JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
1
Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
-
2
Confrontation
-
3
U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
-
4
California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
-
5
Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
-
- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
-
- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
-
- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
-6
Alphaape
If she didn't jump in front of the train at the station, nothing would have stopped her from jumping in front of a train at any route along its path. My question is why chose the Narita Express. I see many of the other local trains that run just as fast and could do the job (if that is what they want) just as easy. Or is it some grim facination of thinking that if I am not happy, I will at least make life a little more inconvienent for those who may be leaving Japan on a flight, just to make their life miserable too.
So sad for this lady.
Posted in: Woman jumps to her death at Shin-Koiwa Station; 5th suicide there since July
-1
Alphaape
In the Chicago Sun Times, and editorial ran on why Obama should withdraw from the 2012 race. Among reasons it lists that his approval rating is at its lowest level ever. His party just lost two House elections — one in a district it had held for 88 consecutive years. He's staked his future on the jobs bill, which most Americans don't think would work, and that the vultures are starting to circle. Former White House spokesman Bill Burton said that unless Obama can rally the Democratic base, which is disillusioned with him, "it's going to be impossible for the president to win." Democratic consultant James Carville had one word of advice for Obama: "Panic."
So I guess maybe the Demsmay try to bring in someone else eventually to run against him.
Posted in: Obama to offer his own debt reduction package
-1
Alphaape
I guess that saying "Youth is wasted on the young" holds true for this. I wish these kids would understand that they may be by themselves, after they leave school they will probably never see these kids again. It's not problem to have friends from different schools, you may learn something. Sure you may not have ready companions near, but at least you are not subject to negative peer pressure to do something wrong as I am sure some of the others who have lunch mates may have.
Trust me, when kids are older, they will enoy eating lunch alone if they have to work with some of the "knuckle heads" that I work with.
Posted in: Lonely youth take meals in toilets, and a new subculture springs up
-1
Alphaape
Instead of raising the tax, just get rid of the loophole that lets peopl like Buffet only claim their Capial Gains as their only source of income. That is why he pays less because he doesn't have a "regular salary" and if he does, it is far smaller than what he makes from Capital Gains.
Also, capital gains do not get SS deducted from it, unlike regular income. So that is how Buffet and his type get by. They should just implent a Flat Tax. I think people get too hung up on how much someone else is paying. If I make $50K and have to play a flat 10% tax, then I can part with the $5K. Sure it is a nice chiunk of my income, but I am not worried that some guy making $500,000 is only going to be paying $50,000. We are both paying at the same percentage, he just has more left over than I do. More incentive for me to want to get to that level
Posted in: Obama to raise taxes on millionaires
-1
Alphaape
I've had many discussions about this. So a married man can pay for the company of a woman other than his wife to dance and entertain him, and conversate with him. But can't you get the same treatment at a strip club?
I think many Westerners (including myself) equate a Geisha to a prostitute because of the fact that if you are going out to be entertained, and spend money on different women other than the wife that is like paying or buying a service. I saw a special on Geisha's once that showed a university professor and his wife talking about his visits to geishas and how his wife thought it showed her friends that they had enough money to spend on such things that it elevated her status. I guess if that is what you want to believe who am I to stand in your way.
But I guess the somewhat Western idea that if you are married you are to at least spend those hours that you are out conversating with other women building a better relationship with your wife and not just some stranger. Those hours on end spent with other women after working and not interfacing at home, pretty much lead to either the marriage being an unhappy situation for the wife, and when the guy finally retires he finds that he has nothing in common with his wife since he spent time conversating with geishas and other women and not with his wife. They are strangers in the same home.
I will ask this, why don't they take a survey of married Japanese women and ask what they really think of their husbands spending time with some other woman just out singing and dancing and conversating. I am curious as to what the results would be and I would like to know if men who frequent these places like the idea of their wives out hanging with other men doing the same thing.
