mctavish comments

...capable of understanding language and emotion.

though apparently not sufficiently enough to read the body language of an aggressive drunk and stay well clear.

Great! In years to come I'll be able to say, "Sure my son's a vacuum-headed, zomboid lump with a welfare dependency but thank goodness I took measures to protect his eyesight."

This tread is over a week old. It's now the near future and we're still here! Feeling a little disappointed to be honest.

With a face like mine there's very little interaction to avoid. One thing I have noticed is that whenever on a crowded train and a wasp or similar enters the carriage, it's typically me they go for - is because I don't have a smartphone?

Seems most of those in the photo wouldn't be the ones called up to fight.

How about a live-action Crayon Shin-chan? Not sure what the rating would be though.

Non fiction author Keiko Kawazoe...

She's an author of non-fiction, it must be true!

I'm a smoker but considerate to others. It's a bit like farting; great fun but not something I choose to inflict on others.

kyushubill: All it does in Japan is run a 14 day program for alcoholics.

The original Yuletide pagan festivities lasted only 12 days

Thank goodness for people like Mr. Mori. My deepest respect.

Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands - to take in Japan and China in one stop while lessening the burden on taxpayers.

Excellent stuff! nice touch of subtle humour with the bare-foot on the Abbey Road reference

FishForest

Somewhere between the headline and the article body, it was his birthday.

Expect his bid for world's oldest man very soon

Cameron's aide has an interesting expression. Either she doesn't think much of Abe's Robert De Niro impression, she just realised someone forgot to take down the Pearl Harbor painting over the fireplace, or she's trying not to laugh at the person off-photo who's rubbing Abe's leg with the fluffy thing on a stick.

When are they gonna serve the bacon rettuce and tomato sandwiches?

Question: What is everyone thinking? Answer: Hey! Where's the round table?

Japan needs to be careful emblazoning outcrops with messages of hospitality - others may lay claim to them.

The third paragraph offers a glimmer of hope but after that we have a strong contender for this year's Golden Waffle award.

Surprised they didn't take the photo with the chrysanthemums - still, the Imperial herb garden's looking particularly fine at this time of year

Thanks ArchwayTowers but I'm living in Tokyo so I'm pining for the drabness of home. Mind you, the rainy season's not far off!

I'm from the UK and love a good moan. What they should have done was drain much more money from the public purse in order to have 2 flotillas come down the Thames. Then make sure the first one was delayed so that the crowds lining the banks could grumble about it in the rain. Finally, 2 would come along at once. British people love having their spirits dampened. I can't wait for the Olympics, it's going to be awful!

What exactly is the vision here? Surely most of that stuff was spawned of the bubble era with its decadent levels of conspicuous consumption. It doesn't seem the most likely way of helping an ailing economy - just an opportunity to line the pockets of a few fringe operators while sullying the image of beautiful Japan with tat.

Thank goodness for mountains, shrines, cool breezes, traditional cuisine and the contemplation of the 'thumbs down'.

As if!! What a load of guff. Oral flora - is that the name of the candy? Broadcasting standards watchdog - there is one? Highly entertaining article all round.

It's a little odd. The BBC has a story about 2 women being killed by bears in Akita this morning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17784465

Michael Woodford seems available right now. Perhaps the Keidanren can find a job for him?

Well, apparently it all went as expected. Olympus won shareholder approval and Woodford's questions were evaded.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-20/olympus-wins-shareholder-approval-for-new-board-after-fraud

note the black van top left.

an undisclosed illness

shampoo poisoning?

For the time being I'm going to continue using eye contact while communicating with others. However, I would be in favour of someone developing a set of whiskers that'll enhance the wearer's spatial awareness - if it helped them avoid standing at the top of escalators or barging onto trains while others are still trying to alight.

Crikey! This thread is less moderated than Keith Richards' liver!