7 Reasons Why You Should Start A
Photography Business Today
1. You don’t need a lot of money to get started. Your most expensive item is your camera. You can buy used or get by with what you have until you can upgrade your equipment.
2. You can work from your home office. You don’t necessarily need an in home studio right from the start. If you want to, you can add it later if it fits into your plans.
3. You can be your own boss. There’s nothing like the personal satisfaction of owning your own business. If being your own boss isn’t for you, you can do contract work for other photography companies or photographers.
4. You don’t have to be highly skilled to get started. With today’s high tech cameras you really can take a pretty good photo right out of the box. But don’t let that fool you, photography is highly competitive and you need to constantly improve your skill as a photographer.
5. You don’t need a formal education. Most photographers, even Ansel Adams, was self-taught. With all the resources on the Internet, there really isn’t any reason not to take advantage of it. Certainly, you can get a degree in photography or photojournalism but it is not a requirement of success.
6. You don’t have to take a big risk. For starters, you don’t really have much to lose. You probably already own your own camera. You can still work full time at your job to pay your bills and earn extra photography income on the side. The key is to spend your time developing your craft and getting better and better. Practice is always free.
7. You can have lots of fun. There are few jobs that give you the creative outlet you find in photography. Within the field of photography there are so many ways to express your creativity you’ll never get bored. The best part is you can have lots of fun and get paid to do it. What a country!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Positive Effects of Negative Ions
The Positive Effects of Negative Ions
What most of us don't know is about the positive effects from the negative ion charges that we are surrounded by every day. Negative ion charges are amazing.
The importance of negative ion charges to a healthy, happy body are incredibly important to know and understand. For instance, if one understands why they feel so invigorated when they spend time in the mountains or at the beach, that is just the beginning of the story. The story continues whereby the negative ion charges continue to invigorate people when they are surrounded by a natural environment. For instance, these areas would include beaches, forests, areas of rapid water movement such as rivers, streams, oceans, and waterfalls, as well as areas that experience thunderstorms and lightening.
Did you know that the negative ion charges created by the rapid movement of water at Niagara Falls are perhaps the greatest energizer of all? If this interests you, then listen up! It may not be just because of the excitement of getting married and all the joys that come with it that couples honeymoon at Niagara Falls, but maybe there's something possibly even greater than getting married, and that is to do with the negative ion charges that exist at Niagara Falls and other places similar to it.
Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy.
Conversely, the areas that we should watch out for are those where there is a lot of smoke or smog in the air, computer terminals, fluorescent lighting, air conditioning, and modern building materials, all of which generate an overabundance of positive ions.
The bottom line to living a healthy and happy life really has everything to do with the way we choose to live and where we choose to live.
In essence, we must Think Nature First.
What most of us don't know is about the positive effects from the negative ion charges that we are surrounded by every day. Negative ion charges are amazing.
The importance of negative ion charges to a healthy, happy body are incredibly important to know and understand. For instance, if one understands why they feel so invigorated when they spend time in the mountains or at the beach, that is just the beginning of the story. The story continues whereby the negative ion charges continue to invigorate people when they are surrounded by a natural environment. For instance, these areas would include beaches, forests, areas of rapid water movement such as rivers, streams, oceans, and waterfalls, as well as areas that experience thunderstorms and lightening.
Did you know that the negative ion charges created by the rapid movement of water at Niagara Falls are perhaps the greatest energizer of all? If this interests you, then listen up! It may not be just because of the excitement of getting married and all the joys that come with it that couples honeymoon at Niagara Falls, but maybe there's something possibly even greater than getting married, and that is to do with the negative ion charges that exist at Niagara Falls and other places similar to it.
Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain, resulting in higher alertness, decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy.
Conversely, the areas that we should watch out for are those where there is a lot of smoke or smog in the air, computer terminals, fluorescent lighting, air conditioning, and modern building materials, all of which generate an overabundance of positive ions.
The bottom line to living a healthy and happy life really has everything to do with the way we choose to live and where we choose to live.
In essence, we must Think Nature First.
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year-To All
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, and oh I hope and pray that you do. At this time of year, I find it so lovely to see and hear all the songs being played and happy faces abounding, mostly saying good day, happiness and cheer. I'm sure that there are many of you out there that are not having the Christmas that you may have always dreamed of. And to those of you, I have special things to say. Unfortunately, this time of year could be the most incredibly painful time for some of you and I wish to find the right words for each of you that would be filled with great meaning down to the tips of your toes and the bottom of your nose. And so at this moment, firstly I wish that all of you had a wonderful Christmas season, filled with joy and happiness, love and aloha. In so far that most people aren't able to grasp that wonderful thing called love, and maybe are feeling frustration or despair, I wish for each and all of you to think kindly upon these times as a time of growth and learning.
There is a wonderful bit of prose that I would love to share with each and every one of you. It came from a man named Max Ehrmann and I would like share part of it with you. It is called Desiderata and it goes a little like this:
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."
There is a wonderful bit of prose that I would love to share with each and every one of you. It came from a man named Max Ehrmann and I would like share part of it with you. It is called Desiderata and it goes a little like this:
"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."
