void if removed

Void Reborn?

2008-11-01T16:59:00.002+09:00

I spend a bit of time on the old social networking scene these days, running back and forth between friends on facebook and the Japanese mixi. It can be such a pain at times and I wish there was an easier way to keep in touch with everyone. I stumbled upon the idea of having my mixi blogs sent to facebook and vice-versa if it would let me. Unfortunately, the two networks don't seem to like working with each other.

I then came up with another idea of creating a blogger account and have them redirect the news to mixi and facebook... yeah that'll work! I started to create a blogger account and then realized that I already had one from several years back. I went ahead an put in the old address, and lo and behold, void if removed is still there, with all of my 5 or so glorious posts.

So what has been happening since the last blog entry over two and a half years ago? Well, I did indeed get married and then moved back to Australia, where I got a job as a government official, and I work in an official looking office and do official government things. I am still happily married and have been blessed with a baby boy who is now 1 year old and always keeps my wife and I on our toes.

This new blog entry also coincides with National Novel Writing Month, or nanowrimo for short. Nanowrimo starts on the first day of November, until the end of the month, and the aim of it is to bash out a 100,000 word novel by the time it's through. My equally as geeky friend at work wanted to get me into it, but I declined due to the fact that I have so very little time on my hand these days. I also declined taking part in Movember, which also started today. For those of you who don't know, Movember is a month where men do there best impersonations of 70's porn stars and grow really bad moustaches that would make even Tom Selleck proud. It's all in the name of charity for prostate cancer, you see. My reasons for declining is that I'm going to a wedding and may possibly be having a job interview (I forever live in hope that they will offer me that dream job that will get me back to Japan). I did however sponsor my geeky friend for it, so I'm not a complete and utter knob.

Anyway... enough with the rambling. Let's see if this thing works with facebook and mixi.

Is this the rebirth of void if removed?

Ask me again in a month or so.

Void

2006-02-03T16:05:00.002+09:00

Okay, so I lied about the next post coming within four days, but here it is, and the final one at that. I've realised that this whole blogging craze has come along just a little bit too late in my lifespan. I'm sure I would have made a great blog if I was still a media studies student, when I created and hosted, along with my friend, a reasonably popular webpage and had ample time on my hands to contribute to things floating around in cyberspace. I'm sure, I would have been a devout blogger back in the days when I was a spotty high school teenager. I remember the joy I used to get when my ramblings were the most often published in Britian's best, and most childish Amiga magazine of all the time, The One Amiga. (Yes, I was the one who was awarded 'Git of the Month' in the very last issue of the magazine. I've often thought about including it on my resume.)

But as things stand these days, I have a full time job, which, unlike some unfortunate people in the same profession, keeps me busy for the best part of the week. I will be getting married in just over a month, and wedding planning takes up the rest of my time. After the wedding, and when my then wife and I will be living together, I'm sure I'll will have other things to do than to publish the occassional entry on a blog, which neither I, nor anyone else really cares about.

When I started this blog, I had many fantastic ideas floating around that I sure would have turned it into a more interesting read. However, things didn't quite turn out that way, and for that I'm sorry. If anyone happens to stumble across my blog (thank you for the guy who found me by searching for 'Rick Rude', you got my vote), I'd like to invite you to check out the blog of my friend, Crunchy Hamster. His blog is a very interesting read, and how mine should have been. I wonder if I could hack into his account and change all his signatures to mine?... On second thoughts, he may get angry.

Well, that's enough rambling from me. It's time to put this blog to rest for good. Thank you to everyone who read even one word on my blog. Although it probably sounds pretty gay, if any of you are ever feeling down, you've got a friend in me.

Finally, I would like to quote my friends at The One.

'And, er... that's it!'

Microsoft With Zippers

2006-01-25T17:12:00.000+09:00

Being a smug-ass mac user, I can usually sit back and relax, knowing, I don't have to do anything that requires that awful company, Microsoft. But recently, I've been researching where the very few people who stumble upon my site, are coming from. And guess what? The majority of are coming from Microsoft's MSN search engine.

So, I decided to type in 'void if removed' on the MSN search, and lo and behold, my site was the first site that popped up. Take that voidifremoved.com! (Christian rock, don't float my boat - pussies!) Microsoft just earned a point of respect from me.

Anyway, I promise a real update somewhere in the next 4 days.

Shoes With Zippers

2005-12-06T16:32:00.000+09:00

I kind of feel weird writing this blog right now. I’m heading into unchartered territory, and I’m wondering if it’s actually okay to do it.

You see, I’ve never written a blog entry in any other month except November. Hopefully I can pull it of in December just as well, but in case I break down all of a sudden into a trembling mess and start screaming, ‘Mommy… I’m not really like the other boys, am I?”, balled up in the fetal position, in the corner of the room, you’ll know the reason why.

