I can’t go on watching Last Friends

Ummmmm… about Last Friends… I, err, got to thinking eh, and I realized that err, maybe I’m not quite thaaaat desperate to learn Japanese just yet? Like, it’s not supposed to be torture, right? There’s a glimmer of a good idea behind the how, but the actors just can’t get the job done. I’m talking the main two, the Michiru actress and the Sousuke guy. That Nagasawa girl has only 3 expressions: happy bunny, sad bunny and confused bunny. Pathetic. As for Sousuke, he’d be okay if he’d just keep his bloody mouth shut. He makes a decent creepy-abuser guy (though story-wise it was stupid to have his character come out in full-swing right at the start but whatever) but as soon as he opens his mouth he just blows it all way.

So, I’m not going to suffer through any more of this show. 3 episodes is more than enough. For now I’m just going to rip the audio from each episode – waste not, want not – and listen to it or something. And I’ll skip over all the domestic violence bits because they’re dumb and unnecessarily overwrought. The writers should have watched more Lifetime TV or something, they’ll show you how it’s really done (just kidding). At least then they would have had the decency to attempt to explain why Michiru puts up with Sousuke’s nonsense, and no, “her father was a drunk” doesn’t cut it. I mean, the two of them are already dating when the show starts so we have no idea how they met, or what she sees in him or anything. BS. It’s like the writers opened up a manual which said “abusers behave like this” “abused people behave like this” and so they went with it and expect the watchers to play along.

Alright then, so Michiru is stupid (she certainly looks it), fine, but is her stupidity infectious or something? I mean, why would Ruka and Takeru of all people cover up for Sousuke as well? “Oh it’s nothing, nothing happened here,” when both of them are lying on the floor with Takeru standing over them with a chair? They only just met him that day, why make up lies to cover for him? BULLSHIT. Thanks for reminding me why I avoid j-dramas, Last Friends!

Next up… I need a cleansing break. I managed to get a fairly decent cam of Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. It’s been a while since I watched a cam anyway, lol. I’m almost hoping someone will get up and walk across the screen halfway through, hehe.

J-drama

It occurred to me recently that perhaps I was giving Japanese dramas a bad rap. That I wasn’t giving them enough of a chance, just because stuff like Tokyo Love Story was dry and wooden and terribly, terribly acted doesn’t mean all j-dramas are equally terrible. I mean, Oshin was good (bloody good), Sensitive Samurai was good too. Who knows, I might chance upon something else I liked.

That’s what I was thinking when I started downloading j-dramas from the fansubbing group JPSEEK. If you’ve ever been to their site, you’ll know they sub stuff…in Chinese. Which I speak very little of. I can’t even find my way around their website; I have to use Tokyotosho. Why get the Chinese subs and not just raws, you ask? Simple, because raws are HUEG LIEK XBOX. Even English subs average about 400mb per episode, as against around 250mb for jpseek subs. I don’t have the internet speed for that, I average about 20kb/s IF I’m lucky, so huge files are a luxury I don’t have. Plus I’m only going to delete them when I done, so no need for super-high quality or anything.

And so, with that established, I started with Last Friends. I consciously stayed away from any reviews/previews/summaries. In fact I didn’t even know what the series was about, and I liked it that way. So with one episode out of the way… it’s pretty bad. Yah, cheesy, pretentious, overly melodramatic, badly-acted… pretty, though. I think I could get through this. I think I’ve built up some immunity over the years by forcing myself to sit through crappy anime like Shuffle!, Maburaho and School Days (guilty pleasure, but I couldn’t do it again), and if I can watch those then Last Friends should be a breeze, right? The actors are plastic enough that I can pretend they’re just anime characters anyway. But seriously, what is it with j-drama and long, dramatic pauses in the dialogue? It makes things really awkward, if you ask me.

Anyway, a j-drama episode a day on top of my reps, sentences, reading and radio-listening is just what I need to kick my Japanese learning to a new level. It’s been 10 weeks since I started All Japanese All The Time* and I’m definitely seeing results!

