philly1's past comments

  • 2

    philly1

    This seems much too much like the often used culturally-Japanese response: Say yes but the true answer is no.

    More often than not, the children in question will likely be well beyond the age of needing parental custody by the time such cases are settled--if they are even considered. The parents who have lost those years and the bond of shared history & love with their children will be able to do little but hope that the adult children might seek them out once they are independent.

    Posted in: Diet approves child abduction treaty

  • 0

    philly1

    If trains can start with things and people sticking out of the doors, then that is the problem.

    Agreed. That is a problem which needs to be fixed--fast! However, in general that oh-so-famous, unique-to-Japanese consideration of others is in need of a serious brush up in some cases. When travelling in Hiroshima I was quite dismayed that no one got up to offer a seat to a frail woman quite obviously in her mid-90s travelling with her daughter in her 70s who was also a bit unsteady. Though there were others in the car much younger, I gave up my seat without hesitation. I am quite willing to stand if it eases someone else's stress. In a little while another seat some distance away opened up for me. Nice.

    When the elderly ladies reached their stop, they troubled to dodder down to where I was now seated first. They bowed and thanked me repeatedly for my courtesy. I was shocked--and worried that they wouldn't make it off the train at their stop. Is human kindness and courtesy that rare in Japan? Or was it their surprise that a foreigner should be so well-mannered and considerate?

    Posted in: Transport ministry to unify rules for baby strollers on buses, trains

  • 1

    philly1

    Yeah. Not so fast, sonny. He forgot to call a meeting to discuss the meeting to discuss the meeting at which spin off might be politely introduced by some euphemism such as capital refreshment or division revision. Any thing but the facts quick and dirty like that.

    Posted in: Sony is an icon. Until now, it hasn’t had a fellow like this coming in and making demands in public. But now he comes in with guns blazing. This hasn’t quite started off right, you might say.

  • -2

    philly1

    There's a homeopathic product called No Jet-lag that is helpful. http://www.nojetlag.com/

    Used as directed and followed up (if/as needed) with sleeping pills for a couple of days works well for me.

    Good nutritional habits also help: alcohol in moderation, staying hydrated as well as avoiding junk food, sugary and caffeinated beverages to keep the body in optimum balance.

    Posted in: What do you do to overcome jet lag?

  • 0

    philly1

    Don't tempt an attack by too much talk. Cynics R Us would surmise that terrorists probably already work at the plan. I believe Confucius said that a good army does not reveal all its weapons. That's why terrorism works so well. It works in silence until the moment of terror.

    Posted in: No matter what, we'll never allow terrorists to break into the plant.

  • 1

    philly1

    it seems highly unlikely that PCs, tablets, phones really interfere with the airplane's communication and control system, otherwise you would hear in news of accidents due to this. however, if you have any respect for your own life, those of your family, and those flying with you, why don't you just turn all your stuff off when requested? is it such a big deal? are you too cool to comply?

    If ordinary use of the e-devices seems safe, is it not possible that a terrorist could take control of or interfere with a craft in flight to do harm? If so, that risk might be reduced if everyone must turn their devices off. Though any terrorist only needs to go to the bathroom to turn it on again.

    If it is not safe, clearer explanations must be provided and the rules enforced. But anyone only needs to got to the bathroom to turn it on to play Zookeeper and listen to Slayer. We'll see the lineups and hear people calling through the door, "Are you going in there or are you just reading." Just as in the old-fashioned one-bathroom homes. LOL

    Posted in: Many passengers don't turn off phones in planes: survey

  • 0

    philly1

    On the other hand, there's this on the detestible Gatsby (with a great commentary thread) : http://www.vulture.com/2013/05/schulz-on-the-great-gatsby.html

    Posted in: Fitzgerald's Hollywood ending followed sad death

  • 1

    philly1

    But falling short of that, is it OK to compliment an outfit or a coworker’s new hairdo? Why risk a compliment or a casual remark if the intent is innocent?

    A compliment makes the comment personal. If workers are in an impersonal corporate culture, then saying a person is smart, capable and beautiful is probably out of order.

    If the number 1 executive only points out his female number 2 as smart, capable and beautiful and never introduces the other males on the executive team as smart, capable and handsome, that indicates a problem. Especially since beautiful women are often negatively perceived by both men and women in the work force.

    If the culture of the workplace is more personal, then the whole dynamic changes. All people would be free to compliment a person's hair, clothing, shoes and so on.

