-------- MANTEX NEWSLETTER -------- Number 81 - May 2003 - ISSN 1470-1863 Research + Literacy + Web Resources 0----- 'Google Hacks' - new book This isn't a book about hacking. It's a guide to advanced research techniques using the world's most popular search engine. Tara Calishan is a specialist in what's available and how to find it. She explains how you can use all the little-known services at Google to search for news items, images, foreign language services, and even phone numbers. There's also a technical section devoted to integrating Google into your own site, and how to maximise your chances with search engines. The last part of the book is a checklist of tips on how to make a web site as fast and efficient as possible. Invaluable advice. Full review at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/calish-2.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #1 What is a pommel a part of? 0----- Thomas Mann - [new study resources] We've started a new section in our 'Great Writers' tutorials. This one features the work of the German novelist Thomas Mann. He's probably best known for his novella 'Death in Venice' because it was turned into a very attractive film by Luchino Visconti. His great novels include the family saga "Buddenbrooks", the philosophical "Magic Mountain", and his version of the Faust theme, "Doktor Faustus". All these are featured, along with some of his famous short stories and novellas. http://www.mantex.co.uk/ou/a319/mann-00.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #2 What is the capital of Paraguay? 0----- World Wide Words [language web site] One of my students tipped me off to a very entertaining site on English Language. It features explanations of odd words and turns of phrase - such as 'Absquatulate', 'Bodger', and 'I should cocoa'. It's run as a labour of love by Michael Quinion. He also has a free newsletter. Well worth a visit - http://www.worldwidewords.org/ 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #3 Where is a fresco painted? 0----- Vladimir Nabokov - Life and Works We have added a chronology of the life and works of Vladimir Nabokov, who says of himself - "I was born in Russia and went to university in England, then lived in Germany for twenty years before emigrating to the United States." He is of course famous as the author of 'Lolita', but he wrote many other novels, poetry, essays, chess problems, and was a famous lepidopterist in his spare time. http://www.mantex.co.uk/ou/a319/nabo-00.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #4 What sort of food is a macadamia? 0----- 'Literacy in the New Media Age' [new book] In educational circles, 'literacy' has conventionally meant the ability to read and write. But now that we have computers in primary schools, many people have additional skills - in visual and conceptual 'literacy'. This is a new look at what constitutes literacy. Gunther Kress argues that computers and digital technology have created new skills which should be counted towards cultural intelligence. Even young children using computers acquire skills of visual interpretation and develop navigational concepts which simply didn't exist until recently. This will be of interest to linguists, educationalists, and anybody concerned with theories of reading and the interpretation of texts. http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/kress.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #5 What is a morello? 0----- 'Visual Language for the World Wide Web' This is a book about the language of icons, buttons, and navigational aids used in the design of graphical interfaces of computer software programs. It looks at what visual languages can do in transmitting information, and compares Mayan hieroglyphs with desktop icons. The approach is part-theoretical and part the results of practical experiments in which icons are easiest to recognise. You won't be surprised to learn that these are examples such as the spyglass for 'Search' and the printer for 'print'. It will appeal to graphic designers, usability buffs, and anyone interested in navigation systems. http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/honey.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #6 What is the world's largest natural monolith? 0----- Teaching Resource Site I came across an amazingly rich site whilst doing a review of English teaching materials available online. Andrew Moore has a collection of tutorials, links, and web-related goodies which will be a boon to any teacher at Key Stage 2/3, GCSE, and Further Education. He covers English Language and Literature, twentieth century drama, Media Studies, Writing Skills, and even the basics of Web design. http://www.eriding.net/amoore/default.htm 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #7 What is an impala? 0----- Online Dictionaries of Slang The Online Slang Dictionary http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wrader/slang/ A Dictionary of Slang http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/ Surfing for Slang http://www.slanglinks.cjb.net/ 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #8 What colour are Rupert Bear's trousers? 0----- A Spanish correction Subscriber Dave Eyre offers the following 'In the spirit of friendly accuracy'. "I am afraid wherever your definition of "habanera" came from it is not complete! A habanera is also a song and each year these are sung in evening festivals around (particularly) the Costa Brava. Habaneras are sung by the Catalan sailors returning from the Spanish colony of Cuba - in particular Havana - hence havaneras, or habaneras." 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #1 What is a pommel a part of? ANSWER - A saddle 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #2 What is the capital of Paraguay? ANSWER - Asuncion 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #3 Where is a fresco painted? ANSWER - On a wall 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #4 What sort of food is a macadamia? ANSWER - A nut 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #5 What is a morello? ANSWER - A cherry 0----- Pub Quiz - Question #6 What is the world's largest natural monolith? ANSWER - Ayers Rock, Australia 0----- Pub Quiz Question #7 What is an impala? ANSWER - An antelope 0----- Pub Quiz Question #8 What colour are Rupert Bear's trousers? ANSWER - Yellow 0----- COMING SOON 'Oxford Style Guide' 'WriteItNow' - Novel-writing software 'Design Through Digital Interaction' 'Creative Content for the Web' 'Designing Web Graphics' 'Oxford Guide to Word Games (c) Copyright 2003, 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 at - http://www.mantex.co.uk/news/archive.htm Please retain the copyright and list-joining information. It may be posted, in its entirety or partially, to newsgroups or mailing lists, so long as the copyright and list-joining 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 leave the list, go to -- http://www.mantex.co.uk/newslet.htm News-81-May-2003 ISSN 1470-1863 The British Library