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MikeP

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April 5, 2002 at 8:08 pm in reply to: Should we have another superpower? #2002854

MikeP
Participant

RE: Should we have another superpower?

And I get upset when I hear Brits slagging off America(ns) for no other reason than that it is/they are America(ns). IMHO Britain is far better off aligned with America than it is with Europe. We have more in common with the US in terms of shared language and culture, and more to gain from throwing our lot in with them.

Of course, we missed a trick back in the ’50s. With the Empire coming apart we had the opportunity to make the Commonwealth an important world presence, but instead chose to turn our backs on it in a futile attempt to get into the EEC.

April 3, 2002 at 9:30 pm in reply to: Milatary Answer Phone Message #2003067

MikeP
Participant

RE: Milatary Answer Phone Message

A guy I used to work with had a habit of answering the phone with the words “Hello Pentagon, want a fight?”

There is a UK MoD answer phone message that I’ve seen. I’ll try to dig it out and post it.

April 3, 2002 at 7:51 pm in reply to: Should we have another superpower? #2003070

MikeP
Participant

RE: Should we have another superpower?

IMO the EU will never be a superpower in the US class – a global player, maybe, but not a superpower. Superpower status and the ability to act as such requires unity of will and decision making and that will never happen while you have an entity made up of multiple nations, each with their own agenda. The only solution to this is political unification, and no matter how much politicians and Eurocrats talk about it, I don’t think it will ever happen. It will simply be a step too far.

April 3, 2002 at 7:45 pm in reply to: F1 Grand Prix #2003072

MikeP
Participant

RE: F1 Grand Prix

An interesting thought occured to me after Sunday’s race: what if Ferrari decided to replace Barichello with Ralf Schumacher? Whilst it is clearly too early in the season to speculate on who’s driving for who next year, here’s my reasoning:

Having the two Schumacher brothers driving for the same team would be a wonderful publicity coup for Ferrari, and since they have the same management there shouldn’t be too much of a problem in that regard. Barichello has never excelled since he joint Ferrari, and so probably wouldn’t be too hard to displace. Williams also have a tough decision to make in that they are in the enviable position of having three drivers to choose from next year, with the expiration Jenson Button’s loan to the Bennetton/Renault team. Releasing Ralph to Ferrari would neatly solve this ‘problem’. As for the now vacant seat at Renault, I would personally like to see Jacques Villeneuve fill it (a good driver wasted at BAR IMO), but a trade for Barichello would probably be worked out.

April 2, 2002 at 8:57 pm in reply to: F1 Grand Prix #2003164

MikeP
Participant

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Schumacher Snr is indeed very reminiscent of Senna – the same incredible talent and the same arrogance towards the rest of the world. Maybe the two are linked and you can’t be a supreme driver without that utter self belief and confidence.

As for the rolling starts, no, I don’t think they would be a good idea. Speaking personally, the best part of the race is that standing start when they are all there on the grid after the parade lap, nobody knowing how long the lights are going to be on for, and then the mad dash for the first corner, with 22 cars trying to squeeze into a space barely wide enough for 2! Yes, it can cause some spectacular crashes, and yes it might be argued that its dangerous, but motor racing is a dangerous sport and none more so that Formula 1. IMHO they have already done too much in the name of trying to make the sport safer (although its worth noting that most of the rules introduced to slow the cars down have been nullified by some superb design work), and anymore would run the risk of making it completely uninteresting.

April 2, 2002 at 4:29 pm in reply to: F1 Grand Prix #2003175

MikeP
Participant

RE: F1 Grand Prix

Don’t deny that the guy is an awesome driver, and in a few years time may well be able to lay claim to being the best ever, but that doesn’t mean I have to like him 😉 The thing that annoys me with him is that even though he has this phenomenal talent, he still feels the need to cheat (twice ramming Damon Hill of the track, and trying the same thing with Jacques Villeneuve) or sail very close to the wind (I thought his defence against Montoya on Sunday’s first lap looked awfully close to weaving). I also suspect that given the inconsistency in the application of the rules and penalties, he feels that his stature as the numero uno driver gives him a degree of protection that he can exploit to the full.

April 1, 2002 at 6:36 pm in reply to: F1 Grand Prix #2003360

MikeP
Participant

RE: F1 Grand Prix

>I enjoy formula 1 but I do think many of the races become
>very processional.

This is an oft repeated complaint about Formula 1, and I think I worked out why yesterday: its because the TV directors (and lets face it, all but the most committed fans with a track nearby will be watching it on TV) insist on focusing on the leader, even if there is nothing happening at the front. Yesterday we had lap after lap of little but the two Ferraris going round line astern, when just a few places back there was a superb scrap going on between the two McLarens and the two Renaults. If the directors got it into their heads that people come to cars *racing*, rather than just driving round in circles then maybe it would be a lot more interesting for the casual viewer.

April 1, 2002 at 6:31 pm in reply to: F1 Grand Prix #2003373

MikeP
Participant

RE: F1 Grand Prix

As a fellow McLaren fan I would have to say that I don’t think that they really have much of a chance this year. They may win the odd race here and there, but not enough to win the championship with.

Sadly I think your analysis is probably right, and the Schumcher Snr will win it again, although either Montoya or little Ralphie could be in a position to spoil his party. I also think that Williams will probably win the constructors championship, assuming that the reliability gremlins that plagued them last year really are gone for good.

Whatever happens, its shaping up to be a good season. Its nice to have three or four teams in a challenging position, rather than just one running away with it, and maybe another a bit further back. I also think McLaren’s decision to switch from Bridgestone to Michellin tyres has done the sport a world of good too.

April 1, 2002 at 6:26 pm in reply to: Game On!!! #2003377

MikeP
Participant

RE: Game On!!!

Great to have you back 🙂

March 30, 2002 at 6:00 pm in reply to: Queen Mother Dies #2003657

MikeP
Participant

RE: Queen Mother Dies

🙁 Had to happen sometime soon.

March 30, 2002 at 2:00 pm in reply to: GENERAL DISCUSSION FORUM SPECIAL!! #2003666

MikeP
Participant

RE: GENERAL DISCUSSION FORUM SPECIAL!!

UK Civil Servant working in Farnborough. Hoping to get sent off to Red Flag next year (or maybe later this year, we’ll see).
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Viewing 11 posts - 16 through 26 (of 26 total)

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