This will be another short post, since I have an announcement to make. Do not worry, I still loveblogging just as much as at the beginning. However, I want to protect myself from growing tired of it. Metaphorically, I do not want to burn my wings too quickly, since my journey has barely started.
Having a schedule, or not having a schedule...
I have decided to stop publishing regularly. Now, what does this mean exactly? It does not mean that you will have content every three months or once a year, it means that picking one or two days within the week to publish an article is no longer functioning for me. It has been killing my motivation, (and inspiration, as a consequence), and I cannot keep putting up with this. I am aware that it is more convenient for you, as readers, to know when I am releasing an article.
Nonetheless, despite this fact, I have to accept that I am as I am, and this solution which works for so many bloggers to get more traffic does not match my profile. My freedom inspires me, and that restriction eats me up from the inside.
I also wish to focus more on YouTube, but making videos is extremely time-consuming. It requires creativity, but also confidence, the mastery of technical programs, and I have a lot of documentation to read since I wish to offer people quality content. I have so much to learn that it frightens me. Although it also is the most beautiful part : without learning, there is no journey. Right ?
My Latest YouTube Videos
If you want to know more about me, my struggles... You can find it all in my most recent video.
https://youtu.be/srKPFRz0S8U
Here is another video I am quite proud of, which will tell you how to manually set up your keyboard :
https://youtu.be/dgRS6mnFxJg
Conclusion
I will keep publishing content weekly, but I want to focus on quality rather than blindly following a schedule. I am not saying I will never go back to publishing regularly, but it is not working out at the moment. If you have not read my latest articles, I had to come back from Italy. This means I had to re-organize myself, especially with the methodology I use to learn Italian. I focused on Italian a lot last week, watching Netflix but also speaking with natives who I met on conversationexchange.com (a website I seriously recommend).
Can you relate with this opinion ? Tell me in the comments:)
We are in for a short post today. Writing my Gentoo Installation Guide has been really time-consuming and, for those of you who are eagerly waiting for its release, let me proudly tell you that it is finished. I still need to proofread it and shoot the YouTube videos for those of you who will prefer following this adventure of mine on YouTube, but it is almost ready to be published. I hope I will be ready by next Monday, but I can at least guarantee it will be out next week.
There also are two TV series I intend to dedicate a post to :
How I Met Your Mother : I drafted up an article today but I am not satisfied with the result yet. Since it is my absolute favorite show, I cannot just settle for okay, it needs to be legendary.
A Game Of Thrones, which is definitely my top 2. Or my second top 1, I will let you choose how you prefer defining it. I have already drafted a quick introduction, but I cannot exactly tell when I will publish it. It will be a surprise, as it always is with me!
To all of you fellow content creators :
if you are struggling, it is okay! It has to rain from time to time for us to appreciate the sunlight.
Today, I would like to speak about my favorite Japanese anime. Since there are quite a few of them, I cannot publish only one single blog post and will certainly have to write a sequel. You will notice they globally belong to similar genres : fantasy, fantastic, science-fiction, and K-On will probably stand out as the only rather realistic exception.
Assassination Classroom
I promised a friend I would watch it several years ago, which I finally did, about two weeks past. This is proof I always honor my promises, although it might exceptionally take some time (but it's not a problem since we all are very forgiving people here, right?). If you have some spare time, this anime is rather long. There are two seasons of more than twenty episodes.
I must say however, that this anime has bested most of all the others I have ever watched. I grew immensely attached to its characters and especially to Koro sensei. As a certified teacher, I loved his pedagogy, his passion, his faith in his students, how he helped them grow, and his ever-unfailing motivation leading him on a daily basis to get them to the top. I do not want to spoil this anime to you, so I will pass on the juicy details and not tell you how it deeply inspired and moved me.
I will however share with you its basic story line. It is about a class of middle-schoolers in Japan which have been assigned the mission of killing their teacher, a monster which has threatened to destroy the planet by the end of the year. This one sentence should suffice to get you to download it or look it up on Netflix and begin watching. Hence I shall say no more.
