Swift economic development world wide brings the globalization and internalization of economy. So the business communication between people from various countries becomes much more frequent than ever. However, language and cultural difference forms a tough hurdle for those who always need to participate in business conferences and events all over the world. Overcoming the problem or not becomes the key to any business success. As an integral cog in the wheel of cross cultural communication, language interpreter plays a vital role in smoothing away such difficulty.

A seasonal and professional interpreter’s expertise translating skills transfer essence from one language to another. They could ensure you a good beginning of a profitable trade or business relationship, laying the foundation for your future business success. On the contrary, bad interpreter easily leads to large amounts of lost money, the end of business transactions, even the termination of business relationship.

Finding your suited interpreting company or agency is not as easy as you imagine. Although the internet today is flooded with such kind of companies, agencies or talents, how do you know the degree of their interpretation professional level and their reliability?

I. Generally, a quality interpreter always has the following merits:

1. High interpreting efficiency. A professional interpreter needs to master both source language and target language. He/she usually specializes in one or more specific fields/topics, like science, medical, business contract and mechanic. And the capability of accurately, efficiently interpreting from one language to another is a must.

2. Excellent professional ethic. Interpreters usually unavoidably come across confidential company information. They should never use the information to harm clients, threaten company or earn personal profits. For the work beyond their capability, interpreting workers should not accept, even there is a large sum of money awaiting. Plus, these people shouldn’t over promise either your clients or you about something or delay their work.

3. Constant study enthusiasm. Oral translators need to be always ready to adapt to any change in this world for keeping and improving their capability. What’s more, they should be familiar with modern communication tools in order to do their job better and better.

II. When you opt for interpreting provider, you’d better choose:

1. A company or agency with strong reputation. Reputable company or agency could ensure you high standard interpretation, accurate results, on time delivery and great presentation. If you intend to choose China interpreting or translation services provider, Golden View is recommended. Built in 1996, they could offer language services in 60+ languages. Their clients include world famous Fortune 500 companies, like IBM, Google and Microsoft.

2. A company or agency with good translation or interpreting services. A good service provider needs to have abundant source of skilled professionals to tap, capable of offering you interpretation from individuals in any country’s mother tongue.

III. For a better interpreting efficiency, please note the following points:

1. Negotiate some rules with the interpreter beforehand, like the number of sentences translated at a time, confirmation of special phrases and some banned behaviors.

2. Deliver a general idea about the forthcoming interpretation to interpreter and prepare some important material that will be used in the interpreting for reference.

3. Treat them professionally.

4. Speak slowly. Interpreters are always under great mental pressure. Speaking slowly helps alleviate such pressure.

5. If you plan to give a presentation, speech, or alike, offer interpreter one copy. They will make you get your job done much better.

Here’s an interesting YouTube clip (it’s short, just over a minute) of interpreting legend Peter Less talking about remaining impartial while interpreting at the Nuremberg Trials. Less, who won the ATA’s Gode Medal (one of the translation world’s highest honors) in 2006, fled to Switzerland as a teenager but his mother, father, sister and grandmother remained behind and died in the Holocaust.

Less went on to become one of the first trained conference interpreters in Europe and subsequently found himself interpreting for some of the people responsible for the Nazi regime’s worst atrocities. He then emigrated to the U.S. and practiced law in Chicago for over 50 years. There’s a full interview between Tanya Gesse and Peter Less here, on the website of the International Association of Conference Interpreters.

This is one of the reasons why Callvrs is The BEST Vrs company for Deaf videophone users…

Clap with excitement

Jump for joy

Carve a snow angel

Leave two footprints in the sand

…. Beware the Perfect Soldier.

*Warning: this may be a long one!*

Well, I’m  not sure where to begin. The conference was such an amzaing experience and I just didn’t want it to end. I was swept away by the courage of certain people, their tenacity and determination, by a united desire and hope, by an international commitment and an atmosphere that breathed friendship, cooperation and above all comraderie. Even the few mishaps were insignificant, when compared with the purpose of the convention. And sure, the outcomes were not all the ones that were hoped, and my young and impressionable, and therefore glowing with the possibilities of the future like a child in a sweetshop, viewpoint perhaps glosses over the problems, but from where I stand, it was a successful endeavour all told.

