Slacking on Japanese

I haven’t posted in a while because I haven’t studied Japanese in a while. I read a bit of manga last week and I’ve been keeping up with my SRS reps, but apart from that it’s been English media all week. I could blame it all on the lack of decent coverage of the US elections by the Japanese media, but I’ll just be honest and say I was lazy. Still the week off has given me a bit of fresh perspective …who am I kidding? I took the week off Japanese and now I’m back, end of story.

Mort was good, though. It was the only Discworld book I hadn’t read (apart from the two most recent ones, which I don’t particularly want to read). It made me pretty nostalgic, really. Right now I’m strongly, strongly resisting the temptation to read Small Gods again.

The Fifth Elephant book review

Well “The Fifth Elephant” by Terry Pratchett turned out to be a terrible book as far as Discworld novels go. Among the bad Discworld books it’s slightly above Monstrous Regiment and slightly below Men at Arms, about on par with Night Watch. You know, I don’t think Terry Pratchett has got it any more. Or maybe I’m just too used to him now. Or maybe it’s the Spirit of Japanese, punishing me for daring to stray from the path of immersion.

Anyway, this is a blog about Japanese, not a blog about books (English ones, at that) so let’s get back to the point, which is… GAMES. To be precise, Ar Tonelico 2 and Mana Khemia 2. I should be buying stock in Gust right about now, really. I can hardly wait for the weekend to start so I can sink my teeth into them. Which one should go first? I enjoyed AT more, so maybe I should keep the best for last? Then again why suffer through MK2 when the first Mana Khemia wasn’t really up to scratch? It was made after AT and it had worse graphics, can you believe that? Okay, so it’s settled. Ar Tonelico 2 it is. At least it will keep me occupied (and learning Japanese) until Fire Emblem DS comes out on 7th August.

じゃ、今日はここまで。

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!