Posted in: The rise of on-demand viewing divides Hollywood See in context
I'll stick with cable and my big screen TV, thank you very much. I'm not entirely happy with my cable company, let's be honest. But it's still far far better than streaming in terms of both reliability and variety. Though it is rather ironic that my cable company also provides my internet connection which lets me strea, Hulu and Netflix and such. Though, to be honest, the only service I do stream at all is YouTube, because they have such a wonderful variety of old and abscure movies of the type I like. Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and the rest can't compete with YouTube for my viewing pleasure. Especially when it comes to a great number of films which, for whatever reason, are not on DVD and should be.
Cable just gives me more of what I want as far as viewing pleasure. I say, without an ounce of shame, that I am a habitual TV watcher. My TV is on 24/7 and, as a disabled person, it is my major form of entertainment. Does cable cost too much? Hell yes it does. But the various streaming services aren't any cheaper if you watch a lot of TV as I do. In the end, it comes down to what I want to pay for and what gives me the most value for my money. In my case, cable does that.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: 2 visions emerge for getting self-driving cars on road See in context
I hate the whole concept of self diving cars. Just another way of sucking all the pleasure out of life. For a LOT of us, driving is one of our greatest pleasures. Oh wait, I forgot, pleasure is BAD in the brave new world where people are too stupid to do anything at all for themselves.
-2 ( +4 / -6 )
Posted in: Man dies after being pierced in eye by umbrella last month See in context
" You just don't get this sort of thing in other countries, as most companies have an HR department that actually does something. "
No, we get people going completely mad, bringing guns to work and slaughtering everyone in sight.
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: Father of bullied boy who killed himself files criminal complaint See in context
The main problem seems to be the same in Japan as it is here in the US. The schools want to deny anything bad is happening and cover their own ass. So they do nothing at all. It's amazing the school even admitted there was a problem. And then only when pressed after the boy's death and charges were filed. Bullies should be arrested, tried and jailed for assault. Which is exactly what would happen to we adults if we did anything like this to another person. Put them in prison. Let them find out what it feels like to be a victim of bullying. I don't care if it ruins their lives. They've already ruined other kids lives, they deserve it. And any teacher or school official that tries to cover it up should be arrested for obstruction and fired. This isn't just a problem in Japan, it's also in the US, in Britain and in many other places. It needs to be stopped cold, with severe punishments.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Teacher forces 96 students to kneel for 20 minutes as punishment for being late See in context
It doesn't bother me. Seems like a pretty good lesson to me. I have no objections. And before you jump on me, I was an abused kid, so I know very well what harsh punishments are. This was an easy punishment.
When I lived in Kyoto, I knew craftsmen, whom I was trying to learn from, who would kneel for 2 or 3 hours at a time while working. They seemed perfectly comfortable to me. I, on the other hand, was not, but I did get better at it. 20 minutes is barely to be considered.
Frankly, I applaud the teacher. Too many kids these days are growing up with no respect, no discipline and no manners. That teacher has far more patience than I do.
10 ( +17 / -7 )
Posted in: Man jumps out of moving car after argument with girlfriend See in context
Every time I think I've heard the stupidest thing ever, something like this comes along to top it. I'm only surprised it didn't occur in Saitama. And what the heck was this moron doing in the back seat? Was this his girlfriend or his driver?
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: Boston museum cancels 'Kimono Wednesdays' after racism protests See in context
This is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. How is it in any way racist? I'll tell you what it is. It's the politically correct nazis who feel it's their business to destroy any trace of common sense in the world. Probably white people. The making and wearing of kimonos is a beautiful art. One of the things I missed the most when i returned to the US after living in Japan, was not seeing beautiful women in kimonos. There is immense grace and beauty. And a museum seems to me to be a great place to celebrate that grace and beauty. As well as to show people that wearing a kimono is pretty darn comfortable, too. But the political correctness nazis are bound and determined to turn the world into shades of gray, a boring, non ethnic, non individualist hell on Earth.
