gabrial888 comments

Before castigating Kim as a brutal one, consider the millions the US and the West have killed in its interventionist wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. Many more than the entire North Korean population.

ASEAN and Idia are the world's growth centers now. China will also start to grow at similarly high rates sooner or later. Many in the west have a fixated idea that a one-party state should be condemned just for being a one-party state. But the next growth center doesn't need to have the Western-style government model with frequent government changes. Western-style government models tend to generate conflict between two parties in a way that is not really conducive to the economic growth of Asian countries. The US-led western world also tends to have a glaring income gap with so much homelessness. In fact, the US is now like a class society where the ruling elites live like royalties and aristocrats. When the state grows its economy and reduces poverty in relative harmony and safety in which you feel safe to walk at night in an ordinary neighborhood, it's good regardless of whether it's a one-party state or not.

I'm all for international tourism, but don't say something like "Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the U.S". Over 1 million people died in the US due to Covid. The US is the antithesis of prudent pandemic handling. The name "US" sends shivers up my spine when it comes to Covid measures with all its internal dissonance and conflicts.

We are so out of our depth in solving this type of issue. Politicians start salivating when they see organizational votes and political donations. Organizational religious groups can offer both. Politicians/lawmakers make the law controlling this as loophole riddled as they want. Therefore, the truth about their corrupt relationship will never come out. In a voting democracy, money talks as organizing voters to cast their ballots in a certain way costs a lot, and money can hush things up too. Pretty dismal, but it's a systematic flaw.

Amazing biceps of the guy holding the foot of the guy with the ball, but the foot-holding guy's jaw could be whacked by the same foot whose quads are just so sculpted. A rugby layman I am but hats off to the colossal muscles stoically at work.

What a bizarre case. What a morbid way to end one's life.

It's interesting to know that the car hasn't been introduced to the global market already. I'm curious as to foreign car buyers respond to the distinction between the Crowns and Lexus cars. As long as the cars are attractive, they won't have any problems selling the. I myself don't know the difference between the Crowns and Lexuses. That they are both expensive cars is all I know.

G20 more widely represents the global opinion than G7. It's closer to global democracy if there is such a thing. G7 as a minority group is wielding a disproportionate amount of power and it's literally fueling the war.

Christian internecine killing in the former USSR territory is not something that Japan should poke its nose into. But Japan has no choice when it's at the behest of the US military-industrial complex.

So stupid to attempt this larceny. It's easy to narrow down those who are involved in the transport of the said valuables. Mind-bogglingly airheaded simpleton thief gets his just deserts.

Japan's embrace of the term "rule-based" says a lot about the subordinate position this country is in vis-a-vis the US. Most Japanese people unquestioningly accept this narrative. US occupation is still alive and well here.

The cheese on the beef looks good, but not good for your vascular health. If you eat it, you should stop driving and do some rigorous walking.

The picture image is deceiving as the Japanese side has no choice but to follow the US lead.

The biggest military in the world calls the shot. The US decides the rules and if you don't follow the US-dictated world order, you are censured by the USA. These two stooges are loyally following that US-centric order. When the USA arbitrarily backs off from the rules that it initiated to create be it an environmental treaty, nuclear deals, or a trade agreement, these two obsequiously acquiesce.

It's convenient for politicians to say that. They look good saying that too. But actually, it's a sordid affair involving an organized religion and money. Politicians will push their own agenda asserting this "attack on democracy" narrative.

Nice idea but 6000 yen is a bit pricy for something whose durability is totally unknown. Must be very durable and it's a tall order for an umbrella that is destined to be handled pretty rough.

The US and other G7 countries decided to not attend the G20 dinner. As always, they have to call the shots. Old imperial forces are cantankerous and puerile as ever. Hard to shake off the old ways.

This lame duck of a politician will continue to be in his post for some time. What a disaster. Paralysis goes on.

I sometimes wonder if the present electoral system is good for Japan. Most people don't get involved in politics. They don't read about politics and have very limited knowledge about history. The voter turnout is very low and only 10-20% of young people vote. Political discussion among ordinary people is almost nonexistent. It just seems like a cycle of irresponsibility where politicians' job performances are not measured rigorously.

Benefits of the US bases: Protection against possible aggressions from "unfriendly countries."

Drawback: "Unfriendly countries" are unfriendly because of the bases, and they can get more hostile as the US ramps up its military drills around Japan and impose more sanctions on countries that don't yield to its will.

The US maintains its influence in countries where it has military bases by creating a degree of tension as it fits the US interest. Okinawa US bases are a convenient tool for the US to control Japan.

Japan has recently been obliged to participate in military drills with the US. SDF ships are navigating in the seas near other countries quite frequently. Closer military alignment with the USA means discomfort for Russia.

It's a weird empty performance every Japanese prime minister puts on saying "I'm determined to resolve northern island issues during my tenure." Japan is actually moving away from hammering out a deal with Russia. With hostility emanating from Japan, no wonder Russia is also more belligerent. It takes two to tango.

By design, Japan can't resolve territory issues. As long as the US forces are in Japan, it's menacing to Russia. It would be stupid for Russia to return those islands.

More people die in the US than in China from authorities' violence. Police every year shoot more than 1000 people to death in the US. More than 50,000 people every year are hospitalized in the US because of the use of force by the police. China is no angel. But vilifying only China is just US-led propaganda. Let us not lose balance here. Different countries have different ways of doing things. How many citizens they kill is an objective measurement of the human rights situation in each country. China is no angel, but the US is worse when it comes to not respecting human rights.

Australia was mean to China first, riding on the coattails of Trump's aggressive tone. 

Morrison said China was like Nazi Germany. 

"China condemns Australian MP's Nazi Germany parallel

Published8 August 2019" ---BBC

I don't buy from benders that are hostile to me. Condescending Australia and western "democracies" should stop interfering in China's domestic affairs. China has its way of doing things. It's always the west's "democratic" ideology that causes trouble in the world. 

Don't preach to other countries. Curb the enthusiasm to judge others with the western perspective. Then, there'll be no frictions. 

One more thing, most Chinese people like their government. Much more than "democratic" country citizens like theirs.

Good thing. I like the government's thinking on this. I'm all for it. Glad to know I'm not living in an unfeeling capitalist society.

Good idea not to join former colonizers who sow the seeds of the Hong Kong issue. Hong Kong needs order, not chaos abetted by the west.

Most likely another pipe dream from a government-funded institute. Why is our tax money wasted on devising a weird, at-best niche market alcoholic beverage? Leave sake-making to the private sector.

It appears that Japan has been taken aback by a series of new moves by North Korea since its announcement to join the Olympics. Kim's unexpectedly positive rapid-fire announcements are putting Abe and co. on the back foot.

Japanophiles praising Japan to the heavens, and locals loving it. Same old same old.

Gross, both in color and flavor combination. But maybe I should be openminded. Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to culinary innovation.

WHAT were the previous tests that had consistently shown chemical levels well within the safety standards? Will those responsible for the overly sanguine test results be dragged over the coals? Never, or just a slap on the wrist at most. Pathetic lack of accountability on the public sector has become the real drain on this country.