The Golden Compass - His Dark Materials 1-

I finishing reading The Remains of the Day on Monday, the next book I've got from Amazon to read is, needless to say, The Golden Compass, which I repeatedly wrote on this blog that I wanted to read as soon as possible.
Even if you can't imagine well what kind of book The Golden Compass is by just hearing its English title, I suppose you can immediately recognize it as the fantasy novel on which the popular movie having released in March 2008 is based by hearing only once its Japanese title, Lyra no Bouken ― Ogon no Rashinban.
I've read only 20 or so pages yet, but the heroine Lyra seems to get involved in trouble of some sort at almost the same time as the story begins, and I've already gotten into it. (^^)

Though I know the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, the series of Lyra no Boken, is originally written in UK, I bought a set of US edition of it because I thought it was the cheapest way (I don't know my thought is right, though.)
I always think every time I get foreign paperbacks that the quality of the paper is inferior to that of Japanese paperbacks, and I think it holds true for this trilogy too.
But at the same time, the design of the cover, and cute but seemingly meaningful signs, or I might as well describe those as symbols, written in on one side of the all pages, I feel, make the books more mysterious.
Yes, I think the design is not too bad for a US edition, and as for the story, there's still nothing able to write because it has only begun.

Oh, and do you know you can check on the Net what kind of daemon yours is?
According to the site, my daemon is an osprey, or a fish hawk, a kind of hawk, I guess.
Hmm..., should I be pleased with the result?  (^^;
Anyway, please check your daemon, if you'd like!
The movie of The Golden Compass : http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

「読んでみたいな～♪」とブログに書いてから何カ月経ちましたっけ？
やっと「ライラの冒険-黄金の羅針盤」のUS版をゲットいたしました♪　(^^)v
かねてから目を付けていた、ライラの冒険シリーズ全３巻のボックスセット。
（ところで「ライラの冒険シリーズ」を英語で書こうとした場合、"The series of His Dark Materials" or "'His Dark Materials' trilogy" でいいのかしら？
US版と本家UK版では、タイトルからして若干違いがあったような気が・・・~(=^‥^A）
まださっぱり「ワケわからん」状態ではありますが、物語が始まるとほぼ同時にライラがトラブルに巻き込まれてしまうのだから、夢中にならないワケがない。(^m^*)

ちなみに↑の映画版「ライラの冒険-黄金の羅針盤」の公式サイトで、私のdaemonを調べたところ、

daemonの名前：Elleron
daemonの種類：ミサゴ（鷹の一種で魚を食べるらしい・・・）

私は：気まぐれ、孤独、はきはきした、謙虚な、受身的
私のダイモンElleronは、ダイモンの全人口1,222,288中のミサゴ45,934の１つ
人間とダイモンのペアの性別は反対なので、Elleronは雄のダイモンである

なんだとか。
インコを飼っているので私のdaemonが鳥類なのは良しとして、何故に猛禽類？
ちなみに姓と名前の間にブランクを入れて試したところ、トラでした。
（若干、アンケートの答え方も違ったかも・・・）
映画公開から随分時が経ってしまいましたが、良ければあなたのdaemonもチェックしてみてくださいね。=＾-＾=

「ライラの冒険-黄金の羅針盤」の公式サイト：http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

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The Rose

I couldn't learn English at all for this last two days because of my headache and slight fever of 37.5C.
Cherry blossoms starting to bloom, however, cheered me up so wonderfully when I drove along the nearby row of cherry blossom trees with my SO, that I feel like I can do it today!
Yes, I'll do it!

By the way, do you know the movie titled The Rose, which is a 1979 musical-drama film and tells the story of a self-destructive 1960s rock star, Janis Joplin, who is said to have died from heroin overdose in 1970?
It's a little bit, maybe undoubtedly, old-fashioned, but makes me in tears every time I watch it. (I have a DVD of it.)
The more Rose the heroine of the same name is loved by her enormous numbers of fans, the more badly she suffers from loneliness and becomes addicted to drugs.
Selfish, hysterical and so foolish as to drown herself in alcohol and drugs though she is, nevertheless her performance is amazing enough to give me goose bumps, and she finally dies from heroin O.D. on her stage after singing Stay With Me...
Please never misunderstand.
Bette Midler, who played the role of Rose in the film, appeals in her song, The Rose, to us not to run away from our problems, to give and to live, because spring definitely will come.
The song is also really great.

This is the scene of Rose singing Stay With Me on her last stage.

　　　
　　　
And this is a video of Bette Midler singing The Rose on her own stage.

