RE: Check this out-totally hilarious

Good one SOC!,

Just tried Margaret Thatcher and got the question:

“Are you a cranky and bitter old woman -yes/no”

Classic!!!!!
I’ve only just picked myself up off the floor!!!!

Steve

RE: Should we interfere in other countries affairs?

I agree with the sentiments that the richer industrialised nations should pay a price for their own misuse of the planets resources and, indeed, the carry much of the blame for the state we’re in now.

However, much of this was done during times when there was no concept of ecology. Much of the deforestation of the British Isles occured in the 18th and 19th Centuries for the shipbuilding trade – had you gone back in time and warned them that in 200 years we might be running short of forested land they’d have creased up laughing just before consigning you to an institution. Is there a limitless time that nations like Britain should be made to pay for mistakes of the past made in ignorance…or is this just a convenient manner for foreign nationals to get an easy shot in? 🙂

Whats been said about Brazil being unfairly told to stop harvesting trees is undoubtably correct, there is a strong element of double standards at play, BUT, if they go on waving this infantile “we’ll do what we like – cos you did” banner we all go down the tubes – smug environmentalists and morally-courageous Brazillians included.

My point is that, yes, of course the rich nations should offer incentives and assistance to preserve such a critical natural resource as the Amazon rainforest, BUT for whatever reason capitalistic greed or plain ignorance, if they don’t measures need to be put in place locally to counter the logging and slash and burn agriculture before irreparable damage is done and the populations of South America suffer along with the rest of us. To turn around, after the fact, and say “look what you made us do” isnt going to be very smart is it?

Steve

RE: Which countries build the best cars and why?

Largely depends upon what you mean by “best”. Personal taste comes into it but for my money it’d go something like this. Country that makes the………..

…Best Looking Cars: Britain
– E-Type Jaguar, Austin Healy 3000, almost any Aston Martin, TVR Cerbera/Tuscan etc…….

…Best Built Cars: Germany
– any BMW or any Mercedes (bar the A Class and that 4wd monstrosity!)

…Most Reliable Cars: Japan
– I, personally, have owned two Honda’s, for a total of 6 years, and never had a mechanical problem of any description with either. This would seem to be the general rule also!

…Best Performing Cars: Italy
– Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati QED. I heard once that Italian cars have oil pressure guages bigger than the speedometer, on their dashbords, as Italian drivers are not concerned about what exact speed theyre going…..they just need to know when the engine is going to explode!!!.

Your choice of Best Country will therefore depend on which of these critera is the most important to you!!!

My choice? I am too deply enamoured by Astons and TVR’s to vote for anywhere other than Britain, I’m afraid!

Steve

RE: Funny pics 2

Just had this sent to me…….!
Attachments:

RE: America is a spent force in international politics

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-10-02 AT 07:49 PM (GMT)]I think Kev’s question is a bit more subtle than that Geforce.

Your quite right, of course, that the USA’s influence over other nations is at its all time peak right now. However that is not the same as saying that it is strong in a political sense.

In fact I think that American economic and military dominance is having an inverse relationship on the number of “true” friends (and therefore political allies) it has left on the planet. An analogy would probably be something like a neighbour and friend winning a few millions on a lottery and using that wealth, power and influence to build an airport (for his new private jet) at the end of your street, for his convenience, and subjecting all his previous friends and neighbours to uncomfortable new surroundings. To him this a new convenience and will benefit all his local friends (they can use it for their private jets too – when they can afford them ofc!). To them the fact that he ignored all their gentle requests not to proceed mean that he’s started to turn into an overbearing jerk who’s becoming full of his own importance.

I’m not for one second suggesting that this is a direct anology of any group of nation towards another. I am however saying that its an illustration of how a gain in material power can lead to a degredation in the amount of respect a country, in this case, can have.

The US, for some, has danced around the fine line between good neighbour and overbearing jerk for decades. To others they’ve been over the mark for longer. Here in the UK many, IMHO, still see them as a powerful friend however making unilateral decisions or plain not listening to the advice of those who would give it sincerely and in friendship is bound to swing the needle.

My 2c anyway!.

Regards,
Steve

RE: Novel trouble….again

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-10-02 AT 06:02 PM (GMT)]Hi Flanker,

Have a look at an author called Michael DiMercurio’s work. He’s done stuff very similar to what your thinking of…his works’ not that marvellous but may be worth a look at as to see what to avoid!.

Other than that the idea is fairly novel (if you forgive the pun!) and lets face it Dale Brown’s “Day of the Cheetah” was a rip-off of FireFox but with the protaganists reversed and no-one seemed to mind that. I certainly never heard of Craig Thomas sueing Brown!!!

Youre going to have to do some studying on naval systems for this one to have any kind of credibility though! A 300knt sub-fighter would not be able to use any kind of passive accoustic sensors through the tremendous flow noise that would be generated, for example, so you’d have to look at, perhaps, some kind of advanced blue-green LIDAR system for sensors. You’d have lots of difficulties ejecting torpedoes out of conventional tubes at 300knts…….the hydrodynamics that allow such a speed would probably not aid surface stability so you may need, perhaps, inflatable pontoons to provide stability when surfaced…etc….etc…etc.

Good luck and happy reading!.

Steve

RE: PLEASE STOP THE MARQUEE TAG!!!

This will doubtless tar me with Arthurs brush, but I have to agree with him. The banners are getting to such a proportion that reading text is difficult.

You lads like the “jazzy” aspect the banners give…ok I can understand that. Is there any need to have them 2in high and in bright dazzling colours though? Is there not some way you can shrink or tone them down a bit just to help preserve the sanity of some of the less-youthful (apologies Art!) guys onboard here?

Cheers gents,
Steve

RE: What car do you currently drive?

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-10-02 AT 12:41 PM (GMT)]I currently have the pleasure of driving a Ford Cougar. After having owned Escorts and Sierra’s over the years I swore I’d never have another Ford, but, this Cougar is changing my opinion every time I drive it. Its only the standard 2.0 litre motor but its quick enough and, when wifey isnt on board, its pretty enough that I get looks from a few girlies as I drive past! 🙂

Regards,
Steve

Attachments: