Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2013 September 14

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September 14 edit

Search NYTimes Best seller list by author or title edit

I really tried, but can't discover a way to search the NYTimes Best Sellers List(s) by author or title. For example, when was the book Random Acts of Senseless Violence, Jack Womack, or The Systems View of Life by Capra, on the list (and at what position). There should be a searchable index, but where? Thanks if you can help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.208.75.76 (talk) 06:52, 14 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

It is indirect, but you can get definite results from google. Search the term:
"author name site:http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/"
at google with either the author's name or the title substituted for author name. You will get a list at google of links to pages at the NYT best seller page listing the author you chose. For example:
michael crichton site:http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/
μηδείς (talk) 17:22, 14 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Counties in Australia edit

Until reading Lands administrative divisions of Australia, I had no clue that counties had ever been declared in Australia. I note that many LGAs are known as Shires; do we know why no states chose to use the term "County" for a class of LGAs? Nyttend (talk) 14:48, 14 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

NSW uses county to refer to both a LGA for metro planning in the 40s-60s; and regularly for waterboards (different county structure though). Fifelfoo (talk) 01:57, 15 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
So, waterboarding is alive and well in NSW, eh. I always knew it was a brutal and repressive regime up there. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 02:44, 15 September 2013 (UTC) [reply]
also electricity and gas boards. I hear Britain had meat marketing boards. Fifelfoo (talk) 10:56, 15 September 2013 (UTC) [reply]
And don't forget the time-honored board of education. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 15:10, 15 September 2013 (UTC) [reply]
WA had counties early in the the colony's history. See Lands administrative divisions of Western Australia#Counties. Hack (talk) 15:56, 15 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
I know; I'm asking why the term hasn't remained in use for governmental bodies. Nyttend (talk) 18:43, 15 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]
This won't answer your question, but my father worked for the Albury City Council between 1948 and 1961, under mayor Cleaver Bunton, and I know for a fact that there was also an Albury County Council at that time. But what ever happened to it, or why or when, I cannot say. Best I can assume is that along with development, administrative restructure, new paradigms and so-called progress come changes in terminology. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 19:03, 15 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]