Hunter Brumfield's past comments

  • 2

    Hunter Brumfield

    Sure would hate to see this escalate into Turkey. I lived there as a child and still very much like and admire the Turkish people. Even in 1961 it was a thriving, energetic, and magical place. Many cherished memories.

    Posted in: 43 killed, 100 injured in Turkey car bombings near Syria border

  • 1

    Hunter Brumfield

    I was in the "Jeez, those little dogs look ridiculous" camp and then we got a half-toy poodle, half-mini dachs and now all dogs look just fine to me. They are a tremendous addition to your home and are fantastically generous with their affection (and other things, but that's been well covered here).

    I wanted to point out that those supposed "designer bags" said to be part of a fad that ornamentalizes dogs are actually the only way you can get on a train or subway with your pet. We just got a cloth shoulder bag for Boo this weekend and it has opened up a lot of new places for us to explore, not just our neighborhood. So instead of it being merely for show, such bags are highly practical, unobtrusive, and fun.

    This article and the recent one on the Poop Patrol have been interesting, and I have learned some things. The wife and I try hard already to leave a tiny canine footprint on our thrice daily osampo, but will also start making more use of the water bottle spray. Great idea that should be encouraged...

    Posted in: Which are more loved in Japan: Cats or dogs?

  • 0

    Hunter Brumfield

    Even without crackers!

    BTW, the massive fish tank at Sumida Aquarium is mesmerizing.

    Posted in: Newly released sardines disappear after 2 days in Kobe aquarium

  • 2

    Hunter Brumfield

    Get Real:

    You are right on the most part.

    However: Hybrids are not reliant on smokestack electricity. They charge themselves largely through braking action. All that forward momentum, or a lot of it, is converted into electricity. It seems almost magical to watch the battery status display as all that happens (no, I am NOT always driving!).

    I really like your main point that we are in a transition stage. At some point there will be no reliance on fossil energy and there will be a combination of public transport and private "zero fuel," "zero emission" cars. Whether it is Toyota or another automaker is to be seen. But we should expect the major car companies to try (and maybe occasionally fail) while the government helps to ease the way with tax breaks and the like.

    Posted in: Getting the Toyota message out to the world

  • 1

    Hunter Brumfield

    cierzo98:

    Last year, Consumer Reports compared a 2002 Prius with 206,000 miles with the results that it had collected 10 years earlier on a nearly identical 2001 Prius that had only 2,000 miles. There was barely any difference in fuel efficiency. The near-mint 2001 model had logged 40.6 m.p.g., while the aging 2002 Prius averaged 40.4 m.p.g. -- Christian Science Monitor

    While this article notes that in earlier hybrids there were battery issues, improved design stopped that.

    My car is presently averaging 17.2 km per liter = 40.46 mpg (city)

    The numbers are pretty clear, rounding the miles given above, and using our car's mpg:

    200,000 divided by 40.46 mpg = 5,091 gallons @ $3 = $15,274

    200,000 divided by 20 mpg = 10,000 gallons @ $3 = $30,000

    Price of replacement battery = $4,200 (or less)

    In Japan the cost of gas is more than twice that -- so your fuel savings are more than the purchase price of a new car at our Tokyo dealer (roughly $20,000).

    Here's the article in Christian Science Monitor:

    http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2012/0306/Hybrid-cars-101-How-long-should-batteries-last

    Posted in: Getting the Toyota message out to the world

  • 1

    Hunter Brumfield

    Moonraker:

    Drove 26 km roundtrip to the American Embassy today and the digital marker on the Aqua's gas gauge did not noticeably move. That means it probably used less gasoline than a lawn mower as we depended largely on battery power in the self-charging system.

    So how is Toyota not "green?"

    I had my previous Toyota 18 years, as I have said. The quoted figure I just saw is that Americans change cars every 3 years. So that should have been 6 cars, but I never felt the need to trade it in as I have before. It just worked too well.

    So how is Toyota not "green?"

    Your other "point" is conservative claptrap. Give it a rest.

    Posted in: Getting the Toyota message out to the world

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    Moonraker:

    I looked through your previous posts on Toyota, all quite negative.

    Not sure whether you were around when all those the massive "boats" were being piloted through the congested, fume-filled streets of 1970s America just before Toyota came out with significantly more gas-efficient and much smaller, far better-made cars.

