OPTIMA Newsletter 38

O P T I M A N E W S L E T T E R O P T I M A N E W S L E T T E R O P T I M A N E W S L E T T E R
E D I T O R I A L
When a newsletter mainly includes “olds” rather
than news – as is bound to happen when it is produced
every few years rather than several times per year –
there is a problem. When we accepted to take charge
of the OPTIMA Secretariat at its new Palermo location
we were well aware of that problem and were determined
to solve it. Once again, finding and implementing
a solution has taken some time, but now we are
there – or so we hope.
The new style OPTIMA Newsletter is a complement
to the OPTIMA Web pages, or if you wish, it is
a consolidated version of recent, relevant contents of
that Web site. It is produced once every year, to be
sent by electronic mail to all Members; it also exists as
a printed version, mainly for the purpose of its permanent
deposit at the libraries of OPTIMA’s Institutional
members, for archival documentation.
You are receiving today your electronic copy of
the first electronic OPTIMA Newsletter, and will continue
to receive that Newsletter in the future. If you
prefer hard copy, we recommend that you just print it
out. Alternatively, you may obtain your printed copy by
writing to the Secretariat, adding 5 € in cash for postage
and printing cost (you may also order it electronically,
using the PayPal system for payment; or you
may subscribe to future hard-copy Newsletters by
adding 5 € to your membership fee).
In addition, you will receive OPTIMA’s news
items in advance, if and when they become available,
also in the form of an e-mail attachment. Note that
these advance news items will not be formatted nor
edited linguistically, as they will be when subsequently
incorporated into the annual consolidated version.
Speaking of language, you may note that all texts
in the present issue are written in English. This is not,
may we stress, a departure from OPTIMA’s basically
bilingual nature. Texts submitted to us in French are
acceptable as before. However, expediency and practical
considerations prevent us from producing bilingual
versions of news items, as was done before. In our
experience, all but every OPTIMA Member has a reading
knowledge of the English language, and for the few
who have not, automatic translation programmes are
now freely available (admittedly, they may still produce
funny results occasionally – have fun!) A non-edited
sample of this paragraph, using Voilà traduction
(http://tr.voila.fr/traduction_voila.php), follows.
En parlant de la langue, vous pouvez noter
que tous les textes dans la présente édition sont
écrits dans l'anglais. Ce n'est pas, pouvons nous
insister, un départ de la nature fondamentalement
bilingue d'OPTIMUMS. Les textes soumis à nous
dans le français sont acceptables comme auparavant.
Pourtant, la convenance et les considérations
pratiques nous empêchent de produire des versions
bilingues d'articles de forum, comme a été fait auparavant.
Dans notre expérience, tous sauf chaque
Membre d'OPTIMUMS ont une connaissance de
lecture de la langue anglaise et pour peu qui n'ont
pas, les programmes de traduction automatisée sont
maintenant librement disponibles (de l'aveu général,
ils peuvent toujours produire des résultats bizarres de
temps à autre – amusez-vous!) Un échantillon nonrévisé
de ce paragraphe, en utilisant Voilà traduction
(http://tr.voila.fr/traduction_voila.php), suit.
We have some wishes and requests of our own
that we want to submit to you.
Input and feedback: We would be most grateful
for receiving your critical opinion and possible suggestions
on the present Newsletter – and future ones.
Also, think of sending us items (announcements, requests,
information) suited for circulation among the
Optima Membership.
Address changes: should your e-mail address
change, please notify the OPTIMA Secretariat
immediately.
Tailoring our services to your needs: The default
option is for OPTIMA Members to receive the
news items and consolidated Newsletter in full, as email
attachments. At your discretion, you may cancel
that service; or, to save mailbox space, you may replace
it by e-mail notification of the corresponding link
to the OPTIMA Web pages. Please instruct.
Palermo, April 2009
Werner Greuter and Gianniantonio Domina
May 2009 OPTIMA Newsletter No. 38 1