JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Confrontation
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U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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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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SuperLib
France voted for Palestinian entry. Why not ask them to make up the difference?
Posted in: UNESCO suspends new programs after U.S. funding cut
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SuperLib
Seems that the better choice would be to not make the same mistakes with Iran that the world has made with other countries. North Korea sank a South Korean warship and got away with it because of their nukes. Let's hope Iran doesn't go down the same path.
Posted in: Iran's top leader warns U.S., Israel against strike
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SuperLib
Because we have a lot more money than anyone else, and we also have a market that is easy to enter for other countries. Add the two together and it's no wonder there are always deficits. The money going out to purchase exports is usually offset by foreign investment in the US. So while Toyota is building plants left and right in the US, foreign car companies do not build anything in Japan, meaning no jobs for Japanese auto workers which is why their numbers are declining and will continue to do so. With economics it's always good and bad. You also had a strong dollar up until recently, but now that the dollar is weak exports from the US have shot up. Or I suppose I could borrow the logic from some on here and just claim that the quality of US products has shot up. Seems fair.
People can bash Detroit all they want, but you can't get around the fact that market share numbers are out of whack for Japan. People might see BMW or Mercedes in Japan but like I said before their market share here is probably minuscule compared to their market share in the US and other countries. If you say market share is a function of quality then you must think German cars are crap since they don't sell nearly as well in Japan, especially their smaller cars. What's the argument? Oh yeah, Germany simply can't build a small car that meets Japanese standards.
And why no cars from Korea?
Each country is different. Look at China. GM and Volkswagon do better than Japanese companies. I guess Japanese cars must suck when you live in China. Or so the argument goes.
Posted in: U.S. senator criticizes Japan on auto trade barriers
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SuperLib
It's possible with outside help, for example having the materials enriched by another country and then having it shipped into Iran. I believe Russia was the one who offered to do that in past negotiations. That way Iran would get all the benefits of nuclear power but wouldn't have the option to build nuclear weapons. Naturally they passed, even with incentives attached to make the deal sweeter for them.
Then don't trust those governments. Trust the 200 or so other governments who are concerned about Iran. But I suppose you don't have ready-made speeches about them so you'd be forced to actually talk about Iran, at which point your contributions would fall to zero.
Posted in: Iran's top leader warns U.S., Israel against strike
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SuperLib
I don't think Japan is much of a "car" society. I don't meet many people who really take pride in what they own or have much interest in talking about them. You don't see much of an aftermarket for parts or mods that you do in the US, and little to nothing in the way of classic cars. Cars just seem like something economical that you buy to go from A to B and forget about while it's parked. And they don't want anything used even though you can get some insane deals on wheels here.
The Germans are doing well since their cars are more of a luxury item and not a typical vehicle that most Japanese buy. The bigger, more expensive sedans seem to dominate here, not the smaller cars that the expats talk about. Mercedes has a small car that I often see but if you pass a BMW it's almost always a 5 or 7-series car. I'd be curious to see what their market share is here compared to the US. My guess is that an open and competitive market raises their market share substantially. You also never see Korean cars....zero. I guess that's because they're all (insert catchphrase here).
I love Mustangs but I'd never buy one here because I've only ever seen one Ford dealership and I can't imagine what it's like trying to get parts for it or having it serviced. Probably brain damage and as someone who knows cars I'd probably feel like an idiot paying through the nose for something I know shouldn't cost that much. I'd feel that same way about anything other than Japanese, BWM, or Mercedes.
I haven't met many Japanese who have much of an opinion of American cars since they really just don't exist here. Usually it comes from expats who have memorized the standard catchphrases and their ability to attach 3-4 zingers in a row really makes them feel like they know their ass from a hole in the ground. The auto industry has changed a lot since the 80s which is when most of the catchphrases were cemented into their heads and after 2-3 minutes you find they run out of things to say and see that they really didn't have much of an interest in cars to begin with; it was mostly just brief mental masturbation. It kind of sucks because it would be nice to talk shop with people who really are interested in cars.
Posted in: U.S. senator criticizes Japan on auto trade barriers
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SuperLib
From what I've read military strike wouldn't work since the facilities are so well buried. All it would do is delay the inevitable and in the process it would tie the Arab leaders' hands in terms of what kind of opposition they could mount against Tehran.