A Smile is a Gift From God
What does a smile bring? I believe the smile is ultimately one of the most powerful tools that we have in this world. When we offer a smile, it tells people that we're open to receiving the minimum of a smile back. What a smile means is that it lets people know that we care or that we're open to conversation. What a powerful thing that we have at our access for interpersonal communication. It is really fantastic to see what a smile does to the face of an elderly person who lights up the room with her gratitude.
Smile and the whole world smiles with you but cry and you cry alone. Most people do not want to be with Debbie Downer. Do you remember Debbie Downer from Saturday Night Live? That's ok if you don't. She was just a very wonderful example in a fun way to let people know that it's a lot more fun to be around people who are jovial, who are full of laughter and good humor. What she really had was a way to make people realize that humor is the only way to attract people to yourself. Otherwise, we would be bringing all the bummer folk towards us which ultimately leaves us in a graveyard of frowns.
Why smiles make people feel good has everything to do with endorphins. What endorphins do is, by way of a chemical reaction, reduce physical and emotional stress. When you smile, it triggers one's brain to release endorphins and thereby increase feelings of wellbeing. Smiles, like magic, make people feel good about themselves and make other people feel good about the smiler. A smile with laughter alongside is very infectious. You might remember the last time somebody made you laugh and it brought out your own uproarious laughter in response. Smiles make other people feel good because they show interest and care.
A smile may even bring up the flavor of your day! All in all, my wonderful listeners, I beckon you to try and see how the world responds to your very own smiles. It may well change the course of your day and brighten the world around you!
Smile and the whole world smiles with you but cry and you cry alone. Most people do not want to be with Debbie Downer. Do you remember Debbie Downer from Saturday Night Live? That's ok if you don't. She was just a very wonderful example in a fun way to let people know that it's a lot more fun to be around people who are jovial, who are full of laughter and good humor. What she really had was a way to make people realize that humor is the only way to attract people to yourself. Otherwise, we would be bringing all the bummer folk towards us which ultimately leaves us in a graveyard of frowns.
Why smiles make people feel good has everything to do with endorphins. What endorphins do is, by way of a chemical reaction, reduce physical and emotional stress. When you smile, it triggers one's brain to release endorphins and thereby increase feelings of wellbeing. Smiles, like magic, make people feel good about themselves and make other people feel good about the smiler. A smile with laughter alongside is very infectious. You might remember the last time somebody made you laugh and it brought out your own uproarious laughter in response. Smiles make other people feel good because they show interest and care.
A smile may even bring up the flavor of your day! All in all, my wonderful listeners, I beckon you to try and see how the world responds to your very own smiles. It may well change the course of your day and brighten the world around you!
John Lennon - The Legend Lives On
John Lennon was wise beyond his years and gifted with a great talent in writing songs about life in general and about a better world. John was very committed to peace and love. In addition he wrote about relationship angst as well as his own personal struggles. He took his inspiration from many places such as in the case of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Many people don't realize, but this is not a song about an acid trip. This is a song inspired by his son Julian's drawing "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." This was a little girl classmate of Julian's who was depicted in front of a starry sky, hence the diamonds in the sky. John Lennon also took poetic license in his references to the Alice in Wonderland story and the imagery he took from there.
Another beautiful song of his was Imagine. This song was and is relevant to me as I'm sure it is to many people. We all can relate to these lyrics that jump out, "living for today, living life in peace, imagine no religion [and] no possessions, imagine all the people, sharing all the world, and the world will live as one." The most poignant in my mind relate to living for today, peace, no possessions, and the world living as one. Living for today is so good and so necessary. It is in essence living for now. He also has an excellent point relating to religion. If people would spend more time relating with God as One as we are meant to be, then I think that indeed we might have a better world.
For me the most poignant songs that will live on into antiquity are All You Need is Love, Give Peace a Chance, and of course, Imagine (my very favorite of all.) It still blows my mind, perhaps a little like John felt when he was writing these wonderful lyrics. I would love to explore all these lyrics, but perhaps that is a topic for another day. So I bid you adieu, and once again remember that... all you really need is Love. :)
Another beautiful song of his was Imagine. This song was and is relevant to me as I'm sure it is to many people. We all can relate to these lyrics that jump out, "living for today, living life in peace, imagine no religion [and] no possessions, imagine all the people, sharing all the world, and the world will live as one." The most poignant in my mind relate to living for today, peace, no possessions, and the world living as one. Living for today is so good and so necessary. It is in essence living for now. He also has an excellent point relating to religion. If people would spend more time relating with God as One as we are meant to be, then I think that indeed we might have a better world.
For me the most poignant songs that will live on into antiquity are All You Need is Love, Give Peace a Chance, and of course, Imagine (my very favorite of all.) It still blows my mind, perhaps a little like John felt when he was writing these wonderful lyrics. I would love to explore all these lyrics, but perhaps that is a topic for another day. So I bid you adieu, and once again remember that... all you really need is Love. :)
BioLite Thermoelectric CampStove Update!
