h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Monty Python, Porsche, tea (a really good cup thereof), parrots,
writing and thinking creatively, chess. What do all of these things
have in common, other than the fact that I adore them all (well, maybe
not the parrot bit...but everything else)? They're all European (well,
maybe not the parrot bit...but everything else)!

After getting my first speeding ticket this Monday, I realized that
the Autobahn makes so much sense, you could cut it with a knife. I
like to think of myself as a moderately competant driver (better than
most of the idiots on the road these days) and feel that by my merit
I do not deserve the ticket. I will not argue, I was going way over
the limit and was breaking the law, but I wasn't being dangerous, I
was in complete control of my car and was going to have to slow down
in another 500 ft. anyway, in order to pay my toll. Now I have to
drive back to Chicago, IL in August to go to court and pay my fine.

The Autobahn, for those of you who don't know, is a place where you can drive at the speed you feel in
control, and can have confidence that nearly everyone else is driving close
to the speed that they feel comfortable as well. Only on days where the
driving conditions aren't perfect, is there a speed limit posted.

Also, in America, we have the driving age and drinking age backwards
to that of Germany. In Germany, you learn the effects of drinking before
you learn to drive (which takes a very long time by their standards).
In America, you get your liscence (notice I didn't say "learn how to
drive") and then get to drink later...now tell me, does this make sense?
On your 21st birthday in America, the first thing just about everyone does
is to go out and buy some liquor and get at least a little buzzed. Now,
most people, at the age of 21 in America, get to places by driving. This
means that after having bought and drunk the liquor, that person will possibly
be put in the situation where they must drive. This will possibly be the
first time the person has experienced the full effect of alcohol.

In Germany, however, someone can get raging drunk on their 16th birthday
and walk home. The most dangerous thing that person could do would be
to ride his/her bike home and run the risk of scraping his/her knee.

This, among many other things, (some of which were listed at the top of this
entry) is the reason that I often think I belong in Europe rather than
here in the good ol' U.S. of A. Don't get me wrong, there are quite a
few things about this country that I love and wouldn't give up for a life
in Europe as well. I just wish the American gov't would pay attention
and make a little more sense sometimes.

That's my two cents (or pfennigs) for the day...hopefully there will be more
soon.