably told you that carrots are good for your eyes – and you probably dismissed it as just an old wives’ tale. But the claim is not baseless.
Carrots are high in beta carotene, a component of vitamin A, which is critical to normal vision. It’s no coincidence that in countries where rice is a dietary staple but carrots and other sources of the vitamin are scarce, poor vision is rampant. So should you forget about glasses and just eat carrots? Probably not. Studies show that while taking vitamin A can reverse poor vision caused by a deficiency, it will not strengthen eyesight or slow decline in people who are healthy…”

4) Source: Book
Title: The World Book encyclopedia
Publisher: Chicago : World Book, Inc. cc2008.
Call number: R q031 WOR

“carrot is a plant with an orange root that is eaten as a vegetable. Carrots contain vitamin B1 and small amounts of vitamins B2 and C. Carrots also contain carotene, a substance that is used by the human body to produce vitamin A. In addition, carrots are rich in sugar and potassium…”

All websites last accessed on 21 Nov 2008

Originally answered by Ms Norah Ismail, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

 Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Image extracted from

*** Ed: When i first saw this enquiry by a member of the public, i was like “Err, this is a tough one to answer” (though I have to admit that I myself would like to know the answer to it also…) Below is my colleague’s reply:

According to the Argonne National Laboratory’s ASK A Scientist website, cross-species breeding is rare due to three type of barriers – behavioral barriers, anatomical barriers, and genetic barriers.

“Firstly, differing species of organisms are, quite simply, not usually interested in mating, and (in most cases) are only apt to mate at very specific times of the year, which decreases the likelihood of cross-species copulation. Secondly, the anatomies of two, sexually-reproducing organisms of differing species are likely to be reproductively incompatible. Thirdly (and probably most importantly), the genetic variations (the number of chromosome pairs, for example) among different species dictates that their sex cells are incapable of successful fertilization.”
Source: newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01739.htm (extracted on 8/11/08)

Thus we can conclude from the above that producing an offspring between human and ape is highly unlikely.

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Answered by
Ms Grace Leong
Associate Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

Posted by
Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

Image extracted from http://lemonodor.com/images/

According to this news article below, retrieved from NewsBank – one of the e-databases available to NLB members from home, it seems like there used to be live fireflies in Singapore in the past, but they have died out years ago due to development of rural areas.

==================================================
Plans to up countryside charm in two areas – Lim Chu Kang, Kranji to be developed into ‘weekend refuge’, with farm stays and spas
==================================================
Straits Times, The (Singapore)-May 22, 2008
Author: Lim Wei Chean
[last accessed Oct 28, 2008]

From another news article from NewsBank, we find that the closest place with live fireflies appears to be in Johor where you can go on a fireflies river cruise. You might want to consult a travel agent to find out other nearby places that you can find live fireflies.

==================================================
Holiday fun for every budget
==================================================
Sunday Times, The (Singapore)-May 25, 2008
Author: Mak Mun San

[last accessed Oct 28, 2008]

You can retrieve newspaper articles from electronic databases like NewsBank, using the Multimedia stations in the NLB library branches. Or from home by accessing eresources.nlb.gov.sg.

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Answered by
Mr Law Loo Shien
Associate Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

Posted by
Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult and Young People’s Services

Jodi Picoult’s signature subjects are good solid citizens and the complicated relationships of family, friends in thought-provoking extraordinary situations. Set in familiar New England communities, her characters are immediately recognizable – a pragmatic diner cook; a passionate lawyer; a taciturn stonemason; a kindly veterinarian – placed in situations falling under the heading “it could never happen to us.” Picoult likes to take controversial newsworthy issues and examine them through the eyes of common folk. Readers find much to discuss and ponder in Picoult’s novels.

Below are some recommended authors and works you may wish to explore:-

- Chris Bohjalian (Call No: BOH)
“The author who most closely matches Picoult in writing style, characters and subject matter is Chris Bohjalian. Another New England author who favors close examination of hot button issues in small town settings, Bohjalian has taken on midwifery, transsexuality and homeopathy just to name a few topics.”

