Kokuzi comments

Leaf, now the best-selling pure electric car

It seems that Leaf is actually #3, after Tesla Model 3, and a Chinese vehicle...

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/22/18236707/tesla-model-3-2018-best-selling-ev-global

Seems odd, but from a botanical perspective tomatoes and avocados are both 'fruits', and both 'berries'! So no different than strawberries or blueberries on your ice cream. But I don't eat from a botanical perspective, so maybe not...

Somehow I find these recent images of the rituals rather empty and sad... as if even the participants are simply 'going through the motions', and it all means nothing even to those involved.

In the fussy observer department, not too fond of the black leather shoes/spats with hakama, or the venetian blinds in the background...

That firm vs. limp feather issue may be related to the age of the men... no fun becoming an older male!

Cheesecake-flavored x 2 + cheese-flavored x 1 = no thanks!

They should call it 'SMAPpe'...

Obviously stupid behaviour by the teens, but the charge of 'attempted murder' is nonsense. It is entirely believable that they were a couple of losers looking for a laugh, nothing more sinister than that. Is this childish behaviour equal to a yakuza enforcer slitting the throat of a rival and leaving them to die in a pool of blood? That would actually justify an 'attempted murder' charge.

Cambridge, Ontario is my home town... and my Uncle lived in 'nearby Woodstock'!

Cambridge is now famous for Toyota, new resident Justin Bieber, and me!

Thanks, Toyota, good decision.

Let's not be too harsh, folks... She may have dementia and simply been unable to deal with the fact that her son stopped responding at some point. It's a sad situation, regardless of what happened.

Reminds me of the saying, "When in Rome, do as the Japanese..."

Maybe not.

Marketing opportunity! Change the name to 'Galaxy Break', and charge an extra $200 for the 'newest' version...

"driver became drowsy" is Japan-speak for "driver fell asleep"...

We all know that a Japanese driver would never fall asleep on the job!

Several examples are in hiragana ('yorokobi'), so this photo shows off 'calligraphy', not 'kanji'.

The SkyTrain commuter rail system in Vancouver has been fully automated and driverless since 1986. It is now about 80km long, compared to the 35km length of the Yamanote Line... but better late than never!

These deer have all shed their antlers. They were hoping to get French horns to replace them...

Too bad that Hanyu will miss the final in Vancouver. His coach is Canadian, so it would have special significance. I work for a Japanese tour company in Vancouver, so will be busy with Japanese media and visitors during the Skating Final!

Great new photo from NASA, showing the lander clearly on Mars. The solar panels have successfully deployed, which was a crucial step: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7294

Great job by NASA and all involved! I went to a 'live' viewing event in Vancouver today. (One of the scientists involved in the research teaches at the University of British Columbia.) A few months ago NASA invited members of the public to submit their names, which would be included on the InSight lander. Last week I received an email from NASA confirming that my name was included in the 2.5 million names! So I'm on Mars now... forever. The names are not just as data, but are actually micro-printed in tiny type on a cylinder.

"Blessed are the cheesemakers" - Monty Python

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFPIGNua5WM

Tragic story... For reference, a first-time 'distracted driving' offence in Vancouver, B.C, results in a fine of about 46,000 yen + 4 demerit points. Police do strictly enforce this law, and even touching your mobile phone while driving is considered 'distraction'. Offences after the first will basically double in terms of penalty. Even so, I regularly see drivers talking on their phones while driving...

This article doesn't mention it, but four of the victims were sisters... R.I.P. American friends.

I often drive a 24 PAX tour bus in Vancouver (for Japanese visitors),

and can't imagine such a terrible scene. Here's a link to CBC Canada:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/limousine-crash-schoharie-apple-barrel-country-store-1.4854020

hooktrunk2, thanks for the video link. 

Interesting to note that the surface of Ryugu in the German video from May is rather smooth, almost like gravel. One of the big surprises upon arrival at Ryugu was that the surface is much rougher than anticipated, with boulders, as can be seen in the actual photos/video from the asteroid.

Maria, "his meat and two veg"...

I was going to refer to the old blues classic "All That Meat and No Potatoes", but checked the meaning and found that it refers to a 'shapely woman with small breasts'!

Why does the headline emphasize their ages so much?! Ages 45 and 32 are totally irrelevant to the story... Better to concentrate on his name, is it 'Sasawatari' or 'Sawawatari'? RIP, Keiko-sama.

Nobody noticed that the containers say 'sorp' instead of 'soap'?!

Too easy! Electric Vehicle charging restricted to just "The Three Tenors"... they didn't update the sign after Pavarotti passed away.

'spade' = 'spayed'... autocorrect is our friend

kawabegawa198, the cat that is farthest away clearly has a little 'V' clip made in the tip of its left ear, which is a sign that it was at least been spade or neutered. My stray cat friend in Tokyo was caught, spade, clipped, and released. But he kept coming back to me, and now lives with me in Canada!

Everybody makes mistakes... just 'rack' it up to experience.

commanteer, I obviously meant that the kids are safe from their parents... Nobody suggested that it would be a fairytale life from now on. The CBC article mentions that they have a maternal grandmother, so it is unlikely that they will go into the foster care system, or be separated. There is something to feel good about here, their evil 'parents' have been arrested!

Sad story, but at least the kids are safe now... CBC Canada site has photos of the 'parents'. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/california-prosecutors-say-kids-were-shot-with-crossbows-waterboarded-1.4666178

Amazing that Travolta is 64 years old... looking good! Good luck with the film.