(Encyclopedia) shaft sinking, excavation from the surface of an opening in the earth. Shafts, which are generally vertical, are usually distinguished from tunnels, which are horizontal. Little…
Company Overview Overview | Advertising | Partnerships | Press / Awards | Contact Us Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938—…
(Encyclopedia) Morton, Jelly Roll, 1890–1941, American jazz musician, composer, and band leader, originally named Ferdinand Joseph Lamothe, b. Gulfport, La. He began studying piano as a child and in…
(Encyclopedia) Ondaatje, Michael (Philip Michael Ondaatje)Ondaatje, Michaeländätˈchā [key], 1943–, Canadian writer, b. Colombo, Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). Immigrating (1962) to Canada, he attended the…
(Encyclopedia) Leonard, Elmore (John Elmore Leonard), 1925–2013, American novelist, b. New Orleans, grad. Univ. of Detroit (1950). “Dutch” Leonard began publishing Western tales in the early 1950s,…
(Encyclopedia) Redford, Robert, 1937–, American actor and director, b. Santa Monica, Calif., as Charles Robert Redford, Jr. One of Hollywood's superstars, he began his acting career in 1959, scoring…
The worst tragedy in modern Olympic history
by Mike Morrison The Munich Olympics in 1972 were marred by terrorism. (Source: AP) Related Links Olympics Overview 2012…
African-American track star and three-time gold medallist
by John Gettings Wilma Rudolph (foreground) wins a relay race in the 1960 Rome Olympics. (Source: AP) Related Links…
(Encyclopedia) cleavage, tendency of many minerals to split along definite smooth planar surfaces determined by their crystal structure. The directions of these surfaces are related to weaknesses in…
