borscht said...

borscht at 10:16 PM JST - 3rd June

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the police were trying to capture this fool alive rather than Dirty Harry him into an early grave. They evacuated the neighborhood and told people to stay away so maybe they were hoping he'd have a change of heart…

Posted in Gunman dies after shooting himself in car in Saitama at 10:16 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 10:10 PM JST - 3rd June

I'd love to introduce solar heating in my home. Can the government give me the money for it? Or some of the money for it? They used to, about 15 years ago, but I guess they didn't like to spend the money?

Anybody know if the government is offering cash…

Posted in Gov't urges households to save energy to curb global warming at 10:10 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 10:08 PM JST - 3rd June

Can you say Take the Lead with Antonio Banderas? Great flick but I'm not sure it made any money. Perhaps it needs a unique Japanese take. Good luck to all.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446046/maindetails

Posted in Kyoko Fukada to play English teacher in new TV drama at 10:08 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 12:19 PM JST - 3rd June

Drill for nuclear attack: say goodbye to your loved ones. Quickly! Too slow.

Drills for the biological attacks should be held in a Tokyo subway. During morning rush hour. And then we can see how the evacuation plans work out.

But, better practicing drills than not, just in case some…

Posted in Gov't to hold drills for biological, nuclear attacks in 18 prefectures at 12:19 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 12:12 PM JST - 3rd June

Why are they 'testing' it in 2008? Willie Nelson has been selling it since 2004. Or is 'testing' a euphemism for 'getting government money to convert to biodiesel'? (Oh no, the inner cynic is escaping.)

Posted in Seven-Eleven to use biodiesel made from waste cooking oil at 12:12 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 12:06 PM JST - 3rd June

Special permanent residents:

those forced to come to Japan during Japanese colonial rule and their offspring.

Those 'offspring' are anywhere from 50 to 100 years old. Their offspring have offspring. When will they become 'Japanese'? (legally, I know they'll never be Japanese socially.)

Posted in Chinese outrank Koreans as largest group of foreign residents at 12:06 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 12:00 PM JST - 3rd June

I too wonder why the individual always is urged to 'promote Japanese culture to the world' when in fact every individual is different and enjoys life differently. Maybe Yanagida doesn't like natto. Should he force Tucker to eat it because it's 'Japanese culture?'

Hogwash. Let Yanagida promote what he wants…

Posted in More retirees accommodating foreign students on homestay programs at 12:00 PM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 11:56 AM JST - 3rd June

Outofmydepth

2 or three days on duty 24/7

I don't think it's physically possible to work 2 or 3 days 24/7. The seven means seven days. I believe you meant they're on duty 24 hours straight for 2 or 3 days. Which, of course, is insane. What are they? Taxi…

Posted in Are Japanese police really as incompetent as readers on Japan Today make them out to be? at 11:56 AM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 11:50 AM JST - 3rd June

I always thought part of the thrill of mountain climbing was to discover new ways to go up a mountain and to discover new vistas. This makes it look like a path you Must be on otherwise the cops'll give you a stern warning.

Yes, I know people get lost…

Posted in at 11:50 AM JST - 3rd June
borscht at 10:07 PM JST - 2nd June

I hope the foam did no damage. I'd hate for NASA to lose even more astronauts.

Posted in Shuttle astronauts perform cursory wing inspection as they zoom toward space station at 10:07 PM JST - 2nd June