Category: Random Consumer Items

Japan Rail Pass – How to Buy – Should I buy

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You are planning a trip to Japan and wondering about the Japan Rail Pass.

Should I buy the Japan Rail Pass?   The quick and easy answer is likely:  NO

The rail pass is expensive and restrictive.   It is HIGHLY doubtful you would use its full value unless you plan on going to a bunch of cities in a short span of time.

If you are planning on going to Tokyo for a few days and then onto Osaka, Kyoto, or some other place…  YOU SHOULD NOT BUY THE RAIL PASS.  You will lose money and a lot of money.

Let’s do some math…  The Japan Rail Pass is good for 7 days.

You arrive in Tokyo on day #1 and decide to spend 3 nights in Tokyo and then 3 nights in Kyoto and then fly out of Tokyo on day #7.

Narita to Tokyo = 2200 Yen

Tokyo to Kyoto = 8500 Yen (each way) = 17000 Yen

If you are lucky, your pass has not expired and you get your final trip to Narita on the Japan Rail Pass = 2200 Yen   (This rarely happens)

There are instances where you can use the JR Rail Pass in the cities (instead of the metro) and this would save you 200 Yen on those trips…   Lets assume you used it 10 times = 2000 Yen.

Total:  17000 + 2200 + 2200 (questionable – last trip to Narita) + 2000 (questionable – usage instead of metro) = 23400

The Japan Rail Pass costs: 27000 Yen…  you just wasted 3600 Yen (~$36) in the best case and 8000 Yes (~$80) is the most common example.

Don’t buy the rail pass unless you absolutely are going to use the train A LOT in 7 (SEVEN) days…  otherwise you will realize you should never have bought it.   I wish I did not buy it and would never buy one again…

A lot of people on the internet are pushing them because they want you to click their affiliate link (so they get paid)…   Do the math for yourself.

Identify UPS Account From Tracking Number – Decode UPS Tracking Number

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Decode UPS Tracking Number

TRACKING #: 1Z XXX XXX YY ZZZZ ZZZC

X = Shipper’s Account # (6 Digits)
Y = Service Code (2 Digits) (See Partial Key Below)
Z = Shipper’s Reference # (Can be set by shipper for convenience, to mirror an invoice#, etc.)
C = Check Digit

Service Codes

01 UPS United States Next Day Air (“Red”)
02 UPS United States Second Day Air (“Blue”)
03 UPS United States Ground
12 UPS United States Third Day Select
13 UPS United States Next Day Air Saver (“Red Saver”)
15 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M.
22 UPS United States Ground – Returns Plus – Three Pickup Attempts
32 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – COD
33 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Saturday Delivery, COD
41 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Saturday Delivery
42 UPS United States Ground – Signature Required
44 UPS United States Next Day Air – Saturday Delivery
66 UPS United States Worldwide Express
72 UPS United States Ground – Collect on Delivery
78 UPS United States Ground – Returns Plus – One Pickup Attempt
90 UPS United States Ground – Returns – UPS Prints and Mails Label
A0 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Adult Signature Required
A1 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Saturday Delivery, Adult Signature Required
A2 UPS United States Next Day Air – Adult Signature Required
A8 UPS United States Ground – Adult Signature Required
A9 UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Adult Signature Required, COD
AA UPS United States Next Day Air Early A.M. – Saturday Delivery, Adult Signature Required, COD

Best Exterior Paint For Florida

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VMware Virtual Machine Hosting

If you are reading this then you know how quickly paint is eaten up on the West facing side of your home.

My house is two years old, was painted with semi-gloss “high quality” Coronado paint, and it is ready to be painted.

Update 11/20/12:   Since the above post I have painted my house with Porter ACRI-SHIELD.    Two years later and it looks like it did when I first painted it.

Lesson learned:  CORONADO PAINT IS GARBAGE

 

I am told that these are the best two paints to use in the Caribbean and Florida:

Duron – Weathershield Acrylic
MAJIC – Diamond Hard Acrylic

Majic is spelled correctly. It is not MAGIC.