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[wombat]

But if you don't and you end up with six Boston terriers in a bowl like that, I'll take ALL of them.

[Liz]

Okay, I am a long-time lurker, and I am so so sorry that my being motivated to post here for the first time is in a random political thread. You guys are awesome! Seriously!

But this:

I want to move to Japan. I want to live in a country where the trains run on time?  Oh, wait, one where there actually are trains, even. They wouldn't put up with this shit. At least if they did screw up this bad, they'd be mortified and commit harakiri. Is that too much to ask?

...just spurs me to feel I need to post. I have my Bachelor's in Japanese, I work as a translator, I've spent a lot of time Japan, and I have a number of friends/roommates who have lived there in the span of years.

The trains in Japan do not always run on time. It's true enough that trains rarely run late because of infrastructure difficulties, but when they do not run on time, the primary cause is because people are jumping on the tracks to kill themselves. It's a phenomenon common enough to have its own term (tobikomi-jisatsu; "plunging suicide") and its own official government euphamism (jishin-jiku; "human accident").

Japan has one of highest suicide rates of any first-world country, and it's largely because of those personal standards they hold themselves to. (I don't know if you were being serious with the line about them committing harakiri if they messed up, wombat, but it's honestly pretty accurate.) The Japanese are masters of the art of suicide, both grotesque (as the farmer last month who drank a bottle of pesticide and then threw it up, poisoning at least 50 around him) and sensational (as the newscaster last month who suffocated herself in her car several weeks after posting a disturbing note in her blog about how she had become a demon).

Seriously. I mean, I love Japan; there's a lot to love about Japan. It's a beautiful and fantastic and very efficient country. But there's also a lot about them that is not to be envied.

Anyway sorry I'll go now and let you guys talk about puppies I promise.

[CortJstr]

A quality first post

Hi. Have a seat. Try the veal. Or sushi, if that's your preference.

[Arachno-capitalist]

Hi. Have a seat. Try the veal.

Try the can.

[wombat]

Seriously. I mean, I love Japan; there's a lot to love about Japan. It's a beautiful and fantastic and very efficient country. But there's also a lot about them that is not to be envied.

I know.  But dammit, at least when the trains are late because someone jumped on the tracks that's a good reason.

Also, black sesame ice cream. Why can't we have that here, too?

[pmcd9]

Try the can.

Or better yet, try it in the can.

[CortJstr]

Or better yet, try it in the can.

Are you offering? Because I've had my eye on you for some time.

I think it was the Indian buffet photo that got me.

[Arachno-capitalist]

http://wbztv.com/local/gloucester.high.school.2.751873.html
I dont know what it is, but this really hits me in the gut.

[pmcd9]

Are you offering? Because I've had my eye on you for some time.

I think it was the Indian buffet photo that got me.

It's better to give than receive.

[Golfhaus]

http://wbztv.com/local/gloucester.high.school.2.751873.html
I dont know what it is, but this really hits me in the gut.

Sad state of affairs, yes, but I have to admit, the first thing I thought when I read

"We found out one of the fathers is a 24-year-old homeless guy," he told Time.

was, "Dammit, where were these girls when I was 24? I owned a condo when I was 24."

[Doc]

Yeah but none of them were even 16, young virile etc. be damned have you spoken to a 15 year old girl lately?

[pmcd9]

Yeah but none of them were even 16, young virile etc. be damned have you spoken to a 15 year old girl lately?

I don't think he wants to have a conversation with them. 

[Arachno-capitalist]

"Dammit, where were these girls when I was 24? I owned a condo when I was 24."

Yea, maybe im just jealous.

[Doc]

I don't think he wants to have a conversation with them. 

I don't know I'd want to run the risk. They might open their mouths at any time.

[pmcd9]

I don't know I'd want to run the risk. They might open their mouths at any time.

Yes, well we know what to do in that case.