4 ( +6 / -2 )
Posted in: Gackt lashes out at Cool Japan: 'Almost no results of Japanese culture exported overseas' See in context
Perhaps they have aimed at the wrong audience. I strongly suggest the type of audience who would love Naruto doesn't go to stage plays. And people who go to stage plays are unlikely to enjoy the material. Why haven't I heard more Japanese pop and rock and metal groups on American radio? They can certainly compete in terms of talent, songwriting and performing.
the one export of Japanese culture people loved were horror movies. but the industry in Japan is both in a rut and far too extreme for most audiences in the West. Perhaps a little rethinking of that industry might help. I myself love the extreme, but I also know that most average film watchers don't. It also didn't help that the rights to the good movies were sold to Americans to make excruciatingly lame and boring remakes.
Pick the right audience, and the right media to export and I think it could succeed quite well. It would help if the people in charge genuinely loved the culture they're trying to exploit, er, export, and treated those media with love instead of financial considerations.
5 ( +7 / -2 )
Posted in: More details emerge about horror car crash in Hokkaido See in context
I might suggest giving some thought to redesigning this road to make it less attractive for racing.
I remember when I was young, this drag racing street racing thing was pretty serious. The solution my town came up with was to build a drag strip so the hot rodders could race legally, without endangering themselves or others.
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Man held for abandoning body of woman he met on suicide site See in context
Aokigahara is also one of the most beautiful forests on Earth, in my opinion. But the last I looked, somewhere around 100 people a year go there to die. It was one of my favorite places to visit when i lived in Japan. But if one explores the forest, there's always a chance of coming across a body or a campsite with someone's last possessions. I do believe in ghosts and spirits, but I can't say I ever felt any there. I think it may be that people want to die in beautiful, peaceful surroundings. There are many beautiful places in Japan, but Aokigahara is easily accessible. Given its long history of suicides, I suspect that people have come to feel that it's the right place for it. Plus, I noticed that people don't like talking about the forest. No movies, no books that I know of, discussion of Aokigahara is extremely reluctant.
Yes, about twice a year or so, the authorities search the forest for bodies. There are signs to caution people to not commit suicide and people who try to watch out for those who seem likely to do that. And every year there are abandoned vehicles and abandoned campsites and bodies that are never found. This poor guy is just a scapegoat.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Japan to keep Olympic stadium design as cost soars to Y250 bil See in context
It's a truly beautiful design, but as an artist with a deep interest in architecture I can tell just by looking at it that it will be hellish to build and will eventually cost far more than present estimates. It will also be a pain in the ass for the residents of the area, and how many people lost their homes and businesses to this monster?
I think, really, that after China built such an impressive and modernistic stadium for the Olympics there, Japan felt they had to come up with something bigger and better to show them up. Pure ego here. Would have been far better to build a simple but elegant stadium with the comfort of the spectators and athletes in mind. I would have liked to have seen a design which more expresses traditional Japanese concepts of beauty and simplicity. This one just looks like an invading spaceship. Beautiful design, as I said, but it just doesn't FIT.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Twitter moves to put products and places in feeds See in context
Translated, that means they're trying a new way for Twitter to make more money through advertising and shilling for the companies while making things worse for their users. I knew there was a reason I don't use Twitter.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Lower house passes controversial bill on temp workers See in context
As I understand it, a very large number of young men and women in Japan are struggling to make a living by working two or three or more temp jobs all the time. If the full time jobs were available, I'm sure lots of people would apply for them. But the government now wants to make it even harder for people to live and work? Surely doesn't seem right to me.