Please listen to it, if you'd like. (^^)

「The Rose」はほとんどの人が知ってるだろうと思っていたら、そうでもないのかしら？
ヘロインのO.D.（overdoes:薬物の過剰摂取）が原因で死んだ伝説的スターJanis Joplinをモデルして作られた映画で、未だ来日していない最後の大物と言われるBette Midler（和田アキ子さんがファンですよね♪）が主役Roseを演じ、主題歌「The Rose」（これは一度聞けば誰でもわかる！・・・はず）を歌っています。
何せ昔の映画なので、見るたびに映像の古さに戸惑ってしまいますが、ストーリーも、そして何よりライブシーンが素晴らしくって、音楽DVDとして我が家のラックに並んでおります。
ワガママで、ヒステリックで、仕事に追われ、事ある毎に酒に、男に、そしてドラッグに溺れ、最後はステージ上で亡くなるという愚かな女性ではありますが（Janis Joplinは実際にはホテルの一室で死亡）、悲しいほどにステージの上では格好いいんです。
どれだけファンに愛されても、音楽の才能を認められても、決して埋められなかった彼女の孤独を思うと切なくなりますが、決して彼女の『生き方』までもが格好いいと思わないでくださいね。
（そんな人いないとは思いますが、最近、私の常識が崩壊しそうになる出来事があったので・・・　(^^; ）
Bette Midlerはこの曲の主題歌の中で、「どんなに辛くても逃げてはいけない。本当の意味で生きようとしなさい。春は必ず訪れるのだから」と歌っています。
死の間際、一人では歩くこともできなかったRoseが、何度も鳥肌が立つほどの迫力で『Stay With Me』をステージ上で歌った後、家族にも等しいと言った大勢のファンを目の前にして "Where are you going? Where's everybody going? （どこに行くの？ どうしてみんな行ってしまうの？）"と呟かなきゃいけないなんて悲しすぎる。
あ。　また泣きそう。　

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－ Death Note －

I did almost nothing to learn English yesterday.  (--;
Er..., I read page 4,5 and 7 of the Mainichi Weekly, and some pages of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".
That's it.
So, though I think I should read without writing this mistake-filled and pointless diary, I'm going to do because I don't think I will be able to write this blog tomorrow.
I bet it will be so short, though. (^^;

I watched "Death Note" yesterday.
It's sort of interesting, at least, better than I expected.
Although we can't become a God, can become a Death or a Devil, can't we?
It's really intriguing, but it's also a sad fact that I must admit we can as far as I know through news or something.
I think we make efforts all the harder because we're not perfect, and that therefore we are the human beings.
When someone thinks as if s/he were perfect, s/he might lose something important and essential for human.

And, one more thing.
Has L been killed really?  Without any tricks or camouflage?
If so, I can't help thinking it's not a pleasant ending.
And, is it only Deaths that can stop the man's stupid acts who turned into something like a Death or a Devil?
It's lamentable that Deaths are more human than the two main characters in the film, isn't it?

『Death Note』 の原作や映画でも、エルは死んじゃうんでしょうか？
『死んだと見せかけて実は・・・』 っていうのも無し？
で、ライトの暴走を止めるのも死神？
・・・それはあんまりにも情けないエンディングじゃない？
長いストーリーを端折って作られているので、原作を読んでいない私には言う資格ないかもしれませんが、あれじゃ死神の方がよっぽど人間らしく描かれてるじゃない！
誠実だけど全く無力な人間達と、デス・ノートで頭のねじが数十本まとめてぶっ飛んだ人間達と、頭が良くても結局デス・ノートに負けたエル・・・、ってことでいいの？
しかも、人間は神にはなれないけど、死神や悪魔のような、もしくはそれ以上に最悪なモノにはなれちゃうっていう事実もまた情けないわね。

原作か映画では違うエンディングになっていることを、ひっそりと、こっそりと、草葉の陰から （←ちがう！） 祈っております。 （－人－）なーむー。

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Last Samurai ＆ etc

The Japan Meteorological Agency said last Friday it would become a little cooler from that day.
In Osaka, however, the intolerable heat has lasted as before.
Although on summer days we Japanese often use phrases like "shinisou": this heat is killing me, we can't use them as some kind of metaphor or joke on these scorching summer days because many people have died of heat stroke.
Are you all right?
Please take care of yourself not to get heat stroke.

I watched "Last Samurai" recorded on Friday yesterday.
This movie has some points about which I can't help feeling something strange as Japanese.
I guess, however, this fact doesn't affect its high reputation.
And, I felt Samurai was depicted as a symbol of Japanese good old days and one of the coolest ways to live to which men are attracted.
Although I'm not into bang 'em up films, as one of Japanese, I like it.  (^m^*)
Also, Ken Watanabe is a really great actor, isn't he?
He who acted in "Last Samurai" didn't seem to be the same person in "Ashita no Kioku".
And, I'm sure all the other actors (including an actress Koyuki) also deserve praise.

By the way, as there is "Bushi-dou" in Samurai, I think there is "Sumo-dou" in "Sumo".
I wonder whether a Yokozuna without enough awareness as a professional sumo wrestler deserves to remain a sumo wrestler. (--;

日本語と英語が混在している映画って、見てると時々混乱しちゃいます。
トム・クルーズが渡辺健に 『誰に狙われているんだ？』 というようなことを言うシーン。
"so more?" って言ってるのかと思ったら、『大村？』 って言ってたんですね。
最初、意味がわからなくて、慌てて音声を切り替えて確認してしまいました。
まぁ、そんな間違いするのは私くらいなものでしょうが・・・。~(=^‥^A
『（あなたは）考えすぎです』 というセリフが英語では "Too many mind." となっていて、思わず納得。
日本的な言い回しがどんな風に英訳されるのかって、英語Onlyの外国映画だとあまり意識しないので、そういう意味でも面白かったです。
『結びの句が決まらない』 とかね。
それに、こうして英語と日本語を同時に意識しながら映画を見ていると、改めて日本語の美しさに感動☆ =＾-＾=
古事記とか風姿花伝、枕草子、俳句、etc...　古文大好き人間なんです。σ(^_^；
　　注 ： 『古文が好き＝古文ができる』は成り立ちません。
　　そは 『英語が好き＝英語ができる』 が成り立たぬが如し。 (^m^*)
『武士道とは死ぬこととみつけたり』 ( "How I die" ? ) な日本に対して、やっぱりアメリカは 『生き抜いてこそ』 ( or, "How I live" ? ) なのかなと思ってしまうラストではありました。
（ちなみに私も 『死に様』 より 『生き様』派。 というより、そもそもドンパチ反対派）

