JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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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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- Core Developer - コアディベロッパー
- Midokura Japan K.K. - ミドクラジャパン株式会社, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥4.0M ~ ¥10.0M / Year Negotiable
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smithinjapan
Nessie: "Pedestrians want cyclists on the street; drivers want them on the sidewalk. How 'bout y'all figure it out and provide the appropriate infrastructure. Until then, I will blame stopped cars for making the roads dangerous. For the record, I think think cyclists who ride against traffic should be heavily fined."
I agree with you about the fine and otherwise, particularly with the stopped and double parked cars. I can't count the number of times I have had to ride into oncoming traffic (or nearly) because someone was double parked in front of the convenience store or Izumiya, blocking what little of a bike lane there may be, because they are too lazy and/or cheap to use the parking available. The problem is that infrastructure has been modified for CARS, which took a priority over pedestrians and bicycle riders in the 70's and 80's. Roads that were already too narrow for two way traffic saw their 'sidewalks' eliminated for cars to drive on. Newer utility poles were put smack in the middle of the side of the road where people walk, etc. These days I see a lot of streets being altered to try and make wider sidewalks or even bike lanes (which are ignored and/or used by scooters!), but the fact of the matter is in most places there is just not enough space.
That said, while it's dangerous for both cyclists and drivers alike to have people riding on the street instead of the sidewalk it simply has to be done -- there are more than 2000 accidents a year involving cyclists hitting other cyclists on pedestrians on the sidewalks and every year a number of these result in deaths. I even disagree with the exception that seniors and children should be allowed to ride on the sidewalks that are less than three meters. On my way home from the station this even -- a 15 minute walk -- I counted more than 32 infringements by bicycle riders before I stopped counting, and that wasn't even counting those listening to music. Much like cars don't seem to care if a bicycle is coming down the street before they pull out on to it (giving the 'sumimasen' wave after nearly killing you, of course), a lot of cyclists will simply swerve across the street without looking, especially mothers with a couple of kids on their bikes (and we all recall the woman whose two young daughters died the other day as a result of her negligence), cross on reds, ride on the wrong side, etc.
Again, the police have to stop WARNING people and start charging them... soon!
Posted in: Police caution more than 10,000 in Tokyo for breaking new bicycle rules
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smithinjapan
Awwww... let's all feel pity for Olympus!
Posted in: Olympus reports Y33.08 bil net loss for 9 months to December
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smithinjapan
Yes, yes... and I'm sure the people cautioned took it to heart. For the next month and a half until April they should have continuous commercials on TV, info on signboards and posters, and lectures on the new rules and the punishments for breaking them, then from April cease to 'caution' and simply start ENFORCING!
One more thing -- don't buckle to public pressure to rescind the laws because they are 'inconvenient' to mothers breaking a dozen laws. Safety should not be trumped by convenience or political points.
Posted in: Police caution more than 10,000 in Tokyo for breaking new bicycle rules
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smithinjapan
Silly survey, and predictable results. A lot of women engage in the same sort of activities they themselves find to be turnoffs, if you believe this article -- save perhaps the nude photo request thing (if you're into that). Regardless, while we can't always get what we want, here's hoping these ladies find what they are looking for, and in return are what the partner they find seeks as well.
Posted in: Australian women reject 'I love u' texts
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smithinjapan
Ossan: "The term "terrorist" as in "blow up an airplane" and "eco-terrorist" are two completely different things. The contuinuous posting of "no they aren'nt terrorits" arguments is both irrelevant and misguided."
Sorry, my friend, but pointing out the fact that under your FBI definition the whalers could also be deemed 'eco-terrorists' is not 'irrelevant' any more than your saying they are eco-terrorists is irrelevant. We all know the terms 'terrorist' and 'eco-terrorist' have been used and abused to the point that some governments will simply label anyone who disagrees with them as such. Same with how GWB destroyed the meaning of the words 'democracy' and 'freedom'.
As to the pic of the day, I love the euphemism employed here: "In this photo released by the Institute of Cetacean Research of Japan, a Sea Shepherd activist aboard a small boat throws a butyric acid-containing glass bottle..."
A much better explanation of the pic would be: "Pro-whalers release a picture of SS throwing some rotten butter". But hey, gotta put some lip-stick on that pig, eh?
Posted in: Confrontation
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smithinjapan
How is this an overreaction? SIXTY kids reported to be showing flu-like symptoms coming from a nation where the flu is near epidemic levels and isn't showing much sign of abating. It was a precaution, and once tests were done everyone was let off. It doesn't seem to matter about influenza shots either, because half the people who've come down with the flu seem to have gotten flu shots.
When I visited Korea during the whole swine flu affair I was taken aside at immigration back in Osaka on my return because I have a Canadian passport. It didn't seem to matter to immigration that I had not been home for more than four years -- long before the flu had broken out -- it was because I came from Canada. Now THAT was an overreaction!
The better question is why they are allowed on the plane in the first place. I have a friend who went to NY two weeks back and she admitted to me that the morning the night before their departure her daughter developed influenza (she was taken to a clinic and diagnosed and given medicine), but they decided to go there anyway because they really wanted to go. She said her daughter STILL had a high fever when they boarded the plane. My question is what happened to all those heat detectors they put into use during SARS and the swine flu? Is it only when the flu might ENTER Japan from other nations, not leave the country itself?
