Posted in: Navigating the intricacies of Japan’s gift-giving protocol See in context
I thought it was a well-written article (for a change).
It makes me think about the housing development that went up next door a couple of years ago. All the dust flying and the noise was enought to make anyone crazy, but they didn't even have the courtesy to say anything before they started. I don't expect a gift, but at least a 迷惑をかけます would be nice.
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Posted in: Krispy Kreme summer fun See in context
Nice, if you live in Tokyo. KK should seriously consider expanding nationwide.
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Posted in: Fans hold Tokyo Tower sleepover in honor of Michael Jackson See in context
Creepy.....
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Posted in: Ethics probe: Palin legal defense fund was illegal See in context
I hope they prosecute her -- federally. Get this scum off the pond.
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Posted in: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans: report See in context
The 93-foot Odyssey, a sail-and-motor ketch, set out in March 2000 from San Diego to document the oceans’ health, collecting pencil-eraser-sized samples using a dart gun that barely made the whales flinch.
Lesson to Japan : Research CAN be done humanely.
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Posted in: Japan may quit whaling commission if ban stays put See in context
By quitting the IWC, Japan is putting itself on par with countries like North Korea.
When NK hears something it doesn't like, it pulls out. Sounds like Japan is doing the same thing.
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Posted in: Asia-Pacific’s largest Hilton Hotel opens in Fukuoka See in context
The article fails to mention the location of the hotel - next to the Yahoo Dome, far from the shopping and nightlife areas of the city. It's a nice place to stay if you're going to watch the Softbank Hawks, but otherwise it's a long bus ride from anywhere.
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Posted in: Hatoyama's style See in context
With all those rainbow colors, he looks like the poster child for the Gay Pride Parade. Next stop - Shinjuku 2-chome!!
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Posted in: Libyan plane crash kills 103; Dutch boy survives See in context
It's good that the boy survived, but he will probably grow up with a guilt complex because of it. He will constantly think, "Why me?" It is a mixed blessing in that sense.
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Posted in: 7 kindergarten children, teacher hacked to death in China See in context
Because of China's one-child policy, the poor parents of these slain children now have nothing. Hopefully they will be allowed to have another child.
Chinese industries copy things from developed nations and make money off them, so this copycat crime spree should come as no surprise.
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Posted in: Thai protesters block police on roads to Bangkok See in context
nandakandamanda - the only moral high ground in Thailand is currently in the hospital, and hasn't made any public statements concerning the problem at hand. If King Bhumibol came forward tomorrow, this protest situation would cease immediately.
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Posted in: Volcanic ash may hover over Europe for days See in context
The article fails to mention anything about passengers stuck in Japan.
I was reading the Nishi-Nihon newspaper this morning, and Europeans were complaining that the airport workers will not even loan them blankets while they are stuck in the airport. They cannot get hotel rooms near the airport because of lack of vacancy. Some people are running out of important medicines, such as heart medicine, and cannot get any in Japan.
I think this negates your new advertising campaign, shinjukuboy.
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Posted in: Which is more useful, a guidebook or a travel app? See in context
Definitely a guidebook. The names of places are often written in the local language, so asking for directions or taking a taxi is much easier.
I always buy a new guidebook before I travel overseas. I may look like a tourist, but I get where I'm going.
Technology is nice, but it's not the answer to everything.
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Posted in: Thailand's Pongsaklek wrests WBC flyweight title from Kameda See in context
Kameda was running around the ring, trying to get away from Pongsaklek for most of the bout. Kameda got the s**t beat out of him -- blood pouring everywhere.
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Posted in: Obama signs $938 billion health care overhaul into law See in context
Read David Plouffe's "The Audacity to Win" and read how Obama has been committed to health care reform since his days in the Illinois legislature.
It's time that ALL Americans have access to health care coverage, not just the rich and those with jobs. Insurance companies denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions are only looking out for themselves, not their potential customers.
Those who argue that this bill is a step toward socialism enjoy the benefits of socialized programs every day. If you look at America's interstate highway system, it's FREE - no tolls like many countries. How about public education? I don't see people paying tuition for that.
Another example of the party of "No."
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Posted in: Japan leading charge against bluefin ban See in context
Japan says it has the support of China while several other countries were undecided. China has not said publicly where it stands.
Just like Japan to blab its mouth before the other party makes comment. I hope that China supports the ban just to spite Japan.
