I might be wrong, but I get the impression that in the US as rail travel decreased in favour of air travel, more freight went on the main lines, slowing passenger trains down.

I can only speak for myself but I have a job I enjoy going to. And I know that if I did not have that job I’d just sit at home and be unhappy.

After some time living in the East Asia, hearing that 88 is verboten seems quite weird to me. In Chinese culture, the number 8 is lucky and double numbers are lucky. So 88 is very lucky.

That’s why the film is so imminently spoilable

Hence the section of the article about the difference between people who have the time and resources and “normal people”.

For me, it’s all about finding forms of exercise that I want to do.

Santa’s sleigh isn’t pulled by either elks or moose. It is pulled by reindeer (AKA caribou).

Again, it is a regional language difference. Alces Alces is called “moose” in American English and “elk” in British English. Same animal.

Haha. Love the pic.

Gunfire and crazy moose. That brings back memories. There’s a big military exercise area on the Swedish island of Utö. Before our first outing there we were told to stay away from any moose we see because they’ve gone a little nuts what with all the tank gun, howitzer and small arms fire over several decades. Plus all…

From what I can tell, a train makes more sense than an airplane only in some very specific circumstances: if you’re a broke last-minute traveler, or perhaps an easily-distracted writer, or an air-travel phobiac, or someone who fetishizes a general and vague sense of grimy utility, then maybe, just maybe, the train…

You are correct. The 31000 square meter “Kowloon Walled City Park” was built. Very nice indeed, even though it doesn’t feel nearly as full of “nature” as Hyde Park or Central Park.

While parts of Kowloon are definitely pretty astounding like that, about two thirds of the territory is national park, so we have massive swathes of greenery as well.

1. It’s vaguely historically inspired fantasy, not historical fiction.
2. European Middle Ages are not representative of the entire planet.

True, but then to be fair, many game designers already do that.

Word. I fly the plane and I’m not nearly as terrified of surfaces on the aircraft as many passengers. Yes, you can get sick, but on the whole aircraft are no dirtier than buses, taxis, trains... “Transmission” is not the same as becoming sick. I’m not saying you can lick tray tables with impunity (please don’t) but I…

Word. There’s no need to go “full pilot’s license” but no test at all just seems... unwise.

Doesn’t it stop at drive if you’ve let go of the release button before reaching the D position? I thought that was the default for all automatic shifters.

As something of an aerosexual, I heart this... Loving the spaciousness.

All true. But it works the same in the other direction, as in very similar to the US ESTA system. I don’t need a visa to enter the US, but I need an ESTA pre-approval.