JohnBecker said...

JohnBecker at 12:07 AM JST - 31st January

Minello, it's simple record keeping. People all over the world have been doing it since at least the mid-1800's.

Along with the decrease in cold days in winter, has there been a corresponding increase in hot days in summer?

Posted in Cold days getting fewer in Tokyo at 12:07 AM JST - 31st January
JohnBecker at 02:18 AM JST - 29th January

I never paid him much attention until "Brazil". Easily one of the most creative movies ever made. He deserves much better than he gets from Hollywood.

Posted in The weird and wonderful world of Terry Gilliam at 02:18 AM JST - 29th January
JohnBecker at 02:03 AM JST - 28th January

I wonder - does the Arizona Winter League have a designated hitter rule? If not, she's going to see some screaming fastballs up close and personal.

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JohnBecker at 02:47 AM JST - 26th January

@Pukey: if you consider 50 old, then I guess I'm old. I'm also reasonably fit, which doesn't seem to jibe with your stereotype of Americans. If you consider taxis a rip off, that's fine. But when I arrive in Japan, the prospect of walking 3 km with 20 kilos of…

Posted in Taxi Walker at 02:47 AM JST - 26th January
JohnBecker at 01:42 AM JST - 26th January

It'll be a miracle if they pull it off, but it's a worthy persuit.

Posted in The bureaucracy clings to an outdated mindset that has no place in 21st century Japan. at 01:42 AM JST - 26th January
JohnBecker at 01:50 AM JST - 25th January

@Pukey: I live in the U.S. When I visit Japan, it's for at least 2 weeks. That means luggage and a weary soul who has to get it from Tokyo Station or TCAT to his hotel. Walking isn't an option, and I wouldn't want to use the subway out of…

Posted in Taxi Walker at 01:50 AM JST - 25th January
JohnBecker at 01:00 AM JST - 25th January

Hm. A former bureaucrat criticizes the DPJ for eliminating bureaucrats.

Japan has always been run by powerful people hiding behind figureheads; the DPJ doing anything, however minor, to move away from this is remarkable.

Posted in Hatoyama gov't wrong 'to eliminate' bureaucrats, says Furukawa at 01:00 AM JST - 25th January
JohnBecker at 12:54 AM JST - 25th January

@YGHome: Don't put this at the feet of Capitalism. This problem exists, to some extent, under every government and social system in the world.

Posted in The end of a homeless, nameless life on the street at 12:54 AM JST - 25th January
JohnBecker at 01:30 AM JST - 24th January

Dyed-in-the-wool pedants will particularly enjoy...

Being a pedant has nothing to do with walking. A pedant is someone who makes a show of knowledge or trivial minutia. The word you're looking for is "pedestrian".

Cute little toy, but I'm with some14some.

Posted in Taxi Walker at 01:30 AM JST - 24th January
JohnBecker at 12:28 AM JST - 24th January

Have you ever seen his movies? This isn't an altogether complimentary statement. If "Brazil" had been called "Japan" instead, everyone would have understood it.

Posted in Japan is probably more like my brain than anywhere else on the planet. at 12:28 AM JST - 24th January