smartacus said...

smartacus at 09:11 AM JST - 22nd July

I think it will be a disaster. The six lay jurors will sit silently and nod their heads at everything the three judges on the jury say. Also, the lay jurors will be afraid of yakuza reprisals (if the case involves yakuza). On top of all that, I can't see…

Posted in How effective do you think the lay jury system will be when it starts in Japan next year? at 09:11 AM JST - 22nd July
smartacus at 08:38 AM JST - 20th July

I take my own shopping bag whenever I remember. I'm also trying not to use air conditioning as much this summer, but it is hard, especially at night.

Posted in What do you do in your day-to-day life to conserve energy and protect the environment? at 08:38 AM JST - 20th July
smartacus at 10:26 AM JST - 18th July

I remember when those commercials were being shown on TV in Japan. I actually spoke with some Japanese staff who worked in the Australian tourism office and they told me about the dilemma they faced with trying to translate "Where the bloody hell are you?" Apparently, the order had come…

Posted in That campaign, every place I have visited in the world, has been basically described as an absolute disaster. at 10:26 AM JST - 18th July
smartacus at 07:26 AM JST - 18th July

Sahashi's lawyer just walks in with a suitcase containing 50 million yen in cash and he's out on bail. And just yesterday, on the Rolls-Royce thread, I was asking who had the sort of money to buy such a car. Don't the tax authorities want to know where that 50…

Posted in Ex-Nova chief out on Y50 mil bail at 07:26 AM JST - 18th July
smartacus at 04:09 PM JST - 17th July

I wonder what the annual salary of a Rolls-Royce owner is. He couldn't be an ordinary company CEO. They only earn about 20 million yen a year. I figure for someone to pay 50 million yen for a car, they must be earning maybe 200-300 million yen a year. Who…

Posted in Rolls-Royce at 04:09 PM JST - 17th July
smartacus at 08:27 AM JST - 17th July

Consumerism at its most vulgar. I suppose it never occurred to anyone organizing this event how that money could have been better used for charity, cancer research or a hundred other causes. If the president of Mercedes Benz Japan is reading this, please give some thought before getting involved in…

Posted in at 08:27 AM JST - 17th July
smartacus at 03:31 PM JST - 16th July

kartaz

Breaking somebody's leg to make sure he couldn't escape is sadistic and should result in charges against the aggressor. You can subdue someone without that sort of cruelty.

Posted in Man on motorbike assaults schoolgirl, steals her underwear on Gifu street at 03:31 PM JST - 16th July
smartacus at 09:19 AM JST - 14th July

LIBERTAS I am constantly that so many readers believe, as you do, that celibacy and pedophilia are linked. They are not. They are two separate issues. I agree that celibacy is unnatural and that the church would be better off if priests could marry. But that is another issue. Pedophilia…

Posted in Pope to apologize for abuse by priests in Australia at 09:19 AM JST - 14th July
smartacus at 08:54 AM JST - 14th July

Chilled barley tea.

Posted in What drink do you recommend to help cope with hot, humid days? at 08:54 AM JST - 14th July
smartacus at 03:15 PM JST - 12th July

They should have listened for the music. No music, no shark.

Posted in Fake shark scare closes 'Jaws' beach at 03:15 PM JST - 12th July