JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
- 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
-
- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
-
- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
0
tigermoth
“Alaska and Michigan have so much in common, with the huntin’ and the fishin’ and the hockey moms, and just the hardworking, patriotic Americans who are here.”
It's statements like that which spell her doom. Hockey is a cool sport and I love the Leafs - but give it a rest. I don't want 'down home' corniness to be the characteristic of my president. Eloquence and intelligence serve much better. Her appeal to the masses is that she's 'like on of them'. Perhaps it's time to be self-aware and honest enough for most of us to realize that we aren't smart enough to be president, therefore we don't need someone 'like us' - but rather smarter than us.
The disconnect comes of course because politicians are by nature usually pooled from the wealthier class (you have to have that advantage to be able to campaign while most of us actually work) and therefore out of touch with what the common people have to deal with daily to survive. Her sole appeal - other than being relatively attractive - is that she seems at least a bit more in tune with the average American dysfunctional family than some law school graduate that never struggled a day in their lives. Assuming she has - and I don't know that and shall not waste my time on the research.
I think all of the comments about Republicans being stupid however shows an arrogance and stupidity that surpasses Mrs. Palin's. While I realize it is largely playful banter to illustrate party differences, I think there is an arrogance in the Democratic party in assuming their consituents are much brighter in nature. Granted, I will give you that likely more mouth breathing, flag waving, likely blue collar Americans are Republican, it's a grossly unfair generalization to assume and make statements to the effect that the majority of democrats are any brighter. You can look at segments of the population and make general statements - more college professors are liberals, therefore the dems are smarter by makeup. But how many college professor are there compared to normal folks working normal 9-5's. A lot of liberal these days tend to be college students - and from what I've seen (and I live in a town where the majority of residents are college students) attending school past the required twelve grades most certainly does not make you a genius, or even that smart.
There are many who are either in the Republican party, or who are supporters that are extremely bright. Just because you don't like them or agree with their politics does not lessen that fact. If the Republican party could convince Charles Krauthammer to run, I'd vote for him hands down. And before you reject him as some 'Fox News' automaton - read some of his articles. Brilliant, brilliant man and not so hypocritically biased as so many others seem to be.
The Democratic party and most of its supporters reminds me of the more right wing christian groups. They talk about Jesus and God, about love and understanding and peace - yet they hate everyone who isn't in their camp. The liberals are the same; they try to espouse that they are somehow enlightened to bring more peace and harmony to mankind - yet they hate anyone that is not a liberal. Political hyocracy, religious hypocracy - it's all the same.
Posted in: More than 1,000 cheer Palin in Michigan for book tour
0
tigermoth
I think you're all wrong in thinking Palin has no chance in winning the presidency. My friends you grossly underestimate the stupidity of the American public. Oh she's dumb all right...dumb as a box of rocks. Partisan party politics make some on here claims that she's not, that she's just had a bad shake in the media. They have to fool themselves to defend their party, and I can understand that. But deep down I think everyone knows she doesn't have upstairs what it takes to be President. I wouldn't mind looking at her for four years instead of some grey-haired shriveled up old bloke. But it would be a complete disaster and anyone who thinks otherwise is, well let's say misguided to be kind.
What do I mean about the American public - besides the obvious? Well, things like the fact that after the release of the movie '2012' there were enough idiots who actually believe the world is going to end (please, can I sell you my Y2K preparedness kit??) that NASA had to actually release a statement and address the issue. Thousands still believe JKF and Elvis share a room in some small town hideaway and that 'Jacko' is living somewhere in hiding with his chimp. They elected Carter and Bush a second time - need I say more?
As for her lying in the book - give me a break. What politician hasn't lied? No one seemed to bat an eye when their boy Billy Clinton was lying about his affairs or getting his the clown waxed in the oval office on our dime and lying about that - and he was President! So she would be a stupid president, and one that might lie. Pssst [she wouldn't be the first].
So be afraid. Be very afraid. She shouldn't ever be allowed to hold an office higher than 'Mrs. America', but the American people have proven themselves time and again to be dumb enough to accomplish the unimaginable. And just to note, this isn't a knock on Americans; I am one and we can be beautifully kind, compassionate, insightful, brilliant and great. But then there are other times.
Posted in: Palin coy about 2012 run, but door is open
0
tigermoth
Too many comments to read them all, but it illustrates the typical 'ugly American' arrogance to think that he 'shoudln't bow' to other world leaders. When in Rome as they say. It isn't a sign of weakness to show respect to a foreign leader but a sign of mutual respect. For too long Americans have arrogantly thought that we 'rule the free world'. It's time to stop acting like the tough bully and time to start showing wizened maturity. To say that no American leader should bow to a foreign one is stupidity and why too many people think Americans are idiots. Just a political ploy to make a mountain out of a mole hill.