5 ( +5 / -0 )
Posted in: Bereaved family sues psychiatric hospital for damages over fatal abuse of patient See in context
I would have thought there would be absolutely no question about charging and trying the morons who murdered this man. Kind of a no brainer from my point of view.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Concept bra will give you pep talks, help you take perfect selfies See in context
They don't need foolishness like this to cup and support women's breasts. That's what men are for.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Cherry blossoms also bring out the yakuza See in context
No matter where you live, you are going to have crime syndicates. There's no escaping it. And never underestimate the intelligence of the men at the top. Those guys could just as easily be the CEOs of multinational businesses and industries. And probably do a better job of it that many current CEOs. It's the soldiers on the ground, generally young and dumb, who cause the problems. The leaders stay hidden and well behaved. The same is true in the Yakuza, the Mafia, the Russian Mafia, the Mexican drug cartels and all the rest in the world. Of them all, the Russian mafia is by far the worst. Complete barbarians. yeah, it's all crime, all illegal, all violent and nasty and despicable. But I'll tell you what. I'd far rather hang out with a Yakuza than any of the other crime syndicates. I'd have a better chance of surviving. But one of the older ones. Not one of the young stupid ones.
1 ( +2 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan eyes large-scale cooperation with Cuba See in context
good. I have always thought the embargo on Cuba by the US was extremely vindictive and caused the people of Cuba to suffer greatly while not doing anyone at all any bit of good.
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: U.S. TV to remake 1970s slavery classic 'Roots' See in context
This is absolutely the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I'm speaking purely in terms of cinema and movie history. It's a bit like repainting the Sistine Chapel, really. It appears the Hollywood remake plague has reached its peak. It can only go downhill from here. Not that it was ever up the hill.
2 ( +7 / -5 )
Posted in: Man keeps father's dead body at home for 3 years to keep collecting pension See in context
I am something of a macabre person, and I admit to having a particular fondness for stories of people keeping dead loved ones in their homes. Particularly when they become mummified. But I have to say, after many years of searching out and collecting stories like this, an inordinate number of these stories seem to happen in Japan. Why is this? And it's not just some poor guy who kept his dad so he could make ends meet. The stories have many reasons, including love and the inability to let go of the loved one. But why so often in Japan? That i don't know. I've lived there. I try to keep up. But this is a phenomena I have not understood yet.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Japan's view of WWII history rankles some U.S. veterans See in context
Everybody acts badly in war. We Americans have plenty of blood on our hands, too. I do not feel it's right to expect Japan to bow to everybody's opinion. Tough. The war's over, let it go.
Ah, but you see, Japan broke one of the big rules of war. Which is that the victor gets to tell the story. Japan decided to tell THEIR story, the way they want to tell it. So now everybody's pissing and moaning about it because Japan decided to stand up for themselves. Bout damn time if you ask me. How long are they expected to pay for an unfortunate war.
Korea, i don't know about. When I lived in Japan I enjoyed visiting Korea. As as i was involved in the film industry in Japan, I had contacts in the industry both in Korea and China. I must admit to a former poster being right about China, though. They'll piss and moan about anything and everything, trying to get attention while holding a knife behind their back. And I say that, though I loved China and the people and still do. But the government there knows it's on its last legs and it strikes out at anyone and anything like a three year old having a temper tantrum to get attention.
Let Japan tell the history of Japan the way they want to. It's not like we Americans haven't lied like hell about our own history. Should I mention I'm a native American? I have my bitches, too, if I was the kind to hold a useless grudge. But that war's been over for a long time, too. I let it go. I think a lot of other people should let other long over with wars go.
-12 ( +3 / -15 )
Posted in: Family branded welfare cheats because daughter gets part-time job See in context
How nice to know that welfare systems all over the world do their best to make it absolutely impossible to get ahead and get off welfare.
2 ( +2 / -0 )
Posted in: Study links diabetes in pregnancy to higher autism risk See in context
Certainly worthy of more serious study. I have felt, more and more recently, that oxytocin plays a major role in autism. As oxytocin is most commonly associated with pregnancy, it could certainly have a link to this issue.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Can't pay? Won't pay -- putting a price on water See in context
Yet, with all the concern about water, at least in the US, I see no one at all coming up with any plans to recover water that goes to waste like rainfall. No one is building desalinization plants, which seems to me to be a common sense solution, especially in California. Australia and, I think, Israel are both using desalinization as partial solutions. But Goddess forbid those California rich folks should have a big, ugly plant blocking their view of the ocean from their million dollar houses. Of course, when, at some time in the future, they're struggling to get a glass of water, they will, of course, raise hell with the government for not building those plants. Yes, it is expensive for the startup. But once in full production, the water could be provided quite affordably.
