What makes this funny is that after a recent trip to New York, I was asked zero questions about my bags during check-in, and the individual checking bags on the x-ray monitor was talking to a fellow co-worker while people went through the metal detector. But at least I took my shoes off and didn't have any large bottles of liquid with me.
What exactly is the point of this increased security?
Thanks for checking! I'll be sure to give them a call and see what they can offer. I know my building uses J:Com by default, but we chose to go with AU since that's the service we use for our cell phones. Now I'm thinking that wasn't such a great idea...:)
Did you sign up for this package using some kind of campaign discount? I read your description and immediately went to J:com's website to see about signing up, but with everything that you mentioned, the cheapest rate I can find is 10,980 yen - and that's without the phone services. The website I was looking at is available http://www.jcom.co.jp/information/common/pricing/pay_pack.php.
If you've got any other information about getting 160Mbps for that price, please let me know. I'm currently paying 5800 yen with kddi for 50Mbps and that would be a massive speed increase.
It takes responsibility to have and raise children, but it doesn't make someone irresponsible to not have kids. This is what I'm arguing. Cultural factors will have a strong influence on a couple's decision to NOT have children, and factors like unaffordable childcare only make the decision to not have children that much easier.
Like I said, companies (society) shouldn't feel required to assist people who do have children, but a lack of assistance isn't without consequences.
You definitely have a point about social security not existing, but taxes are still paid by citizens, and less citizens mean less taxes.
The U.S. is not "lucky" in that respect at all. The people of the U.S. have been RESPONSIBLE about their birth rate. If the other nations can't or won't in this 21st Century, then the hell with them. Let 'em fail. There are no real excuses for that anymore.
And not to nitpick, but this statement makes no sense at all. Responsibility has nothing to do with a higher birthrate. Societal factors directly influence a couple's choice to have children, and if couples don't feel that the environment is conducive to having children, they don't. And it's strange, because you said that if people can't afford to have children they shouldn't, but now you're telling me that people in Europe and Japan, who can't afford to have children and aren't, are being irresponsible?
I don't think the childless should have to support those who decide to have children, but you might consider that it's the children that will be supporting the childless when the childless retire and rely on social security to make it from month to month.
Japan is a good example of how not providing affordable living conditions can affect social stability. It's estimated that by the year 2050 the population will begin to shrink, and where as there are now 20 young people to support 1 old person, by then it will be something like a 5 to 1 ratio. The US is lucky the there are still around 2.1 children per family, but in places like Europe and Japan, a lack of children is going to have severe consequences in the near future.
The worst part is the selection of ages chosen by Consumer Reports. It's up in the air whether this is a good way to exercise, but what I'm more curious to find out is how well the Wii Fit is dealing with the weight of children under 15. Apparently the device is using BMI to judge how fit a person is, and already we are seeing complaints by parents that the Wii Fit is calling their children fat. It would have been great if CR had addressed this issue.
Apparently, this is only the third time a secret session has been held since 1830!
Not to mention that the last time it happened in 1983 it was concerning the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government. What in the world is going on in our government?!
I agree that HD color photos from all over the galaxy would be nice, but if the fact that man has been able to reliably send a probe to a planet 48 million miles away AND send pictures back still isn't enough to amaze people, I don't think anyone is going to care if there are pictures in the first place.
Every time I read stories like this, I'm just totally astounded. Working at NASA might be boring on a day to day basis, but the work they're doing is unbelievable.
I agree with you, but I think that rather than trying to increase crime numbers, they are more about showing to the media how they are trying to do something about 'crime'. However one of the biggest barriers for creating the impression of increasing crime numbers will be the numbers themselves.http://www.npa.go.jp/english/seisaku5/20071019.pdf
The crime statistics for 2006 were released and there was an across the board drop in the number of crimes committed by foreigners. I'm kind of curious to see how the media can spin this even more, but at least they can't use phrases like "year on year increases".
I do realize that this won't really change the impression that normal Japanese people have, but it has been my experience that most people here tend to overreact in general. Case in point, the people I work with are all afraid of being murdered by anyone that might be causing problems on the train, in the grocery store, etc. They feel that if they try to stop the trouble or ask politely to have someone stop something that it will mean their death.
Don't worry JohnFluxx. Just go ahead and read the book and I'm sure you'll still be thoroughly interested. I can't get into details without adding more spoilers though.
From TFA:
The checks are similar to the "US Visit" system introduced in the United States after the attacks on September 11, 2001. But Japan, unlike the United States, will require resident foreigners as well as visitors to be fingerprinted and photographed every time they re-enter the country. Perhaps I should have included repeatedly, but either way it's a terrible policy. Not to mention that we actually have to pay money to get a special stamp that allows us to leave and re-enter the country. This stamp now officially has zero meaning and simply becomes a visa tax targeted only at non-tourist visas.