    Most people, however, would probably appreciate it if you noticed how well they did their jobs (especially the thankless ones) rather than a personal compliment. Then they wouldn't have to worry about how to take it.

    Posted in: Is it ever OK to compliment a co-worker's appearance on the job?

  • 1

    philly1

    Also, I doubt you really meant the smartphone itself would be disabled because then you couldn't receive a call if you were moving when the call came in.

    I did indeed mean it. The incoming call could automatically go to a message system. Most calls are not that important. If you absolutely have to call your wife from the grocery store because you don't know the brand of yogurt she wants you to pick up, all you need to do is stop walking and the phone will turn on again.

    As for disabling apps, the tech-geeks could solve that problem. That's what they like to do anyway. As you can probably tell, I'm not fond of an e-tether, especially one that endangers and/or annoys others by its inappropriate use.

    Posted in: Smartphone users who text while they walk becoming a hazard

  • 3

    philly1

    If a pedometer can measure a person's motion a smart phone can be made to distinguish walking motion and stop operating while a person is walking. It might be more effective to lobby for that in legislation.

    As for drivers, distracted driving will eventually have to receive the same penalties as drinking and driving. In instances where the operator of a vehicle is texting, phoning or gaming and causes an accident, all costs should be borne by the driver, not insurance. It can be proven easily enough by checking phone records and the time of the accident.

    It takes societies a while to come to terms with new technologies and decide what will and will not be tolerated.

    Posted in: Smartphone users who text while they walk becoming a hazard

  • 2

    philly1

    The clothing ensemble is beautifully cut and styled, as is the hair. The colour is perfect to the season and certainly pops. The smocking is probably the nicest I've ever seen as its looseness looks adult-stylish rather than baby-girlish-youthful.

    If you are walking to work, the shoes, socks and portable tote to match work in sort of a tongue-in-cheek way on the fashion as well as comfort level. (Though I would have chosen deep plum-pink shoelaces.)

    If you are carrying a mug to be more eco-friendly, great! Alas, covering the face mask with the sunglasses ruins the look and takes it from well-considered (if a bit over the top for some tastes) to bizarre. However, blocking toxic smog and sand as well as other cultural habits come into play. Shoganai.

    Posted in: Seeing green

  • 3

    philly1

    A simple Beer? with the appropriate intonation and gesture is a lot better than Beer drink? and still lets you wet your whistle. (If you're talking Japanese, as I imagine from the wakaranai plea, then biiru nomu? is what native speakers ask each other in a casual setting, not broken at all.)

    For non-Japanese speakers who have acquired their Japanese elsewhere (possibly at some expense) and are keen to practise and communicate, they will have no clue as to what "native speakers" ask in any setting. Proper intonation and gestures are even less likely to be part of their awareness.

    I used the "simple beer" example because a colleague was once refused service because she had ordered a building. The server's attitude was that she should learn to speak properly if she wanted something. Sanks a rot. But that kind of condescension doesn't exactly serve either side, does it?

    Posted in: Why do some native English speakers use broken or grammatically incorrect English, when trying to communicate with someone who isn't a native English speaker, but who may understand some English? Do they think that somehow broken English is easier to understand?

  • 4

    philly1

    Yes, it is easier to understand. This is common sense, and is actually taught in CELTA courses when teaching beginners. Anybody who's ever taught beginners knows this is true.

    Thank you, gaijinfo. Simplifying speech makes it clearer. Slowing down one's speech and enunciating clearly help facilitate understanding. Rapid speakers and mumblers add to the difficulty. No need to raise the volume, though.

    Some speakers (whatever the language) are at a very basic stage in their language learning. If they are adults, they need all the encouragement they can get. Kids seem to care less, but adults are more acutely aware of being incorrect.

    I appreciate someone who keeps it simple when I am running through the loops in my brain for the minimal vocabulary I have. Beer drink? gets me to yes please or to coffee drink if you don't mind. And please don't wakarinai me if I have inadvertently ordered a building instead of a beer. I'm doing my best.

    Anybody with a brain can recognize slip ups for what they are and be generous.

    Posted in: Why do some native English speakers use broken or grammatically incorrect English, when trying to communicate with someone who isn't a native English speaker, but who may understand some English? Do they think that somehow broken English is easier to understand?

  • 0

    philly1

    Who knows, the lack of experience is an issue, but whether she can build the relationships that she'll need to be effective at her job as Ambassador is the real question.

    By appointing a celebrity to a position that requires much sensitivity, diplomatic experience and knowledge, might it not be safe to conclude that the current US administration doesn't much care about Japan? She wasn't up to being a senator in her own country. So then what? Send her to the colonies? It makes you wonder.

