Wednesday February 15, 2012

ReikiZen's past comments

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    ReikiZen

    I would say this is a resounding NO!! I think it was a joke Japan even trying to win this. Not the mention the latest Kidnapping incident which pretty much makes this D.O.A.! Better luck next time Japan but might be a good idea to first overhaul your entire social structure first. Oh wait a minute naa that won't work. Oh well xenophobes to the rescue. Hell they never wanted it anyways lol.

    Posted in: Tokyo readies for final 2016 Olympic pitch

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    ReikiZen

    Well this has all been extremely insightful but here is my two cents worth, whatever that's worth. The fact of the matter is that she broke US Federal Law! Kidnapping is an extremely serious offence in the US. I understand that the fact she is Japanese and all her uniqueness is important but it don't mean diddly squat in US justice system. The fact that she basically dismissed the court as irrelevant is almost laughable. I guess she felt she had a sort of diplomatic immunity and need not apply lol. Now if a foreigner had done this in reverse the Japanese government would be demanding his extradition. Double standards to the extreme indeed. If this was among a Japanese Husband and Wife it would have barely been a blip on the radar. How does Japan ever expect to have normalized relations with the International Community, US if it doesn't respect it's laws and treaties among it's member states.

    Over 125 Japanese Americans have been abducted and not one has ever been returned. How utterly shameful this is even for the Japanese. You would think we were dealing with a third world country here as would expect how they would act. It one thing to be Xenophobic but it is quite another when that is used to hurt or cause pain to others even beyond it's borders. The fact that this women stated that she was afraid her kids were becoming to "American" and loosing their "Japanese Heritage." If this is why she got divorced she is a smaller human being then I first gave her credit for. Japan knows absolutely nothing about the US period!! If anything we honor cultural diversity and heritage more then they do. Family is just as important if not more so then in Japan. This is obviously clear from the Japanese warped since of responsibility even after a divorce. Never use your kids for a personal vendetta or hatred.

    It's not their fault and the kinds welfare should always be a top priority. So stop feeding lies and propaganda about US which is untrue. How can Japan expect the US to support North Korean abductions when Japan itself hasn't addressed it's own abduction cases. I think Japan-US can find common ground on these issues but not without changes. If transparency is to be achieved as Mr. Hatoyama has stated. Then both countries need to end it's decades of bureaucratic nonsense which has done neither country any good. In closing if you really have to have a J-girl though. Just stick with the ones from your own country. At least less chance of being lost in translation.

    Posted in: American father arrested in Japan had asked Tennessee court for help

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    ReikiZen

    The ex-wife stated that she was afraid the kids were becoming to American and would loose their Japanese heritage. The Japanese people really no nothing about the US at all. While we might be American we do value keeping ones cultural heritage and customs intact. Where I come from we have a Festival Of Nations of which cultural diversity is celebrated and in fact preserved if you want to be fussy about it. She had no right to take those children as she wasn't in Japan but in the US. You expect us to respect your laws and customs and we expect the same of you. How do you expect for us to have transparency as Mr. Hatoyama has stated if you treat us as though we aren't even allies? This is just shameful!!!

    Posted in: American father arrested in Japan had asked Tennessee court for help

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    ReikiZen

    I certainly wish Mr. Hatoyama the best of luck as he is going to need it. Although I don't think this is the time to be pushing Anti-US rederick. There is already enough of that as is without Mr. Hatoyama's help. Japan-US relations have always been somewhat unstable to begin with. We don't need any more friction to add to that. Hatoyama focus needs to be on the economy and not on things of which to further destabilize that. While I am all in support of Japan being more independent. To what degree will always be up for debate.

    Less dependence on US just means more dependence on someone else. Which in turn all comes back full circle anyways. China has found that out first hand as were not as immune to the financial crisis as they thought they were. Another key problem is that Japan is still a very closed society. They have no problem exporting but import almost nothing. The US Japan trade has always been one sided which hasn't helped the situation any. Not to mention being so anti-foreigner doesn't help matters any. Tourism I feel could be huge in Japan but at current is even below some third world countries lol. As long as Japan still remains a mostly closed society change will not come.

