JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Part Time Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥9,000 / Day per 4 class shift
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sdmsec
Sounds like this punk was expecting someone to come looking for that money.
By the way, as an ex-con their are already laws that ban him from owning a firearm. In other words, the gun laws were ineffective here as I expect they would be if applied universally.
Besides empowering criminals a universal gun ban would also allow our federal government to trample our rights even worse than they're doing right now. Liberals and conservatives alike should be united in securing the means to "dare defend our rights" against a repressive government - its in our blood after all.
Posted in: S Carolina shooter feared 12-year-old trick-or-treater was robber, police say
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sdmsec
P.S. I forgot to mention that if you have some excess money right now I'd start first by setting aside a rainy-day fund of both cash and food.
Posted in: Considering the turbulent state of global financial markets, what would you advise anyone with money to invest in?
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sdmsec
I think it's still premature to "invest" yet. Right now, I'd say "protect" your wealth by purchasing a little gold and perhaps spread your cash between US Dollars, CHF (Swiss Francs), NZ Dollars, and Singapore Dollars (possibly some Yen, too).
Wait a little while watching commodities closely - particularly agricultural commodities. Buy some shares of an ETF (NOT ETN) that holds futures in agricultural commodities on the next big dip. Continue watching and buying on any big dips.
I think the Stock Market may hit a bottom and stay there for a fairly extended time, so there's no need to try to "rush in at the bottom" - it'll be there for a while.
My current concerns are based on the fact that the housing bust followed by the credit bust are aligned and exacerbating a recession. As people continue to lose jobs and purchasing power more businesses will cut back. This leads to a commercial real estate bust, a credit card bust, and prime mortgage defaults as unemployed people can't pay mortgages or credit card bills.
In conclusion, I think the deleveraging has only begun. There's a LOT of outstanding debt that can't be repaid as the economy slumps and jobs are lost.
Posted in: Considering the turbulent state of global financial markets, what would you advise anyone with money to invest in?
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sdmsec
1 Andy Griffith Show 2 X-Files 3 Barney Miller 4 Beverly Hillbillies 5 Samford and Son
Some nice variety here.
Posted in: Name your five favorite TV show themes.
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sdmsec
Sez,
I don't have any facts to back this up, but I figure McCain, Obama, and Biden have easily spent similar amounts *from campaign funding *on wardrobes and image enhancements.
If you have facts that dispute this I'm interested in seeing your source.
On another topic: I think that those who say we should spread the wealth should have all of their wealth spread first. Only then should they ever have any claim on anyone else's wealth.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
Yeah, it seems big changes within a party have to begin in the smaller elections - state and House of Reps.
Still, there are times when pragmatism has to override idealism. Again, it's much easier for me this time as the outcome seems inevitable at the state level and at the national level as well.
The problem here is that Obama's millstones won't appear to be millstones until a generation or two down the road. Kind of the FDR effect. Bush, McCain, and the current GOP leadership hang millstones on our necks, too. I'm ready for smaller federal government at the international and domestic level.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
Helter,
P.S. I REALLY do like the Constitution Party's platform and principles better than the GOP anyway. This is just the opportunity I've been looking for to vote my heart.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
Helter,
Admittedly, it would be a much tougher choice if my state were a really tight race. As it is, my state is clearly in the McCain column, and I really don't like McCain or 85% of the GOP right now. I'll send a message if I can.
In fact, I don't mind if the GOP crashes and burns down completely right now. They don't represent conservative values at all - they only represent a watered down Democrat party.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
What makes you think that?
Additionally, if Palin doesn't have the deep pockets to fund her own VP-candidate wardrobe doesn't it help prove the case that she's middle America?
Regardless, I'm not voting for McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden. My vote's going to Chuck Baldwin - US Constitution Party. Check out their web site.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
taka,
Good point about the hypocrisy. I don't care what John Edwards spent on his hair cut either - as long as I'm not paying for it as a taxpayer.
As for Palin being a Wal-Mart hockey mom I don't think this makeover for her and her family change what she is. If she has been that Wal Mart soccer mom allowing the campaign to spend this money making her "look" like people expect doesn't change her core values. As I stated in the prior post, people don't get elected to the highest office without a certain image. Right or wrong - people expect a candidate to look sharp and successful. You can't blame her for participating in the same game that her competitors are.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
Why is this news? Perhaps because Palin is a somewhat attractive woman.
No one reported on how much Hillary, Chelsea, and Bill spent on their wardrobes, accessories, and grooming.
How much do you think has been spent by McCain, Obama, and Biden for nice suits, watches, haircuts, etc. How about their wives and children?
I think this type of story is simply another way to say "She's a decent-looking woman in politics. She must be an fickle air-head".
If you think looks and image aren't important for the men running for pres and VP as well you're stupid. What if Obama looked like Michael Moore and spoke like the guy from The Family Guy? Even if his words, ideas, and message were the exact same - he wouldn't even have made it into the primaries.
Silly stuff here. Move along.
