JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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Why do Japanese change their attitude when they communicate with foreigners?
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Confrontation
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U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi
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4
California court to decide if SeaWorld whales are illegal 'slaves'
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5
Kuroki reported pregnant 2 weeks after denying relationship with Akanishi
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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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weedkila
now who's speculating?
Posted in: NATO, Afghan forces kill 35 Taliban in huge offensive
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weedkila
I guess you're referring to me as a conspiracy theorist? Well, you seem to be onto things so I'd like to know why the US military stood by while 1000 inmates were allowed to escape? To reiterate, the troops were stationed just northeast of the jail and large explosives were used. So I ask you, why didn't the US military do anything at that time?
http://www.cracked.com/article162395-psychological-experiments-that-prove-humanity-doomed.html
Posted in: NATO, Afghan forces kill 35 Taliban in huge offensive
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weedkila
Heroic NATO and Afghan forces save the day? Or is it all a big show to keep the Americans, Canadians and NATO in Afghanistan (as well as the Japanese refuelling ships)? Here is different view on the prison break from a middle-eastern news source:
US-led forces have played a part in a Taliban attack on an Afghanistan prison that set hundreds of militants free, some reports speculate. Experts in regional affairs believe that Taliban militants attacked the Kandahar prison with the green light from US forces. They say it is questionable - how could the militants dare attack the prison with US-led troops stationed just northeast of the jail? The sources also noted that although clashes between Afghan security forces and the militants lasted for several hours, US-led troops did not intervene. Ordinary people share the idea, asking how is it possible that hundreds of militants could attack a government prison, detonating more than 800 kilograms of explosives and foreign forces show no reaction.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=60249§ionid=351020403
400 of the 1,000 inmates who escaped were Taliban, which is the same number of 'rebels' who were apparently in the district as noted in the story above.
Posted in: NATO, Afghan forces kill 35 Taliban in huge offensive
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weedkila
Hindsight: Well, you have a good point about scare-mongering. Unfortunately, the image of GMOs is not helped when these huge companies destroy the livelihoods of others and will do just about anything for a buck. I guess if money was not the priority (as it usually is), and things were more open then people might see GM crops in a more reasonable light.
ONe thing that is a concern though, is the patenting of GM seeds. As Kissinger said back in the '70s "When you control oil you control nations, and when you control food you control the people.' Kissinger is not someone to be taken lightly.
Posted in: What is causing the global food price spike and what should be done about it?
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weedkila
With respect, I'd say it is the US media which is not giving American citizens the whole story so that is why there is probably more acceptance of GMOs than in Europe. Consumers in Japan, for example, are quite wary of GMOs as more info seems to filter through.
Posted in: What is causing the global food price spike and what should be done about it?
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weedkila
Hindsight:
Re; GMOs - There are at least a couple of documentaries out on Monsanto. "The World According to Monsanto" is one of the most damning and is now harder to find on the net because of lawsuit threats from Monsanto's well-paid lawyers. You can see the reason for this in the documentary. For example, Monsanto is basically hand-in-glove with the US gov. and have a 'revolving door' policy where bureaucrats move jobs back and forth between Monsanto and the govt. If you have a situation like this then I think any competition would hardly matter. The video documents some of the heavy bully tactics and coverups as well. You mention that attitudes in Europe are different (to the US?) Perhaps it is because of the media? I think it's important to have farming efficiencies, as you say, but not at the expense of people's well-being and even existence (messing with DNA etc.)
As one site says (from which the movie has disappeared); The following documentary is a thorough, in-depth look at the history of one of the world’s most dangerous and despised corporations and the serious issues swirling around genetically modified crops — from the implications for biodiversity and personal health, to the corporate control of our food, and more. Don’t miss it! (particularly U.S. residents who will likely never otherwise get to see this material on their screens…)
Trailer; http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/monsanto_movie080307
Full movie; http://www.livevideo.com/video/embedLink/1C4FB64D50354B9A856504954B453CC9/580798/the-world-according-to-monsant.aspx
Posted in: What is causing the global food price spike and what should be done about it?
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weedkila
2020hindsight:
The last thing we need is GMOs. You want to give corporations like Monsanto the ability to control the food supply?
Multinationals make billions in profit out of growing global food crisis
Speculators blamed for driving up price of basic foods as 100 million face severe hunger
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/multinationals-make-billions-in-profit-out-of-growing-global-food-crisis-820855.html
Posted in: What is causing the global food price spike and what should be done about it?
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weedkila
I agree with Some14some, Smartacus and Statistician. Solution: Get rid of biofuel. Something needs to be done about the way the money men go about their business as well.
Posted in: What is causing the global food price spike and what should be done about it?
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weedkila
It's the wrong question. It shouldn't be about age but about whether he has a character that is fit to lead his country. For one thing he has a vicious temper. He also lies like GW. See that url I posted a few posts back if you haven't already. No temper displayed but you do get the lies : ) Interestingly, he met with the Rothchilds in London a few weeks ago - never a good sign.
Posted in: Should John McCain's age (he'll be 72 on election day) be a factor in the U.S. presidential election campaign?
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weedkila
AlfieinTokyo
I agree. It's probably a few decades apart. In addition to the photography I'm sure these latest satellites have lots of extra bells and whistles as well. By coincidence I came across these pics yesterday showing all the satellites in orbit. I don't know where the Japanese are going to fit their latest ones in.
http://www.esa.int/esa-mmg/mmg.pl?b=b&type=I&collection=Spacecraft%20Operations&start=1
Posted in: Japan enacts 1st law allowing for military space use
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weedkila
Of who? The neighbours or us?
You mean only slightly better than google earth's old pix? C'mon. They could probably pick out a middle finger ok
Posted in: Japan enacts 1st law allowing for military space use
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weedkila
Their price hike won't bother me as I keep away from their stuff. Especially after reading they have been trying to push rat poison (aspartame) on their British customers.