I was attached, along with the 2 Lauras, to a group of 13 landmine survivors from around Colombia on a project run by Mercy Corps and funded by USAID. They had a programme of workshops, discussions and forums in conjucntion with the Conference, and we were there to interpret for them so they could communicate with the survivors from around the world, and diplomats too at the swanky receptions each evening. The workshops were on topics ranging from Social Inclusion to Community Self-help, all of which were very interesting. One morning we went to visit a sports programme in a poor suburb of Cartagena, not realted to landmines, but with the aim of providing space for kids to learn about community in a fun and social way, as well as giving them the chance to partipate in team sports. This interested the survivors a lot, all of whom have leadership roles in their communities, be they in charge of their landmine survivors associations, or facilitators for the Campaign. A few of them joined in the football match, but most couldn’t, because their prostehses couldn’t take it. After seeing them walk so naturally, I had no idea they were so limited that they can’t run around and kick a ball. For that you need a more expensive prosthesis. That day we also went to watch a Quad Rugby match. It’s a sport invented in America for people in a wheelchair, and is a cross between rugby and basketball. It was great to see how people can overcome unfavourable situtaions through something they enjoy. And people were allowed to have a go afterwards, so the Prince of Jordan and the Colombian Vicepresident joined the Colombian team, against an Afghani survivor on the USA team. We got the opportunity to meet all the delegates at the various receptions, and I had a great time interpreting for the Colombians. They wanted their photos taking with as many people as possible, and one in particular requested my services for most of the time. We went round and he would slighly point to someone and I would have to go and interrupt them to explain what he wanted, and they were always very happy to oblige. In fact for the international survivors, their faces lit up when I translated what Camilo had to say – that he would rather meet them, a survivor, than any president or king, and that they were champions. Although the Vietnam delegation and Guinea-Bissau delegation were pretty happy to chat too! I never realised how fun interpreting could be – when it’s not simultaneous and when it’s between people who just want to know each other it’s the best thing in the world to be able to provide that link. Sometimes it’s seemed strange to me that they couldn’t understand each other as easily as I could, which is something weird about speaking more thna one language I guess. And a few times I accidentally spoke in the wrong language to the wrong person, felt stupid, laughed, corrected myself and carried on!

We went into the actual conference twice. The first time was to hear the Victim Assistance reports from the States Parties, which while interesting, didn’t really give the whole picture I imagine. Plus it was kind of hard to concentrate because I was enthralled by the whole setting – the intpretation boxes to the left, the head table at the front, the hundreds of State Party delegates with their red passes, the observer delegates with their green ones (like me – ICBL Observer Delegate!), the UN secretariat’s blue ones, plus the odd member of the press, and so many countries present! I was also a little smug for not needing the translation headset since everyone was speaking in English or Spanish. But I’ve been here for 4 months so I really shouldn’t need it, therefore no grounds for smugness! And having complained in the past, it is pretty handy being able to speak the international language of diplomacy as my native tongue.

The second attendance at the conference was this time without the survivors. We had no programme for the afternoon so they all wanted ot go the beach, but I was staying another week on the coast so didn’t want to waste the opportunity. And it was a good time to go in. The Deputy of the Red Cross spoke, and the Victim Assistance parrallel forum gave its report, comprising of victms from all around the world, including the ICBL Youth representative Sol Kosal who is amazing, she lost her entire right leg when she was 5 and has been campaigning ever since. Then Jody Williams spoke, founder of the ICBL and Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate and I decided I want to be her. She spoke so charismatically, and she has acheived such a lot – the creation of the Ottawa Treaty in fact. Later I was speaking with one of the American delegation (an intern actually – apparently this conference was not of high importance…) and he said they groan whenever they see her about to speak – I imagine she’s the bain of their lives. And so should she be. We had a special conversatorio between the survivors and the American Delegation and they said the reason they still haven’t signed the treaty was becase in 2004 they took the decision that the US Army still needed to use landmines, and now after the change of aministration it was “under review” again. But that is a loose term… It was pretty cool to be there while the survivors told the delegation some of their experiences and Juanes was also there – of Camisa Negra fame, whose Fundacion provides a lot of aid to landmine survivors. Afterwards TV news cameras came rushing in to get a glimpse of him. We were supposed to be keeping it on the down low that he was there, but someone must have let slip. In that meeting we also met Ken Rutherford, an American landmine survivor injured in Somalia and now without either of his legs below the knee, but who walks with prostheses as smooth as anything. His story was so touching, the lady interpreting was moved to tears as she spoke (thankfully we were let off duty there…).