*and over 6 years since I started learning Japanese…

 

Blah blah youtube blah blah

I can never resist a good Terry Pratchett, so I’m cheating a little this week. I’ve been getting into some Japanese novels (一般小説) and light novels but nothing comes close to the power of a good Discworld novel. I’m not too fond of the Watch stories though, give me a good Rincewind book any day. Or Small Gods. I could read that book 10000 times.

Studying is going well this week, cheating aside. I hit upon the idea of reading online Japanese reviews of my favorite games. There’s nothing I love more in the world than a well-written bad review, especially of games I love, so I’m in good company there. I was hoping for more trollsome posts, but we’ll take what we can get. So anyway I’ve been getting loads and loads of sentences out of those reviews, sentences written by and for ordinary Japanese.

Re: Youtube project, I’ve dled tons and tons of videos but I haven’t watched a single one yet. Watching stuff is WORK! Here’s a long list of the stuff I’ve gotten so far. I don’t know what link corresponds to what file though. I wasn’t being very discriminatory in my downloads, I just grabbed anything that looked like an interview or a 記者会見 and downloaded it. And geez but there are a lot of Gackt files in there. He’s not a bad musician – not good either – but he’s a BORING interview. Tries too hard to look “cool” and “mysterious” and stuff. Be yourself, man! Yah, whatever. Here goes. (Warning: long list is long!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjZ_-Vbp6lk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wlES8gJxB0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WYI-Ep8xko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhocyPK-PEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD-ckg79uxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F39X2s2e_-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjyLuYOe4h4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg4lRxXeDOg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGFC1jlR4FQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X19VErLFo4M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvd1in_pyQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHvrfgMHIA0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5SPoWHfO2E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx8sCjpdCv4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh9BLNWqoxc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=helr2rsoJHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIVQUV_ercI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc_MDvlz0dU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5yLeD3NCQc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdSmHpprbDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foheQkYGGWM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3MOaT_PJJ8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjUqq4U0c24
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1HSWBe2kgs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deTN0B_-eDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Y69laCq-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJwwaiwf26o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K4IOkaWcCk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicV7jfO9Zw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ37bv_6gaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIow0tf7-H0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1IVkAZFtRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu5Uvbeexb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0KFX4O-PLM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFeRX9x2aoQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1CpSGBUoVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwlGXXuulaE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD-ckg79uxg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9Q6w3Dmats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yIuaLhoDkE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-GwSHUlG0w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEfGlT96b-w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drwe_Ro17Tw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aU8GwUqpBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ppik8bxcM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3XzTChH824
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rFwPywSW_c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw_eiLpnRwY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQpn_CEsJrs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeaDpWKlEKc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FgfvLOWwII
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fvYlqFrHQ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAnQc9yBt5g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ7hi_YWphA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5VK_e5Eqj0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C_S4M2SQJU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml-mm615HKQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iNQmB6EIB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtTLjJaoQqI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klZcTpm714M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3tVMGQ2iF8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfboaX5-Fjs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oBbXFGew8Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV2oxZJLXZw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJMEgcSS-4A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quifJAZhoVE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqXgSTCYpfA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hucwiIoIj8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6r1M8420I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2PEpWvxTMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-eyigVpAUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T55d0jQG2uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiQ2jAyXpNc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL7ndDcKKs0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_U1bbziUpA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXIDQu_ICtc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie-PKLvkzV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv1ggzsPAC0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4-qzJs0zTI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfDWTIVdeRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfDWTIVdeRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rcue0yLYTCc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YB5TYo9be8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eTXLq07_bE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMHZpZSKuaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qT3sPoJkU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLEEvNoJPHY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-MGdsF8sc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d15f_4zDz0o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuvAhtH5cX0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gln3iqZXYPQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF0hdkQz93o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Kk2FzY3Vc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uja220oJZuU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQEACpvFtS4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z5B1wBAB-E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJWv04-G0Hk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_raZzpvxw3E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5CVE2tJd78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DLxOEiCOuw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbclhyZbHMs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-e4ZUB6AY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MyEZSWH_TE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUvpiSFK5C0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcqG78-NII



