With the community-driven Translations effort leading to availability in dozens of languages, Facebook has already done a phenomenal job at ensuring that their popular social network continues its viral-like spread across the globe. Today Facebook’s map is expanding even more by making the sit...

  Don't worry, passengers were never in any danger on this, an Aeroflot flight. After all, it's not like they're the largest airline in Russia or anything. Translation (based on a scientific process called "bullshit detection"): Pilot: Greetings, we are currently elevated ...

I usually listen to music while working. I can go without, but I prefer to go with. Working during the day and working at night are completely different activities to me, and require completely different music. Also, working with words as I do, the music I listen to while working must not take my at...

Scholar and translator Douglas Parmée—who translated two NYRB Classics, The Child by Jules Vallès and Afloat by Guy de Maupassant—died last August. What follows is an expanded version of the obituary that ran in the London Times. Douglas Parmée was a lecturer in modern languages at Cambridgeâ...

Bear with me: this is a bit on an issue that gripes me no end, but unfortunately hardly gets traction or understanding among the (mostly English speaking) developers of WordPress. To explain the for English speakers seemingly trivial but for many non-English speakers rather annoying issue of incorre...

Bunnies ♥ Uh, also, this took a supremely long time, so please let me know if you spot any errors. We in our 30's are caught up in Arashi! Sakurai Sho -kun Collection "Although I didn't have any interest in Johnnys, Arashi is different!""Who do you like in Arashi?" "It might be the first time sinc...

Dear plasterer eating fruit on the subway: If you're going to leave the pips on the train, at least drop them on the floor instead of leaving them on the seat next to you. Dear mother of twins: I see that you have two babies, most likely through no fault of your own, and I get that you need a stroll...

From a blog post by David Ashford: Matthew, writing for Jews, refers to “the kingdom of heaven” to avoid using the word God (Jews of the time found that offensive). Mark, on the other hand, writing for the non-Jewish audience simply has Jesus refer to ”the kingdom of God”...

Do you need a quick translation while working online? It can be an e-mail from a colleague, the lyrics of a song, an e-mail, or even a web page. All you need to do is try one of the free language translation services I personally selected and reviewed in this mini-guide. Photo credit: rosendo Oftent...

There are lots of great resources and blogs around the world in many languages that spread the word about web standards. Every once in a while however I see a new article in English and I think to myself “What a fantastic write-up, but I wish everyone could read it”. All to often we see ...