    In regards to the base issue this no doubt will be a tough sell. There is still fear among many in the West that a complete withdrawal from Japan, considered a vital national security interest could threaten to destabilize the entire region. A US withdrawal would mean Japan would likely have to re-militarize. This likely would not go over well with China or anyone else in the region for that matter. It would directly change Japan's status as a military power and therefore would also make them a target for terrorists. This is something Japan doesn't need right now and would only further destabilize the economy.

    In addition to this, like it or not. The Japan-US economy are two intertwined to really be able to separate themselves that much. Japan along with China own 70% of the US debt.. Not to mention a huge investment in many of it's largest Corporations, Banks, Institutions as well as a large part of Wall Street. China is somewhat similar although not on as large of a scale. So Mr. Hatoyama while I praise his taking a bold stance and commitment for change. His Anti-US position will not get him to far and likely just more criticism for worsening the situation then it already is.

    Although on the flip side at least if there was no US presence. Japan couldn't blame the West for all of it's political and domestic problems. This is reason enough to keep the bases there lol. I hope for Mr. Hatoyama sake he is able to turn around and bring honor and respect to his party and not disgrace. I wish the same for Mr. Obama as well as both are going to need it.

    Posted in: Hatoyama becomes prime minister, vowing to end bureaucrat-led politics

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    ReikiZen

    Cleo brings up an interesting point. Cerebral switch-flipping or however you want to call it is only part of the bigger question. How does the mind actually store information and how is that processed? What processes are at work when you are a child vs when you are an adult? How much of this information is retained throughout your life and does it really ever disappear? Your brain is like a a hard drive on your computer. Some files get misplaced, hidden, deleted even corrupted. Although in most cases the information is still there in some form. The big question is can that information be recovered and put back in it's proper place? My guess is that as an adult the difference is that your brain has mealy been partitioned. The real trick is how to merge the two back together again of which was lost in our childhood.

    Language is really only a giant stored database of entries of which is retrieved via a sort of web spider so to speak. That information is then processed via the memory CPU wherever that is. I had suffered some brain injury when I was younger and actually my language got formatted, so to speak. I had to learn all over again but I did. So in this since I was able to maybe access those same capabilities as I did as a child which got misplaced. Otherwise I doubt I would have ever learned English again. I guess it is sorta like tricking you mind into thinking it is in a certain state when it is not, who knows. I think this definitely deserves more study and who knows what the future holds. A sort of Matrix download effect hehe. Nanotechnology may hold the keys to some of these answers and for my sake the sooner the better. To learn Japanese is my sole goal in life but hopefully before my life line decides otherwise lol.

    Posted in: Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily

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    ReikiZen

    This is complete utter BS. If the quality of life is so good in Japan. Then why does Japan have among the highest suicide rates in the developed world. Unemployment is at record highs somewhere around 3.5 million which is probably conservative. Government spending is skewed toward pensions and health care for older voters rather than programs that might train young workers or help them support their families. This is just another attempt to sugarcoat the problem in an attempt to boast confidence without any real solution. Kinda like the US and how polls always seems to reflect wall street rather then main street.

    Posted in: Is Tokyo really top dog in global rankings?

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    ReikiZen

    My first exposure to his work was suicide club as well. I just recently became aware of Strange Circus. Suicide Club was pure genus and it certainly struck a cord with me. Very few films leave a lasting impression but this one took the cake. I wish more directors would have the balls to take on subject material like this. I to had considered returning the film but decided that it was to important and have passed it on to others. Every time I see this it is almost a surreal experience. It strikes at the very core of your soul. It's just a movie right or is it? Just as with other works such as Blood Diamond these films need to be made. I certainly have much more of an appreciation after seeing this film in reference to Japanese society. Just as with anywhere there usually is more to it then what appears on the surface. I am most certainly looking forward to Sono future projects.

