albaleo comments

Science doesn't care about "do you agree?" . Science backs up it's claims with evidence.

That's true. But decisions that might be made on dealing with potential issues do require some form of agreement - that's how politics and governments work. And there is sometimes an overlap between science and politics - I'm thinking of those who take up science to follow a cause. Such causes might be "a cleaner earth" or "a healthier population".

My own opinion is that human-caused global warming is a serious problem. What I'm uncertain of is how best to deal with it. For example, one solution might be to stop all oil, gas, and coal usage from tomorrow. But what would be the consequences, especially for those living in poorer but developing countries? The wealthy can get solar panels and electric cars, but what about those whose only dream is to get a basic refrigerator and then finding out there will be no electricity to run it?

@kintsugi,

I agree with the points you have made about trying to deal with the cause. And I also don't know any good way to do that.

History suggest the movement of people has happened over thousands of years. Are we facing a similar pattern now?

Does it still make sense for all of us living in the same place to organize every few years

I think so. We still have to walk out the door and confront neighbors, we still expect the roads to be repaired, we still rely on local infrastructure to give us internet access (most of us anyway), we still want our garbage collected.

Is true that there is 99% conviction rate in Japan?

Yes, they will drop many cases that they don't feel they can get a conviction on.

True. I understand only about 50% of cases passed from police to prosecutors actually go to court. The prosecutors generally only pursue cases where they are fairly sure of getting a conviction. According to Wikipedia, " If measured in the same way, the United States' federal conviction rate would be 99.8%."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conviction_rate

It's 99% a human made fire caused the disaster

While there may be a 99% chance the fires were started by human activity, the effect of the fires is largely a result of other factors. If it had been raining at the time, or if there hadn't been as much grassland, would it have been as bad?

It was also reported here recently that life expectancy has dropped. Should we ask if there is a connection?

How come Japan is always behind western Countries?

Smoking rates, vaccination rollout rates, animal welfare,sex offender list, etc.

And don't forget shooting deaths, imprisonment rate, obesity rate, etc. A lot of catching up to do, eh.

Can we, for once, cheerfully acknowledge that we are a step closer instead of finding ways to poo-poo every small success?

Sure, but we should also acknowledge the scale of the problem that still remains.

@Luis David Yanez,

You make an interesting point, one well worth thinking about. I sometimes wonder which would be more effective in solving disputes - dropping bombs or dropping money.

can anyone name any of her songs apart from the one that made her famous?

She sang a love song of a kind that has stayed in my mind. (It may not sound so sweet to some.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbre5Fs9m8I

 But, what's a "jumper"? 

In the UK, it's the same as a sweater. It seems to have various meanings around the world.

I'd have thought burning anything in a public place presents a fire danger. I'm surprised it's allowed.

The wind might be downgraded but the precipitation risks still remain very real.

I agree. My experience of typhoons in Japan is that rainfall is a bigger danger than wind speeds.

Does this mean favorite city outside Tokyo?

I assumed it meant a city you like to visit but haven't lived in.

Legacy status means a prior family member that actually contributed to and attended the university and without whom it would not exist. It does not include newcomer parasites.

Well, thanks for the info about "legacy status". But as the first person in my family to attend university, did I qualify as a newcomer parasite?

I find the article confusing, probably because I'm not an American. Can someone explain what "legacy status" means? I'm assuming it's something to do with one's family members having already attended the university. Is that right? I hope I'm wrong as it sounds like madness.

First gold?

First gold on Monday perhaps.

I see Kobe and Onomichi mentioned above - I was thinking of the same places. Kobe for its geography - great views of the Inland Sea from some of the slopes. Fond memories of Onomichi and especially the island Mukaishima (but I think locally called Mukojima). I worked at a training center on the island a couple of times (before the Shimanami Kaido was completed), and the 5-minute ferry trip back and forth between the island and the main town was cool.

It doesn't seem so different from the recent pattern in other countries.

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/life-expectancy-falls-27-29-nations-amid-covid-19

Nothing but a ploy by the Inverness tourist board 

Another denier unwilling to accept the evidence of 97% of hotel owners, tour operators, and souvenir shop managers.

The highest form of motivation is “intrinsic motivation”, which means you do something because you find it fun.

Distant memories of my first months in Japan with limited Japanese ability. I don't know how to say, "Where is the nearest alcohol store?", but I know how to say, "Do you have beer?" and "Where?" So I walk into a woman's clothing store and use what I know and get pointed to the right place. So I'd say intrinsic motivation is beer. Others may disagree.

few foreigners living here never really grasp Japanese

I guess we all have different ideas of "really grasp". I'm not sure I really grasp English, although I'm considered a native speaker.

And now I'm wondering if there's a difference between learning a language and using a language.

are players allowed to get such a full grasp on the arm of another player as #16 has on #11?

Perhaps she was trying to hold her up from the push by No. 20. But as long as the ref can't see it, it's fine.

Anyway, Japan are looking strong.

I understand she's 52 years old. Hard to believe.

Back in the 1970s as a student, a Soviet SLR camera was all I could afford. Called a Zenith in the UK and Zenit in most other places, I think. I don't recall whether it had a Helios lens - probably not. Fond memories.

So which one is really the "dangerous drug" ?

I don't think they are comparable. The concern with tobacco is about physical health. The concern with marijuana is that it gets you stoned.

Jewish organizations welcomed the verdict.

Not all. I read that Dor Hadash, one of three organizations that share the synagogue, don't support the death penalty.

Amazed there is no charge for cruelty to the dog, or is there no such charge in Japanese law?

From a quick Google search, it seems there were 170 cases of animal abuse in Japan in 2021. 60 of those involved dogs.

Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles, provides the backdrop for the mountain biking

Only the downhill mountain biking is to be held at Ben Nevis. The various cross-country mountain biking events are to be held in the Tweed valley, at and around the Glentress Forest mountain biking centre.

https://www.cyclingworldchamps.com/visit/venues/glentress-forest/

The article below tries to explain the high North Atlantic temperatures, and suggests CO2 plays only a minor part. I confess that I don't understand much - it's complicated and I'm getting old. Generally, I'd expect any CO2 increase to have some kind of warming effect. But it's probably good to compare different points of view.

https://judithcurry.com/2023/07/02/whats-causing-the-extremely-warm-temperatures-in-the-north-atlantic/

but I feel that the variant here in Japan is sweeter, lighter tasting, easier digestible than the one in Europe

I don't know about the rest of Europe, but here in the UK, it seems the nature of cabbage has changed over the years. White cabbage seemed to have become the norm at some point, and it's not so nice when eaten raw. But sweetheart cabbage is now generally available, and it's probably closer to the type used in Japan, at least in texture. It's what my wife uses when serving tonkatsu. (I'm also a sample size of one - perhaps one and a bit after eating tonkatsu.)

Am I only one who thinks this sentence is too heavy?

It's a fair question. But I think the key issues are that it was premeditated, the intent was to kill, and the potential victims were random. It seems fair to me and not out of line with normal sentencing in Japan.