    Posted in: I thought it was an April Fool’s joke when I first heard about it. Our economic and national security are based on goodwill toward Japan. I have nothing against Caroline Kennedy becoming ambassador to, say, Barbados. But Japan is too important for somebody with no experience.

  • -1

    philly1

    A. The surest and best way to change the image is to increase the pay. A number of other options would increase the desirability of care work as a career. 1. Create the lowest tax bracket for care workers. 2. Provide scholarship and bursary support for suitable candidates choosing that career path. 3.Over employ in this field so that many workers can enjoy part time work and avoid burnout. 4. Utilize the under-utilized female workforce by training tit for this line of work. 5. Retrain unemployed people to work in this field.

    But above all, pay well. Cut back in other places, but the people being cared for built the country. It's the least the government & citizenry should do.

    B. If there is no public will for such an approach, then all citizens (while competent to do so) should be given the right to sign up for the option make a dignified exit at a time of their choosing.

    Posted in: We need to increase the number of care workers by a million...by 2025, for which we have to consider strategies.

  • 0

    philly1

    Rude behavior on transit is not a problem unique to Japan. It irritates the people who are polite to no end. Short of attempting to see the divine Buddha in each thoughtless perpetrator, there's not much that can be done. Shoganai.

    Posted in: Tokyo Metro manner posters confuse and delight commuters

  • 3

    philly1

    you also do not have to endure their remaining [butt cheek] warmth

    No, Western-style [only in Japan] you only have to endure the ever-baking toilet seat heater on an already warm day. Try that when you're in the middle of a hot flash and see how you like it. Adding that much heat to the seat must only encourage any bacteria to "be fruitful and multiply."

    Since most of the body touching the seat is skin of the thighs and glutes, the ick-factor of sitting on a toilet is a purely emotional reaction. Studies show higher counts of bacteria are found under the average person's fingernails than on toilet seats.

    Most people don't even consider the ick-factor in touching door knobs, keyboards for cashless transactions or turning on a light switch or picking up the same high-end handbag in a department store or grocery items a stranger has recently touched and put back.

    Either toilet when clean is fine. Either toilet when dirty is gross. Though it's trickier for women whose wardrobe choices often make using the J-style option more of a hassle.

    Posted in: Japanese-style squat toilets: A surprising way to stay healthy

  • -1

    philly1

    ... the masks show consideration for OTHERS... most posters from other cultures ... are not used to thinking about others to the same level in their daily life that Japanese culture and schooling entrenches.

    Alas, this is part of the mythologized Japanese self. It is not consistently true. While J people will wear a mask they fail to do a number of things that show TRUE consideration for others that are basic hygiene etiquette in some other (so called less considerate) cultures .

    1They do not stay home when sick and contagious. They spread it from their doorstep to the workplace and back.

    2The same sick people also handle other people's food.

    3They do not practise thorough hand washing. They wet their hands without soap and wipe their hands on an often used cloth. Dampness breeds bacteria & viruses which are spread from the hands to everything else that is touched: faucets, doorknobs, straps on trains, railings, food being prepared, whatever.

    4They cough into their hands instead of their elbow crook and then spread the contagion as outlined in #2.

    5They cough directly into the air without covering their mouths. (Thanks for sharing that!)

    6They believe the mask protects them and others. It does not, especially if it is not regularly discarded and replaced.

    Posted in: Sea of masks

  • 0

    philly1

    Maybe, having dual citizenship it is simply politic to compete in a field that might be smaller than in the USA. That way they get to the Worlds and the Olympics. Numerous athletes improve their chances this way.

    As to whether or not they are "Japanese" or not, in Japan (whatever passports they may hold) the majority likely would say they are not. "Real" Japanese is a construct determined by bloodlines and family registers. In Japan the group identifies the individual.

    In the free world individuals usually self-identify. I consider people with dual citizenship or racial/cultural bloodlines as double, not half. They have the enviable richness of more than one heritage from which to navigate the world. Unfortunately, most people don't look at it that way.

    Posted in: Ice dancers

  • 0

    philly1

    I like the tissues, too. The size of the packaging is less bulky than North American options and slip easily into a pocket or handbag. (Though Kleenex brand is now offering the same style for about $2 a package. Highway robbery.) I much prefer the free version. And as jonobugs points out, if you don't like them you can ignore the offer as the locals do.

    Posted in: Fun facts about pocket tissue ads in Japan

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