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The Rosetta Project
When the world loses a language, it is as complete a loss as the extinction
of an animal species. Concerned that as many as 90% of the world's
languages will disappear in the next century, the Rosetta Project is a
contemporary version of the Rosetta Stone, gathering 1,000 languages so
that they may outlast their few living speakers.
A collaboration of language scholars and native speakers, the project may
ultimately help recover lost languages. Already, it's a fascinating record:
search for obscure languages by name, family or country and hear audio
files of many that are spoken by only a handful of people today. The
resulting archive will have a 2,000-year life expectancy.
rosettaproject.org:8080/live
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Fractal Poetry
No rhymes here. Despite the name, Fractal Poetry is mostly images, the
creations of Terry Wright, a fractal artist among the many practitioners of
the art found on the Web. Fractals are shapes that show similar features at
different sizes; while mathematics plays a role in its creation, visitors
do not need to get the math to get the art.
With titles like the outrageous "Tinkerbell Steps Out" and peaceful
"Chernobyl Pear," the images are varied and surprising, looking like oils
and watercolors but created with various fractal generators rather than
with paint on canvas.
eclectasy.com
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re:constructions
Turn off the TV and reflect - wise advice following the incomprehensible
events of September 11, 2001. re:constructions is a collection of essays
from students, staff, faculty and friends of MIT's Comparative Media
Studies, and it makes a contribution as important to the healing as blood
donations: thoughtful analyses of the words, images, and stories which
filled - or were missing from - the media coverage.
To help us sort it all out in our schools, places of worship, union halls
and homes, the site analyzes world news coverage, explores alternative
insights, challenges the use of words like "coward," debates public policy,
shares creative uses of the media and hosts a dialogue about the events and
their impact.
web.mit.edu
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Dr. Grammar
Ever wish you had an English professor on your desktop? When you must know
right now if it's "who" or "whom" in that memo you're writing - and don't
have time for a lecture - visit Dr. Grammar, a free service provided by the
University of Northern Iowa.
Dr. Grammar is Professor Jim HiDuke, who will give you the straightforward
answer you need to quickly polish off any distressing writing project. The
handiest tool is the FAQs, simply because everyone pretty much has the same
questions. The good doctor also suggests a Writer's Toolbox of reference
books for serious writers and links to writing centers for more info on
documentation and style.
drgrammar.org
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Source: tricksandtrinkets.com |
