Tuesday February 14, 2012

taj's past comments

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    taj

    flatmate = someone who shares a flat (apartment). Easier than saying apartmentmate, and seeing as so many people here live in one room "rooms", the term "roommate" gets funny looks. Even N.American's who've lived abroad a while start using the term flatmate.

    Posted in: Man arrested for allegedly killing flatmate with bat

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    taj

    I second that Smartacus!

    Article Unavailable

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    taj

    Utrack at 04:04 Might I suggest you look at a map.

    Posted in: Donors hand envelopes with cash to evacuees in Ishinomaki

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    taj

    warallthetime: I think Virtuoso just quietly handed you yours. Will you say thank you?

    I will. Thanks Virtuoso. The stats don't lie. Strict gun control can work!

    Posted in: Chiba man shoots and kills company president, turns gun on himself

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    taj

    (oops) journalist v idiot

    meant to say, there's no reason to believe the two don't go hand-in-hand, 2020.

    Article Unavailable

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    taj

    A real journalist. A real idiot more like it.

    Article Unavailable

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    taj

    From my perspective, they are both holding up better than I would, and better than I would expect from your run-of-the-mill, son-of-a-polician's sons who make up such a large percentage of the Diet, based-entirely on heredity rather than ability.

    Sometimes having low expectations is a blessing. That said, Edano's stamina has been very impressive.

    Posted in: How would you compare the roles of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano in terms of showing leadership ability during the crisis of the past five weeks?

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    taj

    compared to what, I dont see much leadership anywhere in this crisis or for the previous 20yrs I have been here.

    Ok, GW, how about compared to the roles/leadership displays of PM and Chief Cabinet Secretary during the Hanshi-Awaji Quake of 1995?

    (Actually if the question were about the performance rather than role, it would make more sense to me.)

    Posted in: How would you compare the roles of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano in terms of showing leadership ability during the crisis of the past five weeks?

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    taj

    Ah, gee! Thanks, YongYang. We would never have thought of that without you!

    Posted in: M7.0 quake jolts eastern Japan; two killed

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    taj

    why are half the signs in English?

    Posted in: Anti-nuke

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    taj

    On NHK this morning they had an interview with her and she said her main reason for coming was to show to the people in France that Japan is not some nuclear wasteland they need to fear.

    V. cool of her to visit. And Placido as well!

    Beentheredonethat and shogun36, Jane's daughter Charlotte is also famous.

    Posted in: Jane Birkin performs at free charity concert in Shibuya

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    taj

    Nessie, I think too many years - as in liverspots. The other idea,... freckles.

    Posted in: New whitening skincare collection from Fujifilm

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    taj

    "7.4 quake causes panic in Miyagi Pref, vicinity"

    Panic?? I think this new headline needs to be toned back down.

    Posted in: 4 killed, 141 injured after 7.4 quake hits Miyagi Pref, vicinity

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    taj

    Wow! Sympathies to everyone just starting to get back to normal in Tohoku!

    Posted in: 4 killed, 141 injured after 7.4 quake hits Miyagi Pref, vicinity

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    taj

    "Looks pretty peaceful and normal! Is it in Tokyo?"

    What, You're expecting everyone here to be running for their lives? ;-)

    Yes, it's Tokyo.

    Posted in: Nice day

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    taj

    Everything that scotchegg said, plus:

    "• Aggressive, radical labor union activity" +Anecdotally, I've seen far less radical union activity/ since the late 80s. +All research I've seen says that union-membership in Japan has been on a steady decline for at least 30 years. (see Japan Institute of Labor Policy and Training for stats).

    "the current slowness of walking on Tokyo streets." +??? Sorry, what? This whole article must be aimed at people who don't live here or who are are relatively new to Japan. To them, she cans say whatever she wants and claim to be the expert.

    Posted in: Managing employees in times of crisis

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    taj

    I've gotta join Cleo and Bogart in asking, "What tourist money/economic benefit?" I see zero. At the same time, they are rather a pretty low cost family, but economically, I think they are a negative.

    • On the positive side: the can represent Japan at international functions with a dignity you can NOT count on finding in a politician.
    • Lots of old people like them / are excited by them / are cheered up by them.
    • The imperial palace grounds serve as a nature preserve in the city and the guest palace (all of which belong to the nation rather than to the family, by the way) serves as an emergency evacuation point.

    point 3 above doesn't in anyway rely on having one family bred and raised specifically to represent the nation, so it's a bit weak, I'll grant you.

    Posted in: Cheer up

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    taj

    By "arcade" do they mean Game Centre or Pachinko Parlour?

    Posted in: Man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping 2-year-old girl in Sapporo

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    taj

    Hmmm. Got to say I've been tempted to do something like that when I see parents engrossed in gambling/etc. and ignoring their kid... Only I'd take the kid to the police station to report it as lost.

    (And i'd fully expect to be punched in the teeth by the angry/embarrassed father later.)

    Posted in: Man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping 2-year-old girl in Sapporo

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    taj

    Cleo, I thought your 8:52 comment was uncharacteristically mean. I respect your stance on monarchy, though I'm a bit more ambivalent. I tend more to sympathy. I'm confident both of us live easier lives, knowing we have much more freedom to enjoy ourselves, and live as we see fit.

    Posted in: Cheer up

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