Reader Eric C. emailed me this ad for aussieBum underwear.From Engrish & Hanzi SmatterThe top two characters appeared to me as mirrored 决心 ("determination"). I have no idea what the reference of two characters below, 伐大, is about. 伐 means "[to] cut down", and 大 means "big".Oh dear...I think the model has unintentionally tattooed himself with...

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Factotum 1st Draft is DONE!

Yes, just as the title says, it is true, finally (*rolls eyes*) filled with self-doubt and trepidation, I am finished climbing the mountain. Factotum MBT Book3 1st Draft is complete! Now all that is left is to climb all the way down the other side.Now for some celebratory answers!Sylvenger was wondering ... 'in the video from Youtube for Lamplighter, it pronounces Europe's name exactly like the continent...

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Errata

I would just like to take this opportunity to correct the doggerel that Rossamund recalls of Swill early in Lamplighter. I got the metre all out o' whack and would like to offer to you a slightly improved version (and so let you in on my restless and constant polishing of the H-c)Honorius Ludius Grotius SwillWill saw off your limbs, but eschews the pill;For coughs he takes fingers, a sneeze he'll...

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From www.rankmytattoos.com:I'm Robert (aka. iluvchickswithinks81), I got these Chinese and Russian characters at Hardcore Tattoo, also the tribals on my shoulders that go up onto my neck, my last name inside my arm in old english lettering and last but not least my nipple pierced.Robert's back is covered with random characters. All of them are poorly...

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from: Nick B.to: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Sat, Feb 14, 2009 at 9:56 AMsubject: Tshirt queryHi Tian,I've been wearing this shirt for years. Having just discovered your site I'm now a bit worried...Please tell me it doesn't say something stupid and make me look like more of an idiot than normal.Thanks!Nick(ps: keep up the good work! :D)Alan and...

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from: William P.to: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Sat, Feb 7, 2009 at 11:43 PMsubject: Tattoo Help I got this tattoo years ago. It's supposed to be the Chinese character for smooth. I'm just wondering whether or not that's what it means. Thanks,Will滑 means "[to] slip/slide" or slippery".Update: Reader Traveler was unsatisfied with my entry...

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from: Richard K.to: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 9:21 PMsubject: hanzismatter submissionI am writing this with my hands over my eyes, peeking through my fingers to see if I get the answer ... I got this tattooed on my back in retaliation (yes, a permanent mark in a fit of spite) for an ex-girlfriend's own tattoo of some trampy...

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from: James T.to: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Tue, Feb 10, 2009 at 3:00 PMsubject: hanzismatter.com submissionHi, thought you might get a kick out of this. I saw it in my local Asda supermarket (in the UK). I take it to be 女耳魚号日月 (woman, ear, fish, number, day, month) and 雨馬魚耳雲 (rain, horse, fish, ear, cloud), with the middle two 実神 meaning 'true...

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from: Laura I.to: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 1:31 PMsubject: Japanese/Chinese charactersI recently bought a poster with Chinese/Japanese characters on it, and I wanted to be sure the characters actually said what the poster told me they meant. Can you verify that they do mean what they said they mean? I've enclosed a picture....

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European Refinement.

This is an updated, slightly more "polished" design version of a previous rough for Europe's final harness in Book 3.That's all...

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from: Emily B.to: tiangotlost@gmail.com date: Fri, Feb 6, 2009 at 2:55 PMsubject: Tattooi got this tattoo years ago it was supposed to mean warrior- now I'm just really questioning whether or not that's what it means. Can you help? Thanks,EmilyIt looks like this "warrior" had some combat injury.Actually, 武 by itself only means "military; martial,...

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A Quick Break & An Idea.

You might be wondering what the new poll asking about a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure [TM] style story is all for. Well, I was reckoning that when Book 3 1st draft and maybe edit passes are finally done we could embark on a project together where I write an entry upon a certain Half-Continent character, list a poll of options for their next action, give...

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from: Kimto: tiangotlost@gmail.comdate: Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 2:14 PMsubject: Requesting help - possible wrong kanji for tattooI was recently in Hawaii, got a tattoo that was suppose to be the kanji for HOPE however now that I am home I have done some searching and everything I am finding is not what I actually got. Could you possibly have any...

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