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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- Full-time English Teacher - Osaka
- Epion English Language Schools, Osaka
- Salary: ¥200,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month Depending on your ability and experience
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- Part-time English Teacher - Osaka
- Epion English Language Schools, Osaka
- Salary: ¥10,000 ~ ¥15,000 / Day Depending on how many days a week are worked
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papasmurfinjapan
My wife thinks there is only one way to do things, and of course it is her way. Everything I do is the wrong way, and is complained about continuously.
Posted in: What is one habit that your significant other does or has that you can't stand but put up with anyway?
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papasmurfinjapan
I think Okinawamike's solution is the most sensible one.
Monster-parents, for the most part, are just an extremely vocal minority. Many of them feed on confrontation and verbal abuse, so I'm not sure confronting them directly is necessarily the right solution, as it may only harden their belief that they are right and make them more vocal against the majority.
Ignore them and alienate them, and they will longer have a soapbox to complain from.
Posted in: How should schools deal with so-called "monster parents" who verbally abuse or complain about teachers for the way they treat their children?
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papasmurfinjapan
Here are my personal tastes in logos, not necessarily the products branded with them.
Cars:
Good: Mercedes, Audi, BMW, VW, Toyota horns, Honda H.
Bad: Volvo, Fiat, Hyundai (like a cheap imitation of honda)
Electronics and Computers
Good: Apple, Sony, Panasonic, Nikon (i like the retro style), Canon, Google
Bad: LG (a bit tacky), Dell, Fujitsu, Microsoft
Posted in: Which companies' logos do you like and which ones do you think are awful?
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papasmurfinjapan
And a nice pair of apples to match!
Article Unavailable
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papasmurfinjapan
This just reiterates what the other Toyota article was saying about boring cars... It's not an eyesore, but not exactly stunning either.
Actually in this small photo it looks a bit like a Subaru Impreza WRX without the turbo.
Posted in: Lexus launches hybrid-only CT 200h hatchback
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papasmurfinjapan
Err, first, I think the company name is Sanwa Supply. Second, it isn't "their" product - they imported it directly from a trading company in China and are selling it on their web store, but not as a "Sanwa" brand product.
I know because I used to be the poor sap that had to translate badly written English manuals in Japanese for these guys.
Posted in: Egg-shaped digital photo frames
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papasmurfinjapan
How about they bring back the Supra, stick a hybrid engine in it and put it up against Honda's CR-Z?
Posted in: Toyota's biggest problem: Aging lineup
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papasmurfinjapan
I use Canon but am a closet Nikon DSLR fanboy (the only reason I don't switch is I have too much invested in Canon lenses). However Nikon compacts are terrible for action (AF is way too slow). Probably perfectly fine as a cheap projector though.
That said, the how can the iF Product Design Award be "prestigious" if nearly half the entries won an award??? Sounds like paid advertising to me.
Posted in: Nikon cameras receive product design awards
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papasmurfinjapan
Er, are we supposed to be commenting on what we think of the practice, or the term itself? I think whoever coined the term did a pretty good job... it certainly sums up the state of the mobile phone market at least - isolated from the rest of the world.
Posted in: What do you think of the expression "Galapagos effect," that refers to some Japanese companies that prefer to focus on their domestic market and be less influenced by global technology trends?
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papasmurfinjapan
It is true that there is corruption, and that for every $1 you donate probably half of it ends up being used for "administrative fees", but until someone comes up with a better system, which is the more favorable?
Cheerily give to charity hoping that at least some, if not most of it will be used for a good cause, or sit back drinking cafe lattes at Starbucks while complaining that you want to help the poor, but there is no charity you can trust to give your money to?
Donor fatigue is understandable, and no one will condemn you for cutting back on what you can give due to economical constraints, but giving nothing to start with and then complain about effectiveness of charities is just wrong. Go to World Vision or something and sponsor a child. It takes 5 minutes. Then go and visit your child in a year, see how your contributions are helping; after that I'd love to hear your thoughts and whether it is a waste of time/money.
Posted in: Many global charities reported a drop in private, corporate and governmental donations in 2010 due to the ongoing recession and "donor fatigue" over the numerous requests for help in the aftermath of disasters throughout the year. What are your thoughts on this?
