first, its hard to wish for what others have, when we have almost everything they have, and either more common, or cheaper.. so it will be a tough question for us in the USA to answer jeff..

secondly, have you checked our railway systems lately? they are decrepit, and sadly in need of repair, mostly cause as public transports, they are used by way to few of our population.. our non-public trains are massive though.. coal trains run past here daily.

lastly, it is my understanding that broadband in the USA, is purely subject to the modems used.. the same line that gives my 1.5 could give me 5 Mbps.. so i wish for and modems someone may have in whatever country has 5 Mbps DSL

Has this anything to do with your course, Jeff?

We need more igloos. Or talking Japanese toilets. More sun, too!!

i almost wet myself for real when i read this, i know you may have meant it seriously, but it was so funny..

my apologies for laughing at your hardships..

you go to holland to buy one product? that's commitment that is.. unless - Holland? Does one have an "alterior motive" as it were, possibly beginning with A and ending in msterdam.

Mmm, that's what I'd like in the UK. Green coffee shops!

Quote - Orph

"i wish, we had more realisticly enforced laws on our roadways." -

that's just it, in Britain we've plastered the country in signs and speed cameras and still there is no visible large reduction in accidents.

According to a news article the other day that I heard, there was a new scheme (from mainland Europe) whereby the authorities minimised the road markings/signs/lights etc to a bare minimum - and noticed a massive drop in accidents. All because the drivers supposedly are forced to concentrate on the road more as well.

An interesting idea IMO, and I thought it might interest you Orph with your background and concerns over the topic

Compulsory annual/bi-annual re-testing for drivers over a certain age limit. Despite the claims that "young people drive like maniacs", many of the older people on the roads are just... dangerous I think this is practiced in a couple of European countries again, but seems to make a lot of sense to me.

And god knows what the driving fixation is with me today, I can't even afford a car let alone drive one

*me goes scouring leftist paradise like countries for stealable policies*

i think the compulsory testing idea would work, but not for age, instead for proven recklessness. this would encompass all ages, and focus on the issue.. if you have an accident, no matter how trivial, you are under a years probation, a second accident and you lose your driving privilege for a certain time frame. people drive so reckless because they have been allowed to do it for so long.. everyone tailgates now, many actually push their way into traffic.. age or gender doesn't seem to be to much of a factor in my observations.

owning a phone and using it while driving has become so commonplace that its bordering on vogue if you do it, a status symbol if you will... i actually get verbally abused for mentioning the risk of it all.. everything from "mind your own business" to "f**k-you asshole, who do you think you are?"

i see so many weaving and bobbing along in traffic, its scares me to almost quitting my job.. i just know that statistically speaking, the person whom causes the accident, rarely gets killed. its the innocent other that usually does.. THAT WOULD BE ME!

almost as bad are those, so concerned with their next call that they actually carry the damned thing around.. JUST IN CASE .. these dumb-f**ks are so obsessed with their phones, they cant put them down..

then you have the inconsiderate whom talk on the phone while s**tting.. who has conversations in the bathroom??? .. its almost as bad in the restaurants.. a very loud phone disturbs your privacy, then the asswipe with some booming, or whinny voice insists on continuing the conversation in spite of the dozens of dirty looks telling him silently to desist..

recently i noticed a trend toward automobile DVD players.. the new dual screen is very convenient when placed upon your sun visors ..

as i said, if the law enforcement people would actually enforce...

fines do not seem to influence the issue, so revoking driving privileges is a must.. many people forget that driving is NOT A RIGHT, and can be revoked at any time..

/me pants from mental outrages..

i think i need a breather after this post