NYC_Samurai comments

@Zurc -continued after odd edit

Your statement about the absurdity of us having to evade dangerous animals on our streets is exactly what I'm trying to point out. However, I don't want to encourage everyone to tote around a knife in readied preparedness for a possible attack either. I think people do a well enough job offing each other already, but to have to be on guard against vicious animals is equivalent to living in the jungle. I woke up this morning regretting that I posted my story. Perhaps my emotions got the best of me and after reading the main story, I should have simply posted a disdain comment against irresponsible pet owners. Unfortunately, this and many other issues; child abuse, vehicular homicide, etc., are just not getting the attention they warrant. Other posters have made some great suggestions but until they are in place and strictly enforced, it will be innocent people who have to pay the consequences.

@Zurc

I recognize you as a veteran poster here and I have the utmost respect for your opinions. You have echoed the exact point I'm trying to make. For people to have to be on guard for vicious animals while walking down the street is absurd. Its as if we are living in the jungle. To be honest, I woke up this morning regretting that I posted my story. Perhaps after reading the main story, my emotions got the best of me. The last thing I want to suggest is that we all tote knives around in a state of preparedness against possible attack. I think people do a fine enough job offing each other. I think this is an issue, like many others; vehicular homicide, child abuse, etc., that just isn't going to receive the attention it needs. Other posters have made some great suggestions, but until these are in place and are strictly enforced, innocent people will continue to be victimized.

Elbuda

Compared to the main story and yours, my daughter and I were lucky. I just don't understand why people are permitted to have these animals.

@Cleo

Come On! I carry a 3 inch utility knife, I haven't been in a physical confrontation since college, and the only thing I routinely "cut up" is the pork chop on my dinner plate. This was an unfortunate, once in a lifetime situation. I was by no means bragging about how I handled it, nor would I suggest that anyone else perform in the same manner. I told my story in an attempt to emphasize the dangers of these animals, and their owners. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, perhaps you are unfamiliar with New York city streets. Simply jetting across the road is not an option here, especially with a 3 year old in tow. The only thing we could have done would have been to turn in the opposite direction and try to out run them. The owner of this animal was at least my size, and HE in fact, was sporting the "tough guy with my big dog" attitude. I remember his prideful smirk as the dog pulled its leash taunt in its attempt to get to us. I actually got a chuckle out of your line about teaching my daughter how I cut up animals. If I have to divulge more details, the entire incident happened in about 6 seconds, and I was between my daughter and the animal for 5 of those. Hence, she saw nothing. I completely accept that you heartily disagree with how I handled the situation. All that aside, the question I am asking is, why must we have these volatile animals around us? As others have posted and is well known, these breeds were "created" for fighting. They should at most only be used by law enforcement or military, and extracted from civilian ownership.

@Cleo

Being the matriarch of this website, I'll certainly never go up against you. In fact, I quite frequently "thumb up" your posts in full agreement. However, on this occasion, you are flat out wrong. It was the combination of my training and quick thinking that spared my daughter serious injury. I know you are an avid pet owner and I assure you I love animals as well. Perhaps you should ask yourself, as I know you are a parent as well, if you had the means, what would you have done it the same situation. BTW Suggesting that I sport around with a "big tough guy" attitude is stooping a little bit, isn't it?

Munya I completely agree. They ARE weapons. If you kill someone with your weapon, be it a gun, knife, car or animal, you must be held accountable.

