timorborder comments

Posted in: Scandals expose sumo's shady underbelly See in context

And what a big underbelly it is. Indeed some of the underbellies in Sumo are so large that you could keep a box of Quality Street tucked away. Moreover, will the underbelly of Sumo ever see the light?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Elderly woman arrested for beating youth sitting in priority seat of bus See in context

Laughing - Obviously a youth with a death wish. As anybody who has lived in Japan knows, you sign away your life if you get between some old gal and a free seat on the trains/buses. Indeed, I reckon there is a school somewhere where grandmas learn how to swing their shopping bags and elbows to maximum effect.

On a more serious note, although we have all come across young folks who could do with a bit of slap, laying into somebody and breaking their nose is pretty serious stuff. As a parent also, this history of beating up school-aged children is problematic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune gets suspended prison term See in context

Wonder what his views will be when he gets back to the Land of the Long White Shroud?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune gets suspended prison term See in context

What a let down. So the net result is this guy goes free after having an extended holiday at the expense of the Japanese taxpayer.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Off duty officer caught taking up-skirt video at Yokohama bookstore See in context

How did she "grab him".

Let's just say she had his undivided attention!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Debate swirls over best abbreviation for McDonald's See in context

Maccas of course.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Fit for office See in context

Just might be impressive if the vehicle was moving...

and passing under a low bridge.

Seriously, with skills like this an intellectual giant like Iketani will be a sure thing for the next cabinet. What about nominating him as Foreign Minister. Send him off to Rome to meet Pope Benedict. I can just imagine Iketani getting down to some important business and then snapping off a handspring to relieve the tension. It would be a lot better than snapping off a nugget on the carpet, or turning up drunk like a certain minister (should not speak ill of the dead).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Would-be thief asks store manager to report him to police See in context

So he will get a suspended sentence for trying to knock over the cash, while getting 10 years hard labor for the can of coffee?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Okada hints he'll quit after Japan exits World Cup See in context

So when did the switch occur? How did a team go from a 0-0 draw with African powerhouse Zimbabwe to getting to the second round of the World Cup?

Despite all the criticism by the clowns on JT (including myself), Japan actually gave a very good showing. Tulio proved he could play against some serious opposition and the Japanese keeper was also very good. Moreover despite yesterday game being rather boring, Matsui's shot in the first half was probably the best effort we have seen in the World Cup that did not result in a goal.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Campaign girl See in context

Romulus and Remus! Another never-was hoping to suckle from the teat of public largess.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Hail the King See in context

Worst case of jaundice I have seen in years.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 10 alleged Russian secret agents arrested in U.S. See in context

I was watching The PBS NewsHour and it struck me as strange how they were accused of infiltrating and seeking out policy makers

It is called manipulation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Bake my day See in context

They were hesitant, especially with the Scotch mutton pies, but once word got out, the pies disappeared.

Got to love the locals. I remember going to a BBQ up at the Australian embassy only to see the locals get out their shopping bags and try and pilfer the meat before it was cooked.

Anyway best of luck to Nick George. My only request would be that he try and produce some pies like I used to have as a little boy in Australia. I still remember being dragged along to rugby games on cold Saturday afternoons, with us kids being bribed by our grandfather with the offer of "pies and coca-cola" on the way home. I even remember the day that I burnt my hands on a hot meat pie (about 5 years old). I remember crying and laughing at the same time because one of our dogs was desperately trying to like the gravy off my painful (and slightly swollen) hands.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: From TV to politics, Renho blazes a trail See in context

Couple of comments:

Although I favor the DPJ, there is something about this woman that grates with me. It might be her background in journalism and her ability to use the "soundbite" to maximum effect. I also didn't like her performance at the government-funded programs meetings. Then again, I suppose there is fine line between grilling somebody and coming across as a grandstanding prat.

Hiranuma is old-Japan. Indeed, for those on the right-wing of Japanese politics, he has all the prerequisites required for being a great leader. Namely, he takes a revisionist view of history and his (adopted) father was a convicted Class A War Criminal. With a pedigree like that, no wonder he looks down his nose at Renho. Indeed, in his world she would be either lying in ditch somewhere after being bayoneted, or working down the Diet as a comfort girl.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Petraeus to face soldier complaints over war rules See in context

Couple of quick comments:

This reminds me of the old (and very politically incorrect joke) that goes something like this:

Q. What is the difference between shooting men, and shooting women and children?

A. You don't have to lead women and children so much.

(If you need an explanation of what this means, you are probably too young to be corrupted by such ideas).

Now with regard to rules of engagement, I must say that based both on joint training with the US military and a 2 year stint at Fort Bragg on exchange (including a nice 8 months in a certain desert oasis), the term "fire discipline" is very alien to some people. It is particularly scary when it involves a couple of overly-bored airline pilots who are moonlighting as A10 drivers over the wastelands of Northern Kuwait and who consider Australian English and Iraqi English as one in the same.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

Sushi: If you're interested, there was an article in the NY Times entitled "General Faces Unease Among His Own Troops, Too" which is a rather interesting read on how field officers are straining under some rather stiff rules of engagement.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

Timoborder, are you also saying that McCrystal taking his comments to the media should have more bearing on whether or not he remains in his post than his actual effectiveness as a commander?

First of all, I don't think McCrystal took his comments to the media as such. Rather, he let down his guard and vented some personal opinions while in the company of a journalist. The journalist in question, whatever his motives, then turned around and used these comments to do a bit of a hatchet job on the General. That being said, however, responsibility in the military is a serious thing, and the General has resigned as a result.