Yes, Japan does have lots of water. I haven't lived there for many years, but I fondly remember many beautiful mountain streams and rivers. Mismanagement of those resources is a wholly different question which I have no information on. But in any given situation like this, mismanagement is most often my first guess at the source of the problem. That and a complete lack of simple common sense in pretty much every government in the world.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Group of teenage Thai actors punished for dancing on Japanese train See in context
Are trains sacred? Certainly seems so when a bunch of happy teenagers having a little fun by spontaneously dancing causes this much trouble? I fear for this world when expressing joy and dancing are suddenly treated as crimes.
This particular gaijin would have greatly enjoyed watching the much younger than I folks dancing away. Would have brought a little joy to my day.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: New talent agency accepting applications for idols suffering emotional distress See in context
I rather like bouncy girls myself, but there has to be a place for the emos too. I just hope it doesn't become a huge fad.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Pair of mangoes sell for Y300,000 at auction See in context
freakin absurd.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Where have all the 'gyaru' gone? See in context
"It was a silly fad, but its fashion, and something even more ridiculous will be along to replace it soon"
That is, undoubtedly, the absolute truth.
0 ( +1 / -1 )
Posted in: Testing of software adds to urgency in race for driverless cars See in context
I hope that all schemes for making driverless cars fail miserably. You see, there are those of us out here who have a deep love for cars and trucks, and enjoy building our own. We also have a passion and a love for driving. All these schemes for driverless cars want to take away the joy and pleasure and fun of driving. I hope I die before that day ever comes. In the meantime, I'll keep driving my cool little 65 Ford Econoline van and truly enjoying the road.
And by the way, those of us who truly love driving and custom car culture, we tend to drive far more safely than others. When you've put blood, sweat and tears and $60,000 plus in your vehicle, you drive with caution in mind.
-4 ( +2 / -6 )
Posted in: Why doesn’t the U.S. adopt the metric system? See in context
We don't know what a tonne is either. Or a stone. We weigh things in lbs. If we see that something weighs like 14 stone, we have no clue how much it is.
My architect's ruler has one face that measures in millimeters and centimeters or whatever. I have no idea what it's for. I hate to be seen as that ignorant. I'm not really, but it's pretty hard to change the ways of thinking and measuring that you grew up with. They're solidly embedded. They didn't teach me millimeters and centimeters in my drafting classes. I don't even know if they teach traditional drafting anymore. All CAD/CAM nowadays. A shame, an artist really should understand drafting. But that's just one example of the problem. To change the system isn't a simple matter of just saying okay, from now on we'll be a metric country. People would raise hell and everybody would be totally confused and many would be feeling completely ripped off on purchases and amounts.
-1 ( +0 / -1 )
Posted in: Why doesn’t the U.S. adopt the metric system? See in context
Frankly because we don't like it and it makes no sense to us. To us, it's completely stupid and senseless that 2.2 lbs makes a kilo. What the hell kind of logical system is that? Not to mention the unevenness of meters and kilometers. If the metric system was composed of even numbers that made sense to us, we might consider it. But it isn't and we won't.
-1 ( +1 / -2 )
Posted in: Colorful rider
Fighto...just dont call people vermin...thats what Nazis called Jews. Not a good look.
Posted in: At least 30 injured in car ramming attack in Munich before German election
Posted in: China accuses Australia of deliberate provocation in South China Sea
Posted in: Japan Today Spotlight #4 | Ishiba meets Trump: What did Japan’s PM secure in Washington?