Monday, January 2, 2012

Bust a myth each day with Ask Libby

My Paper, Friday, December 23, 2012, Page A14, Lifestyle
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-12-23
Source Website: http://www.stomp.com.sg/asklibby/underthesun84.html
By Cao BaoYing, baoyingc@sph.com.sg



PHOTO: Is Santa Claus real?
http://www.stomp.com.sg/asklibby/images/pi/111115_ask_santa.jpg
http://www.stomp.com.sg/asklibby/underthesun84.html


WITH Christmas just around the corner, you might he wondering about that age-old question: Is Santa Claus real?

Ponder no more, for the answer can be found on Ask Libby, the section of Stomp dedicated to answering your most befuddling (confusing) questions.



PHOTO: Ask Libby
My Paper, Friday, December 23, 2012, Page A14, Lifestyle


As it turns out, Santa Claus is more than just a mythical being who travels the globe delivering toys to children on Christmas Eve. Ask Libby reveals that the jolly old man is actually based on the real-life Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop who lived in the fourth century.

Dutch immigrants are said to have taken the legend of Santa Claus to New York in the 17th century, along with the custom of giving sweets and gifts to children on his feast day, celebrated each year on Dec 6.

With an archive of over one thousand quirky (strange/not normal but cool) questions, Ask Libby is a treasure trove of hard-to-find information.

The section is the result of a collaboration between Stomp and the National Library Board. Questions sent in by the public are: answered through research of library and online resources.

And sometimes, the research turns up rather surprising tid-bits. Take the question of whether making prank calls is an offence under the law.

It turns out that prank callers break the law only if they make calls to all emergency hotline. The offenders are liable to a fine of up to $5,000, or one year's jail, or both.

Interestingly, a person who commits the offence using a public telephone faces double the maximum penalty.

So. if you have a burning question you want answered, send your queries to stomp@stomp.com.sg and be a part of Ask Libby's growing collection of debunked myths and demystified puzzlers.

For more information, go to www.stomp.com.sg
By Cao BaoYing, baoyingc@sph.com.sg



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