Sword Art Online (SAO)
This one anime is even longer than Assassination Classroom, but I must mention it. It belongs within my top 5 favorite Japanese anime, hence it deserves a place near the top of this list. If you are wondering, I have not ordered this list with my top 1, 2, 3... No, this merely is an unordered list of anime I enjoyed more than all others (and might have watched several times, like Sword Art Online).
There are three seasons and each one is divided into two arcs. The first two are twenty-four episodes strong (so twelve episodes for the first arc, and another twelve for the second) ; the third season is (astonishingly) much longer, since there are twice twenty-four episodes. This means two things :
Twice the fun.
It seriously drags on. If you have watched it, you must see what I mean.
There also is a movie called Ordinal Scale, which I recommend you watch before the third season, especially if you like respecting chronological orders.
Regarding the story line : It is quite simple, but you are not watching it for the complexity of its plot anyway. It is about a teenager, Kirigaya Kazuto (also known as Kirito), who ends up locked within a Virtual Reality MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) called Aincrad, along with thousands of other people. Together, they have to complete the one hundred floors of the castle of Aincrad. Only then will they be released from the game. They must be careful nonetheless, for dying in the game is lethal in the real world too...
Steins Gate & Steins Gate 0
It appears this article is barely getting started... Alright! The third anime I would advise you to check out is about time travel. It is adapted from a visual novel of the same name which I definitely intend to read (whenever I can make enough time to do it). Some of you people will probably consider me a heretic for watching the anime before reading the book ('visual novel', to be terminologically exact), and you would be right. It is a crime, which I have committed so many times I no longer am ashamed of it.
How is it for you ? Do you absolutely have to read the book first or can a movie make you want to read the book ? Or both ?(Comments below (please)!)
Story line :Okabe Rintarou, a young man seeing himself as a mad scientist accidentally discovers that he can alter the course of time by sending messages into the past. He must then enter a terrible race against time itself and face its complexity in order to save his friend. To win, there only is one way : he must reach another time line, which he himself named the Steins Gate.
Fate
There are manyseasons for that anime. It is also inspired from a visual novel which contains several paths depending on the choices you make, which explains why it has been adapted several times with :
Fate Stay Night
Fate Zero
Fate Unlimited Blade Works
Fate Heavens Feel
Fate Grand Order
Fate Apocrypha
Carnival Phantasm
Many others which I will not cite here since they are not necessarily worth your time.
I used a bold font for the ones I have already seen. I would not recommend Heavens Feel, since I did not enjoy it. It is rather dark and the fights are not as spectacular as in Stay Night, Zero, or Unlimited Blade Works. It is also orbiting around Sakura, which normally is not the character people are the most interested in (at least not me). My favorite must be Unlimited Blade Works, since it is centered around Shirou and there are some real epic combats in it.
The story line :Seven mages must summon Seven servants to fight to the death in what is called the Holy Grail War.
If you haven't seen it, it is not too lateto fix this unforgivable mistake!
Charlotte
Finally something shorter for people enjoying short anime! If you have read down until this point, you must be relieved! There only is one season and thirteen episodes. It is almost too short, but it actually ends perfectly. I strongly recommend it.
The story line : A great many teenagers who have not yet reached puberty happen to have a flawed super power. A group of school kids chase them to prevent them to act as wrongly as the main character does in the first episode.
K-On
It is the story of four (at the beginning, and then 5) Japanese school girls and how they grow with their music band named K-On. Simply put, it is excellent. There is nothing really special about it but it is fun, you grow attached to the characters, and their songs are rather catchy. It counts among my top favorites, which in itself may explain why it is worth watching without me saying much more...
Angel Beats
Be ready for a good laugh, but also for a lot of tears. This thirteen-episode anime is as short as Charlotte and was made by the same company. If you enjoyed Charlotte, this one should be a perfect match for you too. Don't wait and enter a world in which already-dead high-school students have to fight Angel, or they will disappear...
