dontpanic comments

Posted in: Queen Elizabeth joins Facebook See in context

"I would love to be friends with her, it's unfortunate we can't!"

Nah, Lizzy'd be getting poked all the time. She cant be doing with all that.

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Posted in: Beijing denounces Nobel prize as a Western tool See in context

I think imomofo's right, the world would love to see what a China considers a deserving peace prize winner.

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Posted in: BP CEO hits back at media and politicians over Gulf spill See in context

smithinjapan - "And yet when the facts were presented, BP denied and denied and denied"

Really? As far as I can see BP's own investigation report said there were multiple failures by multiple parties, including their own.

The results of the various investigations, esp of the NAE/NRC commitee, havent been reported yet, so right now there are no facts, just supposition like yours.

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Posted in: Economists: Britain's austerity plan to hit poor See in context

"No mention of Britain cutting the budget of its Big Brother surveillance state"

No fella, instead a big increase in funds to the intelligence services.

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Posted in: Saudi prince in lurid murder case jailed in Britain See in context

mikehuntez, the death penalty may have been the easy way out for this man. The guy will get to live his lifestyle choice for at least the next 20 years (no guarantee of parole at that point). I suspect he's about to find out what its like to be repeatedly raped, beaten and made subserviant.

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Posted in: Anti-austerity protests sweep across Europe See in context

Molenir - "And statements like this one... are what precisely?"

MisterCreosote feels a distrust of large retailers is akin to Naziism. I pointed out the real reason behind Nazi Germany's dislike of certain retailers in order to refute his link and clear up any misunderstanding.

Moderator: Back on topic please.

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Posted in: Europe debt crisis rolls on as Irish bailouts grow See in context

"I never knew Ireland was famous for its rabbits". Me neither but they seem to have done something to upset GJDailleult.

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Posted in: Anti-austerity protests sweep across Europe See in context

MisterCreosote - "Ever notice how much the Nazi Party hated large retailers? There is a precedent for your line of thought, and it aint pretty, or democratic, or sane".

Smoke and mirrors fella. The Nazis hated Jews (or more accurately needed a scapegoat for the then high levels of German poverty), their occupation was irrelevent. It so happened that several notable German Jewish families were large retailers in the 1930s.

TheRat and tkoind2 are advocating economic democracy. As front runners in the race to the bottom, Walmart should be encouraged to promote local jobs. There may well be a good profit for shareholders in offshoring all the production, but theres little economic security and the only social benefit comes from low value retail jobs.

I wouldnt advocate completely boycotting businesses but I do think that people that can afford to, should choose locally made products where they can even if they cost a little more. Walmart would then have to stock more, stimulating greater local production and retaining more of the economic benefits locally.

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Posted in: Anti-austerity protests sweep across Europe See in context

sailwind, a fair bit of your own propaganda there I think.

The protesters are in general hard working people who see the rolling back of hard won benefits as unjust. Bankers are seen to be gaining from government bailouts and cheap money, increasing margins and restricting money supply to small and medium size businesses. No-one believes government borrowing to pay for welfare and pensions is sustainable, but the situation has come about by the failure of revenues from working people and businesses starved of work and operating cash. Why? Because the so called wealth creators as you call them have pissed the wealth up the wall.

The arguments seem to be that punishing the banks by taking levies and forcing more regulation would mean banks move to other more liberal territories. Frankly most developed economies can survive the loss of the gamblers. They cant survive a collapse of faith of their working populations.

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Posted in: Anti-austerity protests sweep across Europe See in context

I think most of the protesters have a valid point. They are seeing their world shaken up while continuing to pay for the bankers continued cynicism.

I doubt many want to see a return to hardline socialism but voters may well go that way if they see no justice. The bankers and others responsible for pushing the global economy to the brink (and so losing the tax and insurance revenues that pay for peoples benefits), should take an equal share of the pain.

