Japan loves mascots. I suspect that it might be Disney where the phenomenon started, but I have nothing to back that up. The only places that I see mascots where I’m from, Boston, Mass., is for sports teams and Disney. You take pictures with the mascot because you want to remember your association with the…
Book Review – Claws of the Cat By Susan Spann About six months back, I joined the Japan Writers Conference, an annual event that attracts a lot of academics, intellectuals, and amazingly creative people. They also let anyone join, and it’s free, so that explains why they let me in. There, I had the pleasure…
Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging by Sebastian Junger Tribe is about how disconnected people people feel. How disconnected we are from society. The book suggests that people are happier– and saner– if we live in close knit groups. The examples that stand out are PTSD sufferers. Junger suggests that if veterans (in this case) felt…
The pressure is on. Now that I’m 1kyu, I’m worried I can keep the same level of quality. The below ain’t bad but is it 1kyu ? Same here for 3kyu in kanji.
You can now buy the anthology, or pre-order it anyway. You know, the one with my story in it? First off, if you didn’t hear me the first time, thank you to those who supported me. A little over a year ago, I wrote a short story and shared it with good friends. I also…
I’m starting to think that I should have taken these leveling tests a long time ago. The monthly grind is good, but progress is gradual. Then I take this test and Bam! 2 levels, or 3. Kana has been my strong suit all along, much to my surprise, and this time is no exception. I…
Book Review -The Atrocity Files by Charles Stross To Begin – Non-Review Navel Gazing I’m late to the party, but I don’t let that bother me. I’m reading fiction from the 70’s and loving it. So it should come as no surprise to me that I am behind the curve on a lot of fiction.…
I just submitted some kana for a level up test. This is the first time that I get to choose what to write, how to write it, and how to arrange it on a page. It was like trying to play improvisational jazz after two piano lessons. I was paralyzed. I finally struggled through and…
If you want to be a beta-reader, please send me an email or leave me a comment and I’ll share the rest of the story. — On the kitchen table was a dull gray arthropod the size of a mature Pit Bull Terrier. “Ginny Murphy,” I said. “Get here right now and apply this strip…
Book Review The Collapsing Empire By John Scalzi I don’t often buy books in their pub date. I make only a few exceptions. Scalzi books are often in the exception category. I am, I think, genetically predisposed to liking Scalzi, much like I am genetically predisposed to high blood pressure, kidney disease, and diabetes. I…
I haven’t written about how Japan is weird for a while. My experience last week was one of the better ones. I’d just finished doing my taxes, an ordeal that no human should be subjected to in any country in any language. I’d expected to be done around mid-morning. But the line– which curved and…
Kanji for Feb, a little better than usual. Still struggling, but at least it’s balanced. Kana is still about right. No leveling here, but solid stuff, imho.
