General Questions Thread

[Frenchie]

Entirely depends on how much time you've got on your hands. You won't know unless you try and every minute you go by not typing up your story is a minute wasted.

I've subscribed to the competition but I've only got three chapters done.

National Novel Writing Month is supposed to be freestyle, with very little planning going on. It's supposed to spur creativity above all else. If you think you won't run dry on creativity during those five days and you devote all your time to it...

Why not?

[Sumeragi]

Why not? Writing is supposed to be your soul, so why not show it?

[LeoXiao]

It depends on whether or not you have some good ideas at the moment. If not you'll just suffer writers block for the next five days. But it you do have a sudden gush of insight/motivation right now, then I'd take a shot at it. There's nothing worse than wasted initiative.

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

Question about Japan politics (i avoid the word "political culture" because mod may shift my post into culture thread D: )

But it does belong there, really, since this is essentially a question of cultural attitudes towards politicians.

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

I mean probably (actually definitely) some of us would consider that politics are quite dirty business with politicians are lying bastards that can't wait to vote on which sheep gonna be for dinner. But what's about Japan's general public opinion on politics?

It's probably not very different from that of people in most other countries: Indifference at best, disgust and extreme cynicism at worst.

Politicians in Japan generally have a very cushy job. The real work of governing is actually done by the civil servants, with the politician being no more than a glorified rubber stamp. For the most part, it seems, the politicians pander to various business interests in his constituency, a development that contributed directly to the "concretisation" of much of Japan's natural environment with wasteful public works. In short, Japanese pork-barrel politics at times make the American version look like child's play. The American politician at least faced the real prospect of being booted out of office — Japanese politicians, especially those of the LDP over most of the past 50 years, could typically count on staying in office until they deigned to step down.

So... given such realities, how do you think ordinary Japanese would regard their politicians, notwithstanding the recent farcical state of affairs in Tokyo?

Still, like in any other country, much will probably depend on who exactly you ask. From what I recall, rural Japanese have overwhelmingly disproportionate voting power versus those who live in urban areas. That makes it important for political parties to treat them very well, in order to secure power. So, I wouldn't be surprised to find farming communities and small businesses to be generally more supportive of their local politicians.

[Almazluverdis3]

This is dumb, but I need to ask. I'm learning Norwegian via cell phone dictionary (Nokia N72, to be exact), but there aren't any curse words. Can anyone list some for me? No, I'm not a troll.

[SaintessHeart]

Go ahead and write. I once wrote a 5000 page report in 2 and a half hours (last minute work of course) but still got an A.

I would say you would definitely write better under pressure.

[roriconfan]

The purpose of nanowrimo is not to write something of quality but something of quantity. Bring out the random thoughts and you will fill books with them.

[bhl88]

Is there any flexible region free BD player that can play anything other than Momitsu BDP-899?

[Arbitres]

Is it really possible to rip someone's heart out while it's still beating or is that just a myth/exaggeration/so such?

[MeoTwister5]

Originally Posted by Arbitres

Is it really possible to rip someone's heart out while it's still beating or is that just a myth/exaggeration/so such?

If you can rip through the sternum with your bare hands as well, then in theory yes.

[Tsuyoshi]

Originally Posted by Arbitres

Is it really possible to rip someone's heart out while it's still beating or is that just a myth/exaggeration/so such?

I think there was a certain ancient society (either the Incas or the Mayans) who had an execution ritual to actually rip out someone's heart while they were still alive so yes, I believe it possible. My teacher said you can live up to three seconds after your heart is ripped out.......

[Arbitres]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

If you can rip through the sternum with your bare hands as well, then in theory yes.

Originally Posted by Tsuyoshi

I think there was a certain ancient society (either the Incas or the Mayans) who had an execution ritual to actually rip out someone's heart while they were still alive so yes, I believe it possible. My teacher said you can live up to three seconds after your heart is ripped out.......

Thanks guys. I get these rather bloody questions every now and again. Sounds a bit mean? It's actually because I find stuff like that interesting. Like cutting arteries, removing brains, ripping beating hearts out... etcetera.

