JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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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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tigermoth
I stated that my children would not - you don't know them so please do not presume to tell me what my children would in fact do. They would not. They would come home and eat crap. Neither are obese incidentally
Posted in: Republicans question healthier eating proposals
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tigermoth
Oh give me a friggin break. We don't need government regulations or the forcing of better eating habits. I have two boys - if the lunches were 'whole grain' they would not eat them, plain and simple. The problem isn't the nutrition (or any lack thereof) of school lunches but the fact that our techno-geek world has made everything so easy, and entertainment so reliant upon electronic stimulus that people are lazy and ergo fat. Anyone over the age of 40 can clearly see the differences in their own upbringing compared to kids today. It sounds like the 'old man' saying 'why, I remember in my day...' - but it's fundamentally true. We ate crap as kids - no health foods at all. I was addicted to Twinkies. But I was skinny as a rail as were most of my friends. We burned off calories running about like loons, playing, building forts, hiking and swimming in local streams and rivers, walking everywhere that we wanted to go. Instead today we have Playstation, X-box, iPads - kids don't go play with friends, they text them and chat on Facebook. Don't blame the Republicans; this is a society/technology created world of the fat and un-toned.
Posted in: Republicans question healthier eating proposals
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tigermoth
Much ado about nothing. I'm not a supporter, but who gives a flying rat's backside if The President flubbed a toast, wrote a wrong date, if George choked on a Pretzel - whatever. Presidents are not infallible but rather normal human beings - given an awesome responsibility yes - but subject to a harmless misstep like the rest of us. I hang on the right, but calling him on it seems rather petty and childish. Best not to stoop to the level of former President's detractors.
Posted in: Buckingham Palace goes all-out for Obama state dinner
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tigermoth
We don't fight with the neighboring group to the point of bloodshed and inability to govern. - I said that above, which should be qualified with something like 'in the main'
Posted in: Bin Laden's sons say U.S. broke international law by killing their father
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tigermoth
The article alludes to Ireland remaining neutral during the Second World War, but it should be rightfully pointed out that many a proud Irishman served in HM Forces during the war. From men like Paddy Finucane in the Battle of Britain to the Irish Guards fighting in Holland and occupied Europe, they were not all welcoming Herr Hitler as the article sort of implies.
Posted in: Bomb found on bus in Dublin ahead of British queen's historic visit to Ireland
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tigermoth
AdamB - Yes, we should have learned well after Vietnam that 'winning the hearts and minds' of the people isn't really practical. The promise of democracy is not a war winner when the nation in conflict doesn't really understand or want this necessarily. Killing civilians is bad mojo - well, killing anyone is - unless they openly deserve it (OSB, Hitler, Stalin, et al).
The problem that you do not address here is that prior to 9/11 extremist efforts - while yes often directed at the innocent rather than the military - were small enough in scale to warrant limited response. When thousands of innocent US civilians were killed in attacks on NY, and then with the attacks elsewhere, these extremists had to know and understand they were taking the game to a new level; they chose this path. Osama chose this path and helped lead them happily down it, Kalashnikovs blazing away happily into the air at the news of it. If their aims were to get the US and the west out of Arab/Muslim affairs - and out of their countries - how did they reason that attacking NY and civilians in other cities might achieve this goal? It didn't take genius to figure US response.
Just as winning the hearts and minds doesn't work, neither does terrorism, and history has pretty much proven this.
I'm not certain I even understand the argument that these terrorists want the west out of their countries - except for religious purposes of course. I don't know family history, but isn't OBL's family rich from the oil industry (i.e. selling to the west)? Why don't they target and kill the oil sheiks who make untold fortunes off selling oil to the west while the rest of the population lives in third world poverty? And conversely to that, if the US and the west did indeed find another source of energy and leave the middle east to its own devices, it would be nothing but a backward third world shite-hole (except Israel because they make it all work with their 'evil' western ways - and possibly a few other nations who can make it work). They would still hate us likely, but without western investment and assistance, where would they be? Would it be a peaceful utopia and Muslim heaven of the warm desert sands, nomadic herdsmen, exotic oasis of Arabian elegance that supposedly existed before western interference? I doubt it.
And besides all that, you seem to excuse away terrorist action because of US and western action. We interfered in Palestine, so therefore it's justified to bring Jihad on the evil west and kill civilians. You say the US shouldn't do what the terrorists do, but it seems somehow okay that they do the same thing. A confusing and viscous cycle. I would counter that there was trouble in the middle east well before western imperialism came to play, and there would be trouble if we left.
