Sleeping Pods, Lambii, Rice Lager, Turkish Delights & The Joy of Strolling

Consistent efforts of doing the ordinary in a thorough manner will transform into the extraordinary!

May 29, 2024

SLEEPING PODS

I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT A NEW HOME BUILT BY TAKASHI YANAI FOR NIGO, (A BATHING APE) IN AN UNDISCLOSED JAPANESE TOWN ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE HOUSE IS NICE, BUT ONE PARTICULAR THING STUCK OUT TO ME — SLEEPING PODS. I LIVE IN A SMALL HOUSE WITHOUT ADEQUATE GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS, AND IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I DON’T NEED A BIGGER HOUSE, I JUST NEED A COUPLE SLEEPING PODS FOR VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SLEEPING PODS ARE COZY, COMFORTABLE AND INSANELY SPACE EFFICIENT. CHECK OUT THE IMAGES BELOW (NIGO’S HOUSE—TOP, NINE HOURS NARITA AIRPORT & CAPSULE HOTEL ASTIL DOTONBORI—BOTTOM). AND WHILE I’M ON THE SUBJECT OF SLEEPING PODS AND EFFICIENT USE OF SPACE, I WANT TO SHOUT OUT THE MURPHY BED! WHY AREN’T MURPHY BEDS MORE WIDELY USED IN HOME DESIGN? WE HAVE THE TECH! IN THE MIDST OF A GROWING HOUSING SHORTAGE AND CLIMATE CRISIS, WHY NOT DESIGN AND BUILD SPACES THAT FIT THE MODERN AGE (PUN ALWAYS INTENDED)?

IN AMERICA, THE DREAM HAS BEEN TO OWN A HOME WITH MAXED-OUT SQUARE FOOTAGE AND AS MANY BEDROOMS AS ARE AFFORDABLE. WE WANT THE NEIGHBORS TO THINK WE’RE COOL, BUT WE ALSO TRY TO AVOID INTERACTING WITH THEM (MORE ON THIS LATER). IT'S BEEN INGRAINED IN US THAT OWNING A HOME IS THE PATH TO FINANCIAL SECURITY, AND WHILE THAT MAY BE TRUE FOR MANY, THE REALITY IS MORE NUANCED. THE PRIMARY REASON HOME OWNERSHIP HAS HISTORICALLY PLAYED AN OUTSIZED ROLE AS A SAVINGS TOOL IS BECAUSE IT FORCES PEOPLE TO SET ASIDE A SIGNIFICANT SUM OF MONEY EACH MONTH. STUDIES SHOW THAT WHEN LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES, MOST PEOPLE ARE INCLINED TO SPEND INSTEAD OF SAVE. HISTORICALLY, INVESTMENTS SUCH AS ETFS AND INDEX FUNDS HAVE OUTPERFORMED REAL ESTATE, BUT MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE WITH THESE INVESTMENTS IS MUCH HARDER. AND SURPRISINGLY, RENTING MAY ACTUALLY SAVE YOU MONEY IN THE LONG RUN COMPARED TO HOMEOWNERSHIP — CHECK OUT THIS RENT VS. BUY CALCULATOR. SORRY THIS GOT A LITTLE WONKY, I COULDN’T RESIST A LITTLE HOME OWNERSHIP INFO WHILE ON THE TOPIC OF LIVING SPACES.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS — THE BABY BOOMERS DIDN’T REALIZE HOW GOOD THEY HAD IT — BUT WE’RE GONNA BE ALRIGHT. SLEEPING PODS AND MURPHY BEDS MAY NOT BE THE SOLUTION TO ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE RIGHT?

FURTHER READING: COMPOUND INTEREST (AKA HOW THE RICH GET RICHER) CHECK OUT THIS COMPOUND INTEREST CALCULATOR — FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU INVEST $500/MONTH AT A 7% INTEREST RATE, AFTER 30 YEARS YOU’LL HAVE $567,000 — COMPARED TO $180,000 WITHOUT COMPOUNDED INTEREST.

LAMBII

THE HUMBLE LAMBII AKA EUPHORBIA LAMBII (PRONOUNCED LAMB-BEE-EYE) IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLANTS. TECHNICALLY A SUCCULENT TREE AND ORIGINATING IN THE CANARY ISLANDS, THE LAMBII EXCELS IN ALMOST EVERY PLANT METRIC. THEY KEEP THEIR LEAVES YEAR-ROUND, ARE GREAT WITH FULL SUN EXPOSURE, REQUIRE MINIMAL WATER AND THRIVE IN TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 25 DEGREES TO TROPICAL. NOT TO MENTION HOW BEAUTIFULLY WEIRD THEY ARE. LAMBII CAN GROW TO BE 10’ TALL AND BLOSSOM WITH YELLOW FLOWERS IN THE SPRING.

OMACHI SAKE RICE LAGER

OKAYAMA DOPPO (CRAFT BEER) IS A SAKE RICE LAGER THAT IS SUPER DRY & CRISP WITH SUBTLE "GINJO-LIKE" SWEETNESS.

FOUNDED IN 1915 BY BROTHERS KAMEZO AND MOTOSABURO MIYASHITA IN OKAYAMA JAPAN, MIYASHITA SAKE BREWERY PRODUCES SAKE, SHOCHU, BEER & SPIRITS. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS BOILS DOWN TO GOOD WATER, EXCELLENT RICE & MASTER BREWERS TRAINED IN TRADITIONAL METHODS.

THIS IS THEIR MOTTO:

•SERVE BEFORE PROFIT (THOSE WHO PLACE SERVICE BEFORE PROFIT WILL PROSPER)
•CONTINUING SMALL EFFORTS WILL BRING A GREAT SUCCESS
•CONSISTENT EFFORTS OF DOING THE ORDINARY IN A THOROUGH MANNER WILL TRANSFORM IT INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY
•THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY

ROSE DELIGHTS

WHEN IT COMES TO EDIBLE WEED, ROSE DELIGHTS ARE IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. I’M SURE YOU’RE THINKING — YA YA WEED GUMMIES WHATEVER — BUT HEAR ME OUT, THESE ARE DIFFERENT AND DARE I SAY BETTER FOR A FEW REASONS.

ROSE IS THE ONLY COMPANY USING FLOWER ROSIN EXTRACT FOR THEIR EDIBLES. THE ROSIN THC EXTRACTION METHOD EMPLOYS A GENTLY HEATED HYDRAULIC PRESS TO SQUEEZE THE EXTRACT FROM THE BUD (VIDEO BELOW). THIS IS THE CLEANEST AND MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD METHOD, PREFERRED BY CANNABIS PURISTS BECAUSE IT’S MADE WITHOUT THE USE OF SOLVENTS. ALL OF THE CANNABIS THEY USE COMES FROM THEIR ORGANIC FARM. THE ACTUAL GUMMIES ARE MADE TURKISH DELIGHT-STYLE USING FRESH FRUITS, VEGGIES & HERBS SOURCED DIRECTLY FROM LOCAL FARMS. MANY OF THE FLAVORS ARE EXOTIC AND CHANGE SEASONALLY WITH AVAILABLE PRODUCE.

THE JOY OF STROLLING

I WALK MY DOG, LOU, IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON — I’M FAIRLY CERTAIN IT’S THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER DAY. WE OBSERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NOTING ITS SUBTLE CHANGES — MAINLY PERTAINING TO PEE. I’D BE HARD-PRESSED TO THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO START THE DAY THAN WITH A STROLL — GETTING A LITTLE SUN IN THE EYES, STRETCHING THE LEGS AND OF COURSE CATCHING UP ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD TEA. WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT LOU RECENTLY, IT STRUCK ME THE EXTENT TO WHICH I VALUE OUR WALKS — A WELCOME REMINDER NOT TO TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED. SO HERE’S TO STROLLING, SOLO OR OTHERWISE, AND BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS.

IF IT’S NOT COOL, JUST ADD ICE!