stipend comments

Why rely on stores having what you need in time of crisis when the supply system is already stretched? Having my own "hoard" as backup, built up in better times means I'm not weighing on the system now. Some one else can have the things which I don't need to buy today.

smithinjapan has it. Not long ago China was a place Japanese employees dreaded having to visit. Today more and more they are being transferred there.

I agree, keigo can help with that extra mile when dealing with staff. Depends a lot on the situation. I follow Andrewfs51's common sense flow chart (above). And remember, when you make a complaint your really are doing them a favor. Anyone who is in business will understand what I mean.

Here's a challenge for every one for if they run into a situation at 7-11: Try asking for the manager - or - ask for a customer service number for their parent company, 7 & i Holdings so that you can take it up with them later on at your leisure. Like pigs from a gun!

No one has mentioned product support in Japan. Again, it's amazing. I call up the maker of my 10 year old AC and I speak with a real person! who knows my unit both inside and out. Take that in NA! And whatever you buy, batteries are included! My parents never had it so good - lol!

At restaurants I think tipping would loosen up a lot of grey matter, help grease the wheels.

At department stores service is amazing. Japan should patent that, bottle and export it.

With bike shops I've found good and bad. From watch you like you're a thief, don't want you in the store places, to can't find the problem get out of my store places, 2 weeks later a call they forgot to order your parts places, to falling all over themselves with great service fast work and done to perfection. I've about given up all my tools to the last place. They can do everything. Have I found a shop like this one outside of Japan? Nope.

I've lost friends going to restaurants with some people.

Kirin City, all about the beer. A special order maybe just once? A glass without the "topping" maybe one time? They ceremoniously pour and add the head at the end of a very long pouring process. I tell the manager of my interest in beer. I've been home brewing for years. He says no. Inflexible. Their beers are fine but the head is coming out of a different tap. The glass is left standing on the counter five minus waiting before it's added. I'm not asking for more, I'm asking for less. But that's alright, I don't suck.

At Starbucks it's all about coffee. I say no ice and no lid please, - cause I don't suck. I take it black and drink from the rim. Ice gets in the way, it dilutes the flavour. Half empty and I say, can't i please have a little more, sir? Nope. Calculate cost of the ice in comparison to the coffee. They keep the lid. I take it straight. No creamers, no sugars, napkins or stirs are used on me but still no. I'm a recognized regular but it's not gonna happen. Inflexible. SB dumps coffee by the liter if it sits too long and they think I'm being cheap? When I'm dumb enough to order ice coffee, like when it's really hot, I often end up choosing not to purchase what they present and I walk across the street. Aska, it's a negotiation. It's business. If the shop doesn't have what I want to want, there is no obligation to buy. The idea of tipping is that you will make sure, even before it reaches me, that I am going to like it.

Ginza Tanaka is a fun place to visit. What I'd like to see more of there is big stuff made of gold to ignite the imagination. The markup they have on anything crafted is far to high imho -even if I had the dough.

Gold coins are what I'm usually there for. Great selection of sizes, issuers and prices are spot on.

And they even sell silver.. only in the 32kg (1,000oz) size. For that they deliver ;-)

I don't see where it says the old guy without a home was drunk.

Ninety-six sounds like a nice old age. It's ironic Alex Jones quoted his roll in the 1956 version of The Body Snatchers just the other day while discussing RNA.

"Please, listen to me. If you don't, if you won't, you're next!"

< :o

Ah, the pointy hat did it. To continue:

< :-) Are there homeless in the park near you? I'm always receiving boxes of can juice as a "summer gifts". I chill them carry two at a time usually and hand them out ice cold to the homeless guys I see. Sometimes thirty-four degrees, in the sun, just having something cold in your hand is a good feeling. I hope this guy is doing okay.

