recherche88 comments

The Palace used to be my daily walk, but I gave it up when the joggers increased and became more aggressive. On every walk joggers came right up behind me stepping on my heel. Even when there was plenty of space for me to walk on one side and them to pass on the other, they made a point of making contact as they passed, or cutting in immediately in front of me apparently annoyed that I was in their space.

@CGB Spender I gave up drinking coffee in the morning and I guess it shows. Until I read your comment to @Wakarimasen I read his comment to mean: "I wonder if there will one day be a similar memorial for all those who have die[d] in Afghanistan and Iraq [ which wars were caused by those who carried out the murders on 9/11].

"

@Kwatt

Correct about the melted cores of reactors 1,2,3. More threatening and more immediately so is the 'spent' fuel pool on top of reactor building 4. There is a plan to begin removing that fuel, a very risky business (almost equally risky is leaving it there). A very touch operation and any mishap could have enormous consequences.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3532725.htm

Well, for those who have some doubts about Abe's assurances that there have never been and never will be health problems related to Fukushima, he has made this additional promise in an article in the Wall Street Journal:

"Let me assure you the situation is under control," Mr. Abe said. "It has never done and will never do any damage to Tokyo."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324123004579061322925166860.html?mod=WSJAsia_hpp_LEFTTopStories#slide/1

So, there, all is well. We can go about our business.

@fightingviking @silly girl

Yes, my reaction also. What a strange headline. After getting over the headline began to think what it's going to be like getting around Tokyo in the lead-up and during the events. Wife said we should move out of Tokyo before things heat up.

Then: boy, if they've been suppressing information about Fukushima all this time when they really didn't have a good reason to, what's it going to be like now?

@the_odeman

Yes, it was disheartening watching the drivel in that YouTube video. I've been searching for some actual facts regarding conditions at the plant, likely outcomes, possible approaches for dealing with the problems, but haven't found much. Do you have some links you could share?

She's not the ingenue anymore (not that she ever was, but she projected the image), but she's not 20 anymore either. She's got name recognition, she's an attractive woman. I'd turn my head if I knew Kate Moss was standing in the lobby.

I'd always thought 'klaxxon' in Japanese came from the klaxon a submarine uses to signal 'dive'

Was in Mitaka Station when we heard a "BANG!" That was it. My wife though it was an earthquake. Sounded like a truck banging into the building to me. Then they announced it over the speaker and we had to wait a little extra for the train.

Lowly, presumably about the kidnap and robbery.

At least in the translation he didn't compare same-sex marriage with beastiality. He seems to be suggesting there is no limiting priciple if you extend the traditional definition of marriage.

I was in Hakone last night, traveling by bike. Watched the news on tv and wondered if it was crazy to travel back to Tokyo today by motorcycle but didn't have much choice. Left early and got back before the weather started. Now will sit safely in my house and enjoy it ; )

Cricky, good one!

'Climate change' seemed pretty weak as an excuse to promote nuclear energy. Couldn't do better than that?

oh, they had a Ferrari festival in the town square in Modena yesterday. Lots of Ferraris, vintage and late models.

Zichi, the town where the new Ferarri museum has just opened is Modena.

Hint to theaters: stop threatening viewers with prison for downloading movies. We're the ones sitting in the theater and paying for tickets!

Most of the nuclear plants are currently shut down aren't they? And we are coping.

"Being sentenced to imprisonment or a heavier punishment for submitting a false notification required of medium to long term residents, or violating the rules concerning receipt or mandatory presentation of the residence card"

Heavier than imprisonment? Death penalty for screwing up your resident status?

Genji, Mabo

Lying about scientific research does not make comercial hunting of whales any more legal than lying about shooting in self-defense makes murder legal.

re the 12% - some of the women who have boyfriends are going out with a guy who is seeing more than one woman?

@Matthew Good one : )

Well, good thing he learned something about baseball. Would be nice to hear his comments about life after he's learned something about that (we wouldn't develope the automobile. Really? The system hasn't served us well. Really?).

@gogogo

We may be focusing on different parts of the article. I'm referring to:

"The latest analysis also presents evidence that xenon-133 began to vent from Fukushima Daiichi immediately after the quake, and before the tsunami swamped the area."

@gogogo The Fukushima plant actually began emitting radiation immediately after the earthquake, before the tsunami struck.

See: http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111025/full/478435a.html

@JapanGal "I thought it was another wax museum picture."

haha.... so did I.

I wonder why the bombastic atheists feel such a need to proclaim themselves and put down people of faith? In all my years in Japan I have rarely been prozelized by people of religion except for an occasional call at the door by JW, but am frequently accosted by self-(and loudly) proclaimed atheists who almost invarialby ridicule my faith. Why the hatred and contempt? I can understand the atheist point of view and have held it myself and certainly don't begrudge anyone else holding it, but why the intollerance?

Raise the taxes on cigarettes, remove all taxes on nicotine gum and patches.

@Nonrio

The cost of travel to and in Japan is a disincentive to visiting Japan but the radition worry is a bigger issue right now. My wife is a tour guide and her agency which caters to US tourists has closed its Japan office and are not offering tours to Japan since the nuclear disaster. My wife is virtually unemployed as a result. Tour agencies that are still operating in Japan have seen their customers fall drastically since Diichi. Until worries about radiation subside, it looks to continue that way.

@jared

How about directors of funeral homes? Doctors? Physical therapists? Real Estate salespersons (preying on the homeless)? Farmers (exploiting the hungry)? Granted the above (with perhaps the exception of the first) are helping the suffereing in some way, but they are still making money off of others suffering, no?