Posted in: Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer See in context
Hawk,
I'm not defending her behavior. She and her friend were drunk in a taxi. One of them was sick and also broke a window in the taxi. (I understand it was the other one that did those things, but not sure.) I don't know if other charges were brought for their behavior. But the article is about the charge of "racially aggravated harassment". I don't know the details of that law, but the jury found her not guilty.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/sam-kerr-racial-harassment-chelsea-b2696148.html
Anyway- can't we all just get along?
Indeed, and we should also all learn how not to throw up in taxis. :-)
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer See in context
Hawk,
However, the officer wasn't called "white" alone. He was called "stupid and white"
True, and when I first heard of this story, I assumed she was guilty. But what's not clear is the behavior of the police officer prior to her saying that. As I said, I'll go with the jury's decision, even if they were all stupid Londoners. (joking)
GuruMick,
In this case it seems her defense was, "I was drunk and do remember."
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Australia soccer star Sam Kerr found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of police officer See in context
So racial discrimination is only against blacks?
No. The case was complicated, and there were various accusations from both sides about the events that took place. Calling someone black, or white, or brown alone is not discrimination unless the intent was to discriminate. I'll accept the jury's decision on this one. They heard far more than we did about what took place.
-3 ( +1 / -4 )
Posted in: At least 10 dead in adult education center shooting in Sweden See in context
The only hint about the perpetrator so far is this - "Unconfirmed reports in the Swedish media say the gunman was a 35-year-old local recluse who legally owned a gun."
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Osaka has taken the lead in Japan's social population growth for the second consecutive year, with foreign residents making up more than half of the city's newcomers, according to government statistics. Why do you think this is? See in context
Some numbers would be helpful? Is it because Osaka is popular among foreigners or unpopular among Japanese from other places?
I moved from Tokyo to Osaka back in the 1980s, and I found it a much better place to live. But I've met a number of Japanese from Kanto who hold the opposite view.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Bill Gates shares his thoughts on vaccine backlash, Intel's woes and Google's antitrust battle See in context
Why is this billionaire tech CEO who always talks about overpopulation so singularly focused on injecting people with stuff?
Perhaps because he was born in 1955, the same year I was born. I remember disease outbreaks and the effect they had on people. In particular, a kid in my class who was crippled from polio. As the types of vaccinations increased, I remember the number of cases of various diseases dropped. I also remember learning of world population concerns - 2.7 billion in 1955 and then 4 billion in 1975 and now 8 billion.
So yes, maybe we should try to restrict population growth, but also we should try to prevent people suffering from disease.
Oddly, I've never been a great fan of Microsoft products, but I have a lot of respect for Bill Gates.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: Two boys arrested for throwing raw eggs at police box in Shizuoka Prefecture See in context
Eggs today ...who knows what tomorrow...sarin ?
Probably onions.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/24902582.police-investigating-man-hit-onion-edinburgh/
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: 18-year-old student arrested over killing of woman on southwestern island in November See in context
Really hoping that the evil, violent killer gets executed - as fully deserved
How can you say that based on the information in the article? I have no idea what happened. Maybe he was evil - or maybe she was. Probably best to wait and see if any further information emerges.
1 ( +5 / -4 )
Posted in: Sinkholes in Saitama merge; truck driver still trapped on 3rd day See in context
Some 1.2 million residents in a total of 12 cities and towns in the prefecture have been urged to refrain from using the sewage system
I've read elsewhere that they have been asked "to ease pressure on the sewage system by limiting their use of water". A slight difference, I think.
-1 ( +2 / -3 )
Posted in: Child suicides in Japan hit record high of 527 in 2024 See in context
The child population falls every year, so the number of child suicides should be falling not rising.
I'd be interested to know if the rate of suicide is higher among single kids than those with brothers or sisters. I understand the number of single-child families is increasing.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Study projects millions of European heat deaths as world warms See in context
Projected by who? A computer model with dozens of unknown variables reaching out for decades? Who is supposed to swallow that?
You could try reading the full paper at the link below, and then point out any issues.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03452-2
-1 ( +4 / -5 )
Posted in: Do you think democracy is the best form of government? See in context
There's probably no perfect form of democratic government. If democracy is defined as "the will of the people", what happens if 51% of the population want to deny rights to the other 49%?
We see various forms of democracies around the world, and the better ones generally have certain laws or systems that protect the rights of minorities to a certain extent. Personally, I prefer parliamentary systems over presidential systems, but neither is perfect.
A Scottish comedian once said (about politicians), "Don't vote, it just encourages them." I sometimes wonder about that. Should we trust anyone who wants to be a politician? Is there a better way to choose our "rulers"? For example, how about local communities choosing a representative, even if the chosen person doesn't want the job? (Probably far from practical.)
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: Osaka bans street smoking ahead of World Expo See in context
A lit cigarette held in an adult's hand is the same height as a small kid's eyes.
I think that was the reason smoking was first banned while walking in the street in various parts of Japan.
0 ( +2 / -2 )
Posted in: Which U.S. companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives? See in context
No. What you describe is equality and that is the furthest from equity that one can get.
What dictionary are you using?
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: Which U.S. companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives? See in context
stands for equity which entails taking from people who worked hard to get ahead and giving it to folks who do not merit it.
