Plan B: April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

National Health Insurance Premium

This is how Setagaya ward charges for National Health Insurance. Basis for the premium calculation here.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

すばらしい日曜日

先週は良かった。

遅く寝ても早く起きて、朝ごはんを準備して、出かけた。

協会に着いたら、すぐ並んで、少し待ってた、神父様がいろいろ話して、これが覚えた：忘れてなくても真に許すことが可能です。

あとで席も取ってくれた。

忘れなくても許すことが可能だ！

Saturday, April 25, 2009

New recipes

I just found Obachan's kitchen and can't wait to try out her recipes.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Without any need for SMS, phones on international roaming, scampering for a public phone, one can inform friends about arriving at one's destination safely.

This isn't one of those automatic prompts from airlines that announce that the plane has landed. The service works by checking whether one's phone is actually working in the destination and then sends out SMS, email, twitter to the pre-set list of people. ArrivedOK seems interesting. Hope it works!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Ideas for eating out

I recently found Kat and Satoshi's blog and will try out the places they recommended. Thank you for sharing your favorites!

Saturday, April 18, 2009

When tuna head meat looks like beef

At Inagiku

Auntie C, thank you!

Friday, April 17, 2009

Hospital Set-up

Look!

This hospital has high ceilings, a mural, an aquarium, and comfy seats.

Even better, the information ladies are very quick and very helpful.

Kitasato Institute Hospital

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Why is there a red stain inside the tomato sauce can?

Look!

Is that normal?

Nutritionists, please advise?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Rice alternates

I mix ビタバァレー into the rice! Yes, the bag above's empty... I've used this one up. Time to pick up another bag.

It's wheat!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What the food really looks like

Butter Chicken Curry at Taz Mahal Shinjuku

Menu - Part 3

Tropicana saves the day!

The menu (Part 1) at Taz Mahal --yes, it was Taz...

This one was really good! I got it at a jidohanbaiki (vending machine).

Monday, April 13, 2009

It's true!

The 12,000yen benefit (定額給付金等, Teigaku Kyufukin, Fixed-Sum Benefit) is for real! The same news in Japanese here.

Distribution of application forms starts today!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Wonderful idea: Bicycles for Rent

This is something I absolutely love!

I think having bicycles for rent around a city is so environmentally-friendly!

If you're in a hurry and would usually take a cab instead, take a bike.
If you're always waiting for the bus (and you know how buses are... they can be late), take a bike instead!
If you're tired from too much walking and have a load of groceries, take a bike.
If you're visiting the town for the first time and are unsure of how to explore it, take a bike.
If the trains aren't working (because of an accident?), take a bike instead.

Information on bicycles for rent.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Discount coupons on sale by the Ward Office

This is what you call creative!

The ward office is selling 11,000worth of gift checks for 10,000yen! The gift checks can be used at a number of stores within the ward.

Sales start on April 24.

Inquiries: Setagaya Federation of Shopping District Promotion Associations, Tel: 3414-1432, Fax: 3410-1651; Setagaya Industrial, Commercial & Workers’ Service Corporation, Tel: 3411-6667, Fax: 3412-2340

Friday, April 10, 2009

10,000 hours of practice

After Outliers, I have been at fulfilling my 10,000hours of practice.

Here it goes.

One step at a time.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Alternative Careers

How lousy is the news business? Well, two of the Wall Street Journal’s last D.C.-based investigative reporters (one with a Pulitzer) are leaving to open a shop where they’ll carry out investigations for “private clients.” So if you suspect your husband of having an affair with a crooked Pentagon procurements official, you know who to call.

From VanityFair.