Oh, and by the way Tsu-Tsu, it was the Mayans that practiced heart-ripping. Can't remember anything about the Incas though.

And Meotwister, I am no specialist in medical or biological knowledge, and my school.... Er, let's avoid that. I'm just curious how strong the Sternum is?

[Tsuyoshi]

Originally Posted by Arbitres

Oh, and by the way Tsu-Tsu, it was the Mayans that practiced heart-ripping. Can't remember anything about the Incas though.

I knew it was either or, just not sure which one I remember it vaguely when my music teacher in Saudi was telling us about different cultures and how music defined them and it went on to some of their traditions

[MeoTwister5]

The sternum has been known to stop even low caliber bullets, knives and stuff. It's actually one of the strongest bones in the body. Those who claim to rip people's hearts out are at most doing it by going through the cartilages attached to the side of the sternum, which is considerably weaker than bone.

Unless of course you're an old lady with osteoporosis, you're unlikely to literally rip through the sternum.

[King Lycan]

Anybody know what song this is ?

[Crazy Aido]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

The sternum has been known to stop even low caliber bullets, knives and stuff. It's actually one of the strongest bones in the body. Those who claim to rip people's hearts out are at most doing it by going through the cartilages attached to the side of the sternum, which is considerably weaker than bone.

Unless of course you're an old lady with osteoporosis, you're unlikely to literally rip through the sternum.

The aztecs used to cut the hole in the stomach and reach in up under the ribcage. The densest bone in your body is probably your forhead.

[JRendell]

Originally Posted by King Lycan

Anybody know what song this is ?

Would have been better here, but anyways;

I believe it's a track by Shigeru Kishida. As for the name of the song, I'm a little confused as my Japanese, or, let's be honest my hiragana isn't brilliant.

In the tags is says くるり, which I phonetically translate as 'kururi', however I'm not sure that means anything. However, at 0:32 in the video, you can see the track name on the screen. But, rather than say くるり, I see it as くるゆ, which again doesn't mean much I don't think, seeing as 'kuru' translates as 'come', but the 'yu'?

Edit:

Damn me and my failure. It does say くるり, it's just that the font/strokes made り and ゆ look a little similar and my brain hurt.

Can anyone translate くるり please?

[SaintessHeart]

I have been reading up a little about European history to quell my boredom this week, and I came across an interesting set of swords, one of them is named a Fauchon, another is named a "scramaseax" (Germanic origin).

I looked those stuff up on Wiki but they presented different pictures than those I have seen in the library - the falchion is supposed to be longer, though its shape as a machete is unchanged. The Scram is is supposed to be something like a purely steel Roman Spatha.

Does anyone have more pictures of stuff like this? And how does the shape of steelwork and weaponry evolve into such?

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

I have been reading up a little about European history to quell my boredom this week, and I came across an interesting set of swords, one of them is named a Fauchon, another is named a "scramaseax" (Germanic origin).

I looked those stuff up on Wiki but they presented different pictures than those I have seen in the library - the falchion is supposed to be longer, though its shape as a machete is unchanged.

Going by your description, I believe the "fauchon" you're referring to is actually the "falchion". It's an European adaptation of the Near Eastern scimitar, originating from the time of the Crusades.

[King Lycan]

Originally Posted by JRendell

Would have been better here, but anyways;

I believe it's a track by Shigeru Kishida. As for the name of the song, I'm a little confused as my Japanese, or, let's be honest my hiragana isn't brilliant.

In the tags is says くるり, which I phonetically translate as 'kururi', however I'm not sure that means anything. However, at 0:32 in the video, you can see the track name on the screen. But, rather than say くるり, I see it as くるゆ, which again doesn't mean much I don't think, seeing as 'kuru' translates as 'come', but the 'yu'?

Edit:

Damn me and my failure. It does say くるり, it's just that the font/strokes made り and ゆ look a little similar and my brain hurt.

Can anyone translate くるり please?

Lol thanks