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Jake Adelstein’s Tokyo Vice: Underground with the Yakuza

Jake Adelstein with his book, Tokyo Vice

Jake Adelstein with his book, Tokyo Vice

I finished reading this book within 48 hours after buying it at Kinokuniya. If world crime and underground economy are your kind of stuff, this is the book for you.

Add in idiosyncratic Japanese contexts, these make the book an more entertaining read than other similar crime books like Roberto Saviano’s Gomorrah on Italian gangsters and Misha Glenny’s McMafia on organised crime at the international level.

To be fair, the two other two books are more informative as they deal with heavier material, jammed pack with facts and figures. These are not friendly for light reading though. Jack Adelstein’s book on the other hand, reads like a pop-autobiography, documenting his transformation from a rookie foreigner crime reporter to someone bent on taking down a then yakuza top dog, Tadamasa Goto.

It also helps that the author himself had a pretty interesting life:

Jake Adelstein was a reporter for the Yomiuri Shinbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, from 1993 to 2005. From 2006 to 2007 he was the chief investigator for a U.S. State Department-sponsored study of human trafficking in Japan. Considered one of the foremost experts on organized crime in Japan, he works as a writer and consultant in Japan and the United States. He is also the public relations director for the Washington, D.C.-based Polaris Project Japan, which combats human trafficking and the exploitation of women and children in the sex trade.

The transformation came about when Adelstein received death threats on him and his family while pursuing a story related to Goto.

Tadamasa Goto, was then head of a group affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate and had offered the FBI information in return for a visa to the U.S. to undergo a life-saving liver transplant four years earlier.

Adelstein had trouble finding a Japanese publisher willing to run this story. Eventually, the Washington Post printed Adelstein’s story in May 2008.

Jake Adelstein’s radio interview:

Jake Adelstein’s interview Q&A with BoingBoing.Net on the politics of yakuza

Japan Sub Culture Research Centre – Jake Adelstein’s own website on the Japanese underground

Other than his feud with Goto, the first half of the book also covered on how Adelstein learn to integrate into the Japanese way of doing things as a reporter and more specifically as a crime reporter. I find these very informative on the nuances of Japanese culture. For instance, women reporter are the ones who pour beer for everyone, including male subordinates at social functions and that there’s clear demarcation of seniority among the reporters.

Jake Adelstein’s Tokyo Vice: Underground with the Yakuza is available at Kinokuniya bookstores in Singapore. It should be available at other major bookstores too. Go check it out. :)

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Oil Rig Leak After The Explosion: Another Oil Spill Of The Persian Gulf?

new rig explosion sff 300x243 Oil Rig Leak After The Explosion: Another Oil Spill Of The Persian Gulf?Oil Rig Leak After The Explosion: Another Oil Spill Of The Persian Gulf?:The Coast Guard reports that a mile-long oil sheen extends from the place of today’s oil installation explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Location of installation, as shown above, about 200 miles west of the deep-set BP Horizon. Thirteen workers were present during the explosion, but still alive and were seen floating in the water wearing emergency mechanism called Gumby suits.

Commercial helicopters first saw the explosion, whose cause is still under investigation by early afternoon Thursday. (See the dramatic pictures of the largest oil spill in history)

Fortunately, there is some good news: Even if the situation becomes serious, the cleaning process will be much easier on this platform than it did during the disaster BP. AP reports that it is well dug in shallow water, in contrast to the installation of BP, and this makes cleaning of oil on the ocean floor much easier.

During the initial flight of the area, officials have not found any oil spill, although this new gloss can change the reports.

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Mariner Energy,Oil Rig Explosion

Mariner Energy,Oil Rig Explosion:The sergeant said Matthew Masaschi MarketWatch, that Mariner Energy / quotes/comstock/13 *! I / quotes / NLS / I (22,83 ME, -0,52, -2,22%) reported seeing a sheen, which is about 100 feet wide and 1 mile long. The company reported that there was no oil flowing from the affected plant, which sits about 100 nautical miles off the south-central coast of Louisiana Vermillion Bay.

There was no immediate explanation from the source of an oil slick. Mariner Energy representative was not immediately available for comment.

Masaschi said that Mariner Energy reported it had brought the fire under control.