Asterisk War
If you wish to watch amazing combat scenes for two seasons (with a decent plot) and then find out that the third season has not yet been announced after years of waiting, this anime is for you. I hope you can handle the frustration, because I still am desperately hoping to get a publication date (that is nowhere near at the moment).
If you want to know more, I recommend this article. It has a nice summary and might give you hope for a 2021 release. Do not get too psyched though, you might end up disappointed big time.
No Game No Life
A brother and his sister who both are extremely talented at playing games (of all types) enter a fantasy world in which everything is centered around board games. Together, they challenge the God of games, Tet, in order to become the next rulers of that world.
It is a lot of fun but, like the previous anime I presented, be ready to wait for a sequel, because season 2 is still nowhere to be found. However, a film called No Game No Life Zero was released in 2017. It may not be enough, but it should quench your thirst for content for a few days more...
Log Horizon
This one is rather similar to Sword Art Online (or is it the other way around?), so I will not develop my explanations too much. It is two seasons of about twenty-five episodes long, and it is awesome. If the idea is the same as in SAO, it is also much more complex. There is an actual scenario, everything does not merely orbit around fights and an over-cheated main character called Kirito-bis.
You should watch it. It will rock your world, full stop.
Question Time & Sign-Off
Have you ever watched one of these anime? Are you into Japanese anime? Do you prefer American TV shows, movies, just reading books? Do you have any recommendations? Tell me in the comments!
I am still working on a Gentoo Installation Guide. I am about halfway through and should be able to publish by Friday along with some YouTube videos (because I intend to do the whole thing in a virtual machine and then break it down into several fifteen-minute videos). I hope you are looking forward to it!
If you enjoy what I do, do not hesitate and subscribe! I am striving to publish content regularly (Mondays and Fridays on my blog) and to grow my YouTube channel. Do subscribe there as well to support me. It is currently focusing on GNU/Linux, but I intend to diversify my content when I get a broader audience. If you join, you will be part of an awesomely (and proudly) mad community which keeps growing as days pass.
Have you ever wondered if your friends were sincere when they asked you how you were feeling in the morning, if your colleagues were actually interested in why you looked more tired than usual ? If you have, I believe you would be right. Indeed, this is a question we ask and are asked once or several times a day. It certainly is the most common way of initiating a conversation, even before speaking about the weather...
Disclaimer & News
This blog post will be short and mostly contain questions to feed a discussion which we could have together in the comments. I would not pretend to hold all the answers when writing on such a topic, but I still wanted to publish something about it to learn something with you.
I am currently working on a Gentoo installation guide which I would really like to release next week, both in video and text format. This is another reason why this post is shorter than usual.
A Matter Of Etiquette
It is just something we do without thinking, something which has been passed on from one generation to the next for so many years that one does not remember when this cycle began. It is, if one may call it that way, a custom which one needs to oblige on a daily basis. People will not necessarily care everyday, which is normal because every one has their problems, and they are not always in the proper state of mind to listen. However, if you pay attention, you will notice it happens every single day, and often in a way which you have already experienced. It would be way too exhausting to ask 'how are you' with varying words every day of the month.
Would you not agree ? Tell me what you think in the comments below
An Issue Of Honesty
I was wondering these past few days whether one should answer 'yes' every time, to send positive signals to their friends, colleagues and other acquaintances, and if saying 'no' should strictly remain within a limited circle, such as family. I suppose the answer would depend on your character traits and personal beliefs. Some people would not mind speaking about their lives to anyone, others would never open up no matter what happened, even if the world was ending.
Is it even possible to sincerely ask all the time ?
I am not quite certain. Asking so often weakens the very meaning of that question. It is an inevitable consequence. Some people will merely ask to break the ice and get the conversation started. They will not care much about the answer, so long as it is not too negative. Actually, the more boring it would be, the better. This way they could move on to another topic.
Solutions ?