I actually wanted to update the blog some time last week, but I just didn’t have the time. I was busy studying for the big Japanese Proficiency Exam, and only took time off to watch the latest WWE Summer Slam (which sucked ass, by the way). The Japanese Proficiency exam only happens once a year. This was my second time to take part in it. I studied and passed Level 3 way back in 2002.

For those of you who don’t know, the exam has four levels, and you can take the exam at whatever grade level you choose. Here’s a brief rundown of the four levels.

Level 4 is the easiest. If you pass this level, you will be able communicate in Japanese at a limited capacity. You will be able to say the basic, everyday things that are crucial in your Japanese life, such as, ‘Yes, I can use chopsticks’, and ‘This is a pen’.

If you pass level 3, you have demonstrated that you can communicate in Japanese at an intermediate level. You’ll be able to understand almost everything your Japanese friends and colleagues are saying, as long as you have downed a six-pack of Kirin Namagoshi Nama beforehand. You’ll also be able to complain about the weather whenever the temperature rises above (あつい！) or drops below (さむい！) 24 degrees Celsius, in the true Japanese spirit.

If you pass level 2, then you’re really seriously into studying Japanese. You’ll be able to use Japanese at a semi-advanced level and you’ll only need three Namagoshi’s to understand your Japanese companions. You’ll also realize that that one J-Pop song you’ve been singing every single time you go to karaoke, is actually about a guy who still wets the bed and can’t ‘get it up’ in the morning.

If you pass level 1, then you are Japanese. Either that, or you seriously have no life. You’ll be able to use Japanese at an advanced level and will be able to understand even the tiniest intricacies of Japanese life. You’ll be able to watch Japanese stand-up comedians with your Japanese friends, without a sense of bewilderment. You’ll still think the jokes are crap, but at least you’ll understand what makes it funny to your friends.

This time, I elected to take the level 2 exam, and Sunday was the big day. I’m pretty sure I failed it, but you know what I think? Whoever came up with the questions in that exam, IS AN ASSHOLE!

For example, here’s a question for the listening section. In the test, it was completely in Japanese, but for the sake of our viewers, I shall present it in English.

Q: A man and a woman are talking about their plans. Where are they going to go next?

A: The movies B: The museum C: The coffee shop D: A restaurant

(Dialogue)
WOMAN: I’m so thirsty, I really need a drink. How about going to THE COFFEE SHOP first?
MAN: Okay, let’s go THE COFFEE SHOP.
WOMAN: But if we go to THE COFFEE shop, we’re going to be late for display at THE MUSEUM.
MAN: You’re right, let’s just go to THE MUSEUM.
WOMAN: Are you sure we should go to THE MUSEUM? I think it may be boring for you.
MAN: Maybe you’re right. Well, let’s go to THE MOVIES to see that new drama.
WOMAN: That sounds like a great idea.
MAN: Oh, but it’s opening day today. It’ll be very crowded.
WOMAN: You’re right. Well, are you hungry? Shall we go to A RESTAURANT?
MAN: Sure, let’s go to A RESTAURANT.
<2 second pause>
MAN: Actually, I’m only in the mood for something sweet. How about one of those delicious cakes at THE COFFEE SHOP?
WOMAN: That sounds great! But I just remembered, it’s Wednesday, and THE COFFEE SHOP isn’t open on Wednesdays.
MAN: Hey look, there’s a poster for that movie we saw on our very first date. It’s playing at THE MOVIES in Shinjuku.
WOMAN: That’s perfect! Let’s go to THE MOVIES!
<5 second pause>
MAN: Oh look, the movie theater has been torn down, and been replaced by a COFFEE SHOP…

And it keeps on going on, and on, and on. At the end of the question, you don’t even care where those two indecisive morons agree to go. There’s only one place where they should be going, along with the person who came up with that crap dialogue, and that’s STRAIGHT TO HELL!

Right then, I’ll just go back to playing Soul Caliber 3. Have a nice day!

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2005-11-24T21:02:00.000+09:00

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The Missing Year

2005-11-20T12:52:00.000+09:00

Erm... hello...

It seems that it's been a year since I last updated this blog. Maybe it's best to give this thing another shot.

For those who are interested in what has happened in the previous year, I moved house, changed schools, got engaged and spent many tumultuous months, trying to convince my girlfriend's father to approve of the marriage, which he finally did. I'm sure it all would have made some interesting reading, but as they say in the bible, 'That's in the past, so stop your bitching, before I put a cap in your ass, punk.' Or something like that...

