Mitch Bernard
@mkbernard.bsky.social
Political economist, retired Japan specialist, inveterate language learner, cinephile & traveller
It sure sounds like Okamoto is 'the bat' that they will add this off-season to compete their focus on pitching
January 6, 2026 at 7:34 PM
It sure sounds like Okamoto is 'the bat' that they will add this off-season to compete their focus on pitching
Contrast this with the super-long time lines for JR to complete just one line, the final leg of its Hokuriku Shinkansen line from Tsuruga to Kyoto and then on to Osaka.
January 5, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Contrast this with the super-long time lines for JR to complete just one line, the final leg of its Hokuriku Shinkansen line from Tsuruga to Kyoto and then on to Osaka.
I never understand those on the American left who know perfectly well what the NY Times stands for and how it does journalism, yet who are outraged each time the NYT sides with its seeming right-wing enemies opponents against the left. Why not acknowledge its unreadable and simply move on?
January 4, 2026 at 9:28 PM
I never understand those on the American left who know perfectly well what the NY Times stands for and how it does journalism, yet who are outraged each time the NYT sides with its seeming right-wing enemies opponents against the left. Why not acknowledge its unreadable and simply move on?
Countries like Canada or Japan stay quiescent, with little influence and less leverage, seeking relief from devastating tariffs. The EU, by contrast, has leverage but no will to use it. If the US grabs Greenland, would EU leaders expect the world’s response to be ignominious silence—or faint praise?
January 4, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Countries like Canada or Japan stay quiescent, with little influence and less leverage, seeking relief from devastating tariffs. The EU, by contrast, has leverage but no will to use it. If the US grabs Greenland, would EU leaders expect the world’s response to be ignominious silence—or faint praise?
Only the political and bureaucratic leadership of the UK will be more supine than the Japanese with regard to any US actions, however execrable or illegal.
January 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Only the political and bureaucratic leadership of the UK will be more supine than the Japanese with regard to any US actions, however execrable or illegal.
Wasn't becoming a supplicant country not just a key to the Blair strategy but the linchpin of the UK's post-Brexit goals?
January 4, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Wasn't becoming a supplicant country not just a key to the Blair strategy but the linchpin of the UK's post-Brexit goals?
Can you seriously talk about the 'next generation of EVs while excluding all Chinese-made vehicles? The US has clearly disengaged from the most of the world in this regard
January 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Can you seriously talk about the 'next generation of EVs while excluding all Chinese-made vehicles? The US has clearly disengaged from the most of the world in this regard
I'm with you! The front office is aware last year the team caught lightening in a bottle in terms of a number of players experiencing career years at once. They know other teams have more talent. Luckes and Clement likely to be the losers in a talent upgrade but they offer the lineup great depth
January 3, 2026 at 10:50 PM
I'm with you! The front office is aware last year the team caught lightening in a bottle in terms of a number of players experiencing career years at once. They know other teams have more talent. Luckes and Clement likely to be the losers in a talent upgrade but they offer the lineup great depth
I'm agnostic on most of the Nobel awards, but it's certainly time to do away with the Norwegian contribution, the Peace Prize ( and while we're at it, let's get rid of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, as well!).
January 3, 2026 at 6:38 PM
I'm agnostic on most of the Nobel awards, but it's certainly time to do away with the Norwegian contribution, the Peace Prize ( and while we're at it, let's get rid of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, as well!).
Seriously? This is the same committee that gave the prize to Barak Obama, even before he had the chance to assume office, bomb Qaddafi's Libya and turn it into to failed state
January 3, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Seriously? This is the same committee that gave the prize to Barak Obama, even before he had the chance to assume office, bomb Qaddafi's Libya and turn it into to failed state
¿Qué respuesta podemos esperar de la Comisión Europea? Pues, por desgracia, más de lo mismo. La UE tiene capacidad de presión sobre Estados Unidos, pero con tal de no poner en riesgo el apoyo estadounidense a Ucrania, acabará sacando algún comunicado descafeinado pidiendo moderación.
January 3, 2026 at 4:26 PM
¿Qué respuesta podemos esperar de la Comisión Europea? Pues, por desgracia, más de lo mismo. La UE tiene capacidad de presión sobre Estados Unidos, pero con tal de no poner en riesgo el apoyo estadounidense a Ucrania, acabará sacando algún comunicado descafeinado pidiendo moderación.
When has the Nobel peace committee been ashamed of anything? Did they revoke Obama's prize? Didn't their most recent peace prize winner call for exactly this?
January 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM
When has the Nobel peace committee been ashamed of anything? Did they revoke Obama's prize? Didn't their most recent peace prize winner call for exactly this?
The question now is when will the Trump administration declare MSF (Doctors Without Borders) a terrorist organization!
December 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The question now is when will the Trump administration declare MSF (Doctors Without Borders) a terrorist organization!
La transition énergétique s’opère à tous les niveaux, au-delà des sommets internationaux et des politiques nationales de transport et d’énergie. Cet article montre avec une grande perspicacité que l’enjeu local n’est pas seulement de décarboner, mais aussi d’améliorer le quotidien des habitants.
December 29, 2025 at 1:15 PM
La transition énergétique s’opère à tous les niveaux, au-delà des sommets internationaux et des politiques nationales de transport et d’énergie. Cet article montre avec une grande perspicacité que l’enjeu local n’est pas seulement de décarboner, mais aussi d’améliorer le quotidien des habitants.
From one Jew to another, thank you for those sentiments and wishing you the best, most Buddhist christmas ever!
December 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
From one Jew to another, thank you for those sentiments and wishing you the best, most Buddhist christmas ever!
Era un tema que llevaba muchísimo tiempo pidiendo a gritos una adaptación cinematográfica
December 20, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Era un tema que llevaba muchísimo tiempo pidiendo a gritos una adaptación cinematográfica
Let's be clear. This shooting and the rapid response by Australia's Labor government has nothing to do with America, what the American political system can or can't do or what Americans do or don't think about guns.
December 16, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Let's be clear. This shooting and the rapid response by Australia's Labor government has nothing to do with America, what the American political system can or can't do or what Americans do or don't think about guns.
All Canadians should know this! Large parts of the country, Québec, Manitoba & B.C. rely largely on hydro power for electricity. This infrastructure was put in place in the 1960-70s. The represents the majority of Canadian renewables.
December 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
All Canadians should know this! Large parts of the country, Québec, Manitoba & B.C. rely largely on hydro power for electricity. This infrastructure was put in place in the 1960-70s. The represents the majority of Canadian renewables.
La tragedia es que Europa tiene una capacidad de influencia real para frenar la estridencia estadounidense, pero sus élites o viven en la luna o carecen por completo de coraje para ejercerla. Mientras tanto, los líderes de México o Canadá cuentan con mucha menos fuerza… y aun así no se arrodillan.
December 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
La tragedia es que Europa tiene una capacidad de influencia real para frenar la estridencia estadounidense, pero sus élites o viven en la luna o carecen por completo de coraje para ejercerla. Mientras tanto, los líderes de México o Canadá cuentan con mucha menos fuerza… y aun así no se arrodillan.
There is a lot of depth but there isn't a clear cut #1 and certainly no ace!
December 3, 2025 at 1:30 AM
There is a lot of depth but there isn't a clear cut #1 and certainly no ace!
Israel is indeed out of control. I'm not disagreeing with your premise. Nor do I disagree about the "West". But seriously, it's difficult to accept that the position of the Turkish state is definitive of anything?
December 1, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Israel is indeed out of control. I'm not disagreeing with your premise. Nor do I disagree about the "West". But seriously, it's difficult to accept that the position of the Turkish state is definitive of anything?
Don't get me wrong, I hope Jays fans who are excited by the signing are right, but it's the 2024 numbers, the seven years and the comparison with some of the other possible top-of-the-rotation options that make me nervous.
November 27, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Don't get me wrong, I hope Jays fans who are excited by the signing are right, but it's the 2024 numbers, the seven years and the comparison with some of the other possible top-of-the-rotation options that make me nervous.
I have to admit that I'm disappointed. I don't believe he is the front-line starter we needed. I was hoping for Ranger Suarez or Imai Tatsuya. Is Cease even a number three starter in the rotations as it's currently constituted? He looks like a four to me. And seven years?!
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
I have to admit that I'm disappointed. I don't believe he is the front-line starter we needed. I was hoping for Ranger Suarez or Imai Tatsuya. Is Cease even a number three starter in the rotations as it's currently constituted? He looks like a four to me. And seven years?!