JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
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- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
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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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smithinjapan
This guy is screwing himself over in such a classic manner it is HILARIOUS to watch! "I ADORE poor people!" "Some of my very favourite people that I've fired have been poor people!"
Yep, Mitt... you're really showing that you can sympathize with and relate to 'the poor people'. I can't wait until the starts slipping up like this in regards to Mexicans and immigrants, etc.
Posted in: Romney admits he 'misspoke' over poor Americans
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smithinjapan
Sorry, but I don't remember hearing 'basically' when the government declared successful shut down and said the plant was STABLE. Now, as everyone has predicted, they're backtracking on their blunt statements and simply watering them down. Now beta rays are being released -- but oh! they've set up a few sandbags to prevent any leaks from reaching the ocean.... until tomorrow when we read about how they've noticed several tonnes of radioactive water have reached the ocean (but it poses no risk to human health!!).
Still think people should go home to the nearby villages?
Posted in: More radioactive water leaks found at Fukushima nuclear plant
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smithinjapan
Lunchbox: "Yay for science, and yay for earthquake drills. Anyone who opposes emergency drills shouldn't be given access shelters or food and water."
I don't think anyone opposes such drills, I just think some people question the way they are conducted. It's like sports day here -- all planned out beforehand, with everyone knowing the outcome before it happens (except the odd case when a kid who is 'not supposed to' fall falls). What they need is an honest to god drill -- don't tell people there's one that's going to happen (save for the people in charge, and who are supposed to be helping). This is downtown Tokyo we're talking, so there's bound to be a good number of foreigners, but do you see even one in the crowd (granted, there could be people from other Asian countries)? How is this guy going to communicate to those people in such a situation? So again have a drill where few people involved know what's happening, but throw in a few token foreigners without letting the 'rescuers' know to see how they can react to the situation.
Or if people are worried about creating panic in such a drill (there would be, but there would be a LOT more panic during the real deal), let all the people who volunteer to be 'innocent shoppers' or the injured know, but don't let the people assigned to evacuation management know that you're throwing in a few wrenches. Otherwise, it's just not going to be realistic.
That said, Lunchbox et. al., drills like these never hurt as supplements, and I'm 100% for proper education about what you should do in the event of an earthquake (ex. do NOT get under a table or desk, or try to wait it out in a doorway, contrary to popular belief that that's what you should do!), where the proper evacuation zones are, etc. This is done of course at schools, to an extent, but should be done with adults more.
Posted in: Earthquake drill
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smithinjapan
自業自得
Elbuda: "While most Japanese dudes know how to go to kyabakuras etc..and just cut to the chase??"
You call that 'love'?
Posted in: China outperforming Japan in campus romance
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smithinjapan
To be fair, though -- some of that is due to the fact that they have no idea what's going on half the time themselves. If you don't believe me, you can read it in the minutes! errr... wait.
Posted in: Chernobyl experts hopeful on Fukushima
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smithinjapan
"Ukrainian government officials Nasvit and Dmytro Bobro said a crucial lesson from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster is that the government needs to tell people the truth so that they can make informed decisions about their future."
Well then, Japan's screwed. The government has been as 'transparent' as goat's cheese.
Posted in: Chernobyl experts hopeful on Fukushima
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smithinjapan
Is there anyone to whom this is not common knowledge?
Now, if you WANT to express some love on this day do something nice for your partner, regardless of gender. If that includes chocolates, so be it. I give my wife some chocolates but also make sure I do something nice and original for her, even if but a small gesture. Last year it was breakfast in bed (well, slightly off to the side, on the kotatsu) -- heart shaped French toast (she loves French toast) -- a DVD I made with Studio Pro of pics and vids of the last year or so together, a card, of course, and said chocolates before I had to rush out the door. I asked for and got nothing in return (well... okay, I did... but a gentleman can't say).
As for White Day and even the failed Orange Day (April 14th), screw them, and screw the obligatory crap as well. You shouldn't be obligated to give people something, regardless of the event/occasion.
Posted in: Lots of chocolate, but little love on Valentine’s Day in Japan
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smithinjapan
nigelboy: "Smith. Rhetorical? I doubt it very much. I just don't understand why you would be upset that JAL would turn a profit?? Would you be happy if they are at a loss and if so, why??"
Yes, it was rhetorical... or hey, 'sarcastic' if you like. But since I've got to spell it out for you go back and read the allegory I make at the bottom -- it's quite clear that I know when you succeed in declaring bankruptcy you do not pay back that which you owed beforehand.
Anyone with their head screwed on properly would be upset that their tax money went towards bailing out a company who could not pay their debts, only to see them turn that into a major profit while STILL price-gouging the customers. Sure, fuel costs money, and those costs are rising, in particular with problems in the Middle East, but not as much as they are raising the fuel surcharge! But hey, if it suits your fancy jump up and click your heels over paying more on top of what you paid them in tax money.
Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
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smithinjapan
Who wants to place bets about what kind of 'punishment' the company gets? I wager, at BEST, we'll see an old codger 'retire' to take responsibility. I would even wager that police will state that by law this kind of chemical must be kept in a secure area, but follow it with some stupid loophole like, "whether the area is actually LOCKED or not is up to the individual company".
Posted in: Firm loses potassium cyanide equivalent to 2,500 lethal doses
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smithinjapan
Take care, people -- you don't REALLY need to keep a massive sushi roll shoved in your mouth until you finish cramming it all in.
