Here we go again...

[wagyl]

I don't care if it is true or not. I just care about how it makes him look, and how it tallies with his current story.

I don't have a personal stake in this story, other than a concern whether Immigration is going rogue or not (and I have pretty much made up my mind on that point). However, it does piss me off that this guy has got brownie points by saying that he will pay back the money collected. Careful examination reveals that he will pay back the money to those who ask for it back. Further investigation reveals that he has not announced on any of his myriad social networking sites that he is offering to give the money back. He does however have the time to repost a fun pic he has come across somewhere online of people playing in giant vinyl bubbles on a lake in Germany. I make my mind up about people based in their behaviour. And I know bad behaviour when I see it.

[Marked Trail]

Need moar popcorn...

MQT seems to have updated his Twitter profile with what he needs the most before
going through J-immigration judicial appeals, BIGGER GREEN HAIR!

mqtodd-Twitter.jpg

https://twitter.c0m/mqt0dd
Note that the tasteful titty in his twitter background is in violation
of the Twitter term-of-service agreement.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I don't care if it is true or not. I just care about how it makes him look, and how it tallies with his current story.

I don't have a personal stake in this story, other than a concern whether Immigration is going rogue or not (and I have pretty much made up my mind on that point). However, it does piss me off that this guy has got brownie points by saying that he will pay back the money collected. Careful examination reveals that he will pay back the money to those who ask for it back. Further investigation reveals that he has not announced on any of his myriad social networking sites that he is offering to give the money back. He does however have the time to repost a fun pic he has come across somewhere online of people playing in giant vinyl bubbles on a lake in Germany. I make my mind up about people based in their behaviour. And I know bad behaviour when I see it.

Perceptive! A brilliant story of wagyl tails a dog...
...er, yes...Well, maybe he was making a Coca-Cola ad as a sign of appreciation? (Or am I dating myself too much here?)

[Samurai_Jerk]

It appears that Michael Q Todd is not entirely happy with Christopher Johnson's efforts and has asked for it to be removed.

I figured that was going to happen. Some part's of MQT's story as told don't really add up but he seems to be a lot more level headed and less prone to hyperbole than CJ.

[matsuki]

Not that I'm doubting that Immigration has its nasty side, but so far I haven't heard (from reliable or at least plausible sources) of any cases of reasonably bona fide visitors/residents [*] being (mis)treated in this way. Has anyone else? I would certainly be interested to know.

[*] I.e. people not taking the piss on multiple short term visas/overstaying etc.

My original employer here (or their lawyer, if you believe them) dragged their feet on getting my work visa handled. (The refused to let me handle it myself so...) Being a major company, I didn't think much of it until they said they couldn't pay me until the visa was approved and something like 6 months later, it eventually was and the paychecks came in (though they eventually screwed me for 2 months worth of pay). Anyhow, my job included travelling back and forth to the US every month. After the 4th or 5th time, the immigration officials asked what was up and I explained the situation. My case might have looked better because I wasn't riding out the tourist visas each time but still, they did nothing but say that I might run into trouble if I tried leave and to return again without the work visa. (which was handled a week later)

I don't know what to say though, if hassling people without a legitimate reason was as widespread as CJ claims, you'd see a lot more stories on it and a bit more backlash...but seeing as how much Japan wants to promote tourism, I don't see that happening. If you have your shit together, I wouldn't worry.

[yanpa]

Not that I'm doubting that Immigration has its nasty side, but so far I haven't heard (from reliable or at least plausible sources) of any cases of reasonably bona fide visitors/residents [*] being (mis)treated in this way. Has anyone else? I would certainly be interested to know.

[*] I.e. people not taking the piss on multiple short term visas/overstaying etc.

My original employer here (or their lawyer, if you believe them) dragged their feet on getting my work visa handled. (The refused to let me handle it myself so...) Being a major company, I didn't think much of it until they said they couldn't pay me until the visa was approved and something like 6 months later, it eventually was and the paychecks came in (though they eventually screwed me for 2 months worth of pay). Anyhow, my job included travelling back and forth to the US every month. After the 4th or 5th time, the immigration officials asked what was up and I explained the situation. My case might have looked better because I wasn't riding out the tourist visas each time but still, they did nothing but say that I might run into trouble if I tried leave and to return again without the work visa. (which was handled a week later)

I did 10 weeks on a short term visa when I first got my job here, needed to go back home to sort some stuff then come to get the visa, came back a week or so entering on another short term visa, the agent gave me a suspicious look for a moment but stamped me in, nothing said. Possibly because my previous "history" looked pretty good, though I wouldn't have wanted to stretch things.

