HONKING HAPPINESS
The New York Times had two articles on the fast-changing times for the auto industry in India, that are 
well worth reading.
First up is this article on India's Tata Motors introducing the $2500 Nano car, making it the most affordable car for first-time buyers in that country.
The second article deals with what the Indian driving scene looks like when all these drivers, new and old, take to the roads with a lot of vigor, but very little regard for the rules of the road.
It makes for some hilarious but sobering reading.
Having traveled to both India and China over the last couple of years, I can anecdotally attest to the chaotic driving scene in both countries. It's especially harrowing to be a pedestrian in both countries, what with the pollution, lack of crosswalks, not to mention a total lack of crosswalk culture.
In fact, trying to cross a road in Shanghai at a crosswalk is the closest I've felt to playing Frogger in real life, at level 10.
We have to realize that these two countries are just starting the to fall in love with automobile the way Americans did in the early 1900s. So initially, the scene is likely to be wild and woolly to say the least.
Over time though, all this will likely mature into a more familiar, sane and safer driving environment over the years, but it's going to be a heck of a trip getting there.
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