Mind Gym

Visit our mind gym - it costs nothing and you can still eat cakes and have a coffee while working out!

Word for the day, useful websites, features on communication advances, games to play on the internet - they'll all appear here.

Thursday's word for the day. Taciturn: –adjective
1. inclined to silence; reserved in speech; reluctant to join in conversation.
2. dour, stern, and silent in expression and manner.

Continuing our stories about communication and media gaffes by the kind of people you would perhaps least expect them from, we have another story about the politician who inadvertently showed UK Government notes to press photographers, allowing them to be photographed in the process!

British Housing Minister Caroline Flint was en route to a Cabinet meeting about concerns over the UK housing market. Ms Flint's notes were clearly on display as she walked into Downing Street. Her typed document, headed "Caroline Flint - speaking notes", had a sticker attached which said "Papers for Cabinet meeting 13 May 2008".

The paper revealed the Government's fears about the housing market and delivered a bleak assessment of the industry at a time when Ministers and MPs were trying to 'talk up' the sector's prospects. The paper also outlined the coming fall in UK house prices for the first time in years.

Below: Ms Flint's not so private Cabinet briefing notes!

Useful websites - there are thousands of them out there but we've put together a list for downloading, 101 Useful Websites now available as a pdf download free of charge. Here are another five worth knowing:

1. The Eggcorn Database - http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/ 
Continually updated guide to modern-day malapropisms, misunderstandings and other manglings of language. From 'high dungeon' to 'wreckless driving', Eggcorn names the culprits and nudges them in the right direction.

2. Blinkx- www.blinkx.com
A clever way of searching for video clips on the internet - from uploaded episodes of your favourite soap to comedy home-video moments.

3. Lulu - www.lulu.com
Self-publishing made smart again. Write, design and then print your own books - though you'll still have to persuade others to buy them.

4. Wonder How To - www.wonderhowto.com
This and VideoJug are full of short videos showing you how to do almost anything, from the incredibly useful (exercises for diabetes sufferers, tying a Windsor knot) to the revelatory ('learn different kinds of kisses'), via the obscure ('make a moving jaw for your werewolf mask').

5. Nationmaster - www.nationmaster.com
Giant but easily searchable database of statistics, maps and profiles for every country in the world.

Crossword
Like crosswords? Try this link at Dictionary.com. You can save the puzzle to play later,
go against the clock and even get a bit of help along the way. Crossword puzzle

Anagrammer
If you like crosswords you might also find this site helpful (it's from our download, 101 Useful Websites). Anagrammer: www.anagrammer.com. It's an online anagram machine for Scrabble players and crossword enthusiasts. Just ignore the flashing reward box and input your anagram query. Also solves Sudoku.