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Author Archives: Confanity
Four Mamas; Three Ducks
A story. The kid has learned “mama.” What’s more, where at first he just used something like mum-um-um-um-um-um-um as a complaining noise, now he actually uses “mama” as a word to refer to his mother. Sometimes when we’re at home … Continue reading
Posted in Nonfiction
Tagged cognitive development, ducks, magnets, mama, the kid, toddlers
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Jack of no trades, master of one?
I’m typing this up on Thanksgiving, appropriately enough. 無芸大食 mu.gei.tai.shoku Literally: no – art – big – eat Alternately: A person whose only outstanding skill is eating. Someone is lacking in any special skills, but they sure can eat. Notes: … Continue reading
Magic Monday – They found not a heart within the beast
Augury Some variant of this spell exists in every land, in response to humanity’s voracious need for knowledge. The details are not important compared to the process: the magician must enter a meditative state, observe a source of randomness, and … Continue reading
Play it again, Sam – ?
I like this kotowaza so much, I think I’ll post it next week too! 馬鹿の一つ覚え (Baka no hitotsu oboe; “The one thing a fool remembers”) Definition: “He that knows little often repeats it.” A foolish person clings to one thing, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged 馬鹿, fool, one thing, quantum mechanics, repetition, 一つ覚え
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Or, can a dog be French?
Another yojijukugo using the rare “dog” character that we saw last week: 狗子仏性 ku.shi.bu-.sshou Literally: dog – child / (zodiac) rat – Buddha – nature / gender Alternately: “Does a dog have a Buddha nature?” – a classic zen koan. … Continue reading
The Tragedy at Panera
A couple days ago we were changing the kid’s diaper before his midday nap. To express his displeasure over some aspect of the process, he was kicking his legs: raising them up and then bringing them back down with a thump, … Continue reading
Posted in Musing, Nonfiction
Tagged diaper changing, lessons, Panera, the kid, Tragedy
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Magic Monday – A breath of strong air
Breath of Av-Beleren (Blast of Ufbalaran) This peculiar spell is primarily used by the Order to teach novices the art of focus, and a certain breed of practicing wizards judge their fellows by whether they allow the knowledge to languish, … Continue reading
Posted in Rules, Setting, World-Building
Tagged Av-Beleren, Magic Monday, teaching tool, wind
1 Comment
Now I’m caught on the phrase “ear-spoon.”
Counterpoint: 杓子は耳掻きにならず (Shakushi wa mimikaki ni narazu; “A ladle can not be used as an ear-spoon.”) Definition: This saying directly opposes last week’s 大は小を兼ねる. It declares that a larger thing can not necessarily fulfill the role of a smaller one, … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza
Tagged don't overdo it, ear-spoon, 耳掻き, ladle, large small, 杓子
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Thoughts on toddler cognitive development, part 3
A while ago we got the kid a set of rubber balls: one basketball, one soccer ball, and one football; each around the same size as a large grapefruit. He can’t really use them as freely as he’d like, yet; … Continue reading
Posted in Musing, Nonfiction
Tagged abstraction, ball, baooo, cognitive development, Plato, the kid, toddlers
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Is this where I snark about Apple products?
羊頭狗肉 you.tou.ku.niku Literally: sheep – head – dog – meat Alternately: A lack of truth in advertising. Advertising something better than what you’re actually selling. Something seems high-quality, but its actual nature or essence is substandard. Notes: This is another … Continue reading
Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo
Tagged ancient Chinese culture, 狗肉, 羊頭, dog meat, sheep head, truth in advertising
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