The first one I would suggest is rather obvious : actually listen and care about what the other person has to tell you, to offer you. Seize that opportunity to learn from them, because every minute of every day is an opportunity to learn, and you will be a different person depending on what you choose to do about this simple fact.
Be more specific in your questions : Did you sleep well ? How did whatever event go ? Is everything okay with your family ? If you do not laconically ask 'how are you' but actually make the effort to be more 'to the point', people will have to answer more honestly. It is harder to lie when you have to use more than one word. Saying "I'm alright" instead of "I wish I was not here today" is easy. Describing a false situation with several sentences is more complicated, and I strongly believe people will be sincere if they see in your eyes that you are ready to listen.
What Do You Think ?
Tell me your opinion in the comments, I am curious to read it and hope we can have a conversation about this. Are you having a good day ? Is everything okay for you despite all the coronavirus measures taken all over the world ? How is your life ? Are you watching Netflix or reading books more than ever ? (I wanna know!)
For me, things are getting complicated. I have taken the decision along with my host family that I should go back to France as soon as possible. I miss my family but I find leaving rather tough too. Being stuck here would certainly be no fun and not reasonable, but in the end I will be just as stuck in France. What comforts me is that I will be close to my family. Like all of you, I wish this situation came to an end so that we could finally enjoy going outside, meeting people and having fun together. I hope it all goes back to normal soon, but I do not see it happening before many months.
Rares sont ceux qui n'ont jamais désiré posséder des super-pouvoirs pour se distinguer du commun des mortels. Peut-être souhaitiez-vous avoir une force extraordinaire afin de faire justice vous-même, ou plutôt pouvoir vous rendre invisible pour lire tranquille dans votre coin sans être dérangé. Croyez-le ou non, aujourd'hui est votre jour de chance. En effet, je vais vous prouver que les super-pouvoirs existent, et je n'aurai besoin ni de sources douteuses ni de fausses vidéos de télékinésie. Je ne vous exposerai que mon raisonnement personnel.
Pourquoi vouloir des super-pouvoirs ?
De nombreuses raisons peuvent inciter notre cher cerveau à divaguer ainsi. Étant donné qu'il me semble ardu de vous les présenter de façon exhaustive, je n'introduirai que celles me semblant les plus évidentes. Je vous laisserai ensuite le soin de juger si j'ai raison ou tort.
Inégalités & sens aiguisés
Premièrement, je crois qu'il faut souligner que nous ne sommes naturellement pas tous égaux. Quand on y réfléchit, c'est une réalité magnifique qui nous donne à tous l'opportunité de nous démarquer au sein de nos communautés respectives.
Si vous analysez le terme super-pouvoir, l'expression en elle-même est une comparaison entre ce que l'on peut normalement faire et ce que l'on considère comme extraordinaire. Les super-héros, que l'on peut notamment admirer dans les films et comics, font clairement des choses que l'on peut qualifier d'inhumaines, et je ne suis pas convaincu qu'un individu quelconque aurait raison de s'efforcer de suivre leurs exemples.
Je ne crois pas non plus qu'être héroïque nécessite l'accomplissement de tâche dépassant notre réalité. Si l'on observe un héros de plus près, il ne fait rien de plus qu'utiliser des capacités acquises dès sa naissance. Il n'y a aucune notion de progrès. On n'encourage pas à faire des efforts pour obtenir le pouvoir en question. Finalement, il n'y a que bien peu de mérite à être un super-héros.
Besoin de reconnaissance
Je ne m'aventurerai pasà affirmer que nous avons tous un tel besoin, même si le risque ne serait probablement que moindre. Chacun a ses propres rêves en grandissant, et je ne doute pas que nombre d'entre vous ont partagé ce grisant désir de puissance que l'on peut avoir étant jeune.
Il me semble normal que, à un certain âge, l'enfant veuille faire ses preuves auprès de ses pairs. Il souhaite les impressionner, être reconnu. Il cherche alors, de façon tout à fait naturel, à dépasser ses parents ou toutes autres lui servant de modèles.
