JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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KobeKid
Good post LRFAgain. You reminded of an article that appeared in Nature magazine last April about the aftermath of Chernobyl,
As early as 1991, an IAEA study found psychological effects to be "wholly disproportionate to the biological significance of the radiation". This study placed a high priority on providing accurate information about radiation health risks to affected populations. But 15 years later, the UN Chernobyl Forum Report still concluded that Chernobyl's impact on mental health is "the largest public-health problem caused by the accident to date". Misperceptions, and inefficient compensation, have led to widespread fatalism and feelings of victimization among locals. Resulting rises in alcohol consumption and smoking may well have done more damage than radiation exposure (see Nature 471, 562–565; 2011). The failure to solve social and psychological problems relates not only to a lack of effort (at Chernobyl, vastly more has been spent on physical remediation than on public engagement), but also to the intractability of the problem.
Posted in: 'Radiation divorce' enters Japanese vernacular
1
KobeKid
excellent post PM a few thoughts...
hmmm how about a few facts...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sq3GGwgV7R0
he's not one of us. He's an outsider, a usurper. He's an affirmative action graduate that's why he needs a teleprompter. A Kenyan anti-colonialist, Marxian, Aliskyite, Soshulist, Islamo-facist bent on destroying our country.
To be fair I don't think Sailwind believes all this, but the few remaining sane Republicans need to call out their less than sane brethren when they spout this stuff. Give Gingrich credit, he knows all the dog whistles for whipping up angst among southern white males. Problem is this demographic is not nearly enough to carry a national election.
Where does this hatred of Obama come from? This question has been asked before...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewOcp1JtDU&list=FL0n1KtT5tGCBH9tbc7Dbv9A&index=27&feature=plpp_video
Posted in: Gingrich attacks Obama in South Carolina victory speech
2
KobeKid
Got a great quote from Dan Savage on that....
"The lesson in Gingrich’s angry denial and the applause that greeted it: An honest open relationship is more scandalous, and more politically damaging, than a dishonest adulterous relationship. An honest, mutually consensual nonmonogamous marriage — which is not what Newt was proposing (you can’t negotiate an honest open marriage with your spouse six years into an affair) — is newer and somehow more threatening than the "traditional" cheating Gingrich engaged in,"
Newt Gingrich, leader of the party of family values!
Posted in: Gingrich attacks Obama in South Carolina victory speech
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KobeKid
and another great tweet!
RT@LOLGOP:OVERHEARD AT THE NEWT VICTORY PARTY: What's with the bowl full of keys?
if you don't get it check the urban dictionary....
Posted in: Gingrich attacks Obama in South Carolina victory speech
1
KobeKid
Tweet of the night
Republican voters seem to have asked Mitt Romney for an open relationship tonight... have some fun before they marry him... you know?
https://twitter.com/#!/marcambinder/status/160898541663944704
Posted in: Gingrich attacks Obama in South Carolina victory speech
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KobeKid
Gomi was not immediately available for comment on the book.
He was on the radio this morning, saying basically what this article says. One weird thing was how he says he met Jong Nam. He said he saw him in the Beijing airport went up to him and asked if he was Kim Jong-Nam. When Jong-Nam replied in the affirmative he got his e mail address...
Gomi says he speaks Korean.
Posted in: Book by Japanese journalist claims Kim's eldest fears N Korea may collapse
1
KobeKid
Gurukun "...and, how do they define "serious"?"
20,000 yen or more....
Posted in: Olympic judo gold medalist fired for sexual harassment
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KobeKid
What happened to this guy under the UCMJ?
they suspended his driving privileges for five years. Main point here is that these people are not being tried by the US, so Japan wants the opportunity to do so. To answer your other question this only applies to those cases resulting in death of serious injury that the US does not take to court.
Posted in: Naha prosecutors indict civilian employee of U.S. base after SOFA revision
1
KobeKid
Great post Hikozaemon. As for the Japanese gov't growing a pair and exercising a little muscle on this issue one can only hope.
yeah some to escape crushing poverty, so what's your point?
Posted in: Nine North Koreans to get temporary refuge in Japan
1
KobeKid
Wow Eric Cartman posts on JT!
Posted in: Romney's jobs plan: cut taxes, slap China, drill oil
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KobeKid
No.
Peoples perception of risk is totally out of whack.
