Posted in: Korean automaker Hyundai makes 2nd effort to penetrate Japanese market See in context
Probably end up ‘same old same old’ in Japan with identifiably Korean cars.
In Australia Korean cars at a par with Japanese give or take, but cars from a bevy of Chinese makers - some pretty good - make it complicated.
One overlooked point is the huge surge in electronic vehicles from China, many kei-sized. Realising the existence of those would send lots of rats up the trouser-legs of Japanese and Korean car marketing people.
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: Period poverty lowers quality of life; women in 20s hit harder: study See in context
Of course if blokes had regular wiping or plugging issues, such ‘poverty’ would be far more addressed.
9 ( +19 / -10 )
Posted in: A large solar storm could knock out the power grid and the internet See in context
is only a matter of time before the Earth is hit by another geomagnetic storm
つちょう passbooks are useful
Cash is good
Gold is ‘golden’
And cryptocurrencies would not exist both actually and hypothetically
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Tom Cruise heading to Cannes for 'Top Gun' sequel premiere See in context
the utterly unique and singular trace he is leaving on the history of cinema"
Well expressed
3 ( +5 / -2 )
Posted in: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says travel restrictions have little to no long-term impact on the spread of the coronavirus. Do you agree with its view? See in context
Any travel or No travel.
Since ‘No travel’ isn’t going to happen, we are stuck with travel, if we hadn’t noticed.
1 ( +3 / -2 )
Posted in: Do you think the surge in authoritarian behavior by governments around the world poses a growing threat to democracy, free speech and other civil rights? See in context
Elections: people vote for people to make decisions for them. If they even vote.
Athens - women and slaves excluded had its yes/no stone system and Switzerland has its Canton-based referendum system for voting on issues.
And Australian states re-discovered their actual pretty authoritarian powers to close borders (even international ones) lock down citizens with threats of fines which can be taken straight from bank accounts all without recourse to debate. Not to mention self-righteous media which claim a voice of people but have money and clout to tell governments what to do on their front pages. At least compulsory voting makes some semblance to a democratic ideal, if enforced.
Democracy? Ideal and reality have never really coalesced or even coexisted.
-4 ( +1 / -5 )
Posted in: Pattinson suits up for macabre new 'Batman' See in context
Who do they wheel out for Alfred?
Daniel Craig?
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: Today’s commute to Yokosuka was my first train ride as Ambassador. #Japan’s world-class rail system is worthy of a world-class country. It did not disappoint. See in context
JNR Yokosuka line Green Car, took it from Zushi in early 1987, for the hell of it.
Green Car to myself, wider but harder seats that reclined.
Keikyu line was always better, cheaper, faster, more regular. Wondering why it requires the traditional JR class treatment
But I wonder what the US Ambassador was doing taking the train there - hope he didn’t need to take a bus to the base.
3 ( +3 / -0 )
Posted in: Do you think Russia is going to invade Ukraine? See in context
Dress rehearsal for Taiwan
-3 ( +0 / -3 )
Posted in: Floating hologram registers coming to Japanese convenience stores See in context
also has the potential to reduce the workload of staff in future
And reduce staff.
Oh well, I suppose they can retrain for the maintenance demand
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: Kochi seeks to become anime, manga hub See in context
In spite of competition from places like Tokyo, a good initiative and Good Luck!
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: S Korea says North Korea test-fired 2 cruise missiles See in context
Poor NK!
With COVID-19 and Ukraine these days, not getting enough attention.
Perhaps likely they’ll use up their stock of missiles in ‘tests’.
Even so, vigilance is prudence.
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: 'Game changer' e-moped batteries spread from Taiwan across Asia See in context
Battery swapping- good innovation
4 ( +4 / -0 )
Posted in: Europe on the precipice in 'Munich — Edge of War' See in context
… misses the moment
!!
With current and recent machinations around Ukraine’s eastern frontier, and perennial Quixotic European obsessions over nations and nationals - current release of this film seems rather timely.
