Petryk's Picks
"MSN Encarta"
Reviewed By William Petryk

There are times during the day when one wants a straight simple answer.  Not a complicated “why” but just a simple “what is it.”  One such situation is finding an unknown word while reading an article or document.  For example, just what does “penultimate” really mean?  Does the author of a report who described your competitor’s product as being “ubiquitous” really know what he/she is talking about?  If someone comments on your alacrity, should you be upset?  A quick way to get your answers is to log into www.encarta.msn.com.  I have often considered this to be my on-line dictionary.  A complete Webster’s is cumbersome and never really up-to-date.  Just having it open on your desk is an admission that you are not as articulate as you pretend to be and could use any sort of help.  In contrast MSN.Encarta can be used on your computer screen, has as many or more entries, and is very easy to use.  Just click the dictionary tab, type in your word, and read the definition.  If your computer has a sound card, then you are also able to hear a pronunciation. 

The website also includes an encyclopedia with a good selection of interesting articles.  Although this is an American website with a US bias, I did find some well written pieces on Canadian topics.  The site also includes an atlas that does not have all the features of  MapQuest but useful none-the-less as a quick and easy reference.

I would be remiss had I written about this site and not described another of its great features.  That is its benefit as a coffee-break site.  The home page includes information such as what happened on a particular day in history, anything you may want to know about on-line courses, and many amazing quizzes.  There are close to two hundred of the latter and they are fun way to pass the time during a break.  They are also a good way to test your memory and to learn new things about the world.  So you would have others believe.  Try a few and see if you get “hooked.”