Posted in: Jobs program to train geisha
2
Alphaape
@Asago: Not sure how the acts of the US in WW2 factor into this. But since you brought it up, didn't Japan use Unit 731 in Harbin China, and ruin Manila when all was lost instead of surrendering it against overwhelming odds, and I could go on and on.
The US is not a bad guy in this deal. I don't see Australia asking for a stronger alliance with Japan and South Korea since they are in the region too and face China. They probably figured that if it came down to it, at least the US would probably fight, and that they have a viable military.
Posted in: U.S. to expand military presence in Australia to counter China
-1
Alphaape
That is if you only stay in your small circle and never grow. I have great friends from childhood and college, but as you grow and mature, you find other interests and meet new people. Nothing can replace those friends from long ago, but I don't circle my life around them and only keep in contact with them.
I guess part of the problem I see is the whole process of guarantor for rent. Not sure why that happens in Japan. I have great friends from the past, but I would not co-sign for anyone (including family) for a loan.
Posted in: Salarymen families assess pros and cons of international schooling
-1
Alphaape
@yabits: Then I guess you need to talk to Warren Buffet. He says he only paid $7 million in taxes yet his secretary paid more in proportion to him. What he is not saying that his income is from captial gains, and he gets a very small (if any) salary since capital gains are taxed at a lower rate. So, if his secretary is paying more than he, that is becuase her income is counted as that and not capital gains.
So, if 40% of 25 million is not enought, then you need to let Buffet to start claiming his income not as capital gains but as a salary, then he would be paying more in taxes (his fair share as they say). Yet, he uses the same rules to pay less.
40% is too much for anyone, and that's not being greedy.
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
-1
Alphaape
You were the one who was telling me in a previous post that Obama has a solid lock on the Black vote
@yabits: Back from another post you made on April 7, 2011 you posted:
Alphape Comments: last election he had 90% of the black vote. Now, he will have to work for it like every other candidate.
yabits comments: The problem with the logic is this: On the Democratic side, there will be no other candidates who will try to unseat their incumbent president. I understand that you've made the prediction that Hillary, or Webb, or some other candidate not yet identified will run against him, but I don't believe that is dealing with reality. Especially with 70-80% of Democrats wanting him to be re-elected.
Which leaves the national election. I seriously doubt that the Democratic candidate will "have to work" for the African-American vote "like every" Republican candidate.
So I guess declining poll numbers for Obama among his base should not be seen as a threat to his reelection, and I guess that GOP win in NY 9 isn't anything to worry about either.
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
-1
Alphaape
Since you are not a conservative, your attempt to tell people what the "conservative worldview" is you end up looking extremely foolish.
I did not say 100%. But giveing up to almost 40%-50% (adding up federal, state and local taxes) is a bit too excessive don't you think?
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
-1
Alphaape
In a radio interview today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) claimed that Americans aren’t entitled to all of their own money. After some initial back-and-forth, she replied, “I’ll put it this way, you don’t deserve to keep all of it. It’s not a question of deserving, because what government is, is those things that we decide to do together.”
Her views are sadly typical of a liberal worldview that sees a person’s earnings as belonging first to the state. In fact, the left is now doubling down on this misguided belief, with the President pushing for more stimulus spending despite the failures of earlier “stimulus.”
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
0
Alphaape
@yabits: If you can't bring anything to the discussion without resorting to name calling, then don't participate. You were the one who was telling me in a previous post that Obama has a solid lock on the Black vote. A newly released Gallup poll (8 Sep 2011) reveals historic lows in President Obama’s job approval rating across three key demographic groups. Among the nation’s largest such group, whites, his approval is at 33%—25 points off his post-election high of 58%. Among the second largest ethnicity, Hispanics, his numbers have dropped even more precipitously, from 75% in January, 2009, to 48% in August of this year.
So far has Obama’s star fallen since he rode to electoral victory on the twin promises of hope and change that his approval among his most loyal constituency, blacks, has tied its all-time low. Having once enjoyed a supernal job approval rating of 92%, Obama now gets the nod from a merely unprecedented 84% of blacks.
