This surprises me.
First of all, I'm surprised at the assumption that media and advertising are key in making people feel dissatisfied with their looks. the media has never been a huge factor in my feeling unattractive. I didn't need advertising to look in the mirror and see that the skin around my eyes is dark (exactly like Emperor Popeatine's - yes, even in childhood) and no one else has that. I didn't need the advertising to see that I have more and darker hair on my face and body than any other female around me and, until high school, any of my male peers. I didn't need advertising to be mistaken for a boy by random grownups when my hair was short. I didn't need advertising to know that J.K. Rowling's unflattering description of Snape's physical appearance is also an accurate description of my physical appearance. Anything in the media simply reiterated what I saw with my own eyes every day (and what my peers were only too happy to remind me of on the playground).
Secondly, I'm surprised to see use of beauty products presented as a bad thing, because to me it's been a huge boost to my self esteem. I'll never forget my Grade 8 grad photo. My mother allowed me, for the first time in my life, to wear a bit of makeup. Just concealer and lip gloss. I plucked my eyebrows and bleached my mustache. It was also the first photo I'd ever had done that was retouched. The dark under my eyes was neutralized, my zits were erased, I had two discrete eyebrows and no sign of facial hair. I looked like a perfectly decent-looking human being - and a female human being at that!. Inspired, I continued using concealer and began to introduce other makeup and beauty products. And as I gained control over my unattractive features, I ceased to identify with them. As I mastered covering the dark circles under my eyes, I stopped thinking of my eyes as dark and hollow and evil-looking, and began to think of them as green, well-lashed, and capable of shining or glaring or smouldering. When I started bleaching my teeth I stopped thinking of my smile as yellow and hideous, and started realizing that my natural smile is actually quite beautiful, and can charm or disarm or put people at ease or even successfully flirt. When I got hair stuff that actually keeps my oil under control for over 24 hours (even if there's headbanging involved), I stopped thinking of my hair as oily and gross, and started to see that it's soft and silky and just needs to be washed every day, just like the rest of me. The more control I gain over my physical flaws, the more I see myself as more than a collection of physical flaws. Nothing shows that the physical is ephemeral better than editing the physical using everyday drugstore products.
Third, I'm surprised at the anti-photoshopping sentiment. We all know that it's done, we all know how it's done. And I don't know about you guys, but that's done wonders for my self-esteem. Fifteen years ago, I was thinking "I'll never look like that." Twelve years ago, I was thinking "Maybe with makeup I could possibly look like that." Now I'm thinking "I could totally be photoshopped to look like that, no problem!"
And finally, I'm surprised at the sentiment that spending time and resources on beauty is taking time and resources away from other, apparently more worthy things. First of all, we all do this. It shouldn't need explaining. We all maintain careers and social lives and households and political awareness and hobbies and interests and a decent level of being well-informed, and we all do whatever beauty routine we think is most suitable. Your hair appointment doesn't take away from your self-actualization, so why would you assume the same of a kid? Besides, most beauty routines are physical and mindless - like painting a wall or chopping up vegetables - which leaves all the best parts of your brain open to intellectual work. I'm sure I'm not the only one reading and writing while my nails dry and my arms bleach or doing some of my best creative thinking while I shave and exfoliate.
To me, beauty products are a tool that I use to assert control over my body, to express and present as my real self rather than the sum of my genetics. They allowed me to assert my independence from and ultimately conquer the sources of my self-loathing. If people are starting to achieve this at a younger age, more power to them.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Blast from the past
Latest iTunes rediscovery:
1. Those girls got pipes! Not just vocally, but in their arms as well! I didn't know women did weight training in that era, like at all.
2. Looking at this song from an adult perspective (I first met it as a child and hadn't really re-thought it), it's totally for driving home the morning after what was originally intended to be a one night stand but may be something more. Yeah, sure, the lyrics are more innocent, but it's totally post-coital euphoria.
1. Those girls got pipes! Not just vocally, but in their arms as well! I didn't know women did weight training in that era, like at all.
2. Looking at this song from an adult perspective (I first met it as a child and hadn't really re-thought it), it's totally for driving home the morning after what was originally intended to be a one night stand but may be something more. Yeah, sure, the lyrics are more innocent, but it's totally post-coital euphoria.
