Humidifier

Well, if you don't like driving then you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. You're right about the people on the roads in Japan. Many of them are fucking idiots and have no common sense or even know the rules of the road. Pedestrians are just as bad.

I love driving but I also love to get out on the bike every now and then. The only problem with living where I do are the hills. Far too many. Saying that there are some fantastic bike routs in the country areas which I like to do on a spring afternoon.

Yakumo

 

You said it, bro! That's why I don't. Sucked when I lived in America for 2 years as I have the smartest father-in-law in the world: he allowed his son to learn how to drive but not his two older daughters.

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Western_Hemisphere_LamAz.png

Just barely in the West, but not Greece. And geologically speaking Europe is part of Asia...

I'm fortunate to live where it's moist during the winter due to rains and dry in the summer due to lack of rain, more or less. Rather comfortable year round with a few days of utter hell.

 

I am not from Greece, I generally live a nomadic existance fliting between place to place, next year I will be in Greece, Japan, India, America (Oregon, Illinois, New York and probably somewhere else).

But when people say the west they tend to mean the US, Canada and the EU and if you add Western Culture then technically you can add Australia and New Zealand to the mix...

 

When living in Asia (and likely other places), a "westerner" is the politically correct way to say a person from a predominately white country (but usually not Russia) or even white person in some cases.

 

While I can't speak for driving/living in japan..

I got to say I loved when I went from living in southern California to Montreal/Toronto. I don't have the need to own a car up here to do anything. It's great for just randomly going out and doing something. Ever since moving to toronto I go as far as walking to/from work every day which is 45mins. Just grab a coffee on the way and listen to some music/podcast and i'm all set.

 

I hate driving as well - I just dont like how much you have to concentrate and be on edge all the time to prevent your vehicle being crushed.

However I think a lot of this stems from living in cities and the danger is just everywhere.
I can understand the appeal of the freedom to go wherever and whenever though and on a long picturesque road that has absolutely no other traffic on it riding a motorbike is quite a nice feeling especially if its warm and you have picturesque scenery.

Otherwise I dont like driving..

 

You see, it's a good thing that you don't drive. Anyone who thinks they have to concentrate a lot shouldn't be driving in the first place. Sure, you have to pay attention but it's no different that riding a bike. A driver should be relaxed, know what's coming up and be able to look ahead as well as around themselves without thinking about it. Basically some people are cut out for it while others aren't. Unfortunately there are many asshats on the road that plain shouldn't be there.

 

I'd much rather have people like Legion driving around, people who're making the effort to concentrate, rather than the dozy buggers that seem to populate the roads whenever I drive.

A lot of the time it's the elderly, some are just too old to be driving. I know I'm young, so it's kind of mean, but honestly... I had an old dear reverse practically into me in a car park just the other week (had to use the horn and reverse myself), I was in plain view in the middle of the road about 10 metres behind, the only explanation is that she was reversing without looking behind, and I still don't know why.

Not sure what the answer is, mandatory re-tests at 60 and every 10 years after that, maybe. I'm sure I'll have a different opinion when I'm 60.

 

Already being done in Italy, and probably it is done in some other European countries as well, FYI.

 

"Basically some people are cut out for it while others aren't."

Yep you are probably right!
I don't think I am cut out for it ^_^
My ex used to drive me about and I used to just sleep in the passenger side mmmm zzzz

 

I think you can be relaxed, but concentrate. You have to be alert and conscious of what is going on around you and that requires concentration on the driving at hand. I think I know what you mean though. To be tense behind the wheel is dangerous.

 

Yes, that's what I meant :nod:

 

Man it's dry here! Never been here in the winter and it really is something else! I'm going to get a humidifier for our new apartment ASAP!

 

Hand lotion... before it's too late.

 

I bought a cheap 4000 yen variety at Village Vanguard.
There are 2 Village Vanguards in Shinjuku in Lumine building.
One in the Lumine EST and one in Lumine 2.
The one I have is a 'Shizuku' brand which has aroma tray for nice smelling rooms, and a dial to set the quantity of steam it pumps out from a little tocrap loads so it would cover a large room.
Unfortunately it has a light on it that I cannot turn off, its a cool blue light and not blinding but it would have been nice to have the option to turn it off.

Its a decent size too but my flatmat has a small teardrop one costing about 5000 yen which does the same thing except without the dial to set the amount of water released but it pumps out a solid amount, and without the light (good thing).

 

Black electrical tape is your friend...