Throughout the week there were various side-events organised by different NGOs. On the first Sunday I went on a CIREC trip (Colombian Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre) to Isla Baru, from where they organise activites for survivors for physical and psycho-social rehabilitation. It was such a great day. They offer kayaking, abseiling, sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling and the idea is to get them closer to nature and to let them discover abilities they didn’t know they had. So that as one door closes, another opens – which is actually something a lot of survivors have attested to post-rehabilitation. On arrival, by boat, with a mixture of international survivors, state party delegates and NGO members, we were greeted by people walking towards the shore clapping. I just felt this overwhelming happiness and was grinning broadly all day. We were welcomed with a dance, to feel-good music and performed by survivors who have benefitted from the programme and now help lead the activities. First there was a presentation on CIREC, which was the reason I went, along with Laura C, as were going to interpret it, but it turned out they had got someone else as well, so I ended up doing very little interpreting that day. Then we split into different groups and I went with the kayakers, which was fun! (Actually was in a boat with one of the Colombian State Party delegates who offered me a placement in the Presidential Programme for Anti-Mine Action for the next 6 months…!) Giovanni, the photographer was there too and he took a really cool picture that he showed me of a girl of 18 who had lost a leg age 10 giving advice to a girl of about 25 who had lost a leg 4 months ago.

Later in the week my services were required at another side event, this time a tour of a Physical Rehab Centre in Cartagena, on the CCCM stall providing information to interested parties. Turned out to be a long hot day outside, with a not that many people asking quesitons, but a Jordanian delegate came over to ask if the CCCM would be interested in a victim assistance play they had been performing in Jordan to much succes, where victimes themselves are the actors. Which of course they were. And then the Princess of Belgium came. So that was quite exciting, until I realised she had brought her own translator, into French, and he explained everything without us having to open our mouths, so I whispered a translation into Spanish to the Campaign people who were with me at the time.

Alongside all this was the Youth Forum. The Skype English lessons I had been giving were all geared towards this and the Colombian delegates did really well in their special presentation, although their understanding of all the other presentations was prbably a little lacking. I went with Carlos, from the office, and he did his little speech about his life. He was so nervous, despite my calming words, but he did well, and my interpreting went pretty fine too. And that was also fun, although I realised that interpreters and translators are possibly the most unappreciated job in the world. Which is not the reason I don’t want to take that up as a profession, because it is gratifying to be needed, to be able to provide something that is vital, and to see your translations in publications throughout the conference and in displays throughout the city, but all the same, I just don’t think it’s what I want to do.

So apart from all that, I met lots and lots of NGO people, landmine people and diplomat people, was wined and dined for free in plush hotels, learnt a lot about the diplomatic world and the viewpoints of different sides, and realised I still have so much more to learn.

Some other cool things: in the opening ceremony there two dance troupes that both featured wheelchair users, and were pretty awesome! There were stalls of handmade crafts from around Colombia selling their wares made by survivors, and stands run by NGOs giving out info, badges, bags, T-shirts all around the conference centre, plus an exhibition about Colombua’s situation, the exhibition of Giovanni’s photos from various countries, an exhibition by Gervasio Sanchez… so much to see and do within the conference centre! One lunchtime I helped Laura P translate a speech for an award ceremony that evening, so we did it in the hustle and bustle of the press room.

