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This is quite a month long late blog. It really started a week before Valentines Day. The Japanese line leader(Note that I just started in that factory last December 2018 and that the custom here in Japan is to give chocolates to your male friends/co workers on Valentines Day) told us that we don't have to give him chocolates on Valentines Day and gave a practical reason. Well then, good. So I thought. On the morning of Valentines Day, he again said that he didn't want us to give him chocolates. Of all our male co workers, he was the only one who said that to us. I do find some male co workers who are worthy of receiving one for being nice in giving techniques on how to do the work well. But I refrain from doing so. From that morning till around noon, I could see several female workers giving our male counterparts with big and small boxes of chocolates. Then after, the overtime became lesser.( He was the one who tell us our overtime always) And lo and behold I'm now assigned to the other branch from March. Do you think there's a connection? Tomorrow is March 14, the so called White Day when the girls' turn to receive chocolates. I've bought myself a big box of Ferrero. Would devour it to my heart's desire!!

All signs point to a "no Brexit" exit from the EU for Great Britain. Opposition from conservative members to some of the major issues - including the prospect of a "hard" border between Northern Ireland the republic - will probably doom the vote to accept the Brexit agreement negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May. Come March 29, Great Britain will be out of the EU whether there is a deal in place or not.

The proposed "backstop," which would allow time for a solution to be found to Northern Ireland's border, is unacceptable to many in the conservative party because it would trap Britain in the customs union until 2022. Inevitably, many experts think that in order for their to be a "soft" border between the two Irelands, there must be a hard border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

One possible solution would have been unthinkable a decade ago. Could Brexit be the catatlyst to finally unite the two Irelands?

Tradition and politics says no. But over the last 20 years, the mostly Catholic Republic of Ireland has become far more secular. Once one of the most Catholic countries in Europe, the republic changed the constitution in 1996 to allow for divorce, and just last year, a referendum changed the abortion law. Meanwhile, the Protestant north has lagged economically behind the republic as free market reforms instituted in the 1980s have made the Republic of Ireland an attractive spot for international business.

While Northern Ireland burned, Ireland put through in the 1980s a series of supply-side tax reforms. That made the country an attractive base for multinational companies. As reported by the Belfast Times, Ireland’s output is today almost 45% higher than in the North. Average salaries are 30% higher. The North is plagued by weak underlying productivity.

Northern Ireland’s unionist-nationalist power sharing arrangement has failed to produce a functioning government. British taxpayers subsidize Northern Ireland with aid totalling 12 billion euros a year. That is nearly 50% more than the 8.6 billion annual bill for membership in the European Union. The British long to shed both these millstones. So why not give Northern Irish citizenry a push toward union with the South.

Which brings me back to Brexit. Some 56% of Northern voters joined only Scotland and Greater London among UK regions voting to remain in the EU. Recent polls suggest support for “Remain” in the province now exceeds 60%. Like the Irish Republic, the North sees its future as part of Europe. Full integration with the South would only grow the economy faster.



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Nikki Haley 2020. She'll kick out all the communist from WH.

Nikki Haley, she will kick Trump's chauvinism out of WH

Nikky Haley, she's a real politician, not a business person selling USA for the highest bidder.

Nikky Haley, for President. Goodbye Trump, your time is up.

communism meant Russia.

today, cause Trump brought communism to WH, with his friend Putin

now, to be a communist is alright

I'm okay with Daylight Savings Time and wouldn't mind it year round.

'Dear Ann Landers' column from years ago.

With allegations of anti-Semitism swirling within the Democratic Party, many are comparing the increasingly radical American Left with the Labour Party of the United Kingdom.

Led by Jeremy Corbyn, the Left-wing party have been embroiled with their own scandals, with many members of the party (including Corbyn) accused of being anti-Semitic, or enabling the spread of anti-Semitism.

There are multiple similarities between the anti-Semitism of the radical elements of the Democratic Party and the Labour Party. While vile “classic” examples of anti-Semitism exist, the majority of high-profile criticisms are related to anti-Semitic rhetoric thinly veiled as “anti-Israel.” Both Corbyn and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) have supported the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, spoken in support of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and used anti-Semitic tropes on multiple occasions.

Additionally, many supporters of anti-Semites within the Democratic Party or the Labour Party have refused to acknowledge that anti-Semitism exists within their ranks, preferring to focus on the claim that anti-Semitism is exclusive to the political Right. They willingly ignore that, while anti-Semitism clearly exists on the radical Right, it has yet to become part of the mainstream Right. The same cannot be said of the Left.

With these similarities in mind, alongside Europe’s dark history of anti-Semitism, it is understandable that many are using the spread of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party as a warning for the Democrats. Many political commentators are concerned that Corbyn’s brand of anti-Semitic Leftism will penetrate the American Left.

This concern, however, is actually the wrong way around. The spread of anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party is far more concerning than in the Labour Party. While both forms are undeniably despicable, and the Democratic Party’s form of anti-Semitism is younger than its counterpart across the Atlantic Ocean, the American Left’s anti-Semitism is being given the tools to thrive.

The reason for this is that the anti-Semitism from the likes of Ilhan Omar has been completely embraced by the mainstream elements of the Democratic Party, as well as by many among the mainstream media. House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) effectively prostrated herself at the feet of anti-Semitism by making absurd excuses for Omar. Other high-profile members of the Democratic Party, including several presidential candidates, have rushed to the defense of their anti-Semitic “allies.”

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the Labour Party is being torn apart by an internal struggle against systematic bigotry, alongside constant pressure from the mainstream media. Just recently, several Labour MPs resigned, forming their own Independent Party in protest of the widespread anti-Semitism which is being allowed to fester. Labour MPs and members have spent years condemning Corbyn and his anti-Semitic associates, supported by Jewish groups on both sides of the political aisle.

While Corbyn is publicly and vocally vilified for his revolting views by members of his own party, the Democrats are rushing to Omar’s side. Despite voicing clear views of hatred toward an ally of the United States (and the only democracy in the Middle East), she remains on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Despite her repeated use of anti-Semitic tropes, there have been no resignations, just disingenuous attempts at defense or deflection. The Democrats can’t even agree that anti-Semitism is worth condemnation, after playing their own “All Lives Matter” card by suggesting that we should condemn “all hate.”

I usually don't blog about things in my life, especially things of a personal nature.
Thus, I am quite hesitant to do so now.
I certainly don't want to offend sensitive people.
So, if this sort of very personal discussion is not what you are seeking,
perhaps it would be better to seek a different blog.

OK, with that being said, I will now let you know my favorite position of all.
It's perfectly OK, if your favorite position is different.

My favorite position is left field.....when I play softball. What ?

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