On a more serious note, one of my favorite professional wrestlers, Eddie Guerrero, passed away this week from apparent heart failure. Many people have put it down to the years of abuse he inflicted on his body in the past. See kids, there's a lesson to be learned here. That mullet will kill you in the end.

Well Eddie, now you join some of the other great wrestlers such as Andre the Giant, The British Bulldog, Mister Perfect and, erm... Ravishing Rick Rude, in the big colloseum in the sky. Come to think of it... that gives me an idea. Stay tuned to this space!

Viva La Rasa!

Boys Will Be Boys

2004-11-20T23:34:00.000+09:00

Next week marks the start of final exams for the second trimester at my school. Don’t ask me why, because there’s still an entire month to go until the trimester actually ends. This means that most of my lessons this week are cancelled in an effort to finish the boring grammar points in the book that were skipped over when the kids were ‘having fun’ with me.

I have been keeping myself busy by teaching at my local kindergartens, and replying to my junior high school student’s notebooks. I gave my each of my 3rd grade students a notebook, in which they are supposed to write to me as often as they like, and then I reply back. Usually the entries follow among the same lines, concerned with studies and crucial high school entrance exams. However, sometimes they can be quite interesting indeed.

This is an excerpt from one of my students who visited Australia last year.

“When I went to Australia, I saw all Australian boy is good. They have tall nose, bule eyes, blonde hair and very tall! There aren’t boys like Australian boys in Japan.

When I was sitting, he bring juice to me. When I rode a car and get off a car, he open the door for me. When I was walking, he moved on road side. I was in princess mood. I want Japanese boys to learn after the example of Australian boys.”

Could it have been possible that she went back in time and met me as a 14 year old?

The Lonely Sardine

2004-11-17T16:52:00.000+09:00

I’m sure you’ve all seen the images of Japan’s crowded subways during rush hour. People are pressed up against each other by professional ‘sardine packers’ until the train can hold no more. I too have had the pleasure of experiencing this on a number of occasions.

Thankfully, it’s not always like that. Quite often only a few people are left standing on the train or there are even some empty seats.

I rode the train to Ueno last night to celebrate the six month anniversary between my girlfriend and I (well, I didn’t ride the train to mark the occasion. I rode the train to get to the restaurant in Ueno, where we celebrated). I sat down next to a harmless looking older lady and made sure that there was more than ample room for a person to take the remaining seat on the carriage, next to me.

People continued to board the train, but no one would sit down. This went on for four more stops. Was there something in particular that was wrong with me? I’m sure even the guy in the other carriage, with the urine stained pants and a claw for a hand had someone next to him.

The fact is, most often than not, the seat next to me is the last one to be filled. This doesn’t really bother me. It’s nice to have a little extra legroom, and I can almost understand no one wanting to sit next to a 20-something foreigner (I’ve met my fair share of morons in Japan who fall into that category). However, it is pleasing to note that when someone does eventually sit next to me, it’s often a person from a younger generation whom seems to be more used to our kind (blonde hair, high nose). I can picture a future where a line of sardines, of all different colours are sitting in a row, riding the train and avoiding eye contact with all the other commuters in blissful harmony.

Just What The World Needs - Another Blog

2004-11-16T11:23:00.000+09:00

Hello, and welcome to Void if Removed. After following the advise from a couple of good friends, I decided to join the blog revolution and start my own… umm, blog.

There are a couple of reasons for me doing this. The main reason is that I need to start writing again.

I’ve spent the previous three years living in Japan. Most of you know that Japan is a country in which English is not a native language. Although I am happy to be gradually progressing my Japanese language skills as the time goes on, it is a little concerning that my English skills tend to be heading in the opposite direction. If you also take into account the fact that American English is taught in Japanese schools, and I am a teacher in a Japanese school, then… well, whichever way you look at it, it all adds up to a decline in my English.

I remember a time when I had a strong passion for writing, but since leaving my homeland, I’ve either not had the time, or have had other things on my mind to do anything about it. This is an opportunity for me to brush up on my English skills, and rediscover my passion for writing.

I don’t really expect many people to read these messages that will be posted here. For now, I’ll just tell my friends and family members about the site. Perhaps it will provide a little more information about my life in Japan, and why the hell am I still here. I’m notoriously bad when it comes to getting in touch with everyone back in Australia (and around the world), so hopefully this will make up for it a little. Feel free to drop me a message and tell me what you think of the blog.

I’m planning on updating this as often as I can. That probably means there’s going to almost daily updates during the first week or so of operation, then gradually declining as I lose interest, to the eventual posting of ‘still here, still doing the same job, check back in a month’. But who knows, maybe I’ll even stick with it this time?

Please bear with me and I’ll try to make this thing look a little prettier. But for now, thanks for coming. Have a Nice Day! ^_^