The Random, Meaningless Announcements Thread 3!

[Stevicus]

 

[Stevicus]

Toyota suspends self-driving vehicles after accident at Olympic village (nbcnews.com)

Toyota Motor said on Friday it had suspended all self-driving e-Palette transportation pods at the Tokyo Paralympic Games village, a day after one of the vehicles collided with and injured a visually impaired pedestrian.

In a YouTube video, Toyota Chief Executive Akio Toyoda apologized for the incident and said he offered to meet the person but was unable to do so.

“A vehicle is stronger than a person, so I was obviously worried about how they were,” he said, answering questions about the incident.

Toyoda said the accident showed the difficulty for the self-driving vehicle to operate in the special circumstances of the village during the Paralympics with people there who are visually impaired or have other disabilities.

“It shows that autonomous vehicles are not yet realistic for normal roads,” he said.

The vehicle had stopped at a T junction and was about to turn under manual control of the operator, who was using the vehicle's joystick control, when the vehicle hit the athlete going at around 1 or 2 kilometers (1.3 miles) an hour, Toyoda said. He said Paralympic officials had told him that the athlete, who remained conscious, was taken to the athlete village medical center for treatment and was able to walk back to their residence.

The athlete is due to compete on Saturday at 1030 local time, Toyoda said.

The e-Palette, a fully autonomous battery-electric vehicle, was adapted specifically for use during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, with large doors and electric ramps to allow groups of athletes to board quickly.

The company said it was cooperating with a local police probe to determine the cause of the accident, adding that it would also conduct its own investigation.

In its statement, the Japanese automaker said it would continue to coordinate closely with the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to prevent any further incidents.


Paralympic Games organizers were not immediately available for comment.

The 2020 Paralympic Games began on Tuesday in Tokyo, even as Japan struggles with its worst COVID-19 outbreak, with record daily cases and an overwhelmed medical system.

 

[Wu Wei]

I have an inspection app on my phone for my county. I can access food inspector visit summaries of issues before dining there.

I prefer a hands on approach.... or if you prefer a paws on approach

 

[Meow Mix]

I’m at the bar and a very nice (presumably gay from mannerisms) man politely asked to sit with me while I’m waiting on friends, and for once, I haven’t hated a stranger approaching to converse

 

[Wu Wei]

I’m at the bar and a very nice (presumably gay from mannerisms) man politely asked to sit with me while I’m waiting on friends, and for once, I haven’t hated a stranger approaching to converse

You know what this means don't you....you apparently have a natural come hither look for both gay and straight men

 

[Wu Wei]

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I am ready for spook season, why is September in the way?

Because it is the holy month I blessed and graced this world with my appearance.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I'm glad football isn't a very big thing here. I can't fake a football conversation anymore like I could in Indiana due it not be talked about everywhere.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I almost have my dashboard off. But my performance chip is stuck and I can't figure out how to get it off.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I was selected for jury duty. I have to appear next month. I hope I get something big.

 

[Meow Mix]

I need to buy my Halloween outfit!!! I’m gonna be Dark Rey. I already have a lightsaber (single sided though, but red)

 

[Meow Mix]

Or I might just be Rey, I think I have the right structure to pull her off

 

[Wu Wei]

A friends son....graduated college in finance
he decided he was going at work at this one, very famous, financial company in NYC
They will not hire him...no experience
Parents tell him to get experience at another company
He will only work at the famous financial company, everything else is beneath him with is degree
They still won't hire him, after multiple tries
So......he now blames his parents

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I think I'll buy 3 costumes and celebrate 3 different days.

 

[sun rise]

For one volunteer job, I have to take a course on what not to do (and what to do) in a group or commercial kitchen including what meat to stack under meat in a cooler, that washing dishes, knives etc manually requires soapy water and rinse water at a certain temperature which I've forgotten followed by a dip in a sanitizing solution.

 

[Wu Wei]

I thought I'd dress as Santa Claus for halloween

 

[sun rise]

I was selected for jury duty. I have to appear next month. I hope I get something big.

I was on only one case in my life - a contested drunk driving bust. One juror did not know the meaning of the word 'reason' as in reasonable doubt and kept saying I was not there so how can I be sure. 11-1 to convict with a hung jury.

They tried to get me on a felony murder case but I argued jury nullification (thought I did not know that phrase) with the judge and was kicked off. The essence is that if @Shadow Wolf and I rob a bank and I shoot a teller dead, @Shadow Wolf bears extra responsibility (and punishment) for my deed.

 

[sun rise]

I thought I'd dress as Santa Claus for halloween

Dress as Dennis Moore with lupins in your fur and inspect all the candy they bring to you.

 

[sun rise]

I'm thinking about fish for dinner.

 

[Wu Wei]