Does Kobe allow fireworks to be set off? A bylaw in my city forbids it but that doesn't stop convenience stores from selling them to almost anyone at almost any hour. In my neighbourhood at least as of last year I got that stopped <:-) Are there homeless in the park near you? I'm always receiving boxes of can juice as a "summer gifts". I chill them carry two at a time usually and hand them out ice cold to the homeless guys I see. Sometimes thirty-four degrees, in the sun, just having something cold in your hand is a good feeling. I hope this guy is doing okay.

genkimark, you may be off the mark. I think the quote you meant to respond to can be found here:

http://metropolis.co.jp/features/the-last-word/idle-behavior/

Just common sense. More than anything else it's the air you breath. If you can smell it it's affecting you. If you can't smell it, say if it's a new hi efficiency diesel, it's worse. So I speak up. The stairwell I mention is enclosed and it only takes a few minutes for it to fill with fumes. Poor building design sure, but the lines on the road indicate no stopping anyway and I haven't got a problem if the engine is off. It's also a noise issue.

I'm inner city. The small park out front is ringed by a street. Ever walked by sections of road where trucks drive up, put their feet up just idle? It's noxious, noisy. And here it's park/street. 3m from the kiddy slide with tykes all around there'll be vehicles idling. I'd read the paper out there more if it didn't first have to deal with all the idling engines.

I'll add that phoning in to the delivery companies you really are doing them a favor. It's competitive and most are sensitive to your views if not their own fuel costs. With taxis tho it's different.

Really?! I thought I was the only one. Forget the CO2 nonsense, it's the exhaust and carbon-Monoxide. It begins with knock on the window, a smile, a request and a nice line maybe about the reason which often is that the gas accumulates in my stairwell. Most people are stopped illegally anyway, they nearly all switch off or they leave. Or maybe I'll just hang around. All the delivery guys in my area know me, I've called in to some of their offices. Easy targets. LOL! So too are any vehicles whith "Eco-Driver" stickers on them (means they've had special burn less gas driver training), or "Idling Stop!" stickers. Freezer trucks btw can sit half the day in the sun without any problem. They're designed that way! You can also take cell phone pictures of sleeping drivers, company logo visible, or name tag, and the plate. Then wake them up him up and show them the pictures. Know what you are getting yourself into tho and be ready. Some of the guys in my area we laugh now when we pass on the street.

You bet I'm stressed. I'm in a high traffic pedestrian area. The park out front sees a lot of use. Neighbours see me out there day after day sometimes getting screamed at (several issues, litter, smokers, illegal scooter parking, taxis peeing). But they've seen the results and finally some have found their own voice and have started speaking out, share in the responsibility. Yeah.. I should head out there with a nice big Havana cigar. It's been a while.

genji17 sounds like the kind of guy who'll go up to a No Smoking sign with an attitude and light up because he can't be bothered/doesn't want to be bothered. Then he'll rationalize, nobody asked me. I've seen that. I've dealt with that.

Who are you to decide that a puff of smoke once in a while is acceptable -for me? What do you know about what I've been exposed to? What do you know about other people's chemical sensitivities, their personal health? The people out on the street seem ok.. What about those you don't see? Those at home wheezing, unable to breath, on a home respirator?

So remind me, who is the monster?

Being assertive doesn't mean being rude or aggressive. People in public can react unexpectedly so be aware. Look at least ready to stand up for yourself either mentally or physically. If it's affecting your space and you are in the right, what shame is there in confronting a smoker? You're probably doing the people around you a favor.

On the platform looking around.."Do you have an ashtray? Is there an ashtray around here? I don't think smoking is allowed here.. Ah, there's the sign. Please don't smoke here. Some people have allergies, like me." The worst I'll ever say in my discussion with a smoker is it's common sense, that's rude, or unbelievable!

When they stomp it out or flick it then you can say "Yuck, it's dirty." In many a case they will pick it up, carry it to the trash. Do I say thank you? Do I feel guilty? No. But I do say a polite "excuse me".

Tobacco companies are the monsters -pushing an addictive carcinogen -pushing to kids -exploiting the developing world -lying about effects of their product -chemically engineering their product to maximize its addictiveness -paying off the medical industry

Laws have to be practical. Having a fine might be a start (what's the point of bylaws without fines??). A heavy fine for blowing smoke? Next they'll be impounding bicycles charging 2,500 for their return. Oh wait.. they are doing that. I was late, had to get to the stn quickly on the wrong day.. It just makes life miserable, people become resentful. It's counter productive.

