patrick.net

Isn’t that a Japanese high government official car? Snooze.

Something like that, but it is also populat among Japanese businessmen and mafia bosses.

I’ll take any equivalent German offering first.

I guess it is comparable to S500 and A8L. But nothing is as conservative as the Century. Sometimes I fantasize being driven in one to eat sushi. :)

hate to rent,

From my narrow survey of my friends, I'd say the chance of finding you dream woman will get better if you look amongst smart engineer and scientist types. It will probably be quite poor (though by no means impossible) if you look amongst art history majors and comparative literature majors.

What about a federal standard age of ascension for all "adult" things, which is universal. The same age for smoking, drinking, getting married, driving, voting, signing a contract, etc.

I have a problem with limiting driving to 20 but saying you can be drafted at 18. Same with drinking. It is hypocritical. You are expected to be responsible enough to defend your country but not drive to the 7-11 for a beer doesn't sit right with me. Never has.

Randy H,

I happen to think it's a terrible idea to let kids decide the rest of their lives (with 4 year army commitments) at 18. I'm all for raising the age for all adult activities (and dropping the drinking age to 20 too).

I have a problem with limiting driving to 20 but saying you can be drafted at 18. Same with drinking. It is hypocritical. You are expected to be responsible enough to defend your country but not drive to the 7-11 for a beer doesn’t sit right with me. Never has.

The problem is that teenagers lack structure and discipline. Somehow I have a feeling that teaching the concept of religion and requiring school uniforms will help.

We should encourage intellectual freedom, not behavioral freedom.

Though drafting is a little different. In that case, the kid has no choice but to be drafted.

Also, presumably a draft would only come up in times of national emergency, so the age should be determined by the nature of emergency. This is a case of sacrifice on behalf of the government, not a right or privilege like driving.

hate to rent,

Sorry to tell you this. But hotness, personality, sanity. Pick two of the three. Occasionally you can strike the trifecta jackpot, but know that the odds are against you.

Peter P said The problem is that teenagers lack structure and discipline. Somehow I have a feeling that teaching the concept of religion and requiring school uniforms will help.
I agree with you Peter. The concept of depth and a higher power would certainly help.

actually, the right one will enjoy skydiving and bungee jump

Which also means difficulties in obtaining a life insurance policy.

skydiving and bungee jumps aren't that dangerous.

For really dangerous you can't beat underwater cave exploration and BASE jumping.

The problem is that teenagers lack structure and discipline. Somehow I have a feeling that teaching the concept of religion and requiring school uniforms will help.

I agree on structure and discipline, and mostly on uniforms. I disagree on religion unless it's taught as religious theory, ethics and culture, not as dogma. I'd rather see more of a philosophy of ethics taught from all perspectives which would include religious perspectives, but also include non-religious perspectives. It would do everyone well to learn that those with differing belief systems aren't automatically the enemy. Of course, first we'd have to teach this to the parents and teachers.

The concept of depth and a higher power would certainly help.

Absolutely. Never let a teenager believe that he is invincible. I am not ver religious but I have to say that understaning the concept of a higher being is essential.

Linda,

Yeah, religion might help. But what happens if I'm atheist. And I am.

Japanese mafia (yakuza) all ride on white, Mercedez S class. Remember, white, S class, if you run into one of those in Japan, bow and keep low.

I disagree on religion unless it’s taught as religious theory, ethics and culture, not as dogma.

Of course. Students should be presented with various religious concepts. I am not against preaching but religion should not be forced upon the people.

I’d rather see more of a philosophy of ethics taught from all perspectives which would include religious perspectives, but also include non-religious perspectives.

It is a good idea too. I agree.

hate to rent,

I tried to help you (with my earlier post), but the only near helpful thing that solicited was Different Sean's declaration that he was good looking and got an offer from a rich woman once.

Japanese mafia (yakuza) all ride on white, Mercedez S class. Remember, white, S class, if you run into one of those in Japan, bow and keep low.

I heard that white Audi A8 is very popular amongst neo-nazis. Any truth?

hate to rent,

I hope this isn't too nosy, but what part of Asia does your family come from?