それと、話は変わりますが、某横綱！
例えば、スランプ中の力士や選手を批判することは個人的に好きではないのですが、巡業 （であってる？） って仕事の一環でしょ？
サラリーマンが大事な仕事をさぼってサッカーしてたら、批判されて当然でしょ？
故国を大切に思う気持ちと、力士として恥ずかしくない行動を心掛ける事は決して矛盾しないと思うんだけど・・・。
おまけに厳しい練習にも耐えて、心身共に鍛えられてきたはずの力士が、怒られて深刻な急性ストレス障害？
『情けないな～』と思ってしまう私が心の狭い人間なのかしらん。

あ。もう一つ。
某・元有名サッカー選手が、『彼が俺とサッカーをした事で責められているのが残念』 というようなことを言ったか書いたかしたって本当ですか？
だとしての話ですが・・・・、今回、彼が責められているのは、巡業を怪我を理由に休んでいながら、走り回ってサッカーをしていたからであって、そのメンバーに誰が入っていようと、それは問題ではありませんよ～。
あしからず☆ m(__)m

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元を取る☆

I'm now still reading aloud "American Spice - TOEIC TEST Vocabulary" to the voice of CD at least once a day.
This book's title includs the words "TOEIC TEST", but I think all words covered in it are essential for every English learner whether s/he takes the TOEIC test or not.
Though I haven't memorized all words yet, I can more enjoy reading the Mainichi Weekly and watching news programs aired in English too than before.
It makes me feel so great!!  (^m^*)
I want to improve my vocabulary a lot more so that I can get more pleasure from English materials: books, TV programs, DVDs, CDs and so on.

By the way, I've watched a bilingual news program: "Evening News" broadcast on TBS network from 5:50 pm on weekdays, since April 2007.
I thought it's the only news program aired in English too, but I found NHK also broadcasts at least two bilingual ones.
Trying watching it aired from 9:00 pm., I felt it's kind of dismal compared to the "Evening News".
However, I'm going to watch it when I can.
And I also enjoy NHK's English TV programs such as "Eigo de Shaberanaito", "TV de Ryuugaku" and "Eitango Network".
I very often forget to record them, though,  (^^;
I think I get my viewing fees' worth from NHK.

ボキャブラリーが豊富なだけじゃ、ちゃんとした意味を理解できないし、文法がわかるだけじゃ全然使えないし、ましてや話そうと思ったら・・・・。 orz
最低限の文法、最低限の語彙力を身につけるぞ、と思っても、一体どこまでが最低限なんだかわかんないわ。
今の自分の状態じゃ全然足りてないのはわかるんだけどね。
うーーん、とりあえず『テレビで留学』 と 『英単語ネットワーク』 はお勧めです♪。
『英単語ネットワーク』 の方は、たぶんあと２カ月ぐらいで放送終了になると思うけど、ベタなギャグに不覚にも毎回笑ってしまいます。 (^m^*)
せっかく受信料を払ってるんだから、元は取らないとね。（セコイ！）

TBS系列の 『イヴニング ニュース』（地方によって名前は違うと思います） は私が見始めた４月頃から二カ国語放送を開始したんでしょうか？
最初の頃は全くの無音状態が何度も続いたり、現場レポート等は聞いてるこっちが焦ってしまうぐらいぎこちなかったんですが、最近はそういうこともなくてとっても見やすいです。
NHKのニュースの二カ国語放送は、とっても落ちついた雰囲気でNHKらしいんですが、ボソボソとした陰気なしゃべり方がちょっと・・・ね。 ~(=^‥^A

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読破 ＆ ルー大柴etc

Yesterday I've finally finished reading 'Forest', the famous English grammar book which covers all junior and senior high school English grammar.
Good for me! Well done!!  (^m^*)
It was really hard for me because it's almost 600-page long!!
Of course, to finish reading doesn't mean I've completely mastered all of them, though.  (^^;
I'm going to read it from the beginning once again.., no, over and over again.
To master them perfectly, however, I also think there's no way but to use them practically in my daily life.
Anyway, I just do what I think I need to do!