Just for reference on the 2nd short term visa I did get an ARC, which I needed as part of the conversion process to a bona-fide working visa.

[legion]

This relatively simple debate has been complicated by the fact that it has spread across the world, as it involves an international airline. I am raising this issue as someone who has for more than 30 years acted as a representative for people in many forms of conflict and dispute, many times doing so in times of direct conflict. What I have found during those years is that there are always at least two sides to every story. I am here tonight to present one side of this story-that of my constituent, Mr Simon Robertson. He is a 38-year-old young man who had visited Japan five times before he went there in February. I wish that I could make part of the case for the Japanese immigration service and for KLM, the airline involved, but because they have not given me the relevant information I am hard-pushed to do that.

...continues...

Reading the above link, I don't see any indication that Mr. Robertson "employed 18 Japanese at his real estate agency in Japan" - dunno where CJ got that from - but do get the impression that Mr. Robertson was keen to stay to the maximum length of multiple short-term visas, also there is the suicide of a Ms. Yuuko Abu mentioned. Read into that what you will.

Not that I'm doubting that Immigration has its nasty side, but so far I haven't heard (from reliable or at least plausible sources) of any cases of reasonably bona fide visitors/residents [*] being (mis)treated in this way. Has anyone else? I would certainly be interested to know.

[*] I.e. people not taking the piss on multiple short term visas/overstaying etc.

Questions in the house! I'm taking a wild guess the deported gentleman is white. (Although he appears to be from my neck of the woods which means he may well be coaly black on work days, but on holidays he's fine"http://www.2shared.com/audio/i_QEzMdM/02_Doon_the_Wagon_Way.html)

The truth of this one lies in whatever the unfortunate lady's father said on the phone, and it probably wasn't complimentary. This will never be known, and the issue here is how the Japanese authorities will comply with a disembodied voice if that voice speaks native Japanese.

[Russell]

The truth of this one lies in whatever the unfortunate lady's father said on the phone, and it probably wasn't complimentary. This will never be known, and the issue here is how the Japanese authorities will comply with a disembodied voice if that voice speaks native Japanese.

Spot on!

The tragedy here is that the actions of the father and the immigration office caused the daughter to take her own life. That may explain the apparent inaction afterwards of the Japanese authorities. They try to sweep it under the carpet.

[legion]

The truth of this one lies in whatever the unfortunate lady's father said on the phone, and it probably wasn't complimentary. This will never be known, and the issue here is how the Japanese authorities will comply with a disembodied voice if that voice speaks native Japanese.

Spot on!

The tragedy here is that the actions of the father and the immigration office caused the daughter to take her own life. That may explain the apparent inaction afterwards of the Japanese authorities. They try to sweep it under the carpet.

Suicide, permanent solution to a temporary problem.

The actions may have been the trigger, but the causes run deeper.

[Russell]

The truth of this one lies in whatever the unfortunate lady's father said on the phone, and it probably wasn't complimentary. This will never be known, and the issue here is how the Japanese authorities will comply with a disembodied voice if that voice speaks native Japanese.

Spot on!

The tragedy here is that the actions of the father and the immigration office caused the daughter to take her own life. That may explain the apparent inaction afterwards of the Japanese authorities. They try to sweep it under the carpet.

Suicide, permanent solution to a temporary problem.

The actions may have been the trigger, but the causes run deeper.

Not sure about that. The daughter was probably young enough to not think through her decisions very well. At that age they tend to be emotionally unstable and overly romantic.

[yanpa]

Does being a "social media expert" mean you have to hang out your dirty laundry in publicly accessible places?

https://www.facebook.com/michaelqtodd/p ... 9002313710

[wagyl]

Does being a "social media expert" mean you have to hang out your dirty laundry in publicly accessible places?

An uncharitable person would say that since he has, according to his own reports (I have no knowledge of the truth of his self-reporting), spent years sponging off people, borrowing money for airfares and not paying it back, being annoyed with his mother for inheriting his dead father's estate in preference to himself, etc. etc. he no longer has any real friends to consult with, so turns to his FB "friends" for advice. Thank God I am not so meanhearted as to make such a statement.

[Taro Toporific]

It appears that Michael Q Todd is not entirely happy with Christopher Johnson's efforts and has asked for it to be removed.].

One day later, Christopher Johnson's "report" on the Saga of MQT is still posted online.

globalite.posterous.com: After 53 days in jail without charge, New Zealand-born lawyer Michael Q Todd accuses Japanese police and officials of mistreatment

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Does being a "social media expert" mean you have to hang out your dirty laundry in publicly accessible places?