Some recommended titles written by Chris Bohjalian, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] Skeletons at the feast : a novel
[02] The double bind : a novel
[03] Before you know kindness : a novel

- Jacquelyn Mitchard (Call No: MIT)
“Mitchard is best known as the debut novelist Oprah Winfrey plucked from obscurity with her first book club selection, The Deep End of the Ocean. Sophomore effort A Theory of Relativity is equally satisfying. Readers with a preference for observing how families in turmoil deal with shocking situations will appreciate this novel of grieving grandparents locked in an anguished custody battle for the sole surviving daughter of parents lost in a car accident.”

Some recommended titles written by Jacquelyn Mitchard, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] The midnight twins
[02] All we know of heaven : a novel
[03] Now you see her

- Luanne Rice (Call No: RIC)
“Concentrating less on controversial topics and more on family and personal relationships, Luanne Rice’s novels, particularly the earlier titles, are another good match for Picoult. The authors’ use of characters is similar; strong, intelligent women who find themselves consumed by life’s everyday and irregular tragedies but work out solutions with help from family and friends. Home Fires is a fine title to start with.”

Some recommended titles written by Luanne Rice, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] Light of the moon
[02] The edge of winter
[03] What matters most

- Ann Hood (Call No: HOO)
“For a quieter, more lyrical tone, readers should consider Ann Hood. Like Picoult, Hood’s small town female characters are well developed but their problems are closer to home — infidelity, sisterly rivalry, and cold feet at an impending marriage. Hood employs a little more introspection and personal drama in her stories. Readers should take a look at one of Hood’s later efforts, Properties of Water.”

Some recommended titles written by Ann Hood, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] How I saved my father’s life (and ruined everything else)
[02] The knitting circle
[03] An ornithologist’s guide to life

- Sue Miller (Call No: MIL)
“Fans of Picoult must not let Sue Miller escape their notice although her stories have a more literary quality and delve more deeply into character’s emotions. Her debut novel, The Good Mother, is a modern classic, but readers shouldn’t miss one of her other novels, While I Was Gone, an Oprah Book Club selection.”

Some recommended titles written by Sue Miller, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] The senator’s wife
[02] Lost in the forest : a novel
[03] The world below : a novel

Retrieved from Novelist. Website last accessed on 4 Nov 08.

Originally answered by Huang Su San, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

 Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Kids ASK! about Myths & Facts

There are different views on whether the climate has anything to do with being sleepy. Below is an extract from an article from Psychology Today taken from their website:

“Rain may make you feel tired, but it doesn’t really help you get a good night’s sleep. In fact, sunny weather brings more restful nights, according to research done at the University of Rochester Sleep Laboratory in New York. When the clouds go away, not only do you sleep more soundly, you are more likely to sleep longer.
In the study, 43 subjects were asked to keep sleep diaries for 105 nights. The researchers crosschecked the diaries with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather database and found that the higher the barometer—meaning the better the weather—the more soundly people rested.
The findings explain why people don’t want to get up when it’s raining. Researchers add that the sound of rain and lack of sunlight make it even harder to get out of bed.”

Source: (2003, February). Why Rainy Days Make Us Tired. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from Psychology Today website: http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20030228-000003.html

Intrigued by sleeping patterns? Here are some recommended resources:

Books:

Zzzzz : a book of sleep by Il Sung Na.
Publisher : London : Meadowside Children’s Books, 2007.
Call No. : JP NA

Sleeping well by Sylvia Goulding.
Publisher : Vero Beach, Fla. : Rourke Pub, c2005.
Call No. : J 613.7 GOU

How do you sleep? by Louise Bonnet-Rampersaud
Publisher : New York : Marshall Cavendish Children, c2005.
Call No. : JP 573.8 BON

Sleep by Christopher Idzikowski
Publisher : London : Collins, 2007.
Call No. : 612.821 IDZ -[HEA]

Websites:
- Sleep (Encyclopedia.com)
- Basics of sleep behavior

For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

All websites were last accessed on 10 November 2008. Please check the respective websites’ homepages for their terms and conditions of use. All images were extracted from www.amazon.com.

Originally answered by Hussain Bachek
Librarian
Children’s Services

Posted by Galvin Soh
Librarian
Children’s Services

Found this post interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email it to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

According to the International Tennis Federation website, it is said that green tennis balls are used as they are more visible on television.