By the way, I have something shocking to me.
I missed 'Ainori', which I look forward to watching every week!!  (T_T)
Even though I was tired and went to bed earlier than usual yesterday, I don't know why I forgot to record it.
The result of Miya-nee's declaration of love hasn't aired yet, has it?
How careless I am!  orz

Hence, I had nothing to do while feeding Ruu this morning, so I watched last week's 'Eigo de Shaberanaito' recorded on Friday (or, maybe I should say 'Saturday').
Lou Ooshiba, Japanese famous(?) comedian, is supremely powerful and positive!
I couln't keep from laughing!  (^o^)
His positive thinking deserves praise. (^m^*)
I feel like I can understand why he is now popular like this.
Oh, one more thing.
I found an inresting site on which you can translate any HP or sentences into Lou-go, the language he usually uses!
If you're interested in this site, please check it out!　→ Click Here

『ルー大柴』 の表記については、他にも 'Ru Oshiba' 等々、色々ありましたが、とりあえずヒット数も多い上の表記を使わせてもらいました。
女性を食事に誘うシーンでは、彼のマイペースで素晴らしくポジティブな行動に感心するやら笑うやら・・・。 (^m^*)
クドそうだし、カメラの前と素の行動にギャップありそうだけど（笑）、憎めない人だな～♪ =＾-＾=
あぁ・・・、それにしても 『あいのり』 を見逃したのがすっごいショック・・・。 (/_<。)

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続・蛸を食す & "Promise"

Yesterday I watched the movie 'Promise' on TV, the Korean movie in which Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada played a central role.
It was nothing but disappointing and boring!
All the characters are typical stupid guys, and almost all of the scenes are filled with ridiculous CG effects.
(To be honest, I thought it might be a new kind of gag.)
In addition, it's story is hopelessly corny.  (--;
There seems to be no way for me to come to like Korean movies, at least for now.

By the way, the American guy I mentioned on this blog yesterday appears to have succeeded in cooking octopus.
Congratulations!  (^^)
He wrote on his diary, not the BBS of our community, with some attached photos that he ate it with something like Korean chili sauce and that it was delicious.
Actually, it was not Korean chili sauce but Tosazu that he wanted to buy, but he went to a Korean grocery store because he didn't know it's one of the Japanese products.
This story made me smile. (*^^*)
And there is one other thing which surprised me.
It's that he has written his diary in Japanese!
Although his Japanese may not be perfect, he can use not only hiragana but also kanji.
It's so great!  Amazing!
There are not only Japanese studying English but a lot of foreigners studying or being interested in Japanese in this community, which always stimulates my motivation. (^^)

映画『Promise』については・・・、私の個人的趣味で申し訳ありませんが、ちょっと（？）ガッカリ。
いくら【神々とともにあった時代】の話とはいえ、あれはないだろ・・・。 orz

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明日の記憶

I went to a supermarket and the dentist on Monday.
Though both of them are in my neighborhood, I got dreadfully tired.
And yesterday, I took my temperature since my body felt so heavy, then it was 37.5 degrees... orz
I've got used to such things already because it happens very often to me.
However, I can't help thinking... I really dislike my body like this.

I watched "Ashita no Kioku" on Sunday, and I remembered the comment a woman had written on her blog after seeing it at a theater.
I think she'd probably written like this - "There's no hope in this film, because we have no cure for Alzheimer's."
Do you think so, too?  I never.
There are really a lot of diseases we have no treatment for, and my illness is also one of them.
(Of course, I think Alzheimer's is one of the most serious disease.)
However, not everyone lives her/his life hopelessly.
I don't think the author intended to write such a thing.
I guess he wanted to write about the strength of human.
Even though the disease eats away at Saeki's body and memories, there seems to me to be certainly an important thing (or feeling) which he's never lost and which even Alzheimer's disease can't erode.
And I guess the mug he made is a token of it.

私の病気なんて完治することはないにしろ、それなりの対処療法もあるし、寛解する可能性もあるので、凹んでいられるような病気では全くないんですけどね。
それでも、『症状が進んでも、死ぬような病気ではありませんから』 と言われて安心できるわけもなく、医者を殴りたくなったことは数え切れないほど。
主人公が医者に真情を吐露する場面では、いろんな事を思い出して号泣してしまいました。
この話は確かに若年性アルツハイマーの恐ろしさや残酷さ、そしてそれに対する人間の無力さについても書かれていると思うんだけど、それでも失われない何かがあるはずだという作者の人間の強さに対する信念、あるいは希望のようなものを感じずにいられない話でした。
最後に、医療のさらなる進歩を祈って・・・。

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Amadeus 古今東西

I've received a Norah Jones's latest album: Not Too Late, as my slightly late birthday present from one of my friends.
(Although I say "latest", it has been released since January of this year.)
To tell the truth, I got her first and second albums from the same person. (^^;
And now, I'm listening to the album.
Listening to her songs, especially her voice, I feel relaxed and like floating on air, like the clouds in the sky.
Besides, she is so beautiful!
I think God blesses a person more than once sometimes and she must be one of the so-called "Amadeus".

"Amadeus" means "the one God loves" in Latin, and as you know, it's Mozart's middle name.
I have a DVD titled "Amadeus", which is the film of the story of Mozart and Salieri released in 1985 in Japan.
I bought it before 2006: the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart.
Although it's hard for ordinary people like me to understand genius's feelings, I came to love his music much more than I had done before I watched it.
And I feel like I can understand Salieri's...
However, I know all I have to do is make an effort, not lament my misfortune.

