General Discussion Thread – 05 July 2022

23 comments

1. Weather is nice today. That typhoon seemed to pass over.

2. Let’s discuss used Kei cars.

   My husband and i are looking for a car together (1 car we can share ownership/use when needed). We’re looking to start a family soon too, so between now and the next couple of months is the best time to buy a used car.
   My neighbor is selling his kei car. I have no idea the make/model/year. It’s only ¥23万 according to the sticker on the windshield. Im thinking about inquiring about it to see what’s wrong with it (if anything), know the type of car and whatnot.

   Assuming everything is as perfect it can be with the car (no major mechanical/electrical issues) and the year of the car is relatively recent (2010+), do you think it’s worth the cost? Again, assuming if everything is virtually perfect.

   Im not worried about shaken and stuff like that. My husband and I would be driving it and splitting costs .

   What do you guys think? Good deal or we could do better?

3. With the weather we’ve been having I figured I’d try my hand at making ice cream for the first time.

   Since I don’t have an ice cream maker I used a no-churn recipe as the base (from Glen And Friends Cooking on youtube).

   And damn, it turned out way better than I expected and for only about 10 minutes of effort and the patience to wait for it to freeze.

   The result –
   [Baileys Irish Cream and Black Thunder](https://i.imgur.com/uEGQX9c.jpg)

   I definitely recommend giving it a shot for anyone ice cream curious, but not ready to invest in the cost or space of a dedicated maker.

   Edit: The recipe is extremely simple, 35% cream, condensed milk, and flavorings.

4. This is probably better suited for the complaint thread, but it can’t wait.

   I was riding to work on my bicycle in the rain this morning which sucks as it is. Cars were oddly backed up quite far back from the light and taking up the shoulder with the bike lane I usually ride on. I had to begrudgingly go onto the sidewalk or I wouldn’t be able to proceed and probably get hit. Mind you, I am always riding on the proper side of the road with the flow of traffic.

   Anwyays, there was a huge mob of elementary school kids who just wouldn’t move out of the way. I was as far over to the side as I could be without falling down the hill on the other side of the sidewalk. This one little girl directly on the edge decided to play chicken and wouldn’t move while staring right at me, so I had to slam my brakes and try not to skid. Then, I had to walk-manuever the bicycle around these oblivious children walking against traffic as they blankly stared at me. Often times they have parent chaperones with them who are equally oblivious.

   Why do people do this? It’s just common sense and basic awareness which apparently no one has. I just don’t get it.

   Edit: Since some people can’t understand analogies/examples, I was not trying to literally play chicken with a child. Her stubborness reminded me of the game which is why I used the example.

   I also tried not to skid because IT WAS RAINING and slippery. I wasn’t going fast on the sidewalk. I shouldn’t even have to explain it since it was said above.

   Edit 2: No idea why you people are so mad now when I’ve taken time to clarify things. I guess I’m not surprised.

5. Weird foreigners lately. There was a Santa Claus looking dude standing in the middle of the pedestrian bridge between Hankyu and JR Osaka holding a yellow sign with a long rant about God/Jesus/COVID in Japanese. Guy was there from when I went to work in the morning at 8 am and was still there when I was on my way back at 7:30.

   This morning, there was a foreign dude pushing his baby in a stroller, with the canopy wide open in the pouring rain. Poor kid, I only saw him as he walked into the station, so at that point it was pointless to say anything. Why would you do that to your baby man?

6. Married with children guys – does your wife ever take “me” time?

   My wife had a medical appointment in town a few weeks ago. It was my day off so I stayed home with the baby. I told her to take her time coming back and stop by at a cafe that she likes so she could have some cake or just, you know, unwind by herself for a bit. She goes “no no, I want to go to that cafe with you and the baby”.

   I appreciate the sentiment but she should know as well as I do that there’s a 50/50 chance the baby will start crying as soon as our food gets brought to the table.

   I think this is where we differ. I get a haircut about once a month and I make it a point to take my time coming back. I’ll stop in at some tiny, cramped stores that a stroller would never fit in or go eat somewhere that, again, would be impossible if I were pushing a stroller. “Me” time is important, isn’t it?

7. Waiting on MUFG processing a booking website refund since Thursday. Would the normal wait be about 3-5 business days? Am aware that Saturday and Sunday got in the way. Money left the account immediately when I booked on Thursday evening.

