Wednesday 30 November 2011

Pfleuger

Apparently, there is a place in Texas called Pfleugerville. Apparently, this is a common name in the area. In my imagination, a Pfleuger is kind of like a smurf, but purple and slightly more insane. Following, is my representation of this mystical creature which populates the southern united states: 

Pfleuger, with ceremonial plunger. 

Does anyone else have any information on this creature? If so, please share!

Friday 18 November 2011

Japan day?

So, apart from kicking around with homework, I spent the day indulging in two of my old vices: Japanese literature, and anime.

Reread some Mishima. This was a book we took in one of my upper year Asian cultural history classes, which was taught by my favourite history professor of all time.

If you can get your hands on this collection of short stories, I'd highly suggest it. Mishima can be a little slow at times, but what he lacks in fast paced action, he makes up for in the unspoken depths of his characters, and in his minute attention to detail. Where Mishima is truly strong, is in his creation of a setting, the way he paints an image, which comes through with vivid clarity even in an English translation.

As for the anime, I imbibed in a rather confusing little number, a series made up of eight "movies" called Kara no Kyoukai. As with most anime I watch these days (yeah, I'm getting too old for it, but I'm also too old for The Princess Bride and I watch that on a biyearly basis, so bite me) I am of mixed feelings. 

Production quality seems high enough. The musical score is quite good, though at times a little disjointed in a way that reflects the plot. The story is told in reverse order, with a series of flashbacks working up to where we began in the first episode.

When I say the plot is disjointed, I am not pointing out a flaw. It is intentionally confusing. The main character is a schizophrenic sociopath with a split personality disorder, and the only people keeping her grounded are a chainsmoking "sorceress" and a very sweet young man named Kokuto. 

I think my biggest bone is with the main character, Shiki, herself. She has an unfortunate habit of wearing a red leather jacket over top of a traditional kimono, and although she is constantly dubbed "beautiful" by the other characters, I'm just not seeing it. She mostly just seems kind of bitchy, especially to poor Kokuto, who is so enamoured with being rejected by her that he came every day for two years to visit her when she was in a coma (all the better to ignore him, I suppose).

Am I being cynical? Probably

(but seriously? you can't tell me that that doesn't look a little dumb) 

Thursday 17 November 2011

Badminton and Good Parenting

Book of Good Parenting #1

Signs your child may need glasses: 



Book of Good Parenting #2

Signs your child may not be athletically inclined: 




. . .and that about sums up my highschool gym experiences ^__^

Sunday 6 November 2011

November 6, 2011


Autumnal chill
breath brittle on my tongue
misting out over 
glasslike still

The lagoon before me

Tread forward
leaves crackling loud as
shards of old china
dusted with frost

At water's edge

I look down
Searching murky depths
for my oldest teacher
met with nothing

The truth

Distant trumpets
sound from heaven
a manic cry
geese heading south