Earlier this year I wrote a blog post about a revolutionary new type of backpacking stove called the BioLite Thermoelectric Camp Stove. The BioLite is revolutionary because unlike nearly every other type of wood burning stove on the market, the BioLite claims to have reduced the smoke emissions from burning wood by 90% through clever engineering, and their patent-pending thermoelectric-fan technology that practically eliminates the black carbon (soot).
Not only does the BioLite stove burn anything you put into it with incredible efficiency, it can also use the leftover heat that it generates to power up your cellphone or even a small light by converting a small amount of the fire’s thermal energy into electricity using the solid state thermoelectric generator.
Back in January there were very few updates being posted about the BioLite, and despite all of the interest and comments asking how to get one and when it would be available, the BioLite stove and its inventors seemed to disappear without a trace. I had several emails and comments asking if this was real or just a prototype that would never make it into production? Well, I have some great news!
I was contacted today by the BioLite team to let me know that they were sorry for the delayed response, but had been busy field testing their production versions and getting ready for the release in Spring of 2012. Here is the comment they left on my previous blog post:
Brian, thanks for the great article. We apologize for the delay in answering folks' emails as we've been overwhelmed by the positive response to our product. The great news is that the CampStove is now in manufacture and we will begin taking pre-orders in December for early spring 2012 delivery. If you haven't already, please sign up for our mailing list to keep up to date on both CampStove and HomeStove developments. www.BioLiteStove.com/contact
Thank you again to all of our loyal fans and we look forward to getting stove in your hands in the coming months.
All the best,
The BioLite Team
I don't have any additional information on the price of the CampStove or HomeStove, but I'm very excited to discover that the stove has gone into production and that it will be available for pre-order in a few months. As I learn more I will be sure to post updates.
Here's a great video that shows you how the CampStove works. If this doesn't get you interested in one I don't know what will.
Not only does the BioLite stove burn anything you put into it with incredible efficiency, it can also use the leftover heat that it generates to power up your cellphone or even a small light by converting a small amount of the fire’s thermal energy into electricity using the solid state thermoelectric generator.
Back in January there were very few updates being posted about the BioLite, and despite all of the interest and comments asking how to get one and when it would be available, the BioLite stove and its inventors seemed to disappear without a trace. I had several emails and comments asking if this was real or just a prototype that would never make it into production? Well, I have some great news!
I was contacted today by the BioLite team to let me know that they were sorry for the delayed response, but had been busy field testing their production versions and getting ready for the release in Spring of 2012. Here is the comment they left on my previous blog post:
Brian, thanks for the great article. We apologize for the delay in answering folks' emails as we've been overwhelmed by the positive response to our product. The great news is that the CampStove is now in manufacture and we will begin taking pre-orders in December for early spring 2012 delivery. If you haven't already, please sign up for our mailing list to keep up to date on both CampStove and HomeStove developments. www.BioLiteStove.com/contact
Thank you again to all of our loyal fans and we look forward to getting stove in your hands in the coming months.
All the best,
The BioLite Team
I don't have any additional information on the price of the CampStove or HomeStove, but I'm very excited to discover that the stove has gone into production and that it will be available for pre-order in a few months. As I learn more I will be sure to post updates.
Here's a great video that shows you how the CampStove works. If this doesn't get you interested in one I don't know what will.
In Memorium: Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computer in 1976 when he dropped out of college and on April Fools Day began a the company in his parents' garage. He worked on the design, development, and marketing of one of the pioneer personal computers, the Apple II series. Then in 1984, realizing the potential of the graphical user interface (mouse and icon) invented by Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center, he led the creation of the Macintosh line of computers.
After a power struggle with his board of directors in 1985, he resigned and founded NeXT Computer, which in 1996 was bought out by Apple, bringing him back as CEO again and resurrecting what was a dying brand and building it into the world's second most valuable company.
Back in 1986, he acquired what he renamed Pixar Animation Studios and successfully ran it, selling it to Disney in 2006 and joining their board of directors. He received a producer credit for their first film, "Toy Story." In fact, five of the top grossing animated films are by Pixar.
His CEO salary at Apple was $1 a year, but his millions of shares in both Apple and Disney made him the 42nd wealthiest American on Forbes' 2010 list with an estimated 8.3 billion dollar fortune.
He was renowned for his privacy, but quietly amassed over 300 Apple patents as principal inventor or "one inventor among several" for a vast variety of ideas and products, including desktop computer housings, 85 iPod patents including the revolutionary click wheel, iPhone and iPad, multi-touch gestures, packaging, keyboards, mice, monitors, Apple TV, interface ideas for the Macintosh operating system, power adapters, power plugs, and even ornamental glass staircases for Apple stores.
After working a full day in August of this year, he submitted his resignation letter as CEO for health reasons, writing "I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it" even though he had been instrumental in so many of their innovations.
He is survived by his wife, four children, and his sister.
It was fitting that I learned of his death from a news flash on my iPad, technology he was instrumental in bringing to the market.