    Posted in: Suicide pacts, cults and violence shape director Sion Sono

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    ReikiZen

    Here is the trick if you are wanting to do business in any country and be successful. You need one foot in your country of origin and one foot in whatever country you are doing business in. There is no doubt that knowing the language is going to help you but only if used in the right context. You look at the most successful people in the world and it wasn't from them sitting around and hoping something would happen. It was from those you were able to bridge the gap and bring skills in which best suited those markets.

    If you are a foreigner and plan on doing this by yourself forget it. Blue collar workers never get that far in any country especially if you don't have anything to offer or provide. Japan is really not all that different then the US in that respect. Just having a skill doesn't mean anything unless you know how to market that to the masses and in a way that will benefit everyone.

    Posted in: Few Japanese benefit from living their 'Shanghai dream'

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    ReikiZen

    This is an interesting topic and I applaud that there are some artists taking this heads on. I wish more country artists would as I think it has a lot of potential. Not only that but you really haven't made it as an artist until you perform on an international stage. Well as far as I am concerned anyways. Japan I feel strangely has more potential then most as for not having much exposure here it has certainly managed to gain a respectable following. Hereandthere is correct in regards to the music festivals. In fact Japan has it's own country legend of sort with Charlie Nagatani and the Cannonballs which has played at the grand Ole Opry even.

    Mount Aso near Kumamoto, Japan has a festival every year which keeps growing and it a hell a good time. I can't remember when I had so much fun and the Japanese are fast learners. Country is also a great representative ambassador in and of itself in the types of people it attracts. It's how many were raised and being more respectful of others and hard work. It's the cowboy way of thinking and would go over well here. Not saying we don't have our rednecks but certainly better then some of the stupid tourists that Japan so unfortunately has the misfortune of dealing with usually lol. I wish Yoakam and all the other Country Artists the best in this venture.

    Posted in: U.S. country artists try to build their base abroad

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    ReikiZen

    Socialism in concept as well as Communism if followed by the rules would work. Unfortunately though it doesn't as history has so soberly proven. The whole redistribution of wealth concept is a good one but how do you decide you deserves it more then someone else. Does the man on the street deserves it more then the waiter in the restaurant trying to feed his family? Well to some it would but this can easily be abused. Did the guy on the street deserve it which didn't even work for the money vs the man in the restaurant who actually did. This is just one example of coarse. Another being of coarse: Where do we get the wealth? From the government. Where does the government get the wealth? From the rich. Where do the rich get the wealth? From exploiting the poor. So the money runs a cycle back to its rightful source. This is pure bunk as the world doesn't work that way.

    Socialism doesn't’t work as its structure denies incentive, innovation and information, which in turn leads to dissatisfaction, waste, inefficiency and possible war. Communism is another story but has similar problems. Communism does not take into account human nature. The result is not plenty with everyone content but is more commonly the expectation to consume exceeding the commitment to produce. If everyone were economically equal, everyone would be poor. Otherwise, it is necessary (1) to imprison/eliminate those who will not contribute, (2) to rely upon human nature changing from living on a "conscious level" to living on a "conscience level." It is the most common flaw I find in these theories that result in utopian mind frame. Another problem with communism as an entire economic system is it must remain pure. It cannot blend with a little capitalism and a little socialism. As such repressing, eliminating, or silencing opposing concepts is necessary for the system to remain pure.

    Finally, and most importantly, those who are in charge are in control of all the resources and power. It tends to corrupt them even though their intentions may have been good at first or in their minds eye at least. Though it happens in all systems to some degree. In pure communist systems it is very important for those in the community to remain in the good graces of those who will wield their power against anyone deemed dissident, non-productive, or of different thought. Instead of equality, there are vast chasms separating the few in control from the controlled masses. I guess if a return to a dark ages type rule is what people want then this is certainly a option. Capitalism has it problems as well but I doubt society on it's own can come up with anything better which ultimately will have to deal with the same issues in the end.