Posted in: Obama's bow to emperor causes outrage in Washington
0
tigermoth
Yabits - what's so 'vile' about my comment if you really think about it? Okay, the 'rain of nuclear weapons' part is a bit over the top. But the fundamental complaint by those extremists (and by whatever chance a good majority of them are Muslim - whether you like it or not) is in western meddling in their affairs that has brougt them nothing but woe. To a large degree they are right. America, Britain and others have been meddling for a long time. Much of it was our greed in obtaining oil and maintaining our addiction to this. We created a super-wealthy upper stratta, i.e. the 'Sheiks' who control the oil fields and the national wealth, while the rest were left to it. Of course you must read the history of the region to realize that there has been bicking, fighting and general chaos long before the western world took any interest in the region. But for good or bad, they want us out. So we should simply get out and leave them to it. Fair enough? Can you possibly disagree with that - and if so why?
At the same time, while I must truthfully admit to a good deal of ignorance about the muslim faith and general beliefs, for fundamentalists I beleive there is something alluding to the fact than any non-believers should be summarily dealt with. While my comment on the nuclear rain of death might be out of hand, it should be made plain that much as the spread of christianity was forced upon much of the world by earlier 'pilgrams' a similar spread of Islam, particularly by force, is not welcome. Let people believe what they wish and have no fear of repurcussions because of this. The Taliban certainly doesn't take that point of view.
There are videos out showing the killer dressed in traditional Arab dress shortly before his rampage. He was giving out copies of the Koran. He reportedly (not confirmed) was yelling something about Allah as he was killing these people. Fair evidence that his religious beliefs came into play I should think.
And as for your first comment about no one wishing to excuse the killings, just read the posts above. Right away several posters jumped into the unjust war thing. Any war is disgusting and unjust; but it's not an excuse for what occurred. There is implication of cause and effect there, whether your bias for the muslim world and leftist point of view allows you to see it or not.
All I'm saying and suggesting is a mutually beneficial course of action. Muslims are tired of being killed by US troops in their countries. A great number of us are tired of our folks getting killed by muslims (and yes, I realize there are 'good' and 'bad' muslims - if you want to ignore the extremely sexist way women are treated which I personally find highly offensive - but hey, that's me). There has to be a separation and a 'you leave me alone and I'll leave you alone' gentleman's agreement. It's not about intolerance or bigotry (although you'll likely disagree) but rather the unfeasibility of mixing opposite cultural extremes and expecting miracle results. If similar groups/cultures in the region haven't been able to co-exist very peacefully in hundreds or thousands of years, we have no chance. That's why the 'hearts and minds' campaign that idiot Bush tried with the military and Iraq and Afganistan has been such a dismal failure. The hatred and mistrust is too deep, and the fissures widened by war and killing. Time to cut losses.
Posted in: Army psychiatrist kills 12, wounds 31 in shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas
0
tigermoth
that's 'soul' sorry.
Posted in: Army psychiatrist kills 12, wounds 31 in shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas
0
tigermoth
C'mon - the prevailing excuses by those who wish to excuse why the guy might have done this; he was 'traumatized' by hearing stories from those returning from war, and he didn't want to be deployed. Well cry me a bloody river. If anyone joining the US armed forces since 2001 did not think that their chances of being deployed somewhere were pretty friggin' high, they are an idiot. This guy was a Dr. - certainly he knew the odds. My wife works as a therapist to both women who have been sexually abused/raped and kids who have suffered horifically from abuse. It's part of your occupation if that is your field. You don't go killing people becuase of it.
Likely he was nuts, or maybe did have some sort of misguided ideas from his crackpot religion, but don't make excuses for him. Crackpot religion I say? Yes, crackpot. I'll go where many others fear to tread. What single identity or ideal has been responsible for more human deaths, killing and misery and suffering than any other factor, both man-made or natural? What entity/ideal requires you to believe in something that you can never see or prove? What single entity/ideal promises a person hope when there is none, then excuses it after failure (i.e. the promise of prayer to heal the sick, who die anyway)? What entity/ideal helps the rich and powerful gain and keep control of the 'lesser' masses (i.e. the Catholic church)? The answer of course if organized religion. Be it Christian, Muslim, Jew, snake handler, Wicken. Man's fear of life and death personified. 'This can't be it; there must be more'.