Things They Should Invent: standard nonaggressive nonjudgemental way of asking other people in the subway to give up their seat for a third party
Sometimes you're on the subway and you see someone standing who should probably have a seat (elderly, disabled, pregnant, etc.) but you can't offer them one because you're standing yourself. You know that there is someone sitting who'd happily give up their seat but hasn't noticed the person in need. However, there is no polite way to do this. It comes across as judgey or lecturing or otherwise none of your business.
We need some socially standardized signal for these situations. It is to be universally construed as neutral and nonjudgemental, and it shouldn't draw undue attention to the specific person in need (e.g. "HEY EVERYONE THERE'S AN OLD LADY WITH A CANE OVER THERE! SEE?") Just some sort of subtle "By the way..."
I don't have any specific ideas but I'm open to suggestions.
We need some socially standardized signal for these situations. It is to be universally construed as neutral and nonjudgemental, and it shouldn't draw undue attention to the specific person in need (e.g. "HEY EVERYONE THERE'S AN OLD LADY WITH A CANE OVER THERE! SEE?") Just some sort of subtle "By the way..."
I don't have any specific ideas but I'm open to suggestions.
Conspiracy theory anyone?
Theory: our government's real motivation in embarrassing us internationally by banning George Galloway from the country is to ultimately create the political will to overturn our hate speech laws by getting everyone running around yelling about freedom of speech.
(Aside: What I'm still trying to figure out is whether British MPs are subject to security screening and required to maintain security clearance. I'm almost certain (like this) that Canadian MPs are. If the UK works the same, then he would have already undergone screening that ensures that he isn't a threat to UK security and can be trusted with state secrets. I know they're a different country, but realistically can there be much of a difference?)
(Aside: What I'm still trying to figure out is whether British MPs are subject to security screening and required to maintain security clearance. I'm almost certain (like this) that Canadian MPs are. If the UK works the same, then he would have already undergone screening that ensures that he isn't a threat to UK security and can be trusted with state secrets. I know they're a different country, but realistically can there be much of a difference?)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Things They Should Invent: don't say no, name your price instead
Some US-based online retailers won't ship to Canada. At all. Period.
It occurs to me that there must be some amount of money that would make it worth their while to ship to Canada. It's certainly quite feasible to send something from the US to Canada, it's just more bother. Worst case you have to get some worker to stop what they're doing, package the thing individually and separately, take it down to the post office, and fill out some customs forms. There must be some dollar amount that could make up for that bother. Maybe it's prohibitive for most people, but they should at least tell us what it is. Just post on the website: "widgets $10, shipping to Canada $100". Either it won't be worth it to Canadian customers and the business can continue to go about life as usual, or it will be worth it and they'll open up a new market.
This could apply to many other areas of business as well. You ship by UPS? UPS is inconvenient to me. What would it take to ship my purchase by Canada Post or Purolator? Those are your hours? They're incompatible with my schedule. What would it take to get you to stay open an hour later? It would be much better business sense, and if they've researched their markets correctly it won't make any difference in actual operations.
It occurs to me that there must be some amount of money that would make it worth their while to ship to Canada. It's certainly quite feasible to send something from the US to Canada, it's just more bother. Worst case you have to get some worker to stop what they're doing, package the thing individually and separately, take it down to the post office, and fill out some customs forms. There must be some dollar amount that could make up for that bother. Maybe it's prohibitive for most people, but they should at least tell us what it is. Just post on the website: "widgets $10, shipping to Canada $100". Either it won't be worth it to Canadian customers and the business can continue to go about life as usual, or it will be worth it and they'll open up a new market.
This could apply to many other areas of business as well. You ship by UPS? UPS is inconvenient to me. What would it take to ship my purchase by Canada Post or Purolator? Those are your hours? They're incompatible with my schedule. What would it take to get you to stay open an hour later? It would be much better business sense, and if they've researched their markets correctly it won't make any difference in actual operations.
OMG PUPPY SQUEE!
Dude walks into my building walking the most adorable dog ever. Big puppy, floppy ears, white with brown spots including a spot over one eye, so soft and fluffy (two levels fluffier than you're picturing), apparently some kind of collie spaniel mix, but I can't seem to google up a picture.
The lady in front of me stops and squees at the puppy and pets it and asks about it. Then I stop and squee at the puppy and pet it and ask about it (I know the puppy just got stopped, but I couldn't help myself. It took all my self-control not to pick it up.) Then the guy behind me stops and squees at the puppy and pets it and asks about it.