In the end we might have to let it play out in order to build a coalition. Without the threat of Iran looking them right in the face I'm afraid things will play out the way they usually do....the West is Bad and the Arabs/Persians are victims. The wild card will be whether Israel will go along with it or not.
Posted in: Iran vows no retreat from nuclear path
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SuperLib
Maybe it's time for other countries to stop sitting on their asses because they're afraid to criticize a Middle Eastern state. Everyone and his brother is against Iran getting nukes. The surrounding Arab states should be the ones leading the charge but like everything else they just sit back and let the West do the dirty deeds while they agree stay silent to placate the masses.
Posted in: Iran vows no retreat from nuclear path
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SuperLib
Let's just say that I'm old enough to have really, really, really wanted to see Eddie host.....
Posted in: Eddie Murphy follows Ratner and quits Oscar gig
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SuperLib
And to follow up.... Isn't it odd that you saw her on a talk show (she's doing quite a few) and she's also working with the world's most high profile feminist lawyer who is an expert on creating publicity? If she was afraid to come forward before she surely isn't now. You and I could sit down and try to think of ways she could try to generate more publicity but I think she's pretty much covered it.
Posted in: Cain sex accuser goes public in New York; he denies it on late-night TV
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SuperLib
I get what you're saying but in my mind the scrutiny will be exponentially more intense now than it would have been 14 years ago, so I just don't buy that she kept silent because she's afraid of the publicity. If that really is something she is afraid of then she certainly wouldn't be coming forward at this point in time.
I saw that and my first thought was "bullshit." It made me believe her even less. Who has a discussion with their 13-year old son about having their genitals grouped, then takes his advice on what should be done? To me it seemed like a carefully crafted way to involve a 13-year old child in the discussion and pull on some heartstrings while making it more difficult for people to question her because you don't want to be in a position where you're attacking a child. It's like a perfect calculation.
I'm just talking about this one lady. I believe the other two since they went on record, made a case, and a settlement was reached. That's a matter of fact. I'm not defending Cain on all counts, just saying this one lady shouldn't be included in the discussion. In the end you could say I believe he harassed 2 ladies but not 4. Not saying much, but a distinction should be made because how we handle situations like this will go on long after people forget about Cain.
Posted in: Cain sex accuser goes public in New York; he denies it on late-night TV
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SuperLib
That's a serious accusation.
Posted in: Cain says he won't be forced out of White House race by sex scandal claims
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SuperLib
Supposedly they were talking about France's YES vote for Palestine's UNESCO application, which was a bit surprising. I'm wondering how much Sarkozy's personal opinion created the torpedo.
Posted in: Sarkozy tells Obama: Netanyahu is a liar
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SuperLib
It doesn't make sense that she would stay silent when he was relatively unknown because of the media frenzy, then suddenly come forward when he's running for president which would create the ultimate media frenzy. In terms of "picking her frenzy" she went with the biggest one possible so I don't get that her goal was to avoid it.
Maybe Cain did do it, I don't know. My point is that 14 years later I don't care. She had her chance and she passed on it. Her choice. Just look at DSK. I grilled that guy. The accuser went to the police. She had a fresh story. DSK was able to give his account which included admitting it was consensual. There was DNA evidence. Now imagine the same accusation 14 years later with no evidence. I'd be saying the same thing I'm saying now.
Posted in: Cain sex accuser goes public in New York; he denies it on late-night TV
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SuperLib
Sorry, but 14 years after the fact is nothing more than garbage. The women who actually came forward at the time and gave their information should be listened to, but women like this should be looked at with a healthy amount of skepticism. She had her chance to speak up at the time and she passed. Her choice. If she had a credible case she has only herself to blame for making it sound so flimsy today.
What really bugs me is seeing Allred. She is someone who has turned the art of the accusation into a process. I'm sure the statement read by Bialek was carefully constructed with Allred's input. I'm sure she decided the location, made the calls to the press, etc. She knows the best process for making the accusations stick, and it bothers me that there actually is a process for accusing someone 14 years after the fact. It seems to follow some kind of logic that it's never to late to accuse but when too much time has passed for a man to be able to intelligently defend himself then there really is an expiration date. There isn't a man on this board reading this now who would be able to defend himself from an accusation from a date 14 years ago other than to say that he didn't do it. And he'll be labeled as a sexual predator until the day he died even if he did nothing at all.