Here's an excerpt from his Stanford University Commencement Speech in 2005:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
After a power struggle with his board of directors in 1985, he resigned and founded NeXT Computer, which in 1996 was bought out by Apple, bringing him back as CEO again and resurrecting what was a dying brand and building it into the world's second most valuable company.
Back in 1986, he acquired what he renamed Pixar Animation Studios and successfully ran it, selling it to Disney in 2006 and joining their board of directors. He received a producer credit for their first film, "Toy Story." In fact, five of the top grossing animated films are by Pixar.
His CEO salary at Apple was $1 a year, but his millions of shares in both Apple and Disney made him the 42nd wealthiest American on Forbes' 2010 list with an estimated 8.3 billion dollar fortune.
He was renowned for his privacy, but quietly amassed over 300 Apple patents as principal inventor or "one inventor among several" for a vast variety of ideas and products, including desktop computer housings, 85 iPod patents including the revolutionary click wheel, iPhone and iPad, multi-touch gestures, packaging, keyboards, mice, monitors, Apple TV, interface ideas for the Macintosh operating system, power adapters, power plugs, and even ornamental glass staircases for Apple stores.
After working a full day in August of this year, he submitted his resignation letter as CEO for health reasons, writing "I believe Apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it" even though he had been instrumental in so many of their innovations.
He is survived by his wife, four children, and his sister.
It was fitting that I learned of his death from a news flash on my iPad, technology he was instrumental in bringing to the market.
Here's an excerpt from his Stanford University Commencement Speech in 2005:
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Ground Zero 9/11 poem
Ground Zero
A ground of heroes
Trying to save those who could not evade the day
A day that will never fade
Many buried under a trouble of rubble
Graves, unmarked graves
Bodies broken and torn beyond recognition
An unthinkable strike came to fruition
The devastation of man made creation
The situation seems bleak has havoc was wreaked
The Twin Towers was a symbol of power
Took years to build knocked down in less than an hour
These buildings etched our skyline
Most took for granted they’d stand the test of time
Workers inside typing, trading, clicking, mailing, faxing, emailing, talking, telephoning, walking, waiting, goofing off, debating, thinking of tonight, that they’d make love tonight or overcome a marital fight
In an instant their lives were gone, gone, gone
Thrown into terror this should’ve been an error
It’s a nightmare instead
This fear
This smoke
Did commercial planes fly into the World Trade Center?
My mind can’t get around it
can’t understand it.
The smoke rises out of the copy room window
Thick black smoke
Smoke to choke
Smoke to kill
A smoke of death
I stare into the distance expecting to see The Towers materialize before my eyes
The words fall out of peoples mouths and rest on my ears
Did you hear! The World Trade Centers fell! They’re gone!
Trying to process
to compute, how many people worked in those buildings, how many kids will not have a mother, a father, a bother, a sister, a boyfriend a girlfriend, a close friend, an enemy, a loved one a spouse
MISSING is the word that is flashed across the TV screen
M I S S I N G
So many missing
Missing in action,
Lost, disappeared into a cloud of dust - just like that - missing
How they’re missing them
Missing them
Hoping wishing
Praying looking
Countless sleepless nights.
“What floor were they on? It’s a phrase
What floor?
How high?
In our minds we imagine
We do the math
How fast could they get down to get out
Breakdowns shout.
The trauma of the tragedy is woven deep in my mind
The trauma of the traumatized as a nation needs therapy
I saw planes crash into buildings people burned alive
We have witnesses to see thousands die.
80 stories high people jump to their deaths
In my dreams I see it again and again
A ground of heroes
Trying to save those who could not evade the day
A day that will never fade
Many buried under a trouble of rubble
Graves, unmarked graves
Bodies broken and torn beyond recognition
An unthinkable strike came to fruition
The devastation of man made creation
The situation seems bleak has havoc was wreaked
The Twin Towers was a symbol of power
Took years to build knocked down in less than an hour
These buildings etched our skyline
Most took for granted they’d stand the test of time
Workers inside typing, trading, clicking, mailing, faxing, emailing, talking, telephoning, walking, waiting, goofing off, debating, thinking of tonight, that they’d make love tonight or overcome a marital fight
In an instant their lives were gone, gone, gone
Thrown into terror this should’ve been an error
It’s a nightmare instead
This fear
This smoke
Did commercial planes fly into the World Trade Center?
My mind can’t get around it
can’t understand it.
The smoke rises out of the copy room window
Thick black smoke
Smoke to choke
Smoke to kill
A smoke of death
I stare into the distance expecting to see The Towers materialize before my eyes
The words fall out of peoples mouths and rest on my ears
Did you hear! The World Trade Centers fell! They’re gone!
Trying to process
to compute, how many people worked in those buildings, how many kids will not have a mother, a father, a bother, a sister, a boyfriend a girlfriend, a close friend, an enemy, a loved one a spouse
MISSING is the word that is flashed across the TV screen
M I S S I N G
So many missing
Missing in action,
Lost, disappeared into a cloud of dust - just like that - missing
How they’re missing them
Missing them
Hoping wishing
Praying looking
Countless sleepless nights.
