sk4ek said...

sk4ek at 07:50 AM JST - 5th November

The government needs to guarantee the pension liabilities, which represent a contract between company and worker backed by the direct contribution of the worker over 20, 30, or more years. Why pensions should be unilaterally targeted for cutback or elimination when they represent a real legal obligation has never made…

Posted in DPJ fumbles JAL issue at 07:50 AM JST - 5th November
sk4ek at 06:09 PM JST - 4th November

The problem with the Japanese title is not whether it properly represents "basterds" (vs. "bastards), but that it is the same as the spelling used in "Busters" (as in "Ghostbusters"), which regardless of the fact that no one will understand what "ingurouriasu" means, sets up a whole different set of…

Posted in Inglourious Basterds at 06:09 PM JST - 4th November
sk4ek at 12:20 PM JST - 3rd November

It's not misinformation or confusion, it's a very conscious, deliberate strategy on the part of the government. They hope that by conflating (and actively encouraging the media to conflate) the dangers of so-called 'gateway' drugs like marijuana, they can reduce the incidence of more serious drug use. It's the same…

Posted in TV coverage of Sakai lacked warning about drug use, says ethics panel at 12:20 PM JST - 3rd November
sk4ek at 05:35 PM JST - 29th October

Certainly Edo itself was home to a sophisticated populace, and even the traditional lifestyle of the countryside (aspects of which remain today) certainly was what we might call "in tune with nature." But vast segments of the population lived in dire poverty and despair, and by the end of the…

Posted in Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan at 05:35 PM JST - 29th October
sk4ek at 03:59 PM JST - 29th October

As a commentator for the Japan Times pointed out, Mao needs to dump her current coach and find someone who will focus on working with her. Her coach has put together a challenging program for her, but she's done little to help push her to the next level competitively, and…

Posted in Asada promises to overcome lackluster start to season at 03:59 PM JST - 29th October
sk4ek at 01:42 PM JST - 28th October

Another slow news day...

Posted in 23-year-old man arrested for skateboarding on busy pathway at 01:42 PM JST - 28th October
sk4ek at 12:38 PM JST - 28th October

Remember when restaurants used to have little "Please Refrain from Using Mobile Phones" cards on the tables? No more, except in a few hotel coffee shops--they've all given up. And somehow, a conversation carried out by mobile phone tends to be perceived as more irritating than the same conversation carried…

Posted in Self-centered zombies running rampant through Japanese society at 12:38 PM JST - 28th October
sk4ek at 04:00 PM JST - 27th October

I don't see how Japan is any better or worse in this respect. The U.S. has its "Gentleman's Clubs", its lap-dancing, its "escort services" where women end up exploited, abused, and dead with equal or greater frequency.

All reports indicate that this was a hard-working college student who had aspirations…

Posted in Police investigate possibility of stalker in slain Chiba university student case at 04:00 PM JST - 27th October
sk4ek at 11:58 AM JST - 27th October

One Japanese all-news station made the observation that Hatoyama's speech contained no fewer than 57 'You's, 'Our's, and 'the people's, while Aso's first speech as prime minister was dominated (at half the length) by a preponderance of 'I's and 'my's ... a telling difference.

The DPJ will stumble repeatedly, given…

Posted in Opposition blasts Hatoyama speech as 'redundant,' 'sentimental' at 11:58 AM JST - 27th October
sk4ek at 04:08 PM JST - 14th October

This is only a problem if the behavior of older employees at large companies is taken as "normal" and that of new recruits seen as aberrant. I think it's the other way around--the older generation is out of step with new ways of conducting business, and can't understand that the…

Posted in New breed of employees can’t communicate and wilt under pressure at 04:08 PM JST - 14th October