Grateful Dead

at the risk of overkill here....(thrash fans will understand the subject header). i'm well aware that this interview has probably been seen and commented on in the past, but being as i am, in this kinda mood this afternoon, if Suzanne Shaw hasn't suffered unbearably in her life, or better still, retired to the nearest infested ditch somewhere; can anyone name any other conversations and reportage where the truth has been so tiresomely distorted, so abundantly twisted; self-glorified showboating and miserable ego stroking. look at the state of her; a less charitable man than Jerry would have pissed in her face and reduced that lacquered hairdo to the bleached stringy sag that would and should have bind around her neck and strangle her. bitter and frustrated today? yeah, i guess.... that'll teach me for watching the news at 5.30am. heinous oxygen thief, lightened by the glow of Jerry is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd-sxnfO8xE

jonapi! mean and pointless and feels like you slapped me********************************** I am not young enough to know everything. Oscar Wilde

"buddhism hasn't taught you modesty and humbleness"???!!! i present you with a first class display of cack-handedness!!! what was that about being judgmental?........ sorry, man. getting carried away! who cares, right? in fact, TigerLilly has been rather quiet recently, let's all pick on her; bloody do-gooder.......!!!!! "i like African drum circles, i know how to use a camera......". hee heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

classic Keiser Report episode today about Christine Lagarde - "Lagarde's solution to the current crisis is to actually make money cheaper, which of course is going to drive more slavery, make goods cheaper, and will make the current problem much worse. Because, after all, she represents the kleptocrats, the oligarchs and the slave dealers; she's the Slave Master!". one of the arguments she poses for how European Banks can recapitalize is to borrow from this new 440 billion euro European stabilization fund; so more debt. "the new European stabilization fund starts off in debt, it's bankrupt from Day One. So her idea is to borrow from this bankrupt institution, which only means that the debt to equity ratio for the global banking system is to be expanded; there's no other solution that she can possibly come up with because she's just an academic neo-liberal wonk, who's only purpose in life is to theoretically come up with new ways to expand the debt burden. Her solutions are absolutely anathema to something that would be beneficial to anyone except debt peddlers of whom she represents!". way to go Max.

this is the current events topic. I've removed your post because this is not the venue for it, but I see you have found the All About My Band topic, which is. Thanks. ME the moderator

absolutely cosmicbadger, well put.that pretend buddy-dom is particularly odious. sincerity is key. my wife is consistently irritated by people in England at her workplace who continually borrow money, or take sweets or use things without ever making an effort to replace or do likewise. 99% of the time that just doesn't happen in Japan. a "friend" is a close companion, a confident; it's not a term splashed around willy-nilly. you remember etiquette. which in some sad cases is disappearing among the younger generation. and thanks to the US's grip on that country, both in political influence and in culture, it's changing at an alarming rate. now it would be silly of me to say "americans" en masse now wouldn't it?

sorry lamagonzo, you truly know nothing of what you're talking about on this one.perfectly entitled to have an opinion of course, however ill-informed, deluded and bizarre it may be. in no way is any culture or country perfect but i get the feeling you're probably this judgmental about everyone, so no matter. and again, another correction; please do NOT mention soka gakkai in the same sentence as buddhism. it does NOT have a mantra and no other practice can be a "different sect" from it because it has NOTHING to do with buddhism in any way, shape or form. any of their mantras or texts are faked. and i know what gaijin means thank you. the word is the shortened form of gaikokujin which means "person from outside Japan" or "outside the country". just like "foreigner" in english it can be used in a derogatory context but that is not the actual meaning of the word. only stupid politically correct assholes have decided that it could be offensive. it isn't. and by the way, i've never had that problem in Japan. people tend to react to you in the way in which you treat them; if you do a little research and learn another country's customs before you travel; if you treat others with respect and observe a country's rules and mannerisms you will have absolutely no problem. it is the people who bowl over there jumping queues, shouting and swearing, pissing in doorways, smoking where you shouldn't etc. and generally being an "idiot abroad" that deserve the treatment they get. this goes for any country. it's usually loud, thick, arrogant, overbearing, obnoxious behaviour that offends people. maybe shying away from confrontation and criticising behind people's back is the more charitable way of dealing with it. you do that in some parts of the UK and they'll kick your head to a bloody pulp. i don't think i'll ever figure you out lamagonzo! obviously buddhism hasn't taught you modesty and humbleness. treat each person individually not in great swathes of generalisation. maybe they tear you a new one behind your back because you deserve it?