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Posted in: Students using stand-ins for online employment exams See in context
one examination can cost 15 million yen
This is nothing compared to the loss of productivity by the people they hire who can't do the job correctly because they cheated on the test.
What seems like a good deal now may end up costing these companies dearly. Did no one think of this situation when they began the tests? Duh!
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Posted in: Toyota fiasco a wake-up call for Japan's companies See in context
In Japan’s harmony-loving society, conflicts—when unavoidable—are generally settled behind the scenes.
I think we all know the meaning of this - paying off government officials to keep it quiet. I guess Toyota found out that it doesn't work that way overseas.
It's not just crisis management that Japanese companies need. They also need to respect the laws of the countries that they do business in. The former lawyer for Toyota who testified before the US congress said that Toyota has no regard for law, hiding evidence of safety failures during litigation.
Article at: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/congress-blasts-toyota-withholding-key-evidence-secret-books/story?id=9957579
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Posted in: Daiso hit with big U.S. fine for lead-laden toys See in context
Made in Japan and imported from Japan because there is no mention about China anywhere !
Have you been to Daiso lately? Try finding a product that says "Made in Japan" there. The reason everything is ¥105 is that it's all made in China. I don't know what world you're living in....
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Posted in: Pakistan lays out terror charges against 5 Americans See in context
So Pakistan can arrest and charge Americans, but none of the how many people in the border region near Afghanistan who support and hide terrorists? Sounds like it's time for someone with some cajones to take over.
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Posted in: Tokyo artists set the table for Refugees International See in context
This coming from a country with a DESPICABLE record on accepting refugees.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070313i1.html
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Posted in: False emergency calls continue to come in to police and fire departments See in context
I understand people wanting to "get their money's worth" from their tax money, but some of the calls are just ridiculous. Japan should change the law to penalize anyone who does not call with an actual emergency.
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Posted in: Tsunami races across Pacific but spares Hawaii See in context
Hawaii dodged the bullet, but let's remember that the largest wave in the 1960 tsunami hit Japan, not areas closer to the epicenter (Chile).
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Posted in: 1-year-old Japanese boy dies on flight to Hawaii See in context
Wonder if there was lead in the drinks, cups, food, etc.?
China Airlines is from Taiwan.
This could just be a case of an undetected heart condition. Let's not jump to conclusions.
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Posted in: Figure skating gets more attention than Toyota's problems in Japan See in context
Figure skating is nice, but to me it shows how shallow the Japanese are.
Toyota's safety problems are a matter of life and death to some owners, but skating is being covered more heavily. Were it a foreign company with safety problems in products sold in Japan, there would be 20 minutes of outcry on every newscast.
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Posted in: Jesus was gay, says Elton John See in context
Most gay people think that everyone else is gay.
You obviously have never read the study by Alfred Kinsey.
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Posted in: In Dubai attack, signs of Mossad shadow war See in context
“If we, the citizens of Israel, want this state to continue to exist, we must be ready to fight for it day and night, in the light and also in the darkness,”
If this is the work of Mossad, my father said it best -0- For being God's chosen people, the Israelis are some of the meanest SOBs in the world. Defending yourself during an attack is one thing, but assassination is the choice of the offender.
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Posted in: Explore home of Japan’s 'hidden Christians' on Goto Islands See in context
If JT wants to do a piece on Nagasaki, maybe they should focus on a festival happening right now -- the Nagasaki Lantern Festival -- much more relevant with the lunar New Year happening at the moment.
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Posted in: Japan worried that Toyota's problems could hurt U.S. ties See in context
Some see a new wave of Japan-bashing
Mr. Pot, meet Mr. Kettle.
This has nothing to do with Japan-bashing, but everything to do with internal quality problems at Toyota.
Remember the elevator issue a few years ago? If that wasn't bashing of a foreign nation, I don't know what was.
It seems fine for the Japanese to bash foreign companies and such, but want to make a fuss when something happens to one of their own. Hypocrites!
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Posted in: China warns U.S. on Dalai Lama meeting with Obama See in context
How do you say, "Go to Hell!" in Chinese?
How do you say, "Piss off!" in Chinese?
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Posted in: IMF, World Bank leaders pledge at U.N. climate summit to work with Trump
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Posted in: What Trump can do to reverse U.S. climate policy − and what he probably can’t change
Posted in: U.S. farmers brace for trade wars on Trump tariff pledges
We are going to have fond memories of Sleepy Joe when all is said and done. If you are too…