Setsubun is pretty fun, but the odd part about it is that some people honestly believe it means tomorrow will be the first day of spring. I doubt the people on the Japan Sea feel that way, shoveling away the snow! Have fun, everyone!
Posted in: Authorities warn parents of Setsubun choking risks
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smithinjapan
nigelboy: "That's not how it works, smitty. You're confused with liquidation versus reorganization."
And you're confusing rhetorical questions with a genuine desire to know. Not surprising though, nigelboy -- in your constant avoiding of the thread itself and instead attacks on posters I don't expect anything less. I'm sorry the situation (both JAL and your attitude) don't bother you, but clearly many are upset by it.
Nicky: "Just bought tickets home costing just over 800,000 for the family. Of that, a whopping 250,000 is fuel surcharge!"
Exactly what I was talking about, and why their claims that they have reduced fuel costs is bogus. The worst is that they price-gouge now more on fuel surcharge than on ticket cost, and launch huge campaigns about how they've cut ticket costs by such and such percent! I was looking to fly to Peru as I've not been to South America and the surcharge alone, for pretty much every airline (again, collusion), is 100,000 per person in the off-season.
Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
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smithinjapan
So, JAL claimed bankruptcy in order to avoid creditors and paying off debts, was then bailed out by the government, made major staff cutbacks to the point that we've seen problems with the planes and errors, they've engaged with other companies in collusion to RAISE fuel taxes to the point where they almost surpass ticket costs (and no more of this 'they lowered fuel costs' crap!), and now they don't have to pay back any of the debt they forfeited on since they are making major profits?
I had a friend who once told me that the best thing you can do if you are in debt and paying that debt for long periods of time is to declare bankruptcy. So long as you can get a job and are a hard worker you'll start off by making a profit and will hopefully have learned from any past mistakes. That guy was a chain restaurant owner (now he's sold the chain and is a millionaire). I guess he's right.
Posted in: JAL, bankrupt two years ago, posts Y146 bil profit
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smithinjapan
Only four and half years? Should be at least ten. It's not like she's going to get out of jail at 34 years of age and suddenly see a happy mother and not try to do the same thing. Hell, probably wouldn't change at 40, either, but at least she'd have more time to sit and realize that... hey... maybe breaking a helpless baby's legs isn't the answer to my personal problems!
Posted in: Woman sentenced to 4 1/2 years for breaking babies' legs
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smithinjapan
sailwind: All you did was quote EXACTLY what was quoted in the article. It's not a soundbite, and you can paint the pig any way you like, my friend, he STILL said, and I quote, "I'm not concerned with the very poor". And what about the whole 'fix any holes' vs. the Ryan Plan which he supports? He's either going to flip-flop on that, too, or else he's lying about fixing the loopholes.
As one poster about said, 'He's either very out of touch with reality or a bad liar'. Either way, he's not fit to be president.
The GOP is going to suffer for years because of this primary. They need to pick up the pieces from being so badly shattered and try working on how they can better the nation instead of having "the other guy can't" as their platform.
Posted in: After Florida win, Romney makes gaffe on poor
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smithinjapan
Got a tiny little dusting of snow in my part of Osaka this afternoon, but as usual it was sunny at the same time and didn't amount to much. Quite cold, though -- coldest I've felt here in at least a few years -- but I'm not complaining.
As for the north, there should be services (newly formed or not) of people who go around and clear people's driveways and/or roof for them. Would be a choice opportunity for some young kids to offer to do the driveways for a bit of pocket money, methinks, but I also know a lot of the areas don't have many young people. I always did hate the kind of shovel the guy in the pick is using -- I found they end up being more work than other types, and not as effective in piling the snow where you dump it.
Anyway, as has been said, a lot of the older houses simply aren't equipped or built well to handle this much snow. A flat roof is an invitation to have the house flattened, and for injury if you climb up to clean it (okay, less chance of injury than on a slanted roof!). Best of luck to those up there.
Posted in: Hard work
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smithinjapan
Didn't flow outside the reactor building, huh? So where is it, then? Yep, the plant's stable... no more worries. Come on back home, everyone!
Posted in: 8.5 tons of radioactive water leak from Fukushima plant
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smithinjapan
I notice no AKB48 'stars' were over there. No surprise.
But were there really only the two there? I could have seen perhaps a couple of other (aside from the aforementioned, that is) Japanese artists, as well as some Korean artists going over as well.
Posted in: Asian stars woo Western record market
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smithinjapan
Tough luck, but I'm not surprised it was about money. Why did Russia insist on an additional 2 million Euros after the original 14 million Euro agreement? Big loss for Honda, and MAYBE Lazio, but there will be other offers. Until then, two years left of contract.
Posted in: Honda's Lazio deal collapses
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smithinjapan
“Of course I’m concerned about all Americans..."
Yeah, except that you JUST said you are NOT concerned about A and C, only B. How does that mean you're concerned about everyone? If I were to say to my wife or even just an acquaintance: "I don't care about your problems" and then in the subsequent attempt to dodge bullets say, "Of COURSE I care about your problems, you just have to look at the context; I'm focussing on other people instead!" it's not going to fly very well.
Posted in: After Florida win, Romney makes gaffe on poor
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smithinjapan
Horrible stuff, but I have to say it sounds completely preventable. The hotspring owners should be legally obliged to check the area for the treat of such avalanches when snow is falling as it has this year, and if necessary shut down the baths that are in danger. In any case, RIP to the victims.
Posted in: Death toll climbs as heavy snow grips northern Japan