“What floor were they on? It’s a phrase
What floor?
How high?
In our minds we imagine
We do the math
How fast could they get down to get out
Breakdowns shout.
The trauma of the tragedy is woven deep in my mind
The trauma of the traumatized as a nation needs therapy
I saw planes crash into buildings people burned alive
We have witnesses to see thousands die.
80 stories high people jump to their deaths
In my dreams I see it again and again
Why you shouldn't "try" to have an unmedicated birth
Why you shouldn't "try" to have an unmedicated birth
You will hear many women say they are going to "try" to have an unmedicated birth. To me, "trying" connotes sheer effort and endurance. What I hear women say when they say "try" is that they are just going to see how long they can stand the pain. My dictionary defines "to try" as "to make an attempt or effort". What happens when you try something? Either you can succeed or fail.
There's a lot of derisive talk out there about birth plans and women who "plan" an unmedicated birth - or really plan anything about their birth at all. There is a lot of fingerwaving about how birth is unpredictable and you can't PLAN anything. After seeing a lot of births, I have to say I agree. My dictionary says to plan is to "decide on and arrange in advance" - you can't really do that with your birth. What happens when you plan something? Maybe your plans work out, and maybe they don't.
What I wish more women would say, and take ownership of, is that they are preparing for an unmedicated birth. My dictionary says " to prepare" is "to make ready or able to do or deal with something".This sounds just about right! Someone who is prepared does not fail or have plans not work out - they meet what comes with their goal in mind. They have made themselves ready to handle birth and any twists and turns they might meet on the way.
I encourage women to think of birth as a marathon - it is long, challenging, sometimes painful, sometimes exciting, and can be very rewarding. Many people regard having run a marathon as difficult, but very rewarding and a huge achievement. However, if you knew someone who told you that on Saturday they were going to "try" to run a marathon, you'd probably look at them a little askance. You'd start asking questions: "Have you practiced? Did you read up about marathoning and long-distance running? Do you know anything about the route?"
What would you think if they said, "I'm just going to start running and see how long I can stand it. There will be people along the way to tell me where to go." You might have some more questions for them. "Don't you think that at some point you're going to get exhausted and want to quit? If you haven't prepared, how will you have the resources to keep going? Wouldn't you like to know something about the course - where the steep hills are, where to save your energy, where to expect things will be tough?"
If this person then tried to run a marathon, and dropped out at mile 10, or had a miserable time, and then told their friends how horrible marathons were and how stupid someone would have to be to go through that awful experience just to prove they were "tough"...wouldn't you be skeptical about their opinion? And yet that's where we're at in a lot of ways. Many women see unmedicated birth as some kind of test that you pass via sheer endurance and "feminist masochism", as one doctor in "The Business of Being Born" puts it. There's often a vague, generalized perception that drug-free is "better", but without much clear understanding of the actual risks of drugs. If you "try" to have the unmedicated birth and "fail", then you have a lot invested in trying to convince people that this "test" is silly and has no bearing on your strength, motherhood, or womanhood (a position I agree with completely). I think many of the birth horror stories and dismissive "just take the epidural, honey, you're gonna need it" comments that pregnant women here come from that place.
On the other hand, if you approach natural birth with the mindset that this is a rare and challenging event that you would like to fully experience, with interventions available whose risks you'd prefer to avoid, you can prepare for it. You can take classes, read, and find good coaches and support systems. You can remain flexible and open to changes in the situation. Let's ditch this whole "trying" thing and switch to "preparing".
You will hear many women say they are going to "try" to have an unmedicated birth. To me, "trying" connotes sheer effort and endurance. What I hear women say when they say "try" is that they are just going to see how long they can stand the pain. My dictionary defines "to try" as "to make an attempt or effort". What happens when you try something? Either you can succeed or fail.
There's a lot of derisive talk out there about birth plans and women who "plan" an unmedicated birth - or really plan anything about their birth at all. There is a lot of fingerwaving about how birth is unpredictable and you can't PLAN anything. After seeing a lot of births, I have to say I agree. My dictionary says to plan is to "decide on and arrange in advance" - you can't really do that with your birth. What happens when you plan something? Maybe your plans work out, and maybe they don't.
What I wish more women would say, and take ownership of, is that they are preparing for an unmedicated birth. My dictionary says " to prepare" is "to make ready or able to do or deal with something".This sounds just about right! Someone who is prepared does not fail or have plans not work out - they meet what comes with their goal in mind. They have made themselves ready to handle birth and any twists and turns they might meet on the way.
I encourage women to think of birth as a marathon - it is long, challenging, sometimes painful, sometimes exciting, and can be very rewarding. Many people regard having run a marathon as difficult, but very rewarding and a huge achievement. However, if you knew someone who told you that on Saturday they were going to "try" to run a marathon, you'd probably look at them a little askance. You'd start asking questions: "Have you practiced? Did you read up about marathoning and long-distance running? Do you know anything about the route?"