Posted in: NZ admits overreacting to flu scare on plane from Japan
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smithinjapan
Still cool, though.
Posted in: Scientist makes 'Avatar' robot
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smithinjapan
'“It’s a strange experience that makes you wonder if you’ve really become a robot,” he told AFP.'
Ummm... only if you're a Japanese 'salary-man'. I doubt very much I would wonder if I became a robot while testing out this thing. And it's not really like Avatar at all -- at least not like the avatars in Avatar, but perhaps like the mechs they use in the military in the movie.
Posted in: Scientist makes 'Avatar' robot
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smithinjapan
bello420: "Japan needs to do what is best for Japan in this case...."
They certainly should, but the government is behaving like a spoilt child thinking it can say, "Iran is bad" to the US, then "We'll keep buying your oil" to Iran, then asking the US to make an exception for Japan. You can't have it both ways, and thinking they are entitled to have it both ways is one reason why Japanese politics and politicians are a laughing stock (there are other reasons as well, but hey).
Cut dependency on Iran in line with the sanctions, or face the consequences with Japan's central bank.
Posted in: Noda says Japan seeks waiver from U.S. penalties on Iran
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smithinjapan
You'll notice it doesn't even mention the third place finisher.
Posted in: Wagner edges Asada to win Four Continents Figure Skating title
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smithinjapan
That explains the rather forced looking smile on the 'photo of the day' pic. It's a shame Mao tends to flub it up in the end, but by the sounds of it (I never watch the stuff) Wagner had her beat regardless. Second, of course, is not bad at all. Good on all the other winners as well.
Posted in: Wagner edges Asada to win Four Continents Figure Skating title
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smithinjapan
Not a huge fan, and really had no idea about all the drug and alcohol abuse, but I had a lot of respect for the woman and was rather surprised and saddened to read this morning about her death. RIP.
Posted in: Whitney Houston dead at 48
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smithinjapan
JapanGal: Most modern DVD/BlueRay players come with built-in recorders (often they even have built in memory to record, then write to DVD later). It's a pain in the butt, but I'm sure you can figure it out.
Posted in: NHK to broadcast documentary series for 9 days to mark 1st anniversary of March 11 disaster
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smithinjapan
nisegaijin: "if they hate nuclear power that much, then they can all do something about it without causing any damage."
What damage are they causing, pres tel?
"That's how it begins. Productive and intelligent hard working Japanese join the bandwagon of meaningless protests without any understanding of the cause."
This isn't one of those right-wing 'protests' where idiots drag their children out, tie balloons to their hands and paint their faces, and whine and shake their fists at TV stations for running Korean dramas or over a pile of rocks in the ocean; the protest here is only 'meaningless' insomuch as it will go unheard by the government. The cause they are supporting, or rather the thing they are standing against, is very relevant to the lives of all hear and has ACTUALLY caused a great deal of harm, both physically and financially, to thousands upon thousands, if not millions. What's more, it's something that will affect the future.
Posted in: Thousands in Tokyo march against nuclear power
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smithinjapan
I bet you a good percentage of those who got the flu wasted money on flu shots.
Get lots of rest, keep as hygienic as you can (don't go over the top, and don't believe that crap about gargling every time you walk into a building from outside!). Forget about masks if you're going to be cheap (don't buy the ones that press against your nose, mouth, and if you DO wear a mask don't constantly touch it or it's just as bad or worse than sneezing into your hands and not washing.
There's no reason why a healthy person should need so much medicine or hospital treatment, etc. I doubt this many people in the nation used to catch the flu at the same time before said treatments existed (exceptions being MAJOR viruses, of course).
Posted in: Flu outbreak hits more than 2.11 million nationwide
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smithinjapan
Ahhh... Google and Windows; once again proving how very fallible and inferior their products are.
Posted in: Google users warned of threat to smartphone wallets
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smithinjapan
So we can expect all the patches and plug-ins to correct all the errors and holes in the software on March 2nd? :) As well as a new OS in the works by the end of March, of course. Switch to Apple already!
Posted in: Windows 8 preview set for Feb 29
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smithinjapan
LoveNot: believe it or not, television falls under entertainment, be the content the usual vapid stuff shown here or the very serious topic of March 11th and the issues NHK is going to tackle. I don't think there' any other section it would qualify to fall under.
Anyway, sounds like some interesting programming. I hope it's as objective as possible, particularly with the nuclear issue. I hope to see some of these programs.
Posted in: NHK to broadcast documentary series for 9 days to mark 1st anniversary of March 11 disaster
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smithinjapan
"Azumi defended himself, saying he was simply reading rates that were shown to him on a board at the meeting."
So he 'gave the order' and helped by intervening, but he only read rates that were shown to him? Once again Azumi screws up... guess he better go 'visit' the Kuriles by helicopter, or fly close to Dokdo -- time to take the focus off!
Posted in: Azumi under fire for revealing forex intervention level
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smithinjapan
My guess is Japan would have ZERO qualms, and even agree with, other countries not getting waivers for not following the penalties the US is seeking to impose on Iran, but somehow feel they themselves are entitled to one.
Posted in: Noda says Japan seeks waiver from U.S. penalties on Iran