Just the links, ma’am


Apologies. Had a pretty heavy week and completely forgot to write the Monday Read yesterday. Here is a very bare-bones version with just the links. Will try to do better next time!

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/14/climate-change-taking-action-rebecca-solnit​
  2. https://www.epsilontheory.com/we-were-soldiers-once-and-young/
  3. https://soranews24.com/2018/10/15/lawson-begins-first-self-service-convenience-store-in-tokyo-no-line-ups-necessary/​
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/15/how-much-damage-can-saudi-arabia-do-to-the-global-economy
  5. https://www.raptitude.com/2018/10/its-okay-to-feel-bad-for-no-reason/
  6. https://japantoday.com/category/politics/gov%27t-eyes-making-daily-necessities-eligible-for-2-rebate-scheme
  7. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-6285665/Flat-rate-state-pension-rise-2-6-4-25-week-168-60-April.html


What do you think? Anything good in there? #1 and #2 hit me the hardest I think. Also discovered that the UK government has changed the rules on expats paying into pensions so will do a post on that soon…

And here are some books I finished/bought/started reading:

  • The Martial Apprentice (autobiography by Roy Dean, a jiu-jitsu instructor I like). The first 80% of this was good, and the last bit was a bit weird. Also started:
  • Becoming the Black Belt by the same author. This is much better so far 🙂
  • How to Be Your Own Bodyguard (self-defence, etc.). This was fairly sensible and practical with some interesting anecdotes sprinkled in, but maybe a bit too paranoid for me to implement fully, especially in Japan.
  • The Consuming Fire (second book in John Scalzi’s collapsing empire series). Enjoyed the first one so this should be good. Scalzi writes fairly light, very readable science fiction.
  • Ego is the Enemy (Ryan Holiday’s new one). I like Holiday’s books, mainly about productivity, creativity, and doing good work. Think I might need his advice!