Ah_so said...

Ah_so at 02:23 AM JST - 27th July

300 Americans die every year of mesothelioma.

The town of Libby, Montana contained an asbestos mine which operated from 1939 to 1990 and asbestos dust leaked from the mine and carried to the town. Despite having a population of 3000, 200 have died so far. They will continue to die…

Posted in Horrors of asbestos in Japan at 02:23 AM JST - 27th July
Ah_so at 01:43 AM JST - 27th July

You can sometimes get 24 Bud for $12 on base. Real beer for half the price :)

Bud? It is mainly made from rice, so is technically not a beer, but rather a beer-style drink, for people who don't like real beer.

I suppose this 100 yen stuff must fall…

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Ah_so at 06:47 AM JST - 23rd July

But all good news for the cheap end retailers, like Uniqlo or Hard Off, where you can get good quality 2nd hand stuff at a huge discount.

Posted in All bad news from the retailing front at 06:47 AM JST - 23rd July
Ah_so at 03:32 AM JST - 22nd July

societymike - good luck with your twins. However, one of the ways that children learn is the interaction between others in the family. What is the language you and your wife speak with each other and what country are you in? If you are in Japan and you speak Japanese…

Posted in Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily at 03:32 AM JST - 22nd July
Ah_so at 02:24 AM JST - 22nd July

this, as well as thinly-disguised arrogance/insecurity about the supposed superiority of the japanese language

I suspect there is something in this. As every Japanese knows, the Japanese language is utterly unique and very complex, and so must require 100% of a child's brain and not share it with other languages.…

Posted in Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily at 02:24 AM JST - 22nd July
Ah_so at 09:18 PM JST - 21st July

When my kids started speaking, it was a mish-mash of English and Japanese, and I was advised by well-meaning folk to drop the English and let them 'concentrate on learning Japanese first'. Glad I didn't listen to those folk.

There is a dangerous myth that circulates in Japan that bilingualism…

Posted in Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily at 09:18 PM JST - 21st July
Ah_so at 10:25 PM JST - 17th July

Does anyone else know Japanese people that do NOT use air conditioning at all? A friend of mine lives in Niigata, where it frequently stays above 30 at night, and up to 38-40 degrees during the day.

Niigata can get pretty hot an humid at times, the winter temperature can…

Posted in What do you do to stay cool in summer? at 10:25 PM JST - 17th July
Ah_so at 10:08 PM JST - 17th July

spaghetti sandwich - yum yum...

Posted in What do you think of some of the food concoctions you see in items such as sandwiches, buns, pizzas, and so on, in Japan? at 10:08 PM JST - 17th July
Ah_so at 05:06 PM JST - 15th July

Such is the shame of catching swine flu among the Japanese, I suspect that a large number of cases are not going reported to avoid the social discrace.

Posted in New flu logged in all 47 prefectures at 05:06 PM JST - 15th July
Ah_so at 05:00 PM JST - 15th July

WTF! I dont know what these people are on even if they are 22.....why dont someone try a blow torch on them - thats probably what is what like for the 2 year old.....

Exactly my thoughts - I can think of no other punishment that would be appropriate for…

Posted in 22-year-old couple arrested for burning 2-year-old son with hair dryer at 05:00 PM JST - 15th July