JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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SimondB
Y15,000 a night and coffee is extra!?
Posted in: Japan's amazing snow monsters on the prowl
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SimondB
America, an empire in decline.
Posted in: After Florida win, Romney makes gaffe on poor
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SimondB
Whatever the IMF say's countries should ignore. Can anyone direct me to a country that has,often under dire financial circumstances, taken IMF advice and is now a booming economy? And has paid of its debts? The IMF serves to reduce benefits and advantages that working people in any given country has. Basically their medicine is reduce government spending, raise taxes and make the less well off pay for the mistakes and excesses of the rich.
During the so-called Asian financial crisis around 98-2000 only Malaysia refused to adopt the IMF's harsh measures and they were the only country to come out of the "crisis" better off. Had the prime minister of the time not been so obssessed with having the opposition leader framed on sodomy charges he would have been seen as a financial wizard and an example to the world why saying no to the IMF is the way to go.
Raising the consumption tax just means that average working people pay more tax. As most low earning workers spend most of their salaries each month they proportianly pay much more than the rich. They subsidise the rich and under this rule pay an extra 10% to get the pension they have paid into all their lives. Better off people do not spend all disposable income therefore save more money without a 10% surchrage. Yet they still get their pension partly funded by those least able to pay.
Tell the IMF thanks, but no thanks. When the IMF starts speaking equality and those with the ability to pay more to contribute more then we should listen to them. While they continue on their mantra of punish the poor they should be ignored. They are a right wing organisation bent on keeping power in the hands of those who currently hold it.
Posted in: IMF says Japan should raise consumption tax to 15%
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SimondB
Give Iran a fully operational nuke primed and aimed at Washington. This will ensure that there will never be a war between the US and Iran. In fact give them two with the other aimed at Israel who are the most likely to start a war anytime soon.
Posted in: What can be done to ease tensions between Iran and Western nations?
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SimondB
Imagine if you will, three nutcase idelogical Aussies (or kiwis Chinese or French for that matter), boarding an Russian/Italian/English vessel on the high seas and starting to demand what the captain off that ship should do. This is piracy and I have no sympathy for these "heroes" violating the internationally respected laws of the sea.
Why not board an JAL flight and make the same protest? Better take them back to Japan and see them grovel like Paul Watson (I promise I'll never do it again). The sea is governed by international law. For the record I'll say I am against whale hunting but these gus need to pay he price for piracy.
Posted in: Japanese whalers hand over Australian activists
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SimondB
Contary to the report above, the second quake was a 6.0 just 8km below the surface and 20 kim from city center
Posted in: Two quakes rock New Zealand's Christchurch
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SimondB
Well, just to think I left Tokyo for Christchurch 4 years ago for a quieter life. 15 months of earthquakes. Never knowing when the next one will hit. Not sure what the reports are saying but I am in central CHC and the second one was much bigger. Power now back on. 29 shakes since 2 PM. But you get used to it. Inbetween quakes i mowed the lawn. Then had a sleep until power came back on. The earth is young. Who knows how long this could carry on for? Since Setember 4th 2010 we have had over 8,000 earthquakes. So I guess you do get used to it. Helps me to understand how my grandparents withstood the blitz.
BTW, no whales in my backgarden yet but these are early days. And strange times.
Posted in: Two quakes rock New Zealand's Christchurch
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SimondB
Hmmm.....quite a few of expected knee jerk reactions...."he's dead, yahoo, evil man (that's what they told me on Fox)" but little anaylisis of what this means to east Asia. Very interesting if you go to somewhere like the NYT to see their more reasoned reaction.
Thing is, despite being made out as to be the Devil incarnate by GWB most world leaders saw Kim fro what he was - a dictorial leader of a country in dire straits. But not an idiot. GWB vowed NK would never have nuclear weapons and now they have them. But once he got those weapons he then used them for leverage to get fuel, food and economic aid for his country without conceding anything.