    Posted in: Red star rising: With global capitalism on ropes, communism gains in Japan

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    ReikiZen

    Good Grief the man has barely been in office for 3 days and people are already riding him off. Wow if you can improve the economy in three days you either are the anti-Christ or God!! It is gong to take some time to fix 8 years of Bush's failed policies. Obama will be lucky if he can accomplish half of that which would be impressive under the current situation. Unlike Bush and his crusade as he put it. Obama has come up the hard way and understands the hardships of the average American. The fact that he is President at all is a testament to his character and determination. Something people also seem to forget is that we do have a congress and two political parties who never seem to agree on anything. Obama can only do as much as what our system allows him to. It is going to take the efforts of everyone to get done what needs to be. Partisan politics is going to need to take a back burner if we have a prayer in hell of emerging out of this in one piece. In some ways I wish we only had one party and at least you couldn't blame the other side due to their left or right views. Although at this point in the game I really could care less who is in office as long as they get the job done. It Obama is that man so be it. For his sake I wish him all the luck as our very existence depends on it.

    Posted in: What can other leaders learn from Obama?

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    ReikiZen

    Oh really Sarge then what is may I ask you? Millions of people out of work. Tens of Thousands more almost on a weekly basis. Businesses closing which have been in business for decades. Banks needing another bailout which might not come. An auto industry on the verge of collapse. A stock market which is barely keeping afloat and an outlook which gets worse by the minute. I don't know what planet you are living on but this is well beyond crysis at this point. We are on the verge of not a recession of which we are currently but a depression. If that happens it will make the stock market crash of 1929 seem mild in comparison. If Obama is able to accomplish. even half of what he has set out to do it would be a miracle.

    Posted in: Obama tackles recession, war and ethics on day one

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    ReikiZen

    Well it is going to happen whether people like it or not. Anything attached to Bush's policies is poison. This has created a Foreign Policy nightmare and has significantly tarnished our image throughout the world. Guantanamo will close as this was one of Obama campaign promises and frankly I agree it needs to close. As far as what they are going to do with the prisoners remains to be seen. My guess is a tribunal will be set up of some sort and will be judged on a case by case basis. Some of the prisoners will likely be released of which there isn't significant evidence to detain them. Might explains the 160 day or so suspension so they have some time to sift though all the paperwork.

    Posted in: Obama tackles recession, war and ethics on day one

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    ReikiZen

    The guy is barley a day in office and you guys are already riding him off. Obama has been dumped with one of biggest Black Holes in the countries history. Not to mention everyone's expectations are unrealistic. Eight years of Bush's failed policies can't be fixed overnight. This is going to take some time as he isn't super-human. Obama isn't blaming the American people but is mealy saying that everyone is going to have to make sacrifices and do their part. There is no way around this as the economy can't fix itself after all. Not to mention just getting Congress and both parties to agree on anything is going to take nothing short of an act of god lol. For once partisismm is going to need to take a back seat and cooperation needs to be the focus. Obama faces more then likely any President has before since Lincoln. Therefore I will give him at least a chance to prove himself unlike most of you.

    In terms of Foreign policy War In Iraq, Guantanamo, Afghanistan are likely on the radar. In reference to Japan there actually are three issues. North Korea is the obvious one. The other two though for me are more important and would certainly signify a Major change in Japan-US Relations no doubt. This one likely would create a firestorm but is an issue long overdue. Not to mention it would certainly send a very strong message to to the US commitment on Foreign Policy and improve Japan-US ties significantly. Well at least it would from the Japanese public point of view. This one likely will never happen but you never know. I am speaking of coarse of withdrawing forces from Okinawa and the relocation and withdrawal of Military Bases. The Military people on here won't like hearing this one no doubt. The second one is building a memorial for the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

    A formal apology from both sides would make a strong statement as well. You can't move forward of what you haven't addressed of the past. This no question would be historic and I feel would help strengthen relations. It would mean the Treaty wold need to be nullified but this needs to be done. Japan is not a threat anymore and is one of the US most important allies. Why is it still necessary to have this in place? Strategic importance is just a cop-out and a convenient excuse to use. Not to mention it has strained relations likely more then anything else. With this out of the way Japan couldn't blame US for it domestic problems. It has also put pressure on the Japanese Government when incidents do happen and has strained relations further. The Japanese people don't want us there. They have a right as it is their country after all. We wouldn't like it now would we if the role was reversed and in fact it goes against own own constitution.

