Moonraker comments

He was examined in a Russian laboratory. A very high-level toxicology laboratory.

So, you mean a Russian laboratory examined Navalny and found that Navalny was not poisoned by Russia? Okaaaaayyy. You don't think there is anything untrustworthy about that?

Think of it this way too. What unites human beings is ultimately love. It's hardly in abundance in the US but those on one side are so cut off from it that they likely deride its role in human affairs.

A strong step would be a break with of relations with Israel as Mexico and some other countries already did.

Perhaps you could tell us what kind of relationship Japan has with Israel, diobrando. For all my time of observation of Japanese foreign policy it has never been as blatantly pro-Israel as the US. The reason is that Japan's reliance on Middle East oil has encouraged it to keep a low profile so as not to upset oil-exporting countries. This repeated narrative in this forum that Japan is completely a tool of the US foreign policy, once again, is so far away from the facts that people either want to believe it or have an agenda in echoing it without thought.

As if Russian security forces were not capable of it. Some will be telling us the never did try to poison the Skripals or Navalny. It was all an elaborate psyops plot by the West. I mean, what planet do these people live on? One where Putin is the good guy? I want whatever they are on.

Some just believe what they wanna believe. If he gets in, check back in 4 years. But the real point is whether he can be trusted by allies (even personal ones). The answer to that is clear.

I wish I felt sorry but, if a society cannot reproduce itself, maybe there is something badly wrong with that society. And this applies everywhere.

You talked to who? Pompeo? What does he know? You'd have to be pretty naive to believe that, if Trump gets elected, nothing would change. He will assess whether it benefits him personally and, if not, things would definitely change. And, Australia, would you really be happy to be in partnership with a possible fascist dictatorship? China might even look more attractive if Trump undermines US democracy.

With its mantra of "world peace" as practically the only principle that can be universalised - that is not simply particular to Japan - Japan does remarkably little to help as any kind of broker. One would imagine, when any conflict or disagreement broke out, that Japanese diplomats would hope to be first on the scene but they usually seem to keep their heads down. Of course, I am expecting that to be heavily downvoted by the thin-skinned but I will be happy if anyone can show me a consistent level of interventions that have yielded any results at all.

I don't believe either candidate can unify the country. But one of them certainly doesn't want to.

I think the trope of great customer service in Japan is overblown myself. Sure there are sleights of hand to get you focus on what you are being given, like excessive welcoming of customers into shops or some elaborate packaging but for a large part it is: you will get what you are given and like it.

Who knows, maybe wooden rockets powered by burning wood next.

BTW There is a very good Netflix doco about Jones.

I just love the fact that he apparently once said that the Beatles were poor musicians.

My God, is that all you can think to say about him?

True, virusrex. Many Japanese are still wearing masks in the open air on a windy day or alone in cars so getting them to wear them again should be no problem.

It is fast becoming as ubiquitous as Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Olive oil, Chilli sauce or any of the many condiments that cooks use world wide.

Yeah, but I prefer Maggi sauce, like in Thailand. I even put it on toast with butter.

The observing alien says: "You are an absolute blight on your beautiful planet. You were raised on one of the most equable places in the galaxy and all you want to do is uglify it and make it less hospitable. What have you done of any consequence in your destructive history? You are humiliating yourselves every single day."

Inequality deepened under Trump obviously; that's what happens when you lavish tax cuts and welfare on corporations and the wealthy.

Some people are immune to facts. They believe what they want to believe. Trump included. Trump is beyond redemption, as are most narcissists and psychopaths, but if only people would examine what they want to believe and why, there might some fruitful discourse and solutions.

It can mimic humans and for most people that will be good enough, especially if they have grown up on a diet of inauthenticity anyway. Can AI create an allegory of the ineffable? Or will it be more interested in the lowest common denominator of an increasingly dumbed-down humanity, in part dumbed down by the tech and its nerds. Yes, I can see it as an intensification of the capture of humanity by the machine, especially as we are being hemmed in by the digital panopticon the IT nerds are building brick by brick.

Yes, we get it, Zaphod, you don't want to believe it. All the rest is self-serving sophistry.

Or how about we stop buying so much crap?

One.

I used to see more 50-year-old women contrive themselves to be cutesy in the old days. Are they still around?

I suppose it is something anyway.

After prosecutors dropped the case, Katsumata and two other former executives were indicted in 2016 by a citizens' inquest of prosecution and forced to stand trial in the only criminal case related to the Fukushima disaster.

Prosecutors forced into having to take one for the team (team Japan Inc) by the citizens. Wonder where the Supreme Court will go. Maybe they can hang it out until everyone is dead. Not like that never happened before.

Another cultural phenom Japan has given the world; along with Pac-Man, Pokémon, Godzilla, Shonen Knife, Transformers, SONY, karaoke, etc

Not much of a list, is it really?

The nasty left always struggle to hide their disdain and disgust for normal, everyday Americans.

True. I think they are pretty dumb though. But so is humanity in general. People voting or supporting Trump just highlights the gross stupidity of our species. We could have been something better. Now we are gonna squabble over the ruins of civilisation.

Some people seem to want Russia to win so much they can create all kinds of sophistry now for North Korean troops being there. I wonder what feelings that is based on. Love for authoritarianism? Father issues? Support for might is right? Hatred of the US? There is really no rational reason. Are you happy to have Putin's nihilistic, callous attitude, even towards his own people, universalised? What is it guys? What really motivates your deep, dark feelings?

Two countries, two leaders, Kim and Putin, who care nothing for their soldiers and people. They are just tools for the dictators.

Seems like an incentive to have more VAR checks.

How dare the UN very much, Japan imperial succession is a matter, and ONLY a matter for Japan nation its people.

Well, the people are fine with a female emperor, according to the polls. Does that count for something? If so then maybe time for the UN to put a little pressure on those resisting. After all, Japan signed up for scrutiny, even if it doesn't like the result.