kinuta

Don't know what that converts to in Fahrenheit, but it sounds friggin' hot! PS At 10.30am the temperature on our balcony was 43C. Don't know what that converts to in Fahrenheit, but it sounds friggin' hot 　That would be 109F, Tom. Hope it's more salubrious in your part of the world.

Tokyo- The Infernal Greenhouse. About 37C maybe touching 38 today. Good luck with the 2020 Olympics, people tend to forget or not know that Tokyo has a full blown tropical summer, complete with typhoons to add to the misery. Daytime highs are 34-37C, nighttime lows 26-28C with humidity varying from 60-70% at the hottest time., to 100% at the lowest. As everyone says, it's the humidity that does you in. I'm sure such conditions are familiar to board members living in tropical parts. They might come as a shock to unsuspecting Olympic visitors from more temperate climes. I may venture out to watch some of the marathon, it amazes me how they can run so fast in such withering heat and humidity. The bottom line is that summer isn't a jolly, warm, pleasure filled season but a kind of grim endurance test, easily the nastiest part of the year. PS At 10.30am the temperature on our balcony was 43C.

Rain, oppressive humidity. I see that this typhoon has been labeled Nangka. They aren't named here, they'd probably run out of names as there are so many. This one is plain old Number Eleven.

Happy birthday, Tom.

Typhoon. Rain, 100% humidity, 10 degree drop in temperature.

Great, how did you know I love that song? Only 36 today but it isn't lunch time yet. I wimped out of my usual 10k morning walk today, even in the shadows it's like a sauna.

As usual summer has started with an abrupt leap in temperature from around 22C last week to 35C today. Another ten weeks before it starts cooling down again.

Dismal, endless rain and sticky humidity.

An absorbing, compulsive page turner. She writes beautifully. Very highly recommended.

I'm thinking that The Unravelling is the most interesting book I've read in a long time.

We're still in the gloom of the rainy season. Grey skies, rain, shrieking crows and 95%+ humidity. It should be over in a couple of weeks.

"Out here on the outer fringes of the galaxy it's easy lose track of new additions the Scandi thriller pantheon. Any pointers would be appreciated." Apologies - can't work out how to get rid of the quotes I don't want! You are probably familiar with the big ones: The Krister Henriksson version of Wallendar (though there was an earlier Swedish version I liked too)The Killing I and IIThe Bridge I and IIBorgen (not a thriller but full of intrigue - who'd have though proportional representation could be so involving!). Not noticed much since - the last BBC 4 Swedish thing about murders on an island was dire - I only managed one episode. Maybe they are saving them up for the winter. Thank you, Bev. I've seen all those. I was also taken by ' The Legacy', not a thriller but a great depiction of a family at each others throats over an inheritence. Makes good binge watching.

Happy Valley is a classic. I agree that no other British series since has matched it's level of grab you by the throat excellence. Out here on the outer fringes of the galaxy it's easy lose track of new additions the Scandi thriller pantheon. Any pointers would be appreciated.

I watched the first episode twice and need to watch episode two again. I nodded off during both episodes. Nicely textured visuals although the constant use of aerial footage between scenes is wearing a bit thin. My main problem is it's very murky nature, mood over substance is all well and good but shouldn't outstay it's welcome at the expense of some forward moving narrative. I'm looking forward to episode three to see how they are going to resolve that final scene.

Ah, I'm a fan as well. Did you also watch Morse? Yes. And I'm going to start watching them again in the very near future. I don't think I've ever seen one quite like Morse. There are some pretty good Skandanivian ones in this genre as well when you're interested. Wallander to name one. Wallander was very good. Just make sure it's the Swedish one, not Kenneth Branagh. I like Morse too but have to admit that the last time I watched some of my complete Morse collection it came across as a bit dated and the curmudgeonery side of Morse's personality that I'd previously been quite at home with seemed slightly grating. I'd recommend 'Case Histories' BBC 2011-2013.

I enjoyed it, good stuff that exceeded my minimal expectations. The ordinary looking , techno light present day British setting worked well, the absence of the ubiquitous all American hero type lead and assistant hotty was welcome too. I thought William Hurt's new upgraded NHS model was very droll, complete with bureaucrat speak software. We can also watch without fear of some corporate jobsworth axing it because of low ratings ! BTW, what's with the double spacing on the new board software ?

1864 - Ole Bonedal (2014) Danish tv series. Slow in the initial set up and not sure about the flashback framing but no denying it's emotional and visual impact. The battle scenes are, and I choose my words carefully, worthy of Kubrick and quite exceptionally well done, especially for a tv series, with the technologically advanced Prussian artilllery bombardment frighteningly depicted. Scathingly shows the hubris and fairy tale naivety of the inept and amateurish Danish political establishment. They literally had no idea what they had started. Recommended, dodgy flashback framing notwithstanding.

Mr. Kinuta, you are right on the spot. I invested in a Sennheiser RS-220 in a sense of modern approach to the fact the internal cabling of the 770 had become broken, and the earpads were in a non-amusing state to put on my head. I was dissappointed that much that I disassembled the whole thing to put a twisted pair of network cable in between the cans, straight through the plastic hose, while washing the earcups and hanging them out to dry. Always liked the Sony red/blue L/R signature, on them as well. Never been better ! MIne are very unsightly, I tend to hide them if ever I have visitors. The packing and covers wore out long ago and have been replaced by a botched up combination of thick foam padding and cotton handkerchiefs. They look ridiculous but sound exactly the same as the day I bought them, over twenty years ago at Yodabashi camera in Shinjuku. I've listened to a wide range of newer types but nothing I've heard has the same presence and depth

I drink more soy milk than the stuff from cows. Soy beans are used in a wide variety of food here and there's a big selection of soy milk. This one is the clear winner, called FUKUREN, if by some chance you find it avaliable give it a try.

What sidewinder said. RIP the great BB King.

A couple of friends visited Sydney last year and said the prices were at least twice and in some cases more than double those in Tokyo.

Mad Men Season one With the final episode coming up I thought it was a good time to go back and slowly rewatch it from the beginning, something I've never done. I was surprised how much more I enjoyed it knowing how it develops. I'd call it richly rewarding tv.

Provided it's properly refrigerated, I'd say it's safe to drink up to a few weeks after sell by date. If it smells off, bin it. If it doesn't smell off then it's probably safe to drink. If the first mouthful tastes off, bin it. There are types of milk called ' Long Life Milk', that will keep for quite long periods without refigeration. My missus bought some after the megaquake a few years ago. We never drank it. I tasted horrible even though it was still 'safe'. We now only buy milk from either Hokkaido or Kyushu. Government propaganda about Fukushima and surrounding prefectures north of Tokyo being radiation free is delusional.

My dad was in the navy on a destroyer and minesweeper. My grandad was on The Somme. He was lucky, he lived.

That was really amazing, thanks for the upload.