    We the People by the People for the People. What, that only applies to US? If that is the case we shouldn't be preaching democracy all over the place as we would be hypocrites. At the very least more effort should be used in finding a solution in which everyone agrees with and is acceptable to the public. Obama has a real opportunity here to change history and why stop now as this is just the beginning. It would be interesting to get a locals point of view on this. Not sure though how many Japanese people actually read these forums instead of the usual suspects though. National Pride is important for any country and it is about time we give some of that back. This is just my fool dream but is one of the most important foreign policies we could make in regards to Japan US relations.

    Posted in: Obama tackles recession, war and ethics on day one

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    ReikiZen

    I find this very interesting. Although I find miss Sugimoto surprise about "Sex and The City" and being dismayed that so much attention is focused on inanities like the stars’ fashion a bit comical although understandable. A lot of what goes on in Hollywood I can't make much since of. As well as people's obsession with the starts which include fashion and everything else about their lives. Although if I were to try to pick away some of the reasons for this. It might make a bit more since. While Japanese women might not be good at expressing their true feelings. It would be interesting to see how they feel about themselves however muted that may be. From my experience many women feel frustrated at men's lack of understanding of them. Western women put to much of their feelings out their which sometimes is a bit difficult to unscramble. Men have a hard time understanding what she is getting at or why it is such a big deal and are labeled as insensitive etc. Lost in translation is really more between the sexes then anything else.

    This strong since of independence has created a void between partners. Both sides look at each other more as enemy's then as equals. Women feel empowered but are not as willing to compromise. Men on the other hand might expect to much and should be more attune to a women's feelings and sensitivities. Although I do agree that something needs to change in Japan. Women deserve to be represented and treated with equal respect and acknowledgment. I encourage independence but don't follow our model as it hasn't really worked for us that well either. Hollywood puts such importance in image and how you look which translates well to many women. They may have a lot of insecurities themselves in how they look or present themselves. Hollywood is seen as the perfect example of when everything comes together, however misguided that view may be. I wish I had her hair or look at that dress or her figure is amazing. Men's obsession while significantly less them women's is more likely out of jealously or envy. If it works for Brad Pitt then maybe it will for me lol. So in a since we are not all that different from the Japanese.

    Posted in: Sexpot Aya Sugimoto dishes it out on sex, tango and cowardly Japanese men

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    ReikiZen

    Part 1

    OK here's my take. It really just depends on what type of site it is. YouTube is not as personable so a picture is not as important. I don't have a picture of myself there either. Although I do try to put one up that represents a part of myself which people can relate to. Facebook is more of the same. I little more personable but still not enough to warrant a picture of yourself. This is unless of coarse you are part of a group such as an anime club or have some things in common like with cars or some other hobby. I can see where this would be a problem on a site like Match.com or E-Harmony.com or even a site like JapanCupid.com. These sites are designed for the sole purpose for helping people find a sole mate or for a better term a partner. Be it a friend, future friend, or just someone to share your interests with. It is always more difficult for this to work if you don't at the very least have a picture to go by. It is almost like first contact. It puts a real person behind the persona and make people feel more as ease and comfortable with who they are talking to. After all any relationship starts with friendship and gaining trust in that person. It is almost impossible to do if you don't at least try to open up a little. I should know as I am the master of living in a hole. I can relate with the Japanese people in that respect. I guess it all becomes lost in translation.

