snobee

Dockers down (for now). Bring em on.

Bushy - thanks for that link. Good stuff. Instead of thinning the backlog of "duties" today, I've just spent a few hours reading that link, leaving precious time to do things before the family arrive home. Move quick!

l'spud - well worsted. I agree with your sentiments. I don't think Steve Irwin ever tried to be anyones hero. He just got a buzz out of what he was doing long before the media merchants arrived. Not much changed - just his exposure. Perhaps his dryness and at times in-your-face larrikin antics put people off. So what. He wasn't authorative or sensible enough like the Attenboroughs??? A few years back a friend of a friend worked at his place in QLD and said he made hyper-activity seem slow. Constantly on the go, go, go. Never stopped. And his intent was only good. Th

The calendar says summer finishes tomorrow so every thing shuts down, people stop going and begin preparing for winter! Now that's classic "In Japan".

le spud - the delights of lighting up the good stuff after dinner sounds a dangerously habit forming ritual which could develop into a full blown (sic) religion. And this demonization - is that like with devils as in hell's devils??? Sorry

Bushy - exactly my thoughts re FT's post. "...when bent over it should enter the snow" I'd say that's a miss FT.

I think the world can become a better place if it becomes better.

Since moving a couple of months ago have many new found pets. Centipedes, wasps, hornets, snake(s), grasshoppers and a few lousy cockcroaches. Trying to train them - to STAY OUTSIDE. Not totally successful to date. Less carrots more sticks.

Drinking good ol' room temp red wine. Brings on a good sweat. Cold Beer's for the faint at heart.

Bushy - Institutionalized Rooting? Do you mean what we did at school? Or the turning of rooting into an event with or without religious overtones, such as in a "shag party" or the daily de-frocking of those in habits (convent or non-conventional)

S'briquet - yeah I agree with your genral points - where will the legislation end and what are the qualifications of the legislators? However rules are made for the multitude, which includes those who can act/think responsibly and who don't need to be patronised by such. But shit happens. No amount of protection would have saved my "out for a stroll" friend from having her ankle/shin broken when hit from behind by a kuso-gakki riding a bicycle while listening to his mp3 AND texting at the same time. But some damn strictly enforced rules about such behaviour would certainly br

ROOTING as a RELIGION is not so EVIL

Always a bit of controversy surrounding the issue of compulsory helmet wearing. Statistics are trotted out and squeezed by opponents and proponents. I wore one in Oz for years and I've never worn one here. So what's my line? Well a couple of years back a great young kid (10 yrs) a student of mine was knocked off her bike while riding at a very slow speed. Head grazed/hit the gutter. Ambulance, 1 month coma in hospital, 3 months full recovery (we hope). Sooo Lucky!!! No one will ever convince me that a helmet would not have helped her. Accredited Bike Helmets are designed to work

Sorry to be the proverbial "damp squib" but I'm not a great fire-works fan. The pyro-technology and craftmanship required to produce such surely is marvellous, as are the awesome displays of explosive colours. For me though the saturating stench - unless viewed from very afar - the noise and the way it drives animals nuts and as OC hinted the repetitive tiresomeness of it all, makes me think other more worthwhile activities to pursue. A lot of gee-whiz-bang preying on our ancient volcano gazing instincts. But I can't tell that to the kid can I. She who recieved a B

What's Wussy? And the Carpenters - they're cool in a fluff, saccharine, melodic, tragic kind of way. Not barf material imho. I put on their tribute cd - Interpretations - from time to time, for a different spin on their songs. I like Sonic Youths version of Superstar.

The thicker pancakes - called hotcakes here - are generally bland & 'cakey' and used only for desserts. The J-crepes I've had are great. Of course they're thin - that's because they're crepes, not pancakes. The choice of fillings is wide. My faves are fried rice, seafood & good ol salad. The main place I buy them from (take away)is never stingy on the filling and flavours are always good. The place is always busy - which supposedly is a reasonable sign to their "getting it right" For ￥300 ~ ￥400 pretty good value, health & pocket wise.

Malaysia & Singapore airlines have always looked after the 'masses' better than most airlines in all aspects imo. These 2 carriers have been able to offer reasonably(?) palatable and interesting fare. Serving food @ 30,000ft in a capsule to 300+ is no mean feat anytime - just some don't give a stuff.

My stock reply to the 'gaijin' inference is, "Chau, Chau - Australia-jin desu" Never had a response to that.

Spud - An admirable bit of sculpting there. And quite to the point in the savagery of a capitalist system. Eat or be eaten. However, disregarding laws and the way of mammon, the question begging for a direct answer, "Why does underutilizing a paid for service attract a penalty?" is still floating. The flaw appears to be on the side of the companies, not the consumers. And the problem is compounded when the companies rule is only a rule for some - you know the local goodies, who don't do bad stuff - heh, heh, heh. And admist all this, I have used HIS solely for 6

Interesting thoughts representing overse views. However I didn't seem to catch a clear answer to Davers matter of fact point that it is illegal according to Japanese Air Law, Article 105, Paragraph 2. Opinions, bends, fairness, economics, business, rationality etc don't cut it. If the law was vague & non-specific so be it, but it isn't. If that speed camera did flash today as I suspect, when travelling on the tollway @ 110km/h when the posted speed was 70, then I'll just have to suck it. No fine weather, low traffic, wife's appendicitis argument will succeed. It's the law. P

Well the Fat lady has sung and Thank Dog. Talk about the most highly strung, self indulgent sports fest ever. Sure some moments of athleticism, sheer ball wizardry and flashes of genius insight, BUT as a genuine spetacle the flaws are glaring. All been said before by those far better than me, but the pressure to succeed has spawned a monster that is devouring itself. The diving, faking, the-exagerrated-injury-to-slow-down/stop-the-game, the running to the ref and aggresive begging for fouls, the LACK of goals, the constant complaints after games, the extra-ordinarily inconsis

Hidden Horrors - Japanese War Crimes in WW2 by Yuki Tanaka What Humankind is capable of. An invoking read.

Better still - the Adelaide Crows! Real winners.

Ho Hum.

Boys will be boyz you know.