    I was a newspaper editorial writer in those days and attended a conference in Detroit at which I heard the head of GM proclaim that "Americans simply will not buy smaller cars." The next year Toyota began the climb that eventually devastated the U.S. automotive industry precisely because we DID want more efficient, better-designed cars, and Toyota showed us how. They still are.

    In an earlier post you called Toyota's ecological efforts a "con," and your other comments seem convincing but they are clearly wrong. I had two of the worst U.S.-made cars, both of which were total design disasters. I have had two Toyotas and I used to often thank my Marino (a version of the Carolla) for starting so easily for 18 years. Not a single hiccup in all that time. The Aqua Hybrid we now have promises to be its equal, but with twice the fuel efficiency.

    I have no particular affiliation with Toyota, other than as a highly satisfied owner with past maddening experience with some horrible American lemons. I applaud Toyota for taking the hybrids and lighter vehicles to the next new level. I sure hope Detroit has finally learned its lesson.

    How you or anyone else could criticize Toyota so vehemently on ecological grounds strikes an odd chord with me.

    Posted in: Getting the Toyota message out to the world

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    Sorry, after owning a number of cars (Karmann Ghia (sweet), Studebaker (classic), VW Bug (yay!), Vega (gag), Dodge Aspen (double gag!), Mitsubishi compact (so-so) I am a huge Toyota fan, so have to say something.

    My previous Toyota was bought new and by the time it was 18 years old was only in the shop once for an aircon charge and regular maintenance. Absolutely loved it. New one is a hybrid and just sips gas. I expect this one will be my last, but who knows?

    Posted in: Getting the Toyota message out to the world

  • 1

    Hunter Brumfield

    Laguna:

    Please spare us the tiresome puns.

    At times it appeared he would break down in tears.... his lawyer said, "There were about 1,000, weren't there?"

    So, he looked deflated and his own defense fell flat.

    Posted in: Businessman suspected of slashing up to 1,000 tires in effort to meet women

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    We've had the Toyota Aqua Hybrid for 3 weeks, use it almost every day, and have filled the tank just once. Last time I looked it was down about half. Averaging 17.5 kilometers per liter, city driving.

    Definitely no con, and we like the appearance fine. Our previous car was also a Toyota. It was 18 years old and never went to the shop except for regular maintenance and once to get an aircon recharge. Then some guy clobbered us from behind, or we'd still be driving it!

    Posted in: Toyota's hybrid vehicle sales pass 5 million

  • 2

    Hunter Brumfield

    She's really marvelous. This household is a big fan of hers. She, like sumo's "The Wolf," will sorely be missed.

    Posted in: Figure skating star Asada to retire after Sochi Winter Olympics

  • -1

    Hunter Brumfield

    >

    Dog bite losses exceed $1 billion per year. In the past several years, there have been 30 to 35 fatal dog attacks in the USA annually. Each year, more than 350,000 dog bite victims are seen in emergency rooms, and approximately 850,000 victims receive some form of medical attention. Based on data collected in the USA between 2001 and 2003, the CDC concluded that there were 4.5 million dog bite victims per year, but that figure appears to be rising.

    >

    Sorry, Zurcronium, but I find your stats doggone suspicious. Any numbers that huge and rounded off like that sound made up... got any support?

    I found this much more plausible:

    http://images.bimedia.net/documents/Dog+attack+stats+with+breed+2012.pdf

    Very interesting to see how the different breeds compare when it comes to reported dog bites. Poodles 4 vs Pitbulls 1985.

    Posted in: Owner arrested after dog attacks woman

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    Cleo, I said "preferable" for the same reason I drive a small car. I really would not like to see crowded pathways with huge dogs in the numbers of teensy dogs seen around where we are. I just got back from a walk to a splendid little park near where we live and there were at least 100 dogs out. Our Boo was probably the biggest I saw, and he's a miniature twice over (actually I think the miniature part got nullified a bit in the DNA meet-up). Never a fight or a growl. Just a lot of mutual happy tail wagging.

    I totally agree that there are some great, lovable monsters whose biggest threat is a slobbery kiss. But I did know a kid who was disfigured for life by an "always sweet" German shepherd. Just snapped out of the blue one day, ripping the boy's forehead open to the bone. At least with a small dog the damage is much less likely.

