Helix comments

Posted in: Senior Japanese diplomat in Oregon attacked in alleged hate crime See in context

She's targeted Asians before

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2023/07/top-japanese-diplomat-shoved-to-the-ground-assaulted-in-bias-crime-in-downtown-portland-records-show.html

Suspect mugshot

https://www.portlandoregonmugshots.com/show.php?id=tRubzP4dX9s01nC&name=arissa-robinson

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Posted in: Why scientists are concerned about leaks at biolabs See in context

No it was not, biosafety and biosecurity worries are not the stuff of conspiracy theories

If the lab leak was never a conspiracy theory, why did you call it a "conspiracy theory" on January 29th?

So the "virus escaped from the lab" conspiracy theory would need to explain how the virus managed to not only escape the laboratory, but also a highly populated city without causing outbreaks, then go to more rural areas where slowly spread between patients until it came back again to the city, this time causing a very obvious cluster that raised the alarm (and was mismanaged horribly by the authorities until it was too late to stop it there). So, it would need to explain how COVID-19 behaved much more like a natural transmission from a wild animal reservoir than coming from a lab.

-@Virusrex Jan. 29 2021 02:57 pm JST

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Posted in: U.S. companies vow to fight racism but face critics on diversity See in context

It's weird how racist pseudoscience showing differences in average intelligence between population groups accurately predicts underrepresentation in cognitively challenging occupations, overrepresentation in crime, lower levels of educational attainment and higher levels of poverty. It probably just a coincidence.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Iranian MP offers $3 mil to anyone who kills Trump: report See in context

what's the likelihood Iran's partner and big brother Russia's chipping in?

So Trump is a Russian puppet, and Trump does everything Russia wants, but now Russia wants to assassinate Trump? I don't think your Russophobic narrative makes much sense anymore.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Posted in: Gun-rights activists gear up for show of force in Virginia See in context

What would the reaction be like if it was a large group of armed black and hispanic men assembling

Nothing. It happens daily in most urban neighborhoods across America. It's why SuperLib's neighbor brings a gun just to throw out the trash.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Posted in: Single? I'm self-partnered, says British actress Emma Watson See in context

My recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, I’m among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men. Unattractive, even. 

-Emma Watson (2014)

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Posted in: People living on ¥1 mil a year: How do they manage? See in context

In my country, Canada, those are free.

Nothing is ever free Jeff.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Posted in: Sam Smith announces new pronouns of 'they' and 'them' See in context

I am at no stage just yet to eloquently speak at length about what it means to be non binary

Yeah, I'm not sure anybody actually is.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Posted in: Climate campaigners plan Heathrow drone shutdown See in context

Just remind these activists that there are disabled transgender people of color on these flights looking to claim asylum once they land at Heathrow. That should give them a crisis of conscience.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Posted in: New genetic links to same-sex sexuality found in huge study See in context

how would any "gay" genes survive the process of natural selection?

One leading theory is the kin selection hypothesis (or the "gay uncle theory"). In a nutshell, childless gay uncles usually invest in the children of siblings or relatives. Their genetic similarity means that the children are probably latent carriers of whatever genes led to homosexual behavior in the uncle. The additional resources from the uncle (money, property, knowledge, social connections, so on) boosts the child's chances of finding a mate and successfully reproducing. It allows the uncle's genes to be carried into the future where they might get expressed again in maybe 4 or 5 generations. Genes and behaviors that might seem like complete evolutionary dead ends on an individual level can still be selected for if they're beneficial on a group level.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Posted in: Australia to block internet domains hosting extremist content during terror attacks See in context

No different than China's crackdown on foreign news and the internet in the lead-up to every Tiananmen Square anniversary.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: 12-year-old Prince Hisahito starts 1st overseas trip in Bhutan See in context

Taxpayer money at work. What a waste.

With a tax increase coming, they can enjoy more free trips abroad

Guys, if you're really that upset about the money I'm willing to refund your share out of my own pocket. IHA expenses work out to a little over ¥50 per person per year. We'll call it ¥60. Just give me an address where I should send the coins.

2 ( +12 / -10 )

Posted in: Fiji PM labels Australia PM 'very insulting' after Pacific standoff See in context

Australia sells the coal but China is the one burning it. If you're going to blame one, why not the other?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Posted in: How come Japan's opposition parties can't mount a credible challenge to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner, the Komeito Party? See in context

The media makes sure the populace is disinterested in politics

That doesn't make sense. Is it the media's job to manufacture an interest in politics? I think you're putting the cart before the horse.

The apathy in Japan has more to do with the homogeneity of Japanese society. Most people don't care deeply about politics because they have the luxury of not needing to care. Whoever ends up getting elected will (more or less) share the same basic interests as the average Japanese person. Whether it's the LDP or some opposition, the agenda will be very similar on bread and butter issues.

The reason diverse and multicultural countries like the US become obsessed with party politics is because every racial, religious, linguistic and socio-economic group starts organizing to fight for the biggest slice of the pie before it's taken by a rival group. The people in these countries are consumed by politics because they can't afford to ignore it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Donald Trump: a disruptive president See in context

his recent rants against four young Congresswomen of color, accusing them of being unpatriotic and telling them to "Go back to where you came from!"

