=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SFEP-ED-L Vol. 1, no. 6 13 October 1996 SFEP Editorial mailing list =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: [1] "Mea culpa" Q & A---Previous queries [2j] Dictionaries and reference books Q & A---Unanswered queries [2h] Publication dates [2i] Red or blue? What?! NO new queries??! FYI [3h] Black cats ... [3i] New discussion list: Global Author-Publishers List [GAP-L] [3j] Banned books the Web [3k] Announcement: Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge [BOOK(tm)] [3l] SFEP 1997 Electronic Directory Business matters---Previous query [4b] Curtailed work Business matters---New query [4c] Printing emails [5] Bookmarks [6] Administration =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= --[1] "Mea culpa" -------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 6 Oct 1996 From: Pat Bradley, 100667.552@compuserve.com Have been away and collected several mailings at once. Don't think anyone commented on the fact that balk is merely an alternative to baulk in the COD. Bawlk makes a little more sense in that light - but isn't it ugly? --[2] Q & A --------------------------------------------------- [2h] Date: Mon, 16 Sept 1996 From: Sue Lightfoot, 71461.465@compuserve.com Subject: Publication dates Can anyone tell me when it became necessary/customary to state the publication date on the title page of a document? I'm trying to date a couple of second-hand books I picked up and can't find an answer in any of my reference books. +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [2i] Date: Tue, 24 Sept 1996 From: Jane Kerr, bywater@zetnet.co.uk Subject: Red or blue? I proofread a book recently which had the chapter titles as the verso running heads. In one particular chapter, the typesetters had set this running head incorrectly (which would, of course, have been a straightforward red correction). However, the editors changed the chapter title, for complex legal reasons, so the final running head wasn't the same as the one the typesetters *should* have set. The question is: should the correction have been red or blue? +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [2j] Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 From: Frances Grant, 101753.752@compuserve.com Re: Dictionaries and reference books In addition to those you mention, three sources I use regularly are 1. The Oxford Minidictionary of spellings and hyphenation (much faster than COD for permissible wordbreaks). 2. Whitaker's Almanack for correct names of institutions (and phone numbers of multitudes of the same), plus lots of general information. 3. CUP's Dictionary of Scientific Style and Format, which covers everything that all the usual humanities-oriented dictionaries don't. 4. Times atlas Those I sometimes use are 5. Oxford specialized dictionaries (law, medicine,etc). 6. BAPLA (picture libraries) handbook. 7. Writers' and Artists' Yearbook. 8. Some CDRom encyclopedias. --------------------- Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 From: Jane Kerr, bywater@zetnet.co.uk Frances has inspired me to add my recommendations: The Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary (Actually, I'm a big Chambers fan all-round, and use their dictionary in preference to Oxford when I'm given a choice.) Another good one is the Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations, which contains some surprisingly obscure examples. A dis-recommendation is the Oxford Dictionary of Computing, which I bought at the insistence of a client, but which I have never found to be useful (not even for the job for which I bought it). --------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 From: Chuck Hollingworth, c.hollingworth@bangor.ac.uk I can add two general references - The Chicago Manual of Style and The Times Atlas of The World (Comprehensive edn) - and two that have proved consistently handy in editing science: Oxford Dictionary for Scientific Writers and Editors and the CBE Style Manual (now much enlarged as Scientific Style and Format, CUP). Can anyone out there recommend a really good, up-to-date dictionary of zoology? --[3] FYI ---------------------------------------------------------- [3h] Black cats ... Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 From: Jane Kerr, bywater@zetnet.co.uk Today's _Times_ has an article about Norman Davies and his new book, _Europe: A History_, which concludes as follows: > _Europe: A History_ is dedicated to 10-year-old Christian, who > can't remember a time when Daddy wasn't writing it. "No prizes for > finding the black cat," reads the cryptic dedication. Explain, > please. "One day Christian came up to my study, and together we > slipped 'the black cat' into the text - and it's got through all > the OUP's finest copy editors..." (It's on page 865.) Of course, if the copy editor *had* spotted it, the dedication would have been ruined! +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [3i] New discussion list: Global Author-Publishers List [GAP-L] The Philopsychy Society is pleased to announce the formation of a new discussion list: Global Author-Publishers List [GAP-L]. GAP-L is a forum for the open discussion of any issues relating to what is commonly known as "self-publishing". The list is intended mainly to serve as a support