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Alaska 2023: FEMA fires group for nonsensical Alaska Native translations

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska  – After the leftovers of a rare typhoon caused considerable damage to residences along Alaska’s western shore in September, the U.S. government stepped in to assist locals — primarily Alaska Natives — in repairing property damage.

When people opened FEMA papers, they were hoping to find instructions on how to apply for help in Alaska Native languages like Yup’ik or Inupiaq. Instead, they saw strange words.

“He will go hunting extremely early tomorrow and will (bring) nothing,” stated one paragraph. The translator added the word ” Alaska ” at random amid the sentence.

“Your husband is slender as a polar bear,” observed another.

Another was written entirely in Inuktitut, a Northern Canadian Indigenous language spoken far from Alaska.

Once the mistakes were found, FEMA fired the California company that had been hired to translate the documents. However, the whole thing was a painful reminder for Alaska Natives of how their culture and languages have been suppressed for decades.

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FEMA Took Responsibility

FEMA took immediate responsibility for the translation issues and fixed them, and the agency is working to ensure that it does not happen again, according to spokesman Jaclyn Rothenberg. Because of the inaccuracies, no one was denied assistance.

That is insufficient for one Alaska Native leader.

This was another bitter reminder for Tara Sweeney, an Inupiaq who served as an assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the U.S. Interior Department during the Trump administration, of steps made to discourage Alaska Native children from speaking Indigenous languages.

“Your slender hubby is a polar bear.”
FEMA aid paperwork translated

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Thousands Of Alaska Residents

“I can’t even convey the pain behind that sort of symbolism when my mother was beaten for speaking her language in school, like hundreds of thousands of Alaska Natives,” Sweeney said.

Sweeney has asked for a congressional oversight hearing to find out how long and often this method has been used by the administration.

Sweeney’s great-grandfather, Roy Ahmaogak, invented the Inupiaq alphabet more than a half-century ago.

He intended to design the characters so that “our people would learn to read and write to transfer from an oral past to a more tangible written history,” she explained.

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Yup’ik elected to Congress as the first Alaska Native last year, said it was frustrating that FEMA missed the mark with these translations but did not call for hearings.

“I am optimistic that FEMA will continue to make the necessary reforms to ensure that they are ready to serve our residents the next time they are called,” the Democrat added.

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The Damage Was Over $28 Million.

The leftovers of Typhoon Merbok caused devastation as it went around 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) north via the Bering Strait, potentially affecting 21,000 persons. According to Rothenberg, FEMA has given out approximately $6.5 million.

A spokeswoman for the Alaska Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Jeremy Zidek, said that early estimates put the total damage at just over $28 million, but that number is likely to go up as more work is done to assess the damage after the spring thaw.

The poorly translated materials did not cause any delays or problems, but they were just a small part of Zidek’s efforts to help people sign up for FEMA help in person, online, and over the phone.

Gary Holton, a linguistics professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the former director of the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, says that another reason is that many residents are bilingual and can understand an English version, even if English is not their first language.

Central Alaskan Yup’ik is the most spoken Alaska Native language, with more than 10,000 speakers in 68 communities in southwest Alaska. In 17 of the settlements, children learn Yup’ik as their first language. According to the language center, there are around 3,000 Inupiaq speakers in northern Alaska.

The terms and phrases used in the translated texts appear to be drawn from Nikolai Vakhtin’s 2011 edition of “Yupik Eskimo Texts from the 1940s,” according to the language center’s archivist, John DiCandeloro.

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Local Languages Similar Not The Same

The book is a written record of field notes taken by Ekaterina Rubtsova in the 1940s in Russia’s Chukotka Peninsula, across the Bering Strait from Alaska, who interviewed residents about their daily lives and culture for a historical history.

The works were eventually translated and posted on the language center’s website, which Holton used to track down the source of the mistranslated pieces.

According to Holton, many of the local languages are similar but not the same, just as English is related but not the same as French or German.