    I will say that the most vicious dog I've ever been around was a runty Corgi that may have been short in stature but whose jaws and teeth were the size of Lassie's. He barked non-stop and lunged at me every visit we made to my wife's relatives, and I LOVE dogs. But not THAT one, or now, the breed, which I guess makes me a "breedcist?"

    I do have a scar on my arm from a chained-up dog. Ever since I always ask permission of the owner -- then the dog -- before extending a hand!

    Posted in: Owner arrested after dog attacks woman

  • 4

    Hunter Brumfield

    Our half toy poodle / half mini-dachs is a real joy but still a puppy so we watch him carefully. We've noticed that the reaction he gets in public (always on a lead) is either smiles and vigorous petting, which he adores, or an unnerved response from people of both sexes and all ages that I don't remember seeing in the States. He's still a fairly tiny dog and his tail always wags; he's never aggressive or barks so the knee-jerk fear response by some people is rather surprising.

    One thing my wife and I have found from our twice-daily osampo is that there is a walking "club" of friendly folks out there who love to talk about their dogs and yours, and we have many encounters of a very positive nature with other owners. That spontaneous comradery with strangers is a great side benefit to having such a wonderful four-legged companion.

    So even though there may be occasional dog-bite stories, the overall story is extremely positive and the bottom line is that even in an tightly packed urban environment, well behaved dogs - preferably small but even the bigger dogs - are a welcome part of society... as long as the owners do their curbside duty.

    Posted in: Owner arrested after dog attacks woman

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    Cleo, totally with you. I've had at least FOUR family members die of either lung cancer, emphysema, or stroke brought on by heavy smoking.

    Happy to say my two-pack-a-day father quit when in his mid-40s, and lived until 94. He had been a career officer in an army where smoking was encouraged by unlimited free cartons of Lucky Strikes handed out to the troops.

    I complained in this space before about my balcony-smoking neighbor. I think I have the solution, though not exactly intended. We got a puppy, now a full-throated dog. I can see a battle shaping up this spring between our two balconies.

    It should be interesting to find out whether the butt is more powerful than the bark.

    Posted in: Have Japan’s anti-smoking laws gone too far?

  • 8

    Hunter Brumfield

    I, for one American, would welcome her.

    This isn't a hard diplomatic assignment; certainly better her than another monied donor. She has a rich background in other ways that will well serve both countries.

    There has never been a woman ambassador here, so that's another excellent aspect of this possible appointment.

    So all the power to you, Caroline! The Japanese loved your Dad and his ambassador, Edwin Reischauer, and they will love you as well.

    Posted in: Caroline Kennedy may be next U.S. ambassador to Japan

  • 0

    Hunter Brumfield

    We got a new car this weekend, and through Bluetooth you can connect the entertainment system with your phone to automatically receive calls. My wife, a bit of a technophobe, was delighted. Phone calls are answered and terminated on the car monitor touch screen without her having to dig around in her purse. Voice is over the car speakers and there's a small microphone above the steering column.

    So consider the iWatch, iTick, iWrist, iWay (w/apologies to Frank Sinatra) -- whatever it is called -- not as the thing you necessarily listen to or see. Instead, it will respond to, or activate, whatever system it is set up for within Bluetooth range, and THAT'S how you will communicate.

    THEN it starts to make sense.

    Posted in: Time is ripe for smartwatches, analysts say

  • 3

    Hunter Brumfield

    I wonder if Heins meant to sound so desperate?

    Multitasking? What do you really want to do on a cellphone for Pete's sake? You can already listen to music and read a book. So what else might you like to do? Simultaneously read a book, play a game, watch a video, and talk to your girlfriend?

    Sheesh...

    Posted in: BlackBerry CEO says iPhone is outdated

  • 2

    Hunter Brumfield

    I do have to wonder what was distracting the driver who smacked into the back of our car this week and caused 500,000 yen in damage. We were stopped at a red light and there was no question who was at fault.

    He then drove off, leaving us with the repair bill.

    So much for honesty in some Japanese folks today. (Which makes us sure he was trying to hide something, like texting, fiddling with his navigation system, etc. etc.)

    Posted in: Distracted smartphone 'addicts' at greater risk of mishaps

  • -1

    Hunter Brumfield

    I use a trackpad only.

    Sure is nice not to have to scrape off accumulated mouse ball crap (was there ever a name for that?) every 6 months or so.

    Yuck!

    Posted in: 5-button wireless mouse

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