“Sorry, I messed up,” Claude Code told me, and my to-do list in Obsidian was completely blank. For the second time. I got it back both times because Synology had kept several earlier versions. AI isn’t perfect. Here are the three layers of protection I use now, plus ways to keep earlier versions of your files even without a Synology.
Where can you practice speaking English when you don’t use it in daily life? AI, language exchange apps, Discord, VRChat, online lessons, Meetup events and a weekly language exchange partner: here are the 7 places I’ve actually used, from the easiest to start, with the tips I learned along the way.
When I made Anki cards, I used free online dictionaries and wrote pronunciation down in katakana. Then Look Up on my iPhone showed me a super clear dictionary: the Wisdom English-Japanese Dictionary. It covers nuance, formality and prepositions, and the paper version comes with a handy web edition. Here’s why it’s my top pick after 8 years of learning English.
After five years, my iPhone 12 Pro’s battery can’t last a day, so I started looking for a new phone. But phones are so expensive now… For people who don’t need a flagship, I compared six phones at around ¥100,000, looking at Japan’s tap-to-pay (Osaifu-Keitai), eSIM and overseas network bands. My top pick was the Xiaomi 17T Pro, and I ended up buying it.
How much does a solo trip to the UK cost, and when did I book what? Here’s my preparation timeline, starting about a year before departure, and every cost so far for flights and hotels. So far: about ¥252,000 + 55,000 miles. I add to this page every time I book or pay for something.
I booked four places for my UK trip a year ahead. In August, Edinburgh is in Fringe season, and even a capsule pod cost over ¥20,000 a night. Two of the four ended up non-refundable. Here’s how I searched and what happened next.
I passed Eiken Grade Pre-1 on my sixth try, on the computer-based S-CBT. Here’s what changed in the 2024 renewal: fewer reading questions, the new summary task and its “zero-point incident,” the interview change, and paper vs. S-CBT.
I took the Meitetsu Seto Line from Nagoya to the end of the line, Owari-Seto. A retro shopping street, a porcelain figurine shop, a yakuzen lunch beside an Edo-era kiln, the Kamagaki Path — and then English study at a hidden café. I also rate the café as a place to study: outlets, Wi-Fi and comfort.
I booked a Finnair award ticket with JAL miles while the screen said “1 seat left,” and later the return flight was gone. JAL award tickets can be canceled for about ¥3,100, and Finnair’s website let me choose seats for free.
I compared TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS, VERSANT and GCAS: format, number of test takers, what each test is for, fees and how long scores stay valid. Plus a CEFR conversion table, and why you shouldn’t trust conversion tables too much.
