Yardley's past comments

  • 0

    Yardley

    In every definition of "racist" that I've checked, all include the meaning that the person making the remark is doing so to distinguish the other person as inferior and himself as superior to another race or races. Mr. Garcia's remark may have been considered insensitive by some, but hardly racist. I imagine that Mr. Garcia might like fried chicken, too, so he can hardly feel superior to Mr. Woods. In any case, should we really expect that everyone everywhere knows the history of every race in the U.S. and what they consider insensitive? Do you know what a Spanish person would consider an insensitive or even racist remark? I doubt it. Good manners dictate that once we learn we have offended someone or hurt their feelings, even unknowingly, we should apologize. Mr. Garcia only needs to say, "Sorry, I apologize for my comment. I didn't mean to be insensitive." That's enough.

    Posted in: Can a person say something racist but not BE a racist?

  • 4

    Yardley

    Hashimoto says the "comfort women" served a necessary role by keeping troops in check. Besides being an absolutely insane and morally corrupt belief, it didn't really work, did it? The presence of government sanctioned rape stations didn't stop them from raping other women wherever they went. That's because rape is an act of violence, dominance, and humiliation, and has nothing to do with normal sexual urges. Hashimoto has no respect for women or the truth.

    Posted in: Gov't - but not Ishihara - backs away from Hashimoto's comfort women comments

  • 0

    Yardley

    It's not fair to judge the movie before I see it, but I doubt Luhrmann got it right. It's one of those stories that just isn't made for film. It's the language of the novel that matters, that's where the heart of it is, but that language doesn't usually work in film. Judging by the still photos and trailer, Luhrmann's version looks silly and way over the top. Do yourself a favor and read the book if you haven't already. And, by the way, enjoy one of the best final sentences of any novel ever.

    Posted in: Fitzgerald's Hollywood ending followed sad death

  • 1

    Yardley

    @sakurala, I agree 100%. I like to at least try everything, but I sure regretted tasting funazushi. I've been told you either love it or hate it. I know which camp I'm in! But Baumkuchen, yum!

    Posted in: 47 prefectures, 47 unique souvenirs: Which one will win?

  • 0

    Yardley

    There is no reason to spend billions more yen on expanding the JET Program before addressing the fundamental flaws in the system. For that matter, there's no reason to set TOEFL scores as graduation requirements without first addressing the effectiveness of Japan's test-centered English education.

    This is the key. The entire English education system is geared toward University entrance exams. Always has been, and unless you can move mountains, always will be. It's goal is not communication, or cultural awareness, or anything else. It's only goal is to prepare students to take and pass entrance examinations. That's what parents, teachers, and most students expect and want.

    If Japan is ready to take the plunge, then they should take it. Pull the plug on the current English teaching system and rebuild it from scratch.

    Exactly. And with a different, but clearly defined, goal in mind.

    Posted in: Silver bullets won’t help Japan, and neither will JET

  • 0

    Yardley

    Instead of going to WikiPedia to read about Yasukuni Shrine, just go to the shrine's homepage. There is information in English. You can read for yourself what the shrine is about in their own words. It is pretty straightforward and a definite sense of mood or attitude can be easily understood. You can, of course, agree or disagree with it.

    @toshiko

    Also reseaching shinto and Buddhism in Japan might enhance you people's knowledge of Japanese people's mentality.

    I think the mentality IS understood, and clearly some people don't like or agree with it.

    Posted in: Abe defends ministers' visit to Yasukuni shrine

  • 1

    Yardley

    It's not a question of "if", only "when". One of these days the jig will be up.

    Posted in: H7N9 flu 'one of most lethal' says WHO as virus spreads to Taiwan

  • 0

    Yardley

    The "no kids policy" didn't work out well for my sister. Made for very strained relations with several family members with some bad feelings still remaining after 10 years! On the other hand, at my nephew's wedding a few years ago there were lots of kids. One of them took all the disposable cameras off the tables, which had been left for the guests to take candid shots, and used up all the film just taking pictures of nothing. My nephew didn't know about it and paid to have all that useless film developed! Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

    Posted in: Modern etiquette: Wedding dilemmas in the 21st century

  • 1

    Yardley

    It is not right or honorable to continue to use the war dead as pawns in Japan's political games.

    Posted in: 2 ministers visit Yasukuni shrine

  • 0

    Yardley

    Very excited to visit this website! Sounds like it will be a wonderful resource. Happy to find this info on JT.

    Posted in: U.S. digital library brings culture, history online

  • -1

    Yardley

    The woman, whose case was sent straight to prosecutors without her being arrested, told police she "did not want to be criticized and thought it would be gotten rid of in the trash", the Sankei said, quoting an investigator.

    "it" - cold.

    Posted in: Woman puts skeletonised brother in trash after realizing he's dead

  • -1

    Yardley

    There are many similar slow juicers on the market that are cheaper than the Sharp one. Try googling "Juicepresso". The Sharp version is over $400 on Amazon.

    Posted in: Slow juicer for more nutritious fresh juice

  • -2

    Yardley

    It is so pathetic that this is the kind of poison that is broadcast on network tv these days. I don't believe in censorship, but it just makes me sad that this kind of sick crime show, and others like it, and "nudge-nudge, wink-wink" adolescent sex humor sitcoms are the best that much of the industry can do now. If this is what the public really wants to watch, then god help us.

    "As somebody who had read the books and was really a student of Thomas Harris, I felt there were definitely aspects of the literature that had not been explored," creator and executive producer Bryan Fuller told Reuters.

    Fuller has an odd idea of what "literature" is, I think.

    "I thought we should have a certain amount of graphic depiction because it honors the genre. I also wanted to be respectful of the audience that is tuning in for the Hannibal Lecter show, and that comes with certain expectations and requirements," Fuller said.

    It's amusing how throughout the article, Fuller tries to make the whole endeavor sound so high-minded. What a joke.

    Posted in: Hannibal Lecter dishes up liver, suspense in new TV series

  • 2

    Yardley

    I think they look great! Very comfortable, fashionable, and suitable for the weather. Even look slightly "futuristic" for such traditional wear. I wonder if there is a women's version?

    Posted in: Japan’s newest fashion trend: Dressing like a Zen priest?

  • -1

    Yardley

    This is exciting news. My 86-year-old mother recently had a stent placed in a clogged artery using the catheter method. She only had to stay in the hospital overnight and was back to regular activity in a week. Wonderful!

    Posted in: Heart repair breakthroughs replace surgeon's knife

  • 3

    Yardley

    Years ago, I worked in a very modern office building in Japan. The men's public toilet had Western style toilets and the women's had washiki. I could never understand why men got to sit down but women had to squat. Needless to say, many of us ladies used the men's toilet whenever the coast was clear! They did make special accommodation for me when I injured my leg in an accident and couldn't bend it for several weeks.

    My first apartment had a washiki toilet - what a shock! The school I was to be teaching at had found the apartment for me before I arrived in Japan. They thought it was a great find: close to school and low rent. They did think the toilet might be a problem for me, so they went to the hardware store and bought a plastic Western style toilet form (just the form, no working parts or water) to fit over the washiki so I could sit down. That thing was worse than the washiki on its own. Because it was just a form - no water flow inside - each time it was used, it had to be washed down, and cleaned daily. What a pain! And because the form was rather high, when sitting on it, some of my shorter friends were left with their feet dangling in the air. That thing was a hoot!

    On a more serious note, the washiki toilet is almost impossible for many disabled people to use. That's the biggest reason why I think they're not suitable for public places. That, and they're not usually kept very clean - you may not have to sit on a warm seat recently used by a stranger, but you often have to stand in other stuff left by them. It's difficult to keep trousers/skirts/dresses out of harm's way.

    Posted in: Japanese-style squat toilets: A surprising way to stay healthy

  • 1

    Yardley

    Based on her background, I'd say she is a sociopath with a complete lack of empathy. She could have been born that way, but it's more likely that her family situation made her that way. The whole story is tragic and shows how the cycle of abuse just continues and continues. At the very least, she should stay in prison until she is no longer able to have children. But, I doubt she could be "cured", and may always be a danger to society.

    Posted in: Mother gets 30 years for letting 2 kids starve to death

  • 0

    Yardley

    Sadly, the NRA wins again. It sickens me. So many people said after Sandy Hook, "This is it. The mass murder of children is not what we're about. We have to change." Well, I guess our gutless politicians and amoral lobbyists run our government, not the people. There is no need for any private citizen to own an assault weapon. How about a grenade launcher or bazooka? Don't you need those to protect you from the big bad government? What am I saying? Those are probably legal too. Seriously, the government is not coming to your house to kill you, and if they did, no amount of assault weapons could save you.

    Posted in: Obama's gun control plans weaken in Senate

  • 1

    Yardley

    He loves young girls, or more accurately he loves the idea of young girls, full of youth and energy, unbroken by the harsh world we live in, still maintaining innocence.

    Really? The picture chosen to accompany the article shows smiling and winking schoolgirls cutting off their heads and disemboweling themselves. I don't think he loves schoolgirls; he objectifies them, as he does all the other females in his "art". I don't disagree that he has technical skills, but he's one sick puppy. Mr. Roth spoke to the artist for about an hour and a half and feels he knows him? I think we can know more about him by looking at what he chooses to paint.

    Posted in: School girls - The Aida Makoto interview

  • 0

    Yardley

    @sf2k

    Also that the American revisionist history movie "Argo" disses my country Canada that even the president at the time Carter noted recently was 90% Canadian really really bugs me.

    What are you trying to say? President Carter noted that Canada is 90% Canadian?

    Posted in: Seth MacFarlane aims to perk up stodgy Oscars

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