TPP

[kurogane]

Yes to that. It goes back to Chrysler's own Lee Iacockhead,if not before: buy it because we f'in make it and we f'in told you to you filthy little Pearl Harborites. It really does highlight the indolent arrogance and stupidity of traditional American manufacturing, and look where that got them. Which is a shame. If they had done what the Japanese used to do and actually walk long enough in the customer's shoes to figure out what they wanted Detroit might still be a place fit for human habitation. Not too sure if Japanese manufacturers still do that, but it's a valuable lesson in development economics, and the niche Euro-Homo car market seems to be doing well. I never got the point of not buying domestic in Japan, but it seems lots of others disagree, though many of those I know also carry manbags. If I weren't such a sad shell of horsepower defined masculinity one of those little Fiat 500s looks like they would do for most urban stuff, and they look quite cool for a large Lego toy.

[matsuki]

Yes to that. It goes back to Chrysler's own Lee Iacockhead,if not before: buy it because we f'in make it and we f'in told you to you filthy little Pearl Harborites. It really does highlight the indolent arrogance and stupidity of traditional American manufacturing, and look where that got them. Which is a shame. If they had done what the Japanese used to do and actually walk long enough in the customer's shoes to figure out what they wanted Detroit might still be a place fit for human habitation. Not too sure if Japanese manufacturers still do that, but it's a valuable lesson in development economics, and the niche Euro-Homo car market seems to be doing well.

Everyone I know that works at J-car manu's says 99% of the jiji's in charge are of the "buy it because we f'in make it" mentality. Only notable exceptions I can think of are the Honda N-series, "new beat" and the Toybaru BRZ86whatever.

I never got the point of not buying domestic in Japan, but it seems lots of others disagree, though many of those I know also carry manbags. If I weren't such a sad shell of horsepower defined masculinity one of those little Fiat 500s looks like they would do for most urban stuff, and they look quite cool for a large Lego toy.

This manbag carrying Amejin wants a truck...cause I'd actually use it but...

[kurogane]

Everyone I know that works at J-car manu's says 99% of the jiji's in charge are of the "buy it because we f'in make it" mentality.

Oh, sure. But that is mostly domestic, as in the states and Canader, though I know what you mean about the presumptuous arrogance of it all. And it certainly helps explain the Rise of the Kimchi Kar in NA, especially after that Toyota sticky gas pedal issue. WTF wants a car made by people that think dogs are food!?????

Ooooh, I just felt a disturbance in the force: I could not for the life of me figure out why I am being so enthusiastically groomed by intercultural management consultant types I barely know; I now fear they want me to help reform the Jijis. Perhaps I can still escape to the forest moon of Endor and stay on the dark side, away from the Death Star............ Is there any hope for what is left of Tatooine????? Stay tuned......................

This manbag carrying Amejin wants a truck...cause I'd actually use it but...

Hee Hee. You Manbaggin' it????!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

That is so metro-masculine, I I have dabbled, but anything below a full A4-ish sized briefcase and I hear Loki laughing and pointing his twisted finger at me. I really should get on that. All I carry is an 11 inch laptop, 3 or 4 pieces of paper and a paper datebook/notebook thing anyways, and even in Vancouver few seem to even notice anymore. Hell, my long shorts over yoga pants look is starting to grow on people.

And if you can at least convince yourself you can use a truck, buy a truck. I really, really, really, really want a Datsun Frontier Crew Cab...............but I just can't delude myself enough yet.

[Samurai_Jerk]

The TPP is exactly what it seems: a capitalist cabal driven Trojan Horse like the NAFTA, devised by filthy hook clawed replicant overlords looking to further exploit the global proletariat whom, while certainly revolting, deserve better from their own duly elected governments.

Or some such internet conspiratorial Leninist dogma.........................

And the details are so seemingly boring that no one in America is paying attention to it when they really should be.

This manbag carrying Amejin

Wait. You ice skate AND carry a man bag!?

Johnny-Weir-Hermes-Birkin.jpg

[matsuki]

Everyone I know that works at J-car manu's says 99% of the jiji's in charge are of the "buy it because we f'in make it" mentality.