What would you think if they said, "I'm just going to start running and see how long I can stand it. There will be people along the way to tell me where to go." You might have some more questions for them. "Don't you think that at some point you're going to get exhausted and want to quit? If you haven't prepared, how will you have the resources to keep going? Wouldn't you like to know something about the course - where the steep hills are, where to save your energy, where to expect things will be tough?"
If this person then tried to run a marathon, and dropped out at mile 10, or had a miserable time, and then told their friends how horrible marathons were and how stupid someone would have to be to go through that awful experience just to prove they were "tough"...wouldn't you be skeptical about their opinion? And yet that's where we're at in a lot of ways. Many women see unmedicated birth as some kind of test that you pass via sheer endurance and "feminist masochism", as one doctor in "The Business of Being Born" puts it. There's often a vague, generalized perception that drug-free is "better", but without much clear understanding of the actual risks of drugs. If you "try" to have the unmedicated birth and "fail", then you have a lot invested in trying to convince people that this "test" is silly and has no bearing on your strength, motherhood, or womanhood (a position I agree with completely). I think many of the birth horror stories and dismissive "just take the epidural, honey, you're gonna need it" comments that pregnant women here come from that place.
On the other hand, if you approach natural birth with the mindset that this is a rare and challenging event that you would like to fully experience, with interventions available whose risks you'd prefer to avoid, you can prepare for it. You can take classes, read, and find good coaches and support systems. You can remain flexible and open to changes in the situation. Let's ditch this whole "trying" thing and switch to "preparing".
basic rules of conduct in diplomacy
> Diplomacy is always about making friends; never say anything that is unfriendly.
> Diplomacy is about being even-handed at all times; never take sides at anytime.
> Diplomacy is about contributing towards peace; forever hold your piece if you do not have anything constructive to contribute.
> Diplomacy is about being tactful on every occasion; never be indiscreet.
> Diplomacy is about being cautious every time; never try to be clever anytime.
So, it's basically common sense, but common sense is not so common, right?
But then again, it's really about how you want to position yourself in the situation. in business dealings as an example, you would want to be diplomatic, and be on the winning side of the deal at the same time. so, in this case, you want to be tactful, you want to be cautious, you would want to show that you want to be friends, and you want to show that the deal is for the benefit of all the parties involved.
So far, in my line of work at least, i find that being diplomatic is the key to getting things done. i am basically the middleman between the dealers (which are our business partners) and my company (the principle). so, that's the reason for all the tea and coffee and late night sessions with them. a lot of business deals have been closed and a lot of agreements have been reached over cups and mugs of teh tarik and coffee.
And the formula is again pretty much the same; you want to show the other party that you're a friend, that you come in peace, that you're on their side (ok, this is called politicking), you need to be tactful, you need to maneuver well, and you need to be cautious all the time (especially when dealing with sales people).
I believe that most of the things we have to go through on a daily basis should be done diplomatically;well, we all attend meetings, and do business presentations and attend discussions of some sort, and we all have bosses. You don't have to become a big-no-good-ass-kissing-bastard, all you need to do is be diplomatic, and make sure you do it with tact.
But again, in making or closing a deal, well, basically in dealing with people for whatever reason, you need to understand that not everyone is a diplomat.
> Diplomacy is about being even-handed at all times; never take sides at anytime.
> Diplomacy is about contributing towards peace; forever hold your piece if you do not have anything constructive to contribute.
> Diplomacy is about being tactful on every occasion; never be indiscreet.
> Diplomacy is about being cautious every time; never try to be clever anytime.
So, it's basically common sense, but common sense is not so common, right?
But then again, it's really about how you want to position yourself in the situation. in business dealings as an example, you would want to be diplomatic, and be on the winning side of the deal at the same time. so, in this case, you want to be tactful, you want to be cautious, you would want to show that you want to be friends, and you want to show that the deal is for the benefit of all the parties involved.
So far, in my line of work at least, i find that being diplomatic is the key to getting things done. i am basically the middleman between the dealers (which are our business partners) and my company (the principle). so, that's the reason for all the tea and coffee and late night sessions with them. a lot of business deals have been closed and a lot of agreements have been reached over cups and mugs of teh tarik and coffee.
And the formula is again pretty much the same; you want to show the other party that you're a friend, that you come in peace, that you're on their side (ok, this is called politicking), you need to be tactful, you need to maneuver well, and you need to be cautious all the time (especially when dealing with sales people).
I believe that most of the things we have to go through on a daily basis should be done diplomatically;well, we all attend meetings, and do business presentations and attend discussions of some sort, and we all have bosses. You don't have to become a big-no-good-ass-kissing-bastard, all you need to do is be diplomatic, and make sure you do it with tact.
But again, in making or closing a deal, well, basically in dealing with people for whatever reason, you need to understand that not everyone is a diplomat.
Translate in the Catskills 2011
Translate in the Catskills 2011
Ever since hearing from Corinne McKay so many good things about Translate in the Catskills, a conference focused on target language writing skills for translators, I had longed to go. Yet, I had doubts: the event was aimed, seemingly, only at translators who work from French into English or the other way round, and I was unsure how useful it would be for me. After all, I can barely understand spoken French, and though I can read it, still I was afraid any session on English into French translation would be wasted on me. I knew I would be able to follow discussions about French into English, but how applicable would they be for me, since, after all, I do not normally translate into English?