8. Sorry this probably belongs in the stupid question thread, but I’m trying to fix this ASAP. We have a Gyutto mamachari and the saddle keeps getting loose (nose dips up and down). I keep tightening it up it keeps getting loose. I suspect it’s because we often lift it up by the saddle when trying to park it.

   I’m not really a bike person— is there something I’m not doing that I should be doing? Or do I just have to keep re-tightening it every day or so?

9. How is the internet speeds for anyone whose building provides it? (realize answers will vary, but I just want to hear)

   Context:

   Moving to a brand new place and found out they have free internet. That was not important to me because I am currently using au hikari fiber and it’s great. I come to find the new place does not allow construction (needed to install fiber) and I am WFH. Now I’m getting a bit worried that I may be stuck with some low quality shared wi-fi internet or something… Oh, on top of this, it also means I have to cancel my au hikari fiber contract before it ends which will now cost me up to 8万円. 😂

10. ~~I need help. My wife has COVID and I’m looking for a~~ *~~cheap~~* ~~place to stay while she recovers in our apartment.This way she can be comfortable and I don’t get sick (haven’t been exposed to her yet).~~

    ~~Does anyone have advice for where I can stay on the cheap in Tokyo? I want to avoid paying hotel ~8000y per day for two weeks if possible, but maybe I just have to bite the bullet…~~

    Edit: She is now quarantining in a government hotel. Thanks all for the advice and info. I’m very worried, but she’s triple-vaxxed and in good spirit!

11. Just entered the second trimester and thinking of starting the hunt for baby stuff. What things do you guys recommend to buy brand new and what things are okay to get second hand? Also, I’d appreciate any suggestions/recommendations for must-have items that first timers usually won’t consider.

12. Does anyone know of cafes where it might be OK to take a quick phone call?

    I work from home and I’m going a little stir crazy.

    99% of my work is emails and documents but I do rarely need to take phone calls of up to 10 or 15 minutes in length.

    I would feel rude taking a call at a Starbucks or Tullys, but I also don’t think this justifies shelling out for a coworking space or whatever.

    Any suggestions of good places? Any thoughts on taking a phone call in a regular cafe?

13. I was watching a YouTube video of two guys going on a road trip to visit “rainforest cafe” in America, and I got kinda sad because my life is nowhere as exciting as that…
    But then I googled and found out there’s a rainforest cafe in Tokyo!

    Menu doesn’t look like anything I would want to eat though…

14. Anyone have any experience with buying iPhones with MyUS or Expansys? Or just shipping phones from overseas into Japan? I read some posts about it but it’s several years old. I would want to avoid buying from within Japan because of annoying shutter sound.

15. I wish that spider thread didn’t outright show a pic of the redback as the cover photo…I almost threw my phone. I just wanted info on the sighting in Tokyo 😭

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17. When applying to jobs on Daijob, do you add a cover letter?

18. Traveling to Guam this month, but didn’t see it listed on the MOFA country classification for COVID precautions. Anyone know what color code it is, red, yellow, or blue? Would it fall under the US (blue)?

19. The sensor key case to my apartment broke. So I’d like to get a new one. Easy thing, right? …Right?

    Ask the on-site maintenance guy, he has no idea.

    Call the maintenance/management company, they don’t know, and direct me to call the company that handles billing.

    Call the billing company, they have no idea, and are also baffled why the management company would suggest them.

    Call the management company again, they still don’t know.

    Call the company that actually makes the sensors…and they don’t know, since apparently the individual keys are handled by, guess what, another company.

    Call that company and, somehow, they don’t know either.

    This is ridiculous.

20. There’s a guy with binoculars at my kids gymnastics club. I’m sure he’s just looking at his kid but it’s not a great look.

21. Positive pregnancy test from the missus
    What are the next steps from here?
    Excited but nervous at the same time.

22. Any dutch oven recommendation? The brand name stuff are kinda too expensive.

    EDIT: Just after making this comment I discovered that Le Creuset is having a summer sale, so I guess I’ll just get one from them

23. Couple of things I wanted to ask:

    1. What is your typing speed (either in Japanese or English) and how important would you say that typing speed is to your job? It’s a weird story but I have a bad habit of scratching my fingers and that has slowed down my typing speed and I’m worried that will hurt my chances of landing a better job.
    2. What do you think of companies that make you take a 適性検査 as part of the interviewing process? I had to take two 100-question tests for a company my recruiter introduced to me last week. I guess I was too honest about things like sleep habits, personal thoughts etc. because I was rejected by them even though I thought the interview went well.