@Sweep: So do I just sign in using a Twitter account and enter the code after that, or do I have to go in a different way?

@DrPockets000: Ana got us a Whiskey code, if you sign up using "WMEDIA" then it will automatically join you to the Whiskey group as well ^___^

@Video_Game_King: Too true. My objective is to take the 1-2 years for each language to establish groundwork and basic proficiency with the language, and use the period of learning the next language to become more fluent in the previous one, so that I can establish mastery of one language while learning the basics of the next. While I'm learning Japanese, I'm making an effort to finish up Spanish.

Two years with Japanese? You'll probably need more than that, for reasons you probably already know.

@Axxol: Thanks!

Welcome back, duder!

@Sweep: Hey, thanks! I try to be entertaining.

Thanks for the link! I took a look at the site and it seems pretty awesome. I'll definitely look into getting involved in it.

More people should read your blogs. They are awesome.

I'm also going through that weird "Holy shit, I'm a fat guy!" stage of my life where I should probably start doing something. I recently signed up to fitocracy, which has gotta be the nerdiest way of approaching exercise, but go with what works, I guess!

I want to start doing it again. PocketBlog, I mean.

Life in General

I'm back in classes. It occurred to me that I am in my final year of undergraduate study. This saddens me greatly. College has been the best time of my life, some choice unpleasant events notwithstanding, and leaving them behind will certainly also leave a void in me. Good thing there's grad school, which I fully intend to go to. This semester is largely minor-focused (criminal justice), so it's not really that much fun. I like one of my courses (Victim Studies), and I'll be doing a presentation on human trafficking. Maybe I could just screen the movie "Taken" and make that my presentation. That's what happens in the human trafficking business, right guys? Right? The other two classes are not as interesting; they're about general criminology (kind of interesting, but I am having trouble getting out of bed so early for it) and justice system ethics (fuck me). Then, there is a course on the psychology of human sexuality (fuck yeah!). I'm also taking a Japanese language class, and it is hugely interesting. I have also had two girls ask me for my phone number within three days of the class. Which is kind of awesome considering that never happens. Three new friends in that class are getting me involved again in stuff on campus. I feel younger.

The Language Challenge

In studying Psychology, I at one point put a lot of research into neural plasticity. Simply put, neural plasticity is the ability of the brain to essentially rewire itself in the event that a certain avenue of information is damaged, slowed, or cut short. The brain is literally creating a detour for its functions. I also found that learning a new language actually creates these new avenues manually, because the use of a different language--EACH different language--is a different avenue through the neural network. Not only that, but people over 50 who learn a new language can slow down dementia by 200%.

It's strange: the Post-Traumatic Stress from when I got robbed at gunpoint has made me somewhat foggy and forgetful. I don't know why. It's difficult to think clearly, however. Other stressful things add onto it and it becomes difficult to optimally operate mentally and control my temper which flares up considerably more often nowadays. Every day, after my Japanese class, my brain feels clearer. I'm in a great mood. Life feels fine. It's as if my mind has been refreshed. Learning a new language does this. It's an incredible feeling, and it's like a drug for me. This is why, starting with Japanese, I intend to learn one new language every two years (one if it's an easy language). It's a pretty significant undertaking, but I'm excited. After the two years I plan on spending on Japanese, my next options will be either French, German, American Sign Language, or Icelandic. I don't expect Icelandic to be particularly useful, but it's a beautiful language, and I would love to know it. Mostly because it is the mother tongue of my musical hero, Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson. No, you're a fag.

Getting in Shape

Maybe I'm watching Louis C.K. too much, but seeing him talking about his shitty body is making my notice my piece of shit body. I'm just not operating at very optimal capacity here, people. I eat the worst food and the most exercise I get is the half mile trek to classes. That's nothing. Luckily, one of my buddies in class is a major health nut who works out like a machine and goes to the supplement store like three times a week. I'll trade looking like a bitch for a few weeks next to this guy if it means I can be physically healthier. I'd like to turn this Windows Vista "lol I break down a lot derp" body into a Windows XP "I fuck shit up and everyone likes me" body. Also, I'm tired of looking down at my belly and hating myself. It's really not that bad, but it will be if I'm not careful.

Music Discoveries

Oh God, have I ever been discovering new music. Firstly, thanks to the glorious organization known as Pitchfork, I went from being mildly interested to full-blown raging fan the lovely and talented St. Vincent. Her new single "Cruel" was even named the best new song at Pitchfork's music festival.

I really dig St. Vincent because, like bands like Arcade Fire, she does very well with juxtaposing music that would generally be considered fairly happy and upbeat, and mixes it up with some dark-ass lyrics. Even the video to the song apparently is about a woman who gets kidnapped by a father and his kids, is forced to be a wife/mother, and is then buried alive. I'm interested in everything this woman does now.

I have been a fan of M83 since their awesome cover of "Fall" on the Tron: Legacy: Reconfigured remix album of Daft Punk's soundtrack, but when their newest single released, I'm chomping at the bit for their newest album. This is an oddly relaxing track, and that sax solo at the end is awesome.

I'm going to try to get back to doing this blog more. I missed it a lot. Keep up the love, guys.