On a rant? Certainly and why not? Whether this guy turns out to have been a Muslim (and latest reports are that he is) and whether that had anything to do with it directly, one way or the other it did. Either he freaked because he was a muslim and couldn't handle the idea of going to support in the fight agains his bretheren, or he couldn't handle going to war - which is still at cause because of religious extremism (have to prove my case so they don't yank this for irrelevancy!).
And as a quick note I'm not anti-religious. I think the sould needs something to believe in and if you want to call a spirit of 'goodness' religion that's all good. Killing for it or aggressively promoting its spread (such as the annoying mormons coming to my door) is not.
And while I'm on a tear, here's my solution for the whole muslim extremist, middle east nightmare. Put all of the money we waste in these regions (including any humanitarian efforts) into finding a good, cheap, sustainable alternative fuel source (and team Britain, France, Germany, etc to do this). Pull out of the whole region. Part of their gripe is our interference and 'control' of their economy. Okay, drop it all - move all the oil companies and other investments out. At the risk of putting it in very politically incorrect terms (and what about my rant isn't politically incorrect) they'll go back to being nomadic tribesmen with camels, lots of sand and little else. If that's what they want then sod 'em - let them have it. With the understanding that if they try to spread their snake oil religion it will be dealt with via a rain of nuclear warheads. You stay on your side of the line, we'll stay on ours. The global world order is an impossible farce; deal with that fact and we'll all be happier.
Posted in: Army psychiatrist kills 12, wounds 31 in shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas
0
tigermoth
Well certainly there is. My statement is not to mean that people have no right to claims of land per say. But I see what you mean. On the one hand it seems silly that we don't want people to immigrate to 'our lands' because it messes about with our established ways of life - when in fact no one person or group of persons 'own' any land in the existential sense. But at the same time without territorial claims that might be construed as saying it's okay for something like our shameful taking of land from native Americans - which I don't believe to be the case; it's not okay. I suppose it's a compromised medium. The land doesn't belong to any one group to monopolize, but at the same time no group should be forced from an area that they have made as home.
Okay, it all gets too complicated and somewhat impossible in the sense of reality!
Posted in: White-supremacist fringe party invited to take part in BBC program
0
tigermoth
I traveled to London from the States a few months ago and was surprised at how few people in the city were indigenous or even spoke English. But I live in NYC and the same is true there. It's a double-edges sword. With an influx of immigration that has moved away from white northern Europeans (at least for the States) to more from Asia, the Middle-East, etc where customs and tradtions are so vastly different from our own, it's only natural that friction would occur. And when it goes relatively unchecked it leads to things like the BNP.
But the other edge of the sword could be a rightious and beautiful thing if people on both sides weren't so close-minded and ethnocentric. I love the ethnicity of NYC and it's what makes a sometimes dirty sh*thole tolerable. If you get past appearances and ideologies, people are just people. The idea that some people 'own' or are entitled to certain parts of land in the world is a purley territorial animal thing, and a shame we can't get over that. As Americans we stole our land anyway, but given that (depending upon your belief here - science or hocus-pocus) all the land masses were once one, our exclusive claim to turf is silly. We should as people assimilate and grow rather than quarrel and destory. But that's some Star Trek-like world we don't have.
In my view the BNP are racists, but they are also scary. Why if they are only a 'fringe group'? Well, the NSDAP (that Nazis folks) was a fringe party within Germany as well. And they preyed upon the fact that 'normal' Germans were fed up with the economic collapse and political chaos and ineffectiveness of post-WWI Germany. Sound familiar? They didn't sound so bad, so radical or that racist. They didn't like Jews, but basically they were for Germany for the Germans, and helping their own get back on track financially and politically. They won a few seats here and there without too much notice. We all know what happened. Could it happen again? Certainly.
More to the article, I think that despite this groups obious (well to most) racism - no matter how 'well-disguised' as the view of the common Briton - they should be allowed on the program and to have their say. Discredit them by showing their stupidity rather than ignoring them and hoping they'll go away. Don't give them the chance to say 'see, they're afraid of us because we show them what you're all thinking'. They didn't go away in the 1930's and they won't go away by ignoring them now.
Zucronium you crack me up. It's never a thought out argument with you but just a jab about how whole-heartedly you hate the Republican party. Do you wake up and jab pins in your GB doll?
