For Those Who Find Technical Documentation Hard to Follow...

The CIWI list recently posted the Prof. Stephen Hawking recent speech at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 

New International Tech Writing List - It's Very Good

A new list called TCP broke off from Techwr-l and is well worth checking out!

Article by David Farbey (former Israeli TW) posted by the British Computer Society

The British Computer Society (BCS), just posted David Farbey's article on the need for techwriters call User's Guide? What User's Guide?.

Freelancing in Israel - Is it Worth the Trouble?

There is an interesting discussion on Techshoret as to whether it is better to register with the tax authorities as a sole proprieter or find an alternate route to work through an agency. Start of Thread...

Tax-Deductable Keren Hishtalmut (Ed. Fund)

There is an interesting an informative discussion on Education Funds on Techshoret. Start of Thread...

Hiring and Web Postings

There is a very interesting thread on Techwr-l entitled Hiring Managers Reject More than Half of Candidates Based on Web Postings. Start of Thread...

Copyright - Read the Comics

If you want to know more about copyright and fair use (at least in the US), try reading the online comic book put out by The Center for the Study of the Public Domain at Duke University at http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/zoomcomic.html. 

In-house Salary Update Released along with Rate Survey Results

Links to the Oct. 19 Update and to the unpublished Rate Survey were added to the Salary Survey Results page. Basic information on standard employee benefits in Israel was also added to the end of the Salary Results page.

Having Difficulty With a New Boss?

This is the topic of a current thread on Techwr-l entitled Question on Working With a New Documentation Supervisor. Start of Thread...

Where Art and Typography Meet

For all of those tech writers who think tweaking fonts and spaces is an art form - read this.

Data Storage and Backup Solution for Pennies not $s

Matt Jadud describes where you can store and recover large amounts of data over the Internet, and pay only for the space you use. It sounds like a great solution for a freelance Tech Writer that doesn't require you to buy or take with you additional hardware. Link to article...

Tech Writing Humor

Apparently Mumpy isn't alone - Katriel Reichman just announced a Lighter Side of Tech Docs page on the M Method site that is worth checking out.

Using Word as a Professional Tool

A recent thread on Techwr-l began with complaints about MS Word and developed into a discussion of how to use it as a professional tool - worth reading. Start of thread...

Record Turnout for Online Communication and Tech Pubs Competition

According to David Schor, there was a record response this year with 14 separate entries - 8 in the Online Communications Competition, 6 in the Technical Publications Competition. More...

Portfolios and Examples

Another thread that should be of interest to all freelancers is a discussion on Portfolios and Examples. Start of Thread...

Two New Mailing Lists for Marcom and Copywriters in Israel

COandPI (Copyeditors and Proofreaders in Israel) for freelance copyeditors and proofreaders was started by Shirley Zauer at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/COandPI/, and Israel Marcom was started by P. Hyams at http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/marcomisrael/ .

Who is the Boss of the Documentation Manager?

David Schor recently conducted an informal survey of who Documentation Managers in Israel report to and reported his results on Techshoret.

Who Needs a Technical Writer?

Having the wrong person write your technical documents cost money. For more information ...

Writer in Defense Industry Would Rather be Unemployed

One of northern Israel's technical writers would be Happiest Unemployed Tech Writer if only there wasn't a need for his job in the defense industry.

What You Don't Know Can Hurt You!

What you don't know can hurt you!  The Salary Survey form (employees) and Rate Survey form (contractors/subcontractors) now let you sign up for a survey results mailing list.

Pictures from the 2nd Annual Tech Writers Picnic

This year tech writers came with their families from Metulla in the North to Jerusalem in the South. You can see a few pictures on the 2006 Events page. I hope to have more later.

Additional News Media Caught Publishing Falsified Photos

As articles on Reuters doctored photos reach the international media, Internet bloggers continue to uncover similar unethical actions in other news sources, including AP, New York Times, US News and World Report. More details...

The scandal began with Reuters being caught distributing a photo of Beirut in the wake of an airstrike that had been doctored using graphic editing software. Details and more links...

From Swords to Plowshares - Life in Metulla

David Williamson, a technical writer living and working in Metulla at the Northern most point in Israel, shares his reflections on the current hostilities in Reflections from Metulla - from Swords to Plowshares.