group for scholars or scholarly-minded nonacademics who have published their own book(s), or are considering the possibility of doing so. Anyone interested in discussing relevant topics is welcome to join, particularly members of other related professions, such as journalists, conventional publishers, librarians, etc. To join, simply send the message "subscribe GAP-L" to: majordomo@listserver.hkbu.edu.hk Discussion topics may cover the whole range of issues relating to author-publication, including those arising in each of the following stages: - pre-publication: research, writing, editing, etc. - publication: manuscript preparation, book design, printer selection, etc. - post-publication: promotion, marketing, distribution, etc. Another purpose of GAP-L is to provide members with information about the many internet resources for author-publishers. A number of web pages and links have already been set up for this purpose. They can best be accessed from a page called "Web-Assisted Self-Publishing", located at: < http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~ppp/WASP.html > [Cross-posted from WEBRIGHTS-L, WEBRIGHTS-L@list.pitt.edu] +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [3j] Banned books the Web Some pundits worry that information technology will replace books with some lesser electronic substitute. But there is some evidence that technology actually helps promotes the distribution and awareness of books. The latest example of this are a number of web sites that popped up in reference to the recent "Banned Books Week" (September 28-October 5). As noted in The New York Times, the American Library Association launched the event 15 years ago to draw attention to censorship in the U.S. The ALA has a web site devoted to Banned Books Week, as does the American Civil Liberties Union. Online booksellers such as Amazon.com and Bookstacks Unlimited, are eager to fill orders for banned works, which include The Canterbury Tales, The Diary of Anne Frank, Ulysses, and The Bell Jar. Bookstacks Unlimited also links to the "Banned Books as Art" exhibit. NYT: < http://www.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/1004books.html#1 > ALA: < http://www.ala.org/bbooks/ > ALCU: < http://www.aclu.org/issues/freespeech/bbwind.html > Amazon: < http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/banbook.html/ 8214-0519682-440043 > BookstacksEx: < http://www.banned.books.com/ > [Cross-posted from Culture in Cyberspace, Vol. 1, no. 32, 7/10/96 Information at < http://www.radix.net/~wlefurgy/welcome.htm >] +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [3k] Announcement: Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge [BOOK(tm)] A new aid to rapid--almost magical--learning has made its appearance. Indications are that if it catches on all the electronic gadgets will be so much junk. The new device is known as Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge. The makers generally call it by its initials, BOOK(tm). Many advantages are claimed over the old-style learning and teaching aids on which most people are brought up nowadays. It has no wires, no electric circuit to break down. No connection is needed to an electricity power point. It is made entirely without mechanical parts to go wrong or need replacement. Anyone can use BOOK(tm), even children, and it fits comfortably into the hands. It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire. How does this revoluntionary, unbelievably easy invention work? =============================================================== Basically BOOK(tm) consists only of a large number of paper sheets. These may run to hundreds where BOOK(tm) covers a lengthy program of information. Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the sheets cannot be used in the wrong order. To make it even easier for the user to keep the sheets in the proper order they are held firmly in place by a special locking device called a "binding". Each sheet of paper presents the user with an information sequence in the form of symbols, which he absorbs optically for automatic registration on the brain. When one sheet has been assimilated a flick of the finger turns it over and further information is found on the other side. By using both sides of each sheet in this way a great economy is effected, thus reducing both the size and cost of BOOK(tm). No buttons need to be pressed to move from one sheet to another, to open or close BOOK(tm), or to start it working. BOOK(tm) may be taken up at any time and used by merely opening it. Instantly it is ready for use. Nothing has to be connected up or switched on. The user may turn at will to any sheet, going backwards or forwards as he pleases. A sheet is provided near the beginnning as a location finder for any required information sequence. A small accessory, available at trifling extra cost, is the BOOK(tm)mark. This enables the user to pick up his programme where he left off on the previous learning session. BOOK(tm)mark is versatile and may be used in any BOOK(tm). The initial cost varies with the size and subject matter. Already a vast range of BOOK(tm)s is available, covering every conceivable subject and adjusted to different levels of aptitude. One BOOK(tm), small enough to be held in the hands, may contain an entire learning schedule. Once