ASK!

It is often said that the best things in life are free. This statement definitely applies to our Public Libraries, where readers can not only choose from the thousands of books available at our 24 library branches, but also access online resources and take part in a variety of learning activities, all without cost!

Come 1 August 2011, library users who are Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and who are also Passion card holders will have one more exciting freebie to look forward to – Free NLB Premium Membership!

Under a newly established partnership with the People’s Association (PA), PAssion ez-link Card Members who are Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) will enjoy a free exclusive 5-year NLB Premium Membership upon registration.

The NLB Premium Membership allows members to borrow up to eight (8) library items instead of the usual six (6), including a maximum of four audio-visual materials from the lending section of the libraries. The usual price for premium membership is $21 per annum

Both new and existing members of the People’s Association can now enjoy exclusive free library premium membership until the expiry of their PAssion Card membership. Singaporeans and Singapore PRs who sign up for or renew their PAssion Card membership from 1 August 2011 onwards will be automatically registered for the NLB Premium Membership (as per Terms and Conditions upon the registration for PAssion Ez-Link Card programme). Existing PAssion ez-link Card Members can simply approach any of the NLB outlets to register for their complimentary NLB Premium Membership.

Do note that patrons will need to produce the actual PAssion Card and NRIC/photo ID in order to enjoy the free NLB-PA Premium membership upgrade.

To find out more, please refer to our the Premium Membership section of our online library guide, or email us at ask@nlb.gov.sg

The saying that a ‘cat has nine lives’ is attributed by most books to be due to one or more of the following: the resilience of the cat in recovering from illnesses, the agility of the cat in escaping danger, the luckiness of cats.

As to the number nine, it seems generally agreed that it is because the number nine is a lucky number, being “a trinity of trinities” (p.323, Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore, 1996).

Here are useful references to some of the works with relevant information:

The Britannica Online Encyclopedia, page 12 of their entry on the ‘cat, domestic’ says: “A sick cat may seem lifeless but recover after a few days of withdrawal, which is one reason cats are said to have nine lives.”

The other reason given for the cat having multiple lives can be found in the Larousse Dictionary of World Folklore (p. 97): “…the cat has nine lives, presumably so because it seems to escape danger so agilely. Allied to this is the observation that a cat will always land on its feet, and this has been used as an illustration of a person who seems miraculously to avoid trouble.”

 You can access the Encyclopædia Britannica Online through our Digital Library portal. Please login using the following link: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/ 

 Posted by Norah Ismail, Librarian, YIPL

Scientists have a few theories as to why birds bob their heads when walking. Some of the theories are that it assists birds with balance and sharpens the birds’ vision.

Most studies also suggest that birds in motion bob their heads to stabilize their visual surroundings. Unlike us, we depend on our eye movements rather than our head movements to hold the images presented to us while in moving. The back and forth movement is not random head bobbing. In fact, the head stays in one place while the body walks past it. The head jerks forward, after the body has passed, and the movement repeats itself.

The perceived “bobbing” helps to keep the head still and allows the bird to focus on one spot for a longer period of time.

References:

1. Web Article – Eyes on the target: why birds bob their heads (http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu)

2. Web Article – Everyday Mysteries (http://www.loc.gov)

(Last Accessed: 23rd August 2011)

For more information of pigeons or to know other interesting facts about birds, do check out the following books!

1.

All Rights Reserved, Minneapolos, Minn: Lerner Publications Co., c2010

Title: Let’s look at Pigeons by Janet Piehl

Publisher: Minneapolos, Minn: Lerner Publications Co., c2010

Call No: JP English 598.6 PIE

2.

All Rights Reserved, Great Bardfield, Essex: Bardfield Press, 2007

Title: 100 Facts on Birds by Jinny Johnson

Publisher: Great Bardfield, Essex: Bardfield Press, 2007

Call No: J English 598 .1 JOH

3.