After the week of the conference, when most everyone had gone, Laura C and I stayed a week longer in a hostel, making the most of the Caribbean sunshine of Cartagena, incongruously decorated with Christmas lights. We went to the pretty Playa Blanca and slept in a hammock there for a couple of nights, 10m from the turquoise sea, we went to a mud volcano to heal our sunburn, we spent time wandering the streets of the old city, soaking up the atmosphere, doing a bit of xmas shopping, but the highlight had to be our one-day minicourse of scuba diving. I don’t know what I had been so worried about – it was Immense. I loved it. The coral at 12m and close up is so impressive, and the swimming among the fish, all the while breathing freely, was so great. Can’t wait for the next time!

So now I have 9 days in Bogota, which is ever more festive, in a campaign office that is more relaxed, and hopefully feeling celebratory! I’m going to be sad to leave, this experience has been, to use a cliche, once in a lifetime and unforgettable.

Here is an excerpt from an article from Future Pharmaceuticals Magazine regarding the special role of professional translations within the pharmaceutical industry, some of the challenges in the process, and the importance of working with a professional translation agency with experience in this specific area. The article features an interview with Jodi Castro, President and CEO of ABC Translation Services, LLC.

“The world of clinical trials is expanding with many patient participants being engaged from sites around the globe. This calls for a clear translation — that is the translation of the study must be contextual and factual in whatever language it is being read. For pharmaceutical companies that do not have this specific expertise, the translation industry can be a link to clear communication.

Future Pharmaceuticals: What is the role of the translation industry and why is it so critical to the globalization of the pharmaceutical industry?

Jodi Castro: In clinical trials, the need to find patient participants outside of the U.S. has become increasingly important. With this need comes the requirement for clear and open communication of the study, however, this expertise is rarely a core competency in a pharmaceutical company or clinical research organization (CRO). This is where the translation industry fits into the equation — global communication is the core expertise of the translation industry with specialized communications critical to the successful clinical trial environment.

Additionally, translation services provide solutions to the issues the pharmaceutical industry faces in communicating with world populations. Clinical trial translations are filled with industry-specific terms and specializations which must be understood within the context of the end-user culture prior to the translation. The translation agency offers expertise and insight regarding cultural nuances among each ethnicity and specifically to key disciplines — including scientific, medical, and legal professionals within native-speaking communities. A translation partner navigates the issues related to properly communicating industry-specific language to native-speaking end-users and eliminates costly delays and errors.

FP: What are the most important aspects/characteristics of a translation service partner to the pharmaceutical industry?

JC: Choosing the proper language partner is critical to the successful outcome of a clinical trial. First and foremost, it is important that the language partner can provide translations into virtually any language, and has access to a global network of professional linguists. These linguists must be certified specialists in the target market having a complete knowledge and full understanding of the culture where the clinical trial is taking place. This will play a vital role when recruiting patients and developing proper communications; ensuring consistency, accuracy and reducing the risk for error. An effective language partner must also provide: dedicated project management and key personnel; administrative and standard operational procedures which meet regulatory requirements; and key product deliverables — from patient-enrollment outreach materials and diaries to medical product inserts and labels.

Beyond the ability to fulfill standard business requirements, a true translation partner shares client goals and assumes an ownership for the achievement of these goals throughout the lifecycle of the project. As with any partnership, effective communication from the beginning is crucial to a productive relationship. Having confidence in a translation agency that provides the best possible client service and strategic approach can prove to be an invaluable long-term resource.

ABC Translation Services (translationsabc.com) provides the best of all worlds: it has the depth and resources to handle projects of any size, targeting any culture or language in the world, yet it is small enough to provide unparalleled customer service and support, as it has done for over 20 years. ABC has sustained long-term relationships, which inevitably provide work flow efficiencies and cost savings over time.”

