Yeah, there are only a few places I've been where I thought I might not want to drive. One of them was the middle of London, the other was The Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Sweet zombie Jesus the Arc de Triomphe roundabout is insane. I've come to the conclusion that in Paris, pedestrian crossings are there only so the drivers know where to find you. (The horn is simply to ensure you're facing the right way for them to savour the look on your face.)

Actually, to expand that a little, in Rome it seems that the message behind honking the horn is "I am about to do something illegal and dangerous, and it would be pointless to do it without an audience." The only law anyone there seems to obey is one that (I presume) states it is illegal for one vehicle ever to be travelling behind another vehicle. In Athens, the message behind honking the horn appears to be "This car is equipped with a horn."

In Athens, the message behind honking the horn appears to be "This car is equipped with a horn."

The vast majority of the vehicles I have owned have been so old and decrepit, that they would not qualify for that one.

P-C, congrats on the raise, even if it isn't as spectacular as you had hoped.

in Rome it seems that the message behind honking the horn is "I am about to do something illegal and dangerous, and it would be pointless to do it without an audience."

So you're saying that Roman drivers are cats?

P-C, congrats on the raise, even if it isn't as spectacular as you had hoped.

On the upside, my boss—who is really my former boss now—is intent on getting me a promotion this year. Which will mean more money. (Also, it's a good incentive for me to stay, not that I was thinking of leaving this year anyway.)

Sweet Zombie Jesus, I hope most LA divers don't think they dig better than anywhere else, because most of them suck.

Billytea, please to pass the monitor cleaning tools.

Heh. I actually think LA drivers are way better than most I've encountered. Sheer volume means I see a fair amount of bad driving, but overall they're way more civil and careful--and I commute 60+ miles through the thick of it every work day!

I grew up in NJ, and I can't remember any other state being criticized for its driving skills. Sometimes we'd get annoyed at New York City people cutting across lanes on the highway.

After driving in the SW and East Coast, LA drivers are comparatively goddamned polite and orderly. My parents reached the same conclusion almost 40 years ago, when they moved from LA to Boston. After driving into work once in Boston, he decided to take the bus.

Billytea, please to pass the monitor cleaning tools.

Be sure to pay extra attention to between the toes. [link]