JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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freakashow
ingold,
What's your point? Team USA lost, and Japan won; end of story. That's life. It don't matter how many times you play someone, you gotta win out. In fact, the first game (AUG 15th) that you mentioned was not a playoff round game and so doesn't count. The outcome could have been flipflopped and Japan could have won that game 7-0 instead, and they would have still had to meet USA in the playoff round twice in order to win the gold medal. I mean, hey, the Japanese team could've whined too if they wanted to, that they had to play an extra playoff round game, while USA had an extra day off.
In my view, whining about NBC screwing the c*** of mine and many Americans' Olympic viewing across the West Coast, is something to whine about. Which by the way, this softball final I did see, but certainly NOT LIVE.
Posted in: US softball team loses gold to Japan
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freakashow
The quirky party of this London Olympics handover was much better than all the fake effects of the Beijing Olympics version.
All in all, I'm sure the coverage of the London Olympics will be much better. Maybe it's best to go to London in person, since that is the only way I'll be getting "live coverage of the 2012 Olympic games.
Posted in: London takes on Olympic mantle with quirky party
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freakashow
I really hope so. I just hope that they are singing live and not lip synching it.
Posted in: London takes on Olympic mantle with quirky party
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freakashow
I caught the Olympics back home, but just got disgusted by NBC's biased coverage of the games. They were obviously paid off by someone to show events where only Americans, and some Chinese were competing in. The only real glimpse I saw of some other countries was a video of a "tribute to other countries competing in the Games". And then there was the botching of not showing the Opening ceremonies live. I had to see hightlights of it the next day on the morning news (well, actually they reran it again, but of course it wasn't live).
Good job though to Team USA, and for winning the most medals. It's too bad that couldn't win more gold (if not for Phelps, we would've been much lower), but overall a great effort.
Posted in: Curtain comes down on Beijing Olympics as baton passes to London
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freakashow
Once again, comprehension issues for westurn.
And where in my post did I say "I defend Japan"? So quick to say anything negative about Japan. At least you are consistent about that. Never have you been fair and said one good thing about Japan, or Japanese people. Where I come from, that is blatant racism. Personifying the "Ugly American" is not something that you should be proud of.
It is so convenient for you to go off topic by mentioning things like "finger pointing of the US subprime concerns" and "the American beef issue" when this article clearly is concerned about the U.S.'s role in combatting terrorism.
Which by the way is quite ironic. Why is it that Bush continues to concern himself with Iraq, which has proven to contain no WMDs and has cost us billions upon billions of dollars, while North Korea has flaunted it's nuclear program and continues to do so in the World community's face?
I'm so sure the thousands of North Koreans constantly trying to flee its own country would be so glad to be liberated from their Dear Leader.
Posted in: Bush says U.S. not neglecting Asia amid war on terrorism
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freakashow
To add: I fail to spot one quote from a Japanese source in this article. There are quotes from a THAILAND source, but that's it. Period.
Posted in: Bush says U.S. not neglecting Asia amid war on terrorism
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freakashow
Huh?
“Our foreign policy has been robust in the Far East,” Bush said in White House interviews with editors from Thailand, South Korea and China. The U.S. president, on a farewell tour of Asia, will visit the three countries Aug 5-11.
While in Thailand, he is to deliver a “comprehensive” policy speech on Asia stressing that the United States has strategic interests in the region and “must stay engaged,” Thailand’s English-language The Nation said Friday.
Again, where in this article does it say that Japan complained about being neglected? Thailand press was the ones who should be ashamed of themselves for complaining about being neglected (and to a lesser extent, China and South Korea).
Please read, before posting! Stay focused and on topic.
Posted in: Bush says U.S. not neglecting Asia amid war on terrorism
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freakashow
Uh, no ... I don't see how pole dancing is more degrading than stripping or lap dancing; especially when most pole dancers are doing it with more clothes on than in stripping, and with no physical contact with another human being, as in lap dancing.
Posted in: Pole dancing
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freakashow
Westurn:
As predictable as ever. Bringing in the U.S. when this question isn't even about the U.S. And as usual, expressing a slanted opinion towards the U.S.'s way. And although you may have a point that the U.S. would make money, so would other nations. And let's not forget what happened the last time the Summer games were held in the U.S.:
"The Centennial Olympic Park bombing of July 27, 1996, killed spectator Alice Hawthorne and wounded 111 others, and elicited the death of Melih Uzunyol by heart attack."