『天は二物を与えず』って誰が言ったの？
ノラ・ジョーンズのように綺麗で才気溢れる女性を見ると、神様に少し文句を言いたくなるパンピー・sakuyaです。
『アマデウス』と言えば『神に愛されし者』という意味で、モーツァルトのミドルネームとして有名ですが、程度の差こそあれ、彼女もその一人かも。
まぁ、天才であれ、凡人であれ、努力するのみ。
『求めよ、さらば与えられん。　尋ねよ、さらば見出 さん。　叩けよ、さらば開かれん』
求めないと、尋ねないと、叩かないと、望むものに見合う努力をしないとダメなんよね。
『プロポーズ大作戦』の見過ぎか？
しょうがない、東洋の（私にとっては）アマデウス・桑田さんがエンディングに出てるんだもん。
見なきゃね。 もう終わったけど。　(^m^*)

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*** 夏うた ***

Yesterday, I watched Music Station featuring summer songs on TV.
Of course, the artist I wanted to watch is Keisuke Kuwata (or Southern All Stars).
The result is that:

The 91st: Dirty Old Man -Saraba Natsu yo- (Southern All Stars)
The 79th: Manatsu no Kajitsu (SAS)
The 46th: Kimi koso Star da (SAS)
The 25th: Naminori Johnny (Keisuke Kuwata)
The 13th: Katte ni Sindbad (SAS)
The  1st: TSUNAMI (SAS)

That sounds great! (^^)
(I'm a little tired from taking the ranking down, though. And sorry if it's wrong.)
However, I have one thing to say.
I think "TSUNAMI" is NOT a summer song (for me).
The release date of this is January 26, 2000, not in summer.
So, this reminds me of winter anytime. 
Well, there's certainly the term 'summer' in the lyrics, and I think each person should listen and imagine as s/he likes, though.

Anyway, watching this kind of TV program, I come to want to go to karaoke or watch DVDs of Southern All Stars or Keisuke Kuwata.
Besides, I have a lot of books I want to or have to read.
I want a lot more free time!

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わたしたちの教科書 etc...

I finished reading '151 Common Mistakes of Japanese Students of English' yesterday.
I didn't know exactly how to describe Japanese such as "kinyoubi no yoru ni" in English until after I read it.
I think I'd written it as "on Friday's night" and so on, however, according to this book, we must write it as "on Friday night".
Besides, it says that we shouldn't use 'in', 'at', 'on' before 'this', 'next', 'last', 'that' or 'every' when they are used before a time expression.
I can find a lot of articles containing the phrase such as "on last Friday", though... (--?
Well, I guess it's better for me to follow the basics.
Also, there are a lot of things I didn't know in it.
I need to read it a few more times.

On a different note, I watched "Watashitati no kyoukasyo" yesterday.
To tell the truth, I didn't watch some episodes of it, but I think the last one is pretty good.
I can't imagine how cruel today's bullying is, and maybe there's no way to solve it...
I hope, however, they (and we) live without giving up hope.
Because I think bullied children can be stronger and kinder than anyone else.
(I feel a part of myself says it's wrong to demand too much of them, though...)

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*** Morning Coffee ***

I drink two cups of coffee every morning because I love coffee.
However, that's all I have it a day.
I take care to have caffeine-free herb teas or something instead of coffee and not to overdose on caffeine.
I watched the TV program which recommended to drink 5-6 cups of coffee a day to viewers as an effective way to diet.
Yes. I guess you also know this notorious program of Kansai TV, Kansai Telecasting Corporation.
I'd become unable to trust it since that time.
(I'd never thought they'd aired fake informations, though)
Although I think that's what we should never overlook, to tell the truth, I like their evening news program.
They seem to me to be working on their programming in good faith.
I guess not all of them forget the importance of television broadcasting in today's society.
(Of course, I know it's necessary for them to be punished as an organization, not an individual, though.)

Anyway, even though I know caffeine is not good for my health, I don't think I can stop having my morning coffee. (^^;

昔は普通に１日５～６杯は飲んでましたけどね。＞コーヒー。
少なくとも私はカフェインを控えた方がいいらしいので、我慢してます。
・・・。 う～ん・・・、やっぱり５～６杯は飲み過ぎだと思う。（私の場合に限らず）
もしかして、朝、起き抜けにブラックコーヒー２杯っていうのも飲み過ぎかしらん？ σ(o^_^o)


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やりすぎ上等

Watching "Sex and the City", I thought.
Why is this series popular among women not only in America but also in Japan?
Why don't working women who live in New York City get upset with it?
Not all unmarried women think about love affairs anytime and anywhere, don't you think so?
One of my friends recommended it to me saying it was so interesting and nice.
So, I bought season one of it a few years ago, but... is it so nice?
I know that there is some truth in their words and it's just a story in a TV drama, but sometimes I'm almost sick and tired of its excessive interpretation.
Of course, I accept that it's entertaining enough, though...
Maybe I've watched it too many times to memorize its dialogue.

Speaking of "excessive interpretation", Captian Jack Sparrow is really fantastic!!
I'm nearly crazy about him, even though I think its story is for children.
And I think his unique aura is so great and a little similar to Hiroshi Mikami's one, although some people might say it's too much.
I bet Mikami will be suitable, if Japanese perform this role.
Or, what about Joe Odagiri?
Anyway, I prefer a characteristic person rather than just a good-looking guy.
Savvy?  (^^)

『Jhonny Depp が好き』 というより、 『Jack Sparrowが好き』 なんです・・・♪
多少やりすぎ感のあるあの役作りが、あれだけ似合ってなおかつかっこいい人も珍しい。
過剰演出も過剰な役作りも、とことんやりきっちゃえば魅力に転じるものなのよ。Savvy?