L'attrait du pouvoir
Ce mal peut affecter n'importe quel individu, à n'importe quel âge. Plus on a de pouvoir, plus on souhaite en avoir. Cet attrait vient souvent d'un besoin excessif de contrôler ce qui nous entoure.
Des capacités insoupçonnées
Chacune des capacités que vous possédez a la possibilité de vous démarquer des autres, de vous faire remarquer par eux. De ce constat, on peut conclure qu'il est extrêmement important, si ce n'est essentiel, d'entretenir ses capacités innées ou acquises par l'apprentissage. Il est tout aussi essentiel d'explorer de nouveaux domaines afin d'obtenir de nouvelles capacités.
Une liste non-exhaustive
Voici quelques exemples qui vous convaincront, ou non, qu'avoir des super-pouvoirs ne dépend que de vous.
Le physique
Si l'on ne nait pas avec une force surhumaine, chacun a tout de même ses avantages. Certains (ou certaines) ont besoin de moins d'efforts pour être beaux (ou belles), d'autres doivent travaillé davantage pour parfaire leur musculature... Chaque sens peut aussi nous démarquer : l'ouïe, l'odorat, la vue... Plus on les entretient, plus ils sont aiguisés, plus ils sont utiles.
La mémoire
La mémoire est une faculté à la portée de tous qui se développe, notamment, par l'étude. Si l'on ne fait pas d'efforts, on n'aura pas de mémoire. Si l'individu s'efforce de l'entretenir, il sera dûment récompensé. J'ai quelques cas concrets dans lesquels avoir une bonne mémoire peut s'avérer extrêmement utile, satisfaisant, ou juste agréable :
Parler une langue étrangère.
Apprendre des poésies, des chansons, des pièces de théâtre, ou autres pour son propre plaisir ou de sorte de les représenter ensuite devant un public.
Ne plus avoir besoin de prendre des notes dans certaines situations du quotidien. Un serveur pourrait retenir tous les plats du jour et leurs compositions, par exemple.
Faire des calculs plus rapidement en connaissant les résultats à l'avance.
Maîtriser un sujet : biologie, chimie, histoire... toutes ces matières et toutes les autres requièrent une mémoire fertile afin de gagner en crédibilité auprès de ses pairs.
Développer sa culture générale : un plaisir octroyant également un gain en crédibilité.
Certains diront que la mémoire n'est pas aussi accessible, car elle dépendra principalement de l'éducation que l'on a pu avoir. Je ne crois pas qu'être aussi réducteur avance qui que ce soit.
« Lorsque l'on veut, on peut. »
Voici une phrase marquante qui devrait vous inspirer et qui marquera une transition parfaite vers la partie suivante.
La volonté
La volonté est une autre faculté que n'importe qui peut développer. Elle mettra davantage de temps à grandir si la graine n'a pas été planté correctement, mais chaque individu peut faire preuve d'une volonté de fer à sa façon et dans les contextes qui lui parlent directement.
Quelqu'un qui aime courir aura probablement une grande volonté en course à pieds, qui l'aidera probablement à parfaire son endurance, mais sera peut-être médiocre en mathématiques, n'ayant aucune volonté de s'améliorer.
La volonté telle que je la conçois doit se développer dans tous les domaines. Il est bien trop facile d'en être doté dans les domaines que l'on affectionne, car la passion lui sert de moteur. Je crois qu'il faut apprendre à faire preuve de volonté dans les moments difficiles et inconfortables de notre vie.
Conclusion
Je n'ai probablement évoqué qu'un nombre négligeable de capacités que personne puisse développer. La patience, l'humilité, la générosité... Ces vertus mériteraient tout autant d'attention, et sont elles aussi susceptibles de vous faire remarquer. Le conseil le plus simple que je puisse vous offrir est de prendre soin de votre corps et de votre esprit, mais également de saisir chaque opportunité d'apprentissage que la vie sème sur votre chemin. Cultiver l'effort et votre récolte sera toujours fructueuse.