That's three people, just in a walk across the lobby. They probably encountered between 20 and 50 people in their walk, and I'd bet the majority of those people stopped and squeed at the puppy.
I wonder if that gets annoying for the puppy's human? On one hand, he does appreciate the sheer awesomeness of the puppy or he woudn't have chosen it. On the other hand, he does most likely have other things to do with his day and by the time you're on your 20th squeeing idiot it must lose its novelty.
The lady in front of me stops and squees at the puppy and pets it and asks about it. Then I stop and squee at the puppy and pet it and ask about it (I know the puppy just got stopped, but I couldn't help myself. It took all my self-control not to pick it up.) Then the guy behind me stops and squees at the puppy and pets it and asks about it.
That's three people, just in a walk across the lobby. They probably encountered between 20 and 50 people in their walk, and I'd bet the majority of those people stopped and squeed at the puppy.
I wonder if that gets annoying for the puppy's human? On one hand, he does appreciate the sheer awesomeness of the puppy or he woudn't have chosen it. On the other hand, he does most likely have other things to do with his day and by the time you're on your 20th squeeing idiot it must lose its novelty.
Penalties
I've been receiving a lot of political propoganda lately assuring me that longer jail sentences have been introduced, so my children will be safe from gang members. That's not quite my top concern at the moment. However, for the benefit of anyone who would like to win my vote, here's a list of anti-social behaviour that I'd like to see strictly penalized:
- Blocking the subway escalator when there is a train actually in the process of arriving.
- Spouting platitudes in situations where they aren't actually helpful.
- Making environmental policy that assumes that everyone has a car.
- Using a flat iron to curl hair. That's just perverted and against nature.
- Posting/forwarding urban legends that have been debunked by Snopes.
- Blocking the subway escalator when there is a train actually in the process of arriving.
- Spouting platitudes in situations where they aren't actually helpful.
- Making environmental policy that assumes that everyone has a car.
- Using a flat iron to curl hair. That's just perverted and against nature.
- Posting/forwarding urban legends that have been debunked by Snopes.
Random thoughts from childhood
1. When I was a kid, a lot of the grownups around me assumed that if I was into something, that must necessarily be because it's trendy. Like that the reason I was into it was because it's trendy, and if I'm into it that must be a sign that it's trendy. Strange logic, that. Some of the things I was into were trendy, but others weren't. Like everyone, I'd pick and choose what I liked and what worked for me from everything that crossed my path. I seriously doubt any of the adults were into only trendy things, so why would they assume that I was?
2. When I had to do presentations in front of the class at school, the things the teachers would critique would always include symptoms of my shyness (talking quietly, not making eye contact, playing with my hair and other nervous tics). I know that a confident presentation is better than a messy presentation, but I do wonder if they seriously thought I could speak in front of the class with confidence when I couldn't even sit quietly in the classroom with confidence. I'm fine with the grade itself being lower for a messy presentation, but based on the nature of their comments it seemed like they thought that I could actually carry off a smooth presentation but just...wasn't.
Once in music class we had this assignment where we wrote a page or two about our favourite song and what it means to us. Mine was a song that reflected my feelings at the time (unrequited, of course) for a certain boy, and I wrote a very nice and meaningful blurb. Then, unbeknownst to me in choosing a song, we had to present them in front of the class. And the boy in question was in the class. So I made a stammery, heavily edited presentation, thanking the god I had recently ceased to believe in that I'm physically incapable of blushing. In the comments I got back, the teacher seemed genuinely baffled that my written submission was so good but my presentation was such a mess.
So because of this, I find myself wondering if the teachers were grading ruthlessly objectively, or if it genuinely didn't occur to them that talking in front of the class would be extremely difficult and some people might not have it in them. After all, teachers are people who have chosen to make their living talking in front of a classroom every day, maybe they honestly don't know that some people just can't. (Just like how in unedited and unreflective moments I sometimes find myself thinking "I don't see what the big deal is. Just learn French, it only take a couple of years of intensive study.")
3. Speaking of the classroom, the one thing my resource teachers were always trying to get me to do was raise my hand and answer questions in class. At that time, I knew the answer to literally every question the teacher would ask (because their teaching method was to ask questions about material they'd already covered, not because I'm such a fricking genius) but I never raised my hand because it conflicted with my continuing mission of becoming invisible so the bullies would forget about me. Even now, with adult knowledge and 20/20 hindsight, I can't figure out how raising my hand and answering questions would have been helpful to me. I knew the answer and I knew that I knew the answer. I don't see how it would have made a difference to my education to raise my hand and announce to the class "HERE I AM AND I KNOW THE ANSWER!" I do see how it would be helpful to the teacher who was trying to conduct a class, but I don't see what it would have done for me in terms of my own enrichment.
