Wednesday February 15, 2012

UdaMan's past comments

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    UdaMan

    ImperiumMundi: "question:has a poor man ever given you a job?"

    Don't be reductionist. Of course people want to make money. I simply believe that there need to be more checks in place to prevent the kind of crap that seems to have been happening at a rapidly increasing pace in the US from happening so much. The kind of checks that the Republicans always seem dead-set on getting rid of. This whole "the market is infallible -- the market will sort it out" nonsense. Well, after years and years of the higher-ups having their way with government -- look where it's got us. Ooops! Turns out the market ISN'T the perfect solution to everything! Who knew! "Now please give us a gazillion dollars of taxpayer money, please."

    "What do you mean, 'That would be socialism'?"

    And yes, by the way, I HAVE in the past been given a job by a man who by the standards of any self-respecting CEO would be considered "poor" (i.e. middle class). He was a builder, and I was a carpenter's apprentice.

    Posted in: Obama confident, McCain seeks upset

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    UdaMan

    Sarge:"74% of CEO's believe Obama would be disastrous for the nation"

    Let's see... those are the CEOs who pocketed their investors money by the millions and allowed their companies to crash, but somehow managed to escape with their own personal fortunes.

    I think what 74% of CEOs believe is that Obama would be disastrous for conniving, greedy, thieving CEOs.

    Posted in: Obama confident, McCain seeks upset

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    UdaMan

    I've said before that I have a great respect for McCain (though admittedly less after this campaign) and the service he has done for his country, but I've got to go with Obama. Here's why:

    a) I trust him to listen to intelligent input from all sides, and make carefully considered decisions, on all fronts -- economic, foreign policy, everything. I don't trust McCain to listen to anybody, and he has a tendency towards rashness I can't endorse. It may be fine in the Senate, where it can do little immediate damage, but I do not want an irritable old man with his finger on the proverbial button.

    b) McCain is 72 years old, and by his own admission lives on a diet of donuts and Coca Cola. The words "President Palin" bring such a cold shudder to my spine that even if I didn't like Obama, I'd vote for pretty much anybody else, really. Palin as president would be like a female version of G.W.Bush, only far, far worse. The U.S. simply can't afford to even risk that possibility, in my opinion.

    Posted in: Obama confident, McCain seeks upset

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    UdaMan

    No. Some people become very sad on the day they die, for no apparent reason.

    ... and some people become very sad on other days, when they don't die, for no apparent reason. And some people are perfectly happy, walking down the street whistling merrily, when they get hit by a bus.

    I'm afraid I don't see your point.

    Posted in: Man jumps to death from station platform in Yokohama; two women injured

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    UdaMan

    I used to hitchhike in the States back when I was in college. Made for some great adventures, but you certainly had to be careful.

    I've never actually hitchhiked in Japan, but a number of times in rural areas when I've found myself wandering down some back road, someone has pulled over and offered me a ride, no thumb necessary. Happened a couple of times in Kyushu, once in Okayama, once in Gunma. Each time, it was just a genuinely kind soul or souls who seemed happy to offer a lift, and in one case in Kyushu, dinner as well.

    You might expect it would be those in the rural areas who are suspicious of foreigners (rather than in the urban centers), but it seems to be quite the opposite. Each of those encounters left me with a beautiful "ichi go, ichi e" feeling, and a deep sense of gratitude.

    People in and around Tokyo, sadly, do seem to be much more suspicious/defensive around strangers, no matter whether the other person is foreign or not.

    Posted in: Want to see the real Japan? Try hitchhiking

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    UdaMan

    wargalley20011:

    Yes and no. There is a long tradition in Japan of honor suicide (especially seppuku, or "hara kiri", for men, throat-slitting for women). There was also a tradition of retainers following their liege-lord in death. The suicide could be a way of atonement (for losing a battle, for example), or a way of protesting one's innocence, or a way of showing loyalty.

    I don't think it's much about the promise of "a better life in the next world", as the Japanese have never seemed inclined to think about the afterlife too much -- rather, it seems that the LACK of any Judeo-Christian/Islamic-type promise of heaven or threat of hell makes the suicide option more palatable. When "face" -- how you are perceived by others -- is paramount, simply removing yourself from the equation may seem like a pretty obvious solution. Combine heavy societal pressures, de-emphasis of the individual in favor of the group, an established if archaic tradition, and a lack of religious convictions that proscribe suicide, and you've got a pretty good recipe for a high suicide rate.

    Posted in: LAPD says Miura hanged himself with shirt in cell at detention house

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    UdaMan

    FandB: "People are getting mad, really mad at tghe thought of Obama being president. Decent folks know they country will be destroyed by the wicked man, who is good buddies with terrorists!! McCain is getting mad at heh lies and evil poilicies and past of Obama. Now is the time to let America know that Obama is a dangerous traitor. Any method to stop him becoming president is valid, to preserve our nations freedoms.

    McCain si a patriot, all patriots must vote for McCain, or look forward to a solialist nightmare. Be afraid, be very afraid!!!"

    I can only assume this is sarcasm, with all the typos thrown in to enhance the effect... But sometimes it's so hard to tell...

    I actually like John McCain. I do believe he's a real patriot. I even agree with some of his positions. I wish he had beaten Bush in the 2000 primaries; the country might be in better shape. But for the most part he just seems like more Bush-type Republicanism, and I don't think the country can stand any more of it in the White House. More to the point, I think this Palin woman is incompetent and a true wacko to boot, and the thought of her a McCain heart-attack away from the presidency would be enough to steer my vote far, far away, if I didn't lean in the other direction already.

    By the way, what exactly is the "socialist nightmare" everyone is always talking about? I've been to any number of countries with socialist governments, and they all seemed like pretty nice places to live. Certainly no nightmare! And anybody looking to get worried about their freedoms need look no further than the so-called "Patriot" Acts...

    Posted in: Raw anger in McCain's crowds as Obama strengthens

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    UdaMan

    coulrophobic:

    Wait a minute, are you implying that the angry crowds at Republican conventions think Obama is somehow to blame for the financial tailspin we're undergoing? Do you think they're actually THAT stupid? I'd almost rather they were JUST racist...

    And skipthesong:

    There's quite a bit of difference between not denouncing rap songs you've got no connection to and tacitly encouraging the (obviously ludicrous) belief that your opponent is a terrorist, at live appearances...

    But McCain and Palin have all but lost already; I suppose it's to be expected that they're getting a little desperate and want to encourage whatever support they're getting, even if it's only from mouth-foaming bigots...

    Posted in: Raw anger in McCain's crowds as Obama strengthens

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    UdaMan

    OK, let me rephrase that as questions:

    @ tokyofun1:

    I don't understand your comments.

    a) "We are so KOKUSAITEKI": Who is the "we" you are referring to? TUJ? Japan as a whole? b) "NO you can come in here NOT asian" ... = CAN'T come in? "here" = where? TUJ? Japan? (& "your" = you're, right?) c) "PROMOTE that..." I'm guessing this is meant sarcastically, but promote WHAT? (& shouldn't the emphasis be on "THAT", rather than "PROMOTE"?)

    Posted in: Temple Japan’s undergraduate student numbers double since 2001

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    UdaMan

    Yeah, um, I believe that should be "Girls' Collection". Otherwise it really does sound like they're about to be auctioned off.

    Posted in: Tokyo Girls Collection 2008 A/W

  • 0

    UdaMan

    For a far better informed thread, see:

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=402787

    There is an option to use a regular phone-keypad style input for Japanese, for those who are totally unwilling to give up that format (though the querty keyboard is bound to be faster, once you get used to it) so that shouldn't be an issue.

    A lot of this sounds like comments from people who have never actually used one...

    Posted in: Apple's iPhone goes on sale in Japan to cheering crowd

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    UdaMan

    I think the real message here is "choose your traveling companions wisely". I'm not sure how someone sets you up to take the fall for moving 1.4 MILLION POUNDS of cocaine and ecstasy, but it seems like that would be hard not to notice. That's what the article says: not 1.4 million pounds' WORTH, but 1.4 MILLION POUNDS. I.e. 635 metric TONNES. I'm thinking that's got to be a typo...

    Posted in: Nick Baker sent back to Britain to finish jail sentence

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