I mentioned my doubts to Corinne; she said last time there had been some people who translated neither from nor into French. She suggested I should contact Chris Durban (translator extraordinaire and the event’s organizer) to ask for details. Chris was friendly and helpful, and provided me with a list of former participants I could contact. In the end, she suggested I give it a try, and see for myself.
So I took the plunge: enrolled, and went. I am just back (after a far more complicated journey than expected – but that’s another story I may tell in a separate post). I’m very happy I took a chance on this event: I attended most of the into-English sessions, and even a few of the French ones, finding much to help improve my work. I won’t try to give a blow-by-blow of what was said during the various sessions (but if you go to Corinne’s Tweeter page, you’ll find hundreds of tweets sent in the real time from the conference); I will concentrate, instead, on the main ideas I found valuable.
Translators are writers
To be a good translator, you have to remember you are a writer. That means concentrating on making your target text effective. Translate accurately, of course. But that, by itself, is not enough to craft an effective, well-written target text that does not feel translated: If you only concentrate on accuracy, neglecting effectiveness, you’ll produce, in Chris Durban’s words, “a description of a text, rather than a text in its own right”.
Sometimes (or at least in certain fields) your translation may need to wander rather far from the source to achieve the desired effect in the target language. Sometimes, you’ll need to shorten, lengthen or even change your text, because often what your customer needs but cannot articulate is rather different than a run-of-the-mill translation. A translator who sees himself as a “humble servant of the source text” (Ros Schwartz’ definition of this gun-shy attitude) is unlikely to be as effective as one who makes the text her own.
In certain fields at least, use of translation memory is a hindrance – unless you find ways to ensure the target text flows well and is effective. I’ll suggest a technique to achieve this in a later article.
Techniques to achieve more effective translations
Use statistical analysis to see what a translated text should look like, comparing it to similar documents written originally in your target language.
To give an example presented by David Jemielity, if in translating into English CEO’s letters to shareholders you follow your source language conventions, you might refer to the company in the third person. You may even be asked by your customer to follow this path... after all, they are French (or Italian), and they are accustomed to writing of themselves this way (“Nel 2010 ACME ha fatto questo e quest’altro...”). However, if we can show our customers that CEO’s letters written originally in English are overwhelmingly in the first person (“In 2010, we did this and that at ACME...”), we may convince our customers to let us translate their letter this way, to make it more effective for them.
Similar strategies, buttressed by clear documentation, may show us other ways to improve our translation: sentence length and variety, use (or not) of the article before a company’s name, use of nominalizations, and so on.
Marketing ideas
Look for direct customers by taking part in their industry’s events. When you attend such events, don’t ask if they need translations. Try other tactics, such as asking questions, complimenting the speaker, letting slip in the fact you are a translator. Gently point out to someone you have met at such an event, that something in their presentation was unclear, or that it should be phrased differently in your target language, offering (for free) to suggest improvements to the text. Don’t do this, however, in an aggressive way (“gotcha!”), nor when you are asking a question during an open session.
And let’s not market against ourselves: Be careful in what you say in online fora, tweets or blogs. Translators all too easily fall into bitching mode (about bad agencies, expensive software, opaque tools, cheap wannabe translators, or whatever). Remember, however, that what you write online may come back to haunt you.
But I don’t want to give you the idea it was all work all the time: those who arrived early went for a hike to the top of one of the mountains (I guess we would call them hills in Colorado). We went out for dinner on Friday. On Saturday Ros Schwartz presented her new translation of Le Petit Prince (you’ll have to order it from the UK, though: for copyright reasons it won’t be sold in the USA). Movie night on Saturday: an exclusive showing of The Woman with the Five Elephants – an interesting documentary on Svetlana Geier, a veteran Russian-German translator, who passed away last November, after completing new translations of Dostoyevsky’s major novels.
It was interesting to see this old translator (Geier was over eighty-five, at the time) dictating her translations to an elderly typist, who clacked away on a mechanical typewriter or editing by having her translation read out loud (and commented) by an old musician (not exactly what we Trados users are accustomed to!). If you have a chance, don’t miss this film; even if you are not a translator, you’ll be fascinated by the underlying history: Geier directly witnessed Stalin’s purges (her father was tortured an imprisoned for 18 months) and the German invasion. Her knowledge of German helped her and her mother getting away from Ukraine. They ended up in Germany, where she remained, working as a translator and teaching at the university.
So, this highly regarded German translator was a native speaker of a different language. Just to show you that even one of the most cherished principles of our profession (that translators should only work into their native tongue) has its exceptions.
A big thanks to Chris Durban for organizing this energizing conference, and to all the presenters who did so much to make this a fruitful and memorable event!
