Comments on: Nova Protests, or lack thereof (+ Nova Strike Info), and Krispy Kreme vs. Burger King http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:14:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-409118 Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:41:00 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-409118 Speaking of Nova and food and causes. Please <a href="http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/18/idubor-big-ys-cafe-yokohama-false-imprisonment/" rel="nofollow">join us at Big Ys Cafe in Yokohama Motomachi tomorrow (Saturday) night</a> to drink and, in the process, contribute to the financial well-being and legal defense of <a href="http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/04/idubor-rape-case-false-imprisonment/" rel="nofollow">Mr. Osayuwamen Idubor</a>. I know that Nova teachers were not paid today, but I also know that a lot of them are going to go out on Saturday night. If you're a Nova employee going through this surreal experience, come out and join us - help up out a man who's the "it could be worse" in your story. All you have to do is imbibe and talk (if you feel like it.) Thanks. We hope to see each and every one of our readers there. Speaking of Nova and food and causes.

Please join us at Big Ys Cafe in Yokohama Motomachi tomorrow (Saturday) night to drink and, in the process, contribute to the financial well-being and legal defense of Mr. Osayuwamen Idubor.

I know that Nova teachers were not paid today, but I also know that a lot of them are going to go out on Saturday night. If you’re a Nova employee going through this surreal experience, come out and join us - help up out a man who’s the “it could be worse” in your story. All you have to do is imbibe and talk (if you feel like it.)

Thanks. We hope to see each and every one of our readers there.

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402803 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:44:37 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402803 A very good point. I've been to First Kitchen only once. I guess I'd suppressed the memory. I'll put that at 428. It's bad. A very good point. I’ve been to First Kitchen only once. I guess I’d suppressed the memory. I’ll put that at 428. It’s bad.

]]> by: berihebi http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402715 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:55:39 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402715 First Kitchen would give Lotteria a run for their money as the worst. However,the wonderful and unlimited condiments selection is a strong point. First Kitchen would give Lotteria a run for their money as the worst. However,the wonderful and unlimited condiments selection is a strong point.

]]> by: Mike P http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402703 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:50:39 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402703 MOS is bond! 1. MOS Green 2. Regular red MOS 3. Freshness 4. Burger King 5. Lotteria 6. Wendy' I don't know your #1 and 2, and have never had Becker's (is that the same as Beck's?) But I'm sure they're all better than.... 427. McDonald's MOS is bond!

1. MOS Green
2. Regular red MOS
3. Freshness
4. Burger King
5. Lotteria
6. Wendy’
I don’t know your #1 and 2, and have never had Becker’s (is that the same as Beck’s?) But I’m sure they’re all better than….

427. McDonald’s

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402456 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:54:29 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402456 OK, I'm inspired (and hungry.) My loose overall ranking of predominantly burder-serving chains in the greater Tokyo area (omitting those at which I haven't eaten or don't know): 1. Kua'Aina 2. Zats Burger 3. Freshness Burger 4. Becker's 5. Wendy's 6. Burger King 7. McDonald's 8. MOS Burger 427. Lotteria OK, I’m inspired (and hungry.) My loose overall ranking of predominantly burder-serving chains in the greater Tokyo area (omitting those at which I haven’t eaten or don’t know):

1. Kua’Aina
2. Zats Burger
3. Freshness Burger
4. Becker’s
5. Wendy’s
6. Burger King
7. McDonald’s
8. MOS Burger
427. Lotteria

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402380 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:23:18 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-402380 Berihebi, I'd say Nova employees are already feeling the effects of Nova's collapse, which is, unfortunately, no longer an "If," but a "When." I'm not sure I agree that Nova instructors have had an unusually strong desire to see their employer go under, though. I see a lot of comments in forums and on blogs expressing optimism, even now, when that optimism is bordering on idiocy. People disliking management and wishing for the company's collapse are two different things. I think young people working in any service industry would show a certain schadenfreude at the collapse of their companies. This feeling mightbe a bit strongerin the eikaiwa industry, but I don't see much that makes me think Nova is an outlier there, other than its size, which doesn't mean the feeling sronger, just more noticeable. Becker's, eh? That was my first favorite in Japan. I don't know whether to be worried or impressed that JR East makes a decent fast food burger. Berihebi, I’d say Nova employees are already feeling the effects of Nova’s collapse, which is, unfortunately, no longer an “If,” but a “When.” I’m not sure I agree that Nova instructors have had an unusually strong desire to see their employer go under, though. I see a lot of comments in forums and on blogs expressing optimism, even now, when that optimism is bordering on idiocy. People disliking management and wishing for the company’s collapse are two different things.

I think young people working in any service industry would show a certain schadenfreude at the collapse of their companies. This feeling mightbe a bit strongerin the eikaiwa industry, but I don’t see much that makes me think Nova is an outlier there, other than its size, which doesn’t mean the feeling sronger, just more noticeable.

Becker’s, eh? That was my first favorite in Japan. I don’t know whether to be worried or impressed that JR East makes a decent fast food burger.

]]> by: berihebi http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-401827 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 22:54:50 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-401827 The forums are and have always been an unusual place in terms of Nova comment and opinions. It seems that ever since Nova became the major player in the Eikaiwa market in the early to mid-nineties, everyone including even Nova instructors have been wishing for it to fall over - despite their financial dependance on it. I can't think of any other service provider that has been thought so little of by it's employees and it's kind of amazing that Nova has lasted this long and been as successful in that type of environment. This is all reflected in forum comment. The old saying to be careful what you wish for applies here as the current group of Nova teachers, staff and students will unfortunately be the ones to bare the effects of a Nova collapse that has been looked forward to by many thousands since about 1994. Personally, I like Becker's burgers myself - good bread. The forums are and have always been an unusual place in terms of Nova comment and opinions. It seems that ever since Nova became the major player in the Eikaiwa market in the early to mid-nineties, everyone including even Nova instructors have been wishing for it to fall over - despite their financial dependance on it. I can’t think of any other service provider that has been thought so little of by it’s employees and it’s kind of amazing that Nova has lasted this long and been as successful in that type of environment.
This is all reflected in forum comment. The old saying to be careful what you wish for applies here as the current group of Nova teachers, staff and students will unfortunately be the ones to bare the effects of a Nova collapse that has been looked forward to by many thousands since about 1994.
Personally, I like Becker’s burgers myself - good bread.

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400469 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:23:07 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400469 Haha. Of all the things I've ever written, I never expected my preference for Burger King over MOS would draw comments or criticism. I'll bite, though. Shawn, agreed. It's crap, but I eat a lot of junk. From BK to Matsuya to potato chips to cheap kaiten-zushi to Snickers bars and niku-man, I eat them all. Some garbage is better than others. (For the record, I don't got to Krispy Kreme on the grounds that waiting over an hour for a dozen doughnuts makes one not unhealthy, but dumb and unhealthy.) AS for the forums, I don't deny that useful information comes up in them (and I don't mean to single a certain unnamed forum out.) I must say, though, that I'm inclined to agree with Pride (although I would have put it a bit less forcefully.) I don't think it's at all accurate to say that all the real information comes from the forums or blog comments at all. The most crucial information has been accurate financial info and that has come almost exclusively from the mainstream press and (to self-promote) Ken's analysis. This is not to belittle the role of forums and blogs in general, though. There is a wealth of info in forums - and that is often where one hears things first. The trouble is, though, that you have to wade through a whole lot of Burger King and Krispy Kreme to get to the O-toro or steak. This can be off-putting. I have a pseudo-theory about this, but it'd take up too much space here. Haha. Of all the things I’ve ever written, I never expected my preference for Burger King over MOS would draw comments or criticism. I’ll bite, though. Shawn, agreed. It’s crap, but I eat a lot of junk. From BK to Matsuya to potato chips to cheap kaiten-zushi to Snickers bars and niku-man, I eat them all. Some garbage is better than others. (For the record, I don’t got to Krispy Kreme on the grounds that waiting over an hour for a dozen doughnuts makes one not unhealthy, but dumb and unhealthy.)

AS for the forums, I don’t deny that useful information comes up in them (and I don’t mean to single a certain unnamed forum out.) I must say, though, that I’m inclined to agree with Pride (although I would have put it a bit less forcefully.) I don’t think it’s at all accurate to say that all the real information comes from the forums or blog comments at all. The most crucial information has been accurate financial info and that has come almost exclusively from the mainstream press and (to self-promote) Ken’s analysis.

This is not to belittle the role of forums and blogs in general, though. There is a wealth of info in forums - and that is often where one hears things first. The trouble is, though, that you have to wade through a whole lot of Burger King and Krispy Kreme to get to the O-toro or steak. This can be off-putting.
I have a pseudo-theory about this, but it’d take up too much space here.

]]> by: Pride http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400294 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:06:04 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400294 <blockquote>I wouldn’t be so dismissive of the signal to noise ratio of the (unnamed) forums. That’s where all of the real information on the Nova fiasco has be coming from.</blockquote> What's <em>real</em> info? Dozens of comments calling each other faggots and false rumors of cash injections? Too much chaff makes the wheat so ahrd to find that it's useless. And, DeOrio, MOS Burger rocks, but I wouldn't expect a fan of McDonald's-like crap to recognize a good burger. KK fans are better at getting together for donuts than Nova employees are to fight for their own rights. Sad.

I wouldn’t be so dismissive of the signal to noise ratio of the (unnamed) forums. That’s where all of the real information on the Nova fiasco has be coming from.

What’s real info? Dozens of comments calling each other faggots and false rumors of cash injections? Too much chaff makes the wheat so ahrd to find that it’s useless.

And, DeOrio, MOS Burger rocks, but I wouldn’t expect a fan of McDonald’s-like crap to recognize a good burger.

KK fans are better at getting together for donuts than Nova employees are to fight for their own rights. Sad.

]]> by: Quiva Blog http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400270 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 02:59:57 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/10/15/nova-protests-or-lack-thereof-and-krispy-kreme-vs-burger-king/#comment-400270 <strong>Krispy Kreme...</strong> Just when you thought it was insane to queue for hours and hours to buy doughnuts, how about queuing for hours to buy doughnuts then lugging six boxes of them for five hours on the train up to Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture?! On a recent visit to said ... Krispy Kreme…

Just when you thought it was insane to queue for hours and hours to buy doughnuts, how about queuing for hours to buy doughnuts then lugging six boxes of them for five hours on the train up to Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture?! On a recent visit to said …

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