knucklerap said...

knucklerap at 04:28 AM JST - 7th July

If they are thinking of having kids, it is very important that she be under 35. If Masato's wife were over 35, the chance of a Down's Syndrome baby would double at least. No sane person should attempt it. Since Maki-chan is only 20, the baby should be very healthy.…

Posted in Dreams Come True leader Masato Nakamura, 49, marries Maki Onaga, 20 at 04:28 AM JST - 7th July
knucklerap at 03:33 AM JST - 7th July

Wow, what a miracle. And if they're wrong, they just have to bow repeatedly wiping imaginary tears from their eyes.

Posted in Hair today, hair tomorrow at 03:33 AM JST - 7th July
knucklerap at 12:30 AM JST - 6th July

However, recently, I have noticed some oppression of foreign language learning by higher ups in the academic school system which is unfortunate for both students and teachers.

For example?

Not to mention, just horrible teachers.

Not to mention what?

Where does language learning fit in Maslow's hierarchy? If the second…

Posted in Why don't Japanese speak English better than they do? at 12:30 AM JST - 6th July
knucklerap at 11:56 PM JST - 5th July

It would certainly reduce noise and light pollution. I feel sorry for those who built new homes only to have a 7-11 move in next door. I also feel sorry for birds who have unwittingly changed their migration patterns due to the light emitted from the stores.

Posted in Do you think curtailing convenience store hours would be good for the environment? at 11:56 PM JST - 5th July
knucklerap at 07:38 PM JST - 3rd July

Early to bed, early to rise...

I don't want 24:7 convenience stores, but I would like 24:7 supermarkets. Not having those is a disappointment.

Posted in Japan divided over 24-hour convenience store operations at 07:38 PM JST - 3rd July
knucklerap at 07:00 AM JST - 30th June

Blind Freddy would agree that demand has increased, therefore prices will rise...Any sniff of intervention and the hyenas cry "Commie foul".

Well, demand has indeed risen, but what has happened to supply? Dragging miserably and not meeting demand. Why? Could it be the countries (Latin American despots and the like)…

Posted in Retail gasoline prices likely to top Y180 per liter at 07:00 AM JST - 30th June
knucklerap at 06:08 PM JST - 29th June

"slumping demand"

Automobile sales in Japan fell 6.1% in May compared with the same month in 2007, according to the Japanese Automobile Dealers Association (JADA). JADA blamed the fall on having one fewer selling day in the month compared with last year and on April's sales being boosted by…

Posted in Toyota facing tough decisions over vehicle prices at 06:08 PM JST - 29th June
knucklerap at 11:10 AM JST - 29th June

From browny1:

Speculative practices ARE the dominant factor at the moment in the price surge

Are you saying that speculators are buying or selling?

Oil production over the past two years has not budged! Consumers are demanding 87 billion barrels a day and only 85 billion barrels are being produced.…

Posted in Retail gasoline prices likely to top Y180 per liter at 11:10 AM JST - 29th June
knucklerap at 07:24 AM JST - 29th June

I kind of like talking to the cops, even if they're trying to bust me for drunk driving or treating me like I'm a suspicious character. I'm as polite and cooperative as can be. I wouldn't want to create a bad impression of gaijin resulting in even more xenophobia and…

Posted in Debito Arudo protests police questioning targeting foreigners at 07:24 AM JST - 29th June
knucklerap at 06:31 AM JST - 29th June

Here's a quote from some coffee shop in Oxford (poster: WMD - oooh):

But our so called leaders refuse to even consider the possibility of speculators forcing the price up (and do something about it ) because they too want a finger in the pie after they retire/are forced out…

Posted in Retail gasoline prices likely to top Y180 per liter at 06:31 AM JST - 29th June