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUkCJVEiYK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urUD0h8EQLo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqZFXgFF8a0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWSHBbHAu7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4GhYhLehUA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MvutXMj2lg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qevoCLvvw9Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLvio_KsT4o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErDdlOCSJoU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBTLwQIa8Ak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a11a5W2u5KY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZm9hW_qA6A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NInJZJT7NYE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEGfgDU8vaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v2Rfa0C4KU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe6qA32dR2c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFyGpl_nuEs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBWnCQ0LFrY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpfHoDNwULc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKTdm7GUK6o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7naLtYlXbRw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi-haKKIS70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYeinrjNrcE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WciK8AqduVo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQP3mbICJM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwQOSDEAsus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jstj6Y0hXo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=262XQZehvpo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmKtJFVDmaI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJMN6IxBdlw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRSxkSbhtuI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjT2KElC6DA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4WaCkXeDew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcrf5D5X4JU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYgJP1GZ7LA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuvjvvJs4Hc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNHLgacuKYo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0A7sw-Xwd0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbWW3CFAzqg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0RBxuyBrmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yobdbZe4k0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FYHmIEpR_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNi_lttteKw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BauGp7I-Mc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP9GgquB9bk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ktoe1pzAvc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea3lFTC-QuE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLUD5OAATzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFLxyrxPs10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtowHUg_ZTY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlIvXiECoNg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvtdQAyN1Wg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM8QaWrQEJU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch7ppUxcbpE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5VGOOjUI0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scKPGMiXAAM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_Gc4bLBrTo





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TumEhzGRGf4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7daKMnSh_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs22ydQLb-o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG5XE8t7auM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GNCtrAUEw



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00LOBFur_I






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEiHlXp9oYQ


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNbAKQiKvYY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdl4yYi7THo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIyVn2N3Vhs

I don’t know when I’ll get the time to watch all this stuff, but I’ll get round to it someday. And that’s all for today!

Recording Youtube vids

As I said earlier, I’ve been experimenting with programs to save Youtube streams to my computer for future watching. Most of the websites I went to looked rather fishy and/or buggy, so eventually I just went to download.com and got the first sensible-looking program there, the appropriately-titled Youtube Downloader 2.1.6. Works like a charm, it does. And interface is as bland and simple as anything, just the way I like it. You end up with .flv files (Flash Video) which Windows Media Player can play with the right codecs. I don’t remember installing any codecs specifically for flash video, but I guess CCCP comes with them because they play just fine.
For my first experiment I got part 1 and part 2 of The Rock’s anti-Toronto promo, his very best promo in my opinion. He always was better as a heel, anyway. Some things need to be preserved for posterity and not left to the whims of Youtube’s capricious operators. Now I can watch it whenever I want. Like, right now.

More relevant to my Japanese-learning ambitions: interviews with J-pop and J-rock stars. Youtube has a lot of clips from morning programs, Music Station and Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ, so I’m getting lots of those for now. T. M. Revolution~~~~~~~!

And that’s all for today.

Anki

It’s Saturday! And a very important day in my life. Which is why I’m sitting behind my computer blogging about Japanese. …Okay, now I feel silly. Back to the Wii to finish some games.

About Anki though, it’s an SRS system that, unlike Khatzumemo, allows you to upload pictures, sound and other files, not just text. Based on the experiments in this AJATT post, I managed to obtain (ahem) a text-to-speech program called NeoSpeech, and I’ve been using it to convert some of my sentences to spoken Japanese. The results, as might be expected, are extremely wooden in all but a few cases. That doesn’t matter though, because I’m not using the sentences for listening practice. I’m using them for writing practice. I put the sentence – picked out of my usual reps – in Neospeech, put the result in the question portion of Anki, and put the written sentence in the answer portion. My task is to accurately reproduce all the kanji and other portions of the sentence correctly just by listening to the spoken word. It’s pretty challenging, though. I’ll have to try it for a few more days before giving a better verdict, but it has potential as a drilling method.

And that’s all for today.