chardk1 said...

chardk1 at 01:31 PM JST - 17th June

It's e.e. cummings' new favorite hotel no doubt. Or would be if he (and being deliciously unconventional by not using uppercase for proper nouns) hadn't died about a hundred years ago. But seriously, so the mammoth Starwood Hotel conglomerate launched yet another niche brand in Montreal . .. so? I…

Posted in World's 1st aloft hotel opens in Montreal at 01:31 PM JST - 17th June
chardk1 at 01:23 PM JST - 17th June

It's all just a function of the Japanese tendency to demand that the government coddle them into oblivion. Seriously, I am no libertarian but it is crazy how the Japanese man/woman on the street's response to EVERYTHING from low birth rates to unemployment to metabolic syndrome to crazy killers is…

Posted in Police consider banning some types of knives following Akihabara stabbings at 01:23 PM JST - 17th June
chardk1 at 11:19 AM JST - 17th June

This is hilarious -- they make it sound like something momentous happened when in fact it's just the introduction of a new hotel chain. I didn't realize "world's first" was a synonym for "now open for business."

Posted in World's 1st aloft hotel opens in Montreal at 11:19 AM JST - 17th June
chardk1 at 11:15 AM JST - 17th June

It would probably be good for Japanese professionals, once they got over having to extend themselves, if the UK enforced this standard. It's not like these Japanese businessmen were sent over to the UK by accident -- almost without exception these are the people who on their company entrance exams…

Posted in Japanese happy after UK waters down English tests at 11:15 AM JST - 17th June
chardk1 at 07:22 PM JST - 13th June

Saying I like izakaya but not the ones where people smoke is like saying I like steaks, just not the ones from animals. :) Just kidding, I know exactly what you mean, Japanese smokers in restaurants drive me nuts. A cigarette after the meal, fine. But seriously most Japanese smokers…

Posted in Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook at 07:22 PM JST - 13th June
chardk1 at 10:47 AM JST - 13th June

Shimajiro,

I think this is a bit of a strawman. It's one thing to believe or claim one's country to be a paragon on virtue - which I think few Americans do - and another to defend one's country from charges of being bad/evil - which they are unfortunately often…

Posted in Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows at 10:47 AM JST - 13th June
chardk1 at 06:37 PM JST - 12th June

The most commonly used weapon in Japanese murders is the trusty old kitchen knife. Are they going to ban those? Banning knives is not like banning firearms, it's a lot dumber since there are always going to be legal and equally lethal alternatives. You really are just punishing the hobbyists.

Posted in Police consider banning some types of knives following Akihabara stabbings at 06:37 PM JST - 12th June
chardk1 at 06:25 PM JST - 12th June

Agreed. All other things being equal it is desirable to be popular. I wouldn't make it a primary aim of US foriegn policy, though.

Shimajiro - I appreciate the insight. I was really talking more in terms of how I think Americans as individuals and as a society should approach…

Posted in Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows at 06:25 PM JST - 12th June
chardk1 at 02:31 PM JST - 12th June

skipthesong, I'm not saying that people aren't hard on America. I do feel that America is as well-meaning a dominant world power as there ever has been, lots of countries including many of its most virulent critics have benefited greatly from their association with the U.S., China and Russia are…

Posted in Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows at 02:31 PM JST - 12th June
chardk1 at 01:52 PM JST - 12th June

so if you have not alot of furniture, not alot of clothes, not alot of kitchen stuff, and not alot of friends, but what you DO have is 600 thousand bucks, it's a perfect fit

Haha, good one. But you have described the typical Japanese homebuyer. Well, except the having…

Posted in Tokyo condos' average price 8 times annual income at 01:52 PM JST - 12th June