（話はずれますが、ちょうど今読んでいた毎日ウィークリーの記事で "savvy" の単語が出てきてちょっと嬉しい☆
わかってるやん＞毎日ウィークリー）

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お金をかけずに英会話？

I heard that if you want to learn English conversation, it's one of the ways you can try easily that you try to memorize all dialogues used in a DVD.
That's a good idea.
I can try it without spending money, and it seems to be so effective.
So I tried watching a DVD, Sex and the City, which is a popular TV drama series in America, yesterday.
I think it's appropriate for my purpose because each story has only 15 minutes and is set in today's New York City.
But...., it might be a little too filthy for beginners like me to use. (^^;
For example, one actor says "abso-fucking-lutely" instead of "absolutely" in it.
There are plenty of this kind of words such as "shit", "asshole" and "*****"(self-regulation).
However, as long as I keep in mind that I shouldn't say these words, I think it's certainly one of the best ways.
Of course, at my own pace.
By the way, according to a mail from Fujisan Magazine Service, this week's front page article of Mainichi Weekly seems to be about "Pirates of the Caribbean"!!
I'm so happy! (^^)

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『トロイ』 と腹痛☆

I've had a slight stomachache since last Saturday.
I know this symptom is one of the side-effects of medicine I've taken, so I have no choice but to stand it.
Besides, I had to get back home earlier than originally scheduled because of it even though I had enjoyed lunch with my friend.
Only Ruu welcomed my early return, though...
Thanks, Ruu, but please let me sleep quietly when I feel sick.
Hmm, I'll tell my doctor about it next consultation day.

土曜日からお腹がちょっと痛い・・・。(/_<。)
この症状は飲んでる薬の副作用の一つだってわかってるから、我慢するしかない。
しかも、友人と昼食を楽しんでたのに、腹痛のせいで、当初の予定より早く帰宅しなきゃいけなかったし。
ルーだけは私の早い帰宅を歓迎してくれたけどね・・・。
ありがと、ルー。でも気分の悪い時は、静かに寝かせてちょうだい。
う～～ん、次の診察日にお医者さんに話してみよう。

Oh, and did you watch "TROY" aired on TV last Sunday?
Of course, I watched it!
Achilles, Brad Pitt played, was much better than I had expected.
His presence and his physical beauty!
While watching TV, I came near to falling in love with him. :-)
As I wrote the other day, I like mythology and historical stories very much.
So, for me, this film was so attractive!
There were some different parts from what I know, that's not the point.
I think afresh, history is really fantastic!

あ、それから日曜日に放送された 『トロイ』 見ました？
私はもちろん見ましたよ♪
ブラッド・ピット演じるアキレスが、思ってたよりずーーっと良かった♪
彼の存在感に肉体美☆
テレビを見ながら、彼に恋しちゃいそうでした。(〃⌒ー⌒〃)ゞ
先日書いたとおり、私は神話や歴史物語が大好き。
なので、私にとってこの映画はとっても魅力的でした。
私が知っているのと違う箇所が幾つかあったけど、そんなの問題じゃない。
あらためて、歴史って本当に素敵☆

私の読んだギリシア神話では、アポロンから予知能力を授かりながら、やはりアポロンによって 『誰も彼女の予言を信じない』 とされた、パリスの妹・カッサンドラなんかも出てくるんだけどな～。
トロイア戦争で、故国トロイの敗北と自分の死を予知しながら、誰にも信じてもらえず、ついには自分の予言通りに死んでしまう悲劇の美女です。
他にも、長年の戦から帰ってきた夫を、愛人と共に殺してしまうヘレンの姉・クリュタイムネストラ等々・・・。
トロイア戦争は強烈な登場人物だらけです。
あ、それと （映画では神話色が薄かったので設定自体が違うと思いますが）、パリス君があんなにも強引にヘレンを連れて帰ったのは、愛の女神アフロディテと 『世界一の美女を妻にしてあげる』 と約束していてからだと思われます。
神々に翻弄されていた時代ならではですね。
というより神々は本当に、（人間の命に限りあるからこそ） 人間が羨ましかったのかもね。

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矛盾の中にこそあるもの？

Did you watch "The Core" on last Friday?
I watched it on Sunday, of course in Japanese.
There was nothing else to do, too.
At any rate, Americans really like this kind of film, whose story line is that America saves a crisis of the earth and mankind.
And they certainly use nuclear bombs each time.
For example, "Armageddon", "Deep Impact", "Independence Day" and so on.
There are a lot of reviews like this already, so I won't mention it any more.
However, I don't like an idea that nuclear bombs will save the earth.
Because, the nuclear bomb is not a license to make anything possible.
I always get nervous every time I watch this kind of film, as I think that we might have excessive expectations of its power.

