1glenn comments

Posted in: Hydrogen vehicle filling station opens at former Tokyo Olympics site See in context

"Today, about 95% of all hydrogen is produced from steam reforming of natural gas."

While making hydrogen from hydrocarbons (natural gas is another term for methane) by burning hydrocarbons for steam is more profitable for the petroleum industries, it is not the most efficient use of resources. It is cheaper to cut out a step, and use the power generated directly for EV use.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan unveils plans for next-generation passenger plane project See in context

A suggestion: be very careful about asking Boeing for advice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Japan eyes upgrade of 16 airports, ports for possible defense use See in context

The surest way to prevent a war is to be prepared to fight for one's own defense.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Adult siblings fall out over infirm or deceased parents: Who nurses them? Who inherits the property? See in context

I watched as my parents spent a lot of time caring for a single old man, and a separate single old woman, who were friends of ours, but had no family nearby to help them. The man was from the part of the world from whence Dad came, and the woman was from the part of the country where Mom was from. In both cases, when they passed, they left their small estates to my parents. In both cases, my parents signed the inheritance over to their families, in order to cover funeral expenses. I remain proud of how my parents handled the situation.

I have also watched as some other families have handled things badly, and some handled things well.

When my mother-in-law needed help, my wife helped her for many years. Her brother, the only son, after taking many hundreds of thousands of dollars from his mother over the years, both to buy a house and to start a business, would not lift a finger to help her. He refused to even call and talk with her. He told my wife not to contact him at all regarding his mother. Toward the end, when we would visit, she would call me by her son's name. There was almost nothing left in her estate, having given almost everything to her son.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Adult siblings fall out over infirm or deceased parents: Who nurses them? Who inherits the property? See in context

Our Dad emigrated to the US from the Old Country. When his parents passed away, although he was legally entitled to a large part of his parents' estate, according to the laws of the other country, he turned it down in favor of his brothers, who had been there and cared for their parents. I was gratified to see how well Dad handled the situation. I had visited the grandparents and everyone else as a youth, and loved them. Our folks attended the funerals, though.

By the way, it's not as if Dad never did anything for anyone back home. After he came here, after WW II, our folks sent money and used clothes to the family. The Fascists really left the country in a mess. Like Japan, it took about a dozen years for them to get back on their feet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: China's President Xi meets U.S. executives, academics in Beijing See in context

"Trust me!"

Sure, what could go wrong? It's not as if you ever break your word.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: Why are Americans fighting over no-fault divorce? Maybe they can’t agree what marriage is for See in context

"Marry in haste, repent in leisure."

"We get too soon old, and too late smart."

Sometimes "bromides" actually make a lot of sense.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: New Zealand accuses China of hacking parliament See in context

Some day Xi will pass from the scene. I hope and pray that the new Chinese leadership is more friendly to the world at large. In the mean time, Xi is ruining his legacy.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Posted in: Japanese chocolatier conquers Belgium See in context

Mom brought back some chocolate from Japan, and it was fantastic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: N Korea says Kishida has requested summit with Kim Jong Un See in context

Willing to meet "without any preconditions." It can't get any simpler than that. I admire PM Kishida's desire to talk some sense into the NK leaders. Good luck!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Trash tidal wave coats normally pristine Bali beach See in context

If I lived in Indonesia, what could I do to avoid trash getting dumped into the ocean?

Is there a system of trash pickup, reuse, and disposal that does not involve dumping in the rivers and in the ocean?

Perhaps more thought needs to be given about how to solve this problem that works in all countries.

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Posted in: ‘Shogun’ reimagined for new generation of TV viewers See in context

History is fascinating!

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Posted in: China vows to safeguard its territorial integrity after South China Sea incident See in context

"Preserving their territorial integrity." What a joke.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Posted in: ‘Shogun’ reimagined for new generation of TV viewers See in context

Thoroughly enjoyed the 1980 TV series, as well as the latest one.

A bone to pick......in one scene Japanese are shown looking up at the "huge" European ship, in awe. While I do not know about the size and capabilities of Japanese ships of that time, I have read that the Chinese in the 15th century were building sea going ships that dwarfed anything the Europeans were building. Also, while it is not often mentioned in Western histories or literature, once they found out that it was possible to sail to North America, Chinese ships regularly engaged in trade with Europe via the port of Acapulco. Our guide to Acapulco told us that Chinese trading ships were frequent visitors to Acapulco in the days of sailing ships. There is also the case of the Chinese military fleet that was sent to California to bombard its cities, in the 19th century, in retaliation for slights to Chinese citizens in the USA. However, when they got to San Francisco, they were welcomed, and feted, and ended up being highly prized guests at parties.

