Morning from Belgium

[jminer]

Morning OPPO

There were definitely some travel issues (like a suitcase still in DC) but I'm here.

Also I got an even more boring rental car than I feared.

A CHR hybrid (something I didn't know was even made). I was afraid I'd get something like a manual Fiesta but this is worse. I mean it's fine at being a car, but it's definitely boring.

I saw this in town yesterday though!

Well goodnight my west coast friends! Jet lag is a mother fucker.

[іди на хуй Влад - formerly known as Distraxi]

@jminer

Jet lag is a mother fucker

Melatonin. Take one at bedtime the first few nights - really helps in realigning the body clock.

[jminer]

@іди-на-хуй-Влад-formerly-known-as-Distraxi I feel okay now as I barely slept on the plane here then passed out at 9 local time last night but yesterday was rough.

[Albino Kangaroo]

@jminer I just go with two Benadryl the first couple of nights and a very short mid day nap 14mins or so.

[Nauraushaun]

did you see me ranting the other week about how i had a rental CHR in belgium and took it to it's top speed of 184km/hr on the autobahn?
could be worse

[jminer]

@Nauraushaun I missed that! It's a perfectly fine car, even nice I just wanted something I can't get in the US. I'm just spoiled.

[farscythe]

@jminer well..seems like you got there just in time...apparently brussels airport just scrapped all leaving flights....staffs on strike

[Nauraushaun]

@farscythe @jminer

[jminer]

@farscythe @іди-на-хуй-Влад-formerly-known-as-Distraxi yeah there is a national strike today, hopefully it's back on when I'm scheduled to fly back on Friday but we'll see.

[farscythe]

@jminer oh if they are actually having to pretty much shut the airport i'd imagine they will come to an agreement fairly quickly......thats costing a whole lot of money

[jminer]

@farscythe I think the airport strike is only in support of another group being able to negotiate wages or something too.

[duurtlang]

@jminer said in Morning from Belgium:

A CHR hybrid (something I didn't know was even made).

If I'm not mistaken, cars like the CHR and also the Corolla are hybrid-only nowadays in (Western?) Europe. RAV4 and Highlander (I never seen a Highlander) are hyrid-only too if I have to believe the German Toyota website. Many if not most Yaris' are sold as hybrids as well. It's kind of the USP of Toyota here. Have you seen the gas prices?

[jminer]

@duurtlang it makes sense as a hybrid, it's strange that it's gas only in the US.

[Cé hé sin]

@jminer
I’m a little surprised that you’re surprised by the CHR hybrid.
CO2 regs being as they are and Toyota not selling EVs, and diesels being frowned upon hybrids are the way Toyota has to go.

Here’s their range here:
Aygo No hybrid
Yaris Hybrid option and commonly chosen
Corolla Hybrid only
CHR Hybrid only
RAV4 Hybrid only
Camry Hybrid only
Highlander Hybrid only (bugger all sales though)
GT86. No hybrid, and almost no sales either
Hilux, Landcruise, and Proace van. Diesel only

Lexus are something similar

[Roadkilled]

@jminer said in Morning from Belgium:

Jet lag is a mother fucker.

The trick is to stay on Pacific time and to give up on sleep for a few days. My work often requires me to have a day and a half of meetings in Brussels. I catch an afternoon flight from Seattle to Amsterdam on a Sunday, landing at Schiphol on Monday morning. I catch the train to Brussels for a half-day of meetings on Monday afternoon. Tuesday is a full day of meetings, with a train back to Schiphol in the evening. I can catch a morning flight back to Seattle and I'm home for a late lunch on Wednesday. As long as I have enough coffee, I can make it through the meetings with the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy.

[Vondon302]

@jminer Hey I actually enjoyed my Panda rental in Greece. I thought I'd hate it but it was a good little vehicle for the islands.
Looking forward to a beer review.
Cheers and enjoy.

[jminer]

@Cé-hé-sin I'm only surprised because the chr hybrid doesn't exist in the states so I was unaware of this vehicles existence.

[zipfuel]

@Roadkilled oof, they must have good coffee! I'm not sure I could make it through a day of meetings with an EU commission without falling asleep normally forget being jet lagged...

[Roadkilled]

@zipfuel

There is good coffee in Brussels. Meeting with the European Commission isn't fun, but I have good support. These meetings are to discuss game console energy efficiency. I'm joined by representatives from Sony and Nintendo. Sony's staff comes in from London and Nintendo's European headquarters are in Frankfurt, so they don't have the jetlag issues. Xbox's engineering is mostly in Redmond, Washington and I get to represent the group, making me the sole sleep-deprived person there.