Monthly Archives: May 2019

Cognitive development: pics and puns!

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Confanity

It’s been a long time since I used this blog to publicly marvel at the kid’s development, but this one’s too good to let pass unremarked-on. In his preschool they’ve been working on drawing, and on writing letters and numerals; … Continue reading →

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A real eye-opener

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Confanity

開眼供養 kai.gen.ku.you Literally: open – eyeball – offer – nurture Alternately: This is the name of a Buddhist ceremony in which the eyes are added to a Buddhist sculpture or image, completing it and investing it with a soul. By … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday – Now you smell it?

Posted on May 28, 2019 by Confanity

Phantasm (Impose Dream; Inception; Hallucination) In contrast to the Painter’s Spell, which crafts an image for all to see, this spell summons a minor daydream and compels it to implant a full sensory experience into the mind of a single … Continue reading →

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How about when elephants fight?

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Confanity

疾風に勁草を知る (Shippuu ni keisou wo shiru; “In strong wind one learns of the strong grasses”) Definition: It is only after personally encountering hardships or trials that one truly understands the character and value of people who have already withstood those … Continue reading →

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A Friday link: The power of (mis)translation

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Confanity

[Here’s the link] One of the blogs I follow is A Book of Creatures, which regularly introduces cryptids (animals that someone has said exist… that probably or definitely don’t in reality) from around the world. Many of these would make … Continue reading →

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Great at everything but dancing

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Confanity

八面六臂 hachi.men.ro-.ppi Literally: eight – face – six – elbow Alternately: Active in a variety of areas, usually with incredible energy and results. One person doing the work of several. As productive as if having eight heads and six arms. … Continue reading →

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Method & Moil

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Confanity

Method & Moil – a Lasers & Feelings hack (I found L&F a while back, read through it once, thought it was cool, and then let it lapse as a PDF stored somewhere on my computer for several months. Then … Continue reading →

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I met a traveller from an antique land

Posted on May 19, 2019 by Confanity

朝顔の花一時 (Asagao no hana hitotoki; “The morning glory flower, a single moment”) Definition: Something’s peak or prime only lasts for a short time. Decline and entropy are all too easy. Like the morning glory flower that blooms at dawn and … Continue reading →

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Zen and the art of shining a footlight

Posted on May 15, 2019 by Confanity

脚下照顧 kya-.kka.shou.ko Literally: leg – below – illuminate – look back Alternately: Make time to look within. More literally, “make sure to look carefully under your own feet.” 照顧 is a Zen Buddhist term for consideration, reflection, introspection. This is … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday – God-eaters – The Sun-Rider

Posted on May 13, 2019 by Confanity

The Sun-Rider (The Hero; White Bull Rider) Description: Legend has it that the sun, an iridescent bull elephant of monstrous size, once roamed across the heavens at whim. This wreaked havoc on the land and seas below. The other gods … Continue reading →

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