Wednesday February 15, 2012

Zen_Builder's past comments

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    Zen_Builder

    Hmmm. Lets see if other countries stick to their limits how can japan be over-fishing(when they don't do the fishing)? Explain.

    If the other countries don't provide to line their pockets japan will go short.

    And Sushi has become a major seller in more countries than japan now, like the US, etc.

    There is now a global demand for sushi or you think the sushi the rest of the world orders comes from thin air?

    Posted in: Japanese sushi rage threatens Mediterranean tuna

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Zeppelins are safe, what caused the previous major disaster was the paint they used on the canvas NOT the gas. Was reported on discovery about 3yrs prior to the mythbuster (yuuck) episode.

    Myself wouldn't pay the price for a trip, but zeppelins are still used today to move some heavy equipment and for advertisement.

    BTW,　the balloon is hollow all the gas-cells are along the skin.

    As far as to how it works the gas provides the lift and the engines/props the motion. This don't mean that the lift is constant like with a hot-air balloon it can be adjusted for lift, etc.

    Article Unavailable

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Debuya is still　out there just the slot changed.

    There are quiet a few programs like you are talking about, but than I am in tokyo and not nagoya so some of the programing will vary.

    But agree,the programming gotten more serious and tends to focus on local/current issues more. Programs like "Takeshi's Castle"(80's) are now long gone.

    As are short-lived programs like "Okusan wa gaikokujin", etc.

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Westurn.

    Did you even read my post, the same can of Kirin is MORE expensive in the west than in Japan, when compared to a japanese or even an US salary. Also how many americans will choose a kirin can vs a cheaper US brand, remember I said limited market. You just don't get economics.

    And, FYI, purchasing power = percentage to income. Or you trying to tell me that americans pay a lower percentage for housing/health insurance/ etc than Japan, etc.

    Got it now.

    Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Ok, got here late.

    BUT who is doing the over-fishing the japanese or nations adjacent to the Mediterranean?

    Last I checked there were no japanese fishing boats in those waters as there are no japanese tuna fishing boats of the australian coast(who provide plenty of blue-fin tuna to japan).

    Those countries catch the fish to enrich themselves and if they break their quotas is it japans fault or their own greed?

    Yeah, easy to blame the japanese for other countries doing the over-fishing.

    Over-fishing around european, etc waters been a problem for a long time.

    Heck the US market nearly wiped out the Stork population that produces the Beluga Kaviar(just not reported in main-stream media).

    Or how about the current bans on Salmon, etc worldwide.

    Fish-stocks worldwide are being depleted, Cod got limited many years ago across europeans waters and it hurt the "Fish & Chips", Fish-finger/sticks", "Fillet O Fish", etc production.

    My point being is we are ALL responsible for over-fishing as we don't care where our fish-dishes come from. Ok, my personal pet-peeve(mod don't delete it again).

    Shark-fin soup and derived products. Yeah, a menance of the seas till you dive with some. Shark-finning has let to a decrease of certain species as to where they are endangered(not threatened), just don't make the media as they are not mammals or cute.

    In short fish/marine-stocks are being depleted worldwide and we are ALL responsible, yeah, easy to blame japan, etc to make yourself feel better.

    When did you have your last Tuna macaroni or Tuna casserole? No guarantees as to what type of tuna ended up in the can, is it?

    Posted in: Japanese sushi rage threatens Mediterranean tuna

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    I liked "Warau Inu"(up on the net) as it poked fun at the japanese culture a LOT. Just look at the "Happa-tai" skid ridiculed in the west as being funny/weird/ott. But it was a call for the Salary-man to break from the mold and do their own thing.

    Never mind the skids of the one guy being asked to do impossible tasks by his boss and never getting thanked for doing them.

    Same way that one female singer had a major hit about a song that featured the troubles of salary-man. Same with "Otoko ga tsurai yo" because they connect at the basic level.

    Japanese like europeans do a lot of "Tongue in cheek" skids on their own lifes but they go over your head as being weird unless you know the culture.

    Just my view.

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    For me it depends on the channels some got some good programs. I could do without NHK personally, Fuji-TV is hit and miss, NTV is good as is TV Tokyo.

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Forgot there is an interseting show now on, where they try to re-unit people may it be family members, etc.

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Some　of the shows like(descriptions can't recall names/don't care either):

    Admatic(ato-machi) show on at 21:00 on saturdays, features the best 30 locations of an area per week.

    Dash-Mura - members of the group dash do local stuff and also show growing of foods, etc.

    ITTE-Q: Fun Show that has 3 corners every week.

    Trickster(my name) on at 18:30 on Fridays, pitches 2 teams in a contest to beat various challenges like pictures that change, fake vs original foods, etc.

    24hr Cop/ or similar shows: those are just fun and informative.

    TV-Champion, don't really like the new "TV-Champion 2" format though

    Sasuke, Kasou Taishou, Before & After, Dream-house, etc but those are on rarely.

    Another fun one used to be "Warau Inu".

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Some are good and entertaining, on some you can learn a lot about japan, Japan's history, japanese, etc.

    But there are a ton out there that are just so much fluff and hard to stomach.

    Personally got no problem with the japanese shows till they get into specialized subjects like medicine, etc than my japanese falls short.

    I like shows like where they show local culture, residents, local areas, etc.

    Posted in: What do you think of the quality of Japanese TV variety programs?

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Also you need to look at imported items vs local items.

    There is NO WAY that an imported item will cost the same as in its origin country even with open-markets, etc. The profit margin just isn't there.

    So comparing Product X vs Product X in a country that imports it is flawed from the beginning. Yes, production/etc cost might be similar in both countries but demand usually is not.

    Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    I am with roomtemperature.

    You need to compare prices vs income(ie percentages not figures). Salaries are adjusted.

    I have done a fair bit of business travels globally and found that my Yen drains very fast in certain cities(London, etc).

    Some cities in the US are more expensive than others to travel too, same with any country.

    Said that I don't live any poorer in Tokyo than I would back home or another place as I usually tend to earn the local rate.

    Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    I take the comfy option and watch the live-broadcast on TV. No having to be there hours in advance to get a good spot, etc.

    Article Unavailable

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Klackers did a comeback in Japan about 2~3yrs ago. The Yo-Yo is still going strong but not as popular as a few years ago.

    Posted in: Hooping joins the fitness revolution

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Not disagreeing with you on the guy in the article.

    Posted in: Camouflaged paparazzi fight with bodyguards at Jolie-Pitt chateau in France

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    Princes.

    Not everyone is a tough ass guy that has muscles out the wazoo. Some guys use their brains rather than their brawns.

    Most MA that got to a high-enough skill also prefer brains over direct confrontation.

    HTH.

    Posted in: Camouflaged paparazzi fight with bodyguards at Jolie-Pitt chateau in France

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    I grew up on Gelato and "Eskimo" ice-cream, name changes across the countries but logo remains. You all know it.

    Green tea ice-cream is ok but falls way short of vienneta, etc for me. Give me a king-cone, etc anyday.

    Posted in: Green tea ice cream from Häagen-Dazs

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    What no mention of Malaga(Rum & Raisin) Ice-cream?

    Green tea is ok but I prefer european gelato anytime, not the stuff they call Gelato outside Italy(and surrounding countries).

    Posted in: Green tea ice cream from Häagen-Dazs

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    pizzaboy.

    You don't want to hit by a "plan-quadrant" in my home-country.

    They block all the roads of in a certain area except for a few roads, everybody gets stopped and interviewed.

    If your car or bike seems to be supped up they got a grey truck on standby with a dyno in it. They just drive your car, bike in and test it.

    In short there is no escaping them.

    Everybody hates those.

    Posted in: Man arrested for dragging girlfriend with car in Saitama

  • 0

    Zen_Builder

    FineDiner.

    I fully 100% agree, you just got to know your local suppliers, etc. If you just want overseas foods/brands you will pay, same if you don't go for the shops where the locals shop.

    A 100yen can be cheap but at times you can find stuff cheaper at the super. Just need to network and keep up to date with the locals.

    Yes, I that is tough for many ex-pat wifes who get dumped in the deep-end while hubby is at work and they got to supply certain meals, whatever without speaking the lingo, etc.

    IMHO, the ex-pat wifes got it the toughest, expected to do daily stuff with no adjustement period, etc. Yeah, hubby might get language lessons but do they get it?

    Just my view.

    Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow

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