freakashow comments

Posted in: Hikaru Utada to return to entertainment industry after 3-year-hiatus See in context

which nearly 100% of Japanese 'artists' do not.

That's right, Smithinjapan. Only, top Japanese artists like Yuzu, Ken Hirai, Keisuke Kuwata of Southern All-Stars, Noriaki Makihara, Mr. Children, B'Z, Dreams Come True, Yumi Matsutoya, Tatsuro Yamashita, Every Little Thing, Funky Monkey Babys, Misia, etc. write their own music. Good to see Utada come back. She has talent. I loved her music Heart Station and the theme from the Evangelion movie called "Beautiful World".

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Posted in: Japan launches petition site to lobby for wrestling See in context

They should have pushed for it when it mattered, then.

The only "push" that could've saved wrestling would be of the illegal under-the-table kind. Fortunately or unfortunately, the wrestling federations of the world didn't go that route. In the end, one of the original sports at the Olympics is gone, and we're left with the rich guys playing golf. I can't see myself sitting through four rounds of golf play at the Olympics.

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Posted in: Japan launches petition site to lobby for wrestling See in context

Wrestling at the Olympics have produced many great moments. I remember the Iranian wrestler and American wrestler who hugged after their match at the last Olympics, and where else but the Olympics will you ever see an Iranian and American show affection like that? I'll also miss seeing wrestlers like Saori Yoshida carrying their coaches on their shoulders after winning.

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Posted in: Japan's women ice hockey team hits big time See in context

Pink, baby blue and other crap colour.

tmarie: What's wrong with colors like pink or baby blue? I often see American sports teams sporting pink ribbons in support for breast cancer. The NFL traditionally has coaches and players sporting pink caps on the sidelines, with players often wearing pink shoes. And the NFL is considered one of the most "manly" sports alongside hockey. Also, you can buy a lot of pink alternative hockey jerseys of teams like Montreal, on the Internet.

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Posted in: Japan shocked by IOC decision to body slam wrestling See in context

Seems like not only Japan, but many other countries across the world are shocked by this horrible decision:

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2013/02/12/sp-wrestling-olympics-2020.html?cmp=rss

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Posted in: Reward offered to catch Seoul taxis that rip off foreigners See in context

Never really had a pleasant experience in a taxi in anyplace I've been to; whether it be in Japan, the U.S., Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, etc. Drivers either are rude, try to rip you off, or drive like madmen. The only time it makes sense to be in one, is if you and three other friends are in it and can split the cost.

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Posted in: Ravens beat 49ers to win Super Bowl See in context

You don't have to be American (just ask the Brits - there's at least one London game every year now), but it is a complicated game. There's a reason that playbooks are thick, several specific coaches are necessary, and players and coaches have to constantly put hours studying film of opponents' plays.

Totally agree. American football is a much more cerebral game than most people give it credit for. Players need to be quite intelligent to digest all of the plays and formations. It's why college players at the draft combine are required to take a Wonderlic intelligence test. Having a quarterback that can audible plays at the line of scrimmage based on what kind of defensive formations are offered, really helps. Also, players have to be flexible to not only catch a ball, but to block, run fake plays, etc. Nowadays, the thick paper playbooks (which used to be as thick as telephone books) have been replaced by iPads.

As for this Superbowl, it started out to be a blowout, but then turned into a very tense and interesting game in the third quarter. Ultimately, those two early turnovers doomed the 49ers. Joe Flacco really impressed me by his timely long balls and accuracy. Overall, a very good Superbowl.

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Posted in: Cheap is king in recession-mired Japan See in context

but this is the only nation I know, and some Japanese the only people I've ever heard of, that say "expensive" is a positive meaning adjective.

I guess they have the money to spend on luxuries like that because I've met so many Japanese housewives that do the most extreme things to save money to the point that they only spend on average, 10,000 yen a month on all utilities (gas, telephone, water, electricity) even in summer and winter, and another 20,000 yen per month on food. Having the whole family use the toilet on one flush is one extreme measure I've heard of. Another thing a lot of housewives in Japan do is to get a ton of free stuff through poscard mailing. They do it so well that they always get some gift of food or luxury item free (well, minus the cost of a postage stamp) for every postcard they send in.

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Posted in: Armstrong tells Oprah he doped See in context

Even before this came to light, Armstrong seemed to be so smug and arrogant. Hero? He's a hero alright; hero to all the cheaters and liars out there. I sure hope all the people he wrongfully sued to keep their mouths shut get their justice.

