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smartacus said...

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  smartacus at 01:40 PM JST - 19th May

  Foreigners on Japanese TV often come in for a lot of ridicule, but they are probably getting paid a lot of money for what may be a short time in the spotlight. Some, like Bob Sapp, were downright ridiculous. Others like Mari Christine, Patrick Harlan and Dave Spector are very…

  Posted in What do you think of the various foreigners who appear on Japanese TV? at 01:40 PM JST - 19th May

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  smartacus at 04:29 PM JST - 17th May

  No question about it, McCain is too old. I'd say the same thing, regardless of his party. He may be healthy now, but if he is elected, he would be 76 at the end of his second term. Imagine if he decides to run for reelection and won. He'd be…

  Posted in Should John McCain's age (he'll be 72 on election day) be a factor in the U.S. presidential election campaign? at 04:29 PM JST - 17th May

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  smartacus at 11:08 AM JST - 16th May

  I vaguely remember reading about the March accident, which not have been an accident, after all.

  Posted in 2-yr-old boy who survived 9th floor fall in March dies after choking himself with backpack strap at 11:08 AM JST - 16th May

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  smartacus at 08:57 AM JST - 16th May

  Call me old-fashioned but why don't Pitt and Jolie set a good example for young people and actually get married? When celebrities start having children out of wedlock, the media fawn over them and splash it across their pages and think it is wonderful. But when ordinary people try to…

  Posted in More panda-monium at Cannes as Jolie steals show at 08:57 AM JST - 16th May

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  smartacus at 08:25 AM JST - 16th May

  I think in English-speaking countries, there is a tendency to view foreign movies as "arthouse." Even though some foreign movies have excellent stories, they can't compete with Hollywood blockbusters in terms of mass marketing and appeal. In Japan and other countries, on the other hand, people are conditioned to watching…

  Posted in Why do moviegoers in English-speaking countries tend to avoid foreign movies with subtitles, while in Japan, for example, it's just the opposite? at 08:25 AM JST - 16th May

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  smartacus at 05:15 PM JST - 15th May

  notimpressed, the point about witnesses is very indicative about Japanese society. Although there may not have been many passers-by at 2:25 a.m., it has been my observation after 20 years in Japan, that passersby will very rarely stop to help anybody in trouble. I've seen drunks passed out on train…

  Posted in Man lying on Saitama street killed in hit-and-run at 05:15 PM JST - 15th May

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  smartacus at 04:22 PM JST - 15th May

  I'm not defending the driver, but is it really so easy to see a man lying on the street at night. Suppose the man was in dark clothes. Would the headlights illuminate the body in time for the driver to react?

  Posted in Man lying on Saitama street killed in hit-and-run at 04:22 PM JST - 15th May

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  smartacus at 04:20 PM JST - 15th May

  I love the part about the company car waiting nearby. What did he tell the driver? "Hang on. I've got something to do. I'll be back in a jiffy."

  Posted in TV Asahi journalist arrested for flashing woman in Tokyo at 04:20 PM JST - 15th May

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  smartacus at 04:58 PM JST - 14th May

  Why do the police always arrest the driver immediately whenever an accident like this happens in Japan, before they have even had time to investigate? It's weird. Shouldn't the police conduct their investigation first to decide whether the driver really was negligent and then press charges?

  Posted in Man dies after being hit by truck, several cars in Ibaraki at 04:58 PM JST - 14th May

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  smartacus at 04:44 PM JST - 14th May

  Coffee shops are a good place to observe harried workers -- if, of course, you have the time observing.

  Posted in Dealing with stress in the office at 04:44 PM JST - 14th May