My point with the school thing was to illustrate that in too many areas hate is being taught as doctrine, not learned from experience. How do we peacefully combat that - and with no civilian casualties? Do you put your head in the sand and hope it all goes away? Children taught to hate America and taught how to serve Allah and Islam with a suicide vest full of TNT is a real and tangible threat. Whether this was created by US action now becomes not the immediate issue - dealing with the danger and action created by this hate fostered by radical Islam becomes the immediate concern. Killing the symbolic head is a first step in removing the cancer.
In the end, it's easy to just say that 'if the US abandons its policies in the ME and stops its horrible invasions and war on terrorism, then the terrorism itself will lose cause and momentum'. But your confusing rationalism and natural cause and effect with radical religious fervor which has no rationality or logic. How do you logically stop a thought process that firmly believes that killing is their god's will? You ask us to combat insanity with rational logic, and that's as futile as the 'hearts and minds' theory. It's not pretty, PC or a benchmark of humanity to say that sometime logic comes from the barrel of a gun - but as long has humanity is flawed, it does.
Posted in: Bin Laden's sons say U.S. broke international law by killing their father
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tigermoth
I suppose that's true of course - but when you release statements and videos proudly stating that you and your cause carried out these acts against the 'evil USA' aren't you pretty much confessing? Hard to convince with the 'innocent until proven guilty' thing when the killer confesses and hides out for almost a decade.
Funny, if this were 65 years ago or so and the OSS managed to get a team in to kill Hitler, there would be world celebration and medals for all. I seriously doubt whether anyone would give two hoots whether or not he was holding a Luger when they kicked down the door and put a round right in that ridiculous mustache.
The squeamish need to make a choice here. Modern technology has allowed radical extremist groups - specifically Muslim in this case - the ability to strike throughout the world basically at their discretion, and the targets are every-day folks like you and me. The history and root causes of it all are interesting study, but irrelevant to a large degree in practicality. [and by that I mean as example other than slight association with corporate America and the 'Capitalist West' the workers in the Twin Towers for instance had little to do with actively oppressing Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians - whatever the pet gripe. An immigrant mopping the men's room on the upper floors of Tower 1 for example is hardly a worthy example of American imperialism].
If you are Western - you're a target whether you like it or not. And whether or not you believe that George Bush, big oil or the British Empire is root cause if it all, it matters little. The radical Muslim Jihadist does not think like you - accept that. Whether or not you think 'we're unfair to them and I can understand their cause and sympathize' - they hate you because you're western. There was a recent report on a small neighborhood school in Afghanistan; the Imam was teaching the kids to hate America and American, and Westerners in general. He freely admitted it - and the kids all hated the west and firmly believed in death to every American and westerner. This wasn't some special school, but rather typical in such neighborhoods. They will indiscriminately blow you up and kill you, whether or not your some liberal type who claims to 'understand'.
My point. Well, you either understand the above and realize that things like putting a bullet between Osama's eyes and throwing his corpse in the sea was a necessary step in showing radical Islam that if you screw with us we will hunt you down and kill you, and dismantle your organizations - and you actually do this in practice without whining about American civil law applied to international terrorists, or you ask for their list of demands and fulfill them all, turn in your Christian, Buddhist, atheist, whatever 'card', and get out your bikes because we might run out of oil.
I do find it amusing that since the US has tried to be a 'true' democracy (impossible I think) the rest of the world tries to hold us firmly to that and criticizes at every point when we react out of necessity, yet holds no such standards to those who transgress against us. They ultimately become the victims in the world's eye and we the evil empire. Oh but the hands go out for foreign aid from the evil west, don't they?
Posted in: Bin Laden's sons say U.S. broke international law by killing their father
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tigermoth
Utter rubbish - were any of these reporters there - or the folks at the White House? Talk to the Seal team; but they actually believe in security discretion unlike the media who likely would have followed them across the desert to alert all of their presence if given a chance. As always, fiction before fact to sell a headline. And you lot jump on it like it was gospel from the heavens.
