Mike Critchley's past comments

  • 1

    Mike Critchley

    At last, some positive news about the state of the nation!

    Posted in: Hashimoto's party 'faces extinction,' some media say

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    So this is how you build a house of cards. Cool

    Let's see what happens when the wind starts to blow.

    Posted in: Gov't panel warns of dangers if debt not addressed

  • -1

    Mike Critchley

    Again, just let the guy keep talking.

    Hashimoto is off-the-charts arrogant, thinking that no matter what he says he can ride his popularity from TV. He's falling into the same trap as many "tarento" -- they start to believe that they really do have talent, when in fact they are just the flavor of the year. And just like last year's idiot comedian that people have long forgotten, once the people turn away from Hashimoto, his career will be finished permanently. And that will be a great day for Japan!

    Now give him back the microphone so he can end this, already!

    Posted in: Hashimoto hits back at polls showing majority disagree with his comments

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    Just give the guy a microphone and let him keep talking. Eventually he'll sink his own political future as people see just how unfit this guy is for public office in a democratic society.

    Posted in: Hashimoto says he lacked sensitivity to U.S. perception of prostitution

  • 3

    Mike Critchley

    No more blunders?

    How about issuing a roll of duct tape to be worn over the mouth in public for all officials with media access. That might might do the trick.

    Posted in: No more blunders, Japan Olympic chief tells colleagues

  • -1

    Mike Critchley

    Posters like that are akin to putting a big JUMP! poster beside a person standing on a ledge.

    What about more emotive posters of a person with a problem going to seek counseling help with information of where to go, who to call, assurances of privacy and of how normal it is to seek help.

    These posters need to be removed!

    Posted in: Depressing suicide prevention posters cause controversy in Kobe

  • -1

    Mike Critchley

    Wow, they asked an whole 94 women!?!? Well, then this sweeping conclusion must be justified! lol

    Having said that, this doesn't surprise me at all...

    Posted in: Beta males rejoice! 77% of women say geeky 'otaku' A-OK

  • 5

    Mike Critchley

    Why does it take a gang of fat policemen here this much effort and force them to physically sit on top of a woman. Didn't they invent aikido here? ;)

    Posted in: Woman dies after heavy-set police officer sits on her

  • -2

    Mike Critchley

    They double profits...so what? They did it at the expense of "cutting thousands of jobs," selling off assets, and having a bit of luck with foreign exchange rates. This is not growth or in any way positive news for the thousands of people looking for jobs right now.

    Posted in: Sony doubles annual net profit forecast

  • 5

    Mike Critchley

    Suddenly I'm less motivated to follow my dream of becoming a CSI detective.

    Posted in: School flasher identified by semen left at scene

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    What is this, Nazi Germany? So is every friend of this guy who knew he was applying for a job also going to be paying fines? Am I supposed to go around informing on every friend I have who I think might cause an accident? Sorry, I think that's going too far -- so leave mom alone on this one. Throw the book at the employer and levy huge fines to set an example to other employers. And of course huge fines and jail and a criminal record for Mr. Epilepsy. But leave mom out of this one.

    Posted in: Mother, employer of epileptic crane driver ordered to pay compensation over fatal accident

  • 24

    Mike Critchley

    Hey, isn't this the same strategy that Abe is trying to pull right now? ;)

    Posted in: Woman tries to pay with obviously photocopied Y10,000 bill

  • 3

    Mike Critchley

    Shibuya to Roppongi. Wow. Really? Could the pick a less-useful place to put a 24-hour bus?

    Another fine example of a useless experiment to show "lessons learned" from abroad.

    Posted in: Tokyo to try 24-hour bus service, but no 24-hour subway service yet

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    Ahhhh...so that's what wishful thinking looks like!

    Posted in: BOJ's Kuroda says Japan market conditions improving

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    My initial reaction was whoopty-doo. No big deal....then I watched the video.

    The train was crowded enough that there were still people in that middle section right in front of the curtain....literally, a curtain. The Keiyo line can get bumpy in some spots...if anybody had tripped or lost their balance, that would be the end of them. Running with the door open is no big deal. But JR was negligent for not moving people at least a few meters away from the door.

    Posted in: JR East train travels 48 kms with door open

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    I've been on W8 since February.

    Likes: It's faster and way more stable than W7. Start up and shut down are faster as well.

    Dislikes: Everything else. It forces you to use a password every startup. Annoying. That start up screen is annoying and there's no easy workaround. Getting the shutdown button and so on in your tray is possible, but requires a bit of know how (ie, how to read a web page and figure it out).

    Verdict: All Windows products are frigging annoying and a pain -- so this is about the same, but faster. Still, the range of software available on Windows has kept me here. But moving back to Mac as soon as my new computer arrives.

    Posted in: PC sales plunge as Windows 8 flops

  • -1

    Mike Critchley

    I had my first experience with a mobile payment at the Apple Store in Ginza. I loved it!

    Posted in: Farewell to the cash register

  • 0

    Mike Critchley

    @Ranger_Miffy2: Thanks a million for the bento.com link to the non-smoking places. I also tweeted them to show some solidarity. lol http://www.bento.com/r-nosm.html

    I just hope the list grows. Right now it's mostly larger places right in downtown TOkyo area. I hope the list grows out to where we are in Chiba. Actually, Monsoon cafe in Ikspiari in Maihama is now 100% smoke free. I just wish an Izakaya or two would follow suit. At least the Tengu in Inage Kaigan has a large well-separated non-smoking area. I reckon that like everything in Japan, Japan will go 100% smoke free overnight...just not sure when that will be.

    And just to add my two-bits about the cancer thing, my mom died from an oral cancer the doctor said was definitely due to her smoking habit (she quit when she was in her 50s). Try living with half of your jaw cut away if you want to keep telling yourself that smoking is worth it.

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

  • 4

    Mike Critchley

    bento.com has a listing of non-smoking restaurants and izakayas

    @Ranger_Miffy2: I couldn't find the list on that site. Do you have an exact URL for that?

    We were just in TGI Friday's in Ueno. I asked for non smoking. The guy immediately beside me in the bar area lit up. I asked the waitress to be moved to non smoking. "This IS the non smoking section," she said without any hint of sarcasm. lol

    The right for clean air is still a long way off in Japan.

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

  • 4

    Mike Critchley

    the Japanese government is pushing anti-smoking in a way that for many restricts individuals’ freedom

    I think you've never stepped outside of Japan if you consider Japan restrictive. Even in neighboring "developing" countries such as Thailand and The Philippines, restaurants and coffee shops are 100% smoke free. And in the West, you can't smoke anywhere that it might affect non smokers' rights to health and a smoke-free environment.

    Indeed, when it comes to restricting smokers, Japan has it absolutely backwards -- they don't allow people to smoke outdoors, yet indoor smoking -- the most dangerous to other individuals -- is still considered the norm.

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

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