Random / Things I done / Reviews

Jordan Harper

Miscellany, waffle, gratuitously stolen links, and much, much less.
Permanent link to 'Honkers then Hawksmoor: happy Thursday.'
Honkers then Hawksmoor: happy Thursday.

Honkers then Hawksmoor: happy Thursday.

Permanent link to 'This beer is not cool. You may think it is, but that is just a beautiful lie fabricated by clowns and gypsies.'

“This beer is not cool. You may think it is, but that is just a beautiful lie fabricated by clowns and gypsies.”

Bring back Dogma!

Permanent link to 'The most important measure of success to me is whether everyone in the company enjoys their work.'

“The most important measure of success to me is whether everyone in the company enjoys their work.”

— Jeff Butterworth of Alien Skin Software, via Bootstrapped, Profitable, & Proud at 37signals

Permanent link to 'Gorgeous sky over London tonight.'
Gorgeous sky over London tonight.

Gorgeous sky over London tonight.

Permanent link to 'If you’re absolutely hopeless at something, you lack exactly the skills that you need to know that you’re absolutely hopeless at it.'

“If you’re absolutely hopeless at something, you lack exactly the skills that you need to know that you’re absolutely hopeless at it.”

John Cleese

Permanent link to 'Italian umbrella/parasol makers in Piedmont, northern Italy, have for centuries spoken in a (now dead) language called Tarùsc to protect trade secrets and techniques. A fascinating article about the industry and the language by Angus Trumble, Italy, Language and Umbrellas | The Paris Review.'
Italian umbrella/parasol makers in Piedmont, northern Italy, have for centuries spoken in a (now dead) language called Tarùsc to protect trade secrets and techniques. A fascinating article about the industry and the language by Angus Trumble, Italy, Language and Umbrellas | The Paris Review.

Italian umbrella/parasol makers in Piedmont, northern Italy, have for centuries spoken in a (now dead) language called Tarùsc to protect trade secrets and techniques. A fascinating article about the industry and the language by Angus Trumble, Italy, Language and Umbrellas | The Paris Review.

Permanent link to 'Apple's Attention to Detail'
Permanent link to 'The bright lights of Shinjuku.'
The bright lights of Shinjuku.

The bright lights of Shinjuku.

Permanent link to 'The coolest way of telling people your shop is on the first floor.'
The coolest way of telling people your shop is on the first floor.

The coolest way of telling people your shop is on the first floor.

Permanent link to 'You’ll all be relieved to know that my new manbag search has come to a successful conclusion.'
You’ll all be relieved to know that my new manbag search has come to a successful conclusion.

You’ll all be relieved to know that my new manbag search has come to a successful conclusion.

Permanent link to 'Is it wrong that I wished it would rain so it felt even more like Blade Runner?'
Is it wrong that I wished it would rain so it felt even more like Blade Runner?

Is it wrong that I wished it would rain so it felt even more like Blade Runner?

Permanent link to 'Love this bag from Japanese brand Ace.I need a new bag….'
Love this bag from Japanese brand Ace.I need a new bag….

Love this bag from Japanese brand Ace.I need a new bag….

Permanent link to 'D&Department Project, Osaka. Great food, coffee and design. Nice place to kick back for a couple of hours and read a book (Julia Leigh’s Disquiet).'
D&Department Project, Osaka. Great food, coffee and design. Nice place to kick back for a couple of hours and read a book (Julia Leigh’s Disquiet).

D&Department Project, Osaka. Great food, coffee and design. Nice place to kick back for a couple of hours and read a book (Julia Leigh’s Disquiet).

Permanent link to 'On Japanese Food'

On Japanese Food

So, yesterday was the day when the endless cycle of grilled fish, rice, miso soup, pickles, broth, tofu, seaweed, sashimi and the odd bit of sushi or beef for breakfast, lunch and dinner (miso soup, rice and mackerel for breakfast must take forever to become normal) finally got to us.

We cracked.

Spent the night in our hotel room in Toyooka eating dry special-k, raw carrots, peppers & tomatoes, cheese sandwiches and crisps. And I don’t care if it’s wrong, it felt good. And today, we felt better than we have done for a week.

If I never have to attempt to eat a cold, rock-hard piece of grilled mackerel with a pair of chopsticks at 8am ever again it will be too soon. The Japanese diet may be incredibly healthy in some respects, but I don’t think we’re the first Gaijin to be floored by the lack of fresh fruit/veg (in any meaningful quantity), the saltiness, the lack of variety.

And I love Japanese food. Just not, I’ve discovered, all the time. Particularly at breakfast.

Permanent link to 'Having feet ‘cleaned’ by hundreds of little fish: tickles.'
Having feet ‘cleaned’ by hundreds of little fish: tickles.

Having feet ‘cleaned’ by hundreds of little fish: tickles.