2. When I had to do presentations in front of the class at school, the things the teachers would critique would always include symptoms of my shyness (talking quietly, not making eye contact, playing with my hair and other nervous tics). I know that a confident presentation is better than a messy presentation, but I do wonder if they seriously thought I could speak in front of the class with confidence when I couldn't even sit quietly in the classroom with confidence. I'm fine with the grade itself being lower for a messy presentation, but based on the nature of their comments it seemed like they thought that I could actually carry off a smooth presentation but just...wasn't.
Once in music class we had this assignment where we wrote a page or two about our favourite song and what it means to us. Mine was a song that reflected my feelings at the time (unrequited, of course) for a certain boy, and I wrote a very nice and meaningful blurb. Then, unbeknownst to me in choosing a song, we had to present them in front of the class. And the boy in question was in the class. So I made a stammery, heavily edited presentation, thanking the god I had recently ceased to believe in that I'm physically incapable of blushing. In the comments I got back, the teacher seemed genuinely baffled that my written submission was so good but my presentation was such a mess.
So because of this, I find myself wondering if the teachers were grading ruthlessly objectively, or if it genuinely didn't occur to them that talking in front of the class would be extremely difficult and some people might not have it in them. After all, teachers are people who have chosen to make their living talking in front of a classroom every day, maybe they honestly don't know that some people just can't. (Just like how in unedited and unreflective moments I sometimes find myself thinking "I don't see what the big deal is. Just learn French, it only take a couple of years of intensive study.")
3. Speaking of the classroom, the one thing my resource teachers were always trying to get me to do was raise my hand and answer questions in class. At that time, I knew the answer to literally every question the teacher would ask (because their teaching method was to ask questions about material they'd already covered, not because I'm such a fricking genius) but I never raised my hand because it conflicted with my continuing mission of becoming invisible so the bullies would forget about me. Even now, with adult knowledge and 20/20 hindsight, I can't figure out how raising my hand and answering questions would have been helpful to me. I knew the answer and I knew that I knew the answer. I don't see how it would have made a difference to my education to raise my hand and announce to the class "HERE I AM AND I KNOW THE ANSWER!" I do see how it would be helpful to the teacher who was trying to conduct a class, but I don't see what it would have done for me in terms of my own enrichment.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Things They Should Invent: hair removal method for hairs that aren't there
Every method of hair removal will only remove hairs that are there. So why's this a problem you're asking? Let me give you an example:
I pluck my eyebrows every day. This means that at any given time, there are a bunch of eyebrow hairs that are queued up to grow back, but currently are not visible. If I were to go get my eyebrows done professionally, or I were to go get my stray eyebrow hairs permanently removed, they would only remove the unwanted hairs that they can see. A week later, I'd once again have a bunch of stray eyebrow hairs, because the hairs that were not there when I got my eyebrows done will have grown back. If I want literally all my excess eyebrow hairs removed, I'd have to let my whole shaggy unibrow grow back in, which means I'd have to spend probably a couple of weeks walking around looking butch and undignified.
There must be some kind of thingy inside my skin that tells it "Grow another hair back right here." (I don't have the terminology, but you know what I mean?) I want to be able to take the entire bridge of my nose between my eyebrows and tell all those thingies inside my skin "Don't grow any more hairs here, at all, ever." Or perhaps remove from my skin the thingies that tell it to grow a hair here.
I would pay enormous amounts of money for this.
I pluck my eyebrows every day. This means that at any given time, there are a bunch of eyebrow hairs that are queued up to grow back, but currently are not visible. If I were to go get my eyebrows done professionally, or I were to go get my stray eyebrow hairs permanently removed, they would only remove the unwanted hairs that they can see. A week later, I'd once again have a bunch of stray eyebrow hairs, because the hairs that were not there when I got my eyebrows done will have grown back. If I want literally all my excess eyebrow hairs removed, I'd have to let my whole shaggy unibrow grow back in, which means I'd have to spend probably a couple of weeks walking around looking butch and undignified.
