Daniel Greene

Author: Daniel Greene

  • Yes, I am the kind of person who spends 15 minutes searching for the multiplication sign. 8-}

    Yes, I’m the guy who just spent 15 minutes searching for the Mac keyboard shortcut for the mathematical “times” or “multiply” sign [×]. There is no shortcut; however, I did learn that the official name for this glyph is “multiplication sign” (who knew?), the Unicode identifier is 00D7, the HTML name code is “times”, the HTML number code is 215 (but I can’t show the HTML code without WordPress converting it, apparently), the Unicode identifier is 00D7, and the Windows keyboard entry method is Alt+0215. For my Mac, I opened Edit, Special Characters, typed in “multiplication sign”, and saved the glyph to my Favorites.

    If you’re interested, some of my other favorites are the “beamed eighth notes” to symbolize music [♫], the “black heart suit” sign [♥] to symbolize love, the French quotation marks, or «guillemets», a.k.a. “left-pointing double angle quotation mark” [«] and “right-pointing double angle quotation mark” [»], the proper characters to denote the feet and inches in my height, 5′ 11″, called the “prime” [′] and “double prime” [″], and the “trade mark sign” [™] which I like to use sarcastically to represent that something that should be bottled and sold, such as doing typography The Right Way™.

    Thanks to Arnold Winkelried aka Noodles for his webpage, Keyboard Shortcuts for special characters, which answered my question about the multiplication sign that I had read at least a dozen other pages in search of.

    And now, with the (at least) 15 minutes I spent on writing this blog post, I have spent a half an hour more than the average (and maybe saner) person who would type 2 x 2 and be done with it. But I console myself with the knowledge that there are hundreds of nerds like me out there who will be glad that I shared this seemingly trivial information with them. So there! 🙂

    P.S. I just spent another 20 minutes trying to write the HTML name and number codes without having them converted to the × character itself. Fighting with technology before 8 AM on a Sunday morning, oy!

  • Bought an It’s OK to be Takei tee shirt

    Andy & I just bought an “It’s OK to be Takei” t-shirt. So funny, and it’s for a good cause. 🙂

    https://twitter.com/#!/danielgreene/status/71953412899614720

  • All the details about my workshops in Phoenix this July

    Here are all the details about the workshops I am offering in July, including date, time, title, and description. I will be teaching Vague Language (VL), Genre Recognition, Oral & Sign Transliteration, and Voice Interpreting / Vocal Technique at the Desert Valley Regional Cooperative, 8055 N 24th Ave, Phoenix AZ 85021. You may register by calling 602-771-5225 or emailing Amerigo.Berdeski@asdb.az.gov. The suggested donation for each workshop is $20. Here are the four workshops in detail:

    July 6 5p-9p Vague Language— Why people use it and how to interpret it
    Participants will study and explore the use of vague language (VL) in both English and ASL, the communicative purposes and social meanings of VL, the importance of retaining ambiguity when conveying vague messages from one language to another, the benefits of leaving language vague instead of interrupting to request clarifications, and specific strategies for conveying VL in both ASL and English. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Define VL and name at least five communicative purposes that VL serves.
    2. Distinguish between language that needs to be clarified and language that is better conveyed as uttered.
    3. Have strategies for conveying VL in English and ASL without interrupting for clarification.
    4. Give a dozen examples of words, phrases, signs, classifiers, and mouth morphemes used in VL.
    July 7 5p-9p Genre Recognition
    This workshop introduces attendees to genre theory and teaches the skill of genre recognition. Attendees will be guided in the recognition of generic elements of discourse and will be empowered to enhance their predictive skills, thus increasing their self-confidence and composure while improving the accuracy and effectiveness of their interpretations. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Name five narrative genres.
    2. Name at least five elements of genre, including setting, plot, character, conflict, tone, intent, and moral.
    3. Describe the generic characteristics of at least five speech events.
    4. Identify their strengths and weaknesses in their abilities to recognize genres; know resources to strengthen weaknesses.
    July 19 5p-9p Transliteration— Put the English on your mouth and hands
    This workshop provides an overview of transliteration and teaches the skills of spoken English–to–PSE and spoken English–to–Oral transliteration. Attendees will learn the signs and mouth/body movements they need to produce when transliterating in order to convey messages in the language most readily understood by English–oriented deaf consumers. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Define transliteration as it pertains to all languages and contrast it with interpretation.
    2. Demonstrate at least three signs that may be used for the word “of” and at least two signs for the word “which.”
    3. Distinguish between active and passive voice and explain how to transliterate each grammatical form.
    4. Identify the strengths and weaknesses in their transliteration skills and where to find resources for improvement.
    July 21 5p-9p Voice Interpreting— Trippingly on the Tongue
    This is a sign–to–voice interpreting workshop with a twist. In addition to learning logistical and processing strategies for voice interpreting, participants will learn the vocal techniques that singers and actors use so that they can enliven their sign-to-voice interpreting, convey affect, and improve audibility. Participants will learn how to enunciate, maintain vocal health, and inflect for affect, and meaning. Participants who take this workshop will leave as better interpreters and speakers. At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

    1. Outline strategies that can be used before and during an ASL–to–English interpreting assignment.
    2. Demonstrate improved control of the volume and pitch of their voice.
    3. Vocalize the same phrase five different ways for meaning and affect.
    4. Use a microphone effectively, self-monitoring for volume, plosives and sibilants.
    5. Know how to relax their bodies and vocal apparatus for vocal health.

    To learn more about the workshops I offer, see my Interpreting Workshops Page.

  • I’m applying to a graduate program and I…

    I’m applying to a graduate program, and I know I can count on my family for their support.

  • Workshops I’m presenting in Phoenix in July

    I will be presenting four workshops this July in Phoenix at the Desert Valley Regional Cooperative, 8055 N 24th Ave, Phoenix AZ 85021:

    • July 6 5p-9p Vague Language
    • July 7 5p-9p Genre Recognition
    • July 19 5p-9p Transliteration
    • July 21 5p-9p Voice Interpreting

    Call 602-771-5225 or email Amerigo.Berdeski@asdb.az.gov to RSVP. Donations of $20 and up requested.

    For descriptions of these and other workshops, see my Interpreting Workshops Page.