Oh, sure. But that is mostly domestic, as in the states and Canader, though I know what you mean about the presumptuous arrogance of it all. And it certainly helps explain the Rise of the Kimchi Kar in NA, especially after that Toyota sticky gas pedal issue. WTF wants a car made by people that think dogs are food!?????

Ooooh, I just felt a disturbance in the force: I could not for the life of me figure out why I am being so enthusiastically groomed by intercultural management consultant types I barely know; I now fear they want me to help reform the Jijis. Perhaps I can still escape to the forest moon of Endor and stay on the dark side, away from the Death Star............ Is there any hope for what is left of Tatooine????? Stay tuned......................

Yes, the K-car companies are giving consumers what they want and lower prices and with pretty amazing warranties. Not enough to make me want to drive one but it has converted even my `merica to the bone neighbors. Unfortunately, the quality seems to unravel with a little use. Everyone I know that has picked one up is taking them up on those warranties and I can't imagine all the trouble/time involved will leave customers wanting to buy another.

This manbag carrying Amejin wants a truck...cause I'd actually use it but...

Hee Hee. You Manbaggin' it????!!!!!!!!!!!????????????

That is so metro-masculine, I I have dabbled, but anything below a full A4-ish sized briefcase and I hear Loki laughing and pointing his twisted finger at me. I really should get on that. All I carry is an 11 inch laptop, 3 or 4 pieces of paper and a paper datebook/notebook thing anyways, and even in Vancouver few seem to even notice anymore. Hell, my long shorts over yoga pants look is starting to grow on people.

This manbag carrying Amejin

Wait. You ice skate AND carry a man bag!?

Beefy wallet, bazillion point cards, meishi holder, towel, keys, keitai battery, etc. Briefcase is what I use for business but if you want your hands free and you'll be walking everywhere, It's either manbag it or some sort of cargo pants which would be an entirely different type of hell.

[kurogane]

Just to back up that thumbs down for cargo pants. That was never really cool anyways. Still haven't manbagged up though.

I think I'll just go with this:


Anyways, BOT:

So, it looks like the Trojanhorse Purloinment Plan has dropped a wheel on its way into the inner sanctum:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hou ... tml#page=1

The Democrats voted down the fast track authorisation bill, and the Emperor's Death Star may yet not achieve full operational capacity. Alderaan may be lost, but there is hope in Endor and Tatooine. Rejoice my friends; dance and sing. I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Obama. He was always a replicant appointed cypher, but he was the best hope we had. An American Anikin??? Given how disappointing the Canadian Anikin was, it seems poetic.

[wagyl]

Trojanhorse Purloinment Plan

I am stealing this, whether I have your permission or not.

Regarding the bags, I was loathe to recommend these because of the price, but those Montbell items are not cheap either. I have the same issue with glasses and diaries and stuff that I need more than just pockets.

[Coligny]

Tsss... You guys dun.'t know nothing aboot being Tactikewl (tm) in urban warfare environment...

image.jpg

With molle straps and'shit, available in woodland camo, olive drab or tan...
Aloha Snackbar...

[kurogane]

Regarding the bags, I was loathe to recommend these because of the price, but those Montbell items are not cheap either. I have the same issue with glasses and diaries and stuff that I need more than just pockets.

Ummmm, even if that comes in basic black or dark olive I would still caution against it, but especially once it gets hot lugging around all that crap really does make me almost fold and cave. I thought about a chalk bag or home centre builder's pouch but that seems even more hipster. BTW, Montbell stuff does strike me as rather well made: nicely designed, well constructed, and durable. I only buy a briefcase once every 8 years anyways, and regardless of how funky the Yoshida Porter type stuff is I can't pay small used car prices for a bag.

Trojanhorse Purloinment Plan

I am stealing this, whether I have your permission or not..