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Posted in: McDonald’s Japan giving away free breakfasts See in context

Don't know about this, but I love the fact that McDonald's sometimes give away coffee for free. A couple weeks ago they were giving away free coffee. Felt funny just walking in, ordering a coffee, not paying anything, then walking out with a coffee in hand.

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Posted in: New York passes 1st U.S. gun control bill since Newtown massacre See in context

If a person wants to own a firearm for protection even when there is no crime in there area that is perfectly acceptable.

By your argument, it is perfectly acceptable for a person to own a nuclear weapon even though there is no nuclear superpower in their neighborhood. It's perfectly alright then for me to set up a missle defense system in my backyard, even though there isn't a threat of an attack from the sky.

Adding more fuel to a fire, won't put it out, just like putting more guns out there won't make crime and violent deaths go away. Are gun owners so afraid that their lives would go to pot without having a gun in their possession? There will come a time when enough's enough. Eventually a leap of faith, or at least a small step needs to be taken towards the goal of a better place to live. Until then, the violence will continue to happen and more people will die.

To me your argument is like saying with car deaths going down why the need to wear your seat belt?

The difference is that not wearing your seatbelt solely hurts the person who doesn't wear their seatbelt. It's just like helmet laws and laws prohibiting people from walking the streets while wearing earphones listening to music. These "common sense" laws were put in place for people who would otherwise be in line for a Darwin Award. If people with guns were only a danger to themselves, then I would admit that it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as not wearing your seatbelt.

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Posted in: New York passes 1st U.S. gun control bill since Newtown massacre See in context

Because the rate is already lowering. Since 2007 gun violence as a grand total has dropped by 15%.

Then if the homicide rate is going down and you're less likely to die from a gun than in a car accident, then you don't really need to have a gun to protect yourself from a gun in the first place. Thus, a ban on guns won't hurt anyone. Don't see why gun owners feel the need for a gun to protect themselves from a crime that is lowering and is less likely to happen to them from say a car accident.

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Posted in: New York passes 1st U.S. gun control bill since Newtown massacre See in context

It's a nice step in the right direction. It brings to mind a famous quote by the late great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

While instituting a comprehensive ban on all guns in America may seem like a pipe dream, fighting guns with more guns is totally ludicrous. This bill sounds better than the NRA's solution of putting more armed guards in schools and arming teachers with guns. More violence is not the answer to fight violence. Period!

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Posted in: Gun lobby says Congress will not pass weapons ban See in context

Great link, Xeno23. Thanks.

Alex Jones is a raving lunatic that can't even have a normal debate. It's very disturbing to think that there are gun owners like him out there. One thing that I got from watching it is that it made me realize that gun owners like him would more likely use their guns to threaten others not to take away their guns, rather than for using it for self-defense in the first place. When it comes to the topic of gun control, you just can't have an intelligent conversation with a gun nut.

The NRA doesn't want any laws restricting their gun rights because it means less business for them. All they want to do is fuel their business by making non-owners so afraid of those who have guns that they need to go out and buy some themselves. That's all they care about. They could care less about how many people die from guns.

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Posted in: NRA, video game makers to meet with Biden gun control task force See in context

Question for you, would you be concerned about violent medias impact on a 5 year old or a 10 year old?

Responsible parents take control over what is shown and provided to their children. My parents raised me so that I never got to see an R-rated movie until I was in high school (which by that time I understood what is real and what is make believe). Irresponsible parents will simply shift all the blame for their children's violent ways on outside factors and fail to look inward to themselves. In fact, I saw more violent images (e.g. brutal school fights) and borderline porn (e.g. classmates heavily making out on school grounds) in real life than what's shown on TV and in movies.

But this brings up another question, what if an empty magazine that can hold 100 rounds is stolen should the owner be charged with negligence?

The world would be a much better place if all that existed in it were empty magazines and no guns and bullets on the face of this planet.

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Posted in: NRA, video game makers to meet with Biden gun control task force See in context

By this facile reasoning then, if your car is stolen and used in a crime such as bank robbery or drug deal or DWI with fatalites, then you as the registered legal owner should also be imprisoned along with the actual criminals. Brilliant!

Herve Nmn L'Eisa: You're comparing apples with oranges. A car's main purpose is to transport people and things from point A to point B. On the other hand, a gun's sole purpose was made to kill. Flippantly assuming that gun ownership shouldn't carry such a high sense of responsibility from its owners is really absurd. As much as people may say a gun owner has a right to own a gun, I as one who doesn't own one has a right for the government to take any possible measure to ensure that guns don't end up in the wrong hands and are not used in the wrong way. It's not asking much for gun owners to take more responsibility over their weapons.

