In 1983 many people were discovering home computing for the first time. This book was unearthed recently and found to have some pretty accurate predictions for the future of computing.
Best of all though is the section on the history and future of computing. As with all computing histories, the emphasis is on how quickly things have progressed, with plenty of laughter at how ENIAC could carry out a calculation in three millionths of a second, while the 1980s machines could to it in one ten-millionth of a second. To put that into context, while the 1980s machine was thirty times faster than its 1945 counterpart, today’s fastest supercomputer is something like 260 million times faster than the 1980s model described in the book.
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Comments (5)
14 in 1983 here though I was stuck with a Dragon 32 (which I still have).
http://blakeyrat.com/2010/07/the-future-according-to-the-usborne-guide-to-audio-and-radio/
http://blakeyrat.com/2011/06/usborne-guide-to-audio-and-radio-radio-instructions/
Counts for words you'd goof if you use the i-before-e... rule:
Counts for words with cie: 146
Counts for words with not C ei: 394
Counts for words you'd get correct:
Words with cei: 73
Not c ie: 1,836
These numbers change if you know to never begin a word with ie nor end a word with eis. (Exceptions to this are very, very rare.)
The words "their" and "being" count for 154, so if you remember them, you're in pretty good shape with the rule. Right: 2063. Wrong: 386.
we live in a weird society
i before e except after c, or when said like 'a' such as neighbour and weigh.
Alas the rule never explained the exception for weird xD
The rule might not be entirely correct, but it's still a good basis to teach primary school kids in my opinion. The amount of atrocious spelling I see from my 20-something friends is more than enough proof of that in my opinion.
I before I, when sounded as 'e', except after 'c'
It's worked well for me over the years since I went to school
But if you are going to misuse the rule for veil and sufficient, you are probably going to have some issues with spelling anyway.
You say the rule helps for the word that it works for, but that precludes that everyone knows what words it works for and what words it doesn't. What's the point of having the rule if we all have to memorize what words are applicable?
This is just plain silly. There's a reason this story is being posted in the 'Oddly Enough' sections of the world, and it's because you have to ask "What do they care?" Ban a miniature children's rhyme.
So their...I mean, there!
There are many others, but jeez, add this to the recent move to drop apostrophes, and you're really increasing the chances of being misunderstood.
"'i' before 'e' except after 'c' when it rhymes with 'me'."
I have yet to find any exception to this rule. The reason for the failure is the problem that many people did not learn the full version of the rule and many teachers were ignorant of the full version.
I was taught the full rule by my Mother who was a licensed Teacher with many years experience and I myself am a Trained Primary School teacher.
When I was in the Fourth Grade of my primary school I pointed out the full rule to the teacher who had never heard it before. She then tried to list may of te words that did not follow the shortened rule and became very upset, and almost abusive, when I pointed out that none of her extensive list rhymed with 'me'.
"Limey guv to kids: Lern English good"
Definition
lent (LEND)
past simple and past participle of lend
eg I lent her my handkerchief.
Learnt is the past simple and past participle of learn.
eg He learnt his lesson.
"Learned" is defined thus:
learned
adjective FORMAL
describes someone who has studied for a long time and has a lot of knowledge:
eg a learned professor
From Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
The other words you cited fall into the same category. Americans attempt to distort the language but for reference you should always consult an English, English dictionary if you are going to complain about the use of allegedly, non-existent words. Especially as this topic is about the English not the Americans.
I like it!
Pass it on!