Please do. I quite liked it meself. So, it looks like the next round in Japan and elsewhere might make things Quite Interesting. I assume our own Death Star commander will just ram it through parliament, but he is increasingly looking like a pond carp that thinks he's a Great White, and his own implosion looks imminent anyways; we have a general election due this fall. It is a bit of a shame that the few items that would have really benefited Japanese consumers and normal businesses will get thrown under the bus if it all crumbles but hopefully that will teach all these corporate lobbyist funded psychophants that browbeating us with Just Trust Me! and It's All or Nothing! doesn't cut it when we can see you're lying. Even slightly lower rice tariffs and some labour market reforms would have had a huge effect on things like agricultural efficiency and corporate productivity, though knowing how these deals work the only side of the labour equation that would get reformed would be the one that makes it even easier to screw employees out of their due rewards.

[yanpa]

Everyone I know that works at J-car manu's says 99% of the jiji's in charge are of the "buy it because we f'in make it" mentality.

Oh, sure. But that is mostly domestic, as in the states and Canader, though I know what you mean about the presumptuous arrogance of it all. And it certainly helps explain the Rise of the Kimchi Kar in NA, especially after that Toyota sticky gas pedal issue. WTF wants a car made by people that think dogs are food!?????

Well at least we can be sure they eat their own dog food.

I'll get my coat...

[Salty]

As for TPP – if it would work the way `free trade` is supposed to work – better products for less, then I would be all for it. But our Japanese masters have already put together the plans to thwart any possible benefit from reaching the masses should it ever be implemented. For example, US rice imports would be capped at a volume that would allow permanent government storage and prevent any from ever reaching the retail market, lest retail prices drop. The same would happen for any other product that Japan produces – so once again, screw the populace, support the fat cats.

[Russell]

As for TPP – if it would work the way `free trade` is supposed to work – better products for less, then I would be all for it. But our Japanese masters have already put together the plans to thwart any possible benefit from reaching the masses should it ever be implemented. For example, US rice imports would be capped at a volume that would allow permanent government storage and prevent any from ever reaching the retail market, lest retail prices drop. The same would happen for any other product that Japan produces – so once again, screw the populace, support the fat cats.

The Americans should do the same with those imported Japanese cars.

[Coligny]

As for TPP – if it would work the way `free trade` is supposed to work – better products for less, then I would be all for it. But our Japanese masters have already put together the plans to thwart any possible benefit from reaching the masses should it ever be implemented. For example, US rice imports would be capped at a volume that would allow permanent government storage and prevent any from ever reaching the retail market, lest retail prices drop. The same would happen for any other product that Japan produces – so once again, screw the populace, support the fat cats.

The Americans should do the same with those imported Japanese cars.

image.jpg

Which ones ?
The Totoya made inTexas
The Nissan made in Tennessee
The Mitsubishi from Illinois
The Honda from Ohio

Or the Mercobenz from Alabama
Or the BMW from south Carolina

[matsuki]

Trojanhorse Purloinment Plan

I am stealing this, whether I have your permission or not.

Regarding the bags, I was loathe to recommend these because of the price, but those Montbell items are not cheap either. I have the same issue with glasses and diaries and stuff that I need more than just pockets.

For the record, this is what I'm usually rocking:

item93107374_093p1L3[1].jpg

As to the TPP...yes, it's all about Japan getting special treatment (or creating it with bullshit loophole mentality) and then the average consumer here would be lucky if they actually saw any benefit. Keep in mind, this is the kuni where the police are so in bed with casinos that a.) they claim it's not gambling with straight faces and b.) actually broadcast police requests and messages over the announcement systems and billboards.

[kurogane]

Ummmm, let's just say I admire your post-masculine masculinity Tres, tres Nativitique, mais oui! A friend was in Japan for a few weeks (standard issue Vancouver girl) and she was quite complimentary about the Man Baggin' Thang. Like I have said, I am simply not man enough to be that unmanly I have rocked an older and blackish version of this, though. Baby steps, baby steps:


So, as Salty and you noted the TPP application was always a Trojan Horse ploy anyways, so good riddance. From what I read in The Economist it actually sounded like there were some positive social and legal reforms invovled that might have done some good; strangely, they made little or no mention of the usual exceptionalist quibbling and raft of opt out clauses that would gut the agreement of any real effect. And yes, I know how to read The Economist, thank you: if they're for it, assume it is bad for anybody making under $250,000 a year and not loaded with sweetheart insider stock option deals. But they do write well, and it is best to know thine enema. Off topic, but anybody know of any similar rags that know how to write and give trenachant analysis and commentary? Just to broaden my options.