All the NRA and other gun nuts want to do is divert attention away from the real sources of gun violence to something as inane and unrelated as violent video games and movies. Fact is that a majority of people watch violent action movies all the time and never ever feel the need to carry a gun; much less shoot one.

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Posted in: NRA, video game makers to meet with Biden gun control task force See in context

Let me get this straight: the NRA thinks that violent movies and video games have more to do with gun violence than the easy access to guns themselves? Are they nuts? I've played a lot of first-person shooter games in my life, as have many of my friends and co-workers. Not one of them (as I) have ever felt the urge to purchase a gun, much less shoot another person with it. Watching "Die Hard" and war movies ain't gonna suddenly persuade someone to go shoot another human being. That's a fact.

Gun owners continue to shout that they have a right to own a gun. Well, as a person who doesn't own one, I also have a right not to own one and I also have a right to be protected from others who do own one. While it may be almost impossible to completely ban all guns out there, I at least propose that the U.S. government pass stricter laws concerning responsibility of those who purchase a gun. Those who do purchase a gun, must abide by a law that requires them to always keep close watch over it and handle a gun properly. Even if their gun is stolen or used inappropriately by someone else, they should accept responsibility for introducing it to society and the consequences of how it is used by another party. It is why I also feel that all guns should be registered properly and for it to be illegal to own an unregistered gun; including grandfathered guns.

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Posted in: Gun enthusiasts pack shows to buy assault weapons See in context

I'm NOT afraid, because I have a gun and a dog that would take a big chunk out of anyone that would be even stupid enough to try to enter onto my property.

bassfunk: But why did you buy a gun in the first place, if not to protect yourself? I've lived in America before and never felt the need to own a gun. Gun enthusiasts are a bunch of hippocrites. They love to cite statistics saying you are more likely to die in a car crash than by a gun, but feel it's okay to buy a gun to protect yourself from the miniscule oft-chance you'll need it.

I knew a guy who actually bought a gun, but returned it after only having it a short time since it made him more nervous having it locked up in his room. He also said that it didn't make sense having one anyway, since if someone did come in and tried to rob him, he'd have to find the wits to take the time to unlock his safe, get his gun, then go to a separate room where he kept his ammo to quickly load the gun, which by that time, he could be dead anyway. He also feared it getting stolen and used in a crime, in which case, he'd feel so responsible for indirectly allowing that gun to get out on the street in the first place. I know that I couldn't live with myself knowing that if I had a gun, and it was somehow stolen from me and then it was used to kill someone.

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Posted in: LA holds gun buyback early after Connecticut school shooting See in context

I think it's a great idea. Unfortunately, it doesn't work in the U.S. (as it would in other countries like Australia) because there are too many evil Americans and people with no moral code in the U.S. that would use guns in the wrong way, so that those who are not evil feel the need to buy more guns to "defend" themselves from other people with guns. It's just a vicious cycle that will continue until someone has the balls to say enough is enough.

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Posted in: 2 U.S. firefighters shot dead, 2 wounded in arson 'trap' See in context

Yet another case that I'm sure the clueless NRA will make to put more guns out in America to make it a "safer" place to live. Yeah, right. It's like a hunter saying we should put out more bear traps all over the place to trap bears. Sooner or later you'll step on one of your own bear traps. As for guns, the more guns you put out there in people's hands (no matter how well-trained they are), the more you increase the possibility of accidents happening. Accidental gun deaths happen more often than people realize. Call me an optimist, but I do feel that a stricter ban on guns should be tried. While many believe that a total gun ban won't work as in countries like Australia (due to the difference in personalities and moral values of the two cultures), it should at least be given a try. Letting institutions like schools turn into police states is not the way to go.

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Posted in: Gun enthusiasts pack shows to buy assault weapons See in context

It's so sick to think that gun sales are up and businesses like these are profitting from death. As hopeless as it may seem to eradicate all guns and gun violence in America, a stricter gun ban must be given a chance. If people become so afraid that they feel the need to own more and more guns to protect themselves even in their own homes and schools, then essentially innocent Americans have lost. And even though a gun ban may not work as well as it has in countries such as Australia and Japan, it must still be given a try. But people will remain afraid to try, and so many more Americans (on average, 34 each day) will die due to gun violence.