Bush demonised Kim as you would a rat under your house who could kill your newborn child if you did not keep it under control. NK has not been a threat since the Korean war unless you buy into the line he might - because he is a "madman" - fire nukes at Japan or SK. Truth is, and Kim knew this, if he fired off a nuke at 0600 one morning he and his country - or at least the capital - would be glowing green by midnight.
If starving the general populace is the reason to threaten an country then watch out Bangladesh and most of Africa, America and the Un have you in their sights.
Kim was, through a set of circumstances and events from 1950 to date able to live that fantasy life, which many of us have probably thought about, of having complete control of a nation. Apart from tyhe abilty to invade SK he was a threat to no-one. Yet he managed to rise to the ranks of a partner in GWB's farcical "axis of evil". He probably saw that as a badge of honour.
So a little man who played it big and in his last years made the US look a little silly (on reflection). NK is not a threat to the world and no matter who takes over - which in my view may well be the army - will threaten no-one.
Hopefully whoever takes over will not try the same lame tactics of threratening it's neighbours. Word to NK should be - attack anyone and don't take dinner out of the freezer - you won't get to eat it. NK are not a threat. Perhaps, and maybe a long shot, the new leaders may try to find a new way forward. Whatever, i do not expect me or my garndchildren to be speaking Korean any time soon. Or hailing the Dear Leader.
Posted in: N Korean leader Kim Jong-Il dead at 69
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SimondB
hell, I don't blame the parents. A teenager made a stupid call - that's what teenagers do. Had he done this in Aussie he would have got a warning and taken home. Parents would have had the stren talk that parents have. problem is, he did it in Bali.
Posted in: 14-year-old Australian boy jailed in Bali on drug charges
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SimondB
Bit of pressure from the Aussie govt saw this lad getting off quite lightly. Probably the last few weeks have scared the bejesus out of him and taught him a lesson. But, back in Aussie where a bag of hooch is no big thing who knows? If nothing else it will serve to send a clear message to Aussies holidaying in Bali (or indonesia as a whole or in fact Thailand), the risks you take in getting high in those countries.
I think it was a sting similar to many that happen in SE Asia. Once in Ko Samui I was staying at a beachfront bungalow. Walking back from the local shop I was curious as to where this side track up a hill led to. Walked up and found it was just a bit of cleared land in preperation for building. Next morning I was sitting about 50 meters from this turn off waiting to get some transport to change some money into Baht. Then I noticed two cops on one of their 125 cc bikes go up this side track. I wondered why as I knew there was nothing up there. A few minutes later a shady local guy pulls up along side me on his motorbike, asks where you from, what you doing, can I give you a lift into town. I turn him down and then comes out the bag of maryuana - very good stuff he said, special morning price and what have you. Eventually he gave up on me and took off. A few moments later out come the two cops from their hideaway and putter on by.
Had I brought the smoke I would have been arrested in the immediate moments after putting in my back pocket. It is a common scam in SE Asia. Then they take you back to the station and do you for every last dollar you have and some you don't. Then they give the hooch back to the same guy and start again.
As someone who has travelled and worked exstensively around Asia my advice is this: if you ever get arrested for anything pay off the first cop whatever he demands. Forget about things such as justice or your rights - just pay the guy and get out. If you don't every stage you move up it gets worse. This is what I think happened to this young Aussie lad and it probably got to this stage by his parents demanding lawyers etc. Just pay them off. 99% of new cops in SE Asia pay about 3 months wages to get their jobs and have to recoup it somehow. Don't demand justice, just ask them what they want. And pay it.
Posted in: 14-year-old Australian boy jailed in Bali on drug charges
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SimondB
I agree with the first poster that finding your local one hidden away in a back street is the way to go. That being said i did use to frequent that one just up from the station in Azabujuban. Great on a thursday or Friday night. You have to try their butter fried half potatoes. Also I'd again go for the little known yakatori places rather than a chain run outfit.
Posted in: Best izakaya in Tokyo
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SimondB
Spidapig
Australians work in Australia and need wages to reflect that. And what the hell is wrong with workers earning good wages? Is this a crime? Companies like QANTAS aim to reduce workers wages so they can pay shareholders more. Or to put it simply, they want to take money out of your pocket and put in theirs.
if you have indeed lost your job several times to outsourcing then I'm surprised you have not yet woken up to a pattern here. Each time you were outsourced did you say "good on you CEO, I hope your profits and your bonus soar"?
Posted in: Australian court ends Qantas strike, fleet grounding
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SimondB
I've been with my Japanese wife for 12 years now. I have simply, no regrets (although the first 3 years together were a little tough). But I think that I could be writing I have been married for 10 years to a Mongolian woman and still be happy. Surely, it is the couple concerned. An international relationship does pose problems that same culture relationships don't. But if you work at it the rewards are so much higher. I've got the best of both worlds. And as time has passed and we get to understand each other better things like different humour change. Although my wife cannot throw out witty lines like a scouser (I'm not!) with 8 pints under their belt she can be incredibly funny in a way that a few years ago she was not. Good example was a real estate agent who has been pestering us has a giant hooked beak of a nose. Last time she knocked on our door she muttered "the concorde has landed".
When international marraiges work out they can be so very, very rewarding. And I've been so happy with the other half, and I would say the better half.
Plus I never have to do the dishes or iron my shirts!
Posted in: International marriages
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SimondB
Unions fighting to save peoples jobs. Well we can't have that can we? QANTAS have been screwing their workforce down for the last ten years and it reached the point where the staff said enough! As QANTAS has tried to save more and more in costs, particulary maintainence, there has been an increase in problems on their planes. If QANTAS think cutting down on maintaining the airworthyness of their fleet is good economics they should see what a crash does to the bottom line.
The move to go offshore is just the thin edge of the wedge. The end goal is to have cheap labour for maintanence, cabin crew, pilots and administration. They want to be an iconic Australian airline that sources its labour from the cheapest possible country.
So those of you who talk about the "high" wages QANTAS personell earn, when your job is outsourced to a cheaper country come back and tell us how great it is for the company and that you are happy to lose your job to see the company (that you no longer work for) prosper.
Posted in: Australian court ends Qantas strike, fleet grounding
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SimondB
I thought Billie Holiday's main problem was with heroin, not alcohol.
Posted in: Coroner: Amy Winehouse drank herself to death
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SimondB
The company came to an agreement with the workers who then called off their strike action and returned to work. Once back at work they discovered that the company had reneged on the deal so they walked out again. Company response? Brought in hired thugs (think Pilkerton style) who opened fire on them.
I know where my sympathies lie.
Posted in: Limited production starts at Maruti Suzuki plant hit by strike
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SimondB
just what the world needs...more weapons. How else can there be peace if people don't kill each other?
Article Unavailable
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SimondB
At least we will know who killed JR
Posted in: 'Dallas' star Larry Hagman diagnosed with cancer
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SimondB
Shades of Vietnam.
No doubt the US will leave spouting platitudes about democracy etc and then the real endgame will begin. The invasion of Iraq, built on lies, was the worst foriegn escapade that the US has ever embarked on (and that's saying something).. Still, at least they avenged 9-11.......oh, hang on, at least they avenged.......ummmm, something. Saddam was a bad bad man and Iraq and the world are safer without him.
Is that how it goes?
Posted in: U.S. drops plan to keep troops in Iraq
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SimondB
I watched that game last night and it reconfirmed to me why I watch just one or two games a year.
Get the ball, kick it to the other end. Other side catches it runs a few meters and then 20 odd people climb and push over each other until the other side gets it who then kicks it back to the original kicker who starts the whole sorry cycle again.
Scrums, it appears to me, are set to test the referees ability to find the most microscopic fault so he can start the whole thing again.
It was a turgid, brain numbingly boring 80 minutes out of my life. If Rugby was a new concept you could not have sold that crap to a blind man.
Finally, just how long is the ball actually in play in an 80 minute match? 20 mins?
Posted in: France edges Wales 9-8 in Rugby World Cup semifinal