But like I said, the other women should be listened to. They went on record with their stories at the time they happened. The cases were settled which, in my opinion, means he most likely did something wrong. So go ahead and fry him for that. But let's stop leaving the door open to a point where a man no longer has a defense.
Posted in: Cain sex accuser goes public in New York; he denies it on late-night TV
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SuperLib
I don't think we share the same view of what will happen if Iran has nukes. You said, "terror from Hamas and Hezbollah is an imminent problem." What I think will happen is that that imminent problem will increase substantially. No one says that they will do what they want because the will nuke you as a response. What they say is that they will nuke you as a response to you trying to stop them militarily. Right now, with Iran not having nukes, they have to keep themselves in check in terms of how much damage they can do to Israel. With nukes, what's to stop Iran from sending more powerful conventional weapons directly to Hamas and letting them fire into Israel? Israel can respond with their military and try to limit Hamas, but their hands will be tied with doing the same with a nuclear armed Iran. I don't think Iran would use their nuke as an offensive weapon because we all know they would be wiped out, but they will use their nuclear weapon as a deterrent from other countries who try to stop their conventional attacks. Israel living with a nuclear Iran will most likely result in Israeli living with more direct attacks on their soil from Iran's proxies. That's something you can't ignore.
Just look at the unease from the Arab states. Are they afraid Iran will nuke them? Not likely. They are afraid that Iran will step up their efforts to undermine their governments as long as the threat of stopping Iran through conventional methods are no longer on the table. Iran's planning on having a nuke that they never have to use, instead upping conventional warfare with other countries that will have fewer options to stop them. What we had before was a kind of balance were Iran got away with some things but had to show restraint on others. Without that restraint the situation may become much worse.
Posted in: Israel's warnings on Iran get quiet nods in Gulf
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SuperLib
By my unofficial tally the only people who support Iran getting nukes are Iranian hardliners, Syria, Venezuela, North Korea, and radical liberals who hate Daddy.
Posted in: Israel's warnings on Iran get quiet nods in Gulf
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SuperLib
I think your first sentence is overused. It exists to some extent in places like North Korea with a completely isolated society or in other parts of the world with a large illiterate population, but the "country X needs an enemy" statement doesn't really play out when you have an advanced nation like Israel, and it certainly isn't applicable when they live under constant rocket attacks, soldiers being kidnapped, and other spontaneous violence from neighbors. The current Israeli government is right-wing and you might not agree with how they respond to the threats or how they govern but they certainly don't need to make up any imaginary threats when the average Israeli can see them on a daily basis.
Invading Iran is insane and no one knows the result, but on the other hand Iran with nukes is equally insane. That's why no one likes the position that we're in now.
Posted in: Israel's warnings on Iran get quiet nods in Gulf
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SuperLib
The nukes aren't for offense, just defense. With them in hand, Iran can increase their military operations in Palestine and Lebanon as well as their support for anti-government forces in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. In that sense a nuke lets Iran be Iran with a factor of 10 applied. Imagine Iranian weapons openly firing into Israel from Palestine or Lebanon, and Israel's only response being to start a war with a nuclear armed Iran. Iran will be able to increase the amount of crap they can pull off while the world will just have to live with it or risk a nuke going off somewhere if they try to take out the government.
Posted in: Israel's warnings on Iran get quiet nods in Gulf
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SuperLib
Looks like this kid didn't like to be oppressed so he did what anyone else would do. Or that's how the story usually goes.
Posted in: Mother of 9-year-old Iraqi suicide bomber arrested
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SuperLib
Manta60 I went ahead and turned your rant into a handy template that others might be interested in using in the future:
This is just the first step. He will end up in guantanamo bay where the americans like to send anyone that doesn't agree with their imperialistic form of democracy. And if (INSERT OTHER PERSON'S COMMENT HERE) I suggest maybe you should try thinking for yoarself for once and not believe everything you read in the state controlled press. I include japantoday in that catagory. I bet you also believed Iraq had weopons of mass destruction didn't you?
Just copy and paste as needed.
Posted in: WikiLeaks' Assange loses extradition appeal in UK