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tigermoth
Ah, the bleeding hearts are at it again. The evil US can do no right. We’re fools when we can’t catch him and murderers without any form of justice when we do. Such moralistic BS is what makes this country such a joke to begin with. We dance around with such a strict code of ‘justice for all’ that the true meaning of that is lost/perverted and the criminals win by internally controlling our prisons and researching appeals on the taxpayer dime. You know what, sometimes morality be damned and a good slotting is called for. Good riddance to bad rubbish. If the CIA made Bin Laden in the 1980’s, they took him out in 2011 – I have no issue with that. A trial would have been a farce and a nightmare. My only hope is that nothing good was said about the bugger as his body slid down the plank into a cold sea.
Some ask if it was legal. Probably not; don’t care. I don’t see those of you questioning the morality or rightness of the US decision to go in and get him questioning our ‘ally’ Pakistan. His compound was right in town by a military barracks and they didn’t know he was there?? Either they are remarkably stupid, or protecting more of their own. In such an environment where the ‘evil west’ is considered that even by those who are supposed friends, need overwhelms political niceties.
Ah, and all the comments about ‘no wonder the US is hated’. In the political climate of the world today, I take a good deal of pride in the US being hated; there are not many examples of those doing the hating that I would rather be in their place. And not many moral legs to stand upon to plead your case. We live in a land with more freedoms, more liberty and more beauty than any third world shite-hole has ever been able to manage, and not many developed nations have managed to equal. If we’re hated for protecting that, then we’ll just have to live with it I suppose.
I don’t think we know enough of the true details yet (everything seems to still be muddled and conflicting) to condemn our boys for shooting an ‘unarmed, captured man’. Maybe he was making a play for a hidden gun or one of the captor’s weapons. Everyone is always so ready to assume the worst and believe any media hype. We weren’t there.
Heartless Americans embracing violence rather than justice? Well, it’s sort of like if we had captured Hitler and someone came up and put a bullet in his brain. Justice? Well, not in the constitutional sense; Karma maybe. Sometimes harsh justice is doled out in violence rather than a courtroom. When you live your life by inciting violence and planning the death of innocents then you must know the reaper might catch up pretty quickly. Sorry, I don’t cry for that. For those of you that are religious, maybe it was god’s way of getting justice. For those of you who are not, maybe it was the rest of us saying that we’re sick of this crap and enough is enough.
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tigermoth
True Yabits, and I would agree that only an idiot would still think he's not an American citizen. But an interesting question - you point out that of course he was a serving U.S. Senator - do they check such things when you're elected to the senate? Is there anywhere along the course of a politician's career that one must show certificate of birth? Or is it that if you have a SS card/# and can vote then there never really is a check? I'm not saying there's any controversy here except that invented by those who don't like him - just a curios question for the U.S. political process. I've never run for office nor given enough of a crap to give something like that credence of thought. But the fact that you can illegally buy 'credentials' - SS cards, DL's etc, then it at minimum poses a curious question.
Still for me as someone who doesn't like the man nor his politics - and nothing to do with his citizenship, race etc but rather his actual politics - I'd rather form argument against him based upon his inabilities as President rather than ridiculously trying to prove he's not a citizen. He sinks himself rather nicely on performance alone.
Posted in: Obama releases full birth certificate to end controversy
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tigermoth
While it is idiotic, for those that say 'why should he be asked for his birth certificate - has every President been asked?'. Well, if they have not then they should. And it should not have been made such a big production to not do so previously. Hey, I can't even count how many times I've had to produce either mine or my kid's birth certificates for various things (school, passports, etc.). He's not alone nor unique so why not just get it done in the first place? I would counter that in our democracy where any Tom, Dick, Harry or Jane can run for the highest office in the land, that showing one's birth certificate shouldn't be such a shocker. I have to show my ID when cashing a check or supermarket card to get 50 cents off a roll of TP, so what was the big deal in the first place? I look much younger than I am; when the store clerks used to ID me for beer (long gone) I didn't say no that's none of your business - I just showed them my ID. It should never been allowed to fester.
The part that really gets me is this quote in the article:
So wait a friggin' minute - his personal assistant uses tax payer dollars to fly to Hawaii to pick up a piece of paper?? I just got my pay raise at work - it amounts to a stellar $35 every two weeks; not enough for a tank of gas in my Hyundai. But these A-holes in DC are flying folks - likely on personal jets - to pick up piece of paper??? And yes, I know Democrat/Republican - it doesn't matter on this as they all do it. Perhaps instead of a tea party we simply need simple way for the taxpaying citizens to to curb moronic spending. I get two weeks of vacation per year and can afford about four or five days; those who govern us should be allowed no more.
