Monthly Archives: October 2019

What you don’t know CAN kill you

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Confanity

夏虫疑氷 ka.chuu.gi.hyou Literally: summer – insect – doubt – ice Alternately: A person of extremely limited experience, knowledge, and discernment. Someone ignorant, doubtful, or distrustful of everything that falls outside of their own (meager) personal experience. Like an insect that … Continue reading →

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Everyone knows they prefer accordions

Posted on October 27, 2019 by Confanity

牛に対して琴を弾ず (Ushi ni tai shite koto wo danzu; “Playing a koto for a cow”) Definition: No matter what you say to a fool, your words are wasted. Even the most moving stories or the most edifying sermon, or the most … Continue reading →

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Power is small things in large numbers

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Confanity

一粒万倍 ichi.ryuu.man.bai Literally: one – particle – ten thousand – times (as in multiplication) Alternately: From something tiny, a huge profit. By extension, an admonition not to look down on small or simple things, because even the most humble appearance … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: AI Magic 8

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Confanity

Week 8: Mrs. McCave’s Spellbook Looking over the list of spell names we’re working from, we see that the only ones remaining are a little difficult to parse at first. Sometimes life gives you nonsense, and you’ve just got to … Continue reading →

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From a land before credit?

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Confanity

(Actually, tools allowing you to use money that you don’t actually possess have existed in Japan for centuries. A quick search turned up one source* saying that multiple such systems have existed since at least the Muromachi period. And now … Continue reading →

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An open heart in your pocket

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Confanity

虚心坦懐 kyo.shin.tan.kai Literally: empty – heart/mind – wide/level – pocket/heart Alternately: Open-minded and open-hearted. Without any bias, hangups, or pent-up bad feelings. Notes: In this compound of compounds, 虚心 refers to a lack of prejudice or preconception, while 坦懐 is … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: AI Magic 7

Posted on October 14, 2019 by Confanity

Week 7: The Weird Stuff We’re getting deeper into the weeds, now. Clinging Blade You enchant a flat metal object – such as a sword – so that it adheres to whatever you touch it to, or releases again, at … Continue reading →

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Hot air, cold air

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Confanity

物言えば唇寒し秋の風 (Mono ieba kuchibiru samushi aki no kaze; “When you say something, then your lips will feel the chill of an autumn wind”) Definition: Being nasty will only make you feel bad later; shooting off your mouth invites disaster. Needlessly … Continue reading →

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Sorry about all the words

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Confanity

暴言多罪 bou.gen.ta.zai Literally: violence – word – many – guilt/sin/crime Alternately: This is a polite, formulaic phrase to use at the close of a letter, apologizing to the recipient for being overlong, going too far with its content, or anything … Continue reading →

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Magic Monday: AI Magic 6

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Confanity

Week 6: Offensive Magic What do angry witches and wizards do? Curse people! This week we’re looking at a series of spells that are likely to give somebody a really bad day. Cursing Wink You inflict an obsession on your … Continue reading →

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