Newsletter 172 – September 2011
——– MANTEX NEWSLETTER ——–
Number 172 – September 2011 – ISSN 1470-1863
Arts, Culture, and Technology as seen from
the digital hub of Media city Manchester UK
Back to School – and about time too!
Sorry to miss August – pressure of something
or other. This issue is packed with what’s
been going on during the silly season – plus
some great study skills materials.
0— HackGate – The Movie!
If you missed the phone hacking scandal last
month because you were on holiday, fear not!
Here’s a trailer for the forthcoming movie.
0— Pub Quiz Question #1
How many pairs of ribs in a human skeleton?
0— Plagiarism, Copyright, & New Media
Plagiarism has been in the news recently with
the Johaan Hari case. And copyright too, with
the limit for audio being upped to 70 years.
Here’s a mini-essay on the relationship between
these two issues and cases of new media.
It explains how digitization affects
creative work of all kinds.
Plagiarism, Copyright, & New Media
0— Pub Quiz Question #2
What made Englishman Nicolas Breakspear unique?
0— Ethan Frome – a study guide
If you’ve not read this before, be prepared for
a literary jolt.
It’s one of Edith Wharton’s lesser-known works
(in the UK) which deserves to be on everybody’s list.
Ethan Frome is a poor working farmer who aspires to
greater things. He lives with his grim wife and a
pretty young relative who has lost her parents.
OK – you can see the story-line coming, can’t you?
And you’re right – but the story ends with a superb
dramatic twist, and it’s told in such a skillful
fashion that you will never forget it.
0— Pub Quiz Question #3
Which modern art movement was led by Percy Wyndham Lewis?
0— How to use quotation marks
Here are some new f.r.e.e downloadable guidance notes.
Quotations are one of those features of writing that
give many people problems. These notes cover all the
most common occurrences – and show you how to do it.
If you want to see how to handle all other forms of
punctuation and grammar, have a look at our software
program – “English Language 3.0″
0— Pub Quiz Question #4
Who did the scientist Maria Sklodowska marry in 1895?
0— ‘On Reading’ – Marcel Proust
Did you know that Marcel Proust had a connection with my
hometown of Manchester?
Yes – it’s true. He translated John Ruskin’s lectures
on reading, literacy, and culture which were delivered
in Rusholme Town Hall in 1864.
And he did so with the assistance of Marie Nordlinger,
an artist who was also from Manchester.
This book reproduces Proust’s essay on the philosophy
of reading, along with Ruskin’s on the same subject,
plus Proust’s huge footnotes to his work.
0— Pub Quiz Question #5
At which school would Old Carthusians have studied?
0— Clear Thinking – guidance notes
This is the first in a new series of study skills
we are introducing this autumn.
Clear thinking is not to be confused with getting
high scores in quizzes or having a high IQ.
It’s the ability to think in a logical fashion,
use valid arguments, make clear distinctions, and
express yourself clearly. This explains how to do it!
If you want a full downloadable program of study
skill notes, have a look at “Study Skills 2.0″
0— Pub Quiz Question #6
Who is the heroine in Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’?
0— Tom Wolfe – a blast from the past
I decided to look back at a book on painting
that I enjoyed when it first came out.
Tom Wolfe is a very witty writer and a sharp
observer of culture and fashions.
This is a long essay on the snobbery, absurdity,
and the posturing that goes on in the world of
modern art.
0— Pub Quiz Question #7
Which country does Staropramen beer come from?
0— ‘The Aspern Papers’ – a study guide
This is one of my favourite Henry James novellas.
A literary gent goes to Venice in search of letters
written by a famous poet to an old lover who is still alive
The woman lets him stay in her palazzo – but won’t give
him access to the papers.
Instead, she presents her niece, whom she wants to marry off.
A battle of wills ensues – and in the end none of them get
what they want. It’s full of delightful ironies.
0— Pub Quiz Question #8
What new material was patented in 1937 by Wallace Carothers?
0— Very dull books
Great collection of amazingly boring books
over at Bookride.com – plus lots more bibliographic
oddities in the sidebar links.
0— Pub Quiz Question #9
Which wading bird is the symbol of the RSPB?
0— F.r.e.e Fonts – you can’t go wrong!
Watch this excellent animation showing
the f.r.e.e font ‘Morning Glory’
Ovalian – based on circle and oval shapes
Linden Hill – a version of Frederic Goudy’s Deepdene
Banda – a semi-serif hybrid font
Collator – designed to combine Chinese characters with Latin letterforms
0— Pub Quiz Question #10
What is topiary?
0— Pub quiz – ANSWERS
#1. How many pairs of ribs in a human skeleton?
ANSWER: Twelve
#2 What made Englishman Nicolas Breakspear unique?
ANSWER: He was elected Pope Adrian IV
#3 Which modern art movement was led by Percy Wyndham Lewis?
ANSWER: Vorticism
#4 Who did the scientist Maria Sklodowska marry in 1895?
ANSWER: Pierre Curie
#5 At which school would Old Carthusians have studied?
ANSWER: Charterhouse
#6 Who is the heroine in Jane Austen’s ‘Northanger Abbey’?
ANSWER: Catherine Morland
#7 Which country does Staropramen beer come from?
ANSWER: Czech Republic
#8 What new material was patented in 1937 by Wallace Carothers?
ANSWER: Nylon
#9 Which wading bird is the symbol of the RSPB?
ANSWER: The Avocet
#10 What is topiary?
ANSWER: The art of clipping hedges
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News-172-Sep-2011
ISSN 1470-1863
The British Library
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