dmatth comments

the buoy placed near the Senkaku Islands

Just uplift it and replace it 500m on the chinese side ... problem solved !

The law is correct, just that the legal process was incorrectly applied.

The minister can strip citizenship as a means of correcting an error (eg. you failed to mention serious crimes when originally applying for citizenship even years ago).

The minister cannot strip citizenship as a means of "punishment" (eg. terrorism) because that's the job of the courts. What the minister should've done was to submit the very same evidence/reasons to the courts and if they decide to strip citizenship then that's ok.

I searched both coles and woolworths privacy policies, wondering how long they keep the camera images. No information.

So, when I scan my frequent shopper card they already have my name / address / cell etc and now they have my photo.

What's the bet they're the next companies to have their customer data hacked / held to ransom / posted on the dark web ???

Ummm ... sorry but if you wanted things just as they are at home, maybe you shouldn't leave home ???

Update: on the JR EAST website found where it said "Tickets for the Resort Shirakami are not available for sale outside of Japan"

So we're stuck with "Available for sale at JR EAST Travel Service Centers at Tokyo, Shinjuku and other stations, as well as at your nearby Travel Service Centers (View Plaza)"

How do international travellers book a seat on Resort Shirakami, in advance ? The website is not really clear on this subject and I'd hate to land in J-land, try to book a seat for a few days hence only to find they're all booked out for weeks ahead !

When using JR Pass I normally book shiteiseki (reserved seats) the evening before. So (Japanese etiquette-wise) I should just rock up on the morning and the worse that will happen I'll get a jiyuseki (non-reserved) ?

And if NY is too far to travel to see this exhibition there's always the "World Bags and Luggage Museum" in Tokyo 1-8-10, Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo, 111-0043

The only coffee worse than McDonalds coffee is Jetstar coffee.

Mobile phone conversations discouraged on trains !

Reminds me when China recently sent a ship down to Australia to monitor the annual wargames (which was ok because it was "in international waters"), but any flights (freedom of navigation) through the South China Sea in international airspace are not ok !

Can someone point me to a reference explaining why North Korea still has a hard-on against the US ?

Didn't the Korean War fizzle out a half century ago ?

I visited the Yamato museum at Kure last month, just in time for the new exhibition featuring pictures of the latest dive on the wreck. The ship is just massive.

Also, there's the (free and severely under-visited) "Ikebukuro Life Safety Learning Centre" at

2-37-8 Nishi-Ikebukuro,Ikebukuro Fire Department 4F, Toshima-ku

hidden in a Fire Department building, about 5 min. walk from JR “Ikebukuro” Station West Exit.

Takes about an hour and most illuminating, especially the part where the room starts shaking !

Ummm ... isn't all carry-on luggage already scanned before boarding ?

(or is this an admission that the scanners they use only detect knives etc and not explosive residues ?)

Oops ... I ate breakfast at Tsukiji about 2 weeks ago (some place with a big red crab over the entrance). Oh well, if I was going to develop a rash then it would've started by now ?