In this instance what worries me deeply is the issue of the General showing extremely poor judgment and a lack of basic command presence. I believe this poor judgment occurred on a number of levels. Specifically, I don't know about the situation in the US, but where I did my military training (The Royal Military College, Duntroon), we were taught that you could "command your troops or be friends with them, you could not do both." Obviously, by allowing his subordinates to be openly disdainful of their ultimate superiors (specifically Vice President "Bite Me"), it seems that the General forgot this rule. As such, I believe the President is well within his rights to remove the General on grounds of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

made an error of judgment that resulted in the deaths of his men

In my experience getting your own people killed has never been a reason for getting sacked in the military. Indeed, in the infantry at least, having a couple of stiffs on your resume is seen as a good thing, as long as you show an ability to get the job done.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

If nothing else, this case has highlighted a major failing of the U.S. military.

And what failing would that be? I cannot see any failings in the current instance. Like an idiot, McChrystal unwisely stuck his head above the parapet, showing extremely bad judgment in venting his spleen. He was canned accordingly. End of story.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

Some of you should get off the turps and stop trying to spin this story to match your own political views.

This chap (McChrystal) went way over board in his comments regarding certain senior figures in the current administration and got canned as a result. It has to be remembered that the army protects others' rights to freedom of speech, it does not practice such freedoms itself.

And yes, he should have probably not been given command in the first place considering his involvement in the Tillman Affair.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Australia gets its 1st female prime minister as Rudd ousted See in context

I voted for Rudd, not Gilliard. If Rudd is doing a bad job, then it should be the electorate that votes him out at the next election.

Good comment Smartacus!!! Backroom factional deals are not the way politics should be conducted.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Happily divorced See in context

Why does there have to be a "ceremony" for everything? And why do you have to drag along the relatives? If the soon-to-be-separated couple really wanted to whack something with a hammer, why not make the whole process somewhat "gladiatorial" in nature? How about winner takes all? You could arm both partners with a range of non-lethal weapons (at a nice mark up) and let them go at it. Indeed, I think the soon-to-be-ex in-laws would really be into such an idea. Sort of like Tiger and his Missus on Southpark.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama fires McChrystal; Petraeus picked for Afghanistan See in context

This had to happen, unfortunately you cannot have senior officers biting the hand that feeds them (or at least orders them).

By the way, why is Petraeus set to get this gig? Is the talent pool show shallow in the US Army these days that senior appointments have to be shifted around like deck chairs?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Camp Zama introduces strict penalties for over-enthusiastic golfers See in context

So no more carpet bombing the locals? Perhaps it is time to give up golf?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan See in context

Whose been at the sugar this morning? Any talk of this little incident amounting to "treason" is so unrealistic that it is laughable.

At it's worse, the general's brain fxrt is a classic example of a uniformed office stupidly conflicting his personal beliefs with his public duties. Furthermore, by criticizing the C-in-C, even indirectly, his position has become untenable. It reminds me of the old saying that the "army protects freedom-of-speech, it does not practice it."

The only issue left to decide is whether the general falls on his sword and resigns, or whether he will be given a violent shove by those who wish to use this episode as a means by which to further their own political agenda.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: IWC meeting abuzz over Japan vote-buying accusations See in context

Good bit of ambush journalism on the part of the Sunday Times. However, I don't know whether the timing of article was the best?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan See in context

President Obama outranks any military officer and so has the inherent right to assume command on the battlefield

Understand the sentiment but would disagree with the "assume command on the battlefield" comment. The civilian administration and the military command structure are two completely different things. That being said, however, what I think you meant was that the "military is subordinate to the civilian administration as embodied by the office of the President of the United States."

On the other hand, letting the civilians (without military advice) run a war is a recipe for disaster, for example, Hitler vs. OKW or Rumsfeld vs. Gen. Shinseki and friends.

Just remember, Eric was right.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: Obama rebukes top U.S. commander in Afghanistan See in context

General McChrystal has shown extremely bad judgment with regard to this magazine article, and the only way that this problem can be resolved is for him to hand in his resignation. Why? Because he is too senior to be court martialed on the charge of conduct unbecoming good order and discipline.

Furthermore, did McChrystal sleep through his press liason lectures at Command School? You know the ones that begin with don't trust the press. Also he seems to have forgotten that uniformed officers are not paid to criticize their (non-civilian) superiors, even if their views are contrary to the personal views of the officers in question.

If McChrystal was so troubled by all these issues, he should have handed in his resignation, and then done a hatchet job on the administration via his memoirs.

Finally, a couple of unrelated points. It has been reported that McChrystal had a pretty relaxed relationship with some of his subordinates. Again this shows bad judgment. Being too friendly with the people in your command can undermine your leadership (this is not my view but a view included in the basic leadership syllabus of every army).

Secondly, McChrystal's subordinates who are mentioned in the article also need to swing for this. Responsibility starts at the top, but it does not end there when you happen to be a commissioned officer. McChrystal may be the person in charge, but those under him also need to carry the can (especially those whose job it is to shield their commander from the press).

Thirdly, why did McChrystal end up as the commander in Afghanistan anyway? I seem to remember that his name came up in the Pat Tillman affair, and he was criticized for some of his actions. Surely at the top end of the slippery pole, such problems should have stopped his further promotion? Perhaps a souffle can rise twice?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: 1 dead, 10 injured after ex-Mazda temp hits 11 plant workers with car See in context

What a nut job.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Posted in: FIFA happy with standard of refereeing See in context

If FIFA are happy with the standard of refereeing, then I would suggest that random drug testing is not working, because these guys have to be smoking something.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Recent Comments

Popular

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites


©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.