Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Xyz Yoshi!" Right? ;) (Yoshi = good/clear)
I remember a lot more 作動開始/作動確認！ than よし but it has been a while.
Ohh Kakunin! Brings me back!
Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
101–110 of 334 posts
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#102Six Flags Magic Mountain does this before launching a roller coaster. An operator announces "Visual Scan", points their hand at one end of the cars, and sweeps it along to the other.
Yeah, theme parks are where I've seen this too
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#103I noticed the problem on myself on several occasions and kind of invented the same solution. For example, sometimes I would take a medicament mechanically while doing something else and just a few minutes later, forget if I took it or not. Solution: say loud to myself "I'm taking a pill". Another: sometimes I'd lend some amount money to a colleague, and a few weeks later I'd have a hard time figuring whether they gav…
Ah, yes. The old upside-down-tomato-sauce-can-next-to-the-door-to-remember-my-umbrella trick. That's always been a classic. The first couple of times I tried it, it didn't work very well. I was trying to leave in the morning, and I tripped over the can, and I was all, "Who the fuck put a can of tomatoes in front of the door?" And I kicked it out of the way and left without my umbrella. Then I realized I wasn't going…
I am reminded of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSRaDHXydzU
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#104I think I'd go insane if that was my job. It seems so utterly dehumanizing to have a human do that job every day. I don't mean just the pointing but the standing and doing things that surely computers and cameras could easily do.
Wow, my reaction is exactly the opposite. Good on the Japanese railways for employing intelligent and responsible adults to care for everyone's safety instead of cheaping out with cameras and computers. These are solid, respectable jobs, and it means there will always be competent people around to help when things go awry.
Is it really "cheaping out" when you computerize a system. CBTC systems cost in the billions, and as such NYC's subway is almost entirely running on 1930's relays. It's a solid system, but it requires the drivers to be on point 24/7. Very little pieces of the system enforce speed limits, as this has to be done mechanically with trip cocks, and while trip cocks will often pull the brakes if a driver runs a red signal, there's usually nothing that prevents the driver from going the wrong way on a one way track [1][2].
But ignoring that, computerizing the system can lead to better headways. Right now most systems, and almost all of the NYC subway, use a fixed block system to enforce braking distances. That means it doesn't matter if a train is 1001ft away or 1999ft away, the following train can't enter the next block until the train completely clears it. It's a safe system, but it means trains can bunch up in a stop and go pattern. Modern computerized systems can behave essentially like our self-driving car dream, where they match their speed safely to the train in from and keep the breaking distance block moving. For people in the Bay Area, BART uses fixed-block signaling (but is actually computerized), and Muni uses moving-block signaling. The difference is especially notable on the BART, which tends to speed up and slam on the brakes when there's train traffic ahead.
Also, it's federally mandated that we computerize trains, anyway, [3] mostly because of incidents like the Metrolink collision.
[1] http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/25/mta-a-train-operator-...
[2] http://nypost.com/2015/04/06/rookie-subway-operator-reversed...
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
Same. I have a "keys-wallet-phone-pad" routine in which I make sure my pockets contain all of: my keys, my wallet, my cell phone, and the 7-inch tablet that I carry everywhere. I've gotten into the habit of doing it every time I get up if I'm not at home or at my desk at work.
spectacles testicles wallet & watch (originally a joke about the sign of the cross, but it's how I remember everything when I leave and also some fun blasphemy for the whole family)
If anything a bit of blasphemy is going to make it even more memorable, so it is a good strategy!
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#106Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#107I noticed the problem on myself on several occasions and kind of invented the same solution. For example, sometimes I would take a medicament mechanically while doing something else and just a few minutes later, forget if I took it or not. Solution: say loud to myself "I'm taking a pill". Another: sometimes I'd lend some amount money to a colleague, and a few weeks later I'd have a hard time figuring whether they gav…
I confirm those "out of place object" reminders work great!
I prefer to leave/drop everything I need in front of the door.
This way, even if I'm in a hurry, the door just won't open without picking up whatever item(s) it is that I need to take with me (paperwork, umbrella, notepad, etc.)
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#108This is news? They do this on the subways in New York and Toronto too.
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#109Don't they do this pointing on the NYC subway system too?
Re: Why Japan’s Rail Workers Point at Things
#110I have a strict rule that I must touch my keys before closing the front door, because I discovered the keys in my memory don't open the door as well as the keys in my pocket.
Same. I have a "keys-wallet-phone-pad" routine in which I make sure my pockets contain all of: my keys, my wallet, my cell phone, and the 7-inch tablet that I carry everywhere. I've gotten into the habit of doing it every time I get up if I'm not at home or at my desk at work.
2007 before leaving the house: "Wallet, keys, cell phone, iPod, blackberry" oh how far we've come.