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Posted in: Terror plot in Europe prompted drone strikes in Pakistan See in context

TimRussert - "Them Europeans are kind of cynical aren't they. They award Obama the Nobel Peace Prize and then, when they get wind of terror attacks planned for European targets, they tell him to bomb Pakistan".

Dont know what your issue is. If the US got wind of plans in their allies spheres of influence, would they not expect, and get, action from those allies?

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Posted in: Man arrested over death of university student in Tokyo hotel See in context

What happened is sad, for both these young people. Most of whats been said here is pure speculation but the fact is the guy turned himself in. The story will become clear and the guy will pay the price for his lack of control. On the meagre evidence shown they both have taken a risk, she's paid the ultimate price and his life is effectively over too.

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Posted in: Woman executed in Virginia amid outcry See in context

"Isn't it ironic that convicted murderers are against the death penalty"

Im sure the 7000 odd that appealed for a stay of execution weren't. Im not a convicted murderer and I'm against it, purely from the position that state sponsored murder has no more justification than the guilty woman had.

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Posted in: Frozen yakisoba pizza See in context

Carbohydrates, more carbohydrates, sugar, salt, saturated fat, some chicken and pig eyelids and arses and a few sprinkles of dried veg.....all the things a growing lad needs.

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Posted in: Nissan team checks quality in Thai-made March cars See in context

“You know how picky Japanese customers can get,”

In my experience its the dealers that are the picky ones.

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Posted in: Dolphin activist Ric O'Barry won't swim off into the sunset See in context

"These people are simple minded culture imperialists".

Or, if you open your mind, you might see they care about the animals in question. Where you see only anti Japan cultural oppression others see these animals are sentient and want to prevent cruelty and reduce suffering.

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Posted in: Dolphin activist Ric O'Barry won't swim off into the sunset See in context

neogreenjapan - "Cove is a typical Hollywood movie typically with the good people against the evil people – not giving the other side a chance to argue their position. Movies like this stops any dialog and a positive development".

"These culture imperialistic people of the west" "are so deranged" "backward imperialists" "proven to show racist attitudes towards people who eat whale meat" "people filled with cultural prejudice" "An ethnocentric culture" "Alienated urban western people" "because they are Japanese?"

As far as I see it both sides have been had plenty of opportunity to put their points of view. Its the failure to engage in the debate with tirades like yours that prevent progress.

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Posted in: Threats keep dolphin protest out of Taiji See in context

Gurukun - "who says that my opinions are the right ones. And who says that your opinions/feeling are the right ones."

"If that's the way they do it there, then people from the outside need to stand back and keep their nose out of something that has nothing to do with them." "I still don't see where outsiders have the right to dictate what they do in Taiji."

Well thats democracy baby. People are allowed a difference of opinion in a democracy like Japan, including the vegetarian restaurant owner mentioned above. The dolphins are not Japanese property so the people of the world also have the right and the will to express their opinions.

If people think its fine to continue a cruel practice because its a tradition and that Taiji is the only destination to come in for criticism, think again. Bear baiting, dog fighting, cock fighting, badger baiting, even bull fighting and fox hunting are all traditions either outlawed or under severe pressure because of the fear and pain inflicted on the prey animal. Its not a nationalist issue, its about putting a stop to a cruel and unnecesary practice.

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Posted in: Where, oh where has my little car gone? See in context

Like mistwizard I'm not sure this article is that accurate. The cars that get stolen and whisked away in no time (im my case a Nissan GTR bought at auction, stolen four hours after delivery to my house and being driven in Hong Kong a month later) are high value vehicles with a ready market.

They dont get stripped down, unless for sale as parts, or it destroys the value let alone increases overhead. The thieves are very efficient. The car gets lifted and goes into a container very quickly. Some hooky paperwork gets attached to it and then the whole lot gets lost in amongst the thousands of other containers then get shipped daily. Theres no way for the police to get track of everything. Its a numbers game and not limited to Japan.

