erikaj comments

Is that a shooting star? No, it's just a bit of space junk.

Efforts to limit the amount of space debris suffered a major setback in 2007 when China tested its anti-satellite missiles on a weather satellite which was blown to pieces.

As if littering the planet is not enough.

Tough game. The North Koreans played really tough on defense. Nice header by Yoshida in the waning moments of the game. It was a bit funny to see the North Korean goalkeeper complain and cry to the ref that he was stepped on the foot by a Japanese player, even though replays showed no Japanese player even near him. The goalkeeper simply planted his own foot awkwardly, thus twisting his ankle a bit.

Kinukawa looks like the normal marathon distance runner. She only looks skinny, because she is pictured in relation to a huge guy. That guy carrying her would make a lot of fat people look skinny. In fact, all of the Kenyan women were skinnier than her, and yet they were able to win. To us, they might seem too skinny. However, it is lean muscle that they have. Just like Q-chan, they all have some pretty muscular abs under their shirts.

Neither kids nor dogs need bling.

Yeah, but to give dogs bling, when the money could be better spent on kids food and education doesn't quite sit right with me.

Too bad so many people care more about dogs than their own kids or other humans,

Elbuda Mexicano: Me too. I'm really sick of that. I remember when I was living in California, I often saw this eccentric owner walking her chihuahua who had some serious bling. Not sure how much it cost, but it was still way too much for a little itty bitty dog. But that's the norm there. I've even seen some owners who spray painted parts of their dogs pink or baby blue. Poor dogs. Not to mention the ton of money they must spend on dog massages, dog hotels, etc. Granted, some of these owners have no kids, but some do and to give a dog bling, but not their kids, is pretty whacked if you ask me.

He has inadvertantly "enabled" the fans - making them a definite factor in the game - by allowing them to affect which players are on the field.

Fadamor: I would have to disagree with that. The facts show that Kawashima played the whole match and didn't lose his team the game. It showed character that he was able to play even with the taunts. Of course, once the outcome determined and the game over, he could relax and just let it all out since it wouldn't affect his performance or the match. Even though fans would taunt him in the future, they know that he would still play and let tears out after the match is over, thus not making any difference whatsoever to the outcome of the game.

and has the self-control to contain himself, much more of a display of passion than crying.

I agree, sfjp330. It is not good to cry during a match, and I'm so glad to see Kawashima not do that. He withstood the taunts and secured a draw for his team. I'm sure his team appreciates that. He will get stronger from this experience in the future.

he cried off the pitch, no harm no foul

I totally agree with you, ambrosia. I don't see what the fuss is all about since he showed strength and resolve while he was playing the game. Some people just need to get a life and let him show his emotions while not playing the game. Good on Kawashima-san.

What would you have them do, focus on the taunts and lose concentration on the game?

ambrosia: Nope. My advice would be to let it all out rather than hold your emotions inside and let it eat at your soul until it causes you to have an ulcer, or something. Have your cry, shout at the world, or whatever, and be ready to fight back the next time. Give him a chance to learn. He will be able to use this as a learning experience. But I guess people like you are not into giving people second chances and are willing to automatically pin them as losers.

Like it or not, the fans can be vicious. The best advice any player can get is to learn to ignore it.

Try telling that to athletes like Tiger Woods. Last I heard, his sports career has taken a nose-dive because of the constant taunts about his love life. I guess even "elite" athletes like him can't stand the pressure and taunting. It's easy for armchair "athletes" like us to say "just ignore it", but takes some getting used to. I'm sure now that Eiji Kawashima has the emotion out of his system, he will be more emotionally ready the next time he encounters that sort of heckling again.

Also, we shouldn't assume that this was the first time he has encountered taunting. I'm sure he has before and handled himself well before. It's just that this time, it got taken a bit too far with some physical things thrown at him. I'm just appalled that some posters here are ready to throw him on the stake just for one small tiny incident; and yet are willing to forgive other athletes for worse travesties and crimes. Sheesh! Allow him his time to live and learn.

Let's get over the whole Belgium bashing too.

I totally agree. Bashing all Belgians is totally wrong. Most of them are find upstanding people. Just like bashing Kawashima for simply showing some emotion is totally wrong. He did his best to take the taunts and ended up playing the whole game in the end. Bashing one whole nationality for the actions of a few is terrible.

In the end, I'm glad that Kawashima was able to handle the taunts and hold his emotions in until way after the match. It was also good that he didn't start taking his anger out on opposing team players or fans. Good on him.

So sad to hear about so many stupid football fans out there. Kawashima-san has nothing to feel ashamed about having shed a tear or two. I'd rather he react that way, than run to the stands to attack and fight with a fan (which I'm sure some insensitive posters here would like him to do). At least he won't get suspended and arrested for attacking a fan. It's also terrible to hear that many hooligans in this match were throwing things at him. To me that is outright dangerous.

American Pit Bull Terrier Club of Australia president Colin Muir said the issue was not about a particular breed but the wider problem of responsible ownership of dogs.

While I can see that the dog breed itself does not kill, statistics do show that most dog attacks resulting in death are done by pit bulls and rottweilers. In fact, in a study done by DogsBite.org, in 2009, during a three-year period alone, 59% of deaths from dog attacks were from pit bulls, and 14% from rottweilers. It shows that some dogs have more of a natural tendency to be mean and attack people. After all, these dogs were bred to fight. They weren't bred to be cuddly.

Japan couldn't even wash its own underwear if it were put to a vote; they'd say "There is something that needs washing. It is regrettable. We are forming a panel of experts to discuss legislation that will leave it to you to operate the washing machine voluntarily."

smithinjapan: Please show your proof (links and stats) that show that this is true.

Actually I don't. City wide bans have proven to do little. Gun registrations have likewise done little tor reduce crime and I doubt either of these measures would have prevented this man from killing these people.

I have to agree with you there. Gun control only works in countries where people actually have a certain amount of decency, respect, and common sense. It's not the guns killing people in America, but the fact that those with it, don't have a good head on their shoulders and lack the necessary empathy towards others.

Congratulations to Adam for keeping the lead and winning it in the end. He shot four good rounds of golf. Also, well done to Ryo. He shot very well and finished a respectable 4th winning 132,000 dollars in prize money. Nothing to sneeze at. And what an interview by caddie Steve Williams dissing the golfer who summarily fired him (Tiger Woods). By saying that this was the "best week of golf in my career" and "the best win I've ever had", Williams showed that he still carries a grudge against his former boss. Wow!

Well I think the effects of a nuclear accident is far greater than me having a car accident or a hart disease.

SquidBert: That is absolutely not true. Year in and year out, more people die from heart disease and in car accidents, than from nuclear radiation poisoning. In fact, in the U.S. alone, over 600,000 people die from heart disease each year. As for car accidents, it has been estimated that roughly 40,000 die in the U.S. alone, per year. So, I would think that car accidents or heart disease would cause more deaths than nuclear radiation.

As for risks, well the US has had their fair share of terror attacks.

Why are you so afraid of something that has a far less chance of happening than say a car crash, or heart disease? I'm pretty sure you should fear those more since they are far more likely to kill you than the off-chance of a terrorist attack hitting a nuclear power plant.

Why cant Japan make more Kimiko Dates ?

Well, different sport, but speedskater Tomomi Okazaki (who last competed in the 2010 Winter Olympics at the age of 38 years old) and will be 40 next month, fits the mold. And to me, speed-skating needs so much speed and muscle, which typically declines as you get older, yet she still does it.

gotta agree with a lot of posters above. Japanese "psychiatry" has been reduced to pills, and a pat on the back accompanied with a heartfelt "gambatte ne"

I agree, just like 98% of the so-called psychiatry going on in this world, ala Hollywood doc-style "medicine", pills, glitz and a "good luck son" ain't gonna cut it.

This would be a great, clean source of energy. Unfortunately, it would only work in areas that don't have extreme weather conditions. I'm pretty sure those things would break in a strong hurricane, tornado, or snowstorm.

Or else go ask the major Kawasaki clinic chain, or the dozen other chains how many customers they have and see if they'll willingly give you names and numbers.

Smithinjapan, You are correct that Japanese people are very honest when it comes to whether they have cosmetic surgery or not, since they so openly advertise such places to get them done such as Kawasaki clinic and Takasu clinic. And yes, I've seen the numbers and while they are far less t than those in Korea, and among pop stars like Kara, they do get it done. Whether Kara, or lovely ladies like them get it done is not the point, but the fact is, that neither Koreans, nor Japanese are more open about getting cosmetic surgery than the other. That's common knowledge.

Don't know which is better though, lovely ladies like Kara who have obviously had some surgery done, or AKB48, who gives the impression to other women that you don't need to change anything about your looks and you could pretty much be a member of their group. (I swear that most of AKB48 are average looking at best)

All this from a picture of a few singers; people have problems when they have to misdirect their anger and feelings to turn it into what it's become. I might be included, but only as defense.

Good point, smithinjapan. I feel that any misguided bad things said either about Koreans or Japanese is unnecessary. Whether these beautiful ladies of Kara had or had not cosmetic surgery shouldn't be an issue, as does the Japanese. I feel that both Koreans and Japanese have surgery, and both have those that are open about it, and others who aren't.

-- Korean people have little or no qualms about admitting surgery while the Japanese hide it as a dirty secret.

Please prove that about Koreans and Japanese.

He was a true pioneer who paved the way for others like Ichiro and Matsui. He will truly be missed on both sides of the Pacific (actually more in Japan since I know several Yankees fans still ticked off about the money he cost them). It is sad that he even though he desperately wanted to find his real father in the U.S., he couldn't.

The following is an interesting article about Irabu:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/irabu_lonely_death_fhxtXo8WhL9fq5w51nQmZL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=

1st place in the northern hemisphere to start celebrating Christmas this year. Wow!