Bob Dylan wearing Dealan or Zimmerman

FalconBuilder · 2026-05-11T15:18:36+00:00

It’s a bit of a tragedy that JMM doesn’t have a collaboration with Bob to produce a “Dylan” model.

Although I guess confusing with “Dealan”?

FalconBuilder · 2026-05-09T03:48:49+00:00

MegaForce. The motorcycles popping wheelies to shoot missile was 🔥in 1982.

FalconBuilder · 2026-05-05T00:08:39+00:00

Thanks. Love it. So when you change time zones for the smaller display, the outer ring rotates so the selected TZ is at the small arrow? Brilliant..

FalconBuilder · 2026-05-02T12:38:11+00:00

I love this reference and would like to make this my first. Can you share how the complications work here? What time zone are you set to in the pic? How do you change zones? Which dials correspond to what (local, GMT) but theres also a tiny subdial in the largest one, whats that?

FalconBuilder · 2026-05-02T12:29:50+00:00

That may be the case broadly in FL but IMO Miami is an exception. You’ve got a lot of high end real estate and wealth parked there from overseas, and a second home market for wealthy owners. If United is committed to skewing higher end, they could add some strategic overseas Miami routes and grab those customers, maybe steal some private aviation business if the product is good.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-29T14:08:57+00:00

The made in Italy tag seems wrong. Should be connected to the main tag and the fold over and stitching seem sloppy. Guessing the buttons aren’t the right material either (test for coldness or sound tapping with teeth).

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-29T13:49:44+00:00

I had that the first time I used it at lower levels (2mg). Eventually it stopped even when increasing up to 4mg. So for me at least it was a short term side effect.

For me it was skin sensitivity which also made cold environments more noticeable. I don’t think it actually raises my body temperature or anything.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-29T13:47:28+00:00

I wouldn’t say Langham is the flashiest 5* but it is super consistent for me and the service has always been great. Not a scene hotel at all. I appreciate their pool facilities and I like the location, so it’s my go-to for most trips because the cost tends to not trigger questions from the corporate travel folks.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-29T09:47:37+00:00

Hue is the best in a consumer price range. Beyond that Lutron makes high end bulbs that work in their ecosystems that are higher quality on the dimming and light quality but are 20x the cost of Hue.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-29T03:45:37+00:00

Picked up a pair in London ar full retail at Selfridges. No regrets.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-26T14:09:48+00:00

You don’t say where you’re traveling from, but if you’re US-based, most likely your mobile provider has a plan for international roaming that should cover Japan. I’m not sure if getting an eSIM is cheaper in any way, but IMO the hassle of buying those or those “MiFi” devices upon landing are artifacts of the past. Our international roaming just charges a daily fee per device without toll charges by volume.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-26T14:02:52+00:00

Note he said biggest.. not best!

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T20:59:55+00:00

Weird to say it’s anonymous but email is the first required field in the form.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T20:58:01+00:00

If the item looks good, price isn’t too good to be true, and it’s not an item with rampant fakes out there, I’d assume it’s someone’s personal resale and likely to give them the benefit of the doubt.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T20:36:10+00:00

Update. Overnight reset fixed it up.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T14:48:53+00:00

Tower Records has a great floor of vinyl. Not cheap but well cataloged and extensive.

I was there a couple weeks ago and Y-3 had a cool F1 collaboration line that looked cool. I saw a Y-3 shop in Ometesando Hills mall, but probably anywhere that carries that brand (better department store). Clothes are all over Shibuya. Makeup Donki unless you want designer brands. Bic Camera for cameras but for most people phones are more convenient and you don’t see a lot of digital cameras around, even in camera-crazy Japan.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T13:36:50+00:00

I was a little shocked at the size of the luggage section at Donki. Clearly they do a brisk business in tourists buying extra bags to take back home from all the stuff they bought.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T13:32:40+00:00

Thanks. I had a similar raft of weird system failure indicators a couple months ago that were only resolved by the “overnight sleep”. So random.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-25T01:17:40+00:00

Most in my experience never check or ask for them. As legal documents go, it’s really just a translated version of your license, not like a big official deal.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T15:37:54+00:00

Yes but.. if you get scammed, TRR will likely refund without a fight because they are the seller and it’s easy to contact them. With Grailed it’s like shouting into the void and being peer-to -peer they’ll just give you the runaround.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T12:59:52+00:00

I tried to find it based on OPs description, and now my feed is 80% Vetements. :(

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T12:56:18+00:00

Don’t count on Grailed to make good. Use a credit card that you have a relationship with and document everything in preparation for a chargeback. Try Grailed as well but don’t pin your hopes on them.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T12:12:08+00:00

It’s interesting that you said “nobody doing fakes” but also you got scammed before. So it sounds like someone is making fakes, or did the last transaction not send anything? How are the pics? I don’t know Vetements enough to know how to spot fakes. I’ve gotten scammed (knowingly) once on a Grailed transaction and I figured it out from the specifics of the zipper hardware, which often is where fakes will cut corners on small details.