Ever since hearing from Corinne McKay so many good things about Translate in the Catskills, a conference focused on target language writing skills for translators, I had longed to go. Yet, I had doubts: the event was aimed, seemingly, only at translators who work from French into English or the other way round, and I was unsure how useful it would be for me. After all, I can barely understand spoken French, and though I can read it, still I was afraid any session on English into French translation would be wasted on me. I knew I would be able to follow discussions about French into English, but how applicable would they be for me, since, after all, I do not normally translate into English?
I mentioned my doubts to Corinne; she said last time there had been some people who translated neither from nor into French. She suggested I should contact Chris Durban (translator extraordinaire and the event’s organizer) to ask for details. Chris was friendly and helpful, and provided me with a list of former participants I could contact. In the end, she suggested I give it a try, and see for myself.
So I took the plunge: enrolled, and went. I am just back (after a far more complicated journey than expected – but that’s another story I may tell in a separate post). I’m very happy I took a chance on this event: I attended most of the into-English sessions, and even a few of the French ones, finding much to help improve my work. I won’t try to give a blow-by-blow of what was said during the various sessions (but if you go to Corinne’s Tweeter page, you’ll find hundreds of tweets sent in the real time from the conference); I will concentrate, instead, on the main ideas I found valuable.
Translators are writers
To be a good translator, you have to remember you are a writer. That means concentrating on making your target text effective. Translate accurately, of course. But that, by itself, is not enough to craft an effective, well-written target text that does not feel translated: If you only concentrate on accuracy, neglecting effectiveness, you’ll produce, in Chris Durban’s words, “a description of a text, rather than a text in its own right”.
Sometimes (or at least in certain fields) your translation may need to wander rather far from the source to achieve the desired effect in the target language. Sometimes, you’ll need to shorten, lengthen or even change your text, because often what your customer needs but cannot articulate is rather different than a run-of-the-mill translation. A translator who sees himself as a “humble servant of the source text” (Ros Schwartz’ definition of this gun-shy attitude) is unlikely to be as effective as one who makes the text her own.
In certain fields at least, use of translation memory is a hindrance – unless you find ways to ensure the target text flows well and is effective. I’ll suggest a technique to achieve this in a later article.
Techniques to achieve more effective translations
Use statistical analysis to see what a translated text should look like, comparing it to similar documents written originally in your target language.
To give an example presented by David Jemielity, if in translating into English CEO’s letters to shareholders you follow your source language conventions, you might refer to the company in the third person. You may even be asked by your customer to follow this path... after all, they are French (or Italian), and they are accustomed to writing of themselves this way (“Nel 2010 ACME ha fatto questo e quest’altro...”). However, if we can show our customers that CEO’s letters written originally in English are overwhelmingly in the first person (“In 2010, we did this and that at ACME...”), we may convince our customers to let us translate their letter this way, to make it more effective for them.
Similar strategies, buttressed by clear documentation, may show us other ways to improve our translation: sentence length and variety, use (or not) of the article before a company’s name, use of nominalizations, and so on.
Marketing ideas
Look for direct customers by taking part in their industry’s events. When you attend such events, don’t ask if they need translations. Try other tactics, such as asking questions, complimenting the speaker, letting slip in the fact you are a translator. Gently point out to someone you have met at such an event, that something in their presentation was unclear, or that it should be phrased differently in your target language, offering (for free) to suggest improvements to the text. Don’t do this, however, in an aggressive way (“gotcha!”), nor when you are asking a question during an open session.
And let’s not market against ourselves: Be careful in what you say in online fora, tweets or blogs. Translators all too easily fall into bitching mode (about bad agencies, expensive software, opaque tools, cheap wannabe translators, or whatever). Remember, however, that what you write online may come back to haunt you.
But I don’t want to give you the idea it was all work all the time: those who arrived early went for a hike to the top of one of the mountains (I guess we would call them hills in Colorado). We went out for dinner on Friday. On Saturday Ros Schwartz presented her new translation of Le Petit Prince (you’ll have to order it from the UK, though: for copyright reasons it won’t be sold in the USA). Movie night on Saturday: an exclusive showing of The Woman with the Five Elephants – an interesting documentary on Svetlana Geier, a veteran Russian-German translator, who passed away last November, after completing new translations of Dostoyevsky’s major novels.
It was interesting to see this old translator (Geier was over eighty-five, at the time) dictating her translations to an elderly typist, who clacked away on a mechanical typewriter or editing by having her translation read out loud (and commented) by an old musician (not exactly what we Trados users are accustomed to!). If you have a chance, don’t miss this film; even if you are not a translator, you’ll be fascinated by the underlying history: Geier directly witnessed Stalin’s purges (her father was tortured an imprisoned for 18 months) and the German invasion. Her knowledge of German helped her and her mother getting away from Ukraine. They ended up in Germany, where she remained, working as a translator and teaching at the university.
So, this highly regarded German translator was a native speaker of a different language. Just to show you that even one of the most cherished principles of our profession (that translators should only work into their native tongue) has its exceptions.
A big thanks to Chris Durban for organizing this energizing conference, and to all the presenters who did so much to make this a fruitful and memorable event!
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