Holton has spent nearly three decades documenting and revitalizing Alaska Native languages, reviewed the web database and discovered “hit after hit,” phrases taken directly from the Russian book and randomly placed into FEMA documents.

“They just pulled the words from the document and then just arranged them in some random order and gave something that looked like Yup’ik but made no sense,” he added, referring to the result as a “word salad.”

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Hijacked Terms

He found it disrespectful that an outside company hijacked the terms people used to memorialize their life 80 years ago.

“These are people’s grandparents and great-grandparents who are knowledge-keepers, elders, and their words that they wrote down, wanting people to learn from and cherish, have just been bastardized,” Holton added.

Bethel’s KYUK Public Media first reported the mistranslations.

“We make no excuses for erroneous translations, and we profoundly regret any inconvenience this has caused to the local community,” said Caroline Lee, CEO of Accent on Languages, the Berkeley, California-based company that generated the mistranslated documents.

She stated that the company would repay FEMA the $5,116 it was paid for the service and undertake an internal investigation to guarantee that it does not happen again.

Lee did not answer follow-up queries about how the incorrect translations happened.

SOURCE – (AP)

 

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics, Kiara delivers insightful analyses that resonate with tech enthusiasts and casual readers alike. Her articles strike a balance between in-depth coverage and accessibility, making them a go-to resource for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest innovations shaping our digital world.

Celebrity

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

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AP News - VOR News Image

NEW YORK  — James Corden casually held his arms up as if he owned the Metropolitan Museum of Art while strolling through the hallways heading to cocktails. Joking around with Jeff Bezos and his partner Lauren Sánchez, who happened to be strolling behind him, he remarked, pointing to the priceless artwork on the walls. “Let me know if you want me to talk you through any of this.”

Corden, like many celebs, regularly attends the Met Gala; it was all in good humor.

And then there are the novices. No matter how well-known they are in their industry, these guests frequently express awe at the concentration of notoriety around them and some nervousness akin to a child attending a new school.

Consider Stray Kids. The eight members of the K-pop group showed up for their first gala together, each wearing a distinct combination of red, navy, and white that designer Tommy Hilfiger had created. After climbing the magnificent internal staircase to enter the museum, they went to the receiving queue and proceeded to the drink area, where they claimed to have gradually begun to unwind.

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AP News – VOR News Image

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

“At first, we were anxious,” band member Bang Chan admitted. Felix, the bandmate, said, “We had no idea who we would meet or what to expect.” However, they were getting along well and had previously had conversations with Steven Yeun, Chris Hemsworth, and Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons.

The star of “The Bear,” Ayo Edebiri, was also present. She had won numerous honors this year and was attending her first gala. After welcoming hosts Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Hemsworth, and Anna Wintour at the top of the staircase, she appeared to be nearly out of breath.

She exclaimed, “I’m really, really, really excited to be here.” “This is yet another truly lovely thing that I will make an effort to keep in mind.”

The accompanying exhibit for the event was titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” but it wasn’t really about our beloved Princess Aurora. Instead, the goal was to draw attention to and shed light on delicate clothing items from the museum’s collection that were being “awakened” to the public. Nevertheless, the museum fully embraced the fantasy atmosphere.

Guests passed a massive centerpiece that stood 32 feet tall and symbolized a “whimsical tree” as they entered the Great Hall. Over a forest-like undergrowth with twisted branches that resembled the vegetation Sleeping Beauty’s prince had to cut through to give her a genuine love kiss, enormous green fabric flowers began to blossom. Following that, guests were treated to a live string orchestra and a scene that included actors dressed as forest animals playing in tights and tunics.

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AP News – VOR News Image

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

When asked if they would rather see the exhibit or go to the cocktails, most guests opted for the latter. However, a few people attended the event, which was a multi-sensory fashion experience that included touch, smell, sound, and sight. Lena Waithe was “just blown away by the work that I’m seeing” after spending some alone time reviewing the clothing.