One injury reported among 13 workers who were on board the platform when the fire struck, shortly before 9:30 am Central.

Masaschi said 13 were rescued by boat supplies, “Crystal Clear”, and then taken to a nearby platform. Then the workers were taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center in Houma, Louisiana for examination.
Masaschi said the degree of injuries reported one was not yet known.

But the Marine Representative Patrick Cassidy initially told the cable news network CNBC, that all the wells associated with the platform were closed, and there was no evidence of any oil got into the Persian Gulf.

The fire broke out at the top of the rig from the well heads, he said, adding that the crew was painting and sandblasting at the time.

Mariner Energy shares were last down 2% to $ 22.87.

The Coast Guard has revised the number of helicopters sent to the scene, and now he says that nine helicopters all called for help, but they were withdrawn when Crystal Clear took the workers. Five of them were deployed in New Orleans and 4 in Houston.

Initially it was reported that two helicopters flew over the field Macondo, the site / quotes/comstock/13 * BP PLC in! BP / quotes / NLS / BP (BP 36,46, 0,30, 0,82%) Deepwater Horizon installation explosion in April and the subsequent oil spill. It was unclear whether these aircraft were deployed in New Orleans.

Four Coast Guard cutters were also sent, as well as the survey plane.
All Coast Guard personnel were withdrawn from the search and rescue operation, when it was reported that the workers were safe, Masaschi he said.

Mariner Energy bills itself as a leading independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the Gulf of Mexico. He said the interests of approximately 240 units on the continental shelf and 100 blocks in the water. About 85% of production comes from the Mariner Bank.

The fire at the moment, a thorough study on offshore oil and gas operations in the disaster Deepwater Horizon.

Drilling moratorium came into force during most of the Gulf of Mexico, and the cause of the explosion deep Horizon is still under investigation. But the moratorium applies only deepwater drilling. Mariner platform is 340 feet, which is not considered deep drilling rig, and his feet in the sea floor.

Mariner Energy announced April 15 it will be sold to Apache / quotes/comstock/13 *! Apa / quotes / NLS / APA (APA 90.90, -1.56, -1.69%), in the case should be completed by the end of the third quarter. A spokesman for the corporation Apache does not respond to messages seeking comment.

Mariner said in its annual report that its proved reserves attributed to Vermillion 380 fields were 33.2 billion cubic feet equivalent.

In 2008 and 2009, Mariner drilled 5 wells and added additional production capacity for “platform rig.

Hurricane Ike damaged the structure with the drilling rig on the platform, causing the company to stop drilling while underwater structural repairs was not.

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College football: Utah beats No. 15 Pittsburgh in OT

PH2010090300024 200x300 College football: Utah beats No. 15 Pittsburgh in OTCollege football: Utah beats No. 15 Pittsburgh in OT:Once able to hold 11 points in the fourth quarter, Utah’s defense redeemed itself in overtime.

Utah freshman Brian Blechen intercepted grazed on the first play of overtime, the creation of Joe Phillips, a 21-yard ball, which gave the cliff 27-24 victory over number 15 Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

Pittsburgh rallied 14 points in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime on a 30-yard ball Dan Hutchins “on the final regulation.

But after Utah won the toss and elected to play defense, quickly Blechen doused any hopes of a complete return of the panther, when he bolted in front of Pitt receiver Mike Shanahan and grabbed Tina Sunseri pass at the sideline.

Jordan Wynn passed for 283 yards with 3 touchdowns for Utah, including 2 in Jereme Brooks.

third TD Wynn’s was a short passage in the middle that Devonte Christopher broke the 61-yard landing that put Utah up 24-13 with 7:59 left to play.

It is easier for the edge did not even last minute.

Panthers struck back in the 44-yard pass from Sunseri to John Baldwin, who was all alone in a 10-yard line due to the breakdown in the middle of Utah. Sunseri Baldwin went back to the 2-point conversion that pulled the Panthers to a field goal at 24-21 with 7:11 left to play.

Utah was unable to perform enough time from the clock to save the panther from a final drive that covered Hutchins linking field goal, despite the fact that the ball three times.

His first attempt went through the racks, but Utah coach Kyle Whittingham called a timeout before the snap and Hutchins was hit again.

Whittingham did the same to re-kick, which was wide and had fans and players celebrating Utah, before they learned there was yet another blow in the future. At this time, Hutchins returned to the goal and tied it at 24.

But Blechen gained momentum and the ball for a cliff with a pick in overtime and Utah, so played it safe there. Utes have never tried another pass, running down the inside and leaving a 10-Phillips with a chip shot to win it.

Utah won its 18 th straight, and besides the fourth quarter breakdown, did it largely with defense. Utes allowed a few simple yards Pitt star Dion Lewis, who ran for 1,799 yards last year in the first year. He finished with 75 yards on 25 carries.

Utah took Pitt just 60 yards in the second and third quarters combined, but the Panthers defense kept cliff of a building lot to give some timely stops of its own.

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Iowa State Football,Iowa Hawkeye Football

Iowa State Football,Iowa Hawkeye Football: Iowa Alexander Robinson tore 63 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and ended with 97 yards on 19 carries.

On the defense: NIU junior safety Tracy Wilson got his first interception of his career at the end of the first half.

Number: 3 – NIU third down conversion in 13 attempts, including 0 7 in the first half.
They are still talking about: ads DeMarcus Grady as a starting defender NIU just before game time. He was 14 of 29 from 3 interception and rushed for 54 yards.

Sound: Michael Cklamovski, transmission Illinois, missed the first half of the field-goal attempts from 49 and 33 yards. Freshman Matt Sims was summoned to the 19-Yarder in the second half, he hit.

Looking into the Future: NIU hosts North Dakota on September 11.

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USC Football:University Of Southern California Football

pete carroll 300x169 USC Football:University Of Southern California FootballUSC Football:University Of Southern California Football:Hard to believe, but there was a time when the University of Southern California, a mediocre football team. In 2001, the Trojans had not won or shared the national championship since 1978.

Then Pete Carroll took over. Carroll spent time in the NFL, coaching the New York Jets and New England Patriots (both teams fired him), as well as a small college coaching experience. He was not an ideal candidate on paper – but then, the work of USC no longer wishes to show it was. USC — — Carroll and needed some looking around.

Revolutions do not happen immediately. In the first year, Carroll’s Trojans have lost as many games as they won. But what followed unusual: In the next nine years, Carroll would revive the USC football program and its reputation by going 97-19, winning two national championships, unsolicited bid in the NCAA record for 7 consecutive BCS bowl coaching three Heisman Trophy winners and produce 34 All-Americans and 53 NFL draft picks. (Carroll returned to the NFL as coach of Seattle Seahawks. While the USC two-year trial of the game in every ball game, and its number of scholarships declined after the reign of Carroll, Carroll has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.)

As Carroll take out such an incredible feat, and that entrepreneurs could learn from your experience? I sat down with him recently to find out. For a deeper, check out his recently published book: Win Forever: to live, work and play like a champion, published portfolio.

Why did you write this book, and who intended reader?

Carroll: The point is to raise money for the fund, better LA, which stops the robbery. We want to continue to support these efforts. We’re talking about football, and a message about how you can be better, the power to find out what you can do in this life, that success does not happen overnight, but it takes time, effort and discipline. We hope that the concerns of parents, children and business people. He stayed with this concept you have created for themselves.

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Jan Brewer Starts Badly, Finishes Worse, In Last Night’s Arizona

CAUCUS articleInline Jan Brewer Starts Badly, Finishes Worse, In Last Night’s ArizonaJan Brewer Starts Badly, Finishes Worse, In Last Night’s Arizona:The first and possibly only debate between candidates for governor of Arizona on Wednesday night, there was plenty of fireworks as governor
Jan Brewer, a Republican, and Terry Goddard, the Democratic contender, exchanged sharp words on immigration and the state’s budget woes.

But that was 16 seconds of silence that now says more than anything else.

In his opening statement, Ms. Brewer began to defend her leadership: “I, well, they did so much, and I just can not believe that we have changed everything, as I am to be your governor in the last 600 days. Arizona had returned from abyss. We have reduced the budget. We have a balanced budget, and we are moving forward. We did everything we could do. ”

At that moment she looked at the paper before her, grabbed her hands and laughed nervously as she tried to come up with something more to say.

Finally, she came to herself and said: “We did that right to Arizona.

In an interview on Thursday with a local radio station, the governor said it was “the longest 16 seconds of my life.”

Despite his tendency to mangle words, Ms. Brewer is considered a candidate was beaten, mostly because of the increasing popularity it has experienced since the signing of the law of the State to deal with illegal immigrants. Mr. Goddard, the state attorney general and two other less-known candidates seeking a debate, but Ms. Brewer’s camp has not yet agreed.

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Watch Online Jersey Shore Season 2 Episode 6

jersey shore season 2 episode 6 300x169 Watch Online Jersey Shore Season 2 Episode 6Watch Online Jersey Shore Season 2 Episode 6:Guess what, “Jersey Shore” fans? Sammy “Sweetheart” Giancola done! It is done! Except it is not! It is not! Remind you that Sammy was opened (thanks to anonymous note), which each Ronny Magro was fooling around with other women from the clubs, and then return home to sleep with her. I would have bet my last can jet Bronzer, that Sammy really means it this time at the end of the last series. In the end, how humiliating would play for a fool in front of audience of millions? But it turns out, it’s not humiliating part. What really kills her, we learn through the anonymous note, even though she asked everyone in the house to tell her if they saw Ronnie went over to the other girls.

At one point tonight, she tells the neighbors, “Whoever wrote me a note, thanks, I appreciate it, because I look like (bleeping) idiot. Psst, Sammy: You do not look like an idiot, because you know Ronnie jerk, you’re an idiot, because you should have known Ronnie jerk.

Meanwhile, she and Ronnie seems to be all right on the conditions, and she even goes to his bed one night. Whaaa? Are they back together or not? So when she said that’s done, she really means it is done with Jenny “JWoww” Farley and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, with whom she had her fingers as the most likely super-secret note-writers.

It’s funny, JWoww is not too happy with Sammy either. At first she was angry because she thinks Sammy is just going to forgive Ronnie again. When Snooki decides that she and JWoww must admit, with Sammy, that they wrote the note, they send Angelina Pivarnick the house to pick Sammy, but she refuses to go outside to talk to them. “She’s lucky I did not go in there, and swinging it. JWoww said, stomping into the house where she gets Sammy in the face, saying that everyone knew that Ronnie was cheating on her. Ronnie pulls,” which, to me? face, and tribal drums begin to play. Sammy JWoww says that she should tell her, because JWoww and Snooki were her closest friends in the house. When Sammy asks all the castmates who wrote the note, none of the police to him. JWoww like Sammy, it (off screen) warned Sammy to check for STDs, because Ronnie had told her during a break that he was connected with a girl in a toilet on Long Island and then returned to bed Sammy that night. Yes, Sammy! Look at it in the dictionary! Get checked = Your boyfriend is deceiving you, I’m a big doll. Then Ronnie piles on JWoww, essentially saying that if it were a true friend Sammy, she would have told her that he’s a bastard, as soon as she learned, instead of waiting a week. Awesome.

The next day, Sammy was freezing JWoww Snooki and, not wanting to help them shop, tote food or cook dinner on Sunday night for the rest of the house. Sammy does not even eat lunch, only takes her a salad, what else pisses JWoww with. Sammy, meanwhile, the relationship with Angelina. When Sammy asks her whether JWoww Snooki and wrote a letter, Angelina gets a sly smile on his face that everything proves it. This, despite the warning JWoww Angelina several times that she was going to go medieval on her if she says Sammy wrote the note.

Head of the gang that night in the club, where Paul “DJ D Pauly” Delvecchio gets drunk and has to be home and helped into bed. When JWoww talks to her boyfriend on the phone, she matter-of-factly talks about it, then goes to his room. Angelina says Sammy and Ronnie in indignant whispers that JWoww said that her boyfriend Paulie D was drunk. “Did she talk to —”? Sammy asked. “Yes,” Angelina responded. Vinnie “Please, MTV Give Me storyline that does not revolve around the eye infection” Guadagnino said that he heard talk, and did not attempt to assess Angelina at stirring the pot. So he steps up to the plate and … tattles to JWoww. JWoww squares her shoulders and returned to the living room to confront Angelina, who has denied speaking directly about Pauly D. JWoww asked Angelina, why is it so concerned about his conversation with her boyfriend when Sammy pipes up: “Who gives a F —? JWoww wheels around and begins to Sammy:” What, did you grow some balls at once? ”

There’s a curse and scream and more back and forth on that dull note. JWoww faces a Sammy, Sammy and then faces a JWoww, and then JWoww clamps his hands over his ears Sammy and pushes her head. Sammy can not directly JWoww in the face, but skillfully JWoww missing hair and takes her to the ground. Is anyone surprised by the skill in JWoww? Not for me. As the first, and then Angelina and Ronnie Snooki move to break things up, Sammy appears backups, but JWoww pushes her head down. They both hit each other in the face, and … scene! More girlfight promise next week.

Some other stuff happens. Mike “Position” Sorrentino was unceremoniously kicked her out of bed, and then clear fluids with a transsexual, not realizing that it was he, Winnie and Snooki connect and Snooki impressed with his intelligence, size (“It’s like putting a watermelon in the point”) and Angelina and very drunk Pauly D cuddle a little.

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Soundarya Rajinikanth Wedding in Chennai?

wedding Soundarya Rajinikanth Wedding in Chennai?Soundarya Rajinikanth Wedding in Chennai?
:Soundarya Rajinikanth big wedding was held at Rani Meyyammani Hall in Chennai today. Soundarya Rajinikanth’s younger daughter now married to a city businessman Ashwin Ramkumar.
When it comes to the wedding of the daughter of the people Rajanikanth, of course, expect that it will be as majestic as the father himself.

At the ceremony, the hall was overcrowded, as early as 7:30 am Among the guests were several of the leading directors, politicians, actors and relatives of the bride and groom, Ashwin Ramkumar who is also a graduate of Stanford.

Actor Rajinikanth seemed very proud of his son-in to Ashwin. He said Ashwin really very beautiful. His daughter Soundarya is also exploring the amazing in a red sari nine yard with beautiful jewels of the temple. Dressed in a white shirt and dhoti, actor Rajinikanth looking very cool and calm. There was a yellow turban tied around his head, he fulfilled all marriage ceremonies in accordance with the tradition of Tamil Brahmins.

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Cammie King Conlon,Scarlett And Rhett’s Girl, Dies at 76

KINGobit popup 300x236 Cammie King Conlon,Scarlett And Rhett’s Girl, Dies at 76Cammie King Conlon,Scarlett And Rhett’s Girl, Dies at 76:Cammie King, who, as an angelic little girl playing the daughter of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler in “Gone with the Wind,” something is used following the fan festivals, died on Wednesday at his home in Fort Bragg, California. She was 76.
The cause was cancer, her son, Matt Conlon, said.

Mrs. King Conlon, as it was known to her marriage with Michael Conlon in 1971, when four cast as Bonnie Blue Butler. Bonnie was a child of manipulative Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) and Rhett sly (Clark Gable), which is a turbulent love in Atlanta during the Civil War. Speaking in a few scenes, Bonnie died when she fell to her pony.

She only other acting credits, as the voice of Faline, young females, in 1942 Disney animated film “Bambi.” “I reached into show business at age 5, she often says.

Nevertheless, with the enduring popularity of “Gone With the Wind,” Mrs. King Conlon found a degree of celebrities at film festivals and holidays for the film. In 1989, she was one of the 10 surviving cast members, who went to Atlanta for the week of 50 th anniversary celebration of the premiere. In the discussion, Mrs. King Conlon said the 35-year-old man, whom she called “little man” was his double in the scene where she fell from a pony. She received $ 1000 for her work in the film, she said.

Eleanore Cammack King was born in Los Angeles on Aug. 5, 1934. In addition, her son, Matt, she was a daughter, Kate Byrne, and three grandchildren. Her first husband, Ned Pollack died in 1965. Her marriage to Mr. Conlon ended in divorce in 1976.

Mrs. King Conlon, who graduated from the University of Southern California, worked in the Mendocino Coast Chamber began its film commission.

Last year, after the publication of “Bonnie Blue Butler:” Gone with the Wind “Memoirs” at its own expense, she gave an interview to a Democrat in Santa Rosa, Calif. When asked about his role in the popularity of the movie, she said: “I had nothing to do with it. I 5. They said: “Stay here. For this purpose “.

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