There must be some kind of thingy inside my skin that tells it "Grow another hair back right here." (I don't have the terminology, but you know what I mean?) I want to be able to take the entire bridge of my nose between my eyebrows and tell all those thingies inside my skin "Don't grow any more hairs here, at all, ever." Or perhaps remove from my skin the thingies that tell it to grow a hair here.
I would pay enormous amounts of money for this.
More information please (Ontario budget edition)
1. What exactly is to be gained by harmonizing the sales taxes? Media coverage implies that there is some widely-known benefit to doing this, but I don't know what it is.
2. Exactly how much of their assets must a person liquidate before they can apply for welfare? Media coverage has mentioned a few times recently that it is recommended that people not be required to liquidate so much, but I don't know what the current amount is. This is important, because I suspect the amount of assets you're allowed to have is much much lower than the average person is aware of. I know (like this) that at one point during my politically-aware lifetime, most likely during the Harris era, you had to sell your home, you had to sell your car, and you couldn't have more than $200 (sic) in the bank. I'm hoping the rules have changed since then, but I have no idea what they are currently. It would be helpful for this to be common knowledge.
Update: The answer to #2 is $572
2. Exactly how much of their assets must a person liquidate before they can apply for welfare? Media coverage has mentioned a few times recently that it is recommended that people not be required to liquidate so much, but I don't know what the current amount is. This is important, because I suspect the amount of assets you're allowed to have is much much lower than the average person is aware of. I know (like this) that at one point during my politically-aware lifetime, most likely during the Harris era, you had to sell your home, you had to sell your car, and you couldn't have more than $200 (sic) in the bank. I'm hoping the rules have changed since then, but I have no idea what they are currently. It would be helpful for this to be common knowledge.
Update: The answer to #2 is $572
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Things They Should Invent Words For
We need a word for when you're absolutely sure you have some factoid on good authority and you know for certain that somewhere out there is a reputable citable reference to back up this statement, but you can't quite remember where you got it from. For those "Yeah, someone once did a study and I read about it in the newspaper" sort of situations.
This differs from conventional wisdom and urban legends in that you know you did in fact get this from a specific reliable source and once upon a time you could have cited the source (and once upon a time you had the source in your hand or on your computer screen), it's just that some time has passed and you've forgotten.
This differs from conventional wisdom and urban legends in that you know you did in fact get this from a specific reliable source and once upon a time you could have cited the source (and once upon a time you had the source in your hand or on your computer screen), it's just that some time has passed and you've forgotten.
Weird tax benefit decision
Check out the table here.
Single individuals get $300. Single parents and couples get $1000. Semantically and syntactically, that means all couples, even if they don't have children, and there's nothing in the text to suggest that couples without children are treated differently.
I totally see why parents get a bigger benefit than non-parents. I'm not questioning that at all. But why should a couple without dependents get $1000 when a single individual without dependents only gets $300? The couple is sharing a household, so their per-person necessary living expenses are less and their income would stretch further. But their benefit is greater than the benefit paid to THREE single people. WTF?
Single individuals get $300. Single parents and couples get $1000. Semantically and syntactically, that means all couples, even if they don't have children, and there's nothing in the text to suggest that couples without children are treated differently.
I totally see why parents get a bigger benefit than non-parents. I'm not questioning that at all. But why should a couple without dependents get $1000 when a single individual without dependents only gets $300? The couple is sharing a household, so their per-person necessary living expenses are less and their income would stretch further. But their benefit is greater than the benefit paid to THREE single people. WTF?
How to make a harmonized sales tax as painless as possible
When they harmonize the sales taxes, people are going to notice. Things that were previously taxed at 5% are suddenly going to be taxed at 13%, giving us a shock at the register.
Simple solution: change the rules so that taxes are included in the sticker price. When the sign says "Widgets, $9.99!" that price already includes tax, so we hand over a ten and get back a penny. How much are you paying in tax? Who knows? Who cares? You see the sign, decide if you're willing to pay $9.99, and if yes you pay $9.99. It will be like at the LCBO. Do we pay too much tax on our booze at the LCBO? Who knows? Who cares? The only question is whether we're willing to pay $12.95 for that bottle of wine.
Shopping will be easier because we can easily see how much we'll be spending. Cashiers' lives will be easier because they won't have to face customers with sales tax rage. (More than once when I was doing time behind the cash register I had a customer come in with a coupon for 99 cent coffee, hand me a loonie, and act like I'm trying to cheat them when I told them they owed me another 14 (or whatever it was back then) cents.) It will be easier to budget for big-ticket purchases. Apart from cases where the money simply isn't there, paying sales taxes won't hurt one bit.