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Posted in: Tepid response from U.S. public to Pakistan flood relief See in context

The biggest government donor so far is the US, followed by the UK, Saudi, Germany and the EU but whats been given so far is a drop in the ocean. Though not so many have actually died in the floods, there are many millions homeless, open to the elements and at risk of disease. There will be many more deaths. Never mind your politics, if you give money to the red cross, unicef, christian aid or whoever theres every likelyhood it will end up feeding and clothing those most in need.

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Posted in: Mazda3 and Mazda5 recalled in U.S. over steering problems See in context

Branded, the steering doesnt stop working, it becomes heavier. The car is still driveable and can be stopped safely.

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Posted in: Mazda3 and Mazda5 recalled in U.S. over steering problems See in context

Theyre over reacting now. Instead of trying to deal with the issue with a service action, or wriggling out some other way J makers are overtly cautious now. They will issue a recall now where another maker might look at other options first.

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Posted in: JR Tohoku train departs without passengers, conductor See in context

"only the conductor should've been disciplined because the driver kept the system flowing"

Except that the driver didnt actually flow any passengers.

I imagine the discipline and retraining were one and the same thing. Maybe they'll be wise and stuff a phone directory down their trousers next time there's a need for retraining.

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Posted in: Is a strong yen against the dollar good for you personally? See in context

KinuyeOshiro - "is GOJ prepared for the same problems that Greece faced"

Japans massive deficit isnt funded in the same way. Greece lives on money borrowed abroad. And thats the reason the Yen is still seen as a safe currency. GOJ will need Plan B when they run out of savers.

In the mean time I like a strong yen it'll help a resurgence in car imports.

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Posted in: New breed of corporate head choppers set up errant workers for decapitation See in context

This contemptable business operates on the edge of legality. Im sure their behaviour will come back to bite them in the arse.

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Posted in: BP's Hayward to leave as CEO; Russia job in works See in context

MisterCreosote, the hit has not simply been taken by British pensioners, 40% of BP's shareholders are American. The pain will be shared.

From what I can tell nobody back home thinks BP should get off scott free, they definately believe there is a huge cost to this debacle. That said I think there is huge resentment over the shameless political point scoring going on in the US.

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Posted in: US braces for blowback over Afghan war disclosures See in context

America cant be beaten in this war, just like America cant win. The whole situation can only ever be one of containment and damage limitation. These revelations dont make that task any easier.

Afghanistan will never be a democracy in the sense we know it in the west, naive to think it ever could be. The war is being fought in Afghanistan to hit Al-Qaeda and reduce the incidence of terrorism at home. That objective was gained years ago. The Taliban are ubiquitous so trying to destroy them would be tantamount to genocide. Time to start talking, at least with the less hardline groups that want to see an end to the stalemate sooner rather than later.

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Posted in: BP's Hayward to leave as CEO; Russia job in works See in context

proudnippon - haywards pension will be 600k, you added a zero. Still not too shabby though.

Calling for Hayward to be jailed is premature, so far he's guilty of nothing more than poor PR presence. See the investigation results before casting judgement. I have no doubt we'll see safety failings across the board with BPs pension shareholders footing th bill.

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Posted in: UK reiterates BP not involved in Lockerbie bomber's release See in context

Governments regulate business, therefore businesses have every right to lobby government. That said, the Scottish government has explained the reasons behind its decision to release al-Megrahi, its a sovereign nation not in conflict with the US. The US senate is overstepping its remit.

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Posted in: Obama, British PM: Lockerbie bomber's release not BP's doing See in context

This story's going to get worse. US politicians are now arranging another public hanging demanding British politicians appear before the senate hearing next week.

Whether BP is involved or not, whatever you feel about Al-Megrahi, what pedestal has the US senate placed itself on? The US must get its own house in order and deal with others openly and honestly before staging any more of these reality shows from on high.

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