Posted in: Republicans spend $150,000 on Palin's look
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sdmsec
I hope your right about 2012. We might be surprised at how many people who are fiscal conservatives are willing to get behind him - despite big differences in social views (left v right). Ron's platform is to allow local people to determine social issues for themselves (based on 10th Amendment of Constitution) and limit federal government to those powers outlined in the Constitution.
In fact, this may be a platform that you and I could agree to despite many differences of philosophy. I really do appreciate and respect your posts even though I disagree with a fair number of them.
Posted in: McCain criticizes Obama's promise of tax cuts
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sdmsec
It's much less messy to steal via the ballot box than to stick a gun in someone's back, huh?
Though I don't consider myself very rich, apparently Obama does think I'm rich. I already pay more in taxes than most Americans both as a straight dollar amount and as a percentage. How is that just? In fact, for my elevated confiscation what do I receive in return? I still get one vote and the same basic protections and infrastructure that every other citizen pays. Yet, other citizens who pay lass than me or pay nothing at all get more than these basic benefits which I am not allowed access to.
An enlightening experiment when considering government actions is to remove the goverment as the "middle man" and consider the justice of the action were it only between to equal citizens. For example, would it be just for you to take money from my family by force and give it as a scholarship to someone else? Would it be just for you to take money from my family by force in order to buy pay an artist to produce modern art?
Posted in: In swing states, McCain and Obama spar over taxes
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sdmsec
Skip,
Agreed, my friend. Hope your weathering this mess OK.
Posted in: Momentum building in U.S. for new economy-boosting package
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sdmsec
I've personally moved a fair amount of my investments into gold and commodities which will benefit in the long run from this insane printing and distribution of paper money.
However, as an American citizen it makes me sick to see them do it. I just know they will continue to crank the printing presses despite the fact that I wish they wouldn't. I think it's inevitable that serious inflation is going to occur - possibly hyper-inflation. Heaven help us if we get recession and inflation simultaneously.
Keynesian economics has proven itself a disaster, yet these central planners continue to believe they can control the markets.
Posted in: Momentum building in U.S. for new economy-boosting package
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sdmsec
If you think the U.S. government is small, light on regulation, or non-interventionist in the markets you're plain crazy. The U.S. is already socialist - just not to the degree that Russia and China were before they realized the socialist conundrum - it doesn't work. Perhaps in 50 years the U.S. can have all the benefits that Cuba has enjoyed.
Posted in: In swing states, McCain and Obama spar over taxes
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sdmsec
Super point Betzee. I'd also like to point out that printing lots of paper money (deflating the value of the dollar) is also an income redistribution (money flows from savers to debtors).
What I'm looking for is the candidate who says "Not only will I NOT give you nationalized health care and subsidized green energy - but I WILL also take away corporate welfare, foreign welfare, remove our troops from overseas, and eliminate individual welfare." That's the person who'll get my vote.
Posted in: McCain criticizes Obama's promise of tax cuts
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sdmsec
This is actually the most impressive that I've seen McCain. I finally find at least one area where I'm impressed by him. He makes coherent logical arguments on taxes.
To call what Obama is proposing a tax "cut" is deceitful. A tax cut during a flat economy or recession can only come from decreased government spending or increased government debt. With Obama's promised socialist programs I suspect he'll have to raise taxes and increase debt. Welcome to the U.S.A. (United Slaves of America)!
A goverment that can arbitrarily confiscate your property can pretty well control your life. Citizens being property of the state is a basic tenet of socialism. Welcome to the U.S.A. (United Socialists of America).
Posted in: In swing states, McCain and Obama spar over taxes
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sdmsec
Simon,
Why quibble over the amount? It's completely arbitrary. IMO Obama should raise the taxes on everyone making over $80K and anyone who makes less shouldn't pay any. There's no guiding principle behind any of this, so just stick it to those who make more than you for your own bennefit.
This is also why I think we should one world government. Almost all citizens of every developed nation have it better than the rest of the world. So we should forcibly confiscate from Canada, U.S., Japan, western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. and give to everyone else.
Of course, in the U.S. we have a Constitution based on principles of equality of opportunity and basic rights to own property and be protected in that right. However, the current and future (Obama/Dem) U.S. government has shown it can easily set aside the Constitution.
Flat tax anyone? Not that a flat tax is "fair", but at least it's not as criminal as a "progressive" tax. I'd actually prefer a citizen tax where every citizen pays their equal portion of the fed budget. This would really put taxation and representation on an equal footing.
Posted in: McCain criticizes Obama's promise of tax cuts
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sdmsec
The only way for the government to provide a tax cut is to cut spending or accept more debt. Anything else isn't a tax cut - it's simply a tax change.
Obama's plan is nothing but pure pandering to people's greed versus a basic human principle of enjoying the fruits of one's own labors.
Obama's Robin Hood (i.e. government are a bunch of hoods who rob us) approach isn't exactly noble in a nation whose middle class enjoy multiple cars, robust bellies, and more electronic gadgets than needed. Not exactly the poor starving masses of a fuedal system.
As is so often the case when one person points out anothers' "greed" they actually expose their own as well. Most coins have two sides.
Posted in: McCain criticizes Obama's promise of tax cuts