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papasmurfinjapan
Canon 7D (8D??) and 70-200mm f2.8 lens is all I need, though I would like a tempur mattress.
Posted in: Which item is on your must-buy list for this year?
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papasmurfinjapan
Well Madonna isn't exactly the greatest singer in the world either, but that hasn't stopped her being a success. Artists like these sell themselves as a package, and live singing ability is only a small part of it.
I'm glad the honor has gone to Hamasaki. She deserves it for her hard work
Posted in: Ayumi Hamasaki 1st artist to achieve 13 consecutive years of No. 1 albums
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papasmurfinjapan
Forget 2010, how about the last decade?
Posted in: For Japan, 2010 was a year to forget
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papasmurfinjapan
I think what repentinjapan is trying to say in his/her less than friendly way is that no-one is perfect. Sure the Bible focuses a lot on sexual sins, and let's face it, depending on what part of the bible you read everything from admiring a cute woman on JT's photo of the day to coitus interruptus is a sin. I think we are guilty of both of those at least some stage during our lives.
The point is not do dwell on the sins we commit and live miserable lives. That is not the message of Christianity, although the scriptures quoted above really make it seem all doom and gloom.
The point is for us to realize that we are all imperfect beings, and know that God loved his children so much he sent Jesus of Nazareth (though dare I say not exclusively - call me a heretic if you will) to show us not only how to enter his presence in the afterlife, but tune in to the whisperings of God in our daily lives.
Many people talk about someone finally "being at peace" when they die, but fail to comprehend that they could have easily found that "peace" while still living - the "born-again" movement tries to grasp on to this concept by encouraging followers to seek out and obtain their own personal spiritual awakening. Where they err is by confining it to their own sect. Spiritual enlightenment is available to anyone, of any religious denomination, if they only search for it.
Christianity's message is supposed to be one of hope, love and enlightenment, but has unfortunately been distorted into one of despair, hate and bigotry.
Posted in: Waiting for a sign
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papasmurfinjapan
Instant ramen, really fatty potato chips and meat don't go down too well with me just before bed. Coffee doesn't seem much of a difference.
A nice glass of wine 30min or so before bed helps me doze off.
Posted in: Which foods and drinks should you avoid before going to bed, if you hope to get a good night's sleep?
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papasmurfinjapan
Driving on the expressway yesterday at 120km/h I could see a little kid standing in the back seat of a Suzuki Wagon R - while dad was tailgating a semi-trailer. Absolutely crazy...
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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papasmurfinjapan
I think it is necessary to make a distinction between Christians and religionists. Just because a person calls himself Christian or attends church doesn't make him so - they are religionists - followers of a dogma specific to the religious organisation they have chosen to follow.
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate"
Real Christians are more concerned about living Golden Rule than being hypocrites by preaching damnation when they know they themselves are far from perfect.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
That one phrase pretty much sums up true Christianity, and is a universal truth found in most religions. No-one can argue with the wisdom of those words.
Posted in: Waiting for a sign
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papasmurfinjapan
That depends what denomination you belong to, but I think most don't condemn them to hell.
I don't really agree with this guy's proselyting methods, nor necessarily what he believes in, but if he isn't hurting anybody what's the fuss? I'd rather him on the street than the uyoku.
Posted in: Waiting for a sign
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papasmurfinjapan
As a parent I find this hard to believe though. Can Japanese parents really be that stupid???
But yes, I agree, there should be some sort of education through commercials or oyako clubs or whatever, including strict enforcement with FINES by police. I guarantee once the cops start pulling over mums and fining them 7000 yen for not restraining their children properly, you'll see every child strapped down so tight they can't move a muscle.
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?
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papasmurfinjapan
I think everyone else has pretty much summed up the general state of child safety in vehicles - pretty poor.
Who is to blame? Sure we blame the cops who don't enforce their own laws, but the most blame has to lie with the parents. You don't need to take a special course in car safety to know that children should be restrained in child seats when the car is moving. It is common sense - unfortunately something many parents lack.
Posted in: How much attention do you think drivers in Japan pay to child safety seats or making sure their kids wear seat belts when they are in cars?