@Ben I think she realizes they have a use other than separating her dinner at the table ;)

Several years ago, my three year old daughter and I were walking down the sidewalk when I noticed a guy with a pit bull approaching us. As we neared them, I distinctly noticed the animals demeanor change. My daughter must have as well because she cowered against the building in an effort to give them as much space as possible to pass. Just as they were next to us, the dog stood up on its back legs and did its best to lunge at my daughter. While my left foot kicking its neck kept it from actually biting her, its front legs left deep scratches on her cheek and chest. Luckily, while her injuries healed fairly quickly, here is what probably didn't heal very well. I'm 6'2", 190#, ex-special forces with extensive training in several martial arts. I withdrew the buck knife that I always carry and in one lightning swipe, opened the animal from above its front arm to about its rear quarter. Before the moron owner could finish his statement of shock, his teeth were relocated somewhere between his colon and his sphincter. I quickly scooped up my daughter, jumped over the now sidewalk napping owner, and ran past the dog who was emitting sounds I never knew a dog could make. Almost four years later, I still have the owners dental record on my right knuckle, and my seven year old daughter is horrified of all large dogs, including generally passive breeds like Irish setters and golden retrievers. I read these posts almost daily but rarely throw in my comments. This article hit home so I thought it was time. Why do we have to live in a society where people have to be on guard against someone else's pet? These dogs have no more business amongst us than do kodiak bears.

Clever as it is, it doesn't come close to the bow lingual device; http://www.japantrendshop.com/bowlingual-dog-voice-translator-p-720.html

Until I read other posts with the pronoun "He" preceding his name, I wasn't sure if Gackt was male or female.

Welcome to New York. Now go home.

Sugino’s mother asked her where her baby was, at which point she reportedly said she had strangled her baby. -Then what? Please pass the sugar?

For a country that was bombed twice with nuclear weapons, Japanese sure are wonton when it comes to the dangers of radiation.

Such an embarrassment for Japan.

I hope the child at the far left middle is being attended to. It looks like the water is up to the bottom of his nose.

I don't think all suicides are people who want to be "noticed" on their way out. There are plenty of cases where carbon monoxide, household cleaner cocktails, etc, are used. The train jumpers are really in a class by themselves. It doesn't seem like a fail-proof way to off yourself and it must be extremely painful compared to simply going to sleep. I can't help but feel that the method one chooses is an individual personality trait coming out... albeit for the last time.

Such a terrible incident. The only good that can come out of this, other than this particular facility being permanently shut down, would be for parents to realize how essential it is to monitor every phase possible of their child's external activities.

Some people just shouldn't get involved.

Gaijinfo -No heat from me. I'm the parent of a 2 and 5 year old and I completely agree with your entire last post. Both my kids are in swimming courses. There is only so much you can do to prepare your kids for what life may have in store for them, but the more you offer, the better their chances are.

Here it comes..... the Japanese equivalent to the Casey Anthony trial.

Haven't seen a one sentence headline chocked this full of intrigue for quite some time. I can't help but wonder why he wanted to get naked before before fleeing. Did he think he would be able to run faster?

This photo is screaming for a word balloon above his head.

The older my kids get, the more these reports sadden me.

Last time we visited the in-laws I was in the airport restroom with my son and saw a man changing a new-born on one of those tables. As we entered I offered him an empathizing smile and went about my business. A few moments later, as my toddler and I were drying our hands at the sink, I realized this father was standing next to me drawing paper towels out of the dispenser. He was at least four full meters from the baby on the table, who was not strapped in. My reflexes almost got the best of me as I was about to jump over to the table and stand guard while this fool tidied himself up. My question is, assuming the ever scrutinizing moderators will permit it, at what point does one intervene in a situation like this?

@jforce. As a parent, I appreciate your offer and agree with your sentiment. Acts like this warrant some real neanderthalic retribution.

@whiskey

Hey, I had me one of those when I was a kid.

That was close. I almost didn't think we'd get one of these storys by the end of the week.

I had to read this headline several times. WTF! 16 year old high school student with a daughter?!?!?!

Agree Willi. Perhaps I'm too much of a moralist but celebrating in this manner leaves me feeling uneasy. It reminds me of athletes who, after scoring, go overboard with some idiotic dance.

Big hug to the woman who had enough instinct to determine something was fishy and call the girls name. Even bigger and longer hug to Arai san, but with a rough braided rope.