Why can't we have the good ole girl's school boy's school and school uniform? I went to a boy's school all the way including boarding school, it was a great experience, you don't get distracted too early this way. I didn't go on my first date until college, and never had a problem getting a date ever since. Of course you thought about girls 3 times an hour, but they weren't available on campus or dorm so you just needed to channel your extra energy into something more productive.

High school dating is overrated.

Owneroccupier,

You're a gem of information about East Asia!

Yeah, religion might help. But what happens if I’m atheist. And I am.

Atheism has a place in many religions. Buddhism is one of them.

I went to a high school with a 4:1 female to male ratio (yeah, you guys totally got screwed) and most girls never dated.

Peter P,

Took a Buddhism class in college. Got so sick of the logical inconsistency of the theory that I dropped out midway.

Why can’t we have the good ole girl’s school boy’s school and school uniform?

Exactly. However, dating cannot be stopped. Willing participants will still find a way... after school. What needs to be taught is responsibility.

hate to rent,

Can't give you any advice about Vietnamese dating scene. I had a pretty good friend who is Vietnamese, but she's not what you'd call a looker.

Well, I went to a Catholic boy's school all the way till college. You do your bible studies and the school pretty much leaves you alone on everything else. Many classmates of mine, myself included, came out atheist. It is just a disciplinary thing, there are very strict codes of behavior, and in a way, necessary for kids.

However, the unintended side-effect is, some of my classmates became gay, not that there is anything wrong with it.

Peter P,

If I have kids I will either home school them or pack them off to boarding school when they turn 12.

Got so sick of the logical inconsistency of the theory that I dropped out midway.

I used to hate eastern philosophy because of the apparent logical inconsistency. My wife (then girlfriend) called me Spock and my college roommate called me Data. Now, I look at things rather differently. :)

If I have kids I will either home school them or pack them off to boarding school when they turn 12.

Neither is cheap.

However, the unintended side-effect is, some of my classmates became gay, not that there is anything wrong with it.

Huh?

"Neither is cheap."

I know, that's why I probably won't have kids.

I find that atheist are the type of people that are more likely do do the work of god. they are humanist.

True. Open-minded atheists with the sense of morality will serve humanity very well. Dogmatic atheists may not do much good.

Don't send your kid to boarding school too early. It is an entirely different beast from the usual school system.

Boarding school is like a mafia organization. The seniors bully the juniors, and since you live together in the same dorm (more beds per room compared to college), you end up being bullied 24 x7 until you become a senior yourself. Some boys may not take it so well and it may leave a scar with them in the future. Also, there is no privacy at all, not much space for self-development, because everyone spies on everyone. If you get along with your dorm mates, they will be your best friends ever throughout your life. If you don't get along with them, that will make your life a living hell.

I never got interested enough in Western religion to study it directly. However, I still manage to know more Catholic lore than my Catholic boyfriend.

hate to rent,

that's what the gay propaganda tells you. NO!

One can turn gay if put in a certain type of environment. I have quite a few Catholic gay friends, and I can tell you it is NOT entirely genetic.

really, i find that both eastern an d western philosophy are equally inconsistency.

I used to be fascinated with the philosophy of logic. I have to say that the methodologies of contemporary western philosophy tend to be logically consistent.

But logic is not everything.

Owneroccupier,

Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind when and if my kids get to that age. I know a few people who went to pretty good boarding school and they seem to be okay (okay, one is bat shit crazy, but I think that's her and not her boarding school's doing).

astrid,

I am talking about boys-only or girls-only boarding school, never went through a co-ed, so the co-ed situation may be entirely different. Also, the British system is a tad bit different from the American one.

you can not teach someone to be gay, it is genetic….

Not necessarily genetic, buy innate.

One can turn gay if put in a certain type of environment. I have quite a few Catholic gay friends, and I can tell you it is NOT entirely genetic.

It is all in the stars.

There is a gay phase in adolescnce for all guys, most of us grow past that, some of us get stuck there. Sexual orientation is not entirely a natural-born thing, it is also influenced strongly by your early sexual experience and sexual partner.

A boy's school is more conducive to homosexual experience for boys who are eager to explore their bodies, let me just leave it at that.