Rantings

General
This goes for anyone with a laptop using it in a public place. Typing loudly is really annoying to those around you. We know that those of you with comp sci backgrounds can type really, really fast. You don't need to pound the keyboard to get this point across. I'm sure you're doing some important programming (*ahem*, IMing) at Starbucks.

Media
The media in Taiwan is hardcore, in that nothing gets past them. The littlest scoop gets blown up to huge proportions because there's not that much worth reporting. And, all ~8 24-7 news stations report the same stories. The issue I have is with professional ethics... or lack thereof. The media is given access to murder scenes, hospital ERs, accident scenes, etc. For instance, today, 9/25, 3 children in Taichung got hacked (it's the term used when the assailant uses a large knife of some sort) tonight, the media was right inside the hospital filming the poor kids, all bloodied up and all, on their stretchers. Or, how bout last week when the cameramen just kept filming when the anti-Chen woman tried to drive her Red car out of the mob...and people smashed up all her windows and prevented her from leaving.


Traffic
Besides having excessive pollution, buses and scooters in Taiwan are hazardous to your health for other reasons... namely, driving recklessly.

If you want to stay alive in Taiwan, do yourself a favor and:

• Don't stand too close to the curb while waiting for the bus, because the bus might hit you with the very-long side-view mirror. I always cringe when I see the old folks standing on the edge of the curb, or even step out in the street to wave down the bus. (That brings me to another point; buses in Taiwan don't stop unless you can wave them down. It takes quite some effort to stop them sometimes. For instance, the other day I was waiting by the bus stop at night, and the bus driver didn't see me until the lsat minute. So he reluctantly changed 3 lanes over and stopped....about 3 bus lengths past the bus stop. Then, as I jogged over to the bus, the driver gassed it a bit just to make me hustle more. What a jerk!)
• Hold on to something in the bus, because drivers don't know that the brake can be used in different intervals, and not just slamming on them. Choose a space in the middle of the bus, so you reduce your chance of flying through the windshield.
• When getting off the bus, be sure to jump/step off swiftly. Any delay may cause you to be caught under the bus, as drivers like to get a headstart and begin rolling before you de-bus.
  
• Be aware that traffic rules and general logic do not apply to scooter riders. Look both ways on a one-way street, and while on any sidewalk, because they will come in any direction and at any speed to find parking.
• Don't try to cross the street when it's about to turn "walk", as many vehicles (especially buses and heavy industrial ones) like to gas it right when its about to turn red for them.

Sidewalks

• Taiwan's sidewalks are an eyesore to the city, as each storefront has rebuilt their piece of the sidewalk to their own likings. This has resulted in extremely varied sidewalk heights, colors, and materials. Further, the method of sidewalk building is just to add layers on top, instead of replacing, which results in extremely thick sidewalks (some are 2 ft. above ground level). This is a consistent theme across the island. It's easy to trip while walking, as the height differences often reach 6 inches, and it's an immediate fall-off or increase in height. I can't imagine what a wheelchaired person does.

Personal hygiene/behavior
(Before I begin, I just want to make it known that these comments apply to mainly the high-school age males of Taiwan.)

• Please start using deodorant
• Please do not pick your nose in public
• Please do not continuously scratch your head
• Please do not do the above and then smell your fingertips
• Please don't clip your nails in public (this applies to older women). Note that this occurs regularly at Starbucks.
• Please do not pass gas multiple times with no shame in an enclosed area, like the library
• Please do not take cell phone calls during a movie
• Please do not call "foul" during a basketball game when I barely touched you
• Please do not call "foul" while on defense on behalf of me, since you barely touched me