Bovinus said...

Bovinus at 09:38 PM JST - 24th July

I think making smoking uncool is the best idea. The Australian government actually succeeded in doing just that with massive advertising campaigns and now smokers are seen as losers who want to quit but can't. And smoking rates plummetted.

Of course, increasing taxes so that a packet of 20 cigarettes…

Posted in Gates, Bloomberg put $375 million into global anti-smoking campaign at 09:38 PM JST - 24th July
Bovinus at 09:32 PM JST - 24th July

You're tired of Kotooshu already? I thought you were madly in love with him. Still, 8-4 is a 67% winning record, most wrestlers would be happy with that.

Posted in Hakuho zeros in on Emperor's Cup at 09:32 PM JST - 24th July
Bovinus at 08:50 PM JST - 23rd July

Good to see nobody's going to the Olympics. I'm still amazed China even got the Olympics in the first place. It's a dictatorship.

Posted in Beijing hotels slash rates as expected Olympic demand falters at 08:50 PM JST - 23rd July
Bovinus at 08:46 PM JST - 23rd July

I think Japan may be the aggressor in this case despite appearances. Japan only captured the islands in 1905. Before that they had never held them so there's not much of a historical arguement.

The islands were accidentally omitted from the Treaty of San Franciso in which Japan gave up…

Posted in Japan-S Korea islet row spoils more cultural exchanges at 08:46 PM JST - 23rd July
Bovinus at 12:42 PM JST - 23rd July

Good post tkoind.

I think communism has a good reputation in certain countries so bad governments (dictatorships) use that term as propaganda. China, North Korea etc. This allows capitalist countries to equate dictatorialism with communism.

The ideas of Marx are still valid.

Posted in Popular novel on Marxism draws young people to communist party at 12:42 PM JST - 23rd July
Bovinus at 12:32 PM JST - 23rd July

TV mirrors society, society doesn't mirror TV. But it gives us all a nice scapegoat so we don't have to blame ourselves. Thanks TV.

Posted in 15-year-old boy arrested for beating ex-classmate to death in Gunma at 12:32 PM JST - 23rd July
Bovinus at 03:23 PM JST - 22nd July

Government bailouts of failing businesses. Jeezus. Like there's not enough welfare for the rich already. Billions of dollars given to the very people who caused all the financial trouble in the first place.

Meanwhile: poverty?

Posted in U.S. leaders running out of options to deal with multiple economic crises at 03:23 PM JST - 22nd July
Bovinus at 03:17 PM JST - 22nd July

Marxism usually needs a revolution to come about but perhaps that's what Japan needs right now? Something new to strip away the inertia of old ideas and customs.

Workers generally have pretty crappy working conditions in Japan and the salaries are nothing special so if people continue to join the…

Posted in Popular novel on Marxism draws young people to communist party at 03:17 PM JST - 22nd July
Bovinus at 12:16 PM JST - 22nd July

I like Kotooshu but I hope he loses so PrinceskaNo1 is disappointed. It's always nice to see people miss out on things they desperately want.

Wow! I just realised that's the exact definition of schadenfreude!

Posted in Hakuho 2 wins clear after 9th day of Nagoya sumo at 12:16 PM JST - 22nd July
Bovinus at 12:08 PM JST - 22nd July

I think this may be an abberation and Japan is actually reasonably prepared for major disasters/terrorist attacks. Remember that the Kobe earthquake was the biggest one since 1923 and the Aum attack was the first major terrorist attack (using gas) in Japan. So hopefully Japan has learnt from the past.

Posted in Medical priority system handled badly at Akihabara rampage scene at 12:08 PM JST - 22nd July