albaleo comments

Posted in: Worker dies after falling through roof of station building in Yokohama See in context

Thought Japan was better than that .... UK construction health and safety; Work on or near fragile roof surfaces requires a combination of stagings, guard rails, fall restraint, fall arrest and safety nets slung beneath and close to the roof

And yet there were 45 construction related deaths in the UK in 2022/23.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm

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Posted in: 'Dune: Part Two' sustains the dystopian dream of 'Part One' See in context

The first “Dune,” released in 2021

So what did I watch in 1984?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Chile risks repeat of deadly wildfires because of climate change, report says See in context

Even the title of the article makes it clear this is due to climate change, which is a product of human activity

The climate has changed throughout history, and only recently has human activity added to those changes. I still prefer the term Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) to describe the effect of human activity on the climate. To me, "climate change" suggests a more generic idea that includes both natural and human-made causes.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Posted in: The 10 best things to do in Osaka See in context

Another treat is going back in time through the Chin chin densha from Tennoji through to Sakai, where you can relax on mostly old train cars through the older parts of the city without the stress of crowds on subways.

I agree. It's also worth getting off for a walk around at Sumiyoshitoriimae. The shrine on one side and various bars and restaurants on the other. A nice escape.

Even the Nishinari area isn't that dangerous. There's no gang activity, no real theft, and hardly anything happens to foreigners there.

Just be careful if driving in the area. I remember the first time I drove in that area - going to pick up my wife and new-born daughter from the hospital. A neighbor had lent me his car and told me to keep well away from the sidewalk in case someone jumped out in front of you and then claimed compensation for any injuries. :-)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: ChatGPT cranks out gibberish for hours See in context

After dealing with us stupid humans for a year or so, I imagine it needed a few strong drinks or whatever the digital equivalent is.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: The Nikkei index closed at an all-time high Thursday, breaking the previous record set in 1989. What does that mean for Japan's economy? See in context

A dollar currently buys about 150 yen.

About the same as when the Nikkei hit its previous record at the end of 1989. But I suspect that's just coincidence.

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Posted in: Trump pledges to defend Christianity against the left, which he says wants 'to tear down crosses' See in context

Come on America - check your water supplies! What are you drinking?

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Posted in: Israel says Brazil's president unwelcome until he apologizes for comparing Gaza war to Holocaust See in context

the righteous war

I find that expression upsetting. I hope it was a mistranslation.

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Posted in: Digitalization drive proving tough for Japanese school teachers See in context

"Many teachers still prioritize the use of notebooks, pencils and other analog writing materials in their classes, arguing that tablets are "less likely to leave a lasting impression"

Can somebody, anyone provide and information to prove these teachers wrong?

It's an interesting topic. I'm in my late 60s and work on web applications for a living. I have a computer in front of me, but I always have a paper notebook and pen at my side. I generally scratch out various ideas and thoughts on paper - words, weird diagrams, etc. It may be simply because that's the way I was brought up. But I find there is much more "brain interference" if I try to make similar notes on a digital device (choose the text input then type, choose the rectangle thingy then click and size it, click the polygon thingy then click various times). With pen and paper, you can do all those things without switching attention.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: SDF to soften hairstyle rules as recruit shortage worsens See in context

In Canada military men are now allowed to wear a skirt!

In Scotland it's compulsory.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Posted in: Australian authorities say more Sydney sites tainted with asbestos See in context

The article is about Australia, but I think this is a worldwide problem.

Australia built thousands of "fibro" houses mostly using asbestos in the concrete. 

My understanding is that asbestos in concrete is not such a problem until it comes to demolition time. (But drilling into the concrete can be an issue.)

They even used loose-fill asbestos as loft insulation.

I think that is a more serious issue. I worked in a newly-built government building in the 1970s in Edinburgh. It had asbestos sheets in the walls as a form of fire protection. The building was later closed and then demolished.

I think asbestos is now banned in most developed countries, but not completely in the US.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: We should understand that the use of physical restraints and seclusion violates human rights and must be reduced. See in context

I think one problem in the past in the more economic-fundamentalist west has been that "community-based care" has simply meant turfing these people out onto the streets

I think that is probably true. There were many changes in the 1970s and 1980s. Some were perhaps for good reasons - reducing the number of people forced into psychiatric hospitals. But other changes simply reduced the level of institutional care. It became highlighted by some of the actions of Ronald Regan. And I recall changes in Scotland where the number and nature of homeless people changed.

https://www.salon.com/2013/09/29/ronald_reagans_shameful_legacy_violence_the_homeless_mental_illness/

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/the-demise-of-the-asylum-and-the-rise-of-care-in-the-community-8352927.html

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Posted in: Kansas City Super Bowl parade shooting result of 'dispute' See in context

Dont try to blame a law for the conduct of idiots!

There are violent idiots everywhere. For some reason, I prefer to be among violent idiots without guns than those with guns. And it seems there are fewer violent idiots with guns in countries that have strict laws about possessing guns.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Teen arrested over murder of parents in Kanagawa Prefecture See in context

3) It's possible he did not do it.

True. Also...

4) It's possible he killed his dad because his dad had killed his mum.

These brief articles are not very helpful.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: France escapes with comeback win over Scotland after disputed late TMO call in Six Nations See in context

However, after 57,000 replays from 17 different angles, you just could not see the ball on the line.

I think it was about the ball being on the ground, not the line. And I think we could see the ball on the ground in the various video replays after it moved off the defender's foot.. But what we couldn't see clearly was whether the player was holding the ball on the ground.

Anyway, it was a pretty dull game for the spectators, especially the second half with the to-and-fro kicking. But I guess it was pretty tense for the players.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Cher, Sade, Oasis and Ozzy Osbourne among Rock Hall nominees See in context

Not a rock performer

I guess we all have our own images of "rock music". There's hard rock, jazz rock, folk rock, punk rock, blues rock, etc.

