Actual Things People Phoned the NY Public Library Asking Before Google Existed

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Apollo the Just
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Actual Things People Phoned the NY Public Library Asking Before Google Existed

#1

Post by Apollo the Just » Fri Sep 02, 2016 4:07 pm

Full article here: http://gothamist.com/2014/12/22/nypl_go ... stions.php

Examples include:
  • Are Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates the same person?
  • Can NYPL recommend a good forger?
  • requests for renting guillotines
  • What is the lifespan of an eyelash?
  • What percentage of all bathtubs in the world are in the US?
  • Can mice throw up?
It goes on. I love this, it's literally the pre-internet equivalent of google search history.
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#2

Post by CaptHayfever » Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:20 am

"Forger" as in one who makes metallic weaponry, or "forger" as in one who makes fraudulent signatures?

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#3

Post by I REALLY HATE POKEMON! » Sat Sep 03, 2016 8:54 am

I always wondered how people quickly and efficiently gathered info pre-net. Maybe they just didn't.

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#4

Post by Apollo the Just » Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:59 pm

^^ Valid question. Both would be useful I would assume
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#5

Post by ScottyMcGee » Tue Sep 06, 2016 1:14 pm

Fraudulent metallic weaponry! Hah!
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