Wednesday February 15, 2012

Mark_McCracken's past comments

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    Mark_McCracken

    It seems doing so would be unconstitutional. Article 19: Freedom of thought and conscience shall not be violated.

    Posted in: Do you think that teaching patriotism should be part of a school’s education curriculum?

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    Mark_McCracken

    "Sunday Night Live"

    *Headslap

    "Saturday Night Live" (Seriously, that was the end of the opening skit.)

    The title sequence and theme music were similar to the US SNL, including a voice similar to Don Pardo (it might have actually been him) doing the announcing, in English. Three skits, which were basically Yoshimoto-style with dozens more head slaps mixed with two songs and then a final sketch similar to Weekend Update - where the female announcer threw water into the face of the male announcer - three times. Buckets of water followed, and then water balloons into the studio audience; more Nickelodeon than SNL. No sign of Koizumi.

    Posted in: Japanese version of 'Saturday Night Live' to debut in June

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    Mark_McCracken

    Why is it that in Japan I cannot get my balance from my Starbucks card which I registered and then lost transferred to another card like I can in the U.S.? Without that transfer ability, a Starbucks card has no value in Japan.

    She dodged my question. I did buy a Starbucks card in Japan, and registered it in Japan, and then lost it in Japan. Unlike the US, I cannot get the remaining Japanese balance transferred to another Starbucks card in Japan. The Japanese Starbucks card is no safer than cash.

    Posted in: Coffee break

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    Mark_McCracken

    Excellent news. I suspect they will open a bunch of restaurants in the Kansai area over the next few years.

    Posted in: Burger King to open 1st Kansai store in Osaka in July

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    Mark_McCracken

    Perhaps this is a well-developed plan; the producers want a show in Japan with strong, biting political satire, but realize that such a show would be criticized and threatened by the government leaders. So, proactively, the producers license the SNL format as a defense, saying, in effect, sharp political satire is an indispensable part of the SNL format, so they have a 'license' to criticize.

    More likely, though, this will be a dismal short-lived failure; an attempt to take what ever brand equity SNL has in Japan, and apply it to a dull, safe show absent of political and social commentary.

    Posted in: Japanese version of 'Saturday Night Live' to debut in June

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    Mark_McCracken

    But the president suffered a momentary lapse, pausing to ask for spelling help as he wrote a message in the abbey’s distinguished visitors’ book. Then he dated his note May 24, 2008. He wasn’t even president then.

    Critics used this type of lapse to portray President Bush as an idiot. I wonder if they will try to portray President Obama in the same manner.

    Posted in: Buckingham Palace goes all-out for Obama state dinner

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    Mark_McCracken

    Let's first set aside those whose behavior is criminal. I don't know why they misbehave.

    Regarding the other examples mentioned, the risks come primarily from infidelity. Without marriage, the behavior is simply dating, or, at worst, what some might consider bad - having a child out of wedlock.

    So a better question might be "Why would men who were planning on being powerful and influential risk everything by getting married?"

    Posted in: Why do famous men with power and influence (Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods, Bill Clinton, for example) risk everything with their sexual behavior?

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    Mark_McCracken

    Dominos pizza has great tasting cheese.

    Posted in: The Domino effect

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    Mark_McCracken

    Probably as a child she imagined herself in quasi space garb in a high-tech cockpit.

    Probably? You interviewed her. Why don't you ask her, instead of speculating.

    Posted in: SDF mothers make their presence felt in disaster areas

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    Mark_McCracken

    Two questions here, so voting "yes" or "no" is somewhat useless.

    Yes, of course, we should look for other sources of energy. Haven't we been doing that for decades?

    If a cheaper, cleaner, safer energy source is found, it would be logical to phase out nuclear power plants.

    Posted in: Should countries phase out nuclear power plants and look at other sources for their energy needs?

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    Mark_McCracken

    "This is like a suicidal act"

    Not really, regarding asbestos. It is more like smoking a carton of cigarettes. Unwise, unhealthy, but not suicidal.

    Although spray-on asbestos was banned in 1975, a broader law preventing asbestos use didn’t come until 2006.

    I think you missed one important change. "In April 1995, manufacture, import, supply and use of crocidolite and amosite and products containing them were prohibited by the amendments of Enforcement Order of Industrial Safety and Health Law."

    Posted in: Asbestos - tsunami's other hidden danger

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    Mark_McCracken

    I wasn't invited.

    Posted in: What did you think of the British royal wedding on Friday?

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    Mark_McCracken

    There are few Burger Kings in Japan outside the Tokyo area. Products for a local shop like Burger King would be better featured on a local website.

    Posted in: Have it your way at Burger King this spring

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    Mark_McCracken

    LOL!! So, you had to go back to 1936 to find such an example.

    The Jayson Blair example of poor journalism at the New York Times is from 2003.

    Posted in: New York Times to start charging for website

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    Mark_McCracken

    I always wonder if these were impromptu meetings, or Gov't officals came before hand to 'teach' these people what to say and what not to say.

    I spoke to someone who met the Crown Prince during a photo-op. As I recall, he said there were three rehearsals with an advance staff member before the actual meeting. On the other hand, I recall seeing the Prince and Princess take their daughter for a stroll in the park, and it was obvious from the reactions from the few people in the park that they had not been told in advance that the royals would visit.

    I suspect in this case an announcement was made saying the Prince and Princess would visit, but then the couple was free to meet with whoever they wanted to without further preparation.

    Posted in: Cheer up

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    Mark_McCracken

    Given the large number of unoccupied homes in Japan (7,027,900 in 2003), the projected decline in the Japanese population, and the danger of living in the area, rebuilding in the same location seems unwise.

    Posted in: Do you think coastal towns and villages destroyed by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami should be rebuilt in the same places?

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    Mark_McCracken

    There is only a finite amount of gas and oil that can be brought to our island nation.

    This is the first time I have heard this. Could you explain this in more detail?

    Article Unavailable

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    Mark_McCracken

    The laws already in place, including laws against slander and libel, provide adequate restrictions on Japan's constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech.

    Posted in: Should rumor spreading be a prosecutable offense?

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    Mark_McCracken

    Does that mean all officers and schools are equally tarnished?

    No, but it leads one to question the ability of New York Times editors and readers to recognize "good journalism".

    If New York Times readers and editors are able to discern "good journalism" why were they so slow to recognize the fraudulent journalism of New York Times reporter Jayson Blair during his four years at the newspaper?

    Moderator: Back on topic please.

    Posted in: New York Times to start charging for website

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    Mark_McCracken

    It appears that many Americans can't discern or appreciate good journalism.

    The New York Times employed Jayson Blair as a reporter for nearly four years during which time he committed frequent acts of journalistic fraud while covering significant news events. Surely this is not the "good journalism" which you believe many Americans are unable to discern.

    Posted in: New York Times to start charging for website

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