Why is there not a movement to start make it less socially acceptable? On the platform once tagged a jr high school coach, his young charges in tow all looking up to him smoking under a No Smoking sign. I have never ever seen anyone go up to a smoker and say hey, there's the sign, no smoking here please. Are people actually doing that? Has anyone seen that? I have yet to see anyone in all my years. What it comes down to for me is if it affects me and it's a no smoking area I'll have some words. Otherwise, where I am it just seems to be chronic. More and more areas are no smoking areas and that may be helping but it's been glacial. Also, as a result, our poor park has received the but end it.

Smoking is an a disease. It's an addiction and I feel sorry for Frungy (but that's inside of me, misplaced or not it's my own set of beliefs). At the same time I respect his choice. I am all for free will. If Frungy is informed, conscientious, considerate of others, then why not? Enjoy!

Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco et al work very hard on keeping the good folks addicted. It's all chemical, very high tech. The social aspects are also very well managed. Think, why would a candy package for kids need to be wrapped similar to a pack of smokes? In my day we had Popeye cigi candy sticks which would appear in our corner stores. Me ma told me to watch for that. Keep an eye out along the lower shelves in the candy store.

Any argument? Sure. Leave a cigarette but a bowl of water for a few hours see what you get. It could kill you. If Nagoyalove thinks it's fine for strangers use the kids playground equipment as an ashtray -when kids are there -day after day, I am sorry but I am going speak up. It's common sense.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5501615_symptoms-nicotine-poisoning.html

Nagoyalove has a point. Am I guest here? I pay taxes. I live here. I would vote too if only the "natives" would allow it. I just take what is common sense in the playground and say hey look, that's trash, who's going to clean that? And around the kids? What are you thinking? Let's clean it up. (like talking to 12 year olds some times). Dunno, maybe J toddlers and their parents are smarter than the American ones, haven't seen the J-stats, but there are close calls and choking deaths attributed to discarded cigi-buts in the US every year. So.. the kids should just in, eh?

The erosion of the US gun laws is happening from within actually. The population there could probably use a wake up call.

Smoking around other people's kids in the park drives me nuts but I'll put up. When the but is flicked that's the open door to call them to the carpet and I'll speak my mind. Why the people of Japan are content on having their country an open sore but filled ashtray is beyond me. Tobacco companies should give away ashtrays as promos but they don't. I actually had someone phone JT one time to discuss that.

it’s a symptom of a dysfunctional society

I agree with that. I see it around me every day.

Analyzing the trends Kyodo reports today Health, Labor & Welfare found people kill themselves mostly on the first and last days of the month. Great. How is that going to help anyone?

I'd like to thank everyone for their insight btw. I had no idea ;-)

I think Anna has struck a nerve. My 50min train ride I take in stride since I'm there by choice. I could/should go by MTB most days. Seen plenty of people speak up about headphones tho it almost never bothers me. It's more fun the watching others. But I do however, and often sometimes, speak up about noses and other unsanitary things. Come to think of it I've seen some really disgusting things! Nutters abound! Many people would be well to be more in tune with their surroundings. When an elderly person needs seat? Big person, little person, I let them know, I think you should - get up! When something is so obviously the hardest thing for me personally is to do this in a nice way.. with a smile.. >:-/ Hm.. i probably should ride tomorrow.

Ha, ha! I enjoyed this, thanks Anna :-) The trains, my goodness!

How deep are your pockets Japan? You did fine. Canada's mission statement was to "Own the Podium".

CBC: "That Canadian public invested heavily in the program. Of the $117 million invested in athletes, $66 million of it was taxpayer dollars."

Homelessness in the host city went from an epidemic of around 600 when they were awarded the games to roughly 3,000 today. Hold your head high, Japan.

A newly minted GOLD medalist? 18 and drinking a beer? Call the cops! The IOC has proven itself to be way out of touch with reality. Vancouver.. imagine my surprise at reaching the end of the article to find it wasn't bout a dope fest.

A further invasion of rights of private citizens. Is this the next false "security" blanket too to be forced on us to the benefit of.. Hitachi in this case, along with all politicians, contractors and middlemen? With Aum all the warning sings were there and police were impotent. That was Sarin, not an explosive, but my bet is these things will be able to pick up and analyze your pheromones in their next reincarnation.

UP, UP, AND AWAY!

The Vancouver Olympics? French spoken at home is like what, 5% for that region? If anything the second language for this Olympics should be Cantonese, either or Mandarin at this point.