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Posted in: NRA breaks silence, pledges to help prevent future gun massacres See in context

Something is terribly wrong with America when its soldiers are safer in the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq, than civilians are in their own country. When over 24,100 Americans have been killed by gun violence over a two-year span (or roughly on average about 33-34 people each day), how can the NRA claim that more guns is the answer? More guns is NOT the answer.

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Posted in: NRA calls for armed police officer in every school See in context

I guess the NRA wants a police state setup for all schools in America. Picture schools with armed guards patroling the corridors and surrounding areas, barred windows, metal detectors at all entrances and exits, surveillance cameras everywhere, and periodic mental and background checks made on all students and teachers (as well as the armed guards protecting them). I shudder to think of what a school might become if they follow what the NRA is preaching. For me, I could do without the "right to bear arms". I would much rather have to right to live a peaceful life. Why should the American people have to sacrifice so many other freedoms in order to keep such an outdated right in the first place?

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Posted in: From Davy Crockett to Dirty Harry, guns tied to U.S. identity See in context

It's pretty sad to think an 11 year-old boy feels the need to carry a gun to school because he fears for his life. I can only picture more American kids feeling the same way in the future; a very bleak future indeed. Sorry, but I totally disagree with gun lovers who feel that arming everyone to the teeth with guns is the answer. More guns is not the answer.

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Posted in: Man kills mother, then 26 at Connecticut school, including 20 kids See in context

Such a devastating tragedy for all. My heart goes out to these kids and their families. Losing a child is the absolute worst thing that can happen. Also, the kids and teachers who witnessed this will be traumatized for a very long time. My prayers go out to you as well.

My point is, even if it is illegal, people will still find a way to have it. Ban guns, people will still get them.

Yes, but without the means to obtain a gun, it would make it that much harder for an average Joe to get them and use them. For example, in Japan, unless you're involved with the Yakuza, or know someone in the police force, you'll find it hard to get access to one. If I got to the point where I suddenly cracked and wanted to shoot someone, then I would not even know where to start to find a gun in Japan. However, in the States, it would be much too easy with guns lying pretty much anywhere and everywhere. As NBA star Lebron James tweeted, "Land of the free, BS!"

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Posted in: Survey reveals over 60% of elementary students hate Japanese-style toilets See in context

Never really minded those Japanese-style toilets. Sure it was hard work on the leg muscles, but I liked the fact that I never have to worry about touching my tush on a dirty Western toilet seat with urine on it. And trust me, in a public men's toilet, there is always urine on the seat since men pee standing up all the time, and are often too lazy to lift the seat up. It's sometimes a hassle to have to gather some toilet paper, wipe the previous person's urine and other stuff off of the toilet seat, put some more toilet paper on it, and then sit down on that. As for the smell, it's not much of a problem to just breathe through my mouth, rather than my nose.

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Posted in: Toyota, Nissan cut China output over island row See in context

Heard that Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are ramping up production in their plants in the U.S. Toyota in particular will assemble cars and minivans in its plants in places such as Kentucky and Indiana for export to places such as South Korea, so I'm sure there will be no problem with production on their end.

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Posted in: Island dispute may cast shadow over Tokyo's Olympic bid See in context

Would serve Ishihara right not to get the Olympics. I know a lot of Japanese (and especially Tokyoites) who would be relieved not to get the Tokyo bid as it would be a taxing blow to the economy. All of my Japanese friends said they would hate to have the Olympics since it just wouldn't work. Many gave varying reasons such as "too hot in summer", "hate to have tax payers' money wasted on this when it could go towards other things like clean energy, education, etc.", "hatred of anything that Ishihara stands for especially after wasting money on the Shin Ginko and Oedo line projects".

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Posted in: Having their say See in context

tmarie: Well I'm glad that we agree that neither side is good, that only one fire was started at a school in Kobe, and that it's not good to use such a case as a red herring to support one's views since it would be considered "nitpicking" to do so.

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Posted in: Having their say See in context

I've not made any assumptions that there is an epidemic of fires being started

tmarie: Yes you have, or do you forget that you wrote "fires" and not "fire"?

It was one fire, and not "fires". Also, what right do you have to assume that "people" started a fire. Yes, it could have been several people, but it could also have been just one person for all we know, but no, you just want to suddenly assume that many "people" are starting "fires" at Chinese schools in Japan. Again, yes, the entire population of China (only the ones we see rioting in 80 cities in China) are stupid and causing violence. However, the same can be said of the Japanese. Neither side is good, but it really seems like you are suddenly jumping all over what Japanese have done and sugarcoating the mass rioting in China.

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