Rich
@richardsmart.bsky.social
Lifer in Japan. Here to talk and record random thoughts. Opinions and all that stuff are my own and whatever the equivalent is of a retweet is not an endorsement.
Pinned
Rich
@richardsmart.bsky.social
· Apr 3
I saw a mummy today that looked a little bit like Ossie Ardiles.
In the biggest sacrifice of fatherhood so far, my son said he wanted CocoIchi. We came, but then at the table he said he wanted to share my curry. So now I am eating a curry with no spiciness.
December 30, 2025 at 3:37 AM
In the biggest sacrifice of fatherhood so far, my son said he wanted CocoIchi. We came, but then at the table he said he wanted to share my curry. So now I am eating a curry with no spiciness.
I keep hearing an ad for a bourbon that the basketball player Stephen Curry was involved in. He really seems to be indifferent to making bourbon. Hope he is more interested in basketball.
December 30, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I keep hearing an ad for a bourbon that the basketball player Stephen Curry was involved in. He really seems to be indifferent to making bourbon. Hope he is more interested in basketball.
China will be conducting military exercises around Taiwan from today. They are clear this is to serve as a threat to others.
December 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
China will be conducting military exercises around Taiwan from today. They are clear this is to serve as a threat to others.
Every time they talk about Vecna in Stranger Things I like to think they are saying Wenger and that the main baddie is Arsene Wenger.
December 28, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Every time they talk about Vecna in Stranger Things I like to think they are saying Wenger and that the main baddie is Arsene Wenger.
I can never tell whether animals escaping from zoos is something that occurs more regularly in Japan than elsewhere. It seems like once every year or two though.
December 28, 2025 at 3:43 AM
I can never tell whether animals escaping from zoos is something that occurs more regularly in Japan than elsewhere. It seems like once every year or two though.
This a.m.:
Me: These flowers are not for funerals right?
Neighbor: No. Who are they for?
Me: My wife.
N: YOUR WIFE DIED!?
Me: No. I wanted to check they aren’t funeral flowers. They’re for Xmas from the unstaffed shop.
N: How’s that shop?
Me: Great.
N: I’ll check it out. Happy birthday to your wife!
Me: These flowers are not for funerals right?
Neighbor: No. Who are they for?
Me: My wife.
N: YOUR WIFE DIED!?
Me: No. I wanted to check they aren’t funeral flowers. They’re for Xmas from the unstaffed shop.
N: How’s that shop?
Me: Great.
N: I’ll check it out. Happy birthday to your wife!
December 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
This a.m.:
Me: These flowers are not for funerals right?
Neighbor: No. Who are they for?
Me: My wife.
N: YOUR WIFE DIED!?
Me: No. I wanted to check they aren’t funeral flowers. They’re for Xmas from the unstaffed shop.
N: How’s that shop?
Me: Great.
N: I’ll check it out. Happy birthday to your wife!
Me: These flowers are not for funerals right?
Neighbor: No. Who are they for?
Me: My wife.
N: YOUR WIFE DIED!?
Me: No. I wanted to check they aren’t funeral flowers. They’re for Xmas from the unstaffed shop.
N: How’s that shop?
Me: Great.
N: I’ll check it out. Happy birthday to your wife!
My son’s comic this month explains that Santa Claus works for Uber Eats to earn the money to buy the toys for children.
December 24, 2025 at 7:35 AM
My son’s comic this month explains that Santa Claus works for Uber Eats to earn the money to buy the toys for children.
Just saw footage of Mani’s funeral and Ian Brown looks like a Las Vegas magician.
December 23, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Just saw footage of Mani’s funeral and Ian Brown looks like a Las Vegas magician.
Last Japanese lesson of the year. Things are winding down now…
December 16, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Last Japanese lesson of the year. Things are winding down now…
Not sure what Hungarians would think of this, but we quite liked it.
December 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Not sure what Hungarians would think of this, but we quite liked it.
I’m making Hungarian goulash for dinner tonight. It’s based on a recipe I found, but I do not think I have ever eaten Hungarian goulash. So the test is just does it taste nice or not. I guess that is how it should be for everything.
December 14, 2025 at 8:36 AM
I’m making Hungarian goulash for dinner tonight. It’s based on a recipe I found, but I do not think I have ever eaten Hungarian goulash. So the test is just does it taste nice or not. I guess that is how it should be for everything.
We bought a new rice cooker yesterday. It cost ¥37,000. We haven’t used it yet but the rice had better taste magical.
December 13, 2025 at 11:53 PM
We bought a new rice cooker yesterday. It cost ¥37,000. We haven’t used it yet but the rice had better taste magical.
Hillary Clinton, Eric Adams, and Adam Neumann on the same stage at last.
New: Hillary Clinton will be speaking at an event hosted by Israel Hayom (Israel's most read newspaper, run by Israeli-American billionaire & Trump megadonor Miriam Adelson).
She'll join John Fetterman, Eric Adams, Trump UN Ambassador Mike Waltz, Biden official Amos Hochstein, and Israeli officials
She'll join John Fetterman, Eric Adams, Trump UN Ambassador Mike Waltz, Biden official Amos Hochstein, and Israeli officials
December 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Hillary Clinton, Eric Adams, and Adam Neumann on the same stage at last.
The alternative 2016 could have been just as bad as the Trump fork.
Hillary Clinton blames TikTok and “totally made up” videos for young people’s views on Israel and Palestine.
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
She says social media influenced “not just the usual suspects” but also “young Jewish Americans who don’t know the history and don’t understand.”
December 3, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The alternative 2016 could have been just as bad as the Trump fork.
Here’s the details. Struggling to understand how it is legal for a government to simply scrap a pension plan midway through (stage 2 VNIC) corporate-adviser.com/budget-round...
November 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Here’s the details. Struggling to understand how it is legal for a government to simply scrap a pension plan midway through (stage 2 VNIC) corporate-adviser.com/budget-round...
Have to admit, when I signed up to get a pension in the UK, I didn’t think I was gambling on whether it would continue to be viable from overseas. Thanks Labourvatives.
November 28, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Have to admit, when I signed up to get a pension in the UK, I didn’t think I was gambling on whether it would continue to be viable from overseas. Thanks Labourvatives.
The food hall and souvenir place near the Ishikawa cho entrance to Chinatown has been replaced by a three-stores of nothing but gacha machines.
November 15, 2025 at 4:03 AM
The food hall and souvenir place near the Ishikawa cho entrance to Chinatown has been replaced by a three-stores of nothing but gacha machines.
New Japanese book dropped on the AI bubble.
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 AM
New Japanese book dropped on the AI bubble.
The Colonel and crisps. United at last.
November 5, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The Colonel and crisps. United at last.
disconnect.blog/getting-off-... Here’s a list for people wanting to start avoiding U.S. tech.
Getting off US tech: a guide
I’m in the process of dropping US tech services. Here’s how I did it, and options you should consider.
disconnect.blog
November 1, 2025 at 9:59 PM
disconnect.blog/getting-off-... Here’s a list for people wanting to start avoiding U.S. tech.
Got to see the Oasis gig in Tokyo last night. I’m not a big fan, but it was impossible to avoid getting caught up in the love the crowd had for the band.
October 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Got to see the Oasis gig in Tokyo last night. I’m not a big fan, but it was impossible to avoid getting caught up in the love the crowd had for the band.
The snow arrived on Fuji a bit earlier this year. You love to see it. weathernews.jp/news/202510/...
October 23, 2025 at 3:09 AM
The snow arrived on Fuji a bit earlier this year. You love to see it. weathernews.jp/news/202510/...