For word processing I use Microsoft Word 2002, which was the most recent version of Word when this computer was new (before that I used Word 2.0). The fact that Word allows comprehensive customisation of menus and toolbars etc is an important reason why I’ve never switched to a cheap non-Microsoft alternative, yet I must say that the customisation of Word 2002 was the most painful experience of customisation I have ever had.
While browsing language-related blogs, I came across this, which links to this (Trabi Customiser) which the author of the aforementioned blog used to generate this. It looked fun, so I had a go and generated this (and yes, I’m aware of the deliberate irony behind the website, having been to Germany and all):
Incidentally, the reason why I was browsing miscellaneous language-related blogs in the first place is that, what with Language Log having recently moved and been redesigned, I thought it would be a good time to visit all of the blogs in Language Log’s sidebar. Having now looked through all those blogs I can announce that, in my opinion, the best and most consistently interesting one is the Cognition and Language Lab (which I’ve now added to my sidebar).
Now, while I’m here I might as well tell you some of my miscellaneous news.
I was at my parents’ place for much of the last week while my kitchen was renovated. I now have a completely new set of drawers and cupboards, and a new sink. Also, the water heater was moved from inside to outside.
I was lucky with the benchtop colour. The colour I chose was a discontinued one, and there was only one sheet of it left in the factories anywhere in the country! I got the colour I wanted (the very last sheet of it) but I had to sign a form saying that I understood that if the sheet cracked during construction or something I would have to choose another colour and that I accepted the associated financial risk. I was determined to have the colour, because I had my heart set on dark green benchtops and none of the other available colours were remotely like it.
I am very happy with the colours of the new cupboards, including the dark green benchtops but also with other aspects of the colour scheme (for example I’m happy with my decision to have white handles instead of the default stainless steel). I do have some reservations about the dimensions of things - I would have liked the drawers to be less shallow and the top shelf of overhead cupboards to be easier to reach - but that’s OK.
I have mentioned my friend Pam Marlow on this blog before, and one thing Pam does is to write haiku accompanied by photographs (and she has plans to publish a book of them). Anyway, today I visited a small art exhibition in which three examples of Pam’s work were on display.
Here’s a photograph of one of them (as you can see, I used the flash). Please click on the image to magnify it and read the haiku.
A friend of mine (whose blog is listed among the links over on the right) emailed me this morning to say that she’s had a book published! I replied with my congratulations.
Here are links to her newly published fantasy novel on Amazon UK and on Amazon US.
[Update 17 May 2008: She's now provided a Myspace page including sample chapters: one, two.]
