Mantex Newsletter - Slang + Art + Design + Literature
news at mantex.co.uk
news at mantex.co.uk
Mon Jun 7 11:24:56 GMT 2004
-------- MANTEX NEWSLETTER --------
Number 93 - June 2004 - ISSN 1470-1863
Slang - Art - Design - Literature
0----- 'Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English'
For unconventional, read 'smu-t', 'swe-aring',
'fi-lth', and 'obs-cenity'. This is a dictionary
originally composed in an era when such terms
were not supposed to officially exist.
Fortunately, Eric Partridge ignored this limitation
and produced a number of books on 'unconventional'
English which are still of interest today.
This is a cut-down version of his classic. It
includes only slang which originated in the last
hundred years.
I put this book to the test only tonight to settle
a dinner table argument on 'geek' - and sure enough
there was the answer. Full review and details at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/part-2.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #1
What is a glaive?
0----- Weird facts #1
Attila the Hun bled to death from a nosebleed -
on his wedding night. Symbolic? Ironic?
0----- Lesley Hall's "Quirky Stuff"
Collection of links to bizarre, curious, and
hilariously funny web sites - from Theremin
World and urban legends to the Journal of
Mundane Behaviour, the Gallery of Misused
Quotation Marks and the Apostrophe Protection
Society. Great fun at -
http://homepages.primex.co.uk/~lesleyah/webdoc10.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #2
What type of fruit is a jargonelle?
0----- Weird Facts #2
Donald Duck comics were once banned in Finland -
because he doesn't wear trousers. It's true.
0----- 'Writing at University' - new edition
The newly expanded second edition of this
best-seller includes sections on report
writing, electronic writing, learning
journals, and using the Internet.
See full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/creme.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #3
Who wrote 'The Beast in the Jungle'?
0----- Weird Facts #3
Our eyes are always the same size from birth.
0----- 'Windows XP Hacks' - new book
XP was the first major re-vamp of the Windows
operating system since Windows 95, Most people
are so relieved that it's more stable that they
don't bother looking beneath the desktop to see
what's possible.
In fact you can customise and adjust the operating
system to an astonishing extent, using tools which
are part of XP itself, or are freely available on the Net.
All of these procedures are explained in Preston
Gralla's new book, which talks you through the
procedures in very simple language.
There's something here for everybody - from changing
your desktop themes and colours, to editing the
Registry to boost performance.
It's all presented in O'Rielly's impeccable format,
with full details of tips, workarounds, and warnings,
plus listings of sites for free downloads .
Did you know that when you shut down Outlook Express
it doesn't really shut down, but continues running
in the background. Invaluable advice. Full details
and review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/gralla.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #4
Who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris?
0----- Weird Facts #4
Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors. Sharp guy.
0----- The Russian Novel - guidance notes
These are 'notes in progress' - Version 1.0 of
Russian Literature - prose fiction of the nineteenth
and twentieth century. The notes run from Pushkin and
'Eugene Onegin' to Solzhenitsyn's 'Lenin in Zurich'
The first part available is the nineteenth century
novel: Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoyevski, Tolstoy,
and Turgenev. More will follow. Details at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/ou/aa810/rus-19c.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #5
Which river flows through Budapest?
0----- Weird Facts #5
Australia is the only country that is also a continent.
0----- 'Internet Art' - new book
The Internet is a brand new medium of communication,
and it now has experimental artists exploring the new
forms of expression it makes possible.
These include HTML galleries, interactive art, video
games, and multi-media projects, The possibilities
are quite bewildering.
All of them are explored in Rachel Greene's new book
from the Thames and Hudson cheap-and-cheerful paperback
World of Art series.
She's very well informed on recent developments, and
although you'll have to cope with a pretentious Art
School mode of expression, the book is profusely
illustrated to give you an idea of what's possible
in digital visual arts. Full review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/greene.htm
0----- Pub Quiz - Question #6
Which leaves taste of aniseed?
0----- Weird Facts #6
Marilyn Monroe had six toes on one foot.
0----- 'Web Design: Start Here' - new book
Ilex books have produced a very stylish series
of books on web matters and graphic design. This
is an overview of what's required for a good Web site.
You don't have to follow every suggestion. It spells
out the basics - from page layout to navigation and
graphic manipulation, to special effects such as
graphic decoration and animated effects.
You might need further detailed guidance on any
topic, but it's a good coverage of what's required
in Web design. And it's another very stylish
production from Ilex. Full details and review at -
http://www.mantex.co.uk/reviews/nettle.htm
0----- Pub Quiz Question #7
Which two countries are separated by the Skagerrack?
0----- Weird Facts #7
The word 'samba' means 'to rub navels together'.
0----- 'Bloomsbury Rooms' - new book
I spotted a superb book on Bloomsbury art the
other day. It covers all the obvious topics -
the paintings of Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant,
and Roger Fry - but also their domestic interiors,
graphic designs, fabrics, and book jackets.
There are lots of paintings and photographs I
have never seen before, and it's a very handsomely
produced work. A must-see for any Bloomsbury fans.
Details and links on our Bloomsbury Group page:
http://www.mantex.co.uk/ou/a319/bloom-01.htm
0----- Feedback + Corrections
Several people emailed to suggest that the
largest organ in the human body is not the
liver - but the skin. And they're right!
Thanks in particular to Simon Gill in the
Czech Republic for suggesting a reliable
source for confirmation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/
And to Elsa Luciano Feal in Puerto Rico for this site:
http://kidshealth.org/kid/body/skin_SW.html
0----- Quotable quotes -
"The pen is mightier than the sword -
and considerably easier to write with."
Marty Feldman.
0----- PUB QUIZ - ANSWERS
What is a glaive?
ANSWER: A sword
What type of fruit is a jargonelle?
ANSWER: A pear
Who wrote 'The Beast in the Jungle'?
ANSWER: Henry James
Who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris?
ANSWER: Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano
Which river flows through Budapest?
ANSWER: The Danube
Which leaves taste of aniseed?
ANSWER: Fennel
Which two countries are separated by the Skagerrack?
ANSWER: Denmark and Norway
0----- COMING SOON
'Spidering Hacks' - new book
'Web Animation: Start Here' - new book
'Digital Art' - new book
(c) Copyright 2004, MANTEX
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News-93-June-2004
ISSN 1470-1863
The British Library
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