So, the flavor of the moment in the US is pomegranate. It's added to all manner of juices, teas, sauces, and so on. I now hate this ( Read more... )

I've become aware that a critical assumption I made about my inherent readiness for this exam back in September was badly, badly wrong, and caused me to greatly overestimate my own knowledge of Japanese ( Read more... )

Studies for JLPT had gone poorly this week. I showed The Maternal Unit an embarrassingly bad score from my last study session (I was very tired at the time, but still. Ian, if you're reading this, remember that last embarrassingly bad score I told you about? Reduce it by half. I miscounted the number of problems). She said to me in response: " ( Read more... )

"I used to think my teeth were white until I used NoxzemaI went to the dentist last week. I have a fairly good relationship with my dentist, who keeps telling me that I have terrific teeth, except that they're so stained from tea and coffee, and could I please floss them occasionally? Actually, last week she dropped the "please", and has begun ( Read more... )

There is nothing quite like trying to write a résumé in a foreign language (especially a language you don't wield with any kind of fluency) to make you feel inadequate.

First, some background for those of you not familiar: a brief description of what a 401(k) is.

As promised, Mitsu, here is some advice about finances. I think it's actually a fairly sound principle.

I have a tall candle in my bathroom right now. I was reaching over it, and it flared, singing a little bit of the hair on my arm. It doesn't hurt; it just smells like burning. Not the best of smells to go out of the house with.

In other news, it's cool, dry, sunny, and breezy today. What a day to go out of the house!

Typically, twice a year, I get a sinus infection, once in the spring, and once in the autumn. Following that sinus infection, I typically get A Cough, which typically lasts a month or so, maybe longer. This autumn seemed no different ( Read more... )

I have a couple issues that are bothering me right now. They're nothing new; they've been problems for years, and every so often, they begin bothering me again, and I flip out one way or another. I've either been depressed or spectacularly angry for the entirety of the last several days. When you also figure in that I'm trying not to freak out ( Read more... )

This week's vídeo comes from Haesung, sort of. Several years ago, when we were still in Sendai, she gave me a bunch of Korean music. This was one of my favorites, from the rock band 지우림 Jaurim (紫雨林 "Purple Rainforest"), called "미안해 널 미워해" "Mianhae neol Miweohae", from their second album 연인 Yeon-in (恋人 "Lover[s]"):

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The lead singer is beautiful and ( Read more... )