Author Archives: Confanity

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About Confanity

I love the written word more than anything else I've had the chance to work with. I'm back in the States from Japan for grad school, but still studying Japanese with the hope of becoming a translator -- or writer, or even teacher -- as long as it's something language-related.

Test Post

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Confanity

Apparently there was a hiccup in the system and WordPress lost contact with Facebook. This post is just to check and see if I’ve got that straightened out again. Ping!

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A Raven, to a Wren

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Confanity

A Raven, to a Wren Bound about by this city, smog, steel, Brother and sister bird-chicks, blindly dreaming flight under its gray sky-shell Feeling the outer world invisible, closed and open spaces, winds and havens What can we do, as … Continue reading →

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Cool-headed, hot-footed

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Confanity

The winter is upon us! Here’s a helpful tip for weathering it. 頭寒足熱 zu.kan.soku.netsu Literally: head – cold – leg/foot – heat Alternately: Keeping your head cool and your feet warm; a recommended palliative when you have a cold, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

My way *is* the highway

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Confanity

学問に王道無し (Gakumon ni oudou nashi; “There is no royal road in learning”) Definition: There is no easy way, no quick fix or magic bullet, for mastering a field of study. You need to acquire information and mental tools, incorporate them … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A sliding scale of stabbing

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Confanity

Tabletop RPG idea of the day: a system for resolving attacks in combat. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything exactly like it. Background: One standard for making an attack is the attacker rolling dice to overcome a static defense … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules, World-Building | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

There is no say. There is only do.

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Confanity

不言実行 fu.gen.ji-.kkou Literally: [negative] – say – reality/truth – act/conduct/journey/go Alternately: Don’t talk; do. Action over words. Quiet, determined action.

Posted in Japanese, Yojijukugo | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mochiya knows best

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Confanity

Intro: This week’s saying is almost a synonym with last week’s 蛇の道は蛇. 餅は餅屋 (Mochi wa mochiya; “The mochi-maker [knows] mochi”) Definition: For the best mochi, go to a mochi-maker (instead of trying to make your own, or depending on the … Continue reading →

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But, what if you have both a sword AND a pen?

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Confanity

A good, balanced approach to life. 文武両道 bun.bu.ryou.dou Literally: sentence/missive/literature – military/warrior – two/both – road/way/teaching Alternately: Both the military and the literary arts. A person who excels at both athletic endeavors (especially, but limited to, martial arts) and scholarship. … Continue reading →

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Who knows Snake Road?

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Confanity

蛇の道は蛇 (Ja no michi wa hebi; “Snakes [know] the snakes’ road”) Definition: People who belong to a certain group are the ones who know the most about the ways of that group. Specialists understand other specialists in their field better … Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese, Kotowaza | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

A villanelle in a voice

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Confanity

Thea The world is old and hums with power In many voices; I should know I speak for all that comes to flower I came to being in a bower Born of the wild’s ebb and flow The world is … Continue reading →

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