"Although the Games made a financial profit, they were not without problems. Allegations were levelled that Atlanta organizers bribed members of the IOC to obtain the Olympic Games. However, ACOG documents were destroyed before a formal inquiry could be conducted, and the allegations remain unproven. In his defense, ACOG Chairman Billy Payne said, "Atlanta's bidding effort included excessive actions, even thought processes, that today seem inappropriate but, at the time, reflected the prevailing practices in the selection process and an extremely competitive environment.""
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996SummerOlympics
Hmmm ... documents conveniently destroyed .... Well, Mr. Payne, if those "excessive actions" were "prevailing practices" of that era, then why did it continue when bidding for the Salt Lake City games?:
"Prior to these Olympic Winter Games, a number of IOC members were forced to resign after it was uncovered that they had accepted bribes in return for voting for Salt Lake City to hold the Games. IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge and new CEO of the Salt Lake Games Mitt Romney then staged the Games and contended with the public opinion backlash due to the scandal. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002WinterOlympics
Now, one could contend that controversy happens in all Olympics, but when I tried to look on Wikipedia at the section describing the Nagano Winter Olympics, I saw no such descriptions of foul play or controversies.
Posted in: Do you think the Olympic Games will be a success?
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freakashow
Westurn:
huh ??? Try this on fer size... from wikipedia:
"Pole dancing is a form of dancing/gymnastics. It involves dancing sensually with a vertical pole and is often used in strip clubs and gentlemen's clubs, although more recently artistic pole dancing (Chinese poles) is used in cabaret/circus and stage performance in a non-erotic environment."
Yeah, and reading further in this article, it says:
"In a strip club setting, pole dancing is often performed less gymnastically and combined with striptease, and/or lap dancing between performers."
And according to Wikipedia:
"The origins of striptease as a performance art are disputed and various dates and occasions have been given from ancient Babylonia to twentieth century America."
"Lap dancing clubs are a development of the earlier strip clubs, in which strippers danced on stage and were paid a wage. In the 1970s, New York's Melody Theater introduced audience participation. The Melody Theater became the Harmony Theater and operated in two locations in Manhattan for over 20 years until it was closed down in 1998. In 1980, San Francisco's Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre changed its policy so that customers could have dancers come to sit naked on their laps for a $1 tip. The practice quickly spread.[2] It suited club owners, because it brought in more customers and it meant they had to pay less to the dancers. Sitting on customers' laps evolved into lap dancing."
So what started out as a mere gymnastics exercise, turned into something more in countries such as the U.S.
Posted in: Pole dancing
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freakashow
That's right. Japan should ease up a bit on the piracy laws. In the States, although I would never think of buying one myself, it is much easier to buy pirated CDs and DVDs. In Japan, I'm just amazed at how tight they check your bags at customs, and scan them for illegal imports and copies. You can even see the many displays showing people what is not allowed into the country. In the States, nothing of the sort. Business is business, legal or not. That's the true meaning of capitalism.
It's the reason why some movie theaters in smaller markets are charging cheaper costs to attract the typical moviegoer. Attendance is down in the U.S. 1.42 billion tickets were sold last year, compared to 1.6 billion in 2002.
Why do you ask? Well of course, most people know that there are other cheaper sources for their entertainment, and all officials can do is warn the public of piracy and illegal Internet websites, without the actual enforcement of the law.
In Japan, fat chance of finding any shop selling pirated stuff. The police are here may not be good at stopping violent crime, but they crackdown on the white-collar stuff like hellfire.
It is why theaters can charge so much, as Westurn likes to point out, and as Westurn points out, the theaters are still so crowded with people. The Japanese mindset is one of paying the price to abide the law. Remember market rules, As demand goes up, so does the price. As demand goes down, the price will go down. It's that simple.
Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow
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freakashow
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/aponremiea/iraqvacantprison
Posted in: McCain says Obama doesn't understand Iraq
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freakashow
You're right. We shouldn't trust data for anything. Heck, how can we trust the other data from another article that says Tokyo is the second most expensive city? Right. But of course, you like to only believe in data that says things that you agree with and like to discount data that says the opposite of what you believe in, now don't you? Anything that says something negative about the U.S. has to be false, and everything that says something good about the U.S. has to be true.
Posted in: America is the most selfish country.
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freakashow
More nonsense from westurn:
uh, where the hell did you get $20? Last I heard, the dollar was trading at 104, so that would mean 1800 yen is roughly 17 dollars!
Oh, and I don't know about you, but last time I hit a matinee here in Japan, I was able to get a whole row of seats to myself, because there were very few people in the theaters in the daytime. Ever hear of the word "matinee"?
Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow
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freakashow
Westurn's facts are obviously off:
Wrong! Cheapest bowl of ramen in Tokyo? 180 yen. For a decent bowl? 300-500 yen (even cheaper when you get them from the little stand-up eki shops) For better quality ramen? 750-900 yen.
