Silly/Odd News Stories from around the World

[NoemiChan]

Actress Jennifer Lawrence named 'most desirable' woman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jennifer Lawrence, you are the world's most desirable woman, according to an international poll released on Tuesday by the website AskMen.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

NTSB: Use ignition locks for all drunken drivers
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...12-11-15-09-34

How about mounting a high pressure water cannon on the headrest instead.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

How about mounting a high pressure water cannon on the headrest instead.

Too bad than the high pressure tank would need to be reloaded between each use, unless it take all the room on the trunk

[AnimeFan188]

Originally Posted by RRW

http://news.yahoo.com/intelligence-i...034622242.html

Originally Posted by ganbaru

I am not surprised of the ''lower QI'' of the FOXNews viewers but 20 points seem like a big difference.

Liberals Fall for Hoax ‘Study’ Claiming Fox News Viewers Are Mentally Deficient

See:

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew...-people-stupid

[AnimeFan188]

Colin Powell to Japan: “Manga Is Turning You Into Herbivores”:

"Colin Powell has warned the youth of Japan they need more “muscle” and to stop
reading manga lest they all turn into a nation of sissy little “herbivores” unable to
pay off their national debt.

75-year-old former US Secretary of State and 4-star general Colin Powell gave an
interview to Asahi in which he warned the Japanese youth of the dangers of being
lead astray from the true path of jockdom by manga and video games, and the need
to work hard and breed more so their elders can enjoy the pensions they voted
themselves:"

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/1...to-herbivores/

[NoemiChan]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Colin Powell to Japan: “Manga Is Turning You Into Herbivores”:

"Colin Powell has warned the youth of Japan they need more “muscle” and to stop
reading manga lest they all turn into a nation of sissy little “herbivores” unable to
pay off their national debt.

75-year-old former US Secretary of State and 4-star general Colin Powell gave an
interview to Asahi in which he warned the Japanese youth of the dangers of being
lead astray from the true path of jockdom by manga and video games, and the need
to work hard and breed more so their elders can enjoy the pensions they voted
themselves:"

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/1...to-herbivores/

I thought he'll encourage 3D love rather 2D to boom Japan's population problem.

Anyway..

Life-sized Noah's Ark launches

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Colin Powell to Japan: “Manga Is Turning You Into Herbivores”:

"Colin Powell has warned the youth of Japan they need more “muscle” and to stop
reading manga lest they all turn into a nation of sissy little “herbivores” unable to
pay off their national debt.

75-year-old former US Secretary of State and 4-star general Colin Powell gave an
interview to Asahi in which he warned the Japanese youth of the dangers of being
lead astray from the true path of jockdom by manga and video games, and the need
to work hard and breed more so their elders can enjoy the pensions they voted
themselves:"

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/1...to-herbivores/

I haven't seen a jock capable of doing CT operations or fire a pistol properly.

[LeoXiao]

For some reason I'm not inclined to believe that piece of "news", especially since it's from Sankaku.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by LeoXiao

For some reason I'm not inclined to believe that piece of "news", especially since it's from Sankaku.

I am not sure if it is true, however I have heard of the "karoshi banzai" attitude amongst older workers to keep working until they die or become disabled.

That constant flow of income would have easily offset their pension - hence it might be possible that they would rather collect paychecks than pensions.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

Colin Powell to Japan: “Manga Is Turning You Into Herbivores”:

"Colin Powell has warned the youth of Japan they need more “muscle” and to stop
reading manga lest they all turn into a nation of sissy little “herbivores” unable to
pay off their national debt.

75-year-old former US Secretary of State and 4-star general Colin Powell gave an
interview to Asahi in which he warned the Japanese youth of the dangers of being
lead astray from the true path of jockdom by manga and video games, and the need
to work hard and breed more so their elders can enjoy the pensions they voted
themselves:"

See:

http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2012/1...to-herbivores/

I found a more legitimate source and, of course, he really didn't say that (remember this was translated from english-tojapanese-toengish before we saw it).

Note that the interviewer set up the context and used the term. I'd lay money Colin Powell had never heard the term before - and of course, the way the interviewer phrased it, *I* would have answered in much the same way.

Some young people, called “herbivores,” choose games and manga over real love. What do you have to say to such young people?

“Young people must not only be aware of the problems facing the nation, they must also make progress as well. They can’t just sit around reading manga and texting.”

“The demographic crisis facing Japan is very grave. A small number of youngsters must support a large number of old people.”

“America is ageing too, but we are letting in plenty of immigrants, and thanks to them lots of kids are being born. Japan doesn’t have that. Japan’s ageing is severe, and the people who are going to have to pay for that are the youth of today.”

“The value of Japan’s youth is greater than that of the US – Japan doesn’t have the luxury of letting its youth turn into herbivores. It must have its young become strong and hone their muscles.

