Lighthearted (re: non-political)viewpoint of an American, born and raised that has traveled abroad. What better way to improve your country than to steal the ideas of others?

Let's keep the healthcare debates and talks about whether it's okay to throw my trash out my car window (A: It isn't you filth) to a minimum.


1. Power One-Drop Toilet Deoderizer


It's like we've been dancing around the issue, but no one wants to go straight to the stinky, creamy source of the problem. Bathroom fans must be one of the most ineffective and widely utilized apparatuses ever. It's gotten to the point where I just turn on the fan because the whirring noise stimulates my butthole. Lysol sprays are overkill and I'll admit matches are a close second, but none work as well as a few drops of One-Drop.



2. Putting your car in neutral when you park


Crazy Right? It must be that Asians not only like to gamble with their family's honor, but also with their cars. The few times I would go to a parking structure I would notice that the driver would put his car in neutral instead of park! That means that more valuable parking space can be utilized throughout the day! I even got to push a car a few feet so we could leave.

1. Japan -- they sometimes put little sinks on the tops of toilets so that the water that is filling up the bowl can be used to wash your hands.

2. Croatia -- they have these amazing window shutters that are built into the walls. they're made of aluminum -- they double as breakin prevention, storm damage, and light filtering. Since they're on some kind of weight balancer, they go up and down extremely easy.

I found this picture. It's actually from a Chinese company:

I do not understand how putting your car in neutral at a parking structure makes for more usable space.

Also, is the water that is in the toilet fit to drink? I would consider it a waste of time for the toilet water to be put through any sort of filtration process.

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. So you're free to push cars around and have them bump into each other? I don't want some moron's hands all over my car, and my car is a pos.

This makes no sense at all.

It makes sense when you realize the Japanese value space and wouldnt likely abuse this communal courtesy. It makes sense that you wouldn't understand when you wouldnt even want some moron to touch your pos car.

See, this post is exactly why it wouldn't work outside of Japan.

I actually kinda like the parking idea, but I dont think the average american driver is smart enough or capable enough for this to work.

Its basically what a lot of valets do in major cities minus the bumping, but it works pretty well. major confusion if they let people park their own cars that tight and god forbid someone get boxed in.

At post offices in Japan, instead of having to stand in miserable, slow-moving lines as we do in the U.S., you simply take a number and then go sit down at a little lobby of chairs until your number is called.

This also gives you a chance to finish addressing letters, fill out forms, and perform all the other little last-minute tasks that slow up the process here in the U.S.

Also in Japan, all supermarkets are self-bagging. The self-bagging takes place in a separate area after paying for your items. This also keeps the lines moving more quickly.

I use the crosswalk everyday. I think highly of you guys.




After the food is scanned and rung up, the conveyor belt is activated and the items are then shuttled down one of two paths which each end at a separate area where plastic bags are provided.

Sav-A-Lots in the US do this.

Ink eraser.

That's old and super common in most European countries but you can't find this in the US AFAIK.



It's so much more convenient than this :

...and especially...

I heard someone on CNN say something about the Chinese government trying to reinvent the wheel. Don't know the details, but could be huge imo.

It's amazing how I always thought this was super standard in Denmark and I figured the US and Scandinavia were pretty much alike.

this is 100% standard in asia, always have to get out to move cars to get a space at crowded places.

this thing

Don't the Japanese have vending machines that sell used ladies underpants for sniffing? Surprised that hasn't taken the world by storm faster

having a toilet with the sprayer. When I first moved to thailand I thought it was super weird to spray your ass, but now I couldnt live without it. Really is a completely better system.

Not really practical for my needs but i like it

Speaking of toilets, Japanese washlets and hi-tech toilets (and yes, the rinse sink on top is yet another good invention!)

barry, shut your whore mouth.


and this

It's the same water that goes to your kitchen sink.

Who stands in line at the post office?

Maybe because they don't work?



I've always thought the French Tickler was a good idea.

****ing communists gtfo

uhm, a bunch of crap mentioned here is either available or already pretty common in the US.

Dollar and two dollar coins instead of dollar bills. Rounding to the nearest nickel instead of pennies. One of the best things I've found while working in Australia.