Peculiar Questions And Practical Answers

The New York Public Library staff answers questions remarkable and preposterous, with illustrations by Barry Blitt. Have you’ve ever wondered if you can keep an octopus in a private home? Do you spend your time thinking about how much Napoleon’s brain weighed? If so, Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers is the book for you. The New York Public Library has been fielding questions like these ever since it was founded in 1895. Of course, some of the questions have left the librarians scratching their heads... “In what occupations may one be barefooted?” “What time does a bluebird sing?” “What does it mean when you’re being chased by an elephant?” “What kind of apple did Eve eat?” “How many neurotic people are there in the U.S.?” In Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers, the staff of the NYPL has dug through the archives to find thoughtful and often witty answers to over one hundred of the oddest, funniest, and most whimsical questions the library has received since it began record-keeping over seventy-five years ago. One of The New Yorker’s best-known and beloved illustrators, Barry Blitt, has created watercolors that bring many of the questions hilariously to life in a book that answers, among others, the question “Does anyone have a copyright on the Bible?”

The definitive source of information, insight, and advice for creative writers, from the nation’s largest and most trusted organization for writers, Poets & Writers. For half a century, writers at every stage of their careers have turned to the literary nonprofit organization Poets & Writers and its award-winning magazine for resources to foster their professional development, from writing prompts and tips on technique to informative interviews with published authors, literary agents, and editors. But never before has Poets & Writers marshaled its fifty years’ worth of knowledge to create an authoritative guide for writers that answers every imaginable question about craft and career—until now. Here is the writing bible for authors of all genres and forms, covering topics such as how to: -Harness your imagination and jump-start your creativity -Develop your work from initial idea to final draft -Find a supportive and inspiring writing community to sustain your career -Find the best MFA program for you -Publish your work in literary magazines and develop a platform -Research writing contests and other opportunities to support your writing life -Decide between traditional publishing and self-publishing -Find the right literary agent -Anticipate what agents look for in queries and proposals -Work successfully with an editor and your publishing team -Market yourself and your work in a digital world -Approach financial planning and taxes as a writer -And much more Written by Kevin Larimer and Mary Gannon, the two most recent editors of Poets & Writers Magazine, this book brings an unrivaled understanding of the areas in which writers seek guidance and support. Filled with insider information like sample query letters, pitch letters, lists of resources, and worksheets for calculating freelance rates, tracking submissions, and managing your taxes, the guide does more than demystify the writing life—it also provides an array of powerful tools for building a sustainable career as a writer. In addition to the wealth of insights into creativity, publishing, and promotion are first-person essays from bestselling authors, including George Saunders, Christina Baker Kline, and Ocean Vuong, as well as reading lists from award-winning writers such as Anthony Doerr, Cheryl Strayed, and Natalie Diaz. Here, at last, is the ultimate comprehensive resource that belongs on every writer’s desk.

First published in 1985, this book provides a descriptive study of social activities in a neurosciences laboratory. Based on fieldwork conducted by the author in the laboratory during 1975 and 1976, and taking an ethnomethodological approach, it focuses on the phenomenon of the social accomplishment of natural scientific order. Through the examination of shop work and shop talk in this environment, it identifies an analyzable social basis in the local production of accounts of natural objects in laboratory research. This work will be of interest to students and scholars of ethnomethodology and sociology.

This new title is an organized collection of actual questions asked by individuals from around the country to Social Security benefits expert Stanley A. Tomkiel, III. The questions are derived from emails received from real people asking real-life questions about various areas of concern for themselves and their family members. These are not academic inquiries, but rather those seeking practical answers to specific issues in people's lives. General information about the Social Security Administration, plus additional data about Medicare and SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance) is given. Questions and answers are then divided into categories such as: --Child's benefits --Disability benefits --Parents' benefits --Retirement benefits --Spouse's benefits --Survivor's benefits Additional questions and answers are also included, relating to: --Earnings statements --Calculations of benefits --Necessary timelines for application of benefits

A clear, accessible and authoritative account of Jurgen Habermas's wide-ranging and ambitious philosophical project. >

The Potty Training Answer Book breaks down the top 200 questions parents ask when faced with the potty-training challenge. Compiled through both her own experiences and Q&A sessions with parents, parenting expert Karen Deerwester covers the difficult—and funny—questions you'll encounter with detailed advice and information. Real-world answers to all your potty-training questions: What is the average age for girls to be potty trained? What is the average age for boys to be potty trained? Does a child's temperament affect the chances of potty training accidents? What words should I use for body parts and bodily functions? Is nighttime potty training different than daytime potty training? Can rewards be a positive potty strategy? Written in an easy-to-read question-and-answer format, The Potty Training Answer Book gives you indispensable tips and techniques to help you keep the potty-training process as easy and painless as possible for both you and your child.

Presents an overview of recruit qualifications and police officer duties, career and salary information, test-taking strategies, and five full-length practice exams.