I do not know if large Chinese ships were known to the Japanese, but since the two countries are so close together, and traded regularly, it seems likely.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: U.N. says e-waste from trashed electric devices piling up and recycling isn't keeping pace See in context

Meant to say in the first sentence that there are rare earth minerals in many discarded electronic devices.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: U.N. says e-waste from trashed electric devices piling up and recycling isn't keeping pace See in context

I read somewhere that there are trace amounts of a lot of different rare and valuable minerals. If that is so, would it not be cheaper to obtain rare earth minerals from discarded electronics than to mine the minerals from the earth? Seems like common sense, but what do I know.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Smoking: a costly habit in search of a home See in context

While I chose to give up smoking over half a century ago, I could pick it up again today. I loved smoking, so it is hard to criticize those who choose to keep doing it.

Whenever I think about starting up smoking again, I take a deep breath of clean air, and remind myself how pleasant that single experience is for me. Over the years I have known a lot of people with emphysema or lung cancer, and I much prefer the alternative.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Putin says gunmen who raided Moscow concert hall tried to escape to Ukraine; Kyiv denies involvement See in context

The monster who is responsible for over 20,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine is responsible for ISIS attacking a venue in Moscow?

If you believe the Ukrainians are responsible for Isis, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Posted in: Seibu considers sale of Tokyo office building for $2 billion, sources say See in context

Many decades ago Seibu opened a department store in downtown Los Angeles. It did not go well, unfortunately.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Kishida pledges to boost defense capabilities to preserve peace See in context

Anyone who wants to live in peace must be prepared to defend themselves. Putin, Xi, and Kim would gladly swallow up Japan whole, if they could.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Posted in: Paris caters for Olympic romance with 220,000 free condoms See in context

Still hard to believe that swimming events will take place in the Seine. The competitors will need full body condoms.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Whale of a tail: Scientists track unique humpback 'fingerprint' See in context

Beautiful creatures.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Stellantis lays off about 400 salaried workers as automakers continue electric vehicle transition See in context

I read somewhere that there are already over 1.1 million EVs here in California.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Russia warns Japan of 'serious consequences' if Patriot missiles made there end up in Ukraine See in context

Let Putin know.....any funny business, and the Sakhalins are fair game.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

Posted in: Should you be concerned about flying on Boeing planes? See in context

Should one be concerned about flying on a Boeing plane? Only if one has a functioning neocortex.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Smoking: a costly habit in search of a home See in context

On the subject of smoking......

Watched a show from South Africa last week, "Catch Me a Killer." Very good show, but not why I am commenting. Throughout the show, set in the recent past, we see people in that country smoking. Smoking constantly. Doubtless many people will wonder why the South Africans are shown smoking so much. I remember meeting a South African airline stewardess many years ago, while I was backpacking through Europe, back when I was still smoking. She offered me a cigarette from her country, which I, being naturally curious, accepted. It blew me away (pun intended). I told the young woman that it was absolutely the best tasting cigarette that I had ever tasted. Since then, I have told family and friends that if those cigarettes were readily available, there would be many more people who would be smokers. She explained to me that that brand of cigarette was made exclusively from the tip of the tobacco leaves, which they grow in South Africa, and that is the reason they tasted so good. I have always remembered that. Travel really is educational, although maybe not in the way we expect.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Across the U.S., batteries and green energies like wind and solar combine for major climate solution See in context

Last summer, during a power crunch, it was reported that California's build up of battery reserves was what enabled us to get through the worst of the power demand without any major problems. In other words, without the battery storage systems, some of us would have lost electricity.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: S Korea says it will suspend licenses of striking junior doctors starting next week See in context

It is hard to understand what motivates people.

We have a nephew who became a medical doctor. He went back to school to become a lawyer, supposedly because he wanted to make more money. That left me with me scratching my head.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: No explosives found at Seoul stadium following bomb threat against Ohtani See in context

I am surprised that this game did not make more noise in the news. Pretty exciting, IMO.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Why do U.S. airlines charge so much for checked bags? See in context

One more reason why we no longe enjoy flying.

It pays to shop around. During the pandemic we found first class roundtrip tickets from LA to Seattle for only $60 more per person, and they didn't charge for our baggage with first class tickets. So basically, for the price of checking our baggage, we got first class tickets. That was probably a once in a lifetime bargain, but it pays to keep your eyes and ears open.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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