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Becoming a better open source translator

Foci for Analysis — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:13:28 -0800

How do I become a better translator for the open source project that I'm volunteering for? For the past year or so, I've been a translator for an open source project that develops an web based e-commerce application. Basically I translate strings in English to another language. I do this for free and the tools provided to me by the project are mostly web based tools to admin, upload and publish translation files.

I want to become a better translator and I'm looking for suggestions in these areas:
* processes: how do professional translators work on highly technical projects? How do you research and translate technical terms when you find out there are no equivalent terms in the target langauge? How do you handle the translation of software when each major version has its own set of translations?

* tools: which tools/communities do the pros use to translate, research, get help and feedback, etc?

Form an orderly queue, ladies

emmajane — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:30:06 -0800

How do things change (or do they change) when an IT conference is attended by 50% women? On April 12 in San Francisco I will be giving a talk at LugRadioLive on how to really get more women involved in the open source technology world. Normally this kind of talk is about grrl p0wer and computers and finger wagging about bad behaviour. My presentation is going to be different. It's a very fun look at how to make technology friendly, how we can really get more women using technology, and how important it is to the World Domination [tm] of open source software.

The talk itself is called, "Form an orderly queue, ladies." I've been working on it for months (literally). The basic description goes like this:

"A slightly raucous but very fun look at female participation in open source computing. This presentation includes a subversive tour of the well known articles and statistics about women in open source and finishes with tangible solutions that really do get more women engaged in technology. Drawing on personal experience, Emma will present you with real solutions that have worked in her community. Explore absolutely new ways of thinking about the gender gap and learn how to take the next step towards really increasing the number of women in open source computing."

One of the points that I make in the presentation is that group dynamics shift when the gender balance shifts. The open source world is dominated by men. (A recent European study showed that 98.5% of all developers were male, a slightly older Japanese study shows the same numbers.) There are likely a million reasons for why this is. This presentation is not about those reasons. I care more about thinking in new ways to change the future than I care about analyzing the past. In one version of the presentation I asked the audience to count the total number of people in the room and then to double it to show what would happen if the room were 50% women. I've removed that section. I want to show it with real people instead of making it a hypothetical exercise. I want the room to be double the size because it is 50% women.

Assuming that it's actually doable, do you think it will really change the dynamics of the event?

PSA: go to the dentist before it's too late!

crazycanuck — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:24:32 -0800

Should I remove my permanent dental retainer? I've had a retainer bonded to six of my teeth for the last fourteen years. Works great, teeth stay in place. However, it is a pain in the ass to floss around, so I don't floss. Ever.

I finally had the time, money, and fortitude to go to the dentist recently for the first time in six years. Turns out I have moderate gum disease. They scheduled six hours of follow up appointments to clean up all the crap down there. Not fun.

Anyway, I asked about getting the retainer removed, since I am much more likely to floss if I don't have to try and shove one of those hideous floss threaders into my gum line. They said sure, we can do that, but your teeth will move and you'll need to wear a removable retainer every night for the rest of your life. Now I am torn. Should I go for the removable retainer to make it easier to floss? Or should I suck it up and try to use the floss threaders, which I hate with a fucking passion? I can't imagine using a removable retainer for fifty years, but then again neither can I imagine using those little poky torture devices ... help me decide!

Hydrofloss? Does it work?

thinktwice — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:54:42 -0800

Does Hydrofloss work? http://www.hydrofloss.com/ I had a Braun Oxyjet irrigator which I loved. it died and they don't sell them anymore except as part of a whole Braun system. I have a Sonic Care and am happy with that. I guess I am hesitant to spend $70-90 on something that says magnet change the polarity of the water. 45% more plaque reduction than Waterpik. Anybody know anything about these? I guess the other one is the Oxycare 3000.

Floss or brush first?

R. Mutt — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 20:28:14 -0800

Should one floss before brushing, or brush before flossing? Teeth, that is.