wanderlust comments

Let's hope Fujitsu, the company behind My Number do a better job with system than they did with the Horizon system at UK Post Offices. But the frequent data leaks and mix ups do not give much confidence.

Still not as bad as the XL Bully dogs in the UK, who have killed and maimed a number of people, including some of their owners. Now designated a restricted breed requiring licensing, muzzling and other measures.

Gold, silver and credit card payments are the main focus of the Olympic Games, along with TV sponsorship.

Local authorities accepted the building of nuclear power plants due to the numerous large subsidies paid to them, enriching the local inhabitants, companies and officials in those same authorities, and replacing income lost from dying traditional industries, .

However the subsidies only lasted for a limited period of time, so they allowed more planta to be built, leading to the massive multi-reactor plants seen in Japan, 10 at Fukushima I and II, 7 at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, 5 at Hamaoka, and 4 each at Oi, Takahama, Genkai, etc..

Although safety measures have been improved, mainly massive concrete barriers around the plants, one area that is hardly addressed is procedures for the timely evacuation of locals in the event of accidents, decision making, and treatment in the case of exposure to radiation. Such measures would ruin the image that nuclear power is safe.

Already given up, looking at retiring and passing the buck to another old man.

That same amount monthly would help, but a one-time payment will have a miniscule effect.

Two expensive Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery conferences held in Himeji, Japan in June and Manila, Philippines in October this year.

Looks like they have had zero effect, same results each time, homelessness, power outages, food shortages, etc..

The vibration that is felt when cats are purring closely next to their human has also been suggested to help mental health!

Most of the objections to geothermal power came from Environment and Tourism ministries, who were concerned they would be a blight on the landscape, ignoring the blue tarpaulin sheets around their UNESCO heritage sites, castles and villages, A one-day trip to New Zealand would show how these geothermal plants are hidden from view.

They are also still negotiatiing with Shizuoka prefecture with regard to underground water and drainage in the Ikawa valley area, although only a brief section of tunnel runs under it there. However, the old governor who was objecting vociferously, conveniently retired over a minor speech gaffe, and the new governor is certain to approve the line.

Not many 40 year old cars on the road, and those that are have stringent shakken test every 2 years.

Nuclear power plants - 40 years old - 'upgraded' with a few hundred thousand tons of concrete barriers, and they are good for another twenty years!

Now go after all the mamas and school kids riding on the wrong side of the road and usually without lights at night.

Very typical for court proceedings to drag out for years; no-one has to be found guilty, and plaintiffs don't receive any damages or compensation. Win-Win for the establishment, a loss for everyone else.

Encountered four of them over the weekend in a small town in Yamanashi, struggling to get up a hill, swerving all over the road, and blocking traffic. Dangerous to everyone.

Two weeks ago, a large global conference on disaster risk/ reduction/ recovery was held in Manila, 4 months ago another was held in Himeji, not so far from Awaji and Ishikawa. Have they had any impact?

Sorry - clicked too soon. From the CSM article:

Japan does not have a pretrial discovery process that allows defendants access to prosecutorial evidence.

However, prosecutors present only incriminating evidence to a court, while hiding other pieces of evidence that could point away from the accused.

The infamous 99% conviction rate is only for cases that go to trial, and a guilty verdict is almost guaranteed. Around 60% of cases do not go to trial.

CSM May 10, 2023

Whilst they may be restricting the working hours, the drivers are making up for it by speeding and tailgating along the highways and main roads of Japan. The police do nothing about it, except tell you to call them if you are being tailgated! And of course, you can't use your phone in the car when driving!

Even 'Touch Screens' have an OFF switch!

Apologies for misunderstanding, deepish bow in front of the cameras, 10% reduction in salary for 3-6 months, suitable short period to reflect, throw a well-compensated junior out to take responsibility, then back to business.

Repeat ad infinitum...

They have already started on the infrastructure for the Integrated Resort (aka Casino) to be built afterwards. This is a great subsidy for the casino operators and local government.

The party factions have just been renamed to 'research groups', they still exist.

No-one expected the LDP to conduct real change, did they?

The current models are pretty much automatic, with some input from the driver, who constantly calcuates the speed required to main the schedule. The trains also decelerate automatically, but drivers control the brakes manually as they approach stations, with the speed dropping below 60 kph, and they can take over in case of an emergency.

Stop including cheese in nearly every sandwich, pastry or pie on sale, not everyone eats the stuff. Organise the drink pick-up areas properly for both to go and inside drinkers. No need to have such large displays of goods and souvenir cups for sale, use the space for customers to drink. Prepare stronger coffee, that at least tastes like coffee.

My local MOS Burger has always employed staff with a variety of hair colours, it has never stopped them cooking tasty food, and every burger to order, fresh off the hot plate.

Suica and Pasmo seem quite reliable, I use Pasmo mainly for travel and sports club. But the Smart Phone devices too often don't work, and the sales staff and customers try to sort out the issue with a line of angry customers behind them. And the customers can be young or old, it does not matter.

Michishita only got 3rd place because of a technical disqualification, when the 3rd place runner Congost let go of her tether for a couple of seconds to assist her guide who was having physical difficulties. She had been more than 3 minutes ahead of her, so the compassionate gesture would have had no impact on the placing but rules are rules.

... several criminal investigations into organizing committee members, including one targeting the salary of Games supremo Estanguet, could also tarnish the image of the event as a national success story. A public audit into the cost of the Games, as well...

This is getting to be SOP after any event that the IOC is involved in....

And that is why they were so desperate to have the Osaka World Expo. The casino will benefit from the tax-payer funded site development. Some of the casino infrastructure is already being built.

3 gm to be removed, 894,121,299 gm to go...quite a challenge.

I wonder if they will number the pipes in order this time?