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That's what you get when you elect an unqualified, uneducated, unsophisticated pathological narcissist real estate agent to be your president. How the American people can sit idly by while one unhinged buffoon single-handedly destroys their economy and sends the global economy down the toilet is unfathomable to me as an outsider, watching this chaos from 10000 km away. But now it's personal. My retirement funds are tanking and the Australian dollar is rapidly falling against foreign currencies, affecting my up-coming trip to Japan and China. It's by no means the end of the world for me - I'll survive. But many are now facing a dreary retirement after working all those years. For fucks sake, what further proof do magats need that Trump couldn't give a shit about them?

You never know, Peter. Maybe she was.

The Monkees came to Japan in the late 60's. I still remember how I almost came in my pants when Davy told an interviewer that he had to have his pubic hair shaved for an operation. We were all shocked as we'd never heard mention of pubic hair on TV.

I don't know if anyone actually does. I certainly don't. But I do read his posts.

You're right - I am. Must be the lighting.

I think this is quite common. I wish I had a dollar for every guy who bottoms or sucks cock, but who asks me not to tell his friends in the bar. I once met a guy from Super A who had the most beautiful bubble -butt. I was dying to fuck him but he insisted he was top only. Oh well, I thought, I'll off him anyway and just spend time in bed, admiring and playing with his butt. Imagine my surprise when he asked me if I wanted to fuck him! "Sshh...don't tell anyone in the bar." Before I knew it he had his butt up in the air, doggy style, waiting for me to enter. At first I thought he was just gay for pay and was smart enough to realise he could double his chances of an off, and double his money, if he offered up his butt to customers. But he absolutely LOVED being fucked! When I stopped to take a breather he'd continue moving his butt on my cock, moaning with pleasure. Of course, I offed him every night during my trip and also on subsequent trips. He is now married and has 2 kids!

OMG! The likeness to me is uncanny! 😅

"In the 1930s, many justified Hitler’s rise: He’s a strong leader. He loves his country. He’s fixing the economy. He’s just saying what others won’t. By the time the world acted, it was too late. History shows how dangerous complacency is. Before the war, Hitler had widespread support—not just in Germany but across the world. Many ignored his extremism, excused his rhetoric, and believed he was just a ‘tough leader’ restoring order. The German economy had been battered by the Great Depression, and Hitler promised to rebuild it—through military expansion, nationalism, and scapegoating entire groups of people. Many powerful figures chose to look the other way: 📌 Industrialists and corporations backed him because he promised to crush unions and drive economic growth. 📌 Religious leaders supported him, believing he would restore traditional values and fight against communism. 📌 Western leaders appeased him, hoping that conceding small demands would satisfy him. 📌 The media and public ignored or downplayed his extremism, convinced he was just another politician playing to his base. The cost of inaction? Tens of millions of lives lost. 📌 Over 70 million people died in World War II. 📌 6 million Jewish men, women, and children were murdered in the Holocaust. 📌 Countless civilians, soldiers, and entire nations were devastated. Fast forward to today—we see the same dangerous pattern with Trump. He undermines democracy, calls for mass arrests of political opponents, incites violence, and shreds the rule of law. He praises dictators like Putin and Orban while attacking allies, spreads disinformation, scapegoats marginalized groups, and fuels division—all under the banner of ‘saving’ his country. His presidency has been a masterclass in corruption and authoritarianism—firing inspectors general, silencing scientists, gutting social programs, weaponizing federal agencies, and attempting to overturn elections. His reckless policies have widened inequality, gutted environmental protections, alienated allies, and emboldened dictators. This isn’t alarmism; it’s reality. Democracy isn’t self-sustaining, and leaders like this don’t stop themselves. If we don’t act—as Canadians, Americans, and global citizens—the consequences will be catastrophic."

Although I didn't take this thread off topic, I plead guilty to participating in discussion which does not completely relate to the OP, but one which I think I know a lot about. It's what happens all the time on discussion boards like this. Once the topic has been exhausted, people move on to something else - just like we do when having a normal conversation.

I imagine you are 100% correct. And it makes sense, as there is strength in unity.

Yes. Stand in the doorway of the smallest room in the house - I.e. the toilet - is the advice we were always given.

That would be a feeling they'd be used to, given their customer base! 😂

August 12, 1985 was a dark day in Japan - I remember it at though it happened yesterday. Adding to the sadness was the fact that singer Sakamoto Kyuu of "Sukiyaki" fame (what a stupid title!) died in that crash. He had many hit records in Japan, was a talented actor and TV personality. In fact, he was the first real TV star. Here's something you may not know about him - teenage boys related well to him as, like many of them, he suffered from terrible acne problems but carried on regardless!

Important decisions are made, of course, just like in any advanced economy - but only at the top and only after long discussions which drag on forever. Once a decision has been reached on an issue, a meeting is then called to ostensibly discuss that issue and, surprise surprise, a consensus is reached! And everyone can quickly move forward together in lock-step. And, of course, you'd have to mention the Japanese workers' diligence, exceptional skill based on a very good knowledge of what their job entails (knowledge gained from rote learning), attention to detail, willingness to work for lower wages than those in the West, dedication to the company over the family, blindly following instructions without dissent, no pesky interfering unions to worry about,..........the list goes on.

Those at the top make the decisions - everyone else just follows. So it's not as though nobody ever decides anything. The decision is usually a collective one so that no singular person can be blamed if something goes wrong. I've often wondered where Japan would be today if they actually got their shit together and became more organised. Her competitors on the world stage should be grateful for the ongoing chaos.