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SearchResearch Challenge (2/10/21): Two difficult to find objects?

Dan Russell • February 10, 2021
 SearchReSearch
Republished with permission from SearchReSearch
SearchResearch Challenge (2/10/21): Two difficult to find objects? Dan Russell

Every so often...



... in my work I'll search for something that takes a while to find. I save these for you! Here are two objects that I had to work a bit to find. In the process, I learned something about searching that I thought you'd enjoy. Can you find these as well?

1. In my reading I keep seeing references to a compilation of short stories that was put together by the English playwright, novelist, and short story writer Somerset Maugham. The collection is called Tellers of Tales: One Hundred Short Stories from the United States, England, France, Russia and Germany. (1939) It's easy to find references to it, but I'd really like to read it. Can you find a full-view copy of this book that I can read online (without having to spend a zillion dollars)?

2. Also in my reading, I came across a word that seems to describe some kind of very old fastener. The word is "latchet," but it does not have anything to do with shoes (e.g., a string used to fasten a shoe) or any kind of fish. It took me a while to find a good image of what a latchet fastener is--can you find one and tell us what it is? And for extra credit, where and when were latchets primarily used?

I'm curious how hard you find these two Challenges. Both gave me some trouble, maybe because I didn't have much context for either search.

If you locate these two things, let us know HOW you did it. (I'll reveal a couple of my missteps next week in the answer.)

Search on!

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About the Author

Dan RussellDan Russell

I study the way people search and research. I guess that makes me an anthropologist of search. While I work at Google, my blog and G+ posts reflects my own thoughts and not those of my employer. I am FIA's Future-ist in Residence. More »

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