To read the remainder of this article, please visit our website at www.translationsabc.com

In a wonderful article by Cecilia Quiroga-Clare, some of the challenges of computer based language translation are discussed. She writes:

“We tend to think of language as a clear and literal vehicle for accurately communicating ideas. But even when we use language literally, misunderstandings arise and meanings shift. People can be intentionally or unintentionally ambiguous. Nevertheless, when someone uses a potentially ambiguous sentence or expression, usually the intention was to express only one meaning. As we know, most words can have denotations, apparent meanings, connotations and implied or hidden meanings. Also, we often use words in a figurative way. Even though figurative language is more often used in poetry and fiction, it is still very common in ordinary speech.

Ambiguity is a poetic vehicle. It is human nature to try to find meaning within an exchange. A text is given to us and in return we give our interpretation. Our own associations give understanding of what is presented to us.

One of the most significant problems in processing natural language is the problem of ambiguity. Most ambiguities escape our notice because we are very good at resolving them using context and our knowledge of the world. But computer systems do not have this knowledge, and consequently do not do a good job of making use of the context.

The problem of ambiguity arises wherever computers try to cope with human language, as when a computer on the Internet retrieves information about alternative meanings of the search terms, meanings that we had no interest in. In machine translation, for a computer it is almost impossible to distinguish between the different meanings of an English word that may be expressed by very different words in the target language. Therefore all attempts to use computers alone to process human language have been frustrated by the computer’s limited ability to deal with polysemy.

The reality is that there no operational computer system capable of determining the intended meanings of words in discourse exists today. Nevertheless, solving the polysemy problem is so important that all efforts will continue. I believe that when we achieve this goal, we will be close to attaining the holy grail of computer science, artificial intelligence. In the meanwhile, there is a lot more to teach computers about contexts and especially linguistic contexts.”

For more information on ABC Translation Services human-touch translations, and why we never use a machine-based translation process, please visit our website at: www.translationsabc.com.

by Franco Gamero

Earlier this year I attended a Brake Colloquium in southern Brazil and assisted on a seminar on Heavy Truck Braking Systems at a local manufacturer. This conference was organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Brazil.

English was the main language used. I was pleasantly surprised that most of the attendees and staff were fluent in English. There were, however, two interpreters English< >Portuguese.

I introduced myself and MiTiN prior to the conference as they needed to know the contents of the presentations. This is a very important practice because it prepares the interpreter. It also gives a chance to the presenter to clarify some terminology that might be unknown, as was the case with these very highly technical presentations. They did an excellent job and I was pleased to “rate” their interpretation.

For those who want to improve the services in Rochester. I would
encourage you to come to the City Hall on the Road gathering.

You can come in here and discuss any issues, some ideas of issues that
you should come in for are:
1. Interpreter issues
2. Employment Issues
3. communication Issues
4. Lack of Services
5. problems with Video Phones
6. Lack of Video Phones in Community
7. Children Education
8. Lack of Deaf Teachers in public
9. More ASL training other than Colleges
10. Deaf Seniors
11. Doctor Resources
12. Needs of Deaf Lawyers.
13. Needs for Deaf-Blind Services

And many more…

Please come and join us here at CDR office. Attached is a FLYER…

Hope you can join us at this meeting.

Dean

An introduction to community interpreting in community and public services. The course will prepare members of local linguistic minority communities for relevant voluntary work. Learners must be fluent in English and in a language of one of the local linguistic minority communities. Postal pre-enrolment essential.

Tutor: Harminderjeet Johal
Fee: £63.80 (concessions A £57.40, B Free)
Venue: The Sycamore Centre, 31 Hungerhill Road, Nottingham, NG3 4NB
Date: Thursday 1–3pm, 11 meetings from 14 January 2010

Contact: Caroline Keep
WEA, Unit 2, Sycamore Centre, 31 Hungerhill Road, Nottingham NG3 4NB
Telephone: 0115 985 8203 Email: ckeep@wea.org.uk

373202     การตีความวรรณคดี     Interpreting Literature

แนวคิดสำคัญของวรรณคดีประเภทกวีนิพนธ์ บันเทิงคดี และบทละคร

(Important concepts of literature: poetry, fiction and drama.)