Like many others, the actor/producer continued, she finds fashion lighthearted and enjoyable. She remarked, “But then I come here and am reminded that it’s an art form.” She also brought up a comment made by Meryl Streep, who played a role akin to Wintour, to Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada,” regarding how our wardrobe choices are predetermined. Waithe stated, “I think we need to be reminded of that, that people who are long gone influence our style.”

After spending the evening away from childcare, late-night host Meyers, who was at the event with his wife, commented that it was a pleasant respite. He also playfully questioned why his children, who are 2, 6, and 8 years old, weren’t invited. Meyers joked, “I think it’s very rude that Vogue didn’t invite them.” This place is kid-friendly. Additionally, they excel at keeping their hands off objects.

Meyers claimed that meeting “a lot of people that I’m a fan of, or have interviewed on the show,” was his favorite part of the evening. Regarding style, however, he prefers to play things safe, saying that “nobody wants a guy like me taking a big swing.” I remain in my lane.

Because Wintour is such a theater enthusiast, a sizable Broadway contingent typically exists at the Met Gala. Jonathan Groff, who was nominated for a Tony Award for “Merrily We Roll Along,” laughed and joked at this gala with fellow “Glee” alum and “Funny Girl” actor Lea Michele. Michele is expecting her second child and looks stunning in baby blue Rodarte. Groff reminisced about other Met Gala appearances, such as one in which he performed the television series “Hair” and another in which Beyoncé appeared and sang her song “Lemonade,” which had just been released a week prior. That was epic, he recalled.

Her clothing scraped the floor with an equally unique sound as Sánchez and Bezos walked through the display. “You won’t be lost,” Bezos said in jest. Sánchez claimed that when she initially tried on the striking design by Oscar de la Renta’s Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim, she had started crying. The flowing skirt was intended to mimic Tiffany’s glass with pearl and mirror appliques.

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AP News – VOR News Image

Inside The Met Gala: A Fairytale Forest, Woodland Creatures, And Some Starstruck First-Timers

Sánchez said, “Use my dress if you need a mirror.” She continued by saying that she believed the outfit represented life, in which everything is somewhat shattered, and what you do with the parts determines the outcome. She also mentioned trying the dress on for Bezos, crying as she said. “He told me I had never looked so beautiful,” she remarked.

Interesting fact: according to Sánchez, Garcia had informed her he needed to get a part from Amazon in order to mend the outfit.

How do you obtain meals for hundreds of chit-chatting celebs around the museum? The organizers have made several attempts. It was a group of buglers one year. In a different year, Jon Batiste led a band snapping across the audience with his melodica. David Byrne did the honors last year. A massive choir with dancers accompanying them performed original song “Future of Us” on Monday. “To dinner!” was yelled by the performers as a bell sounded. The throng then moved slowly to the Temple of Dendur, where tables with “enchanted candelabras entwined with flower arrangements” maintained the fairytale theme.

SOURCE – (AP)

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Fashion

Elevate Your Style: Unveiling the Timeless Charm of 1930s Mens Fashion

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Elevate Your Style Unveiling the Timeless Charm of 1930s Mens Fashion

Undoubtedly, the 1930s Mens Fashion was the sharpest era for male fashion, with sleek, elegant outfits that oozed style. However, the Great Depression significantly impacted men’s fashion in the 30s, not just cigars and evening wear. The following are some of the most stylish looks of this decade and how you can adapt them to your needs.

With the Wall Street Crash of 1929 leading to the Great Depression, the lack of money could be seen in fashion, as demonstrated in films such as It Happened One Night and Bonnie and Clyde.

For Hollywood and the rich, bigger was better when it came to attire. Double-breasted suits, full-cut trousers, and tuxedos were the standard of what a gentleman should wear in the 1930s.

1930s Mens Fashion: Retro, Gangster, And Hollywood-Esque

It is undeniable that the Great Depression had a substantial impact on men’s fashion. The somber, double-breasted suit of the 30s was a far cry from the flashy style of the roaring 20s.

