Need to Translate? Try Google

Guess what? I am writing this post for the second time. Why? It's just that, my first draft containing five paragraphs wasn't saved when I logged out few hours back. When I rechecked it for polishing, I found out that what remained was only the title. I can no longer remember how I started the article and so, I decided to make this introduction. Oh, by the way, I'm working on OpenOffice.org Writer right now so as to make sure that my write-up would be saved (thanks for the piece of advice Tita Barbie).

If you have the capacity of speaking (may be writing as well) different languages, you are considered to be a linguist. Unfortunately, I am no Jose Rizal (Philippines' National Hero) who has given that acquired talent and I cannot speak Spanish nor Latin like he did.

Surfing the net happens to be one of my favorite habitual past times when I am at the office. Just to kill some time, I usually search for some interesting articles or sites that contain interesting topics that might inspire me to post something on my blog. I am a fan of photography, thus, when I come across a photography related site, I can't help myself but try to look at it, even just for a moment.

It was like yesterday (literally) when I came across one site that really captured my attention. I was (almost) hypnotized by the pictures on it and how the blogger (it was a blog site) related each picture to colors – colors that became alive in those pictures. No more illusion and picturesque descriptions. Only reality.

The blog's name was 'Japanese Color'. I had all the enthusiasm to browse each and every page of the blog since all contains pictures. Pictures which, I know, have other meanings that lie behind each. Then, I got frustrated. Why wouldn't I?..I can't understand the captions! Why? Because they were all written in Japanese characters.

Then, I relaxed. Trying to get back my almost lost temper. I remembered using one  application when some 'alien' messages got into my inbox. I knew it could help.

Google ---> (type the keyword) google translate ---> search

or, to make it easier, just click on the link below:

http://translate.google.com/#

Then, after few minutes, I was able to read the captions. What I did was copy the Japanese characters to the 'text' window in Google translate, chose Japanese in the 'Translate from' tab and English in the 'Translate into' tab. If you are not sure of the language you want to translate from, you may choose 'Detect Language' and Google will detect the language for you.

Now, I will no longer carry the burden of translation in my mind. As long as the web (and Google Translate) is there, I know that my linguist friend will be always at hand..;-)

Thanksgiving - A Countdown to Christmas

When this topic was given to me, I really had no idea about the approach to use on it. Would it be plain conversational, informative, fun, or serious? All those possibilities were playing behind my mind but I couldn't exactly come up with a unique approach. As I was writing this exact line, I was perfectly experiencing the name of this blog - writer's block.

Minutes passed and I decided to stick to the real me, the way I write articles depending on my mood. It's more of a go-with-the-flow thing, but at least, I'm not pretending to be one of those most prominent writers. I am simply being me.

Enough of self introduction. Now, what is this write-up all about?

Maybe some of us have almost forgotten the magic word said after someone else does a little favor for us. May it be a simple tap on the shoulder showing appreciation for a job well done or keeping you awake when you're too sleepy working for a deadline, a simple 'thank you' is well-deserved. Two words that mean more than what they really say.


Thanksgiving - a season of sharing, family gatherings, and shopping... ;-)

Thanksgiving holiday has already been a part of the culture of some countries all over the world. Canada, Australia, Korea, India, and Canada just to name a few. But among these countries, the United States has its own way of celebrating this holiday which marks the beginning of the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving day in the United States means festivity, reunions, traditions, sharing, and even shopping sprees. Yes, you read it right. I did say shopping sprees. The reason behind this is that, when former President Franklin D. Roosevelt had the idea of thanksgiving, what he wanted was to help the businesses by lengthening the shopping period before Christmas. Here's another piece of a cake, thanksgiving is not merely about shopping. Americans also resemble close family ties during this season. Though families live away from each other, during the Thanksgiving Day, they really find time to celebrate it together. Gathered in a reunion, they all give thanks to the blessings and other good things that come their way.



Trivia: Here are some of the known Thanksgiving symbols in the United States (just another piece of cake)

If Santa symbolizes Christmas and Cupid Valentines,  Thanksgiving Day is also represented by some symbols. Here are some of them.

Pumpkin , Corn, and Cranberry

One of the most staple food in one family's thanksgiving table is a pumpkin pie. Of course we are not talking about Halloween here. Pumpkin just happened to be one of the most important symbols of the harvest festival in US and has been an American favorite for centuries.

A corn, being present on the festival table, may it be as a food or decoration, serves as a reminder of the importance and heritage of the harvest season.

Cranberry now also found its way to the festival table as cranberry sauce became the permanent companion of turkey during the festivity.


Turkey

Benjamin (former US President) once considered the turkey as a national symbol since it is a picture of a good runner and sharp sight.

In today's picture, every house cooks turkey as the main dish during the celebration and considers it as the main mascot of the celebration. And the whole festivity will never be complete without the customary 'Turkey Song.'

Cornucopia

Known as the most common symbol of thanksgiving, cornucopia is a horn-shaped container filled with the Earth's harvest during the Thanksgiving season.


So, I think, that would be it. Hope you learned something from this post. I may not be the best writer of all times, but I'm happy to have shared my thoughts... ;-)