If that article is true I must be the healthiest person that ever lived!

Yakuza group forcing members to take 'gangster exam'
OTSU -- Japan's largest and most notorious organized crime group, the Yamaguchi-gumi, is forcing members to take a "gangster exam" in order to reduce costly damages suits, police have discovered.

An affiliate based in Shiga Prefecture is distributing written tests on the revised Anti-Organized Crime Law, which allows higher-ranking gang members to be sued for the actions of their subordinates, as a preventative measure against future lawsuits. Police believe the test has been introduced by Yamaguchi-gumi groups across the country.

Police first discovered the test during an investigation of a member of the affiliate. A 12-question exam paper, complete with model answers, was among the items confiscated.

Questions included "What kind of activities are banned?" with "dumping industrial waste; bootlegging fuel; theft of construction vehicles and other expensive items; phone fraud scams" etc. listed as the correct answers.

The model answer to the final question, "What are you required to do in all your activities?" was: "report and consult with my bosses."

I thought all Yakuza have moved into 'protection' for business owners. Seems I might be right. As far as organized crime goes, I like the Yaks, they seem far more reasonable than others.

Crazy Right-wing nuts kill a guy: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=8655943

That's fucked up. Classic first paragraph though..

This is important news: http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/lifematters/female-soldiers-in-push-for-safer-bras-20090923-g2mj.html

time for a career change. it's sweedish bra testing from now forth!

I think we need proof that Swedish female conscripts actually NEED bras. I mean, much like the majority of female posters here, one must occasionally ask oneself, "Would I buy shoes if I had no feet?"

No need for titty fucking, then.

Rather than starting a new thread, I'll ask here:
Nick, did you get any part of the tsunami today? Good wild beach or anything?

not in Tokyo. The surfers liked it in Kiwiland however

NKG seemed to go on about it forever.

I don't want to go and dig up all the articles again, but this coming year (2010) is projected by NASA as the start of the peak of the current solar cycle (it's supposed to run until 2012). Not only that, but astronomers are pretty much in agreement that this solar-max is supposed to be a true doozy. It's supposed to approach 1958 emission levels which means that I'm going to be looking out my windows a lot more this winter around 4 or 5AM. In '58, the aurora was apparently so strong that telegraph operators were able to use the fluctuations in the magnetosphere to communicate without any power, and the lights were visible as far south as Cuba!

Apparently our communication satellites appear to be in some danger of getting knocked out, and our power grids may also be effected. Canada lost power during a much smaller solar max in the late 80s. But despite all this I think it's worth it. Auroras are about the closest we get to magic in this modern day of bells and whistles. Let the sun knock out our artificial lights and force us to be overwhelmed by the splendor above.

Although winter is the most common time for Auroras, I'd really like to see one this summer when I plan to head to Easter Island for the solar eclipse. An aurora over an eclipse would be the event of the century.

EDIT: Dang. I actually went back to find the articles after posting this only to discover that the predictions have been recalculated:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/29may_noaaprediction.htm
Maybe it won't be so impressive after all, and maybe it'll be more like 2013... Ah well...

If there is a 2013...

Don't worry, there won't be.


Here's some crazy Christian fundamentalists who want you to pay them a few thousands dollars to show your children images of aborted fetuses and try to convince your children that there is no separation between church & state through punk rock!

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2009/10/01/bachmann-to-raise-funds-controversial-christian-punk-ministry

I don't have any children because they are all aborted fetuses.

One of my children was a miscarriage at five and a half months. It was probably for the better. I was 17 at the time.

I could've had a seven year old right now.

Thankfully steps were taken.

that's a stupid kid.

Holy shit, he's utterly retarded.

He might as well be dealing drugs inside a police station.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/politics/08genealogy.html

I thought this was pretty cool. It's a genealogical tale from slave to first lady.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2009-10-09-nasa-moon-probe_N.htm

we watched this today in physics. it really was rather anti climatic but still, did get to see the moon in more detail. We watched live from NASAs webfeed.

Go Earth! We showed those moon men what's what...

Today was an interesting news day watching CNN.  Obama got the Nobel peace prize for existing in office for a few months, Palin publicly offered her support to two republicans running for office and they said, "No thanks, please go away.", Rush Limbaugh talked about buying the Rams and 90% of the team threatened to strike, and we declared war on the moon.

It was a good day.

NO BOOM?

STUPID SYENS MEN.

Biggest clusterfuck of 2009?

30-50 Rollies a DAY?!?! Jaysus...

Biggest clusterfuck of 2009?

If that were in the US, you'd be looking at a hundred million dollar lawsuit.  I wonder what will happen to the hospital in the UK; it sounds like it came down to a thorough investigation, and British resolve to adhere to policy.

Where's that thread about US Healthcare reform...?