@yabits: So you are saying that the Dems are just going to ride Obama all the way to the finish, with dropping poll numbers and just "hope" that it will all work itself out. If they want to remain a viable party, and at least pretend to the American people that they are listening, they had better run a viable alternative candidate to make it look like they are going to change things if he gets a second chance, or people who are undecided will probably choose the other option and vote GOP. Remember, that is what happend to H.W. Bush in 1992 when Perot got in the race and took the votes away from him and Clinton won.
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
0
Alphaape
When will the Dems put up a viable option to Obama. I can understand wanting to keep the White House, but at least with the GOP, they are acting as if the candidates have a chance, and we get to hear where they stand whether we like them or not.
The best thing for Obama's re-electioin bid is for a good challenger from the Dem party to go against him in the primaries. Sure the DNC will annoint him, but to the rest of the undecided voters, at least they will have a chance to see Obama have to campaign for the office, and not feel like they will not vote for him because the game is rigged and decide to vote GOP, since at least they had the guts to put up different people with different ideas and opinions trying for the office.
Posted in: Obama: Congress has no reason to wait on jobs bill
1
Alphaape
I remember back in the early 90's when these bombers used to fly out of Cam Ran Bay (Saigon) and circle our battle group while we were out at sea. They fly around Japan from time to time and I remember a few years ago when the JASDF scrambled fighters to escort. I think those bombers were making a practice to Guam. They are out there, so I hope Japan realizes that the world is not as friendly as they think it is.
Posted in: Russia defends bomber flights near Japan
-1
Alphaape
I don't get it. One moment some posters say that the US should leave Japan and its bases (not you but others here in Japan), and the next moment, they want the US to fly B-2's near Russia. I guess that whole base issue in Okinawa seems irrelevant in this case.
As far as the US flying B-2's, the Russians do this type of thing to test the US too. They fly up north and get pretty close to Alaska and Canada. Back in the good old "Cold War" they would fly down the east coast and land in Cuba. I guess the Bear is awakening from its slumber.
Posted in: Russia defends bomber flights near Japan
0
Alphaape
@lovehandles: So you are saying, when we bomb we try to minimize collateral damage and that is a bad thing, but guy who knowing and willing kills civilians is a good guy. If you think this guy scored well, and the US and NATO is just a bunch of cowards, why don't you go join and fight for them. I have served in the US military (for 20 years) and I chose to put my money where my mouth is and man up, but I guess you like to sit back and just talk bad, but when it comes time to actually do something, I am sure that you will find an excuse not to do so.
Posted in: Bomb at U.S. base in Afghanistan injures 77 Americans
2
Alphaape
I think the guy who blows himself up is the coward. Instead of fighting against overwhelming odds for a belief he is willing to die for, he kills himself and innocent civilians. That is a coward. If this guy is so noble, man up and face those weapons along, and let the civilians go about their lives.
Posted in: Bomb at U.S. base in Afghanistan injures 77 Americans
0
Alphaape
Then I would recommend that the "oppositioin parties" begin to move back into those areas and prove him wrong. THe man is blunt and up front. I would rather have that than some professional "slicker" telling me not to worry, while they take care of themselves.
Posted in: Industry minister resigns after 8 days over 'town of death' comment
0
Alphaape
@yabits: I could ask the same of you and your supposed statements that the Tea Party is full of racist. Also, a statement from union leadership would be nice, since you seem to keep asking for the Tea Party leadership to denounce racism in their ranks (and they have too).
Posted in: Tea party bulling its way into Republican race
0
Alphaape
The first appropiatioin for a high speed train occured in America back around 1968 when it passed the Highspeed Rail Act, and gave $8 billion dollars to it (that's a lot of money in 1968). What have we gotten from it, nothing. Every since then, it has been used as a rallying cry to get more money to the railroads in order to get more construction jobs and build up these so called lines. In reality, nothing has been done. The money is used to fund "studies" and used to pay off other political capital.
Then every so many years when the American public forgets, they ask again, also on the state level.
Posted in: Obama unveils $450 billion plan to spur jobs