The Decline of the Dictionary

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   Then again, there is the OED, which adds words and never kicks them out.
Merriam-Webster's 11th was not meant to be the OED.  So "the decline of _the_
dictionary" is really "the decline of _a_ dictionary" (in one person's
opinion).
   I'm more angry that "hello" is dated to 1877 and not changed after all my
hard work years ago.


BRITISH NATIONAL LIBRARY ONLINE--
http://www.uk.olivesoftware.com/archive/Skins/BL/navigator.asp
   It uses a similar system to the BROOKLYN EAGLE.  Unfortunately, there are
just a few selected years so far, with the earliest 1851.  I keep going back
to it, but there hasn't been any change.  Fred Shapiro has a little electronic
list, and I don't remember if this was on it.


ANCESTRY.COM--Gerald Cohen wants Oregon newspapers, but ancestry.com has _no_
Oregon newspapers at all.  For some reason, they keep adding small-town Ohio
newspapers (not even the CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER or CINCINNATI ENQUIRER).
There are not many newspapers before 1860 or after 1950,  The database improves
every day, but for now, here are some large holes:

OREGON--no newspapers (No "Tillamook cheese")
HAWAII--no newspapers (No "mai tai")
DELAWARE--no newspapers  (No "submarine sandwich")
WASHINGTON--no newspapers before 1902 (No "geoduck")
TEXAS--no newspapers before 1899 and not much after 1919.  Texas!!
FLORIDA--only two newspapers with very brief runs
LOUISIANA--only one newspaper, the LAFAYETTE ADVERTISER, from 1869-1905.
This kills me. New Orleans--for the love of Pete, add a solid 100 years of New
Orleans!!
SOUTH CARLONIA--only one newspaper, from 1924-1928
OHIO--about 66 titles!!!!!!!!!!

   Add one crappy search engine and there you are.