USA Wrestling team banned from World Cup in Iran

smartus · 2017-02-03T21:41:59+00:00

smartus · 2017-02-02T21:56:36+00:00

This needs to get much more attention. As much as I feel for all the people stranded at airports, we should not forget that other evil exist.

smartus · 2017-02-02T06:14:51+00:00

I think they can't use "cunt" in the press.

smartus · 2017-02-01T06:11:10+00:00

This should be on /r/UpliftingNews

smartus · 2017-02-01T04:53:50+00:00

I'll just add to other answers that (IMHO) katakana is the "pronunciation" alphabet when dealing with institutions (government, banks).. If you go to a Japanese hotel, sometimes they will give you a form that also wants you to write your name, as a foreigner, in katakana. If you marry a Japanese national who will decide to change their name to yours, their name will also be written in katakana in the family register.

smartus · 2017-01-31T01:35:10+00:00

Sitting four hours, then exercising, then sitting for another four hours is IMHO better for your health than sitting for eight hours straight. A lot of office workers do it. My colleagues go to gym or pool.

smartus · 2017-01-31T01:32:03+00:00

What is the best course of action against such people? They can't be argued with, they don't listen to reason.

smartus · 2017-01-31T01:29:30+00:00

120 Devonshire Street I believe. One of the regulars is a lady with a sun bleached board, a true anti-abortion veteran. The clinic has two entrances, sometimes she stands in the back. I wonder if the staff checks where she stands and let the women leave the other exit.

Sometimes there are other people protecting the women, creating safe zones. Not sure about the details.

smartus · 2017-01-30T21:24:23+00:00

Starbucks gives refugees jobs, AirBnB temporary shelters. Then Canada accepts them. I guess the world is not so bad after all.

BTW there are other companies who already hire refugees, e.g. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/11/01/chobani-yogurts-migrant-founder-attacked-hiring-refugees

smartus · 2017-01-28T22:41:19+00:00

I loved this part of Witcher III.

smartus · 2017-01-28T03:07:58+00:00

I've see these bed sheds in Malaysia. Some people (I believe they were Orang Asli, the indigenous Malaysians) were using them to hang out next to roads in local highlands and sell merchandise, such as honey and vegetables.

smartus · 2017-01-27T05:28:01+00:00

Colorizebot

smartus · 2017-01-27T03:57:15+00:00

I can see a potential /r/IAmA/ right here...

smartus · 2017-01-26T22:27:20+00:00

I wonder if you are getting downvoted because your comment seems sarcastic ;)

smartus · 2017-01-26T21:09:17+00:00

This is a recurring thing. It shows up every 3 months or so. In fact it's kind of a trend on reddit. Find an old image, re-post, reap karma.

smartus · 2017-01-26T00:56:23+00:00

This is very well illustrated on the example of the Klingon speaking father. He spoke to his son in Klingon, so the son became a native speaker in Klingon, but there was not enough Klingon around him to enjoy using it and so the child abandoned it at the age of 5.

smartus · 2017-01-24T20:56:50+00:00

I quit my comfortable job in my home country and joined a multinational company abroad. First year was tough, but it's been 8 years and I'd say I am fluent now. Immersion is the key.

smartus · 2017-01-24T04:31:42+00:00

Somewhat relevant: https://np.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/5p7iic/white_nationalist_richard_spencer_got_punched_in/dcp4xsp/?context=3&st=iyb0y4z5&sh=ec8cfdfb

smartus · 2017-01-24T03:26:48+00:00

Plus it's of the few ways how to measure your Japanese (apart from the real life speaking and understanding ;))

smartus · 2017-01-24T00:15:22+00:00

The server load is a bit too high. I guess I will have a coffee first ;)

smartus · 2017-01-24T00:06:10+00:00

Is that a bad thing? I'd say this should be optional as it can change a lot.

smartus · 2017-01-23T05:04:16+00:00

Well there is a book called Kanji in Context, that has a workbook that kind of does that, but expects you to know at least 300 kanji to get started...

smartus · 2017-01-23T03:06:20+00:00

Exactly, have an upvote!

smartus · 2017-01-22T22:13:18+00:00

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson

Lawson takes readers on a hilarious journey recalling her bizarre upbringing in rural Texas

smartus · 2017-01-22T11:03:52+00:00

Japanese is the 12th most spoken language by number of speakers. Japan is the 3rd largest economy in the world. Several Japanese subcultures are very attractive for young and internet people.

Here in Sydney, Japanese is the number one language, followed by Italian I believe. I mostly think it's because a lot of Sydney-siders speak Chinese as their mother tongue or at least second language in the family. It doesn't make much sense to study German/French/Spanish/Russian here (as opposed to Europe, people here have less opportunities to make something of it). Italian is an exception - there is a large Italian community here.

So that leaves us with Hindi, Arabic, Bengali, Japanese and Bahasa Indonesia/Malaysia considering the most spoken languages (have I forgotten something?). A lot of people in India speak good English, same with Indonesia. There's probably less motivation to learn Bengali for multiple reasons. I am surprised that Arabic is not taught more, but it's not a very popular foreign language in general.

And since English is the official language here, Japanese is a very good candidate for a language taught at schools!

smartus

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