• About
    • About the FIA
    • Priorities
    • Our Team
    • Brainstorming Board
    • Partners and Affiliates
    • Contact Us
  • News + Events
    • News
    • Events
    • Videos
    • Newsletters
    • @FIAumd
    • In the Media
  • Spark Grants
    • Spark Grants Overview
    • Spark Grants FAQ
    • 2012-2015 Seed Grants
    • 2012-2015 Seed Grant Winners
  • Special Topics
    • SearchReSearch
    • Curated Topics
FIA

SearchReSearch

SearchResearch Challenge (5/10/17): Things I had to look up this week

Dan Russell • May 10, 2017
 SearchReSearch
Republished with permission from SearchReSearch
SearchResearch Challenge (5/10/17): Things I had to look up this week Dan Russell

After that last Challenge, it's time for some fun.



As I read and write and wander about, I often come across things that I have to look up. This week's Challenge questions aren't especially hard, but as always, be sure to verify that you found the correct answer. (You'll almost always want to do at least two searches to make sure.)

Here are my personal SearchResearch Challenges from the past week.

1. What's placket? (This might be obvious to you, but it's a word I've only ever heard before, so I had to look it up. In the book I was reading, it seems to refer to both shirts AND petticoats, which doesn't seem to make any sense. Can you tell me what it is and what the shirt / petticoat connection is?)
2. Speaking of clothing, what's that little loop on the back of a man's shirts called? And WHY is it there?
3. At the local pond, red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are out in force. But this year, their songs seem slightly different. Can you find out if their songs change from year-to-year?

Let us know what you find out! Be sure to show your work. HOW did you figure out the answers?

I'll be back on Monday with what I found.

Search on!

Share

Comments

This post was republished. Comments can be viewed and shared via the original site.
4 comments

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 »

Recent News

  • Deepfakes and the Future of Facts
    Deepfakes and the Future of FactsSeptember 27, 2019
  • Book cover for Joy of Search by Daniel M. Russell
    The Joy of Search: A Google Insider’s Guide to Going Beyond the BasicsSeptember 26, 2019
  • The Future of Facts in a ‘Post-Truth’ World
    The Future of Facts in a ‘Post-Truth’ WorldMay 15, 2018
  • The Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality and Immersive Storytelling
    The Future of Virtual and Augmented Reality and Immersive StorytellingJune 6, 2017

More »

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events scheduled. Please check back later.
Event Archive »
Video Archive »

Join Email List

SearchReSearch

  • Answer: What do these everyday symbols mean?
    Answer: What do these everyday symbols mean?March 15, 2023
  • SearchResearch Challenge (3/8/23): What do these everyday symbols mean?
    SearchResearch Challenge (3/8/23): What do these everyday symbols mean?March 8, 2023
  • PSA:  Read Clive Thompson’s article about how he does research
    PSA: Read Clive Thompson’s article about how he does researchMarch 3, 2023
  • Answer: World’s largest waterfall?
    Answer: World’s largest waterfall?March 2, 2023

More »

University of Maryland logo
Robert W. Deutsch Foundation logo
Google logo
Barrie School
Library of Congress logo
State of Maryland logo
National Archives logo
National Geographic Society logo
National Park Service logo
Newseum logo
Sesame Workshop logo
Smithsonian logo
WAMU
© 2023 The Future of Information Alliance, University of Maryland | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility