The New York Times writes about some cute Japanese couples.#

The popularity of the public declarations of love stems no doubt from the older generation's aversion to public displays of affection. Today, younger Japanese can be seen making out in the subways and parks of Tokyo, but holding hands in public three decades ago would have branded Mrs. Kudo a delinquent, she said.

Richard Ginies, a French employee at Sumitomo who picked 30 letters for the English translation, said they provided a window into the older generation's love lives for younger Japanese as well as Westerners. Many Westerners, he said, remained mystified by the Japanese, who very rarely tell each other, "I love you."

"Some Westerners even go as far as to say that love doesn't exist in Japan," he said.

Mr. Ginies, 54, said his Japanese wife, who died last year after 30 years of marriage, never once verbally declared her love. But he never doubted it.

Gina Smith: "Woman closes an airport with a bomb threat -- to get out of a vacation with her boyfriend! (Reuters)"#

Craig Newmark quotes some nice incentive stories.#

Chip Gibbons backs my ass up:#

The idea that there is a huge social benefit to socializing private industries spreads like a virus. One country controls prices and the cost must be absorbed by the countries that don't control. So more countries control prices and even more cost must be absorbed by those that don't. Pretty soon most countries are controlling prices and there are only a few that don't and they are paying astronomical prices because they're funding the R&D, and supplying all the profits that can't be made in countries where prices are tightly controlled.

Mark Bernstein forgets that those inalienable rights are only for Americans. Common mistake, no biggie.#