Month: March 2020

by liberal japonicus Well, rumor here in Japan is that Tokyo will go into strict lockdown relatively soon. One of the reasons Japan has taken a slowly slowly approach, according to this chatter, is that Abe doesn’t want to crash the Nikkei and since March is the end of the fiscal year, April will see … Read more

by liberal japonicus Thought I would open another thread, this time centered around Pope Francis’ recent homily, in which he gave the blessing in the title, explained by this wikipedia page. The Urbi et Orbi address and blessing is the most solemn form of blessing in the Catholic Church, and is reserved for the most … Read more

by liberal japonicus Posted on a friend’s facebook, who said he got it from Popbitch A man in hospital is one of the first to use the new Dyson ventilator. Doctors say he’s picking up nicely. So a thread for jokes. No politics….. unless it’s funny.

by JanieM In response to Girl from the North Country’s request. I suppose it’s futile, but I’m going to ask anyhow. Can we try to keep it to — reportage and not bloody-minded rants about the facts being reported, and — constructive ideas and links to useful info, actions, etc…. It’s hard enough to fight … Read more

by JanieM I wrote on the 1192 tsukuro! thread about my mom getting injured in a fall this morning, but I don’t want to have dragged that thread off topic, so here’s another. Sort of an open thread, but no politics, please. If you have practical thoughts on taking action politically, go to the “Returning … Read more

by liberal japonicus This is prompted by my reply to Girl from the North Country concerning the fact that Korea basically has one big urban center and the problems it causes as well as me remember Russell’s observation (I think) about how a particular size of village/town was self selected. I’m too lazy to look … Read more

by JanieM There are times on this blog, one of them just this morning, when people write as if any attempt at moderation is objectively pro-Nazi. I’m not buying it. Maybe certain kinds of venting help the venter somehow, but there’s a tipping point beyond which conversation amongst the rest of us, even rancorous conversation … Read more

by liberal japonicus A thread for your political thoughts, as a futile attempt to protect the non-political ones. Have at it.

by liberal japonicus This deserves a separate post. In answer to the post’s question, the Berlin Phil streaming site/app is giving free access to their catalog for 30 days because of coronavirus https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/ Hope other can share what they are doing in this time of social distancing. And maybe no politics, if you please.

by liberal japonicus This Guardian piece is quite interesting. With an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 coronavirus cases now present in the UK, the government has eschewed social distancing measures such as closing schools and banning large sporting events. Instead, it has opted for behavioural “nudges”: wash your hands, don’t touch your face, don’t shake hands … Read more

by liberal japonicus Thought I’d post something, the wuhan thread is creaking at the seams. A couple of grafs from here Sanders promised to show up at the debate on Sunday in Arizona to face Biden one-on-one, and basically offered him a cheat sheet: “Let me be very frank as to the questions that I … Read more

by liberal japonicus I wrote to Josh Marshall, editor of Talking Points Memo (and he immediately wrote back with a gracious response. I should also add that they are keeping all their COVID reporting outside their paywall, but they are hoping to get more subscribers, so you may want to consider it) about this statement … Read more