sumgai comments

tmarie: Finnair operates a fleet of A330/A340 on the long-haul routes, with an average age around 3-4 years. Lufthansa planes are much older, on average. Also, Lufthansa is considerably more expensive on most routes in economy class, basically uncompetitive, they survive by dominating select routes. The fact that you call it cattle class just means you need to make yourself feel better about flying business as most business classes don't justify the higher ticket prices.

While I like Finnair and have used them many times both on the Japan route and intra-europe, their prices are (at least a few months back) completely ridiculous. Right now KLM offers the same amenities and the price is around 40-50% lower, their network in europe is also way more extensive. I'm guessing one reason is the popularity (and codesharing with Japan Airlines) with the Japanese or simply horrible fuel hedging trades.

More low quality meat for the lower classes...I do hope Japanese meat stays on the market though, the difference is obvious.

Wow, people are amazingly ignorant and uninformed here. Jews had their land, exact to the 1967 Geneva accord. But no, they wanted more so they took West Bank and just started moving people in - that's akin to me kicking in your door and declaring "I live here now, if you try to get me out, I'll kill you". Naturally the people are angered by it, many of whom had their houses illegally destroyed by Israelis now live in Gaza. It's also hilarious that you mention the rocket attacks while ignoring the many who have been killed by Israel's army. I guess if you put on a military uniform or a suit, you are automatically legit...should you choose another outfit then you are automatically a terrorist or a militant - ignoring the fact that both of those people do exactly the same thing.

Translation: "If we want to, we will just go into Gaza and kill everyone, then take their land." The world is sitting by, quietly. All this because Palestine wanted to follow the democratic and civil path.

Cricky: experts actually do know what they are doing, by definition. People are naive in thinking that a suit and an ivy league education means anything when trading the markets but that's why it is so great - you are judged only by what you do, not where you come from. Most of the real experts are independent traders (who you never hear about as they don't wear a suit) or people working for a few firms that actually manage to be profitable every year.

Of course I realize trading only accounts for a small portion of Nomura's business.

The Munya Times and others

They had an agreement in writing to share technologies, the basis on which VW could acquire the stake. VW didn't comply. The thing about Suzuki using Fiat's tech to their advantage is really no concern of VW. To reiterate, VW didn't simply buy a part of Suzuki but also agreed to share technology - in a contractual form.

VW is another giant concern which will eventually become another GM. The German quality so many speak about is getting worse every year, anyone who has owned an Audi or a Mercedes in the recent years will tell you so. Suzuki has a major advantage in the Indian market as it has brand recognition, their profit numbers are fine too. For the european market, Suzuki is extremely underrated but it's bound to change at some point.

Fertilized-sprayed-hormoneinjected-chemicallycoloured-genemodified American food. It has absolutely no taste and very little nutritional value but at least it looks good!

Actually ATCs in Japan read out the instructions very clearly so there shouldn't be any misunderstanding. I only like the airplanes to work on autopilot, not the pilots.

A fairly stupid idea. This will only bring 10 000 freeloaders to the country, rather spend the money fixing up Tohoku region than do this. Fix the problem, not the consequence. Anyway, western Japan is doing great when it comes to tourism.

I've grown accustomed to it, it's really a test of mental strength. Normally I sort of enjoy the attention and acknowledge that it's really just fascination - unless it's done by a gorgeous girl, then it means she just loves me. Most people try to guess where I'm from and that's something that can only be done by staring and close listening, sometimes I throw them off by switching to my native language - which absolutely no one will guess. I'm only slightly bothered by it when I'm dead tired and even then I manage to mind my own business and it's all fine. When children stare, it's just plain cute... If you are so bothered by simple looks and stares, you really shouldn't move to a different country.

It's the biggest passenger plane out there so it's more affected by crosswinds. It looks more likely to be pilot error. To the Boeing fan club here - have you followed 787 development? I'm guessing not...