M A N T E X N E W S L E T T E R Language + FREE Stuff + Design Number 70 - June 2002 ------ ISSN 1470-1863 ------ Medium-strength Pub Quiz issue 0----- 'The Oxford Guide to World English' Did you know that an Egyptian pilot, landing his 747 in Buenos Aires, speaks to ground control in English? It's a global language with a vengeance, and possibly the Web will now strengthen its influence even more. But wherever it is spoken, it gets changed slightly. Words are added - and pronounced differently. New words come into being, and strange constructions take place. All this is the subject of a fascinating new book by Tom McArthur. He offers and account of what's happening to English in every corner of the globe - from Alaska to Zimbabwe. There's also plenty on varieties of speech within the UK - the rise of Estuary English for instance, and the comic deviations of Scouse. This is an amazingly comprehensive guide which will appeal to anybody interested in language and how it develops. Review and details at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/oxf-weng.htm 0----- PUB QUIZ - Who wears a chasuble? 0----- FREE Information Architecture info Information architects and designers might like to have a look at the web site of San Francisco enthusiast - Jesse James Garrett. His pages include lots of resources on Information Architecture (IA), extracts from the best books on the subject, and even a portal to weblogs [amusing, but sadly out of date]. He also includes materials on user experience [usability, in Jakob Nielsen speak]. He doesn't have appeared to have added much in the last year, but he does have his own book on the subject coming out with New Riders later this year - and almost everything they produce in this field is very interesting and high quality. Go to - http://www.jjg.net 0----- PUB QUIZ - How many valves does a bugle have? 0----- 'Specials' - graphic design Are you interested in modern graphic design? Even in materials produced from what other people throw away? 'Specials' is a collection of design examples drawn from an amazing variety of everyday sources - street signs, letterheads, carrier bags, CD covers, magazine pages, and even football score sheets. It's got lots of gloss, and doesn't stint its contributors on space. The blurb describes it as 'Wild, eclectic, and irreverent'. Judge for yourself. Full details at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/catteral.htm 0----- PUB QUIZ - Why does a glow worm glow? 0----- FREE Briefing Papers + You heard it here first! Last issue we carried an item on wireless networks. The following week, the GUARDIAN reported on O'Reilly's Emerging Technologies Conference. [O'Reilly are the leading publishers of computer manuals and supporters of the Open Source software movement.] "Of all the subjects discussed [at the conference] the one that had the most immediate effect was wireless connectivity." If you want to catch up with what wireless connection means, and what it can do - why not have a look at Peter Alesso's new book on the subject. Details at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/alesso.htm Meanwhile, FREE briefing papers from JISC Senior Management Briefing Paper is aimed at those who are responsible for the development of institutional strategies and want some understanding of the issues involved in providing network infrastructure on their campus, including the financial and pedagogical imperatives. Briefing Paper for those involved in implementation and practice which has been written for a broader audience, including those without a technical background. http://www.jisc.ac.uk/pub/ 0----- PUB QUIZ - Where do cars with SF plates come from? 0----- European Computer Driving Licence If you want a qualification in computer skills which will be recognised everywhere, go for the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). This is now the standard recognised by employers in education, commerce, and industry - and it's recognised throughout the EEC and beyond. Our reviewer Kathryn Abram recently notched up an ECDL as part of her post-graduate studies in literature and hypertext. Whilst doing so, she used Chris Holden's excellent workbook and guide to the subject. The guidebook takes a line which explains all the basics of computer skills - from file management to databases and back again. When you've finished, you can use the book as a work of reference. Read what she has to say about it at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/holden.htm 0----- PUB QUIZ - What's added to pasta to make it green? 0----- FREE Spelling checker Microsoft Word comes with a spell-checker, and that's handy when you're typing a document. But what if you don't use the world's most annoying software program? Quick Speller v3.0 works all by itself. So, if you're typing a letter to your auntie in Notepad and you can't remember how to spell 'antediluvian', this will help you. http://www.pseudoware.com/speller/qsspell3.zip 0----- PUB QUIZ - What is the largest structure made by living creatures? 0----- 'Essays on Graphic Design, New Media, and Visual Culture' Jessica Helfand writes on all forms of new media for magazines such as 'Eye', 'Print Magazine', and 'The New Republic'. 'Screen' is a collection of her pieces on topics such as television, web design, typography, film, and modernist aesthetics. At the intellectual centre of the book there are two long essays on the influential designer Paul Rand. She gets a mixed reception from our reviewer. See the full story and details of the book at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/helfand.htm 0----- PUB QUIZ - In which country is Agadir? 0----- Writing Fellowship - Opportunity! The Sociological Review, one of Britain's leading sociology journals, invites applications for a post-doctoral writing fellowship to be based at Keele University. The Fellowship is intended to give early career scholars working in an area of sociology or social anthropology and related disciplines the opportunity of spending a year writing their first book. The successful applicant will be based at Keele University and will receive an annual salary of UKP 17,626 - 19,681, depending on age and experience. For application forms and further particulars please write quoting the post reference number RE02/10 to - Email: vacancies@keele.ac.uk http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/pe/pdhome.htm Personnel Department Keele University Keele, Staffs, ST5 5BG FAX your request on 01782 583471 Closing date: Friday 21th June, 2002 0----- PUB QUIZ - Which is the first war with photographic records? 0----- FREE Publicity Mick Trott at Speechradio got a *big* response to our item in the last newsletter about making speaking books. The newsletter now goes out to 4,000+ subscribers in all parts of the world who are interested in our core concerns - writing, Web design, typography, eLearning, graphic design, and other matters related to IT and media culture. If you have an announcement or an advert you would like to place, let us know at - news@mantex.co.uk 0----- PUB QUIZ - What sort of creature is a guillemot? 0----- THE FINAL WORD 'It's deja vu all over again.' Yogi Berra 0----- THE PUB QUIZ - ANSWERS Who wears a chasuble? ANSWER: A priest How many valves does a bugle have? ANSWER: None Why does a glow worm glow? ANSWER: To attract mates Where do cars with country code SF come from? ANSWER: Finland What is added to pasta to make it green? ANSWER: Spinach What is the largest structure made by living creatures? ANSWER: The Great Barrier Reef In which country is Agadir? ANSWER: Morocco Which is the first war with photographic records? ANSWER: Crimean What sort of creature is a guillemot? ANSWER: A bird 0----- COMING SOON 'StyleWriter' - grammar-checking software 'Understanding Virtual Universities' 'InteractiveDesign2' 'Print + Electronic text Convergence' 'Flash for Cartooning' 'Dreamweaver 4 in a Nutshell' 'Innovating in Higher Education' (c) Copyright 2002, MANTEX All Rights Reserved PO Box 100 Tel +44 0161 432 5811 Manchester Fax +44 0161 443 2766 M20 6GZ UK www.mantex.co.uk If you like this newsletter, PLEASE FORWARD IT to friends and colleagues. New subscribers should register at the following address -- http://www.mantex.co.uk/newslet.htm FREE BACK ISSUES featuring news items, reviews, and product details are available at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/news/archive.htm Please retain the copyright and subscription information. It may be posted, in its entirety or partially, to newsgroups or mailing lists, so long as the copyright and subscription information remains. If you have any requests, observations, or items you would like to be included in our next issues, just mail us at -- news@mantex.co.uk You receive the MANTEX newsletter because you subscribed to it. If you wish to unsubscribe, go to -- http://www.mantex.co.uk/newslet.htm News-70-June-2002 ISSN 1470-1863 The British Library