aedfed said...

aedfed at 01:32 PM JST - 2nd December

One could also argue that Africa "benefited" from European colonization, e.g., they built railways and roads, but that would ignore the fact that most of the "benefits" were for the colonists, not the native inhabitants.

Besides, it's not for the colonizers to extol the benefits they bestowed, but rather for…

Posted in Sacked Japan air force head defends WWII actions at 01:32 PM JST - 2nd December
aedfed at 11:20 AM JST - 17th November

"and spoke in what sounded like Portuguese" You'd think that Brazilians might be a bit more certain if the thieves were speaking in their mother tongue. Or maybe it's just sloppy translation from the Japanese.

Posted in Armed bandits rob Nagoya couple in apartment at 11:20 AM JST - 17th November
aedfed at 10:44 PM JST - 5th September

Never could figure out why that show was called "Ugly Betty." Frumpy Betty, yes, but ugly, no. I guess it's typical of Hollywood that they can't even find an ugly person to play an ugly person.

Posted in Yukina Kinoshita introduces 'Ugly Betty' DVD at 10:44 PM JST - 5th September
aedfed at 10:19 PM JST - 29th August

On the plus side, they did get rid of croquet (another possible gold medal sport for the Japanese) and Indian clubs (a sport that involves juggling something that looks like bowling pins).

Given that the modern Olympics has nothing to do with the ancient Olympics, that precedent shouldn't be binding.…

Posted in It’s time to get rid of a few Olympic 'sports' at 10:19 PM JST - 29th August
aedfed at 10:04 PM JST - 29th August

Japan Today has garbled the figures of the rainfall amounts. The 146 mm of rain fell between 1 and 2 a.m. Okazaki had 302.5 mm of rain in 24 hours. However, any way you look at it, that's a lot of rain.

Posted in 1 dead, 3 missing after heavy rain hits central, eastern Japan at 10:04 PM JST - 29th August
aedfed at 10:16 PM JST - 17th August

It's an unfortunate misstep by the Chinese Games organizers. Had they used her face and dubbed her own voice, it would have been understandable -- who knows how a child will react under that kind of pressure. That would have been the same as the Pavarotti case, which doesn't seem…

Posted in Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face at 10:16 PM JST - 17th August
aedfed at 10:30 AM JST - 25th July

Given Japan's current fertility rates, there can't be too many mothers with two kids to pack around.

However, I've always felt that the strong bond Japanese kids have with their mothers comes from the number of death defying near misses they experienced together while riding a bicycle.

Posted in Ban on riding bicycles with 2 kids to be lifted at 10:30 AM JST - 25th July
aedfed at 05:17 AM JST - 25th July

Banning plastic bags is a feel-good measure for people who are looking for something that won't force them to make major changes in their lifestyle (such as not driving a huge SUV to the supermarket). By not using a plastic bag, they get to feel they're doing something for the…

Posted in Los Angeles bans plastic bagging in stores at 05:17 AM JST - 25th July
aedfed at 07:51 AM JST - 17th July

Doubtless they'll be offering classes in how to cheer properly, complete with a test, before you're allowed into the venues. Can't have people cheering randomly, or at the wrong time, can we?

Reminds me of when the J-League took off and they had a very serious (but cute) young announcer…

Posted in China says banners, slogans not allowed in Olympic venues at 07:51 AM JST - 17th July
aedfed at 07:46 AM JST - 17th July

some14some, it seems that the Japanese are the "foreigners" in this case (along with the Dominicans, Canadians, etc.), given that the game was being played in New York.

Posted in Ichiro gets hit as AL edges NL in 15 innings at 07:46 AM JST - 17th July