[Crowds at all or empty?]

Good to hear.

Maybe 2nd week of February is what I'm thinking.

[Strong winds today? (Don't think so!)]

So they have now been closed for 3 days on the run? Sounds very fishy indeed. If they are going to close on days like today and Friday they might as well not bother opening at all.

[Crowds at all or empty?]

Bit late, but good photos SirJib. How was the Niseko trip?

[Crowds at all or empty?]

Bit confused there - you mean, looking at a webcam today or are you staying in Iwappara?

[Crowds at all or empty?]

Anyone encountered any business at resorts yet this season? The photos I have seen seem to be showing a general distinct lack of overcrowding. almost the opposite.

 

Friday will be the first day of the season for me.

[OK, so.... snow conditions]

Is it as empty as the photos suggest?

[New year resolutions]

Drink diet beer instead of normal beer on weekdays.

 

 

or should that be

 

[Things you can't help laughing at]

Lots of politician posters up near where I live at the moment. One in particular. This guy in a 3 piece suit doing a 'gatsu' post (you know, the clinched fist etc). And he is wearing white trainers.

 

3 piece suit + trainers = looks very silly.

[Photos that sum up how you feel about Japan]

[Creches in Japan]

It's mentioned on this page

 

http://www.snowjapan.com/e/spotlight/hakuba-goryu-2.html

[Your top 3 resorts]

Wan: Happo-one

Tsoo: Nozawa

Surii: Kagura

[The new Bond]

I thought it was a bit overlong but generally really enjoyed it. Didn't miss the gadgets at all, though a baddie in a hollowed out volcano might have been fun

[Careful at your office party]

I always hope for something really fun to happen at an office party, but never yet experienced a one like that. The ones here with my colleagues get to be drunken affairs, but the karaoke and snack bars soon sobers me up

[Away with you, IE7!]

I downloaded IE7 to see what the fuss was about. Seemed ok but every so often it seems to only half download a page and stop. Then a few seconds later refresh itself and display the whole page.

 

You'd have thought Microsoft might actually get a product working properly after all the publicity over things before now.

[ipod speakers]

Logitech MM50s are good.

[The new Bond]

They have been proved way wrong as well....

[Your dancing song]

Dont you forget about me

[Home vs Professional]

For Windows XP users, which version are you using Home or Professional? I use Home and was looking at info on Vista but what exactly is the difference between these 2 XPs?

[Anyone dreamed about boarding/skiing recently?]

I havent remembered a dream for so long

 

[Dragonflies]

Praying mantis are excellent. Such strange looking creatures. I've only ever seen one in real life and it was fascinating.

 

Most insects are really cool - as long as they out of my house and on my body.

[what's everybody listening to now?]

I quite liked some of the songs on that. That new songs sounds very Bee Gees / disco.

[Karaoke doesn't get better]

I went out to an enkai last night and there was a nijikai at a karaoke bar. I thought I might enjoy it seeing as though I hadn't been to karaoke for so long. Hmmmm, er no. Worse than ever. And fewer people than ever it seemed. A sad sight all round it was.

 

Is karaoke losing it's appeal with lots of Japanese where you are? Sure seems to be less popular where I am.

[mayor of Tokyo]

Oops this thread. Mori was just on tv shaking hands with Mr Abe.

[Utsukushii kuni o]

Big Mori was just on the tv shaking hands with New Abe. Seems he is still around.

[Good movies you've seen recently]

Hard to guess isn't it.

 

Whats the Japanese title for that one?