National Census Edition
I just did the census online, and it was great. Piece of cake, and much easier than the paper version. Hope they keep this option in the future too. Deadline is October 7th, by the way. If you haven’t completed it yet please do -it’s important for the government to have accurate data so they can provide services in local areas.
I’ve been trying to stick to a more consistent daily routine, and so far it is working well. Got a lot done last week, so you might even see some new blog posts at some point. Maybe.
This week’s links
- I prefer to use low estimates for future growth. I’d rather be pleasantly surprised than run out of money… Is Compound Interest Overrated?
- This made me think: Your Time Scale
- I remember this from Dungeons and Dragons: Greek Fire
- This is why I don’t pay attention: Anchoring & Adjustment in the Stock Market
- Phew: A few rules
- Disappointing that foreign residents are still an afterthought to the government. Maybe they haven’t noticed there are over 2 million, mostly tax and health insurance paying, of us? (the correct answer to the question is: “Of course. Why would you even ask that?”): Coronavirus vaccination to be made free in Japan
- The thing that really turns me off tower manshons is the incredibly expensive maintenance costs, but this isn’t great either: Coronavirus and natural disasters turning home ownership from dream to nightmare
- Really enjoyed listening to (rather than reading) Burton Malkiel for a change (great title too!): A Random Talk with Burton Malkiel
- Seems promising. This use of hydrogen (as storage) makes sense to me, rather than trying to use it in cars… ‘Green hydrogen’ from renewables could become cheapest ‘transformative fuel’ within a decade
- I’m surprised they are doing this now. Maybe the deal was signed pre-Covid? Marriott signs 11 Fairfield hotels in Japan
- I’m struggling physically at the moment, so this makes a lot of sense to me: How to Be Fit at 100: The Centenarian Olympics
What do you think? Anything good in there? I think #2, #8, and #11 for me.
This week’s books
I got really into the Red Rising series of SF books this week. I would describe them as The Hunger Games meets Dune. I’m halfway through book three now!
- Golden Son, by Pierce Brown. Book 2 in the gripping Red Rising series.
- Morning Star, by Pierce Brown. Book 3 in the emotional rollercoaster that is the Red Rising series.
- City of Bones, by Martha Wells. I love her Murderbot books, so this was an easy book to buy. Looking forward to reading it once I finish RR.
- The Boys: Dear Becky part 5, by Garth Ennis. This is a sequel/prequel to the comic version of The Boys, which is much more violent and graphic than the excellent Amazon TV series (that I am also into at the moment).
Glad you are reading the Red Rising series! Great set of books (I haven’t ventured into the ones after Morning Star yet). Brandon Sanderson has a similar series (not yet completed) called Skyward when you’re ready for the next sci-fi!
Oooh, haven’t seen that yet. I like Sanderson’s stuff very much, but I kind of got stuck in that Stormlight Archive thing and it’s getting a bit Wheel of Time for my liking 🙁
2 million out of 115 million… 1.7%…
Regarding the census, it is especially important for foreigners to complete it. The previous census in 2015 counted about 1.75 million foreigners while 2.32 million were registered with the Ministry of Justice around the same time, meaning less than 80% were included. In contrast, the census takers manage to include practically all Japanese residents. The census is the basis for determining the national population, but not the foreign population. The census is also used for some employment-related data, so the contribution of foreign workers has not been fully captured due to the lower completion rate.