-------- MANTEX NEWSLETTER --------
Number 100 - January 2005 - ISSN 1470-1863
Happy New Year to all our Subscribers!!
Anniversary issue - 100 and going strong
Spelling - Research - Software - Design
0----- "Oxford A-Z of Spelling" - new book
You'd imagine it was hard to make a book on
spelling interesting, but Oxford University
Press have done it.
This is a beginner's guide to the rules and the
exceptions of spelling in English. It covers
all the basics without once going into any jargon
or elaborate rules which would put off the very
people the book is aimed at.
Highly recommended for beginners - and I think it
would be very useful to anybody using English as
another language. Full review and details at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/oxf-azspel.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #1
Which ingredient turns curry yellow?
0----- Weird Facts #1
No piece of square dry paper can be
folded in half more than 7 times.
[Go on - try it! - Bet you can't.]
0----- "How to Find Information" - new book
Did you know that even though Google has
four billion web pages in its database,
the Internet contains only a small fraction
of the world's total information.
This is a guide for anyone who wants to
develop really serious research skills.
Naturally it tells you how to search on the
Web, but it's built on a solid foundation of
library research and data retrieval skills.
There is even advice on how to identify
your own information needs, how to interpret
your search results, and how to keep up with
the latest trends. Full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/rumsey.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #2
Who invented the aqualung?
0----- Weird Facts #2
French was the official language of England
for over 600 years. [C'est vrai!]
0----- "OpenOffice.org Writer" - new book
OpenOffice is the f.r.e.e software which
is an alternative to the very expensive
Microsoft Office.
Writer is the word-processor in this suite,
and a direct rival to Word. There's a new book
from Jean Hollis Weber which is the 'missing manual'
for Writer - and most importantly it comes
with a CD-ROM which contains the whole of the
OpenOffice suite.
The book explains all the features and menu
options of the Writer program - and in particular
where it differs from Word. If you want to make
a switch into using open source software, this
would be an excellent place to start.
Most importantly, having the OpenOffice suite
on CD saves you a 50MB+ download. details at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/weber.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #3
If it's heavy in Scotland, what is it in England?
0----- Weird Facts #3
The penguin is the only bird
that can swim, but can't fly.
0----- "CSS Cookbook" - new book
This is a book of solutions to common problems
in using cascading style sheets. It starts as
a beginner's guide and then goes on to more
advanced features.
First a problem is specified (You want to indent
the first line of a paragraph) and then it shows
the CSS code to achieve this, followed by an
illustrative screen shot.
There's an explanation of how and why it works
as it does, and there are web links to online
tutorials and official specifications directly
related to that topic. Full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/schmitt.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #4
What is a shooting star?
0----- Weird Facts #4
Humphrey Bogart was related to Princess Diana.
[Here's looking at you, kid.]
0----- "Dictionary of Modern Design" - new book
Design buffs will be interested in a huge new
work of reference from Oxford University Press.
Actually, it's closer to an encyclopedia than
a dictionary - because each entry is like a
short essay.
It covers a vast range of topics - from
individual designers, painters, and architects,
through artistic movements and fashions, to
famous products. Full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/woodham.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #5
What is the world's longest river?
0----- Weird Facts #5
A housefly regurgitates its food after
eating, and then eats it again.
[The fly is a bit like a cow then?]
0----- Online Democratic Dictionaries
British publisher Collins has launched an
online dictionary that will enable Internet
users to debate new words.
Users can suggest new words and argue over
whether they should be added to the print
version of the dictionary.
You can log on to and suggest a new word,
then wait for positive or negative feedback
from other dictionary fans.
Words submitted thus far, 'Arab street',
'contrasexual', 'cyberathletics, 'Ingerland',
'manny' and 'podcasting' are likely to be
included in the next printed version.
http://www.collins.co.uk/wordexchange
There's also an online Wikipedia encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia
You could also try the FreeDictionary.com at
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #6
On what date was Jesus Christ conceived?
0----- Weird Facts #6
W is the only letter in the English alphabet
to have not one but three syllables.
0----- F.r.e.e Web Design Tutorials
Rachna Asirvatham writes from Bangalore India
to announce her company's f.r.e.e design
tutorials. And very stylish they are too.
Tips and tricks for Dreamweaver and Fireworks;
how to deal with style sheets; clever use of
tables; special effects in Flash; and lots of
sensible advice, all delivered in a visually
attractive manner.
http://www.entheosweb.com/website_design/default.asp
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #7
What's the common name for iron oxide?
0----- Weird Facts #7
The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows.
[Lhooq again if you don't believe me.]