Posted in: Kan feared Tokyo would become uninhabitable due to nuclear crisis
1
KobeKid
excellent article! Well done Mr. Talmadge. This story reminded of an article written by Jim Smith on the aftermath of Chernobyl.
A turning point in my understanding of Chernobyl's impacts came while studying lakes in Belarus during the mid-1990s. In an evacuated area, lake fish contained tens of thousands of becquerels per kilogram. A couple in their early seventies lived near the lake, eating the fish and growing vegetables. They were living off contaminated land, but leading the life they had chosen to lead. This wouldn't by any means be the right choice for everybody, but I am convinced they had made the right decision for them: they were Chernobyl survivors, not victims.
Posted in: Solitary holdout refuses to leave Fukushima nuclear zone
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KobeKid
know some of these guys personally, very professional and very sincere. like namabiru wish I could join the ride, but at least I can give in support.
Posted in: Tohoku Cycling Challenge and 1st Annual Tohoku Cycling Festival
1
KobeKid
interesting fact about the school lunch situation is that the Mayor and Fisherman's union in Taiji tried to get dolphin meat onto the menu in Taiji elementary schools but two Taiji councilmen checked the mercury levels for themselves and squelched that plan.
Posted in: 'Cove' star urges dolphin watching, not killing
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KobeKid
Of around 4000 thyroid cases in children after Chernobyl, 98.8 percent were successfully treated. The cancers are common knowledge, the treatment success is a fact on the brink of extinction.
http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/04/05/measuring-our-monsters/
Posted in: 45% of children tested near Fukushima plant have radioactive elements in thyroid glands
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KobeKid
Taj said,
clearing debris with other volunteers yes perhaps, working full time in a school gymnasium with refugees... completely different situation and I stand by my original post.
Hats off to you for going up and lending a hand to those in need. And your point is well made that maybe this article is a little sensational and over protective, but this is a "kuchikomi" an article written by Japanese for Japanese. You speak Japanese well enough and have lived here long enough to know that most members of this society lead very sheltered lives. "kahogo" from the cradle to the grave. Most people's circle of concern extends only to family and maybe work colleagues. Suddenly going out to such heavily devastated areas and encountering total strangers who are struggling for survival is more than many can handle.
You also pointed out something that the article failed to mention and that is the "heady" factor. Yes there is stress, but there is also the satisfaction of helping others in dire need. I was here in Kobe during the earthquake in '95 and volunteered at a junior high school in Nagata-ku. The number of people from outside of Kobe who came to help was so encouraging to both the homeless and volunteers. But this disaster is a completely different can of worms and much more stressful.
Posted in: Few volunteers mentally prepared for devastation they confront
2
KobeKid
thanks for your comments Taj. My comments are based on volunteering in a hospice and working with folks facing the end. I've seen many willing, strong people come to the hospice to help and many leave because of the stress. Those who last the longest are those who have a belief system (Buddhist, Christian, whatever) and it's been my experience that those are also the ones providing the most comfort. The situation in Tohoku is similar, with thousands who have lost everything and can see no future. What do you say to these folks? Probably best just to listen and give very little advice. Sitting back and praying? Your words not mine, but I would say unless you have a strong enough constitution for it, better to stay home and pray than to get yourself into something you are not prepared for. That also seems to be the message of this article.
Experience Taj, if you want to call it personal bias that's your choice.
Posted in: Few volunteers mentally prepared for devastation they confront
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KobeKid
I would add spiritually to that list. Those who have a belief system no matter the religion, are much more prepared to help others who are suffering.
Posted in: Few volunteers mentally prepared for devastation they confront
1
KobeKid
So, let us suppose the whole of Japan was covered in caesium-137 to give everybody a dose similar to the helicopter crews flying over the Chernobyl reactor core. Let us further suppose that there was subsequently a tripling of leukemia rates throughout the whole of Japan. What are we up to? I have postulated a ridiculous worst case scenario over a ridiculously large area causing a rate of leukemia way above anything actually measured. The result would be that leukemia would rise to about 13 cases per 100,000 people per year. This is about half the rate of bowel cancer increase that has afflicted the country as a result of shifting from their traditional diet to one with more red and processed meat. It is about a third of the male rate of bowel cancer.
from "Would sir like a Caesium salad with his steak?" by Geoff Russell
Posted in: Fukushima's cesium spew - deadly catch-22s
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KobeKid
once you let the crazy out of the box it's hard to get it back in... ride that tiger Repubs!
Posted in: Donald Trump's possible presidential bid generating a lot of buzz