Happy New Year!

[Kotik]

Tell us you live on high ground nowhere near a nuclear plant...

Unfortunately there are not too many places in Japan that fit both these criteria Although one should keep in mind that if any people is prepared for quakes, it's the japanese, even if it didn't look like it in Fukushima.

[putaro]

Tell us you live on high ground nowhere near a nuclear plant...

Unfortunately there are not too many places in Japan that fit both these criteria Although one should keep in mind that if any people is prepared for quakes, it's the japanese, even if it didn't look like it in Fukushima.

Actually, there are plenty of places that fit that description. Just not that many people live there (I'd guess half the country is mountains). I think Fukushima was actually one of the closest nuclear power plants to Tokyo and it's about 230 km (140 miles) away. You have to put Fukushima in perspective as well - over 20,000 people died in the tsunami because they lived close to the ocean. No one has died from radiation from Fukushima (yet).

We're far enough inland and up high enough that I don't worry about tsunamis, at least getting slammed by them. Earthquakes, now earthquakes are a major worry. We're on the fourth floor in a six floor reinforced concrete building. The thing is built like a bunker but that just means that when it gets hit with something big enough it will break in a major way.

The biggest worry, though, is the breakdown in logistics that another major earthquake will bring. Tokyo had almost no damage in the Tohoku earthquake but the trains were out for a couple of days while they checked all the tracks and bridges. The grocery store shelves emptied out real quick and there was no gas to purchase for about a week (made me feel extremely stupid for having left the car almost empty). The phone system was a mess for a couple of days. If we actually have an earthquake that hits Tokyo and causes major damage I hate to think of what a mess it will be.

But, you know, there's always something. At least I don't worry about getting shot at in Tokyo when I flip someone off in the car.

[Alelou]

You flip people off in Tokyo???? That's soooo American.

(Actually, this reminds me that by far the scariest driver BY FAR I ever knew was a Japanese grad student.)

[Kotik]

You flip people off in Tokyo???? That's soooo American.

(Actually, this reminds me that by far the scariest driver BY FAR I ever knew was a Japanese grad student.)

Flipping people off is about the only thing you can do, when you waste your life away in Tokyo's enormous traffic jams. Seriously, traffic in Tokyo makes slow-motion look like a hectic activity. No wonder that Japanese go apeshit, if they see a mile of unoccupied road. Add to that, their predilection for drifting and togue races and you have the recipe for the worlds third scariest drivers. They are only beaten to it by the Indians and the Russians, although the latter are just perpetually pissed out of their skull, but that's scary enough.

The Japanese in general are a strange bunch. I only visited Japan twice, but that was enough What are you expected to think about a country, where you can buy used schoolgirl panties from vending machines

[Transwarp]

you can buy used schoolgirl panties from vending machines

Your making that up.

Right?

PLEASE be making that up...

[putaro]

you can buy used schoolgirl panties from vending machines

Your making that up.

Right?

PLEASE be making that up...

It happened. I don't think there were very many of those machines, but it did happen. Not sure if they're still around. I like the beer vending machines myself. They took them off the streets in my neighborhood but you'll still find them in hotels.

The weirdest machine I've personally seen was on of those mechanical claw type machines (like in Toy Story, you know, with the little aliens in it) with live lobsters inside. It was in the front door of an arcade near my house. I never figured out how the hell you were supposed to get the lobster home if you managed to catch one. Some dude roared up on a scooter and started pumping coins in when I was passing, so it must make sense to someone.

Oh, and there's the maid cafes in Akihabara. Some friends visiting Tokyo one time wanted to go but the wait was too long so I've never actually been in one.

I wouldn't call Japanese drivers the third scariest. They're far more polite than most Americans (except for the ones driving Mercedes) and very disciplined. Driving in Tokyo is like driving in Boston except the drivers are much nicer. Oh, and don't flip off the guys in sunglasses - they might be yakuza (my wife always encourages me to wear my sunglasses so I look more bad ass while driving).

[Kotik]

you can buy used schoolgirl panties from vending machines

Your making that up.

Right?

PLEASE be making that up...

'Fraid not We were on a business trip and our friendly hosts showed us around and the following discussion happened:

me (sees strange vending machine, the items of which display school girls flashing their panties): What's that? A porn mag vending machine?
japanese man: Oh no, that vending machine for panty. (said it without even a hint of embarrassment).
me: Pardon? Women buy their underwear from vending machines?
japanese man: No. They used. From school girl.

I refrained from asking any more questions

[Alelou]

Driving in Tokyo is like driving in Boston except the drivers are much nicer.

LOL. Believe it or not, the Japanese grad student in question and I drove to Boston together, and that's where I decided once and for all that he was The Worst Driver in the Universe.

I'll grant you that it is probably the most challenging city in the US for an outsider to drive around in, and also that Bostonians make New Yorkers look like total sweethearts.

[Silverbullet]

Thais were pretty mad drivers back when their roads weren't jamed. One could go from the top of gaysorn to new road in record time. They made the kamakazi's look pale by comparison.

Indians aren't bad drivers they just tend to mae four lanes out of a two lane road. Gets iinteresting at times.

Politest drivers in the U.S. live in Eeatlle.

SB

[justTripn]

I absolutely have to agree with Silverbullet about Thai drivers. Drivers hang a strings jasmine flowers at the front of the vehicle for good luck. That seems to be the only safety precaution.