turning japanese

I went looking for the books recommended to me in comments to my post yesterday about learning Japanese. I couldn't find any of those titles (no surprise), but I did find this: Japanese in Mangaland by Marc Bernabe, who apparently used to do a column on learning the language in a now-defunct anime magazine. Yay! It's interesting and practical, always nice things in an instructional book.

In lieu of anything terribly productive, I did download about a hundred jpop and jrock songs. Most Japanese rock confounds me...do boys listen to this, too? Because it's awfully metally, yet the musicians dress up in ballgowns and look like really elaborate, tacky shelf-dolls (you know, the kind you can't play with). I must admit, though, I do have a tiny crush on Gackt: his name sounds like a cat coughing up a furball, he's pretty like a girl, and there are pictures of him rolling around nude with his equally-pretty bandmates. Oh, and he can sing, even though it's all overproduced and bombastic.

The last time I paid attention to Japanese music, it was all idol singers and twee-ness, but now it's rampant with pretty, pretty boys comporting themselves gaily. With gayness. Whatever. There's much good to be found, is what I'm getting at.

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FWIW, I am working on art and betas for those I've promised them to.

fic rec: Seedy (NC-47 or so...)

Yay! My birthday story is done! rhiannonhero actually completed/posted during her blogathon, but now it's posted for any and all to see, not just donators. Plus, there's an epilogue ;)

Nearly solid porn, with a jealous and possessive (and thus amusing) Clark and a snarky, dirty-little-bottom-boy Lex, and you should really go read it if you haven't already:

Seedy