Here in the U.K., the Wal-Mart-owned supermarket chain Asda has explicitly named aspartame is a list of "nasties," and it has set about removing from it's "Good for You" range of foods. Such a move was not going to go unnoticed by aspartame's manufacturers, of course. It turns out the Ajinomoto, the Japanese company that makes aspartame, has served a writ in London against Asda, and is suing on the basis that Asda has suggested that aspartame is unhealthy and is something that consumers concerned for their health should avoid. /Snip
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-5-9/70483.html
Posted in: Ajinomoto to raise mayonnaise prices in July
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weedkila
Dementia should disqualify him
http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/325.html
Posted in: Should John McCain's age (he'll be 72 on election day) be a factor in the U.S. presidential election campaign?
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weedkila
Katakana can be used instead of kanji/hiragana for emphasis or effect. Usually it's for single words only but I can see it being extended in a letter like this.
Posted in: Fukui school cancels sports festival after threat against children
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weedkila
Call a spade a spade. She did pay the ultimate price. It's a terrible thing but that's what happened. I did not read anything into Romulus' sentence other than that. Certainly not “The *itch probably had it coming.”
I thought Romulus made a very valid point saying that some parents use their kids as weapons. We don't know what really happened in this case but going by the limited info there is it seems the motive was to do with c/custody. The man went way too far obviously but, like I said before if the court system in Japan were even a little bit reasonable, crazy stuff like this would happen less frequently. You know how bad the system is when a judge tries to abduct his kid back.
http://www.crnjapan.com/articles/2005/en/20051023-jpntdy-lawyerkidnapsdaughter.html
Posted in: Man arrested for killing ex-wife in Fukushima after crashing into her car
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weedkila
LFR, take it easy. Romulus has some good points and he is right about men (or to be more accurate, the left-behind parent) being expected to sink away after a divorce. He might not have experience in this but I do and can vouch for what he is saying. Although Japan might be a better place for men than women in the work place, in the Japanese home it's a totally different story. It's a fact that the courts tend to favour the mother whether she is suitable or not. (In J.ese-Foreigner divorce cases the J.family court fully supports the Japanese, whether male or female.) The couple in this story divorced in January. If the victim had legal custody and suddenly decided that she would not let her ex see the kids anymore, then there is nothing he can do about it. Nothing! Again it's only an IF, but the story did say they were arguing over custody so it's a reasonable assumption.
Btw, the percentage of women getting custody in Japanese court cases is around 80%. In Japan the deal is abductor takes all (as a rule.) The courts like the status quo and if the child seems settled, well, custody goes to the parent who has the kid, whether that parent is suitable or not. Btw, Romulus there is no such thing as legal joint custody in Japan.
Posted in: Man arrested for killing ex-wife in Fukushima after crashing into her car
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weedkila
This url gives a little more info...
http://www.sanspo.com/shakai/top/sha200805/sha2008051310.html
According to neighbours he was a quiet and serious person. There's nothing about previous violence.
菅野容疑者の自宅周辺の住民によると、元夫婦は約２年前に別居。同容疑者が小学６年の長男と同３年の長女を養育しており、「おとなしくまじめな性格」だという。
Posted in: Man arrested for killing ex-wife in Fukushima after crashing into her car
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weedkila
Sadly, these kinds of incidents will not decrease until Japan sorts it's pathetic family court system out. I would never condone murder but the guy might not have turned to that if Japan had a reasonable system of dealing with child custody/visitation. Japan must be one of the only countries on earth which cannot enforce it's own civil laws. At least that's the case with visitation. Any divorce settlement signed with a visitation clause is basically worthless to the non-custodial parent if their ex decides he/she does not want to cooperate. It's a joke and leads to people doing some very desperate things, as perhaps it was the case here. I'm assuming this guy was not violent before because the story mentions nothing about a restraining order.
May the mother's soul rest in peace. And poor children - it's always them who get shafted because of selfish parents.
Posted in: Man arrested for killing ex-wife in Fukushima after crashing into her car
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weedkila
jambon: good point about the use of food for fuel. The evil twins of global warming and global food shortages (brought to us by the same people.)
Posted in: Artificially cooling Earth may prove perilous
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weedkila
frontandcentre: It depends on where you get your information from. Although what you read may be true it might be only part of the picture, in other words, disinformation. Although the earth was going through a warming period up until 1998 (before temperatures apparently levelled off) the opposite now seems to be happening. I've mentioned it before but, as I read time and again, CO2 plays only a very minor role in the overall affect of climate temperature. In fact CO2 follows global temperatures and not the other way around.
Here is one article that supports what I'm saying about global cooling...
Over the past year, anecdotal evidence for a cooling planet has exploded. China has its coldest winter in 100 years. Baghdad sees its first snow in all recorded history. North America has the most snowcover in 50 years, with places like Wisconsin the highest since record-keeping began. Record levels of Antarctic sea ice, record cold in Minnesota, Texas, Florida, Mexico, Australia, Iran, Greece, South Africa, Greenland, Argentina, Chile -- the list goes on and on. No more than anecdotal evidence, to be sure. But now, that evidence has been supplanted by hard scientific fact. All four major global temperature tracking outlets (Hadley, NASA's GISS, UAH, RSS) have released updated data. All show that over the past year, global temperatures have dropped precipitously.
http://www.dailytech.com/Temperature+Monitors+Report+Worldwide+Global+Cooling/article10866.htm
Also recommended is this recent view from a Brisbane Uni professor talking about "climate change" on a NZ TV show
Climate Change - has it been cancelled?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgaeyMa3jyU
Posted in: Artificially cooling Earth may prove perilous