Russian war

  I have been a freelance translator for about 35 years now.
Over that time I have registered on multiple translator sites like Proz.com, Aquarius, Translators Directory. Go Translators, translatorscafe and more that I do not even remember.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine and continues to kill everyone in their path (just like the orcs in ‘Lord of the Rings’) I did raise my voice on facebook (which is most likely totally irrelevant) and pledged never to work for any Russian agency again.

And since the devil Adolf Putin is systematically blocking news and all forms of information about his atrocities to reach the Russian people, I believe it would be appropriate to urge all those translator sites to block all Russian agencies from posting job offers. This may not have any “real” effect on the war, but as an indirect message it could result in a few more people in Russia wondering what is going on in the world.

So, personally I urge those translator platforms to do something.
And if any other freelance translator might be willing to add his or her voice, that would be wonderful.

The current situation is NOT something one should “let slide” - like the Chinese are doing!

Politeness in the digital age

I am registered in many sites pertaining to translation and interpretation. From one related to interpretation I got the following message in the afternoon. The job would have to be done the next day. 

"New message from XXX XXX via interpreters.travel
Automotive world 2019 , tokyo big sight 
January 17 (10:00 - 18:00)"

That is all. No "please" or "are you available", "could you help us out" ... nothing.
Just "Tomorrow. Be there!"
Naturally, I reclined the "job offer".
Is this the style of American, Chinese, Russian or other mafia like people.
Or is this now considered to be the "new standard" of politeness in the digital age?

Fudschijama

English: Mount Fuji, Japan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is always amazing how superficial knowledge and wrong information prove to be so much stronger than the "real" thing.
This picture shows an entry in a German-Japanese dictionary, published 1972, calling the highest mountain in Japan "Fudschijama".
I have seen this on English sites too, even official sites of the American government!!!

However, no Japanese ever calles the mountain by this name.
It is "Fuji-san", where "san" is the character for MOUNTAIN - and NOT the honorific "Mister".

In Germany there are probably MANY more people who know the "Fudschijama" than those who know its real name.
This kind of artificially created 'misunderstanding' is NOT helping to improve communication between different cultures ...