I think equity in this situation means "the quality of being fair and impartial". That sounds reasonable to me.
0 ( +2 / -2 )
Posted in: Climate misinformation is rife on social media – and poised to get worse See in context
Everybody chooses the scientists they find more credible
That may be true, but a little worrying. Would it not be better if they chose the data they find more credible?
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Fire at Turkey ski resort hotel kills 10, injures 32 See in context
I've read the death toll has gone up to 66.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: 'YMCA' journeys from gay anthem to Trump theme tune See in context
browny1,
Thanks for the song list. It brought back memories.
I think we can probably agree the first three are angry, anti-establishment songs. (YMCA was different, I think. A happy song for gay people.)
It seems many (most?) Trump supporters are anti-establishment too. I can understand that. I'm sure most of us get angry at governments and politicians that don't bring change that we want. But what hurts my head is why people would support people like Trump and his gang. Sure, they are an alternative to the current establishment, but I don't think they'll take most people down the path they want to travel. I hope I'm wrong.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: 'September 5' revisits seminal Munich Olympics attack broadcast, with questions for today See in context
If the focus is just on the media, then I may not be so interested. But that event still haunts me in some weird ways. I was shocked that Israelis were attacked and killed. I'd learned about the killing of Jews during World War 2 and had great sympathy for them. Then in the aftermath of the Munich killings, I learned about the plight of Palestinians. That was quite new to me. I asked myself whether the the Munich attack was justified because it brought attention to the situation in Palestine. I still ask that question, which is what makes me uncomfortable. I thought it was horrific and still do, and yet I wonder what I might have done if I were a Palestinian at the time.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Japanese bathe in icy water at Tokyo shrine to purify their souls See in context
This plunging into icy water for health does have its counterpart in the west
Indeed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loony_Dook
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Liverpool bid to end title wobble; troubled Spurs face Everton battle See in context
A little off topic, but I just read that Denis Law died yesterday. He was 84. I have fond memories of him playing. He brightened up the sport.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan gov't starts process to compensate forced sterilization victims See in context
And it began in 1948
I think it began in 1940. The 1948 law replaced the earlier law which was quite bad. The 1948 law wasn't totally bad. For example, it allowed voluntary abortions where the life of the woman was at risk. The bad part was that it also allowed abortion without the consent of the woman.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan marks 30 years since Kobe quake that killed over 6,400 See in context
The Kobe Yakuza were the first to hand out blankets, food, water, and toiletries to the victims.
I think most people and organizations in the affected area helped out. It's still a huge memory for me. I lived in southern Kansai and wasn't badly affected. (A couple of broken glasses in our house.) But over half of the employees in our company lived between Kobe and Osaka. I spent most of the day on the phone along with other employees trying to check that everyone was OK. They were, but there was an American woman we were unable to contact. Three days later, she walked into the Osaka office. One of the female staff members shouted at her in anger - "Why didn't you let us know you were OK?" And then she ran up and hugged her. Hard to forget.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits See in context
They are selling products that there is demand for, and not forcing them on anyone
There is demand for all kinds of products, but sellers can't be deceptive. (Or can I market Albaleo Beer by saying it increases your IQ by 10%?)
There isn't much detail in the article about the nature of the deception. It would be helpful to know. I guess we'll find out when/if it goes to court.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies held across Japan See in context
Is the reality not, a dysfunctionality, a refusal to not fully grasp the political economic realities of to the need to seize the moment before them, to diversify, to stand proud and find a purpose?
You could be right. Where I lived as a kid, we prepared well in advance for coming-of-age by going to the pub from age 14.
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: What is a war crime? See in context
Most people generally agree that these are good rules and that warring countries should try to obey them.
I hope most people are upset that we need such rules.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: A bill that would require public bathhouses to distinguish between men and women based on their physical characteristics has been drawn up by a conservative group within the Liberal Democratic Party. What are your thoughts on this? See in context
I assume public bathhouses means sento and not onsen. It should be simple - if you've got a willy, you go the men's side. (An exception for little boys who are being taken by their mums.)
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Sumitomo Rubber to buy Dunlop tire brand from Goodyear for $526 mil See in context
It might be better to drop the Dunlop name altogether. It's confusing. Various companies own rights to use the Dunlop name, but there is no separate Dunlop company anymore.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Why are there so many cults in Japan? See in context
Been a proud religious Christian person all of my life
Is pride not considered a sin in Christianity? I've read the seven deadly sins in Christianity are pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth
6 ( +9 / -3 )
Posted in: UK, Germany electricity cleanest on record in 2024 See in context
All electricity generated, regardless of the fuel used, is non-storable.
I'm not sure what you mean by non-storable, but here in Scotland (and I imagine in other places too), excess electricity is used for pumped hydro storage. Basically, water is pumped into reservoirs that feed hydro-electric power stations.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: China complains to Japan about 'negative' China references in Japan, US communique
Mr KiplingFeb. 12 08:42 am JST I never need a straw to drink, but then again, I'm not 3 years old.…
Posted in: Trump pushes for plastic straws as he declares paper ones 'don’t work'
I’m A Federal judge will.be the ultimate decider of DOGE Nope, the Constitution will.
Posted in: Is DOGE a cybersecurity threat?
Posted in: Japan, U.S. eye defense chiefs' meeting in Japan in late March