Posted in: White-supremacist fringe party invited to take part in BBC program
0
tigermoth
I would agree in this instance on the use of mary j for medicinal purposes. If it helps the terminal get through it - why not? I think it should be legal and heavily taxed, like smokes and booze. But I would question the oft-made statement that marijuana is the most harmless of all drugs. I had a few college roomies that were big time potheads - like several times every day. Talking to them now the brain loss is evident. I think more studies are in order. I can see lab rats with tye-died tee-shirts with peace signs, a fattie, and listening to Hendrix.
Posted in: Obama administration loosens guidelines on marijuana prosecution
0
tigermoth
I should add that real news journalism - right or left leaning - died in the 1970's. Now every network is more concerned if those spouting their stupidity are good looking rather than whether or not they're bright. And real,unbiased news coverage? Are you kidding? Why cover real and important news when we can spend 6 months talking about Michael Jackson, and apparently another talking about some idiot who claimed his kid was in a home-made balloon. Have you ever counted the spelling errors and grammatical mistakes in your average printed stories these days? If they cannot spell, do you think they care about accurate and unbiased reporting?
Posted in: White House advisers say Fox News is not news
0
tigermoth
Ummm - here's a newsflash (and not from Fox) - they're all (they meaning every newspaper and network) geared towards making money. Why else would they exist these days - just to desiminate information? Maybe in 1776, or from the Weather Underground - but not today, and not a major network.
An unfair, unproven and rather stupid generalization I should think, and counterproductive to your point. While there are certainly many gap-toothed flag waving, gun toting hillbillies that love Fox news and are indeed conservative, there are just as many dull liberals as well. If it were possible to study the gene pools of both and measure a collective IQ, I'm betting it would just about balance out. Although most of you on here are dyed in the wool liberals with holier-than-thou complexes if you were genuinely honest you would have to admit that Charles Krauthammer is a genius, and while only one example it's a good case in point.
Doesn't anyone think it rather odd that the Whitehouse/Administration seems so damning and concerned with press coverage and the slant going their way? They pitched a real b*tch about the press not taking their slant with the whole healthcare issue, the President chooses only those in the media friendly to his cause to ask questions at briefings and news conferences, etc. etc. He's a smart man, and supposedly has the plan - what is he afraid of? Why not go on Fox news and make them look like the fools so many of you seem to think that they are?
And Zucronium; I've heard your Canadian. I'm just curious - and mods I know this is off topic - but why are you so fascinated and vitrious when it comes to American politics? I couldn't name five people in your current administration and - no offense - could care less. I suppose it's the idea that America is the lynch-pin for so much of world happenings. But in truth I think that if everyone was as passionate about making their own systems work as they are telling us all that's wrong with ours, the rest of the world would run much smoother and we could stay out of everyone's business.
Posted in: White House advisers say Fox News is not news
0
tigermoth
'make them up' meant to say
Posted in: 85,000 Iraqis killed in almost 5 years of war
0
tigermoth
It doesn't matter how many they finally conclude have died. The 'winners and losers' always dispute the numbers (who won in this instance??) and the revisionist historians will make them and and distort them in the end. Then eventually someone will start a movement denying anyone perished at all. Sound familiar?
Posted in: 85,000 Iraqis killed in almost 5 years of war
0
tigermoth
USAFdude - I would disagree only in that I think Jimmy Carter was the worst president we ever had. And that's aside from his later house building and all the other crap espoused. He was still a really, really really lousy president.
But I agree with you that so was Bush. No denials here, and I'm not saying folks don't have a right to bash him. I'm a great supporter of free speach, so have at it. My point is that it's not an acceptable argument or justification of everything that occurs in the world. Every time someone knocks President Obama, the immediate knee-jerk reaction on here is to post up a defense stating how horrible it was under the previous administration. It's not a valid arugment in most instances as the subject doesn't always involve anything to do with the previous prez. Like now - saying 'President Obama should get the NPP becuase he was better than the last president' is a stupid argument, a meaningless argument and demeaning to our current President.
It's like the same tired lines have to be dragged out each time to remind us how horrible the Bush Presidency was - even if its reference serves no purpose. I fully realize it can't be 'gone and forgotten' because of the legacy. It's like that idiot in Iran denying the holocaust. But it's simply used here to remind us that you guy hate Bush. Like this one:
Pointing out that Bush was lousy in this instance doesn't really add to the argument of why the President might deserve a Peace Prize. If you said something like:
I think giving President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize is a good choice. The committee is trying to make a statement with this choice that they, and indeed the whole world, have high hopes that the President's committment, determination, intelligence and forward sightedness will serve as a beacon in bringing peace to and embattled world that so seeks it. It is a vote of confidence, and not perhaps a vote of progress to date. Often intent can be a harbigner to success, and promoting this intent with a vote of confidence can hopefully bring it into being.
