as_the_crow_flies said...

as_the_crow_flies at 01:55 PM JST - 2nd November

Smoking helps people die sooner so they are less of a financial burden on the health care system. It makes sense to encourage more people to smoke, because it saves us money.

I wish it were true, but I think smokers tend to die slow, messy, wheezing-and-hacking, resource-hungry, ugly deaths…

Posted in Tobacco tax could be raised to 'levels in Europe': health minister at 01:55 PM JST - 2nd November
as_the_crow_flies at 01:43 PM JST - 2nd November

I think what the article is trying to say is that the cost of beefing up the scheme will be spread among all users (about 360 yen a year). On the other hand, if you have solar panels on your roof and generate more energy than you use, power companies…

Posted in Japan accelerates purchase of surplus solar electricity at homes at 01:43 PM JST - 2nd November
as_the_crow_flies at 10:55 PM JST - 31st October

The 11 other countries that ban HIV-positive travelers and immigrants are: Armenia, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Sudan,

That was certainly illustrious company the US government kept in terms of policy over all those years! Good on the country for raising itself out…

Posted in Obama lifts ban on U.S. entry for those with HIV at 10:55 PM JST - 31st October
as_the_crow_flies at 07:50 PM JST - 31st October

Other than the missing consonant, what is an 'effective' marital relationship?

It's something the judge probably realises is in short supply here, where dysfunctional marital relationships are rampant.

Who knows, though, in a place that apparently "evicts" people from the country?

Posted in Court nullifies state's decision to evict Iranian man at 07:50 PM JST - 31st October
as_the_crow_flies at 10:30 PM JST - 30th October

Don't you love the way they move the goalposts every week. One week it's the number of new cases, then they create a new concept, 'group infections' (never explained), then hey presto, this week it's new cases. How can you possibly track anything? Nothing surprising in the figures, however they…

Posted in No. of flu patients in Japan tops 1 million in one week at 10:30 PM JST - 30th October
as_the_crow_flies at 11:10 PM JST - 28th October

Rather than poring over each monthsfigures, and lining them up against those of the same month the year before, why dont they just say, these figures are W-A-A-Y too high, and start taking action to reduce them. They`ve been way too high for years and years in a row,…

Posted in Number of suicides marks 1st year-on-year drop in Sept at 11:10 PM JST - 28th October
as_the_crow_flies at 02:00 PM JST - 27th October

Two main reasons for declining "tourism". One is fewer SKs employed here, so fewer family visits, and the other is the strong yen.

Agree. Bearing in mind that anyone who's not actually naturalised still counts as a "visitor" in official figures, you're a "tourist" even if you live here. Maybe…

Posted in Japanese overseas travelers up 15% in September at 02:00 PM JST - 27th October
as_the_crow_flies at 10:49 AM JST - 26th October

For many many people, having a car is 5 man per month or more.

That's not been my experience. Got my first car for 30,000 10 years ago, and even my current flash little town box came in at 350,000. I've not paid more for parking than 20,000 a month,…

Posted in Driving schools change gears to attract customers at 10:49 AM JST - 26th October
as_the_crow_flies at 08:25 AM JST - 22nd October

The tax exemption is granted to people aged 20 and over who receive financial support from their parents or other family members for the purchase of homes.

Does anyone understand this? It sounds like if someone in your family gives you money towards buying a home, you get a tax…

Posted in Maehara eyeing steep rise in gift tax exemption for home buyers at 08:25 AM JST - 22nd October
as_the_crow_flies at 04:01 PM JST - 19th October

timorborder - yes indeed I remember the coverage at the time, and didn't this case cause some difficulties for those of real Japanese descent from South America entering Japan ?

Yes indeed, in fact it has "caused difficulties" to ALL Peruvians since then, as they are treated as untrustworthy delinquents…

Posted in Murder case of Peruvian man to be retried at Hiroshima high court at 04:01 PM JST - 19th October