mechadamuramu comments

For some reason J girls sound like, well just regular girls. I figured this post would have something unique, guess i was wrong, haha.

The J girl on the third row up from the bottom to the left to the blond. What's up with that face?

Go Arnie! I don't know why you're wasting California tax dollars to go to Asia for an "economic tour of the region" when you're forced out of office due to term limits in November, but at least TRY to figure out how to get the economy back on track.

Yeah, just a year or two ago she looked 22 doing that American song with all those black guys. Must be nice rockin the shampoo commercials with the fake wig. I'm sure that's the exact msg the advertiser was looking for.

"The United States" has some votes. Talk about paranoid...

According to whom does this base have no strategic value? Obviously not Tokyo or Washington. Also I have heard nothing about the "illegal" placement of the base there, however I have heard that the negotiations of the base have taken place at the President/PM level, meaning that its not law, just one man's word for another. Granted they are the leaders of the country, but not technically illegal by any stretch of the imagination.

I feel the environmental impact argument, but the real NIMBY attitude comes not from Okinawa but Tokyo. As far as I've heard the Japanese government as a whole wants the bases, but its just the location of the bases that's an issue. I'm sure Washington would actually like more diversity of locations, so Tokyo could consider moving the location to Kyushu or somewhere else and this could solve the problem right there.

That is if Japan doesn't want all the US bases gone all together. Although then I'd say that Japan would need to seriously consider the NSDF's capabilities against a future Chinese threat.

Just a thought. Anyone agree/disagree?

RomeoRamenII at 11:39 AM JST - 26th April

With a falling birth rate in this country, I'm not sure it's a good idea for Japan to reward same-sex couples who can't procreate by giving them SS benefits.

Wow, what a heartless person you must be. Its not a "reward", its a right to be treated as equal. A "reward" that would help solve this problem is more tax breaks for families with more children, whether conceived or adopted. Social Security benefits by their nature have little to do with the falling birth rate.

"glasses-free"? Does that mean it looks 3D without glasses? I'm confused.

I may sound like a nerd but I had to get the great animated movie Akira from Australia because with the weird licensing rules across the globe Madman is the only distribution company that has both English language dubs as well as Japanese.

badmigraine,

totally thought the same thing

If there is substantial evidence that the person developed their complications before the official government health organization ruled that cigarettes cause harm to your lungs then yes. Its every company's responsibility to sell safe products to its customers. If you can't prove its unhealthy because big tobacco spent millions or billions on lobbyists or pro smoking campaigns then its there responsibility to own up to their lies now.

I view it like parents accidentally letting their kids play with toys made in china with lead paint in them. Before its discovered that there's lead in them, you can't blame the parents, only the toy company. After that fact though the parents are 100% responsible.

Yes it should because this poll is almost a trick question. Your freedom of speech should extend all the way up to HURTING other people, not OFFENDING them. This ensures that you can't yell 'fire' in the theater because the panic will almost undoubtably hurt someone. Also it lets you say things that may be offensive to other people's trumped up nobility, religion, etc. that they are overly protected of and will actively try to squash other people's right to free speach because they will find EVERYTHING said about the subject "offensive".

People need to quit being such babies and realize that if they can't openly discuss something they don't have the right to get offended. Even when they do get offended, that's no one's fault but their own.

Where is Christoph Waltz? He's the freakin star of the show! Without him the movie would have been just good instead of great.

The peaceful reorganization of democratic government is an essential part of the system. When the Japanese choose everyday to support their democracy they accept with that, the possibility that agreements, treaties, and laws will be signed today that will come into conflict with those of tomorrow. Only dictatorships can change the rules on the fly, everyone else must play by them.

That being said there are certain "hang shaking agreements" that do not have law binding consequences that governments go into all the time. So called "Executive Orders" are those made by the chief executive of a country, usually with their counterpart from another country. They are quick, easy to make,and have a singular focus as they are essentially made between two individuals. Treaties are huge monstrous thousand page documents, but are voted on by the legislature and have the weight of law behind them.

Breaking and amending agreements SHOULD always be done in the official channels. If an executive agreement needs to be changed, the two leaders should get together and do it. If a treaty needs to be negotiated then there should be a deliberation process by the representatives. Essentially it depends on what Japan is trying to do that determines if they have the power and the right to do it.

USN: I agree with what you say. Japan and S. Korea have the full backing of the US military. Without it you might have seen both sides be a lot more agressive over the last 60 years. Its a great deal for Japan considering they don't have to "waste" billions of dollars on their military like the US does. All that money can go back into infrastructure or lower taxes

To use an analogy you don't have to fight on the playground if your bigger brother does your fighting for you.

He should go, no harm there. But if he makes a speech then he shouldn't appologize for previous US actions. He should stress how the US is leading the international effort to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

shit, i spelled "Nobel laureates" wrong, shit, now my argument looses all credibility. =(

Even as an American I don't think Obama is qualified yet to be a Nobeloreat. I would say however that if Obama gets everything done that he wants to get done then that would make him a great candidate. Opening international dialogue, setting up Iraq and Afghanistan as successful democracies, finding a better solution to the Israel/Palestinian conflict, launching the world into a new era of environmentalism, etc.

I can see where the Nobel committee was going with this "he inspires everyone" kinda attitude, but I thought the Peace Prize would be based more on results and not just pure potential. I seriously don't care though if as long as this award "inspires" him and others to help cooperate to solve some of the above mentioned problems.

That must be the strangest camera angle ever. Barack and Michelle are very tall and look the exact same height as the PM. =0

It's not cut and run. It's cut and grow. We are somehow gonna have to learn to live with the fact that some people think differently to yourself, and live differently,

You're confusing two totally different philosophies. Any two people can have a respectful difference of oppinion (i.e. not kill each other over it). As soon as you try to kill someone now that difference of oppinion is there business too, and they have the right to defend themselves. The Taliban and even Al Qaeda were left relatively unharmed by the United States until the acts of terrorism reached American soil. Look at North Korea! Kim Jong Il poses a much bigger threat to Japan/Korea/America than the Taliban. Thing is, no one really cares too much as long as he keeps to himself.

The notion that Afghanistan is "America's War" is irresponsible. The Iraqi War, yes, but not Afghanistan.

Why is the vote 50/50 still? The Afghanistan war isn't nearly as controversial as the Iraq war, and there is still a lot of work to be done in that country. Just think, if a strong coalition force helps create a foothold for an emancipated people and democratic government we would be doing a great service for their country, and people. Not to mention creating a strong ally in the region.

How is this the "5th" installment of x-men? I count X-men 1-3 and wolverine.

I looked up prices for the bullet train online and it was enormously expensive. Why would anyone take such an expensive ride?

Who is this guy?... I'll take the bait and ask again

Festive picture I'll take the ones on the sides please.

That girl is flat as a surfboard

And probably weighs less than 40 kilos too... =( Food is everywhere, go eat some!

Why are the "Americans" the cops? haha.

How creative Minami, you'd like to get married before you're 30, just like EVERY OTHER J-girl. I repeat the professor's yawn

gross, eat a sandwich!

35 concerts in 11 cities? So that's staying in the same city and doing the same show at least 3 times... hmm. Hope she doesn't get bored

The anime and manga will only work for an audience college age and below. Most anime/manga isn't even written for adults, and those stories that are, aren't as popular overseas or just aren't as good. I don't think anyone wants to immitate Harajuku fashion anytime soon, they just enjoy it like you enjoy watching a tall goofy guy trip over his own big feet.