[wagyl]

As to the TPP...yes, it's all about Japan getting special treatment (or creating it with bullshit loophole mentality) and then the average consumer here would be lucky if they actually saw any benefit.

I think it is very important to understand that the TPP is not only about that. It is also about a certain economic powerhouse on the east side of the Pacific caving in to the demands of industry lobbyists about criminalising breaches of rights to artistic content (so that you are not just potentially liable for the commercial loss by Hollywood when you torrent a movie which makes a hero out of a guy who bucks the system because he perceives injustice about the way 'the man' is running things ... without irony, but would face criminal sanction as well), and about industry lobbyists working through this treaty to enforce a wet dream for industry: to be able to sue democratically elected foreign governments when the policy decisions made by those governments have potential adverse effects on them doing business there. And these are just the items that have leaked in these secret treaty negotiations, hidden under the feel-good umbrella of "free trade."

The only silver lining in all this is that the way the negotiations have been set up, they are practically designed to fail. If they were truly about freer trade between the various countries, I would feel happier giving support. Every country has their local interests which they try to protect, of course. I will admit that some protected fiefdoms are a lot broader than others, but in all diplomatic negotiations it comes down to whether the plus factors outweigh the minus factors for each party.

[kurogane]

OOh, forgot about those fancy new tort Trojan Horse provisions. Those had The Economist in wet dream ecstasy it was going to be so "field levelling" If only a rapacious multinational corporation could catch a break, eh!??? Nice points.

[matsuki]

Ahh yes, IP rights...though would getting Japan on board there be such a victory? China, on the other hand, first entire country to be convicted of piracy?

[Kanchou]

It would make more sense economically and politically to negotiate the lowering (rather than the elimination) of tariffs and weakening of NTBs on certain items on an individual basis, rather than a blanket agreement to eliminate tariffs altogether.

But the fucking chicken tax has got to go. A tariff is one thing, but 25% on items that cost tens of thousands of dollars is just plain old protectionism.

The 25-year rule for importing non-conforming vehicles into the US needs to be eliminated since the law that established the need for it was 100% enacted due to lobbying by Mercedes and other companies trying to eliminate the grey market. You should be able to import and drive whatever the hell you want so long as its for personal use and meets the safety and emissions standards of a first world country (Japan, EU, UK, etc.).

On the Japan side, the effective 700% tariff on foreign rice needs to be dropped to say, 100%. The fact that rice is by far the most profitable crop in Japan, despite being relatively low labor intensive, means not only do people have to pay out the ass for rice (which farmers grow way too much of relative to the demand, and receive government funds to NOT grow), they have to pay out the ass for everything else sense so few people grow vegetables and other crops on the same scale as rice, which drives up prices. Bell peppers are 175 yen a piece, ffs. Don't even get me started on asparagus. If half of the rice "farmers" (does a single 0.9 hectare rice paddy really make you a farmer?) out there switched to growing something besides rice, or to raising livestock (both of which require more than just part-time engagement, of course), then we could probably cut the cost of groceries in this country by...some arbitrary but significant amount.

Not to mention the people who continued to grow rice would be forced to improve their efficiency (mostly in terms of scale), bypass intermediaries who drive up prices (looking at you, JA), and improve quality to compete with more reasonably-priced imports.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Oh, BTW ...

Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal Is Reached

[wagyl]

It still needs ratification by 12 legislatures so there is plenty of opportunity for it to become unstuck. But at least we will get to read it once it is finally drafted.

[matsuki]

So are we gonna see California米 at the local supermarkets anytime soon?