This fake quote really undermines the article and should have been caught by an editor before ever being published. For the record what Trump actually said was:

So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run. Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. Then come back and show us how it is done. These places need your help badly, you can’t leave fast enough. I’m sure that Nancy Pelosi would be very happy to quickly work out free travel arrangements!

-Donald Trump July 14 2019

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Posted in: Marvel's first openly trans actor calls for more portrayals See in context

I notice there are no comments on this, perhaps it's because nobody cares

Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society - Aristotle

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Posted in: Disney live-action 'Little Mermaid' to star a black Ariel See in context

The original Disney Ariel wasn't simply "white". She was a positive representation of one of the smallest, most underrepresented and ridiculed minorities in the world, redheaded gingers. To take Ariel away from this community is a slap in the face that non-redheads probably won't understand due to their privilege.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Posted in: U.S. Marine, in custody for assault, also charged with attempted murder of woman See in context

As the US military fails to meet its recruitment targets, they've slowly been lowering the minimum IQ threshold required on the ASVAB enlistment test. These men are a greater danger to their colleagues and host countries than they are to the enemy.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/10/army-accepting-more-low-quality-recruits-giving-waivers-marijuana-hit-targets/750844001/

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Posted in: Millions celebrate LGBTQ pride in New York See in context

@Jimizo, -

From an evolutionary perspective, the relatively tiny number of homosexuals necessitates some sort of unique outward signal or display to communicate their sexual preferences to potential partners. If this signal didn't exist or wasn't clear enough, they would be wasting most of their time pursuing incompatible partners. The flamboyance and hyper-sexualization of the gay community is likely an essential characteristic of it, like the peacock's tail. We also see this in the various studies of homosexual behavior which document things like lifetime partners, interactions with strangers, and fidelity. By asking them to tone it down, you're effectively asking them to suppress a unique characteristic that sets them apart from heterosexuals.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Posted in: It's Biden vs rest of Democrats in 1st 2020 debate clash See in context

It's going to be an absolute circus.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Posted in: Folau crowdfunding campaign for legal bills shut down See in context

This seems completely disproportionate, even by "woke capital" standards. Regardless of what you think of Folau or his specific comments, this clearly wasn't a campaign aimed at justifying what he said or convincing anyone of his worldview. It was simply a campaign to fund employment law litigation which would determine whether or not Folau's employer breached its obligations under the player's contract or some other aspect of NSW employment law. Even if Rugby Australia made a morally justifiable decision in sacking Folau, it doesn't mean that it was legal. Companies like GoFundMe should not be de-platforming people who are seeking to enforce their legal rights.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Posted in: Trump criticized for backing N Korea's remarks about Biden See in context

What that Obama said that Trump has "rattled" world leaders?

He said considerably more than that. Among other things, he said candidate Trump was ignorant of world affairs, that he was cavalier, and that he was more interested in tweets and getting headlines. I don't think Obama was wrong, but your original claim about some long standing protocol on not making such comments internationally is untrue.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Posted in: Japan is a manufacturing powerhouse but a financial lightweight. See in context

Well David Threadgold, maybe Japanese banks just prefer to invest in low risk industries which manufacture things that people actually need. Earning profits by shuffling money around the world in clever financial schemes is not for everyone.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Posted in: Divided pro-EU leaders open talks after tense election See in context

The populists didn't win this election

Democracy: citizens voting in alignment with the wishes of ruling elites.

Populism: citizens voting against the wishes of ruling elites.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Posted in: Trump criticized for backing N Korea's remarks about Biden See in context

Elected US officials, by protocol and manner, leave the comments at home when they travel abroad.

Demonstrably untrue. Go look up the previous president's unflattering comments about presidential candidates made at the 2016 G7 summit in Japan.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

Posted in: Work of art See in context

Irezumi is a legitimate Japanese art form, like it or not.

The key word being Japanese. There's nothing more cringeworthy than seeing a westerner getting these sorts of asian motif tattoos. I won't even go into the numerous studies showing that people with tattoos have lower average IQs.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Posted in: Australian rugby director frustrated by Folau saga See in context

Such a ridiculous overreach.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Posted in: Worldwide, obesity rising faster in rural areas See in context

The average woman in many countries now weighs more than the average man did 50 years ago. Good to see that Japan is bucking the trend according to the graph.

I'm about as skinny as they come btw

Merely being overweight rather than morbidly obese will now make you 'as skinny as they come' in many countries, so it's not saying much. Are you objectively skinny or relatively skinny?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: What is your view on people or groups who use social media to air extremist views, hate speech, incite violence or libel others? Where should the line be drawn, if at all, with regards to freedom of speech? See in context

What is your view on people or groups who use social media to air extremist views

Never forget that it's us in the west who hold the extremist views. We're completely out of step with the rest of the world on most controversial social issue, from homosexuality to abortion to refugees. In the context of a global user base, the social media platforms are the ones promoting an extremist fringe view in their ToS.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Posted in: American students pledge future salary to avoid debt See in context

Education for the students needs to be free. Without educated people society crumbles. 

It all depends on your definition of education. I'd support full taxpayer funding of STEM degrees for the brightest 25% of students, but not for the mass communications, political science, and gender theory graduates who just barely made it through highschool and wouldn't have been accepted at any university just 20-30 years ago. Much of modern higher education has become a useless credential racket.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

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