In spite of the hardships of the time, formal wear made a quick return. However, the availability of newer, cheaper materials made suits more affordable. Sweaters and trousers became more widespread (especially among middle-class families), while useful clothes such as coats became common.

When the economy recovered from the economic crisis, some brighter colors returned to summer fashion once again. Later in the decade, blended and synthetic fabrics made clothing more affordable for many who preferred practicality and comfort over the “all-over-the-place” aesthetic of the 20s.

Highlights Of 1930s Mens Fashion

The Drape Suit

During the 1930s, the classic V-cut suit was very popular due to its imposing silhouette, broad shoulders and long drapes, as well as its softer material that allowed for a great deal of freedom of movement.

Accessories

Due to the popularity of fedoras during the decade, top hats were still sometimes worn on formal occasions. The vibrant colors of the previous decade were replaced with statement pieces, such as wide, colorful neckties. Loafers and brogues were the footwear of choice—fashion choices that are still very popular today.

Here is a look at 1930s Mens Fashion

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1930s mens fashion

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1930s mens fashion

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1930s mens fashion

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George Melly, Soho Jazz Festival, London, 1993.

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1930s mens fashion

During the 1930s, men’s fashion experienced a convergence of style and resilience, navigating the Great Depression with practical yet refined ensembles. In addition to the iconic drape suit, statement accessories like fedoras and wide neckties shaped the era’s aesthetic, combining elegance with flexibility.

Following the onset of economic recovery, a gradual return to color and advances in fabric technology reflected an increasing optimism. There is no doubt that 1930s men’s fashion has left an enduring legacy of sophistication and innovation as a testament to creativity thriving despite adversity.

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Business

Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

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Global - VOR News Image

MEXICO CITY — Cartier, the luxury jewelry brand, is not known for giving out gifts, but in the case of one Mexican guy, they pretty much did.

Rogelio Villarreal was browsing Cartier’s website when he stumbled upon an offer that appeared too good to be true. “I broke out in a cold sweat,” he posted on his X account, previously known as Twitter.

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Ny Post – VOR News Image

Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

Cartier made a mistake and advertised gold-and-diamond earrings for 237 pesos ($14) rather than the exact price of 237,000 pesos ($14,000). Villarreal ordered two sets.

What ensued was months of back-and-forth, during which he claimed Cartier offered him a consolation gift instead of the jewelry, and Mexican officials supported his argument that the corporation should uphold the listed price.

Villarreal eventually received the earrings last week at his price, and he posted a video online of himself unwrapping them. But he quickly grew tired of the public attention, realizing that not all that glitters is gold, and posted on Monday, “Alright already, talk about something else, I’m tired of the earrings being the only thing anyone knows about my personality.”

Villarreal’s case had become a lightning rod online during a particularly polarizing period in Mexico, ahead of the June 2 presidential elections.

Some onlookers chastised Villarreal for taking advantage of what they perceived as a genuine error by the high-end jewelry manufacturer. Some claimed he should return the earrings or pay taxes on them. Some called him a thief.

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Jeb – VOR News Image

Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

Villarreal, a doctor doing his medical residency, claimed he had to fight for months to get the company to deliver and that it offered to give him a bottle of champagne instead.

The corporation did not reply to inquiries for comment.

“I have the worst luck in the world, and I’ve never made any money, and what I do have is because I bought it,” Villarreal posted on social media. However, he could now purchase two $14,000 sets of earrings for only around $28.

He says he gave one of them to his mom.

“It feels great and it’s cool not to be the underdog for once in my life,” Villarreal said.

Profeco’s representative, Jesús Montaño, validated Villarreal’s account of his struggle.

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Ebay – VOR News Image

Luxury Jewelry Maker Cartier Doesn’t Give Stuff Away, But They Pretty Much Did For One Man In Mexico

“He filed a complaint in December,” Montaño explained. “There is a conciliation hearing scheduled for May 3, but the consumer already received his purchase.”

When asked about ethics, Montaño stated that corporations “have to respect the published price.” If an error occurs, “it’s not the consumer’s fault.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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