International Tennis Federation
URL: www.itftennis.com/
Extract: “…Real tennis balls have been traditionally made from a spherical stitched envelope of leather or cloth stuffed with rags, horsehair or similar material, while tennis balls have always been based on rubber….Historically, balls were either black or white in colour, depending on the background colour of the courts. In 1972 the ITF introduced yellow tennis balls into the rules of tennis, as research had shown these balls to be more visible to television viewers. Meanwhile Wimbledon continued to use the traditional white ball, but eventually adopted yellow balls in 1986….”

You may like to refer to the below title available in the library on the history of tennis.

Title: Bud Collin’s tennis encyclopedia / edited by Bud Collins and Zander Hollander.
Call no.: English 796.342 BUD -[REC]

To check the availability and locations of titles, you may access our online catalog.

Originally answered by Yang Qinli, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

 Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

ASK! about Health and Fitness

Garlic is known to have health properties like lowering blood cholesterol.  It also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. These are attributable to a compound called allicin in it.

Thing is, how do we ingest garlic to receive all these wonderful benefits? Raw, or cooked? According to a recent experiment by some scientists, whether baked or boiled, garlic will retain the same health benefits as if its raw. And if you crush it, its even better. 

Now if you embrace quick fix methods like the microwave, its time perhaps to re-think your cooking methods. Microwaving actually destroys the health benefits of garlic.

Reference:
- Cousin, Pierre Jean, Food is medicine:  the practical guide to healing foods, London :  Duncan Baird,  2006.
-”Garlic: The raw truth”, Reader’s Digest Interactive, Oct 2008, 7 Nov 08, http://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-and-recipes/
garlic-the-raw-truth/article101577.html

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.

Kids ASK! about Environment

“A waterfall is any stream of water descending suddenly from a higher to a lower level. If the volume of water is small, it is called a cascade; if large, it is called a cataract.

Waterfalls are usually formed when rivers flow from an area of resistant (hard) rock to an area that can be more easily eroded. The softer rock downstream is gradually worn down by stream erosion. This creates a ledge or cliff down which the river must flow to continue its course. Waterfalls are also found where glaciers have dug river valleys deeper than their tributaries or in places where a river channel was raised or lowered.”

Source: Waterfalls. (2008). (D. Jacobson, Rev.). The New Book of Knowledge®. Retrieved October 31, 2008, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2031280-h

For more information, here are some recommended library books on waterfalls:

Waterfalls by Dana Meachen Rau
Publisher: Tarrytown, N.Y. : Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, c2008
Series Title: Bookworms. Wonders of nature
Summary: Provides a basic introduction to waterfalls, including geographical information and how they are formed.
Call No.: J P 551.48 RAU

Victoria Falls : one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls by Anna Rebus
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : Weigl Publishers, c2007
Summary: Examines the history of the Victoria Falls, the world’s largest waterfalls.
Call No.: J 916.891 REB

The highest waterfall by Stuart A. Kallen
Publisher: San Diego, Calif. : KidHaven Press, c2004
Series Title: Extreme places
Call No.: J 987 KAL

Waterfalls : nature’s thundering splendor by Jenny Wood
Publisher: Milwaukee : G. Stevens Children’s Books, 1991
Series Title: Wonderworks of nature
Summary: Describes the formation of waterfalls, the life that fast-flowing rivers support, and the use of falling water for hydroelectricity.
Call No.: J 551.48 WOO

You can also visit these websites for more information on waterfalls:

1) http://www.school-portal.co.uk/GroupDownloadFile.asp?file=21604
In this website, graphics are used to show you how the river, moving along a steep incline, will start to erode away the softer rock on the bedrock. The bed of the river gets steeper as the water carries the softer rock downstream, and eventually the flow of water at this point becomes steep enough to be considered a waterfall.
2) http://geography.howstuffworks.com/terms-and-associations/waterfall.htm
This article provides a basic explanation how waterfalls form and the types of waterfalls in the world.

All websites were last accessed on 31 October 2008. Please check the websites’ homepages for the terms and conditions of use. All book summaries were taken from the book descriptions. All images were extracted from www.amazon.com.

For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Answered by Ms Goh Mei Ming
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Posted by Ms Elizabeth Lee
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Found this post interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment.