Wednesday February 15, 2012

adm_kenshin's past comments

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    adm_kenshin

    Well, most war games have a very inaccurate description of the battles involved, so they can retain the 15+ rating. Therefore, I believe this game would leave out a lot of detail a movie wouldn't. Games are held to a much tighter standard than movies.

    It's quite sad because the interactivity of games is one of the best ways to show an audience the soldiers' viewpoint. Perhaps if more people played realistic games, and not EA crap, they would know how hard it is to avoid civilian casualties and thus protest more against the next war.

    Posted in: Konami pulls plug on 'Fallujah' video game

  • 0

    adm_kenshin

    Cool stuff!

    Posted in: Hitachi launches Gazopa for iPhone application

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    adm_kenshin

    techall: Only this time it's the rest of the world whose been breaking treaties.

    There are two solutions to this problem. 1) Might makes right: The 'International' community colonize Somalia in a 'UN protectorate'. 2) Parley! ^_^. Talk with the pirate factions, force all ships to travel outside Somali territorial waters, and only guard this corridor. Pirates who still attack ships outside of Somali waters can repelled by the world's navies, the rest can go back to fishing.

    Posted in: What is the most effective way to put an end to Somali piracy?

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    adm_kenshin

    It's nice that, while not always accepted, so many sub-cultures have their own place in Japan. It's also nice how you could be an otaku publicly and not be beaten up ;)

    Posted in: For fans of locomotives, it’s full steam ahead

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    adm_kenshin

    Isn't a missile any object, guided or not, that is launched by humans with the intention to reach a target instead of just going as high as possible? There's a reason arrows are called missile weapons ^_^.

    Posted in: N Korea warns Japan that intervening in rocket launch will be act of war

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    adm_kenshin

    You guys are talking about 2chan as if it was a single being, which it isn't. There are in fact 10 million users of it. Its large enough to have created its own sub-culture, in which unfounded rumour and slander is used as some form of humour. No one actually believes it, at least not anyone on 2ch.

    I would however agree that 2ch's collective intelligence have dropped considerably, as most of the serious people have left it for other avenues, or stay in the less popular sub-fora.

    I am also greatly saddened by the fact that people would rather sue someone than just disproving their claims. There are circumstances in which it might be the best solution, for example personal slander unrelated to any official capacity which the public actually believes in, and the person involved would rather not publizise parts of his personal life.

    Otherwise however, if the posters on these fora are so stupid, it shouldn't be hard to disprove their lies. If your friends or other people who mean something to you still believe in them, who are the really stupid ones?

    Article Unavailable

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    adm_kenshin

    In my opinion, life without parole is worse than a death sentence. While I don't agree with the death sentence in general, with today's lousy psychiatric care it is perhaps better for these few dangerous and obviously mentally ill REPEAT offenders.

    Still, I definitely thik the courtroom should include a few psychiatrists, who can give an idea of wether the particular criminal has a chance at becoming well again or should just be executed because it's better than spending the rest of one's life in a padded cell.

    Oh, and get rid of the hanging already. It's sick and messy.

    Posted in: Motorcyclist campaigns to keep his family’s killer behind bars

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    adm_kenshin

    I would rather say that at least common sense is not universal and differ between cultures. Logic is supposed to be universal, but humans are generally unable to understand logic.

    Face it, most of the building laws in the west have come about due to need. The culture is that for construction companies anything is fair as long as the laws allow it, which is why laws are more restrictive (I don't know how it works with the common law though).

    In Japan, the ideal is that private sector solves its issues face-to-face, and that the government should avoid intervention. This might have worked fine before, sometime back in the misty past, but today with PR firms, shared ownership and a general lack of responsibility on the part of stock holders, it is definitely inadequate. The laws aren't changed because they probably make some people very rich. Modern 'democracy' is riddled with corruption on the top levels, no less than Communism was.

    Posted in: Local planning laws defy understanding

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    adm_kenshin

    One more step toward the death of copyright. Bring forth the rum, mates!

    Posted in: Though Google's explanation is difficult to understand, the contents of the settlement have both pros and cons for authors and publishers. I'm curious whether a culture of disseminating publications online like music content will now proliferate.

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    adm_kenshin

    War is definitely a possibility if things get bad enough, but I don't think we'll see a major one, MAD and all that.

    As for solving the current crisis, we must first decide what we want out of our economy. Remember that an economy is only a tool for a purpose. These days, it seems that people have lost sight of that, and just want us to 'repair' the economy.

    So, what is it that we want out of the economy? Maximum growth? Stability? Increasing technology as quickly as possible? Highest living standard possible? Short term? Long term? A free market that is self-correcting?

    Depending on this, there are different solutions.

    Posted in: We shall all have to pay - eventually

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    adm_kenshin

    That's nonsense - people can still invent and create whatever they want and as long as it has the essential elements of patentability and they take the steps to patent it they will be safe.

    Do you know how much successfully attaining a patent can cost? It is not something you do unless you're a multinational giant, especially as a single invention can be covered by thousands of patents.

    when done is more reflective of the bullying tactics of large companies

    Actually, it is most often done by small companies, so called patent trolls, who don't produce anything and thus are immune to patent infringement. Look up Acacia Technologies.

    than anything inherently wrong with the patent system.

    How come then that you are hard-pressed to find a patent that actually serves its purpose, i.e. distributing information about a technology? How come patent bureaus routinely approve applications that are already covered by prior art or another patent? The system is rotten, and there are now other systems which serve the same purpose, thus it is no longer required.

    Posted in: Research engine navigates patent jungle

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    adm_kenshin

    noborito: To be honest, does any significant mass of people display rationality and reason?

    I don't really understand the need for a jury system. Most trials are heavy in technicalities and legal mumbo-jumbo, unless they intend to switch to plain japanese a jury drawn from normal people won't be adding anything of value.

    The only good thing with a jury system I can see is that jury members might be able to inform media and other people about unfair trials, but the effect will be much smaller because they may be fined for doing their duty as citizens.

    Posted in: Many citizens confused by upcoming lay jury system

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    adm_kenshin

    Normally in Japan you are supposed to drive at a speed were you can stop in time if something happens, that why the drivers at fault, but this time the article said it happened on a highway, where there shouldn't be people. Therefore, I doubt they'll lock up the driver.

    Posted in: Elderly couple run over while cleaning highway in Shizuoka

  • 0

    adm_kenshin

    I thinks some of you are putting words in my mouth.

    While it was too bad for those Japanese who indeed did fully believe in the christian faith, you surely cannot deny that it was at this time a very political religion?

    Tokugawa had heard of what had happened to the philippines, and while Japan and the Philippines had vastly different situations (population, strength of a central government etc) it's not certain Tokugawa knew all this, or he didn't want to take any chances. From his knowledge at the time, he did the right thing in banning christianity, to get rid of its political influence.

    Buddhist sects also had vast political influence, but Tokugawa were used to them, knew how to deal with them, and they didn't have any gunships or armies with muskets.

    herefornow: You're misunderstanding. I didn't say that Japans conquering spree during the 30's and 40's was good, I just said it had little to do with religion, but was entirely pragmatic.

    Japan wouldn't have lost much of its culture had christianity been allowed to compete freely, but that is something the spanish and portuguese weren't interested in. Eventually, Japans christians may have been supported by ships and troops from abroad (this was, at least, Tokugawa's fears), and eventually Japan could have fallen to the europeans like the Philippines. Again, I think it would have been unlikely, but Tokugawa didn't know the spanish and portuguese strengths, he didn't know how many ships or soldiers they had.

    If Japan would have fallen like the Philippines, then that's game over. Everyone would be forcibly converted (in time), people would eventually speak spanish, and many sides of japanese culture tied to shinto or buddhism would disappear. Perhaps it would have led to a more interesting japanese culture, who can say, but I am glad it is like it is now.

    Posted in: Japanese Christian martyrs to be beatified

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    adm_kenshin

    herefornow: But, Japan is still Japanese right? Sure, a christianized and possibly colonialized Japan would not lose all of its culture, it would be more like the Philippines probably, but still, I think that Japan as a whole was a lot better of throwing out political christianity, because it WAS a political tool, and eventually a form of cultural imperialism. Now, instead, Japan has her own version of christianity that doesn't conflict (too much) with Japanese culture. Surely that is better than if Japan was forced to have the same roman catholicism as the rest of the world?

    To answer your question: A Shinto/Buddhist Japan is preferable to a christian one, since it A) better preserves Japans fantastic culture, B) I like it that way. As you can see, it is a very subjective outlook.

    There is also nothing saying that atrocities could not have been committed by future Japanese soldiers even with christianity. War itself is an atrocity after all. Also, christian nations aren't exactly innocent in this regard. Atrocities committed in war is, I think, mainly due to difficulties for the individual soldier, and a lack of compassion for the enemy. It might be modified slightly by the soldiers religion, though.

    In the japanese case, from reading a lot of soldiers letters, journals and so on, the average soldier didn't seem very religious, or believed he would go to Yasukuni after death. In fact, "see you in Yasukuni" was more of a last greeting than a genuine belief that one would end up there, and maybe also a slight touch of hope. Therefore, Japanese religion had a very small effect on japanese soldiers conduct during the war, I think.

    Posted in: Japanese Christian martyrs to be beatified

  • 0

    adm_kenshin

    It saddens me that even Japan have started to take the easy way out. Then again, if you have a family and work overtime at JR, you probably don't have time for self-defense classes, and you can't just go half-way with most martial arts.

    Maybe martial arts throughout the school years is the best solution, but until then pepper spray it is.

    Posted in: JR Tokai female staff issued pepper spray for self-defense

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    adm_kenshin

    fatloser: LEDs are more energy-efficient than light bulbs, so the footprint is smaller than you think. Besides, the Japanese have deserved their christmas lights for taking the train instead of the car.

    Posted in: Tokyo Midtown Christmas

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    adm_kenshin

    Many asian countries are especially scared of smoked drugs, and this is mainly due to history. Opium did topple China and allowed it to be defeated by a european upstart ^_^. Now, I don't think cannabis specifically is worse than, say, alcohol, nor is it a gateway drug, if it weren't for the fact that it's illegal and the dealers might also deal in other drugs.

    I think Japan is scared of 1) like China, productive citizens start to smoke more than they work. This is unlikely though, as even drunks in Japan uphold their responsibilities (which is uncommon in other countries). Also, cannabis is not physically addictive, like Opium. 2) Cannabis will lead to heavier drug use, or many people are ignorant of cannabis, and think it's similar to heavy drugs. This would then lead to violence and increased crime.

    The solution is easy, sell cannabis legally, but in limited amounts. If people can get cannabis for parties legally, they dont risk getting into trouble with the Yakuza/triads, and the amount of cannabis in each joint can be regulated. There's a risk however, as people aren't as used to the effects as they are to alcohol they might OD or otherwise get into a situation were they loose control and kill themselves or others.

    I think the best action right now is to inform the public about cannabis, its real effects and dangers, and how responsive smoking (wether it's illegal or not) is as important as responsive drinking. Especially, smoking cannabis is as bad as smoking tobacco, it kills your lungs.

    I've never heard of a high profile suicide/murder by someone in Japan under the influence of cannabis though.

    Posted in: Is Japan becoming a 'drug heaven?'

  • 0

    adm_kenshin

    ptolemy: He wasn't talking about the gap between the rich and poor, but between the poor and middle class, which has been really low before in Japan. It became like this because Japanese companies had a very equal wage policy (your time in the company determined wages), and there was plenty of blue collar jobs. Because the wages were quite high, a lot of family business and restaurants received a 'trickle-down' effect, thus leading to a very large middle class, with very low unemployment. Low wage jobs were usually taken by students and others who hadn't yet entered the work force.

    Of course, since Japan is no longer employing such a massive industrial work force, there's not enough high-paying jobs to go around, and because of demography, not enough students and young people to fill the low-wage jobs or help out in the family business, which means a lot of people that would be unemployed 'blue collars' are now working in low-wage service jobs. These should really be thought of as unemployed when deciding national economic strategy.

    I would also like to agree somewhat with outofmydepth, before, if you were an honest worker, you had a good-paying job in a large company. Now, if you're an honest worker, you're most likely killing yourself at some konbini or bentouya. Of course, Japan isn't outsourcing everything like certain countries, so there's hope for the future at least ^_^.

    Posted in: It is unprecedented to see such a widening income gap in Japan. Our society is definitely becoming a class society.

  • 0

    adm_kenshin

    It's primarily a travel charger, that also does OneSeg, I think it's the best solution to putting oneseg on the iPhone without reengineering it.

    Hasn't bluetooth gradually been displacing infrared? At least in 2007, most people swapped vcards with bluetooth.

    Oh, and I agree that emoticons are a necessity, especially the cool varied ones that exists on japanese phones.

    Posted in: SoftBank unveils 1-Seg tuner for iPhone

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