Why a west coast hot dog? Why not try a simple "Weenie Hut" original hot dog for $3.59 or a black angus all-beef hot dog for $5.49? Your $2.18 dog couldn't even begin to fill up the average salaryman (whereas a 230 yen kakisoba at the eki soba/udon shops could).
Uh, yeah, but on "tightwad" couples day, ladies day, and the first of every month, it's 1000 yen ($9.00). In New York, $10 for the price of a movie (and that was back in 2003).
http://money.cnn.com/2003/12/31/news/funny/nyc_flix/index.htm
You obviously don't know how to shop, do you? The local sake shop I go to sells a tall can of Asahi for 149 yen.
Yes, the U.S. is the most open country to trade, at roughly 3.5%, but Japan remains close at 6.1%. In fact, the U.S. and Japan are #1 and #2 in terms of openness to trade among developed countries. Other countries like Canada, Russia, and France have higher percentages. Of course, other countries around the world like Bolivia, Guatemala, and Ecuador have percentages twice or three times that.
Posted in: Tokyo 2nd most expensive city for expats after Moscow
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freakashow
http://www.automotoportal.com/article/Top5WorldsMostSuccessfulCarsEver
This is an interesting and honest post about GM:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070407184852AAn1Qt4
The older versions of GM were great. Whatever happened to them. Nowadays, the GM models stink and you end up not getting what you pay for.
Year upon year, you see five of the top 20 selling cars (Camry, Corolla, Prius, Tundra, and Rav-4) being Toyota, while Honda has 4 of the top 20 ( Accord, Civic, CR-V, and Odyssey). Nissan pulls in a decent one top-20 finisher (Altima).
Posted in: Toyota overtakes GM in Jan-June global sales
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freakashow
Yeah, I agree, it would be a good idea to get a new phone number; especially if you don't have many family members, friends, or business associates to tell your new phone number to.
That would be the best option. Unfortunately, most 63 year-olds are not up to speed with the latest technology. I'm sure many of them don't even know how to operate a cell phone, and think pagers are still in use.
Posted in: Akita man arrested for making 30 nuisance calls a day for two months
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freakashow
Yes, let's hope it starts a trend of respect for all nations. I'll start. American citizens are generally good people. This article proves it. We basically want to do what's right in life. Unfortunately, there do exist bad elements in society, as does in all nations.
The Japanese are also generally good people. Time and time again, I hear stories from people I know of how easy it is to find items that have been lost because good Samaritans turned it in to the police.
In fact, throughout the world, you'll find good people in all nations. It is just unfortunate that evil and hatred does exist. Then again, I've come to realize that fighting evil with evil is not the way. I wish governments could come to understand this. Racism exists when we start generalizing a whole group of people due the actions of a few.
Posted in: Bystanders help man after wind scatters his cash
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freakashow
good point, cleo. It's just that people like Westurn only see it as physical harm done and never look at the "big" picture. Guys like him claim to "see the connections", when in fact they don't. He fails to see that connection that ever since the U.S. invaded Iraq, many of our freedoms were taken away, thus making our lives more uncomfortable. Ask anyone to see if they agree with the righties that we pay less now for flying than before the war. Sure, no attacks have occured on U.S. soil, but as for Americans traveling into other countries; that is another matter. Just look at Afghanistan, which should have been Bush's main objective in the first place. Warlords still run the land and opium production has increased (and let's not even think where profits from that business are being used).
Unfortunately, Bush's lone policy is so simple: acquire enough money to spend it on military, send the troops in and kill as many militants as possible, with no care for civilians (or casualties of war, as he would put it). I shudder to think just how many more Osamas and Saddams he is "breeding" because of this ludicrous policy of his.
Sure, U.S. military casualties in the Iraqi war have been kept at a "minimum", but let's not forget the thousands upon thousands of soldiers who have been sent home with injuries and mental illnesses. I pray that we never see another Timothy McVeigh again.
Posted in: Bush agrees to time 'horizon' on Iraq troop cuts
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freakashow
Westurn wrote:
So you do admit that Bush is only concerned about Iraq, Iraq, and Iraq. He doesn't care about American's health, welfare, economy, education, food, transportation, crime, and housing. Only Iraq. Well, Americans are fed up. We are tired of Bush placing all of his concern on only Iraq. It is about time he spends some of that money on real issues like the ones he has neglected for so long, and not some "band-aid" of a stimulus package. $300 - $600 don't go far these days, what with inflation and how it is.
Posted in: Bush agrees to time 'horizon' on Iraq troop cuts