purchased, BOOK(tm) requires no further upkeep cost; no batteries or wires are needed, since the motive power, thanks to an ingenious device patented by the makers, is supplied by the brain of the user. BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of reference the program schedule is normally indicated on the back of the binding. Altogether the Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge seems to have great advantages with no drawbacks. We predict a big future for it. Here's the supervisor's response: ================================= BOOK(tm) does not, in spite of the claims, seem "to have great advantages with no drawbacks". Soon, it probably won't even be legal. Consider: It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire. Being paper, it might burn in the fire. Probably fire laws in most locations wouldn't allow its use there. Worse, such a device, which encourages close proximity of the user to fire, will be outlawed by OSHA's request. "Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the sheets cannot be used in the wrong order." How quaint; to think that the programmer (author) would be allowed to turn over such an important task to the user! "cannot" is clearly misuse; any user could incorrectly turn to the wrong sheet. A proper user interface might correct that, of course, such as requiring that each sheet be torn off to expose the next. This is in clear conflict with "The user may turn at will to any sheet, going backwards or forwards as he pleases." "BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of reference". The user interface obviously needs more work before such a system can be practical. "the motive power -- is supplied by the brain of the user". Clearly, the inventors have not examined recent trends. No serious person would suggest even expecting a "user" to have a brain present, much less to use it so continuously. I'd suggest the inventors return to their consoles and do a thorough associative search of various data banks, like the rest of us, and forget this nonsense. [Cross-posted from BOOK_ARTS-L, listserv@listserv.syr.edu] +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [3l] SFEP 1997 Electronic Directory Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 From: Helen MacDonald, helen@folio.demon.co.uk The society is pleased to announce that the 1997 Electronic Directory of Members' Services is now available and can be accessed via the society's Web site at < http://www.sfep.demon.co.uk/ > --[4] Business matters --------------------------------------------- [4b] Date: Tues, 1 Oct 1996 From: Mandy Macdonald, 100754.3643@compuserve.com Subject: Curtailed work Here's an issue I'd like to hear members' opinions on: what to do if a client suddenly decides to curtail your work. Since there is no real contract, only a correspondence setting up the job, what am I justified in demanding? My subcontracter had finished two more chapters. I think this is worth a couple of hundred pounds, is it not? Has anyone else had a similar experience, and what happened? +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ [4c] Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 From: Frances Grant, 101753.752@compuserve.com Subject: Printing emails To keep my machine clear I print out my SFEP newsletters and delete the emails. Can anyone tell me if they have discovered a simple way of immediately printing out the newsletter without its long list of addressees, that does not involve making it into a Word (or similar) document first? --[5] Bookmarks ---------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Oct 1996 From: Kathleen Lyle, edserve@klyle.demon.co.uk To add to your list of bookmarks - The European Association of Science Editors is now on the Web at < http://www.compulink.co.uk/~ease-eurscieditors/ > EASE also has a new e-mail address: the secretary (Maeve O'Connor) can be contacted at secretary@ease.org.uk --[6] Administration ----------------------------------------------- SFEP Editorial provides the opportunity for a weekly online discussion of matters editorial. * POSTING MESSAGES TO THE LIST All messages to be posted to the list should be sent to Iain Brown, at: 100131.3564@compuserve.com Include as the subject line, "SFEP-ED-L [topic]", where [topic] is the subject under discussion. Topics might include areas such as Grammar, Spelling, American English or Punctuation. Messages should be pertinent to the basic premise of the list; they may be withheld, or redirected if more pertinent to the Computing Online mailing list or to the main Society Newsletter. The spelling and grammar of messages will *not* be corrected, but some editing of length may be undertaken. Quoting from previous messages: quote as much as you need to make the context of your reply clear, but no more. * Administration All messages of a subscription or administrative nature should be directed to Jane Kerr at: bywater@zetnet.co.uk with "SFEP EDITORIAL ADMIN" in the subject line. * To subscribe to SFEP Computing Online To subscribe to SFEP Computing Online, please e-mail Eddie Kent at: EDDIE.KENT@mcr1.poptel.org.uk * SFEP Homepage < http://www.sfep.demon.co.uk/ > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= END OF SFEP-ED-L 1.6 Next issue: 20 Oct 1996 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=