先週金曜の 『コア』 を見ましたか？
私は日曜日に見ました。もちろん日本語で。
他にすることもなかったし。 ~(=^‥^A
それにしても、アメリカ人ってアメリカが地球と人類の危機を救うというストーリーの映画が本当に好きですよね。
しかも毎回、必ず核を使って。
例えば 『アルマゲドン』 『ディープ・インパクト』 『インデペンデンス・デイ』等々．．．
こういうレビューはもうすでにたくさんあるので、これ以上触れるつもりはありません。
ただ、核が地球を救うっていう考えは好きじゃない。
核は何でも可能にする魔法の道具じゃないから。
この類の映画を見るたびに、私達は核の力に過剰な期待を持っているんじゃないかと思って、いつも不安になります。

There are a lot of unbelievable cases such as indiscriminate murder, cloning technology, global warming and nuclear proliferation.
And I remembered a news paragraph that have been mentioned in the book I had read the other day.

無差別殺人やクローン技術、地球温暖化に核拡散など、信じられない事件がたくさんあり、先日読んだ本に載っていた新聞記事の一節を思い出しました。

人間は死と戦い、未知を追いつめ、闇を追撃したあげく、生を、知を、光を痩せさせてしまった。
じつは生を富ませるのは死、知を蘇らせるのは未知、光を輝かせるのは闇であるという単純な事実を忘れてしまったからだ。
  （ 2002.1.3　「朝日新聞」　『白い手帳に』 ）

We have pursued more enormous power and more comfortable life, as a result, we might have lost something important,

より強大な力とより快適な生活を求め、その結果、大切な何かをなくしてしまったのかもね。

この記事の一節を読んで、思い出したお話 （注：SFです） があります。

神々のような存在が、人類に対して実験を行う。
１つは飛躍的に進歩した科学技術を用いて、発達した生活をおくる集合体。
１つは絶対神の庇護の下、平和と慈愛に満ちた生活をおくる集合体。
どちらの社会が人類にとって望ましいのか？
結果、科学技術を駆使して暮らしていた人々は、自らが作り出した技術と兵器により破滅にいたり、神の庇護の下で暮らしていた人々は、進歩も、種としての進化さえも放棄して破滅にいたる。

絶対悪も絶対的な力も、思考を麻痺させる為のトリックにすぎない。
生と死、善と悪、知と無知、etc... いろんな矛盾を身の内に抱え、その狭間で悩み、もがいてこその人間ではないかと．．．
進歩や進歩のための努力がいけないのではなく、その方向が大事なんだと思うわけです。
『コア』  からかなり脱線。~(=^‥^A

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ブログに辞書を、私にネタを

Do you know you can set up dictionaries on your blog?
There's a way that makes it possible to use dictionaries as a blog-parts.
It's so easy.
You only copy the following scripts and paste it into your sidebar.

辞書をブログに設置できるってご存じでしたか？
ブログパーツとして辞書を使えるようにする方法があるんです。
やり方はとっても簡単。
以下のスクリプトをコピーしてサイドバーに貼り付けるだけです。

<form method="GET" name="search" action="http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php" target="goo"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><a href="http://goo.ne.jp/"><img src="http://help.goo.ne.jp/link/img/goo167.gif" width="50" height="25" border="0" alt="goo"></a></td> <td><font size="-1"><a href="http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/" style="text-decoration:none;color:#993333;">辞書</a></font></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <div style="padding-left:10px;"> <input type="text" name="MT" value="" size="20"><br> <input type="submit" value="検索"><br> <font size="-2"> <input id="ej" type="radio" name="kind" value="ej" checked><label for="ej">英和</label> <input id="je" type="radio" name="kind" value="je"><label for="je">和英</label> <input id="jn" type="radio" name="kind" value="jn"><label for="jn">国語</label> </font><br> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <input type="hidden" name="FROM" value="USER"> </form>

Tha's all. It's so easy, isn't it?
If you want to put a link to 'Eijirou' too, please copy the following HTML code and paste it following scripts.

それだけ。簡単でしょ？
もし 『英辞郎』にもリンクをはりたいなら、以下のHTMLタグをコピーしてスクリプトの後に貼り付けてください。

<BR><strong><a href="http://www.alc.co.jp/" target="_blank">* 英辞郎へはコチラ *</A></strong>

If you use English very often when you write an article, I think it's so useful for visitors to your blog.
Please try to set up it if you want.

もし記事を書く際に英語を使うことが多いなら、ブログの訪問者にとってとても便利だと思いますよ。
よかったら設置してみてください。=＾-＾=

By the way, I nearly run out of things to write on my blog.
I guess I wrote the same thing before...
Although one of the reasons is that I decided not to write about my friends and my job so much, then what should I do?
(To tell the truth, I can't work so much now.)
In the meantime, Ruu, a budgerigar, is very fine, so I'm fine for now.
And a drama I had been looking forward to also started.
I guess Keisuke Kuwata's new song is not so bad, although I have a lot of things to say.
Yes, it's so good!