An uncharitable person would say that since he has, according to his own reports (I have no knowledge of the truth of his self-reporting), spent years sponging off people, borrowing money for airfares and not paying it back, being annoyed with his mother for inheriting his dead father's estate in preference to himself, etc. etc. he no longer has any real friends to consult with, so turns to his FB "friends" for advice. Thank God I am not so meanhearted as to make such a statement.

He reminds me of, well...me!

[yanpa]

Meanwhile, the "Help Michael Q Todd" blog has been deleted.

[Coligny]

Blog đã bị xóa

Xin lỗi, blog tại helpmichaelqtodd.blogspot.com đã bị xóa. Hiện không có địa chỉ này cho blog mới.

Bạn muốn xem blog của mình tại đây? Xem: 'Tôi không thể tìm thấy blog của mình trên Web, blog của tôi ở đâu?'

sure it haz...

[yanpa]

Did someone spill a packet of accents over your monitor?

[Samurai_Jerk]

Did someone spill a packet of accents over your monitor?

It looks like Coligny is already picking up ベトナム語.

[Russell]

Did someone spill a packet of accents over your monitor?

It looks like Coligny is already picking up ベトナム語.

Even more accents than in French, so he must feel at home.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Even more accents than in French

At least they had the good sense to give up on kanji.

[Coligny]

Still some remnants in the north... But clearly a dying breed... absolutely none here...

[Russell]

Still some remnants in the north... But clearly a dying breed... absolutely none here...

Must be an area claimed by China.

After all, the Qing dynasty also used Kanjis...

[Samurai_Jerk]

That reminds me I was doing some reading about the Vietnamese language and came across this interesting tidbit:

Interestingly, club became 俱樂部 kurabu in Japan, was borrowed to China, then to Vietnam, is read as câu lạc bộ, and abbreviated CLB, which can be an abbreviation for club.

[yanpa]

That reminds me I was doing some reading about the Vietnamese language and came across this interesting tidbit:

Interestingly, club became 俱樂部 kurabu in Japan, was borrowed to China, then to Vietnam, is read as câu lạc bộ, and abbreviated CLB, which can be an abbreviation for club.

Interesting Me likes that kind of factlet. I'll file it away to bore people with

Along those lines albeit 越南-related there's the Japanese word for opium, 阿片, which derives from Chinese where it's pronounced something like "a-bian", which is the Chinese rendering of "opium".

Now, what was this thread about again?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Even more accents than in French

At least they had the good sense to give up on kanji.

Kanji is magical! I love it...the amount of fucking around you can do with the words is truly brilliant. It's a punning, oyaji gag-lover's dream...easily one of the things I love most about the Japanese language.

[Level3]

Meanwhile, the "Help Michael Q Todd" blog has been deleted.

If only CJ and other crusaders would learn the same lesson.

[yanpa]

That was (ostensibly) set up by supporters, so is (presumably) not part of the official MQT online social media presence.

[wagyl]

Yes well I don't want to read any more into this than necessary, and I need another obsession like I need another nostril, but "save Michael" crowdfunding initiator Jackie Bigford, silent since this brouhaha raised its ugly head (on this issue at least: she still tweets about how to open a beer bottle without a bottle opener and other tweetspam links from across the social media universe), has been showing as an Error 404 along with most of the other links in her aptly named Savvy Media Marketing site, at least for the last few days since I thought to look at it. As I say, it could mean no more than just that they haven't paid their server bill, but, just sayin'...

[matsuki]

So since we're on the subject...WTF is the origin of ホルモン (asspipe) and why is it written in Katakana when they already use the same word for hormones?

Even more accents than in French

At least they had the good sense to give up on kanji.

Kanji is magical! I love it...the amount of fucking around you can do with the words is truly brilliant. It's a punning, oyaji gag-lover's dream...easily one of the things I love most about the Japanese language.

Kanji is good...the Japanese language, like the people, is devolving into abbreviations that only yo school girls seem to be able to decode

[wagyl]

So since we're on the subject...WTF is the origin of ホルモン (asspipe) and why is it written in Katakana when they already use the same word for hormones?

Jesus Christ! Focus people!!!! This is a hate site, and this is a hate thread!!!

With wikipedia as a starting point, there are apparently numerous theories, including "that which is discarded/trash" in Osakaben. The theory regarded most scholarly today, is that horumon used to be more widely applied to any number of "stamina"/aphrodisiac dishes, but now refers to that one in particular.

The English wikipedia article is in need of an edit.

Usually I would say you could have researched this yourself, but I do recognise that that would result in limited discussion here.

And now we return to our regular programming, gloating over the internet errors of a non-celeb individual...