Sorry, off-topic rant; but the article statement got me going. We need to stop worrying about dirty politics and birth certificates and start worrying about where our money is going, and where it should be going.
Posted in: Obama releases full birth certificate to end controversy
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tigermoth
I'll bet Israel is a pretty place. I genuinely do like the people, at least those I've met. Like you probably do, I think all religions are a crock to a large degree; simply a tool designed to promote fear and keep the masses in line (and their pocketbooks open). But some of them at least seem a bit more harmless and promote reasonable values.
Posted in: Israel wants Germany to drop Palestinian statehood plan
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tigermoth
I’m not Jewish and have no vested interest, except obviously being with the rest of the civilized world in being way-tired of hearing about the Middle-East and their apparent inability to settle differences and live peacefully. This isn’t a new problem that developed after 1948; Arab and Jew have never gotten along or been a friend of the other (nor have the different Arab groups/sects/tribes – whatever friends amongst themselves for that matter).
I would even go so far as to agree with those critical of the Balfour decision and the establishment the Israeli state at the extent of those Palestinians living on the land at the time. The West essentially used its influence and might to force this on the Arab world. Put in the reverse we wouldn’t be so content to accept this.
But the fundamental problem is that Arab and Jew hate each other, always have and always will. If you establish a Palestinian state and give them half of Jerusalem as their capital there will be forever fighting between the two over every square inch and who controls what. No matter of give and take will work until one is gone.
So what should be done? Well I happen to be a fan of Israel and Jewish culture to a degree. Why? Well, they seem quite ‘westernized’ and at least do not by physical acts of terrorism or wanton force wish to spread Zionist rule throughout the globe. They seem content enough to be Jews and promote that within their own community. I haven’t heard of any Rabbis telling their congregation to kill the infidel. I live in NY and haven’t seen any Hassidic Jews strapped with explosives trying to blow up our landmarks because we are the ‘evil Western Satan’. I doubt that if someone draws a cartoon of Abraham that they will have their throat cut in the streets.
We have some desert land out in the Western part of the U.S. that I believe is rather sparsely populated. Let’s call it the State of Israel and bring them all here lock, stock and barrel. Yes, they would divorced from lands that have been sacredly holy for thousands of years. But doesn’t there come a time when fruitful and happy living trumps some old rocks and sand that your ancestors trod upon for thousands of years? It’s a win-win situation. ‘Winning’ to quote Charley Sheen. They have a kick-ass army that we could most certainly use. Combine ours with theirs and it would be an amazing force. We could easily co-exist. They could have their own land, we could have an influx of people that would add culturally, intellectually and spiritually with the American experience.
I think it’s a great plan; Palestine gets their land back, Israel gets a state, lots of people lose a strong bitching point in world politics. Then the Arabs themselves can start fighting over dirt, rocks and sand and it can be their own affair.
Posted in: Israel wants Germany to drop Palestinian statehood plan
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tigermoth
By the way - does anyone think he looks like Prince?
Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler
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tigermoth
That any of you know who he is - or care - is telling. I thought all of you brave and noble supporters of the left were too busy righting the world's wrongs and taking care of the down-trodden to worry about some sod prancing about in the wealthy and useless world of high fashion.
Posted in: Dior fires designer John Galliano after online video shows him praising Hitler
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tigermoth
should say 'hick sheriff and liberal media are psychologists...
Posted in: Arizona Rep Giffords shot, 6 killed, including judge, 9-year-old girl
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tigermoth
What is utter madness is that anyone is trying to tie an instance of political rhetoric, cross hairs on a poster - whatever - as the reasons that this guy did what he did. All of the sudden everyone, including some hick sheriff and a lot of the liberal media, and psychologists and psychiatrists? David Berkowitz (son of sam) heard a dog talking to him, Charles Manson misinterpreted something he read to indicate that a race war was necessary. Should we blame dogs, or should we blame some text written for a whole different purpose simply because someone with a mental illness misinterpreted them? I believe it's likely a symptom of the schizophrenia or whatever mental issues this guy was suffering from. An acquaintance of mine has a mentally ill son who thinks the CIA is following him, and recently tried to kill his own father. Is that the CIA's fault? Come on folks, we can do better than this. It was a tragedy committed by a misguided kid suffering from a mental illness - nothing more. Very tragic yes, but caused by someone's words?