ところで、ブログに書くネタが尽きそうです。
前にも同じ事を書いた気が．．．~(=^‥^A
理由の一つは、友人や仕事のについてあまり書かないようにしようと決めたからですが、じゃあ何を書けばいいの？
（ホントは、今あんまり働けないんだけどね）
とりあえず、ルー（セキセイインコ）はとっても元気、故に私も今のところ元気です。
それに楽しみにしてたドラマも始まりました。
言いたいことはいろいろあるけど、桑田さんの新曲はそんなに悪くないんじゃないかな。
うん、とってもいい♪　=＾-＾=

ちなみに↑のスクリプトには英和・和英・国語辞典がありますが、ココログでは文字化けしてしまうため英和辞書しか使えません。 (T-T)
英和辞書以外文字化けしてしまうという方は、↓のスクリプトを試してみてください。

<form method="GET" name="search" action="http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php" target="goo"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><a href="http://goo.ne.jp/"><img src="http://help.goo.ne.jp/link/img/goo167.gif" width="50" height="25" border="0" alt="goo"></a></td> <td><font size="-1"><a href="http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/" style="text-decoration:none;color:#993333;">辞書</a></font></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> <div style="padding-left:10px;"> <input type="text" name="MT" value="" size="20"><br> <input type="submit" value="検索"> <font size="-2"> <input id="ej" type="radio" name="kind" value="ej" checked><label for="ej">英和</label> </font><br> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <input type="hidden" name="FROM" value="USER"> </form>

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+ Harry Potter & Hedwig +

I watched "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" yesterday.
It was recorded in English, so as I expected, I couldn't understand almost all of what the characters said.
Well, I had read the original story already, of course in Japanese, so I could manage to enjoy the atmosphere of the movie.
Actually, I have a book of English version of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban".
I bought it years ago to study English.
Yes, as you expect, I never have read it.
I lost interest in English soon, and the book remains unread until now.
I think to have to read it, but it's not clear when I'll do it.

By the way, the name of Harry Potter's owl is "Hedwig".
The following sentences are totally nothing to do with "Harry Potter".
But it's also a Hedwig's story.
When I say Hedwig, I am not referring to Harry Potters's owl.

Do you know "Hedwig and The Angry Inch"?
It's originally a very popular rock musical that has been performed on off-Broadway in New York.
It was made into a movie in 2001, and released in Japan too in 2002.
And it was performed by Hiroshi Mikami in Japan in 2004 and 2005.
I went to see this musical with my friend who is a big fan of Hiroshi Mikami and Hedwig in 2005.
And I heard that Kouji Yamamoto had performed Hedwig this year.
If I had known it, and if I had been able to do, I would have gone to see it!
Well, in either case, it was and is impossible.

This story's main character is one drag queen, drag queen is mostly a man who dresses up like a woman.
But this is not only a peculiar story of drag queen.
This has a universal theme anyone can sympathize with.
The theme are "My imperfect self" and "Where is my missing half, my other half or my true love? Does it exist truly?"

体力的にも時間的にも限界が来たようなので、今日の日記はここまで！
ヘドウィグについては書き尽くせないぐらい書きたいことがいっぱいなのに～！
ずっと体調が悪いから大人しくしてたのに、昨日で既に37.3度。
おまけに今日はこれから病院。（先週の火曜に行ったばかりなのに！）
帰ってきたらまた微熱ババァだわ。

そんなこんなで簡単なことだけ書こうと思ったんですが・・・
『副音声（オリジナル音声）で録画しました』 ってどう書けばいいんでしょう？
"It was recorded in English" じゃあダメなのかしら？
『不完全な自分』 を "My imperfect self" と書くのは強引な気がするし。
（【英辞郎】君で 『もとの自分』 を "one's former self"、『今の自分』 を"my present self" と紹介しているので強引にアレンジしてみました）
頭がぼけているのか、簡単なはずの文章も出てこないし、なかなかどうして立派に絶不調。
ちょっと休んだ方がいいかしらん。（あ、サボリ癖が・・・）

"Hedwig and The Angry Inch" についてはいずれ再チャレンジして、も～～～っといっぱい書きたい♪
何せ主人公がドラッグ・クィーンなので、ケバイし、ギャグも下品なうえにブラックだし、一目見て拒否反応を起こす人が続出だと思うんだけど、ハマる人はハマる映画です。
もともとがミュージカルなので、映画よりも舞台を見た方がいいのは言うまでもないことですが、映画もなかなかいいんですよ、これが。(DVD持ってます♪）
ミュージカルの設定では、舞台を見に来たお客さんは、同時にヘドウィグのライブを興味本位に見に来たお客さんでもあります。
そしてヘドウィグの歌とその合間で語る彼の数奇な人生に歓声を上げたり、笑ったり、ひいたり(^m^*)しながら、ラストで彼が示した一つの答えに共感し、不思議と慰められてしまうという、とにかく最初から最後までパワフルな舞台です。
日本では三上博史さんが2004年と2005年に。（私は2005年の舞台を見に行きました♪）
そして今年、山本耕史さんがヘドウィグを演じられたそうです。（見たかった！）
内容もさることながら、このミュージカルの一番のオススメは音楽♪
You Tubeで "Hedwig and The Angry Inch" を検索すると、ほとんどの曲が聴けるので一度探してみてください。（いいのか？）
私の一番のオススメは 『The Origin of Love（愛の起源）』 。
ちなみに↑の映像で、ヘドウィグの後ろでコーラスをしている無精ひげの男性は、【元ドラッグ・クィーンだった男性】の役を演じている女性です。