(373202 มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์)

The Spanish-speaking, Hispanic population in Columbus, Ohio (Franklin County) has increased dramatically over the past few years. Accordingly, the area’s hospitals, healthcare providers, medical suppliers, courts, legal offices, government and social services have met the challenge to ensure that Spanish translations, Spanish interpreters, and culturally appropriate communication is available to the community.

Another article in this blog provides detailed information about the Spanish-speaking and Hispanic population in Central Ohio, based on the most recent information available from the US Census Bureau.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, data for 2007 shows that the Hispanic population in Franklin County had increased by 74% over the 2000 figure (approximately from 24,000 to 42,000)—and doubled from 2% to 4% of the total county population.

For much more detail about the Hispanic population in Ohio and the rest of the United States, visit this page on the Pew Hispanic Center’s site.

ASIST Translations is among the region’s top providers of Spanish translation, interpreting and media production. But we also translate to almost any other language, not just for clients in Ohio but around the world. Our 25 years of experience. state-of-the-art translation tools and systematic approach to quality control ensure that your multilingual communications are professional and effective.

ASIST Translation Services, Inc. is a full-service translation agency located in Columbus, Ohio. We provide translation, interpreting, proofreading, voice recording and media production, localization of interactive and Web content, and specialized language services to clients around the world.

www.ASISTtranslations.com

Step 1: Complete the application online at www.uvu.edu/leadership, and the LPI Online Survey.

Step 2: Participate in a self and peer-assessment process (360°). ($75 fee required).

Step 3: Keep a journal of your personal leadership journey, development, learning and reflection.

Step 4: Meet with your mentor twice per semester, and attend monthly “Mastermind” sessions (record in journal).

Step 5: Maintain a 2.5 GPA. Take the following number of approved leadership courses: (no grade lower than a “C-”)

►Certification of Leadership with High Distinction             (4 core courses/1 elective)
►Certification of Leadership with Distinction                        (3 core courses/1 elective)
►Certification of Leadership                                                          (3 core courses)

Step 6: Attend workshops and/or seminars, both on and off campus; designed to advance your leadership skills and competencies. (Must be approved through Director, Dr. Bruce Jackson).

►Certification of Leadership with High Distinction              (45 hrs)
►Certification of Leadership with Distinction                        (30 hrs)
►Certification of Leadership                                                          (15 hrs)

“Mastermind” sessions provide seminar hours.

Step 7: Participate in personally designed or team project(s) to enhance your leadership skills.

►Certification of Leadership with High Distinction             (60 hrs)
►Certification of Leadership with Distinction                        (45 hrs)
►Certification of Leadership                                                         (30 hrs)

Several opportunities for leadership may already exist in your department. See the CAL Director and/or your department chair to discuss options that will best suit your major, interests, and desired experiences.

Step 8: Capstone Experience: Interview and learn from leaders in your chosen major or profession.

►Certification of Leadership with High Distinction    (five interviews and seven-page report)
►Certification of Leadership with Distinction                        (three interviews and five-page report)
►Certification of Leadership                                      (one interview and three-page report)

Work with your department chair and/or CAL director to identify interview candidates.

Step 9: Portfolio Review and Certification.

Each student wishing to complete any of the three levels of the Leadership Certification will provide a portfolio of accomplishment to ensure all requirements have been completed.

Step 10: Use the CAL to help promote you to your next employer!

After the portfolio review, each student will receive his/her Leadership Certification which will be an official part of their college transcripts. The Center for the Advancement of Leadership will then assist each student by writing a letter of recommendation, acting as a formal reference, and generally promoting students when searching for the perfect career opportunity.

Just a quick update to let you know I’m still alive. Next Monday I’ll have an exam and I’ll do a consecutive interpretation* in our weekly conference, so I’ll be buried under paper, glossaries, to-do-lists and more paper…

The title is brought to you by Lily Allen. Cool lyrics and a matching video.

Anyway, here’s a card I made. If you have any questions, let me know!

