They started issuing them with chips a couple years ago. Most should have been replaced by now.

But yes, this was a slight issue when traveling in previous times. Glad the US finally caught up.

Many were asking the question when the news came out prior to the fires. In terms of actual management, I'd rather leave that to the city's experts. As long as the city didn't pay for it (which was the assumption), then I'm ok with it. Otherwise, I'd rather she spend her time here trying to fix domestic issues.

I think it's one of those issues where both sides of the aisle could agree except for the right-wing side turned it into this weird DEI stuff.

Sponsored content. Have come across my company doing the same. There are no to few rules about labeling as such.

Curious about the issues you're having with rolling stock. Given Germany's industrial prowess, I would've thought that that wouldn't be an issue to manufacture, either for domestic use or export.

For startups, building up the financing for buying rolling stock is very difficult. There’s currently very little available on the rental market.

It’s difficult to just do a startup on general in this space (it’s sustainable mobility, but involves hardware, an old industry, old tech).

The state railways can afford rolling stock, but it’s extensive and takes a long time. They are not too innovative either, so may not solve the economics issues with new approaches, because they are too conservative.

Ah, I had interpreted your statements as an issue of manufacture and availability, not financing.

As to finance, it does suck that we throw billions at economically, socially, and/or globally destructive, unprofitable startups and yet something that is a net good for society and environment can't get that funding. I guess that's where government steps in or private/public partnerships.

Good luck though!

>I wouldn't be surprised if New York passes new gun control laws because of this shooting; I wouldn't be surprised if there's a congresscritter or White House Staffer or judge who's assassinated in the next several years causing some kind of martial law situation. It's scary times we live in right now.

This is most likely going to happen with an incoming authoritarian gov't anyway.

Do recall that one Congress critter, that is very pro-gun was shot at a baseball game, survived, and still stood against gun legislation. We'll see if things change if the wind shifts and more rich people (the Congresscritters' owners) are targeted.

>Laws and rules only matter so long as we're all willing to believe they do.

And everyone has seen it thrown in our faces for a year or so now what the blatant two-tiered system looks like. On a longer time scale if you want to count the lack of consequences for those behind an attempted coup in 2021 and a recession that harmed millions of lives in 2008.

If the government won't hold people accountable, and people are pushed to their ends, then things like this can happen. As OP stated, thankfully, it doesn't happen as often as one would think given our society. It does take a lot to murder someone else.

When the government doesn't represent people any more, it's natural for people to represent themselves.

And who feels represented by their government these days?

>Likewise I see tons of yanks complaining about Disney+ not carrying Alien Romulus, when outside of the US its on the app. All self imposed considering Disney owns a large amount of Hulu but is beefing with the remaining shareholders IIRC.

That's odd. Disney+ (with ads) is $10/mo on its own. $11/mo for the bundle of D+/Hulu (with ads). Alien: Romulus is on Hulu right now.

And Tokyo does have highways and large streets, they just aren't in constant gridlock because people have other options (not to mention many other factors at play in Japanese car-ownership).

Tokyo was so relaxing. Greater Tokyo has the same population as the entire state of CA and yet was so quiet.

>nothing drives those things so much as showing outrageous behavior

Visiting my parents and having to watch linear tv made this more apparent than anything. MTV seems to just have a show on repeat for hours called "Ridiculousness". The commercials blare (and were split between political ads and random drugs for obscure conditions) and the 'news' channels have bright colors and everyone yelling at each other.

I'm American and I grew up with many perfectly nice people (including family) that have held morally repugnant beliefs. Same for people in many other countries. Only exception are cab drivers - they get talkative quickly with no filter. I think the US is veering in the direction. People are complex. It's only when you get to know them beyond superficial conversations / introductions that this becomes apparent.