That could be a decent argument. Saying 'well, Bush was such a crappy president that just because he isn't Bush means he deserves it' is just plain idiotic. My point is simply to formulate an argument in discussion rather than just throwing mud at the past when it doesn't really further your current cause but simply brings light to your political leanings and vitriol. That's all I'm sayin.
Moderator: Readers, President Bush is not relevant to this discussion.
Posted in: U.S. President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
0
tigermoth
I see that a lot from the left seem to be attempting to justify the award by dumping on their old whipping boy GWB. Yes, we know - you hate him and he was an awful president. Okay, understood....GOT IT. You can stop beating the proverbial dead horse now. So you get the Nobel Peace Prize now because you followed a bad President??
Right, wrong, good, bad, premature - whatever. Stop dragging the previous adminsitration into every argument to justify it. It's a really lame way to argue a point. It's like you cannot think of anything else so you have to bring it up. For the record, I though he sucked too, but dragging it up to justify everything that ever happens just to mention that you hate the guy is getting old. Move on. You're clever people - think up some new arguments and justifications to prove your points. Certainly everthing doesn't have to go to 'yeah, but it's better than the previous administration...'.
Posted in: U.S. President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize
0
tigermoth
They can put up a sign like McDonalds - over 10 Billion served.
I've put up this quote before, but it still remains my favorite i.e. organized religions. It was Napoleon who said 'Religion was invented by the rich to keep the poor from killing them'. I think that seems more true of Catholocism and Christianity in general, but overall is univeral. Religion is too often the shield of cowards, an excuse for murder and a crutch for those who should empower themselves.
I'm all for a general system of mutual understanding, respect, peace, etc. The problem is that most religions only want that if you accept their interpretation. Makes the whole thing hopeless and dangerous for the rest of us.
Posted in: Global Muslim population hits 1.57 billion
0
tigermoth
I see your point, but to me a child is a child. 4 or 13 is irrelevent to the crime.
Posted in: Director Roman Polanski in Swiss custody on 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant
0
tigermoth
that's 'tough life' - sorry
Posted in: Director Roman Polanski in Swiss custody on 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant
0
tigermoth
Ummm..well, being 15 and having sex with your girlfriend of 14 or 15 is a different kettle of fish than a 44 year-old having sex with a girl of 13. If you cannot see the difference then perhaps you should turn yourself in now.
No, 13 is a little girl, or at least very young. Just because kids today are physically maturing more quickly (at least seemingly) that doens't make them actual adults. Not to sound like some moralistic Jerry Fallwell type, but if you think having sex with a child of that age is okay, I think you need counseling.
My wife is a therapist and works with sexual assault victims, so I speak with second hand knowledge on the subject. Just because he never got caught again, anyone that would do such a thing once would do it again, as research has proven. And having a tough like or being a 'victim' yourself is not a valid excuse for rape or abuse of any sort. It can be a cause, but not an excuse.
Posted in: Director Roman Polanski in Swiss custody on 31-year-old U.S. arrest warrant
0
tigermoth
I've never quite figured out why any of the Western or more powerful nations have any right to tell another nation that they can or cannot have nuclear weapons. From the standpoint of not being potentially obliterated by some wacko from a third-world crap-hole and an unhealthy religious fanaticism, yes I can see where we might not want them to have such dangerous toys. But to possess them ourselves and dictate to others that they cannot is arrogance and hypocracy in the extreme. But that's human stupidity and discussions on that topic would be endless.
As far as the whole Israeli - Arab conflict goes, it's not so much a matter of injustice in land grabbing as the general hatred that has existed between these two groups for centuries and the general ethno-centric hatred and stupidity that seems to be prevalent throughout the Middle East. I mean, come on. We're not talking about prime real estate in Lower Manhattan here. One dusty piece of scrub is the same as the next. Look at Google Earth. There is a ton of land and a relatively sparse population. All could very easily grab their own sand and rock-strewn sh*t-hole without fighting it out with a neighbor. But it comes down to pride and who was 'wronged'. It's one thing to say that 'you would be angry to if you were thrown off your land' if it were a prime location, or if the land was so densely populated that relocation was difficult. But in the geography that we're dealing with here, is it that big of a deal and worthy of fighting and dying for? I suppose home is where the heart is. Screw it, I'd move a few dozen miles away and call it a day.
Posted in: Obama offers Iran dialogue; Israel tells U.S. it is time to act