Posted in: TEPCO to scrap 4 reactors at crippled nuclear plant; president hospitalized See in context
With a little hard work I'm sure they could get all six back online. Now that fresh water is being used to cool the others...should only be a matter of time before they get the cleaners in there. :P
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Posted in: What is the fairest way to deal with the expected summer power shortage? See in context
Everyone move to Hokkaido for a couple of months.
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Posted in: Floating away See in context
I certainly hope the family are alive to see their house in the ocean. Just one of the many images that highlight the human tragedy up north.
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Posted in: Floating away See in context
Derailler - And how would you bring your expertise to change house construction? Remember that not so many buildings were destroyed during the earthquake.
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Posted in: SMAP broadcasts 79-minute live earthquake special See in context
Doesn't matter what people do... for some people it's never good enough. I'm sure they'll do more in the future.
Have you ever thought about the people/stars/'tarento' who are doing their bit without publicity? Perhaps these people, SMAP included, are helping in other ways.
I watched the show and it was quite moving. Nothing wrong with it.
As for LCD and plasma TVs consuming a lot of power? The average 52 inch LCD tv costs about 2,500 yen/year to run. I hardly think that is a huge amount of electricity.
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Posted in: Toyama man arrested for stealing earthquake collection box See in context
Words fail me at this time.
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Posted in: Radiation detected in Fukushima milk, Ibaraki spinach after nuclear accident See in context
The problem we have on this thread is that we have to many amateur scientists, who, given a little information, think they know everything.
Only read/get your information from reliable sources. The government here is doing everything 'by the book'. They haven't covered up anything. If they had, we wouldn't have heard anything about contaminated food.
Will people please take a few steps back, calm down, stop the effin panic.
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Posted in: Geiger counters sell out in Akihabara over radiation fears See in context
People are wearing masks here?!?! Oh no must be the radiation!!!
Of course it ain't. People are still suffering from hay fever. Did last year and the year before...and all the years before that. Has nothing to do with radiation.
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Posted in: Geiger counters sell out in Akihabara over radiation fears See in context
All I can say to the people who bought them... idiots the lot of you!!
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Posted in: Why are Tokyo cabbies so clueless? See in context
Completely disagree with the article. I'd like to know where he gets off by saying:
... that the vast majority are such intolerable bastards.
The vast majority of taxis I've used, the taxi drivers are professional, courteous and honest. But, I do have some negative experiences - some due to poor driving skills or only the one was due to attitude. y
I'm sure we get frustrated that drivers don't seem to know where they are going. Understandable when smaller roads have no names - unlike London, building/house numbering system seems completely random. All the drivers I've met know how to get to ALL JR stations and major landmarks within Tokyo or Osaka. As for using GPS, put that down to lack of training - that is the taxi company's problem. I dare say companies don't train their employees for numerous reasons - lack of training budget being the major one.
I'd just like to know how many taxis the write has used - perhaps the vast majority of taxis in Tokyo? Somehow I don't think so.
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Posted in: Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter isolate people from reality, according to some sociologists. Do you agree? See in context
How much more interesting this forum would be if we were all in one big room making comments directed at each other or other people.
Sometimes the Internet is good. And I'm not nine foot tall...but I AM made of steel ;P ... and ALL my Internet friends really dig me.
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Posted in: Prices going up See in context
Takuma7,
Relax willya? I think most of us looking at the photo understand what it is, even without the text telling us what it is or isn't.
Yeah gasoline or petrol (in my part of the world) IS expensive here in Japan. Just be thankful we ain't paying the same price as drivers in the UK.
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Posted in: Does freedom of speech include the right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, yell "Shark" at a beach or joke about having a bomb on a plane, for example? See in context
Yes we do walk among you. One of the beauties of having a free vote on this forum. I don't need to be dictated to or be influenced by others.
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Posted in: Does freedom of speech include the right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, yell "Shark" at a beach or joke about having a bomb on a plane, for example? See in context
globalwatcher,
So, is your answer to the poll: yes? or no?
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Posted in: Paris prosecutors say Galliano to stand trial See in context
And now it begins ...
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Posted in: Does freedom of speech include the right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, yell "Shark" at a beach or joke about having a bomb on a plane, for example? See in context
arrestpaul - What legal bearing does "Charles T. Schenck v. United States" or "New York Times v. Sullivan" have on the courts in Spain, Brazil, China or the Middle East? All of these nations create their own laws.
We have to remember, those people citing American cases think that the world/universe (?) should follow the American example. Each country should have a Bill of Rights/Constitution. We all aspire to be like America?!?!
It depends what is meant by 'freedom of speech'
Yes - physically we do have freedom of speech. We can say whatever we want, whenever we want to whomever we want.