So I guess it is Marlyn Manson's fault if some kid listens to one of his songs and kills someone. It was laughable when Michael Moore placed the idea before Manson in 'Bowling for Columbine' though asserted after that tragedy. I'm sure many of those on the left thought that notion ridiculous, as any sane person would. It's a dangerous road to travel if you want to assert that anything said by anyone with a public voice can incite such violence.
Posted in: Arizona Rep Giffords shot, 6 killed, including judge, 9-year-old girl
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tigermoth
LFRAgain don't get me wrong - I have no issues with or moral hangups with the Kennedy clan. Their personal doings are just that. The moral indignation by the religious freaks and too many on the right are not my forte. Well, one must temper that with a certain amount of clarification. The Presidency of the US is a bit more important with a higher degree of heavy responsibility than most any other profession on the planet, so a certain moral fortitude can and should be expected. But boffing Marlyn Monroe on the Presidential yacht doesn't concern me so much. JFK had honor and bravery and I can admire the man. I think his presidency has been glossed over due to the tragedy of his death - by that I mean it wasn't anything stellar or any great 'Camelot'. He didn't have that much time to do very much, and the Cuban Missile Crisis and Bay of Pigs are hardly things to really be proud of. Teddy I do have an issue with. Yes, he spent his life I think trying to atone for his mistakes - but it says something about a person when they get loaded, drive off a bridge with a girlfriend in the car and make no effort to get her out or even report it right away. Image and getting caught meant more than human life. Just saying - my opinion.
The question would be was the series more true to life (too true to life) and cut because someone with influence thought it would slander the family, or was it just slanderous rubbish. If the latter then it should have been squashed. I'm just against the 'prettying up of history' for reputation's sake.
Posted in: History network pulls plug on Kennedy project
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tigermoth
I'm very far from being a fan of the President, and usually at odds with the liberals on here. But I have to disagree; I thought the President did an ample job of speaking to a national sadness at such a tragedy, and correct in summary that as a nation that is supposed to be 'one, united in overall belief and cause' has let itself devolve into nothing short of acting like unruly children fighting on a playground. While many point to the cheering and at some points almost jubilation amongst the attendees, I rather liked that tone. Some see a funeral as a celebration of life rather than a mouring of death, or some combination of both. I think in this case, in such an event that proved so tragic and costly, it was a way of healing; of celebrating the spirit of those who were murdered and the brave woman fighting for her life. Forget that she's a democrat for party matters not - she's a bright and vibrant human being and the fact that she could live and recover from such an onslaught tends to make the human spirit jubilant. Sorry, don't mean to sound philosophical as I'm far from the wise sage.
Having said that, while I think the President seemed quite genuine in his speech, he has been a key player in the divide that has become so turbulent. His disdain for those on the right has hardly been concealed and the forcing through of unpopular legislation hardly a salve. And the venom that still flies on here (and will after my comments) is a testimonial that despite the mouth-play it will not end so easily. Frankly, and sadly, I think the old days of flag waving and pulling together for common cause (the Second World War a prime example) are long gone, and as such the dichotomy and the strong emotions caused by the rift in political philosophies is only going to get worse.
But put it all in perspective. The shooter was a sick man likely suffering from schizophrenia and quite delusional. It might have been politics that set him off, but it could have just as easily been a belief that his neighbors were space aliens coming to get him. Mental illness is just that, trying to assign a rational reasoning and thus condemning political rhetoric seems rather silly.
Posted in: Obama, at Arizona memorial service, says polarized nation needs healing
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tigermoth
The History Channel is hardly the scholarly accurate bastion that some seem to think, so why should this series be treated any differently? Is it because the ugly truth of the vaunted Kennedy clan is, well, ugly? Historical fiction is more the norm than the exception by any film makers in the US. Are we finally coming to the conclusions that the American public is indeed too dense to realize that films about historical people or events are rarely true to the actual history portrayed? Is it because the left cannot tolerate any smearing of their political gods? Let's ignore JFK's trysts with MM or that Teddy left some woman for dead in a drunken stupor. THEY are American royalty after all!
A life dedicated to public service by a family does not make them devoid of the corruption and debauchery that such power, wealth and privilege brings. It likely would have been a sucky mini-series anyway, but to not show it because some liberal Kennedy supporters didn't like it seems a poorly excuse to me.
Posted in: History network pulls plug on Kennedy project