I was amazed when I went to Japan two weeks ago, just how many cars had TVs/LCD navigation systems and the like. My Fiancée's parents owned a 10 year old Toyota sedan and it had a 6" TV (although reception came and went), power everything, including rear seat recliners w/ vibrating massagers, a separate cassette deck in the rear seats, with seperate AC heat CD controls, etc...
All of this was original to when they bought the car in 1993. I'm not sure what other features it had but I can imagine they take all the electronics to a similar "next level". These things would probably not be a good idea for your average US driver. But as far as I could tell the Japanese drove amazingly well. You have to realize how much harder it is to drive in Japan in the first place (at least in the urban areas I visited) The hords of lil' cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, busses, trains, and shool children and lil' ol ladys on thier way to the market, all fighting for position. Sure I saw a couple fender benders and one more serious accident, but the number of people using the streets has to be huge!
I think driving is taken much more seriously in most other parts of the world.
We feel it is our right to drive, and when we're 16 damn it!
I think you should have to beable to pass some sort of erratic manuver simulation test before you get a licence. Just to see what the person does when they are facing the unexpected.
Jevfro,
out
Had an exroomate and close friend who has crossed into this arena. He's brilliant, creative, and all in all a good guy but I don't let him in the house anymore because he's highly unstable.
The problem is no matter what you do you can't force them to deal with it. He was forcefully commited a total of three or four times and knows the system (they can only hold you 48hrs, etc). It was when he started comiting crimes (fraud, gta, etc.) I really got tired of his use of his condition, but total lack of any attempt to get real help, to do whatever he wanted and have since tried to avoid him.
My advice is to try and help be patient but don't get hurt or ripped of in the process, even though it is a family member. My friend was as close as family to me as anyone and tried numerous occasions, wether it was giving him a place to live or feeding and clothing him I went a long way because I wanted to see the old friend I missed so much. Hate to asay it but I'm not sure he's coming back.
It's a sad world. this appears to be widespread and in my opinion growing rapidly due to... (what else but the ultimate scapegoat) socity and it's reaction to the evermore persuasive mass media.
idunno it baffles me.
Jevfro
Slashdot Mirror
I was amazed when I went to Japan two weeks ago, just how many cars had TVs/LCD navigation systems and the like. My Fiancée's parents owned a 10 year old Toyota sedan and it had a 6" TV (although reception came and went), power everything, including rear seat recliners w/ vibrating massagers, a separate cassette deck in the rear seats, with seperate AC heat CD controls, etc... All of this was original to when they bought the car in 1993. I'm not sure what other features it had but I can imagine they take all the electronics to a similar "next level". These things would probably not be a good idea for your average US driver. But as far as I could tell the Japanese drove amazingly well. You have to realize how much harder it is to drive in Japan in the first place (at least in the urban areas I visited) The hords of lil' cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, busses, trains, and shool children and lil' ol ladys on thier way to the market, all fighting for position. Sure I saw a couple fender benders and one more serious accident, but the number of people using the streets has to be huge! I think driving is taken much more seriously in most other parts of the world. We feel it is our right to drive, and when we're 16 damn it! I think you should have to beable to pass some sort of erratic manuver simulation test before you get a licence. Just to see what the person does when they are facing the unexpected. Jevfro, out
Had an exroomate and close friend who has crossed into this arena. He's brilliant, creative, and all in all a good guy but I don't let him in the house anymore because he's highly unstable. The problem is no matter what you do you can't force them to deal with it. He was forcefully commited a total of three or four times and knows the system (they can only hold you 48hrs, etc). It was when he started comiting crimes (fraud, gta, etc.) I really got tired of his use of his condition, but total lack of any attempt to get real help, to do whatever he wanted and have since tried to avoid him. My advice is to try and help be patient but don't get hurt or ripped of in the process, even though it is a family member. My friend was as close as family to me as anyone and tried numerous occasions, wether it was giving him a place to live or feeding and clothing him I went a long way because I wanted to see the old friend I missed so much. Hate to asay it but I'm not sure he's coming back. It's a sad world. this appears to be widespread and in my opinion growing rapidly due to... (what else but the ultimate scapegoat) socity and it's reaction to the evermore persuasive mass media. idunno it baffles me. Jevfro
These three couldn't have made much but have to be the best flicks I've ever stumbled upon.