No - we shouldn't be able to say whatever we want etc. with impunity. Each country has its own sets of laws that its citizens adhere to ... and NO, those laws are NOT from the U.S. (which has no legal baring on any country). Whether or not those laws go against 'basic human rights' is a whole different issue.
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Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler See in context
smithinjapan,
Sarcasm doesn't befit you. I watched the video and still cannot judge. We've no idea what, if anything, provoked this. Who knows what these people said to him before the 'tirade'?...
As I said before, many of us have probably said things that, in retrospect, maybe we shouldn't have said. Perhaps this was one of those moments for Galliano. Difference for him was that the video was 'bought' by that most reputable of newspapers, 'The Sun'. Hmmm... I wonder how much these people were paid for this. If some of the things I said in the past were recorded for all to see, and if I were a celebrity, I'd probably be languishing in some jail or would certainly be poverty stricken due to all the lawsuits.
It'll be interesting to see if France takes action. They could do, if he made such strong anti-semitic remarks. At the time of writing this, no action has been taken.
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Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler See in context
I haven't seen the video yet... Would be interesting to see the whole video and not just a small edited (if it has been edited) segment. Many things can be taken completely out of context.
Don't get me wrong. I am NOT excusing his behaviour at all. Yes, I posted earlier, 'hey...give the guy a break'. I was being light-hearted. It's something we hear a lot in Japan, 'forgive me...I was drunk' etc.
Sometimes we say things that we regret. In this day and age when everything we say or do can be recorded, we have to be supersensitive to what we do.
I sometimes get kinda worried about how far the 'being PC' is going nowadays. That's not to say I don't support Dior firing him. If it damages the company's image, the company has a right to protect itself.
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Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler See in context
AdamB - But he didn't run anyone over...
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Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler See in context
Hey...give the guy a break. He was drunk!
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Posted in: Does freedom of speech include the right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater, yell "Shark" at a beach or joke about having a bomb on a plane, for example? See in context
Here's me thinking I was in Japan. What do legal cases in the U.S. have to do with Japan?
Freedom of speech here in Japan ... sure, I should be able to say what I want when I want... but if I knowingly break any laws, then I have to be prepared to take the consequences. It is also the right of society to have legal protection...with caveats of course.
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Posted in: New envoy See in context
Don't you mean: Her Majesty's dress doesn't go with the carpet ? It might be a wee bitty easier for her to change dress than to change carpets... :P
Very nice carpet and decor ... I wonder if I can get it at my local IKEA here in Japan?
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Posted in: Rescue team See in context
I had an image of a small number on the team. But, that's a BIG team.
For all it's worth coming from me, I wish them all the best and hope they are able to help in some way.
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Posted in: Apple leads mobile computer market See in context
Zenny11 - Is that computer history according to Apple?
History corrections - Apple did not create the mouse...Douglas Engelbart did...in 1967.
GUI - Xerox.
Apple OS - not quite Linux. It's more Unix based
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Posted in: Apple leads mobile computer market See in context
Apple is so good that the vast majority of computers uses a Windows based OS.
Seriously though, why do Apple users always feel the need to attack Microsoft? I'm happy with my Windows 7. If I wasn't, I'd either be using Apple or a Linux based OS.
True what they say, 'Apple lovers, Windows users.'
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Posted in: Sony booming in India on strong brand image See in context
I think Sony products are, on the whole, great!
Never had any major problem with Sony. OK, video camera needed repair after 6 years...cost 12,000yen. First computer in Japan - Vaio - hard disc broke after 5 years (hard disc was Hitachi)...replaced hard disc...pc is fine after 8 years. TV...no probs ... and it's well out of warranty. MD Walkman...still going strong after 10 years.
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Posted in: Apple leads mobile computer market See in context
Apple - over-priced but great marketing.
I've used Apple products several times ... always had problems with them. From computer to phone to music player.
I don't understand why the iPad is included. It ain't a computer. As said in article - take away the iPad, and Apple is 8th in the world. Not exactly a leader as far as computers, is it?
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Posted in: Apple leads mobile computer market See in context
No accounting for taste, is there?
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Posted in: Night life See in context
Now, this is the Japan I know and love. Gone are your ultra-clean, mall-like shopping areas. Instead, garbage gathered round trees or other stationary objects... wonderful!
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Posted in: Women file suit to keep their surnames after they marry See in context
And no probs for my boys too. Travel out of Japan on Japanese passport. Land in UK with British passport. Then do the opposite flying to Japan. According to both passports, they've never left either country - no entry/exit stamps.
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Posted in: 30-year-old man arrested for shoplifting snacks from convenience store
Posted in: Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint, saying Israel will decide how to respond to Iran's attack
Not doing your job at securing a border is a high crime. No, it's not. A high crime would involve…
Posted in: Senate dismisses two articles of impeachment against U.S. Homeland Security secretary, ending trial
Posted in: House Republicans finally announce vote for $61 bil in Ukraine aid