All Rights Reserved, New York, NY: Scholastic, c2010

Title: Birds by Melvin Berger

Publisher: New York, NY: Scholastic, c2010

Call No: J English 598 BER

Posted by Ms Aslin Harminah Anuar, Children’s Librarian

http://betsy-ann.blogspot.com/2011/02/sniff-sniff-cough-cough.html

Sneezes don’t necessarily always come in pairs. According to PR Newswire (US), a survey done in 2004 in the United States by SneezEze “found that 24% of respondents said they typically sneeze twice in a row, while 36% sneeze only once at a time”.

 A New York Times article also states that medical science has yet to pinpoint the reason for the pattern of a person’s sneezes. “There also seems to be a pattern in the number of times a person sneezes – some people will sneeze only once or twice at most, others up to 10 times or more per sneezing attack – but no reason for this is known.

 Interestingly, while most sneezes are caused by allergens, strong smells, smoke, foreign particles, chemicals, colds and respiratory tract infections, they can also be triggered by light (photic sneezing), loud noises, pregnancy and eyebrow-plucking.

 So, what is your sneezing pattern like?

 Answered by January Yeo, Associate Librarian

 References :

1. Twenty-Five Percent of Americans Do Not Cover Their Nose During a Sneeze SneezEze Blows Out America’s Sneezing Habits for Allergy Season. Retrieved from http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/twenty-five-percent-of-americans-do-not-cover-their-nose-during-a-sneeze-73742822.html

 2. Gesundheit! Sneezing Gets A Big Reaction. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/22/garden/gesundheit-sneezing-gets-a-big-reaction.html?&pagewanted=all

 3. ‘Achoo’ reflex ; Sneezing clears away the irritants. Retrieved from The Record, Factiva.

4. How come? Sneezing is all in your head, or brain. Retrieved from Newsday, Factiva.

Posted by Judy Kong

There are several stories on how the origins of ’toque’ or the tall white hats worn by chefs came about.  Let’s look at some of them here.

Chefs as Learned Men

Chefs are creative people who have mastered the art of chemistry (mixing the right ingredients together), physics (how to adjust the fire, heat or steaming accordingly when cooking) and even science of  nutrition when churning out the dishes.  Top chefs are celebrities in their own right.  They dish out delicious palatable food for those who appreciate them.

In the 7th century Greece,  chefs were considered learned men but were  often persecuted.  They sought refuge in the local church, where they donned the same costumes that the local clergy were wearing, hats and all, as a disguise. Eventually, not wanting to incur the wrath of God any more than the wrath of the local people, they started wearing white hats instead of the black hats worn by Greek Orthodox priests, and the toque was born.

(Source:  “Some homes win places in movies”.  Rebecca Jones News Staff Writer.  10 December 2000.  Rocky Mountain News.  Last accessed on 2 August 2011)

Chefs as high officials in society

In the times of the ancient Assyrians, personal chefs of royalty were in great regard.  As trusted cooks to the royal household who feared saboutages of poisoned food, the chefs wore a `crown’ of sorts, in the same shape as the king’s, though made out of cloth and without all of those bothersome jewels.

(Source:  The great toque controversy. Caroline E. Mayer, Washington Post Service. 10 May 1991.  Austin American-Statesman.  Last accessed on 2 August 2011).

All articles were extracted from the online database Factiva which is accessible at our eresources link.

Some recommended readings

Some recipes books by top chefs for your gastronomical pleasure.

All Rights Reserved, Didier Millet, c2010

1.  Gourmet chic Asia: hot chefs, hip cuisines, top tables, signature recipes
Authors:  Pauline D. Loh, Sylvia Tan, Amy Van et.al
Publisher:  Singapore : Editions Didier Millet, c2010
Call No.:  SING  English 641.095 LOH

All Rights Reserved, Grand Central Life & Style, c2011

2. Now eat this! diet 
Author:  Rocco DiSpirito
Publisher:  New York : Grand Central Life & Style, c2011
Call No.:  English 641.5635 DIS -[COO]

All Rights Reserved, Michael Joseph, 2010

3.  Jamie’s 30-minute meals
Publisher:  London : Michael Joseph, 2010
Author:  Jamie Oliver
Call No.:  English 641.555 OLI -[COO]

To check the titles’ availability in the libraries, please visit our online catalogue.

Posted by Kweh Soon Huat, Adults & Young People’s Librarian.