Right now, my pick from the list of nominees would be Peter Frampton. (I'll probably change my mind in a few hours.)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: The best Osaka souvenir is Okonomiyaki Senbei, and here’s why See in context

 Whole wheat flour or corn starch. Grated mountain yam (nagaimo/yamaimo). Eggs. Chopped onions. Daishi. Benito. Pork slices or seafood. Ginger. Never use mayo. Okonomiyaki Sauce.

Something missing, I think. Or is it only in the Osaka suburb of Scotland that two tons of finely chopped cabbage is used?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Meta reviewing use of word 'Zionist' amid Israel-Hamas war See in context

And what, pray tell, is the definition of the word and concept of Zionism

I think it is the notion of creating a Jewish state in the area currently labeled Israel.

and what is the need to separate it from the words Jew or Israel?

Perhaps because some Jewish people around the world don't support the idea.

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Posted in: Grave peril of digital conspiracy theories: 'What happens when no one believes anything anymore?' See in context

What happens when no one believes anything anymore?

I'd say that would be a good thing, but it may depend on how you interpret "believe". Are conspiracy theorists not partly driven by an unwillingness to be ignorant - a need to believe? In some ways similar to religious beliefs. The greatest scientists are driven by their ignorance - what they don't know but would like to find out.

What was the cause of the SARS-CoV-2 virus? I don't know.

Who killed Kennedy? I don't know for sure, but probably Oswald.

Is the earth flat? I don't think so. Shall we take a walk and find out.

Do all politicians lie? I don't know, but if their lips are moving they probably are.

Maybe agnosticism should be taught as a religion at school. (We could call it Shiran.)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Posted in: Two incidents of alleged racist abuse by fans mar lower-tier soccer games in England See in context

The painkiller is to find those responsible and ban them from the games.

There is a kind of joke that such people should be forced to attend football games. It makes the rest of the city a little safer for a couple of hours.

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Posted in: Why Trump’s control of the Republican Party is bad for democracy See in context

Technically a parliamentary system isn't very democratic.

I'd say it's more democratic than a presidential system. Giving substantial powers to an individual for a number of years is a little scary. In any country, there are a variety of opinions that no individual can represent. In a parliamentary system, the leader (prime minister) has to face opposing views almost daily from his/her own party and from opposition parties. To succeed, they have to satisfy the majority of elected members.

But probably no system is perfect.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: Trudeau condemns mosque attack, says Islamophobia 'has no place' in Canada See in context

According to Trudeau burning multiple churches on false accusations of mass child graves is understandable. 

He also said it was "wrong and unacceptable".

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Posted in: Documentary on 'We Are the World' goes deep inside recording session of starry 1985 charity single See in context

A great moment. But was it not inspired by the "Do they know it's Christmas" charity song from the UK released in 1984?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3fSknbR7Y4

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Why has there been such a big increase in racist chants and messages directed against sports stars (especially soccer) around the world, online and also by fans at games? See in context

But have there been more incidents of racist chants, or have there just been more reports than in the past?

It's a fair question. If more people are reporting racist behavior, it might indicate a rise in anti-racism. I hope so.

Here in Scotland, at the two big football teams anyway, religion is still the issue. As many comedians like to point out, if an Islamic person is playing, before shouting abuse, the fans will ask, "Aye, but is he a Catholic Muslim or a Protestant Muslim?"

Maybe it's better to ridicule racism than show anger. The comedy clip below is about a racist Glaswegian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VtbnhqwaYY

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: Man believed to be fugitive 1970s terrorist bomber dies in hospital See in context

People talking like this guy killed 8 people. But we don't know to what extent he was involved in the bombings.

True. Also, he was suspected of involvement of the bombing of the Research Institute for South Korean Economy and Industries building in Ginza. I can't find details of deaths from that bombing. The 8 deaths referred to in the article are from a bombing of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries office. Apparently this was done by a different "cell" within the group. There are more details in the article below:

https://unseen-japan.com/kirishima-satoshi-bombing-suspect-possibly-identified/

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Posted in: Central Tokyo condo average price tops ¥100 mil for 1st time See in context

Better to live in the city, especially as we age.

I probably agree, but which city? Tokyo or Kawachinagano? There's a huge difference. I'd choose the latter.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Posted in: Kubota to pay record $2 mil penalty for false 'Made in USA' labeling See in context

This is why the victims of the UK Post Office horizon scandal haven't got ehope.

Don't worry. UK residents are familiar with UK companies mislabelling products.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/boohoo-made-in-uk-label-clothes-made-in-asia-panorama-bba-b1131599.html

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Posted in: U.S. scientist brews up a storm by offering Britain advice on making tea See in context

She also advocates making tea in a pre-warmed pot, agitating the bag briefly

I read on another article that she advocated using loose tea leaves, but if using tea bags, they should be big so the leaves can move around more.

I think most in the UK appreciated the humour of the U.S. Embassy comment.

As a dedicated instant coffee drinker, I have little else to say.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Posted in: UK facing Brexit realities after failed Canada talks See in context

The closest historical analogy to Brexit is the Romans leaving. 

Interesting analogy. The only parts of the UK that the Romans didn't fully occupy (Scotland and Northern Ireland) voted to remain in the EU.

Some might argue that after the Romans left, Britain went on to rule the world. It only took about 1,400 years. :-)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: British Post Office scandal victim wants Fujitsu to be 'open, honest' See in context

Fujitsu knew that the system was faulty but still allowed the witch hunts to continue- deplorable!

From media reports, it seems that people at Fujitsu (UK), the Post Office, and the UK government knew that the system was faulty. Who was most to blame is not so clear - yet. It's hard to believe this happened.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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