This policy is TOTALLY the opposite of what the parent wrote. The reason they are doing this is because under the guise of terrorism they are attempting to reduce the number of crimes committed by foreigners, including overstaying visas. The whole idea of terrorism has nothing to do with why they passed this policy.
The worst part of the government's shortsightedness is that A)They have take the policy of fingerprinting to new extremes (even more so than the US), fingerprinting EVERYONE including those with spousal visas and those with families in Japan, and B)there is no transparency at all in this whole process. There is a lot of talk that in order to become better friends with the US they will even be sharing fingerprint information while at the same time using the US 'terrorist' list to analyze people coming into Japan as well.
See for yourself how they are trying to convince foreigners living in Japan that this is not a violation of your privacy - "It's to fight terrorism". They have included videos on the immigration page: http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/channel.html?c=61
Look for the June 14th entry. Notice how the foreigners look angry in the beginning, but once they have it explained to them that it's for their 'safety' that everything becomes alright.
I wonder if a warning message would preemptively stop criticism of the game. Online games frequently put that disclaimer, "Gameplay may change online," so why not add a message that says, "Gameplay may change if altered by unauthorized third-party add-ons"?
I still find it hard to believe that this whole debate over content exists. The rating system is, as far as I'm concerned, very successful in attempting to educate buyers. Game rating organizations should start running advertisements in movie theaters making a direct comparison between the R rating and the M rating. Maybe this will make it clearer to parents that you don't buy a "Rated-R" game for your 6-year old.
So basically what you are saying is that this kind of technology should be ignored because of the small percentage of parents that may be abusive? I'm sorry, but ignoring positive technology just because of a small minority just doesn't make sense.
To put it another way, this is like saying I don't think email and the internet should be created because spam is evil. Humans are crap and they will find a way to exploit the system and send me penis-enhancing emails all the time.
This technology is actually being looked forward to by many parents in Japan because it provides them with the opportunity to help their children while NOT following them around all over the place. About 1 or 2 years ago there was a girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered and the criminal used the child's cellphone to send pictures of the dead body back to the parents. If only this kind of technology had existed perhaps they could have found the child before any of these horrific acts had occurred.
I find it silly to read all these posts on slashdot saying how GPS to track children is a leash and it will be exploited. If you honestly think that big brother is everywhere and spying on you, put your tinfoil hat back on and leave this technology to people who can actually get some kind of positive benefit from it.
Slashdot Mirror
What makes this funny is that after a recent trip to New York, I was asked zero questions about my bags during check-in, and the individual checking bags on the x-ray monitor was talking to a fellow co-worker while people went through the metal detector. But at least I took my shoes off and didn't have any large bottles of liquid with me.
What exactly is the point of this increased security?
Thanks for checking! I'll be sure to give them a call and see what they can offer. I know my building uses J:Com by default, but we chose to go with AU since that's the service we use for our cell phones. Now I'm thinking that wasn't such a great idea... :)
Did you sign up for this package using some kind of campaign discount? I read your description and immediately went to J:com's website to see about signing up, but with everything that you mentioned, the cheapest rate I can find is 10,980 yen - and that's without the phone services. The website I was looking at is available http://www.jcom.co.jp/information/common/pricing/pay_pack.php. If you've got any other information about getting 160Mbps for that price, please let me know. I'm currently paying 5800 yen with kddi for 50Mbps and that would be a massive speed increase.
Did anyone else read this as George W.?
But we're not talking about excessive populations. We're talking about underpopulation.
Take a look at the birth rate for countries in Europe and Japan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_birth_rate
It takes responsibility to have and raise children, but it doesn't make someone irresponsible to not have kids. This is what I'm arguing. Cultural factors will have a strong influence on a couple's decision to NOT have children, and factors like unaffordable childcare only make the decision to not have children that much easier.
Like I said, companies (society) shouldn't feel required to assist people who do have children, but a lack of assistance isn't without consequences.
You definitely have a point about social security not existing, but taxes are still paid by citizens, and less citizens mean less taxes.
And not to nitpick, but this statement makes no sense at all. Responsibility has nothing to do with a higher birthrate. Societal factors directly influence a couple's choice to have children, and if couples don't feel that the environment is conducive to having children, they don't. And it's strange, because you said that if people can't afford to have children they shouldn't, but now you're telling me that people in Europe and Japan, who can't afford to have children and aren't, are being irresponsible?
I don't think the childless should have to support those who decide to have children, but you might consider that it's the children that will be supporting the childless when the childless retire and rely on social security to make it from month to month.
Japan is a good example of how not providing affordable living conditions can affect social stability. It's estimated that by the year 2050 the population will begin to shrink, and where as there are now 20 young people to support 1 old person, by then it will be something like a 5 to 1 ratio. The US is lucky the there are still around 2.1 children per family, but in places like Europe and Japan, a lack of children is going to have severe consequences in the near future.
