Thoughts on a Tuesday
Things that went through my head as I thought about what to write today:
- I need to install Leopard on my iMac, but I’m debating how exactly I want to go about it. Do I want to delete my current Windows partition and start from scratch with a clean install (easily done, with the little I actually have on the computer), or just update the current installation? I think maybe clean install is the way to go, since I’d have the licensed version of BootCamp running, instead of the old public demo. Hmmm. Also – I know the OS brags about doing this automatically, but should I take the time to make a partition on which to store all of my files? MP3s, photos, videos, etc. Then I could update or wipe or do whatever I wanted to the OS without freaking out about the data. Right. I’m a huge nerd. Moving on.
- Actually, hold that thought – another nerdy thing I need to do is properly configure my AirMac Express so that I have a wireless network at my apartment. Then my iMac, Wii, and DS can all be online at the same time! Yay! Ok, now we’ll move to slightly less geeky stuff.
- Super Mario Galaxy is the best game I’ve played in a long time. Brings back the lazing about on the couch in some afternoon sunlight feeling of so many summers. (Tony Hawk’s Proskater 4 also does that for me, if for no other reason than I played it into the ground with my family for so long. Love it.) I am actually considering moving the TV and Wii into my bedroom so I can play from under my blankets, though. Cause it is freaking cold.
- I am pondering posting one or two old essays from my college courses in a sort of “bonfire of the vanities” kind of post, where I put my shamefully naive old stuff on display for the world to giggle over. (I’ll laugh with you. It’s funny how serious I thought I was.)
- I am very proud of an English student of mine from Imabari Minami High School who won at the regional level to become a prefectural representative at the Tokyo Recitation Contest. She didn’t place, but we’ll be better prepared for next year. It turns out the the Ehime Prefectural judges prefer an animated, emotive speech style, while the judges at the national competition prefer a more sober, adult-like approach to the recitations. Because of the disparity in judging standards (really just subjective preferences related to oration, not to the English itself), the kids are often really confused about what is natural for native English speakers. Also, frequently half-Japanese students enter the contests, which freaks out the other contestants. Some feel that it is completely unfair – but the truth is, those who have lived or studied abroad are completely disqualified from taking part in the meet. Kids who speak English at home have a huge advantage. (I coached a half-Japanese half-Filipino boy this time around as well, and he was knocked out by a judge who told him that his English speaking past was unfair in the competition.) I dunno how I feel about it. But yeah.
- I suddenly got a bunch of emails about the workshop I’m supposed to run in Matsuyama at the Ehime Prefecture Midyear Seminar. I still need to get the ball rolling on it, but with my visitation schedule, I’m going to be visiting my base school to confer with my supervisor / co-presenter after other school visits on other islands. Makes our time rather scant. Then again, I’ve oft been told that I function better under pressure. This should be great!
- Man, it is freaking cold.
That’s about it, I think. Just another Tuesday.
