Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category
Linux rant - (blame Nick)
On September 02, 2008 in Nerd Rant, Resources, fun
Warning: Nerdy content to follow
I am editing some interviews with Japan-related webmasters for future posts. Those should be coming soon. I want to get back to what DailyJ is all about, but it is a battle with the clock.
In the meantime, inspired by Nick’s nerdy posts about php code, I’ve decided that it is OK to gratify my inner nerd. So today’s post is about Linux! (and bilingual computing)
<– respect the penguin
puppy linux to be exact.
Linux, for the uninitiated, is a FREE (as in beer) Operating System (like windows or mac os).
Puppy linux is a super light version of linux and it is relatively easy to use. On top of that it is one of the operating systems that is part of the new bilingual computing movement (operating systems that can toggle between languages).
Now, before I go further, let me warn that even the easy to use versions of linux are tricky for the newbie.
It is a trade between time and freedom.
It takes a bit of time to get use to linux, but the freedom linux gives can’t be beat.
For one, I have my entire OS and files on a CD and USB pen drive combo (you can fit it on just a USB drive too).
So I can just pop my cd and my USB drive into any computer and have everything I have at my home computer…
Including Japanese!
(info on getting puppy linux speaking Japanese)
For the nerdy who would like to ask questions/discuss I’ve created a forum thread about Linux on JapanLabs
Search/Rate JLPT info on the web
On August 13, 2008 in On the J-web, Resources
The JLPT application deadline is coming up soon
So I was curious to see what search results I could get for JLPT on Nipponster.
Looks like JapanProbe has some good resources, and a few others.
Check them out (and add to them, rate, comment) here:
http://nipponstercom-swicki.eurekster.com/JLPT/
JLPT up and coming!
On August 12, 2008 in Announcements, On the J-web, Resources
Hi All,
Just an additional reminder (thanks to Nihonhacks for reminding me) that the JLPT application is due soon (September 12th).
JLPT info can be found on http://www.jlpt.jp/e/
Cheers!
Japan-related Google gadgets and upcoming posts!
On February 18, 2008 in Announcements, Resources
I’m working on a few big upcoming posts. One of them will hopefully better explain the Japanopedia project. The others should spark a lot discussion and, even better, collaboration.
In the meantime I thought I’d post a little blurb about Japan-related Google Gadgets.
There are some really nice gadgets available that you can add to your site or your iGoogle page (and other places too, I think). You can search or browse through them from the main Google Gadget page. I like to search through these for ideas and possible add-ons for the Nipponster Japan toolbar and I thought you might like them too.
Here are the gadgets for the search term “Japan.”
There are a couple of interesting ones: kanji of the day gadget, flickr pictures of Japan, and Duck Hunt (ok. maybe that last one is a bad example 
)
Also there are the gadgets I’ve included below (and look! I stumbled on a Japan-Hopper one):
Some more possible gems of the Japan-related web
On December 15, 2007 in On the J-web, Resources
A couple days ago I posted a list of sites as possible “unknown gems” of Japan-related web. After posting the first list of gems I got some great feedback and suggestions for more gems. Here are those suggestions and some more possible gems from my wanders on the web.
#1 from Shane S:
I misstated in my earlier post that this weeks qoute was about fairy tales - it was Kotowaza or Japanese proverbs. The site that I refer to is here: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/5623/kotowaza.html and I think that is goes along with the fairy tale site and should be considered for your list.
By the way, Shane has just started a neat blog called A typical life. Each week starts out with a quote or Kotowaza. This week is:
<—click to read the post.
#2 Chris at Waikiki2Yanai
Do you know this place? It’s definitely not what I thought it would be.
Gaba teacher is a neat site. It is like theonion.com, but for Eikaiwa teachers! 
Thanks guys for sharing these great sites with everyone!
And thanks to Thomas at NihonHacks. I got this idea of including reader comments in future posts from him. It is a great community building tip. See how Japan bloggers can help each other out?!
Here are some more sites I found that might be hidden gems. What do you think?
#3 Sakura House
(not so unknown) Cheap Accommodation in Tokyo. Another is Fontana Apt.
#4 The Japan section of Career.org
One interesting thing on the page is a Nova Teachers United group. Poor Nova teachers 
Good resources on studying in Japan. wle-Japan is similar
************SOMETHING NEAT*****************
I found this panning virtual reality thing (awhile ago) on the site below
************************************************
#6 Kiku’s Cobweb Castle
All kinds of goodies. Lots of great pictures, panning VR, more. How about it guys? Gem?
A website for ‘taboo-free” journalism on Japan. Looks pretty interesting and a bit like our past interviewee, gyaku.jp
So what is the verdict? Which are gems and which, well… aren’t?
Wikis for English teachers
On November 13, 2007 in Resources
I thought introducing you to some resources for ESL teachers would be a nice follow up to our recent interview with Chris from Chris’s English School.
Why Wikis? Well, wikis are wonderful.
While some of these may not be as extensive as Dave’s ESL Cafe or have as much practical advice as RisingSunofNihon’s ESL Archives, for example, they are good resources. And as they are wikis I believe they have the potential to be great resources, because YOU can contribute too
The wikia JET wiki:
http://jet.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
EFL Geek’s Wiki:
ESL lesson plans on Wikibooks