Inspiration from Nina B. (Croatia)

*= Interpreting (Dolmetschen) is not to be mistaken with translating (Übersetzen), since the latter refers to a written transfer whereas interpreting is oral (consecutive = rendered after the speaker has finished, often with the help of special notation / simultaneous = rendered at the same time with the means of a sound-proof booth and headsets). [by no means is this a complete description]

Hi everyone,
There will be two interpreters provided at George Maziarz’s Town hall meeting for those who live in City of Rochester, Town of Gates and Town of Ogden.
I will be there and it would be a great time for you to come and tell George of issues that are happening in the deaf community.  Hope you can join us!
More information about time, place and location can be found below…
Thank you,
Dean DeRusso

Dear Friend,
I talk with constituents on a daily basis and go to a wide variety of meetings and events, but I wanted to create a special forum for people to come and talk about anything on their mind relating to state government.

So I’ve decided to host open meeting with constituents this coming weekend to talk about the challenges facing the state, gather suggestions to take back to Albany, and answer questions.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, November 7 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the Italian-American Sports Club, located at 1250 Buffalo Road in Gates. A continental breakfast with coffee and juice will be available. This meeting is intended for my constituents in the City of Rochester, Town of Gates, and Town of Ogden.

My goal with these meeting is to bring constituents and community leaders together to talk about our challenges and our future. I value everyone’s input as it helps me better represent the district in Albany.

*RSVPs can be made by calling my satellite office on the SUNY Brockport campus at (585) 637-5800, or by e-mailing me at maziarz@senate.state.ny.us.

Thank you and hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
George Maziarz
Senator, 62nd District

This film festival will include the film titled “Discovering: Shuktara” produced by Christy Smith, David Justice, and Davin Searls.

This event will be interpreted for the hearing/non-signers.  The event will be conducted in ASL.

CLICK HERE for PDF printout.

Rita Straubhaar
American Sign Language Instructor
Foreign Languages/ESOL/ASL
Monroe Community College
1000 E. Henrietta Road
Rochester, NY 14625
Rstraubhaar@monroecc.edu

…but he’s seen much more than the change in the weather… *jumpityjump*

Ah well, the Rifles concert yesterday evening was way cool

Today I’m officially pooped out since we had our first Monday conference on the causes and effects of the economic/financial crisis. Complicated stuff, heavy on special vocab and this time each booth (two people) had to cope with the whole thing (1 1/2 hrs). The speaker was very fluent and it was quite interesting, but his sentences were kinda endless and very dense. Phew, at least I survived.

Anyhow, I hope I don’t get sick since on Wednesday Maximo Park will come to Frankfurt – today I took some time to listen to their relatively new album (Quicken the Heart) as a whole and I can’t express properly how happy their music makes me. They truly are my favourite band and I’m super grateful to get the opportunity to see them. Wheee!

To finish, meet some cards I made using Basic Greys Offbeat Collection Pack, some buttons and bobbin lace. Sentiments are Rubons respectively a stamp from SU. In the background there’s some Heather Bailey fabric. Some candy was harmed in the making of these pictures

Hope you like ‘em
I’m gonna lie around in my bed now and beg for not getting sick, puh-leez!!!!
See you around!

Have a look at this post on Amy King’s Blog:

Verse broadens the mind, scientists find

Shaykh Naseeruddin Albanii | Language: English | Format: PDF | Pages: 28 | Size: 1 MB
This book is a complete translation of a treatise entitled “Kayfa Yajibu ‘alaynaa an Nufassir al-Qur’aan-al-Kareem” (How are we Obligated to Interpret the Noble Qur’aan). The source used for the translation was the Al-Maktabah al-Islaamiyyah first edition published in 1421H. The foundation of this treatise is questions that were posed to the Shaikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, to which he responded in recorded format. These questions and answers were then transcribed, printed on paper and presented to the Shaikh who read them and commented on them in his own handwriting. The publishing house printed and distributed the book after the death of Imaam Al-Albaanee due to the great benefit found in the work since the author discusses several rules and principles related to interpreting the meanings of the Qur’aan, which every Muslim should follow when trying to understand the Book of Allaah. It is important to note also that in his biographical account of Imaam Al-Albaanee, Shaikh ‘Alee Al-Halabee counted this treatise as being one of his works.

