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February 28, 2007
Cash Dash
The Illinois State Treasurer published a list of unclaimed financial property in Sunday's Chicago Tribune. If your copy went out with the recycling before you could check your name and your relatives', the library's copy is behind the Reference Desk. Or search the CashDash web site.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 2:26 PM
Say What?
Whether you’re writing a research paper, a business proposal, or a novel, questions of grammar, punctuation, and usage are bound to come up. One of the following sites may have the answer.
Strunk and White’s classic reference, The Elements of Style, was written in 1918. Long after the original authors’ deaths, it is still being revised to reflect modern usage and has even inspired an illustrated edition.
Different from or different than? Should I capitalize winter? Does the comma go inside or outside the quotation marks? Consult a usage guide. Bartleby offers several established authorities. For the most current questions, let the experts advise you in the recent American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style or R. L. Trask’s Mind the Gaffe!: A Troubleshooter's Guide to English Style and Usage.
The Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab) offers help with grammar and mechanics and with the special requirements of academic, professional, workplace, public, and even creative writing.
Who sees more mistakes in writing than an English professor? Paul Brians of Washington State University has compiled a list of Common Errors in English, including misspellings, words confused with each other, redundancies, and other expressions. But your language may be more correct than you think; Brians also gives us a list of Non-Errors, “usages people keep telling you are wrong but which are actually standard in English”—up with which you should not put.
One bugbear of contemporary writing is gender-neutral language. Some Notes on Gender-Neutral Language
explains how changes in language and society gave rise to the controversy. The respected Guardian newspaper’s style guide instructs the paper’s writers to be aware of gender issues and the values that language reflects. Another site with suggestions is Gender-Fair Language. Contemporary usage manuals also address the subject.
Grammar doesn’t have to be boring. Lynne Truss’s surprise best seller, Eats, Shoots & Leaves, was so popular that the author wrote a version for kids, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: Why, Commas Really Do Make a Difference!
Fans of Dave Barry can laugh at his columns written as "Mister Language Person" posted by Nathan Bierma and others. Bierma writes the “On Language” column for the Chicago Tribune, covering “etymology, neologisms, linguistics, grammar, jargon, slang, accents, translation, multilingualism, language acquisition, phonetics, and anything else related to language.”
Posted by hinsdalereference at 5:55 AM
February 21, 2007
Dimmed Down Under and Greenest Autos for 2007
Two environmentally conscious, but otherwise unrelated, stories
Australia Phasing Out Incandescent Light
As reported in the New York Times -- Australia’s Environmental Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, announced a program to shift away from incandescent bulbs. The goal is total replacement with fluorescent bulbs by 2009-2010. This effort joins existing programs to save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Easing Away from Oil Addiction
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has released its lists of the best and worst car models for 2007. Expecting hybrids to top the list? You may be surprised.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 11:32 AM
February 1, 2007
Orange and Blue (the Chicago Bears’ colors) at the GREEN Super Bowl
Forbes Magazine’s Web site reports on the NFL’s green initiatives to offset some of the environmental impact of their championship game. This year’s Super Bowl, featuring our own Chicago Bears versus the Indianapolis Colts, will be the third Super Bowl where a combination of efforts like recycling, renewable energy, energy credits, and carbon offsets will lessen the game's impact on the planet.
For 14 years the NFL has been taking steps towards a more socially conscious Super Bowl. Simple measures put into place by Miami for the 1995 Super Bowl, including the installation of a cardboard bailer, have continued. This program earns cash for Dolphin Stadium and fans get a cleaner playground.
Inspired by the NFL efforts? See the various alternative energy programs the State of Illinois is offering to citizens and businesses in Illinois.
Posted by hinsdalereference at 8:09 PM