Won't someone please think of the Childs'es?
Cthulhu?
The worst part is the selection of ages chosen by Consumer Reports. It's up in the air whether this is a good way to exercise, but what I'm more curious to find out is how well the Wii Fit is dealing with the weight of children under 15. Apparently the device is using BMI to judge how fit a person is, and already we are seeing complaints by parents that the Wii Fit is calling their children fat. It would have been great if CR had addressed this issue.
So in other words, Episode 1 or Species? Yikes!
Apparently, this is only the third time a secret session has been held since 1830!
Not to mention that the last time it happened in 1983 it was concerning the overthrow of the Nicaraguan government. What in the world is going on in our government?!
Then you'll probably love to hear that the US is rolling out a new system to take all 10 of your fingerprints. It's already in a bunch of airports. Great, huh? http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1201104663578.shtm
I agree that HD color photos from all over the galaxy would be nice, but if the fact that man has been able to reliably send a probe to a planet 48 million miles away AND send pictures back still isn't enough to amaze people, I don't think anyone is going to care if there are pictures in the first place.
Every time I read stories like this, I'm just totally astounded. Working at NASA might be boring on a day to day basis, but the work they're doing is unbelievable.
Or in other words:
FIRE....BAD!
I recommend Oregon Trail. How else will a child learn the words Typhoid and Cholera?
I agree with you, but I think that rather than trying to increase crime numbers, they are more about showing to the media how they are trying to do something about 'crime'. However one of the biggest barriers for creating the impression of increasing crime numbers will be the numbers themselves.http://www.npa.go.jp/english/seisaku5/20071019.pdf
The crime statistics for 2006 were released and there was an across the board drop in the number of crimes committed by foreigners. I'm kind of curious to see how the media can spin this even more, but at least they can't use phrases like "year on year increases".
I do realize that this won't really change the impression that normal Japanese people have, but it has been my experience that most people here tend to overreact in general. Case in point, the people I work with are all afraid of being murdered by anyone that might be causing problems on the train, in the grocery store, etc. They feel that if they try to stop the trouble or ask politely to have someone stop something that it will mean their death.
Don't worry JohnFluxx. Just go ahead and read the book and I'm sure you'll still be thoroughly interested. I can't get into details without adding more spoilers though.
This policy is TOTALLY the opposite of what the parent wrote. The reason they are doing this is because under the guise of terrorism they are attempting to reduce the number of crimes committed by foreigners, including overstaying visas. The whole idea of terrorism has nothing to do with why they passed this policy.
The worst part of the government's shortsightedness is that A)They have take the policy of fingerprinting to new extremes (even more so than the US), fingerprinting EVERYONE including those with spousal visas and those with families in Japan, and B)there is no transparency at all in this whole process. There is a lot of talk that in order to become better friends with the US they will even be sharing fingerprint information while at the same time using the US 'terrorist' list to analyze people coming into Japan as well.
See for yourself how they are trying to convince foreigners living in Japan that this is not a violation of your privacy - "It's to fight terrorism". They have included videos on the immigration page:
http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/channel.html?c=61
Look for the June 14th entry. Notice how the foreigners look angry in the beginning, but once they have it explained to them that it's for their 'safety' that everything becomes alright.
They read about the Google masseuse and wanted their cut.
I wonder if a warning message would preemptively stop criticism of the game. Online games frequently put that disclaimer, "Gameplay may change online," so why not add a message that says, "Gameplay may change if altered by unauthorized third-party add-ons"?
I still find it hard to believe that this whole debate over content exists. The rating system is, as far as I'm concerned, very successful in attempting to educate buyers. Game rating organizations should start running advertisements in movie theaters making a direct comparison between the R rating and the M rating. Maybe this will make it clearer to parents that you don't buy a "Rated-R" game for your 6-year old.
Isn't this the fear of the electronic dog Aibo? That bastard creeps me out!
Milton wants his stapler back.
So basically what you are saying is that this kind of technology should be ignored because of the small percentage of parents that may be abusive? I'm sorry, but ignoring positive technology just because of a small minority just doesn't make sense.
To put it another way, this is like saying I don't think email and the internet should be created because spam is evil. Humans are crap and they will find a way to exploit the system and send me penis-enhancing emails all the time.
This technology is actually being looked forward to by many parents in Japan because it provides them with the opportunity to help their children while NOT following them around all over the place. About 1 or 2 years ago there was a girl who was kidnapped, raped, and murdered and the criminal used the child's cellphone to send pictures of the dead body back to the parents. If only this kind of technology had existed perhaps they could have found the child before any of these horrific acts had occurred.
I find it silly to read all these posts on slashdot saying how GPS to track children is a leash and it will be exploited. If you honestly think that big brother is everywhere and spying on you, put your tinfoil hat back on and leave this technology to people who can actually get some kind of positive benefit from it.