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Want to be a member of Roc City Roller Derby?

Check out our ASL interpreted skating clinic on Sunday:

Come One—Come Brawl !

RCRD’s first Fresh Meat Clinic of the Year. (ASL interpreted)
October 25th from 10am-12:30pm at Horizon Fun FX, 675 Ling Rd Rochester, NY 14612. There is a $5.00 fee for the clinic (includes skate rental). You are also required to show proof of insurance, and proof of age (18+).

What Will We Do at the Fresh Meat Clinic
The basics to the more advanced skills! If you have never skated, or just aren’t that good, or even if you are an expert skater, the clinics will cover just about anything you need to know to get you on your way to being a Roc City Roller Derby dame. The try-outs are not until February, but these clinics will get you started so that you can practice and prepare for February.

Try-outs for the 2010 season are still being designed, but will definitely require a basic WFTDA skill assessment. You can find this list of skill requirements on the WFTDA website just to give you a bit more information, but these are also the things we will try and go over in the clinics. The Rules are also listed on the website as well, there are a LOT of rules to learn so start reading them now!

What to Wear
You will want to wear something that is comfortable and moves with your body. Jeans and pants do not work, because your pads need to go over them.  Also Shorts and Skirts are fine, but we do wear tights and fishnets for more than aesthetic reasons. Your skin will appreciate the protection from sliding on the floor. Leggings are also are a great choice and my personal favorite because they are a bit thicker and protect a little better against rink rash!

For the clinics we would prefer for you to have your own safety equipment if you can provide it. We will have some equipment you can borrow, but it will be first come first serve and we will not have enough for everyone.  So please come prepared, and bring as much of your own gear as possible.

Here are some equipment basics… you MUST have all of these things in order to skate! (again if you are missing a couple we will have a few amounts to lend out) Inexpensive sets of starter knee, elbow, and wrist guards can be found at Target and Walmart for around $18.

Basic Equipment
pair of quad roller skates (the low ankle ones)
knee pads (the better, the better- speaking as a previously injured player due to faulty knee pads)
elbow pads
wrist guards
mouth guard (you must bring this and have it formed to your mouth- it does no good without it being formed so read the directions to do this before attending)- they cost $1
helmet (this should fit you snug without hurting)
insurance card
i.d.

Q&A
What if full contact is not for me, do I have a place at Roc City Roller Derby?
If hurting yourself scares you, or maybe the full contact is a bit too much, or maybe you like wearing black and white stripes…. We are always in search of new referees and volunteers as well, so come out and give it a try! We can find a spot for you!!

What If I can’t make it to the First Fresh Meat Clinic?
Not to worry, We will be having one, once a month until February Try-Outs, so stay tuned for the next Date!!

Our season runs from May to November with recruitment during specific times of the year. Our fresh meat co-ordinator, EmasculateEm, can fill you in on the rest of the details if you contact her. Thanks!

Questions? Email to EmasculateEm@rocderby.com

Writing Deaf Identity in Nineteenth-Century America

Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
NTID Lyndon Baines Johnson Building, Robert F. Panara Theatre
Presenter: Christopher Krentz, Ph.D.
University of Virginia

Abstract: Like other minorities, in the early nineteenth century deaf Americans challenged prevailing assumptions about their identities through the written word. Deaf authors like Laurent Clerc, John Carlin, and John J. Flournoy turned to writing to prove their reason and humanity to the hearing majority. They also used written English to communicate with each other when they were separated by time or space. Krentz will explore this rich, complex deaf writing to offer insight into the development of deaf consciousness and pride in antebellum America.

This presentation will be in American Sign Language (ASL) with Voice Interpretation

For Additional Information:  http://www.rit.edu/ntid/lyon/home

Open to Students/Faculty/Staff/General Public