I think your analysis is rather simplistic, Gonzo. I spent many years living and working in SE Asia and have some experience of this, dealing with everyone from ordinary folks to government ministers. The ‘Asian way’ is not wrong or bad, it is just different and it is up to us to learn to understand it. Formal meetings and many social interactions are conducted in a polite, respectful way because it is very rude to draw undue attention to yourself and others in such situations. Nothing wrong with that. Careful attention to what is being said often provides clues to how the other party is really feeling….and if you are relying on translation you easily miss these. That can be a problem; I have known several people who have overlooked what were considered to be clear warning signs and suddenly found themselves persona non grata. Similarly you have to learn ways to get your messages across. Often the real ‘getting to know you’ and deal making is done in less formal circumstances and it is easy for outsiders to relax too much when out drinking or socialising and miss the opportunity to find out what the real agendas are. Yes it is hard, but for outsiders in the US (including me) the combination of in your face macho posturing and pretend buddy-dom in many social interactions can be just as confusing and offensive.

The word "Gaijin" means foreigner and has a negative connotation. Even though you are married to a Japanese woman you will always be "Gaijin" in that society. People will look at you differently and think you have body odor until they get to know you. Using these kind of terms and having these assumptions, I believe them to be arrogant. Plus, I base my opinion on my dealings with Japanese monks and nuns in this country. Not the SG crazies, but Nipponzan Mjohoji (same mantra, different sect). Then there is the oriental culture of politeness to your face while they tear you a new one behind your back. All oriental cultures have it but it is really quite unbearable with the Chinese and the Japanese. This is my opinion. You know what they say about opinions,,, Everybody has one.

'm afraid you leapt before you looked lamagonzo.i didn't distort any facts; i never denied any descent from Koreans. i never mentioned anything about what they did in the past. maybe a re-read is in order? if you look again, my first sentence is questioning your quote about their supposed "incredible arrogance". which is nonsense. from some quarters of government maybe but since when did anyone pay attention to politicians to inform us of a nation's personality traits? sweeping statements such as those just seem to glorify your own thoughts on matters not the actual truth. and yes, i do that too sometimes, guilty as charged sir!, but don't expect me to overlook a comment that is horseshit. every country has done horrific things in the past. but we live in 2011. i know you're full of facts about injustices on every damn culture but let it go. my initial post was highlighting the worrying influence of South Korea in all areas of Japanese political life. nothing to do with dredging up shock quotes about women in brothels and suppressing the ainu. that is government, not the overwhelming majority of the country's peaceful, humble citizens. does this mean if i post a positive topic about Germany i'm going to be hit with facts and figures about the Nazis and what they did to the jews? move on. my wife is Japanese, we visit there regularly, we are moving there permanently next year. we know about Japan, believe me. superior arrogance and flaunting in the face of others? learn the language, visit there more often, live there for a time and speak to the population. also, i'm curious; what prompted you to mention buddhist monks in the first place? i am really hoping it had nothing to do with me writing about soka gakkei. If you want to talk corruption look into those scumbags; they are a manipulative, murderous cult that has zero to do with buddhism and are spreading their ugly tentacles into politics, business, finance and intimidation. if you want to campaign about something and highlight abuse and real injustice, investigate these guys. just be careful as your phone will be bugged, you will be followed and possibly dumped in a river wearing concrete shoes. right, now let's dig up something about those Vermont citizens; misdemeanors in the past i'll bet. must be a couple of pedophiles in there somewhere. maybe the nuclear company there have an employee with a disabled child with aids that needs caring for, hence the reason for keeping the plant open. none of which would have anything to do with the fact that nuclear energy is dangerous and that the local people should be supported. how many zen buddhists does it take to change a light bulb? none. they ARE the light bulb........