0----- "Windows XP Power Hound" - new book
XP is now the world's most popular operating
system - and thank goodness it's more stable
than its predecessors.
But did you know that it contains lots and lots
of hidden tools, utilities, and settings?
It's possible to customise the desktop; you
can add bells and whistles to just about any
of its functions; and there are powerful software
programs just below the surface of the comic-book
interface.
All of these are explained in Preston Gralla's
guidance handbook from O'Reilly's 'Missing Manual'
series.
If you are an XP user but would like to see what
more it can do for you in terms of power and
efficiency, have a look at his recommendations.
Full details and review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/gralla-2.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #8
What is the world's biggest baby?
0----- Weird Facts #8
Brigham Young University (Utah) has an
undergraduate course on ballroom dancing.
0----- A Message from Albia - Blogspot
I've just come across a wonderful satirical
blog featuring news from Albia -
a 'constitutional monarchy' located on
'the edge of Europe'.
It's written in spoof inflated eighteenth-century
manner and purports to be written by someone who
is living in a cupboard at his local cybercafe,
after being evicted from home by his wife.
The nation is ruled by Queen Dowdi, who has
a son the Heir Apparent Prinz Yusslez. He is
in love with his favourite horse, Kamella.
Albia is governed by Prime Minister Kiznya
Schlopp, head of the Krep Proti. His Home
Secretary Fanatik Loon was recently in hot
water after siring children with his
no-longer-Thai-bride-to-be, Yu Fam Ism.
Start with the Albia gazeteer and factbook,
then work your way up through the archives.
It's great fun.
http://albia.blogspot.com
He is due to change this address at some point,
so if it doesn't work, try the following:
http://www.messagefromalbia.com
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #9
What is the capital of Nepal?
0----- Weird Facts #9
The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.
[That's a third of it then in 'Aloha']
0----- "XML Hacks" - new book
This is a roll-up-your-sleeves guide that
explains XML in a complete set of practical
tips, tricks, and tools for the web developers.
It starts from the basics of an XML document
and how its content can be displayed in a
browser using style sheets.
There's also a brief discussion of the free
tools available for XML editing, and where
to find validators to check your results.
Each explication or hack covers a single topic,
and each one is followed by suggestions for
further reading, free downloadable resources,
and web links to tutorials. Full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/fitzgerald.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #10
When was the Prague Spring?
0----- Weird Facts #10
Westward Ho! is the only English place
name to end in a punctuation mark.
[Yes - it's named after the book.]
0----- Feedback + Corrections
** That Amazon search facility **
Martin Hampton writes from Portsmouth to say
"Guys - was that a porky pie about Amazon in
the last newsletter? Damned if I can make it
'look inside' books.
Sorry Martin! We forgot to mention that so far
it only works at Amazon.com
[For non-UK readers, porky pies = lies.]
** English Grammar - again **
Damian Grant wrote from Lille to suggest
that the one of our reviews contained a
grammatical error. Here's the sentence:
"Are you one of those people who wonder where
the apostrophe should go?"
Andrew Wyllie replies from Bristol "No: it is
clear that the verb here has to agree with
'people' not with 'one', so 'wonder' is correct."
But Andrew goes on to reveal another problem:
"Before Mantex indulges in a collective hug
of self-satisfaction, however... David Mamet's
surname is spelt with two m's not three."
Ooops!
** "Handwritten" - new book **
The link to Stephen Heller's new book on
hand-produced fonts got mangled in the
last issue. For those interested in new
forms of typography, go to -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/heller-2.htm
0----- PUB QUIZ - ANSWERS
#1. Which ingredient turns curry yellow?
ANSWER: Tumeric
#2. Who invented the aqualung?
ANSWER: Jaques Cousteau
#3. If it's heavy in Scotland, what is it in England?
ANSWER: Bitter beer
#4. What is a shooting star?
ANSWER: A meteorite
#5. What is the world's longest river?
ANSWER: The Nile
#6. On what date was Jesus Christ conceived?
ANSWER: 25 March 0000
#7. What's the common name for iron oxide?
ANSWER: Rust
#8. What is the world's biggest baby?
ANSWER: The blue whale calf
#9. What is the capital of Nepal?
ANSWER: Kathmandu
#10. When was the Prague Spring?
ANSWER: 1968
0----- COMING SOON
Blogging - get started
'The Modern Movement 1910-1940'
'Web Services Essentials'
'Dictionary of Design since 1900'
'Oxford Spellchecker and Dictionary'
'Graphic Design School'
'PC Hacks'
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News-100-January-2005
ISSN 1470-1863
The British Library
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