Previously, I was using del.icio.us ; recently I’ve been trying out ma.gnolia. These are social-bookmarking services, where your bookmarks are shared with all and sundry. An odd idea initially, but two possibilities have recently grabbed my attention.

The first is the reposting of bookmarks to other place. The linked list on this site is powered by reposting bookmarks tagged “toblog” from del.icio.us. The ability to republish links in this manner allows me to do something I’d not had the time to to before, and adds value to this site.

Whilst I was in Japan I bought an iPod Touch. A couple of weeks ago I became very frustrated with the hoover in my flat and bought a Dyson. Both of these devices are very well made and a pleasure to use.

The Touch is a step, nay, a stride forward. The experience is qualitatively superior to previous iPods. I still find the inertial scrolling and the way one flicks from photo to photo a joy. The iPhone and Touch have set a new benchmark.

I never quite got on with the old design; I’m not sure I get on with this one either. Such is life.

Whilst in Japan, Jason and I took a trip to the area north of Tokyo, Tohoku, and to Hokkaido, the northern most island in the Japanese chain.

In a feet of organisation I am unlikely to match, Jason has created a map of the trip, utilising Google maps and some technical know-how to embed a map into his site.

I wrote a diary during the trip; what follows are some edited and redrafted highlights from there.

When asked about the food in Japan, I have to catch myself before I enter a reverie of pleasurable remembrance. Virtually every meal felt like a feast.

Jason set himself a goal — unachievable but laudable — of presenting me will all the myriad of cuisines available in Japan. The stereotype of Japan as a nation of sushi lovers is accurate, but there are innumerable other foodstuffs the Japanese enjoy. Again, having a man on the ground improved my stay immeasurably.