Khobbits Blog

No doubt by now anyone in further education has come across the latest version of Microsoft’s word processor. The new ribbon layout has managed to confuse students to the point of reverting to previous versions. It isn’t however a step back. The new ribbon (after a little practice and adjustment to thinking) is actually easier to use, although it requires you to relearn where all the tools and buttons are.
One of the nice features of the ribbon is the easy access to the citing tool. It allows you to add sources and add citations to text easily, and can even produce a nice little bibliography at the end for you, taking away much of the work needed balancing references.
One of the down sides to this update is that there is only so many formats included with word, and my university uses a style that isn’t included. I quickly found the folder where word stores it’s reference styles, and used a little Google-fu to find a nice little site. This site has a nice selection of extra styles which include quite a few Harvard referencing styles. Although one problem is that word doesn’t fully support all the features of this style and a little ‘hack’ is needed (running a tool over the document after its finished). Other styles have been achieved with just the xml.

For people with a bit more XML know-how they could try creating their own with one of the tools on the site above or just editing an existing style in [Program Files]/Microsoft Office/Office12/BibliographyStyle/

It’s been a while since I blogged about any post I found on digg, but I read this article (rant?) today about the diving dollar, and why it’s not going to get much better and thought I’d stash it somewhere, and here seemed as good as any. The falling dollar has been on my mind for a while, and I’ve been tracking the exchange rate carefully, mainly to try and get the most from my GBP as possible.

read more | digg story

Ok, for all you mathematically thinking people out there, and for people who think they can add, I have a game for you. 
The game starts with someone (or a computer) with 5 dice, they are rolled and you are asked the answer, now typically you don’t know, so you are told.
The dice is rolled again, and you are asked the answer, and so on.  The only facts you need to work it out, in fact you don’t really need any.  But traditionally (yes this is a very old game) you can know 3 things.  The answer to any roll, the name of the game, and the fact that the answer is always even or 0.

Here’s a web version and another one if you don’t like that interface…

Also a nice article on what happened with Bill Gates back in 1977

“On this old Children’s show, there are many obvious sexual suggestions. Absolutely Hilarious if above intended viewing age!”
It is a copy of Rainbow which seems a little over the top, it is the right cast though. It reminds me listening to the lyrics to the original ‘Barbie Girl’ song.

Watch YouTube Clip | digg story