Library Answer Person » Technology

NetID problem

Library Answer Person — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:40:00 +0000

Hi, I am a new employee of Duke University. I tried to login to my library account using my NetID (xxxx) but the system would not let me login. Could you check what is wrong? Thanks.

Your question has been forwarded to the Circulation Dept. They should get back to you.

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Odd structures

Library Answer Person — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 06:26:30 +0000

I’m studying abroad and I have seen a few of these odd structures in London. They are circular in base, bigger than the Duke library, and about 6 stories tall, though they vary. They are made only of steel supports, but do not seem to be involved in any construction. They don’t hold anything up either. What are they there for? Do people in London just like to remember using erector sets as children? Cheers.

Do they look old? These sound like tanks for the storage of gas. In particular, I think they’re associated with the storage of coal gas (derived from coal). There was steel scaffolding around the cylindrical tank. It could be that the tank part in the middle has been removed, leaving only the scaffolding. Some of the really old ones used a brick curtain around the outside rather than steel scaffolding. You can google words like “gas storage tanks” and “industrial archaeology” and look for images.

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35 pence a minute

Library Answer Person — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:56:11 +0000

Why are phone calls so ridiculously expensive in Europe, particularly land line calls in Britain? What is the US doing so well that Europeans are not?

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There are different regulatory structures and historical backgrounds between the telecommunications systems in these different places. Note that, in general, mobile phones are cheaper in Europe while wire phones are more expensive.

One article (search the database Historical Abstracts) suggests that the government owned telegraph service in Britain tried to limit competition from the fledgling phone companies in the late 19th century, making their development more difficult and expensive. Reformers in the USA pushed to regulate the privately owned telegraph monopoly, Western Union, and there were less restrictions on the development of telephone service and a regulatory environment that forced cheaper rates.

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Google domination

Library Answer Person — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 15:00:04 +0000

Is a world with one search engine (Google) comparable to a world with 1 political party (totalitarianism)? [3348B]

Well, you can see the April 9 issue of Business Week. Some people think so. But unlike a totalitarian state, there isn’t anything keeping you from using another inferior search engine, is there?

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Delay when downloading files

Library Answer Person — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:27:50 +0000

When I download files on my Apple MacBook Pro there is a slight delay between when the save/open with window opens and the “OK” button activates. The delay is long enough that I think it is abnormal. Am I crazy? Do you know of anything like this happening to others? (Note: I use Mozilla Firefox, but I’m not sure if that matters.)

Thanks!

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: I’m not familiar with this issue, and perhaps you are crazy. If this delay is annoying enough to be a problem, I recommend contacting Duke’s OIT help desk at 684-2200 or help@oit.duke.edu There may be some sort of permission-checking going on to make sure you’re authorized to download something over the Duke network (I assume you’re using wireless here on campus).

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Brochure

Library Answer Person — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:20:00 +0000

I’m trying to make a brochure and could use some free images/photos of happy families, puppies, stuff like that. Is there a website where I can get free, good, public domain photos and images?

danke.

ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There are a lot of websites. You can just google “public domain photos” and start finding stuff. Examples are http://pdphoto.org/ (all seem to be taken by the same guy who is anxious to share!) or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Public_domain_image_resources

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