    This is why sites like E-Harmony or Match.com will likely never work in places like Japan. Sites like JapanCupid.com I think are at least trying to bridge that gap. Although it is important that they make it clear what is expected of both sides which each can understand and accept. In addition to this maybe a more stringent registration process which will discourage the people who are just looking at this for a gag or for other means which the site wasn't intended for. This I think would help at least to some degree. Likely this is more effort then most sites would like to put forth. Although it would I think help ease concerns and maybe help them to open up a little more. You can't change the Japanese people but I am not willing to give up on them just yet. People are still people no matter have uninteresting or dull they may seem at first. I likely have the dullest life in existence but I am willing to share that with someone who thinks the same of their life. I think the Japanese people are very interesting as are other races and people throughout the world. It is just as hard for me to open up as well but I accept that.In Japan I know this has been burned into their thinking but that can change. Otherwise if change isn't possible not in just Japan but in any part of the world. Why are we even trying to make a difference anywhere. We may as well just let the world destroy itself which was really a failed experiment from the beginning.

    If people were never meant to change or adapt then why even create the world at all. It would seem to be utterly pointless in my opinion. While the Japanese social scene is much to be desired I don't believe it is beyond repair. Although it will take much more effort on everyone's part to make this work. This is why I am learning Japanese if it kills me. The more interest ones shows in ones culture or language then it might help to break the ice better.

    Posted in: Japan's online social scene isn't so social

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    ReikiZen

    Part 1

    OK, I personally don't have a problem with Japan and the Japanese supporting the Death Penalty. Why should Japan be any different then any other country that supports it. If the people support it then it you should respect that. Although in the case of the US it is a bit different. You take a state like Texas which has the highest Death Penalty in the country. This must mean that the people support it. That is not really true. It really is the decision of the state legislature and not really what the people think. I'd say it is split down the middle but of coarse the difference is that Citizens have the right to a fair trial but it can be bios in a state which typically moves in that direction. Where I do have an issue with the Japanese system is that you are guilty until proven guilty? Yep that about sums it up. No one ever questions for a second the decision and agrees with what the courts decide.

    I just wonder how many innocent people are put on Death Row without a spec of evidence or shady at best. I know this kinda falls into the harmonious mind frame mind you so that doesn't help matters any. People may actually feel differently but agree with what the group decides and don't want to create waves.I again want to stress that they have perfect right to have the Death Penalty. Although changes do need to be made in the system where people have equal representation and rights as citizens. Now I don't want to touch a nerve here but if the Dolly Lama is accused of a crime would people automatically assume he was guilty? Would he stand a trial or would the courts make that decision without representation and would the people do nothing?

    Posted in: Amnesty International Tokyo English Network helps foreigners fight injustice

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    ReikiZen

    I always love how everyone all of a sudden becomes experts in the Stock Market. It is always easy to blame the CEO for everything. It is much more complicated then simply being greedy as everyone so loosely throws out there. Not saying they aren't partly to blame but the fact that there are other factors involved which contributed to this. The continued poor performance in the housing industry is likely one culprit.

    Holdings in the Insurance Industry and the continued bare market which no one would admit to hasn't helped either. Investment firms like Merrill Lynch of which I used to have stock in got in over their head. This in part may be why they decided on the merger as were in similar shape as Lehman Brothers. They likely panicked and didn't want to take the chance of not having a buyer if the bottom fell out.

    During the housing boom loans were being given out like water with no accountability. People that got loans in many cases should never had in the first place. When the market turned south the banks were getting back more foreclosures then they could handle. Mortgage lenders were scrambling for creative ways to keep people in their homes but the sub-prime market was already teetering on the brink.

    Now here is where things get complicated. As the war in Iraq continues to suck the US economy dry. A debt which is reaching galactic heights, and a dollar which is about as worthless as the paper it's printed on. The US is looking more like a starving lion on the savanna then the economic powerhouse it once was and likely never will be again. The rest of the world has loaned the US a pair of crutches to bolster the worthless dollar while we prepare for the eventual meltdown which is slowly coming to pass.

    China and Japan currently hold over $1.7 trillion in US currency and US-based assets and can hardly afford to have the ground cut out from below the dollar. The US debt increases some 1.93 billion per day and is currently at 9,689,987,709,740.14 and counting ouch! In the last fiscal secession figures indicate that foreign investment is drying up and the world is no longer eager to purchase our lavish debt. The only thing the Federal Reserve can do is raise interest rates to attract foreign capital or let the dollar fall in value.