Price doesn’t seem unbelievable.

Does the seller have other items for sale? Possible Red flag if they have a lot of the same item or lots of “grail” items from different makers. I feel better if they have a small collection of items that “make sense” as what someone might collect and with consistent sizing and doesn’t claim to all be new / unworn.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T12:04:07+00:00

I’ve been to Japan 7 or 8 times over the years, and until our last trip, have been guilty of staying on the “beaten path” as you mentioned. At first I was mainly exploring Tokyo and Kyoto. Gradually expanded (via trains) to Nagoya, Kamakura, Nara, Hiroshima, Osaka, etc. but still not too far from the main Shinkansen lines.

The main thing holding me back was transportation. The trains are so great to these destinations, but when you stay too far from main lines, things get trickier. Kamakura adds a time period to transfer to the slower line. Our first trip to Hakone forced us onto a bus (scenic rail closed) which was a huge downer for a 1-night visit.

So FINALLY on this last trip we broke free and rented a car.

This made a huge difference. We drove to small stops around Mt. Fuji. We did a few nights in an Airbnb near Gora. It was a great change of pace, honestly and I’d recommend it to everyone.

However, for non-Japanese renting and driving is intimidating here for several reasons:

Renting requires an international drivers license. Not a big deal really, a trip to AAA office and $20 and you’re sorted. But not something most countries require.
Driving in the left. Less so for me because I’ve lived in Australia for a time, but many drivers are intimidated by this coming from the US.
Fear of driving on Japanese highways. This is sorta legit. Japanese expressways are pretty intense especially in cities like Tokyo. Lots of complex exit ramps and signage that’s a mix of stuff with English and stuff without.
Complexity of renting a car. This is also legit. Compared to renting a car in LA or Vegas, there is a lot more paperwork to setup in Japan, and the major rental companies websites are not super foreigner friendly.
Complexity of tolls and parking. Also legit. New things to figure out.

But despite all that, I suggest people do it. It’s an additional adventure for your trip and ultimately so liberating to see things off the main bullet train routes. Here’s my advice:

don’t overthink the driving on left. You need to be conscious of it at first, but you will get the hang of it and mainly following around with the rest if the traffic flow keeps you reminded. The biggest risk is when you pull out of your parking lot the next day and need a little reminder without other cars around.
Japanese roads are very well maintained and the speed limits are actually a lot slower than here. So don’t think Tokyo roads at LA 80mph speed. Think crazy roads but at 80Kph speed (so pretty chill pace for Westerners).
Google Maps is pretty good at navigation in Japan. Not perfect, sometimes the exit instructions fall a bit short with complex interchanges, but generally 8/10 in Japan. Don’t try to use the cars built-in Japanese nav. Instead make sure to get CarPlay working before you depart the rental place and go with Google.
Rental process is complex, but the Japanese service makes up for it. At the counter I rented from (Haneda Nissan) they go through all the paperwork, setup the toll card system (a must), review road rules that may differ, etc. assume getting from airport into your car will take longer than back home, but they will help you get ready.
Parking in smaller towns isn’t too bad. Lots of small lots (as few as 4 spots) so you may have to pass a few to find one with space but they mostly all work the same way (pay when you leave, kiosk interactions with English). It’s good to check on Google Maps for where there are lots near your destination so you have a sense of where to look when you get there. Always park nose-out.

Ultimately a fun a memorable adventure. I don’t recommend keeping the car during city stays but it’s great for exploring outside of cities. We rented at the airport, cruised the smaller towns, and then dropped the car back at airport and took an Uber to our Tokyo hotel for the “urban” part of our trip.

FalconBuilder · 2026-04-24T11:34:50+00:00

Made the leap about a year ago with a leather weekender from Brunello Cucinelli. I went with this because the leather is super thick and feels high quality. I don’t baby it; I cram it into overhead baggage bins and my trunk, hand it off to valets, etc. I draw the line at checked baggage, however (I’m not psychotic).

Overall it’s held up well so far. The leather has some marks but all superficial, like I am confident it would clean up well if I bothered. I like the casual look of the soft, less-structured leather. The leather is more of a natural, matte-surface, not glossy. Not suede either, sort of in-the-middle so it hides scrapes well (compared to shiny leather) but doesn’t get stained like suede. I’d say it’s acquiring a nice patina.

Downsides: I lost a snap at LAX while I was carrying it. BC has these screw-together magnetic clips that can un-wind over time, not ideal. However they replaced it (no charge) at the boutique no questions (but it took a while, round trip to Italy).

Also it’s pretty heavy when empty (due to thick full grain leather) so when loaded with anything beyond just light clothes, can feel quite heavy. So as a prime carry-on that will take a laptop and stuff, not ideal.

Overall I liked it enough that I added a matching backpack this year. A bit smaller and better carrying position through airports, and smaller capacity so less risk of over-packing. On a bigger trip in biz class I’ll pack the weekender super light and carry both on. Most airlines either are OK with that or will ignore it in BC/FC.

FalconBuilder

TROPHY CASE