Simple solution: change the rules so that taxes are included in the sticker price. When the sign says "Widgets, $9.99!" that price already includes tax, so we hand over a ten and get back a penny. How much are you paying in tax? Who knows? Who cares? You see the sign, decide if you're willing to pay $9.99, and if yes you pay $9.99. It will be like at the LCBO. Do we pay too much tax on our booze at the LCBO? Who knows? Who cares? The only question is whether we're willing to pay $12.95 for that bottle of wine.
Shopping will be easier because we can easily see how much we'll be spending. Cashiers' lives will be easier because they won't have to face customers with sales tax rage. (More than once when I was doing time behind the cash register I had a customer come in with a coupon for 99 cent coffee, hand me a loonie, and act like I'm trying to cheat them when I told them they owed me another 14 (or whatever it was back then) cents.) It will be easier to budget for big-ticket purchases. Apart from cases where the money simply isn't there, paying sales taxes won't hurt one bit.
A Toronto moment
The lady next to me on the subway is wearing exactly the same scarf as me. Mine is intricately and decoratively folded and knotted in my very best imitation of the style worn by some random girl from France I saw on the subway. Hers is wrapped around her head as a hijab.
(Aside: I'm still trying to figure out if I'm allowed to compliment a hijab-wearer on her scarf the same way I'd compliment another woman on her shoes.)
(Aside: I'm still trying to figure out if I'm allowed to compliment a hijab-wearer on her scarf the same way I'd compliment another woman on her shoes.)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Interjurisdictional driver's licences
Suppose you're a teenager growing up in the place in the world with the lowest driving age. You start going through the licencing process as soon as possible, and get fully licenced as quickly as possible.
Then you go to the place in the world with the highest driving age. You are currently younger than that age, but you still hold a full and valid licence from back home. Are you legally allowed to drive in the high-aged jurisdiction?
Then you go to the place in the world with the highest driving age. You are currently younger than that age, but you still hold a full and valid licence from back home. Are you legally allowed to drive in the high-aged jurisdiction?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Things They Should Invent: Sing To Your Headphones Day
In the spirit of Talk Like A Pirate Day, on Sing To Your Headphones Day everyone gets to walk around singing out loud to whatever music is playing on their headphones. Apple could sponsor and promote it and use footage in their commercials since most people are using ipods anyway.
Now taking suggestions for the best date for this to fall on.
Now taking suggestions for the best date for this to fall on.
xkcd imitates life
1. I always have these dreams. (Click on the link - I tried to embed but it's too wide.)
I've even blogged about them. They always take place in high school. And I always find myself thinking "Hey, wait, don't I have enough credits to graduate? And haven't I in fact been to university? And I seem to remember something about an apartment in Toronto?" just like in the comic. The odd thing is I've never had a translation dream. I'm coming up on my sixth anniversary in my job (and spent three years in translation school before that). I spent five years in high school. And yet I keep dreaming about high school and have never dreamed about translation.
Speaking of translation...
2. Some of my co-workers have actually had this happen:
The source text says "pun not intended" or similar. The translator goes crazy trying to figure out what the pun is. Finally the translator swallows their pride and goes to a mother-tongue speaker of the source language, only to find that there is no pun whatsoever. Our goal, which no one has yet succeeded in fulfilling unless they've neglected to brag about it, is to insert a bona fide pun in the translation. If anyone succeeds in doing so, pun jar fees will be waived.
I've even blogged about them. They always take place in high school. And I always find myself thinking "Hey, wait, don't I have enough credits to graduate? And haven't I in fact been to university? And I seem to remember something about an apartment in Toronto?" just like in the comic. The odd thing is I've never had a translation dream. I'm coming up on my sixth anniversary in my job (and spent three years in translation school before that). I spent five years in high school. And yet I keep dreaming about high school and have never dreamed about translation.
Speaking of translation...
2. Some of my co-workers have actually had this happen:
The source text says "pun not intended" or similar. The translator goes crazy trying to figure out what the pun is. Finally the translator swallows their pride and goes to a mother-tongue speaker of the source language, only to find that there is no pun whatsoever. Our goal, which no one has yet succeeded in fulfilling unless they've neglected to brag about it, is to insert a bona fide pun in the translation. If anyone succeeds in doing so, pun jar fees will be waived.
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