[wagyl]

Well, if you listened to the autoplay video which came on when you went to the link from Samurai Jerk you would have heard the US Trade Representative talk magnanimously about how it had been a long process but with a positive outcome for world trade, and you would have heard Abe be all small minded and playing to the home audience by announcing that rice, beef, pork and dairy have been able to be excluded from tariff reductions.

So yes, maybe 米米 but only at 770% tariff loading.

[matsuki]

Well, if you listened to the autoplay video which came on when you went to the link from Samurai Jerk you would have heard the US Trade Representative talk magnanimously about how it had been a long process but with a positive outcome for world trade, and you would have heard Abe be all small minded and playing to the home audience by announcing that rice, beef, pork and dairy have been able to be excluded from tariff reductions.

So yes, maybe 米米 but only at 770% tariff loading.

Srry, at the office and zee boss is on the phone.

That is a really disappointing outcome...especially dairy

[Taro Toporific]

So are we gonna see California米 at the local supermarkets anytime soon?

Rice? She-e-e-it, not for 13 fcuking years.
And, it will take 16 fucking years till the price of cheese goes down.

Besides, the TPP has to be ratified by legislatures of all the signatory counties (fat chance that happens in the next 5 years).

Japan to import more rice to help conclude deal
asia.nikkei.com October 5, 2015 3:40 pm JST
TOKYO -- Japan has agreed to import more rice from the U.S. and Australia under a draft deal being negotiated as part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it was learned Monday.
Rice has been the focal point of agricultural talks in the TPP trade negotiations. Japan will set up the import quotas for rice at 50,000 tons for the U.S. and 6,000 tons for Australia. Then the quotas will be expanded to 70,000 tons and 8,400 tons, respectively, in or after the 13th year...
... As for dairy products, Japan will gradually lower tariffs on aged cheeses, such as cheddar and gouda, and eventually abolish them in the 16th year...
More...

[matsuki]

Some small progress...at a Japanese pace?

[Takechanpoo]

see, as expected ms.weathercock korean park kunekune is coming to snuggle up to TPP circle.
she signed a deal with china as his mistress just the other day, didnt she?
and the negotiation period will be extended more, you fuking bitch!

[Russell]

So are we gonna see California米 at the local supermarkets anytime soon?

Rice? She-e-e-it, not for 13 fcuking years.
And, it will take 16 fucking years till the price of cheese goes down.

Besides, the TPP has to be ratified by legislatures of all the signatory counties (fat chance that happens in the next 5 years).

Japan to import more rice to help conclude deal
asia.nikkei.com October 5, 2015 3:40 pm JST
TOKYO -- Japan has agreed to import more rice from the U.S. and Australia under a draft deal being negotiated as part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it was learned Monday.
Rice has been the focal point of agricultural talks in the TPP trade negotiations. Japan will set up the import quotas for rice at 50,000 tons for the U.S. and 6,000 tons for Australia. Then the quotas will be expanded to 70,000 tons and 8,400 tons, respectively, in or after the 13th year...
... As for dairy products, Japan will gradually lower tariffs on aged cheeses, such as cheddar and gouda, and eventually abolish them in the 16th year...
More...

OK, please, somebody help me out.

Cheddar cheese is British and Gouda cheese is Dutch.

The U.K. and the Netherlands are not parties to TTP, as far as I know, so how will this decrease the duties on those cheeses?

Don't even mention them New-Zealand cheeses that are falsely named Cheddar and Gouda. They don't taste like cheese any more than Japanese cheese does.

[Wage Slave]

Don't even mention them New-Zealand cheeses that are falsely named Cheddar and Gouda. They don't taste like cheese any more than Japanese cheese does.

Too right. As for the rest, maybe there is some agreement between TPP and TTIP?

Have you tried any of those expensive Hokkaido cheeses sold in tiny quantities in plastic pouches? I haven't just on principle because of the tiny quantity on offer for the price.

This is what I crave and it shouldn't need taking out a mortgage neither. It's about a thousand Yen a kilo if you buy 500 grammes at a time.

[Samurai_Jerk]

NZ cheese is godawful. I'll take Japanese cheese any day. Flavorless is better than tasting like ass.