They need lots of protein, and to train themselves hard. It’s important that they face up to the future and work towards solving Japan’s ageing society and low birth rates. It’s the young who will determine the future of Japan.”

“The Japanese didn’t use to be herbivores. I’d like them to take a look at themselves in a mirror and reflect on that. They’ve overcome many difficulties – after the war they achieved massive economic growth. They came back from every difficulty.

I really respect that Japan, I’m proud of our alliance with them.”

[NoemiChan]

.....but we are letting in plenty of immigrants, and thanks to them lots of kids are being born.

I like this part. So immigration will help boost Japanese population? well, will they citizens allow it? I want to sign up...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by GenjiChan

I like this part. So immigration will help boost Japanese population? well, will they citizens allow it? I want to sign up...

Immigration is good as long as you don't screw up their economy by providing low wage labour for their big businesses.

Look at Singapore - look what immigration has done to the economy. Now the big businesses are so addicted to low-cost labour and buying startups (then making them surrepitiously disappear amalgamated into their businesses) that the people can't even afford families anymore.

[NoemiChan]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

Immigration is good as long as you don't screw up their economy by providing low wage labour for their big businesses.

Look at Singapore - look what immigration has done to the economy. Now the big businesses are so addicted to low-cost labour and buying startups (then making them surrepitiously disappear amalgamated into their businesses) that the people can't even afford families anymore.

I have different business there....

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by GenjiChan

I have different business there....

I don't exactly believe in migrating to another country unless I have retired (FALKLANDS). Certainly though, the last two countries I would want to migrate to while of working age are Japan and S.Korea because of their top-down work ethic - no matter how mentally or visually handicapped the senior staff are, you still have to listen and do whatever he/she says; not even suggestions. They would rather live with the slow plod and incessant bureaucracy reducing their KPI than do something about it.

It is always fun to work with "Western" companies - the management and bosses don't exactly give a shit about what you do so long as you get your job done. If there is anyway to make the job easier to do, or more efficient, they would entertain it. And the managers are willing to "fight" bureaucracy just to get the stock in earlier every month, making for more efficient inventory turnovers. The downside is the lack of claim for OT because there is rarely OT.

Bureaucracy should be a crime punishable by whipping.

[Skane]

What? In most cases, foreign workers are more expensive than hiring locals due to the government imposed levies in Singapore. Their wages might be lower, but the add-on taxes and benefits makes them more expensive to hire.

We want to hire more locals, but tell me how many local Singaporeans are willing to be construction workers and garbagemen? F&Bs hire crew from China, Phillipines, Malaysia, etc... because the locals don't want it, that or they suck at it more. Our service culture is one of the worst in the region.

Natch.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Skane

What? In most cases, foreign workers are more expensive than hiring locals due to the government imposed levies in Singapore. Their wages might be lower, but the add-on taxes and benefits makes them more expensive to hire.

The levies and taxes CAN be dodged. Cosy up to a couple of towkays enjoying their retirement in the casinos, horse-course and betting centres, and a few weeks later they teach you a thing or two.

We want to hire more locals, but tell me how many local Singaporeans are willing to be construction workers and garbagemen? F&Bs hire crew from China, Phillipines, Malaysia, etc... because the locals don't want it, that or they suck at it more. Our service culture is one of the worst in the region.

Natch.

After working as bottom-level service staff for close 6 years, I cannot disagree with that.

It is a two way problem - the customer wants his/her money's worth, and the service provider can't afford or has no power to call the shots.

I don't mind being a toilet cleaner though. Had doubled up as one when working in bottom-level service 5 years back - unclogging the toilet of a used sanitary pad is more disgusting than unclogging it of shit.

[Skane]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

The levies and taxes CAN be dodged. Cosy up to a couple of towkays enjoying their retirement in the casinos, horse-course and betting centres, and a few weeks later they teach you a thing or two. ~~

Tempting jail-time doesn't make foreign workers cheaper.

Natch.

[ganbaru]

Arizona home: 'Ditto' to neighbor's Christmas lights
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...12-12-00-23-31

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Skane

Tempting jail-time doesn't make foreign workers cheaper.

Natch.

There won't be any jail-time; only fines or scot-free.

The MOM is seriously shorthanded to be able to do anything, plus the fact the size of certain companies have a certain influence over our economy, the government has to overlook it. The whole process of getting away with it is playing with loopholes and the lack of policing at the pass-issuing counter.

The previous company I work for did the same thing; more than 50% of my colleagues are foreign, underpaid and was chasing the "dream" that never existed; we are all being manipulated by our employer. Once the contract was done, I left.

[RRW]

A man has died doing a Gangnam Style dance at an office Christmas party.

Eamonn Kilbride, 46, was partying the Lancashire brewery in north-west England when he collapsed with chest pains, London's Telegraph newspaper reports.

Mr Kilbride's wife, who was also at the weekend party, tried to revive him but he was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-...-office-party/