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: 42,000 rapid antigen tests snatched in Sydney heist See in context
Good LUCK fencing.!
Like, some guy in the dimly lit back corner of the public bar offering,
Psss, do you want to buy a RAT?
Or online, on EBay traceable- good LUCK!!
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: One view on dealing with the coronavirus is that we have to learn to live with it. What does "live with it" mean to you? See in context
What does ‘living with’ it mean?
Think ‘ virulent flu variety’ without stirred up naïve paranoia we live with now.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Australian judge overturns Djokovic's visa cancelation See in context
Circuit court judge
??
Actually (Australian) Fedeal Court Judge.
6 ( +7 / -1 )
Posted in: Do you find Christmas a stressful time of year? See in context
December is stressful, and expensive.
4 ( +5 / -1 )
Posted in: Smart city driverless vehicle pilot project planned for Kamakura & Fujisawa areas See in context
Vehicle looks like a gruff おじいさん
-2 ( +0 / -2 )
Posted in: If you do not live in Japan, once the country reopens its international borders without restrictions, would you like to visit? See in context
Until predictability extends beyond a few weeks, it’s not worth the effort and grief, strong reasons withstanding
0 ( +0 / -0 )
Posted in: A growing number living alone in their 90s: How do they spend their time and money? See in context
Routine -eg. Weekly chat with driver.
Hmm - looking forward to needing fewer responsibilities and things and all the crap necessary for maintaining them. Just now envying Shima-san and Fujioka-san
6 ( +6 / -0 )
Posted in: Coldplay gets galactic with airy album 'Music of the Spheres' See in context
“…a spacy 12-track collection with waves of synth and airy melodies …’
Nothing new here: try Hawkwind ‘Space Ritual’ from 72.
And ‘music of the spheres’, a line from ex-Hawkwind Nik Turner’s 2006 Space Ritual group album ‘Otherworld’.
At least Chris Martin’s ex-wife’s film husband spent some time in space in one of those Avengers movies.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Report touts benefits of second jobs for workers, firms See in context
The telling bits come at the end -
employers’ concerns and limits regarding overwork
Mitsubishi Estate using online monitoring of employees at their ‘second jobs’Labour shortage withstanding, encouragement to do something besides work surely also needs to be considered.
14 ( +17 / -3 )
Posted in: Kishida, wife maintain closeness despite long distance See in context
Son as Dad’s secretary say all I need to know about this marriage.
What has love got to do with it?
Even so, may even be so.
9 ( +9 / -0 )
Posted in: China has submitted an application to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal? Do you think they should be accepted? See in context
TPP started with Singapore, Chile and New Zealand.
Now it is a monster.
Keeping bellicose tarif-ridden would-be members out can maintain some balance and civility.
12 ( +13 / -1 )
Posted in: What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism? See in context
One is more the last resort of a scoundrel
The other is the first resort of a fascist.
0 ( +3 / -3 )
Posted in: Australian watchdog blocks Qantas-Japan Airlines deal See in context
Reduced competition in air route travel that is not happening anyway!
can’t knock the companies for trying to get something ready.
But the market is getting used to not traveling on flights that cost 5-figure sums one-way (back) to Australia.
2 ( +4 / -2 )
Posted in: Now that the Paralympics have ended, are you glad that Japan went ahead and hosted them and the Olympics? See in context
Yes - now we can stop hearing about them
Anyway, what’s done is done.
1 ( +1 / -0 )
Posted in: Facebook and Ray-Ban debut 'smart' shades See in context
Just because we can, should we?
A moot question when someone like a Zuckerberg just will.
4 ( +6 / -2 )
I had never heard of BTO, or The Guess Who, but I and probably anyone else who is a rock…
Posted in: Rock star Randy Bachman reunited with beloved stolen guitar
Posted in: Splish splash
Posted in: Russian missiles kill at least 21 in Ukraine's Odesa region
Posted in: Tokyo government announces new name for maternity/paternity leave; hopes to change attitudes