    The problem, of course, is that if the Fed raises rates, the real estate market will collapse even faster which will strangle consumer spending and shrivel GDP. In other words, we are at the brink of two separate but related crises; an economic crisis and a currency crisis. That means that the unsuspecting American people are likely to be ground between the two mill-wheels of hyperinflation and shrinking growth. In real terms, the economy is already in recession.

    The growth numbers are regularly massaged by the Commerce Department to put a smiley face on an under-performing economy. Industrial output continues to flag while millions of good paying factory jobs are being air-mailed to China where labor is a mere fraction of the cost in the USA. At the same time, foreign investment will move to more promising markets in Asia and Europe causing a steep rise in interest rates. This is bound to be a stunning blow to the banks which are low on reserves ($44 billion approx) but have generated $4.5 trillion in shaky mortgage debt in the last 6 years.

    What makes this worse is that Lehman Brothers has assets in access of 600 billion. So it likely will take years to sort this out and no bank will be able to bail them out. This is just the tip of the iceberg though as AIG problems if they go south well likely send the US economy into hell! Therefore making US a third world country almost overnight lol. AIG assets are so large and widespread that likely no one in God's green earth will be able to stop the earthquake that will likely ensue. Is it any wonder why the foreign central banks are so skittish about dumping the dollar?

    No one really relishes the idea of a quick slide into a global recession followed by years of agonizing recovery. Maybe this whole 2012 thing was right after all. If that's the case then good thing I am learning Japanese as I may need it in the future as the USA sells it's soul to the underworld lol. In closing this makes me wonder if having a few more centuries of experience would have been any different or would we be any more wise? Hard to say but one thing is for sure we really should have payed more attention in history class as it is coming back to bite us in the ass!

    Posted in: Bank of Japan injects Y2.5 tril into markets as Lehman Japan also files for bankruptcy

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    ReikiZen

    I have to tip my hat to Japan. They played a great game and the US really has nothing to be ashamed of. If anything this has showed is how far the Japanese have come with their program over the last few years. They showed amazing stamina and played a very tight game. I don't remember seeing any real major errors and their pitcher was almost god like. 400+ from the plate and still was packing heat. The US on the other hand did make a few costly errors which you can't do with a team like Japan which they will exploit when given the opportunely. I know Team Japan has a great deal of respect for the US.

    I have a Japanese friend that attended one of their training camps. She said that they had nothing but good things to say about team USA. They had all their videos and even a large framed Team USA Softball poster on the wall. There is no doubt in my mind that these girls have just as much love and dedication for the sport as we do. Therefore I felt it a bit shallow how we acted at the end of the game but I can understand it I guess. When you are expected to do something it doesn't make it any easier. The bad news of coarse is that this may be the last time we ever see softball in the Olympic Games for the foreseeable future. On the other hand though this may have been the best thing that could have happened for the sport.

    Softball has seen a steady decline over the last few Olympics. This has in part contributed to to IOC decision in that it just isn't competitive enough on a international scale to warrant having it in the games. As well as to the fact that the US has been so dominant and the mercy rule having to be put into effect so often which no doubt is embarrassing for the opposing teams. There just isn't enough incentive and I ad-mange it is difficult for teams to get backing and support and are largely on their own unlike the US. Therefore I am hopeful that there may be some good to come out of this. Japan no doubt will get a major shot in the arm for their program and is at least a start.

    I think Team USA needs to be better ambassadors for the sport doing exhibitions games, workshops and the like. Doing something similar to what USA Women's Soccer has done which I never though would see them get to where they are now. Creating something similar to FIFA but for softball. Yea, I know this is all impossible stuff but if Softball is ever going to see an Olympic Stage again. There are going to need to be changes put into place to get it back there. With the right people it can happen. Since Baseball is being axed as well there likely should be enough support among the MLB and other organizations which would be in their best both their interests. In closing I congratulate Team Japan on their amazing win and together we will get softball back in the Olympics. Giving young girls something to dream about again!!!!

    Posted in: US softball team loses gold to Japan

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